Media OutReach
Malaysian SMEs Turn Market Turbulence into Opportunity with SME100 Awards Leading the Movement
That landscape has grown more challenging than ever. Malaysian SMEs are operating in a climate defined by rising costs, talent shortages, complex regulatory requirements and tightening cash flow. Inflation continues to push operational expenses upward, while difficulties in hiring and retaining skilled talent have slowed growth for many. These pressures have created a harsh reality. Companies that lack adaptability risk losing market share, while those that act decisively are discovering opportunities in places previously overlooked.
Despite these obstacles, the SME sector has demonstrated a remarkable ability to rebound. Recent data shows that SME GDP grew by 11.6 percent, surpassing the national average and signalling that transformation, not stability, is driving growth. Many businesses have embraced digital tools, streamlined operations and explored new revenue pathways. The divide between surviving and thriving is becoming clearer, and it is defined by mindset, capability and speed.
In this environment, the SME100 Awards serves as a crucial platform for SMEs to strengthen their position. The programme provides a structured pathway for benchmarking performance, accessing regional networks and gaining recognition that matters to customers, partners and investors. By combining quantitative financial indicators with qualitative assessments and a full interview process, SME100 identifies companies that are not only resilient, but ready for the next phase of growth. For winners, the programme offers visibility, connection to a strong ASEAN SME community and access to continuous learning and collaboration opportunities.
Datuk William Ng, National President of SAMENTA, underscored the importance of this support. He said, “Malaysian SMEs are confronting some of the toughest market realities in decades. Yet the most progressive among them are proving that adversity can be a turning point. The SME100 Awards highlight these companies not simply for their achievements, but for the mindset they represent. They show the entire SME sector what is possible when we combine innovation, discipline and the willingness to change.”
The SME100 programme is further strengthened by the involvement of key industry partners. CTOS serves as the official credit reporting partner, Baker Tilly Malaysia as the official auditor and CGC Digital as the gold sponsor. Together, they enhance the transparency, credibility and relevance of the awards while reinforcing the broader ecosystem that supports SME growth.
For more information about the SME100 Awards 2025 Malaysia and the complete list of winners, please visit www.sme100.asia
LIST OF WINNERS OF THE MALAYSIA SME100 AWARDS 2025 (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):
- AA AVIATION SDN BHD
- AGENSI PEKERJAAN KAWA GLOBAL SDN BHD
- AL HIJRA HEALTHCARE SDN BHD
- AMD SOLUTIONS SDN BHD
- ARVIA SOLUTIONS
- AUTHENTIC TIMBER RESOURCES SDN BHD
- BIMAGE CONSULTING (M) SDN BHD
- BINA SKK SDN BHD
- BLACK GOLD SECURITY SDN BHD
- BUMI SENDAYAN SDN BHD
- CASA ENTERTAINMENT GROUP SDN BHD
- CEE INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
- CRILIGHT MARKETING (M) SDN BHD
- CRT INSIGHTS TECHNOLOGIES SDN BHD
- CTRM TESTING LABORATORY SDN BHD
- DAYASAKTI TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD
- DREAMAZE SDN BHD
- EDCA ENERGY SDN BHD
- EF STORE SDN BHD
- EG TECH SYSTEM SDN BHD
- ELITE MARKETING GROUP SDN BHD
- EVOPOINT SDN BHD
- FLEX SEAL & PUMP ENGINEERING SDN BHD
- FLEXI FLEX HYDRAULICS SDN BHD
- GREEN EXCEL ENGINEERING AND CONSULTANCY SDN BHD
- HAI SUAR HUAT PILING SDN BHD
- HEAP WAH BARAKAH SDN BHD
- IDMS TECHNOLOGIES SDN BHD
- IDPM ENGINEERING SDN BHD
- INDAH CLEANING SERVICES & MAINTENANCE (M) SDN BHD
- INDS CAPITAL SDN BHD
- IX REALTY SDN BHD
- J20 ADVANCE SDN BHD
- JIN SAN CONCRETE SDN BHD
- JNDESIGN MARKETING SDN BHD
- KIMAL AWNING & IRON WORKS SDN BHD
