Day: April 11, 2023

Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) has appointed Azrul Reza Aziz as its new chief executive officer (CEO).

MARii chairman, Datuk Phang Ah Tong said Azrul is set to lead MARii through a new direction with strategic and consistent branding.

“With his tremendous exposure and experience in the field of automotive, technology and innovation, I am confident that Azrul has the ability and credibility to lead MARii to new heights,” he said in a statement today.

Previously, Azrul served as the group CEO of Universiti Putra Malaysia Holdings Sdn Bhd Group (UPM Holdings), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Universiti Putra Malaysia.

He has about 20 years of experience in the corporate world and has expertise in various fields, particularly the automotive sector, finance and banking, human capital development and consulting.

Azrul said one of his main priorities is to ensure MARii’s direction is in line with the national agenda and the mandate set by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI).

“I believe that the future of the automotive industry depends on the development and promotion of technology while emphasising technical expertise and providing support to local automotive and vendor companies in Malaysia.

“MARii will continue to strengthen the automotive ecosystem network in Malaysia through close collaboration with MITI as well as industry players, universities and other government agencies,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Air Asia Indonesia has launched its commercial flight services between Jakarta, Indonesia and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

H.E. Thong Rathsak, Secretary of State at the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, presided over here on April 10 the inauguration ceremony of Air Asia Indonesia direct flight from Jakarta-Phnom Penh-Jakarta.

The direct flight will start on April 19, 2023 on A320 with a capacity of 180 passengers.

Air Asia Indonesia will be offering a four-time-a-week service for the new route.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Angkor Wat’s causeway has been opened for temporary use to accommodate the expected influx of tourists during the Angkor Sankranta event.

The temporary opening was announced by the APSARA National Authority on April 10.

The tourists will be allowed to cross the causeway temporarily to facilitate the visit to the Angkor Wat Temple on the occasion of the Khmer Traditional New Year as well as the 10th anniversary of Angkor Sankranta from April 10 to 23, 2023.

Cambodia will celebrate this weekend, from April 14 to 16, their traditional New Year, one of the biggest festivals in the country.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

The Senate’s Special Select Committee on Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption today submitted two proposals to address staffing issuess in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Special Sessions Court on Corruption.

Its chairman, Senator Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said the recommendation was the result of the committee’s finding that there are constraints in handling corruption cases if the MACC does not have sufficient personnel to perform its duties as the country’s main anti-corruption body.

The findings also revealed that judges placed at the special court have no opportunities for career advancement if they are forced to transfer out of the court when they are promoted, even though their expertise is still needed to handle corruption cases.

“Therefore, the committee proposes that the Public Service Department consider new initiatives to address staffing issues at the MACC, from the replacement method to one-off (appointment) and, that it regularly monitor the filling of positions at the MACC.

“The committee also recommends that the government create promotion opportunities for judges at the special corruption court and introduce an apprentice programme in the judiciary to ensure that the replacement plan for experienced judges in handling corruption cases functions smoothly,” he said in a statement today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Cambodia this afternoon won another world record for the Largest Display of Origami Hearts.

A total of 3,917,805 origami hearts have been being displayed in the compound of Angkor Wat Temple in Siem Reap province for the Angkor Sankranta 2023 to be held from April 14 to 16.

The last record was made by the United Kingdom in 2019 with only 53,704 origami hearts.

H.E. Hun Many, President of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), expressed his delight and pride over the record-breaking of Cambodian display of origami hearts.

Cambodia also planned to break another world record for the largest Madison dance during the Angkor Sankranta 2023.

In the Angkor Sankranta 2015, Cambodia earned the Guinness World Records for the largest Madison dance with 2,015 participants, and for the giant Nom Ansorm, Cambodian sticky rice cake, weighing 4.04 tonnes.

In July 2018, Cambodia’s 1,149-metre-long Krama (scarf) won the Guinness World Record as the longest Krama, and in November of the same year, Cambodia’s longest dragon boat of 87.3 metres long and 1.94 metres wide, named “Kambojikaputtakhemaratari,” literally meaning the boat of Khmers in Cambodian territory, was listed as a Guinness World Record.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Government agencies led by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will be holding three major activities to honor the Filipino workers in connection with the celebration of the 121st Labor Day on May 1. In a statement Tuesday, the DOLE will be showcasing the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa, the awarding of government assistance to workers, and the conduct of nationwide simultaneous job fairs during the celebration early next month. The activities will be held in 16 regional sites, with the National Capital Region (NCR) as the main event site. The labor department will host the Kadiwa ng Pangulo Para sa Manggagawa to help workers access commodities at lower prices, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA). Kadiwa, which is spearheaded by DA, enables the farming community to sell goods directly to consumers without the trader-intermediaries, allowing them to reap higher profits while still offering quality products at an affordable price to consumers. Also, the DOLE will lead the payout of assistance/salaries to beneficiaries of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES), and Government Internship Program (GIP) across the regions. This year’s Labor Day theme is, ‘Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino.’ On the other hand, the simultaneous job fairs will be conducted in various SM and Robinsons malls nationwide, with the main job fair site in NCR. The venues and number of jobs available to be announced later. The DOLE is encouraging jobseekers to be ready with their application requirements, such as resume or curriculum vitae, certificate of employment for those formerly employed, diploma, and transcript of records. Other government agencies including the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG, Philhealth, and Philippine Postal Corporation will provide services during the event.

Source: Philippines News Agency