Awantec awarded US.45mil contract from MOE to deliver Google Workspace to schools

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  • a registration of a three-year contract to offer G Suite Enterprise Software
  • may provide cloud-based alternatives like Google Workspace for Education and Google Cloud.

Ministry of Education HQ in Putrajaya.

Awantec Technology Bhd announced today that it has been awarded a US$ 5.45 million ( RM25.68 million ) contract to deliver Google Workspace for Education Plus to schools under the Ministry of Education ( MOE).

According to Awantec, MOE issued the Letter of Award to its wholly- owned subsidiary, Awantec Systems Sdn Bhd ( ASSB ) on 1 July with ASSB accepting it today, 4th July. The standardization of the deal is taking place.

Awantec explained that the prize is a regeneration of the MOE’s G Suite Enterprise Software For Education, which ran from July 8th, 2021 to July 8th, 2024.

For a 36-month period beginning from 9 July to 8 July 2027, ASSB may offer cloud-based options like Google Workspace for Education and Google Cloud Platform to all MOE institutions.

Awantec anticipates that the contract’s award will have a beneficial effect on the company’s future earnings per share and shield tangible assets per share.

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Open-source information fueling new age of war – Asia Times

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Open-source sources of information and knowledge are influencing international engagement in the conflict in Ukraine and additional world areas, changing how the private sector, the people, and governments control conflicts.

Within a day of the June 2, 2024, release of a video documenting the abuse of prisoners of war by a Russian soldier in Ukraine, open- source intelligence ( OSINT ) researchers had identified the Russian citizen and his involvement in Ukraine going back a decade.

Following this, Russian officials wrote letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to explain the mistreatment so they could use it in a pending legal case.

Only one instance of OSINT’s influence on the Ukrainian conflict is in this instance. Online programs have allowed residents to transmit updates to the earth, democratizing information and intelligence transmission.

Strong business satellites enable both parties to track troop and vehicle movements, and georeferencing enables online users to locate targets using images and videos.

Social media study can also provide important local and international insights into the psychological nature of the war by tracking public sentiment and advertising efforts.

Though the Russia- Ukraine conflict has shown the latest innovations in military OSINT, online platforms and international technologies have increased public participation in conflicts for years late.

OSINT is being used to influence how people perceive wars, promote military engagement, offer insight into military operations, and introduce crime. The expansion of OSINT is anticipated to raise more serious threats to regional security and personal privacy as a result of improvements from the private sector, the people, and institutions.

International maps, information, and advertising resources have been gathered for centuries to get insights into the capabilities, planning, and strategies of international militaries. However, the creation of the BBC Monitoring Service in 1939 marked a significant use of OSINT bureaucracy to collect data about World War II.

The US established the Research and Analysis Branch in 1941 to fulfill a similar role as the US’s attack on Pearl Harbor, and OSINT has since grown to be a significant component of contemporary issues.

While Publicly Available Information ( PAI ) makes up part of OSINT, it also includes commercial data that can be bought or obtained, data about network functions, and algorithms to organize information.

Moreover, the effectiveness of storing and organizing the data, as well as reliable and productive communication to discuss and issue the findings, depend on access to data sources.

Governments and private actors are actively attempting to utilize OSINT in their own way, with people living thousands of miles away from the front ranges still playing a significant role in the battle, planning, and understanding of conflicts.

The Russia- Ukraine War continues to show the important part of OSINT in current fight, building on its app in Ukraine over the past decade. Bellingcat, an investigative news organization, used OSINT to highlight Russia’s role in the 2014 shooting of Malaysia Airlines ‘ MH17 over Ukraine and publish a report on Russian artillery strikes against Ukraine in 2016.

Moreover, from 2014 westward, OSINT researchers were able to discover the identities of many Russian employees working for private military and security businesses operating in Ukraine.

In the weeks leading up to the 2022 Russian invasion, companies like Conflict Observatory amassed large amounts of public and commercially available data to help detect potential targets and assault items by Russian troops.

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies ‘ Jeffrey Lewis used traffic information from Russia on Google Maps to signal that Russian forces were about to launch an offensive shortly before Russian troops crossed the border. The first pictures of the war were then captured by citizens who live-streamed Russian tanks crossing the border.

Since the start of the war, OSINT has extremely favored Ukraine. Researchers were able to identify what types of military automobiles Russia had deployed and where using social media posts featuring car license plates.

Viral images and videos of numerous Russian vehicle destruction helped persuade European nations to help more aid to Ukraine, along with other OSINT efforts to uncover possible war crimes, refute Russian claims, and recognize war offenders.

Nevertheless, Russia banned US social media platforms shortly after the war began, limiting the potential of Russian online users to organize, destroy, and control discussions on key global platforms.

Web researchers have followed Russian missile launchers by cross-referencing Google Street View images, popular images, and open satellite data.

Professional satellites have assisted in assessing the damage done by Ukrainian airstrikes against Russian bases. Russian troops have been targeted through their devices and health trackers after connecting to Ukraine’s telecoms community, dating apps, searchable social media posts, and other laptop functions, resulting in fatalities.

Call Russia, a web scraping platform, also gathers information from Russian citizens that is accessible to the public and allows Russian speakers from all over the world to call and speak with Russian citizens about the war.

OSINT related to the war has also spread throughout Europe. Bellingcat used OSINT to identify a Russian spy with a fake identity working in Italy in 2022, and Ukrainian OSINT group Molfar subsequently unmasked 167 Russian spies working across Europe in 2023.