- KMS MANUFACTORY SDN BHD
- KPRJ E&C SDN BHD
- LES’ COPAQUE PRODUCTION SDN BHD
- LOGIX EXPRESS SDN BHD
- MABUCO SDN BHD
- MALGAZ INDUSTRIES SDN BHD
- MARCH INTERIOR STUDIO SDN BHD
- MATTECH MANUFACTURING SDN BHD
- MEOFCO SDN BHD
- MK HARAMAIN TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD
- MK PORRIDGE SDN BHD
- MTC CAFE AND RESTAURANT
- NEW KC TRADING SDN BHD
- NURSERY HONG SOON SDN BHD
- OG MARKETING GROUP SDN BHD
- QUANTUM COMPUTING SDN BHD
- RADDISH TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD
- RAY TECH (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD
- RFY ACES (M) SDN BHD
- SAI COND SALES & ENGINEERING SDN BHD
- SALAM MEDICAL CENTRE SDN BHD
- SARAMOLY (M) SDN BHD
- SATRIA TECHNOLOGIES SDN BHD
- SAUDAGAAR ASIA SDN BHD
- SIN THYE & COMPANY (PRO SAFETY)
- SIS INTEGRATED SDN BHD
- SK GLOBE BUSINESS CAPITAL SDN BHD
- SKA TRANSPORT (M) SDN BHD
- SKINVILLE SOLUTION SDN BHD
- SKY POWER SDN BHD
- SOFTWELL SDN BHD
- SOLAR VOLTECH SDN BHD
- SOLARLINK ENERGY SDN BHD
- SOON LEE STEEL SDN BHD
- SPEEDBRICK SDN BHD
- SSEMEDX SERVICES SDN BHD
- SUPER EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE SDN BHD
- SUSTEN SDN BHD
- TERAS IMPIANA SDN BHD
- THONG WORLD SDN BHD
- TONG SHENG ENGINEERING SDN BHD
- TRUZ HOME SDN BHD
- UBINGO VACATIONS SDN BHD
- V CRITICAL ENGINEERING SDN BHD
- VIRTUAL ECONOMY TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD
- YPS TECHNOLOGY SDN BHD
- ZABSI INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION SDN BHD
SME100 OUTSTANDING INSPIRATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS 2025
- MR. DONAHUE CHONG – BIMAGE CONSULTING (M) SDN BHD
- MR. EDWARD CHYE WEI YANG – EDCA ENERGY SDN BHD
- MR. KALVIN CHUA – EVOPOINT SDN BHD
- YBHG. DATO’ RAVINTHRAN S/O BALAH – INDAH CLEANING SERVICES & MAINTENANCE (M) SDN BHD
- MR. BENJAMIN GUNG SIE KAI – JIN SAN CONCRETE SDN BHD
- MR. CHIN KAH SHING – NURSERY HONG SOON SDN BHD
- MR. YEE HONG HO – RFY ACES (M) SDN BHD
- MR. DESMOND GOH – SKY POWER SDN BHD
- MR. SIEW YOUNG MING – SSEMEDX SERVICES SDN BHD
- IR. BAVANANTHAN A/L SELVAMANY – TERAS IMPIANA SDN BHD
- EDCA ENERGY – EDCA ENERGY SDN BHD
- JardinPèau – SKINVILLE SOLUTION SDN BHD
- SAI COND – SAI COND SALES & ENGINEERING SDN BHD
- IDMS TECHNOLOGIES – IDMS TECHNOLOGIES SDN BHD
- UbinGO VACATIONS – UBINGO VACATIONS SDN BHD
- MS. YUNLU LEE – AUTHENTIC TIMBER RESOURCES SDN BHD
- MS. NURUL AIN BINTI MOHAMAD KHDRI – ARVIA SOLUTIONS
- MS. FLORENCE GOH SIEW BOEY – CRT INSIGHTS TECHNOLOGIES SDN BHD
- MS. DOREEN DING – INDS CAPITAL SDN BHD
- MRS. SURIA HANI BINTI AFFANDI CHEW – MERAQUE SERVICES SDN BHD
- MS. ELLEN LIM – SKA TRANSPORT (M) SDN BHD
- TS. KOK SHIN LIN – SUSTEN SDN BHD
- MS. MICHELLE YEONG – THONG WORLD SDN BHD
SME100 CTOS CREDIT EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2025
- BUMI SENDAYAN SDN BHD
- IDPM ENGINEERING SDN BHD
- JNDESIGN MARKETING SDN BHD
- KMS MANUFACTORY SDN BHD
- NURSERY HONG SOON SDN BHD
Hashtag: #SME100Awards
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About SAMENTA
Established in 1986, SAMENTA is Malaysia’s largest association of SMEs, with over 5,500 members across the country. A multi-racial, multi-sector association, SAMENTA has been at the forefront of championing a SME-friendly business environment and connecting SMEs to regional and global opportunities.
About Business Media International
Business Media International is a subsidiary of Audience Analytics Limited, a regional leader in promoting growth for companies in Asia through data-driven brands and initiatives. We own renowned media brands such as SME Magazine, HR Asia, Capital Asia, Energy Asia, Logistics Asia, TruthTV, and CXP Asia as well as business impact assessment brands such as SME100, HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia, Golden Bull Awards and CXP Asia Best Customer Experience Awards. Audience Analytics also owns a number of exhibition brands and has the proprietary software-as-a-service – Total Engagement Assessment Model.
