KUALA LUMPUR: AutoCount Dotcom Bhd (ADB), via its wholly-owned subsidiary Auto Count Sdn Bhd (ACSB), partnered with IAB LCCI Ltd, a collaboration formed following the Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers’ (IAB) acquisition of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) qualifications.

This agreement sets the stage for Asia’s first Cloud Accounting Certification Program, which will equip finance professionals with essential skills for the digital era.

The program will be launched on January 1, 2025, marking a significant step forward in modernising the region’s accounting landscape.

Under this collaboration, ADB will design the certification curriculum around its AutoCount Cloud Accounting software.

The syllabus will be submitted to IAB LCCI for accreditation.

IAB LCCI is regulated by the UK’s Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), enhancing the certification’s credibility and alignment with global standards.

With LCCI’s extensive reach across Asia, the certification will be accessible through its network of educational centres and partner institutions, providing aspiring accountants with in-demand cloud accounting expertise.

ADB CEO Yan Tiee Choo said this collaboration with IAB LCCI allows the company to empower the next generation of accountants across Asia.

“Our goal is to provide a practical and accessible path to certification in cloud accounting, supporting not only recent SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) graduates but also those seeking to upskill in a fast-changing industry.

“Together, we are paving the way for a more adaptable, technology-driven accounting workforce across the region,“ he said.

Bursa Malaysia-listed ADB is a leading provider of accounting and business software solutions.

IAB Group and IAB LCCI CEO Sarah Palmer said LCCI has been a leader in offering globally recognised qualifications for over 120 years.

“Our partnership with ADB reflects our shared commitment to advancing the accounting profession by equipping future finance professionals with relevant, high-quality skills.

“By collaborating with ADB, a pioneer in cloud accounting solutions, we ensure that this certification meets the industry’s evolving needs and helps individuals succeed in a digital-first finance sector,“ she said.

The certification offers a clear advantage for students and professionals looking to expand their accounting capabilities.

By learning on ADB’s cloud platform, candidates will gain hands-on experience in digital accounting practices, preparing them for careers in an increasingly automated finance landscape.

With the signing of this agreement, ADB solidifies its position as a leader in cloud accounting solutions and furthers its commitment to innovation in financial technology and education.

This partnership aligns with ADB’s vision to become Asia’s top business software provider, fostering a future-ready workforce and advancing the region’s digital transformation.

KUCHING: Ibraco Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Ibraco Ascent Sdn Bhd, completed its first delivery of mild steel cement-lined (MSCL) pipes from its new manufacturing plant at Demak Laut Industrial Park Phase III.

The inaugural delivery of MSCL pipes will be used to develop the water infrastructure within the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project.

MSCL pipes are usually used for water developments due to their resilience and reliability in corrosive conditions.

The completion of this first delivery marks the full operational readiness of Ibraco Ascent’s pipe manufacturing plant to cater to the expansion of water infrastructure in Sarawak.

Ibraco Ascent’s pipe manufacturing plant was set up to facilitate Sarawak’s Water Supply Master Plan.

The plan is designed to meet the state’s growing water infrastructure needs and focus on achieving 100% water supply coverage across Sarawak.

The Sarawak Water Supply Master Plan has outlined the development of Sarawak’s water supply for the periods until 2025, 2040, and 2070, incorporating three strategic cores: water demand, water treatment and distribution, and water quality and sufficiency for both raw and treated water.

In addition to helping meet Sarawak’s strategic water needs, Ibraco Ascent’s pipe manufacturing plant is also sustainability-oriented in tandem with the Ibraco Group’s commitment to embrace ESG across its operations and generate tangible value creation for all its stakeholders.

Currently employing 35 local staff, Ibraco Ascent plans to expand its workforce to over 60 employees by 2025, broadening its production to include pipe fittings such as bends, tees and reducers.

This growth reflects the company’s commitment to community development and local employment.

Ibraco Ascent’s manufacturing plant is also equipped with advanced technologies, including automated welding systems, hydrostatic pressure testing, and bitumen coating stations, ensuring each pipe is built to last.

The company adheres to rigorous quality control measures, employing ultrasonic thickness gauges, hydrostatic testing equipment, and radiographic testing to maintain high production standards.

