TSMC making a risky bet on MAGA – Asia Times

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company ( TSMC), in response to President Donald Trump’s obvious “pay for protection” bribery, recently pledged US$ 100 billion to create more chip factories in Arizona, in addition to the three it already has there.

The action lacks any firm rationale to support it. Instead, TSMC is betting that Trump’s personality and” America First” mission will persuade him that a sovereign Taiwan likewise benefits America’s interests.

But, any wager on Trump is a risky game of chance, and this one could unwittingly put Taiwan’s death in greater danger. To live the whims of the White House, Taiwan will need to awaken its best poker abilities.

90 % of the most advanced semiconductor chips used in security devices, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence are produced by TSMC. The world’s dependence on this dominance provides a” golden shield” against possible anger from China, which claims the self-governing peninsula as part of its territory.

Trump wants to cultivate peppers on US ground to lessen its dependence on international supply chains, foster high-paying local production jobs, and advance national security interests.

Add Taiwan’s competitive advantage to America’s economic and military utilize, and the result is a clumsy bumper sticker that reads” Make America Great Again ( by making Chinese chips )” ( Make America Great Again ).

Unconvincingly, TSMC asserts that the company’s current operations in Arizona are the result of sound business principles rather than political force.

After speaking with TSMC employees and visiting the construction sites, I can tell you that the project is still plagued by delays, cost overruns, skilled labour shortages, angry workers, operational inefficiencies, and an immature offer network ecology.

Certainly, the foundry’s Arizona functions will be profitable for a while. Question Morris Chang, the former CEO and founder of TSMC, who acknowledged that Arizona’s chip production cost at least 50 % more than a Chinese factory. The company’s stock price, ironically, dropped nearly 5 % the day Trump announced the most recent stock offer.

If TSMC’s main priorities were profitability and shipping, it would undoubtedly result in more businesses in Kumamoto, Japan. There were two companies built on time and within budget. Contrary to Arizona, Japan already has a silicon habitat with seasoned chip engineers and manufacturers and reputable logistics and supply chains.

The local authorities, public universities, and even small organizations all assistance TSMC’s Asian factories. When I went to Kumamoto last year to prepare for the arrival of TSMC’s Japanese employees, I discovered supermarkets stocked with common Chinese foods like chicken feet, pig liver, and life fish.

Taipei may be wise to consider Trump’s real interests, which is undoubtedly more difficult to say than do. We all know how madly different from day to day Trump’s moods are.

Take taxes on and off in the case of Mexico and Canada. Trump’s position on Taiwan currently seems to be that it treats the US badly, he claimed, but that its leading device business, TSMC, is still on par.

During the notorious dressing-down of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump vehemently retorted, “You’re never in a good place.” You are at the mercy of the tickets at this moment. What, in the end, does Trump think sets Taiwan but apart from Ukraine?

Does Trump actually worry about Taiwan’s long-term freedom? Had Trump be willing to trade Taiwan to Beijing for, say, a significant trade deal if Taiwan gave up its high-tech benefit to the US?

With its most recent vow, there are good chances that TSMC has just marginally appeased Trump. Trump may launch a new campaign and demand more from TSMC.

He might continue to press TSMC to get over Intel’s failing US chip factories, which would involve tens of billions of dollars and some years to revamp and upgrade.

Now, the evidence points to the ineffectiveness of TSMC’s deference. According to sources within the Trump administration, Chinese chip exports may still be subject to tariffs of up to 100 %.

Additionally, Trump is asking Congress to repeal the CHIPS Act, which was passed in 2022 to support local chip manufacturing. Thus, it’s unclear whether TSMC will receive the$ 6.6 billion that the act promised.

The Chinese government still needs to give final approval for the TSMC package. The passage is never a slam dunk. May Ying-jeou, the original Taiwanese president, claimed the agreement” could lead to a major national security crisis” and have adverse effects on” Taiwan’s coming geopolitical position.”

Some Japanese citizens are debating whether the government will back down on Trump’s rhetoric or stick to the wall and maintain Taiwan’s political significance.

Taiwan is well-versed in making tough decisions, which is a positive aspect of this situation. Remember that this is a self-governing archipelago with the second-most powerful nation in the world, has formal relations with just 13 nations, and has not received a seat in the UN.

Taiwan’s very life as a self-governing body calls for a commitment to live on the edge. Thus, one might think Taiwan, using Trump’s example, to invest$ 100 billion while secretly halting the most cutting-edge chip technologies or, better still, delaying the project itself.

Even Taiwan and TSMC can play a bluff over the course of the following four years. Perhaps the Trump presidency may ignore TSMC’s compliance or ignore it.

