MalaysianUpdates

Category: Digital Transformation

  • Visa Perkukuh Ekosistem Pembayaran Pintar Melalui Program Agentic Ready di Malaysia

    Visa, peneraju global dalam pembayaran digital, hari ini melancarkan program Visa Agentic Ready di rantau Asia Pasifik termasuk Malaysia. Program global ini diperkenalkan bagi menyokong ekosistem pembayaran dalam era perdagangan berejen yang semakin berkembang pesat.

    Pada peringkat awal pelaksanaannya, Visa Agentic Ready memberi fokus kepada kesediaan pengeluar dengan menyediakan pendekatan berstruktur untuk menguji, mengesahkan dan memahami transaksi yang dimulakan oleh ejen AI dalam persekitaran terkawal bertaraf pengeluaran. Program ini membolehkan pengeluar menilai sendiri bagaimana ejen AI boleh memulakan serta melengkapkan transaksi bagi pihak pengguna, di samping menguji tahap kesiapsiagaan mereka dalam menyokong perdagangan berejen tanpa menjejaskan elemen kepercayaan, kawalan dan perlindungan yang menjadi tunjang kepada rangkaian Visa.

    Pengurus Negara Visa Malaysia, Previn Pillay berkata, ketika perdagangan semakin bergerak ke arah automasi, aspek kebolehpercayaan, keselamatan dan kawalan pengguna menjadi semakin penting. Menurut beliau, Visa Agentic Ready menawarkan pendekatan yang praktikal dan tersusun kepada pengeluar di Malaysia untuk memahami bagaimana pembayaran yang dimulakan oleh ejen boleh beroperasi dalam rangkaian Visa sebelum teknologi tersebut diperluaskan secara lebih meluas.

    Beliau turut menjelaskan bahawa Visa kini bekerjasama dengan peniaga, platform dan rakan teknologi di peringkat global bagi membolehkan penggunaan perdagangan berpacukan ejen yang dipercayai. Langkah ini bertujuan memastikan pengalaman tersebut dapat diintegrasikan secara lancar ke dalam keseluruhan ekosistem apabila teknologinya semakin matang. Menurutnya, pendekatan ini membantu memastikan inovasi berkembang secara bertanggungjawab sambil pengguna terus mempunyai kawalan terhadap bagaimana dan bila pembayaran dilakukan.

    Visa Agentic Ready dipacu oleh keupayaan teras rangkaian Visa yang menggabungkan token, identiti, pengurusan risiko dan kawalan untuk menentukan bagaimana pembayaran dimulakan ejen yang dipercayai boleh digunakan dalam pelbagai situasi. Inisiatif ini turut memanfaatkan Visa Intelligent Commerce, iaitu portfolio penyelesaian dan inisiatif Visa yang menyediakan pengalaman perdagangan berpacukan AI secara selamat dan dipercayai pada skala besar.

    Bagi merealisasikan perdagangan berejen secara meluas, Visa menekankan kepentingan kerjasama merentas ekosistem pembayaran. Sehubungan itu, beberapa rakan kerjasama daripada 10 pasaran di rantau Asia Pasifik telah menyertai program Agentic Ready termasuk Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad, Hong Leong Bank dan Maybank di Malaysia. Visa menjangkakan lebih ramai rakan kerjasama akan turut serta apabila program ini diperluaskan kepada lebih banyak peniaga dan pemain ekosistem.

    Ketua Pegawai Perbankan Pengguna Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, Gan Pai Li berkata, persediaan untuk pembayaran yang dimulakan oleh ejen tidak boleh dilaksanakan secara bersendirian oleh institusi kewangan. Beliau berkata program seperti Visa Agentic Ready membolehkan pihak bank menguji serta memahami aliran transaksi baharu ini sebagai sebahagian daripada ekosistem pembayaran yang lebih luas dan dipercayai.

    Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif CIMB Malaysia dan CIMB Bank Berhad, Gurdip Singh Sidhu pula berkata teknologi AI kini sedang membentuk semula tingkah laku pengguna dan model perniagaan dengan pantas. Menurut beliau, Visa Agentic Ready mencerminkan visi CIMB untuk menyediakan pengalaman perbankan yang lebih intuitif dan terintegrasi dalam kehidupan harian, selain memberi peluang kepada institusi itu untuk menguji, mempelajari dan bersedia menghadapi pembayaran yang dimulakan oleh ejen AI. Beliau berkata pendekatan tersebut membolehkan CIMB menawarkan perkhidmatan berasaskan AI secara selamat dan bertanggungjawab sambil mengekalkan keyakinan serta kawalan yang diharapkan pelanggan.

    Sementara itu, Pengarah Urusan Perkhidmatan Kewangan Peribadi Hong Leong Bank, Andrew Jong berkata pembayaran yang dimulakan oleh ejen memperkenalkan dimensi baharu terhadap cara transaksi dimulakan dan ditadbir. Menurut beliau, Visa Agentic Ready memberi peluang kepada institusi kewangan untuk mengesahkan senario pembayaran baharu lebih awal, memahami implikasinya dalam situasi sebenar serta menilai bagaimana ia boleh disokong secara bertanggungjawab sebelum diterima secara lebih meluas.

    Ketua Kad, Perkhidmatan Kewangan Komuniti Kumpulan Maybank, B. Ravintharan A/L K. Balakrishnan pula berkata kebolehpercayaan kekal menjadi faktor utama dalam kemunculan kaedah pembayaran baharu. Beliau menjelaskan bahawa Visa Agentic Ready membolehkan Maybank meneroka pembayaran dimulakan ejen dalam persekitaran terkawal sekali gus membantu membina keyakinan dan menilai bagaimana model tersebut boleh diskalakan secara bertanggungjawab tanpa menjejaskan keselamatan serta kawalan pelanggan.

    Melalui persekitaran ujian bertaraf pengeluaran yang terkawal, program ini memperlihatkan bagaimana pembayaran dimulakan ejen boleh dilaksanakan dalam situasi dunia sebenar dan membantu pengeluar membina keyakinan terhadap kaedah pembayaran baharu yang semakin berkembang.

    Inisiatif ini juga menyokong peralihan lebih luas Visa ke arah perdagangan pintar yang boleh diatur cara, di mana maklumat pengesahan dan keupayaan rangkaian yang dipercayai membolehkan pembayaran dilaksanakan secara selamat dan fleksibel berdasarkan niat, konteks serta kawalan pengguna. Dalam situasi lebih banyak proses pembelian diautomasikan, pendekatan ini membantu memastikan ejen AI dapat bertindak secara lancar bagi pihak pengguna sambil memastikan kawalan utama kekal di tangan manusia.

    Visa kini bekerjasama dengan platform dan pembangun AI, peniaga serta rakan ekosistem di seluruh dunia bagi membolehkan pelaksanaan pembayaran dimulakan ejen secara selamat pada skala besar. Visa Agentic Ready membantu memastikan pengeluar bersedia untuk menyokong transaksi tersebut dengan yakin dan selamat.

    Pelancaran di Asia Pasifik ini menyusuli pelancaran program tersebut di Eropah sebelum ini dan dibangunkan berdasarkan maklum balas awal daripada rakan kerjasama global. Ketika ini, program berkenaan tersedia di Australia, Hong Kong, Jepun, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapura, Korea Selatan, Taiwan, Thailand dan Vietnam. Pihak yang berminat untuk menyertai program Visa Agentic Ready boleh menghubungi wakil akaun Visa untuk maklumat lanjut.

  • Snowflake Expands AI Data Cloud with Malaysia’s ILMU Sovereign LLM

    Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, today announced the integration of ILMU Malaysia’s homegrown sovereign large language model (LLM) developed by YTL AI Labs into its platform, enabling organisations in Malaysia to run generative AI on governed enterprise data through Snowflake’s secure governance framework. The integration is further strengthened by Snowflake’s availability on the AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region, enabling secure, in-country deployment of enterprise AI capabilities.

