Boustead Holdings, Universiti Malaysia Perlis ink MOU to boost Malaysia’s unmanned aviation sector

KUALA LUMPUR (April 5): MHS Aviation Bhd, a subsidiary of Boustead Holdings Bhd, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vertiport Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the commercial arm of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), to advance Malaysia’s unmanned aviation capabilities.

In a statement released on Sunday, MHS Aviation said the collaboration supports the Airspace Sandbox initiative announced under Budget 2026 by the Malaysian government, which is designed as a national platform for testing and developing low-altitude flight technologies, particularly Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and autonomous aviation solutions.

The partnership is expected to strengthen Malaysia’s UAS ecosystem across both civil and defence applications by integrating academic expertise with industry capabilities and operational readiness.

Under the MOU, the collaboration will focus on training, research and innovation in unmanned aviation. Key areas include operational deployment of UAS — especially Beyond Visual Line of Sight capabilities — maintenance, repair and overhaul services, as well as training and certification programmes covering operations, management and maintenance. Both parties will also jointly promote and develop UAS-related capabilities and services.

The MOU also lays the groundwork for further due diligence, including regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia, as well as the development of operational frameworks such as standard operating procedures and operations manuals.

MHS Aviation CEO Mohd Fakhrul Arifin Adinan said the collaboration reflects the company’s commitment to building next-generation aviation capabilities in Malaysia.

“Together with UniMAP, we are establishing a strong foundation for scalable, future-ready unmanned solutions aligned with national priorities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Boustead Holdings group managing director Ahmad Sabirin Arshad said the initiative underscores the group’s strategic role in strengthening Malaysia’s defence and aerospace ecosystem.

Through MHS Aviation, he said Boustead Holdings is enhancing industrial capabilities in emerging technologies such as unmanned systems while fostering closer collaboration between industry and academia.

UniMAP vice-chancellor Zaliman Sauli said the partnership will reinforce Malaysia’s position as a regional leader in aviation and drone technology, while also helping to develop high-skilled talent in aeronautics and unmanned systems.