Governments were quick to acknowledge and effectively organize OSINT’s use in the conflict. The Conflict Observatory received immediate assistance from the US State Department, and Europol set up an OSINT task force to assist with Russian war crimes investigations.

The Ukrainian government created an app for citizens to provide information on military movements and illegal activities, and Ukrainian citizens have been able to direct Ukrainian attacks on Russian positions through their phones.

Russia has, however, enjoyed some balance throughout the course of the conflict with OSINT. Various sources use OSINT to update daily maps that show troop movements and changes to the frontline and to document losses of Russian and Ukrainian military equipment.

Chatbots continuously scour the internet for data and update receivers with real- time OSINT analysis to identify and alert soldiers to potentially valuable information. Russian forces are also suspected of receiving images from US satellite companies, which led to costly and fatal attacks that exposed the vulnerabilities of the West’s more liberal business practices and internet standards.

OSINT has been extensively used in other recent conflicts, particularly in the Middle East. Throughout the Syrian Civil War, the Live Universal Awareness Map has primarily used social media posts to map current military movements, unrest, destruction, and violence.

A terrorist camp in the Syrian desert was discovered by social media users in 2016 after they looked through satellite data and discovered it. Russian forces later bombed it.

With limited access to advanced technologies, militant groups have significantly increased their use of OSINT in the twenty-first century.

Since the start of the Saudi- led intervention in Yemen’s civil war in 2015, Houthi militants have used social media and satellite images to monitor and target the movements of the Saudi- led coalition, though the Saudi coalition has also relied on social media information to target Houthi forces as well.

The Houthis and Iran collaborated to use commercially available maritime intelligence services, such as Marine Traffic and ShipXplorer, to track and attack ships through the narrow body of water after the Red Sea Crisis erupted in late 2023.

Hamas has used OSINT to monitor Israeli policy decisions, troop movements, and public opinion for decades. Since Israel’s military bombardment of Gaza began in 2023, the Washington Post’s Visual Forensics has mapped Israeli advances using videos, photos, and satellite imagery.

Israel’s claim of a Hamas tunnel under al-Shifa Hospital was disproven by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit Sanad, and additional OSINT evidence demonstrated that Palestinian civilians had been killed by Israeli forces along the safe routes recommended by Israel.

Contrastingly, OSINT was used by Israel to challenge reports that Hamas had made of an Israeli attack that had destroyed a hospital, and was repeated by international media outlets. Bellingcat investigators analyzed footage from the sites of two Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7 to piece together the assault.

Additionally, Israeli intelligence keeps an eye on Hamas ‘ social media activity and uses OSINT to monitor its activities.

OSINT is increasingly used as a geopolitical tool in contrast to active conflict zones. In 1992, the deputy director of the CIA stated that over 80 % of the agency’s analysis was based on OSINT, and the US actively uses OSINT against adversaries and allies.

However, the West’s availability and commercialization of data have undermined the US’s position as a global military force. For instance, the user map for the Strava fitness app revealed American military personnel ‘ positions and movements in Syria and Iraq in 2018.

Algorithms can now instantly detect the presence of a ship using global port webcams, while US military aircraft can be tracked on programs like Flightradar24, helping map the US global military presence in real- time.

Additionally, ShipSpotting and WarshipCam both have extensive image databases for almost all warships and system configurations onboard. According to a report released in 2023 by the University of California’s Berkeley Risk and Security Lab, China is using various OSINT images of US warships for AI training datasets to create highly detailed computerized images of US and allied vessels.

Additionally, machine learning has made it easy to analyze social media. Information on the language usage and social media poster demographics can be gathered from Lexical Analysis, Web Scraping, and Sensational Analysis.

Russia is well known for using social media to stir up tensions in the US and around Europe, and other states are using similar tactics to influence this.

OSINT is also being increasingly used in DNA analysis. The Human Genome Project, a project led by China’s Beijing Genomics Institute, has compiled millions of people’s genomic data for use in population studies.

Governments and organizations are deploying OSINT domestically in the same way they do when they use it abroad. During the Arab Spring protests in 2010 and 2011, regional governments faced vulnerabilities from protests organized online, with live maps, government atrocities depicted on social media, and other forms of OSINT used.

Beijing quickly acted in response to this by pressing foreign companies to remove the HKMap. live app tracking police forces from their platforms and put restrictions on communications during the 2019 and 2020 Hong Kong protests.

In light of the widespread unrest, Western governments may find it challenging to implement such measures. They instead use strategies like event barraging, which flood the information space with information to detract and obscure valuable information, misinformation campaigns, trend hijacking, and other strategies to undermine OSINT and prevent effective data analysis.

Governments are naturally motivated to use OSINT against their populations, too. By aggregating and analyzing publicly available information and other data, governments can gain valuable insight into citizens ‘ lives, behaviors, and opinions.

However, this significantly compromises personal privacy and makes people and groups vulnerable to unwarranted surveillance. In criminal investigations, law enforcement uses OSINT more frequently.

Moreover, OSINT can be manipulated to shape public opinion, as demonstrated by the” Ghost of Kyiv” during the Russia- Ukraine conflict, which highlighted the potential for OSINT to be hijacked for propaganda purposes.

Companies selling personal and public data for profit are becoming a major part of the surveillance economy as a result of OSINT becoming more and more prevalent. Palantir Technologies, Recorded Future, and Babel Street are some notable names in the OSINT industry.

