LEMON BLOG

Malaysia's private healthcare space is about to get a very public spotlight. Sunway Healthcare Holdings Bhd is preparing for a listing that analysts believe will set a new valuation record for the local hospital sector — at least for a while. That "for a while" part matters, because another heavyweight, Asia OneHealthcare (formerly Columbia Asia Healthcare), is also said to be lining up an IPO that could be even larger.

Maybank has kicked off a new pilot project that sounds very "future finance," but the goal is actually quite practical: make cross-border payments faster, safer, and more efficient for businesses that move money across multiple countries. The bank is testing ringgit tokenised deposits and cross-border payments using blockchain, as part of its ROAR30 roadmap into digital assets and modern payment infrastructure.

If you've ever paid for petrol using the outdoor "pay-at-pump" terminal, you'll know how quick and convenient it is. But that convenience is now part of a bigger discussion, because the government is looking at whether overseas-registered credit cards should be blocked at these terminals, especially at petrol stations.

If you're one of the Malaysians eligible for the RM100 SARA cashless aid, yesterday was the day it starts landing and becoming usable. Like the previous round, the assistance is aimed at helping with everyday essentials, and the funds remain usable right through to the end of the year. In other words, it's not a "use it this week or lose it" situation, but something you can stretch out when you actually need it.

If you're planning to balik kampung, visit relatives, or just escape the city for a couple of days, here's a small but very real win for your wallet: the government has announced a 50% toll discount for Chinese New Year travel, happening on 14 and 15 February. Those two days fall on the weekend right before Chinese New Year, which is usually when highways start getting busy with people moving around.