Running made fun at the Great Eastern LIVE GREAT Run 2019.

 The Great Eastern Live Great Run was flagged off by Chief Executive office of Great Eastern Life Malaysia, Dato Koh Yaw Hui , together with Board go Directors 

KUALA LUMPUR, August 29, 2019 – The Great Eastern LIVE GREAT Run 2019 brought 14,000 eager runners to the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on 17 August, lighting up the iconic stadium for an evening of healthy fun and family-friendly excitement.

Currently in its eighth year, the Great Eastern LIVE GREAT Run was created to help Malaysians achieve their health goals by demonstrating that leading an active lifestyle can be an enjoyable and meaningful way to spend quality time with loved ones. True to that aim, the event returned this year with its two staple categories – the signature 12KM LIVE GREAT Run, and the fan favourite, the 5KM Triple Fun Run.

Spirits were high at the starting line when the event was officially flagged off by Dato Koh Yaw Hui, Chief Executive Officer of Great Eastern Life Malaysia, who was accompanied by the board of directors. 

The 12KM LIVE GREAT Run challenged seasoned runners who aimed to surpass their personal bests by putting their strength to the test, both mentally and physically. Muhaizar Mohamad emerged as champion in the Men’s Open category by completing the route in 42 minutes and 10 seconds, while Chooi Fern Loh clocked a time of 51 minutes and 35 seconds to win the Women’s Open category, which earned them both RM1,000 each.

The 5KM Triple Fun Run brought participants through three unique zones. The Triple Fun Run once again proved to be the favourite to many as they were showered with bubbles and foam in the Bubble Zone; soaked by water gun washdowns in the Water Zone; and covered by slime, a brand new element in the Colour Zone. 

The fun continued beyond the route at the LIVE GREAT Carnival, where exciting activities like big inflatables, classic carnival games, twinkling light tunnel, giant snow globe, and Insta-worthy photo spots thrilled the crowd. 

Participants and visitors alike also indulged in a host of local and international delicacies at the Carnival. In conjunction with Great Eastern Malaysia’s 111^th anniversary, food vouchers worth up to RM13.00 were offered to all, which enabled them to enjoy the wide selection of delicious food at only RM1.10! In addition, all Great Eastern Life policyholders enjoyed a special 10% discount at the Carnival, exclusive access to a Chillout Zone, as well as complimentary cold-pressed juice and salads.

The event was brought to a close with a mesmerising display of fireworks, lighting up the night sky over the bustling stadium grounds.

Organised by Great Eastern Life Malaysia, the Great Eastern LIVE GREAT Run has been held annually to popular acclaim with the support of its sponsors. This year, its official sponsors were Counterpain, New Balance, 3M Futuro, Yogood, Anlene, Garmin, Yakult, dahmakan, O’Briens, MyTOWN Shopping Centre, Himalaya Candy, Clear and 100 Plus.

The Great Eastern LIVE GREAT Run is one of the signature events under the Great Eastern LIVE GREAT Programme, the first integrated health and wellness initiative by an insurance company in the region. This holistic programme consists of five key components: Wellness Tools, Health Tips, Mobile Apps, Workshops and Events, and the LIVE GREAT Card, which provides exclusive health and wellness privileges at partner establishments nationwide.

About Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad (GELM) 

GELM began its operations in 1908 as a branch office of The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited. The Malaysian operations were subsequently transferred to a locally incorporated public company, GELM under the Scheme of Transfer of Business. The Company was certified by The Malaysia Book of Records in 1998 as “The Oldest and Largest Life Insurer” in Malaysia. 

With more than a century of experience and solid financial foundation, GELM has RM81.2 billion in assets, over 3.0 million policies in force and a network of 19,000 agents nationwide as at 31 December 2018. To date, GELM has 21 branches nationwide and products include life insurance plans, investment-linked plans, mortgage protection, business protection, employee benefits, medical insurance and group health benefit schemes. GELM is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Eastern Holdings Limited and its ultimate holding company is Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC). 

About Great Eastern Holdings Limited 

A market leader and a well-established trusted brand in Singapore and Malaysia, Great Eastern was founded in 1908. With S$85.0 billion in assets and over 4 million policyholders, it has three successful distribution channels – a tied agency force, bancassurance, and a financial advisory firm, Great Eastern Financial Advisers. The Group also operates in Indonesia and Brunei and has a presence in China as well as a representative office in Myanmar.

It was named Life Insurance Company of the Year at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards in 2011 and 2013 by Asia Insurance Review. The Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited and Great Eastern General Limited have been assigned the financial strength and counterparty credit ratings of "AA-" by Standard and Poor's since 2010, one of the highest among Asian life insurance companies. Great Eastern's asset management subsidiary, Lion Global Investors Limited, is one of the largest private sector asset management companies in Southeast Asia. 