These companies, along with numerous smaller firms, continue to drive market growth and innovation. These uses of OSINT go beyond traditional methods of gathering intelligence, with the rise in the sophistication of targeted marketing one outcome.

Numerous instances of OSINT being misused by the public range from OSINT-related rumors of war criminals to OSINT-related hacking.

But OSINT has significant positive impacts, including coordinating evacuations and humanitarian aid, alerting civilians to threats and allowing them to document their experiences that can counter or complement traditional media.

However, the majority of OSINT’s efforts are still focused on domestic surveillance and conflict, and its capabilities are rapidly expanding as it integrates with machine learning.

The evolving landscape will require greater attention to the ethics of large-scale data accumulation and the threat to personal privacy as OSINT becomes more widely used and commercialized.

John P Ruehl is an Australian- American journalist living in Washington, D. C., and a world affairs correspondent for the Independent Media Institute. He contributes to several other foreign affairs publications as well as contributing to Strategic Policy. His book,” Budget Superpower: How Russia Challenges the West With a Economy Smaller Than Texas,” was released in December 2022.

This article first appeared on Independent Media Institute and is republished with kind permission.

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Huawei, ZTE forging ahead with next-level 5G – Asia Times

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Huawei and ZTE are developing and releasing 5G- Advanced system services, strengthening the Chinese telecoms giants ‘ position as the world leader in smart communications. The Mobile World Congress ( MWC ) exhibition, which took place in Shanghai from June 26 through June 28, featured the new technologies.

Compared with regular 5G telecommunications, 5G- Advanced ( abbreviated as 5G- A and also known as 5.5G), “represents a 10- slide improvement in performance across the board … as well as substantial reductions in total system power consumption”, according to Counterpoint, a technology market research organization.

According to industry analysts, 5G- A offers excellent positioning and timing in addition to significantly faster uplink and downlink speeds.

” 2024 marks the first year for corporate 5G and the introduction of AI into a wider range of equipment.” The mobile AI era is on the horizon, where intelligent services will be pervasive”, said David Wang ( Wang Tao ), Huawei’s executive director and chairman of the company’s ICT Infrastructure Managing Board, in an MWC address.

Wang added that the first standards discharge for 5G- A, known as 3GPP Release- 18, was actually frozen on June 28 in Shanghai, and that …” business 5.5G terminals are then ready to face the planet”. 3GPP stands for 3rd Generation Partner Project, a group of requirements- building companies that develop methods for wireless telecommunications.

Chinese mobile telecoms providers, including China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, and China Broadnet, are both rolling out 5G-A or making plans to do so.

China Mobile hopes to use the systems in 300 cities in China, according to a report from LightReading, and that it will have a large-scale deployment in the next two years.

China Broadnet has even launched 5G- A service, while China Unicom has started a captain job. China Telecom has released an” activity plan,” but it has not provided a start date.

The Middle East has been the site of the first 5G-A installations abroad. In Shanghai, Huawei launched its international 5G- A Pioneers Program, which includes du, the ( United Arab ) Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company and Oman Telecommunications.

Zain, a portable telecoms provider in Saudi Arabia, launched 5G-A companies last year and plans to cover 18 towns nationwide by the end of the decade.

Mobile AI applications on display in Shanghai included automatic driving, flying taxis, medical help, hotel management, test monitoring, sports commentary and algorithmic detection.

China Mobile and another Chinese companies plan to build AI techniques for state, public services and business enterprises, including big speech models for a range of industries.

The organizer of the MWC events, Mats Granryd, director general of the Groupe Spécial Mobile ( GSM) Association, stated to the audience that China’s growing presence in the world of large language models makes its mobile telecom carriers crucial to the development of AI.

Although Chinese models are essential to the creation of new mobile AI applications, they may not be as developed as American models.

Xiao Ming, president of overseas operations at ZTE Corporation, told Light Reading:” Years ago, we were the first in the industry to combine AI technology with 5G energy- saving technology…

” With the advent of large model technology, ZTE has applied these models to improve R&amp, D and operational efficiency. Our self-developed Nebula programming large model, which is ranked among the best in HumanEval, [a benchmark for comparing the performance of large language models ]…

” At our Nanjing Binjiang Intelligent Manufacturing Base, we actively employ large industrial models to create a new intelligent computing factory, optimizing costs, efficiency, energy consumption and quality to the extreme …”.

ZTE is working with over 1, 000 potential customers across 15 industries. Among other things, the company has created AI models for managing water resources, identifying gas leaks and road hazards, and generating emergency response plans.

China’s “low- altitude economy” was also featured at the exhibition in Shanghai. Now a government priority, it uses drones, electric vertical take- off and landing (VTOL ) flying taxis, the country’s Beidou satellite- based navigation system, low- Earth orbit satellites and airborne and surface mobile telecom terminals to deliver products and services.

China Telecom demonstrated a drone control system made up of Beidou and a 4G/5G airborne terminal, but the business’s development requires a faster and more accurate 5G-A. From delivery services to surveying and mapping, there is huge economic potential nationwide.

Shenzhen, the capital city that includes Beijing and the port city of Tianjin, plans to establish the national standard with the creation of more than 5, 000 related businesses over the next three years, according to China Daily, which was the first Chinese city to pass legislation to support the development of a low-altitude economy.

There is potential overseas, particularly in those regions of the Global South where American alarm bells are neither heard nor heeded. More accurate than GPS, has more satellites, and far more monitoring stations.

