New SMA Foundation Offers Hope and Support to Children Living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
In a powerful story of hope, resilience and collective compassion, five-year-old Reese Tan Rui Xin fondly known as Baby Reese has successfully received RM9 million in lifesaving gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 (SMA Type 2), thanks to nationwide support and the dedicated efforts of several charitable organizations and creative agencies.
Diagnosed in September 2022, Baby Reese suffered severe muscle weakness due to SMA, a rare and often fatal genetic disorder. At the time, she was unable to crawl, stand or walk and needed respiratory assistance to eat and breathe, conditions that placed her life at critical risk.
Under urgent medical advice to administer the Zolgensma gene therapy before the age of two, her family turned to One Hope Charity and Welfare for help. Together with Unicorn Media and Hexarus Creative Agency, an ambitious nationwide fundraising campaign was launched and the nation responded. Through a wave of public generosity and strategic storytelling, the RM9 million goal was achieved, enabling Baby Reese to undergo treatment at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).
Today, Baby Reese is in stable and satisfactory condition, with encouraging medical results marking a major milestone in her recovery.
Foundation Launch and Awareness Mission
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is the leading genetic cause of infant mortality and a rare, inherited neuromuscular disorder that affects muscle strength and movement¹ Globally, SMA occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 live births, with birth prevalence rates varying from 1 in 6,000 to 1 in 16,000 depending on region.²
In Malaysia, although comprehensive national registries are lacking, the estimated incidence is around 1 per 20,000 live births (roughly 4.9 per 100,000), translating to 20 to 30 new cases annually.³ A local study projects that about 50 infants are born with SMA each year based on Malaysia’s annual birth population.⁴
SMA is still a little-known disease in Malaysia, impacting newborns to adolescence. Many parents are clueless how to manage this disease which is on the rise in the country.
Building on the momentum of Baby Reese’s case, Baby Reese’s mother will establish a dedicated SMA Foundation next year to raise greater awareness of SMA and support more children affected by this rare disease. The foundation aims to provide financial assistance, educational resources, and promote pre-pregnancy genetic screening to help families detect genetic risks early.
“Nothing prepares a parent for hearing that your child may not survive without a treatment you can’t afford. I am forever grateful to everyone who prayed, donated and stood with us. Reese is alive today because of you all. Now, we want to help other families walk this path with hope, not fear,” said Rachel Chung, Baby Reese’s mother.
“There are still many public misperceptions surrounding SMA, including its causes, symptoms and how families can manage the condition. Traditionally, there was no cure or hope for children diagnosed with SMA, and families had to rely entirely on supportive care to manage the symptoms,” said Professor Dr. Thong Meow Keong, UMMC’s leading geneticist and paediatrician.
“Medical advancements have offered new hope in the fight against SMA. Zolgensma is a breakthrough treatment, but timing is everything. Zolgensma is a one-time gene therapy used to treat Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic disorder that affects muscle strength and movement. Zolgensma works by replacing the missing or faulty gene (called SMN1) that causes SMA, helping the body produce the protein needed for muscle control and movement,” explained Professor Dr. Thong Meow Keong. The earlier a child receives it, the better the outcomes. We urge all parents planning a family to undergo pre-pregnancy genetic screening. Early detection saves lives and Baby Reese is living proof.”
For more information about Baby Reese, you can visit her Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/p/ClYnv6ipQ47/?igsh=MWJrb2puYzRxbDE2Yw==
¹ojrd.biomedcentral.com+1codeblue.galencentre.org+1.
² emedicine.medscape.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15clinicaltrialsarena.com+15.
⁴ physio-pedia.com+8researchgate.net+8ojrd.biomedcentral.com+8.
Toshiba Celebrates 95th Anniversary with Launch of Malaysia’s Largest-Capacity Refrigerator
Toshiba Sales & Services Sdn. Bhd. proudly unveils its latest innovation—the NaturePURE Series 820L Refrigerator, officially certified by the Malaysia Book of Records as the biggest-capacity refrigerator in Malaysia. This landmark launch marks a significant milestone in celebration of Toshiba’s 95th anniversary, honoring nearly a century of leadership in innovation, reliability and customer-focused excellence.
