16/09/2026

BIZ & FINANCE WEDNESDAY | SEPT 16, 2026

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NCER targets RM470 billion cumulative investment by 2030

Crest Builder’s M&E arm

secures contract worth RM56.9m PETALING JAYA: Crest Builder Holdings Bhd’s mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering arm, CBTech (M) Sdn Bhd, has accepted a letter of award from Pesona Metro Sdn Bhd for RM56.9 million in subcontract works. Under the contract, CBTech will supply, deliver, install, test, com mission, and maintain electrical services for the retail mall and Office Tower 1 within the Ativo Annexe development in Bandar Sri Damansara, Selangor, which TA Global Bhd is developing. CBTech is expected to complete its scope of works within 18½ months. The contract is expected to contribute positively to Crest Builder’s earnings and net assets throughout its duration. With this new contract award, the group’s M&E outstanding order book stands at about RM250 million. Adding this to Crest Builder’s construction segment’s RM1.6 billion, the group’s total out standing order book stands at about RM1.9 billion, providing strong earnings visibility over the next three years.

o Northern Corridor Economic Region explores EV and automotive opportunities to diversify beyond mainstay E&E and semiconductor base

PETALING JAYA: Tencent Cloud, the cloud business of global technology company Tencent, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with U Mobile, Malaysia’s newest 5G network provider, to explore the development of practical 5G and AI solutions for enterprises and SMEs. Combining Tencent Cloud’s AI and cloud capabilities with ULTRA5G, U Mobile’s next-gen 5G network, enterprise reach and Enterprise Inno vation Platform (EIP), the colla boration will focus on developing, testing, and demonstrating potential solutions to real-world business challenges for industry adoption. The collaboration marks Tencent Cloud’s first official AI-focused part nership with a Malaysian telecom munications provider. As a strategic partner of EIP, Tencent Cloud will work with U Mobile to identify and develop potential enterprise applications through EIP’s Develop-Test-Demon strate Pathway. By combining Tencent Cloud’s AI and cloud capabilities with U Mobile’s 5G network and Enterprise Innovation Platform, selected AI driven digital solutions can be developed and validated to address real industry challenges. Successful use cases may PUTRAJAYA: The Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) is ex ploring opportunities in the electric vehicle (EV) and automotive sectors as part of efforts to diversify investments beyond its strong electrical and electronics (E&E) and semiconductor base. Northern Corridor Imple mentation Authority chief executive Datuk Mohamad Haris Kader Sultan said it had yet to determine the specific portion of its RM470 billion cumulative investment target by 2030 that could come from the automotive sector, but several potential investments were currently being assessed. “Among them are high-tech nology vehicle projects in Kulim, Kedah, with potential investors in the EV sector undergoing due diligence,” he said, adding that NCER is also working with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry to assess the potential investments.

investments in the NCER, parti cularly in Penang, where about 95% of investments are expected to be concentrated in the sector. Earlier, Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir launched the NCER 2026-2030 Strategic Develop ment Plan here, which aims to realise a cumulative investment of RM470 billion by 2030 with 70% of it contributed by key sectors such as electrical and electronics, auto motive, high-value tourism and modern agriculture. The target is RM126.2 billion higher than the RM343.8 billion under the previous NCER develop ment plan. Meanwhile, Mohamad Haris said the focus on E&E and semicon ductors would not exclude opportunities in other sectors, with efforts also being made to spread growth beyond existing investment centres.

Akmal Nasrullah (second from left) displaying the NCER 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan. With him are Economy Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Nor Azmie Diron (right) and Mohamad Haris. – BERNAMAPIC

been exceeded,” he said, adding that the investment target is also expected to contribute to NCER’s goal of raising median household income to RM7,500 by 2030.

and Perak. He said the programmes and projects would be implemented in these areas to create employment opportunities, including by ensuring that areas developed with allocations from the Economy Ministry are filled with approved investments.

The latest contract reinforces the group’s position as an inte grated construction group with complementary capabilities span ning general construction, M&E engineering, property develop ment and investment properties. Crest Builder group managing director Eric Yong said the latest contract secured by CBTech marks another important step in the group’s strategy to broaden its earnings base beyond its tradi tional construction activities. Tencent Cloud, U Mobile to explore enterprise 5G and AI solutions in M’sia Mohamad Haris said so far, two investors have been identified in the EV battery segment, while three are being considered in the automobile segment. He also said the move comes as E&E and semiconductor activities continue to form the mainstay of In Kedah, he said Kulim Hi-Tech Park remains among the key areas for investments, while Perlis has Chuping Valley, with semiconductor activities continuing to be a major attraction. The diversification of investments is also aimed at ensuring that economic growth reaches less developed areas across the four NCER states – Perlis, Kedah, Penang “We are confident of realising our RM470 billion cumulative invest ment target by 2030, based on approved investments that are expected to be translated into actual projects within two to three years, or up to five years in some cases. “The target is higher than the previous plan but the projection was supported by investment trends, and our targets for 2020 and 2025 had Mohamad Haris also said NCER’s approach was not limited to increasing the number of jobs, but also focused on attracting higher-value industries that could generate higher productivity and value-added activities. About 45% of the jobs targeted are expected to be high-skilled positions. To meet the demand for skilled workers, NCER is working with local universities, polytechnics, TVET institutions and industry players to identify specific disciplines and skills required by investors. – Bernama

strengthens this by bringing together 5G, AI and cloud technologies to explore new applications across industries. Through our Enterprise Innovation Platform, we look forward to turning promising ideas into practical solutions through our Develop, Test and Demonstrate Pathway, bringing them a step closer to real-world adoption.” The collaboration brings together the capabilities of both organisations to explore and develop practical 5G and AI applications across key in dustry sectors. Through workshops, demonstrations, innovation sessions and pilot showcases, U Mobile and Tencent Cloud will engage businesses, startups, developers, academia and technology partners to co-create, test and validate applications with real world potential. The partnership will also facilitate the exchange of technical expertise across areas including 5G, AI, system integration, security and enterprise deployment, helping to strengthen capabilities within the wider ecosystem. Through these efforts, Tencent Cloud and U Mobile aim to accelerate the development and adoption of scalable 5G and AI applications across industries, supporting Malaysia’s continued digital transformation.

From left: Tencent Cloud International vice-president Bluefin Zhao, Yeung, Woon and U Mobile Enterprise Innovation Platform head Junaida Abdullah.

digital transformation ambitions. U Mobile chief technology officer Woon Ooi Yuen said: “At U Mobile, we are focused on using our next-gen 5G network to enable innovation that delivers real value to businesses. Our partnership with Tencent Cloud

cloud capabilities with U Mobile’s 5G infrastructure and innovation eco system, they look forward to enabling enterprises, SMEs, and developers to build impactful 5G and AI applications that address real-world business challenges while supporting Malaysia’s

progress towards pilot deployments, commercialisation and go-to-market opportunities. Tencent Cloud senior vice president and Tencent Cloud Inter national head Poshu Yeung said that by combining Tencent Cloud’s AI and