News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs. Below are snippets of all the media releases that we received from Nov 29 till Dec 5. Please check back throughout the week for more updates.

Leon Fuat Berhad Posts 470pc Rise In Quarterly PAT

Shah Alam, Nov 29: Leon Fuat Berhad, a manufacturer and trader of steel products, specialising in rolled long and flat products has recorded a 470.4 per cent gain in profit after tax to RM38.66 million for the third quarter ended September 30 compared with RM6.78 million in the corresponding quarter of the preceding year.
For the quarter under review, the company registered a 44.1 per cent increase in revenue to RM236.11 million compared with RM163.82 million in Q3FY2020 while profit before tax recorded a 447 percent gain to RM49.14 million compared with RM8.98 million in Q3FY2020.
On a segmental basis, revenue from trading of steel products increased by 65.7 per cent to RM94.81 million while revenue from the processing of steel products increased by 32.6 percent to RM141.22 million.
The trading segment’s contribution to revenue stood at 40.2 per cent in Q3FY2021 compared with 34.9 per cent in Q3FY2020 while the processing segment’s contribution to revenue stood at 59.8 percent compared with 65 per cent in Q3FY2020.
For the nine months ended Sept 30, profit after tax grew 918.5 per cent to RM106.89 million compared with RM10.50 million registered in the corresponding period of the preceding financial year. 

Main Market Bound Aurelius Launches Prospectus

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 29: Aurelius Technologies Berhad, a provider of electronics manufacturing services for industrial electronic products enroute to a listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad launched the company’s prospectus for the initial public offering today.
ATech offers a comprehensive range of EMS to multinational corporations across 11 countries covering Asia Pacific, Americas and Europe.
These services include engineering support services, prototyping, board assembly, mechanical assembly and test for communications devices, Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices, electronic devices and semiconductor component modules used by the telecommunications, transportation, power management and IoT industries.
With a long track record of 28 years, ATech has built a business based on long-term client partnerships.
All top five customers are foreign companies or subsidiaries of US public-listed companies.
The IPO involves up to 103.87 million ordinary shares comprising a public issue of 77.01 million shares and an offer for sale of up to 26.86 million shares.

MR D.I.Y. Accorded Brand Of The Year Regional Award

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 30: MR D.I.Y. today announced that it had been accorded the Brand of the Year Regional Award at the World Branding Awards 2021-2022.
The Awards see some of the world’s best brands recognised for their work and achievements, based on brand valuation, as well as through consumer market research and public online voting.
For the past three years, MR D.I.Y. has received the National Award, which is presented to the leading brands in each participating country. These are brands that are household names in their home country that have been judged to be truly exceptional.
This year, for the very first time, MR D.I.Y. has moved up to the Regional Award, which is presented to brands that are top in several countries in a particular geographic region.
Dedicating the award to the Group’s employees across its six regional markets – Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and Brunei – MR D.I.Y. Group Vice President of Marketing, Mr. Andy Chin said, “This award is in recognition of the work that our MR D.I.Y. employees do every day.”

HWUM, CIOB Inked MoA to Nurture High-Skilled Talent for the Built Industry

Putrajaya, Nov 30: As part of efforts to uplift professional bodies, Heriot Watt University Malaysia has inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the world’s largest professional body for Construction Management and Leadership, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), in a virtual signing ceremony.
The need for high-skilled talent equipped with the right capabilities and capacities is important to propel the built industry forward.
In view of this, the MoA aims to formally inked the collaboration between the parties and empower CIOB members to achieve the highest levels of competence and professionalism through lifelong learning.
The MoA signatories were CIOB Malaysia President Ho Chee Leong, CIOB Chief Executive Officer Caroline Gumble and HWUM Provost and Chief Executive Officer Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi.
Through the MoA, HWUM will be providing a 10 per cent exclusive bursary for active CIOB members to support their lifelong learning journey with quality UK education at HWUM.

