Celebrate the month of Ramadan and Hari Raya with Santan

In conjunction with the festive season, Santan is introducing Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak with Ayam Percik, Thai Milk Tea and Santan x Ikhlas Ready-to-Eat meals; Chicken Biryani and Kampung Fried Rice.

• Santan Food - your one-stop ASEAN grocer at its flagship outlet in Mid Valley Megamall featuring locally-made and sourced products - is also introducing festive cookies, seasonal Turkish delights, cooking sauces, hampers and limited-time-only bundles including the best of local food products.
• Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak with Ayam Percik - accompanying Santan fragrant Nasi Lemak and signature sambal is flavourful and juicy chicken basted in a truly irresistible traditional, authentic santan gravy.
• Thai Milk Tea - let the taste of Thai Milk Tea take your tastebuds on a holiday to Thailand with its sweet, milky and fragrant notes.
• Santan x Ikhlas Ready-to-Eat - besides being your convenient Iftar and Sahur meals, part of the proceeds from the new Ready-to-Eat range (Chicken Biryani and Kampung Fried Rice) will benefit charity though Sadaqah with IKHLAS.
• Santan Food - platform for local SMEs to offer new and seasonal delicacies such as MyTurkishDelights from Zara Turkish Delight, an assortment of cookies from Yusa Food and Cookies Tree, plus a range of local cooking sauces from Way Sauce.

The Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak with Ayam Percik and Thai Milk Tea will be available starting 13 April 2021. The new Santan x Ikhlas Ready-to-Eat range will be available starting 23 April 2021 while new offerings under Santan Food will be available from 8 April 2021. The new menu is available for dine-in and take away at all 10 Santan outlets in the Klang Valley as well as for delivery on airasia food.

Santan Food seasonal products are only available exclusively at Santan Mid Valley outlet and online on airasia food and airasia fresh via Mid Valley outlet.

In addition to the new restaurant menu items, Santan continues to be a supporter of local SMEs. Santan are delighted to have Yusa Food Products Sdn Bhd and Zara Turkish Delight on Santan’s platform this festive season, both in-store and online via Santan Mid Valley outlet.

The lineup of Santan Food products have also been further enhanced since 1 April 2021 with the introduction of Way Sauce cooking sauces, Old KL kaya and Cookies Tree ASEAN-flavoured biscotti.

Earlier, Santan has introduced plant-based light bites including Samosa, EPIC Pandan Chicken, Sweet Potato Ball, Potato Cauli Bites and Potato Curry Puff available exclusively at Santan Mid Valley, NU Sentral and Sunway Pyramid outlets.

Besides festive Raya Hampers, Santan will also offer affordable Ramadan/Raya bundle sets with other SME products starting from RM25.

Santan Cafe
Santan Cafe is an extension of Santan Restaurant serving ASEAN Blend coffees, Malaysian and ASEAN beverages, cakes & light snacks

Experience a unique ASEAN cafe lifestyle at their recently upgraded Santan Cafe outlet and enjoy a rich brew made with 100% Arabica coffee beans sourced primarily from Sabah (Malaysia), Indonesia and Vietnam.

Santan Cafe features ASEAN Blend Coffee, Signature Nipah Series beverages, classic teas, tropical juices, signature cakes, for example, Onde-Onde Cake sand ASEAN-inspired pastries such as Tom Yum Sausage Roll, Red Bean Sesame Donut, Twist Kaya, Banana Gula Melaka Danish and more.

Santan Cafe is located at Lot FK-11, First Floor in between Mid Valley and The Gardens bridge.

Santan is focusing on the expansion of its restaurant franchise this year: 11th outlet at IOI Mall, Puchong on 13 April and 12th outlet at Setia City Mall, Shah Alam on 30 April.

Signature Market Appoints Citrine One as An Agency on Record

Innovative execution approach and understanding of IPO process secures the deal for Citrine One

Edwin Wang Signature Market Founder (left) and John Cheng Signature Market co-founder (right)

Malaysian Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brand Signature Market has appointed Citrine One Malaysia (COMY) as its Public Relations agency on record starting 1 April 2021.

The appointment was made following a competitive pitch with three other agencies in early February, in which COMY presented an integrated PR approach combining brand innovation, community partnerships, media relations and thought leadership initiatives to support Signature Market as the brand sets its intention towards an impending IPO filing next year.

“Signature Market has come a long way since our initiation in 2014. We have grown from a startup with 1,000 customers selling roasted nuts to 400,000 customers today and we are selling a full range of better for you groceries plus wholesome products that enhance one’s mental & spiritual well being.

“To fuel our growth & mission, we are looking at the next step to expand our presence and strengthen our business and are now planning to be listed in the ACE market via Initial Public Offerings (IPO) next year.”, said Signature Market co-founder, Edwin Wang added that the brand aims to contribute towards upgrading Malaysian lifestyle and mindset in order to move into a high income nation that cares for the environment and community.

Edwin however reiterated that the goal of the company going public goes beyond just a strong debut.

“Our vision is to make Signature Market a brand that is recognised globally. The public offering is just the ”initial” step for us to work towards our vision of becoming a world-leading consumer brand where greater emphasis are placed on sustainability, consistent innovation, accountability and succession,” he said adding that the brand needed a seasoned agency that is able to strategically devise and execute a PR plan to support his vision and mission.

Cynthia Lee

Citrine One, according to Edwin, was the perfect fit to cater to their current goal as the agency’s proposal amplifies the brand’s messaging on adopting mindfulness as a way of life through a series of carefully crafted communication strategies that are innovative, practical and potentially impactful,” he said.

On the appointment, COMY Acting Managing Director Cynthia Lee said that it is an honor to work alongside such an inspirational brand like Signature Market.

“We are looking forward to making the brand’s mission of upgrading Malaysians’ lifestyle to health and mindset upgrade more relatable to Malaysians as mindful living is still a fairly new concept in Malaysia.

“We are excited to be a part of Signature Market’s journey, especially in supporting its communication goals as it inches further towards IPO,” Lee said.

RAMSSOL Group Berhad partners with Lions Club Kuala Lumpur East in conjunction with Earth Day

RAMSSOL Group Berhad (RAMSSOL), an innovative, digital human capital management (HCM) solutions provider in Southeast Asia partnered Lions Club Kuala Lumpur East in conjunction with Earth Day for its “Beautify Your World Project” as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

L-R: Mr. James Tan, Secretary of Lions Club of KL East; Mr. Kenny Yang, a representative from SAMH; Mr. Jason Wong, Zone Chairman, Lions Club International; Mr. Chen Kim Fah, Director of Lions Club of KL East; Mr. Tan Teoh Teik Choon, First Vice District Governor, Lions Club International; YB Tony Leong, DUN Pandamaran; Mr. Cllement Tan, Organising Chairperson & RAMSSOL Group Berhad Chief Executive Officer; Dato’ CM Vignaesvaran,Group Chairman of RAMSSOL Group Berhad; Ms. Winnie Lim,Lions Club of KL East President; Ms. Mei Ng, Top Glove Foundation; Mr. Darren Tan, Eng Hua Wooden Sdn Bhd and Mr. Chan, Simple Life Landscape Services

Held at the Selangor Association for Mentally Handicapped (SAMH) in Klang the initiative aimed at creating welcoming, bright spaces that will make schools “feel like home”, especially for the younger generation and the differently-abled. “Earth Day is about raising awareness on the importance of protecting our planet and taking action. As we mark the 51st anniversary of Earth Day globally one of ways of how we can observe the day is to provide students with high-quality education to advance climate and environmental literacy. Young children can, and do, make a big difference,” said RAMSSOL's Group Chief Executive Officer, Cllement Tan.

