BANGKOK: Southeast Asian cities were among five most polluted in the world on Friday ( Jan 24 ) according to air-monitoring organisation IQAir, with Ho Chi Minh City ranked second-most polluted, followed by Phnom Penh and Bangkok fourth and fifth, respectively. In the Thai capital, a heavy dust was seenContinue Reading
At all ranges of implementation, the US is in constant flux with global competition for significant security technologies. The US Department of Defense will implement new initiatives to increase the competitive range and level of British defence techniques.
The success of these initiatives will be evaluated by the rapid, better development that can outsmart the competition. In this regard, advanced manufacturing processes that create technology systems are of special value.
The issue is frequently delivering exceptional techniques within budget, but there is rarely a shortage of innovative ideas. Working within the restrictive technological and financial constraints of these programs calls for the skilled blending of numerous resources.
And the end result may be powerful systems that can be used in a variety of settings.
It has, of course, been done earlier. The remarkably successful NASA Apollo program, for instance, which brought the first people to the moon, is a perfect example. In response to the Soviet Union’s pioneering satellite systems, President John Kennedy launched the system.
Success came from a sizable pool of skills. And there were no buttons. Numerous cooperative programs forged a bridge between innovative research and pioneering professional development and production, which helped lead to the success of Apollo.
These well-executed cooperative programs enabled the transfer of novel ideas from facilities to practical use. These were not only ordinary goods; they had to conform to the strictest consistency requirements for spacecraft carrying astronauts.
The program’s extraordinary accomplishment was the rapid transition from ideas to space-qualified products that couldn’t fail without causing life to be lost.
I was involved in the creation and development of the solid-state microwave that served as the radio for the pilots ‘ landing on the moon to talk to the spacecraft that was orbiting the moon, and where they had to return and port once they reached the planet’s surface.
The system in the radio may not fail, and to maintain its reliability, fresh test and manufacturing techniques were developed. The sky landing vision was a flawless success for the micro television. It was all fresh, and individuals rose to the challenge.
This type of work was carried out frequently by many members. In this instance, the initial development was at a RCA , labs where I worked, but the conversation game’s prime contractor did the full stereo design and production.
You never know where new thoughts will come from, so the purpose of this account is to emphasize the importance of including undiscovered entrepreneurs in engineering programs.
What made this example stand out as extraordinary is that my invention was the result of a conversation I had by chance with a NASA engineer to find out whether I needed a new device to remove a flawed one.
In a short period of time, NASA became aware that a trustworthy radio could be constructed, and revenue for my project almost arrived immediately. The soft transfer to a top-notch radio product manufacturer was what eventually made the new radio possible. This near connection is important.
What resources are available right now that will enable massive new defence projects? The most accomplished citizens work together, second, to put it another way. DARPA ( Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ), which is funded by the Department of Defense, provides funding for technological studies in important areas.
The initiatives supported by DARPA have had amazing effects when supported by various organizations, including the success of artificial intelligence and the Internet.
The DARPA programs ‘ results are simply system enablers for military projects, which companies with the assets can use to fund weapons and systems production follow.
Now, there is a major concern. The number of top US defence companies has decreased from 51 to just five since the early 1990s. This means fewer assets involved in security plans, fewer entrepreneurs and less opposition.
Additionally, there are fewer business labs working for the DOD. The big corporate lab, like those of AT&, T, RCA and Xerox, have disappeared. Companies that once had a high level of entrepreneurs with significant innovative contributions have seen a drastic decline in number.
This issue is likely to prevent the development of significant new initiatives that require the highest level of technology. The answer is that more businesses may participate in the DoD purchasing method, while organizations like DARPA must continue to work together. And the best US skill may join.
I anticipate that new initiatives may require new businesses that value the development of high-performance technology under DoD contracts and the fact that such initiatives’ spin-offs will have significant effects on the sales of goods. This has been demonstrated over time, and it is likely to continue.
Henry Kressel is a technician, engineer, publisher and entrepreneur. He was in charge of directing the development of numerous significant, novel electronic equipment. He was the director of RCA Laboratories ‘ electronic research division and has long held private equity investments in technology businesses.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Colombian President Dina Boluarte met to actually inaugurate a new US$ 3.6 billion deepwater mega-port in Peru, called Chancay, on their way to the G20 conference in Rio de Janeiro in November.
