MBSB Bank Funds Tier-1 Dairy Infrastructure With RM95.8 Mln Facility

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- MBSB Bank Bhd has provided a structured financing facility of RM95.8 million to Jemaluang Dairy Valley Sdn Bhd for the development of Tier-1 dairy infrastructure.

The financing includes the acquisition of 1,000 high-yield A2 Jersey Friesian dairy cows and the construction of a processing facility capable of producing up to 14 million litres of milk annually by 2027.

MBSB Bank group chief executive officer Rafe Haneef said the bank views food security as a critical asset class that demands large-scale capital, as reflected in its RM1 billion Agro-ESG mandate.

“This RM95.8 million facility serves as a commitment to anchor Johor’s first fully integrated dairy ecosystem, creating a tech-enabled, environmental, social and governance (ESG)-compliant infrastructure that is vital to strengthening Malaysia’s domestic self-sufficiency,” he said in a statement today.

Jemaluang Dairy is a strategic joint venture between Kulim (Malaysia) Bhd and A2 Fresh Holdings Sdn Bhd.

 According to the statement, this initiative directly addresses a critical gap in the high reliance on imported dairy and supports the national agenda for food resilience, transforming a fragmented landscape into a high-output, tech-driven industry.

This landmark commitment catalyses Johor Corporation’s (JCorp) mandate to industrialise Malaysia’s agritech sector, positioning the East Coast Economic Region as a high-yield regional food hub, said the bank.

Meanwhile, Jemaluang Dairy chief executive officer Qasem Alhasan said the project is designed as an end-to-end dairy ecosystem, combining world-class farming technology, sustainable practices, and local talent development.

“This will deliver high-quality, locally produced milk at scale while supporting Malaysia’s long-term food security goals,” he said.

With the introduction of the first group of 1,000 cattle in November last year, the number will be gradually expanded to 4,000 cattle by the third year of operations, in line with the implementation of a systematic and sustainable development phase.

-- BERNAMA