Grand Launch of Hospital Picaso Showcases Advanced Surgery, Oncology Excellence
Royal-officiated event showcases cutting-edge technologies, multidisciplinary care, and national achievements in robotic and minimally invasive procedures.
Hospital Picaso today officially celebrated its launch, demonstrating Malaysia’s growing demands in advanced surgery and integrated oncology treatment. The hospital, which has been operating since June 2024, held the event to formally introduce its advanced facilities, technologies, and multidisciplinary care model to the public and healthcare community. The launch event was graced by His Royal Highness Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Dato’ Dr Luqman Mazlan, Medical Director of Hospital Picaso led the private hospital tour for Tuanku Muhriz and shared Hospital Picaso’ vision to be a Center of Excellence for Advanced Surgery and Integrated Oncology treatment. The two COEs of Picaso delivers treatment via the Urology Centre, Women’s Health Centre, Breast Centre, Gastrointestinal & Liver Centre, and Cancer Centre. He also shared that “Each centre is a team of senior consultants and key opinion leaders in their respective specialties, and they collaborate across disciplines, ensuring that every treatment plan is coordinated, personalised, and delivered with continuity of care.” The collaborative approach will improve patient outcomes especially in cancer, endometriosis and for patients with multiple health issues. Dato’ Dr Loh Chit Sin, Chairman of Clinical Practice & Board of Director of Hospital Picaso showcased the hospitals’ array of advanced surgical technologies including KOELIS, a precision-guided robotic system for prostate procedures; the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical systems used for minimally invasive operations; and the NanoKnife System, an advanced non-thermal ablation technology for tumour treatment. Dr Loh has also committed that Hospital Picaso will continue to make available comprehensive treatment options in Malaysia without the need for patients to seek treatment abroad.
To mark the significance of the event, the grand launch featured a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony performed by Tuanku Muhriz on the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system; the very same robot used by Hospital Picaso’s surgeons. The gesture served as a powerful visual of how advanced technology and human expertise unite at the heart of Picaso’s philosophy.
Dato Dr Loh Chit Sin, stated his speech, “While clinical care is at the core of what we do, we also recognise the need to build capacity to train, to share knowledge, and to grow the next generation of specialists. Our goal is to contribute to Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. By investing in education and training, we ensure that the progress made today continues to benefit patients for many years to come”.
Since opening its doors on the 19th of June 2024, Hospital Picaso achieved a series of national milestones that showed commitment to being a Centre of Excellence for oncology and advanced surgery. Adding on to his speech, Dato Dr Loh shared on the significant contributions of Hospital Picaso on recording the highest number of robotic surgeries in Malaysia in its first year of operations and performed Malaysia’s first NanoKnife procedure for prostate cancer and Malaysia’s first scarless robotic-assisted VNOTES surgery for endometrial cancer.
Also, in attendance at the launch event were Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya YB Lee Chean Chung and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Bukit Gasing, YB Rajiv Rishyakaran, Dr Chan Boon Kheng, Managing Director and Group CEO of Asia OneHealthcare, Anwar Anis, Executive Director of Asia OneHealthcare, Dato' Ar. Michael Ong Leng Chun, Group Executive Director of Quill Group of Companies, and Dato Dr. Jennifer Low Moi Ing, Group Managing Director of the Quill Group of Companies.
Hospital Picaso extends its gratitude to all partners and guests who attended this launch.
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LOCUS-T, one of Malaysia’s leading digital marketing agencies, has been officially recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for achieving the title of “Most Active SEO Service Contracts by an Agency.”
The recognition ceremony, held at Hilton PJ, coincided with LOCUS-T’s 25th Anniversary Client Appreciation Luncheon, themed “Thrive Together: 25 Years of Digital Growth & Future Innovation.”
The record reflects LOCUS-T’s 531 active SEO service contracts, verified as of 25th November 2025, making it the highest documented figure among digital marketing agencies in Malaysia.