“In 2025, Toshiba continues to chart strong growth by expanding our diversified product portfolio to reflect the evolving needs and values of today’s consumers,” said Mr. Steven Yang, Managing Director of Toshiba Sales & Services Sdn. Bhd. Steven added that Toshiba Malaysia is targeting 25% year-on-year growth compared to 2024, driven by rising consumer demand for technologically advanced and aesthetically refined home appliances.
Sustained Market Leadership Across Core Categories
As of Q1 2025, Toshiba Malaysia has achieved significant market share across its key home appliance segments:
Toshiba’s market share continues to expand steadily across all product categories, driven by rising demand for smart, functional and energy-efficient home solutions. This results reflect the brand’s continued strength in delivering lifestyle-enhancing solutions that resonate with Malaysian households.
In the broader ASEAN region, Toshiba continues to deepen its market footprint, with Thailand maintaining strong performance and Japan, its home market, continuing to lead in brand dominance and customer loyalty.
To enhance accessibility and brand experience, Toshiba opened its first brand store in Kuala Lumpur in 2024 to overwhelming consumer response. This success has led to rapid expansion, with:
The NaturePURE 820L Refrigerator is ASEAN’s first four-door, side-by-side refrigerator with a capacity exceeding 820 litres. Designed for multi-generational households, the appliance offers expansive and compartmentalized storage—ideal for organizing everything from baby food and fresh produce to skincare items and frozen essentials.
Powered by High-Capacity Technology, the NaturePURE features super-thin insulation and component miniaturization to maximize internal storage without increasing external size.
Key Features Include:
Toshiba’s innovation roadmap includes the continued rollout of its signature “Japandi” Series—a harmonious fusion of Japanese craftsmanship and Scandinavian design sensibilities. Following the debut of the first Japandi refrigerator in 2024, Toshiba will expand the concept to include dishwashers, water purifiers, and other home appliances—bringing seamless design and intuitive functionality into modern Malaysian homes.
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Two Malaysian Startups to Compete in USD 1M Startup World Cup Grand Finale 2025 in Silicon Valley
Startup World Cup Malaysia 2025 marks a historic milestone as two national finalists—from both East and West Malaysia—will represent the country at the Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, competing for a USD 1 million investment prize.
Organised by Growth Charger, the official Malaysia partner of the global Startup World Cup by Pegasus Tech Ventures, this year’s competition attracted nearly 200 applications nationwide and aligns with over 100 regional competitions held worldwide. For the first time, dual finals are being held in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching, a major step in ensuring inclusive innovation and equal representation for startups across the nation.
The West Malaysia Semi-Final took place on 22 May at WORQ KL Sentral, where emerging founders from diverse sectors such as deep tech, digital health, and climate innovation pitched their ideas to a panel of expert judges.
Startup World Cup is a global competition and conference that brings together top innovators and business leaders, with the winner receiving a USD1M investment.
Growth Charger Co-founder and Director Iskandar Shafi’i said “Our vision has always been to empower founders regardless of geography or background. By spotlighting both East and West Malaysia, we’re not just hosting a competition, we’re building a national movement.”
In East Malaysia, the Kuching Semi-Final was held on 26 June at Makeramai Makerspace and will culminate in the East Final at Tabung Ekonomi Gagasan Anak Sarawak (TEGAS) Digital Village on 31 July. As a testament of their partnership with Startup World Cup, TEGAS will be hosting the TOP 10 East Malaysian startups to pitch and compete for the finals, aligning with their mission to nurture high-potential local talents, accelerating startup growth, and connect them to regional and global opportunities.
By introducing dual finals, KL and Kuching, the competition is making significant strides to ensure innovation from across Malaysia is equally represented on the global stage.
“At WORQ, we champion bold ideas and thriving communities. By hosting the Semi-Finals, we’re proud to help Malaysia’s brightest startups connect, compete, and shine on the world stage,” said Stephanie Ping, Co-founder and CEO of WORQ.
Echoing the same sentiment, Head of Technology Hub Development at Cyberview Sdn Bhd, Shafinaz Salim said Cyberview, as a Tech Hub Developer, accelerates startup growth by providing strategic support, resources, and market access for regional and global scaling.
“We are honoured to be part of this event and witness startups from our Cyberview Living Lab® Accelerator programme advance to their next stages of growth. This further reaffirms Cyberjaya’s collaborative ecosystem,” she said.
