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This UK gaming studio has launched in M’sia. Here’s what they’re offering experienced hires.

[This is a sponsored post with Double Eleven.]

Malaysia has been proving its prowess in the gaming field, following the successes of professional esports players and locally-made games.

In August 2022, Malaysia sent three teams to compete in the Commonwealth Esports Championships, where all three secured a gold medal.

At LEVEL UP KL SEA, 15 Malaysian-made games were recognised in the finals for their creativity, artistry, and technical genius. Recognising an opportunity to work with Malaysian talent, UK-based gaming company Double Eleven expanded in 2022 and opened a studio in Malaysia, where it plans to build its SEA base.

Double Eleven is well known for its work on titles such as Minecraft Dungeons for Xbox, Switch and PS4, Rust Console Edition on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and previously ported games like Limbo on Xbox One and PlayStation Vita. Most recently, the team has been creating new content for Fallout 76. 

Partnering with studios like Warner Bros., Sony, Bethesda, and Mojang on leading IPs, Double Eleven is looking to bring more games to different platforms, as well as create their own original titles. 

To do so, the gaming studio is expanding its team, and has set up an office in Malaysia to build its SEA headquarters.

Looking to grow its Malaysian team, Double Eleven believes in creating a healthy work environment for game developers to work on massive titles, and offering as much creative freedom as projects allow. 

This is especially important seeing as there are often big misconceptions about the work culture and office environment of the gaming industry.

A place free of dreaded game dev crunch culture 

Double Eleven’s care for its Malaysian and UK team manifests in several ways. 

Game development has a reputation for long working hours needed to meet unrealistic deadlines, which burns out the people making games in the process. 

Thus, Double Eleven does not practise crunch culture. Instead, they are up-front with their partners about the time needed to complete work, ensuring that crunch is avoided. 

Team members are provided with a healthy work-life balance, and the company’s office is designed to foster this.

In fact, the KL-based Double Eleven office was set up in 2022 for the very purpose of providing the team with a comfortable working environment. It’s equipped with all the tools needed to develop AAA interactive entertainment. 

Iain Farrell, Double Eleven’s UK-based Programme Manager was on hand to talk us through decisions that helped create this space. For example, ensuring a large percentage of the studio’s floor space is dedicated to areas that can be used to eat meals, take breaks, and socialise. 

“That could have been space where we had more desks, but we wanted the studio to be a welcoming and exciting place to be,” Iain explained. “We feel that, as we’re establishing a full-service studio in a region better known for specific outsourcing work, we need to deliberately nurture the right culture.

With transparency as a core value, Double Eleven ensures that regardless of rank or seniority, everyone is encouraged to voice their thoughts and hold each other accountable. This promotes an environment of trust, as the leadership team can be easily reached on workplace chats.

When the team succeeds, it is made visible to all, using tools like Teams and Sharepoint. 

“We like to celebrate team successes, but also give everyone credit for their individual contributions and achievements. That will range from dedicated posts on various internal channels to project milestone celebrations and company-wide parties” Iain added.

Understanding that everyone has their individual responsibilities outside of work, Double Eleven also offers flexible start and finish times.

Opportunities to work abroad with creative autonomy

Other than work-life balance, senior employees in the Malaysian and UK studios will have the opportunity to travel and work together in person in both locations.

This way, experienced talent can work more closely together and learn from each other, giving them the chance to enhance their skills throughout their career. 

Furthermore, creative autonomy is given to Double Eleven’s teams.

“We want to empower our colleagues as much as possible to not only lead, but also enjoy the journey and be provided with a platform to showcase their skills and creativity,” Iain stated.

Company culture aside, Double Eleven’s ambitions are clear. 

“Our vision is to leave a legacy for the next generation as a different breed of games company that values its people and changes the world of gaming for the better,” said Iain.

This is coupled with Double Eleven’s aim of creating more original IPs that can showcase the ideas and varied perspectives of Malaysians’ diverse cultural backgrounds.

Lead new projects and grow the team

To fully realise their vision, Double Eleven is seeking like-minded senior talent to support the growth and development of the Malaysian team.

Key roles they’re looking to fill include a Senior Game Programmer, Senior Environment Artist, and Experienced Concept Artist. To find out about these and other roles, visit the Double Eleven website.

As a candidate, you’d have an edge if you can show that you’re trusted to work independently and proactively to the highest standards in creating beautiful AAA titles.

Currently, the Malaysian team are working on projects that originated at the UK studio. Ultimately, Double Eleven hopes to see its new Malaysian hires lead their own original projects, and collaborate with regional stakeholders. 

“When that happens, it will be the UK’s turn to support their projects,” Iain promised.

• Apply for Double Eleven’s open positions here.
• Read more gaming-related articles here.

Also Read: Hopping into a festive Peranakan house, what does a DJ rabbit have to say about CNY?

Featured Image Credit: The team at Double Eleven

This Bukit Jalil spot blends physiotherapy with traditional massage techniques, we tried it

On the third floor of a shoplot in Bukit Jalil lies Beyond Massage, a new massage therapy centre. 

Bright and airy with high ceilings, Beyond Massage is unlike any massage spot I’ve come across. This speaks to the mission of the co-founders, who aim to change the “luxurious” narrative that massages and physiotherapy typically follow. 

You can read more about the business’ story here.

The Bukit Jalil location is near many gyms and Pilates studios, making it a fantastic recovery zone for athletes.

But what about someone like me, who isn’t the most active person? I spend most of my time sitting in front of my laptop with questionable posture. Then account for an hour every day sitting in a train, staring down at my phone. 

Yeah, I’m not exactly promoting ergonomically sound habits. 

Thankfully, Beyond Massage does away with all the standardised, templated programmes, and instead offers personalised bespoke services. 

A thorough consultation 

Speaking to the co-founders, they shared that many of their therapists come from traditional physio centres and hospitals, having worked with patients with serious issues.

The therapist assigned to me was Izzah. Though smaller than me, Izzah packs quite a lot of power, as I was about to learn. 

Before getting to the actual massage, there was a 10-minute consultation session inside the room. It began with Izzah asking me whether there were any concerns I had. 

“Not really,” I began. “Probably just my neck. And my shoulders. Oh, and the soles of my feet?”

As it turned out, there were more things that should be addressed than I initially thought. But Izzah was patient and understanding, thoroughly checking my posture and mobility. She had me do some simple movements, and commented on certain imbalances, overrotations, and whatnot. 

Checking my feet (I have flat arches), she pointed out that I had plantar fasciitis—a diagnosis I have never actually heard of. It felt extremely validating that she was able to pinpoint parts of my body that were hurting, and why. 

This speaks to Beyond Massage’s mission of education. More than just tinkering around with my body and calling it a day, Izzah was sure to check in with me about everything, asking me if I knew about specific muscle groups she was addressing, and how everything was connected. 

And mind you, it was already 6PM, her last session for the day. 

From my spine to my feet, my hips to my shoulders, she checked just about everything. After that, it was time to strip down and change into a towel with fasteners. The session is designed to be rather intimate and thorough, so the therapist needs to be able to access your bare skin quite a lot. 

A nice addition here would be having a specific area (box or otherwise) for me to put my bags and clothes, as leaving them in the corner of the table felt a bit awkward. 

On the bright side, they offer comfy underwear in a range of sizes for both males and females. This is as the massage uses oil (lavender and ginger were the two options I was given) and could stain your underwear. There are also shower caps to protect your hair. 

No pain, no gain 

Now, I’m told that my pain tolerance is relatively high, and I can tahan most physical batterings (just don’t hurt my feelings). Just because I can tolerate it doesn’t mean that I don’t acknowledge that it truly is quite intense. 

If you’ve never experienced physical therapy, it involves a lot of pressing and kneading—and such was the case here. I could feel Izzah working away the knots, explaining what she was doing most steps of the way. 

Throughout the session, she would frequently check in on me, letting me know which muscles felt tight and what sorts of exercises I could do to alleviate the tension. 

Even though much of the pressing was painful, the relief it provided felt pretty relaxing. I even fell asleep at one point, jostled awake only when Izzah asked me to turn onto my back.

After the hour was up, Izzah checked in with how I felt and had me go through some additional movements. Upon hearing that my neck still felt quite stiff, she did some dry cupping, paired with exercises. 

The pain itself didn’t really manifest on the day itself, though. Rather, it was the day after when my body felt particularly sore, especially around my abdomen and under my collarbones. 

Writing this two days after the session, I’d say that most of the soreness has subsided, and I’m feeling pretty refreshed and reinvigorated.

Reasonably priced for quality services

The pricing for the full body massage starts at RM149 for 60 minutes, with 90-minute (RM179) and 120-minute (RM209) sessions available too. 

The sessions can be bespoke, but there are four “goals” you can choose to focus on—physical relief, relaxation, rejuvenation, and specific health & wellness focus. 

There’s also Foot, Head, Neck & Shoulder massages, too. 

Beyond Massage sincerely feels like an attempt to lower the barriers to entry for physiotherapy, while adding in that premium, upscale flair found in fancy massage places. 

It’s certainly designed for a modern crowd that cares about wellness and appreciates good service and new experiences. 

I truly had a great time with Izzah, and from what I heard from other guests after my session, it seems like the other therapists left just as good of an impression. 

My session at Beyond Massage showed that they truly deliver what their name promises—going beyond just a massage to offer an experience worth coming back for. 

• Learn more about Beyond Massage here.
• Read other reviews we’ve written here.

Also Read: This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

Featured Image Credit: Beyond Massage

These M’sian siblings grew their home-based bakery into a SS15 shop with 35+ bagel flavours

As someone who has a sister, I know firsthand that siblinghood often comes with challenges, even though it’s all love at the end of the day. 

That said, I’m not sure a business could survive our fickle fights and healthy disagreements. 

Such is not the case for Boo and Jia Zhi. The eldest son and youngest daughter of their family, the duo grew up in a small town called Triang in Pahang. 

Now, at age 33 and 29 respectively, the two decided to open a bagel shop together in SS15 called Five Plus Bagels. 

From accountant to F&B 

Five Plus Bagels’ baking mastermind is none other than Jia Zhi. As an introverted person, Jia Zhi often struggles to fully express herself in front of others. 

“That’s why she loves baking—it allows her to focus completely and quietly work on her creations,” Boo explained. “She feels a deep sense of accomplishment whenever she successfully bakes something that looks beautiful and tastes great.”

After earning her diploma from Famous Chef Professional Baking & Culinary Academy, Jia Zhi went on to work at several well-known bakeries, including Lavender, Tous Les Jours, and Komugi. 

Meanwhile, Boo is a chartered accountant. 

“I’ve always had this dream—to create something of our own, something that could contribute, even just a little, to the world,” Boo expressed. 

“I’ve always wanted to leave something behind in this life, no matter how small or simple it might be. As long as it’s the result of our efforts, it gives meaning to the journey and makes life feel less empty.”

He didn’t always know what that “something” would be, though. It was only when Jia Zhi started studying baking that he thought maybe bread could be it. 

For years, the duo would talk about owning a bakery someday. After the pandemic ended, they finally took action and quit their jobs to start Five Plus Bakery. 

“It just felt like it was time. There wasn’t a specific push. It was simply the moment to take that first step toward a long-standing dream,” Boo said. 

So they set up Five Plus Bakery, the name referencing their surname Boo. Boo Family translates to “Wu Jia” in Mandarin, which sounds like the word “五加” meaning “Five Plus.” 

From bread to bagel

So, the business started in May 2022 as a home-based bakery. 

Being new to business, they didn’t dare to invest heavily in a physical store and instead rented a terrace house in Kepong for their bread production. 

“With a few basic tools like a single-deck oven and a mixer, our entrepreneurial journey began,” Boo quipped. 

At the time, they weren’t even selling bagels yet. It wasn’t until November 2022 that the siblings saw the potential of bagels.

In 2022, the bagel landscape locally was still sparse, and the siblings felt that options in the market often tasted like normal bread, just shaped like a bagel. 

“We wanted more people to understand what that iconic bagel texture is all about. And with Jia Zhi’s years of baking experience, we believed that if we really put our hearts into it, we could make it work.”

After months of trial and error, the siblings finally launched their bagels online in May 2023.

From home to store

Six months into the business, the siblings realised the limitations of being home-based. Efficiency tended to suffer, and online orders were mostly made-to-order and delivered by courier, so product creativity was heavily restricted. 

“We couldn’t use ingredients like cream or meats, for example, because they might spoil before reaching the customer,” they explained. 

Another challenge was the lack of interaction with customers. Since most people had never met the duo in person, it was hard to build relationships. 

Moreover, they felt that many people were hesitant to trust a home-based food business. 

A physical store would allow customers to walk in, see and smell the food for themselves, and also enjoy fresher products. 

Believing SS15 to be a well-known food hub that’s accessible to delivery orders too, they decided to set up shop there. 

From home to store

Here at the store, it’s all about bagels. 

They offer two main types of bagels. The first is the classic bagels such as plain, poppyseed, and multigrain. The second type is filled bagels, which come in both sweet and savoury flavors. 

Some of their signature flavours for the filled bagels include Hazelnut Nutella (a hazelnut bagel filled with Nutella and cream cheese), Onde-Onde (pandan bagel filled with gula melaka), Mala Chicken, Garlic Cheese, and more.

Currently, they offer up to 35 different bagel flavours on their shelves and 10 flavours of cream cheese. 

Aside from bagels, they offer ready-to-eat sandwiches and bagel chips. To complete the experience, they also serve freshly brewed coffee. 

However, they don’t see Five Plus Bagels as a café. Rather, it’s more of a bagel bakery with a grab-and-go concept. 

They believe this concept sets them apart from many other bagel spots that operate more like cafés or restaurants. 

“Don’t get us wrong, those gourmet bagel sandwiches are definitely appealing. But we noticed a gap: with that model, bagels essentially become full meals,” Boo pointed out. 

“But what about people who don’t have time to sit down for a proper meal? What about those who crave a bagel outside of standard mealtimes? Or people who just want something quick to grab right after waking up, before heading to bed, or during their morning commute?”

Five Plus Bagels is their answer to that. 

From one sibling to another

Three years in, Five Plus Bagels continues to be run solely by the sibling duo. They’ve handled everything from website design to shipping. 

Even with a physical store, why haven’t they hired any staff?

“It’s because one of the biggest expenses for a startup is rent and employee salaries, both of which must be paid on time, regardless of whether the business is doing well or not,” Boo explained. 

Thus, they decided to be more prudent with expenses, especially when the business is still young.

Plus, being hands-on allows them to have a full understanding of every process, method, and detail. This means they can directly identify issues and resolve them. 

But one challenge that’s harder to overcome is brand awareness, since Five Plus Bagels is still a new business. 

“Even the best product means nothing if it doesn’t sell,” Boo said. 

Aside from building brand awareness, the duo is working to become the bagel shop with the most flavours in Malaysia, with an aim of getting recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records.

Ultimately though, they believe that good things take time, so all they can do is to keep going, one step at a time.

“At the end of the day, success in business really comes down to just two things—a product that’s good enough, and enough people who love it,” he shared. 

“Instead of getting caught up in complex strategies, we prefer to stay grounded, keep improving our product, and never take our customers’ trust for granted.”

• Learn more about Five Plus Bagels here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

Featured Image Credit: Five Plus Bagels

This S’porean ex-offender is giving others like him a restart in life through coffee & cats

It’s not every day that you meet someone who describes themselves as a failure, but for 54-year-old Matthew Poh, he comes clean in his introduction.

My name is Matthew, and I am a one-time bankrupt, two-time divorcee, three-time addict, and incarcerated four times; that is my background. Literally, a failure that failed most people who were around me. 

Matthew Poh

But the self-proclaimed failure has turned over a new leaf, and is one of the two masterminds behind The Caffeine Experience (TCE), a social enterprise cafe he founded in 2017 to help ex-convicts find re-employment as they reintegrate into society.

Still, the stigma remains a painful reminder for many ex-offenders, and for Matthew and his team, the road to redemption has been anything but a fairy tale.

From lavish parties to a life behind bars

Matthew was living the high life in the 1990s, as his interior design firm was prospering at the time.

Little did he expect that his life would spiral downwards at the mercy of many vices: from partying lavishly to being introduced to ecstasy pills by his then-girlfriend, who eventually became his first wife in 1994.

Things took an even darker turn in 2013, when Matthew not only lost his mother, but his second marriage was failing, and clients were filing lawsuits for unfulfilled contracts against his firm. It was then that his drug addiction worsened upon being introduced to methamphetamine, a.k.a “meth.”

At this point, he had been abusing drugs for approximately two decades and was declared bankrupt in 2015, leading him to turn to dealing to fund his addiction.

Though he left the drug syndicate months before they were busted by the police, Matthew decided to turn himself in that same year. He spent eight months in prison and four months in a halfway house.

Turns out, the harsh prison life gave him a much-needed wake-up call, as the forced solitude allowed him to reconnect with his faith and bond with other inmates—a culmination of stories that ultimately formed the mission of The Caffeine Experience.

“The Caffeine Experience started in prison, where most of my brothers inside say they find it hard to find a job when they leave prison. Hence, the idea of starting this business is to provide them with a helping hand by engaging them in a job without prejudice,” shared Matthew.

“No one would trust us”

But why coffee? Why didn’t he restart his interior design firm with the other inmates?

Matthew explained that, unlike baristas, licences or higher skill levels that are “difficult to pick up” are needed to become electricians, plumbers and interior designers.

This is not to say that F&B roles are easy, but they are more accessible by comparison. The required training gives them a chance to earn a living and hopefully guides them to a new life with a renewed mindset.

However, the first nine months before launching the social enterprise nearly had Matthew throwing in the towel. He shared that he had “zero credibility” due to his criminal record, and some potential investors would not even hear his proposal.

Fortunately, he received a S$60,000 investment from a friend to open his first outlet at Tanjong Pagar MRT in 2017. He subsequently received more investments from others around him, bringing the total investment amount to S$150,000.

Restarting is not easy

TCE works with the statutory board Yellow Ribbon and the Christian-based youth organisation Youth Guidance Outreach Services (YGOS), which recommends ex-convicts to the social enterprise and integrates them into the workforce.

As heartwarming as it is, Matthew put his struggle of balancing its social mission and ensuring the business stays afloat into perspective.

“TCE is run like an SME, and what happens is that when we want to welcome more ex-offenders under our wing, we do not have the financial capacity and resources to give them that chance.”

He also highlighted that the stigma placed on ex-convicts like him unfortunately still remains, and this has led many to fall back into destructive habits.

While it’s worth noting that Singapore’s overall recidivism rate for the 2022 release cohort was relatively low at 21.3%, it also reached its highest for drug abusers at 30.8%, according to the Singapore Prison Service.

“Many times, our brothers fall back. They will get caught and we will write e-letters to them in prison,” shared Matthew, adding that together with a pastor and counsellor, he is there for his employees who need a listening ear.

Ultimately, the decision lies with them. The most important thing is not to judge them for their choices.

We encourage them, and when they are out, we let them rejoin and help them restart their lives.