Although US sanctions apply to Chinese drones, visitors from more than 100 nations came to Shenzhen for the 8th Drone World Congress and the 9th Shenzhen International UAV Expo to view and purchase goods made by about 500 Chinese companies.

The low-altitude economy already appears to be another next-generation, tech-driven market where China is poised to take the global lead, despite the US government’s focus being on the military’s effects of drones.

Follow this writer on&nbsp, X: @ScottFo83517667

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KWAP and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan ink MoU to drive AI adoption

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  • Explore funding for research for creating localized big language versions
  • KWAP’s determination to accelerate modern transformation in serving partners

Nik Amlizan Mohamed CEO of KWAP with Prof Dr Arham Abdullah, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research And Innovation) of UMK.

Kumpulan Wang Persaraan ( Diperbadankan )]KWAP ] today signed a MoU with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan ( UMK) to propel Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) adoption, in line with MADANI’s framework, the Malaysia National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021- 2025 ( A I- RMAP ) and KWAP’s internal AI Adoption Programme.

Through this MoU, KWAP will look into a number of possible collaborations, including funding for the development of localized large language models ( LLMs) that support the national language and the creation of an AI Governance Framework and Ethics. KWAP is even looking into information and expert exchanges to aid in developing Artificial apply cases, proofs of principle, and sandboxing, as well as establishing KWAP’s Gen- Artificial lab. Other places include, among others, encouraging college ability and student accessories at KWAP, collaboration in research journals, co-organizing occasions and learning courses, and co-ordinating events and learning courses.

Nik Amlizan Mohamed, CEO of KWAP, said,” As Malaysia’s largest income portfolio for public business seniors, KWAP recognises the importance of AI implementation in navigating our nation’s transition into an ageing society. As part of our commitment, KWAP aims to promote the online change, especially in digital resilience, digital management, company systems, technology platform, as well as data management. This collaboration aims to lay a solid foundation for the development and use of AI.

Expressing confidence in UMK’s expertise, Nik expects the collaboration will not only aid us in accomplishing both parties ‘ mutual objectives in AI adoption, including enhancing KWAP’s operations, but also contribute significantly to the nation’s advancement in this field, ensuring success and benefit for all stakeholders involved.

Prof. Ts. The collaboration between UMK and the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Big Data ( AIBIG ) and KWAP, according to Dr. Arham Abdullah, Deputy Vice Chancellor ( Research And Innovation ) of the UMK, is a significant step in the direction of the development and research of responsible AI.

The scope of this collaboration includes sharing research and information, co-publishing in research journals, and organizing events like Ideathon and Hackathon using university resources to implement AI use. Additionally, he said, the exchange of information on research innovation, student development, and industry attachment/training programs for students and university staff is included.

Alongside this initiative, KWAP has increased its digital adoption. Important initiatives include the use of Robotic Process Automation ( RPA ) to replace repetitive and labor-intensive processes to increase efficiency. Additionally, it has developed the new Semakan Pesara portal at 146 government hospitals in collaboration with Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam ( JPA ), 50 haemodialysis centers, and plans to expand this integration to more centers nationwide.

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Gentari partners with Virta to grow EV charging market in Southeast Asia 

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  • Gentari integrates Virta’s systems, experience for EV charging system
  • aspires to have 2, 000 charging points added to the Gentari Go system by the year 2024.

Left to Right: Elias Pöyry, co-founder and chief business development officer of Virta, Shah Yang Razalli, deputy CEO of Gentari and CEO of Gentari Green Mobility and Aaron Sarma, Digital Ecosystem, Gentari

As a software partner, Gentari Sdn Bhd, a company of Malaysia’s Petronas Group, is working with Virta, a leading Volt charging company solution provider, to increase the EV charging network throughout Southeast Asia. &nbsp,

In a statement, the clean electricity solutions company said that through its conglomerate Gentari Green Mobility Sdn Bhd, it will utilize Virta’s digital app services, technology, and industry knowledge to help the rollout and function of EV charging system.

The lovers will also collaborate with third-party organizations to make it possible for EV charging to be interoperable in the area.

Gentari announced it is deploying technologically advanced EV charging companies throughout the area through its clean energy system – Gentari Go in line with its long-term goal to get Asia Pacific’s leading lover for efficient accessibility options. Gentari Go, which was introduced in Malaysia in February 2024, also provides access to batteries in Thailand and Singapore, strengthening Gentari’s status as a market leader in high-powered strong current paying. &nbsp,

More than 2,400 charging items are now operational in the three states, according to the company, and Gentari Go will add another 2, 000 charging details by the end of 2024.

Elias Pöyry, co-founder and key business development officer of Virta, stated that” this collaboration has a great ability to get the speed of the energy transition in Southeast Asia. In just a year and a half, Genetari Green Mobility has grown from its inception to a leading marketplace person in e-mobility, and we are pleased to support this progress with our market-tested end-to-end global EV charging solutions and expertise, including regionally in Singapore, Thailand, and Australia.

He added that the company’s customers and partners will gain from its ecosystemic approach, which” Powered by Virta” ( Powered by Virta ), which will speed up EV penetration throughout the entire region.

” I’m convinced that Gentari is well-positioned to lead the East Asian business.” We now have a sizable presence in the area and a thorough understanding of the needs of the local business and consumer objectives. We see this engagement as essential in carrying out our plans with the best speed and scale, according to Shah Yang Razalli, assistant CEO of Gentari and CEO of Gentari Green Mobility, recognising the value of partnering with a company that has international standards and business experience.

