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Alliance Bank expands access to cancer screening

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Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad (Alliance Bank or the Bank), Prince Court Medical Centre (Prince Court) and the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) have joined forces in a landmark partnership to improve access to cancer screening and encourage early detection among Malaysians. The collaboration was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the SEA Healthcare and Pharma Conference 2025.

The signing was witnessed by Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Haji Dr. Dzulkefly bin Ahmad, Minister of
Health, underscoring the collective commitment to improving public health initiatives in Malaysia.
Cancer remains a major health concern in Malaysia, with early detection playing a critical role in
improving patient outcomes. This partnership supports the Ministry of Health’s National Strategic Plan
for Cancer Control Programme 2021 – 2025, which aims to reduce cancer risk factors, strengthen
early detection through screening, and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment. This
tripartite collaboration brings the three organisations together to support national efforts in advancing
cancer awareness and screening accessibility, ultimately improving survival rates and the overall wellbeing
of Malaysians.

“Improving access to cancer care is not just a medical priority, it is a moral imperative. These
symposiums mark an important step in bringing together minds, expertise, and commitment from
across sectors to ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against cancer. Collaboration is our
most powerful tool — and together, we can build a future where quality cancer care is within reach for
all,” said Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Ms. Gan Pai Li, Group Chief Consumer Banking Officer of Alliance Bank, said, “At Alliance Bank, we
recognise that health and financial security are closely linked. When individuals are financially secure,
they are able to better invest in their health, and good health allows them to focus on achieving their
financial goals. In tandem with the MOH’s initiative to elevate awareness of early cancer detection,
our partnership with Prince Court and NCSM reflects our commitment to empowering our customers
and employees to take charge of their health, while also easing some of the financial constraints
associated with health screenings. As The Bank For Life, we strive to make a meaningful impact on
our customers by being a trusted partner at every stage of their lives.”

Dr. Shuba Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer of Prince Court, said, “At Prince Court, we see health
screening not as a service, but as a responsibility. Early detection changes outcomes, but more
importantly, it changes lives. This partnership reflects what’s possible when healthcare, community,
and corporate responsibility come together with a shared purpose. With Alliance Bank and NCSM, we
are removing barriers and creating pathways so more Malaysians have the opportunity to act early,
understand their risks, and take control of their health. We are proud to play a role in advancing this
effort and to stand alongside partners who share our commitment to better health for all.”
“Through this series of cancer symposiums, we aim to empower our communities with knowledge,
connect professionals across disciplines, and drive forward our mission of early detection, better treatment, and compassionate care. Together with our partners, we are building a future where no
one faces cancer alone,” said NCSM Managing Director, Kol. Bersekutu Assoc. Professor Dr
Murallitharan Munisamy.

As part of the campaign, NCSM will organise cancer awareness symposiums at Prince Court,
featuring leading surgeons, oncologists, and cancer care experts. Each session will focus on a
different aspect of cancer education, from understanding risk factors to the latest advancements in
treatment. Attendees will gain practical insights into prevention, early detection, and care, while
having the rare opportunity to engage directly with specialists. Open to all Alliance Bank customers
and business partners, these symposiums aim to equip individuals with the knowledge to make
informed decisions about their health and encourage proactive steps towards cancer prevention.

From 2 May to 31 December 2025, all Alliance Bank cardholders will enjoy a 10% discount on all
health screening packages and selected aesthetics, along with a 25% discount on maternity
packages at Prince Court Medical Centre. This exclusive offer is designed to encourage individuals to
prioritise their health and undergo regular health screenings as a preventive measure, as well as
ensure that a trusted medical centre is selected, ensuring safety and professional care.
For more information on the Bank’s products and services, please visit
https://www.alliancebank.com.my.

Hong Leong Islamic Bank distributes 1,000 food packets to foodpanda riders

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In conjunction with the holy month of Ramadhan, Hong Leong Islamic Bank (HLISB/Bank) distributed 1,000 buka puasa meals to foodpanda e-hailing delivery riders in its ‘Senyum-Senyum Ramadhan’ initiative, bringing the festive spirit and putting smiles on the faces of foodpanda riders as they continue to deliver food to Malaysians throughout the month of Ramadhan.

Through its partnership with foodpanda, the Bank has also sponsored buka puasa meals for over 300 foodpanda riders and their families in Melaka, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Perak, spreading warmth, positivity, and appreciation in the community.

