TWO MALACCA SCHOOLS MAKE CLEAN SWEEP OF MPMA-DOW SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGE 2020
PETALING JAYA, 15 December 2020: Two schools in Malacca – Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Hilir and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Naning capped off this extraordinary school year with a clean sweep in the individual categories of the recent Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA)-Dow School Environmental Challenge 2020.
Primary school winners of the MPMA-DOW School Environmental Challenge 2020 (L-R): Muhammad Fayreel Bin Rashid, Muhammad Daiyan Hakimi Bin Maszly and Haqmal Mukhris Bin Abdullah.
Secondary school winners of the MPMA-DOW School Environmental Challenge 2020 (L-R): Azriel Eiyman Bin Azli, Ruthreshwari A/P Muguntan and Muhammad Irfan Bin Mohd Fairuz.
The top three individual winners for primary were all from Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Hilir and the top three individual winners for secondary were all from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Naning.
In the overall school category based on total average scores, Sekolah Kebangsaan Air Baruk emerged as champions for primary level, and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Naning won in the secondary school category. A total of 27 schools in Malacca and a participating pool of 2,479 students across the state took part in the challenge which ran from 12 October to 20 November 2020.
The winning schools and individuals took home approximately RM26,000 worth of prizes in laptops, tablets, smartphones and cash awards.
At the virtual closing ceremony on 15 December, MPMA President, Datuk Lim Kok Boon said this year’s competition was conducted as an online quiz in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we are of the view that it is important to continue with the footprint of MPMA and Dow in Melaka on sustainability issues for the students for the fifth consecutive year. The MPMA-Dow School Environmental Challenge 2020 has therefore utilised technology in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic to reach out to students and teachers via an online quiz competition.”
This year’s challenge was a hotly contested online quiz based on an educational module made possible with the collaboration between PETRONAS Chemicals Group, Pusat STEM Negara under the Ministry of Education, MPMA and Solid Waste Corporation. The module, entitled ‘Plastic, Sustainability and You’ is designed to complement existing school curricula and emphasize the role everyone has to play in proper waste management, reducing global warming and marine litter.
Datuk Lim stated that the pandemic has made public education on proper plastics waste disposal even more critical. “Plastics has become a material that is heavily intertwined with our daily lives. One clear example is that during the current Covid-19 pandemic, we need lots of personal protective equipment, or what is more popularly known as PPEs. However, the higher utilisation of plastics products such as PPEs and food packaging has resulted in higher plastics waste. It is therefore even more important now than ever to create awareness on responsible plastics management amongst students through the practice of waste separation at source and the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).”
MPMA hopes to expand its programme to other states across the country. Said Datuk Lim, “We’ve had great success with this programme in Malacca over the last four years and hope that in 2021 we will be able to expand it to other schools across Malaysia, if not physically, but at least virtually to spread the awareness on responsible plastics management nationwide. MPMA believes this is the way forward to address plastics pollution and waste management issues in the country amongst the youth.
Initially developed in 2016 as a response to the Malacca State Government’s state-wide plastics bag ban, the MPMA-DOW School Environmental Challenge has expanded from a district to state-wide programme that is supported by the Malacca State Education Department. The programme focuses on raising awareness of anti-littering, understanding the importance and value of plastics and the need for responsibly managing them via post-usage separation at source and the 3Rs.
MALAYSIAN GENOMICS REDUCES LOSSES ON REOPENING LAB AFTER CONDITIONAL MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER (CMCO)
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 November 2020: Reopening its laboratory after COVID-19 movement restrictions were relaxed helped Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad post a smaller first quarter loss of RM833,000, compared to the preceding quarter.
The 69 percent reduction in losses followed on a RM87,000 revenue for the quarter ended 30 September 2020, the genomics and genetics testing company said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia. The nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic saw private clinics and medical centres closing temporarily or diverting their resources towards COVID-19 screening.
Earlier today, shareholders approved Malaysian Genomics’ proposed diversification into biopharmaceutical and healthcare products and services at its virtual Extraordinary General Meeting.
The diversification will provide a new income stream for Malaysian Genomics as it seeks to create a long-term advantage with the development of its own cell laboratory to drive future commercialisation of various cancer immunotherapy products and services.
Under a tripartite licensing agreement signed earlier in June with ICARTAB Biomedical Co Ltd (iCARTab) and Advanced Immune Therapeutics Sdn Bhd (AIT), Malaysian Genomics will have exclusive rights to offer the Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell cancer immunotherapy treatment to Malaysia and Southeast Asia for up to 20 years.