“We couldn’t have been happier to partner with Lions Club Kuala Lumpur East to contribute to the improvement of the local environment that plays a significant role in our mental health – when you care for the environment it cares for you. The role that a healthy environment plays in safeguarding human health is profound. A little by little, we realise that by helping nature we also improve our well-being which can greatly influence how we deal with the pandemic too, in the absence of sustained human interaction with SOPs in place,” Cllement further added.

The RAMSSOL team, members of the public and guests enjoyed spending time with the management of Selangor Association for Mentally Handicapped (SAMH). In tandem with the CSR event, a sum of close to RM10,000 in kind was donated to help establish the nursery as well as to develop a heightened awareness of the environmental issues surrounding the school community. Additionally, Cllement donated RM1,000 in cash as well as Yang Berhormat Tuan Leong Tuck Chee, ADUN Pandamaran who donated an additional RM2,000 to help with the funding for additional needs for the school.

L-R:  Mr. Tan Teoh Teik Choon, First Vice District Governor, Lions Club International; YB Tony Leong, DUN Pandamaran; Mr. Cllement Tan, Organising Chairperson & RAMSSOL Group Berhad Chief Executive Officer; Dato’ CM Vignaesvaran,Group Chairman of RAMSSOL Group Berhad; Ms. Winnie Lim,Lions Club of KL East President and Ms. Mei Ng, Top Glove Foundation

Part of the event’s main objective is to have students play leadership roles and take responsibility for the planning and conduct of the beautification project. Participating in the project can instil a sense of pride and ownership for the school in the students while working with peers and being involved in group decision-making also provide personal development opportunities.

Present during the CSR event were also Yang Berhormat Tuan Leong Tuck Chee, ADUN Pandamaran; Datuk CM Vignaesvaran, Group Chairman, RAMSSOL Group Berhad and Mr. Tan Teoh Teik Choon, First Vice District Governor, Lions Club International.

CapitaLand Malaysia ramps up digital initiatives to engage consumers with holistic omnichannel strategy

CapitaLand Malaysia, a unit of CapitaLand, one of Asia’s largest diversified real estate groups, is bringing added convenience to shoppers with a series of digital initiatives as part of its omnichannel strategy to help Malaysians adapt to the new normal amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

CapitaLand Malaysia is the first mall operator in Malaysia to have seven malls within its portfolio onboard Grab’s Malls by GrabMart platform. The seven malls comprise Queensbay Mall in Penang, Melawati Mall in Taman Melawati and five owned by CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust – Gurney Plaza in Penang, a majority interest in Sungei Wang Plaza in Kuala Lumpur, 3 Damansara in Petaling Jaya, The Mines in Seri Kembangan and East Coast Mall in Kuantan.

Mr Eddie Lim

Mr Eddie Lim, Head, Retail, CapitaLand Malaysia, said: “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital to have a holistic omnichannel strategy that seeks to offer value-added services to support the needs of our shoppers as well as retailers, both online and offline. The situation at hand has become a catalyst for greater adoption of digitalisation in the Malaysian retail sector. Going forward in the new normal, we seek to bring about convenience, and at the same time, safeguard Malaysians by placing their safety and health as our top priority. We hope that our shoppers can enjoy a safe and seamless shopping experience regardless of where they are.”

In addition to the shift in consumption habits, the pandemic has left a deep and significant impact on many businesses and industries as more Malaysians opt to stay at home, in view of the SOPs in place due to the movement restriction orders. As such, shoppers can now enjoy the convenience of shopping at CapitaLand malls within a digital space all in the comfort of their homes. With more than 50 CapitaLand tenants listed on Malls by GrabMart, shoppers can mix and match their orders from different stores in the same mall and have the orders delivered and pay only one delivery fee.

Participating brands include MPH Bookstores, Royce Chocolate, S&J, Din Tai Fung Retail, Eureka Popcorn, Lo Hong Ka, Watsons, A-Look Eyewear, Seen, Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart, Caring Pharmacy, Guardian, Hazukido Malaysia, Laneige, AGift with Care, Bread Story, Tony Roma’s Mart, Soon Thye Hang, Starbucks Mart and more. For a full list of available brands and retailers, please visit https://www.grab.com/my/malls-by-grabmart/.

Mr. JJ Tan, Head of Commercials, Grab Malaysia said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon unprecedented challenges for our local retail sector. We introduced the concept of instant retail to help Malaysian retailers (SMEs and chains) continue serving their customers at home with safe, instant deliveries. With popular household brands under CapitaLand’s list of merchants on Malls by GrabMart, we are confident that shoppers will find it more convenient to shop online from these merchants and have their purchases delivered right to their doorstep in a single order with one delivery fee. This would definitely be a much safer and cost-efficient way to purchase a variety of items from different shops from the same shopping mall.”

Sungei Wang Plaza

To complement the shopping experience, shoppers can continue to enjoy added rewards on CapitaStar, CapitaLand’s multi-store and multi-mall cardless rewards programme. Shoppers can register for free via the CapitaStar mobile app and collect points with a minimum purchase of RM30 from retail outlets at CapitaLand malls and to exchange them for cash e-vouchers (known as STARVouchers) and other rewards.

From now until 31 May 2021, CapitaLand Malaysia will be giving more rewards to shoppers with its Mission STAMPo$$ible Rewards campaign where shoppers who complete the nine missions on a digital stamp card by spending RM50 or more at any dining outlets and retail outlets at any CapitaLand mall have the opportunity to win STARVouchers, CapitaStar’s signature edeal, for their shopping across seven CapitaLand malls in Malaysia. At the same time, starting 1 March 2021, shoppers who have registered as CapitaStar members, can earn double STAR$ points and another additional 500 STAR$ points on their first transaction on their birthday month. CapitaLand Malaysia has also kicked off its seamless parking rebates for six malls within its portfolio (Gurney Plaza & Queensbay Mall in Penang, East Coast Mall in Kuantan, 3 Damansara, Sungei Wang Plaza and The Mines in Klang valley) where CapitaStar members may redeem the rebate via the CapitaStar app to offset the parking fee directly at the cashless parking kiosk.

A New Giant For Customers With Fresher Offerings And More Exciting Value

• Total rebrand of the iconic brand with new logo, refreshed look and feel across 57 stores with a focus on freshness and quality
• Over 2,000 new products introduced across, fresh, grocery and household
• Launch of the strongest Ramadan offers with hundreds of items on discounts of up to 50%, along with many other promotions

GCH Retail Malaysia Director, Yam Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar (Middle), Country Chairman Of Jardines Matheson Malaysia , Rossana Annizah (3rd Left), Dairy Farm Chief Executive Officer, Southeast Asia Food Business, Chris Bush (2nd Right), Giant Hypermarket Kota Damansara Store Manager, Izri Shahril (2nd Left), Giant Regional Manager Chandrasegar Muthiah (1st Left) And Head Of Marketing Giant Malaysia, Shereen Chew (1st Right) Officially Launching The New Refreshed Giant Brand For Customers.

