KUALA LUMPUR (April 24): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday:

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has frozen certain bank accounts belonging to Padini Holdings Bhd (KL:PADINI) amid an ongoing investigation linked to money laundering. The garment retailer said the accounts, held by the group and its subsidiaries, were frozen pursuant to Section 44(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. Padini noted that the affected accounts are not actively used for its day-to-day operations, and that the group continues to have access to other banking facilities to support its business activities. — MACC freezes Padini’s bank accounts amid money laundering investigation

Unisem (M) Bhd (KL:UNISEM) slipped into the red with a net loss of RM13.36 million in the first quarter of this year, as higher production costs squeezed margins despite increased revenue. The semiconductor group posted a net profit of RM6 million a year earlier. The last time the company was in the red was close to six years ago. Revenue rose 9.7% year-on-year to RM464.75 million in 1QFY2026, from RM423.62 million a year before, driven by higher sales volume across its key operating units. Unisem did not declare any dividend for the quarter. — Unisem posts first quarterly loss in nearly six years in 1Q on higher production costs

Mesiniaga Bhd (KL:MSNIAGA) has bagged a RM51.64 million contract from Malayan Banking Bhd’s (KL:MAYBANK) unit for the subscription of cloud infrastructure software and support services. The group said it had accepted a purchase order from Maybank Shared Services Sdn Bhd for the subscription of Nutanix Cloud Infrastructure, including ultimate software licences and mission-critical support services. Mesiniaga said the contract will run for 60 months, and does not include an automatic renewal clause. — Mesiniaga bags RM51.6 mil IT services contract from Maybank unit

Sarawak Consolidated Industries Bhd (KL:SCIB) has secured a RM32.78 million engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract for a school project in Sabah. The industrialised building systems player said its wholly-owned subsidiary, SCIB Industrialised Building System Sdn Bhd, had received a letter of award from Belian Juta Sdn Bhd for the construction of a new secondary school, SMK Balaban Jaya in Beluran. The project involves building 18 classrooms along with supporting facilities. — SCIB bags RM32.8 mil EPCC contract for Sabah school project

Petra Energy Bhd (KL:PENERGY) has secured a contract from Vestigo Petroleum Sdn Bhd to provide field operations management services (FOMS) for offshore facilities in Sarawak. The contract covers the SK407 production sharing contract (PSC) and associated facilities offshore Miri, comprising five fields — West Lutong, Baram, Tukau, Siwa and Fairly Baram. It does not carry a fixed value and will run for two years from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028. — Petra Energy bags offshore services contract from Vestigo Petroleum

ManagePay Systems Bhd (KL:MPAY) has secured a contract to provide an open payment system for the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) passenger ticketing system. The letter of award, covering supply, deliver, installation, integration, testing, commissioning and maintenance, was awarded to its unit, ManagePay Services Sdn Bhd, from ECRL Operations Sdn Bhd on Wednesday (April 22). ECRL Operations is the joint venture between Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and China Communications Construction Co Ltd, which will manage rail operations slated to commence in January 2027. A specified value to the job was not attached, though remuneration will be by way of applicable merchant discount rates — payment processing fee — on successful transactions during the payment processing period, which is 60 months from Dec 1, 2026. — ManagePay appointed to provide open payment system to East Coast Rail Link

Eco World Development Group Bhd (KL:ECOWLD) is disposing of 49.588 acres of industrial land at its QUANTUM Edge industrial park in Kulai, Johor, to a hyperscale data centre operator for RM280.8 million. The property developer said its wholly-owned subsidiary Eco Business Park 6 Sdn Bhd had entered into a conditional sale and purchase agreement with KNBDC Malaysia Five Sdn Bhd for the sale of the two parcels of land. EcoWorld president and chief executive officer Datuk Chang Khim Wah said KNBDC was acquiring the final two industrial land parcels at QUANTUM Edge, joining existing occupants Microsoft and Princeton Digital Group. — EcoWorld sells final QUANTUM Edge parcels for RM280.8m to data centre operator

Chuan Huat Resources Bhd (KL:CHUAN) is exiting its loss-making subsidiary Pineapple Resources Bhd (KL:PINEAPP) by disposing of its entire 63.86% stake, comprising 30.97 million shares, for RM26.02 million cash. The steel trader and manufacturer is looking to focus on its core businesses and unlock value from a non-core investment. Chuan Huat said its wholly-owned unit Chuan Huat Holdings Sdn Bhd had entered into two separate share sale agreements with Gan Kok Xan and Yeoh Guan Fook to dispose of the shares at 84 sen apiece. As their combined shareholding in Pineapple Resources will rise from nil to 63.86%, Gan will be required to undertake a mandatory general offer for the remaining shares not already owned by him and persons acting in concert, at 84 sen apiece. — Chuan Huat exits Pineapple Resources with RM26 mil stake sale, triggers MGO

Sarawak Oil Palms Bhd (KL:SOP) reported a 43.5% drop in net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 (1QFY2026), weighed by unrealised derivatives losses of RM44.4 million due to commodity price and foreign exchange movements. Net profit fell to RM64.31 million from RM113.76 million a year earlier, while revenue was largely unchanged at RM1.44 billion, as higher sales volume was offset by lower realised selling prices. — Sarawak Oil Palms 1Q profit falls 44% on derivatives losses

CTOS Digital Bhd's (KL:CTOS) first-quarter earnings saw a 28.2% increase in net profit, mainly due to improved share of profits from associates. The better earnings were also aided by higher revenue and lower finance costs. Net profit for the three months ended March 31, 2026 was RM18.51 million versus RM14.44 million a year ago. Quarterly revenue rose 7.3% to RM81.59 million compared with RM76.07 million a year ago, thanks to higher demand across its analytics and intelligence and data information services. The group declared a first interim dividend of 0.57 sen per share. — CTOS Digital’s 1Q profit up 28% on improved share of profits from associates