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

The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to inform that 20 cases have fully recovered and discharged well today. Cumulatively, 8,354 confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered (96.7% of total cumulative cases).

A total of 2 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) MOH today. Cumulatively there are now 8,639 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Therefore, there are currently 164 active and infective COVID-19 cases. They have all been isolated and given treatment.

Of the 2 additional cases reported today, one are imported case who were infected oversea and remaining 1 local cases is reported amongst Malaysian citizen.

Currently, four (4) confirmed COVID-19 cases are receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICUs), and one (1) patient is on ventilation support.

Fortunately, no additional COVID-19 death was reported to the National CPRC MOH today. Cumulatively, there are now 121 COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia (1.40% of total cumulative cases).

OXWHITE Ups Its Ante in Online Premium Lifestyle Space

Celebrates 2nd year anniversary with business enhancement, expansion and extension

Malaysia’s fastest-growing direct to consumer premium lifestyle brand Oxwhite is turning two! For the premium lifestyle brand, turning two means more than merely staying afloat with its business enhancement, expansion and extension plans.

The premium lifestyle brand broke Malaysian equity crowdfunding records in December last year by securing an investment of USD$1.188 million (RM5.019 million) from 485 investors. With the right business strategy in place and prudent financial management, the brand is set to reach its goal of achieving double-digit growth by end of this year, said Oxwhite Founder CK Chang adding that Oxwhite, will be celebrating its second year anniversary on 30 June 2020.

“Globally, it is estimated that around 30% of new businesses fail in the first two years and 50% in the first five years. Hence, between now and year 2023, it is crucial for the brand to focus on winning the online premium lifestyle space.

“Thanks to the belief and support that our investors have in us, we will dedicate our 2nd year anniversary to the growth of our business, starting with a more aggressive birthday anniversary promotion, which also coincides with the 7.7 mid-year sale,” he said.

In enhancing its marketing initiatives, Oxwhite is launching a birthday anniversary sale, giving away cash vouchers worth over RM50,000. Oxwhite is also partnering with fellow startup in e-commerce delivery space, HappyFresh to give away additional cash vouchers worth over RM11,000 to its customers.

“On top of 50% price reduction on our premium quality products, customers of Digi, Maxis and RHB will also enjoy additional discounts when they shop on our platform from 1st July 2020. We also aim to grow our customer base, reaching at least 200% growth by this year-end,” said Chang.

This target Chang said is not impossible given that Oxwhite had a legacy of attracting more than 80,000 customers in less than 24 months and sold over 400,000 items on its platform since 2018.

The lifestyle brand, which had pivoted from selling made-to-order luxury quality white shirts at affordable price tags, had since 2018 expanded its product offerings into the lifestyle space by adding homecare and personal care products onto its e-commerce platform.

“This year, we aim to launch another 50 products into our line-up starting with Basic White Tees and luxury hotel grade bamboo towels this month.

“Come September, we will be launching our range of performance products so that fitness and activewear enthusiasts can look forward to buying affordable premium quality products as well,” he said.

Chang explained that Oxwhite essentially aims to bring premium quality to the homes of Malaysians and Asians at large at a fraction of the premium price point.

“There is definitely demand for such products here in Malaysia and throughout the region, especially with the recent Movement Control Order which has seen a transformation in the retail industry. We can definitely emerge as a winner in this segment, but it will not be without hard work. Hence, we will need to get the right talent and people on board to make our offerings more visible and accessible to the target audience,” he said adding that his team had grown from three to 20 people since its launch.

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

The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to inform that 16 cases have fully recovered and discharged well today. Cumulatively, 8,334 confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered (96.49% of total cumulative cases).

A total of 3 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) MOH today. Cumulatively there are now 8,637 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Therefore, there are currently 182 active and infective COVID-19 cases. They have all been isolated and given treatment.

Of the 3 additional cases reported today, one are imported case who were infected oversea. 

Of the 2 local transmission today, all cases is amongst Malaysian.

