17 March 2021 - Nippon Paint Holdings Co Ltd (NPHD) today announced that Nippon Paint (M) Sdn Bhd (NP Malaysia), a 100% subsidiary of NPHD, is acquiring majority stakes in Vital Technical Sdn Bhd (Vital Technical).
Vital Technical, established in 2002, is the No.1 player in Malaysian Sealants, Adhesives and Fillers (SAF) market. It is headquartered in Malaysia with four production facilities and has expanded its business to more than 70 countries worldwide, mainly in Southeast Asia.
In line with Nippon Paint’s expansion strategy into adjacent segments, this acquisition will see Nippon Paint’s growth as a market leader in the home and industrial improvement solutions industry. NPHD Group and Vital Technical will accelerate market growth and strengthen its financial position through mutual sales whilst expanding on product line-ups, including Selleys, a recent business integration by NP Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur, 17 March 2021 - The Malaysian property rental industry has taken a large hit as a result of COVID-19. However, it must be noted that there has been a lack of technological innovation in past years, causing it to stagnate despite the advancement in cashless payments and contactless methods. To add, there is an estimated RM 3 billion in locked funds as a result of security deposits and additional initial rental payments required prior to moving in, according to a study by BlueDuck. Realizing this gap, BlueDuck was launched with the aim to make the rental experience more seamless and efficient, doing away with old and archaic methods through technology. BlueDuck achieves this through its Insurtech and Zero Deposit solutions, ensuring safety for landlords while saving thousands for tenants.
One of the long-standing issues that come with renting a new unit include the exorbitant initial fee. Traditionally, two and a half months worth of rental along with a deposit are required in order to move into a newly rented property. If for example, monthly rental costs RM 2,000, the amount of initial payment needed would be RM 7,000. Through BlueDuck’s Zero Deposit policy, a tenant would only need to pay RM 2,000 in advanced rental to move into the same unit. This is particularly important in today’s climate with the pandemic severely impacting the expendable income available to prospective tenants. Through BlueDuck, tenants will enjoy huge savings, unlocking funds for other purchases and in turn, spurring Malaysia’s economy. Not to mention, auto debit is also available to make automatic deduction an option for tenants should they go for the seamless payment option.
Kuala Lumpur, 16 March 2021 - Over a third of Malaysian women have experienced sexual harassment and it has become even more alarming with an increase of such cases during the pandemic. According to statistics by All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), there were 162 complaints of sexual harassment in 2020, a drastic increase of 218% of its total cases from 2017 to 2019.1 Amongst those who had reported the instances of sexual harassment, most told a friend (54%) or family (51%) about being sexually harassed, rather than the police (15%).2 To date, Malaysia does not have a standalone sexual harassment law in the country, resulting in many unreported cases as most people are unsure if they are able to get justice, or are not willing to spend the time and money required to get redress under the currently available laws.
In light of the growing concern, Truecaller, the leading Caller ID and spam blocking app from Sweden, launched its annual anti-sexual harassment campaign - #ItsNotOk - in Malaysia, in conjunction with International Women’s month. The objective of the campaign is to encourage the survivors to voice out against the injustices of sexual harassment, specifically experienced through calls or text.
