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 we received from June 24 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week.

EMTOP Tool Sales

Kuala Lumpur, June 24: Attention Malaysians! It’s time to repair your car, renovate your home, and transform your garden with EMTOP.
From 15 June to 31 July, EMTOP offers four major sales: the Automotive Tools Mega Sale, Renovation Tools Big Sale, Hardware Essentials Saver Sale, and Gardening Tools Hot Sale.
With up to 50 percent off on over 130 products, visit EMTOP stores for unbeatable prices.
Customers spending RM100 and above on selected products will receive a complimentary raincoat.
The ongoing ‘Mid-Year Super Sale’ offers 50 percent off the brand’s products throughout June, with standout deals on lithium-ion blowers (RM230), heat guns (RM85), impact drills (RM105), and lithium-ion impact wrenches (RM415).
EMTOP, introduced to Malaysia by MR D.I.Y. Group in April 2023, offers over 1,000 quality hardware products, including power tools and accessories. Explore the full list of discounted products at EMTOP.

New Financial Insights Tool

Sydney, June 25: LoanOptions.ai, Australia’s fastest-growing loan comparison platform, has launched a bank statement analysis tool to help customers track their spending.
The tool offers a comprehensive report, breaking down expenses by category, comparing income and expenses, and providing insights into spending patterns.
Additionally, the tool includes a subscription evaluation feature and AI-generated insights.
For example, customers spending heavily on fast food might receive discounts on healthy meal services.
Founder and CEO Julian Fayad stated, “The goal is to support Australians. We’ve streamlined and simplified the application process so that it only takes a few minutes to apply for a loan and is as easy as checking out in an online store.”
LoanOptions.ai, based in Rhodes, NSW, continues to innovate with features like the Auto Complete Engine, which reduces the loan application process to as little as five minutes, and the Loan Tracker tool, which allows customers to monitor their loan status in real-time.

Epson’s ESG Recognition

Sydney, June 25: Epson has been selected for inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index Series by FTSE Russell for the 21st consecutive year.
This recognition highlights Epson’s strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
Epson’s continuous inclusion in the index series underscores its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
The company views this recognition as validation of its efforts to address environmental and social issues.
In addition to the FTSE4Good Index, Epson is included in several other ESG investor indexes such as the FTSE Blossom Japan Index, MSCI Nihonkabu ESG Select Leaders Index, and the S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index.
These indexes are used by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) to guide sustainable investments.

Club Wyndham Coffs Harbour Renovation

Sydney, June 25: Club Wyndham Coffs Harbour is investing $3.2 million in a comprehensive resort refurbishment.
All 60 room types, including standard, deluxe, grand, and presidential apartments, will feature new flooring, carpets, shower screens, furnishings, and artwork.
Grand and presidential apartments will also receive new bathroom vanities and bespoke design elements.
Warren Cullum, Senior Vice President of Resort Operations Asia Pacific at Travel + Leisure Co., stated, “We are excited to offer an incredible transformation at Club Wyndham Coffs Harbour. Our design team is creating something truly exceptional for our club members and guests.”
The new design draws inspiration from the coastal surroundings with a vibrant colour palette and chic coastal theme. Key upgrades include stylish wood-look vinyl flooring, custom carpets, redesigned kitchens, new furniture, fixtures, technological upgrades, and white timber shutters.
The refurbishment is set to be completed by the end of August, with used furniture being donated to Lifeline. The resort contributes an estimated $20.4 million annually to the Coffs Harbour economy and maintains over 80 percent occupancy year-round.