Great Eastern is a subsidiary of OCBC Bank, the longest established Singapore bank, formed in 1932 from the merger of three local banks, the oldest of which was founded in 1912. It is now the second largest financial services group in Southeast Asia by assets and one of the world’s most highly-rated banks, with an Aa1 rating from Moody’s. Recognised for its financial strength and stability, OCBC Bank is consistently ranked among the World’s Top 50 Safest Banks by Global Finance and has been named Best Managed Bank in Singapore by The Asian Banker. 

OCBC Bank’s key markets are Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Greater China. It has more than 570 branches and representative offices in 19 countries and regions. These include over 300 branches and offices in Indonesia under subsidiary Bank OCBC NISP, and more than 100 branches and offices in Hong Kong, China and Macao under OCBC Wing Hang. 

For more information, please visit greateasternlife.com.

RUSSIA & MALAYSIA DECLARES 11-13 OCT 2019 AS A WEEKEND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BALLET PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL, CELEBRATING THE ASIAN WORLD PREMIERE OF 'THE SLEEPING BEAUTY' AND HONORS MALAYSIA WITH THE PRESTIGIOUS INVITATION TO JOIN 'RUSSIAN SEASONS'

(L-R) - MS. HANIAH HASSAN, MR SYED YAHYA SYED OTHMAN,DR. AYRAT A. AKHMETOV,YBHG DATUK,MR. SHANNON,YBHG DATUK NARGIZ SAFAROVA,MS AUDREY

                                          GROUP PHOTO WITH THE PARTNERS

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 August 2019 – YBhg Datuk Isham Ishak, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) announced its first ever major landmark international ballet performing arts festival weekend, Festival Tari, in Malaysia with The Dance Company (TDC) to promote Malaysia worldwide. In preparation for the Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020, the legendary and world-renowned ballet troupe, St. Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet have  just agreed on a three (3) year extended agreement to support Malaysia and to premiere at least three (3) major feature performances in Malaysia. The partnership between The Dance Company and St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet has given Malaysia the chance to receive the prestigious invitation to join the “Russian Seasons”. The Russian Seasons is a global festival opening new vistas for an international dialogue and proving that culture can be a true ambassador of peace. Within the framework of the project,  the splendor, authenticity and grandeur of the Russian culture are presented to the public in a selected country throughout the year.

 YBHG DATUK ISHAM ISHAK, SECRETARY GENERAL OF MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ARTS AND CULTURE (MOTAC)

At the press conference, the Asian World Premiere for The Sleeping Beauty revealed new extended showtimes for the feature presentation, exciting new programs and activities during the international ballet performing arts festival weekend, as well as some sneak preview festival plans for 2020 and beyond, in cooperation with MOTAC.

Following The Dance Company’s success in bringing in the first full professional UK cast full-length ballet “Swan Lake by Ballet West” last year, this year The Dance Company brings ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ by the world-renowned St. Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet with a full team of 37 Russian ballerinas to showcase their talent in executing the technically challenging choreography. The Sleeping Beauty in Malaysia continues the long and great tradition of Russian classical ballet from what most would consider of being the Russian ballet’s golden age and will be performed in its most original choreography. The company tours 250 sold-out performances annually, in over 130 cities including those of Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, China and the United States of America (USA) to over 1 million audiences.

YBhg Datuk Isham Ishak, Secretary General of Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture said, “I am delighted to be part of this historic collaboration between Malaysia and Russia. I am honored to announce that The Sleeping Beauty is the first event in preparation for Visit Truly Asia Malaysia 2020. We are placing St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet next performance into the Visit 2020 calendar. I am proud to also announce that my ministry through our agency, National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN), will be organizing a workshop entitled “Russian Ballet” conducted by Audrey Kwan, President of Dance Artistry International (DAI) in conjunction with Festival Tari for 200 JKKN dancers. Besides JKKN initiatives, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) is also working closely with TDC to liaise with various travel agencies to promote The Sleeping Beauty to domestic and international tourist. My ministry believes that this feature performance (The Sleeping Beauty) is the right direction forward in achieving our Visit 2020 goal of 30 million tourist”.

            MS. AUDREY KWAN, PRESIDENT OF THE DANCE ARTISTRY INTERNATIONAL

Dr Ayrat A. Akhmetov, Director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture said, “I am proud to announce that we, Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC), will be hosting the Russian Education Fair during The Sleeping Beauty campaign. This Russian Education Fair will give many Malaysians the exposure on what Russia has to offer to them. I truly believe this initiative is another step closer in solidifying the relationship bond between Malaysia and Russia.”

