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PETALING JAYA, June 29 (Bernama) — The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Malaysia’s economic growth and employment rates, with Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) statistic indicating that the unemployment rate had spiked by 5 percent with 778,800 persons unemployed as at April 2020. The challenging economic conditions have directly led to an increased unemployment for both local and foreign workers.

In light of this, the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) is conducting a Public Consultation through the Unified Public Consultation (UPC) portal to seek the views of industry players, associations, interested parties and members of the public on the Proposed Recommendation on Employment to the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR).

MPC and the Technical Working Group on Employing Workers under the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (PEMUDAH) has prepared several recommendations including Redeploying Retrenched Local Workers, Redeploying Retrenched Foreign Workers (PLKS) and Redeploying Illegal Foreign Workers to overcome the impact COVID-19 has had on employment.

MPC Director-General YBhg. Dato’ Abdul Latif Haji Abu Seman said the recommendations reflected the Government’s commitment to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment. He also reaffirmed MPC’s commitment to assist the Government’s endeavours to energise the nation’s economic recovery and accelerate growth by engaging with key stakeholders to gather valuable input. Stakeholders’ feedback will be used to prepare strategic recommendations aimed at optimising a more cohesive management of foreign workers in Malaysia.

The consultation on the UPC Portal began on 23 June 2020 and will continue until 7 July 2020. All stakeholders are invited to share their views and suggestions at UPC Portal on upc.mpc.gov.my. Full details of the proposed recommendation can also be downloaded from the portal.

SOURCE: Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Ms. Huda Atiqah
Tel: 013-7261950
Email: Atiqah@mpc.gov.my

—BERNAMA

Cadbury Dairy Milk Partners with Food Aid Foundation To Ease Burden Of 4,000 B40 Families Amid Covid-19 Pandemic
 
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) — Since the break-out of COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, many lower-income households have been left vulnerable and are struggling to put food on the table. The current unprecedented situation has made food an even greater priority, yet these communities are faced with limited access to feeding themselves.
 
Their plight has been met with an outpour of generous acts across Malaysia with many acting on their inherent goodness to provide food necessities and warm meals. Encouraged by this, Cadbury Dairy Milk, the popular confectionery brand under Mondelez International wants to #SaluteTheGoodness by partnering with Food Aid Foundation and be part of the movement to bring relief to those experiencing the negative impact of COVID-19.
 
In line with Cadbury Dairy Milk’s purpose of generosity, the chocolatier is committed to weathering and supporting local underprivileged communities through these trying times together. The partnership will support and feed 4,000 B40 families in need with a total contribution of 360,000 meals.
 
“There has never been a more important time to see the Cadbury Dairy Milk belief that There’s Goodness in Everyone come alive around the world. It is during challenging times like these that we see the unwavering kindness and generosity in Malaysians. We are proud to play our part with this partnership to share goodness and create positivity for the people who need it most.” shares James Kane, Managing Director of Mondelez International, Malaysia and Singapore.
 
Food Aid Foundation is an NGO-led food bank that aims to save food wastage and end hunger by collecting and distributing donated food to people in need such as the various welfare homes, refugees communities and soup kitchens.
 
“It is with the support of contributors like Cadbury Dairy Milk that sustains our mission of ending hunger and nourishing hope and we will continue to be mindful that our objective is accomplished through their generosity. We will deliver this mission with an acute sense of urgency and the dignity of every person and treat all with equality and compassion,” adds Mr. Rick Chee, Founder of Food Aid Foundation.
 
Download the press kit HERE !

SOURCE: Mad Hat PR PLT 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: 
Name: Natassya Bainon 
Tel: +6018 393 4269
Email: natassya@madhat.asia

Name: Elizabeth Harding 
Tel: +6012 220 5703
Email: elizabeth@madhat.asia

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=37633

SERDANG, June 25 (Bernama) — Putra Business School (PBS) and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), jointly hosted a virtual forum through Zoom and Facebook Live entitled Post Covid-19 Income Generation Through Entrepreneurship on June 23, 2020. The event featured renowned industry experts, academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Syed Jalaludin Syed Salim, Chancellor of PBS, Dato’ Nelson Renganathan, Chairman of Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director-General of EDII, and Prof. Dr. Zulkornain Yusop, President & CEO of PBS, with IMS Asia’s Director, SN Siva, as the moderator. It was launched by Deputy Minister of Finance II, YB Tuan Mohd Shahar bin Abdullah.

“Nurturing the development of entrepreneurship is also in line with the National Entrepreneurship policy 2030,” said YB Tuan Mohd Shahar in his opening speech.  YB Tuan Mohd Shahar added, “In my personal view, entrepreneurship has become vital, especially now during the crisis of job losses, among other things.” He also advised that those involved in entrepreneurship to embrace the new challenges and be innovative, creative and industrious in pursuing their business and be resilient in facing the challenges that are coming.

Prof. Dr. Syed Jalaludin emphasized the significance of having vision and initiative in startups. Dato’ Nelson expounded on the competitive environment of entrepreneurship with his personal experiences, and stressed the importance of having proper drive and resilience in budding entrepreneurs.

