Tag Archives: Digital Economy

Did Bill Gates Say India’s Digital ID Must Be Mandatory In US?!

Did Bill Gates say that India’s digital ID must become mandatory in the United States?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : Bill Gates Says India’s Digital ID Must Become Mandatory In US!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claimed or suggested that Bill Gates said that India’s digital ID must become mandatory in the United States!

Bill Gates Says India’s Digital ID Must Become Mandatory in America

Recommended : Is Bill Gates recruiting 2M Indians to control Internet using AI?!

 

Truth : Bill Gates Did Not Say India’s Digital ID Must Become Mandatory In US!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Bill Gates Never Said India’s Digital ID Must Implemented In US

Let me start by pointing out that Bill Gates never said that India’s digital ID must be implemented in the United States, never mind made “mandatory”.

If Bill Gates actually suggested making India’s digital ID mandatory in the United States, it would not only have been reported widely by the mainstream media, and lambasted by people who don’t like such ideas. Yet, there was no such report, not even some social media outrage.

That’s because that never happened. The People’s Voice article, unsurprisingly, offered no evidence to back up its “fact checked” claim.

The source of this nonsensical claim is a blog post by Bill Gates on his (upcoming) trip to India, called “India’s innovations are still changing the world“. Nowhere in that post does he mention implementing India’s digital ID, or making it mandatory in the United States.

Fact #2 : Aadhaar Is Not Mandatory In India

Aadhaar (आधार), India’s digital ID system, provides a 12-digit unique identity number based on the persons biometrics – 10 fingerprints, 2 iris prints, and a photo of the person’s face, as well as demographic data.

However, Aadhaar is not mandatory, and is an “opt-in” system, because it was developed to help provide targeted delivery of financial aid and other subsidies, benefits and services to the people of India.

In fact, the Supreme Court of India issued an interim order on 23 September 2023, that “no person should suffer for not getting Aadhaar“, and that the government cannot deny a service to a resident who does not possess Aadhaar, as it is voluntary and not mandatory.

Fact #3 : US Federalism Makes It Difficult For National ID

The United States of America is one of the few developed countries to not have a national identity card. It’s not for a lack of trying – there have been proposals to nationalise its ID cards.

Anyone, including Bill Gates, can call for a national identity card, whether digital or physical. So what? It’s not the first time anyone has suggested it, and it won’t be the last time either.

However, the United States was founded upon the idea of federalism, so attempts to create a national identity card have failed so far. As a result, Americans have to resort to using a number of documents to prove their identity or citizenship.

Recommended : Biden hired Bill Gates to flood Internet with AI censorship bots?!

Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.

Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice.  Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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IBM To Fuel AI Digital Transformation In Malaysia!

IBM is offering IT infrastructure with a new level of security and reliability to fuel Malaysia’s AI digital transformation!

 

AI Digital Transformation In Malaysia Needs Better IT Infra!

Malaysia is at a pivotal point in its digital journey, with businesses future-proofing their organisations by leveraging AI and automation.

The digital economy is now a cornerstone of Malaysia’s economy, contributing 23.2% of the nation’s gross domestic product in 2021. The Malaysia Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil, anticipates that this will increase to 25.5% by 2025, with a value of RM382 billion. The National Tech Association of Malaysia is even more optimistic, and believes that the digital economy will hit that economic contribution much earlier.

The increased urgency in adopting cutting-edge technologies like AI is driving demand for better IT infrastructure. Better not just in terms of performance and availability, but also security and reliability.

An IDC report forecasted that AI spending in the Asia Pacific region alone will skyrocket to US$78 billion by 2027. And these AI investments are predominantly being funnelled into infrastructure provisioning. That’s because ultimately, digital transformation in any nation is reliant on its IT infrastructure.

Recommended : IBM Expands Power10 Server Line With New Models!

 

IBM To Fuel AI Digital Transformation In Malaysia!

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to AI infrastructure. Organisations must provision the right infrastructure for the AI task at hand.

They have to not only look at the size and scale of the AI models and tasks, they also have to consider security and privacy issues, as well as regulatory compliance. A resilient infrastructure by design is also critical, with AI workloads becoming essential backbones to mission critical applications and workloads.

To that end, IBM Power Systems offer a secure and reliable platform for enterprises to perform inference, and run AI algorithms on their most sensitive data and transactions.

IBM Power Systems run on the Power10 core, which is designed for AI acceleration. Each Power10 core on the IBM Power S1022 can process up to 42% more batch queries per second than a comparable x86 server with a peak load of 40 concurrent users, while running large language AI models.

IBM Power10 systems also offers enterprise out-0f-the-box low-latency transactional capabilities and throughput, resiliency, continuous availability (99.999%) and concurrent replace and repair.

The IBM Power10 is also designed for greater efficiency. The Power E1080, for example, offers 3X the capacity with 52% lower power consumption for the same workload, compared to the Power E880C. It also offers 33% lower power consumption than the Power E980 for the same workload.

IBM claims that, in general, Power10 systems offer 6X more throughput per container cluster, and 40% to 50% lower cost than comparable x86 solutions.

On top of that, the IBM Power Systems are built to be secure by design, with a fully-integrated secured stack from processor chip to operating system, offering quantum-safe encryption and fully homomorphic encryption (FHE).

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Cloudflare Services Down For Almost 2 Days In Major Outage!

Cloudflare services have gone down in a major outage, due to a loss of power affecting its data centres! Find out what’s going on!

Updated @ 2023-11-04 : Added new information and updates
Updated @ 2023-11-03 : Added new information and updates

Originally posted @ 2023-11-02

 

Cloudflare Dashboard + Services Down In Major Outage!

At approximately 11:54 AM UTC on 2 November 2023, Cloudflare customers started experiencing problems with its APIs and Dashboard services. Any user logging into their accounts would only see this announcement:

The Cloudflare Dashboard is temporarily unavailable.

Please reload this page to try again. If the issue persists, please visit the Cloudflare Status page for up-to-date information regarding any ongoing issues.

Cloudflare Edge security features, and Cloudflare CDN caching services were not affected. But all other services relying on the Cloudflare API infrastructure went down – Alerts, Dashboard functionality, Zero Trust, WARP, Cloudflared, Waiting Room, Gateway, Stream, Magic WAN, API Shield, Pages, and Workers.

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Cloudflare Services Down From Datacenter Power Loss!

Just over an hour later, Cloudflare reported that the outage was far worse than it initially reported, and they were still “actively investigating the problem”. They also provided a more detailed list of its services that have gone down:

The following products are currently impacted at the data plane / edge level, meaning that the full product functionality is either partially or fully affected: Logpush, WARP / Zero Trust device posture, Cloudflare dashboard, Cloudflare API, Stream API, Workers API, Alert Notification System.

These products are impacted at the control plane / core level, meaning that only the changes to the existing configuration are affected, but the product is functioning at the edge: Magic Transit, Argo Smart Routing, Workers KV, WAF, Rate Limiting, Rules, WARP / Zero Trust Registration, Waiting Room, Load Balancing and Healthchecks, Cloudflare Pages, Zero Trust Gateway, DNS Authoritative and Secondary, Cloudflare Tunnel, Workers KV namespace operations, Magic WAN.

At approximately 1:58 PM UTC, Cloudflare finally revealed that the outage was due to a loss of power at its datacenter, which caused services to fail simultaneously.

Cloudflare is assessing a loss of power impacting data centres while simultaneously failing over services.

We are continuing to work on a fix for this issue.

Several hours later – at 5:08 PM UTC, power was partially restored to its core North American data centre, and some core services were transferred to a backup data centre. In three subsequent updates, Cloudflare reports that it was seeing “gradual improvement” to its affected services.

However, at almost 11 PM that day – almost half a day after the outage started, Cloudflare was still working to restore full functionality.

At 2:40 AM UTC on 3 November, Cloudflare released an updated list of what is now functioning, and what still remains down:

Data plane impact (i.e. full product functionality is either fully impacted or partially impacted):
* Cloudflare Dash: degraded availability but accessible
* Stream API: not available
* Healthchecks: not available
* Radar: Degraded

Control plane impact (i.e. product functionality is online however changes to configuration is impacted):
* Cloudflare Pages: restored
* Magic Transit: not available to make changes
* Magic WAN: not available to make changes
* Argo Smart Routing: configuration now working, smart updates and analytics are offline
* Waiting Room: configuration updates are propagating with delay
* ZT Gateway: degraded but online
* DNS Secondary: not available to make changes
* Billing API: Degraded
* Cloudflare API: degraded but accessible

Some six hours later, they appear to be making some progress, although it seem obvious that they are a long way from a full restoration of services.

Data plane impact (i.e. full product functionality is either fully impacted or partially impacted):
* Logpush: more jobs are being restored
* Cloudflare dashboard: degraded availability but accessible
* Stream API: not available
* Healthchecks: not available
* Radar: Degraded

Control plane impact (i.e. product functionality is online however changes to configuration is impacted):
* CDN API: potentially impacted
* Access API: Degraded
* Magic Transit: configuration plane is working internally (contact your account team to make any urgent changes)
* Magic WAN: configuration plane is working internally (contact your account team to make any urgent changes)
* SOC Proactive Alerts: not available
* Argo Smart Routing: configuration now working, smart updates and analytics are offline
* Billing API: Degraded
* Email Noticatifications: Emails updates from Cloudflare are being delayed or not sent
* Lists: List configurations are working, but there may be delays in list updates propagating throughout the cloudflare network

Almost a day later – at 10:59 AM UTC, Cloudflare said that it was still continuing to work on restoring service for the impacted applications. It is unknown if power has been restored to their North American datacenter in full… or if they are facing other problems

The good news is that – the Cloudflare Dashboard is now working, although certain services or features like Analytics are “temporarily unavailable”, and you may get error messages about certain API requests failing.

It was only at 6:42 AM UTC on November 4, 2023 – almost 2 days later, that Cloudflare finally reported that it restored all services to “operational status”.

Now, we wait to see whether it would reveal what actually happened in this exceptional downtime, for a company that prides itself on helping to keep its clients online and available…

 

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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WithSecure Signs Partnership Agreement With LGMS!

Finland’s WithSecure Corporation just signed a partnership agreement with LGMS Berhad to develop cybersecurity solutions for the SME market in Malaysia!

 

WithSecure Signs Partnership Agreement With LGMS

On Wednesday, 1 November 2023, Finland’s WithSecure Corporation (formerly known as F-Secure Business) signed a partnership agreement with LGMS Berhad (LGMS) to develop cybersecurity solutions for the SME market in Malaysia!

The partnership agreement was signed by LGMS Executive Chairman Fong Choong Fook and WithSecure Corporation CEO Juhani Hintikka, who flew in from Finland to emphasise its importance while demonstrating support for the progress of Malaysia’s Digital Economy.

