Penang drives growth for local startup scene

 

(From left) Zairil and Ng checking out the calendar of events for PENtastic Startup Month 2026 at Komtar. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star

ENTREPRENEURS and aspiring business owners in Penang will have 30 opportunities this month to meet potential investors, build industry connections and learn how to turn their ideas into viable businesses.

The activities, organised under PENtastic Startup Month 2026 from Nov 1 to 30, will involve at least 21 organisations brought together by Digital Penang.

Penang digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the month-long initiative would bring together startups, entrepreneurs, innovators, technologists and industry players through a series of programmes held across the state.

“The initiative is not intended to be another standalone conference but a common platform to connect existing programmes and activities organised by different organisations,” he said during a press conference at Komtar.

Zairil said Penang’s startup ecosystem currently comprised about 354 companies, making it the second largest in Malaysia, with the state aiming to grow the number to 500 by 2030.

He said the startup ecosystem was estimated to contribute RM340mil in revenue and create 2,600 high-income jobs in Penang.

He added that a strong startup ecosystem required more than funding, incubators, technology infrastructure and the number of companies established, stressing that connections and engagement among ecosystem players were equally important.

Zairil said the participating organisations represented a broad range of stakeholders, including startup founders, technology companies, corporate training providers, universities, associations and community groups from Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

“The activities would cover artificial intelligence (AI), business digitalisation, startup financing, investment readiness, marketing, talent development, sustainability, business strategy and creative entrepreneurship,” he said.

Among the highlights of the event are Startup Venture Vibes and Creative Content AI 1-Person Company (AI-OPC) Showcase, which aims to explore opportunities for entrepreneurs to use AI in creative content production and business development.

The month-long initiative would also feature a Culture of Startups Photography Exhibition, showcasing the people, workplaces and everyday experiences behind startup companies.

Zairil said startups needed greater access to industry knowledge, mentoring, potential customers, investors and opportunities to test and commercialise their solutions, while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) needed practical exposure to digital technologies and emerging business models.

Digital Penang would coordinate the initiative and provide a common promotional platform, while participating organisations would contribute and run their respective programmes.

Present at the event were Digital Penang chief executive officer Ng Kwang Ming, and business ecosystem development director Lim Chong Seng.

Ng said Digital Penang wanted PENtastic Startup Month to give founders and SMEs practical opportunities to build their knowledge, explore digital tools and connect with people who can support their next stage of growth.

“By bringing independently organised activities onto one shared platform, we are making it easier for participants to discover relevant programmes and engage with Penang’s startup community,” he said.

For details on the event dates and venues, go to https://startup.digitalpenang.my/pentastic-startup-month-2026/

Japan's Miyu Yamasha itis rightly 'the queen' after creating history defending her Maybank Championship title

 

Japan’s Miyu Yamashita takes a selfie with the Tiger Head trophy on the green following her victory at the LPGA Tour Maybank Championship 2026 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on Sunday (Nov 1, 2026). -- Photo: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Japan's Miyu Yamashita successfully defended her Maybank Championship title after carding a four-under 68 in the final round to secure a two-stroke victory at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) here today.

The world number four sank five birdies at the third, fifth, eighth, 11th and 18th holes, with her only bogey coming at the ninth, to finish with a four-day total of 22-under 266, two strokes ahead of China's Yan Liu.

Yamashita, who entered the final round with a two-stroke advantage, opened her campaign with a seven-under 65 on Thursday, followed by rounds of six under 66 and five under 67 before closing with a four under 68 today to secure her second consecutive Maybank Championship title.

Speaking to reporters after her victory, Yamashita said maintaining her focus throughout the final round had helped her deliver another strong performance at KLGCC.

"I'm just really happy to have won the title, and I honestly didn't expect to be able to win the tournament two years in a row. So, I just focused on playing each hole," she said.

Meanwhile, Yan Liu finished as runner-up after carding a four-under 68 in the final round for a four-day total of 20-under 268.

