Current Updates on COVID-19 in Malaysia [31 May 2020]

The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to inform that 23 cases have fully recovered and discharged well today. Cumulatively, 6,353 confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered (81.3% of total cumulative cases).

A total of 57 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) MOH today. Cumulatively there are now 7,819 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Therefore, there are currently 1,351 active and infective COVID-19 cases. They have all been isolated and given treatment.

Of the 57 additional cases reported today, 10 are imported cases who were infected overseas. Of the 47 locally transmitted cases, 43 cases are non-Malaysians.

The remaining 4 cases are local transmission amongst Malaysians.

Currently, nine (9) confirmed COVID-19 cases are receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICU), and of these, two (2) cases are on ventilation support.

Fortunately, no additional COVID-19 death was reported to the National CPRC MOH today. Cumulatively, there are 115 COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia (1.47% of total cumulative cases).

UNIQLO’s June 1 Release of Evangelion UT Collection to Celebrate Long-Awaited Cinema Release of Evangelion 3.0+1.0

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO today announces that it will introduce Evangelion UT collection, starting on June 1. The UNIQLO graphic T-shirt (UT) brand offers an array of authentic pop culture and art graphics from around the world that express the individuality of their wearers.

The new offerings highlight Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, a Japanese animated science fiction motion picture that will be the fourth and final film in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. Items will sell for RM59.90 each in Malaysia. They will be available from UNIQLO stores around the nation and through its online store https://www.uniqlo.com/my/store/

Collection designs include exclusive special illustrations
This new UT collection presents illustrations of visuals that was created exclusively for UNIQLO. Designs feature numerous delightful touches for fans of the series. There are UTs, for example, that depict poses of Evangelion Unit-00, Unit-01, and Unit-02. Another UT features Kaworu Nagisa, who is a particularly popular character among female fans. One UT even debuts a Beserk Mode illustration.

Current Updates on COVID-19 in Malaysia [30 May 2020]

The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to inform that 95 cases have fully recovered and discharged well today. Cumulatively, 6,330 confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered (81.55% of total cumulative cases).

A total of 30 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) MOH today. Cumulatively there are now 7,762 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Therefore, there are currently 1,317 active and infective COVID-19 cases. They have all been isolated and given treatment.

Currently, nine (9) confirmed COVID-19 cases are receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICU), and of these, two (2) cases are on ventilation support.

Fortunately, no additional COVID-19 death was reported to the National CPRC MOH today. Cumulatively, there are 115 COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia (1.48% of total cumulative cases).

Of the 30 additional cases reported today, 3 are imported cases who were infected overseas and the remaining 27 are due to local transmission.

Communities in Need in the Klang Valley Turn to #AyamWithYou Community Pantries by Anjung Singgah and Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kasih Nurul Hasanah

While times are tough due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysians are pulling together to support communities with kindness and trust, giving old methods such as communal food pantries an innovative spin.

The #AyamWithYou Food Pantry initiative, by Ayam Brand™ and 13 charity homes nationwide is helping charities, empowering them to help surrounding communities that are in need.

For example in the Anjung Singgah homeless shelter in Jalan Lekiu is leading the way for surrounding communities by managing the #AyamWithYou pantry in this area.

“We were concerned for the well-being of some families here especially during Ramadan and for Raya. We don’t have much, but they had less. We have been part of the Ayam Brand™ Community Care campaign in the past. This year Ayam Brand™ again provided our organisation with two months’ supply of their products for our residents, and suggested the food pantry or gerobok rezeki as a solution for the community. They have provided a weatherproof pantry and a separate stock of products that we can bless the community with,” said Anjung Singgah Yayasan Kebajikan Negara, operations officer, Encik Amir Rudin Bin Abdul Rahman.

The weatherproof pantry is set up outside the shelter so that social distancing is observed. It is open to the public round-the-clock. Staff and residents update the community about the food pantry through community groups on social media and messaging apps, and they top up the Ayam Brand™ products daily.

