General

The National Security Council has confirmed all approvals for businesses and industries to operate during the nationwide lockdown will be issued through a one-stop centre manned by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI). The approval to operate will affect a workforce of 16 million people in the public and private sectors.

As an additional funding aid, RM40 billion was announced last night as being allocated to Pemerkasa Plus, dedicated to supporting three key avenues in Malaysia for financial assistance. We cover what could be relevant for SMEs as well as what the rest of the funding will be used for.

Many SMEs will take yet another hit as Malaysia heads into another full lockdown in June 2021. SME Association Malaysia president, Michael Kang, predicts that 40% of Malaysian SMEs will be financially affected and may have to cut jobs and overhead to reduce expenses.

Are you for real? What are you even doing here? Still waiting for the other shoe to drop? You’re not alone.

On this episode of psychology@work, we discuss the intellectual phoniness that will affect some 70% of us at some point in our lives - The Impostor Syndrome. How is it hampering your potential for success, and how do you break out of the cycle? We discuss.

In line with World Environment Day, we’re speaking to Sustainable Superheroes: causes or companies dedicated to upholding and promoting sustainable practices. In this episode, we discuss plastic waste - one of the world’s most crucial human health and environmental concerns - with the guys behind The Water Wizard. Paul & Christine talk to us about The Watertree Project, which recently made available eco-friendly boxed water in Malaysia, and how they’re helping Malaysian consumers change their consumption behaviour and reduce the amount of Single Use Plastic in Malaysia.

Brought to you by Volvo Cars; Redefining freedom to move in a personal, sustainable, and safe way.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday night announced RM40 billion in economic package, of which RM5 billion is direct fiscal injection. Pankaj C. Kumar, financial market columnist, makes a case for increasing spending and its impact on our debt yield and ratings, and the Ringgit.

Image Credit: EPA-EFE

Datuk Dr Musa Mohd Nordin, Consultant Paediatrician discusses the merits of the 2-week lockdown, and potential complementary measures to strengthen the government’s fight against the pandemic.

Image Credit: AkuAlip | Shutterstock.com

With a presence across 9 markets in the region, Axiata Digital Advertising, or ADA, has seen tremendous growth since its establishment in 2018. And in May, the digital analytics and AI company made the announcement that Japan’s Softbank Corp would be investing 60 million USD into the company for a 23% stake. What will this mean for the growth of ADA going forward? CEO Srinivas Gattamneni comes on the hot seat to discuss ADA's future with Lyn Mak.

Image Credit: ADA

Keith Kam speaks to Azrina Azmel, Deputy General Manager, Digital Strategy & Innovation at Securities Commission Malaysia, about the FIKRA accelerator programme, intended to develop the innovation ecosystem in Malaysia's Islamic Capital Market (ICM). Discussed are the aims of the programme, what kinds of companies are suitable for it, the challenge areas those companies must address, and why they should participate.

Last week, SME Association of Malaysia warned that 40% of SMEs will shut down if government imposes full lockdown. The Morning Run speak to Chin Chee Seong, Vice President of the SME Association of Malaysia, on the potential damage to SMEs from the lockdown and whether Pemerkasa+ is enough to help them survive.

Image Credit: Chaton Chokpatara / Shutterstock.com