Thailand has announced it is to resume the Test and Go travel scheme from 1 February.
Jasa Sarjana introduces rebranded ACTIV-e Film by ICE-μ for Mazda Cars in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Jasa Sarjana Sdn Bhd continues to bolster its line-up of window tint products, with its rebranding of the official window film for Mazda cars, as official supplier to Bermaz Motor Sdn Bhd.
With the recent rebranding exercise, Skytint – the solar and security film distributed by Jasa Sarjana exclusively for Mazda vehicles in Malaysia – is now known as ACTIV-e Film by ICE-μ. This new product moniker reflects the recent induction of ICE-μ into the technology stable of Riken Technos Corporation of Japan, the leading plastic film and automotive parts manufacturer in Japan with a presence in dozens of countries around the world.
Jasa Sarjana welcomes their continuing role as the official supplier of window films to Bermaz Motor while maintaining the same innovative technology of ICE-μ, which is the window film with the highest clarity in the market.
The features of ICE-μ are now better reflected in the new name of the rebranded product.
- ACTIV-e Film is designed to actively block ultraviolet and infrared waves, reducing interior degradation and heat transmission while letting in visible light.
- Whereas the “e” designation in its name stands for “electrons,” representing the advanced nanotechnology at the molecular level that is built-in to the film’s superior Ultra Nano Particles.
- And because it blocks heat, less energy is used for air conditioning, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint, giving the “e” in ACTIV-e an ecological focus as well as providing better fuel economy.
As an exclusive private label from Jasa Sarjana, ACTIV-e Film by ICE-μ is available only preinstalled in Mazda cars sold in Malaysia.
To know more about ACTIV-e Film or ICE-μ, the technology behind ACTIV-e, please visit: www.ice-u.com.my/activ-e
#JasaSarjana
Reckitt’s Survey Uncovers HK Couples’ Attitude Towards Intimacy and Home Hygiene
Men and women concerned over completely opposite topics, with about 40% had conflicts over ‘intimate relationship’ or ‘home hygiene’
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – When couples enter into a new stage of life such as marriage and becoming parents, how do these changes in identities and responsibilities affect the relationship? To understand how Hong Kong couples get along in terms of ‘Intimate Relationship’ and ‘Home Hygiene’, Reckitt Benckiser (Hong Kong) Limited (Reckitt) surveyed more than 1,000 unmarried and married couples in Hong Kong between November and December 2021[1] for ‘Hong Kong Wellness in Action Index’, the company’s ongoing series of health insights launched in early 2021.
The survey unveils yawning gaps in couples who are unmarried, married or parents, over their expectations and communications on ‘intimate relationship’ and ‘home hygiene’, hinting at an urgent need to forge better communications among couples.
Polarising priorities between couples widens the communication gap
While synchrony between couples is important in maintaining a healthy relationship, the survey findings suggest that male and female respondents placed a completely opposing level of emphasis on ‘intimate relationship’ and ‘home hygiene’, with nearly 40% of them having had conflicts with their partners over these topics (39%). The polarising views could liken communications to casting pearls to swine, and eventually lead to major disputes.
The survey results indicate that nearly 80% of male respondents think that consensus with their partners on ‘intimate relationship’ was very important in maintaining their relationship (78%), but only 65% of female respondents feel the same. On the contrary, almost 85% of female respondents believe that getting consensus over ‘home hygiene’ is important (84%) while only 75% of male respondents share the same thought.
Gender dominance in conversations is putting partners ‘on mute’
The fact that men and women are placing differing levels of emphasis on these topics further affects how proactive they are when communicating with each other. The survey found that discussions related to ‘intimate relationship’ were mostly raised by male (45%) – over six times more common than women (6%). The story is flipped when it comes to discussions on ‘home hygiene’, female respondents (48%) were over four times more likely to initiate such discussion than male (9%).
Meanwhile, the ‘more passive gender’ on certain topics showed little desire to communicate more. For example, male respondents (34%) were twice as less interested than female respondents (61%) in having more conversations with their partners on ‘home hygiene’ issues. However, avoiding difficult communications doesn’t mean that conflicts are not occurring. On the contrary, failing to balance the ‘power in discourse’ between couples could result in long-term adverse impacts on the relationship.
