RM15,000 Top Prize Drives Nationwide Bridge-Building Challenge

MACSian74 Competition and Prizes

MELAKA, May 4 (Bernama) -- A school-level engineering challenge that began more than a decade ago is set to take centre stage nationwide, with a RM15,000 top prize drawing participants to the Vital Factor Consulting Cup 2026, featuring the MACSian74 Bridge Over Troubled Waters competition.

Originally introduced in 2009 by alumni of Malacca Anglo-Chinese School (ACS), the competition has grown from a local initiative into a national platform for innovation. The 2026 edition marks its first nationwide expansion and will be jointly organised by ACS and Malacca Methodist Girls’ Secondary School (MGSS).

At its core, the challenge is deceptively simple: participants must construct a bridge using only ice cream sticks, strings and glue. However, the competition does not reward the strongest structure, but the most efficient one - with entries evaluated based on the ratio of load carried to material used, reflecting real-world engineering principles.

In earlier editions, the results have been notable. The winning bridge in 2009 supported 19.5 kilogrammes, while the 2012 edition saw this nearly double to 38.5 kilogrammes, roughly the weight of a child.

Beyond technical performance, the competition has also shaped individual aspirations. One participant from the inaugural event discovered a passion for engineering through hands-on involvement and later pursued an engineering degree at the National University of Singapore, inspired by both his own experience and success in 2009 and his sister’s success in the 2012 competition.

The upcoming edition is expected to attract approximately 160 teams from across Malaysia, including participants from schools, universities, industry and the general public. The official launch is scheduled for 9 May 2026, with the competition on 27 June 2026.

A total of 21 cash prizes will be awarded, including the RM15,000 prize for the overall winner.

Organisers noted that the competition is designed to develop not only engineering skills, but also broader competencies such as problem-solving, cost optimisation, teamwork and innovation under constraints.

Supporting the initiative, Mr Wooi Tan, Managing Director of Vital Factor Consulting Sdn Bhd, said, “As part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility, we are proud to support initiatives that nurture technical capability, innovation and practical problem-solving skills, enabling participants to compete effectively on a broader stage.”

Ms Cerlina Ho, Executive Director of Ikhua Engineering Sdn Bhd, added, “Our sponsorship is a way of giving back to society. The competition aligns closely with our industry and supports the development of engineering talent while promoting excellence and innovation.”

The event is presented by Vital Factor Consulting Sdn Bhd, with support from Ikhua Engineering Sdn Bhd.

The official site of The Vital Factor Consulting Cup 2026, together with the rules of the competition:
https://sites.google.com/moe-dl.edu.my/vfccups2026

Registration for participating:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctuIZfJewgRf5SBpKTaup37q4KH2SRZbSJnU_qYXsGU3gwsg/viewform

SOURCE: Vital Factor Consulting Sdn Bhd​

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Ms Soh Lay Hui
Principal, Malacca ACS
Email: sohlayhui@yahoo.com

--BERNAMA

OCC, Gordonstoun Japan Launch Summer Leadership Programme

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- OCC Educational Corporation Limited has partnered with Gordonstoun Japan to launch Impact Challenge Summer 2026 in Wakayama, ahead of the planned opening of Gordonstoun’s first international boarding campus in Japan in 2027.

Announced on April 27, the summer programme will run in two sessions in August 2026 — Aug 2 to 7 and Aug 15 to 20 — for students aged 10 to 14, focusing on leadership development through humanitarian and environmental challenges.

The programme will include modules on sustainable economic resilience for Himalayan communities, marine plastic issues around Tomogashima Island, and a field implementation component in Nepal for selected participants.

In a statement, OCC said the initiative marked a significant step in bringing Gordonstoun’s educational philosophy beyond the United Kingdom, centred on resilience, service and global awareness.

The programme was designed by international humanitarian Linda Cruse, who will serve as Director of Co-Curricular at Gordonstoun Japan, while founding principal Natasha Dangerfield said the initiative aims to redefine education through responsibility and real-world engagement.

OCC is an Osaka-based institution with a 120-year history, while Gordonstoun is internationally known for its education model combining academic rigour, outdoor learning and service, and for educating generations of the British royal family.