Matthew Poh, managing founder of The Caffeine Experience

Working with more ex-offenders

Since it started, TCE has managed to open five outlets across Singapore; however, things took a drastic turn when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, leading the social enterprise to shutter all of its outlets except for one.

Even though that one remaining outlet was “close to closing,” it was able to pull through thanks to his employees.

Today, the business has improved its coffee and food offerings, even starting to roast its own beans in-house. These are now supplied to office pantries and cafes across Singapore, opening up a new revenue stream for the business.

Currently, TCE has three outlets, including at the URA Centre, the Home Team Science & Technology Agency, and The Star Vista, which is its flagship outlet. The latter occupies two units, one of which houses a cat cafe: The Cats Experience.

Matthew shared that he grew to love cats after leaving prison, and he and his wife first applied to open a cat cafe in January 2023. However, as they only had eight cats, their first attempt was unsuccessful as it was not enough to open a cat cafe.

But when his maine coon King Charles’s escapades lead 17 kittens to be born within 60 days, the couple finally got the license to operate the cat cafe in Novemember that same year.

“[As of now], King Charles has two in-laws, four wives, 17 kittens, two grandchildren, six eunuchs and two slaves. The slaves are both my partner and I,” said Matthew with a laugh.

Looking forward, Matthew expressed his ambition to start a roasting academy on top of the dine-ins and cat cafe in the near future, similar to the Redemption Roasters—an English cafe chain that aims to reduce re-offending in the city by equipping individuals with practical skills in coffee roasting, production and logistics.

He aims to continue being a safety net for those re-entering society to prepare them for better opportunities in the future and welcome a new batch of ex-offenders into the social enterprise.

At the moment, though, things remain challenging. Matthew revealed that both businesses were on the path to breaking even, but saw a downturn, which led to a deficit.

With a small team of 15 employees under his care and limited resources, he is open to receiving seed funding to continue his mission.

• Find out more about The Caffeine Experience and The Cat Experience here.
• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean startups here.

Also Read: This home-based scents biz hit S$1 mil revenue in 2 yrs & now has a Changi Airport store

Featured Image Credit: The Caffeine Experience

Sea Limited opens new 10-floor HQ in Singapore for its fintech unit

Sea Limited has opened its new headquarters in Singapore for its digital financial services business today (May 8).

The unit, which runs platforms including mobile wallets, payments processing and banking, was also rebranded from SeaMoney to Monee.

Located at Rochester Commons, the new headquarters for Monee spans 10 floors and over 200,000 square feet, including an auditorium on the ninth floor of the building.

Sea Limited said that the facility will house Centres of Excellence focused on product management, artificial intelligence, and anti-money laundering—areas it sees as critical to the future of digital finance.

It will initially accommodate over 1,000 professionals, but has a capacity to accommodate up to 1,500 employees.

The office also features more than 100 meeting rooms and product innovation spaces, as well as a cafe and a gym with about 20 different types of fitness equipment.

Sea Limited was founded in May 2009 by Forrest Li, who serves as the company’s chairman and chief executive.

The tech giant operates three main lines of business: a gaming arm (Garena), an e-commerce arm (Shopee) and SeaMoney—now called Monee.

According to the company, the rebrand from SeaMoney to Monee marks “the next step” in the evolution of Sea’s digital financial services business.

The name Monee was chosen for its simplicity and ease of use across the markets it serves, while immediately connecting to the company’s purpose: to better the lives of consumers and small businesses through technology in every area related to money.

It also “echoes” sister brand Shopee.

Since its launch in 2014, the company claims that Monee has grown to become one of Southeast Asia’s largest digital financial platforms, serving users across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brazil.

To further strengthen its regional footprint, Monee has also established a digital banking group under MariBank, building on its foundation as a licensed digital bank in Singapore.

This structure will support Monee’s ambition to broaden financial access and deliver trusted banking services across Southeast Asia, said the company.

• Find out more about Monee here.
• Find out more about Sea Limited here.

Also Read: Wise was named one of the best APAC employers for 2025—their new S’pore office showed us why

Featured Image Credit: Sea Limited

Sidec’s ECM Awards 2025 saw participants rake in RM158mil in sales—here’s the top 10 brands

[This is a sponsored article with Selangor Information Technology & Digital Economy Corporation (Sidec).]

Since its inception back in 2016, Sidec’s Malaysia Top E-Commerce Merchant (Top ECM) Awards has always been about celebrating the success stories of local businesses in the digital space. And for good reason, as ecommerce contributes an estimated 36.7% to Malaysia’s GDP.

Over the past decade, the Top ECM Awards has empowered more than 2,000 high-impact entrepreneurs, generating over RM500 million in total sales and processing close to 10 million orders nationwide.

2025 marked the 10th running of the Top ECM Awards, seeing 511 participants out of 1,060 applicants.

But it wasn’t just about the RM250,000 prize pool, the 2025 Top ECM Awards also hosted training sessions on data analytics, livestream optimisation, and creator training for participating merchants.

One of the most evident trends from this year’s Top ECM 2025 programme was the growing reliance on livestreaming and affiliate marketing as key drivers of sales and customer engagement. 

Many participating merchants leveraged TikTok Shop aggressively, integrating real-time selling with creative content, which helped them connect with audiences more authentically and instantly convert interest into purchases.

All in all, the end result was RM158 million in sales collectively generated over the course of the campaign. 

The winners of ECM 2025 were selected based on several criteria which included:

• Overall sales performance during the campaign
• Level of engagement in training sessions
• Participation in activities like the TikTok Shop “Livestream Battle”
• Overall brand growth and visibility

With that, here are the 10 brands who came out on top.

1. Desince Sdn. Bhd.

Finishing third place in ECM 2024, Desince returned in 2025 as the 10th ECM Awards’ grand prize winner.

Founded back in 2017 from a small rented room, the company is a wholesale retailer for fashion products. It features an extensive catalogue ranging from sports and formal wear to shoes and accessories.

Now serving over 100,000 customers on a monthly basis, Desince particularly prides itself on affordability. Aside from its walk-in boutique at Sungai Kapar Indah, Klang, the brand has a strong focus on TikTok Shop, Shopee, and Lazada.

According to Sidec, Desince hosts daily livestreams, engages in affiliate partnerships, and creative content to fuel its growth. Their advice? “Let data lead,” and “Start small, move fast.”

Desince took home RM10,000 for its victory.

2. NFH Boutique Gallery Sdn. Bhd.

Founded by siblings, NFH Boutique Gallery grew from a family venture to a multi-channel clothing brand specialising in traditional Malay clothing for women. 

The twist, however, is that their designs are meant to be more contemporary, without sacrificing modesty and comfort.

For the Top ECM campaign, NFH Boutique Gallery employed three main tactics for their operations. These were strategic livestreaming during promotion periods, offering bundling discounts, and collaborating with creators and micro-influencers to drive organic traction and brand trust.

Sidec noted that these strategies increased traffic and helped maintain sales momentum even after the festive season. 

As the first runner up, the company won RM8,000 for their efforts. Their advice to other entrepreneurs is to understand your audience and be ready to adapt.

3. Armila Berhad

Armila Berhad finds its origins in 2018 where it was founded by one “Kak Ell,” suffering from skin pigmentation issues since childhood.

Under it are beauty and hijab brands Kak Ell and Keklaa, which offer both skincare products and hijabs.

As second runner up, Armila Berhad was awarded RM5,000.

4. Masdora Jewellery (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Masdora Jewellery’s name is made up from the “mas” in “emas” and “dora,” the Greek word for gift. And as its name implies, it indeed specialises in gold jewellery.

The company was founded in 2020 during the pandemic, with its focus on gold stemming from the fact that it was a safe asset for investment at a time where the economy was volatile. 

After starting as an online business, the brand later opened its first physical store in Penang in 2021 and Gombak in 2024. 

During the Top ECM campaign, the brand noted that building consumer trust over livestreaming was key to their success. “As gold is a high value item, customers need to have high trust to purchase online,” Masdora Jewellery shared.

The company won RM2,000 alongside the other finalists below.

5. Hulmers Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.

Based in Shah Alam, Hulmers is a local household appliance brand with products ranging from flasks to air purifiers and stoves.

They are especially active on TikTok where their best video currently sits at 2.7 million views.

6. Allure Exclusive (Iqbal & Hirani Sons Sdn. Bhd.)

Allure Exclusive is a baju kurung brand under Iqbal & Hirani Sons.

They are particularly active on TikTok Shop where Sidec noted them to be “top seller” during Raya 2023.
However, they are not exclusive to TikTok and can be found on Shopee as well.

7. HETCH (In & Ex Holdings Sdn. Bhd.)

The second appliance company in the top 10, Hetch is part of In & Ex Holdings, a group of companies that’s been around since 1994.

Hetch’s products in particular include vacuums, kitchen appliances such as ovens and air fryers, air purifiers, and weighing scales, just to name a few.

8. IGL Coatings (Ominent Sdn. Bhd.)

For those unfamiliar, ceramic coating is a chemical polymer solution that’s applied to vehicle exteriors to protect paint from damage, usually made for cars.

This is IGL Coatings’ bread and butter.

With distributors in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Middle East, the company’s lineup also extends to the marine and industrial industry.

A particular highlight of their products is their low to zero-VOC nature, which essentially means that they contain less harmful chemicals than usual coatings or paints.

9. Charms International Sdn. Bhd.

Charms’ founder, Nur Bashirah Hussin, started her entrepreneurship journey operating out of a car in schools.

She would go on to start Charms in 2012 whilst still working as an economics lecturer at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Shah Alam.

The business itself is a women’s cosmetic and skincare company that’s halal-certified.

10. Eijal Collection

And rounding out the top 10 is Eijal Collection, a carpet company in Seremban.

Their offerings include velvet carpets and prayer mats, with the company having made quite a name for itself on TikTok where they’ve amassed 371,300 followers.

Paving the way

In a white paper by Blackbox Research released on December 31, 2024, it was found that Malaysia ranked second in Southeast Asia in terms of regional ecommerce performance.

And reflecting government support for the continued growth of this industry, the 2025 Top ECM Awards was graced with the presence of YAB Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, YB Ng Sze Han, and Tuan Haji Ts. Saipolyazan M. Yusop.

“Sidec is grateful for the continued support and collaboration from a diverse group of stakeholders who have been instrumental in the success of the 10th Malaysia Top E-Commerce Merchant Awards,” said the company.

Government backing aside, a special shoutout was additionally given to AFFIN, the “Strategic Banking Partner” for this year’s running of the ECM awards.

There was also TikTok Shop who facilitated their five-day “livestream battle” as well as Dattel Asia and Business Synergy who welcomed ECM 2025 merchants for visits and provided business insights.

Through celebrating the success stories of Malaysian ecommerce brands, the ultimate hope is to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

A spark of inspiration, after all, can go a long way. Perhaps 10, 20 years down the line, the next one standing at the top step of the ECM podium will be someone who looked at one of its past winners and thought to give it a try.

• Learn more about Sidec here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

Featured Image Credit: Sidec

This M’sian couple went from running a gas station biz to a specialty canelés shop in KL

When it comes to pastries, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Perhaps you’re thinking of croissants, and the many hybrid creations it has sprouted, such as croffles or cronuts. You might even be thinking of some cream-filled choux, or perhaps, a Danish pastry. 

But chances are, most people will not think of canelés as their pastry of choice. Not because it isn’t delicious, by any means, but because it’s simply a lesser-known, and hence less accessible, treat.  

Tucked within Bangsar Shopping Centre (BSC), Burrow is an elegant little oasis that offers just that—canelés.

Behind the business is a trio who co-owns the business—Aimie, her husband Zarir, and her brother Zhafri. 

Aimie herself is the founder, having developed a hobby for baking pastries and brewing coffee before Burrow was formed. After all, she herself was an avid coffee drinker with a sweet tooth.  

Originally from Ipoh, Aimie had obtained a degree in Information System, and was operating a gas station business with her husband for some time. 

But when the pandemic happened and the world went on pause, the couple began regrouping and rethinking about their next steps. There was a desire there to tap into their interests and create something of their own. 

“We searched for a niche in the cafe scene and decided to open a specialty canelés shop, as there was none in Malaysia,” Aimie explained. 

With that, Burrow was born.  

What’s a canelé?

In Malaysia, canelés are a rarer treat still. There are some bakeries that offer it, but it’s not exactly a ubiquitous pastry the way a baguette or croissant may be. 

Due to this, many might not know what a canelé is. You might recognise its dark brown exterior and fluted cylinder shape, but you might not know of the caramelised crunch it offers, as well as the custardy vanilla flavours that smoothly cover your tongue. 

A traditional French pastry from Bordeaux, these pastries are typically flavored with rum and vanilla. Unlike the traditional canelés, Burrow’s is Muslim-friendly without any use of rum.  

Furthermore, Burrow also uses special copper moulds imported all the way from Bordeaux and edible organic beeswax, which helps create that crisp outer skin that protects the canelés’ shape. 

Burrowing into the business

Burrow began as a “family affair,” as Aimie described it. She expressed gratitude over the strong support she received from her parents and husband, which allowed everything to fall into place smoothly.

“You know how rabbits live in burrows to stay safe? I wanted to make my cafe a little safe space for people to enjoy, thus giving me the idea for the name Burrow,” she said about her cafe.

Since the beginning, that has always been Aimie’s focus, alongside baking delicious canelés.  

“I’d say nothing has really changed, at least not significantly,” Aimie said, reflecting on the past four years. “Burrow has thrived through the years by keeping our offerings simple which maximise our impact in the industry and helped us sustain over time.” 

Staying relevant 

Typically, cafes and restaurants often expand their menu offerings over the years, perhaps as a way to attract more customers or to allow the chefs to flex their creative and culinary muscles.

For Burrow, though, they’ve stayed steadfast to their core offerings of coffee and canelés. 

“The reason is like I mentioned earlier: our goal was to just focus on canelés, which is what we’re known for,” Aimie asserted. 

In a way, the founder believes that Burrow has played a role in popularising the pastry though, which is good in terms of awareness, but tricky in terms of competition. 

However, she also believes that Burrow’s consistency has helped them stay relevant in KL’s more and more populated pastry scene.

True to their values of consistency, Burrow plans on just focusing on their one BSC location whilst supplying their canelés to other cafes.

Fulfilling the vision 

In conversation with Vulcan Post, Aimie had not been a woman of many words. “Keep things simple, always!” was her response to what she aimed to achieve in the future. 

One thing was clear—she loves canelés, and she simply wants to spread this sincere love with others through Burrow. 

Rather than expand in terms of physical locations or menu offerings, Burrow simply wants to expand the reach of their canelés through their one humble bakeshop. 

When asked about advice for other baking entrepreneurs, Aimie mused, “Our advice would be to have a vision, find your niche, and to be persistent.”

These are all virtues that she has embodied over the years. And it seems that she is satisfied with the results so far. “My vision was to share our love for canelés, and I think that it has been achieved, yes.”

• Learn more about Burrow here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: A powerful AI computing solution for enterprises, by this M’sian biz with NVIDIA & Dell

Featured Image Credit: Burrow

Why this pastry chef returned to M’sia to start a patisserie brand that’s now in 4 spots

The patisserie scene in Klang Valley has bloomed over the years, with more people indulging in fine desserts and yummy pastries. 

One business that has popped up throughout those years is Champignons Patisserie founded by a pastry chef by the name of Kingsley Kwoh. 

Kingsley had studied at the Malaysia Institute of Baking (MIB) where he picked up his baking know-how. 

“I’ve always been interested in creating art. Turning a blank canvas into something meaningful—that’s what excites me,” he shared with Vulcan Post. “I actually spent a year in art college before moving into baking.”

During that stint, he realised that pastry gave him the best opportunity to express creativity. It was particularly attractive since he had loved sweets since he was a kid. Plus, Kingsley’s childhood was filled with memories of his mom baking at home. 

So, he delved into baking, spending 10 years working with Mandarin Oriental in both KL and Macau before starting Champignons Pâtisserie in 2019. 

Becoming an entrepreneur 

The story of Champignons began when Kingsley made his way back to KL from Macau. He yearned to express his creativity and skills. Having seen so much artistry in patisseries abroad, he also felt compelled and inspired to bring that same level of quality and beauty to his hometown.

Years of industry experience had given him a strong foundation, but what really pushed Kingsley forward in his entrepreneurial journey was the support of people around him, from family to colleagues to customers. 

“I knew I had something different to offer, and that pushed me to take the leap. It wasn’t about being 100% ready—it was about believing I could grow into it,” he expressed. 

Having cultivated a career as a pastry chef, though, trading the chef’s hat for an entrepreneur’s thinking cap has involved its own set of challenges. 

With time and practice, he’s learnt how to balance creative ambition with what the market really needs. 

“I’ve grown from seeing things only from a chef’s point of view to thinking like a business owner,” he expressed. 

While the business is still rooted in quality and creativity, Kingsley now places more emphasis on consistency, team development, and building a sustainable business model. 

“We’ve refined our offerings to suit customer preferences while keeping our standards high,” he summarised.

Scaling above the competition 

The quality for pastries and desserts in the Klang Valley has risen plenty in recent years, making it harder than ever to stand out. 

“It’s true, the F&B scene in Malaysia is growing fast. It’s not easy to stay relevant, but for us, it’s about staying consistent and always going back to why we started,” Kingsley said. “We don’t just follow trends. We stick to what we do best, and we keep pushing to refine it.”

For them, their core offerings include a range of petit gateaux and cheesecakes. Every festive season, the team also flexes their creative and culinary muscles to develop new flavours. 

At the same time, you can’t just stick to what you know without adapting. The founder knows this, having weathered tough times such as the pandemic. 

To stay afloat, the patisserie quickly launched a Takeaway Afternoon Tea Set focused on delivery and gifting. 

“That move helped us survive and grow. By 2021, we had expanded our production kitchen. That entire experience, and how the team pulled together, is something I’m really proud of,” Kingsley expressed.

Through these strategies, Champignons has been able to grow to four touchpoints. The business’ products can be found in 1Utama and Kota Damansara, as well as in 1 Mont Kiara’s Hachi Bakery and Taste by Champignons in Ekocheras. 

At this point, you might be wondering: What is Taste by Champignons?

Champignons is actually a group comprising a few owner-chefs, and Kingsley is one of them. His focus is on desserts and pastries, while the other partners lead the restaurants, which includes Champignons at Oasis and Taste by Champignons.

Growing the quality 

With the patisserie scene growing over the years, oversaturation might be a concern. Too much supply and not enough demand can be detrimental for businesses.  

Kingsley doesn’t think it has come to that point yet, though. Not anytime soon. 

“I believe the patisserie scene will definitely keep growing. More people are starting to appreciate not just the taste but the craft behind it. I hope to see pastry chefs in Malaysia earn the same respect as professionals in other fields.”

Champignons continues to contribute to that dream with the goal of opening more outlets and reaching more communities. 

This way, the team can keep innovating and building on their mission.  