Currently, four (4) confirmed COVID-19 cases are receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICUs), and one (1) patient is on ventilation support.

Fortunately, no additional COVID-19 death was reported to the National CPRC MOH today. Cumulatively, there are now 121 COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia (1.40% of total cumulative cases).

Nutanix Steps up Support for Work from Anywhere

• ‘FastTrack for VDI’ Service to Help Organizations Onboard Remote Employees in ASEAN     
• Secure and user-friendly VDI environment available in just few weeks  
• Supporting the continuous DX journey of local organizations in times of uncertainty

Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX) a leader in enterprise cloud computing, announced a new Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) service to help promote telework adoption among Malaysia organizations. Nutanix ‘FastTrack for VDI’ brings together Nutanix HCI and software with selected partners to accelerate and optimise a VDI service in just a few weeks.

While Malaysia enters a recovery phase with the end of its national lockdown, remote working and social distancing continues to be a default. Yet, many businesses still struggle to enable their workforces to operate and function remotely, while maintaining access to the same tools and applications they require to be productive and efficient. Hence, there has been increased interest in the importance of VDI.

 Avinash Gowda

“As the work from anywhere model becomes the central pillar of the Malaysia’s continuity strategy, businesses need to ensure that remote working arrangements are quickly implemented, streamlined and governed to ensure consistency and efficiency. VDI provides that flexible structure while enabling businesses to be leaner, agile and much more adaptable with remote operations,” shared Avinash Gowda, Malaysia’s Country Manager for Nutanix.

‘FastTrack for VDI’ is designed to help Malaysia organizations drive business continuity efforts as smoothly as possible, especially for the long-term. Nutanix FastTrack for VDI allows organizations to reduce the time required to onboard thousands of remote employees. The offer includes the set up and provision of desktops in under five business days for predefined Nutanix configurations. 

It allows businesses to provide employees with secure access to apps and tools, with minimal interruptions, while maintaining the required control and security.
Customers will be able to leverage existing hardware, select predefined Nutanix hardware or leverage managed cloud infrastructure from managed service provider (MSP) partners.
The simplicity and flexibility of the Nutanix infrastructure makes deployment easier, enabling an expedited delivery service.

Nutanix ‘FastTrack for VDI’ enables local businesses to continue their digital transformation journey in these times of uncertainty. It allows remote access to critical business applications, even via personal devices, on which strict security policies can be implemented and managed through its simple management console.

The performance and speed of Nutanix VDI solutions have been well documented. It has a large, existing customer base and its influence continues to expand across a wide range of industry sectors, including educational institutions and local governments.

“In 2020, remote working has become our new normal. It is time for businesses to start planning for the long term and leverage technologies for a new business reality. Nutanix is committed to ensuring that Malaysian businesses have quick and easy access to the right solutions and technology to keep their staff engaged, efficient and productive throughout these unprecedented disruptions,” Avinash concluded.

Nutanix FastTrack for VDI is available to new and existing customers immediately.

AirAsia delivers Same Day Credits

AirAsia guests can now secure their credit with the airline easier and faster, with their credits now redeemed on the same day the request is made.

The latest move is in line with the company’s value to be guest-obsessed and aims to reduce the stress and uncertainty of current times, by providing its guests with a quick, hassle-free resolution.

Guests whose flights have been cancelled by AirAsia from 23 March to 31 August 2020 can retain the value of their bookings into Credit Accounts on their AirAsia BIG Member account, on the same day of their request. Credit accounts can be used within 2 years (730 calendar days) from the issuance date, while the travel date of the new booking can be anytime beyond that period, as long as flights are available for booking on airasia.com or on the mobile app.

AirAsia’s Virtual Allstar, AVA will be able to assist guests with their Credit Account submission. All travellers need to do is provide their name, email address and their booking number. AVA will then check to ensure the BIG Member ID provided matches the name and records of the person who has registered the BIG Member account before processing the Credit to their account.

