MalaysianUpdates

Author: Farihin Azlan

  • Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City Named Malaysia’s No. 1 Hospital in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2026 Ranking

    Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City Named Malaysia’s No. 1 Hospital in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2026 Ranking

    Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City has been ranked No. 1 hospital in Malaysia in the prestigious World’s Best Hospitals 2026, published by Newsweek. The recognition reaffirms the hospital’s strong commitment to clinical excellence, patient safety, and patient-centred care, while strengthening its reputation as one of the leading healthcare institutions in the region.

    In the 2026 global ranking, the hospital also recorded a significant improvement, rising to 138th place worldwide, up from 193rd in 2025 and 233rd in 2024, while maintaining its position as Malaysia’s top-ranked hospital. According to Dato’ Lau Beng Long, President of Sunway Healthcare Group, the recognition reflects the dedication and professionalism of the hospital’s doctors, nurses, and staff, as well as the trust placed in the institution by patients and partners both locally and internationally.

    He noted that the achievement serves as motivation for the organisation to continue strengthening clinical governance, enhancing patient safety and overall patient experience, while investing in capabilities that support the delivery of consistent, high-quality healthcare services. These ongoing efforts aim to ensure that patients receive safe, effective, and personalised care.

    The World’s Best Hospitals ranking evaluates more than 2,500 hospitals from a global pool of over 200,000 healthcare institutions, including public hospitals, teaching hospitals, university hospitals, and private medical centres. Only the Top 250 hospitals worldwide are included in the published global list, which features internationally renowned institutions such as Mayo Clinic – Rochester, Cleveland Clinic, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Singapore General Hospital. The inclusion of Sunway Medical Centre in this list highlights its standing among some of the world’s most respected healthcare institutions.

    The ranking is based on a comprehensive, multi-source evaluation methodology. This includes peer recommendations from a global survey of more than 100,000 medical experts, alongside patient experience data, hospital quality metrics, and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) that assess how hospitals measure and improve patient outcomes based on patient feedback.

    As the flagship hospital of Sunway Healthcare Group, Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City currently houses more than 300 resident medical consultants and provides comprehensive healthcare services across over 80 medical specialties and 28 Centres of Excellence. With the completion of its sixth block, Tower F (Children’s Pavilion), the hospital’s capacity is expected to expand to more than 1,000 beds, further strengthening its ability to deliver integrated and multidisciplinary care.

    The hospital is also recognised as Malaysia’s first private hospital to obtain three major hospital-wide accreditations: the Gold Seal of Approval from Joint Commission International, accreditation from the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International, and certification by the Malaysian Society for Quality in Health. These recognitions reflect its adherence to internationally recognised standards of quality and patient safety.

    Published annually by Newsweek in partnership with Statista, the World’s Best Hospitals ranking benchmarks leading healthcare institutions across major healthcare systems, including those in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. The latest recognition further positions Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City as a key player in global healthcare and highlights Malaysia’s growing presence in the international medical landscape.

  • “Horror Raya (Bila Tiba Raya)”: Plong Bongkar Sisi Gelap Sambutan Hari Raya Dalam Single Terbaharu

    “Horror Raya (Bila Tiba Raya)”: Plong Bongkar Sisi Gelap Sambutan Hari Raya Dalam Single Terbaharu

    Dalam landskap muzik tempatan yang sering dihiasi dengan lagu raya yang ceria dan penuh nostalgia, band indie tempatan Plong! tampil dengan pendekatan yang berbeza menerusi single terbaharu mereka berjudul Horror Raya (Bila Tiba Raya). Lagu ini dijadualkan dilancarkan pada 13 Mac 2026, bertepatan dengan kemeriahan sambutan Aidilfitri yang semakin hampir. Berbeza daripada kebanyakan lagu raya yang menonjolkan kegembiraan pulang ke kampung dan kemesraan keluarga, Plong! memilih untuk meneroka sisi emosi yang jarang dibicarakan — perasaan rindu, sunyi dan persoalan tentang makna sebenar “pulang” apabila tibanya Syawal.