The signing was witnessed by Malaysia Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching, together with His Excellency Sami Leino, Ambassador of Finland to Malaysia and Brunei.

Recommended : WithSecure Takes Offensive Security Approach To Cloud Threats!

The Deputy Minister said that the partnership was ‘timely’, and represents a ‘significant leap’ towards a secured Digital Economy, and more so ahead of the National Cybersecurity Bill the Unity Government is set to unveil in early-2024.

This partnership is also aligned with the government’s ‘Ekonomi Madani’ vision of attracting significant foreign direct investments and generating avenues for technological advancements and innovations.

It serves to demonstrate how collaborative efforts can facilitate a robust, secure and prosperous digital ecosystem, thereby solidifying Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for global tech investments.

The partnership agreement today between LGMS and WithSecure embodies a philosophy of attracting significant foreign direct investments and generating avenues for technological advancements and innovations.

It serves to demonstrate how collaborative efforts can facilitate a robust, secure and prosperous digital ecosystem, thereby solidifying Malaysia’s position as a preferred destination for global tech investments.

– Malaysia Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching

WithSecure CEO Juhani Hintikka expressed his ‘deepest appreciation’ to the Deputy Minister for endorsing this partnership, stating, “Your presence significantly amplifies the resonance of this initiative, showcasing a unified front in our endeavour to foster a secure and prosperous Digital Economy for Malaysia and also the region.

Recommended : How WithSecure Offensive Security Drives Business Resilience!

 

WithSecure – LGMS Partnership Agreement Details

WithSecure is today a leading international cybersecurity group which had also invested significantly in Malaysia and in nurturing local talent. Besides its headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, WithSecure houses its intelligence, customer support, business operations and shared services in Kuala Lumpur for its Asia-Pacific operations.

LGMS Berhad, meanwhile, has been recognised as Cybersecurity Malaysia’s ‘Company of the Year’ with Fong himself being acknowledged as ‘Cybersecurity Professional of the Year’.

Fong said that, within today’s Digital Economy, cyberthreats and ransomware attacks have become more sophisticated and rampant and potential damages to SMEs, who often lack the necessary IT expertise and resources, can be catastrophic.

Most SMEs today are just one cyber attack away from a devastating setback or even closure. Recognising that most SMEs might not possess advanced IT know-how, our collaboration with WithSecure aims to deliver cybersecurity solutions that are not only robust but also intuitive and user-friendly.

The purpose is to empower our SME community to navigate the digital landscape confidently and securely.

– LGMS Executive Chairman Fong Choong Fook

This localised cybersecurity approach underscores WithSecure’s understanding of the region’s unique digital ecosystem and our commitment to crafting solutions that align with local business needs. It embodies WithSecure’s ethos of merging global cybersecurity expertise with local insights to foster a safer digital realm.

– WithSecure Corporation CEO Juhani Hintikka

One product of this partnership is the ‘Made in Malaysia’ StarSentry solution – a plug-and-play model that is more than just a ‘shield’ for SMEs but offers a proactive approach to threat prevention.

This solution is also aligned with broader sustainability goal and embraces the ESG framework of safeguarding critical infrastructures, nurturing a secure digital community and reinforcing stringent governance standards, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to responsible, transparent business operations.

Pre-orders for the solution can already be made.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Do You Now Need ETA To Travel To The UK?!

Do you now need ETA – Electronic Travel Authorisation – to travel to the UK?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : You Need ETA To Travel To The UK!

A video clip called New UK travel requirements has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media. It warns that people who travel to the UK on or after 15 November 2023, must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

This has led some people who already booked their flights to the UK to panic, as they were not aware of such requirements.

Recommended : New Study Proves Pfizer Vaccine Causes Turbo Cancer?!

 

Truth : UK ETA Only Required For Some Countries At The Moment

Here is what you need to know about the UK ETA programme, and what countries are affected.

Fact #1 : Video Is Genuine

First, I would like to point out that the video is genuine, and was originally posted by the UK Home Office on 9 March 2023.

It appears to have been edited and shared by Homely Stay UK on WhatsApp and social media, where it was shared without context, leading to mass panic.

Fact #2 : UK Will Soon Require ETA For Non-Visa Travellers

The warning is, of course, true – the United Kingdom will soon require non-visa travellers to apply and pay for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

The ETA scheme is part of the UK’s plan to fully digitise its borders by 2025. But note that the ETA only applies to travellers who currently do NOT require a visa to travel to the UK.

An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will soon be a requirement for people who do not need a visa to come to the UK. It will give you permission to travel to the UK, and it will be electronically linked to your passport.

You’ll need an ETA to:

  • come to the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, business or study
  • come to the UK for up to 3 months on the Creative Worker visa concession
  • transit through the UK – including if you’re not going through UK border control

Once it is fully implemented, these travellers will not require an ETA to travel to the UK:

  • a British or Irish passport
  • permission to live, work, or study in the UK
  • a visa to enter the UK

Recommended : Did Moderna Try To Cover Up Vaccine Deaths?!

Fact #3 : Only Qatar Affected In November 2023

What the video does not reveal is that only travellers from Qatar must have an ETA to travel to the UK from 15 November 2023 onwards.

No other country is affected by this 15 November 2023 deadline, only Qatar. So stop panicking!

If you’re from another country : You do not need to apply for an ETA now. More nationalities will be added to the scheme later.

Even if you are a resident of Qatar, there is no need to panic – you can only apply for an ETA from 25 October 2023 onwards.

Fact #4 : UK Will Rollout ETA Through 2024

The United Kingdom will slowly roll out its ETA programme throughout 2024.

From 22 February 2024 onwards, travellers from these six countries in the Middle East will need an ETA to travel to the UK:

  • Bahrain
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Oman
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates

Even travellers from these countries do not need to apply until 1 February 2024 onwards.

The UK Home Office has not mentioned what countries will be affected next, but non-visa travellers from all other countries will need an ETA by 2025.

Recommended : Is Joe Biden Reinstating Face Mask + Lockdowns?!

Fact #5 : How Much Does ETA Cost?

Each traveller will require his or her own ETA, including children and babies. Each ETA will cost £10 per applicant.

Fact #6 : How Long Does Each ETA Last?

Your ETA will last for 2 years, and can use it to make multiple visits to the UK. However, you should know that having an ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK.

In addition, the ETA is not transferrable to a new / renewed passport. If your passport expires in less than 2 years, you will need to get a new ETA for your new / renewed passport.

Fact #7 : How To Apply For UK ETA

You can apply for yourself, or on the behalf of other travellers. There are two ways to apply for the UK ETA:

  • using the UK ETA app (not available yet)
  • apply online on GOV.UK (not available yet)

Note : Neither options are available yet, because the first day anyone can apply for a UK ETA is on 25 October 2023.

You will usually get a decision within 3 working days, but there may be delays if the UK government needs to make further checks. Once your ETA is approved, you will receive an email confirmation.

There is no ETA to print or bring with you. The ETA is linked electronically to the passport you applied with. You must therefore travel to the UK using the same passport.

 

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Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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PSA : You Still Need Physical Driving Licence Overseas!

Please be warned – you still need a physical driving licence when you are driving overseas! Your digital driving licence is most likely not valid or legal overseas!

 

Fined Overseas For Not Having Physical Driving Licence!

In May 2023, two Malaysian men were fined for failing to produce their physical driving licences in Thailand.

Both men were stopped by police while riding motorcycles on car lanes in Phuket. When the Thai police officer asked for their driving licence,  they showed their digital driving licences using the MyJPJ app.

However, the Thai police officer said that their digital driving licences were not valid, even though the men explained Malaysia adopted the digital driving licence in February 2023.

In the end, both men had to pay a compound at the police station for not having a valid driving licence.

Even though the incident occurred several months ago, the issue only went viral after the men posted their video in Twitter on 3 August 2023.

Recommended : Malaysia Adopts Digital Driving Licence In MyJPJ App!

 

PSA : You Still Need Physical Driving Licence Overseas!

Please be warned that even though Malaysia has adopted the digital driving licence (e-LLM) since 10 February 2023, it is only valid in Malaysia, and not overseas!

In the future, other countries will likely accept digital driving licences, but until that happens, you still need to bring and use a physical driving licence while driving overseas.

On 5 August 2023, Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke commented on the two Malaysian men who were fined in Thailand for failing to produce a physical driving licence. He said that the digital licence is only valid in Malaysia.

He pointed out that the matter (of accepting digital licences) was subject to laws in that country, and the ministry has no authority to determine how laws in other countries are enforced.

He also said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will continue to issue physical driving licences, so those who wish to drive overseas should apply for one at JPJ branches when renewing their driving licence.

We have no stopped the issuance of physical copies of driving licences, so if they want to drive in a country that requires a physical licence then they can apply for it at RTD counters when renewing their licence.
– Malaysia Transport Minister Anthony Loke

Recommended : JPJ : Renew Driving Licence Or Retake Full Driving Test!

 

Physical Driving Licence Only Available In JPJ Branches

Truth be told – this was already mentioned when the digital driving licence was adopted in February 2023. This was what I pointed out back then:

JPJ will continue to offer the physical driving licence to motorists who still prefer it, or need one to drive overseas.

But understandably, many of us probably missed that part. Or forgot that foreign governments may not readily accept the new digital driving licence.

While I’m here, I should also point out that the physical driving licence is now available only at JPJ branches. This may be a bit of a hassle, since it used to be available in Pos Malaysia branches too.

But the good news is – you can now renew your driving licence for 10 years, with a 10% discount to boot! So this should be a once-in-a-decade hassle.

 

Please Support My Work!

Support my work through a bank transfer /  PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
Bank Transfer : CIMB 7064555917 (Swift Code : CIBBMYKL)
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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Did JPJ Stop Issuing Physical Road Tax For Most Drivers?!

Did JPJ stop issuing physical road tax stickers, except to senior citizens, foreigners and companies?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

 

Claim : JPJ Stopped Issuing Physical Road Tax For Most Drivers!

This message has gone viral on WhatsApp and social media platforms, claiming that JPJ stopped issuing physical road tax stickers, except to senior citizens, foreigners and companies!

DIGITAL ROAD TAX
1) Via MyJPJ Apps
2) Via JPJ website https://public.jpj.gov.my/

Starting Tuesdsy, August 1, 2023 on Tuesday. JPJ will no longer issue physical roadtax except for Senior Citizen, Non-Citizen & Company.

The JPJ will use up the existing roadtax disk & then run the digital roadtax as a whole. Download myJPJ apps

Things you need to register MyJPJ Apps :
1) Car Owner’s Driving Licence
2) Car Owner’s Mobile Phone #
3) Car Owner’s Email Address (for verification purpose)
4) To answer a few security questions.
It is advisable for the car owner to register the MyJPJ Apps themselves.

Recommended : Malaysia Adopts Digital Road Tax : Sticker Not Required!