AirAsia Chief Customer Happiness Officer Adam Geneave said, “We know it’s been a frustrating time for our guests, and our team has been working hard to add faster, simpler ways to access our recovery options. We are pleased to make Credit Accounts more easily accessible for our valued guests, many of whom have chosen them over refunds, in anticipation of flying with us again in the future. We are grateful for their cooperation, which will not only help us come out of this challenging time stronger but also shows that we are truly all in this together.”

Guests who have already submitted their Credit Account request will receive an email from AirAsia, guiding through on how to submit for the same-day credit account request.

Guests are also kindly reminded that a BIG Membership Account is required to process your Credit Account request, and subject to booking validation.

For more information on how to make the changes, please refer to the guide here.

At AirAsia, the health and wellbeing of our passengers continues to be our top priority. Besides complying with the advice and regulations from governments and global health authorities, AirAsia has also implemented end-to-end contactless procedures and a series of new safety measures, as well as taking care of those most at risk to ensure the safety of all travelling guests. Please visit this link to learn more about what AirAsia is doing to keep flying safe for everyone.

Current Updates on COVID-19 in Malaysia [28 June 2020]

The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to inform that 14 cases have fully recovered and discharged well today. Cumulatively, 8,308 confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered (96.4% of total cumulative cases).

A total of 18 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) MOH today. Cumulatively there are now 8,634 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Therefore, there are currently 195 active and infective COVID-19 cases. They have all been isolated and given treatment.

Of the 18 additional cases reported today, four (4) are imported cases who were infected oversea. 

Of the 14 local transmission today, all cases is amongst non Malaysian.

Currently, two (2) confirmed COVID-19 cases are receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICUs), and no patient is on ventilation support.

Fortunately, no additional COVID-19 death was reported to the National CPRC MOH today. Cumulatively, there are now 121 COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia (1.40% of total cumulative cases).

How Designers Have Made One UI’s Usability Even Better for Galaxy Users

Unlike in the past when cellphones had physical buttons and a limited number of features, smartphones now offer a wide range of functions that we access by interacting with our devices’ touchscreens. However, using the same component that serves as the device’s viewing medium for the primary input tool can sometimes present difficulties for users.

This is where the device’s user interface (UI) comes into play, with the experience of the users in interacting with it referred to as the user experience (UX). In 2018, Samsung introduced an improved version of its standard user interface and software overlay called ‘One UI’.

As well as working to make them intuitive, consistent, and effective, UX designers try to base user interface interactions on the way we use physical objects in the wider world to promote familiarity. For example, users turn a digital page in an e-book just like they would a physical page, or slide their cards up in the Samsung Pay app in a way that mimics how they would remove a card from their wallet. But what do UX designers do when there is no way to base interactions on real-world actions? Samsung Newsroom sat down with the designers of One UI to find out.

An Interface to Help You Stay on Task
The concept of One UI started with the idea to try and help the busy users of today stay focused by simplifying their interactions with their smartphones. One UI designer Soeyoun Yim explained that the process of designing the interface was undertaken based on the concept of ‘everyday simplicity’, saying that, “One UI was designed to help users focus on important tasks by eliminating distractions.”

Now, One UI has been further developed into ‘One UI 2’, which was unveiled at the end of last year. This upgraded interface incorporates the icons from One UI in new styles and configurations, and includes revamped colors and movements. In addition, One UI 2 makes the icons more conspicuous with distinct color tones and motions, for instance when the ‘settings’ icon trembles to let users know that an update is underway. 

‘Simplicity’ – to Help You Focus on What Matters
Simplicity was the number one priority for the designers when developing One UI 2. To that end, the pop-up screens that appear at the top and bottom of the screen were made more compact and simplistic to keep users from getting distracted while making use of features.

