06/05/2026

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | MAY 6, 2026

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No major risk to M’sian semiconductor industry o Energy supply and raw materials not a major concern for now, says Johari

Hata is Malaysia’s first fully syariah-compliant digital asset platform PETALING JAYA: Hata Digital Sdn Bhd, a licensed and regulated digital asset exchange (DAX) under the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), has obtained syariah certi fication for its platform, making Hata the first digital asset exchange in Malaysia to achieve this milestone. The milestone arrives as Hata enters a high growth phase, having processed over RM1.04 billion in total transactions in 2025, with peak monthly fiat deposits reaching RM28.7 million. Following a year-long review by an independent syariah adviser, Amanie Advisors Sdn Bhd, Hata’s digital asset trading platform was assessed to ensure that its platform and operations are aligned with syariah principles. With the global Islamic fintech market projected to surge to US$341 billion by 2029, Hata’s syariah-compliant infrastructure ensures Malaysia remains a conducive ecosystem for ethical digital finance. With the global Islamic fintech market projected to expand significantly in the coming years, Hata’s syariah-certified platform positions Malaysia to remain at the forefront of ethical digital finance innovation. Hata co-founder and CEO David Low said, “When we first launched Hata, many of our Muslim users told us how important it was for them to have access to a platform that aligns with syariah principles. We took that seriously and made a deliberate commitment to build a platform that meets those expectations.” Amanie Advisors CEO Suhaida Mahpot said, “We are proud to support Hata in achieving this significant milestone as Malaysia’s first syariah-compliant digital asset platform. Following a comprehensive review, we are satisfied that the platform meets established syariah requirements across its operations and offerings.” foodpanda introduces centralised delivery pick-up service at Berjaya Times Square PETALING JAYA: foodpanda Malaysia has launched pandaxpress at Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur, marking the country’s first integrated mall-wide ordering initiative. By centralising order collection through a single pickup point, delivery partners can now collect multiple orders without navigating between individual vendors. Dedicated mall pickers handle the in-mall collection from various outlets and consolidate them at a central kiosk. This eliminates the need for delivery partners to traverse the mall, which significantly reduces transit bottlenecks and enables faster, more efficient deliveries to customers. Managing director Kenneth Soh said, “The introduction of pandaxpress marks a significant leap in our mission to enhance the delivery experience in Malaysia. Our goal is to reduce the friction typically associated with mall delivery by optimising the supply chain from the vendors to the customer. The initial phase demonstrated strong reliability and set a new benchmark for speed in urban areas. With this official launch, we are bringing a new level of convenience to more Malaysians.” In its first 30 days of operation, pandaxpress recorded about 6% increase in successful orders compared to December 2025, with average delivery times improving by nearly 10% during the pilot period. Merchant participation also saw a notable rise as the active vendor base grew by more than 50%, reflecting strong interest from mall tenants. Foodpanda Malaysia intends to introduce pandaxpress to other selected malls in the months to come.

