GXBank receives approval from Bank Negara to commence operations
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Grab-led digital bank, GX Bank Bhd (GXBank) has completed an operational readiness review and has been approved to commence operations effective Sept 1, 2023, by the Minster of Finance and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
The latest development makes GXBank the first of the five digital bank license applicants to receive approval, and it is ahead of the April 2024 deadline set by BNM.
In a statement, GXBank said it will leverage technology and innovation to serve the needs of the unserved and underserved individuals, and micro and small medium enterprises (MSME).
Additionally, the digital-only bank will support customers’ needs through various channels including a bank app and 24/7 customer support via multiple platforms.
“At GXBank, we are driven by our shared purpose and passion to bring positive transformation to the financial industry, starting with solutions to address the financial struggles of Malaysians and businesses.
Read more: GXBank receives approval from Bank Negara to commence operations
Rise of AI-based scams (Poll Inside)
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PETALING JAYA: Operators of dubious investment schemes are exploiting the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI), using it as a tempting facade to entice victims.
The new wave of fraud is being promoted by these operators, who claim their AI-backed schemes are almost fail-proof and a sure-fire way of making profits.
Raymon Ram, a criminologist who specialises in the field of financial forensics, said that with AI appearing as a symbol of advanced capability and promise, unscrupulous individuals are exploiting it to gain the trust of the public.
“We have seen AI-driven chatbots that are designed to replicate genuine human interactions and make scams appear more authentic.
“Then there are technologies such as deepfakes, which can craft extremely realistic videos and be misused to show prominent businessmen and celebrities supposedly endorsing these investment schemes.
MCMC working on regulations to address online harm, media ‘imbalance’
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PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will follow Australia and Canada’s adoption of a digital regulation policy to address online harm and media imbalance.
MCMC said it held a meeting to address these challenges yesterday with the communications and digital ministry and online platforms Meta and Google.
“The ministry and MCMC are engaging in discussions with major online platforms, including Meta and Google, to establish a licensing and regulatory framework,” it said in a statement today.
The challenges include child sexual abuse material; online gambling; content on race, religion and royalty; scams and phishing; online trade of illegal drugs and substances; impersonation; and fake news.
Read more: MCMC working on regulations to address online harm, media ‘imbalance’
Experts warn of threat from ‘superbugs’ (Poll Inside)
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PETALING JAYA: Doctors and healthcare workers have turned to social media to warn Malaysians of the emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR) or “superbugs” threat.
Among them is former deputy health director-general Datuk Dr Christopher Lee, who recently tweeted about the AMR global threat raised by Dr Giri Rajahram from the United States.
“Unless the world governments and citizens come together to address this holistically and strategically, AMR is another pandemic waiting to explode, and in some regions and countries, it already has,” Dr Lee said.
He agreed with Dr Giri’s observations that AMR is no longer a silent pandemic because doctors in many parts of the world, including Asia, deal with patients with difficult-to-treat multi-resistant organisms.
Dr Farhana Mohamad from Poliklinik Anna in Melaka, who lost a younger sibling due to AMR related to pneumonia in 2018, said antibiotics could be a cure or poison like all other medications if not taken according to indication.
Read more: Experts warn of threat from ‘superbugs’ (Poll Inside)
Malaysia Airlines: FAQ on meals taken out of context
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KUALA LUMPUR: Amid its catering chaos since last Friday, Malaysia Airlines has not asked its passengers to bring their own meals onboard its flights, people close to the national carrier said.
They said certain media had taken the frequently asked questions (FAQ) that Malaysia Airlines posted on its website on Aug 30 out of context.
"It (the FAQ) was taken out of context, especially for questions number 8 and 9. This does not mean that the airline would not provide (in-flight) meals to its passengers. It simply can't do that as the ticket purchased, whether it's one-way or return, includes the pricing for meals onboard the flight," an insider told the New Straits Times today.
"This is a full-service carrier (FSC) and a national carrier. It's not a budget airline where most of them don't allow passengers to bring their own meals because they sell their own food and beverages onboard their flights," the insider added.
Malaysia Airlines stated in its FAQ that "passengers may bring their own meals onboard subject to liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) requirements. LAGs must not exceed 100ml per the requirements for international passengers departing or transiting at international airports in Malaysia."
Read more: Malaysia Airlines: FAQ on meals taken out of context
Kenaikan harga beras import: Permintaan beras putih tempatan meningkat
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KUALA LUMPUR: Kenaikan harga beras putih import memberi manfaat kepada industri padi dan beras negara kerana ia telah mendorong peningkatan permintaaan pengguna kepada beras putih tempatan, kata Setiausaha Bahagian Pembangunan Industri Padi, Kementerian Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan Datuk Azman Mahmood.
Beliau berkata kenaikan harga beras putih import di seluruh negara susulan penyelarasan harga yang dibuat oleh Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas), menyebabkan pengguna kini lebih cenderung membeli beras putih tempatan yang dijual pada harga dikawal iaitu sekitar RM2.60 sekilogram atau RM26 sekampit.