China’s state-owned Cosco shipping giant had purchased a 60 % stake in the port for$ 1.6 billion, which gave the company exclusive use of the port for 60 years. Weeks later, the first fleet departed for Shanghai loaded with strawberries, bananas and materials.
China’s plan for a maritime Silk Road in the 21st century that may better join its manufacturing hubs with its global trading partners includes Chancay. The West is concerned about China’s growing influence over global transport routes because of the high investments in ships in many nations.
Donald Trump, the just re-elected US president, made clear these issues when he claimed that China was “operating” the Panama Canal and that the US intended to retake it. China does not run the river, nevertheless. Instead, a Hong Kong organization runs two ships on either side.
The maritime Silk Road has a remarkable scope and scale. China has invested in 129 ships in lots of countries through its state-owned companies, mostly in the Global South. Seventeen of these ships have majority-Chinese rights.
According to one estimate, Taiwanese firms invested$ 11 billion in international port advancement from 2010–19. Leading Chinese companies today own direct stakes in stations where more than 27 % of the world’s container industry is currently conducted.
China has entered Latin America violently, becoming the country’s leading trading partner. Its interface approach has evidently signaled a long-term aim to get the exports important to its food and energy security: soybeans, corn, beef, iron ore, copper and battery-grade lithium.
Last season, for instance, Portos do Paraná, the Portuguese state-owned organization that functions as the port authority in the state of Paraná, signed a letter of intent with China Merchants Port Holdings to develop Paranaguá Container Terminal, the second-largest switch in South America. Due to the 22 stations scheduled to be auctioned before the close of 2025, China may participate in even more Portuguese ships.
In Africa, Chinese purchase grew from two ships in 2000 to 61 infrastructure in 30 countries by 2022. Additionally, the Belt and Road Initiative in Europe is led by Chinese companies that own two significant ports in Belgium and Greece, which are the so-called “dragon’s brain” of the program.
Xi’s goal of having a global economic hegemony is largely driven by its rise as a sea and delivery power.
For one, China requires steady access to important trading routes in order to continue meeting both the exports Beijing needs to keep its market strong and the need for Chinese exports abroad.
China can establish economic zones in other nations that grant terminal owners and operators unrestricted access to goods and products by controlling ports as well. Some feared that this might cause China to stifle the supply of some goods or even have an impact on the political or economic policies of various nations.
The metal and minerals needed to power China’s rise as a technology superpower are another important component of this technique. Beijing has focused its interface investments in those areas with the most important resources.
For example, China is the world’s largest supplier of copper ore, primarily from Chile, Peru and Mexico. It is also one of the country’s major lithium hydroxide manufacturers, primarily from Chile and Argentina. Additionally, its terminal agreements in Africa give it access to unique rocks and other nutrients.
Latin America’s expansion also helps to resolve China’s recent industry disputes with Europe. Additionally, it eliminates worries about potential US taxes Trump might impose on Chinese products.
Washington is concerned about these actions because it makes sense that China is challenging US effect in its own neighborhood.
China maintains that its port geopolitics is market-oriented. However, it has established a naval base in Djibouti, a country in Africa that is carefully placed. Additionally, it is alleged that Equatorial Guinea is developing a new naval foundation.
According to a recent review by the Asia Society Policy Institute, plan experts believe China is seeking to “weaponize” the Belt and Road Initiative. One way it does this is by requiring that the business ships it invests in be able to serve as naval foundations as well.
14 of the 17 ports where it holds a majority of the stakes have the potential to be used for marine purposes so much. These ports may then fulfill a dual purpose: they support the Taiwanese military’s logistic network and help Chinese naval vessels to travel farther away from home.
US officials worry that China might use its influence on private companies to stifle business during a time of conflict.
While China’s assets are raising concerns, the West’s determination to invest in ships at this level is limited. The US International Development Finance Corporation, for example, has a little slower, comprehensive approach for its investments, which usually leads to better outcomes for both investors and host nations.
However, some Western companies are acquiring stakes in established and newly built ports in other countries, albeit not to the extent of Chinese enterprises.
