logo
AmBank grants RM222.8mil for Penang green industrial park

AmBank grants RM222.8mil for Penang green industrial park

The Star04-08-2025
KUALA LUMPUR: AmBank Group, via AmBank Islamic Bhd, has extended RM222.8mil in financing to Suling Hill Development Sdn Bhd.
The company is a 50:50 joint venture between Northern Industrial Park Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AME Elite Consortium Bhd, and Majestic Gen Sdn Bhd.
The financing supports the development of Northern TechValley @ BKE, a 175.6-acre freehold green industrial park in Suling Hill, Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang.
The project marks AME's entry into northern Malaysia, bringing its award-winning green industrial concept to the region.
With a projected GDV of RM1.3bil, Northern TechValley is set to be a next-generation integrated industrial ecosystem. Northern TechValley @ BKE integrates sustainability across its design, emphasising community well-being and environmental stewardship.
'This financing reflects our commitment to support Malaysia's industrial and economic growth, especially in key northern regions. We are proud to partner with reputable groups like AME and Majestic Gen – and to play a role in building future-ready infrastructure for the country,' AmBank managing director, business banking Christopher Yap said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Suling Hill Development director Dylan Tan said the joint venture marks a significant milestone for AME as the group strategically expands its presence into the northern region.
'Northern TechValley @ BKE extends AME's proven expertise in developing and managing sustainable industrial parks to Penang. The project will deliver a future-ready ecosystem that meets modern industrial demands and supports the growth of both local and multinational businesses,' Tan said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Suling Hill Development starts building Northern TechValley @ BKE flyover bridge
Suling Hill Development starts building Northern TechValley @ BKE flyover bridge

The Sun

time3 days ago

  • The Sun

Suling Hill Development starts building Northern TechValley @ BKE flyover bridge

PETALING JAYA: Suling Hill Development Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between industrial space solutions provider AME Elite Consortium Bhd and property developer Majestic Gen Sdn Bhd, reached a new milestone in the development of its RM1.3 billion freehold Northern TechValley @ BKE Industrial Park, commencing construction of a flyover bridge that enhances the park's connectivity to the Butterworth-Kulim Expressway (BKE) in Penang. The RM30 million flyover bridge, a private initiative by Suling Hill Development, spans 413 metres and is a core component of the park's infrastructure. It is designed to accelerate logistics efficiency, ease traffic congestion and enhance mobility for surrounding communities. This commitment to delivering an integrated, high-performance industrial ecosystem is a key initiative to attract high-tech manufacturing to the state. At the groundbreaking ceremony on the flyover bridge, Penang state exco for local government and town and country planning H'ng Mooi Lye pointed to the success of Northern TechValley @ BKE as a result of strong public-private cooperation. He said the project is strategically aligned with Penang Structure Plan 2030, positioning it as a catalyst for high-value, innovation-driven industries and driving significant job creation. Suling Hill Development director and AME Elite Consortium executive director and group CEO Dylan Tan Teck Eng said, 'Northern TechValley @ BKE represents our strategic expansion into a vibrant Penang market. We are leveraging our expertise in developing and managing industrial parks to create a future-ready ecosystem with best-in-class sustainability principles.' He added, 'The strong interest from domestic and international companies shows we are addressing a crucial market demand. Our commitment to the park's infrastructure will deliver a competitive advantage for businesses, foster new economic opportunities for the local community, and support Penang's economic blueprint.' Northern TechValley @ BKE, a 176-acre freehold industrial park launched in 2024, is pioneering a standard for industrial development in the region. Designed as a future-ready launchpad for high-value industries, including electrical and electronics, precision engineering and logistics hubs, the park will strengthen Penang's industrial ecosystem and position Seberang Perai as a key hub. The park upholds green practices and environmental standards, preserving the lush greenery and natural environment of Suling Hill. It holds GreenRE certification for its township and buildings, which affirms its environmental excellence and will facilitate smoother export, with sustainability as a core design principle.