    Menurut kumpulan ini, Hari Raya bukan sekadar tentang kemeriahan, tetapi juga ruang untuk merenung dan mengingati kenangan lalu. Melalui Horror Raya (Bila Tiba Raya), mereka mengetengahkan naratif yang lebih jujur tentang emosi yang kadangkala tersembunyi di sebalik suasana perayaan. Ada kalanya, musim raya mengundang kerinduan mendalam terhadap kampung halaman, keluarga yang jauh, atau insan tersayang yang sudah tiada. Perasaan ini menjadi inspirasi utama kepada lagu tersebut, sekali gus memberikan dimensi baharu kepada genre lagu raya tempatan.

    Dari sudut muzik, lagu ini masih mengekalkan elemen melodi klasik lagu raya yang sarat dengan nostalgia dan sentuhan kekeluargaan. Namun begitu, Plong! menambah lapisan bunyi yang lebih gelap dan sinematik bagi membentuk identiti tersendiri yang mereka gelarkan sebagai konsep “Horror Raya.” Konsep ini bukanlah merujuk kepada unsur seram secara literal, sebaliknya menggambarkan rasa panik, kesunyian dan memori yang seakan “menghantui” apabila musim perayaan kembali setiap tahun.

    Bagi Plong!, Aidilfitri adalah tentang kembali — bukan sahaja pulang ke kampung halaman, tetapi juga kembali kepada hubungan yang mungkin telah renggang, kenangan yang lama tersimpan, serta peluang untuk saling bermaaf-maafan. Lagu ini diharapkan mampu menyentuh perasaan pendengar dengan gabungan emosi yang wujud setiap kali menjelang raya; kehangatan suasana, kerinduan untuk pulang dan kegelisahan yang jarang diungkapkan.

    Melalui Horror Raya (Bila Tiba Raya), Plong! berharap lagu ini dapat menjadi pengingat kepada pendengar tentang nilai keluarga dan hubungan yang bermakna. Jika lagu ini mampu membuat seseorang teringat kampung halaman, merindui keluarga atau sekadar mendorong mereka menghubungi insan tersayang, itu sudah cukup bermakna buat kumpulan tersebut. Horror Raya (Bila Tiba Raya) akan tersedia di semua platform penstriman digital bermula 13 Mac 2026, dan peminat boleh mengikuti perkembangan terkini melalui saluran media sosial rasmi Plong!.

  • Farhana Ali Raikan Kedatangan Ramadan Dengan Single Terbaharu “Ramadan Is Here”

    Farhana Ali Raikan Kedatangan Ramadan Dengan Single Terbaharu “Ramadan Is Here”

    Penyanyi dan penulis lagu British, Farhana Ali, menyambut ketibaan bulan Ramadan dengan pelancaran single terbarunya berjudul “Ramadan Is Here”, yang telah dikeluarkan pada 15 Februari 2026. Lagu ini hadir sebagai sebuah karya muzik yang penuh makna dan spiritual, berfungsi sebagai pembuka suasana Ramadan yang mengajak pendengar untuk merenung, berdoa serta memperbaharui hubungan dengan Allah sepanjang bulan yang penuh keberkatan ini.

    Farhana Ali dikenali sebagai vokalis berbakat yang berasal dari United Kingdom dengan suara merdu serta karya muzik yang diinspirasikan oleh nilai-nilai keimanan. Beliau juga mencatat sejarah sebagai wanita Muslim solo pertama di UK yang mengeluarkan album. Melalui pendekatan muzik yang merentasi sempadan budaya dan geografi, Farhana menyampaikan gabungan melodi yang lembut bersama lirik yang sarat emosi, menjadikan lagu-lagunya mampu menyentuh hati pendengar di pelbagai pelosok dunia.

    Single “Ramadan Is Here” menampilkan mesej yang mendalam dengan menekankan keindahan 99 nama Allah, sekali gus menggalakkan pendengar untuk mendekatkan diri kepada-Nya melalui nama-nama-Nya yang suci sepanjang Ramadan. Lagu ini bertindak sebagai peringatan lembut untuk terus berdoa, berharap dan memanjatkan du’a dengan penuh keikhlasan. Antara bait yang menyentuh hati dalam lagu ini berbunyi, “Ask by His names, all 99 this Ramadan, Allah Al Qudoos, He will be waiting for you.”