Giant, one of Malaysia’s leading food retailers, today launched its brand-new range of exciting customer offerings to better deliver on its promise of freshness, quality and value in addition to unveiling an entirely new look and feel across all 57 stores in the country.

The extensive refresh is one of Giant’s most significant developments since the establishment of the home-grown retailer in 1944 and builds on Giant’s position of being the low-price leader of Malaysia in providing customers with best value. This move also follows the result of Giant’s research on what truly matters to customers – fresh, quality products at great value, as well as a positive shopping experience.



BRAND NEW OFFERINGS
With this keen understanding, customers can now look forward to Giant’s many refreshed new offerings that were developed specifically to meet these demands, such as:

• Launch of over 2000 new products across fresh food, groceries, and household essentials in-store to excite and delight customers.
• World of Food, where Giant customers will now be able to enjoy an even wider selection of new imported food selections from all around the world, as well as local delicacies from home-grown companies.
• Ringgit Zone, available at selected stores, is a completely new proposition that reinforces Giant’s position the price leader with RM3/- per item products across all categories for customers on a budget. Bargain hunters will find exciting new products ranging from snacks to kitchenware, home, and personal care item at the amazing flat value deal of RM3/- per item.
• General Merchandise Section, a complete reinvention of Giant’s General Merchandise range to deliver good quality products at affordable prices that satisfy everyday needs. Customers can look forward to over 700 new products here, from cooking needs, appliances, home storage and organization, to toys and leisure.
• Ready To Eat offerings at selected hypermarkets such as freshly baked delights every day from in-store bakeries with a wide range from breads and loaves, to cakes and assorted buns. Giant is also adopting a hub and spoke model to enable the delivery of freshly baked products from our hyper stores to rest of Giant store network.
• Guardian, Health & Beauty Care stores are now placed in select Giant hypermarkets, superstores, and supermarkets, providing a convenient one-stop for customers to get the best of both worlds. By the end of April, a total of 35 Giant stores will have the Guardian store-in-store for even more customers to enjoy this added convenience.

This establishes Giant truly as a one-stop shop for all daily essentials, from grocery items and health essentials to electronics.

MEADOWS - QUALITY AT GREAT VALUE, NO. 1 BRAND IN GIANT!

GCH Retail Malaysia Director, Yam Tunku Tan Sri Imran Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar (Left), Dairy Farm Chief Executive Officer, Southeast Asia Food Business, Chris Bush (Right) And Giant Hypermarket Kota Damansara Store Manager, Izri Shahril (Middle) Walkthrough World Of Food Section.

Bringing customers even greater quality and value to help stretch their dollar, Dairy Farm launched Meadows, an own brand offering globally sourced high-quality food, with prices that are significantly more affordable than the equivalent brands. Meadows is already the leading brand in Giant, more popular than well-known brands such as Hup Seng, Ramly, and Munchy.

To date, there have been over 240 Meadows products launched which have been extremely well-received, and customers can look forward to the launch of 210 more Meadows products in the coming year.

AMAZING VALUE AND GREAT DEALS

Chris Bush, Dairy Farm Chief Executive Officer, Southeast Asia Food Business Delivering His Welcome Address During The Launch.

To excite customers even further, Giant will be launching more Value Deals such as multibuy offers, festive essentials, and category discounts of up to 50% as part of the launch. For example, customers can look forward to discounts on key essentials such as broccoli at RM2.50 from RM3, tomatoes at RM2.95/kg from 3.99/kg. Siakap fish at RM6.95/pc and Jati rice at RM23.95 from RM25.99, and dates at RM7.95/kg from RM11.99.

A GIANT COMMITMENT TO FRESHNESS, QUALITY AND VALUE
Since the early 2000s, Giant has firmly established itself as the lowest price leader in Malaysia and has previously been voted as such by customersi. Giant also received the Fair Price Award in 2016 awarded by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumerism Malaysia for ensuring quality, value, and services to consumers at a reasonable price.

Building on this trust and expectation, Giant remains committed to delivering on its promise of providing fresh products at great value for all, by partnering closely with key suppliers, farmers and fisherman so that customers can always depend on market-fresh quality at great prices every day.

Some of the improvements on fresh offerings include the introduction of better, brighter displays, more product variety, availability, and purchase options (loose nuts, snacks, spices, bulks buys). And as a commitment to this fresher promise, Giant will provide a refund if customers are not 100% satisfied.

IMPROVED SERVICE LEVELS
As part of Giant’s ongoing efforts to improve, it has enhanced the customer journey in stores with team members offering fantastic service across all store touchpoints.

For example, Giant has committed to a new Service Promise where, when the check-out queue snakes to a particular point, it will trigger all the check-out counters to be opened and customers to be served immediately. For enhanced convenience, Giant will also be offering e-wallet payment options such as Touch ‘n Go and Boost app for a more seamless checkout experience.

To provide further confidence to our customers, Giant continues its unwavering focus on hygiene and safety measures, so that customers can shop with us with us with peace of mind.

BRAND NEW LOOK AND FEEL
All these changes have been supported with a bright new look and feel in store, bursting with colour and warmth that meet the demands of today’s customers, along with a brand-new logo that is in line with a brand-new customer experience.

EXPANDED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
The brand refresh will also stretch across to Giant’s convenience format as well, extending the brand’s great offering and value to the neighbourhood for daily quality fresh and essentials. Beginning with the launch the newly branded Giant Mini in the Klang Valley recently, customers will see the conversion of all existing G Ekspres and ShopSmart stores to Giant Mini within the month.

In addition, building on Giant’s commitment to Malaysia, and on the back of the company’s announcement of transforming for growth, Giant looks to open 10 more Giant Mini stores this year.

Customers Will Be Pleased With The Variety And Freshness Of The Produce Available At Giant Hypermarket

A GIANT PROMISE TO DELIVER ON A GIANT DIFFERENCE

Mr Chris Bush, Dairy Farm Chief Executive Officer for Southeast Asia Food Business said, “We recognise that these continue to be challenging times, and we remain more committed than ever before to being Malaysia’s best value food retailer - providing great prices and amazing value on products our customers buy the most of, especially during the times our customers will appreciate it the most.”

“With this refresh, we have listened closely and acted on what our customers have told us on what matters to them, and as a result we have upgraded all our store operations and hygiene standards, product availability and service levels.”

“We are proud of Giant’s long history as a leading value retailer in Malaysia, and we remain dedicated to continuously improving to serve our customers the best we can, because we understand the importance of providing our customers with a better store experience. We have been working hard to deliver to our customers what they have asked for – every part of the customer experience and been reviewed and refreshed, because we know that ultimately, it’s the little things that make a Giant difference!”

iQiyi joins forces with FINAS in #JanganTontonHaram Anti-Piracy Campaign, doubling down on battling pirated content

Unique consumer-policing campaign lauded by industry players as a “fresh take” on a timeworn problem

(From L – R): Laila Saat (Director, Regulatory, Astro), Dato Khairul Anwar Salleh (CEO, Media Prima TV Network), Dinesh Ratnam (Country Manager of iQiyi Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei), Dato Norman Halim (Deputy Chairman, FINAS), Mahyidin Mustakin (CEO, Creative Content Association Malaysia), Datuk Yusof Haslam (Founder, Skop Production)

Innovative market-leading online entertainment service, iQiyi International, announces the launch of the company’s first-of-its-kind consumer-based anti-piracy campaign #JanganTontonHaram. Joining forces with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), the month-long initiative aims to galvanise a public movement around addressing content theft and digital piracy, bringing consumers into the heart of tackling one of the leading threats to Malaysia’s rapidly growing entertainment industry.