-- BERNAMA

JPMORGANCHASE NAMED FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES BANKING PARTNER

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- United States (US)-based financial services firm, JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPMorganChase) and The International Olympic Committee (IOC) have announced a landmark Worldwide Olympic Partnership, making JPMorganChase the first Global Banking Partner in Olympic history.

The agreement covers the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LA28 Games) and the French Alps 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. It also includes JPMorganChase becoming the Official Bank of Team USA and LA28, as well as a Founding Partner of the LA28 Games.

In a statement, JPMorganChase said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to ambition and excellence, with a focus on supporting athletes and communities worldwide.

JPMorganChase Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jamie Dimon said Olympians and Paralympians represent more than athletic achievement, noting their journeys mirror the aspirations of millions the firm serves globally, adding that the company is committed to supporting them beyond the Games.

Meanwhile, IOC President, Kirsty Coventry said this partnership will support the Olympic Movement worldwide, leveraging JPMorganChase’s global reach and expertise to deliver lasting benefits for athletes and communities.

Through the collaboration, JPMorganChase aims to strengthen the long-term financial health of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements while creating new opportunities for athletes, businesses and communities. The partners also plan to support athletes through initiatives such as financial health workshops via the IOC’s Athlete365 platform.

JPMorganChase will serve as the Worldwide Olympic Partner across asset and wealth management, private banking, and commercial and investment banking. In the US, it will also act as a Founding Partner of the LA28 Games in the retail banking category.

In line with IOC policy, revenues generated from the partnership will be redistributed to support global sports organisations, including National Olympic Committees, their athletes, and Organising Committees for the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games.

With operations in more than 60 countries and clients across over 100 markets, JPMorganChase brings extensive financial expertise to help drive economic growth and opportunity worldwide.

-- BERNAMA

ZHONGSHAN FIRMS SHOWCASE SMART MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS IN MALAYSIA TRADE PUSH

KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The first overseas edition of Guangdong’s “Goods Go Global” trade promotion programme has brought more than 70 manufacturers from Zhongshan to Kuala Lumpur, showcasing consumer goods and smart manufacturing products over the weekend.

Held at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, the two-day event combined a business conference with an offline product exhibition aimed at helping Zhongshan companies expand their presence in Southeast Asian markets, according to a statement.

The programme, titled “Zhongshan Premium Products, Trade Connecting Southeast Asia”, featured more than 300 products across categories including smart home appliances, lighting systems, hardware, household goods, industrial equipment and rehabilitation robotics.

Participating companies included major Chinese manufacturers such as TCL, Changhong and Vatti, with organisers saying more than 20 firms conducted direct retail sales during the event, while around 30 companies focused on brand promotion and distributor outreach.

A dedicated exhibition zone branded “Intelligent Manufacturing Zhongshan” highlighted the city’s manufacturing capabilities, while additional displays introduced Zhongshan’s urban development, cultural heritage and tourism resources.

Representatives from Shopee also engaged participating firms to support digital market entry, discussing onboarding procedures, platform policies and local distribution opportunities in Malaysia.

During the event, organisers also announced the launch of a new trade platform in Johor Bahru designed to provide Zhongshan companies with a permanent base for product display, sales and business matching in Malaysia.

Alongside product promotion, officials from Zhongshan presented the city’s investment environment and appointed members of the Malaysian business community as advisers for future cooperation projects, saying the programme reflects broader efforts to diversify overseas market access.

-- BERNAMA

Helical Fusion Launches Helix Program “Official Partners” to Build Japan’s Industrial Coalition for Commercial Fusion Energy

 

^{Helical Fusion’s Integrated Demonstration Device, “Helix HARUKA,” currently under construction (photographed at the company’s dedicated workspace within the National Institute for Fusion Science in Gifu, Japan)} 


Multiple long-established Japanese companies join as inaugural partners in a shared push to build the fusion energy industry; Helical Fusion also completed the first close of its Series B round


TOKYO, April 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Helical Fusion Co., Ltd., a fusion energy company developing a Helical stellarator power plant, today announced the launch of Helix Program Official Partners, a new strategic partnership framework designed to bring together long-term industrial collaborators committed to advancing fusion from laboratory progress to real-world fusion power deployment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427596284/en/ 

The Helix Program is Helical Fusion’s core initiative to realize commercially viable fusion energy in the 2030s. Rather than starting from a reactor concept alone, the program works backward from the three essential requirements for commercial fusion power: net electricity, continuous operation, and high maintainability. Based on this framework, Helical Fusion has adopted the Helical Stellarator as the reactor approach with the clearest pathway to achieving all three requirements in a fully operational fusion power plant, building on Japan’s decades-long research foundation in helical stellarator technology.