 

Truth : JPJ Did Not Stop Issuing Physical Road Tax Stickers!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp and social media platforms, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Physical Road Tax Sticker No Longer Required For Most Drivers

First, let me just point out that since 10 February 2023, the physical road tax stickers for vehicles in Malaysia are no longer required, except for these vehicles:

  • private vehicles owned by private companies
  • private vehicles owned by foreigners
  • commercial vehicles
  • public service vehicles

Fact #2 : Digital Road Tax Is Optional

When Anthony Loke announced the introduction of a digital road tax or motor vehicle licence (e-LKM) on 10 February 2023, he said that it was optional, and part of the broader digitalisation plan for JPJ to provide a smoother and faster service to the people.

Don’t worry, the digital format is not mandatory. You can still obtain the road tax sticker and physical driving licence from JPJ, if required.

As mentioned in our 10 February 2023 article, the e-LKM digital road tax is OPTIONAL. You can continue request for, and use a physical sticker.

Read more : Malaysia Digital Road Tax + Driving Licence FAQ!

Fact #3 : JPJ Continues To Offer Physical Road Tax Stickers

As Transport Minister Anthony Loke clarified, JPJ will continue to offer physical road tax stickers for motorists who still prefer to use it on their cars or motorcycles.

These printed stickers will be available to all motorists who request for it, at all JPJ branches.

You can still the physical road tax sticker and driving licence. Motorists are offered the option to go digital, or use the physical road tax stickers and driving licence cards.

Fact #4 : JPJ Ordered To Remove Notice!

On Thursday, 3 August 2023, Transport Minister Anthony Loke ordered JPJ to remove the notice posted at several branches, stating that the Road Transport Department was no longer issuing physical stickers for private vehicles.

Anthony Loke said that the directive, which was issued by JPJ Director-General Rospiagos Taha, was due to the non-availability of physical stickers are several branches, and NOT a policy decision.

The (road tax) sticker is still being issued. Several branches ran out of stock and put up a notice on the non-availability of physical road tax, but it is not a policy decision. We took quick action on finding out that branches have run out of stock and will continue to order new stock.

Recommended : Is JPJ Installing AES CCTV Cameras With AI Tech?!

Fact #5 : Digital Road Tax + Driving Licence Not Mandatory In 2023

Both the digital road tax, and the digital driving licence, are OPTIONAL and NOT mandatory, as per the FAQ (Malay | English)

The Malaysia Transport Ministry is giving motorists until the end of 2023 at the very minimum, to register and try out the new digital road tax and digital driving licence.

On Thursday, 3 August 2023, Road Transport Minister Anthony Loke also said that a cut-off date for the full transition to digital road tax has yet to be set. Therefore, the claim that JPJ has stopped issuing physical road tax stickers is categorically false.

But there will come a time when we will transform to fully digital. No decision has been made yet; it would take six months to one year before going fully digital.

According to JPJ, only about 30% of vehicle owners have so far opted for the digital road tax.

Fact #5 : MyJPJ App Not Mandatory Either

Just to be clear – it is NOT mandatory for any motorist to download and use the MyJPJ app either. It is merely “one of the options” to obtain the digital copy of your road tax and driving licence.

It does not matter if you have no physical road tax sticker or driving licence, and are unable to show the digital versions using the MyJPJ app. The enforcement agencies can confirm the status of your road tax and driving licence through their own gadget.

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Anwar Ibrahim Announces Financial Aid For Malaysians!

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim just announced a slew of financial aid to help Malaysians deal with inflation this year!

 

Anwar Ibrahim Announces Financial Aid For Malaysians!

On Thursday, 27 July 2023, Malaysia Prime Minister announced a slew of financial aid during the launch of Ekonomi Madani: Memperkasa Rakyat (Madani Economy: Empowering the People) in Kuala Lumpur.

Here is a summary of the financial aid Anwar Ibrahim announced to help Malaysians deal with inflationary pressures this year.

Adults Earning Less Than RM100K To Get RM100

The Malaysian government will give RM100 e-Tunai cash incentive to all Malaysian citizens aged 21 years and above, earning RM100,000 or less in annual wages.

This cash incentive will be distributed via e-wallet, based on the success and impact of the e-Belia Rahman e-wallet credit rollout programme in the past. This incentive is also expected to spur digital payments, and the economy.

The government estimates that this cash incentive will benefit 10 million citizens in the B40 and M40 categories, and cost the treasury about RM1 billion (about US$ 220.9 million).

The estimated number of eligible recipients is expected to be around 10 million Rakyat comprising those of the B40 and M40 with allocations of around a billion ringgit.

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Civil Servants To Get RM300

Civil servants at Grade 56 and below will receive RM300 in special assistance aid within the next two weeks.

This special assistance is expected to benefit 1.3 million civil servants, while they wait for the adjustment of their salaries and allowances.

Government Pensioners To Get RM200

Government pensioners will receive RM200 in special assistance aid within the next two weeks. This special assistance is expected to benefit over a million pensioners.

Civil Servant Salaries To Be Reviewed

The Malaysian government will review the salaries of civil services, and adjust them according to the nation’s financial ability.

Minimum Wage To Be Reviewed

The Malaysian government will review the minimum wage, and explore the progressive wage model to reduce reliance on foreign workers.

120% Financing For Homes <RM300K

The Malaysian government will enhance the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (HCGS) provided by the Housing Credit Guarantee Company Berhad (SJKP).

The SJKP will now provide housing loans of up to 120% of the house’s value, for houses worth up to RM300,000. This will allow purchasers to cover the legal cost of the purchase, as well as renovations and furnishing their home.

The government will guarantee the scheme with a fund of RM5 billion (about US$1.1 billion).

 

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SAP: Malaysian Companies Yet To Gain From Sustainability Plans

New research from Oxford Economics and SAP has revealed that Malaysian companies have yet to gain from their sustainability plans.

 

SAP: Malaysian Companies Yet To Gain From Sustainability Plans

Sustainability goals are a key part of any company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts, but many companies still find it difficult to derive significant value from their sustainability strategies.

Verena Siow, President and Managing Director of SAP South East Asia, share key findings from new research from Oxford Economics and SAP that showed that Malaysian companies have yet to gain from their sustainability plans.

While 60% of businesses don’t think it’s difficult to be sustainable and profitable at the same time, just 4% say that they actually benefited significantly from their sustainability strategies.

That may be due to a disconnect between the organisations’ plans and its actions. While 63% of Malaysian businesses have a clearly communicated sustainability plan, only 23% have incentivised leaders to achieve those goals, and only 33% say that their employees are active participants in their efforts.

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It is an encouraging sign that businesses across South East Asia are increasingly mindful of sustainability practices along their entire supply chain, including those of their suppliers.

There is no time to waste to move beyond strategy and to achieve real, tangible results. In three years, almost a third of businesses expect significant value from their sustainability strategy – and we believe that with the right focus, this number can be even higher.

Public, private and plural partnerships are quintessential to affect the required change for a green economy in ASEAN. Business leaders in South East Asia should not perceive sustainability action as a risk mitigation measure only. It is an opportunity to realize new sustainable revenue streams, find new efficiencies, and build new business models based on low-emission, circular, and ultimately regenerative concepts to benefit both the organization and for our society at large.

 

Regulatory Compliance : Sustainability Driver + Challenge In Malaysia

Sustainability strategies are largely driven by regulatory compliance in Malaysia, with survey respondents noted that these are the primary drivers in their businesses:

  • the threat of regulatory mandates : 52%,
  • operational efficiencies : 54%, and
  • market reputation (48%).

That focus aligns with regulatory compliance being the second biggest benefit derived from sustainability so far (39%), behind only reduced carbon emissions.

It’s clear that organisations may need to refocus their strategies to achieve greater value from sustainability. Too much focus on compliance was cited as the third highest challenge to sustainability success by Malaysian respondents, trailing only the lack of reinvention of business strategy and ineffective data.

 

Data Is Key To Improving Sustainability Outcomes

According to the survey, the key to improving sustainability outcomes will be the effective use of organisational data to make more informed decisions.

Accurate data was ranked as among the most significant activities to help reach carbon reduction goals, only trailing sustainable sourcing and monitoring energy among respondents.

Unfortunately, ineffective data for decision-making is considered a moderate challenge for 75% of Malaysian businesses. The research also found that:

  • less than a quarter (23%) businesses have calculated their total organisational carbon output,
  • although a majority (77%) have begun the process in some areas.

Of the businesses who have made begun measuring their carbon, only 33% actually made changes to their processes based on the data. More obviously needs to be done.

Just over a third (35%) of Malaysian respondents said they had invested in data analysis to measure sustainability in their business, while half (50%) said they were training staff how to capture sustainability data.

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Malaysian Companies Need Sustainability Leadership

Action on sustainability is needed urgently in Malaysia, and has to be driven from the top down.

Beyond the impact on the environment, just 21% of Malaysian businesses say that their workforces are not even aware that missing sustainability targets will drive customers to their competitors.

Businesses that have obtained value from their efforts have these qualities :

  • they set clear expectations at the strategic level,
  • they apply the transformative power of technology and data management, and
  • they engage with important audiences such as employees, supply chain partners and policymakers.

“Sustainability leaders go beyond vision to ensure that sustainability initiatives are acted upon,” said Edward Cone, editorial director, Oxford Economics. “They communicate with key constituencies both inside and outside the company, and they use integrated technologies to measure and track performance in a way that drives accountability.”

 

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Japan To FINALLY Kill Off Floppy Disks + CD-ROM!

Japan is being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century – its government has FINALLY decided to kill off floppy disks!

 

Japan Is Still Using Floppy Disks + CD-ROM!

Most of the world began transitioning from floppy disks to USB flash drives and rewritable CDs (yes, they exist!) in the late 1990s.

By the 2000s, floppy disk sales tanked globally … except in Japan, where they continued to thrive.

That’s partly because government agencies in Japan continue to require data to be submitted using floppy disks or CD-ROM.

So while the world moved to USB flash drives capable of storing gigabytes of data, Japan remained loyal to floppy disk with its storage capacity of 1.44 MB or 2.88 MB.

Today, Japan is arguably the only country in the world where kids do not stare blankly if you mention “floppy disk”.

 

Japan To FINALLY Kill Off Floppy Disks + CD-ROM!

On 31 August 2022, Taro Kono – the Minister of Digital Transformation of Japan, announced that the government will rewrite rules requiring the use of floppy disks or CD-ROM.

This is part of the Japanese government’s plan to introduce a national identification number for its citizens, called MyNumber.

MyNumber will be the lynchpin for many of the Japanese government’s future digital services, and will require significant amounts of data to be uploaded to its online databases.

That was when Kono’s department found more than 1,900 regulations regulating how data should be shared with the government, and many of them required the use of floppy disks or CD-ROMs. Even worse – uploading data over the Internet was forbidden for security reasons.