The French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM’s global port development strategy, for example, includes investments in 60 terminals worldwide. In 2024, it acquired control over South America’s largest container terminal in the Port of Santos, Brazil.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs as a means of limiting China’s position on the world stage. A member of his transition team’s advisor has suggested a 60 % tariff on any product passing through Peru’s Chancay port or any other Chinese-owned or controlled port in South America.
Rather than making nations reluctant to sign port deals with Beijing, however, this kind of action just erodes Washington’s regional influence. Additionally, China is likely to take retaliatory measures, such as outlawing the US’s export of crucial minerals.
Host nations like Peru and Brazil, meanwhile, are using the competition for port investment to their advantage. They are increasingly asserting their autonomy and adopting a strategy of using ports to “play everywhere” on the global stage, drawing attention from both the West and China.
Claudio Bozzi is lecturer in law, Deakin University
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
At 23rd place, along with three different East Asian cities in the top ten, Chiang Mai.
PUBLISHED: 24 Jan 2025 at 10: 37
According to the most recent data from Swiss-based IQAir, Bangkok was ranked as the fourth worst city in the world for air quality as dangerous cloud continues to engulf the country’s funds and other regions.
The air quality index in Bangkok reached 188 as of 9.40am.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) declared 48 of its 50 districts as red ( hazardous-to-health ) zones, with particulate matter 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter ( PM2.5 ) levels averaging 88.4 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³ ).
Nong Khaem was the most afflicted area, with PM2.5 rates at 108 as it recorded PM2.5 at 108µg/m³, followed by Khan Na Yao, Min Buri, Thawi Watthana and Lak Si.
City Hall reiterated to all people to avoid outside actions at this time because they could cause health risks and to work from home as much as possible.
Chiang Mai, in the northeastern province of Chiang Mai, even experienced pollution problems, ranking 23rd with an air quality index of 127g/m3.
The government-set secure level is 37.5µg/m³.
Just Ho Chi Minh City in Southeast Asia has worse pollutants than Bangkok. Another cities in the region that made the top 10 include Phnom Penh, ranked second, and Hanoi, ranked seventh.
NetApp®, the intelligent data infrastructure company, has appointed industry veteran Kenneth Poh ( pic ) as country manager for Singapore and the Philippines. Poh will be in charge of operations and go-to-market plans, with an emphasis on fostering business expansion and increasing companion and customer relationships in both markets.
As AI increasingly integrates into daily life, nearly half ( 49 % ) of technology executives in Singapore prioritise investment in data management and infrastructure, according to NetApp’s 2024 Data Complexity Report released in December.
But, long-term victory in AI requires organisations to tackle important challenges, including data difficulty, security, and conservation, with greater commitment and resources.
” I am delighted to welcome Poh to NetApp. His remarkable track record of guiding businesses and helping organizations harness the power of information makes him the ideal leader to unlock the full potential of our customers. With his command, I am confident we can scale our activities and reach our progress ambitions in Southeast Asia”, said Henry Kho, place vice president and general director for Greater China, ASEAN, and Korea, NetApp.
” It is a pleasure to meet NetApp, a consistent president in the data backup industry”, said Poh. With the introduction of Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0 and the Philippines ‘ National AI Roadmap, the location is at a new chapter in its development. Leveraging NetApp’s 30 years of technology and knowledge, I look forward to helping companies become more innovative and tenacious in today’s age of data and knowledge”.
Poh brings over 20 years of IT industry practice, specialising in store, AI, and great information. Prior to joining NetApp, he spent time at Dell Technologies as city director for the public and corporate segments, where he oversaw a strong sales team and encouraged business expansion. Poh has even held management roles at foreign IT companies, including Dell EMC, Oracle, HP, and Sun Microsystems.
The new US president, Donald Trump, has only been in business for a few days, but he has already changed his tune on the conflict in Ukraine. Trump has huge expressed his desire to end the war, and he even announced on the campaign trail that he could put an end to it within 24 hours of taking business.
Trump did not even mention Ukraine in his opening statement, and this has not occurred. But speaking to reporters immediately afterwards, Trump stated that the battle was costing Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, more than he was gaining from it.
” He can’t be thrilled, he’s not doing so well”, Trump said. He therefore criticized Putin’s management. ” Russia is bigger]than Ukraine], they have more troops to gain, but that’s no way to run a state”, Trump remarked.