The event was graced by the Guest of Honour, Mr. Yong Kai Ping, Chief Executive Officer of Sidec (Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation), who delivered an inspiring keynote address titled “Beyond Digital: Building the Deep Tech Engine of Malaysia's Future” and witnessed the official MBR recognition presentation.
This milestone marks a defining moment in LOCUS-T’s legacy, one which reflects the 25 years of dedication to empowering businesses through data-driven digital marketing strategies.
With over 7,000 clients served across 50 industries, LOCUS-T stands as a trusted growth partner for both SMEs and MNCs nationwide. The company’s recognition by MBR underscores not just the scale of its SEO services and operations, but also the trust and long-term partnerships it has built with Malaysian businesses over the past two and a half decades.
Beyond SEO, LOCUS-T also offers a full suite of digital marketing services, including Paid Media (Google, Meta, TikTok), Website Design & Development, Website Maintenance, and Google Business Profile (GBP) management, all aimed at driving measurable business growth.
“This recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records is an incredible honour and a proud milestone for all of us at LOCUS-T. It’s a reflection of the trust our clients have placed in us and the commitment of our amazing team,” said Deric Wong, Co-Founder & Managing Director of LOCUS-T.
“For 25 years, we’ve grown together with our clients through innovation, collaboration, and resilience. As we enter the next era of digital transformation, we’ll continue to build on that same spirit of Trust, Together, and Triumph, leading our clients to new heights with AI-driven solutions and strategic creativity.”
As LOCUS-T celebrates its 25th Anniversary, the company reflects on a journey of continuous growth from a small startup in the early 2000s to one of Malaysia’s most trusted digital marketing agencies today.
Themed “Thrive Together: 25 Years of Digital Growth & Future Innovation,” the celebration honours not just the company’s achievements, but also the clients, partners, and team members who have shaped its success story.
Looking ahead, LOCUS-T is setting its sights on the future of AI-powered and data-driven marketing solutions. The agency’s mission is to maintain profit sustainability, drive continuous innovation, and attain new growth.
With technology rapidly reshaping the marketing landscape, LOCUS-T remains committed to leading digital transformation in Malaysia and empowering businesses to thrive sustainably in an AI-driven world.
As LOCUS-T marks 25 years of excellence and recognition by the Malaysia Book of Records, the company extends its deepest gratitude to its clients, partners, and employees. Together, they will continue to build success stories and set new benchmarks in the digital era.
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Takaful Malaysia Reports 8% Gross Profit Growth, Posts RM2.75 Billion Revenue For 9M FY2025; Declares Higher 18.5 Sen Interim Dividend
Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Berhad (“Takaful Malaysia” or “the Group”) today announced a disciplined performance for the nine months ended 30 September 2025. The Group sustained its growth trajectory by recording a profit before zakat and tax of RM468.0 million, marking an 8% increase compared to RM435.2 million reported in the same period of the previous year. This was driven by the continued expansion of business, which propelled its takaful revenue to RM2.75 billion, up by RM86.1 million from RM2.66 billion in the previous corresponding period.
Nor Azman Zainal, Group Chief Executive Officer of Takaful Malaysia, said, “Our nine-month performance sends a clear signal to the market that Takaful Malaysia continues to lead with strength and discipline. Both our revenue and profit before zakat and tax recorded resilient growth, outpacing the industry despite persistent market challenges faced by all industry players. This momentum reflects the robustness of our strategy, the quality of our portfolio, and our unwavering focus on operational excellence.”
RESILIENCE IN CORE BUSINESSES AND ENHANCED SHAREHOLDER VALUE
The steady nine-month financial results underscore the resilience and strategic success of the Group’s key business lines in bancatakaful, treasury, employee benefits, and general takaful. Growth was supported by continued demand, growing awareness of financial protection, and the accelerated adoption of digital solutions.
HIGHER DIVIDEND PAYOUT
The Group declared an interim single-tier dividend of 18.5 sen per ordinary share, amounting to RM161.4 million for the financial year ending 31 December 2025. This represents an increase of 8.8% compared to the 17.0 sen declared in the previous year, reflecting the Group’s strong solvency position and its firm commitment to delivering sustainable returns to shareholders.