Putting thousands of jobs at risk and stymying the growth of the entertainment and media industry, content theft and digital piracy affect most of the entertainment industry’s value chain from production houses, creative and technology start-ups, artists, service providers and support crew. Causing the local creative industry an estimated RM3 billion in loss of revenue and the government RM157 million in loss of tax revenue every year, the sector is paradoxically seeing content development and movie launches being deeply affected by the pandemic’s physical safety measures, while content streaming has become increasingly popular due to lockdowns.

Lauded by industry representatives at the event as a “fresh take” on a timeworn problem, the iQiyi – FINAS’ #JanganTontonHaram campaign officially kicked off on the first day of the ongoing CONNECTASIA 2021. Being held in Kuala Lumpur, attendees span the Malaysian Film and TV industry including audio-visual and content creation professionals, broadcasters and regulators.

“FINAS has conducted several awareness campaigns on piracy before, but none of the campaigns provide incentives to those who can report piracy activities. #JanganTontonHaram puts consumers at the centre of the anti-piracy and FINAS welcomes and supports this initiative,” said Datuk Norman Abdul Halim of FINAS in officiating CONNECTASIA 2021.

This two-day event of conferences and business networking sessions is co-organised by FINAS and Creative Content Association Malaysia (CCAM) and co-sponsored by iQiyi International and several other industry players.

Saying “No” to illegal content through the power of consumer clicks
Dinesh Ratnam, iQiyi International’s Country Manager for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei explains, “#JanganTontonHaram is a grassroots approach to combating content theft and digital piracy, and is a digital-led campaign centred around several pillar initiatives. We encourage audiences to proactively participate in taking down or crippling content piracy. By putting consumers at the centre of the anti-piracy movement, we hope to disrupt piracy where it hurts the most - the demand and consumption side. Ethical digital behaviours is a game-changer for the entertainment industry, this is “the power of consumer clicks”. I truly believe that with mass movement and cross-industry collaborations, we can better safeguard the industry, the workforce and its intellectual property.”

A dedicated microsite www.jangantontonharam.com will host impact statement videos from those reeling from content piracy and fraud; educational tips on how to detect illegal sites and activities, keep data safe, and details legal implications to deter people from getting involved in organised crimes. In Malaysia, possession and supply of pirated content can be classified as an offence under Section 41 The Copyright Act 1987, with a penalty of up to RM20,000 and/or five years jail.

Datuk Yusof Haslam, Namron, Adrian Teh, Syazwan Zulkifly, Bront Palarae, Amelia Henderson, Daniella Sya and other actors and producers will bring celebrity power to the iQiyi and FINAS collaboration in a series of public service announcement (PSA) videos and social media activations designed to rally their fan base and drive participation in the movement.

Honda Malaysia Welcomes Its First Woman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Madoka Chujo

• Ms. Madoka Chujo started her career with Honda 23 years ago and has held various roles in Japan, China, Spain and Canada
• The new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer took office on 1st April 2021

Ms. Madoka Chujo

Honda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. welcomed its first woman Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Madoka Chujo who succeeded Mr. Toichi Ishiyama. Ms. Chujo officially assumed office in Malaysia on 1st April 2021. Prior to this role, she was the Vice President at Honda Canada Inc., strategizing the Company’s Sales and Marketing since 2019. Ms. Chujo’s career in Honda started 23 years ago in 1997 and over the years, she has held various roles in Japan, China, Spain and Canada. Her expertise and experience are in the area of Sales Strategy during her various stints in the countries she served.

Commenting on her new role at Honda Malaysia, Ms. Chujo said, “Malaysia is indeed an important market in the Asia and Oceania region with Honda Malaysia achieving various significant sales milestones and have become one of the leading automotive brands in the country. I am looking forward and excited for my first assignment as the MD and CEO of Honda Malaysia, and at the same time I am also eager to explore Malaysia as the country is unique and a melting pot of diverse cultures and people, with enormous potential and of course a fast-paced work environment.”

Ms. Chujo’s predecessor Mr. Ishiyama, joined Honda Malaysia in November 2017 and his first launch in Malaysia was the World’s Fastest (FWD) Production Car, the Civic Type R in 2017. Throughout the following years, Mr. Ishiyama also launched various new models notably the 5th Generation All-New City as well as the World Premiere of RS e:HEV in October 2020. At this world premiere, Honda’s e:TECHNOLOGY initiative was officially introduced for the first time in the Asia and Oceania Region.

During his tenure of over three years in Malaysia, Mr. Ishiyama successfully led Honda Malaysia to achieve 900,000 sales in 2019 and also maintained its position as the No. 1 Non-National Car Brand for six consecutive years in 2020. In addition, under Mr. Ishiyama’s watch, the Company celebrated a remarkable milestone of reaching the 1 millionth sales unit in March 2021. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as Mr. Ishiyama had to manoeuvre the Company through a challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic since March last year.

Mr. Ishiyama has headed back to Japan to assume a new role in Business Automobile, Business Strategy Division, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Japan.

Pepsi and 7-Eleven Collaborate to Introduce A Revolutionary Concept Store in Malaysia

The 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store will offer customers with an enhanced shopping experience shaking up the local retail scene.

(L-R) Khalid Alvi, Chief Executive Officer, Etika Group of Companies (Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei) and Wong Wai Keong, Co-Chief Executive Officer, 7-Eleven Malaysia at the launch of the first 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concep

Offering customers with an interactive and unique shopping experience, 7-Eleven and Pepsi today announced that they have collaborated to launch the first ever 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store in Malaysia. Unlike regular convenience marts, this revolutionary concept store located at DA Square at Damansara Avenue not only showcases the beverage brand, but also seeks to provide a unique and convenient experience through attractive in-store activities and a wider offerings selection thus elevating their everyday shopping experiences.

In the post COVID-19 world, where online shopping has accelerated to staggering speeds, it becomes important for retailers to reimagine their business practices and turn attention to how they can take customer shopping experiences to the next level. Along with introducing the latest and in-demand products and services, retailers also need to draw focus on building omnichannel experiences and introducing ‘retailtainment’ experiences for customers.

This means that customers not only come to brick and mortar establishments to stock up on essentials, but instead look forward to having in-store experiences that allows them to enjoy personalised and interactive experiences that are lacking while shopping online.

“Inspired by Pepsi’s brand spirit, we have adopted a bold attitude to experimenting and creating new experiences that our customers will thoroughly enjoy. Whether it is coming up with limited-edition cans or creating a collection inspired by pop culture such as the Pepsi X BLACKPINK campaign,” said Khalid Alvi, Chief Executive Officer – Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei at Etika Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

“Our partnership with 7-Eleven is an extension of Pepsi’s BOLD and innovative attitude as we bring new in-store experiences for customers in Malaysia. With the launch of this unique 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store, customers will be able to enjoy some of our new offerings, personalised experiences and even shop for exciting Pepsi merchandise and fan collection pieces that will redefine their shopping experiences,” added Khalid.