Media OutReach
Hong Kong Company Formations Surge 40.5% in 2025, Outpacing Regional Competitors
Air Corporate data reveals 9 in 10 founders incorporated in Hong Kong do so remotely, driven by a 20% surge in Middle Eastern entrepreneurs seeking cost-effective operational alternatives to Dubai.
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 May 2026 – Air Corporate registered a 40.5% increase in Hong Kong incorporations in 2025, with the first quarter of 2026 already up 48% year-over-year. This data indicates that Hong Kong is reasserting itself as the leading Asian jurisdiction for company formation, fueled by a new wave of remote founders from the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe.
The prevailing narrative over the past five years suggested that Singapore was eclipsing Hong Kong; however, recent incorporation volumes challenge this. According to city-wide official figures cited by Vivian, Founder of Air Corporate, approximately 195,000 companies were registered in Hong Kong in 2025, compared to around 77,000 in Singapore.
“There was a lot of fuss about Singapore taking over Hong Kong as preferred jurisdiction over the last few years, but for 2025 alone, around 195,000 companies were formed in HK, vs around 77,000 for Singapore,” said Vivian. While city-wide registrations rose roughly 35% in 2025, incorporations at Air Corporate specifically grew by 40.5%. Vivian added, “With a 35% increase in the number of companies registered in 2025, Hong Kong is definitely back in the game as the top jurisdiction to start a company.”
The reality of Hong Kong company formation is increasingly global, lean, and founder-led. Nine in ten founders incorporated in Hong Kong with Air Corporate do not live there.
Key demographic and operational insights from Air Corporate’s client base include:
- Approximately 90% of founders operate remotely from abroad, while 10% or less are based in Hong Kong.
- Entrepreneurs aged 35 to 44 represent the largest age cohort at 38%, demonstrating that Hong Kong attracts founders in their prime career years rather than just younger digital nomads.
- Serial entrepreneurs make up 60% of Air Corporate’s client mix, utilizing Hong Kong as an operational base for multiple companies, while first-time founders account for the remaining 40%.
- A total of 89% of new companies are launched by solo founders (58%) or small teams of two to five individuals (31%).
- Mainland China, Hong Kong, Turkey, India, the UAE, Australia, France, and Morocco rank among the top source markets for these founders.
Furthermore, 73% of new Hong Kong incorporations are directly tied to physical goods trade with China. This consists of e-commerce and dropshipping businesses (38%) and the trading of goods (35%). The recovery of in-person trade flows, including events, such as the Canton Fair and various industrial fairs, is pulling foreign founders back into the Greater China orbit and establishing Hong Kong as the natural entry point and financial layer over the world’s largest manufacturing base.
Air Corporate’s data recorded a 20% year-over-year growth in founders originating from the Middle East. This shift highlights a reverse migration where founders previously incorporated in Dubai are now choosing Hong Kong. Based on Vivian’s observations, founders often arrive in Dubai expecting fast incorporation and low costs, but discover that incorporation and maintenance are significantly more expensive than in Hong Kong, and banking remains difficult. Consequently, many founders move to Hong Kong after 12 to 24 months in the UAE, a trend accelerated by the Hong Kong government’s strategic outreach to the region.
For lean, remote-first businesses, speed-to-market is a critical factor. A founder located anywhere in the world can incorporate in Hong Kong and open a working bank account in approximately 7 days using digital banking partners. Currently, 90% of Air Corporate’s clients utilize these digital banking partners.
“Hong Kong and Singapore are the only places in Asia where you can set up your company, get a corporate account, and be in business in less than a week,” concluded Vivian.
Air Corporate is a service provider facilitating company formation and incorporation in Hong Kong for serial entrepreneurs, first-time founders, and remote-first business owners operating globally.
Media Inquiries
To learn more about Hong Kong company formation, visit Air Corporate’s website or contact their team directly.
Hashtag: #AirCorporate
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Natural Diamonds Sparkle on The Red Carpet at The 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art”
Today’s biggest stars express individuality and confidence with natural diamonds
NEW YORK, US – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 May 2026 – The 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” took place May 4th at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, bringing together leading figures from across the globe for an unforgettable evening. These tastemakers showcased the most classic, refined and distinctive diamond jewelry looks of the season. Below, A Diamond is Forever highlights the standout trends from the event.
Desert diamonds
Desert diamonds emerged as a striking throughline on the Met Gala carpet, with a range of hues in distinctive settings taking focus.
Rihanna led the trend in a pair of exceptionally rare old Moghul Golconda fancy brown-yellow diamond earrings by Glenn Spiro, featuring two pear-shaped natural diamonds totaling 51.9 carats. Doja Cat offset her all nude look with a pair of large Leviev Diamonds floral-shaped earrings while Paloma Elsesser made a statement in a 29.5-carat diamond necklace by Bernard James, centered around a 15-carat fancy light yellow pear-shaped natural diamond. Cara Delevingne wore a De Beers London Forces of Nature High Jewelry ring, featuring marquise yellow diamonds set as eyes, while Emma Chamberlain opted for yellow and white diamond earrings by Chopard, underscoring the continued allure of warm diamond hues.