The first three companies to join as founding Official Partners are NICHIAS Corporation, Hasetora Spinning Co., Ltd., and Seno Kisen Co., Ltd. Each brings a business legacy spanning roughly a century or more. More importantly, they are joining not simply as suppliers or investors, but as long-term partners who share Helical Fusion’s ambition of helping build the fusion energy industry itself.

“Commercial fusion will not be realized by a startup alone, or by physics alone,” said Takaya Taguchi, Co-Founder and CEO of Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. “It requires a coalition of companies willing to apply the strengths they have built over generations to one of the most consequential industrial challenges of the next century. Helix Program Official Partners was created for that purpose.”

Unlike a conventional sponsorship program, Helix Program Official Partners is structured for companies that will work alongside Helical Fusion as active industrial collaborators. Participation is tied not only to strategic business alignment, but also to capital commitment. The framework is intended to support manufacturing and construction for Helix HARUKA, Helical Fusion’s Integrated Demonstration Device, and ultimately Helix KANATA, the company’s planned first commercial plant in the 2030s.

About Helix Program Official Partners

NICHIAS Corporation, founded in 1896, has supplied insulation, sealing, and high-performance industrial products to sectors that have underpinned modern industrial society, including shipbuilding, petroleum refining and petrochemicals, electric power, automobiles, construction, and semiconductors. Its participation reflects the view that the technologies required for large-scale industry in one era can become enabling technologies for a new energy system in the next.

Hasetora Spinning Co., Ltd., founded in 1887, has evolved through more than a century of manufacturing while building expertise in materials and textile-based technologies. Its decision to join points to a broader idea central to fusion commercialization: that advanced materials companies with deep manufacturing DNA may have an important role in shaping the infrastructure of future energy.

Seno Kisen Co., Ltd., founded in 1946 and built through decades of global maritime operations, brings expertise in industrial logistics, fleet management, and the movement of essential resources that sustain economies. Its participation underscores that future energy systems will not depend only on invention, but on the operational disciplines needed to move, deploy, and sustain large-scale assets in the real world.

The company is already advancing that roadmap in hardware. Manufacturing and construction are underway for magnet demonstration work for Helix HARUKA at a dedicated Helical Fusion workspace on the campus of the National Institute for Fusion Science in Toki, Gifu.

In connection with this broader push, Helical Fusion also completed the first close of its Series B round, raising approximately JPY 2.7 billion. Investors in the round include NICHIAS Corporation, Hasetora Spinning Co., Ltd., Seno Kisen Co., Ltd., Ecrowd NEXT, Konoike Transport Co., Ltd., and MITANI SANGYO Co., Ltd., among others. Among these investors, NICHIAS Corporation, Hasetora Spinning Co., Ltd., and Seno Kisen Co., Ltd. are also participating as the Helix Program Official Partners. Including grants and loans, the company’s total funding to date has reached approximately JPY 9.8 billion. The company said this additional capital will support continued development under the Helix Program alongside the expansion of its industrial partnership network.

About Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.

Helical Fusion Co., Ltd. is a company working to commercialize fusion energy through the development of the Helical Stellarator. The company was founded in 2021 as a spin-out from the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), leveraging research achievements accumulated at NIFS.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260427596284/en/

Contact

Media Contact
Communications Design Office
Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.
contact@helicalfusion.com 

Source : Helical Fusion Co., Ltd.

PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad Marks Another Year of Steadfast Operations and Sustainable Growth

 

(From Left) Chief Operating Officer, Azureen Azita Abdullah; Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Azrul Osman Rani; Chairman, Datuk Anuar Ahmad and Chief Financial Officer, Mazlie Minhat at PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad's 44th AGM.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) reaffirmed its commitment to serving Malaysians through safe and reliable nationwide operations. Anchored on customer centricity, PDB continues to prioritise solutions that enhance convenience, accessibility and reliability for Malaysians.