The bold and exciting new look of the first 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store in Malaysia.

Stepping foot inside the 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store, customers will be able to experience several interactive activities such as floor projections, infinity mirrors, their favourite BLACKPINK music in the background, interactive pong games and a neon photo area in true millennial fashion to spice up their Instagram feed. Customers will also be able to try some great new snacks at the store’s Lay’s corner, a flavourful wall of crisps from across the globe.

In addition, 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store will also have a café area where customers can relax with their favourite Pepsi products and 7-Eleven’s extensive ready-to-eat meals and snacks. All in all, the concept store elevates the buy and go shopping behaviour, creating a space for shoppers to discover new products and experience a range of fun-filled engagements.

“As the No.1 convenience store chain in the country, 7-Eleven is proud to be partnering with Pepsi as we bring to life our first, of which there are more to come, experiential concept store catering to the needs of our younger and trend-conscious customers. Through this collaboration, we will further strengthen our position as the undisputed leading one-stop convenience brand as we continuously seek innovative and fun ways to enhance our customer’s shopping experience with us,” said Wong Wai Keong, Co-Chief Executive Officer of 7-Eleven Malaysia.

“Our maiden concept store with Pepsi not only provides a one of a kind experience to visitors but also allows us to showcase our wider and improved range of fresh food and beverages. We have delectable onigiris, freshly made chilled sandwiches and other ready-to-eat meals, a wide assortment of packaged bakery and our ever popular skewered snacks, aptly named “Cocoks” that even comes with a selection of dipping sauces. For our beverage selections, the choices are extensive and include our evergreen Slurpee, freshly made to order bean to cup brews and a selection of premium craft beers. Customers can also look forward to an extensive range of imported products from around the world, from confectionery to exclusive health & beauty selections such as Boots, UK’s No.1. skincare brand, featuring its popular Vitamin C and Cucumber range,” added Wai Keong.

Expressing his excitement, Lee Yen Foong, General Manager of TA Global, said “We are thrilled to welcome 7-Eleven and Pepsi to DA Square @ Damansara Avenue and congratulations once again for bringing in the first ever revolutionary concept store to Malaysia. With the new addition to DA Square @ Damansara Avenue, we look forward to providing a new, unique and exciting experience to the community of Bandar Sri Damansara and beyond.”

Exciting contest and exclusive deals in conjunction with launch of the 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store
Staying true to the motto of offering new customer experiences, Pepsi has announced an exciting social media contest to encourage netizens to visit the newly launched concept store.

Starting today, customers who visit the 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store can click photos of themselves in store and share them on their social media channels with a creative caption and hashtag #pepsiconceptstore. Throughout the contest, 80 Pepsi fans of the most exciting posts will stand a chance to win limited-edition Pepsi x Pestle and Mortar T-shirts. The contest will run for one month with entries being accepted already. For more details about the contest, kindly visit Pepsi or 7-Eleven Malaysia Facebook page or www.etikaholdings.com/contest-and-promotions.

In addition, Pepsi will also offer a redemption of the limited-edition PEPSI x BLACKPINK premium box consisting of 4 bottles of Pepsi Black Pink, BLACKPINK poster and cards with purchase of RM20 and above on Pepsi products in a single receipt. Only 50 units are available per day on a first-come-first-serve basis so hurry and make your way to the 7-Eleven x Pepsi Concept Store @ DA Square for your chance to redeem while stock lasts!

Galaxy A52: In Depth Review of An Awesome Smartphone from Samsung

There are many aspects that consumers look at when they want to purchase a smartphone. Price, design, looks, connectivity, battery, and many others are considered crucial elements in buying a new smartphone. Upon entering a store or shop, the general public nowadays is served with hundreds of smartphones for them to choose from.

There is no other aspect that is more important to the consumer than the device's price and features. A smartphone packed with amazing features doesn't generally need to come with a higher price. Knowing this, Samsung announced the Galaxy A52 at the Galaxy A series event called Galaxy Awesome Unpacked on March 17th this year.

The Galaxy A52 is the successor to the Galaxy A51, the world's best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of last year, and we are expecting that A52 will also soon be a best-selling smartphone for this year. Apart from performance, of course, many other things can be felt by users. Through the awesome screen, awesome battery life, an awesome camera, you can guess this smartphone's ability for Galaxy A-Series lovers. A super clear screen, a reliable camera that is able to record interesting moments around in an aesthetic way, and a long battery life make the Galaxy A52 a comfortable companion to create your awesome moment.

BODY
Galaxy A52 comes in 4 colors: Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Black, and Awesome Blue. Galaxy A52 features a camera lined up in the left row at the back of its body, which is quite familiar with the recent Galaxy S21 series. In dimensions, the Galaxy A52 is made slightly larger than its predecessor. Although this increase is not so significant. The device's sizes are pretty standard, 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm, and weigh 189 grams. The device's weight does surprise us because we expect the device to be a bit heavier looking at the feature it comes with.

From what we have tested, the Galaxy A52 with a 6.5-inch screen fits well in hand. So, operating a smartphone with one hand is still comfortable. The visible changes to the eye can be seen in the punch hole's size, where the size is smaller than before. Samsung also changed its camera housing, making it more prominent and made to blend with the color of the back.

The glass front is protected with Gorilla Glass 5 and what makes us think it will be a plus point for this device is IP67 dust/ water resistant ability. This means that this smartphone is able to soak in water with a depth of 1 meter in approximately 30 minutes. At the bottom, you can see the USB Type C port for charging and data transfer. USB Type C is accompanied by speaker holes, a microphone, and a 3.5 mm audio port. So, you can still listen to multimedia files through earphones or headphones with the 3.5mm audio jack connector.

On the top side, apart from having a microphone hole, there is also a SIM Card slot. As for the SIM, you may choose either using a single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM).

On the right side of the device, there are physical buttons for volume and power. Like other Samsung smartphones, this power button can also be changed into a Bixby button or camera. This can be adjusted in the Settings menu. While on the other hand, not a single button is attached to the side body, which is quite convenient.

DISPLAY
Galaxy A52 is packed with an FHD+ Super AMOLED display and 6.5 inches Infinity-O Display with a 90Hz compatible display reaching up to 800 nits to let you use your phone at ease in broad daylight. Equipped with the "Eye Comfort Shield" function, it automatically adjusts the blue light based on the time of day, content you're viewing, and your bedtime to help reduce eye fatigue. Do bear in mind that this feature is 'off' by default, and you can turn it on by going into your setting. Samsung claimed that it could also make you easier to fall asleep by enabling this feature at night.

CAMERA
Galaxy A52 comes with a four-lens camera is equipped with a 64-megapixel for its main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a 5-megapixel depth camera, and a macro camera. With the Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) features, you no longer worry about your photo's sharpness and clarity. In the past few years, the phase detection autofocus (PDAF) feature has only been embedded in high-end devices. However, nowadays, this camera technology is also very common in affordable devices.