Malaysian banks have stepped up their climate financing efforts in recent years: AmBank Group
Malaysian banks have stepped up their climate financing efforts in recent years: AmBank Group

The Sun

time5 days ago

  • The Sun

Malaysian banks have stepped up their climate financing efforts in recent years: AmBank Group

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian banks have stepped up their climate financing efforts in recent years, AmBank Group chief sustainability officer Amanah Aboobucker said, adding that the industry is now better equipped to classify, assess and support sustainable projects. 'A turning point was in April 2021, when Bank Negara Malaysia introduced the Climate Change and Principle-based Taxonomy (CCPT). That became the foundation for how we assess the facilities we offer to participants in the real economy,' she said in a panel session at Climate Finance Summit 2025 today. Amanah said the CCPT introduced a framework for banks to assess and classify economic activities based on their alignment with climate objectives. Under the CCPT, the industry is required to categorise financing into three buckets: climate-supporting, transitioning and watchlist. 'Today the banking industry has a much better grasp of what qualifies as climate-supporting, what falls under transition, and what goes on the watchlist. 'From a product innovation perspective, this classification helps us strategically assess financing needs and opportunities,' she said. When the guideline was first introduced, Amanah said, banks found it difficult to implement the taxonomy and meet its data requirements. 'Many real economy players also struggled to provide the necessary disclosures. But through multiple iterations and engagements, we've collectively improved.' The industry's goal is to grow the share of financing that falls under climate-supporting and transitioning categories, Amanah said. That said, she added, banks are not avoiding clients who fall under the watchlist. In fact, it sees the greatest opportunity in supporting those clients. 'We engage with them, understanding their business models, and helping them progress from the watchlist to transition, and ultimately to climate-supporting. This is where our relationship managers play a key role.' Amanah said that while some may view this purely as risk management, banks also serve as barometers of the economy and need to strike the right balance in their approach every day. Furthermore, the industry is contributing to the Climate Finance Innovation Hub as part of Joint Committee on Climate Change. 'We've just begun exploring potential pilot projects and working on developing innovative financing solutions.' According to AmBank's FY2025 sustainability disclosures, it estimates that 39% of its non-retail loan portfolio, valued at RM51.9 billion, is tied to hard-to-abate sectors. These include palm oil, coal mining, power generation, oil and gas, cement, iron and steel, and commercial real estate. Collectively, they account for 45% of the bank's total financed emissions.

Tech summit underscores power of AI in innovation and defence
Tech summit underscores power of AI in innovation and defence

New Straits Times

time6 days ago

  • New Straits Times

Tech summit underscores power of AI in innovation and defence

KUALA LUMPUR: Quandatics Omnitech and Q Armour hosted AIDEX & CyberCon 2025, uniting over 300 participants to explore how AI is transforming defence and enterprise resilience. The companies are subsidiaries of regional AI and data solutions group Quandatics (M) Sdn Bhd. The full-day summit, themed "Redefining AI, Digital Intelligence and Cyber Resilience," convened government officials, industry leaders and digital innovators. The event provided a unified platform for high-level dialogue on how emerging technologies are reshaping both innovation and protection across sectors. From intelligent automation and enterprise AI and data analytics to real-time cyber threat detection and digital trust, the event showcased how AI is transforming the way organisations build agility, intelligence and security into their operations. Featuring keynote presentations, panel discussions, and live showcases, AIDEX & CyberCon 2025 fostered meaningful engagement and knowledge exchange across sectors such as finance, manufacturing, technology and public services. Quandatics Omnitech drove conversations on smart digitalisation, demonstrating how the convergence of data, AI and cloud platforms can help businesses build agile, insight-driven ecosystems. Through live case studies and expertly-curated contents, the company highlighted how Malaysian and regional enterprises can embrace AI to drive operational efficiency, unify user experiences, and future-proof their digital strategies. Quandatics Omnitech Chief Executive Officer Dylan Tan said that beyond tools, innovation is about building trust, accelerating decision-making and enabling foresight in how businesses operate. "We're redefining digital transformation with AI at the centre, not just to drive growth but to ensure it's agile, intelligent, and built to last," he said in a statement. Meanwhile, Q Armour delved into introducing next-generation of cybersecurity highlighting advancements in AI-driven risk assessment, real-time threat intelligence and proactive security awareness. The showcase emphasised how adaptive technologies, powered by machine learning and human expertise, can identify patterns, detect threats and mitigate risks autonomously. The company emphasised the importance of combining machine precision with human expertise to protect critical data and infrastructure. "Today's threats require more than traditional responses. They demand intelligent, autonomous systems that act in real time, without waiting for human input. "AIDEX & CyberCon 2025 is a critical platform to demonstrate how AI and human expertise, when combined, unlocks a smarter, faster, and more resilient defence posture," said Q Armour chief executive officer Ken Law.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store