PETRONAS FUTURETECH 4.0 SEEKS INNOVATORS TO DRIVE THE FUTURE OF ENERGY

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- PETRONAS has launched the fourth edition of its accelerator programme, FutureTech 4.0, aimed at scaling innovative solutions that addresses real-world industry challenges and redefine the future of energy. Open for applications now, this edition will focus on driving innovation and sustainability across three key categories: Industry & Work, Energy and Chemicals & Materials.

Twenty shortlisted startups will undergo a 12-week accelerator programme, gaining access to masterclasses, tailored workshops, and one-on-one mentorship and coaching. The programme will also provide business immersion with strategic partners, access to networks, new markets, and funding opportunities, as well as pilot and test-bedding initiatives to support the scaling of their startups.

The programme will begin with an Immersion Week, which coincides with Energy Asia this June, and culminate in a Demo Day at the end of August 2025. During Demo Day, startups will present their solutions to C-suite executives from PETRONAS and its corporate partners, as well as investors and potential collaborators.

PETRONAS Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Marina Md Taib said, “At PETRONAS, we believe that innovation is key to shaping a sustainable future. Through FutureTech 4.0, PETRONAS aims to cultivate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, while nurturing a robust tech-driven startup ecosystem in Malaysia and the broader Asia Pacific region.”

“The programme offers startups a platform to develop solutions that address industry challenges and unlock new growth opportunities while contributing to long-term socio-economic transformation. With the support of our corporate partners, startups will have the opportunity to validate their innovations, scale their solutions, and make a meaningful impact towards energy transition efforts,” she added.

The past three cohorts have attracted over 900 applicants and supported the growth of 65 startups. In collaboration with our corporate partners, S P Setia Bhd, Xplor Ventures the Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) arm of PTTEP, BOSCH, FutureTech 4.0 aims to drive innovation in the energy sector, foster the next generation of innovators, and empower startups to scale their solutions. The programme will also receive support from key startup ecosystem partners including Malaysia’s Cradle Fund, Singapore’s SGInnovate, and Japan External Trade Organization.

Applications are open until 18 April, 2025. Interested startups can find more information on FutureTech 4.0 at https://www.petronas.com/ventures/futuretech4.0/

Issued by
Media Communications
Group Strategic Relations & Communications
PETRONAS

SOURCE: PETRONAS

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Estee Aina Huslan
Tel: 012-2283377
Email: esteeaina.huslan@petronas.com

--BERNAMA

DDPAI UNVEILS Z50 PRO IN MALAYSIA: STAY CONNECTED ON THE ROAD WITH 4G, 4K CLARITY & WI-FI 6

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 25 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DDPAI is launching its latest dash cam in Malaysia, the Z50 Pro. Designed for modern drivers, the Z50 Pro offers seamless 4G connectivity, crystal-clear 4K recording, and ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6, ensuring enhanced security, convenience, and performance on the road. 

Z50 Pro’s 4G connectivity provides drivers with real-time remote access to the dash cam. Users can check live footage, receive instant alerts, and manage recordings from anywhere via the DDPAI app. Whether monitoring a parked vehicle or staying updated on road conditions, 4G connectivity ensures uninterrupted peace of mind. The Z50 Pro 4G package includes a SIM card with a 90-day free trial 30GB data plan, ensuring instant connectivity out of the box.

Featuring Wi-Fi 6 high-speed transfer, the Z50 Pro significantly improves the efficiency of footage transfers. The improved wireless protocol delivers faster, more stable connections, making it easier than ever to access high-resolution footage without delays. Whether downloading large 4K video files or reviewing important recordings, Wi-Fi 6 ensures a buffer-free experience that enhances user convenience.

Beyond its advanced connectivity, the Z50 Pro records in true 4K resolution, capturing every detail with exceptional clarity. Empowered by AI ISP technology, the NightVIS 2.0 provides superior night vision, significantly enhancing nighttime parking monitoring in low-light conditions.

The Supercapacitor enhances durability and reliability, preventing power failures and increasing longevity. Meanwhile, 24/7 parking monitoring provides round-the-clock surveillance, offering continuous security and deterrence against theft or vandalism. Additionally, the GPS version includes built-in GPS and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) to provide real-time location tracking, driving insights, lane departure warnings, and forward collision alerts.