The mission behind Champignons has always been quite straightforward. Kingsley wanted to present a French-European patisserie with his own flair to KL and PJ. He envisioned the business being of top-notch quality, but wanted to make the offerings accessible and affordable.

“I think we’re halfway there,” he says, six years into building Champignons. “There’s still a lot I want to accomplish, and we’re constantly working to improve and serve better.”

This continual improvement aligns with the chef’s own business philosophy. “Keep going—don’t give up easily,” he shared. “Either go all in, or don’t do it at all.”

• Learn more about Champignons Patisserie here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home

Featured Image Credit: Champignons Patisserie

Back to the status quo? Here’s what we can learn from Singapore’s GE2025 results.

As the dust settles on GE2025, there’s plenty to remember it for.

Not only did it mark the debut of a new Prime Minister, but it also introduced a fresh slate of candidates from both the ruling party and the opposition, alongside the return of physical rallies.

Despite the hype and fierce contests we witnessed, the city-state has seemed to find itself back in the status quo, with the People’s Action Party (PAP) winning 87 out of 97 seats and the Workers’ Party defending its 10 constituencies gained from GE2020.

When comparing it to the previous election, it seems that Singaporeans’ desire for change has waned. But is that truly the case?

Here’s what experts have to say, along with our two cents on the matter.

A strong mandate for the 4G leaders

Previously, on an episode of The Daily Ketchup, Singaporean political analyst Walid Jumblatt Bin Abdullah stated that the GE2025 results will be a referendum on the 4G leadership and specifically, on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

He also highlighted a historical trend: the PAP’s vote share usually dips whenever a new Prime Minister is elected. However, this did not appear to be the case for PM Wong.

For GE2025, PAP’s vote share has increased by slightly more than 4%, earning 65.57% of the popular vote, despite it being PM Wong’s first general election as both Prime Minister and secretary-general of the party.

The PAP also saw historically high vote share margins in certain areas, securing three constituencies with margins exceeding 80%: Queenstown SMC (81.12%), Tanjong Pagar GRC (81.03%), and Jurong Central SMC (80.51%).

This could be attributed to how the 4G leadership navigated through global crises in the past.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, PM Wong, then Minister for National Development, was appointed as co-chair in the multi-ministry task force, alongside Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Gan Kim Yong, who was the health minister at the time.

PM Wong was recognised for his calm yet assertive demeanour when addressing the media, and played a crucial role in formulating policies and aid for residents in Singapore. The taskforce implemented contact tracing and “speedy roll-out” of vaccines, which prevented a large number of deaths compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

The adaptability of the 4G leadership was also evident when US President Donald Trump recently announced the tariffs in April—PM Wong was quick to address Singaporeans’ concerns, initially through his social media platforms and later in Parliament.

The government also put together another taskforce, which will work on short and long-term strategies to help businesses and workers cope with the effects of the new tariffs.

While these strategies are still being discussed, it’s clear that we’re now in a turbulent economic environment—and given the 4G leadership’s track record, it looks like Singaporeans have opted for a stable government to navigate these challenges by giving the incumbent a “clear and strong mandate to govern.”

The GE2025 results also suggest that the PAP’s political strategy has worked. The party made several last-minute changes on Nomination Day, including fielding DPM Gan Kim Yong in Punggol GRC.

Although these sudden switch-ups drew criticism from opposition parties—who even accused the PAP of being “irresponsible” and “abandoning” constituencies—the results ultimately validated the party’s tactical decisions.

Some opposition made inroads, others didn’t

As we headed into GE2025, one prominent theme was the call for more opposition voices in Parliament, a message that opposition parties made central to their campaign.

To strengthen their positions, these parties also bolstered their teams with new faces, hoping to secure more parliamentary seats.

Buoyed by the performance of its previous slate of elected MPs, the Workers’ Party has been able to attract a stronger bench of candidates for GE2025, according to analysts. Its lineup for this election featured several standout individuals, with observers noting an “improvement in the calibre of talent the party has been able to attract.”

But while these new faces garnered praise from netizens, they ultimately fell short of securing seats in Parliament. In the end, the WP was unable to make further inroads, retaining only its existing strongholds.

That said, the party did, however, manage to increase its winning margins in Sengkang GRC and Hougang SMC.

It also secured the two NCMP seats as the “best losers” in this general election, in Tampines GRC and Jalan Kayu SMC. Should they choose to accept them, the party will have a total of 12 seats in the next Parliament—the largest number of opposition voices in history.

The other opposition parties that have introduced new candidates—including ex-lawyer Stephanie Tan from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) and Ariffin Sha, the founder of alternative sociopolitical news site Wake Up Singapore, representing the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)—also didn’t quite see improved performances.

It could be said that these candidates were simply “too fresh” for this election, but even then, seasoned political veterans struggled to gain ground in GE2025.

Most of them (save for SDP’s Chee Soon Juan, who has managed to improve his vote share from GE2020), in fact, saw declines, including Paul Tambayah and the PSP team at West Coast-Jurong West led by Tan Cheng Bock.

GE2025 also marked a tough outing for smaller opposition parties, with a record number of teams losing their electoral deposits across seven constituencies.

Analysts say the results reflect a more “discerning” electorate, where they will vote for the parties that they think are viable. In light of this shift, smaller opposition parties may need to reassess their value propositions or risk losing political relevance.

That said, it’s interesting to note the performances of the two new independent candidates in this election: Jeremy Tan in Mountbatten SMC and Daryl Lo in Radin Mas SMC.

Although both have lost in their constituencies, they performed better than other opposition parties, with Lo earning 23.47% of the vote share when compared to PAR’s 7.36%. Tan gained 36.16% share of the vote, which is the highest vote share by an independent candidate in the last 53 years.

Political observers said the pair were able to put their views across coherently during their campaigns, and were perceived to be sufficiently credible by voters.

Becoming a more proactive citizenry

This general election also revealed some concerning trends—for one, Singapore saw a record low voter turnout of 92.47%. While analysts note that the timing of the election may have clashed with voters’ travel plans, particularly in more affluent wards, “voter paralysis” may have also played a part.

In tightly contested constituencies, some undecided voters may have simply chosen not to make a choice at all. In wards where the ruling party was seen as dominant, others may have felt their vote wouldn’t make a difference, ultimately deciding not to cast it at all.

Street interviews conducted by local media also underscored a worrying level of political disengagement, highlighting signs of both total and selective political blindness within Singaporeans.

In particular, one Singaporean TikToker drew flak for seemingly casting her vote based on memes made of political candidates. She has subsequently made an apology, stating that she would make an effort to educate herself in the future.

In this day and age, with information readily accessible and condensed to cater for shorter attention spans, voters should at least attempt to get a general idea of what different parties are advocating for and how they can potentially affect their lives in Singapore.

At this point, some people might still choose to ask, “So what?”

Our answer to that is that making uninformed choices or even not choosing to vote could lead to an inaccurate representation of where Singaporeans want to grow politically, and it can have dire consequences in the future. 

[The call for institutional reform] also requires one thing of citizens: The realisation that democracy does not only demand active participation during election campaigns, but throughout one’s existence.

Professor Walid Jumblatt Bin Abdullah reflecting on GE2025’s results

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who won here.

Also Read: What will the next Parliament look like? Here are the most likely outcomes & distribution of seats.

Featured Image Credit: Workers’ Party and Lawrence Wong via Facebook

After almost 30 years, Isetan Singapore will close its Tampines Mall outlet in November

Editor’s Note: The following article has been updated with Isetan Singapore’s response to Vulcan Post’s media enquiries.

Japanese retail giant Isetan will be closing its Tampines store this November after almost 30 years, following the expiry of its lease at Tampines Mall.

The department store chain released an announcement on its website yesterday (May 6), which expressed the company’s full commitment to Singapore. “We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all our loyal customers and partners for their continued support over the years,” the notice stated.

According to a press statement by a spokesperson, Istean Singapore decided not to renew its lease at Tampines Mall after “thoughtful consideration” in light of evolving market conditions and as part of a “broader strategic move” to realign its operations for long-term sustainability and growth.

Ahead of the closure, customers can look forward to a clearance event, with more details to be shared in due course.

We understand the store holds fond memories for many families, and we are truly grateful for the continued support over the years.

Isetan remains fully committed to serving our customers in Singapore through our existing stores and evolving retail platforms. We look forward to continuing our journey with the community in new and meaningful ways.

A spokesperson from Isetan Singapore responding to Vulcan Post’s media enquiries

Tampines Mall has also informed the public of the planned closure via a Facebook post that same day, though there was no mention of a new tenant or tenants taking over the space.

According to an Instagram post by @ilovetampines, Isetan Tampines was the “anchor tenant” when the mall opened in 1996, and stated that it’s “the end of an era.”

Many netizens expressed their sadness in the comment section, with some stating that sharing it has been a part of their “childhood.”

Singaporean actress and radio host Farhana M Noor also commented in the post, saying, “My first job after O’levels. Thank you isetan tampines ❤️”

From closing physical outlets to delisting on SGX

Following the closure, Isetan Singapore will have two physical locations operating in the city-state: Isetan Scotts at Shaw House and Isetan Serangoon Central at NEX.

The closure comes after the department store chain closed a few of its outlets a few years back. The first outlet to shutter was Isetan Jurong at Westgate Mall in 2020 and Isetan Katong at Parkway Parade in 2022.

The company also reported net losses of 2023 S$1.2 million in 2023, prompting its parent company in Japan, Isetan Mitsukoshi, to take it private. This led to the suspension of Isetan Singapore’s shares at the Singapore Exchange (SGX), and it officially delisted on September 19, 2024.

Singapore saw a trend with department store chains downsizing in the past few years. Recently, Chinese retailer BHG closed its Junction 8 outlet at Bishan in April after closing a few outlets in 2021, and British retailer Marks & Spencer ceased operations at Parkway Parade in February.

With these closures in mind, will department stores continue to be relevant to Singaporeans in the years to come? Looks like time would only tell.

• Learn more about Isetan Singapore here.
• Keep up with the latest news here.

Also Read: This home-based scents biz hit S$1 mil revenue in 2 yrs & now has a Changi Airport store

Featured Image Credit: Matthew Chia via Google

This spot in JB started as a photographer’s lab, now it’s a Japanese-styled coffee shop too

He’s a photographer, a former cook, and a coffee lover. Who better to open a film-slash-coffee shop? 

Taku Iwama, who is half-Malaysian and half-Japanese, moved to Malaysia when he was young. He grew up here, finishing his tertiary education in Monash University where he double-majored in marketing and finance. 

After that, though, he decided to return to Japan to pursue photography. 

With that, he began his career as a photographer, finding himself working in both Japan and Indonesia. Some of his clients include companies such as Nike China, Shiseido Ginza Japan, Vogue Magazine China, Hypebeast Magazine Japan, and Potato Head Bali. 

But before Taku became a notable photographer, he spent his days working as a cook in an izakaya in Shimokitazawa. He picked up his cooking chops here, though it slowly transitioned into a part-time gig as his photography work became more stable. 

Leveraging his passion and experience as a cook and a photographer, Taku eventually opened Sunday Morning Coffee Shop in Johor, offering Malaysians a new way to enjoy photography and a good brew. 

Starting a kissaten

The idea of opening a coffee shop came to Taku four years ago, when he was still in Japan. His family came across a small unit on the second floor that they were renting out—a unit that Sunday Morning now inhabits. 

“During that time, I got a little drained from living in Japan and thought of taking a break from Japan and moving to Malaysia for a while,” he explained. “I ended up staying here for a few years now running Sunday Morning.” 

While the business aligns with Taku’s own interests, the inspiration also came from his uncle, whom he’s very close to. Taku’s uncle has a small coffee shop that he’s been running by himself for over a decade in Japan, located at Taku’s grandmother’s hometown, Tochigi. 

“Whenever I go back to visit my family, I’ll always end up hanging around his coffee shop,” he explained. 

With fond memories of the space, Taku decided to emulate the same with his Johor cafe.

From a personal lab to a communal one

The integration of film came naturally. After all, Taku has been working with film since he started his career as a photographer in 2017.

“When I was working as a photographer, all of my work was shot on film. Naturally, I started to develop my own film as a way to speed up my work as well as keeping everything done by myself,” he explained. 

That’s why his first thought for the Sunday Morning space was actually to just run a film lab and photo studio for himself. 

But after planning it through, he realised just doing film wasn’t that sustainable, especially since most of his clients were overseas and his body of work wasn’t as suitable for the local market. 

“So, I started to focus on the coffee side and attached the film lab as a way for people around JB to be able to still get their film processed and also to retain my first plan of opening a film lab,” he explained. 

Sunday Morning offers developing and scanning services for a variety of films, including colour film, black and white film, and motion films. They also carry some film cameras and film rolls.

Today, Sunday Morning is operated by two different teams—one focusing on the lab, the other on the coffee. Taku has enlisted the help of a friend to do the processing service so he can focus on sales and F&B. 

Finding the right team was extremely difficult, though, especially since many Johoreans tend to look for work in Singapore due to the currency. To attract and retain talent, Taku tries his best to treat them as family and build the relationship from there. 

“To me, it’s extremely important in the long run, so I would say the bond with our staff is one of our main strategies. Treat them as a family and naturally they will also treat you as such,” he believes.

Good food and culture

As for the food, most of the dishes are actually developed from Taku’s family recipes. In fact, his father used to run an izakaya back in the days at Fukushima, Japan. 

“All of the menu is mostly what my family used to cook on a daily basis, and from there, I try to do more research and progress,” he said. 

He also calls upon his own izakaya experience in Japan. As for desserts, Taku has a partner who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu. 

Speaking about the mission of Sunday Morning, Taku boils it down to one word. “Culture,” he said. “I think that’s what we are trying to offer.”

This is specifically felt with his coffee-making process, which involves labour-intensive components such as a small hand-roast contraption from Japan. 

“I think it’s a culture that I really appreciate since I was young looking at my uncle working at his coffee shop, so I think it’s something that needs to be appreciated by more people,” he mused. 

“It’s not to say that our way of doing things is better because it’s more labour intensive, but I do think that it’s a tradition that should be appreciated.” 

Picturing the future  

With Sunday Morning Coffee Shop, Taku’s goal is to continue to progress holistically. 

“After three years of doing business, I realise that there won’t be an end goal, we always try to progress and once we are there, we are looking for a new goal to be achieved, so I feel like we just need to keep the passion alive and seek for progression constantly.” 

That said, they do have plans for expansion. But the team hopes to find a place that really suits their interest. After all, Taku truly believes in staying true to oneself. 

“There’s so many trends going on. Almost every year there will be a new one,” he mused. “But I just try to steer away from that and do what we do, which is to make authentic Japanese food and coffee.”

“I think the most important thing is to stay true and do things as holistic as possible and always try to progress without losing our own principles, and hopefully that’s how we can stay in business for a long time.”

• Learn more about Sunday Morning Coffee Shop here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: A powerful AI computing solution for enterprises, by this M’sian biz with NVIDIA & Dell

Featured Image Credit: Sunday Morning Coffee Shop

Now in 800+ stores, this M’sian pharmacist’s skincare biz is on track to RM50mil revenue/yr

Adibah Mazlan had a pretty typical upbringing. Hailing from Selangor, she grew up in a middle-class family, surrounded by strong women who believed in hard work and purpose. She went on to pursue pharmacy, finding it to be a field where science meets impact. 

One way that she differed from others, though, was her streak of curiosity and itch for entrepreneurship. She was always selling things in school, finding ways to build something of her own. 

In 2015, she even started her own business as a luxury brand personal shopper and was importing several international skincare brands that weren’t available in Malaysia at the time. 

This entrepreneurial spirit might explain why she eventually felt like working behind the counters had its limits. 

She shared with Vulcan Post, “I wanted to reach more people—and skincare became my way to merge pharmaceutical knowledge with everyday impact.”

And that was how Adibah created The Raw. 

Real and raw products 

It was 2019 when Adibah founded her business. The trigger to delve into skincare was because the founder herself couldn’t find local skincare brands that met her standards of safety, efficacy, and transparency. 

“Many were trendy but lacked substance,” she argued. “I saw a huge gap: Malaysians wanted affordable, effective skincare—but there was a trust deficit. I built The Raw to fill that gap.”

The Raw began with small batches, covering the basics. But when the team saw real customer transformations and increasing repeat purchases, Adibah knew they were onto something. 

So she doubled down on The Raw, pushing it as a skincare brand built on “real science, real results, and real confidence.” 

She shared, “Our mission is simple: promote healthy skin through products that are safe, effective, and rooted in pharmaceutical knowledge. We’re not here to promise flawless skin—we’re here to make people feel confident in their skin, whatever condition they’re in.”

In terms of product development, The Raw is all about practicality. Everything starts with identifying the skin concern the team wants to solve. 

“We run competitor audits, ingredient evaluations, and scientific validation—combining pharmaceutical-grade research with dermatological insight,” Adibah explained. 

This process is not a quick one. Formulation to launch typically takes nine to 12 months. Part of the reason for the drawn out R&D experience is because The Raw actually collaborates with university labs and external R&D consultants to ensure every ingredient serves a purpose.

The careful formulation and compliance is a reflection of Adibah’s pharmaceutical background. But running The Raw involves more than that. As Adibah herself pointed out, it requires a different muscle: marketing, operations, HR, supply chain—none of which pharmacy school teaches. 

“The biggest challenge was learning to scale without losing quality,” she said. So how did she do it?

Reaching that wider audience

The Raw’s hero product had been The Raw Arbutin 2% Serum, which was formulated for brightening dull and uneven skin tones. 

According to Adibah, it gained traction because it was one of the few local serums that delivered visible results without compromising on skin safety. 

But having a good product is one thing. How do you even start marketing those products to customers?

“We launched during MCO (2020), and our content went viral organically. We spoke in a way people understood. TikTok and Instagram were key channels. We educated instead of selling, and word-of-mouth did the rest,” Adibah shared. 

With this strategy, The Raw grew rapidly. Today, they’re in over 800 retail outlets—including Guardian, AEON Wellness, and KPJ hospital pharmacies. 

“Getting into retail wasn’t easy. We had to prove our products were safe, compliant, and that we had a loyal customer base,” Adibah said. “Retailers took us seriously because our numbers backed us up—we showed demand, repeat purchase rate, and a clear brand identity.”

Aside from having a physical presence, they’ve also tapped into major ecommerce platforms such as Shopee and TikTok Shop, and there’s also the official www.theraw.com.my website.

The founder shared that combining online growth with physical presence helped The Raw scale faster and reach a wider demographic—the goal she had since day one.

Rising above the competition

Ever since the pandemic, though, there have been more and more local skincare businesses popping up and finding their ways to retail shelves. 

“Yes, the barrier to entry is lower now—white labelling, social media, and influencers have made launching a brand easier than ever,” Adibah agreed. “But the barrier to sustainability is still high.”

The Raw’s path to sustainability is all about trust—achieved by their science-first approach, backed by intense R&D, and focused on real results. 

“We’re not built on hype. We’re built on trust,” she reiterated. “Marketing can sell once. But product quality builds longevity.”

