Malakoff Corporation Berhad (“Malakoff”) held the Malakoff Innovation Challenge Award Ceremony at the Malakoff Academy of Excellence (“MAX”) on 18 February 2025, which was graced by the presence of Malakoff’s Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer (“MD & GCEO”), Encik Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib and Chief People Officer, Encik Raja Iskandar Raja Mukhtarruddin.

The event began with a welcome address from Encik Raja Iskandar Raja Mukhtarruddin, who shared the objectives of the initiative and the essence of the programme. Encik Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib then took the stage to congratulate all those involved in the implementation of the programme. He emphasised the importance of encouraging innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement within the organisation. He also applauded the success of the programme in serving as a platform to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among the participants by turning innovative ideas into practical solutions aimed at improving the organisation’s work and operational processes.

The Malakoff Innovation Challenge 2024 was designed to encourage innovative thinking and promote sustainable cost optimisation among employees. Participating teams were required to submit proposals outlining their problem statements, cost-saving targets and potential impacts on stakeholders. Throughout the competition, teams received guidance from external innovation coaches and internal motivators to refine their ideas, set clear goals and develop actionable solutions. Between March and September 2024, participants focused on identifying cost-saving opportunities, analysing data and implementing their strategies.

During the award ceremony, Malakoff recognised nine outstanding teams for their contributions and active participation in the challenge. The top honour was awarded to Team Crush ‘Em for their exceptional performance and innovative solutions, while Team TBPP PMS secured second place and Team TBE OPS 42 achieved third place. This recognition served as a testament to the hard work, dedication and problem-solving skills demonstrated by all participating teams, reinforcing Malakoff’s commitment to cultivating a culture of innovation and excellence across the organisation.

The winning team received RM 25,000, an incentive trip valued at RM 15,000 and the prestigious W.I.N Innovation Challenge Champion Trophy. Additionally, the top three teams that demonstrated significant cost optimisation results qualified for the National Innovation Award 2024, hosted by the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC).
Beyond cultivating a team of proactive problem solvers, the programme also fostered team building and strengthened participants’ understanding of processes across various departments. This event highlights Malakoff’s strong commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (“SDG”) No. 9 -Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation. It is also aligned with Malakoff’s overarching purpose of ‘Enhancing Life, Enriching Communities’.