The Chinese golfer, who began her campaign with three under 69 and four under 68, produced an impressive nine-under 63 in the third round yesterday before closing with another four under 68 today.

Thailand's amateur golfer Marisa Tojai and France's Pauline Roussin-Bouchard shared third place after finishing four-day totals of 19-under 269.

Marisa, who recorded par 72, five under 67 in second and third round signed off with a five-under 67 today, while Roussin-Bouchard carded a three-under 69 in the final round after earlier rounds of eight under 64, three under 69 and five under 67.

The Maybank Championship offered a total prize money of USD3 million (RM12,174,600), with the first prize winner, Yamashita pocketing USD450,000 (RM1,826,190), second placed Yan Liu USD275,721 (RM 1,118,930.96), while joint third-place winner Roussin-Bouchard took home USD200,016 (RM811,704.93). --

BERNAMA

 BERNAMA

Maybank Championship spotlight falls on elite LPGA stars

Liyana Durisic knocks her ball onto the 18th green in the first round of the Maybank Championship on Thursday to finish the day in a tie for fourth and as the top Malaysian on the leaderboard. — Bernama

NSTTV A historic back-to-back win, a RM2 million payday ...

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2 days ago

2:17

The victory of Miyu Yamashita, a Japanese golfer, secured her a historic back-to-back win and a $450,000 prize.

AS one of Malaysia’s premier sporting events, the Maybank Championship has rapidly established itself as a standout fixture on the LPGA Tour calendar, attracting the world’s best players while providing a valuable platform for the nation’s top golfing talent to compete against the game’s elite.

Returning to the West Course at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club this week, the US$3mil tournament brings together an exceptional international field featuring some of the highest-ranked players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

The championship has become one of South-East Asia’s most prestigious golf events, combining world-class competition with fan engagement, entertainment, hospitality experiences and unique opportunities for Malaysian golfers to measure themselves against the very best in the sport.

This year, local interest is stronger than ever, with five Malaysian players earning places in the field. 

Included in the line-up is Mirabel Ting, currently Malaysia’s highest-ranked player at No. 239 in the Rolex Ranking.s

She is joined by LPGA rookie Natasha Oon, in-form Liyana Durisic, who was tied for fourth place after the first round on Thursday, former LPGA Tour regular Kelly Tan, and Genevieve Ling, giving home fans plenty to cheer throughout the week.

For many, the greater interest will centre on Mirabel and how she fares. Her rise has been one of Malaysian golf’s biggest success stories in 2026.

The Sarawakian secured LPGA Tour status for next season after a breakthrough campaign on the Epson Tour, where she won twice and consistently featured among the circuit’s top performers.

Her achievements culminated in finishing atop the Epson Tour season standings, a feat that earned promotion to the LPGA Tour while cementing her reputation as one of Asia’s brightest emerging talents.

The Maybank Championship therefore serves as something of a dress rehearsal for the 21-year-old as she prepares to take on the world’s best full-time next season.

Competing against a field packed with LPGA winners and major champions offers an ideal opportunity to test her game ahead of golf’s biggest stage.

Natasha also gained valuable LPGA Tour experience this year, including a tied-31st finish at the CPKC Women’s Open.

Meanwhile, Liyana, who arrive with momentum following several domestic victories and a win in Australia, and Kelly and Genevieve add further depth to a strong Malaysian contingent.

Beyond the local storylines, fans will be enjoying a festival atmosphere around one of the LPGA Tour’s showcase events. With global stars competing for one of the largest purses in women’s golf, championship hospitality, family-friendly activities and entertainment throughout tournament week, the Maybank Championship continues to elevate Malaysia’s standing as a destination for world-class sporting events.

For one week in the year, Kuala Lumpur becomes the focal point of women’s golf, showcasing not only the sport’s biggest names but also the next generation of Malaysian players hoping to leave their mark on the international stage.