Competition with local and overseas brands aside, scaling while maintaining product quality was another big challenge. 

But The Raw stayed agile, investing in brand education and building a loyal community. 

With that, Adibah is proud to share that the business is tracking RM50 million in annual revenue this year, which reflects a 43% growth from last year’s revenue of RM35 million. 

“The brand was bootstrapped in the early days—I used savings from my pharmacy job, amounting to RM30,000, to get started,” she said about their startup capital. “Over time, we reinvested profits to scale. We haven’t taken any external investment—yet.”

While The Raw intends to continue strengthening their presence in Malaysia, the long-term vision is to go regional. Specifically, they’re looking at Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, and Middle Eastern countries. 

Keeping her ambitious streak alive, Adibah is also working towards an IPO by 2028. 

She believes that strategic collaborations, stronger R&D, and continuous product innovation will bring her to the international playing field, getting her closer to the dreams of going public. 

• Learn more about The Raw here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home

Featured Image Credit: The Raw

This home-based scents biz hit S$1 mil revenue in 2 yrs & now has a Changi Airport store

Ambrose Wee had always loved having his family home smell like a hotel, so he often filled it with the calming aromas of scented candles.

But that sense of calm quickly turned into concern when his mother’s childhood asthma flared up unexpectedly due to the commercial paraffin candles he had been burning.

Determined to find a safer alternative, Ambrose dove into months of research and experimentation. The result was a clean-burning palm-coco crème wax blend—free from the harsh chemicals of commercial candles, yet still offering the same experience.

What began as a personal solution soon became a passion—he began handcrafting candles as gifts for his family and friends.

His candles became so popular that recipients started “feeling paiseh” to keep asking for refills, so they insisted on paying for them instead.

This marked the beginning of Lynk Fragrances in 2019, an all-natural scents brand that Ambrose now runs together with his family.

The early days

Ambrose and his family launched Lynk Fragrances with just S$10,000, hand-pouring their first batches of candles from their kitchen.

The brand was initially named Lynk Artisan but underwent a rebrand after a couple of years (more on that later).

In the early days, orders trickled in slowly—one or two a week—which were personally hand-delivered. It was a small operation, with Ambrose’s sister Datina Wee helping out in production and social media marketing whenever she could, as she still held a full-time job at an MNC payments company.

Then the pandemic hit—and unexpectedly, so did demand.

As orders continued to grow, Ambrose’s entire family soon got involved, helping with different aspects of the business.

When the business started gaining “steady monthly profits,” Datina made the leap to quit her job and join the business full-time in mid-2020.

The team was clocking 14-hour days, and soon found themselves fulfilling bulk orders for weddings, corporate clients, and custom events.

Looking back, Datina believes that the business’s momentum came from filling a clear gap in the market. “Back then, most candles available in Singapore were mass-produced overseas or made from toxic paraffin wax. There wasn’t a local brand offering luxurious, clean-burning, [and] plant-based options.”

A family business

By 2021, Lynk Fragrances had already outgrown its home setup and moved into a dedicated studio space. That same year, the business also crossed the S$1 million revenue mark.

But the growth didn’t stop there. In early 2023, it secured a warehouse space to support increasing demand, and by the end of the year, it opened the doors to its very first retail store at Changi Airport Terminal 2.

Scent is a sensory experience, and it’s hard to translate that online. Opening a physical store allowed us to create an immersive space where people could smell, feel, and connect with the brand on a deeper level.

Datina Wee

Throughout the years, Ambrose and Datina’s family had remained very much involved in the business, working behind the scenes in production, logistics, and day-to-day operations.

“My father leads our fulfilment team… [and] my mother supports business development,” said Datina. “My second brother, Arnold, heads production and ambient scenting—he’s also our in-house IT guy, with a deep understanding of machines and systems.”

Meanwhile, the duo have pretty much stayed close to their original roles—only now with greater responsibility.

Datina leads content creation, marketing, and collaborations for the brand, while Ambrose is Lynk Fragrances’ “product visionary.” “He’s incredibly resourceful—he sources rare, high-quality ingredients from all over the world, from farmers and suppliers in many parts of Asia, France, Italy, the USA, and beyond,” added Datina.

Scaling and rebranding

Today, Lynk Fragrances has grown far beyond candles.

“We realised our customers wanted more ways to experience scents throughout their day—not just through candles,” said Datina.

In response, the brand expanded its product line to include room sprays, pillow mists, shower steamers, hair perfumes, shampoos, conditioners, and even a range of toilet sprays. This diversification was what ultimately prompted the rebrand from their original name.

We outgrew our original identity. As we expanded into personal care and ambient scenting, Lynk Fragrances better captured our evolution into a modern scents house.

Datina Wee

Looking back on the business’s journey, Datina admitted that scaling was “tough.” “We insisted on doing everything in-house and by hand, which meant many late nights and learning curves,” she added.

While this approach allowed for “full quality control,” it also forced the team to build robust operations from the ground up—including fulfilment systems, SOPs, and training programs.

-//-

Throughout the years, Lynk Fragrances has made big strides, securing collaborations with global names like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and even SBS Transit—where they co-created signature scents for Singapore’s MRT stations. They’ve also developed exclusive fragrance lines for hotels both locally and overseas.

And they have no intention of slowing down.

“In the short term, we’re working on introducing scent purification technologies, launching even more beautiful fragrances, and expanding our retail footprint,” said Datina.

Next on the horizon is regional expansion, starting with Kuala Lumpur. “We hope to become Asia’s leading scent house.”

• Find out more about Lynk Fragrances here.
• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean startups here.

Also Read: Many doubted these NUS alumni’s probiotic drink biz, now it’s sold at 50+ stores in S’pore

Featured Image Credit: Lynk Fragrances

Ng Chee Meng responds to criticism over MOE incident & photo with Fujian gang member

Labour chief Ng Chee Meng has landed in hot water recently, following a wave of online comments questioning his conduct during a 2017 Ministry of Education (MOE) dialogue, as well as the circulation of photos showing him with convicted money launderer Su Haijin.

In response, Mr Ng has apologised for the criticisms directed at him over the MOE incident and requested that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong not assign him any position in the government.

In a statement issued on May 6, Mr Ng, who was elected as MP for Jalan Kayu SMC on May 3, said: “The PM has agreed to consider this.”

Over the next five years, I will focus on my duties as the MP in Jalan Kayu and my role as Secretary-General of NTUC. The needs of my residents and all Singaporean workers are my priorities.

He also responded to the photos that have surfaced with Su, a known member of the Fujian gang:

“As the Secretary-General of NTUC, it is part of my work to engage with different companies and private sector leaders,” said Mr Ng. “These engagements help me better understand the concerns and challenges in different industries. At these engagements, people would often approach me for photographs.”

The dinner with Su Haijin was one such engagement. “It took place some time back. I learnt later about the police investigations and subsequent criminal charges against Su,” he clarified.

“Thereafter, I had no further interactions with him.”

Photos of Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat together with Su were also circulating online.

Earlier today, the ministers’ press secretaries said the ministers do not know Su personally and have no dealings with him.

Also Read: Singapore at 60: How does it compare to when it was 50, 40, 30, 20 & 10? Here are the numbers.

Featured Image Credit: toxicstatenarrativeinsg via Instagram

Why this M’sian couple started a 3D-printed lamp side hustle on top of their full-time jobs

For penny pinchers like myself, the best part about tech isn’t quite the tech itself (though that’s important too). It’s that sweet moment when the starting prices for new products drop over time as advancements are made.

And 3D printing is a prime example of this.

These days, a decent printer will set you back about RM1,000 to RM2,000, noted Bangi-born local MJ. This makes it the perfect opportunity to turn a hobby for making things into a full-fledged startup.

Enter his and his wife’s made-to-order lamp business, Lampu Lampu.

From hobby to side hustle

MJ had moved from Selangor to the UK to study civil engineering. However, he didn’t transition into making lamps straight from there. Rather, he ventured into banking and finance first.

His wife, Anis, also had an unrelated career. She was a law student, born and raised in Johor Bahru where the couple were living for a time.

“Lampu Lampu is actually a side business that we mainly work on during our weeknights and weekends,” he explained.

“I still work my full time job at a tech company in Singapore during the week while my wife still works as a lawyer in JB.”

How the business came about, then, was when Anis became pregnant with their first child.

“We found ourselves spending a lot more time at home in JB, which led me to start looking for hobbies to keep myself occupied,” said MJ. “As chance would have it, Instagram’s algorithm started feeding me reels about 3D printing which got me really interested.”

Though hesitant at first, a push from his wife would eventually convince him to pull the trigger on getting their first 3D printer.

The rest, as they say, was history.

Easier said than done

Starting out, the first couple of things that MJ made were trinkets, toys, and generally just items for their house. It wasn’t until they moved into a condo unit in Singapore when the idea of making lamps would first come about.

“During this time, I got really into interior design, architecture, and home decorating,” he explained.

“I wanted to buy some really cool unique lamps for the home but found some of these lamps to be really expensive!”

In particular, he was referring to things like the Akari, Panthella, and Nelson Bubble lamps, all of which fall under the RM2,000 to RM7,000 price range.

And so his solution was just to make them himself.

The company’s first lamp, the Tang Lung, was inspired by Asian paper lanterns, but with a modern spin.

Compliments from family and friends were what motivated them to start selling it, but, naturally, it wasn’t that easy. 

Sure, they had a design. But then came reality to spoil the mood. The lamp needed to be sturdy enough to survive being shipped whilst still retaining a relatively accessible price point.

As this was MJ and Anisa’s first venture into entrepreneurship, there were also plenty of other things that they didn’t consider. Packaging, setting up a website, branding, social media, all whilst still working full-time and taking care of a newborn.

“It’s been really challenging, but also really fun and fulfilling,” shared the co-founder.

That’s why he’s stuck with it, even if it means having to edit Instagram and Facebook posts on the commute to work.

Lighting the way

Since their launch in September last year, Lampu Lampu has sold over 100 lamps at the time of writing.

Their current lineup consists of the aforementioned Tang Lung as well as the Ombak, Kueh, and Kami, with all profits made so far reinvested back into the business.

This has allowed them to acquire their second and third printers, as well as new post-processing equipment.

“For lamps ordered from our website, we print them only when we receive the order.,” MJ explained.

“This allows us to be sustainable and environmentally friendly as we can generally avoid having large amounts of inventory and having a smaller carbon footprint.”

Next up for Lampu Lampu is an expansion of their lineup with pendant and sconce lamps. Looking further ahead, the dream is to one day open a physical studio to showcase products and maybe host workshops.

Are there things that he would’ve done differently when starting out? “Of course,” MJ told Vulcan Post. 

More aggressive marketing is one example, and not compromising on packaging and delivery for the sake of cost is another. 

But all that comes part and parcel with the learning process.

He is, after all, an engineer. Problem solving is the name of the game.

• Learn more about Lampu Lampu here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

Featured Image Credit: Lampu Lampu

Tired of getting rubbed the wrong way, they created a new physio-centric massage biz in M’sia

“Don’t get rubbed the wrong way.” 

Featuring premium, cheeky branding, Beyond Massage is exactly what it says on the tin—a massage parlour that goes beyond your typical massage. 

But co-founders Calvin and Matthews sincerely mean what their motto says, and Beyond Massage intends to make good on it. 

Bridging a market gap 

Going into the business, Calvin Lim and Matthews Chang had a clear problem statement they wanted to address. Massage parlours were just not getting things right. 

When you visit these businesses, you would often get a different masseuse who you’ve never built rapport with and hence doesn’t understand your body. To reiterate your condition all over again can be exhausting. 

In other words, they felt rubbed the wrong way. 

Calvin pointed out, “There are traditional massages with templated approaches. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s physiotherapy centres. Great for rehabilitation, but it’s very intimidating.” 

For the average person who hasn’t been injured or doesn’t suffer from any obvious health concerns, physiotherapy might seem like overkill. Plus, physio centres typically involve a whole bunch of modalities, from electrotherapy to dry needling. 

Matthews added, “This is great, but what we learnt from our market research is that the most enjoyable part of physiotherapy is getting pressed. So, let’s elevate that.” 

At Beyond Massage, the team is essentially offering physiotherapy services in a more approachable way. The therapists at Beyond boast professional physio know-how, but on top of that, they’ve received training in traditional techniques such as Swedish massages, lymphatic drainage, and more. 

Unlike typical massages, Beyond’s sessions are fully customised to customers’ needs and goals. In other words, it’s bespoke. 

What you get really comes down to the initial 10-minute consultation you have with your therapist—which is free, mind you. 

“The mission we have here is that we want to change the narrative on massages. It’s not so much a luxury but something that aids in continuous recovery,” Matthews expressed. 

“The analogy that I gave to some other guys is that you’re like a car. You don’t wait until your car is spoilt before fixing it. You need to regularly service it. Think of this place like a service centre for your body.”

Calvin reminded, “Recovery is a part of training.” 

Closing their own loop 

For a new business, Beyond Massage comes off as a very premium, well-developed brand. 

Well, there’s a reason for that. The co-founders actually run a sister brand called Hills Pilates, which has a presence in Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand. 

“That’s more on strength and conditioning, and this is our recovery business to help close the circle,” Matthews explained. 

With nine outlets in Malaysia alone, the team is able to leverage much of the data from Hills Pilates to guide them in the right direction. 

For instance, Hills Pilates has a Bukit Jalil outlet as well. This helped the team secure a good spot for Beyond Massage, while giving insights into the local demographic and their spending habits. 

“This is our MVP,” Matthews shared. “We start it up first, see if there’s product market fit, and if the evidence is there, we’ll start scaling.” 

Interestingly, though, they already have another location in Tropicana Avenue that’s set to open very soon. Again, this is possible thanks to their Pilates business. 

Any further expansion would be after a few months, though, as the team wants to continue taking a data-centric approach. 

“Let the revenue flow stabilise, understand the demographic a bit more, do whatever we need to improve from an operational standpoint,” Matthews listed. “Once we’re confident that everything is replicable, scaling will start happening relatively quickly.” 

Offering a more accessible offering 

In terms of pricing, Beyond Massage actually offers rather reasonable rates. 

For a full-body 60-minute session, it’s RM149. A 90-minute session is RM179, while a 120-minute experience is RM209. This is on par with premium massage parlours such as Thai Odyssey. Most physio centres tend to offer tailored pricing, so those who want a transparent, standardised rate might appreciate Beyond’s offering.

Aside from their bespoke physio-centric offerings, they offer relaxation-focused sessions as well as a foot, head, neck, and shoulder massages. 

“It was a bit tricky—are you going to benchmark against traditional massages, or are you going to benchmark against physiotherapists?” they mused. “Well, we first need to look at the quality of the services. It’s being done by professionals who spent years studying this trade.” 

As such, they leaned towards the prices of physiotherapy, but stepped down from there. 

They don’t necessarily see their sessions as a direct alternative to physiotherapy, but more of a supplementary service. This is especially true if customers come in with injuries that they cannot assist in. 

“I would say the main differentiator is whether there’s a need for other modalities,” the co-founders explained. This is as Beyond Massage doesn’t have the full range of equipment that the medical centres might. 

Going above and beyond 

These days, wellness has become more central to our lives. Just take a look at the proliferation of Pilates centres and pickleball courts. This is a clear indicator that as a society, we want to be more active and care for our bodies more. 

However, the fitness scene is getting oversaturated—something that they’ve noticed in the Pilates community. In Beyond’s area alone, there are more than a couple of Pilates studios. 

That’s why the co-founders believe that the wellness market in particular is ripe for the taking. 

However, as much as Beyond might be tapping into an underserved market, competition is bound to come, especially if business goes well for them. 

Yet, the founders believe that they will be able to stay competitive with the relationships that their staff fosters with each and every customer. Yes, there might be innovation. But what’s keeping the business going isn’t just that initial idea, but consistent execution and continual improvement. 

“We see it in Pilates. Our retention rate is really high,” they pointed out. “We are also very strong on innovating in the form of upskilling.”

Plus, they have a good management team behind the business. If they can open 20, 30 stores rapidly, it would be hard for others to get an edge.  

Quite literally going beyond massages, the team will also be introducing head spas at their centre. 

It’s clear that the Beyond Massage team truly believes in their product, and they’re excited and ambitious to bring the product to more people. 

But does Beyond Massage actually walk the talk? Well, we actually got to experience a session ourselves, so you’ll have to read our review to find out. 

• Learn more about Beyond Massage here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: A powerful AI computing solution for enterprises, by this M’sian biz with NVIDIA & Dell

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

After 17 yrs, S’pore fashion label The Closet Lover will close due to founders’ health battle

Editor’s Note: The following article has been edited based on The Closet Lover’s responses to Vulcan Post’s media enquiries.

Singaporean fashion label The Closet Lover (TCL) has announced that it will be closing its online and offline stores after 17 years.

Both of TCL’s founders, Brianna and Bertilla Wong, were previously diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (more commonly known as lupus), an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissues and organs, and will be closing the brand to prioritise their health.

In an interview with The Straits Times, Bertilla Wong, 35, shared that her older sister’s health took “a turn for the worse” during a two-week visit to South Korea in February.

“She experienced very high blood pressure. Her legs and limbs were extremely swollen, and she even had difficulty breathing at times, such that she had to visit the doctor twice while she was in Seoul,” she said. Brianna, now 39, was warded when she returned to Singapore.

It’s estimated that nine out of every 10,000 Singaporeans are affected by lupus, which is approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people. While the main cause of the disease remains unknown, some symptoms associated with it include joint pain, fatigue, and a butterfly rash that appears across the cheeks and nose.

Bertilla shared with The Straits Times that the doctor informed her older sister, Brianna, that her kidneys and heart were inflamed due to the stress she was facing and advised her to prioritise her health.

When I heard that, I was very worried and persuaded her to end the business first to recuperate because I want her to live.

Bertilla Wong, co-founder of The Closet Lover

But a comeback is not out of the cards

What started as a passion project for the sister duo in 2007 turned into one of Singapore’s recognisable homegrown fashion brands.

The brand started out as an online blogshop and grew into the brick-and-mortar space, owning four outlets at one point. Currently, it has three stores in Bugis, Orchard, and Tampines.

TCL has also expanded overseas, operating four stores: two in Malaysia and another two franchise stores in Cambodia, before they closed in 2021 and 2024, respectively.

According to Bertilla, the company was bringing in under S$10 million annually post-COVID-19, but noted that customers are “thinking twice” about spending money on clothes. To ensure the brand continues to remain relevant, the company started conducting regular livestream sales to promote its products.

Livestream sales have grown in popularity amongst businesses since 2024, and TCL was one of the early players. While the sisters were confined in their homes during the pandemic, they continued to build connections with customers and continued to interact with them upon moving to TikTok shop last year.

On the closure of their international outlets, Bertilla noted that there was “zero support” given to them to sustain their Malaysian outlet during COVID, and decided to shutter the outlet to prevent further financial losses despite performing well prior.