Dafinah Ahmed Hilmi, Chief Executive Officer of HLISB commented on the impactful event, “Ramadhan is a time for gratitude and appreciation, and for many Muslims, it represents an opportunity to give back to the community. This year, we wanted to recognise the sacrifice and dedication of our e-hailing delivery riders, who in many ways are the unsung heroes of our country, especially during festive seasons. During Ramadhan, they brave the heavy traffic and face high volumes of orders, with a majority of them fasting themselves. At HLISB, we wanted to find a way to appreciate their sacrifices, give back to this community, and bring a smile to these riders, which led to us forging our partnership with foodpanda.”

The Bank’s partnership with foodpanda to sponsor and distribute buka puasa meals to delivery riders is aligned with its Raya theme of “Amal”, where it encourages Malaysians to engage in good deeds which will lead to positive outcomes and multiplied rewards. This concept of “Amal” extends beyond doing good, and also includes inculcating healthy financial habits. The Bank highlights that robust financial habits such as consistent savings, regular investing, and smart protection strategies can set Malaysians up for a brighter financial future.

Zalman Zainal, Hong Leong Bank’s (HLB) Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, who also heads the Bank’s CSR department, commented, “We at HLB and HLISB have always been committed to engaging in community investment initiatives, where we not only give back to the community but also actively work to uplift and empower them towards a brighter future. With the spirit of “Amal”, we want to continue putting our words to action and engage in more community-centric initiatives such as this one with foodpanda, bringing the Raya spirit and recognising the hardships of these unsung heroes. We believe that good habits, generosity, and kindness are important values to instill, which are the reasons for our smiles as we reap the rewards of a brighter future ahead.”

HLB and HLISB have a proud tradition of community service during festive seasons, with the Bank organizing Employee Donation Drives where employees donate meal kits and essential goods to welfare homes across the country. Since its inception in 2019, the Bank’s employees have donated more than RM100,000 worth of food, goods, and household items to welfare homes. Employees also regularly engage in spring cleaning initiatives at welfare homes, ensuring that these underserved communities receive the help and support they need.

In conjunction with the Raya season and to highlight its “Amal” theme, the Bank recently unveiled its Raya campaign with brand ambassador Alif Satar, which features a Raya song and music video titled ‘Senyum-Senyum Raya’, presented by Alif Satar & The Locos. Besides bringing about a positive Raya spirit, the song also emphasises on the importance of good deeds that can multiply and be the reason for your smile this Raya season.

Senyum-Senyum Raya is available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music, and the music video can be seen on HLB’s YouTube Channel. You may watch the music video here: https://youtu.be/3Tm4O0uNxxA?si=GY1xPTeEFz1R_st7

ARC Group commemorates 10 Years with flagship forum in Kuala Lumpur

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ARC Group recently hosted the Capital Markets & M&A Forum 2025: Malaysia Edition, bringing together over 400 distinguished guests, including senior executives, investors, legal and advisory professionals and entrepreneurs.

Themed around growth, strategy, and cross-border collaboration, this year’s forum offered timely insights into Southeast Asia’s evolving financial landscape, bridging capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and long-term economic strategy.

The event featured international expertise as speakers and panelist, including Arc Group’s local venture partner, Paul Chong who provided a strategic deep dive into “Going Public – Choosing Between IPO, RTO, and De-SPAC. Drawing on his vast experience in global capital markets, Paul Chong delivered a nuanced comparison of public listing routes, offering actionable insights for Malaysian and regional companies considering international capital markets.

Other featured sessions include topics such as ‘Company Preparations for Going Public’, “From Startup to Exit” and “The Future of M&A in Emerging Asia”. The Forum was closed by Xi Zhang, Partner at ARC Group who delivered a thought-provoking keynote on “China 2030 and Implications for Southeast Asia”, offering macroeconomic lens on China’s long-term transformation and actionable takeaways for ASEAN businesses navigating trade shifts, digital acceleration, and supply chain evolution.

The event also marked the firm’s 10th anniversary. Carlos Lopez, COO of ARC Group commented, “These events have always held a special place for us—not just as platforms for sharing insights, but for building lasting relationships. This year’s forum was particularly meaningful as we marked ARC Group’s 10-year anniversary. It was a proud moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and an inspiring one to envision where we’re headed next.”

PMCK Berhad gains Bursa approval for ACE Market IPO listing

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PMCK Berhad (PMCK), a healthcare services provider in Northern Malaysia, has gained the approval of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Bursa Securities) to list on the ACE Market of Bursa Securities.