    With this move, Snowflake becomes among the first global AI and data cloud providers to support integration with a locally developed sovereign LLM within a fully in-country deployment. This enables enterprises to accelerate AI adoption while meeting stringent data governance and residency requirements.

    The integration of ILMU gives enterprises access to a sovereign LLM specifically trained on Malaysian linguistic nuances and cultural contexts. This strengthens Snowflake’s AI capabilities through a deeper understanding of Bahasa Melayu, Manglish and regional dialects, enabling more accurate interpretation of locally contextualised enterprise data. Organisations can therefore unlock greater value from their data by developing AI-driven applications that are more relevant, accurate and locally attuned without compromising performance or scalability.

    By enabling ILMU to operate within Snowflake’s governed environment, sensitive data remains securely managed under Snowflake’s established security framework. This allows organisations to adopt AI while ensuring proprietary data remains within national borders and under full governance controls. The capability is especially important for regulated industries such as the public sector, financial services, telecommunications and retail, where data governance and residency are critical requirements.

    The collaboration reflects growing enterprise demand in Malaysia for AI solutions that combine local data governance requirements with broader efforts to strengthen the country’s position in the global AI economy.

    “With Malaysia’s RM2 billion Sovereign AI Cloud commitment underscoring data localisation as a national priority, organisations need AI solutions they can trust to keep their data onshore,” said Satchit Joglekar, Regional Vice President, Snowflake ASEAN. “With Snowflake now available in the AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region and the integration of ILMU into our platform, we are giving Malaysian enterprises the confidence to adopt AI securely within their enterprise data environment, in the language their customers speak, without compromising governance or compliance.”

    Foong Chee Mun, CEO of YTL AI Labs, described the integration of the ILMU sovereign LLM with the Snowflake environment as a significant milestone in localising high-performance AI. He said YTL AI Labs has focused on providing the sovereign infrastructure needed to support these workloads and that seamless access to Malaysia’s national language model through a secure global platform like Snowflake would allow Malaysian enterprises to deploy AI solutions that are culturally relevant, legally compliant and hosted within Malaysia.

    The ILMU integration and Snowflake’s availability in the AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region come at a time when enterprise use cases in Malaysia are increasingly translating into practical applications of governed AI.

    “At Ryt Bank, our priority is to provide secure and innovative financial services that truly serve Malaysian customers,” said Nic Ngoo, Chief Technology Officer of Ryt Bank. “YTL AI Labs provides ILMU — a sovereign, locally built LLM and AI services that allow our bank to build the world’s first AI-powered bank that redefines the banking experience. With ILMU and Snowflake’s in-country deployment, our customers can bank using natural, culturally nuanced language for everything from transferring money and seeking personalised financial advice to seamless customer support, while ensuring the highest standards of data residency and governance.”

    Among the early adopters is property developer S P Setia Bhd (Setia), which recently received a Malaysia Technology Excellence Award for its AI innovations in the real estate sector, including AI sales agents and AI vision-based inspection solutions.

    “As one of the nation’s leading property developers, Setia has long been entrusted with shaping communities that reflect the values, aspirations and way of life of Malaysians,” said Datuk Zaini Yusoff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Setia. “This integration represents a strategic milestone in how we elevate the property journey through personalisation and innovation. By leveraging Snowflake’s local data infrastructure and AI capabilities built for the Malaysian market, we look forward to continuously improving how we engage with customers in language that feels natural and familiar across every touchpoint — from home discovery to property management — while reinforcing the trust that underpins our long-standing leadership in the industry.”

    Snowflake is the platform for the AI era, helping enterprises innovate faster and derive greater value from data. More than 13,300 customers worldwide, including hundreds of the world’s largest companies, use Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud to build, use and share data, applications and AI solutions. Further information is available at snowflake.com (NYSE: SNOW).