“We sent out messages by WhatsApp and Facebook that the food pantry items are free for those who need, while those who want to contribute can add dry foods, snacks, stationery, cleaning products and other essential items. The residents relish the responsibility of managing the food pantry and keeping it well-stocked. They get to practice kindness and generosity,” Encik Amir Rudin said.

Response to the initiative has been overwhelming with the daily allocation of Ayam Brand™ products such as tuna, baked beans, processed peas, canned pineapples and coconut milk snapped up quickly, and other essentials being added, with strong support from the community.

“Surprises have turned up at the food pantry including fresh vegetables, dates, baby formula, diapers and Raya cookies! We can feel the #KitaJagaKita closeness. The #AyamWithYou food pantry project has made this Raya very special by building stronger bonds of kindness, trust and support in our community, allowing us to contribute actively well-being,” he added.

Through its long-running Corporate Social Responsibility programmes Ayam Brand™ has contributed more than 2 million healthy meals for charity, providing nutritious food to more than 21,800 people from 524 charity organisations and NGOs over the past 12 years.

This year the brand has supported Covid-19 front liners at Hospital Sungai Buloh, 13 charity homes, the #AyamWithYou food pantry initiative, and the Anjung Singgah Kuala Lumpur Homeless Transit centre, with plans to support more organisations and communities.

“Covid-19 drastically changed our plans for the 13th annual Ayam Brand™ Community Care Campaign, but we see the positive impact of the #AyamWithYou Food Pantry initiative. It changes the narrative for our charity home partners, from being recipients to being contributors and donors in their respective communities. The community here has embraced the food pantry concept of ‘take what you need, leave what you can’ creating a virtuous cycle that is sustaining the initiative” said Ayam Brand Malaysia’s Marketing Manager, Nathan Deverre.

Ayam Brand™ staff have helped spread the word on the food pantry so that more can benefit or contribute, and started the ball rolling by being among the first to contribute non-food items to the pantry.

“Starting with our families and friends we sent out a list of necessities for the pantry. Those who could dropped off essential items at the pantry. The community are so willing and eager to help. They have shared the location of the pantry with those in need as well. All of us can help within our means,” said an Ayam Brand™ team member who lives in the area.

The #AyamWithYou food pantry is located Anjung Singgah, Lot 28-32 Jalan Hang Lekiu, 50100 Kuala Lumpur and at Pertubuhan Kebajikan Kasih Nurul Hasanah No 1, Jalan Pimping Kanan, Ukay Heights 68000 Ampang Selangor.

Current Updates on COVID-19 in Malaysia [29 May 2020]

The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to inform that 66 cases have fully recovered and discharged well today. Cumulatively, 6,235 confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered (80.64% of total cumulative cases).

A total of 103 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) MOH today. Cumulatively there are now 7,732 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Therefore, there are currently 1,382 active and infective COVID-19 cases. They have all been isolated and given treatment.

Currently, eight (8) confirmed COVID-19 cases are receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICU), and of these, two (2) cases are on ventilation support.

Fortunately, no additional COVID-19 death was reported to the National CPRC MOH today. Cumulatively, there are 115 COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia (1.49% of total cumulative cases).

Of the 103 additional cases reported today, 7 are imported cases who were infected overseas and the remaining 96 are due to local transmission.

Create, Learn, and Relax with the Stylish Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite features an S Pen with refreshed design for note taking and creating, and an immersive display for enhanced entertainment

Samsung Malaysia Electronics today announced the new Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, a stylish and affordable tablet designed for both work and play. With generous screen space, a thin and compact body and a redesigned S Pen included in the box, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is the ideal tablet for taking quick notes and enjoying your favorite content.

“We understand how busy modern life can be, as our work becomes more flexible and blends with our personal time. Consumers need a versatile device that can integrate seamlessly into their everyday lifestyle,” said Woncheol Chai, SVP and Head of Product Planning Team, Mobile Communication Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and the new S Pen are packed with the latest technology to help people stay organized, multitask and capture ideas effortlessly, allowing them to spend time on what matters most to them.”