This milestone underscores PMCK’s strategic focus on expanding its footprint through the development of PMC Kulim, a state-of-the-art private medical centre and mixed-use facility in Kedah, poised to address critical gaps in regional healthcare access.

The IPO comprises 272.6 million new shares (25% of enlarged issued share capital), with proceeds allocated for:

1. Repayment of bank borrowings for PMC Kulim’s construction
2. Acquisition of equipment for PMC
3. Estimated expenses related to the listing exercises

“PMC Kulim is not just a hospital. We are a holistic ecosystem designed to elevate healthcare accessibility in the region,” said PMCK Berhad Managing Director, Dato’ Lee Gaik Cheng. “This listing enables us to accelerate our vision while maintaining financial discipline through strategic partnerships and streamlined operations.”

PMCK reported robust FYE 2024 performance, with revenue rising to RM104.34 million (FYE 2023: RM99.85 million) and net profit climbing almost 40% to RM15.02 million, reflecting strong demand for its specialist consultant services and healthcare support services. The company’s existing PMC in Alor Setar has treated over between 115,000 patients and 128,000 patients over the past three FYEs 2022 to 2024, supported by 40 specialist consultants across 17 specialisations.

Post-listing, PMCK will consolidate its other businesses in Kulim (Poliklinik Unik and Klinik Pergigian Unik) under PMC Kulim to enhance operational efficiency. The project’s mixed-use component is also expected to diversify revenue streams, contributing to long-term sustainability.

“Our goal is to bridge the healthcare divide in the Northern region of Malaysia,” added Dato’ Lee. “The approval for our listing marks a significant milestone for PMCK Berhad and we are now poised to deliver world-class care closer to home.”

Malacca Securities is the IPO’s principal adviser, sponsor, underwriter, and placement agent.

The listing will propel PMCK’s RM193 million PMC Kulim project, a 12-storey medical centre integrated with a seven-storey mixed-use development (hotel, food court, and amenities). Slated for completion in Q1 2028, the facility will feature:

  • 90 in-patient beds (single and double rooms only), one endoscopic suite, one operating theatre, two labour rooms, two nursery units, and 15 specialist consultation clinics.
  • Strategic amenities for patients’ families and the public, managed by a third-party operator to ensure operational focus on healthcare.

The project targets underserved populations in Kulim, Bandar Baharu, and neighbouring districts, where private healthcare infrastructure remains sparse.

With only 7.72 private hospital beds per 10,000 persons in Northern Malaysia (versus 17.71 in Kuala Lumpur), PMC Kulim aims to alleviate the pressure on existing facilities while tapping into demand from Kulim Hi-Tech Park’s industrial workforce and growing middle-class communities.

Tune Protect and Ticket2U unveil ticket refund insurance

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Tune Protect Malaysia (Tune Protect), a leading digital insurer, has partnered with Ticket2U, Malaysia’s premier ticketing platform, to introduce Ticket Refund Insurance for events in Malaysia. The comprehensive plan covers tickets for a wide range of events, including conferences, marathons, runs, concerts, festivals, and sports tournaments, ensuring ticket holders receive a full refund if unforeseen circumstances prevent them from attending. This initiative reinforces Tune Protect’s commitment to delivering customer-centric solutions and enhancing the overall event experience.

Covering a comprehensive range of unexpected situations, Ticket Refund Insurance protects attendees from disruptions such as medical emergencies, accidental death, home emergencies like fire or burglary, natural disasters, and sudden unemployment, ensuring that ticket buyers are not financially burdened. The coverage also extends to road accidents, vehicle breakdowns on the way to the event, as well as other unforeseen circumstances.

“The launch of Ticket Refund Insurance is a game-changer for eventgoers, giving them the confidence to book tickets without the fear of the unexpected disrupting their plans. This innovative protection plan reinforces our commitment to making insurance simple, seamless and accessible to everyone. With event attendance on the rise, we are ensuring that customers can fully enjoy their favourite events stress-free, knowing they have a reliable safety net in place,” said Jubin Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, Tune Protect Malaysia.

“At Ticket2U, we are focused on elevating the ticketing experience, and Ticket Refund Insurance marks a significant step towards setting a new industry standard. This protection gives ticket buyers greater assurance, knowing they are covered if the unexpected happens, while also reinforcing trust between event organisers and attendees. By reducing financial risk and making ticket purchases more secure, we are enhancing confidence in event attendance and supporting a more dynamic, worry-free event experience for all,” said YC Chia, Managing Director, Ticket2U Sdn Bhd

For sports enthusiasts, Sports PA (Personal Accident Insurance) is available as an optional add-on, providing financial protection for accidental injuries sustained during sports-related events, ensuring peace of mind while staying active.