MARKET CONFIDENCE IN INAUGURAL SUKUK ISSUANCE
Takaful Malaysia successfully completed its inaugural issuance of RM500 million in Tier 2 Subordinated Sukuk (“Tier 2 Sukuk”), a key milestone in strengthening the Group’s capital structure. Issued under the new RM1.0 billion Tier 2 Subordinated Sukuk Programme, the instrument qualifies as Tier 2 capital under Bank Negara Malaysia’s Risk-Based Capital Framework for Takaful Operators, enhancing the Group’s capital adequacy. The sukuk, issued on 29 September 2025 at a profit rate of 3.83% per annum, received an AA3 rating from RAM Rating Services Berhad.
“The book-building exercise attracted strong demand, with orders exceeding RM2.0 billion, an oversubscription of more than four (4) times, from more than twenty institutional investors and asset management house, reflecting solid market confidence in the Group’s financial strength,” said Nor Azman.
STRATEGIC OUTLOOK
Looking ahead, Takaful Malaysia will continue to focus on customer-driven innovation, enhanced digital capabilities, and ESG integration. The Kaotim digital platform continues to gain traction by expanding its reach through accessible online protection offerings, strategically strengthening the Group's presence in the retail direct market alongside its strong bancatakaful presence.
Nor Azman added, “Our steady performance reflects the effective execution of our strategy. We remain committed to delivering sustained value creation, achieving customer excellence, and strengthening our foothold in the takaful and insurance industry.”
“Building on our core businesses, we are well positioned to navigate the remainder of the year with agility and confidence, delivering sustainable long-term value to our stakeholders,” Nor Azman concluded.
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AS Watson Surpasses Halfway Mark in Global Youth Employment Pledge:
134,000 Young People Recruited Worldwide and 3.8 Million Training Hours Delivered to Empower Future Retail Leaders
AS Watson, the world's largest international health and beauty retailer, has reached a major milestone in its global youth employment pledge - recruiting 134,000 young people to date and delivering 3.8 million hours of training. This achievement marks more than halfway toward its goal of creating 200,000 opportunities by 2030.
Alongside job creation, AS Watson has invested heavily in training and development, delivering 3.8 million hours of learning to new joiners in their first year - meaning each young person receives on average 28 hours of learning. This initiative underscores the Group’s dedication to empowering young talent with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.
AS Watson launched the Pledge in 2022 to address the challenges young people face when entering the workforce. A lack of initial workplace experience and a disconnect between academic learning and practical skills often limit their employability. AS Watson is committed to helping them overcome these barriers by providing hands-on experience and practical skills training that bridge the gap between education and the workplace.
In support of this commitment, Watsons Malaysia is actively strengthening the pipeline of young talent. The company is working toward achieving 50% youth employment by 2030 and is dedicated to offering meaningful career pathways for interns, including opportunities for conversion into permanent roles. Watsons Malaysia also collaborates closely with universities, colleges, and beauty academies to seed early interest in the industry. Through career fairs, campus talks, and ongoing partnerships, the company promotes internship placements and
specialist career opportunities, helping to equip young talents with the skills and exposure needed to thrive in the retail and beauty sectors.
Empowering the Next Generation
Dr. Malina Ngai, Group CEO of AS Watson, said, “At AS Watson, we give young people more than a job - we give them belonging, purpose, and the tools to succeed.”
“When we invest in young people, we invest in the future of everything - our industry, our communities, and our world. That's the real purpose behind every opportunity we create."
Impact Beyond Numbers
Beyond offering first jobs, AS Watson's programme focuses on long-term career growth. It equips young employees with essential digital, customer service, and leadership skills. The Group continues to collaborate with educational institutions and NGOs to ensure inclusive access to career opportunities.
Looking ahead, AS Watson remains committed to:
To learn more about AS Watson’s youth employment initiatives and career opportunities, visit Join Us | AS Watson Group - A member of CK Hutchison Holdings
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