Latest news with #Koay
The Star
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Char koay teow cooks set to battle for glory
War of the woks: Every cook will try to cook up a storm for their own version of char koay teow. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star GEORGE TOWN: The search for the gold standard of char koay teow is set to begin in what will surely be a heated showdown. Come Sunday, 30 hawkers will be firing up their woks to fight for the title of Penang char koay teow champion. The rice noodle dish was once described by BBC as 'Malaysia's most famous street food' and that 'the best char koay teow can be found in Penang'. The action will kick off at 11am in front of Toi Shan Ningyang Wui Kwon, a clan temple in King Street. Each contender will whip up 40 plates of the iconic stir-fried dish. Koay Ee Teng, the vice-chairman of the Jalan Transfer/Jalan Argyll village community management council (MPKK) which is one of the joint organisers, said the competition would surely dish out 'heated' action and the use of 'secret' recipes and techniques. 'When it comes to flavour, every cook has their own secret weapon, so all of them will bring their own sauces and wok,' she said. 'Ingredients like prawns, eggs, bean sprouts and noodles will be provided along with a toque, apron and gas supply.' The top three winners will walk away with RM388, RM288 and RM188 respectively. There will also be two consolation prizes of RM88 each. Winners will also get certificates of recognition as a badge of honour to be displayed at their stalls. 'The real prize isn't the money. What the cooks really want is prestige,' said Koay. She added that participants in the 2023 competition saw a surge in their business afterwards. The 2023 edition saw Koh Gee How of Penang Auntie (Big Prawn) Char Koay Teow in Bukit Mertajam take the crown, with Por Leong Teik (Chulia Street) and Low Ping Kean (KK 99 Cafe, Tanjung Bungah) securing the second and third spots. This Sunday's battle is the second time that such a contest is being held. The competition is jointly organised by the MPKK of Padang Kota and Jalan Transfer/Jalan Argyll, and Toi Shan Ningyang Association, and promoted by Kwangtung and Tengchow Association Penang. Koay said the public is welcome to savour the food and enjoy the experience. 'It is a celebration of one of Penang's most iconic and beloved street foods,' she added.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Kobay Technology eyes growth in contract manufacturing, advanced technologies
GEORGETOWN: Main market-listed leading engineering solutions provider, Kobay Technology Bhd's net profit decreased 87.14% to RM705,000 for the third quarter (Q3 ended March 31, 2025 (FY25) from RM5.48 million posted in the same quarter last year due to intensified pricing competition and changes in the overall product mix. Revenue for the quarter stood at RM81.4 million compared to RM87.8 million posted in Q3 FY24 due to a shift in sales towards a lower-margin product mix and subdued market demand for higher-margin products during the quarter. For the nine-month (9M) period, Kobay recorded an 8.2% year-on-year (YoY) increase in revenue, reaching RM257.3 million compared to RM237.8 million in the 9M of FY24. The growth was primarily driven by commendable growth in the manufacturing segment, which saw a 10.9% YoY rise in revenue to RM164.2 million in 9M FY25, up from RM148.1 million in 9M FY24. Higher sales orders across the core mainly propelled this improvement in manufacturing business units, though this was partially offset by a softer demand for higher-margin products and the incubating project, which contributed substantially, resulting in a lower margin recorded. Profit before tax (PBT) for the manufacturing segment rose by 2.7% YoY to RM11.7 million, versus RM11.4 million in 9M FY24. Reflecting the top-line performance, the group's net profit for 9M FY25 saw a modest climb of 0.9% YoY to RM10.2 million vis-à-vis RM10.1 million in 9M FY24. Managing Director and CEO Datuk Seri Koay Hean Eng said the company's 9M FY25 results highlight the group's resilience amid a challenging and volatile operating environment, characterised by tariffs, export controls, and supply chain restrictions that continue to affect the global economy. He said this policy uncertainty complicates investment and manufacturing decisions, potentially impacting long-term capacity planning. On a brighter note, Koay said the global semiconductor industry continues to show vitality, with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reporting an 18.8% YoY increase in global semiconductor sales to US$167.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025. The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) also projects the industry to reach approximately US$697 billion this year, an 11.2% surge. 'Against this backdrop, the group is actively advancing its diversification efforts into the contract manufacturing (CM) services as part of our broader strategic approach to adapt to market conditions. 'These efforts, combined with investments in advanced manufacturing technologies, are expected to drive long-term growth and stabilise performance on a YoY basis. 