The following morning, in a blog on his Truth Social page, Trump went yet further. ” If we don’t create a deal]to finish the war], and shortly, I have no other choice but to put great levels of income, taxes, and sanctions on something being sold by Russia to the US, and several other participating nations”.
Anyone who has been following the war in Ukraine may be aware that Trump’s president, Joe Biden, had been doing many of these things now. His presidency slapped numerous restrictions on important Russian businesses and individuals, and prohibited the transfer of nearly all of its goods.
But, is Trump then merely suggesting a progression of Biden’s plan? Russia appears to believe that. On Thursday, January 23, in response to Trump’s risks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian press,” we do not see any particular fresh parts here”.
Research has shown that British commitments to foreign policy vary essentially from president to president, and that domestic policy does not change as much as domestic policy does. See, for example, the progression of Barack Obama’s Middle East plan during Trump’s first word. Trump maintained a sense of community while minimizing the US presence there.
But, Trump’s view to Ukraine does seem set to go further than Biden’s in two distinct ways. Second, Trump has set a revised target of 100 days for ending the war in Ukraine. And he has installed a special minister, Keith Kellogg, to deliver Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating tables.
Trump appears to want to transcend the predetermined standards that the Kremlin has already established regarding the problems of a peace. These include giving up Ukraine’s promises to Russia over Crimea and the four eastern regions, as well as a promise that Ukraine won’t join NATO.
On the surface, Trump appears to be sticking with Biden’s strategy of putting strain on Russia and keeping it a secret. Regardless of the outcome, the Trump administration’s top priority is not to assist Ukraine in winning the war, but to put an end to it.
Trump wants to make sure there is a peace before going over the specifics. Trump may then assert that he brought Ukraine to peace while generally abstaining from the negotiations to maintain it.
Next, Trump’s most recent claims suggest that by punishing nations that Russia nevertheless trades with, he is looking more than Biden. This will include places that have continued to be big buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, such as China and India, as well as Iran and North Korea, who have both provided defense aid to Russia.
Trump made it clear throughout his plan that he views taxes as a means of redressing the some injustices that the US has endured. And he has previously warned that if China and India don’t balance trade with the US, he will impose 100 % tariffs on imports from the” BRICS” group of countries. Therefore, sanctions against these nations may not seem so unlikely given their extended industry with Russia.
Claims like China and India could play a significant role in bringing about a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine, according to Biden. Trump, on the other hand, hopes that risks did persuade China and India to enjoy a more active part in peace agreements.
Trump’s transactional approach to international relations, according to Randall Schweller, a professor of political science at Ohio State University in the US, “marks a US that is less serious in managing its long-term connections than in making profits on short-term offers… even at the expense of historic friends.”
This method of negotiation is demonstrated by Trump, a billionaire businessman, in how he views business negotiations. According to Eugene B. Kogan, president of Harvard University, Trump wants to make people” a structured choice in negotiations: accept his offer or face his unpredictable ire.” When other parties accept Trump’s offer, he frequently faces retribution and can be expected to threaten retribution if they reject it.
Ukraine may end up being under the most pressure to agree to Trump’s terms because it has the most to lose. Given the number of soldiers who have died and the country’s nearly exhausted financial reserves, should Russia withdraw its troops today, Putin would lose out politically. However, this could be managed thanks to the Russian state’s strict control over dissent and the media.
Through NATO, Ukraine, on the other hand, seeks territorial stability and security assurances. In any negotiations, Ukraine is at odds with Russia because of this. Soon, we’ll see how a coercive negotiator like Trump can alter either party’s positions.
David J. Galbreath is professor of international security, University of Bath
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
LoopMe, a leading technology company using artificial intelligence ( AI ) to enhance brand advertising performance, has announced continued expansion of its APAC operations. The business achieved a fully organic gross revenue CAGR of 40 % between 2018 and 2024 and, together with Chartboost, has now generated more than US$ 2 billion ( RM8.9 billion ) in gross revenue.
Entering a new phase of development, LoopMe is opening a local business, recruiting ability to help its development plans, and pursuing acquisitions to strengthen its position for 2025, the organization said in a declaration.
To support its APAC ambitions, James Parker ( pic ) has been appointed as the new head of APAC. Based in Singapore, Parker, previously managing director of Southeast Asia at MiQ, will generate business progress across APAC, with a emphasis on Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Greater China Region.