So the Ministry of Digital Transformation will have to fix these regulations before both the Japanese government and its citizens can rid themselves of 1970s-era technology once and for all.

Digital Minister declares a war on floppy discs. There are about 1900 government procedures that requires business community to use discs, i. e. floppy disc, CD, MD, etc to submit applications and other forms. Digital Agency is to change those regulations so you can use online.

But updating those old regulations is only part of the solution. Kono still has to deal with poor digital literacy, as well as the bureaucratic and conservative culture in Japan which are obstacles to its digital transformation.

Some Japanese government officials continue to insist that floppy disks offer a degree of security and authenticity that an email just cannot. Yoichi Ono – a Tokyo official – claimed in 2021 that floppy disks “almost never broke or lost data”.

That is not true, as many tech old-timers who had to put up with a corrupt disk or two in a multi-disk installation can attest to. But it speaks to the great reluctance in many Japanese organisations to do away with old tech.

Unbelievably, many Japanese companies and government agencies continue to rely significantly on an even older technology from the past – the fax machine.

I’m looking to get rid of the fax machine, and I still plan to do that,” Kano told a news conference this week.

He will be fighting against hundreds of government officials who claim that “banishing fax machines would be impossible” because of “security of sensitive information” and “anxiety over the communication environment (email)”.

I wish Minister Kono all the best in his attempt to drag Japan into the 21st century.

 

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Indonesia Bans Steam, PayPal, Epic Games + More!

Indonesia just banned a number of major websites including Steam, Epic Games, PayPal and Battle.net!

Here is what you need to know!

 

Indonesia Banned Steam, PayPal, Epic Games + More!

On 30 July 2022, Indonesians woke up to the shocking discovery that a number of gaming platforms like Steam, Epic Games, Origin, Ubisoft and Battle.net are now banned!

Not only were gaming platforms banned, Indonesia also banned major websites and digital services like PayPal and Waze.

Indonesian netizens have started sharing tips on how to bypass this sudden ban – by using VPN, or changing their DNS servers, to bypass what appears to be an IP block.

 

Why Indonesia Banned Steam, PayPal, Epic Games, Etc!

There was no official announcement by the Indonesian government, but it is likely that Indonesia banned Steam, PayPal, Epic Games and a bunch of other websites and digital platforms because they failed to register as an Electronics System Provider / Penyelenggara Sistem Elektronik (PSE).

On November 24, 2020, the Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) imposed a new regulation calling for all local and international digital services to register with them for cybersecurity and user protection purposes.

Failure to comply with that regulation would subject the digital service to being banned / blocked in Indonesia.

Here is a partial list of major websites, platforms and digital services registered with the Indonesian government, and those that have not been registered, or are known to be blocked.

Those on the unregistered list are likely to be blocked, if not already blocked. Interestingly, Telegram is listed as registered, but is currently inaccessible (blocked) in Indonesia.

Registered Unregistered Blocked
LINE
WhatsApp
TikTok
Google
Google Classroom
Google Drive
Gmail
Google Cloud
YouTube
Amazon AWS
Facebook
Telegram
Twitter
Instagram
Discord
Zoom
Gojek
Spotify
Shopee
Lazada
Traveloka
Netflix
Disney+ Hotstar
Zenius
Mobile Legends
LinkedIn
Roblox
Vidio
FB Messenger
Wikipedia
Deezer
Waze
Brainly
Notion
Pinterest
SoundCloud
PayPal
EA
Nintendo
Ubisoft
Mangaku
MediaFire
GitHub
GitLab
Bitbucket
CloudFlare
MS Azure
Amazon
Reddit
DuckDuckGo
Twitch
IMDb
MS Office
Yahoo
IMDb
Patreon

Epic Games
Steam
Uplay
Battle.net
Origin

On July 15 – just 2 weeks earlier – Kominfo warned that digital service providers will be banned in Indonesia on July 21, 2022 if they refused to register.

The deadline for all PSE registration – both domestic and foreign – was set at July 20, 2022. After that, Kominfo would start banning unregistered apps and services.

At that time, Kominfo reported that many major brands and companies have yet to register with them, like Google (which owns YouTube, Google Drive, Gmail, etc.), Meta (which owns WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook), Twitter, Netflix, PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends.

 

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Malaysia Admits Losing Undersea Cable Due To Cabotage!

Malaysia finally admits losing the Apricot undersea cable due to its cabotage policy, in a stunning reply from the Communications and Multimedia Minister.

 

Malaysia Admits Losing Undersea Cable Due To Cabotage!

Malaysia Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong has stridently rejected claims that Malaysia was excluded from the Apricot undersea cable project due to the cabotage policy.

On 30 September 2021, he denied that his decision to revoke the exemption of cabotage on undersea cable repairs was the reason Malaysia was excluded from the Apricot undersea cable project.

However, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim revealed that he received a Parliamentary reply from the Communications and Multimedia Minister that basically admits that the loss was due to the cabotage policy.

Here is the Bahasa Malaysia quote from the Communications and Multimedia Minister, followed by our English translation :

Pemilihan negara bagi menyertai rancangan pemasangan kabel Internet Apricot dasar laut (subsea cables) adalah keputusan syarikat Facebook dan Google. Malaysia tidak tersenarai (bypass) sebagai salah satu negara yang terlibat dalam pendaratan stesen kabel dasar laut tersebut memandangkan isu pengecualian Dasar Kabotaj yang masih belum selesai.”

The choice of country to participate in the Apricot undersea Internet cable (subsea cable) installation plan is decided by Facebook and Google. Malaysia was not listed (bypassed) as one of the countries involved in the landing of the submarine cable station due to the unresolved Cabotage Policy exemption issue.”

This reply by the Communications and Multimedia Minister directly contradicts the Transport Minister’s strident denials, and confirms what most people already know – Malaysia was bypassed in the Apricot undersea cable project because this government refused to exempt undersea cable repairs from the cabotage policy.

 

What Does Loss Of Apricot Undersea Cable Mean For Malaysia?

Backed by Google and Facebook, the Apricot undersea optic cable will connect South East Asia and North Asia and the US, with a whopping bandwidth of 190 terabits per second (Tbps) and very low latency.

Being bypassed means Malaysia has lost investments and high-speed connectivity worth US$300-400 billion (RM1.26 to RM1.68 billion), according to MIDF Research.

And to add salt to the wound, it comes after Malaysia already lost two earlier undersea cable investments by Google and Facebook called Bifrost and Echo.

This continued loss of subsea cable landings runs contrary to Malaysia’s MyDIGITAL Initiative, which aims to achieve the HIGHEST number of subsea cable landings in South East Asia by 2025.

Malaysia currently only has 23 subsea cables, including those under construction. This leaves it behind Indonesia and Singapore, which have 55 and 31 cables respectively. Even the Philippines is catching up with 19 cables so far.

Is the continued refusal to exempt subsea cable repairs from the cabotage policy worth the loss of billions of dollars of investments?

This government seems to think so, but many would strongly disagree with them.

 

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Maxis Awards To Drive Malaysian Social Initiatives!

Maxis just launched the Maxis Awards, to support outstanding Malaysian social initiatives for the rakyat!

Here is what you need to know!

 

Maxis Awards To Drive Outstanding Malaysian Social Initiatives!

On 2 September 2021, Maxis launched their inaugural Maxis Awards, to recognise and support outstanding Malaysian social initiatives that drive positive impact to the rakyat.

Maxis Awards is a social enterprise programme that seeks out visionary ideas from these Malaysian heroes, and collaborates to bring them to life.

Maxis is committing RM 5 million worth of support to help develop, and promote these winning projects over the course of the next year.

 

Maxis Awards : How Does It Work?

Maxis Awards kicked off last month, with an invitation for enterprises to submit proposals on projects that will drive positive change with a significant impact on the community.

The proposals will be evaluated by a panel of Maxis judges, and shortlisted enterprises will then present their projects to these judges who will select the winners based on these three criteria :

  • innovation
  • role of technology
  • clearly demonstrates added value to the community, either economically, socially and/or environmentally.

Several Malaysian-based projects will be selected in the coming year, with the first two winning projects to be announced later this month.

Maxis will help these winners develop their projects over the next year, from the ideation stage up to the execution and marketing of their projects, including :

  • Maxis Business solutions and technical experts for collaboration, IoT, cloud, voice, network and/or security
  • Cash funding to help cover operational needs
  • Marketing and publicity through the media and Maxis-owned channels.

 

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

 

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Cybercafe Converts RTX 3080 PCs Into Cryptomining Rigs!

Take a look at why this cybercafe converted their GeForce RTX 3080 gaming PCs into cryptomining rigs!

 

Cybercafe Converts RTX 3080 PCs Into Cryptomining Rigs!

The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the cybercafe industry, with many closing down and selling their gaming PCs and accessories.

However, this Vietnamese cybercafe did something different – they began converting their GeForce RTX 3080 gaming PCs into cryptomining rigs!

The Star Gaming cybercafe in Ho Chi Minh City showed how they were transforming their business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, converting their gaming PCs into cryptomining rigs.

Instead of hosting gamers, the cybercafe is now hosting a slew of new cryptomining rigs.

It is possible that they are also building completely new cryptomining rigs. In this picture, you can see that each rig holds at least eight GeForce RTX 3080 graphics cards.

 

How Much Money Can Each RTX 3080 Cryptomining Rig Make?

Just how much money can this cybercafe make from their RTX 3080 cryptomining rig?

Officially, GeForce RTX 3080 cards start at $699, but due to the shortage of cards, they are now selling for about $1,199 each.

So eight of them would cost approximately $9,592. Let’s call it a flat $10,000 for the whole 8-card rig, plus power supply.

The average commercial electricity rate in Vietnam is VND 2,666 per kWh (about US$0.12 per kWh). So electricity should cost about $225 per month. Let’s make that $300 per month (+33%) to account for cooling costs.

As of 21 February 2021, each GeForce RTX 3080 has a hash rate of 86.5 MH/s using the Ethash (Phoenix) algorithm, which should generate approximately 0.18100503 ETH worth US$361 every month.

So each 8-card rig should generate a net profit of US$61 per month or US$732 per year. That doesn’t sound like much, but it’s a pretty decent ROI of 7.3% per annum.

It would certainly be much better than operating a cybercafe with little to no customers due to lockdown / biosecurity measures.

In fact, their costs would be very much lower if they are converting their existing RTX 3080 gaming PCs into mining rigs, with significantly higher ROI.

This is, arguably, a better solution for cybercafes to ride out the COVID-19 pandemic, than to give up and sell out.

 

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This RTX Laptop Mining Farm Could Make $3.5 Million / Year!

Take a look at this crypto-mining farm that could make $3.5 million a year using just 900 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 gaming laptops!

 

Hundreds Of RTX Laptops Used In Crypto Mining Farms!

