16/01/2026

First page Previous page 15 Next page Last page

FRIDAY | JAN 16, 2026

BIZ & FINANCE

SME Bank sees OPR at 2.75% throughout 2026

CelcomDigi powers IOI’s digital shift

PETALING JAYA: CelcomDigi Bhd reported that it has completed a large-scale connectivity and tower infrastructure deployment across IOI Corporation Bhd’s plantation estates in Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia. This initiative supports IOI’s digital transformation and growth across its plantation operations, while extending reliable coverage to surrounding rural communities. CelcomDigi has deployed over 100 4G and 4G LTE network sites across more than 100 IOI estates nationwide with high-speed connectivity, and has also laid dedicated Direct Internet Access (DIA) for estate offices within the vicinity. This end-to-end solution accelerates IOI’s digitalisation of core activities, including automation to streamline mill operations, mobile workforce applications, IoT-driven asset and fleet management, and future data-led use cases essential to modern plantation management. With high-speed next-gen connectivity across the estates, IOI can progressively integrate intelligent systems and automate processes to improve productivity, operational visibility, and safety. CelcomDigi chief enterprise business officer Afizulazha Abdullah said, “For the plantation sector, we see that businesses with consistent, estate-wide connectivity achieve measurable improvements in operational efficiency and digital adoption. Early adopters report higher productivity and faster progress towards revenue goals, particularly through connected operations. IOI now has the digital foundation to scale automation and intelligent systems across its plantations and mills. This is how we power the next phase of growth—building networks that deliver operational gains, support sustainable practices, and strengthen surrounding communities.” IOI Plantation director NB Sudhakaran said, “IOI’s ambition is to transform our plantations into integrated, connected operations that can compete on productivity and sustainability over the long term. Partnering with CelcomDigi aligns with this ambition as they bring the network capability and a shared commitment to solving practical challenges on the ground. By leveraging this widespread connectivity as the foundation for integrated digital operations, we aim to scale automation, implement smartfleet and asset management, and strengthen data led decision making.”

KUALA LUMPUR: Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Bhd (SME Bank) in its Malaysia’s Economic Outlook 2026 report, expects Bank Negara Malaysia to keep the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 2.75% throughout 2026 to support economic growth. The report projects Malaysia’s GDP to grow by 4.3%, despite higher global uncertainties. According to the report, domestic growth momentum is expected to remain resilient supported by sustained micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) activities and continued policy support, which are expected to help cushion the economy against external headwinds from rising protectionism and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Overall, the growth outlook is broadly aligned with projections by the Finance Ministry, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. SME Bank relief president and CEO Samad Majid Zain said, “Malaysia’s growth outlook for 2026 remains resilient, driven by the strength of MSMEs in sustaining domestic demand, employment, and productivity. The National Budget 2026 reinforces this momentum with RM50 billion in financing and guarantee facilities, with SME Bank entrusted to implement nearly o GDP projected to grow 4.3% on MSME activities, policy support and manageable inflation

Malaysia’s domestic economy is expected to stay supported by policy continuity and sustained business confidence.

Production Index is export-oriented, making it more vulnerable to external demand and trade policy changes. Meanwhile, construction activity is expected to normalise after two years of strong post-pandemic growth driven by infrastructure and private projects. The report also disclosed that mining is expected to remain subdued, constrained by moderating demand from key importing economies and lower global crude oil prices. SME Bank Economic Research Head Mazlina Abdul Rahman said, “We expect inflation to rise slightly to 1.7% in 2026, but it will remain manageable. Headline inflation averaged 1.4% in the first 11 months of 2025, lower than 1.9% a year earlier, before picking up from July due to the expanded Sales and Service Tax and utility tariff adjustments.”

RM2 billion in strategic national initiatives to support MSME scaling, technology adoption, and productivity enhancement across priority sectors, in alignment with BNM’s Performance Measurement Framework and the government’s Madani economic framework.” Key highlights of the report are that services are likely to cushion overall growth, supported by resilient household consumption underpinned by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies, including higher allocations for Sumbangan Asas Rahmah, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah and Phase 2 civil servant salary adjustments, which are expected to help ease cost pressures and sustain consumption. It also reported manufacturing is more exposed to tariffs as 67.1% of the Industrial

AutoCount included in Bursa’s Quality 50 Index KUALA LUMPUR: AutoCount Dotcom Bhd has recently been included as a constituent of the Bursa Malaysia Quality 50 Index (BMQ), Bursa Malaysia’s first in-house index designed to profile listed companies with strong financial quality characteristics. select 50 Malaysian-listed companies that demonstrate comparatively stronger financial fundamentals. Companies are assessed based on three key quality measures, namely profitability (return on equity), capital structure (debt-to-equity ratio), and earnings quality (operating cash flow relative to profit after tax). The Bursa Malaysia Quality 50 Index adopts a transparent, rules-based methodology to

AutoCount’s inclusion in the index reflects the group’s consistent financial performance, disciplined capital management, and strong operating cash flow generation. The index covers eligible companies listed on both the Main Market and ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia, excluding constituents of the FBMKLCI, and is reviewed semi-annually.

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

thesun.my

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs