Minister of Digital Malaysia YB Gobind Singh Deo to keynote as conference tackles AI governance, digital trust and national critical infrastructure protection

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Cyber Digital Services, Defence & Security Asia (CyberDSA) 2026 Conference will convene senior government, cybersecurity, defence, finance and technology leaders in Kuala Lumpur from 5-7 October 2026 to address the most urgent security challenges of an AI-driven, digitally dependent world.

From rogue AI models and digital sovereignty to cyber conflict and the protection of financial, energy and national infrastructure, the three-day programme places national and corporate resilience at the centre of the regional security agenda.

With just weeks to go before its fourth edition opens at MITEC Kuala Lumpur, CyberDSA 2026 will bring together an exceptional line-up of government leaders, cybersecurity authorities, regulators, defence practitioners, technology experts, and industry decision-makers from Malaysia and around the world.

Held in partnership with Asia Collective, the conference is built around three strategic pillars: The Future of Digital Trust, Defending Digital Battlespace, and Protecting National Critical Infrastructure.

Among the leaders taking the stage are YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital Malaysia; H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, UAE Cybersecurity Council and Orhan Osmani, Head of the Cybersecurity Division at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

They will be joined by senior representatives and experts from organisations including Google, CyberSecurity Malaysia, National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Indonesian Navy Staff, and Command School, CIDB Malaysia, the Malaysian Oil, Gas, & Energy Services Council (MOGSC), alongside international and regional voices spanning cybersecurity, defence, energy, technology, and strategic affairs.

The calibre and breadth of the programme reflect how far cybersecurity has moved beyond the traditional boundaries of IT. AI is creating new capabilities while introducing new attack surfaces and governance challenges. Digital Trust is increasingly tied to economic confidence and national resilience. At the same time, the growing interconnection of financial systems, energy networks, cities and essential services means a cyber incident can quickly become an operational, economic or national security issue.

CyberDSA 2026 is powered by a distinguished coalition of industry leaders whose expertise and innovation drive the event forward. Maxis powers the event, joined by gold sponsors DEAS Cyber+ and Splunk, and Silver Sponsors Exabeam, Blackpanda, Menlo Security, Tech Data, MindMatics, Raddish Technology, Aras Integrasi, and Cyber Test Systems. Laurea People’s Signature serves as the Official Marketing Technology Partner and Syntx is the Engagement Partner. Together, these partners are actively shaping the conversation, engaging with delegates, and advancing the regional agenda on cybersecurity, digital trust and critical infrastructure resilience.

The Future of Digital Trust (Day 1 – October 5)

Day One examines Digital Trust, spanning rogue AI, information integrity, digital identity, data governance and digital sovereignty. H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, will address the risks posed by rogue AI models and agents, while YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital Malaysia, will deliver the CyberDSA 2026 Keynote and Opening Address. The programme also brings together perspectives from Google, NACSA, CyberSecurity Malaysia and MyDigital ID.

Defending Digital Battlespace (Day 2 – October 6)

Day Two shifts to cyber defence, exploring AI-powered security, cyber operations, strategic competition and regional cooperation. Speakers include Dr Monisha Oberoi of Google; Captain (N) Bagus Jatmiko of the Indonesian Navy Staff and Command School; Vice Admiral Dato’ Pahlawan Shamsuddin Hj Ludin (Retired), former Deputy Chief of Navy; and Derek Grossman of Indo-Pacific Solutions.

Day 2 also features the Official Opening Ceremony of Siber Siaga with the theme “Commanding the Hyperwar: Human Judgement, Machine Speed and Decision Superiority”, followed by the Siber Siaga Forum.

Protecting National Critical Infrastructure (Day 3 – October 7)

Day Three focuses on critical infrastructure resilience, spanning finance, energy, smart cities and water security. The programme opens with “Safeguarding Critical Financial Infrastructure Through Cyber Resilience,” featuring senior representatives from CyberSecurity Malaysia.

Highlights include “Building Resilient Smart Cities in a Connected World,” with Suhaimi Mansor, Deputy Chief Executive (Development) of CIDB Malaysia, and Dato’ Ts. Dr Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab, Former Chief Executive Officer of CyberSecurity Malaysia. Joining them is Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr. Judin Abdul Karim, Chairman of Muda Consult Sdn Bhd and Former Chief Executive of CIDB Malaysia, bringing decades of leadership in infrastructure standards and industry collaboration.

“Water and National Resilience” follows, with Captain (N) Bagus Jatmiko (Indonesian Navy Staff and Command School), Dr Chester Cabalza (Founder, International Development and Security Cooperation) and Jonathan Jackson, APAC Field CISO, Secure Communications, BlackBerry on cross-border water security. The day closes with “Women in Tech: Breaking the Glass Ceiling or Just Breaking In?” featuring senior representatives from the Ministry of Digital Malaysia, sharing real-world case studies on advancing women’s leadership in technology and cybersecurity.

Nadzeem Abdul Rahman, Executive Director of Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd, organiser of CyberDSA 2026, said:

“The cyber agenda has changed. AI is advancing at extraordinary speed, digital infrastructure is becoming more interconnected, and a cyber incident can now carry consequences far beyond the technology environment, affecting businesses, essential services, economies and national security.

“CyberDSA is bringing the people responsible for these challenges into the same room, from policymakers and cyber authorities to defence leaders, regulators, critical infrastructure operators and technology experts. The calibre of this year’s speakers reflects CyberDSA’s role as the region’s premier platform for high-stakes cyber and digital security dialogue.”

CyberDSA 2026 is expected to welcome 9,000 trade professionals from 45 countries, 160 participating companies, 100 speakers and more than 55 cyber leaders from 15 nations through its VIP Delegation Programme.

The conference marks the next stage in CyberDSA’s evolution as an industry-facing cybersecurity platform, reinforcing Malaysia’s position as a hub for regional cyber diplomacy and infrastructure resilience planning.

With CyberDSA 2026 now only weeks away, conference delegate, trade visitor and media registrations are open.

Professionals seeking full access to the conference can now secure their passes, while professionals and members of the media are invited to register to experience the wider exhibition and programme.

Companies seeking to position their capabilities before the industry community gathering in Kuala Lumpur may also contact the Organiser regarding exhibiting and strategic partnership opportunities at CyberDSA 2026.

Register now for full conference access of exhibition visits: https://www.cyberdsa.com/

View the full CyberDSA 2026 Conference Programme and Speaker bios: https://www.cyberdsa.com/conference-overview

For further information, kindly contact:

Aerosea Exhibitions Sdn Bhd

Tengku Dayana
PR & Communications

Email: [email protected]
Tel: +603 2702 7702
Website: www.cyberdsa.com

Social Media:

1. Facebook: @CyberDSA https://www.facebook.com/CyberDSA
2. Instagram: @CyberDSA https://www.instagram.com/cyberdsa/
3. LinkedIn: @CyberDSA https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyber-dsa
4. YouTube: @CyberDSA https://www.youtube.com/@cyberdsa8206 
5. TikTok: @CyberDSA https://www.tiktok.com/@cyberdsa 
6. X: @CyberDSA https://x.com/CyberDsa 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cyberdsa-2026-draws-global-cyber-leaders-for-high-level-talks-on-ai-digital-trust-and-critical-infrastructure-302876172.html

SOURCE CyberDSA

The Dempsey Hill medical aesthetics and wellness destination continues its growth with a focus on personalised care, advanced technologies and an integrated approach to wellbeing.

SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Illuminate Medispa is marking a new milestone in its growth journey as it continues to strengthen its presence in Singapore’s medical aesthetics and wellness landscape. Located at Dempsey Hill, the medispa is building on its approach to personalised aesthetic care while developing a broader Urban Wellness Haven that brings together aesthetics, movement and mindful dining within one destination.

At the heart of Illuminate Medispa is a simple belief: confidence begins with feeling good in one’s own skin. Its approach combines medical aesthetics, advanced technology and personalised care across areas including skin health, facial definition, body contouring, hair restoration and healthy ageing.

Rather than focusing on dramatic transformation, the brand places emphasis on helping clients feel refreshed and confident while preserving their individuality.

“Aesthetics should not be about chasing perfection or trying to look like someone else,” said Dr Kuek. “For us, it is about understanding the individual, providing appropriate guidance and helping people feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin.”

Bringing Medical Aesthetics and Wellness Together at Dempsey Hill

Illuminate Medispa was conceived as an alternative to the conventional aesthetic clinic experience, a setting where medical expertise and wellness could coexist within a calm and welcoming environment.

Dempsey Hill provides a natural setting for this approach, with its greenery, open spaces and relaxed atmosphere offering a sense of escape while remaining close to the city.

This philosophy has evolved into what the company describes as an Urban Wellness Haven, bringing together three complementary experiences at Dempsey: Illuminate Medispa for medical aesthetics and skin health, PowerMoves Pilates for movement and strength, and Miyu Japanese Omakase for nourishment and mindful dining.

Together, the three concepts reflect a broader view of wellbeing in which aesthetics, movement and nourishment complement one another.

“Looking well is only one part of living well,” said Dr Kuek. “We wanted to create an environment where people could approach different aspects of their wellbeing in a way that feels natural, thoughtful and enjoyable.”

A Personalised, Evidence-Based Approach

Central to Illuminate Medispa’s philosophy is the belief that aesthetic care should begin with the individual rather than a particular treatment or technology.

Consultations consider each client’s concerns, skin condition, lifestyle, previous treatments, expectations and desired outcomes before an individualised treatment plan is recommended. The team also places importance on setting realistic expectations and advising against unnecessary treatment where appropriate.

Its treatment offerings include Hydrafacial, Onda Pro and Fotona laser-based treatments, including Trifecta Glow. When evaluating aesthetic technologies, Illuminate Medispa considers factors such as clinical relevance, intended applications, safety profile and whether a technology can genuinely address clients’ needs.

“Technology is only one part of the equation,” said Dr Kuek. “Proper assessment, treatment planning and understanding how to tailor the technology to the individual are equally important.”

This philosophy extends to the overall client experience. While medical expertise and technology provide the clinical foundation, Illuminate Medispa also places emphasis on ensuring clients feel heard, informed and comfortable throughout their treatment journey.

Responding to Changing Attitudes Towards Aesthetic Care

Illuminate Medispa has observed a shift in how consumers in Singapore approach aesthetics and self-care, with increasing interest in proactive skin health, prevention and maintenance rather than waiting until concerns become more pronounced.

Consumers are also becoming more informed about aesthetic treatments, asking questions about technology, downtime, ingredients, evidence and long-term outcomes before making decisions about their care.

At the same time, demand for non-invasive treatments that can fit more easily into busy lifestyles continues to shape the medical aesthetics industry.

While convenience is increasingly important, Illuminate Medispa maintains that it should not take precedence over suitability. Treatment recommendations should ultimately be based on an individual’s needs, circumstances and realistic treatment goals.

A New Milestone for Illuminate Medispa

As Illuminate Medispa continues its growth at Dempsey Hill, the brand has marked a significant milestone with its recognition as Distinguished Brand of the Year.

The recognition reflects Illuminate Medispa’s efforts to build a brand around trust, expertise, client experience and a holistic approach to beauty and wellness.

Its growth has seen the medispa continue to invest in advanced aesthetic technologies and treatments while refining the experience surrounding them. Rather than focusing solely on expanding its range of treatments, Illuminate Medispa is placing greater emphasis on deepening the quality of the client experience and building long-term relationships.

The development of the Urban Wellness Haven at Dempsey represents an important part of this evolution, extending the concept of wellbeing beyond aesthetic care alone.

Redefining the Conversation Around Ageing

Looking ahead, Illuminate Medispa aims to contribute to a more considered conversation around aesthetics, self-care and healthy ageing.

The medispa advocates what it describes as “prejuvenation over correction” a proactive approach to caring for the skin and appearance while respecting the natural progression of age.

Rather than seeking to erase the signs of ageing or dramatically alter a person’s appearance, the philosophy focuses on helping clients look rested, healthy and refreshed while retaining their individuality.

“Beautiful does not have to have an age limit,” said Dr Kuek. “There is something incredibly beautiful about growing older with confidence, character and self-assurance. Our role is not to make someone look 20 years younger or turn them into someone else. It is to help them look rested, healthy, refreshed and like the best version of themselves.”

For Illuminate Medispa, the desired outcome is one in which clients continue to recognise themselves.

“The best aesthetic result is one where someone looks in the mirror and still recognises themselves,” said Dr Kuek. “You, only better.”

Moving forward, Illuminate Medispa plans to continue evaluating technologies based on their clinical relevance, safety, effectiveness and ability to provide genuine value to clients. Its areas of focus include skin health, facial definition and clarity, body contouring, collagen stimulation and healthy ageing.

About Illuminate Medispa

Illuminate Medispa is a medical aesthetics and wellness destination located at Dempsey Hill, Singapore. The medispa combines medical expertise, aesthetic technologies and personalised care within a tropical, resort-inspired environment designed to provide a calm and welcoming client experience.

Its approach focuses on skin health, facial definition, body confidence and healthy ageing, with treatment recommendations tailored to individual concerns, lifestyles and goals.

Illuminate Medispa forms part of an Urban Wellness Haven at Dempsey alongside PowerMoves Pilates and Miyu Japanese Omakase, bringing together aesthetics and skin health, movement and strength, and nourishment and mindful dining as complementary aspects of wellbeing.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/illuminate-medispa-marks-new-milestone-as-it-advances-a-holistic-approach-to-aesthetics-and-wellness-in-singapore-302876165.html

SOURCE Illuminate Medispa

Alpha Ladder WealthX, Asia’s leading Web2.5 wealth management platform, expands into tokenised global equities, building on the group’s Memorandum of Understanding with Payward, developer of xStocks framework and parent company of Kraken

SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd. (Alpha Ladder), through Alpha Ladder WealthX, Asia’s leading Web2.5 wealth management platform, today launched access to Payward’s xStocks tokenised equities for institutional and accredited investors in selected markets in the region, making Alpha Ladder one of the first licensed wealth management firms in Asia to offer such access.

The launch follows the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Alpha Ladder, MetaComp and Payward to advance tokenised capital markets across APAC. Under the collaboration, Alpha Ladder will serve as a distribution partner for  xStocks offering in selected regional markets.

Through Alpha Ladder WealthX, Alpha Ladder will distribute xStocks to institutional and accredited investors in the region, subject to applicable eligibility, onboarding and compliance requirements.

The launch extends Alpha Ladder’s WealthX beyond traditional investment products into one of the fastest-growing areas of digital capital markets, giving eligible investors access to tokenised global equities through an established wealth management relationship.

xStocks brings publicly listed equities onto blockchain infrastructure through fully collateralised, 1:1-backed tokens, combining exposure to global equities with round-the-clock availability and digital-native settlement. According to Dune analytics data^[1], xStocks lists over 700 assets, and have processed more than US$40 billion in combined transaction volume, with more than 200,000 unique holders globally.

The launch comes as tokenised securities gain increasing traction among institutional investors. Tokenised equities are among the fastest-growing segments of the broader Real-World Asset (RWA) market, with on-chain RWA value reaching approximately US$19.3 billion as of end-March 2026, up from approximately US$5.4 billion in January 2025, according to Coin Gecko^[2].

Institutional interest in tokenised assets is also rising. According to the 2026 EY and Coinbase Institutional Investor Survey^[3], 63% of institutional investors globally said their firms were very interested in tokenised assets, up from 57% a year earlier. McKinsey also estimates that total tokenised market capitalisation could reach approximately US$2 trillion by 2030, excluding cryptocurrencies and stablecoins^[4].

As tokenisation moves further into mainstream capital markets, the focus is increasingly shifting from whether financial assets can be brought on-chain to how they can be accessed through financial channels that meet institutional expectations around governance, onboarding and compliance.

The launch of xStocks through Alpha Ladder WealthX marks a further expansion of Alpha Ladder’s RWA offering, broadening access to tokenised global equities for institutional and accredited investors across APAC.

Alpha Ladder, MetaComp and Payward will continue to explore further tokenisation opportunities in the region, including additional products, counterparties and use cases, drawing on their respective capabilities across capital markets, digital asset infrastructure and institutional distribution.

About Alpha Ladder Finance (Alpha Ladder)

Alpha Ladder Finance Pte Ltd (Alpha Ladder) is Singapore’s leading Real-World Asset (RWA) exchange, brokerage, and custody platform, licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licensee. With its patented NFDT® (Non-Fungible Digital Twin) framework, multi-cloud MPC wallets, and a rigorous on-chain KYT engine, Alpha Ladder provides institutional-grade infrastructure for tokenisation, trading, and liquidity—bridging traditional finance with digital innovation.

For more information about Alpha Ladder, please visit https://www.alphaladderfin.com, or follow Alpha Ladder on LinkedIn @AlphaLadderFinance and X @AlphaLadderFin

About MetaComp

MetaComp Pte Ltd (“MetaComp”) is a Singapore-headquartered payments company building an interoperable financial platform for global payments. As a Major Payment Institution licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, we make payments easier and more resilient, connecting fiat and stablecoin rails, so when SWIFT is not viable, stablecoins provide an alternative

Compliant and agentic by design, MetaComp’s StableX Network enables institutions and businesses to move, convert, and manage capital across fiat and stablecoin rails within one compliant Web2.5 financial architecture, handling payments and collections alongside treasury and investment* access across traditional and digital asset classes. Since its launch in November 2025, StableX Network has grown to more than 1,000 members and partners, reaching more than 100,000 users.

Proprietary FX infrastructure evaluates every transaction and selects the optimal settlement pathway by rate and speed in real time. VisionX, MetaComp’s compliance intelligence engine, screens both fiat transactions and on-chain digital asset activity in one pass to support AML/CFT compliance and transaction monitoring. MetaComp’s StableX Know Your Agent (KYA) framework extends this governance to the agents themselves, ensuring every AI agent operating on the platform is identifiable, authorised, monitored and accountable across its lifecycle.

This foundation extends into our wealth* solution, with compliance intelligence built in from the start, accessible via AI agents, app, web, or API, and built for institutions and businesses alike.

These services are delivered under MetaComp’s licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) as a Major Payment Institution, covering Digital Payment Token Services and Cross-border Money Transfer Services. Treasury and investment services are provided through Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd., MetaComp’s MAS-regulated affiliate, which holds a Capital Markets Services licence.

For more information about MetaComp, please visit www.mce.sg, or follow MetaComp on LinkedIn MetaCompSG and X @MetaCompHQ.

*All products and/or services in relation to securities and capital market products are offered and operated solely by Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd.

Disclaimer: 

*xStocks and any securities or capital markets services relating to xStocks are offered and provided by Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd. under its applicable Capital Markets Services licence. Where applicable, payment, stablecoin conversion or other Digital Payment Token-related services used in connection with access to xStocks may be provided separately by MetaComp Pte. Ltd. under its Major Payment Institution licence, subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

This press release is for general information only and has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. MetaComp Pte. Ltd. holds a Major Payment Institution licence. Alpha Ladder Finance Pte. Ltd. holds a Capital Markets Services licence to deal in capital markets products and provide custodial services.

xStocks are not registered under the U.S. Securities Act and are not available in the United States or to U.S. persons. Other geographic restrictions may apply.

Payward is not licensed, authorised, regulated, supervised, or otherwise approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and does not hold any licence, exemption, registration, or other permission under the laws of Singapore to provide regulated financial services in Singapore. xStocks are issued by Backed Assets (JE) Limited and provide economic exposure to the relevant underlying securities. Holding an xStock does not give an investor ownership of, or legal title to, the underlying shares, or voting or other direct shareholder rights. The value of xStocks may rise or fall and investors may lose all of the amount invested.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/alpha-ladder-wealthx-among-asias-first-to-bring-xstocks-us-tokenised-equities-to-institutional-and-accredited-investors-302876141.html

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiMOGA Robotics, the intelligent robotics brand in the Chery ecosystem, is showing its latest robots at IFA 2026 in Berlin from September 4 to 8. The Intelligent Security Robot and Robotic Nurse are appearing overseas for the first time, joined by the humanoid robot Mornine and the quadruped Argos X2. For Malaysians, it previews technologies that could soon serve local smart city projects and hospitals.

The timing matters for Malaysia. Chery Corporate Malaysia is building a multi-brand line-up covering the Chery master brand, OMODA & JAECOO, the all-electric iCAUR and the premium marque Lepas. AiMOGA’s robots take that ecosystem beyond cars, positioning the group as a broader technology provider for Malaysian consumers and businesses.

Both debut robots come with working track records. The Intelligent Security Robot is deployed in more than 30 cities across China, handling safety patrols and visitor guidance. That experience maps neatly onto Malaysia’s shopping malls, airports and industrial parks, where demand for smarter security keeps growing.

The Robotic Nurse targets healthcare: guiding and consulting patients, answering questions and assisting with in-hospital services. Malaysian hospitals, short on staff and keen to improve the patient experience, are exactly the kind of setting AiMOGA has in mind. It has already drawn interest from potential European partners.

The two products share one design philosophy. AiMOGA does not build a robot around a demo and then hunt for a use case. It starts with a task that already exists, puts the machine to work, and lets daily operation drive the next round of development.

Beyond the professional machines, Mornine is appearing in IFA’s official “Robots on the Runway” program, introducing itself to the crowd in its own voice, while Argos X2 holds its own on the exhibition floor. Together, the four products cover hospitals, public spaces and human-robot interaction.

AiMOGA has delivered more than 3,000 robots, reaching over 60 countries and regions and upwards of 100 application scenarios. Its machines have moved from Chinese city streets to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and now to one of Europe’s biggest consumer technology stages.

Malaysians will not have to wait long for a closer look. AiMOGA plans to bring its robots to upcoming local exhibition events, where the public can meet the machines in person.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/aimoga-debuts-intelligent-security-robot-and-robotic-nurse-overseas-at-ifa-2026-signalling-robotics-ambitions-for-malaysia-302876132.html

SOURCE AiMOGA Robotics

• With payment leaders accelerating adoption, the Alipay+ ecosystem — with 50+ mobile payment partners, over 10 national QR schemes and serving over 2 billion consumer accounts — is evolving into the world’s largest agentic payment network for mobile commerce.
• During Phase I in 2026, AMP partners up with 10 leading Alipay+ digital wallets that together serve 1.5 billion user accounts, as well as 7 leading acquiring partners including Adyen, Allinpay, Checkout.com, Fiserv, Global Payments, Nuvei, and Worldline.
• Ant International, Mastercard, and Visa have begun collaboration on a Know-Your-Agent (KYA) interoperability framework, designed to help card networks, digital wallet ecosystems, agent platforms and marketplaces streamline agent onboarding and identification across networks, based on shared principles while preserving each network’s own verification and decisioning processes.

SHANGHAI and SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As Ant International builds out its Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP) with deeper interoperability and open-source initiatives, fintech and payment leaders are deploying the protocol globally at an accelerated pace, to enable trusted agentic transactions in large-scale commercial scenarios. 

Towards building the World’s Largest Agentic Payment Network

The AI economy is built on the ability of the financial industry to ensure AI agents interact to make decisions and execute transactions end-to-end for consumers and businesses, securely, smoothly and with full authorisation across all payment rails, especially in prevalent mobile payment scenarios through QR scans, card swipes or phone taps.

Launched in April 2026, the AMP is an open payment protocol built by Ant International for digital wallets, super apps, smart devices, and other mobile interfaces to enable payments executed by AI agents. Today, adoption is rolling out across Ant International’s Alipay+ ecosystem, a mobile payment network serving 50+ mobile payment partners and over 10 national QR networks, connecting 150 million merchants to 2 billion consumer accounts globally.

In Phase I, the following partners will work with AMP to advance their own agentic commerce strategies:

Phase I Wallet partners:

10 Alipay+ mobile wallet partners will support AMP in their own agent security architecture in Phase I. They are:

Alipay (China), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), DANA (Indonesia), GCash (Philippines), KakaoPay (South Korea), MPay (Macao SAR, China), TNG eWallet (Malaysia), TrueMoney (Thailand), Toss (South Korea), and Starryblu (Singapore)

Phase I Acquiring partners:

Adyen, Allinpay, Checkout.com, Fiserv, Global Payments, Nuvei, and Worldline 

Cross-Sector Partnership on Trust with Card Networks, Monetary Authority of Singapore

Building a truly global, inclusive infrastructure for agentic commerce calls for cross-sector and public-private collaboration on trust and governance mechanisms.

Ant International, Mastercard, and Visa have begun collaboration on a Know-Your-Agent (KYA) interoperability framework, designed to help card networks, digital wallet ecosystems, agent platforms and marketplaces streamline agent onboarding and identification across networks, based on shared principles while preserving each network’s own verification and decisioning processes.

Building on the Safeguards for Agentic Finance at Runtime (SAFR) framework, Ant International, Mastercard and Visa will collaborate through BuildFin.ai to advance common approaches for AI agent verification, accountability and risk management across payment ecosystems in Singapore. BuildFin.ai is an industry platform convened by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to bring together financial institutions, technology providers and researchers to develop and scale responsible AI solutions for financial services.

The effort aims to support secure and scalable agentic commerce, enabling AI agents to operate safely and reliably across payment ecosystems while maintaining strong safeguards for consumers, merchants and financial institutions.

To maximise industry co-building, AMP is now officially open-sourced on GitHub, with source code, developer SDKs, and related technical documentation available to global developers, AI platforms, wallets, acquirers, and financial institutions.

Agents as Trusted Actors across Markets and Payment Rails

“AMP has been created to enable agents to enter existing mobile payment systems as trusted actors. We are inspired to see how, a few months into its launch, more and more wallets and payment partners are accelerating their AI strategy by bringing this exciting capability to users in the real world,” said Jiang-Ming Yang, Chief Innovation Officer at Ant International.

Key features of the Agentic Mobile Protocol include:

• End-to-end agentic transactions across devices: No need to switch apps or change payment habits across mobile interfaces like smartphones and AR glasses.
• Faster agent integration cuts steps required to link a payment agent to a wallet by 50%.
• Clear boundaries of permissions for users to authorise the task, not hand over the account, with real-time visibility and control of agents.
• Full-spectrum Know-Your-Agent (KYA) Framework establishes an agent’s digital identity and certifies its authorised capabilities, with Agent Trust Rating controlling levels of autonomy for agents.
• AgentSafePay provides money-back guarantee for merchants against agentic-specific risks.
• A high-frequency nano-grade agent-to-agent (A2A) settlement mechanism enables automated, ultra-small transactions as tiny as $0.000001 between AI agents.

“Meanwhile, agentic commerce will only have a real path to mass adoption when supported with a deep foundation of trust. While AMP continues to invest in our own security solutions like AgentSafePay, we are also committed more than ever to strengthening collaboration with card networks, policy leaders like MAS and other stakeholders on new accountability mechanisms, to ensure all agentic transactions are protected by our collaborative agent identity and authorisation capabilities across markets and rails,” said Yang.

Partner quotes 

Adyen: “The promise of agentic commerce relies on open, interoperable systems that allow trusted agents to move seamlessly across networks. Adyen is pleased to collaborate with Ant International in building this foundation, helping our enterprise customers experiment and scale as the global agentic ecosystem takes shape.” – Karan Katyal, Global Head of Agentic Commerce at Adyen.

Checkout.com: “Agentic commerce is a channel expansion, similar to how mobile was, and to date it’s been largely card-based. AMP extends this to the wallets where billions of consumers already transact, across many more markets. At Checkout.com we’re supporting that expansion for our merchants, allowing a consumer buying through an AI surface like Gemini or ChatGPT to pay with Alipay+ just as they would anywhere else.” – Brian Sze, General Manager of Asia Pacific at Checkout.com.

DANA: “Agentic commerce could make buying feel almost effortless — where users express intent and intelligent agents handle the complexity. But the more autonomy we give machines, the more intentional we must be about trust, guardrails, and accountability.” – Darrick Rochili, Chief Innovation Officer at DANA.

Fiserv: “The next chapter of commerce will be defined by how seamlessly AI agents can connect consumers, merchants, financial institutions and platforms. That opportunity requires open standards that help foster trust, interoperability and greater consumer choice and control across the ecosystem. We believe initiatives like AMP can help accelerate innovation while allowing businesses to leverage the payment and banking relationships consumers already rely on every day.” – Lia Cao, Chief Revenue Officer, Enterprise and Platform Clients, Merchant Solutions, at Fiserv.

Global Payments: “The success of agentic commerce will depend on trust, interoperability and ease of adoption. With our scale and deep relationships across the commerce ecosystem, Global Payments is helping merchants embrace the next generation of digital commerce, including supporting initiatives like AMP that advance agentic commerce and bring the promise of this technology into the mainstream.” – Cindy Turner, Chief Product Officer at Global Payments.

MPay: “MPay is honored to be among the first digital wallets around the world to support Ant International’s AMP. AI agents are changing how users access services and complete transactions, and payments are a key link in bringing AI into real-world business environments. As an international city of tourism, Macao has a unique advantage in its ability to unite local life, cross-border consumption, and global services. Macau Pass will continue to embrace pioneering technologies and steer the deep integration of AI, payments, and local businesses to bring more innovative services to Macao first, helping Macao’s digital lifestyle, smart city development, and commercial services connect with the broader international ecosystem.” – Gavin Zhao, President and Chief Product & Technology Officer at Macau Pass Group.

Nuvei: “Nuvei connects businesses to payment methods and consumers across more than 200 markets through a single platform. As commerce shifts towards agentic purchasing, Nuvei is extending that connectivity to help merchants engage with AI agents across an open and interoperable ecosystem. Merchants don’t need another payment silo, they need one connection to every agent that comes to them. That’s what we’re building with Nuvei Agentic, and supporting open protocols like AMP is how it connects merchants to the preferred ways consumers choose to pay.” — Phil Fayer, Chair and CEO of Nuvei.

Starryblu: “As an AI‑powered payment offering under Alipay+, AMP effectively addresses user pain points and supports integration with major Agent platforms. It stands out as the world‑leading solution in terms of payment capabilities, security and user‑friendliness. Starryblu has a large base of AI‑driven paying users, making our two sides a highly aligned match. We look forward to jointly delivering real‑world value and an optimal experience for end users.” – Eric Zeng, Cofounder and President at Starryblu.

TNG eWallet: “Agentic commerce has the potential to make everyday transactions simpler by helping users move from intent to payment with fewer steps. Through our participation in AMP, TNG Digital is exploring how this technology could support more convenient experiences within TNG eWallet. Our priority is that any future capability is introduced responsibly, with clear user authorisation, strong safeguards and transparency throughout the journey. This reflects our open platform strategy and our ambition for TNG eWallet to be a trusted everyday digital companion for Malaysians,” said Alan Ni, Chief Executive Officer of TNG Digital, the operator of TNG eWallet.

TrueMoney: “Digital payments are already deeply embedded in the everyday lives of Thai consumers. The next step is to make these experiences even more seamless and intelligent. Through our partnership with Ant International, we see an opportunity to explore how agentic AI could simplify the entire purchase journey, from discovering and comparing options to completing payment through the payment methods consumers already know and trust. Importantly, users should remain in control of what the agent is authorised to do. We look forward to exploring how technologies such as AMP could make digital commerce simpler, smarter, and more accessible in everyday life.” – Koravut Pavitpok, Group Head of Strategy & Transformation at TrueMoney.