With a new business in Melbourne, LoopMe has likewise expanded its footprint in Australia. HS Shin has been appointed top sales manager, taking the opportunity to expand its customer base in Victoria and beyond. Also, the Sydney business has been strengthened with the appointment of Alicia Placer as revenue manager, who will concentrate on fostering growth with separate agencies and company holding groups.
This funding follows LoopMe’s subsequent acquisition of Chartboost, a mobile marketing and crowdfunding system. The merger brings ashore a group of mobile apps experts and cutting-edge systems, further solidifying LoopMe’s existence in the mobile application and gambling markets. By tapping into cellular in-app as a vital growth area for model marketing, the deal opens up new online opportunities.
The acquisition complements LoopMe’s Audience and Measurement platform ( AMP), launched last year after several years of development. AMP enables advertisers to build customized viewers using survey data, range them using LoopMe’s AI capabilities, and use assessment tools to monitor progressive company growth and conversions for campaigns of any length. In APAC, AMP is anticipated to increase development, with an emphasis on strengthening product integrations with regional company partners.
” 2024 has been important for our company, marking a new book in our development”, said Stephen Upstone, CEO and founder of LoopMe. ” Building on seven years of consistent healthy growth, we’ve seized a powerful M&, A chance to expand our development. Our development plans are largely based on APAC, and we believe there is a lot of potential for expanding regional growth opportunities.
” With Parker taking over as head of APAC, we are assured that our business in this region will continue to grow successfully. We enthusiastically welcome Parker, Shin, and Placer to the LoopMe team”.
According to researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University ( NWPU) and the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center ( CARDC ), which are cited in a South China Morning Post report, China has created the first drone that can launch from a submarine from the water, loop repeatedly between the sea and the sky, and eventually return to the same , sub.
China has already developed this capability and potentially more than the Pentagon envisions for its own forces, according to the SCMP report, while the US military is considering sending submarines close to the Chinese coast to detach drones that swarm in the air and launch attacks on the People’s Liberation Army’s ( PLA ) fleet during a potential conflict over Taiwan.
The new Chinese air-to-sea aircraft, known as Feiyi, features a unique portable aircraft style that apparently enhances its concealment and life abilities. The Feiyi may manage marine quickly and do high-agility maneuvers in the air, making it suitable for sea reconnaissance, surveillance and strike missions, the SCMP report said.
Feiyi’s cutting-edge features, bolstered by China’s unparalleled aircraft production system and its growing skill in cross-media ammunition, signal a possible edge for China in future maritime conflicts involving drones with the US.
Also, the US Navy is testing the Naviator helicopter, an autonomous vehicle capable of flying and underground operations. The Naviator can seamlessly transition between air and water, which increases its deployment flexibility, and is designed for autonomous launch and recovery from unmanned underwater vehicles ( UUV).
The Naviator has more accurate GPS and physical position keep, a power-saving boat sentry mode, the ability to transport numerous sensors and payloads, and a quicker deployment than conventional underwater vehicles. The US Navy’s Orca Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV) could be a member for the Naviator’s probable start system.
Its length and load volume surpass those of the majority of the current marine vehicles, making it suitable for a variety of mission types besides minelaying operations. Its diesel-electric engine system enables automatic operations for up to 30 days and 6, 000 nautical miles, although operational assessment is continuing to develop these capabilities, according to The War Zone.
These cross-media robots can destroy the enemy by launching swarm problems from a variety of domains and directions, probably overcoming the limitations of conventional and fast weapons.
Further, these developments may tie into the more prominent “dronification” of undersea tensions in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea and Indian Ocean.
Exploring the role of UUVs in the Taiwan Strait, the Center for a New American Security ( CNAS ) mentions in a June 2024 report that UUVs play a vital role in enhancing China’s maritime surveillance and anti-access/area denial ( A2/AD ) capabilities.
These UUVs conduct covert intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( ISR ) operations, monitor naval activities, map the seabed and locate critical undersea infrastructure. Their independent operations also lower the risk of detection, which makes them successful in tense waters.
China is creating a multidomain surveillance network by integrating UUVs into its larger drone fleet, which increases its ability to disrupt communications and halt foreign intrusions. This action is in line with China’s plan to overcome its own shortcomings and strengthen its standing in a potential Taiwan conflict.