Magnificent Diamond Earrings
A wide variety of captivating silhouettes defined the natural diamond earrings on the Met Gala carpet. Zoë Kravitz delivered a modern twist with oversized diamond flower earrings by Jessica McCormack. Chase Sui Wonders opted for Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany & Co. Sea Fan earrings, bringing an element of sculptural artistry to the look. Gracie Abrams selected gently dangling Chanel earrings, adding understated fluidity, while Connor Storrie selected simple hoop earrings from Tiffany & Co., reinforcing the clean and enduring appeal of natural diamonds.
Standout Diamond Moments
Natural diamonds appeared in personal, unconventional and eye-catching ways, offering moments of surprise and awe. Power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z embodied this trend with Beyoncé wearing Chopard’s Queen of Kalahari necklace, named after the rare 342-carat diamond that provided 23 stones for Chopard’s Garden of Kalahari collection. Jay-Z contributed to the narrative with a vintage diamond brooch by Briony Raymond worn at the collar as an unexpected placement that underscored the piece’s versatility. Isha Ambani made the styling of diamonds an art form in itself, wearing her own diamond jewelry featuring approximately 150 carats of old mine-cut diamonds, including a three-strand necklace and chandelier earrings, while also incorporating diamonds sewn directly into the bodice of her sari to represent significant moments in her life.
Together, these looks highlighted a shift toward natural diamonds as vessels of personal expression, styled with intention, individuality, and a sense of the unexpected.
Hashtag: #MetGala #RedCarpet #ADiamondisForever #NaturalDiamonds #Diamonds
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Media OutReach
Turn Your Savings into a Front-Row Experience: HL Bank Singapore Offers Exclusive Passes to AsiaTop Music Festival 2026
The premier music festival will play host to 16 K-pop, regional and Malaysian stars including, in performance order: Day 1 – NexT1DE, Aina Abdul, Belle Sisoski, Win Metawin, NMIXX, WINNER, DAESUNG, KUN. Day 2 – Uriah See, Firdhaus, Butterbear, 82MAJOR, STAYC, CRAVITY, TWS, CxM
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 14 May 2026 – Your next major K-pop experience is just a savings goal away as HL Bank Singapore (“HLB Singapore”) bridges the gap between financial wellness and the front row. In an exclusive collaboration designed for the ultimate music enthusiast, the bank is offering fans the chance to secure a pair of sought-after AsiaTop Music Festival 2026 tickets, valued at up to RM1,098 (approx. S$355), simply by growing their wealth.
This unique initiative stems from the regional synergy between Hong Leong Bank (“HLB”) and Tencent Music Entertainment Group (JOOX and QQ Music). By aligning with Visit Malaysia Year and Visit Selangor Year 2026, HLB is transforming the traditional banking experience into a gateway for premium entertainment. Scheduled for 30 and 31 May 2026 at the iconic Sepang International Circuit, the festival promises a high-octane weekend featuring an elite lineup of Asian superstars, including the largest K-pop showcase in the ASEAN region.
Securing a spot at the heart of the action has been streamlined through the iSavings Reward Campaign, running from 9 May 2026 to 18 May 2026. To participate, fans first decide on their preferred festival experience, selecting either a pair of Standard Passes with a S$5,000 deposit or the high-energy, nearer-to-the-stars Rockzone Passes with a S$8,282 deposit for their chosen day.
Once a tier is selected, customers can register by depositing the qualifying funds into an iSavings account via FAST or Links transfer. To validate their entry, customers must include the specific Comment Code, such as PALLIR1 for Day 1 Rockzone, within the funds transfer description. The qualifying balance must be maintained within the account for a six-month (182 days) earmarked period.
With only 88 pairs of tickets available for this exclusive campaign, the stakes are high. Allocation is limited to 22 pairs per day for each ticket category and will be awarded strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans are encouraged to act quickly to ensure their savings work as hard as they do while securing a premier seat at the musical event of the year.
For full terms & conditions, and further details, please visit: www.hlbank.com.sg/AsiaTop2026
Hashtag: #HLBankSingapore
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
HL Bank Singapore
HL Bank Singapore is the Singapore branch of Hong Leong Bank Berhad, a leading digital-centric Malaysia-based financial services institution with a rooted heritage in the country spanning over 120 years. Operating under a Full Bank Licence in Singapore, HL Bank offers a comprehensive range of financial services to our business, retail and high networth customers through our 4 core business segments – Business & Corporate Banking, Personal Financial Services, Private Wealth Management and Global Markets.
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