Jubin added, “By embedding protection seamlessly into the event ticketing journey, Ticket2U and Tune Protect are setting a new industry standard for consumer protection against unexpected events while enhancing overall customer experience with greater confidence and ease.”

Available to all Ticket2U customers purchasing event tickets, this insurance is available to a wide range of events, including concerts, sports matches, exhibitions and festivals at only 5% of the ticket price. Purchasing Ticket Refund Insurance is quick and effortless where eventgoers can:

1. Select an event ticket on Ticket2U.
2. Opt-in for ‘Ticket Refund Insurance’ at checkout.
3. Complete the purchase, and coverage is automatically activated.

The claims process is equally seamless:
1. Submit a claim directly to Tune Protect with the required documentation.
2. Claims are processed, and eligible refunds are issued promptly.

For more information on Ticket Refund Insurance, visit www.ticket2u.com.my and click the “Read More” button on eligible event pages.

SC issues revised guidelines on advertising for capital market products and related services

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The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) today released a revised version of the Guidelines on Advertising for Capital Market Products and Related Services.

The Guidelines was revised to update certain requirements and guidance taking into account advertising and promotional trends globally and domestically, including the growing prominence of social media and financial influencers (finfluencers).

This is towards ensuring responsible advertising activities in relation to capital market products and services.
The revised framework will include:

  • New requirements relating to finfluencers who are not engaged as marketing agents by an advertiser yet on their own accord undertake advertising activities for any capital market products and services. They will be subject to the requirements under the Guidelines as they would be regarded as advertisers for the purposes of the Guidelines;
  • Enhancement of requirements relating to advertisers’ duty to ensure the advertising activities conducted by their marketing agent comply with the Guidelines. The advertisers will otherwise be held accountable for the conduct of their marketing agent; and
  • Enhancement of requirements relating to use of social media to address its growing use for financial promotions.

The Guidelines will also impose a prohibition against advertising services in Malaysia, of persons who are not authorised by the SC.

The Guidelines is part of the SC’s ongoing efforts to promote responsible advertising on new channels of advertising such as social media, ultimately protecting investors.

In reviewing and formulating the revised Guidelines, the SC has, amongst others, benchmarked against other jurisdictions such as Australia, the UK and Singapore, and considered the feedback received from engagement with relevant stakeholders including finfluencers.

The revised Guidelines will come into effect on 1 November 2025 to allow sufficient time for advertisers to familiarise and make the necessary preparations to meet the new requirements.

Meanwhile, the relevant stakeholders may engage the SC for any clarification and guidance relating to the revised Guidelines. Any queries on the revised Guidelines may be submitted to AdGuidelines@seccom.com.my.

The revised Guidelines can be downloaded together with its revised FAQs at https://www.sc.com.my/regulation/guidelines/advertising-and-promotion.

ACMF releases simplified guidance for ASEAN SMEs in supply chains

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The ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) has launched the ASEAN Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide for SMEs in Supply Chains (ASEDG) Version 1. Aimed at equipping small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across ASEAN operating within global and local supply chains, it is a simplified reference guide to report on environmental, social and governance disclosures (ESG) to various stakeholders including customers, financiers and investors.

It streamlines and consolidates various global ESG reporting frameworks, such as the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards and the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, as well as local guidelines and frameworks of each of the ten ASEAN member states into a set of 38 priority disclosures which SMEs can consider tracking and reporting against.

It is further categorised into Basic, Intermediate and Advanced, to cater to the different levels of sustainability maturity of each SME. The disclosures are applicable across all industries with different levels of priority, and SMEs are encouraged to determine the significance and relevance of these disclosures to their companies.

Mohammed Faiz Azmi, Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia and the 2025 Chair of the ACMF said, “SC Malaysia as the Chair of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) is pleased to initiate development of this guide as a valuable contribution to our ASEAN counterparts. The ACMF remains committed to fostering sustainable and inclusive growth across the region. We encourage SMEs, investors, and all stakeholders to leverage this guide as a catalyst for meaningful ESG adoption.”

Publication of the ASEDG is one of Malaysia’s Priority Economic Deliverables on “Catalysing Access to Financing for a Climate Resilient and Just Transition in ASEAN”, as 2025 ASEAN Chair. It also complements ACMF’s ongoing efforts to promote corporate sustainability disclosure, a priority recommendation under the ACMF’s Roadmap for ASEAN Sustainable Capital Markets, by serving as a practical resource tool which SMEs in supply chains can consider using to progress in their sustainability reporting journey.