  • Inaugural SME Showcase Connects Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Industry Leaders

    Inaugural SME Showcase Connects Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Industry Leaders

    The inaugural SME Market Expansion Showcase, officially presented to the business community today, brought together more than 30 curated businesses and serious industry visitors at CityStage @ KL City Walk, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Golden Triangle. The showcase went beyond a traditional marketplace, serving as a dynamic business growth platform where brands gained exposure, conducted direct sales, and forged strategic partnerships. The programme focused on key areas such as direct customer engagement, on-the-spot sales opportunities, industry forum sessions, and networking with decision-makers, creating a high-energy environment designed to help participants learn, connect, and grow.

    The one-day event attracted a strong turnout of SME owners, entrepreneurs, corporate professionals, decision-makers, as well as buyers and investors. Forum talks and panel discussions explored a wide range of topics, including market expansion strategies, the adoption of artificial intelligence for digital growth, access to financing and grants, smart scaling approaches, and the sharing of entrepreneurial success stories. The showcase also provided attendees with valuable direct access to founders and key decision-makers.

    In her welcome address, Tanker Collaborative Director Janet New highlighted the vital role of SMEs as the backbone of the economy, noting that the showcase aimed to build a meaningful ecosystem where entrepreneurs could access funding insights, embrace digital growth, prioritise health, and establish strategic partnerships for sustainable success. She also elaborated on the event’s objectives and emphasised the importance of maximising both booth presence and forum participation. She added that the true value of the event lies in active engagement, encouraging exhibitors to present not just products but solutions and collaboration opportunities, while urging visitors to approach each interaction with purpose and curiosity to strengthen the overall business ecosystem.

    A key highlight of the forum sessions was the focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and its role in measuring a company’s sustainability, ethical impact, and operational risks. Leading the ESG discussion was Stacia Lim, Director for Corporate Governance, who provided in-depth insights into integrating ESG into SME strategies and explained why it is no longer optional. She also outlined practical frameworks for adoption and noted that Malaysia’s National Sustainability Reporting Framework and amended Bursa Malaysia Listing Requirements now encompass Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, with a phased mandatory implementation leading up to 1 January 2027, significantly reshaping obligations for suppliers and SMEs.

    The discussion was further expanded in a panel session featuring Lim, Shu Yi Kuek, founder of KPL Corporate Advisory Sdn. Bhd., and Alan Chin, Vice President of Group Sustainability and Strategic Partnerships at Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, moderated by Sally Yap of PeakJob Sdn Bhd. The session explored ESG in action, including access to grants, tax incentives, compliance requirements, and green financing opportunities, while also sharing practical case studies and strategies for unlocking green loans. Lim emphasised that ESG adoption does not have to be costly and encouraged SMEs to start from their current capabilities, while Chin highlighted that sustainability is not merely a compliance exercise but a competitive advantage that can position SMEs ahead of their peers.

    The discussion also touched on Malaysia’s new incentive framework, effective from 1 March 2026, which introduces a more targeted and outcome-based approach, with ESG practices as a key eligibility criterion. The framework will initially apply to the manufacturing sector, with the services sector timeline to be announced later, and offers incentives of up to 15 years.

    Other forum sessions included a health talk by Nutrition Consultant Dr. JC Wong from JC Lifestyle Coaching, who shared insights on protecting heart health through proper dietary practices, including understanding good and bad fats, reducing harmful oils, adopting suitable cooking methods, and managing cholesterol naturally. He later joined Dr. Anandarajah Shanmugam, co-founder of Healthy Lifestyle Solutions, in a panel discussion that explored heart disease beyond conventional medical and diagnostic approaches.

    Marketing influencer Kien Lim, founder of Attitude Ideology, presented on market expansion strategies for SMEs, covering entry into new markets, the use of digital channels, partnership models, and scaling without significant overheads. In the final panel session, Kien Lim was joined by Newspin Communication’s PR Director Marc Ng and Brand and Communication Consultant Clarence Koh to discuss content creation, public relations, social media, and the role of key opinion leaders in today’s attention economy. The session was moderated by Gina Woon, co-founder of Novela Boutique.

    Throughout the day, exhibitors were also given the opportunity to deliver 90-second introductions of their businesses during networking sessions, enabling them to showcase their offerings and connect with potential partners and clients.