    Karya ini turut dilengkapi dengan video muzik yang memukau dan telah difilemkan di London Islamic Cultural Society and Mosque (LICS). Video tersebut memaparkan momen-momen intim ibadah dan refleksi, menggambarkan hubungan peribadi antara seorang hamba dengan Allah. Selain itu, ia turut menampilkan suasana hangat kehidupan Ramadan di rumah, termasuk persiapan menyambut bulan suci, detik berbuka puasa bersama keluarga serta tradisi membungkus hadiah menjelang Hari Raya. Visual ini memperlihatkan keseimbangan antara perjalanan spiritual dalaman dan tradisi kekeluargaan yang menjadi teras sambutan Ramadan.

    Farhana Ali, yang turut bernaung di bawah label Universal Music, berkongsi keterujaannya terhadap pelancaran lagu ini. Menurutnya, “Melalui ‘Ramadan Is Here,’ saya berharap dapat menghadirkan lagu yang menginspirasikan refleksi, keimanan dan perpaduan. Ia menjadi cara muzik untuk menyediakan hati dan rumah kita bagi menyambut bulan suci yang akan datang.”

    Kini, single “Ramadan Is Here” boleh didengari di semua platform penstriman muzik utama, sekali gus menjadi antara karya yang sesuai untuk mengiringi perjalanan rohani sepanjang Ramadan.

  • SAJI Raikan Kemeriahan Syawal Dengan Kempen “Menyala Lagi Raya”

    Hadir melancarkan majlis ialah Pengerusi FELDA, Dato Sri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Pengarah Besar FELDA; Dato Dr Suzana Idayu Wati Osman, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Kumpulan FGV Holdings Berhad, Dato Fakhrunniam Othman, Ahli Lembaga Pengarah FGV Holdings Berhad; Nurul Muhaniza Hanafi dan Ketua Produk Pengguna Kumpulan FGV Holdings Berhad; Aznur Kama Azmir.

    FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV) menerusi jenama SAJI telah lebih 25 tahun bertapak sebagai antara jenama pilihan isi rumah di Malaysia. Dikenali dengan minyak masak berasaskan sawit berkualiti tinggi, SAJI kini berkembang sebagai jenama kulinari yang menawarkan pelbagai produk keperluan dapur termasuk marjerin, krimer, mi segera serta aneka bahan masakan seperti sos, kicap dan pes, selari dengan cita rasa dan gaya hidup pengguna Malaysia masa kini.

    Sempena musim perayaan tahun ini, SAJI melancarkan kempen Menyala Lagi Raya yang mengangkat tema semangat Aidilfitri yang sentiasa menyala dalam setiap rumah. Majlis pelancaran telah berlangsung pada Khamis, 12 Februari 2026 dalam suasana penuh bermakna di Menara Felda. Sebagai tunjang utama kempen, SAJI bakal mempersembahkan sebuah muzikal lagu Raya yang menggabungkan elemen hiburan, emosi dan tradisi dalam penceritaan yang dekat dengan realiti masyarakat. Lebih daripada sekadar karya kreatif, Menyala Lagi Raya mencerminkan komitmen berterusan SAJI dalam menyemarakkan sambutan Aidilfitri serta mengukuhkan peranannya sebagai teman setia di dapur rakyat Malaysia.

    Sejak diperkenalkan pada tahun 2000, SAJI telah menjadi sebahagian daripada kehidupan dan dapur rakyat Malaysia. Bukan sekadar minyak masak pilihan, SAJI kini terus berkembang selari dengan aspirasi FGV untuk menjadi Teman Kulinari rakyat Malaysia, membantu setiap keluarga menyediakan hidangan yang lazat, praktikal dan penuh kasih sayang. Kini, SAJI menguasai lebih 37 peratus pasaran minyak masak tempatan, mencerminkan kekuatan jenama serta kepercayaan pengguna yang kukuh selama lebih dua dekad. Sebagai antara pengeluar makanan terkemuka negara, FGV turut menerajui jenama seperti SERI PELANGI, ADELA, PREMEO dan GULA PRAI dalam menyokong agenda keterjaminan makanan negara dengan memastikan rakyat mempunyai akses kepada produk berkualiti, berkhasiat dan mampu milik.