Virta, the leading European EV charging platform, brings its ten- year track record in EV charging services to the partnership, having enabled over 1, 000 charging networks to manage their charging business on Virta’s platform in 36 countries, including the most mature EV markets in Europe. Since 2022, Virtu has also established itself in Southeast Asia.

As Southeast Asia and Oceania increase in EV penetration, there is an increasing need for robust charging infrastructure right now. Additionally, several countries in the region are already showing double-digit EV share in new car sales.

The firms anticipate that the region’s market will grow much more quickly than the US and EU have so far because there are already a lot of EVs on the market thanks to local and Chinese EV manufacturers making affordable models to meet demand.

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Sunway partners European Union to advance sustainability initiatives

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  • aims to spread awareness about lasting methods in Malaysia.
  • Collaboration aims to improve conservation through combined strengths, information &amp, funding

Delegation of the European Union to Malaysia Chargé d’affaires a.i Timo Goosmann (second from right) and Sunway Group executive director of chairman's office Ong Pang Yen (2nd from left) at the signing ceremony in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur

A strategic partnership between Sunway Group and the European Union delegation in Malaysia ( EUD) aims to advance joint sustainability initiatives. According to Sunway’s speech, this engagement between Southeast Asia’s largest trading bloc and the world’s largest conglomerate demonstrates their shared commitment to achieving a web zero potential.

Ambitious behavior on conservation are required in order to meet the urgent challenges that climate change poses. Through this agreement, Sunway and the EUD commitment to encourage a sustainable and greener coming by pooling their strengths, knowledge, money, and engaging in creative initiatives.

The European Union’s a. document. Timo Goosmann, a. d. e., drew attention to Malaysia by partnering with Sunway Group to increase awareness of green practices. The EU has exerted great effort to make economic conservation a common goal. It has adopted the Western Climate Law, which states that by 2050, all of Europe’s economies and societies must be climate natural.

Ong Pang Yen, senior director of Sunway Group’s president’s office, said,” This agreement reflects the nature and significance of UN-SDG 17, Partnership for the Objectives. Working together with the EU and its member states to achieve as many of the UN’s SDGs as possible here in Malaysia and throughout the area, is a priority for us.

At a signing ceremony held in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur on April 18, 2018, Ambassador of Belgium in Malaysia assistant mind of Mission Pierrick Massaux and Sunway Group CEO Evan Cheah witnessed the signing of the letter of intent.

In Malaysia, the EU works with various local organizations to promote sustainable practices like conservation of wildlife and intelligent cities. In addition, Sunway has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has implemented cutting-edge carbon reduction initiatives across its various business groups as well as a first-of-its-kind natural lease agreement program among residents and lessors through its Real Estate Investment Trust shoulder.

Sunway is kicking off the Desa Mentari Community Observatory project this year, which uses a data-driven, systematic approach to improve the quality of life for Subang Jaya’s people housing project’s almost 30 000 residents.

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Pomen introduces Engarage transforming workshop management with advanced SaaS solutions

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  • aspires to have 3, 000 seminars registered in Malaysia by March 2025.
  • Goals an extra income of US$ 637, 000 through this modification

The Pomen team with Syed Zulhilmi Tuan Sharif, CEO & founder (Bottom row, 2nd from left) and Nazmi Najib CTO & co founder (Bottom row, 3rd from left)

A cloud-based SaaS Integrated Workshop Management System ( Egarage ), a business process management system developed by Pomen Autodata Sdn Bhd ( Pomen ), has been released. It aims to help automotive workshops and service centers build long-lasting client relationships and ensure repeat business through personalized interactions.

Derived from” Engage” and” Garage”, Engarage empowers workshops to understand and capture their target market, enhancing customer retention and business growth. This system provides complete, practical information on revenues, protect part inventory, marketing tools, customer data, operations, finance, mechanical performance, and governmental compliance, including the introduction of compulsory e- Invoicing by LHDN in the upcoming updates.

” This business extension aims to enroll 3, 000 workshops across Malaysia by March 2025, with a targeted additional revenue of US$ 637, 000 ( RM3, 000, 000 )”, said Syed Zulhilmi Tuan Sharif, CEO &amp, founder of Pomen.

He added that Engarage offers a smooth end- to- end user experience, managing every aspect from booking and quotation to inspection, task management, status tracking, invoicing, and payment processes. This allows factory owners to give their customers with the smoothest and best service possible.

The program offers business users real-time insight and analysis based on current and reliable data, enabling them to make informed decisions. This helps in identifying developments, improving procedures, and eventually driving business growth. Additionally, garage owners can use advertising materials to promote their products to their customers, built-in engineer presence tools, and analysis of parts movement data. Moreover, it comes with the Engarage mobile apps applicable for both Apple iOS and Android systems.

By utilizing current data, Engarage improves awareness of car repair and studio performance, according to Pomen. This clarity aids in the workshop’s and its personnel ‘ performance monitoring and management, improving the level of customer service. &nbsp,

Additionally, the program makes it possible to manage workshops everywhere. Because of its cloud-based character, factory owners can run their operations remotely, allowing for flexible and ongoing business management.

With Engarage, Syed Zulhilmi emphasized that “our goal is to transform the mechanical workshop industry by providing businesses with cutting-edge tools to thrive in a dynamic environment.” This method will inspire innovation and functional excellence and establish a new standard for workshop administration, not just in Malaysia but also around the world.

