This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 22, 2022 - August 28, 2022

Touch ’n Go (TNG) Group has launched GOinvest, a proprietary digital investment platform that can be accessed through its Touch ’n Go eWallet.

GOinvest promotes choice and financial inclusion on a secure platform that is open to all Touch ’n Go eWallet users. Eventually, the platform will allow users to access and choose from a range of curated investment products, earn returns and accumulate savings.

The first product is the Principal Islamic Money Market Fund, managed by Principal Asset Management Bhd. Touch ’n Go eWallet users, aged 18 and above, can start investing with as little as RM10 in the shariah-compliant fund.

There is no lock-in period or cap on the investment balance, unlike other conventional deposit products. Also, users may choose to set their personal financial goals, such as for a wedding, dream car, education or vacation, as this would help them to focus on and achieve their investment goals.

On a separate note, customers can now pay for fuel using the Touch ’n Go RFID at 88 Shell petrol stations nationwide. The number of stations providing this service is expected to double next year.

TNG Group will integrate BonusLink to allow customers to earn loyalty points with each fuel purchase. Upon successful activation, after a one-time registration to link the RFID tag to the Touch ’n Go eWallet, users simply need to park at a designated RFID fuelling bay and proceed to refuel their vehicles.

The first 25,000 customers who pump a minimum of RM50 using the RFID tag at Shell will receive RM10 cashback from Aug 10 to Sept 16, 2022. Only first-time users of this feature are eligible for the cashback.

Taylor’s University’s latest venture, VORTEX XR Lab, fitted with augmented, virtual and extended reality (XR) software and hardware is expected to drive a university-wide adoption of immersive technologies in teaching, learning and research.

The VORTEX XR Lab, in which the university has invested more than RM1 million, includes facilities such as a green screen studio, XR applications and LED-stage powered by Zero Density, mixed reality immersive rooms, VR head mounted displays by Meta Quest and HTC, and a HoloLens 2 station.

Taylor’s is the first university in Malaysia to be part of the Zero Density Educational Partner Programme for training and certification. It holds the commercial licence to produce XR videos that can be monetised. The lab will support all of its 16 faculties.

The VORTEX XR Lab is also collaborating with partners such as the Ministry of XR, and has signed an agreement with Tabung Gagasan Ekonomi Anak Sarawak (Tegas) Digital Village to raise awareness of and promote XR technologies in Sarawak. The university plans to introduce an Interactive Spatial Design degree in March next year.

Borderless decentralised ecosystem XLD Finance has launched OmniX, a new service that allows users to experience a web-based multi-tool for cryptocurrency disbursements.

OmniX was built to relieve users and companies from the time-consuming process of unscalable one-to-one transactions. It enables companies to improve their online disbursement experience by facilitating a convenient, safe, secure and scalable platform to manage such transactions across chains.

In just three clicks, anyone with a Metamask and Ronin wallet can compensate in cryptocurrency up to thousands of people with OmniX’s multi-chain and multi-token payment disbursement solution. Users can also easily disburse cryptocurrency after signing up without any requirements.

Moreover, OmniX allows managers to have customisable payroll groups and multiple earning share rates across different levels. It also enables payments made in preferred cryptocurrencies across three chains.

OmniX recently partnered with NFT Gaming Guilds for Axie Infinity, such as Axie University, NFT XStreet, MVP Guild, Sandovibes and United Gamers Guild, so managers can enhance their team’s cryptocurrency experience and serve their members with more robust payment options.

The platform has confirmed its upcoming strategic partnerships with businesses and cryptocurrency projects, including Metaverse Go, Metacare and United Gamers DAO, to make payroll easier.

Google is expanding its cloud region to cover Malaysia, New Zealand and Thailand. This will offer local organisations enterprise-grade capabilities that they will need to accelerate digital transformation and create new competitive advantages.

Currently, Google Cloud regions offer services such as Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes Engine, Cloud Storage, Persistent Disk, CloudSQL, Virtual Private Cloud, Key Management System, Cloud Identity and Secret Manager. The Malaysia cloud region is expected to deliver high-performance and low-latency services to local organisations, with three zones offering protection against service disruptions.

