15/01/2026

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | JAN 15, 2026

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Chereh Dam solar plant ‘strategically important’

such as the Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat and Agropreneur Muda. He said in 2026, LPNM is planning a development project in Selangor that will add 49 hectares and provide incentives worth RM1.3 million, benefiting around 26 operators, while last year, RM180,000 was disbursed to young farmers in the state through the Agropreneur Muda Grant, now rebranded as Agropreneur NextGen. He said the Selangor government has disbursed RM113,300 to pineapple entrepreneurs, and in Hulu Selangor alone, agricultural input aid worth more than RM1.2 million has benefited 38 operators. – Bernama EPPSB and AMS collaborating on PV project ISKANDAR PUTERI: Eastern Pacific Industrial Corporation Bhd (EPIC), through its subsidiary, Eastern Pacific Properties Sdn Bhd (EPPSB), is collaborating with Advantage Marine Services Sdn Bhd (AMS) to implement a solar energy project in Gelang Patah. In a statement, EPIC said the project involves the installation of a 74.4 kilowatt-peak (kWp) rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system under the Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (Solar ATAP). The company was appointed as the principal provider of solar PV system infrastructure for AMS’ warehouse and yard facilities. “This is EPPSB’s first project in Johor, marking a strategic step in penetrating the Southern Region market and expanding the company’s renewable energy solutions offering nationwide. “Installation works are scheduled to commence in early February and will cover the system design, procurement of materials, installation, testing and commissioning phases, which are expected to take 40 days,” it said. EPIC group CEO Dr Muhtar Suhaili said the project reflected the group’s commitment to driving the company’s growth, in addition to supporting the nation’s energy transition agenda through practical, high-impact renewable energy solutions. “It will not only help the company penetrate the Southern Region market, particularly Johor, but also serve as a catalyst in helping industry partners optimise energy efficiency and reduce their operational carbon footprint.” He highlighted that EPPSB is a registered PV service provider as well as a registered PV investor under the Energy Commission and the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia since last year. “We will continue to expand strategic collaborations such as this to support the development of a sustainable and competitive clean energy ecosystem. “This is in line with national aspirations towards a low-carbon economy, while also supporting AMS in implementing more energy-efficient, sustainable and sustainability-driven operations,” added Muhtar. – Bernama

federal and state governments. “We do not only want people to buy pineapples to eat, but we want this area to become a focus for processing, packing, branding and exporting, including the development of high-tech processing plants and agrotourism potential.”. To support the project’s development, Chan said the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board (LPNM) has provided assistance, including seedlings and agricultural inputs worth RM221,800, a RM30,000 grant for building a farm store, and technical guidance, in addition to planning community and youth programmes “In the near future, we will be launching a series of AI-powered proprietary solutions to underpin our transformation agenda and create sustainable value for our shareholders,” he added. Listed since 2005, the group has established a strong foundation as a provider of enterprise and SaaS solutions, particularly within the financial services and insurance sectors. Moving foward, OpenMove AI aims to deliver intelligent digital solutions designed to help organisations modernise operations and improve decision-making. “Land availability is often limited and, where land exists, it is usually prioritised for agriculture. “Using existing water bodies such as dams allows dual use and is more environmentally responsible. “Floating solar can also improve generation efficiency, as the proximity to water creates a cooling effect that enhances panel performance,” she said. She said that while Malaysia has hybrid floating and land-based solar projects, the Chereh Dam facility will be the first fully floating solar project of its kind in the country. “This project will demonstrate Malaysia’s capability to deliver large-scale renewable energy projects using innovative technologies such as floating solar,” she said. Fatima added that the Chereh Dam project marks the start of Masdar’s long-term presence in Malaysia, with plans to deepen partnerships and expand its renewable energy footprint. She also said Masdar plans to establish an office in Kuala Lumpur in the second half of the year. – Bernama