    Dalam majlis yang sama, SAJI turut memperkenalkan maskot rasminya yang dinamakan Kak Ji sebagai simbol baharu jenama tersebut. Kak Ji bukan sekadar watak yang menceriakan, malah melambangkan nilai teras SAJI iaitu kualiti, kehangatan dan semangat dalam memasak. Maskot ini mencerminkan peranan SAJI sebagai keperluan asas dapur yang serbaguna, sentiasa menemani pelbagai jenis masakan dan menjadi sentuhan istimewa yang menyempurnakan setiap hidangan.

    Bagi memperkukuhkan kedudukannya sebagai pengeluar produk pengguna yang dinamik, SAJI turut memperkenalkan dua produk terbaharu iaitu SAJI Pelengkap Rasa dan SAJI Tepung Goreng Serbaguna. SAJI Pelengkap Rasa merupakan campuran rempah serbaguna yang boleh ditambah terus ketika memasak atau digunakan sebagai bahan perapan dan gosokan kering pada daging serta ikan sebelum dibakar atau dipanggang. Ia hadir dalam tekstur granul yang memudahkan penggunaan, dilengkapi pembungkusan zip lock untuk mengekalkan kesegaran, tanpa pewarna tambahan dan diperbuat daripada bawang asli bagi memberikan rasa yang lebih autentik.

    SAJI Tepung Goreng Serbaguna pula ditawarkan dalam dua variasi iaitu Gorengan Asli dan Gorengan Pedas. Produk ini dirumus khas untuk menghasilkan gorengan yang rangup dan keemasan, sesuai untuk pelbagai jenis hidangan. Selain kaedah gorengan menggunakan minyak, ia juga sesuai digunakan dengan air fryer, menjadikannya pilihan lebih praktikal dan serba guna untuk gaya masakan moden.

    Seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya, kempen ini turut menampilkan Peraduan SAJI Beli & Menang dengan hadiah keseluruhan bernilai sehingga RM50,000. Untuk menyertainya, pengguna hanya perlu membeli produk SAJI, SERI PELANGI, PREMEO, ADELA atau GULA PRAI bernilai RM25 ke atas dan menghantar bukti pembelian melalui WhatsApp.

    Pada tahun ini, SAJI turut berkolaborasi bersama rakan strategik Felda Travel dan Seri Pacific Hotel bagi pelbagai inisiatif menarik. Menerusi kerjasama dengan Felda Travel, pemenang hadiah utama berpeluang menikmati Pakej Umrah Super Saver untuk dua orang bernilai RM5,555 seorang, atau pakej percutian setara bagi pemenang bukan Muslim dengan nilai keseluruhan hadiah sehingga RM10,000. SAJI juga mempersembahkan Inspirasi Citarasa Ramadan musim kedua, yang menampilkan 15 video resipi eksklusif hasil sentuhan chef terkemuka dari Seri Pacific Hotel. Menggunakan produk SAJI, setiap hidangan diinspirasikan khas untuk juadah berbuka dan sahur, dan telah disiarkan sepanjang Ramadan di platform media sosial rasmi SAJI termasuk Instagram dan Facebook. Selain itu, setiap pembelian pakej Buffet Ramadan di Seri Pacific Hotel sepanjang bulan Ramadan turut melayakkan penyertaan dalam peraduan SAJI Beli & Menang, di samping tawaran Pakej Balik Kampung SAJI yang dijual di hotel berkenaan.

    Dalam usaha mendekati pengguna secara lebih menyeluruh, SAJI juga akan menjalankan aktiviti pensampelan selama 320 hari di pasar raya terpilih di seluruh Malaysia bagi meningkatkan pengalaman penggunaan produk serta mengukuhkan hubungan jenama bersama pengguna. Orang ramai turut dijemput menantikan pelancaran muzik video Raya SAJI “Menyala Lagi Raya” yang bakal diperkenalkan tidak lama lagi menerusi platform media sosial rasmi SAJI di TikTok, Instagram, Facebook dan YouTube.

