MMC Port Holdings Berhad (“MMC Ports”), Malaysia’s largest port operating group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) with NIZE Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd (“NIZE”), a technology company established under Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., Ltd (“SIPG”), to collaborate on developing a comprehensive digital transformation blueprint. The strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in MMC Ports’ journey towards digitalisation and operational excellence by leveraging the field-tested expertise of SIPG, the operator of Port of Shanghai, the world’s largest and one of the most advanced container ports.

The MoU signing ceremony took place at the MMC Ports’ headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement was signed by Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MMC Ports, and Mr. Steven Huang, General Manager of NIZE. The signing was witnessed by Tan Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Chairman of MMC Ports and Group Managing Director of MMC Corporation Berhad, and Mr. Sam Liu, Chairman of NIZE and Vice President of SIPG. Also present at the ceremony were the senior leadership and technical heads from MMC Ports’ key subsidiaries, including Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, and Penang Port Sdn Bhd.

Accelerating Operational Excellence

This collaboration is designed to translate MMC Ports’ digital aspirations into a concrete, executable roadmap. By adopting the architectural framework that currently powers SIPG’s operations, which handled 51.5 million TEUs in 2024, MMC Ports aims to adopt market-proven solutions.

“We are grounding our digital transformation in reality,” said Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof. “By partnering with NIZE, we are ensuring our digital blueprint is built upon a foundation of field-tested technological architecture. This allows all our ports to chart a path toward world-class operational efficiency with clarity and confidence.”

The MoU was signed by (seated, from right) Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MMC Ports, and Mr. Steven Huang, General Manager of NIZE. The signing was witnessed by (standing, from right) Tan Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Chairman of MMC Ports and Group Managing Director of MMC Corporation Berhad, and Mr. Sam Liu, Chairman of NIZE and Vice President of SIPG.

Echoing this commitment to operational excellence, Mr. Steven Huang, General Manager of NIZE, added, “It is an honour to share our established digital expertise with MMC Ports. Together, we are focused on developing a blueprint that delivers real operational value and sets a new standard for the region.”

Key Areas of Collaboration

Under the terms of the MoU, the parties will conduct feasibility studies on three core initiatives:

MMC Ports Digital Blueprint Roadmap: The development of a detailed five-year business-led digitalisation strategy, including a status quo assessment of infrastructure, systems, terminal layout, automation, and data lifecycle management analytics across all MMC Ports’ operating companies.
MMC Ports Group Dashboard: The creation of a unified group-level dashboard to monitor strategic Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across operations, equipment, finance, commercial and sustainability. This will provide drill-down capabilities from the group level to individual terminals.
Digital Twin Proof of Concept (POC): The implementation of a pilot Digital Twin project at a designated port to test the feasibility of virtual replication for enhanced operational planning and efficiency.

The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation for a term of five years.

MMC Corporation Berhad (“MMC”) is a leading utility and infrastructure group with diversified businesses under four core business divisions, namely Ports and Logistics, Energy and Utilities, Engineering, and Industrial Development.

MMC Ports is Malaysia’s largest port operator as well ASEAN’s largest private terminal operator with a volume handling of 18.4 million TEUs and 36.5 million FWTs as of 2024. Its key businesses under the Ports and Logistics division include operations and management of Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn Bhd, Johor Port Berhad, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, Tanjung Bruas Port Sdn Bhd, SPT Services Sdn Bhd, Andaman Port Sdn Bhd, Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal Sdn Bhd, Port Klang Cruise Terminal Sdn Bhd and Langkawi Cruise Terminal Sdn Bhd.

Additionally, MMC’s Ports operations are supported by two integrated business logistics solution providers, namely Kontena Nasional Berhad and KTMB MMC Cargo Sdn Bhd. Internationally, MMC has a presence in Saudi Arabia via Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company Limited, a container port terminal within the Jeddah Islamic Port.

Under the Energy and Utilities division, MMC is the single largest shareholder of both Malakoff Corporation Berhad, a sustainably driven multinational energy generation and environmental solutions company and Gas Malaysia Berhad, a total energy solutions provider. Malakoff is Malaysia’s largest Independent Power Producer (IPP), while its subsidiary, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, stands as the nation’s largest waste management company, handling an average of 1.1 million tonnes of waste annually. In addition, through Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad, we are a pioneer in wastewater recycling technology and a specialist in water treatment solutions. Aliran Ihsan Resources Berhad is the largest operator of wastewater recycling facilities in Malaysia with a total built capacity of 18 MLD.

From left to right: Mr. Steven Huang, General Manager of NIZE; Mr. Sam Liu, Chairman of NIZE and Vice President of SIPG; Tan Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Chairman of MMC Ports and Group Managing Director of MMC Corporation Berhad and Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of MMC Ports.
The strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in MMC Ports’ journey towards digitalisation and operational excellence by leveraging the field-tested expertise of SIPG, the operator of Port of Shanghai, the world’s largest and one of the most advanced container ports.

MMC’s Engineering division has played a leading role in the implementation and completion of the 51 km Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (“KVMRT”) Kajang Line, including the underground works package and the entire 57.7 km KVMRT Putrajaya Line. MMC has successfully delivered several notable civil and infrastructure projects including the 329 km Ipoh-Padang Besar Electrified Double Tracking Project, the innovative Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (“SMART”) Motorway (a first of its kind, dual-purpose tunnel), Langat Centralised Sewerage Treatment Plant, Langat 2 Water Treatment Plant and Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (“RAPID”) Pengerang Cogeneration Plant. It has also supported national food security through its involvement with MADA in developing infrastructure for the “Five (5) Seasons in Two (2) Years” paddy cultivation programme, aimed at boosting rice production through enhanced irrigation and agricultural systems.

MMC Land Sdn Bhd is the holding company of Senai Airport City Sdn Bhd, Seaport Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Northern Technocity Sdn Bhd, which develops and manages approximately 5,300 acres of industrial development land in Johor and Kedah, namely Senai Airport City (“SAC”), Tanjung Bin Industrial Park (“TBIP”) in Iskandar Malaysia, and Northern Technocity (“NTC”) in Kulim, Kedah. The three (3) developments of SAC, TBIP and NTC provides ready platform and basic infrastructure, and is well connected to major expressway, seaports and airports, targeting clean and hi-tech multinational companies (MNCs), Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) & Domestic Direct Investment (DDI). To date, these developments have successfully secured approximately RM 7- 8 billion in FDI and DDI.
Source: MMC Port Holdings