Worldline: “Agent-initiated payments need two things to work at scale: infrastructure that can verify who is paying and what they are authorised to do, and merchants who can accept those payments without rebuilding everything. Worldline does both. By supporting Ant International’s Agentic Mobile Protocol (AMP) across our Alipay+ integration, Worldline enables merchants to accept agent-initiated transactions seamlessly through the mobile wallets their customers already use. That means merchants can capture new agentic commerce flows securely and simply — without added operational complexity and without the need to integrate separate systems.” – Gertjan Dewaele, VP Product & Technology at Worldline.

About Ant International

Ant International is a leading global digital payment, digitisation and FinAI solutions provider. Through collaboration across the private and public sectors, our unified techfin platform supports financial institutions and merchants of all sizes to achieve inclusive growth through a comprehensive range of cutting-edge digital payment and financial services solutions. To learn more, please visit https://www.ant-intl.com/.

BACKGROUNDER

AMP: An Open Payment Protocol for the Agentic Commerce Era

How should agents pay? From “find it for me” to “buy it for me” in end-to-end task

From search, comparison, and decision-making to payment, users no longer need to switch repeatedly between AI, wallets, and merchant apps.

A traveler shares necessary information with an AI assistant for a hotel booking — specifying the destination, dates, budget, and preferences. Then the agent automatically searches for hotels, compares options, makes recommendations, and, once authorized by the user, completes payment through the user’s existing wallet.

AMP enables AI to move from finding the right product to closing the purchase in an end-to-end closed cycle. Users continue with their familiar digital wallets and payment accounts, without having to create new accounts, re-link bank cards, or learning new payment methods. AMP reduces the steps needed for agent-wallet linkage by up to 50%, reducing the back-and-forth switching between AI and payment interfaces. Once authorized, the AI agent directly invokes existing payment capabilities to complete the transaction.

What is the agent permitted to do? Users authorize a task, Not hand over the account

Traditional payment set-up focuses on “can this payment go through?”  With agentic payment, what exactly the agent is permitted to do becomes critical.

The choice is not between “doing everything themselves” and “handing their account entirely to the AI.”

Under AMP, users retain ultimate control with agent delegation. The simple payment authorization is extended to full task authorization. Users set clear boundaries for a task, they specify what the agent is to accomplish, what the budget is, and which conditions must be met — with the ability to review, modify, or revoke the task at any time.

For example, a hotel booking budgeted for US$300 or less, specific dates only, a rating of 4.5 or above, only a designated wallet, with re-confirmation if the final price goes over. These conditions follow the task into the execution and payment process, ensuring the agent’s behavior consistently aligns with the user’s original intent.

Who Is paying on my behalf?: KYA and interoperable trust frameworks

As more AI agents can act on behalf of users, confirming account identity alone is no longer enough. Users also need to know: who is the agent executing this payment on my behalf? Who authorized it? Does it have the appropriate identity and capabilities to complete this task? AMP uses the Know-Your-Agent (KYA) framework to provide agents with verifiable identity and related capability information.

For users, the value of KYA is not adding a new identity verification step. Rather, it enables different AI services and payment systems to consistently answer several key questions: Who is this agent? Who authorized it? What is it permitted to do on behalf of the user? This is also a critical foundation for agent payments to earn user trust and achieve scaled adoption.

AgentSafePay with money-back guarantee against agent-specific risks

Even when an agent has verified identity and user authorization, agent payments can still introduce new risks unfamiliar to traditional payment. LLMs may experience hallucinations or misinterpret user requirements. Intent deviation might disrupt multi-step task execution, when the agent’s final transaction diverges from what the user originally authorized.

To address new risks arising from autonomous agent execution, Ant International provides AgentSafePay protection for all AMP-based transactions with money-back guarantee. With integrated identity verification, task authorization, and transaction protection, users may enjoy the convenience of automated AI task completion without additional transaction risks.

Settlement mechanism designed for high-frequency, nano-scale A2A transactions

The AMP’s high-frequency agent-to-agent (A2A) settlement mechanism is capable of handling nano-transactions as small as $0.000001 between agents with real-time accounting and clearing. A2A settlement is crucial to agentic economy, which requires the capacity to process high-frequency, sub-cent agent transactions that traditional payment rails cannot support.

An Open Protocol — Expanding Collaboration on Agent Trust Ecosystem

AMP was designed from the start as an open protocol. It is now open-sourced on GitHub, with source code, developer SDKs, and related technical documentation available to global developers, AI platforms, wallets, acquirers, and financial institutions.

Ant International welcomes global developers and industry partners to work together on the AMP and contribute technology, use cases, and standards practices — advancing agent payments from a single-platform capability toward a cross-ecosystem, interoperable industry infrastructure.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/ant-internationals-agentic-mobile-protocol-rolls-out-globally-with-wallets-and-acquirers-initiating-collaboration-on-kya-interoperability-framework-with-mastercard-and-visa-302876108.html

SOURCE Ant International

HONG KONG, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadailyhk.com:

High-level officials and society leaders gathered in Hong Kong on Thursday for a major conference on integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, with keynote speakers highlighting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s role as a “super connector” between the Chinese mainland and global markets amid rapidly shifting geopolitical and technological landscapes.

The conference, themed “New Dynamics in Asia-Pacific Cooperation, New Opportunities for GBA Connectivity”, was co-organized by China Daily and the Hong Kong Coalition, bringing together nearly 300 government officials, consuls general, business leaders and representatives from think tanks, academia and media, as well as public-private sector experts from across Asia.

Leung Chun-ying, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said that collaborative initiatives unveiled recently in data and healthcare between Hong Kong and Nansha in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, underscore the unique role of Hong Kong as a partner and super connector linking the Greater Bay Area with the rest of the world.

He said the steps to be taken are clear and necessary — to promote better government-to-business and business-to-business interactions between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

“The new momentum generated in recent months through cooperation between Guangdong cities in the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong will benefit other Asia-Pacific countries and regions,” Leung said.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a video speech that the Greater Bay Area is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and integrated economic powerhouses in the world, underscoring Hong Kong’s role as the only world city that converges both the China advantage and the global advantage.

Lee said that this role takes on new significance this year, as the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be held in Shenzhen, Guangdong, in November, a historic first for the Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong will host the APEC Finance Ministers’ Meeting in October. He added that the region is ready for the spotlight.

