Brands
Measat, Mudah take telehealth to remote Sabah Villages
KUALA LUMPUR: Measat Global Berhad and Mudah Healthtech are fast-tracking digital healthcare in Malaysia’s remotest corners. The two partners recently launched new Sihat Xpress telehealth kiosks in Kg Manikulau near Ranau and Kg Bonor near Sook, Sabah, bringing vital medical services to villages hours from the nearest clinics.
Supported by Measat’s Connectme Now satellite broadband and its extensive distribution network, the initiative aims to reach up to 1 million rural residents. The kiosks serve nearly 1,000 villagers and local school communities, providing guided self-care tools and on-demand doctor consultations.
The launch was graced by Datuk Mary Angela Sipaun, Sabah State Treasurer, who visited both sites alongside local district officers. She praised the partnership, noting that Sabah’s rugged geography often limits access to healthcare and that innovative solutions like Sihat Xpress are essential for underserved communities.
Building on early success, the programme is expanding across Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia, targeting high-impact areas where distance and terrain hinder medical access. Over 1,000 clinics have already been digitalised since 2024 under the Madani MSME Digital Grant, allowing a broad network of doctors to join remote consultations.
Sihat Xpress kiosks let villagers perform self-screening for blood pressure, blood glucose, oxygen levels, body temperature, and BMI, alongside online consultations for non-emergency medical issues. Some villages have seen over 60 per cent resident adoption, with future plans including AI-assisted health assessments, early cancer detection, mental health screenings, and even drone-based medicine delivery.
Measat COO Yau Chyong Lim said, “Our collaboration ensures healthcare comes to the patient, not the other way around. Satellite technology allows us to remove geographical barriers.”
Mudah Healthtech founder Kantha Rasalingam added, “By combining smart kiosks, reliable connectivity, and a robust network of doctors, we are transforming healthcare delivery so quality care reaches every community, regardless of location.”
With this initiative, Measat and Mudah Healthtech are turning the vision of “healthcare at your doorstep” into a tangible reality, aligning with Malaysia’s national drive for equitable, digitally enabled healthcare under the 13th Malaysia Plan.
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