Organisations will also benefit from key controls that allow them to maintain the highest security, data residency and compliance standards, including specific data storage requirements. The cloud region will be complemented by Google Cloud’s existing Dedicated Cloud Interconnect locations in Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur, which provide direct connections between an organisation’s on-premises network and Google Cloud’s global network.

According to Google Cloud’s managing director for Southeast Asia Ruma Balasubramaniam, the new launch will deliver the cloud foundation that most local businesses need to transform and compete on the global stage — whether by maximising the use of data, enabling a hybrid workforce, or having a flexible platform to adapt to evolving market and regulatory conditions.

Google plans to set up a cloud data centre in Malaysia. Further developments will be announced in the coming months.

Pine Labs has announced a partnership with Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) to enable a digital pay later option on the former’s point-of-sales (POS) terminals across Malaysia. The instalment programme is available to BSN credit card holders at more than 10,000 merchant outlets in the country.

From July, BSN cardholders can choose not to make full payments on their product purchases at offline stores powered by Pine Labs. They can convert their payments into equal monthly instalments of up to 36 months at a 0% rate.

“During their in-store purchases, consumers in Malaysia increasingly prefer the affordable pay later route, where they convert their regular purchases into an instalment purchase option. The seamless process enables offline retailers to drive sales, especially that of big-ticket items,” says Chayan Hazra, head of payment business (Asia-Pacific) at Pine Labs.

Ximple, a Singapore-based consumer electronics platform, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with eight strategic partners in Malaysia. The partners are Fictron, APR, Home+, Seemedia, TBM, Aihome, Design Plus and Lau (International) Distribution.

The strategic partners will be making their products and services available on Ximple’s platform with the mutual goal of creating a circular economy and sustainable business ecosystem in Malaysia. 

The partnerships will also pave the way for the enhancement of Ximple’s super app for improved solutions; Xstore, a primary marketplace for tech consumers; Xboost, a data analytics solution for their partners; and Xcircle, an exclusive in-house membership programme.

Ximple is looking to expand its footprint in Malaysia through an equity crowdfunding campaign with Fundnel. The platform raised US$1.2 million in the last fundraising round from private investors, with the aim of besting its previous total.

The Randstad Workmonitor Survey has found that workers in Malaysia prioritise work-life balance and remote working options. According to its findings, a staggering 95% of its 750 respondents said having work-life balance is important to them. This was further affirmed when one in three workers said they would rather be unemployed than feel unhappy at work.

Based on the survey, one in two workers were not afraid to quit their jobs if it meant having better work-life balance. This trend was significant among millennials aged 25 to 35, with 55% of them sharing the sentiment.

In terms of remote working, most respondents chose to have flexible working hours and locations. This was based on the response of 89% of survey participants, who said it was important for them to be able to work from any location, while 86% said it was crucial for them to have the flexibility to work from home or remotely.

The Randstad Workmonitor Survey highlights the greatest concerns and challenges candidates are facing in the employment market. The 2H2022 survey was conducted across 34 markets around the world.

Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Malaysia to curate a platform for local start-ups to take their innovations to the world stage.

The MoU will see Cradle collaborate with Microsoft for the Startups Founders Hub programme, which will provide access to upskilling opportunities, personalised technical guidance and access to the Microsoft Mentor Network, with free access to GitHub Enterprise. Other benefits include productivity boosts with Microsoft 365 and Azure cloud credits of up to US$150,000 to set up their products.

Form 1 and Form 2 students from national secondary schools across the country are invited to participate in Samsung Malaysia Electronics Solve for Tomorrow Competition 2022. 

The competition, which kicks off on Aug 23, aims to encourage communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and teamwork in discovering and nurturing social innovation ideas that resolve the local community’s most pressing problems.

Inspirational leaders behind the chosen pillars and competition details will be announced through a live stream via Samsung Malaysia Newsroom or Samsung Malaysia YouTube Page at 10.30am on the day.

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow is a global educational programme designed to increase interest and proficiency in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and to encourage youths to apply STEM in finding creative solutions to challenges and addressing risks faced by local communities.