Sometimes. However, Tawain will inevitably need to persuade Trump that it has more cards to play.

Stanley Chao is the creator of” Selling to China: A Guide for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses” and was originally professional vice-president of US intel Kingston Technology.

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Microsoft’s Malaysia cloud region and ecosystem to deliver US.9bil economic impact, 37k jobs with 5.7k being IT jobs

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  • By Q2 2025, three data centers will be operational simultaneously&nbsp in the Greater KL place.
  • US$ 1.84 billion is generated directly over the course of four years from sky place operations.

A US$ 2.2 billion ( RM9.71 billion ) cloud and AI infrastructure investment in Malaysia was made ten months after Satya Nadella, the chairman and CEO of Microsoft, made the announcement during his visit to Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysia West cloud region, which it claims is poised to have significant economic benefits when it goes live in Q2 2025, was key details of the impact. Microsoft’s primary sky region in the nation is .

” US$ 0.9 billion ( US$ 48.2 billion ) in economic impact may be produced through Microsoft, our partners, and clients,” according to Laurence Si, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia.

One of the most important aspects of the expense is the creation of the Malaysia West Cloud Region, where three and four data centers will get live simultaneously and sometime in Q2 2025 and are located in the Greater Kuala Lumpur Area. A new facility in Cyberjaya, where building is about to start, will be at least one of the three data centers. Microsoft stated that it was unable to post on whether any of the three information centers will be located in a similar location. It is important to point out that Microsoft is currently running a day center in Cyberjaya in a co-location service owned by Bridge Data Centres, a company of Chindata Group, which is Nasdaq listed and has its headquarters in Singapore. CSF Group, a Malay data center company, acquired Bridge Data Centres ‘ activities in 2017&nbsp, which operated two data centers in Cyberjaya. In Cyberjaya, Bridge is constructing a fourth information center.

Dr Andrew Lau (left), Director of Strategic Programs for Microsoft Malaysia with Laurence Si, MD of Microsoft Malaysia.

Over the course of four years, the Malaysia West cloud region’s operations will generate 16.9 % or US$ 1.84 billion ( RM8.13 billion ) of the US$$ 10.9 billion economic impact. Microsoft, its companions, and its users will contribute US$ 9.16 billion. This is primarily due to the multiple influence of income generated by Microsoft’s income, technology being used by businesses, ex. productivity tools like M365 or fog technologies to help create customer apps.

These projections are based on the IDC” Microsoft Cloud Dividend Screenshot” for Malaysia, which was commissioned by Microsoft and demonstrates the significant advantages of the future investment in cloud infrastructure. &nbsp,

The announcement to share the economic effects for Malaysia came on the same day as Microsoft Indonesia shared the financial impact of the sky area it is opening it by Q2 2025, with the clound place contributing directly to US$ 2.5 billion or 16.5 % of the complete$ 15.2 billion. &nbsp,

According to Laurence,” Different markets have different structures and investment strategies. We are equally focused on ensuring that Malaysia is one of the countries where we’re making the right investments.

creating an AI-ready workforce

Microsoft’s investments go beyond just infrastructure. By 2025, it has committed to empowering 2.5 million ASEAN residents with AI skills, in line with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, and with a focus on creating an inclusive, AI-ready workforce.

We are aware that in order to achieve this objective, we must collaborate with the full range of different partners in the nation, government agencies, NGOs, and academics, Si said.

Microsoft launched the” AI for Malaysia’s Future” ( AIForMYFuture ) initiative in December 2024, aiming to have AI skills available to 800, 000 Malaysians by the end of 2025. This initiative builds on Microsoft’s earlier efforts to provide digital skills to Malaysians as part of the Bersama Malaysia initiative. It claims to have trained more than 1.53 million people.

The adoption of AI is on the rise in the country, so the AI training is in line with that. 84 % of Malaysians already employ AI at work, according to Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index.

What Does This Mean for Malaysian companies?

The Malaysia West cloud region aims to provide infrastructure for Malaysian organizations ‘ ability to comply with local laws, maintain data residency, and possibly achieve better performance. Microsoft asserts that this will meet the demands of both public and private sector organizations looking to accelerate their digital transformation, but the actual impact on Malaysia’s digital ecosystem will only be measurable once the facilities are operational. &nbsp,

The upcoming Malaysia West cloud region will allow Malaysian companies to scale their innovation more seamlessly while providing global businesses with a gateway into Malaysia with integrated technological readiness, according to Dr. Andrew Lau, Director of Strategic Programs for Microsoft Malaysia. &nbsp,

” We have faith that the new cloud region will help Malaysia stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape, placing it at the forefront of an AI-driven future,” said the company.

