05/03/2026

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | MAR 5, 2026

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Selangor names Top 10 life sciences firms

o Demo Day highlights startups eligible for RM50,000–250,000 potential investment following seven-month accelerator

Seated (from left): Hasan Azhari Idris, Ng, and NEXEA founder Ben Lim with winners and participants of the Selangor Life Sciences Accelerator Programme 2025.

SHAH ALAM: Selangor’s ambition to lead Southeast Asia’s life sciences innovation landscape took a bold step forward with the Selangor Life Sciences Accelerator Programme (SLSAP) 2025, which concluded with a high-impact Demo Day, unveiling its Top 10 breakthrough companies and opening pathways for potential investments of RM50,000 to RM250,000 per company. Launched by Invest Selangor in October 2025, the seven-month accelerator attracted 168 applications from early-stage and growth-focused companies across biotechnology, digital health, agritech, healthcare platforms, advanced materials and sustainability solutions. Following a competitive screening process, 21 high-potential companies were selected to undergo an intensive acceleration program. Throughout the programme, founders received more than 280 hours of structured mentoring, combining investor-grade evaluation, scientific validation support, commercialisation strategy and capital readiness coaching. Participants also benefited from curated masterclasses, strategic networking sessions and direct exposure to industry leaders and venture capital stakeholders. Delivered in partnership with NEXEA, the accelerator provides structured access to capital and commercial pathways through its venture ecosystem. While final commitments remain subject to due diligence and investment committee approval, participating companies may be eligible for funding, reinforcing Expogaya Sdn Bhd via its wholly owned unit Jesselton Concrete Sdn Bhd has secured a materials supply contract valued at approximately RM15.51 million. The contract was awarded by China Communications Construction Company (M) Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Communications Construction Co Ltd (CCCC), one of the world’s leading infrastructure construction groups. Under the agreement, Jesselton Concrete will serve as the priority supplier of multiple grades of ready mixed concrete for the ESTEEL Ore Terminal Project in Sabah, ensuring consistent material supply to support the project’s construction requirements. Jesselton Concrete will oversee delivered duty paid (DDP) logistics under the contract, assuming full responsibility for freight management and transportation risks until the materials reach the project site. To support the project’s

Selangor’s commitment to building scalable, investor-ready, science driven companies. At the Demo Day, founders delivered high-impact pitching presentations, outlining their market opportunity, business models, commercial traction and growth strategies before an audience of investors, corporate partners, ecosystem stakeholders, and media representatives. The session focused on capital readiness, scalability and strategic positioning, with companies articulating clear pathways to revenue expansion, regulatory progress where applicable, and regional or global market entry. Selangor State executive councillor for Investment, Trade and Mobility Ng Sze Han said this Demo Day reflects Selangor’s continued commitment to building a strong and competitive life sciences ecosystem. “Through the Selangor Life Sciences Accelerator Programme 2025, we are not only nurturing high potential companies, but also strengthening the commercialisation pipeline that connects innovation to industry, investment and global markets. “Supporting these companies is part of our broader strategy to position Selangor as a leading hub for life sciences, advanced technology and high-value economic growth in the region” he said. Invest Selangor Bhd CEO Datuk Hasan Azhari Idris said through the Selangor Life Sciences Accelerator Programme 2025, the agency focuses on helping founders build strong fundamentals, real commercial demanding construction timeline, the group will also provide night-time and round-the-clock delivery services whenever required. The contract carries favourable commercial terms for the group, with China Communications Construction required to make 100% upfront payment for each order. This arrangement materially reduces the group’s credit risk exposure while strengthening its cash flow visibility for the project. Meta Bright executive director of corporate and strategic planning Derek Phang Kiew Lim said winning a supply mandate from a contractor of CCCC’s calibre is a meaningful validation of the group’s operational capabilities in Sabah, reflecting its strong logistics network, reliable batching plant capacity and ability to deliver consistently under demanding project timelines. “This is a customer that demands absolute reliability – priority allocation, round-the-clock delivery, and zero tolerance for supply disruption. “The fact that Jesselton Concrete