KUALA LUMPUR: Building and infrastructure construction services provider TCS Group Holdings Bhd (TGB), as the main contractor via its wholly-owned subsidiary, TCS Construction Sdn Bhd (TCSB), for the J Satine mixed development project, has clarified the recent incident involving cracks in the building.

TGB managing director Datuk Ir Tee Chai Seng expressed concern about the incident and said the company is working closely with the developer and consultants to determine the root cause.

“Thankfully, there were no casualties as a result of the incident. We want to reiterate that health and safety have always been paramount in our projects.

“We want to assure all stakeholders that we have adhered strictly to all health and safety standards and protocols throughout the construction process,“ he said in a statement.

Tee said the group is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident.

“Initial findings suggest that we do not cause the building cracks.

“For all our projects, we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all involved and to deliver projects that meet the highest standards of quality and integrity,” Tee added.

He urged the cooperation from the public to stop sharing any unauthorised videos or images and speculating any unverified information related to this project development.

KUALA LUMPUR: Integrated palm oil milling services provider Ecoscience International Bhd (EIB), via its wholly-owned subsidiary Ecoscience Manufacturing & Engineering Sdn Bhd, has accepted a letter of award (LoA) for a RM200 million engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract from renewable energy company, Wilhelmina Energy Malaysia Sdn Bhd (WEMSB).

Under the LOA, EIB will provide comprehensive EPC services for the TG2 black pellet plant in Kuantan, Pahang.

These services will include design and engineering, sourcing and quality assurance of equipment and materials, plant infrastructure construction, and testing and start-up activities to support commissioning and ensure operational standards are met.

The specific terms and conditions of the EPC works will be outlined in a binding EPC agreement, which is expected by November 30, 2024.

The LoA was built upon the collaboration agreement (CA) with WEMSB in March 2024, aimed at transforming agricultural waste into sustainable energy, thereby reducing coal consumption and carbon emissions.

EIB managing director Wong Choi Ong expressed confidence in delivering a robust waste-to-energy solution that aligns with WEMSB’s vision for sustainable energy transformation.

“This project is a strategic fit for our expansion into environmental and energy efficiency sectors, building on our core strengths in constructing palm oil mills, supporting facilities, and equipment fabrication.

“As the largest project to be undertaken in our corporate history, we see this as a valuable opportunity to broaden our customer base, enhance our project portfolio, and strengthen our market position.

“The LoA will significantly boost our order book, providing our group with healthy earnings visibility over the next two years,“ he said.

The TG2 black pellet plant will convert oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) waste into TG2 black pellets – a drop-in coal replacement fuel.

TG2 black pellets are an advanced type of biofuel pellet, providing benefits over traditional biomass pellets, including enhanced grindability, water resistance, and higher energy density.

As a drop-in fuel, it is renewable and can be used in existing pulverised coal power plants without requiring significant infrastructure modifications.

EIB will continue supporting WEMSB as it expands TG2 black pellet plants across the region.

“Beyond the EPC scope for the TG2 black pellet plant, the CA signed in March 2024 also outlined the possibility of WEMSB outsourcing the plant’s operation and maintenance (O&M) to EIB.

“We are currently exploring this opportunity, and both parties will decide in due course.

“This potential arrangement, if materialise, would create a new, recurring revenue stream for us, complementing our current project-based work,“ Wong added.

WEMSB is a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based renewable energy company Maatschappij Wilhelmina NV, specialising in converting agricultural waste streams into sustainable energy using TG2 black pellets.

The EPC works are expected to commence by December 2024, with an expected project completion timeline of 24 months from the commencement date.

BATU KAWAN: US-based medical devices company Dexcom Inc has officially opened its manufacturing facility, also its first offshore manufacturing site outside the United States, in Batu Kawan, Penang.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the RM2.83 billion strategic investment will bring more than 3,000 jobs to the state, contributing to a workforce set to positively impact the lives of over three million people worldwide.

Dexcom, founded in 1999, is a global leader in continuous glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology for individuals living with diabetes.

“The establishment of this new facility highlights Dexcom’s continued commitment to take control of health through innovative CGM systems. It also reaffirms Penang’s reputation as a global hub for advanced technological industries, reinforcing its position as a preferred destination for high-quality manufacturing and innovation,” the chief minister said in his speech at the opening ceremony here today.