Not only gamers are affected by the limited supply of graphics cards in the market. So are cryptominers!

Chinese cryptominers now have to resort to buying up whatever GeForce RTX gaming laptops they can find, literally hundreds of them!

Instead of ASIC miners or GPU mining rigs, they are now powering their cryptomining operations with RTX gaming laptops!

We earlier highlighted the new trend of using RTX gaming laptops to mine cryptocurrency. It looks as this is more extensive that we first thought.

A Weibo blogger called 神鱼BTCer just shared even more pictures of RTX laptop-based mining operations, big and small.

Many appear to be pretty ghetto, placing the laptops in a kind of “tent mode” for better cooling, wherever there’s space – on tables, chairs or the floor.

But he also showed a seriously big crypto-mining farm being built using these GeForce RTX 30-series gaming laptops.

He even shared a short clip (part of the video we posted above), showing the cryptocurrency mining farm partially operational, with more being set-up.

There are 10 laptops per shelf, with each shelving unit capable of accommodating 60 laptops.

While not particularly large, this cryptocurrency mining farm has at least 15 visible shelving units, so that’s a total of 900 RTX gaming laptops when it’s fully operational.

Currently, it’s only partially complete, with about 200 or so laptops running, with many boxes of laptops left to open and setup.

 

How Much Money Can This RTX Laptop Mining Farm Make?

We had earlier shared about how a Bilibili content creator used an RTX 3060 laptop to mine 0.00053009 ETH while she sipped her coffee at Starbucks for 2 hours.

Based on her experience, we can guesstimate that the average GeForce RTX 3060 laptop will be able to produce :

  • 0.000265045 ETH per hour
  • 0.00636108 ETH per day
  • 0.1908324 ETH per month (30 days)
  • 2.3217942 ETH per year

Chinese electricity costs about RMB 0.545 (US$0.084) per kWh. Assuming each laptop uses about 250 watts of power (including whatever external fans they may be using), that works out to about RMB 1,200 or US$186 per year.

As of 11 February 2021, Ethereum is priced at US$1740. So here’s roughly how much this cryptocurrency mining farm would make, at that price :

  • 100 laptops : $385,392 per year
  • 200 laptops : $770,784 per year
  • 300 laptops : $1,156,177 per year
  • 400 laptops : $1,541,569 per year
  • 500 laptops : $1,926,961 per year
  • 600 laptops : $2,312,353 per year
  • 700 laptops : $2,697,745 per year
  • 800 laptops : $3,083,138 per year
  • 900 laptops : $3,468,530 per year

So there you have it – this small cryptocurrency mining operation can potentially make almost US$ 3.5 million in a single year.

But what’s the ROI, you say?

The Chinese OEM, Hasee, offers a GeForce RTX 3060 gaming laptop with a starting price of just RMB 6,499 (approximately RM4,089 / US$1,005 / £732 / A$1,309 / S$1,340).

And the video shows that this mining operation is using the same, or similar, Hasee RTX gaming laptops.

Let’s say they paid a 20% scalper’s premium, and purchased all 900 Hasee RTX 3060 laptops for a cool US$1,085,400.

Let’s further round that up to US$1.1 million for miscellaneous costs – shelving units, lights, fans, etc. including US$500 per month for rental.

Based on those assumptions, their net profit for the 900-laptop mining farm would be US$2,368,530 per year, at current prices.

That’s an incredibly high ROI of 17.9% per month, which is 67% higher ROI than the 78-card GeForce RTX 3080 mining rig!

After recovering the cost of the entire mining farm ($1.1 million) in just over 3 months, everything else they make after that is pure profit (after deducting rental and electricity costs), unless they are stealing the electricity!

With such great ROI, you can count on cryptocurrency miners to buy up ALL the GeForce RTX 30 series laptops they can get their hands on!

 

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Dell Survey On Remote Work Readiness In Malaysia!

Dell Technologies just unveiled their inaugural Remote Work Readiness (RWR) Index and survey results for Malaysia!

Take a look at the highlights of what Dell found on remote work readiness in Malaysia!

 

Dell Survey On Remote Work Readiness In Malaysia!

For their inaugural Remote Work Readiness Index, Dell Technologies surveyed over 7,000 working professionals in the Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region, of which 1,030 were from Malaysia.

The survey for the Dell Technologies RWR Index was meant to capture data on their readiness and views on long-term remote work.

Here is a summary of the key findings in the Dell Remote Work Readiness survey for Malaysia :

  • 70% already have some experience with remote working before the MCO took effect.
  • 84% feel prepared for long-term remote work
  • Only 43% feel that their employers support remote working for the long term
  • their top 3 concerns were :
    – 33% : their job security
    – 31% : blurring boundary between professional and personal lives
    – 28% : lack the right technology assets to be productive
  • 50% feel their employers are not providing enough tech resources for successful remote work
  • their top 3 tech challenges :
    – 44% : unstable remote network
    – 33% : lack of access to internal company resources
    – 29% : have to use personal productivity equipment and tools for work
  • Only 43% feel that their employers are providing enough HR resources for successful long-term remote work
  • their top 3 HR challenges
    – 47% : lack of in-person communication
    – 38% : lack of learning and development sessions
    – 37% : lack of team engagement and access to HR processes

 

How To Improve Remote Work Readiness In Malaysia

Based on the Dell Remote Work Readiness survey for Malaysia, here are the changes companies should look at adopting for successful remote work :

Top 3 Tech Changes To Consider

  • 42% : Better access to productivity equipment and tools
  • 38% : A stable remote network, including adequate Internet bandwidth, is necessary
  • 36% : Better access to internal company resources

Top 3 HR Changes To Consider

  • 51% : Learning and development sessions, including training for virtual tools and remote working
  • 43% : Access to digital tools for performance review, leave filing, etc.
  • 42% : Team engagement initiatives while remote working

 

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NTT Launches Fifth Data Center In Malaysia – Cyberjaya 5!

NTT Ltd just launched their fifth data centre in Malaysia – Cyberjaya 5 (CBJ5)!

Here is a quick look at what NTT Cyberjaya 5 offers!

 

NTT Launches Fifth Data Center In Malaysia – Cyberjaya 5

On 3 February 2021, NTT Ltd announced the launch of their fifth data center in Malaysia – Cyberjaya 5 (CBJ5).

Located within the NTT Cyberjaya Campus, this new 107,000 square feet data center is designed for hyperscalers and high-end enterprises in Malaysia’s growing digital economy.

CBJ5 supports 6.5 megawatts of flexible and scalable power, and boasts a Tier IV-ready, compact and modular design, with a cooling wall system that handles up to 15 kilowatts per rack.

NTT clients will have greater access to flexible, scalable and secure infrastructure in Malaysia – a regional data center hub.

“The demand for data storage and managed hosting services is expected to grow exponentially across Malaysia. This fifth data center will meet the expanding needs of organizations to reach their digital business objectives, in particular the FSI sector, as our data center complies with the Risk Management in Technology (RMiT) guideline set by Bank Negara Malaysia. We hope to play a key role in providing the vital data capacity at a high speed to keep Malaysia’s digital ecosystems and the digital economy ticking.” said Henrick Choo, CEO, NTT Ltd. in Malaysia.

 

NTT Cyberjaya 5 : Part Of Strategic ASEAN Hub

CBJ5 is connected to the existing Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) and Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) cable system, and will eventually be linked to the upcoming MIST cable system.

The MIST cable system will be available by end 2022 and it is a strategic joint venture for international submarine cables in South East Asia, with Orient Link Pte. Ltd.. It will enable NTT Ltd. to expand its offerings into India and beyond, while the ASE and APG cable systems provide global connectivity from Asia to United States.

This new expansion in Malaysia is part of NTT Global Data Centres division’s growth strategy. Malaysia is a prime data centre market in the ASEAN region, due to the abundant availability of resources, and favourable government policies.

“NTT places Asia Pacific as a tactical key region, and Malaysia – a strategic hub for the submarine cables operated by NTT such as the new MIST cable system, as well as the existing Asia Submarine-cable Express (ASE) and Asia Pacific Gateway (APG). Furthermore, CBJ5 will drive business opportunities in Asia through the upcoming MIST cable system which will link all our large-scale data centers in the region. Our continued commitment to Malaysia will help position NTT as a technologically innovative leader to address the industries of the future,” said Ryuichi Matsuo, Executive Vice President for NTT Ltd.’s Global Data Centers division.

“The pandemic also illustrated the importance of effective connectivity and reliable infrastructure to ensure business continuity. NTT’s global data center platform offers flexible, scalable and secure infrastructure along with a full-stack of customizable solutions that clients can utilize to support their digital transformation needs and maintain critical applications in a comprehensive, hybrid IT environment,” he concluded.

 

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How Honeywell Is Helping Industries Tackle COVID-19!

Find out how Honeywell has pivoted to deliver new services and products that help critical industries tackle the COVID-19 pandemic!

 

How Honeywell Is Helping Industries Tackle COVID-19

Honeywell have long been a solution partner for critical industries, with over 100 years of global experience in various industries.

In an exclusive roundtable session, Norm L. Gilsdorf, President of Honeywell ASEAN, detailed how the COVID-19 pandemic has created a crisis for critical industries.

On the other hand, it offered Honeywell the opportunity to showcase their expertise in creating new solutions and products to meet the new challenges.

 

Honeywell Products + Services That Help Industries Tackle COVID-19

Honeywell have quickly pivoted to develop these new solutions and products to help critical industries In ASEAN countries and around the world better handle the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honeywell UV Treatment System

The Honeywell UV Treatment System is a deep ultraviolet (UVC) sanitising system for airlines that significant reduces certain viruses and bacteria on airplane cabin surfaces.

It is roughly the size of the typical airline beverage cart, with arms that extend over the top of seats, to sweep the cabin with UVC light.

The Honeywell UV Treatment System can service an aircraft cabin in less than 10 minutes for just a few dollars per flight for midsize to large airline fleets.

Currently, several major airlines in the ASEAN region are testing this system on their aircraft.

Honeywell Healthy Building Solutions

The Honeywell Healthy Building Solutions are not new, but they go a long way to help companies protect their workforce from COVID-19.

By integrated air quality, safety and security technologies, they help to improve the health of building environments, operate more cleanly and safely, and help enforce social distancing policies.

The same technologies can also be employed in other public and commercial facilities like hospitals, airports, factories, educational institutions, etc. to enhance safety and compliance.

Honeywell Remote Industrial Solutions

The Honeywell Remote Industrial Solutions are being used by customers to handle COVID-19 related constraints and maintain business continuity, while protecting employees.

This software suite, which includes Experion Remote Operations, allow for remote management as well as work-from-home abilities for employees.

Honeywell Forge Cybersecurity Suite helps customers ensure business continuity in the face of mounting cyber threats, uncertain business conditions and supply chain disruptions.