Industry experts point out that local cloud infrastructure typically lessens latency issues, but businesses will still need to assess whether Microsoft’s offerings are in line with their specific technical requirements and cost-benefits in comparison to current alternatives.

The article was written by Dashveenjit Kaur.

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Microsoft’s Malaysia cloud region to deliver US.9bil economic impact, 37k jobs with 5.7k being IT jobs

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  • By Q2 2025, three data centers will get live simultaneously&nbsp, in the Greater KL place.
  • US$ 1.84 billion in revenue is derived from sky place operations over the course of four years.

A US$ 2.2 billion ( RM9.71 billion ) cloud and AI infrastructure investment in Malaysia was made ten months after Satya Nadella, the chairman and CEO of Microsoft, made the announcement during his visit to Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysia West cloud region, which it claims is poised to experience significant economic benefits when it launches in Q2 2025, was covered in key details of the investment’s impact. The sky location is Microsoft’s first in the nation, and it is.

” US$ 0.9 billion ( US$ 48.2 billion ) in economic impact may be produced through Microsoft, our companions, and clients,” according to Laurence Si, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia.

One of the most important aspects of the expense is the creation of the Malaysia West Cloud Region, where three and four data centers will get live simultaneously and sometime in Q2 2025 and are located in the Greater Kuala Lumpur Area. A new facility in Cyberjaya, where building is about to start, will be at least one of the three data centers. Microsoft stated that it was unable to post on whether any of the three information centers would be located in a similar location. It is important to point out that Microsoft is currently operating a day center in Cyberjaya in a co-location service owned by Bridge Data Centres, a conglomerate of Chindata Group, which is Nasdaq listed and has its headquarters in Singapore. Bridge Data Centres purchased the activities of Malaysian information center business, CSF Group, which owned two data centers in Cyberjaya in 2017. A fourth data center is being constructed by Bridge in Cyberjaya.

Dr Andrew Lau (left), Director of Strategic Programs for Microsoft Malaysia with Laurence Si, MD of Microsoft Malaysia.

16.9 % or US$ 1.84 billion ( RMRM8.13 billion ) will be generated over the course of four years from the operations of the Malaysia West cloud region, accounting for the US$$ 10.9 billion economic impact. Microsoft, its companions, and its customers will contribute US$ 9.16 billion. This is primarily due to the multiple effect of business using Microsoft’s technology, such as M365, or cloud-based productivity tools, to create software for customers.

These projections are based on Microsoft’s” Microsoft Cloud Dividend Preview” for Malaysia, which highlights the significant advantages of the future cloud infrastructure investment. &nbsp,

The announcement to share the economic effects for Malaysia came on the same day as Microsoft Indonesia shared the financial impact of the sky area it is opening it by Q2 2025, with the clound place contributing directly to US$ 2.5 billion or 16.5 % of the overall$ 15.2 billion. &nbsp,

According to Laurence,” Different markets have different structures and how they invest as well. We are equally focused on ensuring that Malaysia is one of the countries where we’re making the right investment.

creating a workforce that is AI-ready.

Beyond just investing in infrastructure, Microsoft makes an investment. By 2025, it has committed to empowering 2.5 million ASEAN residents with AI skills, in line with the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025, and placing an emphasis on creating an inclusive, AI-ready workforce.

We are aware that in order to achieve this objective, we must collaborate with all of the various partners in the nation, including government agencies, NGOs, and academics, Si said.

Microsoft’s” AI for Malaysia’s Future” ( AIForMYFuture ) initiative, which aims to have AI skills available to 800, 000 Malaysians by the end of 2025, was launched in December 2024. This initiative builds on Microsoft’s earlier efforts to provide Malaysians with digital skills as part of the Bersama Malaysia initiative. It claims to have trained more than 1.53 million people.

The adoption of AI is growing nationwide, in line with the AI training. 84 % of Malaysians are already using AI at work, according to Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index.

What Does This Mean for Malaysian companies?

The Malaysia West cloud region aims to provide infrastructure for Malaysian organizations ‘ ability to comply with local laws, maintain data residency, and possibly achieve better performance. Microsoft asserts that this will help both public and private companies move toward digital transformation, but the actual impact on Malaysia’s digital ecosystem won’t be measurable once the facilities are operational. &nbsp,

The upcoming Malaysia West cloud region will allow Malaysian companies to scale their innovation more seamlessly while providing global businesses with a gateway into Malaysia with integrated technological readiness, according to Dr. Andrew Lau, Director of Strategic Programs for Microsoft Malaysia. &nbsp,

” We have faith that the new cloud region will help Malaysia stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape, making it a leader in the development of an AI-powered future.”

Industry experts point out that while local cloud infrastructure typically lessens latency issues, businesses will still need to assess whether Microsoft’s offerings correspond with their specific technical requirements and cost-benefits as opposed to existing alternatives.