“But, ultimately, even if the business was doing super well, we wouldn’t have been able to keep it going if we were to run it at the expense of our health,” she added.

However, some might ask why the sisters did not choose to sell the brand instead, to which Bertilla responded saying that they have considered the option but decided against it as they are central to TCL’s branding and sales, and there was “no point” if they have to continue to help in its operations after selling.

“The priority for us right now is to rest and recuperate from the stress of running the business and not think of anything else,” Bertilla reiterated to The Straits Times.

Following their announcement, TCL will continue hosting its weekly livestreams and launches, with their final collection, a collaboration with an unnamed international brand, scheduled to be released on May 25.

Individually, Bertilla plans to continue livestreaming and selling health products in collaboration with Singaporean company Best World Lifestyle while focusing on taking care of her two young children.

“I felt that I had not been spending a lot of time with them ever since they were born because of the business, and they are about to start primary school soon, so I do want to place a bit more focus on spending time with them.”

The company will officially end its online and offline operations on June 15, 2025—but Bertilla also teased a potential comeback for the brand in the future.

“My sister is still very interested in fashion, and when she gets better, she may still come up with something on a smaller scale, something more manageable that will not affect her health,” she said, adding that Brianna will still appear on her TikTok live streams from time to time.

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With 17 years spent building TCL from the ground up together with her sister, Bertilla shared that she gained multiple lessons through the experience, but the most important one might come from the simplest form of gratitude.

I think it’s very important as a business owner and entrepreneur to stay grounded and to be grateful for those who have helped you in your business.

As the saying goes, people are your greatest asset in this business. It’s not about you; it’s really about the people around you and the people who are there with you.

Bertilla Wong, co-founder of The Closet Lover

• Learn more about The Closet Lover here.
• Read more stories we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: Singapore’s Love, Bonito is on its way to becoming profitable in 2025, says CEO Dione Song

Featured Image Credit: The Closet Lover

This mum made rhythmic gymnastics shoes from her kitchen table, now it’s a whole M’sian biz

When you think of startup stories, you might imagine tech bros coding in a dorm or entrepreneurs pitching to investors in boardrooms. But sometimes, innovation begins in far humbler places—like a kitchen table in a home filled with the giggles (and bruises) of young gymnasts.

This is the story of Tonya Twins, a Malaysian rhythmic gymnastics half-shoe brand born out of love, necessity, and a mother’s relentless drive to protect her daughters’ feet.

The footwear gymnasts must have 

In rhythmic gymnastics, there’s one unspoken rule: no full shoes, no barefoot. 

Instead, gymnasts typically wear toe shoes or half-shoes. These are not mandated, but it’s considered disadvantageous to not wear them. This is because the sport demands control, fluidity, and elegance—movements are performed on the balls of the feet, while the heels stay afloat. 

As such, half-shoes are not just accessories; they’re essential gear. But, as Madam Tonya, a former gymnast and now mother of six, learnt the hard way—most half-shoes in the market were either overpriced, uncomfortable, or simply not durable enough for daily training.

When her twin daughters began their gymnastics journey, she was stunned by the mismatch between price and quality.

“Almost every week, I had to change them. Imagine how much that costs,” she recalled. 

“I switched to another brand, which looked like it was of better quality. But it had open stitches inside. So after three hours of training, they got blood and blisters on their pinkies. It really, really looked terrible and my heart broke.”

Not giving in, Madam Tonya changed from brand to brand, from week to week, to cater to her twin daughter’s passion in rhythmic gymnastics. Until one day, the blisters and habit of trying new brands of half shoes became unbearable. The blisters turned into bleeding. And heartbreak turned into resolution. 

Enter: DIY Mode

Fed up with rotating between disappointing brands, Madam Tonya rolled up her sleeves. Literally.

She pulled fabrics from around the house and stitched together a prototype using a rubber hose and her daughters’ feet as the model. It took lots of trial and error, but after numerous attempts, the result was a pair that could survive rotation drills. Yet, it was still far from ideal.

Soft, stretchy, durable, and safe—that was her checklist. As a former athlete herself, Madam Tonya sketched the design, borrowed a sewing machine, and brought on a local tailor to help refine the shape. 

Initially, the half-shoes were only meant for her daughters. But soon, their teammates took notice. 

“Where did you get that?” they would ask. When they realised it was Madam Tonya behind the creations, they began ordering them. Even the coaches began paying attention.

That’s when the humble kitchen project started turning into a mini brand.

Not just play, but precision 

Ask any rhythmic gymnast, and they’ll tell you—those sleek routines that last 90 seconds on stage? They’re the result of four to five hours of daily training. Every movement is judged, and the feet? They must be flawless. No crooked toes, no stiff postures and poised movement. 

That’s why the right half-shoe is as important as the ribbon or hoop.

But what makes Tonya Twins’ toe shoes better than what’s on the market? 

Well, Madam Tonya’s shoes feature hidden internal stitching and snug rotatability. Tonya Twins’ three-layer inner sole protects the feet while offering flexibility. The outer layer, made of scuba fabric, stretches just right. Extra grip points hug the foot for security, and the hidden stitch makes them ultra-comfortable during pivots and leaps.

Starting out, she made everything hand-stitched and used high-quality materials, mostly imported from Korea. Even the rubber’s shade had to match a gymnast’s skin tone and the competition mat. Details mattered.

In fact, having torn and tattered half-shoes during competition is a big no-no, Madam Tonya shared. This is as it comes off as a disrespectful gesture to the judges, which may affect performance results or even lead to disqualification.

Thankfully, people noticed her efforts.

By 2022, she was managing large-scale orders and distributing half-shoes internationally. Demand outpaced capacity, leading Tonya Twins to start mass producing the products. 

Today, their starred product, Toniflex, is available in six ranges of sizes; M, S, S1, S2, S3 & S4. The measurements are for kids and follow with Asian measurements. Made for both competition and daily training, Toniflex currently is only available in a peachy skin-toned colour. 

Toniflex’s retail price starts from RM50. This might seem pricier than your average pair, but it’s designed to last a lot longer than other brands.

The brand now has traction internationally—especially in Russia, where rhythmic gymnastics is practically a religion.

So, what’s next?

The story of Tonya Twins is still just getting started. 

Madam Tonya already has plans to branch out into leotards, tights, and other gymnastics essentials. She’s also inviting coaches to contribute to future designs and even organising mini competitions with Tonya Twins gear in the spotlight.

But her core mission remains: get more Malaysian kids into rhythmic gymnastics, especially from as young as 3 years old.

Because, as she puts it, “That’s when their bodies are soft and their spirits are curious.”

Through durable, protective, and wallet-friendly products, Tonya Twins might just be making rhythmic gymnastics a more approachable sport.

From a mother’s heartbreak to a growing startup, Tonya Twins is proof that innovation doesn’t always need a Silicon Valley zip code. Sometimes, it just needs a mother’s love, a sewing machine, and a dream stitched in soft scuba fabric.

• Learn more about Tonya Twins here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

Featured Image Credit: Tonya Twins

How this M’sian photojournalist started a hidden seafront cafe in a Penang forest

A seafront jungle cafe in Penang, K(an)opi Coffee is quite the picturesque spot for a cup of joe. 

It was founded by Jonathan, a Penangite who pursued journalism and international studies. When he’s not manning the coffee shop, he’s a photojournalist who also independently runs a creative studio that offers storytelling for businesses, communities, and projects he cares about. 

So, why’s a man like him running his own cafe in a jungle?

Creating a little oasis

Like many tales we’ve featured, the COVID-19 pandemic has something to do with it. 

The seed of K(an)opi was planted in the thick of the chaos around late-2020. Amidst this, Jonathan wanted to create a little oasis of peace and quiet. 

“Coffee, under nature’s canopy: in a space that heals, refreshes the mind and brings about a deeper sense of calm and clarity.” This was the vision that he had in mind. 

Plus, Jonathan had long been interested in F&B as well, especially as a number of his close friends (some of whom are also his cycling buddies) were all working in the F&B industry. 

He added, “But it should also be said that I do love my coffee too! I can live without it, but I wouldn’t if given a choice.”

The business’ first iteration kicked off some years ago, managed by Jonathan and his two friends Daeng and Ming, who were cyclists that were also in the coffee industry. 

They were also joined by Kenny, the co-owner of the Tropical Spice Garden and Jonathan’s cycling sifu. 

A second coming 

At the start, everyone had a day job, so K(an)opi remained a weekend project that would open early and close by midday. 

But in early February of 2022, the cafe actually went on a hiatus for two years until 2024. 

Now, Jonathan is joined by his business partner and barista Vishnu, who he describes as an extraordinaire who has been in the industry for close to two decades. 

On the food front, K(an)opi keeps things collaborative and dynamic. Up until Feb, they were sourcing baked goods from friends whose food they love. In March, though, they launched a kitchen collaboration with their close friends from Chef Off Duty. 

Now in April, they offer an all-day breakfast menu in addition to items from the oven such as pies, cinnamon rolls, and scones from other friends. 

“We’re also really proud of our gelato selection—made by our friends from Utu-Utu, a lovely couple from mainland Penang,” he added. “One flavour you can’t get anywhere else is the Masala Chai gelato, made using the Garden’s Masala Chai spice blend.”

Speaking of which, the Masala Chai is a signature of the spot, created from scratch by Vishnu.

Jonathan shared. “It’s a layered, warming experience—with a depth that’s not often found in the conventional chai.” 

A unique location

Beyond its offerings, K(an)opi’s location is quite the unique one. 

Tucked away in Tropical Spice Garden, it looks out into the sea while being surrounded by lush trees. 

As to how he found that location, Jonathan explained, “I would say it came down to my relationship with Kenny and the Tropical Spice Garden, with whom I’ve worked closely with since late-2017.”

“The Tropical Spice Garden is located along a well-loved cycling route on the island’s northern coast so the location was strategic.”

The idea came about one day while they were out riding—to set up a cafe and gathering space in nature for the cycling community, especially since there was unused space. 

Their current location used to be the garden’s “back door.” Essentially, it was just the driveway entrance, comprising a giant compost mound and a two-storey living quarters for the gardeners.

“We’re definitely located some distance away from town and the general population, but we see this as more of a selling point,” Jonathan described. “When you step through our gates, you’re stepping into tranquility, a slower state of mind.”

For those thinking of making a visit, the cafe is about 30 to 40 minutes from George Town. Jonathan describes the drive as a lovely one. 

“We’re a little family, pet, and cyclist-friendly cafe hidden in a lush rainforest garden, overlooking the ocean. It’s wild, down-to-earth, peaceful, beautiful and an escape from the city—without being too far out.”

A labour of love

At K(an)opi, it’s not about being a commercial success. Offering yummy food, scenic views, and a playlist curated daily, it’s about something bigger, something more. 

“We take deep pride in our service and care for everyone who comes through. Everything we serve is made with love, intention and care,” he said. 

Given this vision, though, it’s no surprise that manpower—and the right one at that—has been a big challenge. 

“Shared values, vision, and love for the work matters in what we do,” Jonathan explains. “Because that translates to the service, into what we serve, and the overall experience.” 

He and Vishnu have had to dig deep in the past year through some trying moments, but Jonathan believes that through maintaining a clear and open line of communication, mutual respect, and shared values, they are able to pull through. 

“If there’s one major takeaway for us, it’s that change is a constant. We’re incredibly blessed to be where we are now and every day is a gift that we don’t take for granted,” Jonathan mused. 

“Our philosophy? If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. So do it with all your heart.”

• Learn more about K(an)opi here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

Featured Image Credit: K(an)opi

Many doubted these NUS alumni’s probiotic drink biz, now it’s sold at 50+ stores in S’pore

I love to eat, but there are times when my stomach bears the consequences, leaving me bloated and constipated.

While I might spare you the details of my gut issues (at least for now), I can assure you that I’m not the only person who deals with this.

In fact, it was these very experiences that pushed Christian Eviston-Putsch, Shu Wen Sew and Shermaine Heng to launch Curated Culture, a homegrown health and wellness brand that focuses on producing “functional teas” containing probiotics.

How it all started

Each founder’s journey into wellness was influenced by their personal health experiences or stories shared by loved ones, all of which played a role in shaping the brand.

For Christian, the CEO of Curated Culture, his interest in health and biohacking began when a sudden lung infection that had him on an extended course of antibiotics led him to dive into gut health.

While antibiotics remained essential to his recovery, they would “wreak havoc” on his gut microbiome, leading him to become “obsessed” with probiotics and the science of fermentation. “What started as a personal healing journey turned into a full-blown passion,” he stated.

Determined to turn that passion into something tangible, Christian began exploring the idea of making probiotics more accessible to the mainstream market.

While pursuing his Master’s at the National University of Singapore (NUS) in March 2021, he reached out to food science professors for guidance.

That outreach led him to Shermaine and Shu Wen—trained food scientists who would go on to become Curated Culture’s COO and CTO, respectively. After just two calls, the trio decided to build a probiotic drink brand together, but what clicked for the two ladies?

Shermaine shared that she and her family regularly consume probiotic drinks, but as many of them are diabetic, and most of their choices are severely limited—they’re either “sugar-laden, artificial tasting or not effective enough.”

“I wasn’t willing to compromise on flavour for the sake of health benefits, and I believed that a great-tasting, functional probiotic drink shouldn’t be hard to find,” she added.

Shu Wen echoed the same sentiment and emphasised that gut health is often overlooked, despite it playing a crucial role in our overall well-being. With a common goal, the trio went on to materialise their goal of providing probiotic drinks that aim to be effective and tasty.

Overcoming sceptics

To test the waters, the founders entered the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme (GRIP) and, took a leap of faith to launch a presale during Christmas.

They were able to gather feedback and gauge consumer interest, which helped improve their products. Encouraged by the initial traction, the team held another presale for the Chinese New Year in 2022.

The sale saw an increased demand, spurring them to invest S$10,000 out of their own pockets to take a huge gamble by running their first production.

But how are Curated Culture’s beverages different from the many gut-friendly drinks already on the market? And more importantly, do they even work?

The health food industry has earned a bad rep for vague ingredient lists and lofty promises, which has often led to disappointment and skepticism among consumers. But Curated Culture aims to challenge that narrative.

“We ensure that the probiotics in our drinks remain effective over time,” explained Shu Wen, adding that the brand conducts “sampling and taste-testing” rounds to gather feedback and refine its formulations to meet consumer preferences.

Initially, Curated Culture found success with health enthusiasts, but the founders quickly realised that they could tap into the mainstream crowd beyond that niche—including everyday consumers who weren’t the biggest health junkies but stood to benefit “the most” from improved gut health.

“Our goal was simple: make it easy for anyone to take their first step toward a healthier life, without requiring drastic changes to their diet or routine,” stated Shermaine. “Over time, even the sceptics started embracing our products, realising that improving gut health didn’t have to be complicated or intimidating.”

This pivot turned out to be the right move, allowing Curated Culture to successfully close its first investment round. The company has also acquired angel funding and is currently raising seed funds to scale its operations.

Transitioning to retail

Curated Culture first began by selling its probiotic drinks through its own website, but since then, it has expanded its revenue streams to include other e-commerce platforms, such as Shopee, Lazada, RedMart, and TikTok Shop. According to Christian, this has enabled the company to fulfil over 10,000 orders and achieve a 20% month-on-month growth since launch.

Its drinks are now also sold at more than 50 stores across Singapore, including Australian restaurant chain Guzman y Gomez in Singapore as well as supermarket grocers Cold Storage and Little Farms, in a bid to become more accessible to a wider audience.

But navigating the retail industry was a new game for the trio—one that they had to learn the rules quickly. “From negotiating listings to understanding sales cycles, it was a steep learning curve,” added Christian.

Determined to grow in a competitive space, the founders took a hands-on approach, often spending hours setting up in-store displays and building relationships with store managers themselves.

However, ensuring that their drinks were being sold wasn’t the only challenge. Shermaine shared that while they sold out at one point, their drinks weren’t being reordered by the retailers.

She explained that it’s the brand’s responsibility to ensure that shelves are stocked and that it has to maintain regular communication with retailers to ensure continuity. Adding to the challenge was the frequent turnover of category managers, which meant that the brand had to rebuild relationships with them.

“Despite these hurdles, the process helped us gain invaluable insights into retail operations and consumer behaviour,” said Shermaine.

Their continuous efforts have seem to paid off—Curated Culture has managed to build a loyal customer base, with a repeat customer rate of 40%. These milestones have also opened the doors to many brand collaborations, including Lululemon, Google, and Marina Bay Sands.

Aside from catering to the audience in Singapore, the company has also expanded into the Malaysian market and plans to further strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia.

Outside of Asia, they are also working to enter the American market, but with tariff discussions ongoing, the company is taking the time to plan its market strategy.

“By the time we ship stock over, we expect the tariff discussions to have settled. And in the long term, we plan to produce in the US,” added Christian.

Nevertheless, it seems that Curated Culture is not deterred by the impending challenges ahead, and emphasised its commitment to establish itself as the “premier health and wellness beverage brand” in the region and beyond.

• Learn about Curated Culture here.
• Read more stories we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: He quit the corporate life to start a S’pore snack brand selling ancient superfoods

Featured Image Credit: Curated Culture

Why do our laptops and phones feel so fragile and short-lived now? Here’s what the stats say.

It was not too long ago when my S22+ got the dreaded green line, costing me a RM600+ repair fee and a lunch break from having to go back and forth from the repair centre.

This got me thinking: Has tech always been this way? Always putting users on edge for fear of a random wire coming loose, leading to hefty repair costs or even a replacement?

Now, people often cite those “unbreakable” Nokias and Motorolas of the 2000s as a reference for the decaying lifespans of devices, but is tech really getting more fragile and shorter-lived, or is it all a matter of perspective?

Let’s take a look at the stats.

Letting the numbers talk

According to a 2022 study by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), consumers generally expect most tech products to last about five years, with more mature devices such as TVs, desktop computers, and printers holding the highest expected lifespan among consumers, at 6.5, 6, and 5.7 years respectively.

Au contraire, more recent devices such as smartphones, smart speakers, and wireless accessories are expected to last fewer years post-purchase, at 4.8, 4.5, and 4.4 years respectively.

How does this stack up against the actual lifespans of devices, though?

Indeed, with the exception of DSLRs or mirrorless digital cameras, most consumers expect their devices to last longer than they are reported to.

That said, despite the common perception that tech lifespans are decaying over the decades, the European Environment Agency reports that the durability and repairability ratings of smart phones have increased since 2020.

As such, replacement rates of tech devices have gone down. According to Statista, smartphone upgrade cycles have steadily lengthened since 2013, going up from 2.4 to 3.7 years in 2022.

So, where does this idea of shrinking tech lifespans come from?

Taking a step back

Despite the longer replacement cycles, the European Environment Agency (EEA) notes that the consumption volume of electrical and electronic appliances has risen by more than three-fold since 2000.

Although consumption of other common consumer goods such as clothing and vehicles has also increased during that period, none have shown as much growth as consumer electronics.

“This surge is closely linked to the proliferation of mobile phones over the past two decades,” said EEA. 

