01/06/2026

BIZ & FINANCE MONDAY | JUNE 1, 2026

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Zetrix AI, SZDEX to develop cross-border trading platform

CPO futures likely to be volatile this week KUALA LUMPUR: Crude palm oil (CPO) futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives are expected to be volatile this week due to the long public holiday, a trader said. Interband Group of Companies senior palm oil trader Jim Teh said trading activity is expected to fluctuate this week as most international traders would be away for the long public holiday, adding that the market is likely to be volatile and trade between RM4,200 and RM4,250 per tonne. “Market sentiment for next (this) week would also be supported by Indonesian authorities’ investigations into some exporters over alleged under invoicing activities,” he told Bernama. According to news reports, Indonesia’s government is investigating 20 firms, with a primary focus on 10 large companies, all operating in the CPO industry. Teh said Malaysia’s palm oil stock position remained high at 2.4 million tonnes, while physical demand is expected from China, India, Pakistan, Middle Eastern countries, European Union member states and the United States. On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the June and July 2026 contracts rose RM40 to RM4,470 and RM4,503 per tonne, respectively, while the August 2026 contract increased RM49 to RM4,535 per tonne. The September 2026 contract edged up RM59 to RM4,561 per tonne, October 2026 climbed RM65 to RM4,590 per tonne, and November 2026 improved RM68 to RM4,620 per tonne. – Bernama “We are encouraged by the group’s strong start to FY2026, which reflects the continued execution of our ongoing projects and growing demand for M&E engineering solutions,” said managing director, Lim Yong Lai. West River records 45% revenue growth to RM39.6m in Q1 KUALA LUMPUR: West River Bhd, a provider of electrical engineering and intelligent building solutions, posted a strong increase in revenue and profitability amid continued momentum in Malaysia’s infrastructure and high-tech industrial sectors. The group recorded revenue of RM39.64 million in Q1 FY2026, representing a 45.2% increase compared to RM24.90 million in the corresponding quarter last year. Profit before tax (PBT) rose 27% to RM2.93 million from RM2.30 million previously, while profit after tax (PAT) increased 45.4% to RM2.22 million from RM1.52 million recorded in Q1 FY2025. The stronger performance was primarily driven by higher progress billings from ongoing M&E engineering projects, particularly under the group’s provision of electrical engineering and ACMV services segment, which contributed RM32.19 million or 81.2% of total revenue during the quarter. West River’s intelligent building solutions segment also demonstrated encouraging growth, contributing RM7.4 million in revenue compared to RM1.77 million in the corresponding quarter last year, reflecting increasing market demand for integrated smart building solutions.

jointly building a cross-border data element ecosystem To enhance the sharing of data resources for the establishment of a China-Asean data ecosystem, the parties will work together to address core pain points in cross-border data governance, compliant circulation, transaction innovation and technological application through joint initiatives such as co-hosting of events, including roadshow, seminars and China-Asean cross-border data cooperation forums, building an industry exchange and cooperation platform, and gathering upstream and downstream resources along the cross-border data industry chain. In addition, the parties will jointly conduct research and model innovation in the field of cross-border data circulation, explore cross border data trading rules, security assurance systems and commercial operation models compatible with China and the Asean region . Recognising that safety and compliance are paramount in the handling of data, Zetrix AI and SZDEX are firmly committed to carrying out this initiative in a manner that enables the potential value of data assets in the region to be fully realised while prioritising at all times data safety and privacy protection. From the establishment of the flagship Asean China AI Lab to the positioning of its Layer-1 blockchain platform Zetrix as an international supernode of China’s national Xinghuo blockchain to the roll-out of the ZTrade customs clearance processing application in collaboration with the General Administration of China Customs and to more recently, the joint roll-out with the Chinese Academy of Information and Communications Technology of the Avatar blockchain-based trust protocol for AI agents, Zetrix AI has been leading the way in fostering greater cooperation between Asean and China in deploying state-of-the-art technologies to help drive economic growth in the region.