ST PETERSBURG - DANCERS 

Audrey Kwan, President of Dance Artistry International (DAI) said, “I am truly honoured to announce that The Dance Company has sign a 3-year partnership contract with St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet from 2019 to 2021. I am proud to announce that we have just added a third day (13th October 2019) with an additional of 2 more show slots (afternoon show and night show) for The Sleeping Beauty, which makes a total of 4 show slots. This decision to add a third day was made due to the over-whelming ticket sales.”

The Dance Company is organizing a ticketing competition from today until 13th September 2019. The grand prize winner of this competition will win a 5 days 4 nights trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, which includes flights, hotels and tickets to watch the St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet at the Palace Theatre. To participate in this competition, you would need to purchase The Sleeping Beauty tickets during this campaign period to stand a chance to win the grand prize. The Dance Company also announced that they will be conducting nationwide ballet workshops to scout for talents in conjunction with The Sleeping Beauty. The Sleeping Beauty show will take place on the 11th , 12th & 13th October 2019 at the Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur. The Sleeping Beauty premiere show will include a live red-carpet broadcast by ASTRO, pre-cocktail and followed by an exclusive after-party hosted only for the Elites. The tickets are available at TicketCharge. The Official Venue is Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre while the Official Hotel is Alila Bangsar.

About The Dance Company (TDC)

The Dance Company is the brainchild of Shannon Lee and Audrey Kwan, with the mission to place Malaysia on the international dance map by international collaborations & exchanges. TDC also aims to create and develop an industry for dance in Malaysia. Since its establishment, TDC has staged Malaysia’s first ever full professional UK cast full-length ballet, Swan Lake by Ballet West at Resorts World Genting on Malaysia’s 61st Merdeka Day.

About St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet

The St Petersburg Theatre Russian Ballet is made up of the finest dancers that includes professional artists and soloists of the Mariinsky Theatre, belonging to a dynasty that is more than a hundred years old. They perform 250 sold out shows a year and tours in over 130 cities and countries including Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, China, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, the United States of America and many more. Besides The Sleeping Beauty ballet performance, they also perform The Nutcracker, Swan lake, Giselle and Don Quixote.

 Third from left) Head of Retail Business, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad Mr Khalil J M Muri, President of AirAsia Group Berhad (RedBeat Ventures) Ms Aireen Omar, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad Managing Director/CEO Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir and AirAsia BIG Chief Executive Officer Mr Spencer Lee with both AirAsia cabin crew and PETRONAS staff at the partnership announcement of AirAsia BIG and PETRONAS today.

KUALA LUMPUR, 29 August 2019 - AirAsia BIG today added PETRONAS Mesra to its instant points exchange platform BIG Xchange, the first ever partner with two-way points conversion, giving BIG Members and Mesra Members more freedom to choose how they use their loyalty points. Starting today, BIG Members will be able to link their PETRONAS Mesra account to their AirAsia BIG account via BIG Xchange, available on the AirAsia BIG mobile app, to instantly convert Mesra Points to BIG Points and vice versa at the following rates:

• 1,250 BIG Points to 600 Mesra Points
• 2,000 Mesra Points to 500 BIG Points

To celebrate this partnership, 10 lucky BIG Members and Mesra Members who convert their points between now and 30 November 2019 stand a chance to win 100,000 BIG Points plus 20,000 Mesra Points worth RM200 each. On top of that, in conjunction with AirAsia BIG’s 816 BIG World campaign, BIG Members will enjoy an additional 50% bonus BIG Points until 16 September 2019 when they convert a minimum of 1,000 BIG Points.

AirAsia BIG CEO Spencer Lee said, “AirAsia BIG marks a major milestone today with its first two-way points conversion, together with partner PETRONAS Mesra. Convertibility is key to extending the use of BIG Points outside the AirAsia ecosystem. By ensuring the conversion can be done both ways, we are one step closer to realising our vision of making BIG Points a digital currency for everyone.”

PETRONAS Mesra is PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad’s loyalty programme that offers its customers instant point redemption for any purchase made on fuel or items sold at its convenience stores, Kedai Mesra. Points accumulated can be used to redeem fuel and items from Kedai Mesra as well as other lifestyle choices, providing great savings to customers as they spend. Currently, Mesra Members enjoy three Mesra Points for purchase of every litre of fuel, the highest value being offered in the fuel retail market.  

PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad MD/CEO Dato’ Sri Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir commented, “We are pleased to be the first fuel retail company to offer two-way points conversion via the AirAsia BIG app. This is in line with our effort to expand our loyalty programme offerings and to provide our customers a seamless and frictionless experience. With this partnership, our Mesra members can now conveniently manage their points digitally and enjoy the many travel and lifestyle deals offered by AirAsia.”

