05/02/2026

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | FEB 5, 2026

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Paydibs, AltPayNet boost cross-border payments

Petronas inks 20-year LNG supply deal with QatarEnergy KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas LNG Ltd (PLL), a subsidiary of Petronas, has signed a 20-year liquefied natural gas (LNG) sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with QatarEnergy, the first long-term LNG supply agreement between the two companies. Under the SPA, PLL will offtake up to two million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG from QatarEnergy over a period of 20 years. The long-term volumes secured through this agreement will play a critical role in reinforcing Malaysia’s energy supply security, ensuring stable and reliable LNG availability to meet growing demand in Malaysia. The signing was attended by Petronas president and Group CEO Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik and Qatar Minister of State for Energy Affairs Saad Sherida Al Kaabi, who is also the president and CEO of QatarEnergy during a special ceremony held in Doha on the sidelines of the 21st International Conference & Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas “LNG2026”. Tengku Muhammad Taufik said, “This agreement marks an important milestone for Petronas in bolstering energy security for those we serve. The supply of LNG through partnerships with industry leading partners such as QatarEnergy complements the cargoes from our LNG heartlands in Malaysia and Canada, diversifying our supply nodes even as Petronas unlocks new avenues to derive greater value and efficiency.” This strategic collaboration enhances Petronas’ portfolio resilience amid an evolving global energy landscape, while supporting the nation’s economic development and energy transition priorities. It also reflects the shared commitment between Petronas and QatarEnergy to deepen cooperation across the LNG value chain towards a future-ready and sustainable gas portfolio. KUALA LUMPUR: Binastra Corporation Bhd kicked off FY27 on a strong note, securing a RM503 million data centre contract from Exsim Sri Permai Sdn Bhd. The contract, awarded to Binastra’s wholly owned unit Binastra Builders Sdn Bhd covers, amongst others, the design, construction and infrastructure works for the proposed development of a data centre located in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The project is slated to begin on Feb 19, and expected to be completed within 20 months. Managing director Datuk Jackson Tan Kak Seng commented: “We are delighted to secure this half a billion data centre contract, which marks the continuity of the data centre job flow from our clients. This represents another milestone in our journey to support Malaysia’s growing digital infrastructure ecosystem, reinforcing our commitment to deliver high-quality, energy efficient, and future-ready data centres. Beyond our established presence in the data centre projects in Bukit Jalil and Cyberjaya, we are actively exploring new opportunities with potential clients to expand our data centre footprint. With a strong start to FY27, we will continue to pursue growth catalysts aggressively and create greater value for our shareholders throughout the year.” This contract marks Binastra’s sixth data centre contract, bringing the total secured value of its data centre projects to RM1.9 billion. With this latest win, the group’s total outstanding order book has soared to an all-time high of RM7 billion, providing earnings visibility of up to 4 years. Binastra lands RM503m data centre contract

o Tie-up allows Filipinos in Malaysia to make SSS contributions through compliant local transaction infrastructure

across borders.” In addition, Paydibs has been appointed as the official payment processor for AltPayNet’s merchants in Malaysia. Transactions will be routed through locally approved payment rails to ensure compliance and operational efficiency. Over time, the partnership is expected to expand beyond SSS contributions to cover a wider range of merchant payments, broadening access for both businesses and consumers. On the broader impact of the partnership, Vacal said, “This collaboration strengthens our presence in Malaysia and builds on our operations. Together with Paydibs, we are expanding inclusion and supporting sustainable economic growth for merchants and communities alike.” Looking ahead, both companies view this collaboration as a foundation for a more inclusive and interoperable regional payments ecosystem, starting with social security contributions and extending to a wider range of merchant payments. Paydibs and AltPayNet aim to strengthen financial resilience for overseas communities while enabling businesses to benefit from a more integrated regional payments ecosystem.

KUALA LUMPUR: Paydibs Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s merchant-first payment gateway, has partnered with AltPayNet, a Philippines-based global payment service provider, to strengthen financial interoperability and inclusion by delivering seamless payment services for overseas communities and regional merchants. Through this partnership, AltPayNet will leverage Paydibs’ locally licensed payment infrastructure in Malaysia to enable secure and compliant payment interoperability, between the two markets. By linking AltPayNet’s network with Paydibs’ in-market payment rails, the collaboration establishes an integrated framework that supports broader access to essential financial services while aligning with regional objectives to promote interoperable retail payments across Asean. Paydibs CEO Tee Kean Kang said this partnership reflects Paydibs’ commitment to advancing financial connectivity through inclusive and interoperable payment solutions.

By supporting services such as Social Security System (SSS) contributions on their platform, they are helping overseas communities remain financially connected and secure using trusted and compliant local payment infrastructure, he added. The initial rollout will focus on enabling Filipinos residing in Malaysia to make contributions directly to the Philippines’ SSS – the equivalent of Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund. This provides a reliable and convenient way for overseas Filipinos to keep their social security contributions up to date, and maintain access to essentials services at home. AltPayNet CEO Don Vacal said, “Our goal is to ensure financial access empowers Filipino families and communities, wherever they are. By partnering with Paydibs, we can offer secure, interoperable and compliant payment services that help overseas Filipinos meet essential obligations such as SSS contributions, while also opening new opportunities for merchants

AME Elite to build RM214m aviation facility JOHOR BHARU: AME Elite Consortium Bhd, a builder of integrated industrial spaces, via its wholly owned subsidiary AME Construction Sdn Bhd, has been awarded a RM214.1 million contract by KLIA Aeropolis Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), to construct a specialised Test Cell Facility (Phase 1) in Sepang, Selangor. The project is scheduled for completion within 12 months, commencing February 2026 and concluding in January 2027. Construction of the specialised aircraft engine Test Cell Facility at KLIA Aeropolis is set to begin in February 2026 and be completed within 12 months.

aviation facilities and our signature industrial parks.” He added that the award validates their ability to deliver with precision and speed under strict safety standards and they are well positioned to meet the rising demand for high specification and high-performance buildings in Malaysia’s fast-growing sectors. The project is expected to contribute positively to the group’s earnings for the financial year ending March 31, 2027. Following the latest award, AME Elite’s construction and engineering division has secured over RM600 million worth of external projects since the beginning of the financial year.

Executive director and group CEO Dylan Tan Teck Eng said: “Being entrusted with this landmark project is a key milestone for AME Elite, demonstrating our technical capabilities and adding to our accolades of significant projects. The project contributes to the national blueprint to grow the aerospace industry. Our construction and engineering foundation is supported by an integrated model that has successfully delivered a diverse portfolio, ranging from customised logistics, pharmaceutical and manufacturing buildings to

The project is designed to meet the rigorous safety and technical requirements of aircraft engine testing, leveraging AME Elite’s construction and engineering expertise in executing high-specification industrial projects. The contract involves the main building works for the aeronautical facility.