The article was written by Dashveenjit Kaur.

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Boost Bank, CGC Digital partner to finally empower MSMEs with US million funding 

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  • MSMEs can get quick access to loans starting at US$ 11 300 through Boost Bank’s Term Loan program.
  • The program aims to assist MSMEs in closing funding gaps, improving operations, and pursuing growth.

Fozia Amanulla, CEO of Boost Bank (left) and Yushida Husin, CEO of CGC Digital, officiated the agreement between Boost Bank and CGC Digital to empower MSMEs with US$29 million in funding.

To improve support for eligible underserved micro, small, and medium enterprises ( MSMEs ) across Malaysia, Boost Bank, the nation’s first homegrown digital bank, has partnered with CGC Digital, a fintech subsidiary of Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad ( CGC). The companies disclosed in a joint statement that a total of US$ 29 million ( RM130 million ) has been allocated for Boost Bank’s financing solutions, the Term Loan Facility and Revolving Credit Facility.

CGC Digital will combine Boost Bank’s MSME financing options with CGC’s ensure coverage to further expand MSMEs ‘ access to finance. This program aims to achieve thousands of MSMEs, closing the crucial funding gap these companies face while enabling them to expand their operations and exploit growth opportunities.

Enterprises can apply for Boost Bank’s Word Loan financing with a simple application process and no paperwork for loans starting at US$ 11 300 ( RMRM50, 000 ). The service allows MSME borrowers to manage their cash flow more effectively by allowing for a maximum loan tenure of up to 36 months without incurring any early settlement costs. Companies can also take advantage of flexible payment options that work with their cash stream goals without paying any penalties.

Revolving credit lending gives MSMEs the freedom to control their cash stream and take action quickly when needed. With its rapid disbursement feature, businesses can get funds in as little as two working days after loan approval.

CEO of Boost Bank Fozia Amanulla stated,” We at Boost Bank understand the crucial role that finance plays in MSMEs ‘ growth. We are committed to providing a platform that opens doors to rise, empowering organizations to overcome obstacles and achieve success, in line with our goal to promote financial participation and growth for underrepresented communities.

” This association with CGC Digital gives MSMEs more flexibility in providing smooth, quick, and affordable financing options, enabling them to overcome challenges and exploit growth opportunities. We may continue to develop innovative solutions that will transform Malaysia’s MSME market,” she continued.

CGC Digital’s CEO, Yushida Husin, stated,” Boost Bank is our first online bank partner, which represents a major step in our effort to facilitate access to financing with digital-first companions.” By working with Boost Bank, we can provide smooth, useful, and accessible financial products that are customized to the specific requirements of MSMEs.

This association gives underserved MSMEs the funding they need to achieve, according to the company’s founder. It also completely complies with the CGC Digital mission, which is to collaborate with digital-first lovers. We’re looking forward to the potential of this relationship and are open to more collaborations with industry pioneers who have digital technologies. Our goal is to keep expanding our offerings, keeping us at the forefront of economic innovation,” she continued.

Both parties pledged to help the underprivileged MSMEs and promote economic inclusion, giving these businesses the support they require to succeed in today’s economy.

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Heineken launches global GenAI Lab in Singapore

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  • collaborates with AI Singapore to establish itself as a global-connected baker.
  • By the end of 2025, the laboratory intends to establish a specialized, full-time professional team.

Left to right: Surajeet Ghosh, chief AI officer, Heineken; Dr Ralph Ostertag, director Digital & Technology APAC and Global GenAI Lab, Heineken; Laurence Liew, director, AI Innovation, AI Singapore; Kenneth Choo, managing director, APAC, Heineken; Melissa Guan, vice president and head, Consumer, EDB

The Heineken Company has made the announcement that Singapore will house its second global conceptual AI laboratory. The company stated in a statement that this program aims to transform how GenAI’s worldwide operations increase development, productivity, and client engagement. The Heineken GenAI Lab, which was established in a partnership with AI Singapore, represents a major step forward for the brewery in its quest to become the world’s related brewer.

Heineken’s key digital and tech officer, Ronald den Elzen, stated:” Heineken aims to be the nation’s best-connected baker. GenAI does play a growing part in better understanding customer needs, boosting customer engagement, and boosting company productivity. The establishment of the world GenAI lab is a major milestone in Heineken’s journey toward electric transformation, highlighting our proper emphasis on sophisticated GenAI technologies as key factors in growth, efficiency, and innovation.

However, Kenneth Choo, managing chairman, APAC, Heineken, expressed his satisfaction with the world GenAI lab’s collaboration with AI Singapore. This lab may act as a global center of expertise, improving our operations on a global scale while fostering native AI innovation.