Pineapple Sdn Bhd covers 109.26 hectares, with current plantings on 16 hectares comprising 740,432 MD2 pineapple plants and a crop survival rate of over 97%. Chan said the visit also included a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a collection, processing and packaging centre, which is expected to strengthen the pineapple industry’s value chain from the farm to the market. Meanwhile, the deputy minister said Selangor has great potential to develop into a modern agri-food hub, thanks to logistical advantages such as an airport, a port, rail networks, and continued support from both the According to the Malaysia Digital Transformation Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence, the country’s digital transformation market is projected to grow from approximately RM50.2 billion in 2025 to RM119.4 billion by 2030 , at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 19% . This sustained trajectory reflects the government’s blueprint for a digital-first economy that targets a 25.5% GDP contribution by 2025, backed by hyperscale investments from AWS, Microsoft, and Google that already exceed US$ 5 billion, the report stated. CEO Gallen Lee Choon Teng said that the company’s transformation is underpinned by capability building and talent development. project in Malaysia and is expected to be Southeast Asia’s largest floating solar facility once operational. The project is being developed by a consortium led by Masdar together with Citaglobal and Tiza Global Sdn Bhd, under a power purchase agreement with Tenaga Nasional. Meanwhile, Masdar head of business development (Asia-Pacific) Fatima Al Suwaidi said Malaysia is a strategic growth market as the company expands its renewable energy portfolio in Southeast Asia. “As we work towards our target of reaching 100 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030, we have identified several strong growth markets, including Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines,” she said. She added that Malaysia’s openness to foreign investment, along with new regulations supporting renewable deployment and grid stability, were key considerations for long-term investments. Fatima said floating solar is particularly attractive for land-scarce countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

o Project could help Malaysia export renewable energy expertise, says Citaglobal

Based on its filing to Bursa Malaysia on Jan 12, OpenMove AI has started trading under its new name and stock short code “OMAI” yesterday. Chairman Tengku Tan Sri Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz said that the rebranding builds on the company’s successful legacy as a leading SaaS provider for financial services and insurance. “Rexit Bhd has a strong track record delivering scalable, compliant, and industry-focused SaaS solutions. “The transition to OpenMove AI marks a natural progression for our organisation to broaden our market and expand our earnings stream. government aims to increase pineapple exports to RM2 billion by 2027 as part of efforts to strengthen and develop the industry, which is now considered a high-value strategic commodity. Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said the pineapple industry has the potential to generate around RM9,000 a month in income per hectare for growers through modern farm management. He said that the country’s pineapple exports reached RM1.4 billion in 2025, amounting to 76,000 ABU DHABI: The Chereh Dam floating solar project in Pahang could help Malaysia develop renewable energy (RE) expertise that can be exported to other markets, Citaglobal Sdn Bhd executive chairman and president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said. He said the project, developed with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), a United Arab Emirates state-owned renewable energy firm, would enable Citaglobal to leverage Masdar’s experience in technology, project financing and large-scale project management. “In the longer term, we hope the expertise developed in Malaysia can also be exported to other markets,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026. Mohamad Norza said the project was strategically important as Malaysia seeks to position itself as a

renewable energy hub for Asean, with Citaglobal supporting the government’s National Energy Transition Roadmap. “Masdar’s experience, including completed floating solar projects in Indonesia, provides continuity and confidence for this project in Malaysia. “Floating solar is a niche technology, and participation in this partnership gives our team valuable exposure and learning opportunities.” He added that the project involves a sizeable financial commitment due to its scale. “The long-term power purchase agreement signed with Tenaga Nasional Bhd provides revenue certainty and strengthens the project’s economic fundamentals.” The 200-megawatt floating solar photovoltaic project at Chereh Dam is Masdar’s first renewable energy

OpenMove AI targets digital transformation market KUALA LUMPUR: OpenMove AI Bhd, is marking a new milestone with its name change from Rexit Bhd, underscoring its strategic evolution to become a full spectrum digital transformation partner powered by artificial intelligence, cloud, data, and automation. solutions across multiple industries, including enterprise platforms, data intelligence, logistics and public sector digitalisation. transformation solutions that can be deployed across industries, supported by strong execution capabilities and domain expertise.” “Our transformation is not merely about adopting AI, but about developing AI-enabled digital

Lee and Mohamad Rizam.

tonnes to international markets, including the Middle East, China, and Europe, and that this is expected to continue growing through the exploration of new markets such as New Zealand. “Today’s visit to the MD2 pineapple plantation project in Sungai Gumut is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the development of the pineapple industry. We aim for this export value to continue rising and reach RM2 billion by 2027,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Sungai Gumut Pineapple Collection Centre here yesterday. The project under Premium “It also reflects our deliberate extension into the development and deployment of AI-led digital transformation solutions, moving beyond software delivery into intelligent platforms that help organisations reimagine processes, governance and decision-making at scale.” He noted that while their core SaaS business remains a priority, they are now advancing into the development of AI-powered digital transformation

Govt aims for RM2 billion in pineapple exports by 2027 KUALA KUBU BAHRU : The