DOC2US Bags HealthTech Recognitions Awards  

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 30: DOC2US, Malaysia’s first telemedicine provider that  issues digitally signed e-prescriptions in compliance with the Ministry of Health, bagged the Asian Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) 2021 award in the HealthTech segment,  alongside its joint venture company, HOPE TeleCare Myanmar.  
ASOCIO is an ICT federation organised by ICT associations representing 24 economies and almost  10,000 companies throughout Asia Pacific, to promote, encourage, and foster relationships and develop  the computing industry in the region.  
“We would like to thank The National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) for this nomination,” DOC2US CEO Dr Raymond Choy said.
This  award is a true reflection of our commitment to encouraging digitalisation in healthcare and a recognition  of our work in advancing the digital healthcare space locally and beyond.
“We are committed to continue  providing a more accessible and connected healthcare platform to all Malaysians as well as work  together with our partners in the region to move forward in this digital era.”  

NextPlay’s NextFin Division Receives Conditional Approval

Florida, Dec 1: NextPlay Technologies, Inc , a digital business ecosystem for digital advertisers, consumers, video gamers and travellers, announced that its NextFin Division has received conditional approval of its general insurance and reinsurance license application from the Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA), a growing jurisdiction of choice by insurers and insurance intermediaries around the world.
The licensing enables NextPlay’s fintech division to establish primary insurance operations, NextShield LTD, that looks to initially offer products in the form of block-chained parametric comprehensive travel insurance and bank deposit insurance.
These products can be offered directly to businesses globally, as well as further enhance the offerings of NextPlay’s other operating units, such as NextBank International, where it could help attract more sizeable deposits due to the licensed insurance coverage.
The re-insurance license enables the company to establish reinsurance operations, NextShield Re, which can offer to investors tokenised fully compliant insurance-linked securities (ILS). 
The company is expected to begin selling insurance policies in 2022.

Xylo Systems Founder Crowned Winner

Sydney, Dec 1: Camille Goldstone-Henry, the Founder and Director of Xylo Systems – an innovative tech platform created to help save endangered species – took out the top honour at the 9th Annual Australian Women’s Weekly Women of the Future Awards presented today at a lunch ceremony at the Sydney Opera House, Yallamundi Rooms.
An experienced wildlife conservation and research manager, Goldstone-Henry, 30, from Bondi, New South Wales, was awarded for her innovative cloud based platform, Xylo Systems, founded to connect, track and manage conservation projects, creating a worldwide solution for conserving biodiversity and Australia’s iconic species.“We are losing a species every three to five minutes on this planet. There are thousands of conservation teams and researchers working to save our species, but they don’t have an easy way to connect and share information and make informed decisions.
“Xylo Systems will aggregate data from various sources and provide insights on some of these conservation projects so decision makers can have a 360-degree view of what is happening and optimise resources to save these species.
Sponsored by La Trobe Financial, the six Women of the Future finalists aged 18-34 were celebrated for their exceptional innovation, creativity and business nous. 

JAZRO Organises Smart Robotic Camp 2021 East Coast

Kuala Terengganu, Dec 2: Jazro Technology Robotics Sdn Bhd (JAZRO) today announced that it will be running Smart Robotic Camp, a four-day program focusing on STEM education during the upcoming school holidays in December, and it will be held both physically as well as via online.
Four physical camps will be held at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (Dec 27-30), Terengganu Digital TD1303 (Dec 22-25), Masjid Negeri Pahang (Dec 12 -15), and IMFutures Pusat Komuniti Indera Mahkota (Dec 17-21).
Meanwhile, a virtual camp edition of Smart Robotic Camp is going to be from Dec 27 to 30 and it is open to participants from anywhere in the country.
The Smart Robotic Camp is set to attract participants between the ages of seven and 17.
Jazro Technology Robotics Sdn Bhd (JAZRO) is a robotics education company that aims to develop digital talents in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with specially curated contents for students from the ages of 7 to 17 to learn, discover, and explore robotics and coding via fun learning methods, in line with Industrial Revolution 4.0 future career opportunities and needs. 