Warehouse and logistics solutions help drive the exceptional growth of e-commerce in the ASEAN region and beyond, during the pandemic. They also support cold chain services for delivering medical products, including vaccines.

Other Honeywell Solutions That Help Against COVID-19

Other Honeywell solutions that help people and industries handle COVID-19 include :

  • Gas and flow sensors for ventilators, oxygen concentrators and respiratory machines;
  • Thermorebellion, a new temperature monitoring solution that incorporates advanced, infrared imaging technology and artificial intelligence algorithms to conduct non-invasive, preliminary screening of personnel entering facilities such as airports, hospitals and plants;
  • Dual layer face masks, personal safety packs and N95 masks.

 

COVID-19 : How To Keep Safe!

Here are a few simple steps to stay safe :

Recommended : Soap vs Sanitiser : Which Works Better Against COVID-19?
Recommended : Surgical Mask : How To CORRECTLY Wear + Remove!
Recommended : COVID-19 Food Safety : Fruits, Vegetables, Takeouts

 

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ASEAN Keeps 5G Ecosystem Door Open For HUAWEI!

ASEAN plans to keep the 5G ecosystem open to HUAWEI, to ensure a level playing field as ASEAN countries build up their 5G infrastructure. Here are the details!

 

ASEAN Keeps 5G Ecosystem Door Open For HUAWEI

During a courtesy visit to the HUAWEI Cyber Security Transparency Center in Brussels, Belgium, the Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Dr. Aladdin D. Rillo said that ASEAN has to ensure a level-playing field in developing their 5G ecosystem.

“We’re very much committed to ensuring that market players like Huawei are engaged, because these private sector players are very important in terms of the ability to build the right infrastructure and develop the ecosystem,” said the Deputy Secretary-General.

“The world is very inter-connected and integrated. We have to help each other and work together towards our common goals. Any distraction from that will not be beneficial to any player,” he added.

As the digital sector in ASEAN countries is booming, cybersecurity will play a critical role in digital transformation in ASEAN, particularly in accelerating the development of 5G, AI and IoT.

“We are impressed on how Huawei carried out cyber security approaches as explained during our visit to Huawei Cyber Security Transparency Center. This further convinced us why cyber security measures are needed to optimize security in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 in ASEAN,” Dr. Rillo said.

“Therefore, we continue to encourage ASEAN’s countries to strengthen the cooperation, and we also need support from private players that have proven capable of delivering reliable and leading technologies, such as Huawei, especially in building innovation-friendly ecosystem, and to answer relevant issues related to big data, data privacy and cybersecurity,” he added.

 

ASEAN 5G Development

The ASEAN region is currently experiencing rapid growth of the Internet, digital, social media and mobile activities with 65% Internet penetration and over 400 million Internet users.

The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) therefore expressed its commitment to encourage member countries to accelerate their digital transformation in various sectors, to realise a digital intelligent world by 2030.

“There has been a strong emphasis on the digitalization in ASEAN. To do that, we need to have the right infrastructure,” said Dr. Rillo. “This year, under the chairmanship of Vietnam, we’re looking specifically at 5G, which is an important foundation for us to support digital transformation and market integration.”

“With ASEAN’s digital economy has surged to USD100 billion for the first time in 2019 and is expected to grow beyond USD300 billion by 2025, for governments, business, and society, digital transformation is no longer just an option, but a necessity for economic and business empowerment,” he added.

 

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Double Eleven : First Overseas Game Studio In Malaysia!

UK-based games developer and publisher Double Eleven announced on 21 January 2020, that they are opening a new game development studio in Malaysia!

Find out what this means for the Malaysian game development industry, and how YOU can join the Double Eleven team!

 

Double Eleven To Open First Overseas Game Studio In Malaysia!

Double Eleven is opening their first overseas game studio in Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur. Set to open in the first quarter of 2020, this new studio will provide a full complement of development capabilities including quality assurance, art, software engineering and production.

The Double Eleven Malaysia studio will work alongside main development teams in the United Kingdom on current and next generation titles.

 

Join The Double Eleven Team!

Double Eleven is recruiting full-time staff in development and management positions, including a new Malaysian Studio Head. Here are the jobs currently open for application, and their requirements :

Studio Manager

  • Four or more years of industry experience in a similar role
  • Significant management (people and project) experience
  • An interest in games.
  • Strong general knowledge of the video game production process – ideally a comprehensive end-to-end oversight from within the industry
  • Gamer and consumer oriented, with a deep knowledge of video games market
  • Relevant business degree
  • Experience with SCRUM or AGILE methodologies

Producer

  • Project management skills – initiating, managing and closing software projects.
  • Ability to mediate and arbitrate discussions, getting the right people in the room when needed.
  • Excellent communicator in both content and tone through a variety of methods; online, face to face, presentation or written.
  • Meticulous attention to detail and good organisational skills.
  • Ability to motivate and able to lead by example.
  • Excellent time management, multitasking skills and the ability to process complex information efficiently.
  • A strong interest in games or gaming technologies.
  • Business management experience.
  • Relevant degree qualification.
  • Programming or other technical experience.
  • Strong general knowledge of the video game production process – ideally a comprehensive end-to-end oversight from within the industry.
  • Experience working on titles or projects with live operations.
  • Experience with SCRUM or AGILE methodologies.

Lead Quality Assurance

  • Confident, thorough and articulate communicator; both written and orally
  • Great planning skills
  • Excellent self-management and organisational abilities
  • Second to none for attention to detail
  • Genuine problem solver; no problems, just opportunities
  • Ability to work as part of your own team
  • Has lead or helped to lead a QA team of at least four people, for at least one year from start to finish
  • Has had QA experience on at least 3 console titles
  • Has written and implemented test frameworks

QA Tester

  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Strong communication skills
  • Excellent self-management and organisational abilities
  • Aptitude to learn quickly and effectively
  • Ability to remain focused in a team-oriented environment
  • Previous Testing experience within a development environment
  • Skill/experience in any other area of game development and/or strong IT knowledge
  • Knowledge of project management software such as Hansoft, Testrail, Jira, TFS.

Lead Artist

  • Unreal / Unity experience / Blueprints / Python / C#
  • Animation knowledge
  • UI experience
  • ZBrush or other sculpting software experience
  • Shader creation (Substance designer/shader forge etc)
  • Degree level / HND or Art related qualification
  • A portfolio that demonstrates the potential to meet the industry-standard level of art.
  • 6+ years of industry experience and previous Senior or lead roles. Having completed a full production cycle on a published game title.

3D Animator

  • Knowledge of Autodesk Maya
  • Strong Knowledge of game engines (Unity /Unreal).
  • Scripting / blueprints
  • Experience with Motion Builder
  • Degree level / HND or art-related qualification
  • An animation showreel that demonstrates a strong understanding of animation principals and character acting
  • 3+ year industry experience

3D Graduate Artist

  • Exceptional 3D Modelling and Texture creation skills
  • Experience with: 3DMax, Maya, or equivalent, (Maya preferred)
  • Experienced with Photoshop
  • Experience on multiple games and ability to work across varied art styles.
  • Experience with popular game engines, preferably Unity / Unreal.
  • Experience with shaders and real-time rendering pipelines.
  • PBR workflow experience (Substance Painter / Designer)
  • Other visual art skills, e.g. illustration, graphic design, VFX
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills allowing effective collaboration with teams
  • Strong organizational, problem-solving and time management skills
  • Strong observation and research skills
  • Strong knowledge of the video game industry and awareness of the video game development processes
  • Unreal / Unity experience / Blueprints
  • Animation knowledge
  • Zbrush or other sculpting software experience
  • Shader creation (Substance designer/shader forge etc)

 

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Cobnb STRMS Wins APICTA 2019 Startup Award!

On 27 December 2019, Cobnb STRMS bagged the APICTA 2019 Startup Award! Here is a quick primer on the APICTA Awards, and Cobnb STRMS!

 

Cobnb STRMS Wins APICTA 2019 Startup Award!

Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) conferred the APICTA Start-up of the Year 2019 Award to Malaysian-based startup, Cobnb, at the APICTA 2019 Awards held in Halong Bay, Vietnam.

Cobnb is a Short-Term Accommodation (STA) and property management company offering leasing and short-term management solutions. It was their Short Term Rental Management System (STRMS) that bagged the top award amongst 15 other contestants from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Cobnb was incorporated in 2017 to optimise the property performance of their customers, leveraging workflow automation, pricing, and financial analytics.

They currently manage more than 500 properties, and their clientele includes private property owners, property developers, hotels and resort villas.

 

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Dell Forecasts The Future of Connected Living In 2030!

Dell Technologies just shared with us the key findings from their research that explore the future of connected living by the year 2030!

Find out how emerging technologies will transform how our lives will change by the year 2030!

 

Dell On The Future of Connected Living In 2030!

Dell Technologies conducted their research in partnership with the Institute for the Future (IFTF) and Vanson Bourne, surveying 1,100 business leaders across ten countries in Asia Pacific and Japan.

Let’s take a look at their key findings, and find out why they believe the future is brimming with opportunity thanks to emerging technologies.

 

Technological Shifts Transforming The Future By 2030

IFTF and a forum of global experts forecast that emerging technologies like edge computing, 5G, AI, Extended Reality (XR) and IoT will create these five major shifts in society :

1. Networked Reality

Over the next decade, the line between the virtual and the real will vanish. Cyberspace will become an overlay on top of our existing reality as our digital environment extends beyond televisions, smartphones and other displays.

This transformation will be driven by the deployment of 5G networks that enable high bandwidth, low-latency connections for streaming, interactive services, and multi-user media content.

2. Connected Mobility and Networked Matter

The vehicles of tomorrow will essentially be mobile computers, with the transportation system resembling packet-switched networks that power the Internet.

We will trust them to take us where we need to go in the physical world as we interact in the virtual spaces available to us wherever we are.

3. From Digital Cities to Sentient Cities

More than half of the world’s population live in urban areas. This will increase to 68% over the next three decades, according to the United Nations.

This level of growth presents both huge challenges and great opportunities for businesses, governments and citizens.

Cities will quite literally come to life through their own networked infrastructure of smart objects, self-reporting systems and AI-powered analytics.

4. Agents and Algorithms

Our 2030 future will see everyone supported by a highly personalised “operating system for living” that is able to anticipate our needs and proactively support our day-to-day activities to free up time.

Such a Life Operating System (Life OS) will be context-aware, anticipating our needs and behaving proactively.

Instead of interacting with different apps today, the intelligent agent of the future will understand what you need and liaise with various web services, other bots and networked objects to get the job done.

5. Robot with Social Lives

Within 10 years, we will have personal robots that will become our partners in life – enhancing our skills and extending our abilities.

In some cases, they will replace us, but this can mean freeing us to do the things we are good at, and enjoy.

In most cases, they can become our collaborators, helping to crowdsource innovations and accelerate progress through robot social networks.

