22/05/2026

BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | MAY 22, 2026

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Turning big ideas into real client outcomes

Betamek Q4 PAT rises 67%, full-year PBT hits record RM40.4 million KUALA LUMPUR: Betamek Bhd, an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) and a player in electronics components manufacturing for the automotive industry, announced a record-breaking financial performance for the fourth quarter and financial year ended March 31, 2026 (Q4 FYE2026 and FYE2026), supported by higher sales volume, stronger product mix and continued progress in customer and export market diversification. For Q4 FYE2026, the group recorded revenue of RM66.03 million, representing a 10.5% year-on-year increase from RM59.74 million in the corresponding quarter last year. Profit before tax (PBT) rose 31.9% to RM9.57 million, compared to RM7.25 million previously, while profit after tax (PAT) increased 67.1% to RM8.43 million from RM5.04 million. Gross profit for the quarter rose 46.5% to RM15.39 million, with gross profit margin improving to 23.3%, compared with 17.6% in the corresponding quarter last year. For the full financial year, Betamek delivered a record performance across its top line, midline and bottom line. Revenue increased 15.6% year-on-year to RM275.51 million, from RM238.30 million in FYE2025, while gross profit surged 56.7% to RM58.85 million from RM37.56 million. Full-year PBT rose 26.4% to RM40.41 million, while PAT increased 32.0% to RM33.15 million, compared with RM25.11 million in the preceding financial year. “FYE2026 marks another record breaking year for Betamek Group, with growth achieved across revenue, gross profit and net profit,” executive director Muhammad Fauzi Abd Ghani said. “The results reflect the strength of our execution, the resilience of automotive demand, and the benefits of our continued focus on product mix, operational efficiency and customer diversification.” The group’s revenue remained primarily anchored by the automotive products segment, with vehicle audio and video products contributing RM173.19 million, or 62.9% of total revenue for FYE2026.

o Malaysia’s top financial planning minds converge at annual symposium The Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM) held its Annual Signature Financial Planning Symposium 2026, themed “Bridging the Gap: From Blueprint to Reality” on Wednesday. The full-day event brought together leading voices in financial planning, fintech, wealth management, and behavioural finance. The symposium was officially opened by FPAM president Alvin Tan, followed by a keynote address by Securities Commission Malaysia market development director, Shahrul Amry Abd Malek. Reflecting on the successful gathering and the insights shared throughout the day, Tan said: “As a profession, we have built strong frameworks, developed rigorous qualifications, and refined the art of crafting comprehensive financial plans. “But the harder question is whether those plans are truly being translated into outcomes that make a real difference in people’s lives. “That gap – between what we plan and what we actually deliver – is where I believe our profession must direct its focus and its energy.” The programme featured five substantive sessions covering the most critical and forward looking topics shaping the profession. The first session explored the complexities of private wealth planning for future generations. Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Malaysia chairperson Farah Deba examined the unknown variables that challenge even the most carefully crafted financial blueprints. This was followed by sessions on the rapidly evolving digital landscape. VeriBridge Sdn Bhd co-founder and technology expert, Anthony Leung provided advisors with a foundational understanding of asset tokenisation, Real World Assets (RWA), and decentralised finance (DeFi) within the Malaysian regulatory framework. Fintech Association of Malaysia (FAOM) president Anil Singh Gill, then addressed the PETALING JAYA:

(From left) corporate communications & social media manager Sheryn Wong, FPAM board members Violette Goh and David Lee; FPSB chairperson-elect (2026-27) Eunice Chan; Shahrul Amry Abdul Malek ; Tan; FPAM vice-president II Dr Calvin Goon; FPAM honorary rreasurer Professor Datuk Dr Chua Hock Hoo; FPAM board member Dr Joyce Chuah and FPAM general manager Alice Wong.

growing influence of AI on the financial planning landscape. The consensus was clear: AI must be harnessed as an enabler – helping advisors navigate complexity while keeping service delivery client-centric, personalised, and anchored in each individual’s financial goals. “FPAM’s commitment remains what it has always been: to build the conditions in which financial planning professionals can do their best work, and through them, to see more Malaysians achieve genuine and lasting financial security,” Tan said “Bridging the gap from blueprint to reality is not a slogan. It is the work we are all here to do.” The FPAM Annual Signature Financial Planning Symposium 2026 reflected the association’s enduring commitment to professional development and its role in building a financial planning profession that is equipped, ethical, and responsive to the evolving needs of Malaysians.

risks of artificial intelligence (AI) in financial planning while emphasising the importance of preserving the integrity of the client-planner relationship. The afternoon session on the psychology of money, presented by Nadhirah Ibrahim, senior research analyst at the Institute for Capital Market Research Malaysia (ICMR), delved into the behavioural forces that drive financial decision-making and offered practical tools for advisors. The symposium concluded with a high-level panel discussion moderated by Dr Selina Dang. The distinguished panellists were Kenanga Investors Bhd CEO and executive director, Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis; Whitman Independent Advisors vice-president Teh Jiansheng; IPP Wealth Managers investment strategist director and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan; and Buffalo Investment Agency founder Terence Ng. A key theme across the sessions was the

Gentari puts safety at the heart of LSS5 construction KEDAH: Gentari’s senior leaders

energy partner, translating national ambition into tangible impact for industries, businesses and the wider energy ecosystem.” Once operational, the project is expected to contribute towards reducing Malaysia’s reliance on fossil fuels, lowering carbon emissions by an estimated 166,766 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year and enhancing long-term energy resilience. It is also anticipated to generate positive local economic impact through job creation during the construction phase, as well as for longer-term operations and maintenance activities. LSS5 supports the Northern Corridor Economic Region by delivering reliable clean energy that attracts higher-value investments and drives sustainable regional growth. The project aligns with the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030) and the

Malaysia’s power system under a 21 year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Gentari Group chief operating officer and country head of Malaysia, Shah Yang Razalli said: “This transition from planning into execution reflects Gentari’s commitment to deliver utility-scale renewable energy infrastructure that supports Malaysia’s long-term energy transition. “This project aims to build resilient, future-ready energy assets that strengthen national energy security and accelerate decarbonisation under the NETR,” “As we move into the construction phase, our priority is to ensure the project is delivered on-time, on-scope and on-budget, to the highest technical, environmental and safety standards. “This will further cement our position as a trusted long-term clean

recently led a site safety visit to the Large-Scale Solar 5 (LSS5) project in Kuala Muda, Sungai Petani, Kedah. The visit comes as Gentari, through Gentari LSS Lima Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gentari Renewables Sdn Bhd, advances construction following a successful bid under Malaysia’s fifth LSS programme in December 2024. With a total national target capacity of approximately 2,000MWac, LSS5 is the largest large-scale solar quota introduced to date and represents a key implementation pillar under the Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which aims for Malaysia to achieve 70% renewable energy generation capacity by 2050. Once completed, Gentari’s large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) facility is expected to supply up to 150MWp of clean electricity to

Gentari leaders conduct a site safety visit at its LSS5 solar project in Kedah.

New Industrial Master Plan 2030, enabling advanced manufacturing, technology-driven industries, and resilient green infrastructure.

In doing so, LSS5 advances Malaysia’s energy transition while strengthening local communities and the wider regional economy.