SUNGAI BATU PAHAT, Perlis: MHS Aviation Bhd (MHS), a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Bhd (BHB), has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vertiport Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Vertiport), the commercial arm of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), marking a strategic step towards advancing Malaysia’s unmanned aviation capabilities.
The collaboration supports the ‘Airspace Sandbox’ initiative, as announced by the Prime Minister under Budget 2026, which will serve as a national platform for testing and developing low-altitude flight technologies, particularly Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and autonomous aviation solutions.
This partnership aims to strengthen Malaysia’s UAS ecosystem across civil and defence applications through the integration of academic expertise, industry capabilities and operational readiness.
MHS Aviation Bhd’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Fakhrul Arifin Adinan, said this collaboration reflects its commitment to building Malaysia’s next-generation aviation capability.
“Together with UniMAP, we are establishing a strong foundation for scalable, future-ready unmanned solutions aligned with national priorities.
“UniMAP brings strong technical and regulatory capabilities, while MHS contributes over four decades of operational excellence and aviation standards.
“This synergy will accelerate the development and deployment of UAS solutions in Malaysia,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Boustead Holdings Bhd’s Group Managing Director, Datuk Indera Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad, said this initiative reflects Boustead’s strategic role in advancing Malaysia’s defence and aerospace ecosystem in line with national priorities.
“Through MHS, we are strengthening industrial capabilities in emerging technologies such as unmanned systems, while fostering greater collaboration between industry and academia to build a resilient and future-ready aviation sector,” he added.
The MoU formalises a strategic academic-industry collaboration focused on training, research, and innovation in unmanned aviation, with key areas:
This include operational deployment of UAS, including ‘Beyond Visual Line of Sight’ (BVLOS) operation and capabilities.
Apart from that, it includes Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services for the UAS system as well as training and certification programmes covering UAS operations, management and maintenance
This MoU will also form joint promotion and development of UAS-related capabilities and services.
UniMAP’s Vice-Chancellor, Datuk Prof. Dr Zaliman Sauli, added this strategic collaboration reinforces Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in aviation and drone technology.
He said bridging academia and industry would not only advance innovation but also nurture high-skilled talent in aeronautics and unmanned systems.
Echoing this, Vertiport Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s Chairman, Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin, said this establishes a robust platform to deliver scalable and reliable unmanned solutions, positioning Malaysia as a competitive player in the regional aerospace landscape.
The MoU lays the groundwork for further due diligence, including regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), as well as the development of operational frameworks such as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and operations manuals.