Dissatisfaction grows as relationship length increases and parents are twice as likely to argue
As couples step into different stages of the relationship, their expectations and satisfaction levels for ‘intimate relationship’ and ‘home hygiene’ gradually changed, resulting in more frequent conflicts, especially when it comes to ‘intimate relationship’. While 82% of unmarried couples rated the quality of their sexual life as “quite- to very-satisfying”, only 57% of parents said the same, marking a 25% satisfaction gap. The survey also indicated that parent respondents are twice as likely to get into an argument with their partners on ‘intimate relationship’ than those without children.
‘Home hygiene’ has become the ‘conflict trigger’ of married couples – more than half of parents reported that they have had disputes with their partners over ‘home hygiene’ issues (51%) – triple that of unmarried couples (16%), and nearly 30% parents interviewed said they have blamed their partners on the lack of hygiene awareness (29%). These figures may suggest that there is a bigger expectation gap among parents, leading more readily to conflict.
Establishing positive communications and pragmatic expectations have always been the key to building a stronger and healthier relationship. Check out Reckitt’s Wellness Lifehack and learn from Sexuality Educator on the tips of enhancing positive and effective communications among couples, such as initiating a ‘weekly intimate conversation’ with your partner to add romance to your relationship.
The challenge of maintaining hygiene awareness
The survey found that almost 80% of interviewed couples believe that the pandemic has changed the hygiene habits of themselves and their partners (79%). However, respondents showed a lack of confidence in whether they and their partners can maintain good hygiene habits – one in six respondents felt that their partners’ hygiene awareness had dropped, comparing to last year when the pandemic was more severe.
Although the pandemic showed signs of abating towards the end of 2021, and hygiene awareness of some of the public may have slackened, the pandemic situation has consistently threatened the community recently. Refer to the ten tips that enable individuals to become the best hygiene partner for their loved ones.
Mr. Boudewijn Feith, Reckitt General Manager Hong Kong/Taiwan, added “Reckitt has always existed to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. Last year, we launched the first ‘Wellness in Action Index’ which offered tips for the public from different age groups to build a healthier lifestyle under the pandemic. This year, we are leveraging the insights obtained from our new survey, and our product brands such as Dettol, Durex and Vanish, to encourage intimacy and improve hygiene protection among couples under the new normal, with an aim to making every moment that couples share together a lovely and happy one.”
Reckitt commissioned an independent research firm to launch the “Hong Kong Wellness in Action Index” in 2021, to initiate better in-depth discussion of various health-related topics on a regular basis and develop a better understanding on citizens’ overall wellness levels. As of today, more than 2,000 Hong Kong citizens have been polled, for details, please visit www.reckittwellnessindex.hk.
[1] FRC (Hong Kong) Ltd, an independent research firm, was commissioned to conduct the survey between 22 November to 3 December 2021. There were 1,010 randomly selected respondents, including 303 unmarried individuals who are in a relationship and have a plan to get married, 309 respondents who are married without child and 398 individuals who are married and have children.
About Reckitt
Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege.
Reckitt is the company behind some of the World’s most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in Hygiene, Health and Nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more.
Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always.
We are a diverse global team of more than 43,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society.
Find out more, or get in touch with us, at Reckitt.com
About ‘Hong Kong Wellness in Action Index’, please visit: www.reckittwellnessindex.hk
* Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies
#Reckitt
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
MSIG Launches ‘Pledge A Difference’ Initiative To Assist Food Aid Foundation In Supporting B40 Families Through Difficult Times
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd “(MSIG Malaysia)”, has partnered with Food Aid Foundation (FAF), a non-profit governmental organization (NGO) that collects and distributes food to charitable homes, volunteer welfare organisations, low-income families and soup kitchens, to launch the ‘Pledge A Difference’ initiative.
As part of the initiative, MSIG made a donation of RM50,000 directly to FAF, of which RM10,000 is channelled towards providing relief to victims of the floods that happened in December 2021 and January 2022. The company is also encouraging the public to donate to the charity in its name and has agreed to match those donations on a ringgit-to-ringgit basis, up to a cap of RM30,000. Once the RM30,000 public donation target is reached, MSIG will contribute an additional RM30,000 to FAF, bringing the total donation to RM110,000.
Commenting on the ‘Pledge A Difference’ initiative, MSIG Chief Executive Officer Mr. Chua Seck Guan said, “It has been a tough year for many families due to the ongoing pandemic and the floods that have devastated many areas. Many people have lost their main sources of income or primary caregivers from Covid-19, and suffered losses and damages to their properties from the floods. Through the amazing work of FAF, we really want to help ease some of their burdens. We, as the insurer who ‘sees the heart in everything’, are sure that MSIG customers and the public will share this sentiment and contribute generously to FAF, taking advantage of our pledge to match this contribution on a ringgit-to-ringgit basis and therefore doubling the impact of their donations.”
