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For children with autism, inclusive learning starts in the formative years, so that they are given equal opportunities to learn, play and develop their potential. But many children with autism still face challenges when it comes to getting accepted into, as well as being accepted and embraced in, preschools. This Autism Acceptance Month, we look at what inclusivity really means in early childhood education.

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The news that the iconic SMK Convent Bukit Nanas school's land lease had not been renewed by the Federal Territories Lands and Mines Department, was met with horror, dismay and disgust. Fondly known as CBN, the school has been around since 1899, and is one of the oldest schools in the country. It has served thousands of young minds, and has shaped a long list of distinguished alumni, who are serving Malaysia and the world in many different capacities. We find out more about CBN and the issues the school is facing from former students, Marina Yong, who is also the current President of the CBN Alumni Association, and Tengku Azian Shahriman, a former President of the alumni association.

Image source: CBN Alumni Association

Some have said that the pandemic is an opportunity for nature to hit reset and benefit from less human activity, while others said this is a warning to humans about the consequences of our actions. This Earth Day, we take a look at how nature has fared in the past year, what should be our priorities in environmental protection before it’s too late, and how we can all start to be more environmentally conscious. 

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Industry leaders in the FMCG sector have created the Malaysia Recycling Alliance (Marea) to promote recyclable and renewable materials for consumer packaging, as well as to minimise packaging leakage into the environment.

What can governments learn from the wildly popular game Mario Kart (that’s right, Mario Kart!) when planning their sustainability goals? A researcher in the US, who also happens to be a massive fan of the game, is suggesting that governments gamify sustainability in order to be more efficient in reaching their goals. The best part is, it makes perfect sense. Let’s a-go! 

According to PwC’s March 2021 Global Consumer Insights Pulse survey, Malaysian consumers are a responsible lot when it comes to sustainable shopping. In conjunction with World Earth Day 2021, we discuss if sustainability has become a priority for Malaysians and what brands and businesses can do to ‘tango’ with consumers.

As we move further into the technological future, many banking services have grown drastically. ManagePay Systems Berhad, or 'MPay', is a provider of end-to-end electronic payment solutions for banks and financial institutions, merchants and card issuers with operations in Malaysia. Tan Chia Wei of MPay discusses what is currently happening in the e-payment system, the inception of BuyMalaysia, and their plans for virtual pitch events with importers in the US.

COVID-19 has forced many brands to shift into e-commerce without warning or preparation. RPG Commerce, a social e-commerce company, is dedicated to taking offline businesses online as well as creating brands designed for online success. CEO & founder Melvin Chee discusses his transition from dropshipping to DTC, and how the company has quintupled their business over the past year or so.

As tax season comes to an end, Roshan Kanesan takes a forward look to our next tax filing and dives into ways to optimise your taxes to pay the right amount, not too much and definitely not too little.

The past decade has seen rapid growth in sustainable or ESG investing, how does Malaysia measure up with regards to ESG investing options and standards? Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Research at Maybank Kim Eng tells us whilst giving us the top ESG stock buys for Malaysia.

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