With more people opting for multiple phones, while also having to buy more devices to ease work processes and daily activities, the additional consumption of tech goods would lead to a perceived increase in tech replacement.

Further, these statistics do not take into account the second-hand market. With minimal changes between the yearly flagship devices, more people are opting to buy and sell their used devices online, adding to the perceived increase in replacement rates.

But what about planned obsolescence?

“But wouldn’t the deliberate slowing of older phones lead to higher replacement rates?”

In late-2017, Apple confirmed that it had implemented software performance controls based on battery health on older iPhone devices following reports of performance degradation on these phones.

Known as Batterygate, this led to various class action lawsuits being filed against Apple, including a fine by French consumer authorities and several U.S. states.

That said, Science Daily states that although planned obsolescence by manufacturers like Apple could contribute to device replacement rates, devices are still not being used long enough for these effects to kick in anyway.

Tamar Makov, a doctoral student at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, states in the study that “in most cases phones are replaced when they are still working fine, so improving repairability won’t necessarily help much.”

Perhaps we should be focused on what really makes us replace phones so quickly, or we should be angry at manufacturers for making really good commercials. But it’s likely that the problem is not the hardware.

So, we good?

Although the data indicates that devices and electronic appliances are lasting longer, the sheer rise in consumption of tech goods still proves to be an environmental and sustainability concern.

According to data from the Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia accumulated 2,459 tonnes of household electronic waste in 2021, with research findings indicating approximately 24.5 million units of e-waste in 2025.

In 2020, Malaysia’s recycling rate was approximated to be 36.67%, which lags behind neighbouring countries. As reported by the DOE, the household e-waste recycling rate in the country does not exceed 25%, implying that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of e-waste end up in landfills annually.

Although the shift in consumer mentality towards a more moderate, financially savvy approach is a great start, upping our recycling practices when it comes to e-waste is still an effort we need to work on in building a sustainable future.

• Learn more about e-waste recycling and its facilities here.
• Read our tech stories here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Images used under licence from Shutterstock

Looking to develop your film photos? Here are 8 labs in M’sia that might be worth a shot.

Although high-spec phone cameras and even nostalgic digital cameras are commonplace nowadays, there’s still a group of people who love and appreciate the trusty old film camera. 

If you’re someone who is a part of this group (or wants to get into it), you might be looking for studios who can process your images. Here are some spots in Malaysia that can do it. 

Both Johor and the Klang Valley appear to be hubs for film cameras and processing, so we’re focusing on these two regions’ offerings. 

Klang Valley

1. Zontiga 

On the first floor of a Taman Paramount shop lot is Zontiga, a self-described creative hub for photography enthusiasts. 

They also have an outlet on the second floor of GMBB. 

Their locations are fairly accessible by public transportation, so I’ve personally frequented their stores quite often. Although they tend to tell me they need up to a week to process my film, they often send the files to me within two of their working days. 

Location: 

• Zontiga PJ: No.21A, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
• Zontiga KL: GM-2-29, Level 2, GMBB, No.2, Jalan Robertson, 50150 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: 

• Zontiga PJ: Monday to Tuesday, 12PM to 6PM; Friday, 12PM to 10PM; Saturday to Sunday, 12PM to 7PM
• Zontiga KL: Monday, by appointment; Tuesday to Sunday, 12PM to 7PM

Services & price: 

Turnaround time:  Within seven days for their PJ location and 10 days for their KL branch

Contact: info@zontiga.com

2. Darkroom8

A photo lab in KL, Darkroom8 offers film developing and scanning, photo printing, as well as fine art printing services. 

They also offer film delivery services, so if you live further away, you can still send your films to them to develop and process.

Location: 62, Jalan Galian, Taman Miharja, 55200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 12PM to 6PM

Services and price: 

Turnaround time: Same day delivery possible for C41 Colour Negative Film, and three days for Black & White Negative Film

Contact: Instagram

3. Bang Bang Geng 

Founded in 2013, Bang Bang Geng is a notable film shop in Klang Valley, offering all sorts of products for photography enthusiasts, especially those who prefer things analogue.

The Publika shop also offers some photo processing services for film cameras. 

Location: Lot 15-20, level G1, Publika Shopping Gallery, Jln Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 11AM to 8PM

Services and pricing: 

• C-41 colour film: RM25/roll
• Black & white film: RM30/rol

Turnaround time: Two to five days

Contact: 03-6211 9025

4. Saujana Film Lab

Located in Imbi, Saujana Film Lab is all about speedy service. They’re able to process your colour films in just an hour. 

As for other kinds of processing, they can also complete it within a day. 

Location: 16, Lorong 1/77a, lmbi, 2nd Floor, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, Saturday to Sunday, 11AM to 6PM

Services and pricing: 

Turnaround time: One hour to one day 

Contact: 011-5934 8334

5. Film Lab 

Describing themselves as a film processing expert, Film Lab is a authorised Kodak dealer in Malaysia that offers a range of film processing services. 

You can ask them to ship back your negatives or opt not to. 

Location: Lot 9, Jalan 2/118B, Desa Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30AM to 5PM; Saturday to 9:30PM to 12:30PM

Services and pricing: 

Turnaround time: Same day or one working day; three to five working days for black and white negatives

Contact: 019-931 5270

Johor 

1. FilmNeverDie.Asia

FilmNeverDie is a film camera shop in Batu Pahat, Johor.

For those who find their location a bit out of the way, they have a variety of film drop-off locations in Johor and KL. They also take mail-ins. 

Location: 110, Jln Rahmat, Kampung Pegawai, 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor Darul Ta’zim

Opening hours: Monday to Tuesday, Thursday to Sunday, 11AM to 6PM

Services and pricing: 

Turnaround time: Colour and black and white processing will take from two days to seven days, though other services can take up to two months 

Contact: 014-6197916

2. The Duckroom 

A pioneering film lab in Johor, The Duckroom seeks to illustrate how “Film is Not Dead.”

It’s a welcoming spot that aims to create a safe space for likeminded people and sells a variety of equipment. 

Location: F-03-08, Level 3, Blok F, Komersial Southkey Mozek, Persiaran Southkey 1, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10.30AM to 6.30PM

Services and pricing: 

Turnaround time: One to three days for C-41, black and white, and motion film processing; up to six weeks for slide processing

Contact: 019-7893626 | lab@theduckroom.com

3. The Black Hole Lab

For Brendon Leong, film photography looked like a passing fad until he fell into the rabbit hole—or should we say blackhole? 

Originally more of a digital photographer, Brendon went on to start his very own film lab. But before starting The Black Hole Lab, he was actually also involved in the creation of The Duckroom.

Today, the two entities are operated separately, but both seek to uplift and contribute to the film community in Johor and beyond. 

Location: 9, Jalan Bijaksana, Taman Abad, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim

Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday, 12PM to 6PM

Services and pricing: 

Turnaround time: One to two working days for colour processing, around seven days for black and white processing and motion film. Slide processing is subject to change. 

Contact: 012-260 8760 

• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: The Black Hole Lab/ FilmNeverDie.Asia / Darkroom8

We had the OPPO-rtunity to test the slimmest foldable phone on the market priced at RM7,999

It’s as light as a coffee cup. 

Given, this is a very vague statement, since that could refer to a 20-ounce Venti latte, or just a half-empty paper to-go cup. But that’s exactly how OPPO describes their latest Find N5 foldable.

They also describe it to be as slim as a pencil, at 8.93 mm. That would make it essentially the thinnest foldable on the market. 

So, what does that mean for the average user?   

Serving visually 

We got the phone in a beautifully elegant Misty White colourway. It’s not just a simple old white shade, though—upon closer inspection, there’s a lovely textured finish with subtle patterns all over. 

There’s also Cosmic Black which offers a smoother, silky surface. 

The phone also came with its very own case. I appreciate that you don’t have to pay extra for it (cough, cough) since no one else is really making these super specific phone cases with magnetic spines that slide into place when you fold and unfold the phone.  

But regarding the physicality of the phone, the rear camera module is pretty thick, so the phone can be a bit wobbly sometimes when you set it down screen up. It also somewhat feels unbalanced when you have it unfolded as well, but I do think it’s a matter of getting used to.   

Real real estate 

Let’s talk about the front screen first. When it’s folded up, it feels just like any other phone, fitting easily in one hand. With a 6.62-inch screen and a ratio of 20.7:9, it really presents itself as a normal bar phone.  

When unfolded, though, the screen expands to 8.12 inches diagonally. And the thickness? A shocking 4.21mm.

The LTPO screen has a dynamic refresh rate of 1-120Hz. For the cover screen, there is a peak brightness of 2450 nits and a high resolution of 2616 × 1140. Inside, that would be 2,100 nits and 2480 × 2248 high resolution. 

In any case, this phone is always crisp and colourful, even when outdoors. And when you’re in the dark, there’s something called Bedtime Mode to reduce blue light exposure.  

Hinging on durability 

When it comes to folds, we can’t not talk about the hinges. 

The OPPO Find N5 uses something called a Titanium Alloy Flexion Hinge, comprising a 3D-printed Titanium Alloy Casing and Wing Plate, resulting in a 26% reduction in thickness.

It’s also reinforced with industry-leading 2,200 MPa Ultra-High-Strength steel bits. 

So what does that all mean? Well, I can’t personally speak to the durability, but I do think that the hinges feel buttery smooth and perfectly easy to use. 

The phone is also framed with aircraft-grade 7-series Aluminium Alloy, boasting strength and elongation. 

As for the inner screen, OPPO is using a UTG (ultra thin glass) plus dual layers of anti-impact films, which is all supposed to protect against drops and daily wear while maintaining a sleek, flat surface.

Compared to their previous fold models, the Find N5 has 30% improvement in bending resistance and 70% stronger impact resistance, the brand claims.

On the topic of durability, I’m also excited, as a clumsy person, to report that the phone is waterproof, meeting the conditions for IPX6, IPX8, and IPX9 ratings. This somewhat surprised me, considering the assumed fragility of foldables, especially when they come this thin.    

What about the photography? 

Co-developed with Hasselblad, it’s not surprising that the photography on this bad boy is pretty impressive. 

The question isn’t whether it’s good, it’s how good? 

The wide angle camera is 50MP, the telephoto is also 50MP, and the ultra-wide is 8MP. There are two front cameras—one on the cover screen, the other inside. Both are also 8MP.    

The ultra-wide and front cameras are a little disappointing, I must say. I was hoping for at least 12MP for these cameras.     

Fascinatingly, the selfie camera inside is super offset to the right upper corner. It’s a bizarre placement, but it doesn’t really detract much from the selfie experience, save for a more diverted eyeline if you, like most, stare at yourself when snapping pics. Narcissists, am I right?

But more than the hardware of the camera, it’s the processing that really shines. I find portraits in particular to look great on OPPO phones. It doesn’t do the best in terms of details when there are over-exposed light sources, but it does well both indoors and out.

But when it comes to some more action shots, it’s not the most crisp.

There’s lots of stuff you can edit in post as well, as OPPO offers a range of AI tools like the AI Clarify Enhancer, AI Eraser, AI Unblur, and AI Reflection Remover.

Reliable performance 

Under the hood, the phone is fitted with the seven-core Qualcomm® Oryon™ CPU@4.32GHz, with a Adreno™ 830@1100MHz GPU. 

Gaming on the phone is smooth, and I never noticed it getting too warm. Perhaps the surface area also helps cool down the phone faster? The size and ratio of the screen does make it a bit awkward to play certain games, but for the most part, it works just fine. 

Interestingly, the phone also offers seamless Mac connection, allowing users to easily search, access, edit, and sync files on their Mac remotely. 

Essentially, OPPO believes that it can turn your phone into a “mini-PC for unparalleled productivity.”

I did try working on it, laptop style, but unfortunately, it’s just not very ergonomically sound. 

Sure, it’s possible, but you do need to lean it against something because it will keep toppling (trust me). On top of that, the angle of your neck  just isn’t the best when you’re working like that for a longer period of time.   

On the topic of “long periods of time,” I did find the battery life to be somewhat decent, though nothing impressive. I managed to drain the battery a few times, bringing me to the Super Power Saving Mode, which limits your phone’s functions.

That’s why I was surprised to find out that the phone actually has a huge 5,600mAh battery, which is super up there in terms of foldable phones. But I guess bigger screen, bigger battery needed. 

Fine, I’ll talk about the AI

As you can tell, I’m not really someone who enjoys maximising AI features on a phone. Call me old school or dated. It’s just not something I really reach for or need. 

But for people who do leverage those AI tools on their mobile devices, you’d be happy to know that the OPPO Find N5 does have AI Search, AI Assistant for Documents, AI Call Summary, and even an AI Translate Assistant. Dare I call it a Galaxy AI competitor? 

Of course, there’s also the whole suite of Google smart features like Circle to Search and the Gemini app.

There’s also something called the AI LinkBoost, used to improve network connectivity, particularly in challenging environments.   

The verdict 

It’s all you could want in a phone, in a foldable.  

But what’s the price? 

Well, for all its frills and innovation, the OPPO Find N5 will set you back RM7,999—comparable to the likes of Samsung Z Fold6 and the Huawei Mate X6. 

I feel like you do pay for what you get, but because of the steep pricing, it does seem like a bit of a stretch for the average person. 

If you’re someone who loves tech and products that push boundaries, though, you’ll find (pun intended) that the Find N5 might have just what you need, so long as you’re willing to pay nearly RM8K for it.     

• Learn more about the OPPO Find N5 here.
• Read other VP Verdicts we’ve written here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

Also Read: This global real estate firm is expanding to KL to help local agents achieve their ambitions

“Nobody has a monopoly on good ideas”: PAP ministers on having more opposition voices in Parliament

Singaporeans will head to the polls this Saturday, May 3, in what may be the most unpredictable General Election in the nation’s history.

The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore since independence, is facing a more competitive political landscape than ever before, with the opposition parties making steady gains in the last few elections.

In a livestreamed interview with The Daily Ketchup yesterday (April 30), PAP ministers Chan Chun Sing and Ong Ye Kung shared candid thoughts about the role of opposition in Parliament, and whether a more diverse political representation may be part of Singapore’s future.

Striking an “equilibrium”

Reflecting on the past five years with the increased number of elected opposition members in Parliament, Minister Ong acknowledged that the presence of opposition voices has influenced how policies are developed and debated.

“The fact that there is contestability—someone is there to voice out to say, ‘No, I disagree, I speak for a certain segment’—[makes you] a lot more careful. You take in a lot more views”

When putting up a statement, a motion, or a bill, the PAP also considers how opposition members might respond to legislative proposals. “You’ll be thinking, ‘What will the opposition say? What would be their perspective?’ And you try to take that in.”

But that’s not to say internal scrutiny within the PAP isn’t also robust. According to Minister Chan Chun Sing, backbenchers are also expected to challenge and debate with the front bench when necessary.

“When anyone puts up a policy proposal—whether it is [from] the PAP backbenches or the opposition—the frontbench has the responsibility to look at it very hard, very critically, and ask ourselves, ‘Does it work or not?'”

If there are good ideas from the opposition or [PAP’s] backbench, we will acknowledge it… because nobody has a monopoly on good ideas. All we want [are] good ideas for the country.

Minister Chan Chun Sing

That said, Minister Ong believes the ideal political model for Singapore lies in striking “an equilibrium”—where you have a strong ruling party that can be fast and decisive, but also a loyal opposition that provides checks and balances.

He noted that over the last parliamentary term, the opposition has not shied away from pushing back— sometimes even “quite fiercely”—on key issues.

“When they push back, sometimes there’s public resonance. So you know it cannot fly, even if you have the numbers,” he said.

At the same time, he also acknowledged the opposition’s conduct during moments of national crisis. “When it comes to a crisis, they never obstruct… they even speak up, which I appreciate.”

A “co-driver” to the government

But what is the right balance between strong governance and effective opposition to strike that equilibrium?

Minister Ong recalled a quote from the Workers’ Party that has resonated over the years. In 2011, then-WP chief Low Thia Khiang described the party as a “co-driver”—one that would serve as a check on the government in case “the driver drives off course or falls asleep.”

“I would say Singaporeans agree with that,” he said. “And it’s very hard to argue against it”

However, Minister Ong cautioned that if the opposition expands further, the role of the “co-driver” could shift.

“The co-driver [could also], let’s say, take on the role of a backseat driver and start giving you instructions,” he explained. “The driver can still take in all these inputs, [he’ll] still have his GPS, and [he’ll] still be in charge.”

But there will come a point when the co-driver goes beyond that—when he has “one hand on the steering wheel” and says, ‘I also want to drive.’

At that point, Minister Ong said that things could become “dangerous.” “You can crash, and then the co-driver will say, ‘Oh actually, I’m not the driver. If it crashes, it’s [PAP’s] responsibility.’”

If Singapore were to reach this point, he further added that the city-state would become uncoordinated. “Singapore would not only be small… but also indecisive [and] slow.”

This concern is echoed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who has also cautioned in recent rallies that losing key PAP ministers to the opposition could weaken the government’s effectiveness.

Minister Chan Chun Sing also weighed in on the Workers’ Party stance, which clarified that it does not aim to form the government in this election—a position he described as “not very correct nor responsible.”

“When you go into a political contest and you say that these are your plans, you must really be prepared to make it happen,” he said, adding that such accountability is especially important at this stage of Singapore’s political development.

Nevertheless, Minister Chan emphasised that the government’s “first responsibility” is to Singaporeans. “It’s about whether we can build a system that can help our fellow Singaporeans.”

Every time there is a parliamentary debate, people raise various points, and it will help us sharpen various things. And this comes from the PAP backbenches as much as it can come from the opposition.

But what I really hope to see in Parliament is that we keep moving things forward so that we are in service of Singapore and Singaporeans.

Minister Chan Chun Sing

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In the live stream, Minister Chan and Minister Ong also spoke about the GST increases, the impacts of the US tariffs, and what it means to be a political leader, among other topics. You can watch the full video here:

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: What will the next Parliament look like? Here are the most likely outcomes & distribution of seats.

Featured Image Credit: Screengrab from The Daily Ketchup

If you think that lowering the eligibility age for singles to BTO is good, think again

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

In every Singaporean’s life, there comes a time when housing becomes a key concern. For couples, it’s not uncommon for the question: “Do you want to BTO together?” to actually mean “Will you marry me?”

Even for those without a partner, moving out and having your own space is part of what it means to be an adult as well.

Yet, for many young adults, the dream of getting your BTO has never been more difficult.

Over dinner the other night, a friend of mine worried that his BTO flat at Tanjong Rhu might be too close to the expressway and that the noise would be a problem, only to be shut down by another friend who hadn’t even gotten his BTO despite multiple applications: “Got flat good enough liao, you don’t want it, give me la!”

But they’re not alone. From complaints about long waiting times to frustration about oversubscribed projects, young Singaporeans have been airing their dissatisfaction with the system. Rentals are a hot topic as well, with a 2024 survey by PropertyGuru finding that most tenants considered rental prices too high. 