In the 2024 book” Navigating East Asian Maritime Conflicts: Technological Change, Environmental Challenges, Global and Regional Responses”, Henrik Hiim mentions that UUVs and Unmanned Surface Vehicles ( USV ) play a nuanced role in US-China undersea competition in the South China Sea.
In line with its efforts to make the South China Sea a protected base for its nuclear ballistic missile submarines ( SSBN), China uses UUVs to counter US nuclear attack submarines ( SSN) by raising maritime domain awareness.
The US uses Unmanned Maritime Systems ( UMS ) to support strategic anti-submarine warfare ( ASW) operations in the South China Sea, but its ability to do so is limited by China’s A2/AD environment’s endurance and vulnerability.
However, Hiim argues that while UMSs may not decisively alter the undersea power balance, they exacerbate maritime disputes, fueling US-China rivalry and intensifying the regional security dilemma.
In the Indian Ocean, the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) think tank mentions in a January 2024 report that China’s operations in the area are characterized by extensive dual-use research activities, blending scientific and military objectives.
The PLA leverages a vast fleet of civilian research vessels to gather critical data on water conditions, currents, and the seafloor, thereby enhancing its naval capabilities. These vessels, often owned by state-affiliated organizations with military ties, conduct surveys that support China’s strategic ambitions.
Notably, Chinese ships have engaged in active operations in the Indian Ocean, using cutting-edge underwater gliders and profiling floats to create a real-time ocean observation network. This information could be used to support the PLA Navy’s ( PLAN ) submarine operations there to counter India’s Bay of Bengal for its SSBNs.
In the wake of India’s ongoing border dispute with China in the Himalayas, analysts have suggested that the country could use its undersea nuclear deterrent as a backstop if its conventional military capabilities are undermined.
Big Tech is also likely to avoid negotiating for regulations with ASEAN as a union, given their “divide and conquer” process to preserving income and the income they have put into complying with rules in specific jurisdictions, the analysts said.
At a seminar on Malaysia’s efforts to make the internet safer last Friday ( Jan 17 ), Malaysia’s Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said a “key agenda ” for her country ’s ASEAN chairmanship is to engage the bloc and “unify ” member states ’ legal frameworks on internet regulation.
“And of training, we use it to really deal with the software provider. We believe that that can be more powerful, ” she said at the seminar held at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies ( RSIS ) in Singapore.
While Teo noted Malaysia’s efforts to make systems more responsible for on-line safety through its licensing requirement for all social media and internet communication websites with at least eight million registered users in the country, she believes “many more difficulties ” lie ahead.
“We are just a 34 million people, and it will be difficult for smaller countries to really engage with the software giant, ” she added.
“ But if ASEAN is able to work as a alliance, then we believe that our bargaining power will be much, much larger. ”
Her remarks came just a few days after Malaysia actually assumed the ASEAN chair on Jan 1.
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Last August, in an appointment with Malay news agency Bernama, Teo had urged ASEAN countries to join in an effort to improve their negotiating power with social media giants and effectively combat the growing issue of online crime in the region.
While Teo had then hoped this issue would be on the “main agenda ” at last year’s ASEAN Summit under the chairmanship of Laos, the chairman ’s statement released on Oct 9 touched on online job scams and cybercrime but made no mention of social media platforms.
In recent months, Malaysia has embarked on a growing push to regulate Big Tech, starting with its class licensing requirement that kicked in on Jan 1.
It has also passed harsher penalties and wider powers in amending its Communications and Multimedia Act, attracting backlash from civil society groups, and is mulling the introduction of an Online Safety Act that critics fear could further empower the suppression of online content.
Malaysia’s renewed effort to unite ASEAN members ’ legal frameworks against Big Tech is “very ambitious, although not impossible”, said Shafizan Mohamed, an associate professor of communications at the International Islamic University Malaysia.
“ I think as the ASEAN chair, it’s a good opportunity for Malaysia to take this lead, to create a momentum for a regional approach against Big Tech, ” she told CNA.
Benjamin Loh, a senior lecturer in media and communication at Taylor’s University, said Malaysia has a “good shot ” at succeeding in its efforts.
“ While ASEAN often struggles to find common ground due to differences in governing styles and ideologies, there appears to be growing authoritarianism across the region which sees social media as a common threat, ” he told CNA.