'Alongside these efforts, we remain optimistic about the prospects of our property development division. This outlook is fuelled by ongoing infrastructure projects, government initiatives, and a revival in tourism activity, all expected to bolster property markets in key locations such as Langkawi and Penang. 'Moving forward, we intend to time upcoming product launches to align with evolving buyer trends while exercising prudent risk management and maintaining operational discipline. 'Our pharmaceutical and healthcare division expects steady demand in the future, supported by growing health awareness, preventive care trends, and demographic changes such as an ageing population. 'Nevertheless, inflation and rising living costs may weigh on consumer appetite soon. To navigate this, we are expanding our product range, exploring new market segments such as high-margin niche medical products, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening our digital marketing efforts to enhance brand presence. 'As we progress, we will prioritise agility and responsiveness as essential for navigating an increasingly complex and dynamic market landscape. By remaining adaptable and proactive, we aim to manage challenges effectively while building sustainable growth over time,' Koay said.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
SunBiz 26-05- 2025 04:58 PM
GEORGETOWN: Main market-listed leading engineering solutions provider, Kobay Technology Bhd's net profit decreased 87.14% to RM705,000 for the third quarter (Q3 ended March 31, 2025 (FY25) from RM5.48 million posted in the same quarter last year due to intensified pricing competition and changes in the overall product mix. Revenue for the quarter stood at RM81.4 million compared to RM87.8 million posted in Q3 FY24 due to a shift in sales towards a lower-margin product mix and subdued market demand for higher-margin products during the quarter. For the nine-month (9M) period, Kobay recorded an 8.2% year-on-year (YoY) increase in revenue, reaching RM257.3 million compared to RM237.8 million in the 9M of FY24. The growth was primarily driven by commendable growth in the manufacturing segment, which saw a 10.9% YoY rise in revenue to RM164.2 million in 9M FY25, up from RM148.1 million in 9M FY24. Higher sales orders across the core mainly propelled this improvement in manufacturing business units, though this was partially offset by a softer demand for higher-margin products and the incubating project, which contributed substantially, resulting in a lower margin recorded. Profit before tax (PBT) for the manufacturing segment rose by 2.7% YoY to RM11.7 million, versus RM11.4 million in 9M FY24. Reflecting the top-line performance, the group's net profit for 9M FY25 saw a modest climb of 0.9% YoY to RM10.2 million vis-à-vis RM10.1 million in 9M FY24. Managing Director and CEO Datuk Seri Koay Hean Eng said the company's 9M FY25 results highlight the group's resilience amid a challenging and volatile operating environment, characterised by tariffs, export controls, and supply chain restrictions that continue to affect the global economy. He said this policy uncertainty complicates investment and manufacturing decisions, potentially impacting long-term capacity planning. On a brighter note, Koay said the global semiconductor industry continues to show vitality, with the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) reporting an 18.8% YoY increase in global semiconductor sales to US$167.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025. The World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) also projects the industry to reach approximately US$697 billion this year, an 11.2% surge. 'Against this backdrop, the group is actively advancing its diversification efforts into the contract manufacturing (CM) services as part of our broader strategic approach to adapt to market conditions. 'These efforts, combined with investments in advanced manufacturing technologies, are expected to drive long-term growth and stabilise performance on a YoY basis. 'Alongside these efforts, we remain optimistic about the prospects of our property development division. This outlook is fuelled by ongoing infrastructure projects, government initiatives, and a revival in tourism activity, all expected to bolster property markets in key locations such as Langkawi and Penang. 'Moving forward, we intend to time upcoming product launches to align with evolving buyer trends while exercising prudent risk management and maintaining operational discipline. 'Our pharmaceutical and healthcare division expects steady demand in the future, supported by growing health awareness, preventive care trends, and demographic changes such as an ageing population. 'Nevertheless, inflation and rising living costs may weigh on consumer appetite soon. To navigate this, we are expanding our product range, exploring new market segments such as high-margin niche medical products, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening our digital marketing efforts to enhance brand presence. 'As we progress, we will prioritise agility and responsiveness as essential for navigating an increasingly complex and dynamic market landscape. By remaining adaptable and proactive, we aim to manage challenges effectively while building sustainable growth over time,' Koay said. With investments in advanced manufacturing technologies, Kobay Technology is expected to drive long-term growth and stabilise performance on a YoY basis.