“We are delighted to be working with FAF who does such worthy work. It only takes RM75 to help one family, so we are hoping that our initial contribution, combined with donations from the public and our pledge to match those donations, will raise a total of RM110,000 for FAF and this will go towards helping over 1,000 families in severe need,” said Mr. Chua.
Anyone interested in donating to FAF and taking advantage of MSIG’s matching contribution pledge can find instructions on the process on the following webpage: www.msig.com.my/about/news-media/msig-partners-with-food-aid-foundation-for-pledge-a-difference-initiative. Donors can participate in the ‘Pledge A Difference’ initiative up till 25 January 2022.
Food Aid Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Dalphine Ong said, “We are very happy to be working with MSIG Malaysia, to help vulnerable communities and families. We are grateful for the support of both MSIG, its customers and the public whose contribution will make a real difference in the lives of some underprivileged families who have been hit by setbacks of the pandemic and then the floods. We encourage, everyone, whether affiliated with MSIG or not, to visit our website and learn more about our work at www.foodaidfoundation.org.”
The ‘Pledge A Difference’ initiative is just one of several initiatives that MSIG has supported during the past few years as part of its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, its effort to support a number of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as various pandemic related relief initiatives focused on providing support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and frontliners through the crisis.
About MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd
MSIG Insurance (Malaysia) Bhd (“MSIG Malaysia”) is a subsidiary of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Limited and a member of MS&AD Insurance Group Holding, Inc. (MS&AD), one of the top ten** general insurers in the world.
With over 100 years of general insurance experience and a nationwide network of 20 branches in Malaysia, MSIG Malaysia is one of the leading general insurers in Fire, Engineering and Motor classes and No.1* in Marine Cargo, offering an extensive range of products and services for personal and business needs.
MSIG Malaysia’s expertise is well recognised through its receipt of many prestigious awards. These have included the 2020 Reader’s Digest Quality Service Award – Silver winner in the Car Insurance category. MSIG was recognized for having one of the highest levels of quality service, which reflects the effort that the company has put in to satisfy consumer’s demand for high service standards. The company was also awarded the 2018 “Outstanding Property and Casualty Insurer in Malaysia” award in the InsuranceAsia News Awards for Excellence. MSIG Malaysia was commended for leading the market with strong financial growth, investment in product innovation, enhanced digital capabilities in business and claims management systems and strong customer service proposition. Its commitment to customer service excellence through its efforts in enhancing the customer experience and industry leadership in Enterprise Risk Management also earned MSIG Malaysia the “General Insurance Company of the Year” at the Asia Insurance Industry Awards in 2015.
For more information on MSIG Malaysia, visit www.msig.com.my or facebook.com/MSIGmy.
*As of Dec 2020
**Fortune Global 500, 2019.
About Food Aid Foundation (FAF)
Food Aid Foundation (FAF) is the first non-profit organization in Malaysia that rescues perishable and non-perishable surplus food. Established in 2013, our mission is to reduce food wastage and alleviate hunger and malnourishment in Malaysia.
FAF collects and distributes the excess or surplus food from wholesale and supermarkets daily and distribute to underprivileged beneficiaries consisting of welfare and charitable homes, shelters, poor families, destitute, other NGOs, refugee communities and soup kitchens.
While making efforts in preventing edible food from going to waste [official statistics published by SWCorp Malaysia that edible food being sent to landfill stands at 3,000 tones daily], FAF also addresses the issues of malnourishment and lack of nutritious food among the poor, especially children and elderly from the B40 communities. To do these, FAF partners with community organizations including NGOs and B40 residential areas through the following initiatives:
- Nutritious food for charities where nutritious food supplies are channelled to charity and people in need.
- Savings for charities especially on food and grocery bills for charity organization and poor families so that their living expenses can be redirected to education, medical, rehabilitation, utilities, and other expenses.
- CSR for corporate donors to engage with the local communities and increase positive social impact, i.e., hunger alleviation, access to nutritious meals.
- Protecting the environment by ensuring good food to be donated than going to the landfill and reduce the negative impact of food waste on the environment.
#MSIGMalaysia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Schools in Laos Begin Face-to-face Classes
Schools in Laos are to begin reopening face-to-face classes following months of closure due to heavy Covid-19 restrictions.