It’s no surprise, then, that housing has become a campaign issue for many parties in this election. The Workers’ Party and Progress Singapore Party have both suggested lowering the minimum age for singles to buy BTO flats, while the Singapore People’s Party has suggested setting the threshold to 30. 

In addition, the SPP is calling for the expansion of the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme to more estates, and the PSP is pushing for Singaporeans to be able to buy new flats without having to account for the cost of the land.

Evidently, housing is a huge talking point for this election—but do these policies actually help solve the problem?

The two facets of Singapore’s housing crisis

Firstly, it’s clear that there are two different problems that Singaporeans are complaining about. 

The first is that there aren’t enough BTO flats in Singapore. 

Projects like Central Trio @ AMK were oversubscribed by 7.9 times,  while projects in Bedok and Kallang-Whampoa were oversubscribed by 4.9 and 4.4 times, respectively.

These numbers indicate that there is already fierce competition for BTO flats, and crucially, they reveal the ratio of couples seeking flats compared to the number of flats available. 

If projects can be oversubscribed by seven to eight times, with some projects even oversubscribed by 14 times, it is no surprise that Singaporeans are taking issue with the scarcity of BTO flats.

The second problem is the increasing number of single Singaporeans, who are also applying for BTOs and smaller flats.

These Singaporeans, however, can only apply for flats once they reach 35 years old, and even then, only for smaller flats. 

Nevertheless, the increasing number of singles also means that the demand from this group of Singaporeans is not insignificant.

The two-room flexi flats that singles could apply for are also seeing massive oversubscription numbers, with projects at West BrickVille being 36 times oversubscribed and Tower Breeze being 29 times oversubscribed. 

It’s no wonder that almost all policy proposals on housing centre on trying to alleviate the situation for singles, by allowing them to get flats at a younger age. 

Yet, these policies also seem to be missing the forest for the trees. Trying to alleviate the high demand for the small number of flexi-flats is a good idea, but it should be viewed in the context of the larger market for flats in Singapore. 

Not all flats are good flats

That being said, not all estates and BTO flats are equal. While there are oversubscribed projects, there are also undersubscribed projects that do not sell out because of their unpopularity. 

Last October’s BTO exercise saw Taman Jurong Skyline in Jurong West being undersubscribed, due to its lack of MRT access. 

Tengah is also another unpopular option, as the new estate lacked amenities.

What this means is that it’s not just purely a supply problem, but also somewhat a demand problem—namely that Singaporeans are picky about where they stay. 

Consider then, what would happen when we lower the minimum age for singles to apply for a BTO flat. The demand for prime location flats, especially those in central locations and mature estates, will rise far more than the demand for flats in undersubscribed projects.

Are we really sure that that’s what we want for Singapore? 

More people applying for the same number of houses means lower chances for everyone to get the flat that they want, and longer waiting times for applicants as they try again and again unsuccessfully. 

Singles might get more chances at getting a flat, since they can start applying earlier, but this comes at the expense of families who are now competing with them for the same number of flats. 

More applicants, more competition

By lowering the age at which singles can apply for BTO flats, we would basically be allowing for more people to apply for the same number of flats, when competition for the flats is already causing complaints and dissatisfaction. 

Of course, that’s not to say that singles don’t deserve a flat, and that they should suck it up or keep renting indefinitely. 

What I am saying is that simply lowering the eligibility requirements would likely heighten the competition for each flat, especially those in prime areas, and that this is not ideal.

Instead, what should be done is to redirect the demand for flats to non-prime areas. These areas are undersubscribed, which means that there are plenty of balance units to be sold. Each unit that remains unsold is potentially a flat that could be used to alleviate demand from the already oversubscribed projects in prime locations. 

This is where the focus should be, rather than simply lowering the eligible age for singles to get flats. 

Of course, that’s easier said than done. Singaporeans are picky, or they would have already chosen to apply for these projects. Young Singaporeans are used to having access to amenities like schools, public transport, and supermarkets.

These amenities are what mature estates have and non-mature estates do not. And while they do take time to build up, they are also essential to turning flats from being in ‘bad locations’ to being ‘good flats.’

In the meantime, renting out balance flats in non-mature estates can be a way to at least temporarily alleviate the demand for prime location flats. Rental tenants don’t expect to stay there forever, and so might be more willing to temporarily put up with the lack of amenities if there is a good reason, for example, lower rental costs.

Providing extra rentals would also mean lower rental prices across the board, as those who can accept living in non-mature estates move there from mature estates.

The government already runs the public rental scheme, intended for Singaporeans who have no other housing options. It might be a good opportunity to expand this scheme, albeit without the subsidies, since this new group of applicants would not be in the same financial position. 

Demand for flats will be split between those who can accept staying in non-mature estates temporarily and those who really need a flat in mature estates. At the very least, this will give the government some extra time to develop and build new projects in mature estates, if absolutely necessary.

Singapore’s housing complaints are twofold: the first is that there aren’t enough ‘good’ flats going around, and the second is that Singaporeans who are single aren’t being given enough opportunities to get a place of their own. 

The policies being proposed to lower the age at which singles can apply for flats can deal with the second problem, but it will likely run into the same issues as the first problem unless something is done to address the supply of ‘good’ flats as well.

Demand is only half of the equation when it comes to solving the housing woes that Singaporeans complain about. The far more important factor to deal with is supply, which, thus far, no one has made any real suggestions on.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singapore’s current affairs here.

Also Read: Singapore at 60: How does it compare to when it was 50, 40, 30, 20 & 10? Here are the numbers.

Featured Image Credit: Derek Teo/ Shutterstock.com

What will the next Parliament look like? Here are the most likely outcomes & distribution of seats.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

The Singapore General Election campaign ends today with the cooling-off day following tomorrow and the final vote on Saturday. I have commented on the electoral chances of candidates in specific constituencies in my articles published over the past few weeks, so in this final summary, let’s take a look at where it all leads.

What could the Singapore parliament look like on May 4? How many seats can the PAP win? How many electoral divisions can the opposition conquer? And how many parties will Singapore see in the parliament this term? Two? Three? Or maybe four?

Here’s where we start, the result of the General Election in 2020:

83 seats for the PAP, 10 for the Workers’ Party and an additional two NCMPs from Progress Singapore Party of Tan Cheng Bock, for a total of 95 parliamentarians.

This year, 97 seats are up for grabs in the election, though the final number of MPs will depend on the distribution of any potential NCMP slots.

The following analysis is based on the assumption that there are no more than four parties that can realistically compete for seats in Singapore’s Parliament: PAP, WP, PSP and perhaps SDP. I do not want to dismiss other participants casually, but the electoral success of any other party or independent candidate would be a major surprise to everyone.

Battlegrounds

As usual, the People’s Action Party is fielding candidates in all 33 constituencies. Their biggest rivals from the Workers’ Party are contesting eight of them, including two which are considered to be their safe, core areas: Aljunied GRC (5-member GRC) and Hougang SMC.

Here are the remaining six, each being a battleground to watch:

1. Sengkang GRC (defended by WP)
2. Punggol GRC
3. Tampines GRC
4. East Coast GRC
5. Tampines Changkat SMC
6. Jalan Kayu SMC

In total, 20 seats are in contention in those electoral divisions.

PAP’s other major challenger is the Progress Singapore Party, which came very close to flipping West Coast GRC last time and received two NCMP seats in parliament for their effort.

This year, the party is contesting six constituencies, including two GRCs and four SMCs, with a total of 13 seats. Its best chance is, once again, in the West, under a redrawn West Coast-Jurong West GRC—though they should not be counted out in other locations either.

In 2020, they were just upstarts on the local political scene, but after five years in Parliament, with an outspoken current Secretary-General Leong Mun Wai, their brand as something more than just Tan Cheng Bock’s pet project could resonate with voters in other places too. Here’s the complete list:

1. West Coast-Jurong West GRC
2. Chua Chu Kang GRC
3. Bukit Gombak SMC
4. Kebun Baru SMC
5. Marymount SMC
6. Pioneer SMC

Finally, there’s the Singapore Democratic Party of Chee Soon Juan, which has been waiting nearly 30 years to return to Parliament after their complete defeat in 1997.

It is contesting four constituencies, two GRCs and two SMCs, with 11 seats. Realistically, however, the SMCs are the only two where they can hope to upset the PAP. Contesting Marsiling-Yew Tee and Sembawang GRCs against Lawrence Wong and Ong Ye Kung, respectively, is a tall order.

It’s no surprise, then, that Paul Tambyah and Chee Soon Juan chose more promising one-vs-one contests, as I explained before here. They’re running in:

1. Bukit Panjang SMC
2. Sembawang West SMC

where they won’t be facing any PAP ministers.

In total, this adds up to 35 seats that the opposition can compete for with the PAP, plus six already considered safe in the hands of the Workers’ Party.

Electoral scenarios

1. PAP retakes Sengkang, restores its position from 2015

A dream scenario for the ruling party, which isn’t without chances in Sengkang this year. If it wants to take it back then now is the time, otherwise it may become another long-term WP-hold.

PSP, weighed down by some of its own controversies from the past years, fails to flip the West Coast, and the Parliament sees a mix of very strong PAP and opposition divided in half into elected MPs and NCMPs

The parliament has 103 members as a result, given that the NCMP scheme guarantees a minimum of 12 opposition voices in the chamber.

2. Opposition sweep: how would it look like?

We’ve looked at one end of the spectrum, now let’s look at the other—what would the Parliament look like if the opposition swept all of the seats it could even remotely contest? If WP and PSP win all of their constituencies, and SDP manages to put its two leaders in the Parliament too:

In a 97-member Parliament, PAP would still command a strong majority of 57% of all seats, but below the margin needed to occasionally amend the Constitution. Just like the first scenario was their dream outcome, this is their nightmare.

It isn’t very likely, but it is not outside of the realm of (remote) possibility.

3. Major opposition success

Now let’s consider some more realistic outcomes, starting with what is reasonably achievable by the opposition this year.

Workers’ Party is hoping to defend Sengkang and extend its winning streak by taking at least one other GRC or even two. Their SMC chances don’t look quite as good as their prospects for Punggol, Tampines and East Coast.

If they win two of these, they will grow their team by another nine or 10 MPs.

On the opposite side of the island, PSP hopes to finally win the West Coast, which would increase their presence in the Parliament to a full five members. This is an achievement well within their reach and one they have been preparing for.

Finally, to call the GE a success, the SDP would have to win at least one seat, given that the NCMP scheme would no longer be applicable.

Here is what such a parliament would look like:

Such a result would, without doubt, be called a major success for the opposition. Adding three whole GRCs would end the NCMP scheme and their reliance on it.

And while difficult, it is not something that couldn’t be reasonably considered before the vote.

4. WP stumbles, PSP flips

A more conservative look at the chances of all participants, bearing in mind that the Workers’ Party has had its share of controversies both during the last parliamentary term, as well as during the ongoing campaign.

While it is able to put up a good fight in the constituencies contested, it’s not unlikely that it will stay where it is—controlling Aljunied, Hougang and keeping its Sengkang team as well.

Meanwhile, PAP’s West Coast GRC lineup, burdened by the fallout of the S Iswaran scandal, is vulnerable to PSP’s challenge, which the latter could turn into a victory, making it a solid second opposition party in the parliament, with half the seats that WP has.

Given the fact that the opposition’s progress has historically been quite slow, it would fit the pattern of them flipping one constituency at a time.

Among those ripe for the taking, West Coast-Jurong West GRC stands uniquely vulnerable, given the scandal involving the former anchor minister, which not even slightly modified boundaries may be enough to offset.

That said, PAP is not without chances, of course, as justice was meted out. Iswaran was sent to prison, and the second in command there, Desmond Lee, is a full minister too—and a young one, compared to the opposition team led by the 85-year-old Tan Cheng Bock and 66-year-old Leong Mun Wai.

Range of possible outcomes

Of course, we could slice and dice the chamber in any number of alternative ways, but these few examples are meant to illustrate the possibilities.

Another way to look at them is simply by the range of seats each party is most likely to contest successfully, under the same conditions I set in the beginning (they are, of course, my own, entirely subjective opinion):

People’s Action Party

Broad range: 57 to 91 seats
Reasonable range: 71 to 87 seats

The ruling party can hope to fight WP back in Sengkang and defeat all other opposition parties, including PSP in the West Coast. It’s their dream outcome, but not an unrealistic one given the past performance.

However, it could also lose as many as three to four GRCs. Besides the West Coast, Tampines and East Coast look vulnerable, and Punggol seems to be a close race too, although PAP might have an edge there with the DPM Gan Kim Yong and Sun Xueling duo.

Workers’ Party

Broad range: 6 to 26 seats
Reasonable range: 10 to 20 seats

The leading opposition party seems untouchable in Aljunied and Hougang. Defending Sengkang should also be doable, despite the Raeesah Khan scandal that left the constituency with an empty seat for the past four years.

On the other hand, it should offer PAP a strong challenge in other GRCs and could win one or two of them this year, depending on how people weigh the scandals that rocked both the government and the opposition in the past year.

Progress Singapore Party

Broad range: 0 to 13 seats
Reasonable range: 0 to 5 seats

PSP will be trying to prove itself this year after its narrow loss in 2020. However, while the party could resist the PAP in all of its constituencies, the only good chance it has at success is in its home division of West Coast.

If it fails to win it again, there’s still the consolation prize of NCMP seats, assuming the Workers’ Party doesn’t win any other constituencies.

Singapore Democratic Party

Broad range: 0 to 2 seats
Reasonable range: 0 to 1 seat

Finally, SDP might be contesting 11 seats, but all eyes are on Paul Tambyah and Chee Soon Juan. Both have their chances, but the relocation of the latter, after Bukit Batok SMC disappeared after the EBRC review, might undermine his chances.

Meanwhile, Paul Tambyah is back for a rematch in Bukit Panjang SMC, having lost by less than 7.5% in 2020, and it wouldn’t be a shock to anybody if he succeeded in his challenge this year.

SDP might not be the favourite in either of the races, but if it came out on top, no one could say they didn’t see it coming.

What do the results really mean in Singapore?

As you can see, the ruling party is still expected to hold a significant majority in the parliament, and their most capable rivals can only gather enough candidates to contest around 40 seats out of 97—realistically even fewer than that.

On the other hand, Singapore shouldn’t be evaluated by the same standards as any other democratic country. Here, a loss of a single constituency by the PAP is considered a major event and a warning signal sent to the government. In other words, it means a lot more than simple math would suggest.

This is why the government candidates have been campaigning quite intensively to secure the “strong mandate” for another five years, even though they are nearly certain to remain in charge.

At the end of the day, when the sun rises on May 4, the government will still be run by the PAP, but the scale of its victory is bound to influence its policies going forward.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: Ong Ye Kung: Singapore must be decisive, but with checks & balances

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Workers’ Party/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

Are business bank loans the right fit for you? The pros & cons every M’sian SME should know.

[This is a sponsored article with Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan (SJPP).]

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for financial advice. Readers are encouraged to do their own research before arriving at any conclusions based solely on this content. Vulcan Post disclaims any reward or responsibility for any gains or losses arising from the direct and indirect use and application of any contents of the written material.

The topic of business loans is a polarising one.

Ask different business owners and each may give you varying answers, from “It’s necessary for growth,” to “Avoid them like the plague.”

As a business owner, though, you should know your company best and be able to make the right financial calls for its growth and sustainability.

Here are some perks and drawbacks of getting a business loan from a bank, so you can decide if taking one up will be the right fit for your business.

The perks

1. Generous loan amounts with attractive interest rates

Bank loans typically offer a larger amount compared to other financing alternatives such as online lenders approved by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT).

And as opposed to crowdfunding where there is a chance that you might not hit your fundraising targets, the money that you can get from a bank loan is as stated on the agreement.

The better your credit score, the higher you may be able to negotiate the borrowed amount.

Not only that, the interest rate for bank loans tends to be lower than other financing alternatives such as venture capitals or private loans.

Dictionary time: Private loans are loans given to an individual or company by a private entity. This could be a private organisation, a wealthy individual, or even friends and family.

Interest rates are also typically fixed upon application. The bank will not, for instance, take a percentage of your profits or ask for shares in your company.

2. Longer terms

Bank loans can also be paid back over an extended period of time. 

These are usually in monthly instalments, as opposed to online lenders who may request weekly or even daily payments over the course of one to two years.

Banks on the other hand offer the choice of either a short or long-term loan payment plan. 
For instance, Alliance Bank’s microfinance targeted at MSMEs has a repayment range of one month to up to seven years.

Long-term loans usually enjoy lower interest rates as opposed to short-term ones, on top of also having lower monthly payment costs.

This also lends itself to being able to borrow larger amounts as required.

3. Flexible usage

Bank loans are also flexible in the sense that borrowers are granted the freedom to allocate their newly-acquired funds as they see fit. 

This is in contrast to venture capitals or angel investors who may impose restrictions on what the funds can and cannot be spent on.

Dictionary time: Angel investors are individuals who finance startups in the early stage of the business, typically in exchange for equity or convertible debt.

This flexibility in usage could very well serve as a safety net for SMEs in the event of an emergency, or to quickly seize a business opportunity with quick turnaround times.

The drawbacks

1. Lengthy waiting periods

It is important to note that there can be lengthy wait times for bank loan applications to go through.
Dr Sabariah, founder of Berkat OSH Services (BOSH), for instance, noted that some banks can take over three to six months just for the application itself to be approved.

It may then take another two months on top of that for the funds to be disbursed.

In BOSH’s case, this delay in receiving funds put a damper on growth plans, preventing them from investing in more equipment, staff, and operational clinics.

The high deposit required additionally strained their cash flow.

2. Stringent eligibility guidelines

Banks also tend to be strict on who can qualify for a loan in the first place.

The criteria for a business to qualify naturally differ from bank to bank as well as package to package, but some examples of what might crop up here in Malaysia include:

• Being owned and/or registered in Malaysia
• The business is of a certain size and/or classification (SME, sole proprietorship, etc.)
• A minimum sales revenue of a certain amount
• Being in operation for a certain amount of time
• Being within a specified age range

3. Extensive documentation requirements

The list of documents that need to be submitted to apply for a bank loan usually also tends to be quite extensive.
As an example, here are CIMB and Hong Leong Islamic Bank’s document checklists.

CIMB notes that poor documentation of their required business documents can ultimately lead to the loan application being rejected.

A damaged credit score, cash flow limitations, a weak business plan, or too much existing debt were also listed to be potential failure points in this regard.

Quite understandably, banks are wary of who they’re lending money to. And that’s where a guarantor comes in.

Easing the process

A guarantor is an individual or organisation that promises to pay the debts of the borrower that they’ve signed with in the event that the borrower is unable to pay back their loan.

One such example of this is SJPP, a Minister of Finance Incorporated company that administers and manages government guarantee schemes designed to assist SMEs in securing financing from banks.

Since its inception in 2009, SJPP has facilitated total financing to SMEs amounting to  RM102 billion, benefiting 75,000 business owners, noted Finance Minister II Dato’ Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan in an Instagram post.