    The event was organised by Tanker Collaborative Sdn Bhd, a dynamic event and business activation company with operations in Malaysia and Hong Kong. The company specialises in large-scale showcases, corporate events, and market expansion platforms, designing and executing high-impact experiences that connect brands, businesses, and communities. Through curated exhibitions and strategic collaborations, Tanker drives visibility, engagement, and measurable commercial outcomes, serving as a growth enabler for SMEs and enterprises seeking to expand their reach across regional markets. With a strong focus on execution excellence and results, the company continues to deliver seamless, purpose-driven events that transform ideas into impactful business opportunities.

  • Exabytes and MYNIC Power Malaysia’s Digital Transformation, Award Tesla Model Y as Grand Prize

    Exabytes and MYNIC Power Malaysia’s Digital Transformation, Award Tesla Model Y as Grand Prize

    Exabytes, Southeast Asia’s leading provider of AI hosting, business applications, e-commerce, and digital solutions, in partnership with MYNIC Berhad, Malaysia’s official .MY domain registry, recently celebrated a major milestone in the nation’s digitalization journey with the conclusion of its nationwide digital adoption campaign, highlighted by the giveaway of a brand-new Tesla Model Y. The grand finale, held at the Tesla Experience Centre in Cyberjaya, brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners dedicated to advancing Malaysia’s digital economy. The event was officiated by Eric Foo, Deputy CEO of Exabytes, alongside Encik Hafiz Shahrel Hanafiah, Senior Vice President of Operations, MYNIC, with participation from representatives of both organizations.

    The campaign, which ran throughout 2025, aimed to empower Malaysian SMEs to build credible and competitive digital identities by registering selected .MY domain names with Exabytes. Each registration, whether a new purchase or renewal, earned entries for the Tesla Model Y grand prize, culminating in the announcement of the winner, Mr. Wong Toong Poo, founder of DIY Business System. Wong shared, “Digital transformation starts with a single, decisive step. With Exabytes and MYNIC’s guidance, we’ve strengthened our digital foundation, managing 278 active MYNIC domains and leveraging nearly 11 years of partnership. Early investment in digital infrastructure truly makes a difference, and I encourage fellow Malaysian entrepreneurs to take that step.”

    Mr. Wong Toong Poo, Founder of DIY Business System, with his grand prize Tesla Model Y at the Tesla Experience Centre, Cyberjaya.

    The campaign attracted over 20,000 businesses, generating more than 70,000 entries, reflecting the growing awareness of digital readiness and the rising demand for reliable local domains, scalable digital infrastructure, and online solutions to support sustainable growth. Through its GROW Digital initiative, Exabytes continues to provide SMEs with domain registration, web hosting, cloud services, and comprehensive digital solutions, while MYNIC reinforces the value of local domain ownership as a symbol of credibility, trust, and national pride.

    Eric Foo highlighted, “Digital transformation is accelerating, and SMEs must move with it. Our campaign aimed to strengthen digital foundations, and the overwhelming response shows the importance of digitalization for future-ready growth.” Encik Hafiz Shahrel Hanafiah added, “A strong digital presence starts with a trusted digital identity. Registering a .MY domain reflects credibility and local trust, essential for Malaysian businesses to thrive in the digital economy.”

    The Tesla Model Y, chosen as the grand prize, symbolizes clean energy, innovation, and forward-thinking technology, paralleling the transformative power of digital adoption. Building on this momentum, Exabytes and MYNIC plan to continue driving digital adoption through AI-powered solutions, cybersecurity awareness, and smart digital marketing initiatives, enabling Malaysian businesses not only to establish an online presence but to scale, innovate, and build trust in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

  • Timor-Leste and Zchwantech Forge Historic Partnership to Build a Sovereign AI-Driven Digital Nation

    Timor-Leste and Zchwantech Forge Historic Partnership to Build a Sovereign AI-Driven Digital Nation

    The Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Malaysian technology architect Zchwantech Sdn. Bhd. have announced plans to establish a strategic partnership aimed at co-developing a sovereign, AI-powered national digital ecosystem. The announcement follows a successful high-level delegation visit to Kuala Lumpur and represents a major milestone in Timor-Leste’s long-term digital transformation agenda under the Timor Digital 2032 vision.