AIA appoints new Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) for Singapore
This latest appointment builds on the company’s ESG push, following its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – AIA Singapore today announced the official appointment of Ms Leong Li Sun as its new Head of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG). This newly created role is part of the leading life and health insurer’s transformational push to ensure a more sustainable future for the individuals and families it serves. Li Sun will report to Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore.
As the Head of ESG, Li Sun’s mandate is to further embed AIA’s ESG commitment within the company’s operations, across five strategic pillars that will deliver long-term value for stakeholders: Health and Wellness, Green Operations, Sustainable Investment, People and Culture, and Effective Governance. Li Sun will be working closely with AIA Group and the respective functions locally to develop and oversee AIA Singapore’s environmental, social and governance policies, as well as to ensure compliance with group regional policies and recognised best-in-class practices for accountability and transparency.
Li Sun is a certified sustainability practitioner with 10 years of experience in corporate sustainability. Prior to joining AIA Singapore, Li Sun held the position of Vice President, Head of Corporate Sustainability at United Overseas Bank (UOB) and served as Secretariat for the UOB Group Sustainability Committee. During her time in UOB, Li Sun successfully drove the integration of the company’s sustainability strategy across all functions, and secured UOB’s inclusion on the 2019, 2020 and 2021 Bloomberg Gender Equality Index and position as one of the few ASEAN banks to be rated “Low Risk” by Sustainalytics.
Ms Wong Sze Keed, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Singapore, said, “I am delighted to welcome Li Sun into our AIA family. Her arrival will drive momentum in expanding AIA Singapore’s ESG credentials that will take our industry leadership to new heights and deliver meaningful outcomes for all.”
“ESG is at the heart of our purpose to help people live healthier, longer, better lives, as our collective future depends on the actions we are taking today. Our 2050 net-zero target is the latest in a series of initiatives that underscores this very commitment.”
AIA Group – holding total assets of US$326 billion[1] – is doubling down on its ESG commitments, recently announcing that the company sold off almost US$10 billion of investments in coal mining and coal-fired power business, and that it won’t make new investments in businesses directly involved in coal mining or generating electricity from coal.
AIA is the largest pan-Asian life and health insurer to commit to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The company is also committed to the Science Based Target initiatives (SBTi)[2], which will inform its US$286 billion investment portfolio[3] engagement processes.
[1] https://www.aia.com/content/dam/group/en/docs/annual-report/AIA%20Group%20Annual%20Report%202020%20(Eng).pdf
[2] The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body enabling businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science, to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement
[3] Investment portfolio size as at June 2021, https://www.aia.com/en/media-centre/press-releases/2021/aia-group-press-release-20211207.html
About AIA
AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively “AIA” or the “Group”) comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei and Macau SAR(2), and a 49 per cent joint venture in India.
The business that is now AIA was first established in Shanghai more than a century ago in 1919. It is a market leader in Asia (ex-Japan) based on life insurance premiums and holds leading positions across the majority of its markets. It had total assets of US$330 billion as of 30 June 2021.
AIA meets the long-term savings and protection needs of individuals by offering a range of products and services including life insurance, accident and health insurance and savings plans. The Group also provides employee benefits, credit life and pension services to corporate clients. Through an extensive network of agents, partners and employees across Asia, AIA serves the holders of more than 39 million individual policies and over 16 million participating members of group insurance schemes.
AIA Group Limited is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code “1299” with American Depositary Receipts (Level 1) traded on the over-the-counter market (ticker symbol: “AAGIY”).
Notes:
1. Hong Kong SAR refers to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
2. Macau SAR refers to Macau Special Administrative Region.
#AIA
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Foodpanda Reveals Pau-Pau as a Brand Ambassador
foodpanda reveals Pau-Pau as a brand ambassador who is friendly, easygoing, and ready to shake the food and beverage delivery industry.
On January 5th, 2022, foodpanda Laos introduced a fresh face for the brand – Pau Pau, joining the celebration of foodpanda’s 10th anniversary as the pioneering food and grocery delivery platform in Asia. A fun-loving and free-spirited panda that is the first of its kind brand ambassador, championing empowerment and sustainability across the region, bringing a fresh and vibrant user experience to the platform.
foodpanda has launched “panda paradise” as a grand campaign to welcome 2022 by having Pau Pau travel all over the country, spreading the panda love to customers and to become one of Laos number one food and beverage delivery brands that is convenient, trusted, and enjoyed by customers nationwide.