Gradiant Secures Five New DBOOM Projects

Singapore, Dec 2: Gradiant, a global cleantech water treatment solutions provider and projects developer, has announced the award of five design-build-own-operate-maintain (DBOOM) water treatment projects in Indonesia and Vietnam.
Gradiant will provide end-to-end water treatment solutions through a customized approach using its proprietary suite of technologies to treat water and wastewater for industrial and municipal clients.
These projects have a production capacity of 40,000 cubic meters per day.
Gradiant has further announced the hiring of Managing Directors Thai Nam Nguyen for Vietnam, and K Sadanand for Indonesia.
The new leadership appointments affirm Gradiant’s growth and investment priorities in the rapidly industrializing Asia Pacific region.

Go Shop’s Year End Sale Is Back! 

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 2: Go Shop kicks off the holiday shopping season with a month-long Year End Surprise & Sale ‘Oh YESS!’ campaign from 1 December until 31 December 2021 featuring non-stop surprises such as Free Gift Bundles, 12.12 Specials, Double Cashback, RM21 Deals, Free Shipping Nationwide, Up To 80 per cent Off and Happy Hour Vouchers.
Throughout the campaign period, customers can use the code ‘GOSHOP28’ to enjoy an instant RM28 discount and another RM28 off for their next purchase on Go Shop.
Customers will also find amazing deals, exclusive bundles, new products and great savings from an assortment of home & living, kitchen, digital, fashion and beauty products. 
During this campaign, Go Shop will have two special events, the 12.12 Sale from Dec 6 to 12 and the Year End Live Show on December 26, Astro CH111 from 10am to 12pm, for customers to shop for incredible products at remarkable value.
Tune in daily to Go Shop Channel on Astro – Go Shop RUUMA CH118, Go Shop GAAYA CH120, Go Shop BAARU CH111, and MYTV CH120, to discover Go Shop’s ‘Oh YESS!’ deals and offers.
Visit Go Shop online at www.goshop.com.my or download the Go Shop app from Google Play and App Store.

December 3 Declared As Malaysian Batik Day

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 3: Malaysia has declared today as a national day to celebrate all things Batik.
The declaration was made by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who said the  effort coincides with the concept of the Malaysian Family where all Malaysians of various races are united in styling the uniqueness and beauty of Malaysian craft products through the use of local Batik. 
This declaration is a sign of appreciation for the contribution, support and interest in batik crafts highlighted by the late Tun Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood, the wife of the Fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia. 
On Dec 3 2003, Endon had started a Malaysian Batik-Crafted for the World Movement to bring local batik to the international stage.
The proclamation of Malaysian Batik Day will definitely open up opportunities and benefits to entrepreneurs and the craft community to produce batik products for various uses in daily life. 

Cloud Comrade Wins Two Awards 

Singapore, Dec 3:  Cloud Comrade, a fast-growing Singapore-headquartered cloud computing consultancy and managed services provider (MSP) with increasing presence in Malaysia and Indonesia, has been named “SMB Company for Partner Innovation” and “Regional company for ASEAN-wide Innovation” at the prestigious Channel Asia Innovation Awards 2021 held virtually yesterday, with over 600 technology executives in attendance.
“ASEAN-wide Innovation” is a new category recognising Southeast Asia-headquartered technology partners delivering customer value and transformation,” Andy Waroma, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director of Cloud Comrade said.
“Winning this award is a reflection of Cloud Comrade’s growing Pan-ASEAN customer base and delivery capabilities.
Drawing from a pool of over 90 organizations and 300 nominations, the Channel Asia Innovation Awards showcase and recognise excellence in the ecosystem – spanning partner, start-up, telco, vendor and distributor businesses- for delivering transformative customer solutions across Southeast Asia.
The winners were selected by an executive panel of industry judges – acknowledging creativity, innovation, and excellence.

165 National Craft Institute Graduate In Flying Colours

Kuala Lumpur, Dec 4: The Malaysian Craft Industry, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture held the 19th National Craft Institute Convocation Ceremony at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC).
The convocation ceremony was officiated by Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) for the Diploma and Certificate in Craft Arts Program for the graduates of the 2020/2021 academic session.
A total of 165 talented, highly skilled graduates with expertise in the field of craft arts received Diplomas and Certificates, Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) and Royal Pahang Weaving Skills Certificate successfully completed their studies despite facing the COVID-19 pandemic challenge.
In an atmosphere of new norms, the convocation ceremony convenes physically in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) set by the National Security Council (NSC).