For more information on ways to earn and redeem BIG Points, visit airasiabig.com.

About AirAsia BIG

AirAsia BIG was established in November 2011 and is owned and operated by BIGLIFE Sdn Bhd (924656-U) (formerly known as BIG Loyalty Sdn Bhd), a subsidiary of AirAsia Group Bhd in collaboration with Aimia Inc. As the loyalty programme for AirAsia, AirAsia BIG enables its members to enjoy the lowest flight fares across AirAsia’s extensive network. More than 22 million BIG Members can earn BIG Points on AirAsia flights to over 150 destinations across Asia, Australia, the Middle East and the US, participating hotels as well as retail, e-commerce, travel and lifestyle partners within the region. The loyalty programme makes all seats redeemable by utilising BIG Points. Other member-exclusive privileges include 24-hour priority booking for all AirAsia sales and access to monthly Final Call sales with up to 90% off flight fares.

About PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad

PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad is the principal domestic marketing arm of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), the national oil company, which holds 69.86% of its equity. Incorporated in Malaysia under the Companies Act 1965 on 5 August 1982 and listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia on 8 March 1994, PDB has since established itself as Malaysia’s leading retailer and marketer of downstream oil and gas products. The Company markets a wide range of high quality petroleum products including motor gasoline, aviation fuel, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil, bunker fuel, lubricants, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and bitumen in Malaysia.

OPPO Partners with KL Photography Festival to Crown ‘Beyond Your Vision’ Contest Winners.

(L-R) June Lim, Third Prize Winner of OPPO Ultimate Award; Lee Fong Yeen, First Prize Winner of OPPO Ultimate Award; Ben Hor, renowned photographer; and KS Loh, Third Prize Winner of OPPO Ultimate Award - posing for a group shot at the award ceremony held at KLPF 2019.

All the winners of OPPO 'Beyond Your Vision' photography contest and media representative posing for a group shot at the award ceremony held at KLPF 2019 .

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 August 2019 — OPPO, a leading global smart device brand, has partnered with Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival (KLPF) to announce the winners of the ‘Beyond Your vision Photography Contest’. OPPO teamed up with various platforms which included the newspaper media: Sin Chew Daily, Oriental Daily News and Berita Harian; radio station: ERA.FM; tech media: Zing Gadget, TechNave and Wiser.my; and lastly our e-commerce partners Lazada and Shopee to give away amazing prizes worth up to RM 95,000. 

 The contest saw more than 7,000 entries submitted in various thematic categories such as Story of The World, Story of Creativity, Story of The Night, Story of The People, and Story of Patriotism ran from 22 July to 20 August. Participants were allowed to upload an unlimited number of photos of the same or different categories to increase their chances of winning, but only one photo was chosen as the winner and one winner was chosen for each photography category.

All photos had to be embedded with the OPPO watermark and uploaded onto Instagram using the hashtag #BeyondYourVision. #OPPORenoSeries, and a hashtag of the corresponding category that the participants had selected. 

When it came down to deciding which the best photos were, OPPO engaged with famous photographers Grey Chow(Professional Photographer of Nature - Travel Landscape and Astro.), Keda Z (World Most Outstanding Photographer Celebrity 2019), and Alex Tan(Asia Top 30 Photographer) to step in and be the judges for the final stage of the contest, where all the first prize winners were competing for the OPPO Ultimate Award. The winners of the OPPO Ultimate Award brought home cash prizes worth RM3,000 (First Prize), RM2000 (Second Prize), and RM1,000 (Third Prize). 

"OPPO has always strived to encourage creativity among the youth. Through this contest, we wanted to inspire the young photography enthusiasts to look through life from different perspectives and unleash their full creative potential, especially with our OPPO Reno 10x Zoom.  We made the concept of ‘DSLR in a pocket’ possible, allowing users to further their vision and see things with a new lens.” said Nikki Chen, Brand Director of  OPPO Malaysia.

Lee Fong Yeen, winner of the OPPO 'Beyond Your Vision' photography contest from TechNave.

“I am glad to be given this opportunity by OPPO Malaysia to showcase my photography skills at KLPF today. I'm also over the moon for having won the first prize of the OPPO Ultimate Award. I had hoped to win, but it’s still a shock because  Malaysia is filled with so many talented photographers,” said Lee Fong Yeen, First Prize Winner of The OPPO Ultimate Award.