For background, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) reduced the OPR by 25 basis points to 2.75% at its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on July 9, 2025, in what it described as a pre-emptive policy adjustment. “Subdued inflation and ongoing external uncertainties could keep the central bank on hold as it evaluates growth trends in the coming quarters. “We will watch for tweaks to the forward guidance paragraph, in particular BNM’s characterisation of its monetary policy stance, which in January 2026 was ‘appropriate and supportive’. “With Middle East geopolitical risks on the rise, we would now also watch for clues to whether BNM’s bias skews towards growth support or inflation vigilance,“ the research note said. It also added that BNM, in an accompanying Q4 GDP release, had stressed that inflationary pressures had become less broad-based during the quarter under review. – Bernama platforms and sustainable material innovation – collectively reflecting the breadth and commercial promise of Selangor’s life sciences landscape. The Selangor Life Sciences Accelerator Programme 2025, the upcoming Invest Selangor SME – Investor Linkages Programme, the Mid-Tier Development Programme, as well as Selangor Career Outreach and Local Business Connect, are not isolated initiatives. They form part of a long-term economic strategy to ensure that Selangor companies are not only surviving but also growing, competing, and leading in an increasingly competitive regional landscape. As investment discussions progress following Demo Day, the 2025 cohort is poised to enter its next growth phase, advancing from acceleration to active fundraising and expansion.

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is expected to keep the overnight policy rate (OPR) at 2.75% when the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meet today, according to Standard Chartered Bank. In a research note yesterday, Standard Chartered said the January 2026 monetary policy statement indicated that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) remains comfortable maintaining the OPR at its current level, noting the absence of hawkish signals that would point to a near term reversal of the pre-emptive rate cut implemented in July 2025. The MPC had maintained the OPR at 2.75% at the November 2025 and January 2026 MPC meetings. “Malaysia’s fourth quarter (Q4) 2025 GDP growth was revised up to 6.3% year-on-year (y-o-y) from 5.7%. This lifted full-year 2025 GDP growth to 5.2%, exceeding expectations. “The stronger growth outcome could raise questions about whether BNM may unwind its July 2025 rate cut,” Standard Chartered said. Outreach (SCOUT) and Local Business Connect (LBC) continue to play a critical role in strengthening the broader ecosystem, especially for talents and SMEs. SCOUT enhances talent accessibility and workforce-industry alignment, while LBC strengthens domestic supply chain linkages and business networking opportunities across the state. The companies recognised as the Top 10 companies of the 2025 cohort, representing diverse high-impact segments within life sciences and health innovation are: PlusVibes, YSBiotik Sdn Bhd, GreenSHeart Sdn Bhd, Bioloop Sdn Bhd, Materials In Works, Ocean Rich Resources, Microbiome Sdn Bhd, Health Digital Technologies Sdn Bhd (DoctorOnCall), Pixelence Sdn Bhd, and Promed Health Ventures Sdn Bhd. These companies span advanced microbial solutions, biotechnology applications, digital healthcare

was selected as the designated priority supplier reflects the depth of our batching plant network and our ability to execute under demanding timelines. “More broadly, this contract adds to our order visibility across Sabah’s expanding industrial and infrastructure sectors. We remain focused on disciplined execution and converting East Malaysia’s infrastructure demand into sustainable, recurring earnings for our shareholders,” he said. CCCC is a Fortune Global 500-listed infrastructure group widely recognised as the world’s largest port design and construction company, with operations spanning major infrastructure projects worldwide. Its Malaysian arm, China Communications Construction (M) Sdn Bhd, undertakes the investment, construction and operation of transportation infrastructure and large-scale development projects across the country, drawing on the extensive resources, engineering expertise and global network of the CCCC group. traction and investor-ready execution. “Beyond the programme, selected companies will continue to receive potential investments of up to RM250k each by NEXEA, and support through the Entrepreneurs Programme and the Entrepreneurs Summit – connecting them to mentors, investors who have grown RM1billion/year revenue companies to scale them further,” he said. SLSAP has demonstrated that Selangor possesses not only strong entrepreneurial talent, but also a robust and supportive ecosystem capable of driving growth in high value sectors such as life sciences. Building on this success, Invest Selangor will further expand its support for local series in 2026 through the Invest Selangor SME – Investor Linkages Programme and the Mid-Tier Development Programme. At the same time, various ongoing initiatives such as Selangor Career

Meta Bright wins RM15.5m ready-mixed concrete supply contract from CCCC KUALA LUMPUR: Meta Bright Group Bhd’s 70%-owned subsidiary

OPR expected to remain at 2.75% at MPC meeting: StanChart