The camera app has also been simplified to ensure that the basic operation of the app isn’t impeded, and prevent users from getting distracted while they’re taking their picture. Taehee Hwang, the UX designer responsible for the camera app, outlined how this makes the user experience more straightforward. “The basic photo and video modes can be accessed at the bottom of the screen, while special modes such as the Food and Night modes can be accessed by selecting or swiping through to ‘More’,” she related. “This simplifies what is displayed on the screen so that users can concentrate on taking their picture.”

‘Comfort’ – So Your Eyes and Fingers Can Take It Easy
Making user interactions more comfortable and facilitating one-handed use were also at the fore of the development of One UI 2. Whereas One UI designated the top and bottom sections of the screen as the ‘viewing’ and ‘interaction’ areas respectively, One UI 2 allows the majority of tasks to be completed within the lower area of the screen. Moreover, for actions that require interaction in the top part of the screen, unnecessary finger movements were minimized to improve comfort and convenience.

The same principles were applied to the keyboard, making it possible for users to perform other tasks while keeping their fingers within the keyboard area. For example, by long-pressing the space bar, users can now control the position of the cursor from within the keyboard window without having to interact with the main text body. In addition, users can swipe left or right with two fingers to undo and redo actions, and adjust the dimensions of their keyboard to better match the size of their hands.

 

 The ‘dark mode’ feature has been shown to reduce eyestrain, and One UI 2 has expanded the number of apps within which it can be applied. “Dark mode has been expanded to a number of apps that it wasn’t previously accessible in,” said Yim, “To make it more comfortable to use devices in the dark we are also applying a darkening filter to background wallpaper displays.” Yim also spoke to the designers’ efforts to further ease eyestrain, relating that, “An algorithm has been incorporated that analyzes the background image on the lock screen and automatically shows the time in the color that will show up best against that backdrop.”

‘Convenience’ – Streamlining Rich Experiences
The ‘Single take’ feature comes with One UI 2 on the Galaxy S20 and is capable of using Ultra wide, Live focus, and short video features to deliver various photo styles and results, all with a single shot. “We started by asking ourselves two questions,” explained Hwang, “Firstly, how can we make sure the users enjoy the moment? And secondly, how can we deliver a variety of results without requiring the user to do more than take a simple, standard shot?”

While explaining what went into developing the feature, Hwang explained that, “Since this feature was to be introduced on the Galaxy S20, we decided that a help message should be displayed when the user entered Single take mode. Moreover, to allow the user to view a wide range of results simultaneously on the same screen we introduced a new kind of viewer.” 

The video calling feature was also further upgraded with the integration of ‘Google Duo,’ Google’s simple, high-quality video calling app. Sueyeon Lee, the designer in charge of integrating Google Duo and One UI, elaborated on the designers’ efforts to improve convenience, saying, “Our goal was to make the user experience more convenient by making the features of Google Duo the default for Galaxy devices.”

Lee went on to highlight some other user experiences specific to Galaxy devices, remarking that, “5G video calls have been brought to smartphones for the first time with this integration, allowing users to experience FHD video calls and use AR emojis and wide screen mode within their video calls.” Lee finished by saying, “We will continue to develop advanced, integrated communication experiences linked to the phone, message and contact apps.”

The Galaxy Z Flip represents a totally new style of device with a revolutionary format. Thus, the question of how to provide top-tier usability and convenience on the new smartphone required the designers to think outside the box. Hyungwoo Shin, the designer responsible for developing the Galaxy Z Flip’s UI, outlined the development process, saying, “This is a whole new kind of device. We didn’t have access to any sample devices to which we could apply the new UI, so we had to print out screens, attach them to mock-up products and fold and unfold the devices to figure out how best to apply One UI.” In designing this special UI, the designers incorporated the ‘cover display’ aspect, which expands the interface onto the small screen on the outside of the phone that enables users to check the time, read notifications and take selfies when the phone is folded. 

Special effort was put into developing the UI for the Galaxy Z Flip’s ‘Flex Mode,’ a feature that divides the screen into two halves when the phone is half-folded and set at a 90-degree angle. Shin explained how the design team catered to this unique form factor, saying that, “Designing a UI that would be suitable for a phone being used in Flex Mode presented a real challenge. We ended up creating a new layout that reflected the UIs seen on the foldable phones of the past.”