Create More and Stress Less With the Redesigned S Pen
Whether you are using your tablet for work, study, or just during downtime at home, the updated S Pen is the perfect notetaking and multitasking assistant. The new S Pen has a refreshed design that makes it as practical and comfortable to use as a traditional pen. Weighing only 7.03g, the S Pen is light and easy-to-use, and its improved pen latency and 0.7mm pen tip deliver greater precision for notetaking and drawing. When you’ve finished capturing your ideas, the S Pen snaps magnetically onto the right side of the tablet, or even to a keyboard book cover, making it easy to use without the concern of misplacing it. The S Pen on the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is also battery-free, so you never have to worry about losing charge when using your S Pen.

Using the S Pen and Samsung Notes, you can transform handwritten notes into typed text instantly¹. Categorize and search your notes with ease through tags, highlight important passages and enlarge the content on the notes with the 300% zoom feature. All your notes can be easily exported as a PDF, JPEG image, text file or Microsoft Word document.

Inspired Design That Won’t Weigh You Down
With a 10.4-inch screen and narrow bezels, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite benefits from a wide and immersive display. The lightweight and compact design makes it the ideal tablet for multitasking, notetaking and watching videos or movies. Equipped with the latest version of One UI, optimized for the larger tablet screen, Galaxy Tab S6 Lite has a more intuitive visual interface and simplified navigation tools, making switching between multiple applications smooth and effortless so that you can focus on the task at hand.

Available in two beautiful colors², Oxford Gray and Angora Blue, with a matching S Pen and optional book cover or keyboard book cover, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a stylish accessory as well as a powerful productivity device.

Enhanced Entertainment Features
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is packed with clever, helpful and entertaining features that make listening to music, streaming content, shopping online or connecting with friends easier and more enjoyable. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite includes dual speakers with sound by AKG and Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound for outstanding immersive audio, so whether you’re watching a YouTube video, streaming your favorite show or listening to a great playlist, you’ll experience premium quality sound.

Samsung has partnered with YouTube and Spotify so you can get even more out of your favorite apps on the Galaxy range. Galaxy Tab S6 Lite users can enjoy ad-free YouTube videos, the ability to download and watch videos offline and free access to YouTube Music and YouTube Kids with YouTube Premium for 4 months³. Spotify seamlessly integrates into the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite’s user interface, so you can easily search for music and podcasts, or even set your favorite song as your alarm⁴. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite can also wirelessly connect to your home speaker⁵ setup, so you can play your favorite playlists from Spotify on another device or speaker around your home, all controlled by your tablet.

The Galaxy Experience at Home
Put the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite at the heart of your home to stay productive and organized. You can take calls and send and receive text messages⁶ through your Samsung account on your tablet, even when your smartphone is out of reach or in another room, or stay connected with friends and colleagues using Google Duo video calls on Galaxy Tab S6 Lite⁷. Use the improved Daily Board display to control music, view your calendar, check the weather and write quick memos and reminders. The new Bixby features and capabilities such as Bixby Voice, Bixby Vision and Bixby Routines will also enhance your overall productivity and entertainment experiences.

The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is a device that can be used by the entire family. With Samsung Kids⁸, you can set daily playtime allowances, restrict access to certain apps and introduce your kids to the digital world safely with a range of exciting, colorful learning apps and games.

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Price & Colors
The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite will be available soon at a recommended retail price (RRP) of RM1,699. The device will be offered in two colors: Oxford Gray and Angora Blue.

With the official announcement now out in Malaysia, it also seemed like a good time to tease some news of our own: we will be launching the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite with a special promotion that you won’t want to miss!