  • University Malaya Formalises Research Partnership with SATEERA®, Witnessed by MOSTI Minister

    University Malaya Formalises Research Partnership with SATEERA®, Witnessed by MOSTI Minister

    Universiti Malaya (UM) has formalised a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with SATEERA® Sdn Bhd in a ceremony witnessed by Chang Lih Kang, Malaysia’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The agreement signals Malaysia’s continued progress in translating university-originated research into commercially applied biotechnology, reinforcing the role of academia–industry collaboration in advancing national innovation capacity.

    The technology underpinning SATEERA® was originally developed within UM’s research ecosystem more than a decade ago, progressing through laboratory refinement, patent development and industry translation before forming the foundation of the BioNexus-status biotechnology company. With this formal collaboration, both parties commit to advancing scientific validation and expanding research into selective anti-infective mechanisms, strengthening the bridge between academic research and real-world application.

    Co-Founder of REDFORES, Datuk Wira Jment Lim
    Co-Founder of SATEERA, Datuk Wira Calvin Khiu

    At the core of SATEERA®’s innovation is its Natural Smart Anti-Infective Technology, designed to selectively inhibit harmful bacteria while preserving beneficial microbial communities. Unlike conventional broad-spectrum antimicrobial formulations that eliminate bacteria indiscriminately, this targeted approach focuses on microbial modulation. As global research increasingly highlights concerns around antimicrobial resistance and the importance of maintaining healthy microbiomes, selective anti-infective strategies are gaining relevance within hygiene science and applied biotechnology.

    The innovation has already progressed beyond laboratory validation into commercial application through REDFORES®, SATEERA®’s intimate care brand and the first to integrate its patented technology into women’s hygiene solutions. Under the partnership, REDFORES® products will undergo further scientific evaluation with UM’s academic team, reinforcing a commitment to evidence-based development in women’s intimate health. The company’s technology has also previously undergone independent validation by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and SGS Malaysia, and SATEERA® currently holds 14 international patents across Asia.

    MOSTI, YB Chang Lih Kang
    Deputy Vice Chancellor of UM, Professor Ir. Dr. Kaharudin Dimyati

    Speaking at the ceremony, Chang Lih Kang emphasised the importance of translating research into real-world solutions, noting that innovation must move beyond the laboratory to strengthen national capability and improve quality of life in line with Malaysia’s broader biotechnology aspirations. SATEERA® co-founders Datuk Wira Calvin Khiu and Datuk Wira Jment Lim underscored the need to rethink conventional hygiene paradigms, shifting away from indiscriminate eradication models toward smarter, microbiome-conscious approaches grounded in scientific validation and long-term well-being.

    The event also included recognition by ASEAN and ASIA Records and featured an interdisciplinary panel discussion themed “Leading the Good Bacteria Era: Redefining Global Hygiene Standards.” Academics and medical specialists explored the broader implications of microbiome preservation and selective anti-infective science, particularly in the context of women’s intimate health. The collaboration is expected to expand validation studies and deepen research engagement within Malaysia’s biotechnology ecosystem, further positioning the country as a producer of advanced, science-driven health solutions.

  • How Payment Insights Drive SME Expansion

    How Payment Insights Drive SME Expansion

    Malaysia has made significant strides in digital payment adoption, with QR codes, online transfers and card payments now commonplace even among micro and small merchants. However, the next chapter of growth for the nation’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will hinge not on how widely digital payments are accepted, but on how intelligently transaction data is harnessed. MSMEs account for 38 percent of Malaysia’s GDP and employ nearly half of the national workforce. As such, inefficiencies in cash flow management, financing access and operational decision-making have ripple effects that extend well beyond individual businesses into the broader economy.

    While digital acceptance has scaled rapidly, operational maturity has not progressed at the same pace. A significant proportion of MSMEs continue to manage reconciliation, forecasting and working capital through manual or fragmented systems, even as they collect payments digitally. This disconnect limits the true value of digitalisation. Without consolidated and structured transaction data, business owners often lack visibility into revenue cycles, demand fluctuations, margin performance and liquidity trends. Strategic decisions on hiring, procurement and expansion are therefore made conservatively, based more on instinct than insight — an approach that can constrain long-term growth and reduce resilience against economic volatility.