‘Accessibility’ – Fair and Available to Everyone
‘Accessibility’ means how easy to use and available a device’s features are to a wide range of users. The designers of One UI 2 worked to provide an equally accessible experience to everyone – regardless of age or disability – with features such as high contrast themes, which improve usability for visually impaired users. Samsung additionally consulted with differently-abled users to receive feedback on accessibility within the UI and to hear the users’ ideas on where there was room for improvement.

As a result, color adjustments and high-contrast features were implemented within the UI to expand usability to more differently-abled users. These changes also make it easier for users to access specialty features within the UI like Light Sensing, which detects nearby lights and informs the user of their status with vibrations, and Live Transcribe, which uses Bixby to transcribe audio messages and nearby noises.

One UI to Satisfy the Individual User
So, what’s next for the One UI design team? Since the first and second incarnations of One UI were about establishing the foundation of the interface, the next steps will focus on catering more to individual users. “Going forward, One UI will offer more customized content,” related Yim. “Active customization will be brought to bear to improve the individual user experience.”

As they continue their development work, the One UI designers will keep working to provide the best possible environment for Galaxy users, while ensuring that the interface is inclusive and makes inconvenience a thing of the past.

Current Updates on COVID-19 in Malaysia [27 June 2020]

The Ministry of Health (MOH) would like to inform that 23 cases have fully recovered and discharged well today. Cumulatively, 8,294 confirmed COVID-19 cases have fully recovered (96.4% of total cumulative cases).

A total of six (6) additional confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) MOH today. Cumulatively there are now 8,606 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Therefore, there are currently 191 active and infective COVID-19 cases, less than 200 cases. They have all been isolated and given treatment.

Of the six (6) additional cases reported today, five (5) are imported cases who were infected overseas, involving four (4) Malaysians and one (1) non-Malaysian (with approval to enter Malaysia for work-related matters). The one (1) local transmission case is a Malaysian; from a workplace screening in Kuala Lumpur. No local transmission cases among non-Malaysians are reported today.

Currently, two (2) confirmed COVID-19 cases are receiving treatment in intensive care units (ICUs), and no patient is on ventilation support.

Fortunately, no additional COVID-19 death was reported to the National CPRC MOH today. Cumulatively, there are now 121 COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia (1.41% of total cumulative cases).

Selangor – Malaysia’s Premier And Leading Golf Hub

Over the years, the popularity of golf tourism has rapidly emerged. Golf is said to be the world’s top individual sport so it is not really a surprise that people travel just to play golf. Usually it is for the sake of gaining valuable experiences or entering golf tournaments. Golf is a sport that is played in over 208 countries, including Malaysia. Therefore, many countries see this as an opportunity for them to seek profits towards strengthening the economy. Most countries try their best to build and enhance their Golf Clubs with multiple choices of interesting golf courses to attract international tourists. They are also often in competition towards becoming the host for major golf events.

In Malaysia, the State of Selangor is one of the most active States in promoting golf tourism. There are about 29 Golf Clubs in Selangor with ample golf courses registered with Tourism Selangor. Golf tourism is easy to promote in this State because the State itself is a perfect place for golfers to enjoy wonderful local activities while they travel for golf; hence, it is the best of both worlds. There is a variety of beautiful natural and man-made attractions in the State, offering both rural and city visits. Besides, people can swiftly travel into the State as it is known as the Gateway of Malaysia for becoming the home to the largest international airport and seaport in Malaysia; KLIA and Port Klang, respectively.

The efforts to promote golf tourism by Tourism Selangor began in the year 2014. The State Tourism Promotion Board began its journey in supporting a large number of golf events held in Selangor in the particular year. Some of the earliest golf events supported by Tourism Selangor were the Selangor Masters 2014, PGM ADT Maybank Championship 2018, 46th Selangor Amateur Open 2019 and 1st Tourism Selangor Corporate Golf Tournament 2019. 