[1] Text export function supported on Samsung Notes app, feature availability may vary by language.
[2] Availability of colors may vary by market.
[3] YouTube Premium is only available in select markets. Only new subscribers to YouTube Premium are eligible for this offer.
[4] Devices should be registered with Spotify Connect at the first use.
[5] The speakers need to support Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.
[6] Call and text on other devices availability varies by country and service provider.
[7] Google Duo supports video calling with up to twelve other users.
[8] The availability of Samsung Kids may vary by country, device, and features. Please refer to more information at the website, https://www.samsung.com/kids

Touchpoint International launches M Squared

A multi-sided, mobile-first community platform with Phase 1 catering to F&B delivery and offering RM10,000,000 worth of download incentives

Touchpoint International Sdn Bhd (“TPI”), a leading digital solutions company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Sino Hua An International (“Hua An”), today launched its digital application called M Squared (“M²”), a multi- sided, mobile-first community platform. M² is designed to help commercial, government and social communities connect and interact digitally on ONE platform.

For the user, M² will be the ONE app for all their daily interactions with mobile features such as e-commerce, mobile payment, food delivery, smart city features, event ticketing, travel planning and local community engagement. For businesses, the goal is to empower leaders to scale up market reach and maximise profits with mobile app innovations, cashless payment platforms, targeted news and notifications, multi-party loyalty programmes, big data analytics and other digital tools.

One of the unique features of the M² platform is the emphasis on local communities through location-based content, listings, online ordering, targeted news and multi- party loyalty programmes. This means that residents of one neighbourhood eg Taman Tun will see local content, services and loyalty programmes within that community allowing support to local businesses.

M² Phase 1 - Food & Beverage (“F&B”) delivery platform with RM10,000,000 worth of download incentives for users.

Phase 1 of the M² platform is aimed at helping the F&B Industry, one of the most affected by Movement Control Order due to COVID-19. The F&B industry which has suffered from a loss of regular customer flow and restricted opening hours have turned to take-away and delivery services but has to pay a high onboarding fees that further cuts into their revenues. To address this, M² has fixed its onboarding fee at only 10% (including all transaction costs). Doing so will enable business operators to maintain their original dine-in prices.

The savings will allow businesses to offer various promotions and discounts back to their customers. “For businesses to survive the New Normal, it is clear that bringing their business online is inevitable and COVID-19 has just escalated this need for retail businesses to go forward with an affordable solution. We believe we understand the F&B business more than any other developers because of our Group’s business alliances. Following support to the F&B industry, our immediate plans include delivery of fruit and vegetables, online education, resident community functions and smart city features.” said Vince Ng, Founder of TPI and Hua An’s Head of Technology.

Currently, merchants on M² include Teh Tarik Place and TGI Fridays under Craveat International which will migrate its existing member base of 300,000 from its loyalty programme to M², Clearwater Xperience with its lifestyle F&B brands (Ploy, Way Modern Chinois, Ma Maison, Ebisu and Babe) and Italiannies. The next rollout includes Goldthon (for durian delivery), Scholastic (the education platform offering purchase of education courses and books), TTDI Resident’s Association and Putrajaya city.

In addition to online delivery functionality, M² offers a suite of merchant-friendly features that will be introduced in future upgrades of the app such as loyalty programmes, data analytics etc. Merchants will also appreciate the ease in using the backend functions of the app that will give them complete control to fit the scope and nature of an individual business frame and full access to the app’s cashless payment processing using all major Malaysian e-wallets and overseas ones including WeChat, Alipay in Ringgit and RMB.

“E-commerce should be something everyone embraces as this is the way forward. M² will benefit both merchants and users equally. F&B platform delivery alone is a US$61m market which is expected to grow to US$176m by 2025. We target to capture 15% of this market in the next 24 months. We are confident to be able to achieve this due to the synergies from our platform’s unique features and community digital eco- systems,” said Ng.

“M² is how we as communities should move forward in integrating digital tools into our daily lives. The app leverages on mobile app innovations, big data analytics and a strong suite of ready-to-use common services such as multi-mode cashless payment platform, targeted news and notifications, location-based content, real-time promotion, multi-tenant loyalty platform, booking and reservation system to offer users an enriching experience,”

In conjunction with the launch on M² today, RM10,000,000 worth of free e-vouchers will be gifted to the first 100,000 users to download M² from Google Play or AppStore to redeem in the above restaurants (terms and conditions apply). With subsequent upgrades, users will soon be able to access other businesses all through M², a convenience that won’t require them to download too many e-commerce apps on their mobile.