    The financing landscape highlights this gap even more starkly. Malaysian MSMEs face an estimated US$2.5 billion funding gap, largely due to insufficient credit histories or limited formal financial documentation. Yet many of these businesses generate consistent daily revenue through digital transactions. When properly analysed, structured payment data can provide lenders with a clearer, performance-based view of revenue stability and cash flow consistency. Transaction intelligence has the potential to shorten approval timelines, reduce reliance on collateral, and expand credit access to viable but previously underserved merchants. In this context, payment data is not merely an operational by-product — it is an underutilised financial asset.

    For businesses operating within or adjacent to informal systems, digital payments can also serve as a pathway into the formal economy. Each recorded transaction contributes to a verifiable financial footprint, strengthening compliance readiness for evolving requirements such as e-invoicing while enhancing eligibility for financing and other financial services. Without structured and activated data, enterprises may remain economically active yet financially invisible, limiting upward mobility and reinforcing structural exclusion.

    Malaysia now stands at a strategic inflection point. Having achieved scale in digital payment acceptance, the national focus must shift toward integration, analytics and data-driven decision-making. If digitalisation stops at the checkout counter, MSMEs risk remaining connected but constrained. If transaction intelligence is activated effectively, however, it can close financing gaps, strengthen resilience and support a more inclusive digital economy. The future of Malaysia’s SME ecosystem will not be defined by the number of QR codes displayed, but by how effectively payment data is transformed into actionable insight — turning transactions into transformation and access into empowerment.

  • Bridging the “Missing Middle”: How Fukuro Malaysia Is Redefining Everyday Kitchenware

    In Malaysia’s evolving home and living landscape, kitchenware rarely commands attention — until it disrupts daily routines. It is not a dramatic, viral purchase, but a quiet essential that shapes how households cook, store, and organise their lives. Yet within this everyday category lies what industry observers describe as the “missing middle”: a gap between low-cost, disposable options and premium, design-led brands that may feel financially out of reach. Bridging that divide is Fukuro Malaysia, a homegrown brand positioning itself deliberately between affordability and quality, offering international-grade, design-conscious kitchen essentials at accessible prices for everyday families.

    Rather than reinventing basic tools, Fukuro focuses on refining fundamentals — ensuring that products feel sturdy, modern, and thoughtfully designed without inflating them into luxury statements. The brand applies FMCG-style discipline to a category often treated as purely transactional. This means intentional assortment planning, consistent pricing structures, active retail visibility, and prioritised availability across departmental stores, premium grocers, supermarkets, and hypermarkets. The philosophy is straightforward: when consumers need reliable kitchenware, the brand should already be within reach — not buried in a niche shelf or limited to online-only discovery.

    This approach aligns closely with shifting household behaviour. As living costs fluctuate and food expenses outside the home rise, more Malaysians are returning to packed lunches, leftovers, and practical weekday cooking. At the same time, digital influence has reshaped purchase expectations. With high social media penetration nationwide, consumers increasingly value kitchenware that complements modern home aesthetics, balancing utility with visual appeal. Today’s kitchen tools are no longer just functional items; they are extensions of personal identity within compact urban living spaces.

    Rokku Clip Lock Containers

    A recent example of Fukuro’s positioning is its Rokku Food Storage Series, launched in February 2026. The nine-SKU lineup — comprising six Clip Lock Containers and three Airlock Canisters — is designed for daily meal preparation and organised storage. Anchoring its “accessible but solid” promise, a 550 ml Clip Lock Container priced at RM9.90 illustrates how affordability and durability can coexist. However, the broader story is less about a single product range and more about disciplined brand-building. Since its establishment in 2020, Fukuro’s growth has been driven by retail penetration across multiple channels, repeat purchases, and consistent five-star consumer feedback rather than one-off viral campaigns.

    Co-founder Daryl Lai emphasises that building the “missing middle” in kitchenware is challenging precisely because it requires balance — resisting the race to the bottom on price while avoiding over-positioning as aspirational luxury. For Fukuro, availability itself is a pillar of trust, particularly for young households shopping within real-world routines. By prioritising route-to-market fundamentals over marketing noise, the brand demonstrates that longevity in retail often depends less on hype and more on consistent execution.

    As Malaysian consumers become more selective and value-conscious, brands that master the basics — quality, price discipline, retail visibility, and everyday usability — are likely to stand the test of time. In a crowded market of extremes, Fukuro Malaysia’s steady, methodical approach suggests that sometimes the strongest strategy is not disruption, but dependable presence in kitchens across the country.