Pomen has recently received CIP Sprint, a commercialization grant from Cradle for the amount of US$ 106, 000 ( RM500, 000 ). The startup is one of the Top 11 for Cohort 2 ScaleUp Malaysia’s programme that received US$ 53, 000 ( RM250, 000 ) in investment. Due to that, Pomen won the SITEC Selangor Accelerator Programme Cohort 2.0, which Pomen won. In the past, it was a recipient of CIP Ignite ( II ) funds from Cradle, receiving US$ 106, 000 ( RM500, 000 ) and the winners of the Petronas FutureTech Accelerator Programme, which led to their selection for the Global Immersion Program in San Francisco.

Any studio owner can register for free access to the engarage at www. engarage. io&nbsp,

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Filipinos doubt US reliability as Marcos deescalates – Asia Times

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Fears of an unnecessary increase in the disputed waterways were heightened by the near-fatal showdown between Chinese and Spanish maritime forces last week in the South China Sea.

A Filipino soldier suffered bodily injury after&nbsp, a huge contingent of Taiwanese forces&nbsp, collided with and then forcibly&nbsp, boarded and disarmed personnel aboard a Philippine resupply mission&nbsp, en&nbsp, route&nbsp, to the&nbsp, passionately- contested&nbsp, Next Thomas Shoal.

Had Filipino marine troops resisted &nbsp, China’s latest violent action, the situation truly would have turned much more violent and possibly fatal, reminiscent of&nbsp, hand- to- hand combat&nbsp, between&nbsp, Chinese&nbsp, and Indian troops at the disputed borders in the Himalayas. &nbsp,

Washington, which has a Mutual Defense Treaty ( MDT ) with the Philippines, was quick to condemn the latest incident. The US State Department reiterated its security obligations to the Philippines in the event of an armed attack on Spanish troops and common vessels in the South China Sea in a speech.

Spanish authorities formally lashed&nbsp, out&nbsp, at China ‘s&nbsp,” aggressive, violent and savage actions” – but were swift to de- escalate tensions by maintaining that the latest incident did not constitute an “armed attack” but instead was the product of a&nbsp, probable “misunderstanding or accident”.

” Well, you know this was probably a misunderstanding or an accident. We’re not yet ready to classify this as an armed attack”, said Executive Secretary Lucas&nbsp, Bersamin&nbsp, in a press conference hastily- organized last Friday. &nbsp, Bersamin, who leads the&nbsp, National Maritime Council ( NMC), &nbsp, which coordinate interagency responses to crises in the South China Sea, was quick to shut down any speculation over the possible invocation of the MDT. &nbsp,

The Filipino official reiterated its commitment to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict by also offering an olive branch to Beijing. I believe this issue can be resolved by us, Bersamin said. ” And if China wants to work with us, we can work with China” .&nbsp, The Philippine government’s muted response&nbsp, met with criticism and outrage across the country. &nbsp,

Leading Philippine experts &nbsp, have argued&nbsp, that China’s latest action could have been a basis for invocation of the MDT. According to surveys, 93 percent of Filipinos want their government to defend their country’s territories and regain control of the areas that China has occupied up to .

Many in the Philippines&nbsp, began to doubt&nbsp, the determination of the Marcos administration to stand up to China, as well as&nbsp, to question&nbsp, America’s reliability as an ally.

In a speech before Philippine&nbsp, military&nbsp, personnel at the southwestern province of Palawan, which lies near the disputed Spratly islands, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr sought to strike a balance&nbsp, by emphasizing that the Philippines has an uncompromising position as well as a commitment to diplomacy. &nbsp,

Our main goal is to make every Filipino a peaceful and prosperous place. We are not in the business of starting wars. In his” Talk to the Troops” speech, Marcos claimed that this is the drumbeat, that this is the tenet that we live by and march by.

” We reject the regulations that require us to choose our sides in a fierce power battle. No truly democratic government, he added, will inevitably cause harm to people’s lives or livelihoods, which would underscore the need for a non-aligned, independent foreign policy. Nevertheless, the Filipino president emphasized that his government will&nbsp,” stand firm” in protecting the country’s sovereign rights in the South China Sea.

The most recent incident’s precise circumstances are still unknown. Afraid intervention was a legitimate response from China’s point of view to the Philippines ‘ alleged violation of a prior agreement regarding the Second Thomas Shoal. Manila has based troops over a grounded warship,  BRP Sierra Madre, and has de facto control over the disputed feature since the late 1990s. However, China has hoped to peacefully eject its rival from the area over the past ten years given the extreme poor conditions in the de facto Philippine base.

In 2013 People’s Liberation Army&nbsp, General Zhang&nbsp, Zhaozhong&nbsp, argued, &nbsp,” Without the supply for one or two weeks, the&nbsp ,]Filipino ] &nbsp, troopers stationed there will leave the islands on their own. Once they have left, they will never be able to come back”.

Over the years, China &nbsp increased its reclamation activities in the disputed areas, leading to a number of massive artificial islands and military installations, and it also tightened the noose around Philippine-occupied land features like the Second Thomas Shoal.