Chow said Penang is on the right path towards becoming the medical technology (medtech) hub of Southeast Asia by leveraging on the state’s over 50 years of industry excellence.

“Housing the largest number of medtech companies nationally and regionally, Penang remains a highly attractive location for its infrastructure availability and ecosystem that meet the needs of the medtech industry.

“For the past five years (2019-2023), Penang garnered a total of RM5.8 billion worth of investments in the scientific and measuring equipment sector, representing 45% of the nation’s total investments in this sector, involving 33 projects and generating an estimated 4,630 employment opportunities,” he said.

Dubbed the Silicon Valley of the East, Penang has the highest concentration of medical technology companies in Malaysia and Southeast Asia to date. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s goal of reaching 50% electric vehicle (EV) adoption by 2040 and 80% by 2050 in terms of total industry volume (TIV) is within reach, according to Deputy Investment, Trade, and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong.

Liew said that the target – in accordance with the National Energy Transition Roadmap – aligns with the global shift towards sustainable transport.

“According to the International Energy Agency in the Global EV Outlook, globally in 2018, only 2% of total global sales was from EV, but by 2022, it was 14%, and by 2023, 18% of total global sales of cars comes from electric vehicles. In China this year, there were several months that EV overtook internal combustion cars, ICE cars. So these are all possible,” he told reporters at E-Mobility Asia 2024 (EMA 2024) today.

To achieve the target, Liew said that Malaysia needs to work together to develop a national effort to electrify its vehicles as much as possible.

He added that this is necessary to reduce national oil consumption and create more opportunities for various forms of manufacturing, including crossings of semiconductor and automotive industries.

Additionally, he said that the government is hoping that Malaysia will not just manufacture parts of the cars, but it is hoping that there will be horizontal crossing between the automotive industry and the semiconductor industry.

“So that one day, we are also known for designing chips for the automotive industry. That is one of our aspirations,” he remarked.

Liew said that another aspiration is to take advantage of the electrification of mobility, so that through this transition, Malaysia can reduce its overall national petroleum consumption.

“In most of our discussions, we are talking about shifting the burden of who pays for the petroleum consumption in this country. To address the question of the RON95 subsidy, I think E-Mobility has a big role to play. Electrification has a big role to play,” he added.

The event, EMA 2024 unveils electromobility and sustainable solutions as the way forward to reduce global emissions and tackle climate change.

China’s electric car manufacturers BYD, Chery and GWM are showcasing their latest models at the event, while Malaysia’s Eclimo is unveiling its new bikes.

EMA 2024 comes as EV demand surges in Southeast Asia and amid the global outlook that more than one in four vehicles on the road will be electric by 2035 according to the International Energy Agency.

Liew officiated the opening of the event that has drawn stakeholder and industry support including the state-owned Malaysia Automotive, Robotics & IoT Institute, and Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia as strategic partners.

HYUNDAI’S recent acknowledgement of the challenges with touchscreens in vehicles highlights a growing trend that some are calling the “Tesla Effect.” Following in Tesla’s footsteps, many automakers have phased out traditional physical controls for digital interfaces on touchscreens, aiming to create sleek, tech-centric cabins. However, Hyundai has found that American buyers aren’t entirely on board with the touchscreen-only setup.

According to HDNA Vice President Ha Hak-soo, Hyundai’s experience with touchscreen-based controls revealed that drivers often feel frustrated when trying to quickly adjust settings on the go, especially when physical dials or buttons could have made adjustments more straightforward. Hyundai’s internal testing with focus groups found that drivers found it stressful to control certain functions on a touchscreen when needing immediate responsiveness.

Touchscreens undoubtedly allow designers more flexibility to achieve minimalist interiors and offer a greater range of functions than physical controls alone. But when it comes to real-world driving, bumping along a rough road can make it challenging to find and tap digital controls accurately. A simple adjustment that could once be handled by feel now demands more focus, taking the driver’s attention off the road.

In response, Hyundai has started reintroducing physical controls on some models, including the facelifted Ioniq 5. While Hyundai’s North American team believes driver attitudes might shift once advanced driver-assistance systems become more common, allowing drivers to focus less on the road, for now, it seems Hyundai is listening to the call for a balance between digital and physical controls.