Dr Sunil believed there exists new opportunities for discoveries amidst the adversities that can be utilized, and listed healthcare, agriculture and tourism as industries that may expect new innovation.

“The Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE) has been very serious in addressing the development of entrepreneurship among Malaysian graduates” said Prof. Dr. Zulkornain. He cited that producing holistic and balanced graduates with an entrepreneurial mindset was the first of the 10 shifts or aspirations stated in the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint (2015-2025).

The panel agreed that environment, along with one’s intrinsic values and mindset were the biggest factors which determine the growth of entrepreneurs. The forum gained more than 2,000 views and 250 participants.

ABOUT PUTRA BUSINESS SCHOOL

PBS is a postgraduate business school located in Serdang. To balance between theory and practice, PBS’s globally recognized courses are facilitated by experienced industry practitioners and academics. PBS is an AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and ABEST21 (THE ALLIANCE ON BUSINESS EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP FOR TOMORROW, a 21st Century Organization) accredited school – the first business school in Malaysia with these distinctions. All programmes offered by PBS are accredited by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency and approved by the Ministry of Higher Education. PBS is recognized as one of the Top Business Schools in Malaysia by the MOHE. Academic programmes offered at PBS are MBA, PGCert, MSc and PhD.

SOURCE: Putra Business School 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Ms. Siti Badarny Hassan
Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications
Tel: 019-219 4287
Email: badarny@putrabs.edu.my
Website: www.putrabusinessschool.edu.my

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Nippon Paint Continues Driving the Future of Design with Budding Talents 13 Years On

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) — Organised by Nippon Paint, the Asia Young Designer Awards (AYDA), will see its 13th year of empowering young, budding designers to be agents of change by creating a positive impact, through design, within their communities. Held annually, student participants go through a rigorous selection process to proudly represent their countries for the grand title of Asia Young Designer of the Year 2019/20 at an international level. Despite the Covid-19 outbreak, AYDA pushes boundaries to continue nurturing designers for a better future.

Last year saw architect Tanay Bothara from India take his place at the gold spot in the Architectural Category with his award-winning project that saw him spend six weeks attending the Design Discovery Program at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design; an entire experience worth USD10,000 fully sponsored by Nippon Paint, as part of his winning prize, setting the stage for more to come this July.

In 2018, Nippon Paint announced the establishment of the Gennosuke Obata Fellowship Fund at the Harvard GSD – a fund that has been providing financial aid to GSD students from Asian countries for the past two years. This partnership brings an additional program that rewards the Regional Winners of AYDA a 6-weeks all-expense paid experience at the prestigious school.

“Nippon Paint conceptualised AYDA as part of the brand’s inclusive business project to empower and groom budding architects and interior designers across Asia. Following the 2019 A Sustainable Future theme that set the motion for aspiring designers to bring to life a sustainable future, we’re eager to see what will be brought to the table for 2020’s Human-centred Design theme,” said Wee Siew Kim, Group CEO of NIPSEA Management Company Pte. Ltd. (Subsidiary of Nippon Paint Holdings Co.)

Despite the outbreak of Covid-19 and with safety measurements in mind, Nippon Paint has made the call to present this year’s awards via a virtual ceremony attended by international judges and esteemed finalists representing their country for the grand title of categories in AYDA. The event will see finalists present their award-winning work to an esteemed panel of judges in the Interior Design Category and Architectural Category on the 8th and 9th of July respectively.

SOURCE: Mad Hat PR PLT

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name:Vanesa Paxton
Tel: 016 342 5957
Email: vanesa@madhat.asia

Name: Sarah James
Tel: 012 246 1506 
Email: sarah@madhat.asia

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — Seventy-eight novel adult cancer agents were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration between 2007-2017, but none of those drugs were researched to determine effectiveness for pediatric cancers.

That is about to change on Aug 18 when The Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity for Children Act (RACE Act) goes into effect. Passed in 2017, the RACE Act amends the existing Pediatric Research Equity Act (PREA) and eliminates the exemption from PREA requirements for cancer drugs that have orphan status.

According to a statement, the new law requires pediatric evaluation of new drugs and biologics intended for the treatment of adult cancers and directed at a molecular target substantially relevant to the growth or progression of pediatric cancer.

Clinical research companies and their pediatric research specialists, including PRA Health Sciences, will be called on to support pharmaceutical and biotech companies as they sponsor the required research for pediatric oncology indications.

“We are now 60 days away from the RACE Act going into effect, which has created a scramble to develop pediatric study plans for oncology studies,” said Vice-President for The Center for Pediatric Clinical Development at PRA Health Sciences, Dr Mark Sorrentino.

Together, with the addition of dozens of other PRA researchers and pediatric specialists, the team is ready to utilise their collective experience in pediatric clinical development to support RACE Act-focused initiatives.  

PRA Health Sciences is one of the world’s leading global contract research organisations by revenue, providing outsourced clinical development and data solution services to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

— BERNAMA