The ASEDG Version 1 incorporates inputs and feedback from all ACMF members and findings from engagements with multiple stakeholders across ASEAN Member States. As global sustainability standards, customer demands and ESG compliance requirements evolve, it is important to ensure that the Guide remains fit for purpose.

As such, the ASEDG is a living document which may be revised from time to time to ensure it remains relevant. This document serves as Version 1 of the ASEDG with further consultations planned across ASEAN Member States over the next 6 months.

The ASEDG Version 1 can be found on the ACMF website, here: https://www.theacmf.org/sustainable-finance/publications

TikTok Shop collaborates with ASEAN Foundation and ASEAN-BAC to empower MSMEs

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TikTok Shop continues its commitment to empower Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through its latest collaboration with the ASEAN Foundation and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) through the SOAR Together Program (Supporting Our Artisans and Retailers).

The collaboration aims to leverage on relevant expertise to drive digital transformation and economic inclusion for MSMEs, providing tailored support and resources to help participating MSMEs rapidly advance their businesses and creative endeavors on TikTok Shop within their own markets as well as regionally, enabling growth and sustainable development.

MSMEs play a crucial role in employment generation, income contribution, and local economic resilience. Across ASEAN, there are approximately 70 million MSMEs, accounting for between 97.2% and 99.9% of total establishments. Despite their significant presence, MSMEs often face challenges such as limited access to finance, inadequate business skills, and insufficient market linkages, which can hinder their growth and sustainability.

TikTok Shop gives people a place to translate the excitement of discovering unique products and sellers into impactful transactions that spark joy for both buyers and sellers, all without leaving the app. The ASEAN SOAR Together programme is another major step in TikTok’s ongoing efforts to address the unique needs of small businesses and creators in Southeast Asia.

The ASEAN SOAR Together programme is also aligned with the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025 that aims to transform SMEs from domestic players into globally competitive and innovative enterprises by 2025, as well as the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025 that recognises Information and Communications Technology (ICT) as a key driver in ASEAN’s economic and social transformation.

More details of the ASEAN SOAR Together programme can be found at this link: https://www.aseanfoundation.org/call_for_application_asean_soar_together

Alibaba Cloud strengthens AI capabilities with for international customers

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Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, unveils new AI models, tools and infrastructure upgrades for its international customers, underscoring its ongoing commitment to driving AI innovation worldwide.

“We are launching a series of Platform-as-a-Service（PaaS) and AI capability updates to meet the growing demand for digital transformation from across the globe. These upgrades allow us to deliver even more secure and high-performance services that empower businesses to scale and innovate in an AI-driven world,” said Selina Yuan, President of International Business, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

Alibaba Cloud announced new offerings to international customers by expanding access to its foundational models and upgrading infrastructure products. Available through the company’s availability zones in Singapore, these models include the latest from its proprietary large language model (LLM) series, Qwen, such as the large-scale Mixture of Experts (MoE) model Qwen-Max, the reasoning model QwQ-Plus, the visual reasoning model QVQ-Max and the end-to-end multimodal model Qwen2.5-Omni-7b.

QwQ-Plus is an advanced reasoning model specialising in deep analytical thinking, tackling complex challenges like sophisticated QA tasks and expert-level math problems with precise, algorithm-driven solutions. Meanwhile, QVQ-Max is a visual reasoning model that effectively addresses complex multimodal problems with high accuracy and extended reasoning capabilities, supporting visual input and chain-of-thought output.

To further support the AI models on the PaaS front, Alibaba Cloud’s Platform for AI (PAI) has rolled out major enhancements to support scalable, cost-effective, and user-friendly solutions for generative AI and LLMs. PAI-Elastic Algorithm Service (EAS) debuts distributed inference capabilities with a multi-node architecture to satisfy the growing demands of super-large models fueled by the rise of MoE structure and ultra-long-text processing, addressing the limitations of traditional single-node architecture. To further boost performance and reduce costs, PAI-EAS introduces the prefill-decode disaggregation function which has led to a 92% increase in concurrency and a 91% boost in tokens per second (TPS) when deployed with the Qwen2.5-72B model, greatly improving scalability and efficiency.

PAI-Model Gallery has been upgraded to provide a comprehensive selection of nearly 300 cutting-edge open-source models, including the full range of Alibaba Cloud’s proprietary open-source models Qwen and Wan series, all accessible through a seamless, no-code deployment and management experience. It offers diverse deployment methods with underlying computing resources, along with new features like model evaluation for performance insights and model distillation, which reduces deployment costs by transferring knowledge from large to small models.