By reaffirming our responsibility to Singapore and the Asia-Pacific place by taking this important step, Heineken is carefully positioning ourselves for a tenacious and prosperous future. We are excited to contribute to the development of innovative solutions that will change the drink industry for years to come by harnessing Singapore’s extraordinary AI ecosystem, experienced talent, and sympathetic government policies, he said.

The lab will be in charge of creating cutting-edge, flexible GenAI solutions for a range of vital business sectors, including complex agentic systems that can freely solve challenging issues, including clever financial reporting, next-generation customer support and knowledge management systems, from automated marketing content creation to smart financial reporting. In order to ensure responsible conduct in its operations, Heinrichein said its method combines human resources with AI capabilities in order to develop standardized solutions for global application.

The test is unique because Heineken and AI Singapore work together continuously, fostering constant information move and talent discussing. By the end of 2025, the test hopes to have a very specialized full-time team of experts ready to work for them. This group will bring together AI Singapore-recruited ability with Heineken’s online and technology specialists. Also, this core group will have access to the talent pool of AI Singapore, allowing them to connect with the best AI professionals and use the most creative approaches in the field.

Heineken is the first company to collaborate with AI Singapore in creating an AI laboratory and center of experience for AI innovation, according to Laurence Liew, director, AI innovation, at AI Singapore. We are developing a potent model for how cooperation between the private and public sectors can lead to creative solutions with real-world effect by combining Heineken’s business experience with AI Singapore’s cutting-edge AI abilities and skills.

Singapore welcomes the beginning of Heineken’s world GenAI lab, which capitalizes on Singapore’s reputation as a skill and innovation hub for businesses looking to create AI solutions, said Chan Ih-Ming, executive vice president, EDB. This program will give Heineken the ability to capitalize on Singapore’s innovative business potential while also acting as a useful platform for enhancing AI talent and capabilities.

Heineken points to the GenAI lab’s proven track record of successful GenAI implementations, including its modern knowledge and insight management solution that revolutionizes how its marketing teams entry customer and market insights, and its economic insights platform that provides fast access to a decade of fiscal data. These successes set the stage for the agency’s optimistic research agenda and demonstrate the agency’s commitment to GenAI-powered innovation.

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CelcomDigi sparks digital innovation in smart cities and mental wellbeing in Varsity Hackathon 2025

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  • The IoT &amp, executive type is supported by CelcomDigi.
  • Participants will handle issues of industrial and emotional wellbeing.

Left to right: Tan Chin Qian, associate head of Sponsorship Department, V HACK 2025, Chew Jun Liang, head of Sponsorship Department, V HACK 2025, Lim Wen Hao, project director, V HACK 2025, Stephanie Leong, head of Employer Brand, CelcomDigi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmad Sufril Azlan Mohamed, advisor, Computer Science Society of USM, Lee Zhi Syeh, associate head of Sponsorship Department, V HACK 2025 and Loh Yi Han, vice project director, V HACK 2025

The Computer Science Student Society of Universiti Sains Malaysia ( USM) is co-sponsoring the Varsity Hackathon ( V HACK) 2025, which aims to inspire university students to create innovative solutions for society’s” Smart City” and “mental wellbeing solutions.

As the partner of the IoT &amp, engineering group, one of three rivals tracks, CelcomDigi encourages participants to identify issues and develop novel solutions to fast urbanization, such as highway health, traffic congestion, storm management, and waste management, as well as promoting overall mental health and wellbeing.

The company will offer opportunities for students to study online skills that are crucial for the future workforce through industry insights, mentorship, and during the hackathon. As AI and new technology transform business and daily life, ComcomDigi believes in nurturing the next generation of tech skills and problem solutions and empowering them to create tech-driven options.

The USM Computer Science Student Society’s yearly premier event, V HACK, runs from March 7 to April 26. This contest, which features supporting workshops, industry experts, and exciting prizes, is open to both local and international college students. Proposals close at 10pm on 26 March 2025.

Visit the official V HACK 2025 page at https ://vhackusm.com for more information or to register.

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Kyberlife closes US mil investment round, sets sight on catalysing growth for Southeast Asia’s life science sector

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  • claims to have reduced the typical procurement day by 40 %
  • Local development and digitalization of AI-powered procurement will be funded through funding.

The Kyberlife team at their Singapore-headquartered office

In its most recent investment round, Kyberlife, Singapore’s leading B2B healthcare e-commerce platform, raised US$ 3 million ( RM13.3 million ), led by Singapore’s leading B2B venture capital firm 5I Ventures, with East Ventures, A2D Ventures, and NUS Alumni Ventures as partners. The new funding will help the startup expand its local footprint and realize its goal of reviving the heath procurement process.