The jury believes that the winning image includes the techniques required, such as balanced elements in the frame, the right emphasis of the main subject and proportion which is the foundation building blocks for composition.The use of Ultra Night Mode feature reveals the beauty of night and brought out a mood of a proud mother and an intimate moment shared with her child. 

OPPO R17 Pro's ultra night mode shooting capabilities include creating clarity and brighter pictures by allowing more light through at a controlled rate. OPPO specially created new AI Ultra-clear Engine, where users can get enhanced night shooting ability. Users also get enhanced colours and pure imaging resulting in an amazing night shot with a simple press of shutter as shown in our selected winning image. The jury also expects smartphone photography to become increasingly popular as it makes it easy to capture the most natural and authentic shots especially with OPPO’s high imaging technology.

The KLPF 2019 starts today until 25 August at Viva Exhibition Hall. KLPF is an annual highlight for the local photography community, and photography buffs who visit are also able to share their experiences and techniques for taking good photos. It is also a venue for people to get good bargains on photography-related equipment.

Ng Chee Wai, a representative of the winner - Low Lee Peng - for OPPO 'Beyond Your Vision' photography   contest from Sin Chew Daily

“We are delighted to be partnering with KLPF again this year. This is a great opportunity for OPPO to feature the potential and technical prowess of the OPPO Reno 10x Zoom, which is almost on par with a DSLR camera. We also want to help push forward the trend of mobile photography to a greater level of quality and efficacy” said Nikki Chen, Brand Director of OPPO Malaysia. 

 For more information regarding the contest, please refer to this link here: http://oppomalaysia.com.my/beyondyourvision

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since launching its first smartphone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology, Today, OPPO provides customers with a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series, ColorOS operating system, as well as internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 research institutes and 4 R&D centers worldwide and an international design center in London, OPPO’s more than 40,000 employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

HwgPay: Going Beyond Digital Payments HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem Officially Launches in Malaysia.

Dato' Aaron Lim Ooi Hong, Managing Director of Ho Wah Genting Berhad, Pehin Sri Dato’ Lim Hui Boon, Group President of Ho Wah Genting Group, YB Tuan Tan Kok Wai, Special Envoy of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of China, En. Danial Mah Abdullah, Director General of Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA) and Mr. Gavin Lim Chun Hoo, CEO of HWGG Capital P.L.C (left to right) officially launch the HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem. 

                                  

  Mr. Gavin Lim Chun Hoo, CEO of HWGG Capital P.L.C

Kuala Lumpur, 29 August 2019 - The digital asset payment revolution has finally arrived inMalaysia as HWGG Capital P.L.C has officially launched its HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem,allowing consumers to make safe, secure, and reliable digital asset spending. The event, which recently took place at Shangri-La, Kuala Lumpur, was graced by the presence of YB Tuan Tan

Kok Wai, Special Envoy of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of China as well as En. Danial Mah Abdullah, Director-General of Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA).

YB Tuan Tan Kok Wai, Special Envoy of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of China The Future of Digital Asset Payments.

The HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem is a cohesive network made up of HWGG Capital’s digital asset payment solutions: HWG Cash and HwgPay. HWG Cash is Asia’s first regulated cash token, pegged against the US Dollar, making it the first Asia based stable token. HwgPay is a digital asset wallet that can be used to store, send, receive and make payments using digital assets and cash tokens such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and, of course, HWG Cash. Both blockchain-powered digital asset payment solutions were announced earlier this year by HWGG Capital, introducing consumers and businesses to the convenience of digital assets. The HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem aims to empower both consumers and merchants with solutions that not only enable and simplify digital asset spending, but also allow safer and faster everyday transactions.

“The launch of HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem is the culmination of the long journey undertaken by HWGG Capital to introduce regulated digital assets transactions for consumers and businesses,” said Gavin Lim, CEO of HWGG Capital. “Blockchain technology has the potential to not only change the way we conduct secure, online payment transactions but also innovate everyday services such as distribution, automation, and verification.”

In the past, few businesses were willing to handle digital assets due to the hassle of converting it into digital money for regular transactions. Thanks to regulation from the Labuan FSA, the stability of HWG Cash prevents businesses from suffering from massive fluctuating values ypical of digital currency. Furthermore, the use of everiToken public chain technology behind HWG Cash also allows consumers and merchants to make digital assets transactions without security risk, excess fees, or third-party interference.