For more information, visit http://csr.samsung.com/en/programViewSft.do.

Alibaba Cloud, together with its local partner HandsProfit, has launched the Create@Alibaba Cloud Global Startup Contest (CACSC) in Malaysia.

Globally dubbed as “the Olympics” of technology venture capital, CACSC covers dozens of countries and just under 100 cities worldwide. This contest acts as a platform to drive digital transformation and tech innovation, as well as for tech start-ups to unleash their potential via a network of investor ecosystems.

This year’s CACSC will focus on five core pillars — digital tech, food and beverage tech, agrotech, blockchain and Industrial Revolution 4.0. The contest will provide participants with access to ready funders and investors for their projects, as well as Alibaba’s wide range of business ecosystems and resources, and benefit from the fintech behemoth’s digital business practices.

Additionally, participants will get access to the Alibaba Cloud ecosystem to gain valuable insights, experience and resources to expand their businesses, including mentorship programmes and workshops with experts from various industries as part of its role in creating a sustainable pool of digital talent.

CACSC is now open for registration. There is a participation fee of US$200 or RM800 per contestant or startup; and it includes: startup kit; investment-ready programme; tickets to the final pitch round; and, listing on the Venture Grab Website & Create Entrepreneur Booklet.

Deadline for submission is Sept 25. For more information and further details on the contest, visit www.createstartupcontest.com.

Artists and art managers of all disciplines from Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries are invited to apply for residencies at Rimbun Dahan in 2023. Applications are now open and will close on Sept 16.

The residency provides an opportunity for artists and art managers to utilise the workspace and accommodation at Rimbun Dahan’s 14-acre indigenous garden setting.

Residents are expected to stay and work on-site full time, which would be from one to three months. They will receive a monthly stipend of RM 1,000, administrative support and access to the artist’s lounge, library, garden and swimming pool.

The Rimbun Dahan residency is recommended for artists seeking solitude with a specific professional interest in its Southeast Asian garden, heritage textiles and contemporary heritage architecture.

For more information on the residency, visit: http://rimbundahan.org/arts/residencies/residencies-for-malaysians/

Sanjay Poonen is Cohesity’s new president and CEO

Cohesity, a leader in data management, has appointed Sanjay Poonen as its president and CEO. He previously served as chief operating officer at VMare and president of SAP.

Now, Poonen will join the Cohesity board of directors alongside Mohit Aron, his predecessor, to work closely with its customers and partners in combating ransomware, removing data fragmentation and simplifying data management to accommodate the hybrid and multi-cloud world. In his previous role, Poonen oversaw sales, marketing, services and formed alliances in doubling revenues.

A Malaysian thriller on racial extremism is looking for funding on Indiegogo. Helmed by Ken Kin, with a script by Lim Boon Siang and co-produced by Amir Muhammad and James Chong, the script was received in part at Kuman Pictures’ first screenwriting competition in 2019.

Looking for a “fixed funding” of RM300,000, the film will only get made if the amount listed is reached. Otherwise, any money pledged will not be charged to the backer and the movie will not be made.

As of Aug 17, the team has raised RM29,788 from 63 backers. The project was listed on the renowned crowdfunding site on Aug 15.

“Since this is a Malaysian story that is made by Malaysians for other Malaysians, we thought of getting backers from the public instead of relying on large companies or corporate sponsors. This would enable the movie to be made and screened without commercial or bureaucratic considerations,” says the Indiegogo website on the Pendatang movie project.

A dystopian film where different races are not allowed to mix by force of draconian law, the story aims to spark conversations on the direction society and the nation is heading towards. Cantonese and Malay will be mainly used in this film, which is expected to run for 90 minutes.

If the funding target is achieved, pre-production of the film will be from October 2022 until February 2023, while production will start in March next year and post-production from April to July. The film’s planned release is on Aug 31, 2023.

There will be six tiers of backers, with pledges of US$10 (Tier 6) to US$10,000 (Tier 1). To contribute to the campaign, visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/pendatang-movie#/faq.

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