“We expect our immunotherapy business to kick off in December this year. Biopharma and healthcare will potentially contribute 25 percent or more of Group net profits by as early as December next year,” said Sasha Nordin, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Genomics.
Malaysian Genomics will be among the first companies in Southeast Asia to offer such cutting-edge healthcare services and making CAR T-cell immunotherapy specifically for solid cancer an accessible and viable option under compassionate use.
“Cancer immunotherapy based on CAR T-cells will enhance our portfolio of personalised healthcare products and services for doctors and medical centres. This will bring us a step closer towards achieving our vision to become a leader in innovative and accessible healthcare products,” he said.
“We have been in genomics services and genetics testing for more than 15 years, and we have the necessary strengths to support the healthcare community’s drive towards personalised care. This is a great opportunity to contribute our genomics and genetics experience towards improvements in fighting cancer,” he said.
Solid cancers include lung cancer and liver cancer, two of the most common solid cancers in Southeast Asia. Solid cancers of the liver, pancreas, oesophagus, brain and central nervous system, stomach, and mesothelioma in the lungs are among the 10 cancers with the lowest 5-year survival rates.
About Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (Malaysian Genomics)
Malaysian Genomics is a pioneer in genome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and genetic screening services. Since 2004, Malaysian Genomics has developed extensive pipelines in the sequencing and analysis of human, animal, plant and microbial genomes for clients locally and globally. It operates one of the largest computational centres for genomic and genetic analysis in the Asian region and was listed on Bursa Malaysia in 2010.
MALAYSIAN GENOMICS SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE DIVERSIFICATION INTO BIOPHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS WITH CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 November 2020: Shareholders of genomics and genetics testing company, Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad, today approved its proposed diversification into biopharmaceutical and healthcare products and services at its virtual Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) today.
The diversification will provide a new income stream for Malaysian Genomics as it seeks to create a long-term advantage with the development of its own cell laboratory to drive future commercialisation of various cancer immunotherapy products and services.
Under a tripartite licensing agreement signed earlier in June with ICARTAB Biomedical Co Ltd (iCARTab) and Advanced Immune Therapeutics Sdn Bhd (AIT), Malaysian Genomics will have exclusive rights to offer the Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell cancer immunotherapy treatment to Malaysia and Southeast Asia for up to 20 years.
“We expect our immunotherapy business to kick off in December this year. Biopharma and healthcare will potentially contribute 25 percent or more of Group net profits by as early as December next year,” said Sasha Nordin, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysian Genomics.
Malaysian Genomics will be among the first companies in Southeast Asia to offer such cutting-edge healthcare services and making CAR T-cell immunotherapy specifically for solid cancer an accessible and viable option under compassionate use.
“Cancer immunotherapy based on CAR T-cells will enhance our portfolio of personalised healthcare products and services for doctors and medical centres. This will bring us a step closer towards achieving our vision to become a leader in innovative and accessible healthcare products,” he said.
“We have been in genomics services and genetics testing for more than 15 years, and we have the necessary strengths to support the healthcare community’s drive towards personalised care. This is a great opportunity to contribute our genomics and genetics experience towards improvements in fighting cancer,” he said.
Solid cancers include lung cancer and liver cancer, two of the most common solid cancers in Southeast Asia. Solid cancers of the liver, pancreas, oesophagus, brain and central nervous system, stomach, and mesothelioma in the lungs are among the 10 cancers with the lowest 5-year survival rates.
About Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (Malaysian Genomics)
Malaysian Genomics is a pioneer in genome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and genetic screening services. Since 2004, Malaysian Genomics has developed extensive pipelines in the sequencing and analysis of human, animal, plant and microbial genomes for clients locally and globally. It operates one of the largest computational centres for genomic and genetic analysis in the Asian region and was listed on Bursa Malaysia in 2010.
MALAYSIAN GENOMICS RECORDS TURNAROUND NET PROFIT TO RM17.1 MILLION
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 August 2020: Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad (Malaysian Genomics), which has recently ventured into cancer immunotherapy products, posted a full-year net profit of RM17.1 million mainly due to a one-off gain from the sale of its pathology lab chain.
Revenue for the year ended 30 June 2020 jumped by 60.6 percent to RM951,000 due to strengthening demand seen in its core genetic screening segment, after reflecting the disposal of pathology lab subsidiary MPath Group Sdn Bhd on 24 December 2019.