Lee said that Hong Kong has a deep and liquid market and a strong pool of financial and professional talent, and the city has become Asia’s premier fundraising, asset management and risk management hub.

He said the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone is key to turning cutting-edge ideas into tangible outcomes and world-class research into products, by bringing together Hong Kong’s research excellence and the Chinese mainland’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.

He added that talent is central to Hong Kong’s innovation and technology push, while highlighting the “one town, five elements” framework for the Northern Metropolis University Town Area — a hub where universities, research institutes and industries will be set up together to integrate the five elements of education, technology, talent, industry and urban development.

“Integrating into and serving overall national development, Hong Kong brings together ideas, capital and talent across boundaries, and connects the Greater Bay Area with global markets. Together, we are not just building the Greater Bay Area. We are shaping a more connected, innovative and prosperous future,” Lee said.

Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily, said that the China Daily Hong Kong Edition has chronicled Hong Kong’s remarkable voyage — enduring storms, celebrating triumphs and now recording a new era of transformation from stability to prosperity, aligned with the vibrant rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

“Amid shifting communication landscapes and unprecedented global change, we will continue to share the living story of and contribute to this ‘one country, two systems’, the dynamism of the Greater Bay Area and China’s unwavering commitment to an open global economy,” he said.

Qu also said that he believes that Hong Kong will continue to innovate, leap forward and forge new heights of achievement with its first five-year plan, which is scheduled to be published on Sept 16.

Hong Kong SAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po stressed connectivity and Hong Kong’s role in connecting the world in an age of profound change driven by geopolitics and technological transformation.

“As the country’s most internationally connected region, the Greater Bay Area presents a strong value proposition for Asia-Pacific collaboration,” Chan said. “It rests on a simple conviction: When we partner, we do not merely add up our strengths — we multiply them and extend their reach well beyond Asia.”

The conference also featured three panel discussions on Hong Kong’s financial opportunities in the changing Asia-Pacific landscape, the synergy in commercial aerospace development between the HKSAR and Shenzhen, and education in the artificial intelligence era.

Panelists highlighted how Hong Kong can seize opportunities arising from deeper Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation to enhance its influence as a global financial hub.

Discussions also centered on harnessing the Greater Bay Area’s manufacturing capabilities and Hong Kong’s strengths, exploring ways to build a collaborative commercial space ecosystem.

Panelists also examined how the education sector can reinvent its model with AI to cultivate talent that serves the Greater Bay Area and the Asia-Pacific market.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hks-superconnector-role-highlighted-at-major-gba-conference-302876068.html

SOURCE chinadailyhk.com

HONG KONG, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On September 8, Bank of China (Hong Kong) (“BOCHK”) and World Wide Fund for Nature (“WWF”) jointly organised the “BOCHK Green Forum 2026 & Sharing Workshop on Good Practices of Green Finance in Southeast Asia”. Themed “Together for Green: Empowering Corporates and Individuals across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia”, this flagship event of Hong Kong Green Week 2026 attracted over 200 policymakers, representatives of international organisations, experts, scholars and industry leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange insights on green finance innovation, low-carbon transition and sustainable development, and explore innovative practices in green finance. The forum also provided a practical and efficient platform for green finance cooperation among the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, promoting cross-border collaboration and experience sharing to accelerate the region’s green transition.

The forum commenced with welcome remarks by Wang Huabin, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, followed by keynote speeches by Li Xia, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China; Li Xiaowen, Director of Women Workers Committee at National Committee of Chinese Financial Workers’ Union; Arthur Yuen, Acting Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”); Matteo Marinelli, Asia Pacific Lead of Sustainable Finance at WWF International; and Shane Edwards, Head of APAC Client Coverage at MSCI, on a wide range of topics covering green finance development trends, opportunities for regional cooperation and pathways for sustainable transition.

During the forum, two research reports were unveiled, namely The Asian Way: Sustainable Finance Market Outlook in Southeast Asia and the Role of Hong Kong (Second Edition), jointly released by the Hong Kong Financial Research Institute of Bank of China, MSCI Institute and HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute; and Hong Kong Climate Awareness: Public Understanding, Risk Perception and Readiness for a Low-Carbon Future, published in collaboration between BOCHK and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (“PolyU”). The two research reports focus respectively on the latest trend in green development across Southeast Asia and the Greater Bay Area, and on Hong Kong residents’ understanding of climate change and preferences for green financial products. Together, they provide valuable insights to support green finance and sustainable development. Professor Lin Chen, Vice President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Business) of the University of Hong Kong, and Professor Wong Wing-tak, Deputy President and Provost of PolyU, attended the respective research report launch sessions as guest speakers.

The forum also featured a Sharing Workshop on Good Practices of Green Finance in Southeast Asia, where industry leaders from major Southeast Asian banks shared case studies on green finance initiatives. This was followed by an exchange session involving experts from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, the HKMA and the Asian Development Bank, as well as scholars from local and overseas tertiary institutions, who shed valuable insights on the cases presented.

Wang Huabin, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, said, “Climate change remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and no country or region can tackle it alone. We must work together through regional cooperation to address this challenge. As cooperation on sustainable development continues to deepen among the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, as a pioneer in sustainable finance, is well positioned to support its Asian partners with mature solutions and contribute to advancing green finance across Asia. At BOCHK, sustainable development lies at the heart of our strategy. Leveraging our extensive network across nine ASEAN countries, we actively connect regional green projects with international capital, helping to channel financial resources to where they are most needed. We will continue to bring together the efforts of corporates and individuals across the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia to advance sustainable development. Together, we can chart the way forward in the global green transition and support climate action in the region and beyond through the power of finance.”

Li Xia, Deputy Director General of Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center at Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, said, “Green finance is a critical pillar in achieving global climate goals and advancing sustainable development. Under the theme ‘Together for Green’, today’s forum is not only a timely response to one of the defining challenges of our time for regional green growth, but also a powerful declaration of collective action. Hong Kong, as an international financial centre, possesses unique strengths in green finance and is well positioned to become a leading green finance hub in Asia and beyond, playing an indispensable role in channelling domestic and international capital towards green projects. Looking ahead, the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment will continue to work with partners, including BOCHK, to support Hong Kong’s development as an international green finance centre and to guide more private capital towards projects and initiatives that generate genuine green value.”

