NEWS IN BRIEF: AUG 16, 2022

FULLER ACADEMY is poised to enrol 30,000 learners across ASEAN through its 12 sustainability short courses, designed and curated by the industry, for the industry, to enhance talents’ knowledge and skills in sustainability.

The Kuala Lumpur-based online education provider's chief executive officer Wan Imran Wan Abdul Rahaman said the programmes are designed to be bite-sized, with the flexibility for the learners to complete the course in their own time within the monthly cohorts.

Certified by Human Resource Development Corporation, it aims to provide knowledge solutions for talents in line with the global demand for talent upskilling in sustainability.

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"This on-demand format is ideal for busy professionals, allowing them to learn around their working schedule through a structured yet flexible course," Wan Imran said in a statement. 

-- BERNAMA

THE FLEXI GROUP is launching as the largest operator of flexible workspaces in Asia-Pacific, merging regionally-recognised brands -- the Hive, Common Ground and The Cluster -- under one umbrella.

Flexi Group in a statement said, with this merger, the group would boast a portfolio of 45 locations across 12 cities and nine countries, offering holistic membership solutions for businesses ranging from typical co-working memberships to full-service enterprise and white labelled management solutions.

The first merger, in a series of planned consolidated activities, is supported by investment from Malaysia-based Emissary Capital and Singapore-based Catcha Group.

It is also a step in the direction of an initial public offering that would enable the group to consolidate the region’s flexible workspace industry.

-- BERNAMA

AFFIN BANK BHD recently received dual recognition for its financial inclusive product offerings, including its flagship mobile app focused on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and various accessible financing products for startups and SMEs, created in partnership with Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd (CGC).

The bank's SME Colony mobile app received its first win as 'Financial Inclusive Initiative of the Year – Malaysia' from the Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards.

Another milestone win for the bank’s efforts in providing accessible funding for SMEs was the 'CGC Top FI Partner Awards' for the 'Islamic Financial Institution (FI)' category at the CGC 27th FIs/Development Financial Institution & SME Awards 2021.

-- BERNAMA

ENGIE, a global leader in energy transition and renewable power generation, announced it had reached the commercial operation date (COD) of its first large-scale Kerian Solar Project in Perak on Aug 5, 2022.

The company in a statement said the project has a 100-megawatt (MW; 136.44 MW peak) capacity and was developed by Kerian Solar, a special-purpose company formed by a joint-venture between TTL Energy Sdn Bhd, a leading Malaysian solar developer, and Engie.

Upon reaching its COD, Kerian Solar entered into a 21-year power purchase agreement with Tenaga Nasional Bhd to sell carbon dioxide emissions-free electricity generated by the solar photovoltaic energy plant. 

The energy produced would be transmitted to the grid to support the Malaysian government’s target of generating 20 per cent of the country’s energy through renewable means by 2025.

-- BERNAMA

KPJ HEALTHCARE BHD has appointed Dr Nik Fawaz Nik Abdul Aziz as its new chief commercial officer, effective Aug 15, 2022.

Nik Fawaz took the helm from Nik Izhar Nik Mohammed, who previously stepped down to pursue other interests, the company said in a statement.

With 16 years of experience in healthcare, transformation and hospital services, locally and internationally, Nik Fawaz led the transformation of notable hospitals and integrated operations, where he played an instrumental role in scaling up operations and advancing digital healthcare.

-- BERNAMA