Moving Labuan, Malaysia Forward as a Leader in Digital Innovation

In early 2019, the Malaysian Finance Ministry indicated that the country is well on its way towards becoming a cashless society with over 90% of Malaysians having access to online banking and local vendors at ease with digital wallets. This vision is shared by HWGG, whose Labuan FSA licensed solutions already enable users to easily pay for products and services with digital assets. HWGG is working in line with the government's efforts of turning the Federal Territory of Labuan into a fintech and blockchain hub. “Since its adoption of blockchain technology, 25% of the world’s blockchain projects are currently underway in China. The country also holds most number of patents on blockchain technology,” said YB Tuan Tan Kok Wai, Special Envoy of Malaysia to the People’s Republic of China. “With blockchain technology’s potential to level the playing field between developing and developed nations, Labuan has now taken its first major steps towards digital innovation following the launch of the HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem.”

Gavin Lim Chun Hoo, Chief Executive Officer, HWGG Capital P.L.C, Brady Luo, Co-Founder & CEO, everiToken, Jenn Lim, CEO, Virtual Currency Philippines Inc. (VCPI) and Henry Yu, Principal Partner, Henry Yu & Associates in Association with L&Y Law Office (from left to right) Panel Discussion: “Blockchain: The Game Changer To Move Beyond Digital Payment”.

Today’s global economy is now digitally powered, and blockchain technology is rapidly driving innovation within banking and manufacturing industries. The Malaysian government is also encouraging digitalisation in both private and public sectors as the country moves towards Industry 4.0. The HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem aims to first catapult Labuan into becoming the leader in blockchain adoption, entrepreneurship and innovation, thus positioning the country as an attractive prospect for high-technology and high-value added blockchain economy and industries in the region.

For more information about HwgPay Blockchain Ecosystem or further business inquiries, info 

www.hwggcapital.com  www.hwgcash.com

Qatar Airways Host Press Conference in Kuala Lumpur to Announce Launch of Flights to Langkawi.

27 August 2019 DOHA, Qatar : To announce the launch of Qatar Airways flights to Langkawi , Malaysia, Qatar Airways Group Chief Exceutive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker , hosted a press conference today at the Four  Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

The  press conference was attended by Qatar Ambassador to Malaysia , His Excellency Mr. Fahad Mohammed Kafoud Chief Minister of the State of Kedah , Dato' Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir and Chief Executive officer of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) , Dr. Hezri Bin Adnan.

The new service to Langkawi , starting 15 October 2019 , is part of the airline's strong expansion plans in Southeast Asia and marks Qatar Airways' third destination in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur and Penang .Qatar Airways will initially start with four -times weekly Langkawi tag Services via Penang with an increase up to five-times weekly services from 27 October 2019 on its state of the art Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft , featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 seats in Economy Class, with spacious cabins and specially -designed interiors.

Forested hills, stunning white -sand beaches and glimmering turquoise waters waters are among the reasons why travellers enjoy Langkawi Lsland, an archipelago of 99 picturesque islands surrounded by the azure Andaman sea on malaysia west coast. known as the Jewel of Kedah ,Langkawi is home to lush tropical rainforests and mangroves rich in flora and fauna . Furthermore .the island was listed among Travel + Leisure's 50 best places to visit in 2019 .

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr.Akbar Al Baker, said Langkawi is one of the most highly sought-after destinations in Malaysia and i am certain our flights will help increase accessibility and boost inbound tourism to this beautiful archipelago , with five weekly flights to Langkawi , our service offers a gateway for passengers to travel and experience Langkawi's magnificent offerings ,we also aim to offer greater connectivity for passengers travelling from Malaysia to our extensive global network of over 160 destinations. our new flights reflects our commitment to growing our presence not just in malaysia ,but in Asia as well.

 Chief Minister of the State of Kedah , Dato Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir , said: I'm thrilled to know that Qatar Airways service expansion now includes the magnificent Langkawi as this will definitely lead to greater opportunities not only for Malaysia 's burgeoning tourism industry , but for kedah as well .Qatar Airways service to Langkawi will soon bring the world right to the doorstep of the island , allowing them to experience the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark in all its majesty.

Chief Executive Officer of Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Dr.Hezri bin Adana said :The launch of Qatar Airways' direct serve`1`bv  sces to Langkawi certainly bodes well for the island and goes in line with our plans of further cementing its positing position as an international tourist destination . not only that it also augurs well for Langkawi's economy and tourism industry as we get ready to welcome visitors from across the globe to experience the island's distinctive culture and scenic views at one of the finest tropical gems in Malaysia 

Qatar Airways seamlessly connects passengers from Malaysia to more than 160 destinations across six continents via its award -winning Hamad International Airport in Doha. The National Carrier of the Satae go Qatar has launched a host of exciting new destinations in 2019 , including Lisbon, Portugal, Malta , Rabat , Morocco, Davao. Philippines, Izmir , Turkey, and Mogadishu , Somalia, and will add Gaborone, Botswana to its extensive network in October 2019.