  • Unwavering Voices, Meaningful Transformation

    In conjunction with International Women’s Day, Taylor’s University shines a spotlight on three remarkable women whose work is shaping more inclusive, resilient, and compassionate communities. From climate-responsive design and dementia care to sustainable food innovation, their leadership reflects a powerful truth: transformative change begins with steadfast voices grounded in purpose, empathy, and evidence.

    At the forefront of climate and sustainability advocacy is Dr Praveena Nair Sivasankaran, Director of the Clean Technology Impact Lab. With over a decade of experience in clean technology, she founded ‘Cooling the Heat, Healing the Mind’ (CHHM) to examine how extreme heat affects mental health while exploring practical cooling strategies. Her conviction was strengthened after engaging with frontline personnel who described the psychological toll of working under prolonged heat stress. For Dr Praveena, climate resilience must go beyond infrastructure — it must account for the human nervous system. Collaborating with students from The Design School, she has proposed wearable cooling concepts and monitoring ideas informed by direct engagement with outdoor vendors. Her approach to sustainability is deeply human-centred, emphasising dignity, behavioural awareness, and inclusive participation, particularly ensuring women’s voices are meaningfully integrated into environmental decision-making.

    Championing cognitive health and dignified ageing, Professor Dr Rozainee Khairudin, Director of the Mental Health and Well-being Impact Lab, brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work. Inspired by witnessing her late mother’s journey through stroke-related cognitive decline, she leads ‘ArtsProud: An Intervention Study Using Artistic Methods to Reduce Cognitive Decline in Normal Elderly and Individuals with Dementia’ in Malaysia. Building on the original ArtsProud social enterprise initiative, her research strengthens the evidence base for arts-based interventions, demonstrating that structured engagement in music, storytelling, movement, and art can activate neural networks and reduce cognitive decline. In a field often dominated by biomedical models, Professor Rozainee advocates for integrating behavioural science, empathy, and creativity into dementia care. She believes compassion is not a weakness in academia but a strength — one that deepens impact and builds trust across communities.

    In the realm of food innovation and nutrition security, Professor Ts. Dr. Chong Li Choo has earned international recognition, including the President’s Award from The Research Chefs Association and the Food Innovation Educator Award 2025. Yet for her, accolades affirm relevance rather than personal achievement. Through initiatives such as Nourish-U, she works with schools, meal providers, and community partners to design balanced, affordable meals while transferring practical nutritional knowledge to caregivers and educators. Her research journey, which began with developing high-fibre noodles from underutilised plantain and agricultural by-products, reflects her belief that small, thoughtful innovations can collectively address complex issues like the coexistence of obesity and malnutrition. As a mentor, she is especially committed to nurturing young female talents, encouraging confidence and resilience among students who may underestimate their own capabilities.

    Together, these three leaders embody a model of women’s leadership that is steady rather than loud, evidence-driven yet compassionate. Whether confronting climate stress, cognitive decline, or food insecurity, their work demonstrates that sustainable solutions must integrate technical expertise with human wellbeing. This International Women’s Day, their stories serve as a reminder that meaningful progress is not only about innovation — it is about inclusion, dignity, and the courage to lead with clarity and care.

  • Alif Satar menerajui filem web Raya 2026 terbitan MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Berhad Malaysia berjudul “Raya Sama-Sama”, sebuah karya istimewa yang menyemarakkan semangat kebersamaan dan kemeriahan Aidilfitri.

    Alif Satar menerajui filem web Raya 2026 terbitan MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Berhad Malaysia berjudul “Raya Sama-Sama”, sebuah karya istimewa yang menyemarakkan semangat kebersamaan dan kemeriahan Aidilfitri.

    Sempena sambutan Aidilfitri 2026, MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Berhad Malaysia kembali dengan filem web perayaan terbaharunya berjudul “Raya Sama-Sama”, sebuah naskhah ringkas namun sarat emosi yang mengetengahkan nilai kemaafan serta keindahan persamaan budaya antara Malaysia dan Indonesia. Menggabungkan elemen kekeluargaan, persahabatan dan semangat kebersamaan, karya berdurasi kira-kira lima minit ini tampil sebagai kesinambungan tradisi jenama tersebut dalam menghasilkan kisah raya yang dekat dengan realiti masyarakat majmuk.