“We have a lot planned for our pipeline as part of our strategy to maintain this profitability. We are looking to contribute towards further improvements in healthcare, starting with improving quality of life in the fight against cancer,” said Chief Operating Officer, Sasha Nordin.
Malaysian Genomics announced the addition of companion diagnostics and cancer immunotherapy based on CAR T-cells to its portfolio of products and services in Southeast Asia earlier in June. The product is a result of a tripartite licensing agreement with ICARTAB Biomedical Co Ltd (iCARTab) and Advanced Immune Therapeutics Sdn Bhd (AIT).
“We will be among the first companies to offer such cutting-edge services in Southeast Asia and we are confident that our long experience in genetic testing proves our capabilities. This new addition will enhance our portfolio of personalised healthcare products and services for doctors and medical centres in the region,” said Sasha.
“In the longer run, we are looking to explore this area further by expanding our portfolio of immunotherapy products and services, and also identifying applications in market segments beyond oncology,” he added.
For the fourth quarter, Malaysian Genomics posted a pre-tax loss of RM2.6 million following a 98 percent drop in revenue to RM3,000 due to the Movement Control Order implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
-Ends-
Malaysian Genomics is a pioneer in genome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and genetic screening services. Since 2004, Malaysian Genomics has developed extensive pipelines in the sequencing and analysis of human, animal, plant and microbial genomes for clients locally and globally. It operates one of the largest computational centres for genomic and genetic analysis in the Asian region and was listed on Bursa Malaysia in 2010.
DAMANSARA REALTY POSTS RM96.2 MILLION IN FIRST HALF REVENUE
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 August 2020: Damansara Realty Berhad (DBhd) or the Group posted RM96.3 million in revenue for the six months period ended 30 June 2020 (1HFY2020).
The Group saw a net loss of RM4.3 million for the first half of financial year 2020, against a net profit of RM6.2 million in the same period a year ago.
This is attributable to the nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the Group’s operations, especially for Metro Parking Group. Its businesses in Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore were under restrictions during the lockdown as per the respective governments’ directions, it said in its filing with Bursa Malaysia today.
“We are continuing as planned with our group wide corporate rationalisation initiatives to safeguard our financial resilience in dealing with the changing market conditions brought about by COVID-19. This will ensure that we have sufficient cash reserves for the rest of the year and beyond,” said DBhd’s Group Managing Director, Azman bin Haji Tambi Chik.
He added that the initiatives are focussed on financial prudence and a disciplined approach for better cost management and operational cash flow.
“Our Property and Land Development (PLD) segment still remains a crucial driver of contributions to the Group’s profit as there is still market demand for housing despite the property downturn,” said Azman.
For its 1HFY2020, the Group’s PLD segment recorded a revenue of RM9.61 million compared to RM5.74 million in 1HFY2019. The PLD segment also posted a profit of RM3.54 million compared to RM3.41 million for 1HFY2019.
The good performance was mainly due to higher units sold from its projects in Johor Bahru and Pahang.
“Meanwhile, our Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) segment has proven to be a recession proof with recurring income as the driver in maintaining our long-term sustainable profitability. We expect the segment to be the largest revenue contributor for DBhd in the coming years as the property market recovers. This will help us solidify our position as a key player in the IFM industry.” he said.
DAMANSARA REALTY APPOINTS AZMAN HAJI TAMBI CHIK AS GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 AUGUST 2020: Damansara Realty Berhad (DBhd) has announced the appointment of Azman bin Haji Tambi Chik as its Group Managing Director (GMD), effective 1 August 2020.
Appointed as DBhd’s Group Chief Executive Officer on 11 May 2020, Azman brings more than 30 years of experience to the Board. He has extensive knowledge in corporate strategy, planning, business development, legal, procurement, operations, as well as the acquisition of new business within the fields of Integrated Facilities Management (IFM), technology, food & beverages, and hospitality.
DBhd’s Chairman, Dato’ Ahmad Zahri said, Azman’s array of expertise in marketing, business development, business strategic planning, corporate financing, investment, strategic communications and stakeholder management makes a strong addition to the Board and will contribute positively to DBhd’s next phase of business sustainability, expansion, and growth.
“Having Azman as the member of the Board will not only help facilitate business and operations executive decisions through the new normal in the current industry but also lead the Group in its next growth initiatives,” he said.