traffic. Meanwhile, Johari said that while Malaysia has established strong capabilities in the back-end segment, there is a growing need to expand into front-end activities such as wafer fabrication. He said that attracting foreign investment will continue to play a key role in accelerating the country’s ambitions in high-value semiconductor manufacturing. “So, if we are not ready to do it, then we have to invite investors to come. So, Infineon is one of the examples; they have come to do wafer fabrication in Kulim,” he said. On another development, Johari said Malaysia has begun allocating technology tokens secured under its agreement with Arm Holdings to accelerate domestic integrated circuit (IC) design capabilities and strengthen industry collaboration. “We have a basic IC design, about 25 tokens that they have given to us. And then the advanced one, we have seven. “So out of seven, we have given three to some of the industry players so that they cooperate with the local companies,” he said. As for the basic IC design allocation, about five companies are currently involved, with the rollout still ongoing, he said, adding that Malaysia has a four-year timeframe to fully utilise the tokens and identify suitable partners to maximise their use. The agreement with Arm Holdings was undertaken to provide Malaysia access to the company’s semiconductor intellectual property. – Bernama heighten consumer anxiety and prompt more cautious spending behaviour. “Consumers are going out less and spending more time at home, partly because buying beer from a supermarket is significantly cheaper than drinking in a pub. “This shift has been evident over the past two to three years and is likely to persist. Broader geopolitical tensions, including the war in Iran, add to macroeconomic instability, which in turn heightens consumer anxiety and encourages more cautious spending, with people preferring to save. “In Malaysia, however, there is no clear indication of a significant decline in consumption, although this trend is more noticeable in Singapore. “Globally, the group operates as a total beverage player, while in Singapore it remains more focused on alcoholic drinks, with gradual expansion underway,” Clini said. For the financial year ended Dec 31, 2025 (FY25), Carlsberg Malaysia posted an 11.4% year-on-year increase in net profit to RM375.6 million from RM337.1 million, on the back of revenue of RM2.3 billion. Regarding prospects, the group remains cautious amid geopolitical tensions, volatility in energy and input costs, and broader macroeconomic uncertainty. “Against this backdrop, our priorities for 2026 will centre on disciplined value manage ment, cost optimisation and prudent resource allocation, while we continue to innovate and invest in our brands, brewery capabilities and digital transformation initiatives. “Through consistent execution and financial discipline, we aim to strengthen resilience and reinforce our commitment to long-term sustainable value creation,” Clini said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia does not see energy supply or raw material shortages as a major risk to its semiconductor industry at this stage, supported by its status as a net gas exporter, Investment, Trade and In dustry Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said. He said the country is a net importer of oil but a net exporter of gas, with sufficient reserves to support industrial expansion. “At this moment, we have not seen that as a serious concern,” he told reporters after the launch of Semicon Southeast Asia 2026 here yesterday. Johari said Malaysia currently exports most of its surplus gas, but there is potential to make better domestic use of the resource to support industrial development, including energy-intensive sectors. On possible supply risks involving raw materials such as helium used in semiconductor production, he said the situation remains manageable for now but is subject to global developments. “The only problem is actually whoever gets the supply from West Asia, as long as there is a war going on, you can see the shortage about to be seen,” he said. Despite global uncertainties, Johari said investor sentiment towards the country’s KUALA LUMPUR: Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd will focus on ensuring business continuity in 2026 amid soaring energy prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Group managing director Stefano Clini said the group will conduct a detailed assessment of all raw materials and technical inputs to identify potential risks that could disrupt operations, including brewing, packing, shipping, and sales. “Based on this evaluation, there are no immediate concerns, and the business is expected to continue operating as normal. Cost, however, remains a separate issue. “There will be an impact on costs, and inflation in the country is expected to rise. However, there is significant uncertainty around both the magnitude and duration, so it is not possible to provide a definitive figure at this stage. “The company is therefore focusing on scenario planning, assessing both best- and worst-case outcomes to ensure it is prepared to manage the situation. This approach is not new, as the company has navigated multiple macroeconomic shocks and periods of hyperinflation in recent years,“ he told reporters after the group’s 56th annual general meeting yesterday. Clini said the group has experience operating in high-inflation environments, including periods when food inflation reached 15%, and input costs rose by around 10%, and is accustomed to managing such conditions. “We rely on a well-established toolkit – covering cost control, value management, portfolio optimisation, and pricing—to Ű BY JOHN GILBERT sunbiz@thesundaily.com

semiconductor sector remains encouraging, with companies continuing to move ahead with their plans. “As far as I am concerned, I think we must continue to engage with them. But so far, I think everyone (industry players) is eager to proceed,” he said. He said the semiconductor segment remains a key pillar within Malaysia’s electrical and electronics (E&E) industry, which recorded exports of about RM711 billion in 2025. “Out of the RM711 billion in the E&E sector, there are RM465 million exports of semiconductors. By 2030, semiconductors alone are expected to reach a global market size of about US$1 trillion (US$1=RM3.95). So, this is a lot of opportunity (for Malaysia) going forward. “Malaysia must strengthen its semicon ductor ecosystem to capture future growth opportunities and remain competitive in the evolving global landscape,” he said. He said that the industry, valued at about US$630 billion (RM1.4 trillion) in 2024, is expected to expand rapidly, driven primarily by the surge in artificial intelligence infrastructure, including demand for high performance data centres, servers and network equipment to support rising data

Carlsberg Malaysia prioritises business continuity

navigate these pressures, and will continue to apply and adapt these measures with speed and discipline. “Suppliers are expected to manage their own cost structures, although the company remains open to collaboration where mutual efficiencies can be achieved. “Some cost increases from suppliers are anticipated and viewed as inevitable, and the company is preparing to manage these challenges with the same approach that has proven effective in the past,” he added. Clini said the group has also observed some off-trade and on-trade trends among consumers amid the geopolitical tensions. The trend observed over the past three years is expected to continue this year, with a sustained shift from on-trade to off-trade consumption, reflecting increased at-home consumption, he said, adding that this is consistent with periods of macroeconomic instability, which tend to Clini speaking at Carlsberg Malaysia’s annual general meeting yesterday.