The Eastern health sector is expanding, and McKinsey projects that it will account for one-third of international sales by 2025. Acquisition of crucial test technology has become more difficult and time-consuming due to changes in supply chains and fresh compliance requirements. To address these issues, Kyberlife has developed an online industry that connects international researchers and suppliers to research facilities, medical facilities, and research centers in Southeast Asia.

With its open digital marketplace concept, Kyberlife, which is based on a platform-as-a-service ( PaaaS ) model, claims to revolutionize the sourcing process. The program offers a wide range of products, including lab equipment and life-science equipment, with 1.2 million products from 160 brands.

The startup’s ability as a one-stop shop allows academic and research labs, as well as other medical institutions, to purchase important equipment, breaking the mold of drawn-out sourcing procedures, extensive lead times, and transparent pricing common of traditional procurement. The program claims that by digitizing manual processes and streamlining the supply chain, the average sourcing period has been reduced by 40 %.

The platform’s proprietary technology is built to work smoothly with existing purchasing enterprise resource planning systems and direct-to-consumer online workflows. The business has improved the buying and selling knowledge over the past year by incorporating cutting-edge technologies like AI and data analytics to create personalized product recommendations.

Kyberlife stated that its most recent funding round will encourage geographical expansion and that it will put an emphasis on expanding into Indonesia by bringing in local vendors to expand internationally. Additionally, it intends to expand its customer and dealer network in Southeast Asia, with a goal of a twofold increase in its vendor portfolio in the next three years. Also, the startup has plans to invest in AI to improve the quality of products, improve procurement, and reduce the need to rely on sourced and acquired goods for sustainability.

“Kyberlife is a program created by professionals, specifically for professionals. Our goal is to make the complicated and time-consuming steps that scientists must take to obtain lab equipment and supplies for R&amp, D in the medical sector simpler. Ryan James Lim, co-founder and CEO of Kyberlife, expressed his gratitude for the ongoing help and look forward to collaborating with more care providers to advance R&amp, D attempts in Singapore and the broader Southeast Asia region.

We invest in businesses that undermine business and offer flexible options at 5I Ventures. Dieter Schlosser, managing companion at 5I Ventures, said that Kyberlife’s revolutionary approach to purchasing is a game-changer for the life sciences sector.

In the meantime, A2D Ventures ‘ general partner Ankit Upadhyay said:” We support Kyberlife’s ability to redefine how government institutions, laboratories, and healthcare facilities access crucial supplies. Our goal is to support revolutionary startups because of their system’s capacity to grow and inspire innovation in a sector that has millions of lives in it.

Wesley Tay, the superintendent at East Ventures, stated:” We believe Kyberlife may make a difference in digitizing and streamlining procurement processes in the medical and life sciences area in Southeast Asia and above, while also bringing local medical institutions greater admittance to international suppliers. We’re delighted to have Kyberlife join the East Ventures ecosystem, and we’re optimistic about their success.

A roster of supporters has been drawn to Kyberlife since its founding in 2021, including Maya Hari, a former global vice president at Twitter, professor Jeremy Lim, a former CEO of AMiLi, and Dr. Michael Gorriz, a former global CIO of Standard Chartered Bank, all of whom have contributed significantly to the company’s expansion.

Leading suppliers like Merck, Zymo Research, DKSH, Eppendorf, and Sartorius have been signed up to date through the platform, which includes over 160 global brands and 1.2 million SKUs. It provides major clients, including the National Cancer Center of Singapore, Duke-NUS, Nanyang Technological University, and National University of Singapore.

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Nutanix welcomes Jay Tuseth to lead Asia-Pacific and Japan

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  • recently held positions at Dell, Oracle, and Conviva.
  • brings knowledge from a variety of senior management positions to the position

Jay Tuseth ( pic ), who will report directly to Andrew Brinded, the company’s chief revenue officer, has been appointed vice president and general manager of Asia-Pacific and Japan ( APJ).

Tuseth has lived in Singapore since 2013 and is a trained business professional. Prior to joining Nutanix, he was based in the bank’s Singapore company as Conviva’s vice president of revenue for APAC SaaS apps and general manager of user experience.

Tuseth helped online companies and their operations teams transition from a service-focused approach to one centered on expertise at Conviva. He oversaw all operations in the APJ region. He encouraged constant improvement, challenging groups to push boundaries, assume responsibility, and make sure that outstanding contributions were acknowledged.

Tuseth previously held the position of Oracle’s vice president of sky programs. Additionally, he spent 12 times at Dell Technologies and EMC serving in various senior management capacities, leading various teams in APJ, and helping clients use data to maximize their competitive edge.

