09/04/2026

BIZ & FINANCE THURSDAY | APR 9, 2026

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KLANG: Malaysia may have no choice but to adopt nuclear energy in the long term as it accelerates its energy transition, although any shift cannot be immediate, Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said. He said the government is studying nuclear energy as part of its efforts to diversify Malaysia’s energy sources and reduce reliance on existing sources, but stressed that any transition must be gradual due to technical requirements and public perception. “We cannot move from gas or diesel to nuclear suddenly. We must also recognise that our society is not like more advanced countries where people understand that nuclear power is not inherently negative. But ultimately, we have no choice, we U Mobile CEO Wong Heang Tuck said, “U Mobile has a long track record for winning awards, from being the eight-time winner of Frost & Sullivan’s Malaysian Mobile Services Company of the Year, to being recognised for having Best Prepaid and Best Postpaid in 2025 from reputable media. Most recently, we were named Fastest 5G Network in Malaysia by Ookla, for our performance in Q3 and Q4 of 2025. “We are delighted to add another accolade for having the Fastest 5G Network Rollout from Malaysia Book of Records. This benchmark is testament to the dedication and commitment we have towards accelerating Malaysia’s digital economy and transformation goals. Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com PETALING Mobile, Malaysia’s newest 5G network provider, was presented with the Malaysia Book of Records Award for the Fastest 5G Network Rollout in the country at a ceremony yesterday. U Mobile’s rapid next-gen 5G deployment has enabled the company to achieve 80% CoPA (coverage of populated area) in less than nine months after it started rollout and more than three months ahead of its July 2026 deadline, setting a new benchmark for network deployment speed. The discipline, capability and commitment demonstrated in its outdoor rollout extends equally to its in-building coverage (IBC) deployment. The company revealed it is also on track to meet its target of 175 IBC sites by July 2026. The award from Malaysia Book of Records was presented at a ceremony witnessed by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching. Speaking at the event, Teo highlighted that the recognition by the Malaysia Book of Records for U Mobile’s fastest 5G rollout reflects its strong leadership, technical capability and industry collaboration in delivering next-generation connectivity to Malaysians. The achievement underscores the impact of the Dual 5G Network model in driving competition, innovation, and better service quality, while the government remains focused on ensuring reliable, accessible, and affordable connectivity in line with the Madani vision, she said. JAYA: U

U Mobile enters Malaysia Book of Records for fastest 5G rollout

and pilot production capabilities, enabling food and beverage brands to develop, test and commercialise plant-based products more efficiently and accelerate time to market. “It also leverages advanced aseptic packaging technology that allows products to be stored for up to 12 months without refrigeration, while incorporating recyclable, paper-based materials and energy efficient systems to reduce environ mental impact.” The collaboration demonstrates how private sector innovation can complement government policies in building a more sustainable, climate resilient food ecosystem, while positioning Malaysia as a leading bioeconomy hub in the region, Mohammad Yusof said. Malaysia’s plant-based beverage market is projected to expand from US$18.5 billion (RM74 billion) in 2025 to US$39.7 billion by 2031. development and reliability and security, we’ve made our new ULTRA5G products simple and flexible for our customers, while also offering industry-first features such as prioritisation, not just for enterprises but also for prepaid and postpaid customers. We are committed to unlocking potential and powering possibilities for all Malaysia with ULTRA5G,” Wong said. U Mobile’s next-gen 5G network is designed to deliver high-speed, low latency and reliable connectivity across the country, supporting growing data demands and ensuring seamless user experiences. On top of being engineered with advanced 5G-A technologies for superior performance, U Mobile’s next-gen 5G network is also ultra secure as the company is the first telco to have network-based voice and SMS firewall – to date, U Mobile has blocked over 390 million scam calls and fraudulent SMS from reaching their customers. Soon, U Mobile will also be the first Malaysian telco to have network-embedded Security-as-a Service. During the ceremony, U Mobile shared that this expanded coverage goes beyond infrastructure as it is enabling practical, real-world impact. Consumers can enjoy ultra smooth live streaming, crystal clear video calls and responsive gaming even in crowded areas, while businesses gain access to high performance and scalable connectivity to support digital transformation across sectors such as retail, manufacturing, healthcare and logistics. At the same time, the telco is committed to fostering a strong 5G ecosystem by collaborating with partners and enterprises to co-create next generation solutions and accelerate innovation across Malaysia’s digital economy.

o Company achieves 80% coverage of populated area in less than nine months and more than three months ahead of July 2026 deadline, setting new benchmark for network deployment speed

From left: U Mobile deputy CEO Kenneth Chang, Wong, chief technology officer Woon Ooi Yuen, Teo, Malaysia Book of Records CEO Christopher Wong, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission managing director Abdul Karim Fakir Ali and Malaysia Book of Records record consultant Megat Faris.

maximise

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our July 2026 deadline.” He added that this award is very timely as they have just launched all new ULTRA5G prepaid, postpaid and enterprise plans that really

This is not the only good news, we are also delighted to report that we achieved 80% CoPA in less than nine months after rollout began and we are more than three months ahead of

capabilities. “Even with growing demand for complex network solutions that require greater performance,

‘M’sia may have no choice but to adopt nuclear energy in long term’

exposure to global fuel price vola tility. Separately, Malaysian plant-based innovator Pure Mylk has partnered with Tetra Pak to develop and scale plant-based functional beverages locally, leveraging advanced pro cessing, packaging and R&D capa bilities. Mohammad Yusof said the centre marks a step towards transforming Malaysia’s food and beverage land scape into a more sustainable, resilient and innovation-driven eco system, particularly as global challenges in food security and climate change intensify. “The initiative aligns with the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2021–2030 and supports the government’s target for the biotechnology sector to con tribute 5% to GDP by 2030 under the National Biotechnology Policy 2.0.” The deputy minister said the centre provides integrated research

Malaysia is still dependent on existing energy sources and must explore alternative methods. “Gas remains cheaper and more sustainable in Sabah, while reliance on diesel would lead to significantly higher costs and ultimately burden consumers.” Malaysia’s power mix remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with coal and natural gas accounting for the bulk of electricity generation. Coal contributes about 42-44% of generation, followed by gas at around 33-36%, while low-carbon sources account for only about 20-22%. Overall, fossil fuels make up about 80% of Malaysia’s electricity supply. Nuclear energy has been studied in Malaysia for over a decade as part of long-term energy planning, but has not been implemented due to concerns over safety, radioactive waste management and high development costs. Renewed interest has emerged amid rising electricity demand and

need to use it for the good of the country,” Mohammad Yusof told reporters at the launch of Malaysia’s dedicated plant-based beverage innovation hub, a collaboration between Pure Mylk and Tetra Pak yesterday. He said nuclear power is often seen as dangerous, but it has multiple applications, including as a more efficient, reliable and long-term energy source for the future. “That is why we need to educate the public. We cannot adopt nuclear energy immediately. Public acceptance is crucial.” The approach, he said, will be nationwide depending on state readiness as immediate imple mentation could have implications if the public is not comfortable or does not understand the shift. He added that more advanced countries also implement such transitions gra dually. Currently, Mohammad Yusof said,