Ocean Conservation Through Photography

Kota Kinabalu, June 25: In celebration of World Oceans Day 2024, Canon Marketing Malaysia, in collaboration with Borneo Marine Research Institute (BMRI) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), hosted the “Exploring Ocean Awareness Through Photography” workshop and photo exhibition. Led by renowned underwater photographer Ipah Uid Lynn, the event aimed to inspire and educate participants on the importance of ocean conservation.
Held on June 24 at the Azman Hashim UMS Gallery, the workshop taught key aquatic photography techniques and emphasized responsible practices. The accompanying photo exhibition showcased breathtaking underwater images, highlighting the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems.
Calvin Liew, Head of Kota Kinabalu Branch, Canon Marketing Malaysia, said, “This workshop and photo exhibition embodies our ‘Kyosei’ philosophy of living and working together for the common good. By equipping participants with the knowledge to capture the wonders of the underwater world and showcasing Ipah’s captivating imagery, we hope to ignite a passion for marine conservation and inspire action to protect our precious oceans.”
The initiative aligns with Canon’s broader commitment to sustainability, including campaigns like “One Canon One Tree.” UMS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Kasim Mansor, urged the public to protect and rejuvenate ocean vitality for future generations. Canon and BMRI plan to continue promoting ocean conservation through collaborative efforts.

Accrelist Buys Stake in MClean

Singapore, June 25: Accrelist Ltd., through a subsidiary, has announced the acquisition of a 28.53 per cent equity stake in MClean Technologies Berhad.
This move highlights Accrelist’s confidence in MClean’s growth, particularly in the HDD solutions sector amidst rising data centre demand.
MClean Technologies, based in Singapore, excels in electronics and semiconductor cleaning solutions and operates in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
The acquisition is set to benefit from the growing data centre investments in Johor, Malaysia.
“We are excited about Accrelist’s acquisition of shares in MClean Technologies,” said Datuk Dr. Terence Tea Yeok Kian, Executive Chairman and Managing Director of Accrelist.
“We see great potential in expanding into HDD solutions, especially in Malaysia and Thailand.”
Synergies between Accrelist’s subsidiary, Jubilee, and MClean are expected to enhance customer bases and drive growth in the electronics and semiconductor sectors. MClean Technologies’ share price closed at RM0.41 on 24 June 2024, with a market capitalisation of RM80.9 million.

Rocketlane’s Series B Success

California, June 25: Rocketlane has secured $24 million in a Series B funding round, co-led by 8VC, Matrix Partners India, and Nexus Venture Partners, to expand its AI-powered platform for professional services teams.
This brings the total funds raised to $45 million.
Rocketlane aims to enhance professional services with an all-in-one AI platform that streamlines project management and improves efficiency.
The company has tripled its revenue over the past year, serving over 500 customers, including OpenGov, LivePerson, and Fivetran.
CEO Srikrishnan Ganesan stated, “With this new investment, we are committed to accelerating our AI roadmap and redefining the client portal experience.”
Rocketlane plans to use the funds to advance its AI capabilities and maintain its leading position in the Professional Services Automation (PSA) market.
The company has also appointed Rao Adavikolanu as Chief Marketing Officer to drive market presence and strategic initiatives.

Youth Summit Empowers Leaders

Kuching, June 26: The inaugural Rainforest Youth Summit 2024 (RAYS2024) launched today at the Hikmah Exchange Centre with the theme “Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Future.”
The event, officiated by Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah on behalf of the Premier, YAB Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, runs from June 26th to 28th, ahead of the Rainforest World Music Festival 2024.
The Premier emphasized, “The Rainforest Youth Summit marks a significant milestone, emphasizing our dedication to engaging the youth in sustainability and conservation efforts. This summit aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to life on land and climate action.”
Sarawak’s commitment to sustainable development is highlighted through this initiative, focusing on youth engagement and climate adaptation. Participants will engage in sessions led by dynamic youth speakers, discussions on sustainable change, and collaborative efforts for environmental protection.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah expressed enthusiasm for youth empowerment and participation in policy formulation.
He stated, “The government is committed to empowering youth through knowledge development and encouraging their participation in policy formulation.”
Chairman of the Sarawak Tourism Board, Datuk Dennis Ngau, added, “Youth involvement is not only encouraged; it is central to the Summit’s mission. We believe in the power of young leaders to drive positive change.”
RAYS2024 welcomes 1,000 participants from 10 ASEAN countries and features more than 30 renowned speakers, including Rizal Hadi, Lara Ariffin, Irshad Mobarak, Hilda Nakabuye, and Kera Sherwood.
The summit provides a platform for youths to exchange views on global issues and brainstorm creative solutions for a sustainable future.