    The proposed collaboration focuses on building secure, future-ready national digital systems anchored in sovereignty, resilience and sustainable nation-building. Zchwantech, known for its end-to-end technology capabilities, is expected to play a key role in delivering sovereign digital infrastructure, cybersecurity frameworks, AI-driven platforms and governance models tailored to national needs.

    According to Zchwantech Chairman Datuk Seow Gim Shen, the partnership is designed to go beyond technology deployment. It aims to support Timor-Leste in developing trusted national systems that safeguard data sovereignty while enabling long-term operational resilience. This approach positions digital infrastructure as a strategic national asset rather than a standalone technology project.

    Zchwantech Executive Director Mr. Alex Chan emphasized that technology transfer and local capability development are central to the collaboration. By working closely with Timor-Leste’s institutions, the initiative seeks to ensure that local teams are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to operate, manage and progressively enhance national digital platforms. This model supports long-term sustainability and allows solutions to evolve in line with national priorities.

    As an initial step, both parties will conduct a feasibility study for a National Sovereign AI Cloud and Data Centre to be located within Timor-Leste and designed to Tier 3+ standards. This in-country infrastructure is intended to serve as the backbone for national digital services, strengthening cybersecurity, data sovereignty and continuity of operations.

    Building on this foundation, the partnership will explore the development of an AI-enhanced National Digital Identity system that integrates advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence. Envisioned as a unified digital key, the Digital ID platform aims to provide secure access to public services, social benefits and financial systems, enhancing inclusion, transparency and governance.

    The collaboration will also assess secure and smart border management solutions, including automated e-Gates, advanced biometric verification and predictive analytics. These initiatives are expected to improve national security, streamline traveler processing and enhance the overall tourism experience.

    Looking ahead, future phases of cooperation may extend to public service innovation initiatives such as smart healthcare, AI-optimized agricultural logistics, predictive maintenance for public infrastructure and personalized digital education platforms. In parallel, both parties will study the establishment of a Digital Trade Facilitation Corridor, including a National Single Window and AI-driven logistics systems, to improve customs efficiency, reduce trade costs and strengthen cross-border connectivity.

    Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Benigno Humberto Gregorio Da Cruz, Chief of Staff for the Minister of State Administration, said the partnership reflects Timor-Leste’s commitment to empowering its people through technology. He noted that the collaboration with Zchwantech represents a strategic move to build sovereign digital capabilities that will support equitable access to services and accelerate national development in line with the Timor Digital 2032 vision.

  • PHB Adopts GROW with SAP to Accelerate Its Digital Transformation Journey

    PHB Adopts GROW with SAP to Accelerate Its Digital Transformation Journey

    Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad (PHB), a prominent real estate investment holding company in Malaysia, has embarked on a significant digital transformation journey through its adoption of GROW with SAP, a comprehensive solution by SAP SE designed to modernize core business operations using a standardized, cloud-based framework. Established in 2006 under Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra, PHB plays a key national role in expanding Bumiputera ownership of prime commercial real estate via its shariah-compliant unit trust fund, Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera (AHB). Today, the company oversees a portfolio exceeding MYR 11 billion, covering commercial, retail, healthcare, logistics, and education assets across Malaysia’s major urban regions. As PHB expands and strengthens its strategic business growth, it has consistently delivered stable returns to AHB unitholders. However, its rapid expansion also highlighted digital gaps, including outdated, fragmented systems that posed operational challenges. Recognizing the need for a unified, intelligent digital backbone, PHB selected GROW with SAP to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and increase efficiency.