SOURCE LINK: https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/golf/2026/11/01/maybank-championship-spotlight-falls-on-elite-lpga-stars

Related post:

 

Maybank Championship KLGCC - Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club, Bukit Kiara

AI-assisted stroke survivor storyteller

Road to recovery: Foo with his caregiver Hasmah, who became an important pillar of support, helping him on his journey towards independence. — LEONG WAI YEE/The Star

Burden or Fighter https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=xRlbo5HTx6w&si=qj4HjsNwaWhRoPzt

9.1K views • May 3, 2025 • 31 min

Burden or Fighter

In this video, I open up about my darkest thoughts as a stroke survivor — feeling like a burden to my family and wishing for it all to end. But maybe there's a reason why I'm still here. Maybe God gave me this stroke not to punish me, but to teach me something... or to help others through my story. This is not easy to share, but it's real. If you're going through the same, you're not alone. #strokeawareness #mentalhealth #strokejourney #youarenotalone

AI-assisted content helps entrepreneur inspire others with his recovery journey

PETALING JAYA: When entrepreneur Allan Foo Kit Seng suddenly found the words on his mobile phone becoming blurry back in May 2021, he thought there was something wrong with the screen.

Moments later, the then 49-year-old Bandar Sri Daman­sara resident realised the problem was not his phone but himself. He had suffered a stroke.

Today, at 54, Foo has transformed that life-changing ordeal into a mission to inspire others, becoming an online sensation through artificial intelligence-assisted content and his abc123podcast on a popular online video platform while proving that stroke survivors can still embrace new opportunities.

“I don’t want people to see stroke survivors as limited. Physically, I may not be what I used to be, but I can still create, entertain, teach and inspire,” he said in an interview.

His latest AI-assisted comedy videos have attracted millions of views, with one Instagram reel from his account, abc123makeitsimple, garnering 1.8 million views in just four days.

By learning how to use AI to script and edit videos, Foo has discovered a new way to connect with audiences while showing that physical limitations should not stop anyone from acquiring new skills. Yet behind the humour lies a deeper purpose.

“I’ve already gone through the worst. Now I ask myself, what’s next? If I can’t work like before, what else can I do? I can show people they don’t have to stay inside the box,” he said.

Foo said his family was his greatest motivation during recovery – especially his son, Alex Randall Sy, who was still in primary school when the stroke struck and is now 16.

His elder son, Anthony Renzo Sy Foo, 19, also stood by him throughout his recovery while caregiver Hasmah Hassan, 53, became an important pillar of support, helping him through daily routines, rehabilitation and his journey towards independence.

“I told myself I had to be strong and face it head on because my children were still growing up.

“As a father, I couldn’t give up,” he said.

Foo recalled experiencing blurred vision and weakness before collapsing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Friends rushed him to hospital, where doctors stressed the importance of receiving treatment within the “golden hour”, saying the quick response likely saved his life.

Recovery, however, was a long and difficult journey.

He spent more than two years in a wheelchair and underwent intensive physiotherapy, acupuncture and stem cell treatment before his mind gradually became clearer.

The former student of Victoria Institution and the school’s Cadet Corps Band drum major likened surviving a stroke to returning home after a robbery.

“A stroke is like someone breaking into your house and making a mess of everything. You can sit there crying over what happened, or you can start cleaning up your house.

“Nobody else can clean it for you. You have to rebuild your life, one step at a time,” he said.

That mindset inspired Foo to document his recovery.

Encouraged by friends, he began sharing his journey online in September 2023, initially to help fellow stroke survivors and their caregivers navigate the physical, emotional and mental challenges after a stroke.

Today, his content blends humour with practical advice while his podcast simplifies stroke recovery through three principles – Awareness, Balance and Control – to help survivors and caregivers better understand the recovery journey.

Beyond entertaining audiences, Foo hopes his story will encourage stroke survivors to keep moving forward, no matter how long recovery takes.

“Nothing is easy, but you have to keep going. Recovery is a lifelong journey. I don’t want to be remembered as a stroke victim. I want people to see that I’m a stroke survivor.

“If my journey gives even one person hope and the courage to keep fighting, then everything I’ve gone through has been worth it,” he added.

Source link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/28/from-stroke-survivor-to-storyteller