A multiple award-winning airline,Qater Airways was named Airline of the Year for the fifth time by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. it was also named ' World's Best Business Class,  Best Business Class Seat , and Best Airline in the Middle East . 

Flight Schedule from 15 October 2019 :

Service operates Tuesday , Thursday , Saturday and Sunday 

Doha (DOH) to Penang (PEN) QR 866 departs 02:25, arrives 15:00

Penang (PEN) TO Langkawi (LGK) departs 16:25, arrives 17:05 

Langkawi (LGK) to Penang (PEN) QR 867departs 19:00, arrives 19:40

Penang (PEN) to Doha (DOH) departs 21:00 , arrives 23:45 

Schedule on the 15th October is subject to vary 

Flight Schedule from 27 October 2019:

Service operates Tuesday , Thursday, Friday , Saturday and Sunday 

Doha (DOH) to Penang (PEN) QR 866 departs 02:10 arrives 14:20 

Penang (PEN) to Langkawi (LGK) depart 15:30, arrives 16:20

Langkawi (LGK) to Penang (PEN) QR 867 departs 18:40 arrives 19:40

Penang (PEN) to Doha (DOH) departs 20:35 , arrives 23:25 

MITI TO ENGAGE AMCC TO ENHANCE TRADE RELATIONS WITH ARAB COUNTRIES.

27 Augst 2019 Kuala Lumpur :The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) will enhance its engagement with the Arab Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCC) to further trade relations with the 16 Arab League member states.“As the Middle East has been one of the key trading partners for Malaysia, MITI through our agency MATRADE shall engage in a continuous dialogue with partners and counterpartsfrom your respective countries, in order to enhance our trade relations,” said DeputyMinister of International Trade and Industry, Dr. Ong Kian Ming in his keynote speech at the AMCC Business Symposium and 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kuala Lumpur today.

Malaysia has become among the ‘investment destination of choice’ for many Arabinvestors due to its strong economy, favourable policies and an enabling infrastructure.This is exemplified through Malaysia’s No. 1 ranking by CEOWorld Magazine as the bestcountry in the world to invest in or do business in 2019 amongst 67 countries; ahead of Poland, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia and Singapore.

In order to remain in pole position as the most attractive nation in the world for FDIs, Government policies and strategies post-2020 and beyond, need to be realigned to cater to the evolving business climate.

Dr. Ong also invited all AMCC members to leverage on Malaysia’s strength in market access,being part of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) plus many other free tradeagreements (FTAs). “Through Malaysia’s strong economic ties and trade relations withmany other countries, we can serve as your doorway to various other markets in this regionand beyond,” he emphasised to AMCC members.

Meanwhile, AMCC President Datuk (Dr.) Hafsah Hashim said that AMCC wants to unleash the largely-untapped potential of the halal industry and Islamic finance sector between itsArab members and Malaysia. “Both areas are within the mutual interests and common capabilities among the AMCC members to be further explored and developed,” she said.

Malaysia has established the most comprehensive halal industry and halal hub in this region, complete with supporting infrastructure and enabling ecosystem. This is in addition to becoming a full-fledged Islamic finance hub over a period of three-and-a-half decades,with various Syari’ah-compliant products being offered by private financial institutions.

“I firmly believe that the halal industry and Islamic finance sector should be integrated to leverage on each other’s strength and opportunities, in order to boost Islamic tradeactivities globally,” suggested Datuk (Dr.) Hafsah.

The event was sponsored by Arab Potash. The Business Symposium featured panellistsfrom Labuan FSA, CIMB Islamic and Bank Islam whom discussed the topic ‘Malaysia as a Leader in Islamic Financing’.

SHOPEE ANSWERS CALL TO LOWER COST OF LIVING WITH 9.9 SUPER SHOPPING DAY.

Shopee’s signature annual shopping event offers free shipping with minimum spend of RM9; announces Cristiano Ronaldo as new brand ambassador.

Zed Li (left), Head of Business of Shopee Malaysia with Song Hock Koon (right), Director of E-Commerce MDEC at the Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day Launch.

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Aug 2019 - Over the past year, the Government has rolled out a number of initiatives to reduce the cost of living in Malaysia. Its recent initiative is the establishment of the National Action Committee on e-commerce by the National Cost of Living Action Council. The aim is to promote and strengthen the use of e-commerce, thereby eliminating the role of middlemen in a bid to lower the cost of consumer goods.