Leo Luo, CEO of DDPAI, stated: “The Z50 Pro’s 4G connectivity and 4K resolutions, along with other advanced features, are designed to make driving smarter and safer than ever. We believe that our new dash cam launch will set a new benchmark in the market, catering to everyday drivers who demand the best in value, security, and convenience.”

The DDPAI Z50 Pro is now available for purchase. Visit the Z50 Pro product page for more information, and find the available Z50 Pro packages on DDPAI Official Malaysia or DDPAI MALAYSIA CERTIFIED STORE.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c64402fe-a3bb-4c38-bc01-c44b75bb5ea2


overseas@ddpai.com

SOURCE : DDPAI Technology Co., Ltd

CARBONPURA LAUNCHES GHANA GREEN GUARD FOR SUSTAINABLE SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- CarbonPura has introduced the US$25 billion Ghana Green Guard, a transformative series of privately funded environmental protection and climate-smart projects tailored to Ghana’s unique landscape. (US$1=RM4.43)

This initiative combines the power of climate futures ecosystems with carbon finance to tackle pressing environmental and sustainability challenges while advancing the country's environmental restoration and socio-economic development goals.

The agreement, involving CarbonPura Africa, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) of Ghana, and the Private Sector Participation in Health (PSPH), seeks to implement large-scale regenerative solutions for sustainability, according to a statement.

CarbonPura Africa Vice President of Operations, Dr Fred Bedzrah, described the agreement as a groundbreaking step in positioning Ghana as a leader in sustainable carbon finance, stating that by integrating transparent governance and community engagement, the Ghana Green Guard sets new standards for environmental and socio-economic impact.

Meanwhile, EPA Chief Executive Officer, Prof Nana Ama Browne Klutse highlighted the Ghana Green Guard Agreement as a pivotal milestone in the nation’s environmental progress. She emphasised the importance of public-private partnerships and international carbon markets in driving sustainability, protecting water resources, and securing a healthier future for all Ghanaians.

On the other hand, PSPH Executive Director, Dr Francis Adjei emphasised the social benefits, noting that true sustainability extends beyond environmental restoration to improving healthcare, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities for vulnerable groups.

The project is expected to generate over 305 million investment-grade carbon credits across 12 million hectares of diverse landscapes, with projected cumulative revenue of US$10.4 billion over 25 years. These efforts will support community development programmes, with a focus on empowering women, children, farmers, and vulnerable communities.

The initiative aligns with both international and local partners, government support, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), universities, and the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as Ghana’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions and global climate goals. A key priority is improving Ghana’s water security through sustainable solutions, particularly in regions impacted by illegal mining.

The project leverages 12 million hectares of ecologically rich land across Ghana, with activities including reforestation, regenerative agriculture, illegal mining restoration, and coastal environment regeneration. These efforts are aimed at achieving scalable, investment-grade carbon credit generation and ensuring sustained environmental improvement.

Each activity within the project is designed to deliver long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits, creating a positive cycle where ecological improvements lead to stronger communities, job creation, food security, and economic resilience.

-- BERNAMA

GLOBAL CALL FOR DESIGNERS: CREATE ANCIENT SHU CIVILISATION LOGO

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- The Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration has launched a global call for submissions for the ‘Ancient Shu Civilization Logo’, inviting individuals and organisations to create a logo for this civilisation, which will run until May 10.

The contest encourages participants to submit designs that embody the cultural value and unique charm of the ancient Shu civilisation, particularly two prominent historical sites, Sanxingdui and Jinsha, according to a statement.

A representative from the organising committee said the initiative aims to bridge ancient and modern civilisations, encouraging greater understanding and appreciation of the ancient Shu heritage.

Entries must incorporate elements from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites, showcasing the Shu civilisation’s cultural value, and the design should adopt an international perspective while incorporating Chinese cultural aesthetics and the distinctive characteristics of the Ba-Shu region.

It must align with the theme, feature an innovative composition, and be visually striking, highly recognisable, and artistically expressive.

Submissions should include both an image file and a source file, along with a written description of 300 to 800 words, submitted to the event's email address at submit@visitancientshu.com.

The competition offers a first prize of 50,000 Chinese yuan, two second prizes of 10,000 Chinese yuan each, three third prizes of 5,000 Chinese yuan each, and 10 excellence prizes of 2,000 Chinese yuan each. (100 Chinese yuan = RM61.06)

-- BERNAMA

"LONG-TERM CARE TECH PORTAL" ​ENGLISH VERSION SHOWCASES JAPAN’S ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) -- The management office of the long-term care robot portal has released the English version of the "Long-term Care Tech Portal" (https://robotcare.jp/en/home/index?type=pw), a website that provides information on state-of-the-art care and age tech in Japan.