 

Preparing For The Future Of Connected Living By 2030

Anticipating Change

Many businesses in APJ are already preparing for these shifts, with business leaders expressing these perceptions :

  • 80% (82% in Malaysia) will restructure the way they spend their time by automating more tasks
  • 70% (83% in Malaysia) welcome people partnering with machines/robots to surpass our human limitations
  • More than half of businesses anticipate Networked Reality becoming commonplace
    – 63% (67% in Malaysia) say they welcome day-to-day immersion in virtual and augmented realities
    – 62% (63% in Malaysia) say they welcome people being fitted with brain computer interfaces

Navigating Challenges

These technological shifts are seismic in nature, leaving people and organisations grappling with change. Organisations that want to harness these emerging technologies will need to collect, process and make use of the data, while addressing public concerns about data privacy.

APJ business leaders are already anticipating some of these challenges :

  • 78% (88% in Malaysia) will be more concerned about their own privacy by 2030 than they are today
  • 74% (83% in Malaysia) consider data privacy to be a top societal-scale challenge that must be solved
  • 49% (56% in Malaysia) would welcome self-aware machines
  • 49% (43% in Malaysia) call for regulation and clarity on how AI is used
  • 84% (85% in Malaysia) believe that digital transformation should be more widespread throughout their organisation

 

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The Carousell Rights Owners Programme (CROP) Explained!

In response to the sale of counterfeit goods on their platform, Carousell introduced the Carousell Rights Owners Programme (CROP).

Find out what the Carousell Rights Owners Programme is all about, and what it means to brands and Carousell buyers and sellers!

 

The Carousell Rights Owners Programme (CROP)

In response to criticism that a number of sellers on their platforms were selling counterfeit goods, Carousell initiated the Carousell Rights Owners Programme (CROP) in December 2018.

Under the Carousell Rights Owners Programme (CROP), trusted brands are given the power to directly remove listings of counterfeits on Carousell with zero processing time.

CROP gives brands assurance that their rights are being protected, and Carousell users the confidence to buy and sell legitimate goods on the platform.

 

Why Carousell Created CROP

Carousell officially had prohibited selling counterfeit goods or replicas that violate intellectual property rights. However, prior to CROP, it required a lengthy process of flagging the item to the actual takedown by the Carousell brand protection team.

CROP drastically reduces the time needed to takedown counterfeit listings, and obviates the need for them to expand their brand protection team. In the last nine months, brands have used CROP to take down 13,000 listings.

Carousell has only allowed a selected number of brands to join CROP and access its content moderation tools. They include Nike, Grab and luxury group Kering which owns brands like Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta.

However, Carousell did not detail any recourse for sellers whose genuine items were wrongly identified as counterfeits, and taken down by CROP.

 

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Level Up KL 2019 Biz + Play : Full Details Revealed!

Level Up KL 2019 is right around the corner! The premier gaming development conference in the APAC region will take place from 2-10 November 2019.

This time though, it is so large, it’s being split into two parts – Level Up KL Biz, and Level Up KL Play! Here is EVERYTHING you need to know!

 

Level Up KL 2019

In its fifth iteration, Level Up KL 2019 has greatly expanded since last year. It is now a week-long conference, split into two parts – Level Up KL Biz and Level Up KL Play.

And for the first time ever, Level Up KL 2019 will feature events that will cater to both game developers and gamers.

Level Up KL Biz 2019

Event Period : 2 – 8 November 2019
Target Participants : Game developers and industry leaders
Location : Bangsar South

Level Up KL Biz continues the Level Up KL tradition of bringing regional game developers and industry leaders together to interact, learn and share knowledge.

This year, Level Up KL Biz will feature key announcements from local and international game developers, expert workshops and talks, business connections and more!

The exhibition and showcase are free to visit, but make sure you register for the Expo Visitor Pass!

To attend the expert workshops, you will need to purchase the Masterclass Workshops ticket for just USD 50.

You can check out the schedule and ticket prices here.

Level Up KL Play 2019

Event Period : 9 – 10 November 2019
Target Participants : Gamers and the general public
Location : Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

The inaugural Level Up KL Play event aims to become Malaysia’s ultimate game conference for the general public.

This two-day game festival will feature game demos of soon-to-launch AAA and indie titles for both PC and console, esports tournaments, a video game concert, meet-and-greet activities, and more!

You can purchase the Early Bird tickets now at just RM 20 for both days. If you just want to attend a single day, you can show up and purchase the event day ticket on-site for RM 10.

 

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World’s Oldest PM Learns Coding From Two 10 Year Old Girls!

Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the world’s oldest PM, just showed the world that you are never too young or too old to learn coding, when he got a lesson in coding by two 10-year old girls!

 

The Importance Of Learning To Code

Businesses all over the world are racing to digitally transform into intelligent organisations.

In the digital economy of the future, digital skills and STEM will become the new passport to success for the individual as well as the nation.

Here in Malaysia, the government already understands the importance of coding and STEM skills, launching the STEM4All campaign with Microsoft Malaysia.

 

But Coding Is Not Just For The Young…

However, while coding and STEM skills will be critical to the future of our students, they are already very important in the world place today.

The digital transformation of businesses and organisations depends on the coding skills of their employees today.

Therefore, it is also critical for the employees of today to learn how to code. Coding is not just for the young…

 

As World’s Oldest PM Learns Coding From Two 10 Year Old Girls!

The world’s oldest Prime Minister – Dr. Mahathir Mohamad – at 94 years and counting, recently sat down for a coding session with two 10 year old girls.

These girls, who are Microsoft Malaysia Ambassadors, are part of the new generation of children who are as comfortable coding, as they are playing with Legos.

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In their exclusive coding session, Chloe Soh Ke Er and Serena Zara Taufiq taught Dr. Mahathir how to code, proving that everyone can learn to code!

“As Malaysia continues its digital transformation journey, technology plays an important role. Mobility, Cloud Computing, the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence (or AI), and Big Data Analytics are among the most important drivers of digital transformation.

With that, STEM needs to be democratized in order to develop Future Ready Malaysian Talent,” said Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad

The video was released by the Ministry of Communication and Multimedia, as part of the Malaysian government’s effort to break down barriers to STEM education and digital literacy amongst Malaysians.

 

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Microsoft Malaysia Rated Top 10 Tech Employer In 2018!

Microsoft Malaysia was just announced as a top 10 tech employer in the 2018 Graduates Choice Award! Here are the full details!

 

Microsoft Malaysia Rated Top 10 Tech Employer In 2018

Microsoft Malaysia was just ranked as a top 10 tech employer in the 2018 Graduates Choice Award.

Organised by HRINCAMPUS and supported by various University Board Members such as Taylor’s University, Sunway University and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, the 2018 Graduates Choice Award features more than 360 nominees in total, as nominated by Universities nationwide.

The award also received the support of the Ministry of Education, MDEC and Career Development Centre Club Malaysia (CDCC).

Undergraduates from across Malaysia were then given the opportunity to vote for their favorite graduate employer brands. With 10 winners per contesting category, and 10 contesting categories in total, only 100 brands emerged at the top and were declared as the recipients of the Graduates Choice Award.

 

Microsoft Malaysia’s Record As A Tech Employer

With over 44 years of experience in the industry and 25 years in Malaysia, Microsoft Malaysia has long invested in the development of talent in Malaysia, with education-linked initiatives as one of its top priorities.

Events such as the Imagine Cup, which was hosted in Kuala Lumpur in April this year, provides an avenue for Microsoft to reach out to students who are keen to dive deeper into the tech industry.

Microsoft has also partnered with educational institutions, as well as the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports for the introduction of Digital ILKBS and the Ministry of Education to launch the STEM4ALL campaign.

These initiatives allow students to witness the work that is being done by Microsoft in Malaysia, inspiring them to join the company upon graduation.

The work culture in Microsoft has also evolved over the years, providing its employees with an inclusive and diverse work environment.

 

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The Economist : Malaysia LEAST CONFIDENT On Future-Readiness!

In a shocking report presented yesterday, The Economist Intelligence Unit revealed that family businesses in Malaysia are LEAST CONFIDENT in Southeast Asia about their future-readiness. What exactly does the report state, and what does this mean for Malaysia?

 

The Economist : Malaysia LEAST CONFIDENT On Future-Readiness!

At an Economist Intelligence Unit event at the Majestic Kuala Lumpur, EIU’s Corporate Network global editorial director, Andrew Staples, revealed some sobering statistics from their study of family business leaders from Southeast Asia :

  • Malaysian family businesses report the lowest levels of confidence in the future-readiness of their people, business environment and technology.
  • They are the least likely to adopt new business models, offer new products and services, and enter new markets.
  • Not surprisingly, they have the least confidence in their employees’ digital proficiency or development of new skills.
  • They also ranked very low in being prepared for technologies like data analytics, machine learning, automation and cloud computing.

Interestingly, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s report also pointed out that :

  • Malaysian family businesses believe that government regulations are the biggest threat to their growth over the next three years.
  • So they see large foreign companies and other local SMEs as their best partners for the next three years.
  • They are focused on leveraging those partners to drive costs down, instead of developing new products and services or to enter new markets.

 

The Economist, MDEC and SAP On Malaysian Family Business Future-Readiness

Now, the Economist Intelligence Unit’s study brings up some questions :

  • Do the results actually resonate with reality on-the-ground?
  • Is the low readiness due to a lack of funds, lack of opportunity, or lack of understanding about the value of digital transformation?
  • How can these family businesses and SMEs, in general, boost their confidence and ability to transform their businesses?

So we sat down with Andrew Staples, the EIU’s Global Editorial Director; Gopi Ganesalingam, Vice President of Enterprise Development at MDEC; and Duncan Williamson, Managing Director of SAP Malaysia, for an exclusive media briefing and Q&A session.

On the burning question of the future-readiness of Malaysian family businesses and SMEs in general, the panel identified talent retention as a key issue :

“People don’t leave companies, they leave managers. You need to put time and effort into changing the company culture, and the mindset of the managers to retain talent. People start to call you when you are recognised as a great place to work. I think there is a tremendous opportunity for us in Malaysia to address the movement of talent. More people want to come back to Malaysia now, and if we can address the challenge of making Malaysia a great place to work, the threat (of losing talent) will diminish,” said Duncan Williamson.

“The work culture is changing, the ecosystem is changing. These are helping to retain talent, and bring the talent we lost back to the country. In the last two to three years, more companies are redomiciling in Malaysia, than there are companies leaving Malaysia; and there are good talent coming back to Malaysia. It’s a good change, and it’s very positive right now,:” said Gopi Ganasalingam.

They also have some advice for businesses in Malaysia :

“Business leaders need to focus on the outcomes. The organisations that are successful are the ones that clearly define the outcomes, and hold their management team accountable for those outcomes. You can then build the technology you need to deliver those outcomes, but you have to be clear on the outcomes to start with,” advised Duncan Williamson.