                 

In view of this, the Government has been engaging closely with Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, on how it can best alleviate the rising cost of living for Malaysians. One of Shopee’s efforts is to work alongside Malaysian retailers by lowering the barrier of entry to the digital economy. Additionally, the cost of operating a business online is much lower. In turn, Shopee encourages retailers to share their cost savings with shoppers, thereby making online shopping more affordable for consumers. As a result, consumers see themselves saving an average of 20% on their daily necessities when they shop on Shopee on a regular day, with the potential to save up to 90% during major shopping events like 9.9 Super Shopping Day.

Taking place from 19 August to 9 September 2019, the campaign offers greater deals and discounts across categories from brands such as Nutox, HP, L'Oréal, Vinda, Photobook Malaysia, Enfagrow, Universal Traveller, realme, MR DIY and Nestle. To further promote the adoption of e-commerce and encourage Malaysians to take advantage of these savings, Shopee is bringing down the minimum spend for free shipping to RM9.

Welcoming the initiative, Song Hock Koon, Director of E-Commerce, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, said, “One of MDEC’s objectives is to encourage Malaysians to become immersed in the digital ecosystem, as such initiatives like these will help accelerate adoption in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. We are always pleased to collaborate and support industry moves and trust that this latest initiative will further inspire digital entrepreneurship efforts.”

Ian Ho, Regional Managing Director, Shopee said, “Shopee’s mission has always been to impact local communities on a meaningful and sustainable level through initiatives such as our sales campaigns that will allow Malaysians to continue shopping and stocking up on necessities without breaking the bank. At the same time, I am happy to announce Shopee’s partnership with our latest brand ambassador Cristiano Ronaldo. Having him on board is truly a milestone for us. This makes us more than just a shopping platform as we continue to inspire users and connect them with the biggest stars and celebrities in the world.”

At the launch of 9.9 Super Shopping Day held at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, Shopee revealed its newest brand ambassador, Cristiano Ronaldo. As one of the greatest athletes, he is an inspiration to many and his dedication to football resonates with the deep commitment Shopee has towards its users. He will be working with Shopee across its seven markets in a wide range of activities to engage and inspire people in the region.

Cristiano Ronaldo said, “I am proud to be Shopee’s brand ambassador as we share the same ambition to be the best in our fields. I am always improving my game for my fans and my team, just as Shopee innovates to benefit their users in this region. I am excited by this partnership, and I look forward to creating more special moments for my fans together with Shopee.”

Cristiano Ronaldo will join a series of initiatives as Shopee brings users and fans across the region closer to the global football icon:

●      Cristiano Ronaldo stars in Shopee’s newest 9.9 TVC: Cristiano Ronaldo will be at the center of Shopee’s new television commercial premiering on 16 August, which will air in all seven Shopee markets in the region.

●      Watch Cristiano Ronaldo live only on Shopee: In a first for Southeast Asia and Taiwan, fans will be able to get up close and personal with Cristiano Ronaldo via a range of exclusive content available only on Shopee Live. More information will be announced on Shopee’s app and social media platforms at a later date.

The 9.9 Super Shopping Day will feature three weeks of super promotions and entertainment as well as exclusive privileges with leading industry players:

●      Shocking Sale - 9 times daily, enjoy deals from as low as RM1.

●      RM9.90 Super Voucher Pack - Pay RM9.90 to enjoy vouchers from Shopee, Agoda, dahmakan, Dal.komm Coffee, ZEN Rooms, Grab, BBQ Chicken, Victoria Station, KKday, Recommend.my, Muslim Pro, MBO, Dunkin Donuts and Teppanyaki and receive savings up to 17x of your money spent.

●      “One or Not” - 21 Yamaha motorbikes, 1 Honda City and more for only RM1. If the customer is not the selected buyer, Shopee guarantees a full refund.

●      Standard Chartered Mastercardholders - RM15 off with minimum spend of RM120. Valid from 19 August to 9 September.

●      Shihlin Taiwan - Buy 1 Free 1 packet of Crispy Chicken Cracklings.

●      Wonda Coffee - A brand new product range made exclusively first on Shopee, with an introductory promo price for first 300 customers.

●      Dunkin Donuts - First 2,000 customers get to enjoy RM0.99 for 1 Donut worth RM3.50 only on 9 September.

●      Burger King - Get a Whopper Jr & Cheeseburger, beverage and fries set meal for only RM9.90.

●      The Alley - Enjoy exclusive boba milk tea from RM9 onwards.

●      Häagen-Dazs - Single scoop for RM9.90 and double scoop for RM19.

●      Hong Leong Yamaha Authorised Dealer - Enjoy exclusive discounts up to 30% on Yamaha motorcycles including Yamaha NVX, Y15zr and LC135 on 9 September.

●      BH Petrol and Mydin will be giving out 100 tickets worth RM35,000 to watch Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza live at the Shopee X SimplySiti Mini Concert.