    Filem ini dibintangi oleh penyanyi dan pelakon terkenal tanah air, Alif Satar, bersama dua bintang popular Indonesia, Teuku Wisnu dan Shireen Sungkar. Jalan ceritanya mengikuti perjalanan Izzat, seorang profesional Malaysia yang bekerja di Indonesia dan berdepan detik mencabar apabila ribut kuat menggagalkan hasratnya untuk pulang menyambut kelahiran anak sulung. Dalam keadaan terdesak, dia terpaksa menumpang di rumah rakan sekerjanya, Rian, yang sebelum ini sering menimbulkan rasa kurang senang.

    Izzat terpaksa tinggal di rumah Rian selepas terkandas di Indonesia

    Konflik kecil dan salah faham yang berlaku akhirnya membuka ruang kepada pemahaman dan keikhlasan. Izzat mula melihat sisi kemanusiaan Rian dan keluarganya, sekali gus menyedari bahawa perbezaan budaya bukanlah penghalang untuk membina hubungan yang tulus. Klimaks cerita yang menyentuh hati apabila Izzat menerima berita kelahiran anaknya menguatkan mesej bahawa semangat Aidilfitri — kemaafan, empati dan kebersamaan — melangkaui sempadan negara.

    Menurut Alex Goh, Naib Presiden Pemasaran MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Berhad, kempen ini membawa mesej “Perbezaan Diraikan, Kebersamaan Dikongsi”, selari dengan aspirasi jenama untuk terus dekat di hati isi rumah yang pelbagai. Melalui sentuhan budaya yang halus dan penceritaan yang relatable, “Raya Sama-Sama” bukan sekadar hiburan musim perayaan, malah menjadi refleksi nilai sejagat yang menyatukan masyarakat serantau.

    Izzat dan Rian akhirnya berdamai

    Sejak dilancarkan di platform media sosial rasmi jenama itu termasuk Facebook, Instagram, TikTok dan YouTube, filem web ini telah mencatat lebih enam juta tontonan dalam tempoh beberapa hari, membuktikan sambutan hangat daripada penonton. Inisiatif ini sekali lagi mengukuhkan kedudukan MR D.I.Y. Malaysia sebagai jenama runcit yang bukan sahaja memenuhi keperluan harian, tetapi turut menyemarakkan nilai kekeluargaan dan perpaduan setiap kali musim perayaan tiba.

  • KIMBAB Perkenal “Drama Raya”, Naskhah Raya Ringan Sarat Cerita Kehidupan Pagi Syawal

    KIMBAB Perkenal “Drama Raya”, Naskhah Raya Ringan Sarat Cerita Kehidupan Pagi Syawal

    Industri hiburan tempatan terus diserikan dengan karya raya baharu apabila Kimbab melancarkan “Drama Raya”, sebuah lagu yang memadukan elemen komedi, realiti kehidupan dan rentak moden. Dihasilkan oleh Zulin Aziz, lagu ini mengetengahkan pelbagai kisah yang relatable — menggambarkan betapa ‘pagi raya’ sering hadir bersama cabaran kecil yang akhirnya menjadi memori lucu setiap tahun.

    Keistimewaan lagu ini bukan sahaja pada melodinya yang catchy, malah keberanian menampilkan rap Bahasa Melayu oleh Maryam DurianKimchi, menjadikan “Drama Raya” lebih dinamik dan berwarna. Rakaman yang berjalan lancar membuktikan komitmen tinggi ketiga-tiga ahli Kimbab, yang hubungan akrabnya sudah lama terjalin sejak program Muzikal Lawak Superstar.

    Menariknya, lagu ini juga dikhabarkan bakal menjadi lagu tema telefilem raya mereka berjudul Andartu Cancel Raya di Astro, sekali gus memperluas impak karya tersebut merentasi platform muzik dan televisyen. Dengan mesej santai namun penuh makna, “Drama Raya” berpotensi menjadi siulan ramai dan menyuntik keceriaan sepanjang Syawal.