"Bila harga beras putih import melonjak daripada RM33 kepada RM39, ia akan menjadi satu fenomena, semua orang akan mencari beras tempatan.
"Dahulu sekitar 2021, beras tempatan tiada pemintaan. Semua cari beras import sebab harga tidak jauh berbeza, sekarang (beza) RM26 dengan RM39. Semua akan fokus kepada beras tempatan terutamanya peniaga," katanya kepada Bernama ketika ditemui di pejabatnya di Putrajaya semalam.
Read more: Kenaikan harga beras import: Permintaan beras putih tempatan meningkat
10 pengecas EV percuma disediakan di Shah Alam
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SHAH ALAM: Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) menyediakan 10 pengecas kenderaan elektrik (EV) secara percuma di beberapa lokasi di bawah kawasan pentadbiran pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT) itu setakat ini.
Datuk Bandar Shah Alam Nor Fuad Abdul Hamid berkata perkhidmatan berkenaan boleh didapati di Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Wisma MBSA dan di pejabat cawangan MBSA.
"Setakat ini MBSA sudah ada 10 pengecas EV dengan kerjasama Kementerian Tenaga Teknologi Hijau Dan Air (KeTTHA) sebelum ini. Sekarang sudah banyak syarikat swasta berminat untuk bekerjasama dengan MBSA bagi membina pengecas EV.
"Kami sedang selaraskan dengan Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Desa (PLANMalaysia) sebab garis panduannya baru dilancarkan, begitu juga dari Kementerian Pengangkutan. Dari segi teknikal pemasangan ia akan disahkan oleh Suruhanjaya Tenaga Malaysia (ST)," katanya.
Impact of bad air quality, AMR needs further study
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PETALING JAYA: There are correlations between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and air quality, say experts.
However, they said further studies are needed to ascertain its impact in the local setting. They were commenting on a recent study published in the Lancet Planetary Health journal, indicating the correlation between air pollution and AMR.
Head of Infection Control Unit, Department of Medical Microbiology at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Hospital UPM, Tengku Dr Zetty Maztura Tengku Jamaluddin said the occurrence of antibacterial genetic elements have been documented in the environment, including in water and soil.
“PM2.5 is a fine particulate matter, with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller. These tiny particles are a component of air pollution and can be released into the atmosphere from various sources, including industrial processes, vehicle emissions, and natural events like wildfires,” she said.
PM2.5 refers to atmospheric particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers.
Read more: Impact of bad air quality, AMR needs further study
Consumer Credit Act to govern 'consultants', protect borrowers
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KUALA LUMPUR: Non-banking entities, credit counsellors and management agents who are currently unregulated in offering their services, will soon be subjected to the proposed Consumer Credit Act (CCA).
The act, which is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament by the end of this year, will also seek to protect consumers from non-bank credit providers and credit service providers by ensuring proper conduct, fair, efficient and transparent services.
NST yesterday reported on the emergence of intermediary groups who are preying on desperate borrowers.
These groups would put up a helpful front and promote their skills to bargain with money lenders, including loan sharks.
In response to the NST Focus' report, the Consumer Credit Oversight Board Task Force (CCOBTF) said all credit and credit service providers would soon be required to obtain authorisation from the Consumer Credit Oversight Board (CCOB), which will be established under the CCA.
CCOBTF, which was set up in July 2021, is led by the Finance Ministry, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission Malaysia to drive the enactment of the CCA.
Read more: Consumer Credit Act to govern 'consultants', protect borrowers
Naikkan lantai ekonomi dengan tingkatkan kuasa beli rakyat
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KUALA LUMPUR: Lantai ekonomi negara perlu dinaikkan dengan meningkatkan kuasa beli yang seterusnya dapat membaiki kualiti hidup rakyat.
Pensyarah Kanan Pusat Pengajian Ekonomi, Kewangan dan Perbankan (SEFB), Prof. Madya Dr. Irwan Shah Zainal Abidin berpandangan, pendekatan kerajaan melalui kerangka Ekonomi Madani adalah tepat untuk menyelesaikan dilema mengenai isu kos sara hidup.
“Saya melihat apa yang dibentangkan dalam kerangka Ekonomi Madani itu, secara prinsipnya tepat. Sebab itu apabila digunakan analogi rumah yang perlu dinaikkan bukan sahaja siling, bahkan juga lantainya.
"Kalau kita nak naikkan siling, tetapi lantai yang merujuk kepada kuasa beli dan pendapatan rakyat masih rendah, maka pembangunan itu tidak boleh dikatakan sebagai manusiawi,” katanya.
Jelasnya, peningkatan pendapatan rakyat menjamin kualiti hidup lebih baik meskipun berdepan kenaikan harga, seperti yang berlaku di Singapura.
Read more: Naikkan lantai ekonomi dengan tingkatkan kuasa beli rakyat
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