Central to this effort is Setel, PDB’s proprietary digital platform, which has played a pivotal role in strengthening customer engagement and accelerating the adoption of cashless and seamless transactions nationwide. During FY2025, this digital capability was instrumental in supporting the successful rollout of the Government’s BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) subsidy framework, ensuring smooth implementation while maintaining continuous nationwide operations.

At its 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) today, the Company shared that for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 (FY2025), sales volume reached a record high of 17.1 billion litres and profit after tax (PAT) was RM1.14 billion. PDB also declared a total dividend of 112 sen per share, including a 20 sen per share special dividend, reflecting a 100 per cent payout ratio.

FY2025 Highlights:

• Resilient Volume and BUDI95 enablement: Retail volumes remained stable, attributed by high Setel app adoption rate. With more than 11 million registered users nationwide, Setel was instrumental in facilitating the smooth implementation of BUDI95.

• Commercial agility: The Commercial segment recorded strong growth, led by aviation fuel demand and the delivery of Malaysia’s first locally blended Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), with International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) CORSIA certification. This milestone underscored PDB’s capability to support aviation decarbonisation while meeting stringent operational requirements.

• Sustainability and community: 303 stations were solarised, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 4695.6 tonnes CO₂e. The used cooking oil (UCO) collection initiative resulted in the collection of 749 tonnes of UCO, generating RM2.2 million for community beneficiaries. Additionally, the PETRONAS Malaysia Open sponsorship in collaboration with the Badminton Association of Malaysia supports the development of ~140 athletes annually. This demonstrated PDB's commitment to responsible operations and positive environmental and social impact.

• Sales volume: 17.1 billion litres, supported by high Jet A-1 and Commercial Diesel demand.

• Revenue: RM38.3 billion, supported by higher volumes despite lower average selling prices.

• PAT and dividend: PAT of RM1.14 billion, underpinned by disciplined cost management and focused operational execution; total dividend of 112 sen per share, including a 20 sen per share special dividend (100 per cent payout ratio).

The AGM was chaired by Chairman Datuk Anuar Ahmad and attended by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Azrul Osman Rani, Chief Operating Officer Azureen Azita Abdullah, Chief Financial Officer Mazlie Minhat and other Board members.

Guided by the theme “Win the Moment, Shape the Next” and aligned with the Company’s Integrated Report 2025, the AGM reaffirmed PDB’s drive to remain resilient in facing challenges. It also underscored PDB’s focus on agility and disciplined execution in facing the future.

Azrul said, “FY2025 was a year that tested our discipline and resilience amid a dynamic operating environment. Our performance was anchored by the strength of our core businesses, supported by steady operations and growing digital adoption. Our priority is our customers, and we are committed to meeting their needs while remaining mindful of costs. Looking ahead to 2026, our priorities are to further strengthen our core, scale digital adoption and embed sustainability, ensuring the business remains resilient and well-positioned for the future.”

“While the outlook for the industry is expected to be challenging in the coming months, due to the impact of the crisis in West Asia, PDB remains committed to ensure meeting domestic fuel requirements will continue to be our priority,” Azrul added.

Despite ongoing global changes and shifting energy policies, PDB is prepared to perform well. The Company remains committed to keeping Malaysia moving by ensuring reliable supply, supporting national priorities and delivering sustainable value to shareholders. "

For further reading, visit FY2025 PDB’s Integrated Report at www.mymesra.com.my/ir2025 and Bursa Malaysia’s website at www.bursamalaysia.com under Annual Report.

Issued by
Corporate Communications
PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad

ABOUT PETRONAS DAGANGAN BERHAD

PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad is the principal domestic marketing arm of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), which holds 63.94 per cent of its equity. Incorporated in Malaysia on 5 August 1982 and listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia on 8 March 1994, PDB has since established itself as Malaysia’s leading retailer and marketer of downstream oil and gas products.

The Company markets a wide range of high-quality petroleum products including motor gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel, kerosene, fuel oil, bunker fuel, lubricants, liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and bitumen.

In line with its strategy to grow beyond fuel, the Company has established Mesra Retail & Cafe Sdn Bhd in 2021 to drive its food and beverage (F&B) business and expanded its retail footprint with the PETRONAS Shop, which offers exclusive PETRONAS-branded merchandise and souvenirs.