The introduction of “Pau-Pau”, our latest Brand Ambassador, is to shake the food and beverage delivery industry in Laos and the Asia-Pacific region. “Pau-Pau” is a happy panda with a loving, bright, and friendly personality, who loves food and is an expert in choosing and recommending the best local dishes to his best friends.
3 fun facts about Pau-Pau
He’s (Likeable) and wants to be friends with everyone, Pau-Pau wants everyone to enjoy and have fun with their own way of living.
He’s (Easy going), comfortable with any lifestyle, and an environment lover.
He’s (Witty & Mischievous) his pocket is filled with his coolness and ready to entertain everyone.
Although Pau-Pau speaks “Pandanese” as his main language, he is able to say some of his favorite words such as Pizzaaaa…, Pastaaaa…, Bubble teaaa…, and Shampoooo….
Everyone can also follow Pau-Pau’s movement on foodpanda application and on their social media platforms. Pau Pau fans can enjoy his stickers on the LINE app and virtually engage with the Pau Pau AR filter on Instagram. Lastly, enjoy Pau Pau’s cute series that gives us a glimpse of the panda’s paradise, and follow for upcoming episodes on foodpanda Lao.
Meet Surface Pro 8 – the most powerful 2-in-1 Surface built for Windows 11
Microsoft announces pre-orders of new Surface Pro 8 starting 20 January in Singapore
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 20 January 2022 – Microsoft today announced that pre-orders for the new Surface Pro 8 will commence from 20 January in Singapore via commercial authorised resellers and retailers, and the Microsoft Store.

From now till 14 February, customers who pre-order a Surface Pro 8 on the Microsoft Store or via any authorised retailer or reseller will receive a complimentary Surface Pro Signature Keyboard[1] (worth $239). Consumers can also enjoy a 1-month free subscription for Microsoft 365 and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Starting at SG$1,649, Surface Pro 8 is equipped with 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors and two Thunderbolt 4 ports for higher performance and faster connections for all your multitasking needs. Loaded with the new Windows 11 and up to 16 hours of battery life, Surface Pro 8 is the most powerful 2-in-1 PC on the market.
“We are excited to bring the new Surface Pro 8 to Singapore, our most powerful Pro ever. For the last decade, Surface has been at the forefront – challenging convention, pioneering new experiences and creating entirely new categories of devices. Today, we are revealing an update to our iconic 2-in-1, representing the most significant leap forward since Pro 3. We hope that this will help users unlock more possibilities as they work on-the-go or from home, to deliver connected user experiences in our new hybrid world of work,” said Shyamol Bansal, Business Group Lead for Surface, Microsoft Singapore.
Surface Pro 8 combines the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, with the iconic Kickstand and detachable Keyboard, as well as built-in Slim Pen storage and charging.[2] It is also designed to light up the best of Windows 11, which features powerful new experiences that bring you closer to what you love. New features such as Snap Layouts, Widgets and Groups will empower your productivity and inspire your creativity, complementing the new Surface Pro 8 for a seamless user experience.
Surface Pro 8 features a vibrant 13″ PixelSense touchscreen that is virtually edge to edge. With Dolby® Vision™ and Adaptive Color Technology, users can enjoy a viewing experience that is comfortable on the eyes and true to life. Surface Pro 8 is the ideal hybrid device, giving you a dynamic on-the-go tablet and the ultimate work-from-home set-up. The incredible 5MP front-facing camera, 10MP-4K rear-facing camera, Dolby® Atmos™ sound, and dual far-field Studio Mics will keep users looking and sounding their best.
The new Surface Pro Signature Keyboard provides storage and charging capability for the new Surface Slim Pen 2, keeping it nearby and ready whenever inspiration strikes. Now equipped with haptic feedback and a 120Hz display refresh rate, users can experience new ways to create on screen, complete with the feeling of pen on paper. It is also equipped with zero force inking that allows instant ink flow the moment the Slim Pen 2 touches the screen. Best of all, it works across the entire portfolio of ink-enabled Surface devices, allowing more users to enjoy the power and precision of the new Slim Pen 2.
Surface Pro 8 is available for pre-orders starting 20 January via commercial authorised resellers AsiaPac Distribution , Insight Technology Solutions , JK Technology and UIC Asian Computer Services. Authorised retailers include Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Gain City, Harvey Norman, Microsoft Store and Microsoft authorised stores on Lazada and Shopee.
It will be generally available from 15 February and will be available in the following configurations in Singapore:
For more information on the latest Surface devices, please visit our blog .
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://news.microsoft.com. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-public-relations-contacts.
#Microsoft