innovator in the provision of digital government and related commercial services with SZDEX’s proven market leadership as operator of China’s national-level platform for data assetisation and trading, the partners agree to collaborate in three key areas: 0 Co-building a regional data trading infrastructure and developing a platform for data circulation They will jointly build a standardised and compliant platform for data circulation and utilisation in the Asean region, establish data trading rules, quality control systems and security assurance mechanisms tailored to regional characteristics, realise the efficient integration and orderly circulation of data resources within the region, and set a benchmark for the development of the data element market in Asean. Accordingly, the two parties will jointly explore and assess the feasibility and regulatory requirements for establishing and operating a data exchange in the Asean region. 0 Promoting the two-way circulation of cross border data products and building an Asean China data interconnection scheme This will entail aggregating and integrating high-quality data resources within the Southeast Asia and China markets in areas such as culture and tourism, trade, finance, government affairs, manufacturing, and agriculture, and facilitating the entry of such high-quality data products from one market into the other to unlock the value of these assets. The two parties will, thus, jointly establish a two-way interconnected system for the circulation of cross-border data products, clarify full-process standards for data compliance review, property right registration, transaction settlement and other links, to enable the efficient flow of data elements between China and Asean. 0 Deepening ecological resource sharing and

o Cooperation to enable secure and regulated flows between China and Southeast Asia PETALING JAYA: Zetrix AI Bhd and Shenzhen Data Exchange Co. Ltd. (SZDEX) plan to jointly establish a platform for the secure monetisation of data as a strategic asset class in Asean and enable the orderly movement of data products between the region and China, marking a major step towards creating a vibrant cross-border data trading ecosystem. The massive amount of data that exists within the Asean bloc – home to nearly 700 million and the fifth-largest economy in the world – and its corresponding value creation potential is undeniable. Yet, to date, this valuable asset remains largely untapped. In contrast, within China alone, the total value of data transacted in 2025 was estimated at approximately RMB50 billion. Companies deploying Artificial Intelligence to enhance the efficiency of business processes have been the most active purchasers of data. Now, this collaboration between Zetrix AI and SZDEX aims to set Asean as well on course to becoming a leading data trading centre. Both parties have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the field of data, with the aim of promoting the development and utilisation of data resources, enhancing data security and privacy protection, and strengthening cooperation in relevant policies, regulations, and technological innovation. More concretely, by combining Zetrix AI’s decades-long track record as a pioneering AYER HITAM: Efforts to empower women should be viewed as an important investment in the future of society, said Tunku Temenggong Kedah Datuk Seri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah. She said the strength of a community often begins at home, with women playing not only the role of caregivers but also serving as community builders and catalysts for social change. “In many households, there are women who work tirelessly every day, often unnoticed and without praise, yet continue making sacrifices to ensure their families survive and progress. “Some run small businesses from their kitchens, while others begin life with very little. Some have stumbled and lost confidence, but they rise again for the sake of their children, their families and a better future,” she said. Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz said this when opening the Women of Will (WOW) and Yayasan Hasanah Community Wellbeing Day at the PPR Sri Jerlun Community Hall recently, which was also attended by Yayasan Hasanah trustee and managing director Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki and WOW president Datin Wira Goh Suet Lan. She also expressed appreciation for the role played by WOW and Yayasan Hasanah as strategic partners in creating opportunities for communities to grow sustainably and with dignity. “I would like to commend WOW for its meaningful efforts in building and strengthening communities through various women and family

Empowering women an investment in society’s future: Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz

Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz meets residents at the PPR Sri Jerlun Community Hall.

economic entrepreneurship development and community resilience,“ she said. According to her, WOW has so far supported more than 150 women entrepreneurs across seven communities in Kedah and developed 21 women community leaders. Nationwide, the organisation has empowered more than 2,900 women entrepreneurs and over 110 community leaders across more than 45 communities in the Klang Valley, Kedah and Sabah. – Bernama participation,

development programmes, especially in Kedah,“ she said. Meanwhile, Goh said WOW’s long-term success was achieved through strong collaboration with Yayasan Hasanah, which extended beyond funding support to focus on sustainable grassroots development. “WOW began expanding its initiatives in Kedah in 2021 through community assessments and engagement sessions to identify key needs involving poverty intervention, women’s