Even more sophisticated than PDAF, optical image stabilization (OIS) technology is a feature that was originally only found in the premium series. Now, more people can enjoy it because the Galaxy A52 has this powerful feature. Combined with a 64-megapixel (MP) main camera with an aperture of f / 1.8, PDAF and OIS will complete reliable photography activities with the A52.

Galaxy A52 is also equipped with artificial intelligence to capture image objects in 30 different categories, including food, pets, and scenery. For night photography, the Galaxy A52 features multi-frame processing for users to produce clear images. The rear camera of the Samsung Galaxy A52 is capable of digital zooming up to 10 times when shooting images. The front camera uses a 32-megapixel camera. This important feature will attract some users as the demand for front cameras increases due to remote work and video conferencing.

NFC CONNECTIVITY
As before, Samsung continues to provide near-field communication (NFC) connectivity for the Galaxy A52. This is one of the important features that are functional in the digital era like now.

BATTERY
The battery capacity is also a sector that did not escape Samsung's attention to be an improvement. The A52 has a battery with a capacity of 4,500 milliampere-hour (mAh) or an increase of 500 mAh compared to the A51.

Charging technology is also improved, from only 15 Watt (W). This mid-sized smartphone is equipped with a 25W fast charging feature which allows the battery to be charged 50% in just half an hour. The intelligent battery calculates the usage status and automatically optimizes it according to your usage.

IN-SCREEN FINGERPRINT AUTHENTICATION
Galaxy A52 is equipped with in-screen fingerprint authentication. We all knew that face recognition alone makes it difficult to use due to COVID-19, where you have to wear a mask outside, so it is a nice point to have fingerprint recognition in your device.

SPEAKERS
Almost all smartphones on the market today have a speaker located at the bottom of the device. One of the drawbacks is that users will find it difficult to capture a clear voice when using it in landscape mode. But don't worry, because Samsung provides a two-speaker feature for a powerful stereo audio experience without you having to use earphones. This will be very helpful when you play games or watch your favorite movies.

Galaxy A52 is equipped with two stereo speakers concocted from AKAGI that will spoil its users when listening to audio or video. Especially with the Dolby Atmos feature, which makes sound details better. In addition, the A52 is also equipped with a 3.5 mm audio jack so that users can freely use wired or wireless headphones.

CHIPSET
This can be considered as one of the unusual things Samsung has done on their A5 series. Instead of using the homemade Exynos chipset, this smartphone is given a Snapdragon 720G chipset made by Qualcomm. Qualcomm has indeed prepared this processor with 8 nanometer (nm) fabrication technology to support flagship performance devices. Thanks to the Kryo 465 architecture and the clock speed of one of the eight cores, which is up to 2.3 gigahertz (GHz), using the Galaxy A52 for gaming and opening various applications will run smoothly. Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with 8GB of RAM. It is not surprising that the results of a number of benchmark tests for the Galaxy A52 are higher than the Galaxy A51, which is equipped with 6 GB of RAM.

In addition, this smartphone can also accommodate lots of files and applications without having to worry about running out of data memory because this latest cellphone from Samsung has a storage capacity of 256 GB which can still be expanded with micro-SD up to 1 TB.

On the performance side, there's no doubt the Snapdragon 720G processor's capability. The presence of the letter "G" behind it indicates that this processor is also intended for gaming needs. Therefore, combined with Adreno 618 and 8GB RAM, this processor can make the gaming experience with the Galaxy A52 smoother.

The Samsung Galaxy A52 also uses One UI 3.1 based on Android 11. This UI can provide a more flexible navigation experience in using the Galaxy A52, whether for daily work, watching entertainment, playing games, or when creating creative content. The UI design also provides a more intuitive experience and consistent interactions by increasing speed, reducing distraction and highlighting important information.

Overall, we would say that the Samsung Galaxy A52 smartphone is suitable for those who are looking for a device with an affordable price but with awesome features.

Low Yat Group’s Paradise Fair Secured 50% Rental Despite Pandemic

Retails lifestyle hub, Paradise Fair located at Bandar Tasik Puteri recorded 50% of take up rate since its launch last year.

Half of Paradise Fair, Low Yat Group’s (LYG) retail lifestyle hub in Bandar Tasik Puteri has been successfully leased to commercial tenants despite pandemic stricken economy in 2020.  The 8.06-acre lifestyle hub was opened for lease to retail brands in the grocery, fashion, food & beverage and lifestyle sectors in the middle of last year.

“To date, 50% of the retail units have been booked by well-established retail brands looking to expand their presence with the latest tenant being KFC.

Andrew Goh

“This came as no surprise given that these retailers have ongoing aggressive expansion plans and are always on the lookout for strategic locations to reach their intended customers and Bandar Tasik Puteri offers great opportunities with potential footfalls from customers who live and work within the township,” said Andrew Goh, LYG General Manager Area Property- Development/ Management.

According to Goh, LYG is expecting to attract some 200,000 people into Bandar Tasik Puteri come 2025 with its vibrant township that consists of residential and commercial development spanning across 2,670 acres. Residential developments within the township include Garden Heights, Acacia Park, ParkHomes and Seiring Residence. Properties at the 11.86 acres ParkHomes have been fully sold out since its launch during the first MCO last year.

To date, over 70,000 residents have moved into Bandar Tasik Puteri. Paradise Fair, 2-storey street-level retail will serve the daily shopping and recreational needs of these residents and commuters. The building has been architecturally designed to ensure every retail lot is easily visible and accessible to customers.

On leasing a property at Paradise Fair, KFC Malaysia Head of Brand Chandrasagran Munusamy said that the location fits KFC’s expansion plan given that the self-contained township, with the continuous development in Bandar Tasik Puteri, offers great potential in bringing continuous footfall to drive sustainable long term revenue for the restaurant.

KFC now opened a standalone drive thru branch in Bandar Tasik Puteri

As such, KFC has committed to lease a 4,758 sqft freestanding lot right next to Paradise Fair and the restaurant is open for business on the 1st Apr 2021.

“The standalone KFC restaurant with drive-thru facility will be able to cater for the residents and create more job opportunities in Bandar Tasik Puteri at any given time”, said Chandrasagran adding that KFC is looking forward to opening another 25 outlets by 2025.

Top Winners Announced for First Huawei Spark Malaysia

Huawei Spark Malaysia is organised by Huawei in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), TM ONE and TusStar (Malaysia)



Innov8tif emerged the winner for its OkayDoc platform today in Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd’s Huawei Spark competition, with DoctorOnCall placing second and MHub coming in third.

OkayDoc is a set of computer vision algorithm that automates ID authentication and prevents fraud in e-KYC (electronic know your customer) through visual zone inspections, security feature detection and content tampering checks.

DoctorOnCall delivers healthcare services like online doctors, specialists, pharmacists, screenings and vaccines directly to users. They have Artificial Intelligence (AI) doctors and 5G Internet of Things (IoT) Pods that aim to improve healthcare for at least 700 million people in Southeast Asia.

MHUB is the leading end-to-end property sales transaction platform that speeds up and simplifies the property sales cycle by connecting developers, agents, banks, lawyers and buyers.

The companies were among the 10 finalists shortlisted from more than 140 entries in the Huawei Spark competition.

The competition is part of the Huawei Spark programme, which aims to incubate and accelerate company growth and build an ecosystem for businesses in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region.