Accordingly, China&nbsp, rapidly expanded&nbsp, the number of vessels, both warships and civilian, dispatched to the area in order to cut off Philippine resupply lines near the shoal. The Asian superpower raised the stakes when it began to suspect that the Philippines had been transporting construction and materials to fortify and de facto base in spite of an alleged” secret agreement” with former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to maintain the status quo. &nbsp,

Recent reports suggest that China has already occupied the crumbling BRP Sierra Madre, which has already been sparked by outrage and aggressive countermeasures. &nbsp, Increasingly dangerous clashes between the Philippines and China, however, have raised concerns over America’s role.

The administrations of Trump and Biden both made it clear that MDT would only be effective if Filipino troops and public vessels were attacked by armed forces. But China’s deft reliance on “gray zone” tactics has undercut the utility of the Philippine- US alliance dramatically. This gap, which has been systematically exploited by China, has been clearly identified by Pentagon strategic planners.

Last year, the&nbsp, Indo- Pacific Command ( INDOPACOM) &nbsp, released an unclassified report in which its legal experts argued that the MDT&nbsp, should also apply to&nbsp, “illegal use of force]which ] &nbsp, is not limited by law to a kinetic armed attack ( e. g. the use of munitions ), but could also include non- kinetic attacks that result in death, injury, damage, or destruction of persons or objects”.

So far, however, the Biden administration has demurred from&nbsp, expanding the parameters of the MDT and, instead, insisted on a more general rhetoric of “ironclad commitment” that clearly does n’t cover&nbsp, gray zone assaults on Philippine troops. As a result, critics are beginning to question the Marcos administration’s decision to increase military support for Western allies without making specific commitments to the escalating South China Sea disputes. &nbsp,

Despite China’s lack of appetite for compromise on its expansive claims across the disputed waters, both the Marcos administration and the US have so far pressed for a diplomatic approach. Manila is likely to push for revisions of the rules governing its mutual defense obligations with America in response to growing domestic pressure.

It’s still to be seen if Washington is willing to increase its military ties to its besieged Southeast Asian ally now that the superpower is facing competing priorities around the world and the US presidential election is about to start.

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Malaysia headquartered Paywatch secures USmil funding in largest raise for Earned Wage Access startup in SEA

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  • Money to expand employee wellness programs and initiatives throughout the Ocean
  • Third Prime, the head investor, invests in financial and industrial technology companies.

The Paywatch team with founders, Richard Kim (seated, 2nd from right) and his brother, Alex Kim (3rd from right).

In what is believed to be the largest funding round closed by an earned- wage access ( EWA ) startup in Southeast Asia, Malaysian headquartered startup, Paywatch, has raised US$ 30 million ( RM141 million ) in funding from a mix of equity and credit facilities to supercharge growth.

With the help of new investors Octagon Venture Partners and Wooshin Venture Investment Corp., Paywatch received over US$ 14 million ( RM65 million ) in Series A equity funding led by Third Prime and a consortium of US investors, including Vanderbilt University and the University of Illinois Foundation. Additionally, it secured payment services worth US$ 16 million from big banks, including Citi and other big banks, at global locations.

]RM1 = US$ 0.212]

” We take great pride in the assurance these reputable investors and banks have in our vision in the midst of this money and tech winter. We were firmly convinced from the beginning that ensuring accessibility to major financial institutions and offering Received Wage Access at the lowest, minimum payment was the best course of action. Our rapid expansion and collection of high-caliber business customers validate our approach, even though it was a more difficult way to market, according to Alex Kim, president and co-founder of Paywatch, who co-founded the business in South Korea in 2020 with his nephew Richard Kim.

An ESG individual gain

Employees can access a portion of their accumulated earnings in real-time as it is earned, as well as before the conclusion of their pay cycle, thanks to Paywatch’s debt-free EWA solution, also known as on-demand pay, an impressive employee benefit.

Paywatch’s remedy has clearly decreased employees ‘ dependency on loans, alleviated home debt and enhanced fiscal management. Together, Paywatch’s smooth, fully automated program has greatly boosted businesses ‘ employee retention and efficiency, resulting in significant cost savings associated with hiring and training.

Paywatch has partnered and collaborated with a few Malaysian brands and institutions such as Lotus, Jaya Grocer, QSR Brands ( including KFC and Pizza Hut ), FFM Bhd, PayNet, Shopper360, Guardian ( part of DFI Group ), Corus Hotel ( under MUI Group ), Llao Llao ( by Woodpeckers ), Coway, Media Prima, University of Nottingham Malaysia, UNITAR and Durioo.

It claims that these partnerships show how committed it is to offering a revolutionary financial service that meets the demands of Malaysia’s labor.

Most foreign EWA in Asia, biggest level with US$ 58mil processed

The firm, which serves the largest foundation of employees in Asia, has processed more than US$ 58 million in salaries through its method to time, and its monthly disbursements have increased by as much as US$ 8 million, or 15 %, month over month.

According to Paywatch, this results in the largest EWA service in Asia by volume of transactions. By the end of the year, the company anticipates receiving more than US$ 120 million in salary, more than double its lifetime value.

Since its establishment in 2020 in South Korea, Paywatch has expanded quickly to three other markets- Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia. With the most recent funding, the company is “ready to expand into new markets and develop even more financially inclusive tools for our users,” Kim said.

Along with the company’s other innovation efforts, a significant portion of the Series A funding will be used to enhance the company’s embedded finance offerings.

Third Prime, a U.S.-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests in global leaders in financial and industrial technology, is Paywatch’s leading investor for this funding round.

