28/04/2026

BIZ & FINANCE TUESDAY | APR 28, 2026

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Communication agility essential, conference told

Petronas Dagangan commits to keeping Malaysia reliably supplied KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Dagangan Bhd (PDB) is prepared to perform well despite ongoing global changes and shifting energy policies, and remains committed to keeping Malaysia moving by ensuring a reliable supply, supporting national priorities, and delivering sustainable value to shareholders. Managing director and CEO Azrul Osman Rani said the financial year of 2025 (FY2025) tested the company’s discipline and resilience amid a dynamic operating environment. He said the PDB’s performance was anchored by the strength of its core businesses, supported by steady operations and growing digital adoption. “Our priority is our customers, and we are committed to meeting their needs while remaining mindful of costs,” he said in a statement released after PDB’s 44th annual general meeting yesterday. Looking ahead to 2026, Azrul said PDB priorities are to further strengthen its core, scale digital adoption and embed sustainability, ensuring the business remains resilient and well positioned for the future. “While the outlook for the industry is expected to be challenging in the coming months, due to the impact of the crisis in West Asia, PDB remains committed to ensuring that meeting domestic fuel requirements will continue to be our priority,” he added. To recap, PDB’s FY2025 net profit edged up to RM1.1 billion from RM1.09 billion a year earlier, while its revenue rose 1% to RM38.27 billion from RM37.95 billion, underpinned by a two per cent increase in sales volume despite a one per cent decline in average selling prices. – Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: Uzma Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary, Uzma Engineering Sdn Bhd, has secured a Portable Water Injection Module (PWIM) contract from Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd under the Bayan Redevelopment Phase 3 project, strengthening its production solutions segment. The contract covers the provision of leasing, as well as operation and maintenance services for the PWIM. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the energy and technology company said the scope includes the design, engineering, procurement, construction and transportation of one PWIM unit within a one-year period, followed by installation, commissioning, as well as operation and maintenance. It said the contract is for a duration of seven years, with an option for a further two-year extension. The contract is effective from March 27, 2026, and will remain valid for up to eight years unless extended or earlier terminated in accordance with its terms and conditions. Uzma group CEO Datuk Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed said the contract reflects the group’s continued efforts to strengthen its capabilities across the production solutions space, positioning it to support operators at various stages of field development. “As part of our second Five-Year Plan, our focus remains on strengthening our core businesses, expanding our capabilities, and building a more resilient portfolio anchored on long cycle, recurring income assets,” he said. Following the award, Uzma will continue to deploy its portable and modular water injection solutions to support efficient field development. – Bernama Uzma Engineering secures Petronas Carigali contract

and competitiveness, communication can no longer be treated as a supporting function. Communication is now uplifted as a strategic management discipline and must evolve into a leadership capability that enables alignment, confidence and decisive action across increasingly complex stakeholder environ ments,” she added. She further emphasised that many organisational failures today are not caused by lack of planning, intelligence or resources but by structural weaknesses, such as slow decision-making, siloed communication, excessive approval layers and the inability to respond effectively in real time. “Most initiatives do not fail because of poor planning alone. They fail because com munication collapses under pressure. “When organisations are too slow, too fragmented or too rigid, trust erodes quickly and opportunities are lost,” she said. Addressing the role of technology, Zuraida noted that while AI can significantly enhance communication speed, analytics, and content generation, it cannot replace human judge ment, credibility and trust-building. “AI scales communication and agility protect reputation. “Technology can accelerate outcome but leadership is still required to make sound judgement and decisions, read context and respond with humanity,” she said.

ment and more adaptive leadership responses. “We are no longer operating in the communication environment we knew even a few years ago. “Today’s world is always-on, AI-driven and highly reactive. Communication these days is constantly and continuously shaped in real time by stakeholders, platforms, and public perception,” said Zuraida, who is also the principal consultant of Zeta M Consulting and exco member of Public Relations and Communications Association of Malaysia. She noted that this shift is especially relevant for Malaysia, which the country and global are experiencing project-driven economy, where project and investment activities continue to expand rapidly across industries. Recent reports from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority highlighted that Malaysia approved 8,390 projects in 2025, the highest investment level ever recorded with RM426.7 billion approved investments and expected to create 244,902 jobs. This is in comparison with the RM384.4 billion recorded in 2024, illustrating an 11.0% increase from 2024 and continued growth in the country’s investment performance. These figures reinforce how project activity remains central to national advancement, competitiveness and economic transformation. “As projects become more central to growth

KUALA LUMPUR: As organisations navigate an increasingly complex environment shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), instant stakeholder reactions, and heightened reputation risks, communication agility has emerged as a critical leadership capability for sustaining trust, shaping perception, and managing crisis in real time. Speaking at Connect & Influence 2026: Corporate Communications in a Shifting World conference at a hotel here recently, Strategic Communications and Project Management specialist, Zuraida Malek, urged corporate communication and public relations professionals to broaden their role beyond traditional messaging functions and reposition themselves as strategic enablers of organisational resilience and leadership. Delivering her session titled “Communi cation Agility in the Age of AI: Leading Perception, Trust and Crisis in Real Time”, Zuraida highlighted that the communication landscape has fundamentally changed, requiring faster judgement, stronger align o Specialist says today’s world is always-on, AI-driven and highly reactive

The facility introduces air-knife coating technology to the region.

Amcor opens healthcare packaging coating facility KUALA LUMPUR: Global packaging solutions company Amcor opened an advanced healthcare packaging coating facility in Subang Jaya, Selangor on April 24, representing an investment of over US$35 million (RM138 million). hub for healthcare packaging, enhancing supply chain resilience through local access.” Mida CEO Datuk Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said Amcor’s investment reinforces Malaysia’s position as a strategic centre for advanced manufacturing in the region. president Chris Kenneally said the facility underscores the company’s long-term commitment to supporting its partners in the healthcare sector across Asia Pacific. “It also demonstrates the strength of collaboration across our global network in bringing advanced capabilities to the region and serving customers more effectively.”

Facilitated by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), the facility marks a significant expansion of Amcor’s manufacturing footprint in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. In a joint statement, Mida said the facility introduces air-knife coating technology to the region for the production of coated medical paper used in sterile medical device packaging. “This investment further strengthens Malaysia’s position as an integrated regional

“Beyond expanding capacity, this facility strengthens local supply chain resilience, accelerates technology adoption and supports the development of skilled Malaysian talent, in line with the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and our National Investment Aspirations. “Mida will continue to facilitate high-quality investments that generate sustainable, long term value for Malaysia,” he said. Meanwhile, Amcor Flexibles Asia Pacific

According to Mida, Amcor’s investment adds to a growing pipeline of high-value commitments to Malaysia’s medical device industry. In 2025, Malaysia approved RM152 million in medical device investments, signalling sustained global confidence in the country as a preferred manufacturing base for the healthcare industry. – Bernama