The winners for PGM ADT Maybank Championship 2018; Shinichi Mizuno (left) and Genevieve Ling held in Saujana Golf & Country Club

For instance, the PGM ADT Maybank Championship 2018 event was a success as it managed to attract a large number of international golfers. Selangor even became the first State to broadcast professional golf programs on national television. In addition, the event has proven the capability of State of Selangor in hosting international golf events. 

Following the success of the event, Tourism Selangor once again extended support to 46th Selangor Golf Amateur Open 2019 which took place at Lake Golf Club, Bangi. The event saw participation from local and foreign amateur golfers which also managed to further promote Selangor as the leading golf hub in Malaysia. The event was said to be spectacular and it was attended by 500 guests alongside 160 domestic and international golfers. 

Winnie Ng (third from left) and Low Wee Jin (third from right) pictured with their trophies at the Selangor Amateur Open 2019, alongside Officers from Tourism Selangor and representatives from Danau Golf and Country Club

In the same year, Tourism Selangor reached a milestone by organizing its own golf event, Tourism Selangor Corporate Golf Tournament 2019. Tourism Selangor had collaborated with key industry players and travel agencies, as well as Selangor’s State Government and corporate bodies to ensure the event’s success, including securing sponsorships from Kowamas and MITA for the event. Tourism Selangor aims to make it as a signature annual event in Selangor’s tourism calendar for many years to come.

Golf tourism is undeniably one of the most profitable tourism sectors as golf tourists spend three times more than regular tourists, as referred to the data by Asian Golf in 2011. This is because; most golfers come from medium and high-income travellers. The total revenue targeted by 2021 for golf tourism in Malaysia is 44.6 billion USD. As such, various parties including Tourism Selangor and industry players are looking forward to work together in hosting more golf-related events. 

Buggies at Selangor’s Golf Clubs are mainly installed with plastic division placed between the driver’s and passengers’ seats

Many golf events have been planned out in Selangor in 2020 prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. As the pandemic has taken a toll on the tourism industry on a global scale, many golf events that has been scheduled to take place in Selangor have been postponed, if not cancelled. Two of the planned golf events affected by the pandemic are the Selangor Golf Classic 2020 and the 2nd Tourism Selangor Corporate Golf Tournament 2020. Meanwhile, Asian Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC 2020) which was supposed to take place in March has been cancelled to ensure the safety of the registered golf buyers and sellers as well as to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus in Selangor.

Golf Clubs in Selangor are back in operation imposing tight hygiene Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the safety of the golfers. Members are required to check-in and non-members are required to fill in Health Declaration Forms. Both members and non-members must undergo a mandatory health screening. On top of that, separation plastics are installed in all buggies, only 4 golfers are allowed on the tee box, golfers need to ensure a 1-meter distance when queuing and starter huts are not open for seating. These SOPs are imposed to ensure the Golf Clubs will be back in business, with an emphasis on safety and cleanliness. Some Golf Clubs in Selangor such as Kota Permai Golf & Country Club have also taken extra precautionary measures with the introduction of “contactless ball extractors”. 

Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor in action during the 1st Tourism Selangor Corporate Golf Tournament 2019

Tourism Selangor’s General Manager, Mr. Azrul Shah bin Mohamad in a statement said, “Tourism industry players such as hotel and products operators, and Travel Agencies are encouraged to acknowledge the vast potential golf tourism poses towards their businesses. Following the aspiration, Tourism Selangor will strengthen its promotional initiatives in branding the State of Selangor as the premier, leading golf hub in Malaysia”.

In conclusion, golf tourism is a branch of tourism that should not be taken lightly. All tourism industry players including Travel Agencies need to work hand-in-hand to foster golf tourism in Selangor. The development of vacation packages to Selangor which involve golfing at award-winning Golf Clubs and golf courses will definitely attract domestic and international golfers; boosting the State’s economy.