They reduce the risks for banks handing out loans to SMEs by guaranteeing a set percentage of the loan in question.

This added layer of security not only reduces qualification barriers for SMEs, but also improves the loan terms, SJPP told Vulcan Post.

One of the schemes that the SJPP has under its belt is the Government Guarantee Scheme MADANI 2 (GGSM2).

This is meant to provide financial assistance to SMEs in the green economy, high technology, halal, and healthcare sectors.

Another would be their Working Capital Guarantee Scheme – Bumiputera (WCGS-B), which boasts a claimed 80% guarantee rate for financial institutions that they’re partnered with.

More government guarantee schemes are of course available, and the full list can be viewed on their website here.

Startups and small businesses have always been an integral part of the Malaysian economy, with MSMEs accounting for nearly 97% of local establishments.

As such, government guarantee schemes administered and managed by SJPP not only keep the Malaysian economy alive, but are also conducive to the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs, especially in the face of global economic uncertainties.

• Learn more about SJPP here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: SJPP

It started from her home kitchen, now this S’porean’s macaron biz’s revenue is in the millions

Annabella Sonwelly once crunched numbers in a bank. Today, she calculates meringue ratios and perfects macaronage techniques.

It all started back in 2008, during a trip to Paris, when she stumbled upon Laduree—the high-end French patisserie renowned for its signature double-shell macarons.

The brand’s exquisite flavours enchanted her so much that it sparked a determination to recreate them.

Hence, Annabella visited over 50 patisseries across Japan and Paris, tasting, experimenting, and refining her techniques with one goal in mind: to master the art of macarons.

After a process that took over 100 tries and five years of her time, she took the leap—quitting her five-digit salary banking job and investing S$200,000 to start Annabella Patisserie in 2014 with her husband Andy Lau.

Together, the couple has claimed to have grown the brand to become Singapore’s “largest macaron manufacturer,” making revenues in the millions—the business has brought in over S$9 million in 2024.

It started from a four-room HDB flat

Annabella first started baking out of her four-room HDB flat, before moving to a shared kitchen and eventually upgrading to a small, bedroom-sized space of their own.

In the business’s early days, its biggest challenges were managing rental costs, hiring staff, and scaling up baking capacity.

“There were times when our freezer was completely empty with nothing to sell,” she recalled—those were “very painful experiences” and “costly to the business’s operations.”

Setbacks aside, however, Annabella managed to recoup her initial investment all within the span of one year.

The business has also scaled significantly over the years—in total, their operating space spans a massive 12,000 sqft, with an additional 8,000 sqft being added in 2025 as part of its growth plans. Now, Annabella Patisserie boasts a production capacity of up to 20,000 macarons per day.

The brand has also ventured into the retail space, with two outlets at Compass One and Causeway Point, and three more slated to launch by the end of the year.

When Vulcan Post first spoke to Annabella Patisserie in 2017, it had just begun securing long-term partnerships with restaurants and five-star hotels, supplying macarons directly to these establishments.

Today, while the brand sees “strong demand” from both its B2B and B2C segments, B2B remains their “primary growth driver”—particularly in Singapore, where it supplies to “90% of all five-star hotels,” as well as airline catering and theme parks.

It has also “strengthened its presence” in the corporate gifting space and has seen strong demand, particularly during festive seasons such as Hari Raya. In March 2020, the company received MUIS halal certification, allowing it to cater Halal-certified gift sets to over 1,000 corporate clients and government ministries.

That said, Annabella still views B2C as a rapidly growing segment, particularly through e-commerce and direct-to-consumer channels.

The main challenge, she noted, lies in customer acquisition costs, which is why the company is also currently focused on optimising its digital marketing efforts to achieve a sustainable return on ad spend.

Reducing dependence on a single market

When the business first started out, Annabella focused on product development and quality control, while her husband, Andy, managed the financial and operational aspects of the business.

With a larger team handling various functions now, the couple continues to oversee their original roles, but have since doubled down on strategic growth and innovation.

To achieve scale and long-term growth, the husband-and-wife duo has realised that they would need to look beyond Singapore’s borders.

While Singapore is a great testbed for innovation, its market size is limited. The demand for high-quality, Halal-certified pastries is strong in many international markets… [and] expansion also allows us to diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on a single market.

Annabella Sonwelly

Hence, the brand launched its first overseas kitchen in Jakarta, Indonesia, sometime around Q4 of 2023.

As the business has gained steady traction since then, Annabella Patisserie is building its retail presence in the city and is currently in talks with partners to roll out a franchise model across Indonesia. On the B2B front, it has also begun supplying to more than 10 five-star hotels in Jakarta.

Apart from Jakarta, Annabella added that the company is “in the process” of setting up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in Singapore to drive its expansion into China, where it plans to establish a food factory, retail stores and franchise networks across the country.

But why expand through an SPV—and why China?

“The SPV provides a structured way to attract investors and allocate capital specifically for our China expansion,” she explained. “It allows us to separate financial risks from our main entity while providing transparency to potential investors.”

And as for China, the rationale is clear: The country, according to Annabella, presents “enormous opportunities” due to its vast consumer base, growing demand for premium food, and an increasing appetite for international brands.

The bakery and dessert market there is expanding rapidly, and with the right strategy—local production, retail expansion, and franchising—we aim to scale quickly.

Annabella Sonwelly

Balancing quality & growth

But not everything has been smooth sailing. “One of our biggest challenges has been to manage growth while maintaining quality and service excellence,” shared Annabella.

To ensure that brand standards are consistently upheld, the company—certified under ISO 22000—has implemented stringent quality control protocols and equipped its production facility with advanced control systems. Regular product testing and customer feedback reviews also further help these efforts.

In addition, the business has also had to navigate fluctuating raw material costs and labour shortages, brought on by the evolving economic landscape.

To overcome these challenges, it has intensified its efforts on automation, securing reliable suppliers, and diversifying Annabella Patisserie’s sales channels, including building a strong digital presence.

Moving forward, the company is looking to expand its production capabilities, while also introducing new product lines under various brands.

This includes Oat Bars—a healthier oat-based snack offering functional benefits, such as collagen for beauty, protein for muscle building, and slimming ingredients.

Although the product was initially set for an earlier launch, it was delayed due to the overwhelming demand for Annabella Patisserie’s products.

“The product will debut in Singapore this year, before expanding into the U.S. via Amazon Fulfilment,” shared Annabella.

• Find out more about Annabella Patisserie here.
• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean startups here.

Also Read: She grew her home-based biz into a cafe that catered IU and SUJU’s S’pore shows, here’s how

Featured Image Credit: Annabella Patisserie

Singapore at 60: How does it compare to when it was 50, 40, 30, 20 & 10? Here are the numbers.

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated, any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

As Singaporeans head to the polls on May 3, it will mark the nation’s 14th General Election since independence in 1965—fittingly, in the year Singapore turns 60.

Let’s take a look at how the country has changed over that time, using the most objective method: numbers.

Bigger

The city-state has grown substantially over that time, more than tripling its population from just under 2 million in 1965 to over 6 million today.

This population growth has spurred the need for major infrastructure upgrades to keep the country moving.

For the first 22 years after independence, buses were the main mode of public transport. But by the late 1980s, they were no longer sufficient.

This led to the launch of the MRT in 1987, starting with just 6 km of track and five stations between Yio Chu Kang and Toa Payoh.

Since then, it has been expanded to over 240 kilometres, becoming national pride and one of the best subway systems on the planet, which the Singapore of today cannot function without.

However, the network is still expanding, with new lines such as the Cross Island Line and Jurong Region Line currently under construction and scheduled to open in the 2030s.

Busier

Together with physical growth, the city has become much busier, as its blossoming coincided with the golden age of 20th-century globalisation.

For more than a century, Singapore has been recognised as a key port on the trading routes between the East and West, linking Asia with Europe and beyond. In 1972, it opened its doors to nascent containerisation, with the construction of its first container terminal in Tanjong Pagar, which was also the only one in Southeast Asia at the time.

Tanjong Pagar Container Terminal between 1972 and 1983. / Image Credit: National Library Singapore

By 1975, Singapore was still handling just under 100,000 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) per year. However, by the mid-1980s, it broke the one million mark, and by the mid-1990s, it had exceeded 10 million TEU, as it reached the third decade of its existence.

This year, it is expected to exceed 42 million units, making it the second-busiest container port in the world after Shanghai, and the busiest transhipment port of all.

Sea wasn’t the only medium in which Singapore excelled as a hub; with the rise in popularity of air travel and logistics, it has also become one of the most important nodes in the global network.

By the time of its independence, Singapore had already handled around 1 million passengers, a figure that quadrupled by 1975 and has multiplied manyfold since then.

In 2025, as it enters its sixth decade, Singapore is expected to see 70 million people pass through Changi Airport, which has been named the world’s best airport again this month.

None of this would be possible, of course, were it not for the smart people in charge of the country—and an increasingly more educated and capable population.

Smarter

When Singapore was expelled from the federation with Malaysia, barely anybody had a degree here. And while their share multiplied in subsequent years, it only crossed the 10% threshold in the late 1990s, more than thirty years into the country’s existence.

That said, with modernising society and jobs that require brainpower, not the strength of one’s muscles, almost every young Singaporean pursues higher education these days, while the share of highly educated residents is expected to surpass 40% this year.

Speaking of jobs, very few locals held more prestigious and better-paid positions within the PMET group—Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians—initially.

In 1965, nine in 10 Singaporeans held modest, manual jobs. But with the rise of globalisation, the nature of work—and the economy—transformed dramatically.

By the late 2000s, over half of Singapore’s local workforce had moved into PMET roles. That share is set to hit nearly two-thirds this year, as fewer Singaporeans take on the jobs their parents once held, many of which are now filled by lower-cost foreign labour.

And speaking of money…

Wealthier

When you combine all of the above, it is no surprise that Singapore’s economic performance has improved with both quantitative and qualitative growth over the years.

Starting at just S$517 per head in 1965, the city-state had quintupled it by 1975 and then multiplied that by 10 in the following two decades.

When it was half its current age, it reached a respectable S$25,000 in Gross Domestic Product per person; however, it then defied the patterns that dictate an increasingly developed country should see its economic output slow down over time.

As of 2025, Singapore is expected to produce close to S$94,000 per person, and surpass the S$100,000 mark in 2027.

Crucially, this economic growth is reflected in the increased incomes of many Singaporeans, who have seen their earnings multiply over the years.

Domestic median household income from work surpassed S$11,000 last year, having risen from just S$200 in 1965 and from under S$5,000 just twenty years ago.

This is while the Singapore dollar has remained very strong, which is what you can feel anytime you head across the border to Malaysia. Once traded 1:1, the SGD is now worth over three ringgit.

Most importantly, Singapore’s growth is still strong and shows no signs of stagnation, despite the fact that the city-state has fewer competitors left in the global economy.

What began as a small, ex-British colonial port in the Far East, with not a very well-educated population and limited infrastructure, has now evolved into a global success story and one of the most advanced and wealthiest nations on the planet in 2025.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singapore’s current affairs here.

Also Read: If he wins big this year, Lawrence Wong may be Singapore’s most resilient Prime Minister yet

Featured Image Credit: Richie Chan/ Shutterstock.com

After 117 yrs of doing business in M’sia, Siemens launches new HQ & experience centre in KL

The year was 1847 when Siemens first got its start. It took a couple of decades, but the German company eventually made its way into Malaysia.

Specifically, it was 1899 when Siemens & Halske first sent representatives to explore opportunities in the Straits Settlements. It took nearly another decade in 1908 until Siemens made its first recorded sale in Malaysia. 

So many things have happened since. Siemens began supplying products to Malaysia from 1967, and the Siemens Semiconductor Group eventually set up its first factories in Melaka and Penang, creating some 1,500 jobs, contributing greatly to the country’s economy.

117 years since its first recorded sale, Siemens Malaysia has now launched its HQ at The MET, a certified green building in Mont Kiara, marking yet another significant milestone of the company’s history in Malaysia. 

But you may be wondering…

Who’s Siemens? 

Having been around for so long, it’s not surprising that some people may be confused about what exactly Siemens does. That’s because they do a lot. 

In their own words, Siemens Malaysia Sdn Bhd (SMSB) is a leading technology company with “comprehensive products and solutions, and emerging technologies for various markets in the Malaysian economy, under its Digital Industries and Smart Infrastructure businesses.”

It focuses on the areas of intelligent infrastructure for buildings, grids and distributed energy systems, more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, as well as automation and digitalisation in the process and manufacturing industries. 

The company creates technology with purpose, adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for Malaysians.

“Drinking our own champagne”

Siemens has long been a proponent of sustainability, and the move to The MET—a certified green building—is a representation of that. It shows the company’s commitment to scaling sustainability impact in its core operations. 

“This is about walking the talk,” Tindaro Danze, President & CEO of Siemens Malaysia stated. “We’re not only providing a state-of-the-art work environment for our employees, but also demonstrating our commitment to decarbonisation through the choices we make—right down to the environment we operate in.”

The new headquarters is equipped with Siemens’ proprietary Building X digital platform that runs applications to manage building operations. 

It empowers data-driven decisions to improve sustainability, operations, and performance by optimising areas such as energy use, user comfort and safety, maintenance and security.

A centre of innovation 

Aside from the office, the Siemens location is also home to SXEC—the Siemens Xcelerator Experience Center. 

We got to experience the centre ourselves, which is typically visited by customers of Siemens so they can explore, experience, and collaborate with Siemens’ cutting-edge technologies in an immersive and dynamic way. 

The SXEC center also functions as a central hub for customers to explore, experience, collaborate and network in a dynamic environment alongside industry peers.

The space features some of Siemens’ top digitalisation solutions, including digital twinning (also known as virtual commissioning), augmented reality solutions, virtual reality simulation for training purposes, and much more. 

Shaping the future of our nation 

Looking back, there’s no doubt that Siemens has been a part of core developments in our country, such as our LRT systems and semiconductor landscape. 

And they’re not stopping there. Beyond tech developments, they’ve also invested into key CSR initiatives. Specifically, they are focusing on youth education and STEM engagement.

For one, there’s the Girls in Engineering & Technology programme. In collaboration with the Girl Guides Association Malaysia and STEM Academy Malaysia, Siemens will mentor young women aged 13 to 17 by providing access to hands-on workshops, engineering tools, and software simulations. 

Secondly, there’s the STEM Edge Competition 2025. This is a national engineering challenge where students apply Siemens’ industrial design software and AI tools to solve real-world digital challenges. 

The programme will be co-organised with STEM Academy Malaysia, led by Principal Charlene Ong.

“These initiatives reflect our effort to inspire and equip the next generation,” CEO Danze said. “The global battle for talent starts at home, and we must begin by breaking down outdated stereotypes—especially those that prevent girls from entering STEM careers.”

With its new headquarters and social investments, Siemens Malaysia reinforces its role not only as a technology leader but also as a purposeful contributor to the country’s sustainable and inclusive future.

• Learn more about Siemens Malaysia here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: A powerful AI computing solution for enterprises, by this M’sian biz with NVIDIA & Dell

Featured Image Credit: Siemens Malaysia

This M’sian left a 10-yr career to build a pineapple tart biz using his mum’s 40+ Y/O recipes

Many of us would do much in the way of carrying on the family legacy, sharing the teachings and stories of our parents with our children and grandchildren.

After all, is that not how progress is made?

David Wong, however, takes it one step further.

From home kitchens and family recipes

“My earliest memory of baking goes back to when I was around 9 or 10, helping my mother prepare pineapple tarts for Chinese New Year,” said David.

Since his days of cutting dough strips to form the lattice topping of those tarts, to pursuing a Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management, David has always been guided by a deep love for his mother and the traditions they shared.

“Though I didn’t go into the hospitality line immediately, I built a strong career and climbed the corporate ladder wearing many hats. But over time, I felt a growing disconnect—I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life in a job that didn’t align with my passion,” shared the 51-year-old.

After 10 years working in property development, David left his career behind and returned to the kitchen, starting small by baking from home and reconnecting with the joys and values his mother had passed down, before being further inspired by a trip to Taiwan where he learnt about square pineapple tarts.

And so, David launched Baker Dave in 2012, a small bakery with a total capital of RM300,000, sourced from his family and business partner, which went into covering rental, renovation, and setup costs, plus sustaining operations for a year, which included staffing, supplies, and overheads.

Two years later, David rebranded his business to Nooks by Baker Dave, a bakery-cafe which he started with just one team member—a deaf and mute worker who David said was “sent into his life by the Almighty,” as it taught him patience, humility, and the value of leading with compassion, shaping the way he runs his business today.

The cafe quickly gained a loyal following of regulars, who David claimed to include mid-level professionals, local artists, politicians, and even royalty.

A tribute of love

Finally, in November 2019, David renamed his cafe to Swee Bee, a tribute to his now 76-year-old mother’s legacy, and the values and lessons she’s passed down that have shaped David’s life and career.

Throughout these transitions, however, Swee Bee has always been an ever-present figure guiding David through his ventures and operations.

“The base recipe of our pineapple tart is 100% my mother’s original—the very one I learnt at her side as a child. I’ve kept it almost entirely unchanged, with one small tweak: I removed the star anise and cinnamon from the pineapple paste.”

“While they were part of her traditional recipe, I found that the spices didn’t suit the wider palate, so I made the call to simplify the flavour. Everything else—from the dough to the texture of the filling—remains as she taught me,” he said.

Another major change is the shape of the pineapple tart itself: square, representing a first in Malaysia which got the brand listed in the Malaysia Book of Records.

The square isn’t just a visual novelty—it’s rich with meaning. In Chinese culture, the square symbolises stability and wealth and also represents the four corners of the world: North, South, East, and West. 

As a proud Malaysian Chinese, this symbolism resonates deeply with me. The Chinese community is spread across the globe, yet no matter how far we go in search of success, we always return home—for reunions, for love, for tradition. 

That homecoming, that gathering, is symbolised by a circle within the square—the family reunion at the heart of the world.

Spreading the love

The brand’s recognitions don’t just end there though, with Swee Bee’s pineapple tarts earning a gold medal at the Malaysia Culinary World Cup. They were also part of the world’s largest cooking competition, listed in the Guinness World Records.

“These accolades are not just wins—they’re a testament to the dedication, craft, and quality we bake into every batch,” David added.

Since receiving these accolades, the brand has grown significantly, now participating in trade fairs, collaborating with various media from Sin Chew Daily to Astro, and becoming a household name around the country.

“I want people to know that Swee Bee is more than just a name or a brand. It’s a tribute to my mother—the woman who sparked my love for baking and instilled in me the values of hard work, precision, and deep respect for tradition. Everything I’ve built today carries her spirit, her strength, and her warmth.”

“Today, her name on the signboard means more than just branding, it’s a daily reminder of where this journey began. Her values, her recipes, and her life lessons continue to shape how I craft each tart, how I lead my team, and how I treat every customer. It’s a living legacy, one that I’m honoured to carry forward.”

• Learn more about Swee Bee here.
• Read our other F&B stories here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Swee Bee