To enhance data management efficiency in the AI era, Alibaba Cloud has integrated its native AI inference capabilities – powered by Qwen – into its flagship cloud-native relational database PolarDB. With in-database machine learning capabilities, it eliminates data shifting typically required for inference workflow, significantly reducing processing latency while boosting efficiency and data security. Engineered for text-centric workloads, the new feature is ideal for scenarios including conversational RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) agent development, text embedding generation, and semantic similarity search.

It also integrates its data warehouse AnalyticDB into Model Studio, Alibaba Cloud’s generative AI model and application development platform, as the recommended vector database for RAG solutions. This enhancement connects organizations’ proprietary knowledge bases directly to AI models and tools available on Model Studio, streamlining development of context-aware applications.

Alibaba Cloud also launched a new AI search function on its official website. Powered by Qwen, this AI assistant is designed to help potential enterprise clients, especially SMEs, speed up their solution discovery and gain key insights to facilitate strategic decision-making. It also offers access to cost-effective and scalable cloud solutions, along with free AI and cloud computing training resources.
Upgraded partner incentive policies were also introduced to better support resellers and distributors by providing increased flexibility, higher commission rates, and more rewarding opportunities for mutual growth. This commitment to empowering partners is further reinforced by enhanced training and support resources, designed to strengthen their capabilities and drive success within evolving ecosystem.

In February 2025, Alibaba Group announced an investment of US $53 billion (RMB 380 billion) over the next three years to advance its cloud computing and AI infrastructure, reinforcing its commitment to long-term technological innovation. This historic investment, which exceeds Alibaba’s total AI and cloud spending over the past decade, underscores the company’s ongoing dedication to AI-driven growth and its role as a leading global cloud provider. Alibaba Cloud now operates a global infrastructure network with 87 availability zones across 29 regions.

Maybank Investment Banking Group named Syndicated Loan House of the Year in Malaysia and Vietnam

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Maybank Investment Banking Group (Maybank IBG) continues to stamp its leadership in Southeast Asia, winning recognition from the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA) as Syndicated Loan House of the Year in Malaysia for the fifth consecutive year and in Vietnam for the fourth consecutive year.

The repeat wins are even more impressive given that 2024 loan volumes were concentrated on fewer deals in both countries. Nonetheless loan volumes rebounded by +1.9% in Malaysia and +13.2% in Vietnam, boosted by a couple of mega transactions that closed in 2024.

The Asia Pacific Syndicated Loan Market Awards 2024 recognised outstanding achievements across 32 categories, with winners selected through an independent vote by more than 400 APLMA members, without any application or promotion process.

Michael Oh-Lau, Chief Executive Officer, Maybank Investment Banking Group, said, “Maybank IBG is proud to receive these accolades once again from our peers in the APLMA, attesting to our market leading position in Malaysia and Vietnam. Despite a cautious sentiment in 2024, we remained watchful to unlock opportunities for our clients. Our strong network combined with our commitment to sustainability and Islamic finance position us at the forefront of investment banking in the region.”

In 2024, Maybank IBG was mandated as the sole Coordinator Bank for various onshore and offshore syndicated transactions. Among the key deals were the refinancing of the iconic Battersea Power Station building in London under PNB-Kwasa International 2 Limited’s GBP1.11 billion Syndicated Green Loan Facility; Yarra Park City’s AUD265 million Syndicated Term Loan facility to part finance the development of a residential apartment in Melbourne; and the USD400 million dual tranche (Islamic and conventional) Syndicated Term Financing for Bumi Armada Holdings Labuan Limited.

In Vietnam, Maybank IBG acted as the Mandated Lead Arranger, Underwriter and Bookrunner for Vietnam Prosperity Bank’s Syndicated USD400 million Green Loan facility as well as the back-to-back syndications for Vinpearl and Vingroup that raised USD200 million and USD115 million respectively.
Michael added, “These are high profile repeat mandates that successfully closed with overwhelming response from the market — a testament of Maybank’s ability to structure, underwrite, distribute and arrange successful fundraising exercises for our clients.

“For 2025, we expect overall loan volumes to remain robust, supported by favourable economic recovery conditions, good local market dynamics and positive regional trends. Sectors of focus in Malaysia are in
line with strategic government investments, such as real estate and data centres as well as potential infrastructure projects that will continue to drive loan activities.”