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 Oct 7 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week.

Malaysia Halts Digital ID

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 7: Malaysia has scrapped the October 10 deadline to mandate the use of MyDigital ID for accessing the MyJPJ transport app following public backlash. The decision to integrate the national identification system into the app faced criticism over cybersecurity concerns and usability issues.
The Road Transport Department’s nine-day notice for adopting the system left many Malaysians worried, with users questioning why MyDigital ID couldn’t remain optional. Others voiced frustration over the app’s tendency to freeze and lag, while concerns were also raised about its accessibility for less tech-savvy citizens.
Commenting on the decision, Patrick Tiquet, VP of Security and Compliance at Keeper Security, emphasized that while centralised systems can streamline government services and reduce identity fraud, the benefits come with notable drawbacks. “The decision to mandate such systems and with such a short implementation timeline, as seen with the MyJPJ app, sparked significant concerns – leading to Malaysia scrapping its mandatory usage. Privacy, data security, and usability remain critical issues.”
Tiquet stressed the importance of user trust in protecting their data with robust encryption and access controls, alongside ensuring user-friendly interfaces, particularly for those less familiar with technology. He also recommended that future implementations balance security benefits with flexibility, offer app alternatives, and allow more communication and feedback from users to foster broader acceptance.

JCB Enables Google Pay

Tokyo, Oct 7: JCB Co., Ltd., Japan’s only international payment brand, has enabled Google Pay for its customers as of September 6, 2024.
Android smartphone users can now make contactless payments using Google Pay at stores that accept JCB Contactless, by adding their JCB credit or debit cards to the Google Wallet app.
The company plans to extend this support to other JCB brand card issuers in Japan and abroad.

UMW Toyota’s Sales Surge

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 7: UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd reported strong sales in September 2024, with around 7,700 units sold, bringing the year-to-date total to over 72,000 units.
The Toyota Vios, Hilux, and Corolla Cross accounted for 69 per cent of sales.
The company’s “Move in Harmony” promotion offers rebates up to RM9,500 for the New Yaris and monthly instalments from RM658.
UMWT will also participate in Paultan ACE 2024, showcasing vehicles and exclusive offers on 26-27 October at Setia City Convention Centre.

Veteran Card Now Accepted by BA

London, Oct 8: British Airways has become the first airline to accept the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card as valid photographic ID for domestic flights. This change supports veterans by offering them a convenient way to travel within the UK, further highlighting the airline’s commitment to recognizing their service. British Airways employs hundreds of veterans and collaborates with the Armed Forces on career path initiatives for former military personnel transitioning to roles such as engineers and pilots. Passports are not required for UK domestic travel, but valid photographic ID is necessary before boarding.

MClean Announces Strategic Proposals

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 8: MClean Technologies Berhad has announced a series of strategic corporate initiatives to strengthen its financial position and drive future growth.
The company plans a 25 per cent private placement, acquisition of a plastic injection moulding business from We Total Engineering Sdn. Bhd. at a net book value of RM6.04 million, and a diversification into the plastic injection moulding sector.
Additionally, MClean will undergo a RM35 million share capital reduction to eliminate accumulated losses. The private placement is expected to raise RM12.3 million, primarily to fund the acquisition and support working capital needs.

Smartsheet Revamps User Experience

Sydney, Oct 9: Smartsheet has unveiled a major update to its platform at the ENGAGE customer conference.
The new features include “collections,” which allow users to group and share assets securely, and a file library to streamline feedback and collaboration on digital assets.
Additionally, the platform’s user experience has been redesigned for greater accessibility and ease of use, featuring new data visualisation tools such as board and table views.
These updates aim to enhance team collaboration and project management without requiring additional training.

