14/01/2026

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WEDNESDAY | JAN 14, 2026

I-Bhd believes AI and robotics will shape the future of cities

MPOB plans reference price for used cooking oil KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) will introduce an official used cooking oil (UCO) reference price in the first quarter of this year, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad. She said the benchmark will provide a clear price guidance, support fair trading and protect small players from price manipulation and fraud, while playing an important step towards a more orderly and sustainable UCO market. “UCO plays an important role in this transition (turning waste into valuable resources), particularly for downstream uses such as biofuels and palm-based chemical products. “MPOB continues to strengthen governance, clear tracking and market oversight to ensure that UCO is managed in a safe and orderly manner,” she said in her opening speech before launching the Palm Oil Economic Review And Outlook (R&O) Seminar 2026. Meanwhile, Noraini said the average crude palm oil price increased by 2.7% to RM4,292 per tonne in 2025 from RM4,179 per tonne in 2024. She said export revenue for palm oil and palm-based products is expected to exceed RM100 billion in 2025, with crude palm oil production approaching 20 million tonnes. “This is a strong achievement. From the government’s view, our future competitiveness depends on three key areas - higher productivity, stronger sustainability assurances, and faster adoption of innovation,” she added. On prospects, Noraini opined that Malaysia’s palm oil outlook remains positive, with the priority being to strengthen productivity, sustainability and adaptability together. She said Malaysia must focus on quality, sustainability and traceability rather than volume alone; therefore, the government will continue to strengthen its assurance system to keep Malaysian palm oil trusted and competitive. “I am very confident that the Malaysian oil palm industry has a strong and resilient future and growth must go hand in hand with sustainability, inclusiveness and innovation. “This requires close cooperation between the government, industrial players, researchers and (also) the smallholders,” she said. The R&O seminar, organised by MPOB with the theme “Securing the Future of Palm Oil in a Changing Global Economy”, brings together more than 400 industry experts and academicians to discuss the 2025 market performance, the potential for 2026 as well as the strategies and direction for the Malaysian palm oil industry. The event also saw the launch of a booklet titled Small Bites, Big Impact – The Red Palm Oil Biscuit Story, which highlights the findings from a red palm oil supplementation study conducted by MPOB in collaboration with the University of Malaya. – Bernama

Ű BY JOHN GILBERT sunbiz@thesundaily.com

o Malaysian developer partners with Chinese company to establish AgiBot AI World Experience Centre in i-City

SHAH ALAM: Residential and commercial property developer I-Berhad (I-Bhd) believes the future of cities would be shaped by digital technology, with connectivity and the smart city concept at the core. I-Bhd chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong said that at a time when property development was still largely defined by bricks, mortar, and location, smart cities have already taken shape, and the company is working closely with leading global technology partners to embed these innovations directly into the urban environment. “Information, communication and tech nology (ICT) became a regional reference point for what was then the world’s first connected real estate. “Today, we find ourselves at another pivotal moment. Once again, ICT is applying the same playbook, but this time the frontier is AI and robotics. “Just as connectivity defined how cities functioned 25 years ago, AI and robotics will define how we work, live, and interact with our environment in the years ahead,” he said at the launch of AgiBot AI World Experience Centre, in i-City here yesterday. AgiBot, a Chinese robotics technology company, established the centre in partnership with I-Bhd, the master developer of i-City. As a part of the strategic alliance, AgiBot’s robotics and embodied AI are deployed across property, hospitality, tourism and day-to-day urban life in i-City, Malaysia’s leading digital city. In parallel, the collaboration introduces a strong focus on human wellness and longevity, where AI and robotics are applied not only to productivity and automation, but also to health optimisation and quality of life. AI World represents the first stage of a broader, long-term partnership between AgiBot and I-Bhd. “We are deeply honoured to be working with AgiBot on this journey. The opening of the AI World Experience Centre is not merely a launch event, it marks the first chapter of a much larger vision,” Lim said. He said this milestone also marks the start of ICT’s transformation into an AI-and robotics enabled urban ecosystem, with the develop ment of its first AI-and robotics-integrated residences, targeted for completion in 2030, and conceived from the ground up to seamlessly embed these technologies into everyday home life. “Our vision is simple yet ambitious- to create

From left: Deng, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang, Tourism, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Chiew Choon Man and Lim at the opening of AgiBot AI World Experience Centre Experience Centre.

strides in improving mass production and the practical use of embodied robotics last year. “This was capped off at the end of last year when we rolled out our 5,000th mass-produced humanoid robots. This milestone, along with others, puts AgiBot in a strong position as we start 2026. Today’s AgiBot launch event in Malaysia is an example of our commitment to bring mass production and the practical use of embodied robotics to customers in this region.” AgiBot’s robots are focused on eight key commercial applications, including reception and hospitality, entertainment and commercial performances, industrial intelligent manu facturing, logistics sorting, security inspection and patrol, data collection and training, scient ific research and education. Through widespread adoption across multiple industries, AgiBot brings the potential of embodied AI to reality by driving industrial upgrades, transforming service and production processes, and supporting broader digital trans formation efforts.

a living, breathing urban system where technology genuinely serves its people. “With AgiBot as our partner, we believe ICT can become the world’s first fully integrated AI and robotics urban centre, and we extend our congratulations to AgiBot on this brand launch, along with our appreciation to all partners and stakeholders who share this journey with us,”Lim said. Last year, AgiBot reached several major milestones that underscored its leadership in humanoid robotics and embodied intelligence. Achievements include rollingmout its 5,000th mass-produced humanoid in December, demonstrating industrial-grade manufacturing capability and large-scale commercial readiness. AgiBot also advanced embodied AI through real-world reinforcement learning, enabling its robots to be trained and deployed directly in physical production environments. AgiBot founder, chairman and CEO Deng Taihua said the company made significant

AirAsia X to be renamed AirAsia and listed as new stock on Jan 19 KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X will be renamed AirAsia and listed as a newly quoted stock on Jan 19, said Capital A Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes. Fernandes, in a LinkedIn post yesterday, said that on the same day, Capital A will submit its application to be uplifted from PN17 status, with the final court hearing scheduled for Jan 21. cost version in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar and cover all continents,” he said. Fernandes also revealed that the company is finalising its aircraft order, which will reduce costs and increase margin through better fleet planning. in the coming months to articulate its post restructuring vision centred around five core businesses- maintenance, repair and overhaul, logistics, online travel agency, food and beverage, and branding.”

In addition, Capital A plans to host an Investor Day after the close of the fourth quarter once there is full visibility on 2025 performance, based on unaudited results, to give deeper insight into the group’s business segments, financial priorities, and long-term value-creation plans. – Bernama

Meanwhile, in a statement, Capital A said that with restructuring nearing completion, the group will step up engagement with analysts and investors. “The group plans to embark on a series of domestic and international investor roadshows

“AirAsia will be one airline group and one brand. We will consolidate AirAsia X and AirAsia as one airline group with global ambitions. With our very exciting hub in Bahrain, we will build a low