Malaysia headquartered Paywatch secures US$30mil funding in largest raise for Earned Wage Access startup in SEAIn the US and Latin America, EWA has become a common employee benefit. And with such great momentum, Paywatch is emerging as the market’s leading change agent in Asia. As markets with different regulations and cultures are increasingly popular, the rapid adoption of earned wage access is a gratifying time, said Michael Kim, General Partner of Third Prime ( pic ).

Aligning with Malaysia’s financial inclusion vision

With a strong base of clients in Malaysia, Paywatch’s innovative EWA solution is set to enhance the financial well- being of Malaysian workers, one of the outcomes stated in the country’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

Paywatch argued that its instant access to earned wages supports the Malaysian government’s efforts to combat income disparity and foster financial stability among its citizens.

First time for US university endowments

The direct investment by the Vanderbilt University and the University of Illinois Foundation in Paywatch is regarded as a milestone in the market because it marks the first time these endowment funds from US universities have made an investment in an Asian tech startup.

We have long supported financial inclusion, and we think Paywatch’s earned wage access technology can help the movement advance significantly. Beyond the technology, we also believe in the company’s dedication and commitment to delivering true impact in Southeast Asia”, shares Travis Shore, Chief Investment Officer of the University of Illinois Foundation.

The Paywatch management team with founders, Alex Kim (4th from right) and Richard Kim (5th from right).

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Axrail opens Gen AI lab in Malaysia in collaboration with AWS, Phison

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  • Lab appeals to companies seeking a scalable, quick- tracked Iot adoption path
  • Aligns with M’sia’s Digital Economy Blueprint, aiming to forerunner the local electric business

Axrail CEO Kelvin Kok with Phison Electronics CEO’ Pua Khein Seng, AWS Malaysia country manager Peter Murray and QL Resources Berhad’s executive director Chia Lik Khai making the symbolic A sign for Axrail at the grand opening of its Gen AI Lab in Kuala Lumpur

Axrail, an Amazon Web Services ( AWS ) Advanced Tier Services Partner in Malaysia, has opened the first Generative AI ( Gen AI ) Lab in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. To meet the growing demand for AI solutions and the world’s aspirations for a digital economy, this test presents cloud and advantage solutions.

The Gen AI Lab combines the expertise of AWS, Phison, and Axrail in a creative hub. It features cutting- top cloud solutions powered by AWS, including those built on Amazon Bedrock, and on- concept development with Phison’s aiDAPTIV systems, the organization said, in a statement. &nbsp,

Additionally, the lab is geared toward businesses looking for a flexible route to AI implementation, positioning Axrail at the forefront of developing complete generative AI solutions for both on-premises and cloud environments.

Located within Axrail’s 3, 000 flat feet Centre of Excellence for AI solutions, the Gen AI Lab fosters responsible research and co- development of relational AI applications. By assisting businesses in developing capabilities to remove value from data and improve operating efficiency across different functions, the Lab aims to accelerate AI readiness for businesses.

Our Gen AI Lab will be run by Axrail founder and CEO Kelvin Kok in partnership with Phison and our desired sky partner, AWS. This cutting-edge platform will enable companies to rethink their operations using artificial intelligence, produce quantifiable results, and future-proof their strategy. Our goal is to promote AI adoption, particularly among Indonesian SMEs, leveraging the approaching AWS Region in Malaysia for data residency, low overhead, and strong cloud services across Southeast Asia”.

Pete Murray, region director, AWS Malaysia, said,” Axrail’s fresh Generative AI Lab on AWS provides business solutions that improve productivity and efficiency for companies like Retail, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and Entertainment for SME consumers of all styles. Using opportunities that advanced technologies like generative AI can provide business owners, partners like Axrail can help customers make the most of them.

He continued, citing AWS’s pride in supporting Malaysia’s efforts to grow its digital economy and its desire to become a regional tech hub for ASEAN.

K. S. Pua, CEO of Phison Electronics, said,” Through Phison’s exclusive aiDAPTIV solution, we not only achieve the democratization of AI and expand AI applications but also make generative AI accessible and beneficial to everyone” .&nbsp,

He added,” Together with Axrail, we will accelerate Malaysia’s AI digital transformation while providing the added assurance of data confidentiality. Phison and Axrail will continue to collaborate on developing storage and AI applications in the future.

An expert in data, AI, cloud migration, and digital solutions, Axrail claims to have a proven track record of successfully helping over 50 businesses across Malaysia and Singapore. Their solutions have significantly increased business productivity and customer engagement across a variety of industries.

Axrail, a subsidiary of QL Resources Berhad, believes Malaysia holds potential in pushing the frontiers of technology. With the support of its partners, AWS and Phison, the firm is confident that this endeavor will shape the future of the country’s digital landscape.

The company claimed that its Gen AI Lab is in line with Malaysia’s Blueprint, which promotes digitalization and establishes a regional leadership in the digital economy. The Gen AI Lab contributes to the strategic thrusts of driving digital transformation, boosting economic competitiveness through digitalization, developing digital infrastructure, building a digitally- skilled workforce, and creating an inclusive digital society.

Axrail is hosting a complimentary half-day sharing session on July 18, 2024, with demonstrations of transformative solutions and insights from AWS. &nbsp,

Through live demos, attendees will gain first-hand knowledge of the impact of AI and data on the ground and how businesses can achieve operational excellence and navigate digital transformation seamlessly. Businesses can sign up for the” 10x Your Organization Productivity Using Generative AI” course at www. axrail.com/10x.

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