    Through this transition, PHB will migrate its finance, contract administration, and lease management functions into a single cloud-based ERP platform, creating an integrated digital environment that delivers real-time data visibility and automated workflows. This transformation is expected to eliminate data silos, improve accuracy, reduce compliance risks, and drive faster, more informed decision-making across the organization. PHB Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mohamad Damshal Awang Damit, emphasized that this move is a strategic investment aimed at future-proofing the organization and ensuring operational agility in an increasingly complex property market. SAP Malaysia Managing Director, Vipin Chandran, also noted that PHB’s adoption reflects a rising trend among Malaysian companies leveraging cloud innovation to stay competitive and resilient. With plans to go live by January 2026, PHB is also exploring future enhancements, including AI-driven insights and automation of key processes such as Procure-to-Pay, positioning the company for sustainable, technology-enabled growth in the years ahead.

  • Canon Introduces “Think Big Klang Valley Series 2025” to Support Malaysian Businesses Thriving in the AI Era

    Canon Introduces “Think Big Klang Valley Series 2025” to Support Malaysian Businesses Thriving in the AI Era

    Canon Marketing Malaysia (Canon) successfully wrapped up the Think Big Klang Valley Series 2025 at Sheraton Petaling Jaya, a premier forum that brought together business leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore how smart technologies can drive productivity, resilience, and sustainable growth in Malaysia’s digital-first economy. The event, themed “Future-Ready Malaysia: Innovation, Resilience, Growth,” marked the culmination of Canon’s nationwide Think Big 2025 series, following earlier editions in Johor Bahru, Penang, and Putrajaya.

    The forum featured a keynote address by YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, Malaysia, titled “Future Ready Malaysia, Unlocking ASEAN’s AI Advantages,” reinforcing the government’s commitment to accelerating Malaysia’s digital transformation and innovation agenda. Attendees also engaged in a fireside session and panel discussion, where thought leaders shared insights on how businesses can harness AI and automation to optimize performance, automate processes, and innovate sustainably in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Key speakers included Dr. Jasmine Begum, Non-Executive Chairperson of MIMOS Berhad, and Alan Tan, Chief Economist of Affin Bank Group, who offered perspectives on Malaysia’s readiness for an AI-driven future and strategies for long-term business resilience.

    Norihiro Katagiri, Senior Vice President of Canon Singapore, shares his vision on how Canon’s latest imageFORCE series empowers businesses to innovate, enhance productivity, and move towards a future-ready Malaysia.

    Masato Yoshiie, President & CEO of Canon Marketing Malaysia, highlighted Canon’s ongoing commitment to supporting organizations of all sizes in unlocking efficiencies through AI, automation, and cloud-enabled solutions. “Through Think Big, we aim to empower businesses with the right tools and insights to think bigger, innovate faster, and create sustainable impact in a rapidly evolving economy,” he said. Vincent Low, Head of Business Imaging Solution Centre, Canon Marketing Malaysia, added that Malaysia’s growing leadership in AI and cloud innovation reflects a strong national commitment to a digital-first future, and Canon is proud to support enterprises with smart, scalable technologies that enhance workflows, efficiency, and operational resilience.

    Complementing the leadership discussions, Canon showcased its latest smart business solutions, including the launch of the imageFORCE multi-function device (MFD) series, Canon’s next-generation system designed for AI-assisted smart maintenance, intelligent data capture, and predictive analytics to maximize uptime and operational efficiency. Built on four pillars—Security, Reliability, Connectivity, and Sustainability—the imageFORCE series supports smarter, more responsible operations and integrates advanced security and cloud capabilities to facilitate seamless collaboration across hybrid work environments.

    Masato Yoshiie, President & CEO of Canon Marketing Malaysia, welcomes guests to Canon’s “Think Big” event at Sheraton Petaling Jaya, setting the stage for an inspiring showcase of innovation and business transformation.

    The Think Big Klang Valley Series 2025 reaffirmed Canon’s role as a trusted partner to Malaysian businesses, providing actionable insights and technologies that enable enterprises to innovate, adapt, and thrive. As part of the Think Big Leadership Business Series, an initiative launched in Singapore in 2010, Canon continues to inspire business leaders to navigate a fast-evolving landscape, demonstrating how innovation and technology can drive sustainable growth while preparing Malaysia for a future-ready, digital-first economy.