Huawei Spark is held in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), TusStar (Malaysia) as incubator partner, and powered by TM ONE – the enterprise and public sector business solutions arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) – through its α Edge (pronounced as Alpha Edge) Cloud platform.

The 10 companies that made it to the top were:

• BookDoc
• Boss Boleh
• DoctorOnCall
• Fuhla
• Innov8tif
• MHub
• MSA - Mobile Sharing Assistant
• OrangeFIN Asia
• Orpheus Capital
• SmartPeep

A five member panel of judges comprising representatives from MDEC, TM ONE, TusStar and Huawei decided on the winners after a pitching session by the finalists.

Launched virtually in Malaysia in November last year, the Huawei Spark programme is a hybrid accelerator programme to support deep tech companies in Asia Pacific , with a focus on firms that use 5G, Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning & Analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), Edge Computing and Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, leveraging Huawei’s technological and innovation leadership.

The programme aims to drive output in the areas of e-commerce, Fintech, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Smart Cities.

“MDEC remains steadfast in our laser-focus drive to develop and grow the digital economy, in line with MyDIGITAL. Effective collaboration will improve innovation as we look to continuously grow our capacities, facilities and capabilities and the Huawei Spark programme will help shape our digital tech ecosystem and reinforces Malaysia’s goal to be the regional powerhouse for global tech champions,” said Mr. Gopi Ganesalingam, Vice President, Tech Ecosystems & Globalisation (TEG), MDEC.

"As part of China's largest innovation network, TusStar Malaysia is committed to be the bridge for innovation between China and Malaysia. We support the entrepreneurial environment in Malaysia through enabling more technological innovation and social development in the region,” said TusStar’s General Manager and Partner, Ms. Liu Bo.

"TusStar can also be a support pillar for Huawei Malaysia participants to land in China by providing training programmes and China market insights from industrial experts,” Ms. Liu said.

“TM ONE would like to congratulate all winners as well as the participants of the Huawei Spark competition. It is refreshing to observe all these talented entrepreneurs, showcasing impressive capabilities and determination. These start-ups have a lot to offer and we believe they will become the blazing trails in their respective markets in the future. The winners can utilise the seamless, secured TM ONE Cloud α Edge that they receive to further propel their business and fully realise their digital potentials. We will continue to empower enterprises and the public sector with the latest digital technologies and solutions across cloud, connectivity, cybersecurity and smart services to accelerate Digital Malaysia,” said Mr. Mohamad Rejab Sulaiman, General Manager Data Centre, Cloud and Internet for TM ONE.

Mr. Lim Chee Siong, Huawei Malaysia’s Vice President of Cloud & AI said as a global technology leader, it was Huawei’s responsibility to support local businesses and help grow their contribution to the country’s digital economy.

“In doing so, we will help grow the digital ecosystem. Through this programme, we are providing conducive space for companies to grow, and giving them the tools and other resources that they need to have that competitive edge,” he said.

“A healthy and thriving digital business ecosystem will drive innovation and bring great value to the country’s digital economy as a whole. This will in turn, firmly position Malaysia as the Heart of Digital ASEAN,” Mr. Lim commented, adding that this was also in line with the government’s Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint, or MyDIGITAL, which aims to accelerate the country’s digital economy by boosting local business competitiveness, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs), through digitalisation.

The company that ranks first in Huawei Spark will receive the top prize in the form of a participation in a six-month long Accelerator Programme which includes:

• Financial support in the form of USD 125,000 worth of Cloud credits for the company to build their technology stack.
• The opportunity to participate in the Spark Fire programme, which is a unique value proposition of the Huawei Spark programme designed to boost businesses and brand awareness via business matching and business enablement programmes.
• One-on-one mentoring and networking opportunities with industry experts.
• Online and offline training resources.
• Dedicated Technical Support
• Go-To-Market (GTM) Support, and
• A chance at being immortalised in a “Hall of Fame” by being featured in advertorials published by Huawei and MDEC.
• The opportunity to sell its solutions to Huawei’s global sales force.

The companies ranked second and third will get to participate in a six-month long Accelerator Programme, which includes:

• Financial support in the form of USD 80,000 worth of Cloud credits for the company to build their technology stack.
• One-on-one mentoring and networking opportunities with industry experts.
• Online and offline training resources.
• Technical Support.
• Go-To-Market (GTM) Support, and
• A chance at being immortalised in a “Hall of Fame” by being featured in advertorials published by Huawei and MDEC GAIN.
• The opportunity to sell its solutions to Huawei’s global sales force.

The Huawei Spark programme was first launched in 2020 by Huawei’s Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (AI) business group and in view of its beneficial value, it has now been brought for the first time to Malaysian shores.

MDEC Vice President, Tech Ecosystems & Globalisation (TEG), Mr. Gopi Ganesalingam, and Huawei Malaysia VP of Cloud and AI, Mr. Lim Chee Siong were special guests at the Huawei Spark Malaysia Pitching Day event.

The five judges were Mr. Mohamed Rejab Sulaiman, General Manager of Data Centre, Cloud and Internet, TM ONE; Mr. Ryan Chan, Head of Business Development, MDEC; Mr. Low Wei Chung, Head of Partner Ecosystem, Cloud & AI, Huawei Malaysia; Mr. Nuo Jiang, Chief Digital Officer, Cloud & AI, Huawei APAC; and Ms. Liu Bo, General Manager and Partner, TusStar.

Covid Oh Covid Set to Stream Exclusively on iQiYi

Covid Oh Covid, is one of the many titles that has been made available through a drama content partnership deal between Malaysia’s biggest content producer and distributor, Primeworks Studios and iQiyi. Last month, the streaming platform also announced the addition of top rated TV3 dramas such as Aku Yang Kau Gelar Isteri to their growing library of content.

The 13-episode drama series which stars Adibah Noor, Tony Eusoff, Umie Aida, Nabila Huda, Tiz Zaqyah, Nora Danish and Syafiq Kyle makes its debut on the Lestary slot, 9.00pm on 2 April until 23 April 2021.

The story revolves around Tok Wan played by Umie Aida and her quirky family who are faced with a variety of hilarious events during the MCO 2.0 period.

The title will be available on iQIYI’s streaming services the same day and an hour after it airs nationwide on the Media Prima-owned television channel, TV3. Once available, the episodes alongside subtitles in Bahasa Malaysia and English will be accessible for all to watch at any time for free on www.iQ.com/local or download iQIYI app on App Store and Play Store or via http://bit.ly/iQIYI.

Synopsis of Covid Oh Covid
Tok Wan's daughter, Habsah (Adibah Noor) finds out that her husband is in love with a widow who lives next to the surau. He often uses this reason to go to the surau. However, their son, Shazrul (Nasiruddin Alaydrus) finds out about his father’s affair. Together with her sister, Shazrul hatches a plan to break the two apart.

Tok Wan’s granddaughter, Safura (Tiz Zaqyah) who marries a singer plans to hold a virtual concert to raise funds to help those in the creative sector who are affected by the pandemic.

Tok Wan’s other granddaughter, Suhaila (Nora Danish), finds herself in trouble when her husband learns that she can’t cook and has been ordering their delicious meals from restaurants!