Adobe Launches Content Authenticity Tool

Sydney, Oct 9: Adobe has introduced a free web app, Adobe Content Authenticity, to help creators safeguard their work with Content Credentials.
These credentials act as metadata, ensuring creators receive proper attribution while protecting their content from unauthorized use.
The app integrates with popular Adobe Creative Cloud tools like Photoshop and Lightroom.
It also allows users to signal preferences on whether their content can be used to train generative AI models.
Additionally, an Inspect tool and a Chrome extension help users view content credentials even after online postings.

LoanOptions.ai Partners with Occubuy

Sydney, Oct 9: LoanOptions.ai has teamed up with Occubuy to help Australian renters manage personal debt.
Through this partnership, renters using Occubuy’s reward platform can now earn credits not only towards home ownership but also for paying down personal loans.
This collaboration aims to ease financial pressures on renters burdened by personal debt, including credit card and BNPL obligations, by offering personalised debt consolidation solutions from LoanOptions.ai.
The initiative helps users reduce debt payments quickly, aligning with both companies’ missions to improve financial well-being.

Miro Launches AI Innovation Workspace

Sydney, Oct 9: Miro has unveiled its new AI-powered platform, the Innovation Workspace, designed to streamline the innovation process from idea to execution.
This end-to-end solution facilitates brainstorming, prototyping, and project management, helping teams innovate faster by transitioning between unstructured and structured work.
With integrations for popular apps like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, and features like AI-powered prototyping and intelligent widgets, the platform aims to improve collaboration, engagement, and security across teams.
The Innovation Workspace is Miro’s most significant product launch since 2012.

Activewear Startup Wins Big

Canberra, Oct 9: Rosie Dumbrell, a Melbourne-based physiotherapist, has won $30,000 in equity-free funding at a Shark Tank-style event in Canberra. The competition, part of the Kickstarter Challenge, aims to empower up-and-coming female founders. Dumbrell’s brand, Everform Therapywear, offers compression wear for women suffering from incontinence, prolapse, and pelvic pain.
The Kickstarter Challenge is part of the Accelerator for Enterprising Women, a government-funded initiative designed to support female entrepreneurs. Four runners-up, each receiving $7,500, include startups in mental health, disability care, AI-driven booking systems, and sustainability.
The program received 300 entries this year, highlighting the innovative potential of Australian women.

Blackmores Wins 10th Platinum

Sydney, Oct 9: Blackmores, a leader in natural health, has been awarded its 10th Platinum accolade at the Trusted Brands 2024 Awards.
Voted by Malaysian consumers, this recognition highlights Blackmores’ commitment to high-quality health supplements and innovation.
The brand, founded in Australia in 1932, has been a trusted name in Malaysia since 1973.
Blackmores’ products undergo over 30 quality tests to ensure safety and efficacy, reflecting the brand’s dedication to excellence.
The company also emphasizes sustainability, with 98 per cent recyclable packaging and a goal of reaching Net Zero Emissions by 2030.

Deepfake Scam Surge

Sydney, Oct 10: New research from Mastercard reveals that 36 per cent of Australians and 20 per cent of businesses have been targeted by deepfake scams in the past year, with losses amounting to tens of millions.
Despite the risks, 19 per cent of Aussies and 16 per cent of businesses have not implemented protections.
In response, Mastercard has partnered with generative AI educator Stacey Edmonds to launch a six-part educational series on preventing these scams.
The series is available on Mastercard’s YouTube channel.

Dell Expands AI Factory

Sydney, Oct 11: Dell Technologies has expanded its AI Factory with new PowerEdge servers featuring AMD’s 5th Generation EPYC processors to accelerate enterprise AI adoption.
The latest additions include five servers optimized for AI performance, efficiency, and scalability. The PowerEdge XE7745, R6725, R7725, R6715, and R7715 servers address diverse AI workloads, providing significant performance gains.
Dell also introduced generative AI solutions using the PowerEdge XE9680 with AMD Instinct™ MI300X accelerators for enhanced AI deployment.
These updates simplify AI integration and offer improved time-to-value for enterprises. Global availability begins in November 2024.