DAMANSARA REALTY’S EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN RESIGNS
DAMANSARA REALTY’S EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIRMAN RESIGNS
KUALA LUMPUR, 14 July 2020: Damansara Realty Berhad (DBhd) Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Haji Abdullah Md Yusof is stepping down from the Board to focus on other commitments effective 13 July 2020, the Company announced today.
Abdullah, 54, has been a director of DBhd since 2014. He was re-designated as EVC in March 2020 to oversee operations and the Group’s strategic direction while the appointment of Azman Tambi Chik was pending.
“I am confident that I leave DBhd in good hands, and its strong management team will continue to build on the successes that DBhd has built over the years,” said Haji Abdullah.
“I would like to thank the Board for the opportunity to serve the Group and everyone that I have worked with over the years,” he added.
DBhd thank Haji Abdullah for his leadership and years of services and wish him every success in his future endeavours.
DAMANSARA REALTY POSTS RM49.4 MILLION IN Q1 REVENUE
DAMANSARA REALTY POSTS RM49.4 MILLION IN Q1 REVENUE
KUALA LUMPUR, 25 June 2020: Damansara Realty Berhad (DBhd) posted RM49.4 million in revenue for the first quarter (Q1) ended 31 March 2020.
The Group saw a net loss of RM2.2 million for the first quarter, against a net profit of RM2.3 million in the same quarter a year ago.
The Group saw its revenue heavily impacted due to the nationwide lockdown resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the operations of its subsidiary Metro Parking Group the most. Its businesses in Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore were under restrictions during the lockdown as per the respective governments’ directions.
As a reactive measure, the Group has put in place a Groupwide corporate rationalisation plan to safeguard its financial resilience to deal with changing market conditions, it said in its filing with Bursa Malaysia today.
Among the measures taken are reducing capital spending and non-essential operating costs, reassessing its value chain, applying for rebates, moratorium, or concessions from the government and its vendors as well as halting all launch events and freezing recruitment till year-end.
“We have cut back on spending to make sure we have sufficient cash reserves for the remaining part of the year and beyond,” said DBhd’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Azman Tambi Chik.
“We will remain financially prudent, focussing on disciplined management of costs and operational cash flows while continuing to deliver quality services for all of our stakeholders,” he said.
“As our operations gradually return to full service, we understand that they will be operating in a changed world of stringent health standard operating procedures (SOPs) and of higher dependency on automation and technology. How well we anticipate and adapt to this new normal is crucial in keeping our clients and employees safe and healthy as well as position our business to bounce back and capitalise on the opportunities ahead.” Azman said.
MALAYSIAN PLASTICS MAKERS TO MAKE SWABS FOR COVID-19 MASS TESTING
PETALING JAYA, 20 May 2020: Specialised swab sticks made in Malaysia are heading for clinical trials and, if approved, will pave the way for COVID-19 mass testing which is crucial to the country‘s exit from lockdown.
A team of public health and medical experts from around Malaysia has been working with the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) and the Malaysian Petrochemicals Association (MPA) to make the specialised nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab sticks and contribute 1.2 million swabs for the COVID-19 tests.
“Pre-clinical testing suggests that the swabs we produced are performing well,” said Professor Dr Tan Maw Pin from Universiti Malaya’s Medical Faculty. “Malaysia has a highly successful plastics industry which has been able to manufacture the polyester fibres and the plastics shafts which make up the swab,” she said.
“We are currently working to expedite the process of obtaining the necessary funding and approvals for clinical trials, as well as an approval from the Medical Devices Authority (MDA) so that the swabs can go into production and distribution as soon as possible,” she said. The swabs produced will be used for diagnostic testing for flu and other virus illness in future and will continue to be useful even after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Dr Tan is part of the team drawn from experts from Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), Hospital Pulau Pinang, Perdana Universiti-Royal College of Surgeons (PU-RCSI) in Ireland, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as well as Universiti Malaya’s (UM) Medical Faculty.
“The ability to conduct mass testing is critical to lifting the Movement Control Order (MCO), and nose swabs are critical to mass testing,” she added. “Buying the millions of nose swabs needed from overseas is probably not feasible at this time,” said Professor Dr Tan.
Malaysia currently does not have any facilities to make these swabs, which are expected to be in short supply world-wide, said MPMA President Datuk Lim Kok Boon. “Malaysia needs to be self-sufficient in producing these specialised swabs which are in high demand around the world now,” he said.