Many more hilarious incidents will take place in the lives of Tok Wan and her family and we’ll see how they pull through together as a unit.

Systema Pledges To ‘Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums & Teeth’ with Malaysia

Systema, MOH and MDA Introduce CSR Campaign to Provide Oral Care Support to The Public and Frontliners



You are probably among the 94 percent of Malaysian adults with gum disease based on data from the National Oral Health Survey of Adults 2010 ^[1].

The main cause of gum disease is plaque, a soft sticky film containing billions of bacteria. When plaque builds up between teeth, along the gum line and inside gum pockets, the harmful substance caused by bacteria build up will damage the gum tissue.

Senior Director of Oral Health, Oral Health Program (MOH), Dr Noormi Binti Othman (LEFT) and Director of Dental Health Policy and Strategic Planning (MOH), Dr Chia Jit Chie (RIGHT) representing the frontliners of MOH received a total of 10,000 trial sizes and 9,000 units of full size Systema toothpaste.

In a recent study conducted by Lion Corporation on 450 Malaysian adults showed 80% of respondents had at least one visible sign or symptom of gum disease, the most common being bleeding and swollen gums, but only 1% realised that they have gum disease (Project Katsu 2017).

Oral health has a strong and proven relationship to systemic health. Research studies show corelations between gum disease and general health including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,and most recently Alzheimer’s disease ^[2].

Ms. Carmen Foo, Senior General Manager of Southern Lion Sdn Bhd.

Preventive oral health measures such as early detection and treatment of gum disease can change the oral disease continuum, a means to address the cumulative public health burden.

Systema, the gum health expert from Japan is working with the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), and the Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) on a Corporate Social Responsibility campaign to help the public Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums and Teeth, continuing and increasing its collaborative efforts of previous years.

Dr. Renukanth A/L Patabi Cheta Raman, Periodontist Clinical Specialist at the Kuala Lumpur Dental Specialist Center.

The campaign aims to educate Malaysians and continue to uplift their oral care practices, working towards better gum health for all by reaching more than 2 million people with fact-based and research-supported oral health information and free dental check-up to gradually reduce gum disease among adults by identifying and preventing oral health problems like gum disease before they become more serious.

The holistic CSR campaign includes the contribution of 10,000 trial size Systema toothpaste for the public, 9,000 full-sized Systema toothpastes for oral health frontliners, an interactive website www.gumhealthcheck.com that provides education on the signs and symptoms of gum disease, and a free gum health check assessment tool, free dental checks-up via participating MDA member clinics, engaging educational and awareness raising activities on social media and deeply discounted Systema products to bring quality oral health products within everyone’s reach.

A social media campaign featuring influencers and users encouraging everyone to Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums and Teeth will support the campaign from April 1st to April 30th, 2021.

Dr. Chong Zhen Feng, Honorary Secretary General of the Malaysian Dental Association.

Gum disease is highly prevalent, yet preventable. There is a serious lack of awareness of gum disease and its potential to impact quality of life, and its link to other major diseases as well. Collectively we need to help the nation improve its gum health to reduce the cumulative public health burden. Research studies show corelations between gum disease and heart disease and diabetes ^[3]. If early detection and treatment of gum disease can help to lower corelations of these life-threatening diseases, we should explore it. Diabetes and heart disease are also known co-morbidities for COVID-19 ^[4]. Malaysians need to recognise the signs and symptoms of gum disease so that they know when something is wrong and can seek help.

Systema and MDA is looking forward to provide support in contributing products, educational materials, online and in-clinic dental check-ups, social media support and services to aid the public at this time when public dental clinics are stretched. This campaign can help the Oral Health Programme, MOH to educate more people on the critical need for better gum care and oral health, equip them with products, and channel them to free dental health check-ups for assessment.

Southern Lion Sdn Bhd, Senior General Manager, Ms Carmen Foo highlighted Systema’s social purpose of creating higher awareness of oral health for healthy gum and a lifetime of healthy teeth, moreso as the world grapples with the pandemic.

“The pandemic has held us in ‘survival mode’ for almost a year, but now it is time to refocus on important issues such as gum health again. Healthy gums and teeth are vital for better quality of life, so let’s ‘Gumbatte’! Systema can help by making more people aware of the signs and symptoms of gum disease, that it can often be reversed during early stages by simply brushing teeth and gums twice a day,”said Ms Foo.

“This CSR campaign has measurable goals that can be used to assess its effectiveness across the public and front liners, providing data on what works so that we can provide more targeted support in future to improve oral health outcomes. Tens of thousands of people can do online gum health assessments, and those who require can have free dental check-ups via MDA member clinics. The Systema Gumbatte campaign in 2019 resulted in almost 50,000 people taking the online gum health check, and more than 10,000 visits to participating MDA member clinics for free dental check-ups.,” Ms Foo explained.

Systema has an Anti Plaque System with anti-plaque toothpaste and a 0.02mm super tapered toothbrush to ensure more perfect oral health care.

The Malaysian Dental Association, Honorary General Secretary Dr Chong Zhen Feng shared that since the COVID-19 pandemic, with the general public putting off routine dental check-ups, dental professionals have noticed the decrease in patients’ attendance. This will inadvertently delay any prompt management and may even lead to worsening of oral diseases.

“The MDA has been partnered with Systema on oral health campaigns, year after year. In Malaysia, gum disease is highly prevalent due to the low awareness on the importance of good oral health care. Through the Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums and Teeth campaign, we wish to provide oral health care education across the country with the aim of improving the gum health and the general health of the nation. The number of people we will be able to impact by this initiative is very encouraging.

“Take control of your oral health by visiting, the website: www.gumhealthcheck.com to assess your gum status, and if needed, please visit our participating Malaysian Dental Association member dental clinics for your free dental check-up. ”

He said that the members of the Malaysian Dental Association will be providing free dental check-up in support of the campaign, and it is recommended that everyone visit their dentist at least twice a year.

The Gumbatte Towards Healthy Gums and Teeth campaign plays on the Japanese motivational cry of ‘Ganbatte’ that means ‘you can do it’ as a rallying call to get Malaysians to take charge of their oral health, even during the pandemic. Vist www.gumhealthcheck.com to take your online gum health check.

[1] National Oral Health Survey on Adults, Malaysia 2010
[2] https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/health-risks-of-gum-disease/
[3] Fine N, Chadwick JW, Sun C, Parbhakar KK, Khoury N, Barbour A, Goldberg M, Tenenbaum HC, Glogauer M. Periodontal Inflammation Primes the Systemic Innate Immune Response. J Dent Res. 2020 Oct 20:22034520963710. doi: 10.1177/0022034520963710. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33078669.
[4] Petrilli Christopher M, Jones Simon A, Yang Jie, Rajagopalan Harish, O’Donnell Luke, ChernyakYelena et al. Factors associated with hospital admission and critical illness among 5279 people with coronavirus disease 2019 in New York City: prospective cohort study BMJ 2020; 369 :m1966 “People admitted to hospital were more likely to be men (61.2% v 36.9%) and were considerably more likely to have comorbidities than people not admitted (any comorbidity, 79.7% v 44.8%), particularly cardiovascular disease (70.6% v 32.2%), diabetes (34.7% v 9.7%), and chronic kidney disease (21.2% v 2.6%; table 1).”