20/01/2026

BIZ & FINANCE TUESDAY | JAN 20, 2026

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Syntiant expands, more than doubles footprint in Penang

Rianlon’s RM1.27b project a boost for Johor’s high-value manufacturing push JOHOR BAHRU: Rianlon Corpo ration’s decision to establish a research and development (R&D) and manufacturing facility in Johor reflects strong and sustained investor confidence in the state as a regional hub for high-value and technology driven investments. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the RM1.27 billion project will be developed in two phases, comprising RM820 million for Phase One and RM450 million for Phase Two, and is expected to create about 300 job opportunities, particularly for Johoreans, when fully operational. Rianlon is a global provider of anti ageing additives and technologies for polymer materials. Onn Hafiz said the investment followed direct engagements with Rianlon’s leadership, including chair man Lee Hai Ping, in Beijing on Dec 22 last year. “Within a month, the Johor state government, together with federal level counterparts, resolved concerns raised by Rianlon,”he said in his speech at a groundbreaking ceremony at Tanjung Langsat Industrial Park, Pasir Gudang, yesterday. The commitment to facilitating investments is anchored by the Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre Johor, established about two years ago, to integrate state and federal agencies under one roof. He said Phase One construction of the Rianlon Malaysia Senai Bhd development is already under way. Onn Hafiz said Johor recorded RM91.1 billion in approved investments as of the third quarter of 2025 and is on track to exceed RM102 billion in the fourth quarter of last year. Rianlon Corporation, a national high tech enterprise, has been ranked among China’s Top 500 Petroleum and Chemical Enterprises and Top 100 Fine Chemical Enterprises for six consecutive years. – Bernama Capital A’s 2.31b consideration shares listed on Bursa Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: Capital A Bhd announced that 2.31 billion consideration shares, including 1.69 billion distribution shares, were listed and quoted on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia yesterday. This completed the distribution exercise from its acquisition of AirAsia Aviation Group Ltd and AirAsia Bhd. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, RHB Investment Bank Bhd, on behalf of Capital A’s board, confirmed that the listing and quotation of the consideration and distribution shares concluded the distribution to the group and its entitled shareholders. In a separate filing, AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) announced that a total of 606.06 million placement shares issued under AAX’s private placement exercise were also listed and quoted yesterday, thus completing the proposed private placement exercise. – Bernama

Syntiant’s new campus to Penang which will contribute to Penang’s technological expertise and further strengthening the state’s position as leading hub for advanced elec tronics and AI innovation, aligned with our reputation as the Silicon Valley of the East.” Malaysian Investment Develop ment Authority (Mida) CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said Syntiant’s expansion in Penang is a landmark investment that positions Malaysia at the forefront of next-generation AI and advanced semiconductor innovation. He added that by anchoring high value activities such as embodied AI and MEMS processing locally, this facility strengthens technological capabilities, drives innovation-led growth and creates quality jobs for Malaysian.

new services, including routes to Osaka (Kansai), Singapore (from Ipoh, Subang and Penang), Kuala Namu, and Jakarta. Additional services were launched by Firefly with five weekly flights to Cebu, and Sichuan Airlines with three weekly services between Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur,” it said. Meanwhile, MAHB said its asset Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkiye, handled 49 million passengers in 2025, up 17.5% y-o-y, with 4.2 million passengers in December alone. MAHB said it remains focused on strengthening service resilience, enhancing capacity readiness and advancing partnership-led growth across its airport network as travel demand continues under VM2026. – Bernama Following its 2024 acquisition of the Knowles Consumer MEMS Microphone business, the company has strengthened its capabilities in embodied AI and intelligent sensing solutions. The company develops ultra-low-power AI solutions that integrate sensors, neural decision processors and software for IoT, consumer, automotive and in dustrial applications, with more than 20 billion SiSonic MEMS micro phones shipped globally to date. “It is a clear vote of confidence from global investors in Malaysia’s talent, infrastructure and ecosystem, and reinforces our mission to make the country a preferred hub for advanced electronics and high-tech manufacturing,” he said. Syntiant Corp CEO and co founder Kurt Busch stated, “Our new Penang manufacturing and R&D campus represents a major step forward for Syntiant in Asia where we bring our DNA in producing faster, safer and energy-efficient solutions across consumer, in dustrial and enterprise markets. By combining world-class manu facturing with cutting-edge AI research, we can accelerate inno vation, better serve our customers and contribute to Malaysia’s growing technology ecosystem. Meanwhile Syntiant Malaysia general manager Ong Lay Pean emphasised that investing in Penang reflects their confidence in Malaysia’s talent and innovation ecosystem. This new facility positions us to turn cutting-edge research into real world solutions that benefit con sumers and industries globally. With the support of Mida and InvestPenang, Syntiant selected Penang as the ideal location to expand its manufacturing and R&D capabilities,” he added. Syntiant’s expansion aligns with Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030, supporting high-value job creation and advanced technology development.

o Tech company opens new manufacturing and AI R&D campus in the state

PETALING JAYA: Syntiant Corp., a global provider of low-power artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, opened its new manufacturing and research and development (R&D) campus in Penang yesterday. The expansion marks a major milestone in Syntiant’s growth in Asia and reinforcing Malaysia’s rising role as a strategic hub for the next-generation semiconductor and AI manufacturing. The new campus more than doubles Syntiant’s footprint in Penang to about 220,000 square feet, increasing annual production capacity to around 1.6 billion units.

The facility brings together pro-ducti on, engineering and AI research in one location, supports a workforce of up to 800 employees, and features advanced micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) processing, IC preparation and test and assembly capabilities. Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo said, “Backed by over five decades of industrialisation, Penang has cultivated its compre hensive ecosystem which continues to command confidence by inter national investors to establish presence and expand within the state. We are proud to welcome

Syntiant’s new campus in Penang brings together production, engineering and AI research in one location, and supports a workforce of up to 800 employees.

MAHB’s 2025 passenger movements reach 153.3m

KUALA LUMPUR: Passenger move ments across Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s (MAHB) global network reached 153.3 million in 2025, reflecting a positive momentum as Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) gets under way. MAHB said in a statement yesterday that its 39 local airports handled 104.4 million passengers, an 11.2% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase. “December 2025 was the most demanding operational month, with 10 million passengers handled across airports nationwide, a 15.5% rise against a year ago. “The month was defined by an intense festive peak between Christmas and New Year, when more than one million passengers were processed over a single three

strongest month-on-month growth of 34.4% to 191,000 passengers from 142,000, while Kota Kinabalu International Airport saw passenger numbers grow 23.5% to 802,000. Meanwhile, Langkawi Inter national Airport recorded a 23% increase to 290,000, Penang Inter national Airport rose 12.2% to 772,000, and Kuching International Airport, a 10.3% rise to 540,000 passengers. MAHB said new services launched in December 2025 further strenghtened connectivity at KLIA which includes the Xiamen Airlines’ thrice-weekly Hangzhou–Kuala Lumpur service at Terminal 2, 9 Air’s three weekly flights from Hangzhou, and Hainan Airlines’ twice-weekly Qionghai–Kuala Lumpur route. “Batik Air Malaysia introduced six

day stretch,” MAHB said. Its managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said the perfomance reflected the strength and readiness of airport network operations. “Managing more than one million passengers over a concentrated three-day festive period reflects operational planning effectiveness, close coordination with airline partners, and the dedication of our frontline teams nationwide,” he said. December passenger was re corded across major airports, led by Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), which handled 6.1 million passengers, bringing its full-year total to 63.3 million, a 10.8% increase y-o-y. Subang Airport posted the