[…] Update vom 10.2.2017, Karen Blakeman’s Blog: New Creative Commons image search – back to the drawing board I’m afraid […]

Higher system-wide sales and contributions of recently acquired South Korean value coffee brand boosted earnings of Asian food conglomerate Jollibee Foods Corp. by nearly a quarter in the nine months ending September.

The Keepers is planning to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Booze On-Line Inc (BOLI).

Asia-Pacific will require 19,500 new aircraft by 2043, Airbus announced on Wednesday, November 13 at a regional aviation summit.

I looked up the definitions of “spectator, participant and admirer.” In the upshot of two races I had witnessed here in New York, I’m trying to make sense of how I stand and feel about these recent events.

The ASICS Rock 'n' Roll Running Series Manila, presented by AIA Vitality, returns on November 23-24 for its third year, bigger and bolder than ever.

Former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons head coach Ricky Dandan has passed away. He was 61.

Edited highlights from the presentations I gave at the WebSearch Academy on 17th October 2016 at the Olympia Conference Centre, London are now available on SlideShare.  They are also available on authorSTREAM. These are selected slides from the presentations; if you attended the event and would like copies of the full sets please contact me. … Continue reading WebSearch Academy presentations – edited highlights →

Locating images that can be re-used, modified and incorporated into commercial or non-commercial projects is always a hot topic on my search workshops.  As soon as we start looking at tools that identify Creative Commons and public domain images the delegates start scribbling. Yes, Google and Bing both have tools that allow you to specify … Continue reading New Creative Commons image search – back to the drawing board I’m afraid →

UnHackMe allows you to detect and remove a new generation of Trojan programs - invisible Trojans and will be a very useful security utility for your operating system. [License: Shareware $39.90+ | Requires: 11|10|8|7 | Size: 44 MB ]

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Hey Geeks! We've all seen those sketchy emails and messages that scream ''SCAM.'' However, the latest phishing attack reported my https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/facebook-scam-24-hours-are-left-ro-request-review-see-why/51447/Kaspersky, targeting Facebook business account owners takes things to a new level. Here's the lowdown on what's happening and how to protect yourself. ...

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Raise your hand if you’ve ever lost something. If both of your hands are still down, I’m assuming you’re lying or don’t feel like getting questioned by those around you for looking inexplicably silly with your hands up. Whether it’s your wallet, your keys or your sunglasses, you’ve misplaced or left something at some point […]

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For parents of children with disabilities, tax-free Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts can be an invaluable tool.

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Money expert Clark Howard extolls the virtues of 529 plans every chance he gets. You put money into those plans and invest it, where it grows tax-free. And then you get to spend it tax-free to pay for your child’s education. The law just got even more friendly toward parents choosing to make use of […]

The post Does Clark Recommend a Separate 529 Account for Each Child? appeared first on Clark Howard.

If you’re enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, you may have been offered the option of an HSA. So what is an HSA? It’s a Health Savings Account. It’s designed to help you pay for health care, but it can also be a great way to plan for the future. In this article, I’ll explain […]

The post What Is an HSA Account and How Does It Work? appeared first on Clark Howard.

Your Yahoo account may make you eligible for a settlement check. Here's what to know about the Yahoo data breach settlement.

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When should you give your Social Security number and when should you not? Giving out your Social Security number is something you shouldn’t do unless you know it’s absolutely, positively required for what you’re doing. Companies and institutions ask for our Social Security numbers all the time. Unfortunately, they do a mediocre-to-terrible job of securing […]

The post Do Not Give Your Social Security Number at These Places appeared first on Clark Howard.

The best online banks charge you fewer fees and pay you more interest. If you don’t mind doing your banking digitally rather than in person, they’re an excellent option. In this article, I’ll explain the factors you should consider when comparing online banks. I’ll also list some of the online banks I recommend and tell […]

The post Best Online Banks: Free Checking and High-Interest Savings Accounts appeared first on Clark Howard.

If you’re in the market for a laptop or desktop PC, you know that pretty much all of them come with impressive features. But which brands stand out from the rest? The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Household Appliance and Electronics Study 2024 rates the best computer brands and types of devices according to customer […]

The post Report: The #1 Computer Brand for Customer Satisfaction appeared first on Clark Howard.

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