Meanwhile, MDEC CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil noted that Startup World Cup Malaysia reflects the country’s commitment to digital inclusion and global market access. “Initiatives like this reflect MDEC’s vision of an inclusive, innovation-driven nation, one where high-impact startups from all corners of Malaysia have the potential to succeed beyond our local shores,” he said.
“Through strategic partnerships with Malaysia Digital companies like Growth Charger, we continue to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a launchpad for regional and global tech success.”
The Finals promise to be a celebration of Malaysian startup excellence, with the Top 10 from each region set to compete for a coveted chance to take the global stage. RSVP now and witness the future of Malaysian innovation in action.
Khazanah Auditorium, Asia School of Business (ASB), Kuala Lumpur | 17th July 2025
RSVP KL Final: bit.ly/SWC2025KLFinal
TEGAS Digital Village, Sarawak | 31st July 2025
RSVP Kuching Final: bit.ly/SWC2025KuchingFinal
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Zurich Malaysia enhances customer experience with digital tools and empathy-driven support
While digitalisation continues to reshape Malaysia’s insurance and takaful landscape, Zurich Malaysia remains focused on delivering both efficient technology and compassionate, empathy-driven support to customers during challenging times. Today, insurance and takaful is no longer just about financial protection, but about providing timely assistance and understanding when it matters most.
Over the years, Zurich Malaysia has supported millions of customers through moments of crisis, from sudden loss of a loved one to major disruptions caused by accidents or illness. In these difficult moments, they were met with compassionate support that brought peace of mind when it was needed most. Their experiences reflect a growing shift in the industry, integrating digital innovation with empathy. At Zurich Malaysia, this approach is more than a strategy; it is a commitment to respond with efficiency and heartfelt care, ensuring customers receive the support they truly deserve.
Through the streamlining of traditionally complex processes into seamless and efficient platforms, digitalisation across the insurance and takaful sector is empowering customers to take greater control over their protection. However, Zurich Malaysia believes that technological advancement alone is not enough as what truly matters is how these innovations impact customers’ lives. By combining the strengths of digital tools with customer care support rooted in empathy, it ensures that the service customers receive not only meets but exceeds their expectations.
“‘Care For What Matters’ is more than a slogan we put on the wall. It’s a standard we hold ourselves to every day,” said Ally Robertson, Country Chief Operations Officer at Zurich Malaysia, “Digitalisation goes beyond speed and removes friction. It’s about enabling our people to respond with empathy, insights and purpose, especially when our customers are going through some of life’s hardest moments.”
Among the many lives Zurich Malaysia has supported over the past year, the following stories reflect the emotional weight of those moments, and how timely protection made a real difference when life took an unexpected turn.
In Johor, Nor Hasimah binti Ahmad Shukri was left to care for her young child after the sudden passing of her husband from cancer. Amid grief and uncertainty, she needed timely support to stabilise her family’s finances. Zurich Malaysia’s digitised claim verification and payout system ensured the death claim was processed swiftly, giving her the support she needed to secure her family’s future.
A more complex case unfolded in Kota Bharu, where Hasnira binti Mat Jusoh's late husband had not named a nominee in his insurance policy. What could have become a lengthy and difficult process was resolved through Zurich Malaysia’s internal records and dedicated staff follow-up. She was guided step by step until the payout was delivered, a reminder that while systems matter, follow-through matters even more.
Meanwhile, Zainuddin bin Abdul Halim and his son were affected by the Putra Heights gas leak explosion that resulted in the total loss of their vehicles. Amid the disruption, Zurich Malaysia’s user-friendly digital claims platform helped them to submit reports, upload documentation, and track their claims with ease.
Iris Dang, Chief Operations Officer, Property and Casualty at Zurich Malaysia, said “What truly matters to us is how we support our customers during their most difficult times. These stories remind us that insurance/takaful isn’t just about policies/certificates and payouts, it’s about listening with empathy, understanding unique needs, and being there with clear, caring support every step of the way. Our teams are trained to go beyond transactions and build meaningful connections, ensuring every interaction is focused on what our customers truly need. That human touch makes all the difference when lives are impacted.”
As Zurich Malaysia continues to evolve, our focus remains on building solutions that are digitally enabled and deeply empathetic. We Don’t Just Cover, We Care is at the core of our heart. We stand with our customers, offering clarity, compassion and support when it matters most. This is our promise and our commitment to truly Care For What Matters.
To learn more about how Zurich Malaysia supports customers, kindly please visit zurich.com.my.
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