” I am thrilled to be stepping up to Nutanix as vice president and general manager of Asia-Pacific and Japan ( APJ) at such a crucial time. Prod organizations are keen to use AI and new technologies today, but they still face implementation challenges. I’m excited to work with our skilled team to help more organizations in the region because Nutanix is committed to closing infrastructure gaps with flawless Kubernetes administration on our cross multicloud platform,” Tuseth said.

We will continue to support APJ organizations ‘ ability to deliver exceptional digital activities by enabling them to run applications and data wherever they are, whether on-premises, in the sky, or at the top, he added.

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IFC and Cagamas to drive green building finance and sustainability in Malaysia

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  • aims to develop natural financing, focusing on women and people of lower income and
  • Agreement to support climate goals andamp; sustainability, and increase clean building funding in M’sia

To advance green building financing in Malaysia, the International Finance Corporation ( IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Cagamas Berhad, Malaysia’s national mortgage company, to advance green building financing in the nation.

In this engagement, IFC and Cagamas hope to encourage climate-smart investments in Malaysia’s cover and creating sectors. Financial institutions will be helped by the initiative in creating green finance products like green bonds, credit lines, and funding for green cooling technologies. Additionally, the partnership aims to strengthen institutions ‘ ability to manage environmental, social, and climate-related risks associated with building projects.

The World Bank Group’s country manager in Malaysia, Judith Green, stated:” We are delighted to work with Cagamas on this proposal, which may play a crucial role in supporting both the country’s inclusive agenda and the growing need for alternative housing in Malaysia. We also want to increase access to housing, lower pollution, encourage climate-smart funding in the construction industry, and develop Malaysia’s capacity to support its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.

As DNA transitions its sustainability coverage to a stand-alone news site, please read the full article at https ://oursustainabilitymatters.com/ifc-and-cagamas-to-drive-green-building-finance-and-sustainability-in-malaysia/.

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Malaysia faces a ‘Digital Fentanyl’ as cyber threats poison everyday communications

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  • Bad actors have easier access to sophisticated hacking tools, attacks on the rise
  • Govt pursues digital sovereignty via regulatory action, urges public vigilance

(L2R): Derek John Fernandez, MCMC Commissioner; David Wiseman, Vice President of Secure Communications at BlackBerry and Jonathan Jackson, Senior Director of Strategic Technical Solutions APAC at BlackBerry.

This is not a drill. “Your WhatsApp account has been hacked, and criminals are using your identity to ask friends for money. Your phone was compromised while you slept, with zero clicks required. That financial transaction you just made? It’s being intercepted right now.” 

According to cybersecurity experts who gathered last week at a media roundtable hosted by BlackBerry’s Cyber Security Center of Excellence in Cyberjaya, these aren’t hypothetical scenarios but real threats that Malaysians face daily.

In a stark warning to journalists and citizens alike, officials from BlackBerry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) revealed how criminal networks have dramatically lowered the barriers to sophisticated cyber attacks, turning everyday digital communications into what MCMC Commissioner Derek John Fernandez described as “digital fentanyl” – addictive, widespread, and increasingly dangerous.

The invisible threat

“You need to assume that the networks you’re using are compromised, and therefore, you need to take the necessary actions when your data is falling over those networks and make sure it’s protected,” warned David Wiseman, Vice President of Secure Communications at BlackBerry, setting the tone for a discussion that highlighted how vulnerable our everyday communications have become.

According to the speakers, the disturbing reality is that criminal actors now have easier access to sophisticated hacking tools. “The level of ability that someone needs to be very effective is lower, which means you can have more people making these attacks,” Wiseman explained, noting how this has democratized cyber threats.

The third speaker, Jonathan Jackson, Senior Director of Strategic Technical Solutions APAC at BlackBerry, demonstrated this vulnerability in real time, showing how easily personal information can be exposed through consumer-grade messaging applications. 

“To me, the important message, if I can get any message across, is that if the product is free, you are the product,” Jackson emphasized, revealing how his metadata and location were being tracked by services most people use daily.

Beyond consumer-grade security

The speakers drew clear distinctions between the different communication options available today:

Public telephone networks – Designed primarily for connectivity, with security as a secondary consideration

Consumer messaging apps – Provide some protection like end-to-end encryption but lack identity verification and data sovereignty

Organization collaboration tools – Better but can introduce single points of failure

Dedicated secure systems – Required for critical communications

“For government, critical infrastructures, businesses, it’s not a good choice because you have the identity risk, there’s no data ownership, and you don’t have a concept of digital sovereignty,” Wiseman warned about relying on consumer apps for sensitive communications.

