Construction & Built Environment Productivity Nexus (COBEPN) held its 2nd NGC meeting hosted by CIDB IBS Sdn Bhd. The productive session serves as a strategic driver to address and resolve pressing productivity challenges facing Malaysia’s construction and built environment industry. Datuk Seri Dr Michael Yam KC and Dr Mazrina Mohamed Ibramsah set the tone that reaffirmed COBEPN’s vision and underscored the urgent need for innovation across the industry. Key highlights included a presentation by CIDB on the National BIM e-Submission (NBeS), which emphasized its potential to streamline regulatory processes and drive digital adoption from 21 days to only 2 hours. This was followed by insights into the Localities Performance Assessment, which unpacked the complexities of construction permits at the local level and introduced reform strategies proposed by the Technical Working Group on Business Location. At the end of the meeting, committee members explore the IBS Component Gallery, offering a firsthand view of industrialised building technologies in practice. Ultimately, the meeting resulted in actionable insights and laid out clear strategies to move forward.

The meeting focused on driving tangible outcomes for Malaysia’s E&E sector. It reinforced plans to localise the E&E value chain beyond semiconductor front-end processes, reduce reliance on imports, and empower 50 local tech firms to deliver AI solutions for 500 enterprises, strengthening Malaysia’s competitive edge. The meeting also set clear directions to support SME digitalisation, advanced packaging participation, and IPO readiness, while boosting ESG adoption through upcoming workshops. These outcomes align with EEPN’s mission to build a robust, innovative, and sustainable E&E ecosystem that secures Malaysia’s role in the global industry.

Sesi libat urus ini diadakan bagi memastikan segala persediaan menjelang Bengkel EODB Bil. 2/2025 pada 10–11 Julai 2025 berjalan lancar. Fokus utama mesyuarat ialah menyelaras komponen Garis Panduan (GP) bagi simulasi latihan serta memuktamadkan dokumen GP untuk digunapakai sepanjang tempoh uji kaji yang akan mula dilaksanakan pada 1 Ogos 2025 di Bahagian Sibu. Hasil projek dalam jangka masa pendek mensasarkan penggunaan GP oleh semua pihak berkepentingan di Sibu, masa pemprosesan permohonan lesen dikurangkan 20 % berbanding purata Julai 2025, dan kadar kelulusan permohonan lengkap meningkat 25 % sepanjang fasa uji kaji. #SarawakProduktif #MemacuProduktivitiNegara #EODB

Date: 8 July 2025 Time: 11.00 am Platform: Microsoft Teams A follow-up session was held to discuss the implementation of AI-powered marketing intervention projects. The proposed program targets SMEs in the Retail and F&B subsectors, focusing on problem definition, solution development, and early testing of AI tools to enhance marketing and operational efficiency. Key highlights included agreement to start with 15 companies in the first batch, the need to screen participants to ensure they are ready for AI adoption, and plans to work with local technopreneurs as solution partners.

The briefing session “Transforming Enterprise Productivity Through A.I. and Digital Adoption,” organised by AutoPN with support from PERODUA, Perodua Suppliers Association (P2SA) and Proton Vendors Association (PVA), marked the deployment stage of the AI Transformation Programme. The session outlined how AI and digital tools will enhance productivity, reduce costs, and equip workers with digital skills, targeting boost in efficiency and cost savings per company, in line with Malaysia’s ambition to be among the world’s top 12 competitive nations by 2033. Nine automotive companies from the upstream supply chain have been selected for proof-of-concept projects that include intensive AI training, Gemba walks, and online coaching sessions scheduled from July to September 2025. Each company will be evaluated on its digital readiness and quality practices, and the results will be shared in a final presentation. This initiative highlights the Malaysia Productivity Corporation’s (MPC’s) commitment to driving industrial transformation and developing a future-ready workforce.

Tarikh: 7 Julai 2025, Isnin Masa: 2.30 petang - 3.00 petang Platform: Microsoft Teams Retail and F&B Productivity Nexus (RFBPN) akan menganjurkan RETECH 2025 - Shaping the Future of Retail untuk berkongsi amalan terbaik serta penerokaan teknologi terkini dalam meningkatkan produktiviti dan daya saing perniagaan. Program ini akan dilaksanakan dengan kerjasama rakan strategik industri iaitu Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) Malaysia, Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA), serta Persatuan Pengurusan Kompleks (PPK) Malaysia. Sehubungan itu, satu perbincangan bersama rakan strategik serta Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi (KUSKOP) dan Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup (KPDN) telah diadakan secara dalam talian. Sesi ini bertujuan membentangkan inisiatif RETECH 2025 serta mendapatkan sokongan dan penyelarasan strategik daripada pelbagai pihak berkepentingan. Antara halatuju yang telah dipersetujui adalah seperti berikut: i. Penglibatan agensi kerajaan yang lebih meluas bagi berkongsi inisiatif, program sokongan serta insentif yang relevan kepada subsektor peruncitan dan PKS. ii. Perkongsian inisiatif MPC, Retail AI Smart Evolution (RAISE) sebagai salah satu pengisian utama seminar dalam usaha memacu transformasi pintar peruncitan. iii. Promosi seminar secara aktif bagi menarik lebih ramai penyertaan dalam kalangan pemain industri dan agensi berkepentingan.

The Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild (MCPG) is an association representing community pharmacies, many of which are now involved in pharmaceutical compounding to prepare personalised medicines for patients based on doctors’ prescriptions. These medicines are often unavailable in the market because manufacturers do not produce them in small quantities or because patients require special formulations. MCPG has reached out via email to the Productivity Nexus (PPN) to oversee and help facilitate solutions for issues faced by community pharmacies practising compounding. These issues include delays in getting approvals due to unclear guidelines from the Ministry of Health (MOH), uncertainty about floor plan requirements, SOPs, licensing timelines, and regional complications such as work permits in Borneo and conflicting advice on premises regulations in Sabah. There’s also concern that current MOH guidelines apply only to community pharmacies and not private hospitals, leading to inconsistent regulation. To support MCPG, PPN will review the guidelines imposed by MOH to identify any uncertainties and gaps. This effort aims to help MCPG members produce compounded medicines safely, effectively, and with high quality for patients.