According to business release Tech in Asia, Moovaz has raised US$ 8 million in funding from investors including Quest Ventures, SG Innovate and Hustle Fund – its most recent money square was in 2021.
The report also said Moovaz has faced legal challenges, including a petition from its largest seller over paid service exceeding S$ 50,000. By August 2023, the judge ordered Moovaz to spend more than S$ 73,000, covering the company’s state and a wrongful termination event brought by a former staff, Tech in Asia said.
When contacted, Moovaz CEO Vishnu Vasudeven said the business remains administrative but was” greatly hit” by escalating Red Sea conflicts and rising transport costs.
” We are in the midst of arranging funds to pay the sellers… I believe everything will be sorted by mid-next fortnight,” he said.
” I know what’s happening because every day I get a lot of threats ( from the ) police, debt collectors and news or social media. ”
He told CNA that consumers whose things had already been shipped would get their possessions within the next two days. For those whose products are still in Singapore, Moovaz is arranging for them to pull up their goods next year, he added.
But buyers say they still have not heard from the business.
Mr Noreen Caringal, who engaged Moovaz to travel her mother’s belongings to New Zealand, said the first phase of her shift in 2023 went easily.
With her subsequent delivery in September 2024, the Moovaz employees who packed her issues told her she would get her things in eight to 12 days. But communication from the business ceased wholly by mid-December.
“ I was actually devastated because those are our family ’s things. Some of my kids ’ things, my wedding album is there, ” the 50-year-old said.
“ I was so stressed about it, because ( it was ) a company that I trusted. Then abruptly they’re no longer replying or communicating about where my points are. ”
Ms Caringal received a visit from a Moovaz team member on Monday, who told her that the business was closing its inventory and she could arrange to gather her things.
He was never sure if she would find a compensation, but said she might have to make an additional payment to send her goods, she told CNA.
Ms Chen, who moved to Hong Kong with her father in July, waited for weeks for their delivery to reach. Since they did n’t include many things, they were told their possessions would have to be consolidated with different supplies.
The deal stated an eight to 12-week timeframe, meaning their goods, packed in end-June, may have shipped by October.
By the end of October, Ms Chen requested a full payment from Moovaz but did not find a reply. To check if the business was still operating, her father posed as a consumer and received a rapid response from the sales staff, Ms Chen said.
In December, they received an email from a transfer company based in Hong Kong. Despite the couple having paid S$ 2,500 to Moovaz as full payment, the Hong Kong company said it has not been paid and wants US$ 1,160 to release their sale.
Another customer, Ms Hong, who paid Moovaz S$ 9,400 to transport her belongings to Seattle, said another relocation firm contacted her immediately about unpaid receipts from Moovaz.
To find her things, she would have to spend Family Relocation over S$ 15,000 – the sum Moovaz owes them for handling her package.
“So Moovaz has been doing something crazy, right? They were setting significantly lower rates to their clients, and then probably because of that, a lot of people will join them for their supplies, but their actual expense was much higher, ” she said, adding that she has also filed a police statement.
CNA spoke to Family Relocation, who said it is owed about S$ 70,000 for eight affected customers. The company ’s business operations manager, Ronnie Heng, said they have since escalated the matter to the courts.
Moovaz has been ordered to pay them the amount owed, according to court documents from Jan 10, seen by CNA.
“Financially, you can imagine the kind of stress we’re under. Our agents, our partners are coming to us for payment … and I have to explain to them what’s happening, ” he said.
If Moovaz pays them what they’re owed, Family Relocation will reimburse customers who made additional payments, he added.
Adrian, who moved to England, was similarly contacted by a freight forwarding company demanding US$ 13,750 – the amount owed by Moovaz – as well as daily storage fees of £70 to £150 ( US$ 86 to US$ 185 ).
He and his wife had already paid S$ 23,000 to Moovaz, but the company has not responded to their emails since December. The family has made a police report.
“If I did take them to court, I’d have to be in Singapore in person. They probably know that people who are moving internationally, they’re not going to come back to Singapore to do this, and they’ll just end up paying, ” he said.
“This is 20 years of my life in that container, with my wife’s and my four kids ’ belongings and furniture. In our house in the UK, we’re just living out of a suitcase right now. ”