PDB’s proprietary digital platform, Setel, underpins this ecosystem by driving convenience, efficiency and delivering a seamless, end-to-end customer experience. This digital capability positions the Company to strengthen customer connectivity and enhance value beyond fuel sales.

Since 2015, PDB has been certified as a constituent company member of FTSE4Good Index Series – a testament to the Company’s commitment to strong environmental, social and governance practices measured against globally recognised standards.

SOURCE: PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Dayang Ainul Mardiah Zainal
Tel: 03 – 2331 0236
Email: dayangainul_zainal@petronas.com.my

Name: Anisa Adnin Mohamad
Tel: 03 – 2392 3759 | 013 – 904 2724
Email: anisaadnin.mohamad@petronas.com.my

--BERNAMA

PETRONAS REINFORCES INDUSTRY RESILIENCE AND COMPETITIVENESS AT OGSE PARTNERS DAY 2026

Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, Senior Vice President, Malaysia Petroleum Management (third from right), alongside (from left to right) Mohd Razali Kamin, Senior General Manager, Group Procurement, PETRONAS; Terry Biusing, Chief Corporate & OGSE Officer, SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd; Ts Syed Saggaf, President, Malaysian Oil, Gas & Energy Services Council (MOGSC); Rashidah Alias, Vice President, Group Procurement, PETRONAS; PETRONAS; Ir. Norafizal Mat Saad, Vice President, Group Strategic Relations & Communications, PETRONAS and Mohd Yazid Ja'afar, President/Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation officiating at the OGSE Partners Day.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- PETRONAS reaffirmed the importance of strengthening resilience, competitiveness and execution capability across Malaysia’s oil and gas service and equipment (OGSE) ecosystem at its OGSE Partners Day, held today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. 

 

Themed “Empowering Resilience”, the event brought together more than 800 participants, including vendors, association representatives, production sharing contractors, financial institutions and government agencies. 
 

In his keynote address, Datuk Ir. Bacho Pilong, Senior Vice President of Malaysia Petroleum Management PETRONAS highlighted that the programme today aims to demonstrate a future-ready and resilient OGSE ecosystem that is financially sound, technologically capable, talent ready and governed with integrity.   
 

“The key areas of focus – from sustainability and digital operations to finance and talent development – are interconnected. Transformation does not happen in silos. It happens when technology, talent, capital and governance move forward together,” he said. 
 

The event featured a series of panel sessions exploring pathways to enhance operational efficiency, strengthen governance, and accelerate capability development across the supply chain. Discussions covered technology adoption, talent development and financing solutions, alongside the importance of deeper collaboration across the OGSE value chain. 
 

Panelists included representatives from the Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC) and the Malaysian Oil, Gas and Energy Services Council (MOGSC), who shared perspectives on market volatility, global competition, sustainability requirements, technological shifts and evolving policy expectations. These discussions are aligned with the National OGSE Industry Blueprint 2021-2030, which aims to strengthen the regional competitiveness of Malaysian OGSE companies.  
 

PETRONAS also formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for its Sustainable Vendor Financing Programme with Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, UOB Malaysia, RHB Bank Berhad and Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF). Launched last year, the programme enhances vendors’ access to sustainable financing by leveraging sustainability disclosures, enabling them to tap into Bank Negara Malaysia’s financing facilities, including the Low Carbon Transition Facility (LCTF) and High Tech and Green Facility (HTG) and MIDF’s Sustainable & Green Biz Financing (SGBF). This initiative is aimed at supporting PETRONAS vendors in adopting more sustainable practices across their operations. 
 

The OGSE industry remains a key pillar in Malaysia’s economy, contributing between five to eight per cent to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and supporting more than 123,000 jobs nationwide.  
 

As a progressive energy and solutions partner, PETRONAS is committed to driving sustainable and inclusive growth by working closely with industry partners to strengthen ecosystem capabilities and foster a resilient, capable and competitive industry for the future.  

 

Issued by:  

  

Channels and Media Relations  

Group Strategic Relations & Communications  

PETRONAS  

  

SOURCE: PETRONAS 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:   

Name: Aisyah Mustapha Kamil
Tel: 012 3818 790 
Email: aisyah.mustaphakamil@petronas.com  

--BERNAMA