Li Xiaowen, Director of Women Workers Committee at National Committee of Chinese Financial Workers’ Union, said, “Green finance in the new era has evolved beyond the traditional focus on green lending. Drawing on the experience of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a number of scalable and replicable green finance models have emerged, demonstrating the value of cross-sector collaboration. A notable example is the alignment of green standards across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, which leverages Hong Kong’s strengths as an international green finance hub to align with international standards and facilitate the mutual recognition of green projects between the Chinese Mainland and international markets. These efforts provide valuable experience for the development of green finance nationwide.”

Matteo Marinelli, Asia Pacific Lead of Sustainable Finance at WWF International, said, “We live in a nature-based economy – our economies, well-being and prosperity all depend on our most precious asset: nature. To support the acceleration of science-based landscape conservation in places where WWF works, WWF leverages a full set of complementary financial tools and solutions. For instance, applying the Landscape Finance Approach, combining both greening finance and financing green, will require funding for implementation across key landscapes. Unlocking private capital is essential to closing the nature finance gap. Looking ahead, WWF sees strong potential to collaborate with Chinese and ASEAN financial institutions — strengthening dialogue among regulators, promoting financial flows towards climate and nature through innovative facilities, and working with partners such as BOCHK to help companies navigate ESG and compliance requirements in the region. Together, our joint efforts to redirect finance towards nature would ensure a thriving planet for generations to come.”

Shane Edwards, Head of APAC Client Coverage at MSCI, said, “Sustainable finance in Asia is entering its next phase. Investors are becoming more selective about where they deploy capital, while climate and sustainability ambitions are becoming more deeply embedded in investment and financing decisions. The complementary strengths and needs of markets across Asia create significant opportunities for greater regional cooperation. Hong Kong is well placed to connect these opportunities with capital and expertise. At MSCI, our indexes, data and risk models help institutional investors better understand the opportunities and risks involved, supporting more informed investment decisions towards the transition.”

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/bochk-green-forum-2026–sharing-workshop-on-good-practices-of-green-finance-in-southeast-asia-promotes-cross-border-collaboration-to-advance-regional-green-transition-302876008.html

SOURCE Bank of China (Hong Kong)

SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Most December holidays begin with a feeling. Some travellers want a few quiet days by the sea, others want a weekend built around food and culture, while many simply need somewhere easy to reach after a long year. New accommodation search data from digital travel platform Agoda suggests Malaysians are keeping their favourite destinations in mind while adding a few less familiar options to the shortlist.

Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Malacca remain the six most-searched domestic destinations for December stays. Alongside them, Kuantan and Kuala Terengganu are gaining interest, Sibu has entered the domestic top 20, and Johor Bahru and Port Dickson are moving higher as convenient getaways.

Fabian Teja, Country Director for Malaysia and Brunei at Agoda, said: “Malaysia’s established holiday hotspots continue to lead, but travellers are also considering lesser-known places for their year-end breaks. That gives secondary destinations a real chance to attract more visitors when they offer something distinctive, good value and a trip that is straightforward to plan. Malaysians are open to going somewhere new, but they still need a strong reason to choose it. Agoda helps travellers compare accommodation, flights and activities across more destinations. For Malaysia’s tourism industry, turning that curiosity into visits will depend on how clearly each place can show what makes it worth the trip.”

Island time or a coastal city break?

Langkawi remains a natural choice for travellers who want the full island holiday, complete with resort stays, beach days and excursions out on the water. It retained third place among Malaysia’s most-searched domestic destinations, with searches growing by 58% from 2025.

Kuantan offers a more flexible way to head to the coast. Travellers can combine time by the sea with local food and the conveniences of a city, without planning the entire trip around an island itinerary. While Kuantan ranked 13th overall, searches grew by 111%. Its rise points to greater interest in coastal trips that can move easily between beach time, food stops and unhurried days with fewer fixed plans.

Travellers heading to the east coast in December should check current weather conditions and transport schedules before confirming their itinerary.

A familiar heritage weekend or culture at a slower pace?

Malacca remains an easy favourite for a food-filled weekend among historic streets, museums, cafés and familiar local stops. The city held sixth place, with year-on-year searches increasing by 82%.

Kuala Terengganu offers a quieter interpretation of a cultural getaway. Its traditional crafts, east coast flavours and coastal setting lend themselves to travellers who want to explore without filling every hour of the trip. Searches for Kuala Terengganu grew by 114%, lifting the city from 18th to 14th place. This was the largest climb among destinations appearing in the top 20 in both years.

The comparison shows how Malaysians can now choose between two very different versions of a culture-led holiday: the familiar energy of Malacca or the slower rhythm of Kuala Terengganu.

Looking beyond East Malaysia’s usual gateways

Kota Kinabalu and Kuching remain firmly on Malaysians’ year-end travel map, holding fourth and fifth place respectively. Both offer an established mix of food, culture and experiences beyond the city centre.

Sibu provides another way to experience Sarawak. Days can unfold around markets, local dining and the riverfront, making it suited to travellers who prefer discovering a place through its everyday character rather than a long sightseeing checklist.

The town was part of Agoda’s domestic top 20 in 19th place, with searches growing by 78% year on year. Its arrival suggests that some travellers are beginning to look beyond East Malaysia’s best-known city breaks when planning their December trips.

When the easiest holiday is the most appealing

Not every year-end break needs a flight or weeks of planning. Johor Bahru and Port Dickson both moved up Agoda’s rankings as Malaysians searched for trips that are easier to arrange.

Johor Bahru climbed to seventh place, offering travellers a packed weekend of food, shopping and family attractions. Port Dickson rose to eighth, providing a quick coastal reset within easy reach of the Klang Valley.

Their growing popularity reflects a practical side of December travel. After a busy year, sometimes the best holiday is simply one that is easy to reach, easy to plan and different enough from home.

Malaysia’s familiar favourites continue to lead, but travellers now have more ways to create the holiday they want. Whether it is Langkawi or Kuantan, Malacca or Kuala Terengganu, the choice is becoming less about following the usual list and more about finding the right kind of break.

With over 130,000 flight routes, more than 6 million holiday properties, and over 300,000 activities, Agoda helps travellers combine their bookings in one platform. Travellers can discover deals on Agoda’s mobile app and Agoda.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/after-a-long-year-malaysians-are-looking-for-more-ways-to-get-away-agoda-finds-302874665.html

SOURCE Agoda