The US, where Malaysia’s main suppliers are, has banned the export of medical goods which includes these swabs. Alternative suppliers are in Italy and are also struggling to keep up with demand. China makes these swabs but there are hurdles in securing supply amid high demand and in importing and transporting the swabs.
This initiative is in partnership with the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) which has allowed resumption of operations to manufacturers of essential plastics products since the beginning of the Movement Control Order on 18 March 2020.
The team of experts was able to identify and contact local factories which agreed to repurpose their production lines to make the different components for the swabs.
“Our members worked very quickly and very hard to resolve and overcome technical obstacles to be able to make the swab material using high quality polyester fibers,” said Lim Kok Boon.
“Malaysia is home to some of the biggest resin producers in South-east Asia and we are confident that we have the capacity to scale up and sustain this initiative for the long run,” said President of MPA, Akbar Mohd Thayoob (from Petronas Chemical Group Bhd).
The swab sticks must be made from synthetic material such as polyester fibers and plastics shafts as natural materials such as wood, cotton and paper contain DNA which would interfere with the tests. Also, the swab sticks have to be flexible enough to insert into the nose cavity.
Precision shafts for the swabs will be produced by Heveaplast (M) Sdn Bhd, a precision plastics extrusion manufacturer which will be contributing by producing the 1.2 million swabs. For this purpose, Heveaplast has modified its plastics extrusion process leveraging on its latest extrusion machine’s optical measurement feature. The shafts are made of polypropylene, which are being sponsored by Lotte Chemical Titan (M) Sdn Bhd, Malaysia’s first and leading producer of olefins and polyolefins.
Silicon Creation Sdn Bhd has undertaken to wind the swabs onto the tips of the shafts, with the swabbing material of polyester staple fiber sponsored by Recron Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Recron Malaysia is an integrated polyester and textile producer with manufacturing facilities in Melaka and Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
Photo 1 – Heveaplast’s plastics extrusion line to produce precision shafts for swab sticks
Photo 2 – Swab sticks production process at Heveaplast
Photo 3 & 4 – Samples of swab sticks produced by MPMA
KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 — Malaysian businesses are struggling to enable their staff to work from home during the Covid-19 movement control order, discovering that remote working goes beyond having a laptop and a broadband connection.
One of the most common issues? “Windows updates,” said senior consultant Vincent Choy.
To install Microsoft’s suite of Office365 tools, for example, Windows systems on laptops and PCs must be up to date, and many are not.
There are other issues, but this is perhaps one of the most frustrating, slowing down the ability of Choy and other consultants to help businesses keep going while the two-week movement control order (MCO) is in place.
“Very often, it’s the first thing we have to help them with,” he said. “It’s a simple thing but many don’t get it done.”
Cloud services providers like Choy are struggling to meet a flood of interest and demand. Referrals have jumped as software providers such as Microsoft and Google are inundated by inquiries, said Choy and other consultants.
One Petaling Jaya-based consultant said she has seen a jump in interest from private schools, in particular.
“In some ways, they are more advanced and have already got systems for homework to be submitted online for example.” Now, they are looking to expand the system to include teaching or delivering virtual classes.
Choy said he saw referrals and direct inquiries rise from late February as some companies started to prepare themselves for staff to work remotely.
“People are beginning to accept that this is the new normal,” he said.
His firm Fedelis Sdn Bhd helps businesses migrate to Microsoft’s cloud services, such as OneDrive for cloud storage, Yammer for enterprise social networking and Skype for Business, a voice and video tool to drive team communications.
Meanwhile, Choy is trying to work around the same constraints imposed by the MCO. Shifting to running workshops and meetings online for customers, he has discovered there is a learning curve.
“We thought it would be easy to replicate an in-person meeting, just stand there with a microphone and a camera. But the sound was echo-ey and boom-y and a single camera wasn’t enough. We’ve had to invest in a mixer and we’re looking like a semi-professional studio outfit now.
“It’s a different set of requirements, and different skills. We have to experiment and learn quickly, because this is the future, this is the new normal.”
Choy’s advice for small and medium sized businesses is to take advantage of free offers and trials from software providers and vendors. Microsoft, for example, is offering some Office365 and Teams software for free for six months.
“Use these to ensure business continuity for now. When the all clear is given, do a proper implementation and adoption exercise to ensure that you are not caught the next time around,” said Choy.
“The next time around is probably not an ‘if’ but a ‘when’. Be ready.”