“The gig economy will be a major change in the way we work, particularly for the younger generation. At MDEC, we already run a programme call eRezeki to educate Malaysians about the earning a living through the gig economy. Co-working spaces are also changing the way we work, and set-up our businesses. They will also change the way our talents are being trained, Gopi Ganasalingam pointed out.

 

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The Asia Cybersecurity Exchange Initiative Launched!

The Asia Cybersecurity Exchange is designed to nurture the development of new cybersecurity professionals, as well as encourage and support cybersecurity entrepreneurship. Find out how the Asia Cybersecurity Exchange is going to transform Malaysia into one of the world’s major cybersecurity hubs!

 

The Asia Cybersecurity Exchange Initiative

Asia Cybersecurity Exchange is the brainchild of LE Global Services Sdn Bhd (LGMS), formed in partnership with the ACE Group. Its mission is to identify and nurture cybersecurity talents and entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Their ultimate aim – elevate Malaysia as a cybersecurity hub in Asia.

US$ 50 Million Startup Fund

To help nurture cybersecurity entrepreneurs, the ACE Group has also set aside a fund of US$ 50 million / RM 200 million to invest in cybersecurity startups with high growth potential. The Asia Cybersecurity Exchange will help select qualified candidates and mentor their efforts.

MDEC Cybersecurity Development Program

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is also supporting the Asia Cybersecurity Exchange initiative with a 12-month MDEC Cybersecurity Development Program.

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This will consist of a series of cybersecurity conferences, hackathons, CISO roundtables, as well as industry collaboration workshops.

Cybersecurity Training & Internships

LGMS, with the help of MDEC and the eight premier tech universities in Malaysia, aim to train as many as 240 cybersecurity specialists in the next 12 months, with the aim of expanding the program in the subsequent years.

The top students selected by their universities will be interviewed and selected by LGMS for training by top cybersecurity experts, with industry mentors to help them nurture those who want to startup their own cybersecurity endeavours.

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Red Hat Q4FY2018 Global Revenue Announced!

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27, 2018 Red Hat today announced that the Red Hat Q4FY2018 global revenue is $772 million (approx. RM2.99 billion).The Asia Pacific region (APAC), of which Malaysia is part of contributed to this earnings as 17 percent of Red Hat’s total bookings came from the APAC region.

 

Red Hat Q4FY2018 Global Revenue & APAC Contribution

Damien Wong, Vice President and General Manager for Red Hat Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Hong Kong (SEATH), shared that application development and emerging technologies saw an encouraging growth as it accounted for $173 million (approx. RM670 million) of the global Red Hat Q4FY2018 revenue.

Speaking on Malaysia’s journey towards advancing its Digital Economy, Damien shared that the Digital Economy is indeed critical to the country’s growth and success. In line with that, the policies and initiatives that are already in place today are encouraging the adoption of technology and fueling the country towards a more advanced and matured Digital Economy. By engaging with industry partners such as Red Hat, the transformation speed of the country’s economy can be spurred.

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Apart from that, Damien also elaborated on industry trends in Malaysia and the region that are a clear reflection of the steady rate of open source adoption.

These trends include continuous innovation as businesses realize that incremental innovation is just not enough anymore; strong spending for IT as Gartner predicts that Malaysia’s IT spending is set to increase by 5.7 percent to RM65.2 billion this year (2018), compared with RM61.6 billion last year; and upward mobile adoption as it creates unique markets and business models that cater to a new generation of consumers embracing a mobile-centric world.

In Malaysia, Red Hat has been helping numerous organizations to reduce IT costs and downtime and also innovate as well as modernize legacy IT infrastructures. Some of these organizations include Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), CTOS Data System Sdn. Bhd. and Grab (Southeast Asia).

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Microsoft : Digital Transformation to Contribute US$10 Billion to GDP by 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, 6 FEBRUARY – By 2021, digital transformation will add an estimated US$10 billion to Malaysia’s GDP, and increase the growth rate by 0.6% annually, according to a new business study. The research, Unlocking the Economic Impact of Digital Transformation in Asia Pacific, was produced by Microsoft in partnership with IDC Asia/Pacific.

 

Digital Transformation to Contribute US$10 Billion to GDP by 2021

The study predicts a dramatic acceleration in the pace of digital transformation across Asia’s economies. In 2017, about 7% of Malaysia’s GDP was derived from digital products and services created directly through the use of digital technologies, such as mobility, cloud, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI).

“Malaysia is clearly on the digital transformation fast track. Within the next four years, we expect to see approximately 45% of Malaysia’s GDP to be derived from digital products and services,” said K Raman, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia. “At the same time, organizations in Asia Pacific are increasingly deploying emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence as part of their digital transformation initiatives, and that will accelerate growth even further.”

The survey conducted with 1,560 business decision makers in mid and large-sized organizations across 15 economies in the region highlights the rapid impact and widespread disruption that digital transformation is having on traditional business models.

According to the research findings, business leaders expect to see more than 20% improvements in those key areas by 2020, with the biggest jump expected in customer advocacy.

Digital Leaders in Asia Pacific to Gain Lion’s Share of Economic Opportunities

The study indicates that while 85% of organizations in Malaysia are in the midst of their digital transformation journey, only 7% in the entire region can be classified as Leaders. These are organizations that have full or progressing digital transformation strategies, with at least a third of their revenue derived from digital products and services. In addition, these companies are seeing between 20 – 30% improvements in benefits across various business areas from their initiatives.

The study indicates that Leaders experience double the benefits of Followers, and these improvements will be more pronounced by 2020. Almost half of Leaders (48%) have a full digital transformation strategy in place.

“The pace of digital transformation is accelerating, and IDC expects that by 2021, at least 48% of Southeast Asia’s GDP will be derived from digital products and services, with growth in every industry driven by digitally enhanced offerings, operations and relationships. The study shows Leaders seeing double the benefits of Followers, with improvements in productivity, cost reductions, and customer advocacy. To remain competitive, organizations must establish new metrics, realign organization structures, and re-architect their technology platform,” said Daniel-Zoe Jimenez, Research Director Digital Transformation Practice Lead, IDC Asia/Pacific.

The Study identified key differences between Leaders and Followers in Asia Pacific, which contribute to the improvements tracked:

  • Leaders are more concerned about competitors and emergence of disruptive technologies: The digital economy has also given rise to new types of competitors, as well as emerging technologies such as AI that have contributed to the disruption of business models.
  • Business agility and culture of innovation are key goals: When addressing business concerns, Leaders are focused on creating a culture of agility and innovation to counter competition. Followers, on the other hand, are more focused on improving employee productivity and profitability.
  • Measuring digital transformation successes: Organizations across Asia Pacific are starting to adopt new key performance indicators (KPI) to better measure their digital transformation initiatives, such as effectiveness of processes, data as a capital, and customer advocacy in the form of Net Promoter Score (NPS). As organizations realize the potential of data as the new oil for the digital economy, Leaders are much more focused on leveraging data to grow revenue and productivity, and to transform business models.
  • Leaders are more aware of challenges in their digital transformation journeys: In addition to skills and cybersecurity threats as key challenges, Leaders have also identified the need to bolster their data capabilities through the use of advanced analytics to develop actionable insights in fast-moving markets.
  • Leaders are looking to invest in AI and Internet of Things: Emerging technologies such as AI (including cognitive services and robotics) and IoT are areas where Leaders are investing in for 2018. Besides these emerging technologies, Leaders are also more interested in investing in big data analytics to mine data for actionable insights than others.
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Digital Transformation in Malaysia Will Ultimately Benefit Citizens

According to the business leaders surveyed, digital transformation will bring about these top benefits to society:

  1. Potential increment to personal income through freelance and digital work
  2. Creation of more higher value jobs
  3. Increased educational and training opportunities
  4. Smarter, safer and more efficient cities

Respondents in Malaysia felt that 96% of jobs will be transformed in the next three years due to digital transformation, and more than half of the jobs in the market today will be redeployed to higher value roles or reskilled to meet the needs of the digital age.

“The rise of digital transformation in Asia Pacific economies will affect the labour market where many types of jobs will evolve and change. What is encouraging is that 76% of the study’s respondents are confident that their young professionals already have future-ready skills that will help them transition to new roles. Governments and organizations should still focus on reskilling and upskilling, because continuous learning will be important in ensuring a successful workforce transformation for the digital age,” said K Raman.

In Malaysia, Microsoft has been empowering the digital transformation journey of the nation by providing cutting-edge technology to many leading organisations including primary healthcare provider, BP Healthcare. Doctor2U, its on-demand healthcare app which is built on Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Bot Framework, aims to create an entire healthcare ecosystem a single platform. The app features Doctor House Call service that brings a doctor to your doorstep within 60 minutes, video call or Live Chat with doctors, pharmacists and nutritionists for free, as well as medication delivery services, teleradiology platform and hospital information system, among others. As a result, Doctor2U has set themselves as a digital transformation leader by empowering clinicians, patients and care teams, effectively reducing delay and waiting time by 54%.

Riding the Wave of Digital Transformation

Organizations in Asia Pacific need to accelerate their digital transformation journey to reap the full benefits of their initiatives, and to address the invisible revolution brought about the mass adoption of AI. More importantly, companies need to focus on capitalizing their own data in order to gain new market insights, create new digital products and services, and monetize data through data sharing securely, and in collaboration with its ecosystem.

Microsoft recommends organizations to adopt the following strategies to become a digital transformation Leader:

  1. Create a digital culture: An organization need to build a culture of collaboration where it is connected across business functions, and has a vibrant and mature ecosystem of customers and partners. Data can then be embraced across organization and functions, where better decisions can be made and ultimately serving the needs of customers and partners better.
  2. Build an information ecosystem: In a digital world, organizations are capture more volumes of data internally and externally. The key to becoming a Leader is for organizations to be able to convert data into capital assets, and enable data sharing and collaboration internally and externally in an open yet trusted manner. In addition, a proper data strategy will allow businesses to start their AI initiatives to identify connections, insights and trends.
  3. Embrace micro-revolutions: In most cases, digital transformation efforts do not start with widespread change, but a series of micro-revolutions. These are small, quick projects that deliver positive business outcomes and accrue to a bigger and bolder digital transformation initiatives.
  4. Develop Future Ready Skills for Individuals and Organizations: Organizations today must relook at training and reskilling its workforce so that workers are equipped with future ready skill sets such as complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity for the digital economy. More importantly, they need to rebalance the workforce to attain and attract key digital talents, as well as be open in creating a flexible work source model where they tap into skills-based marketplace. From a digital skills perspective, LinkedIn’s latest study outlines the ABCs of digital talents required for future economies in the region – artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing. In Malaysia, the top in-demand skills are big data, software and user testing and mobile development.

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