The escalating threat landscape

The roundtable revealed several alarming developments in cyber threats:

Commercial spyware proliferation: “Zero click” attacks that compromise devices without any user interaction

Espionage operations: The Philippines government recently arrested individuals driving around with fake cell towers intercepting calls and messages

Mass identity capture: Criminals harvesting user data for future exploitation

Widespread telecom breaches: “Every single US telecom carrier got hacked,” Wiseman revealed, citing a January Wall Street Journal report. He emphasized that Malaysia and other countries face identical risks since they use the same network equipment and infrastructure worldwide.

Jackson added that artificial intelligence makes attacks more convincing: “It’s become more challenging now with the advent of AI machine learning where deep faking technology of audio and video is now definitely a reality.”

Personal protection strategies

The experts shared practical advice for individuals concerned about digital security: “Every time you physically shut your device down and turn it on, the operating system will run through a series of validation checks,” Jackson recommended as a simple daily practice.

Other recommendations included:

  • Turn off your phone at night
  • Disable WiFi, Bluetooth and location services when not in use
  • Update operating systems promptly
  • Use paid VPN services rather than free ones
  • Review app permissions carefully
  • Verify communications through multiple channels

Fernandez added a crucial tip for verifying suspicious communications: “I’m busy, I’m cooking at the moment, I’ll call you back. Then you call back. The phone won’t ring 90% of the time because they’re spoofing the number.”

Malaysia’s 10 principles focused regulatory response

Fernandez also outlined Malaysia’s approach to addressing these threats, focusing on ten principles (table above) that guide the country’s cybersecurity strategy.

“First of all, there must be the political will to protect the people from cybercrime,” he stated, emphasizing that this commitment must override business concerns. “There can be no compromise… digitalization has benefited a small number of people more than the mass of the public. It brought benefits, but you need to protect your people.”

Fernandez advocated for greater accountability from digital platforms: “Those who profit the most from digitalization owe the greatest responsibility to protect their customers.” He also called for specific regulatory measures:

  • A 48-hour cooling-off period for first-time financial transactions
  • Mandatory digital insurance for financial services
  • Requirements for service providers to deploy acceptable levels of technology
  • Treating cybersecurity as capital infrastructure rather than a cost

Pic source: MCMC

Malaysia seeks to establish its digital sovereignty

A recurring theme was Malaysia’s effort to establish “digital sovereignty” – the ability to control and secure critical communication infrastructure without depending on foreign entities.

“We are pushing the boundaries on this,” Fernandez explained. “The centre here was set up as a result of a cooperation between the Malaysian government and the Canadian government with BlackBerry to be able to set up a centre to provide expertise and this kind of training.”

This initiative allows Malaysia to maintain fully sovereign, secure communication systems, addressing what Wiseman described as “the threats of unknown people somewhere around the world managing those systems.”

Notably, Malaysia has taken a recent regulatory step by requiring the licensing of social media and messaging platforms with large user bases. “The minister has announced that all these messaging platforms have to be licensed,” Fernandez stated. 

As of January 2025, this requirement has gone into effect, with TikTok and WeChat successfully obtaining licenses while Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are still in the licensing process. Platforms X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube have yet to apply, with X disputing whether it meets the eight million user threshold that triggers the requirement. 

While the regulation allows for substantial penalties—fines up to US$112,443 (RM500,000) and imprisonment up to five years—for non-compliance, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has indicated that unlicensed platforms won’t face immediate bans.

This measured rollout raises questions about the enforceability of such regulations against powerful global tech platforms, say industry players. Malaysia finds itself in uncharted territory, attempting to assert sovereignty over digital spaces while lacking clear enforcement mechanisms against companies whose physical assets and operational hubs often exist outside national borders. 

According to industry players, whether this licensing framework will achieve meaningful protection for Malaysian users or become another regulatory aspiration challenged by the borderless nature of digital services remains to be seen. The success of these measures depends on Malaysia’s ability to build international cooperation around similar regulatory frameworks.

A shared responsibility

The roundtable concluded with an emphasis on collective action. While technology providers and regulators have essential roles, users must also adapt their behaviour.

“There’s a lot of things you could do from a technology perspective,” Wiseman summarized, “but at the end of the day, it’s how people use these systems, how they behave, and that’s why the education aspect that we’re providing here in the centre is so key.”

Fernandez concurred. “You can’t believe anything you see anymore. This is the first thing to get into your head. It’s challenging, especially with the rise of deepfakes. It can call you up, and you think you’re talking to your mother. That’s how well-evolved the technology is.”

As cyber threats continue to evolve, this combination of technological solutions, regulatory frameworks, and user education represents Malaysia’s comprehensive approach to building a more secure digital environment for its citizens and critical infrastructure.

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