According to a statement, the portal aims to promote the development and use of long-term care technology in nursing care settings, offering a wealth of information on the latest advancements.

The English site has been launched to share Japan’s innovative technologies with international audiences in which they can explore how these technologies are being implemented in Japan’s ageing society. The site is sponsored by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED).

This platform is designed to help everyone involved in long-term care understand how such technology can be safely and effectively used while encouraging further development and utilisation.

It includes details about the introduction of long-term care technology at care sites and the ongoing development of such devices, including the "Project to Promote the Development of Long-term Care Technology" supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and AMED.

The featured content includes a list of cutting-edge long-term care technologies supported by AMED in Japan. Additionally, the portal features videos that demonstrate the actual use of these technologies, with 10 highlighted innovations and their use in the field.

There are also videos and articles of discussions with experts, including developers, researchers, and care providers, who share insights about their efforts, challenges, and visions for the future of long-term care technology, while content will be updated as new information becomes available.

-- BERNAMA

TIME FOR ASSURERS TO ACT FOR THE BENEFIT OF POLICY OWNERS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 (Bernama) --

Introduction
Despite calls to engage insurers privately and not moot their points through media, APHM continues airing its concerns publicly. The general public couldn't care less about this issue. These are private matters between APHM and Insurers. As mentioned in the same article, the relationship between private hospitals and insurers is best described as symbiotic. APHM must find solutions that flourish this relationship rather than be parasitic.  

APHM proposes the formation of a joint working committee between the association and Assurers to review billing structures and ensure fair pricing of healthcare services. It is a good start, but it needs to focus its energy on the core matter, the burdening hospital charges that cause assurers to increase their prices. The billing structure and so-called fair pricing don't solve the current problems. It is more of an academic exercise. 

APHM's public statements call for assurers to keep cashless medical products while using patient care as a smoke screen. It is a ruse to maintain its top and bottom line, and its sincerity can be seen when it issued a statement rejecting Assurer's proposal for private hospitals to freeze costs for three years and also for the Health Ministry to regulate the pricing of pharmaceuticals or medication during the period assurers facing premium pricing caps. 
 

Public Education
Since APHM is only interested in making public statements to try to arouse policyholders’ sentiments to protect their cash flow and profit margins, it is time for assurers to take steps to protect policy owners' interests. The public is concerned about rising health premiums. They don't understand the reasons behind it.   

Therefore, assurers need to expand their role in public education on how assurers develop their product prices. Most of the cost goes toward paying claims, distribution costs, and maintaining statutory reserves. Assurers must demonstrate how much premium is allocated to companies as their pretax profits for every ringgit of premium received. 

Public education goes a long way and will make the public understand the financial burden caused by APHM members.

Cheaper, Scalable & Customized Direct Products
Policy owners deserve access to cheaper health assurance products. Insurers can consider two critical modifiable parameters: direct distribution without going through agents and selling the product on a reimbursement basis. Distribution through agents is costly. Technology today allows companies to educate customers on product features with ease. Product distribution has greater depth today.  

Assurers can develop tier products that cover the treatment of medical risks for specific age groups. The young have a lesser risk of admission due to chronic illnesses. The sum cover can be lowered since the cost of treatment for acute illnesses and injuries is low. Employees can buy a small sum for the employed category to cover health top-up products, where the primary claim should be against the employer's paid assurance. The top-up is used only when the primary product limits are exhausted. 

The second strategy would be reintroducing reimbursement-based products. It has dual key advantages. First, the policy owners are responsible for controlling hospital bill expenses. Coupled with BNM directives of Co-payment, policy owners would question their hospital charges. Introducing Co-pay reimbursement products is within the assurer's rights. We cannot blame APHMs for making public statements and calling for assurers to keep cashless medical products as they know it significantly impacts their earnings. 

The third strategy is for assurers to revisit and expand the strategy they introduced in early 2000, where they formed a consortium that markets national health assurance products instead of individual company products. An industry-wide product allows the consolidation of claim data to determine the true industry burning costs. More importantly, consolidating policy owners' data enables the industry to spread costs and introduce cheaper products. Individual assurance companies only need to focus on distribution and customer service. The focus would be on customer service. This approach would be the seed of the National Health Assurance under the assurance industry-driven National Healthcare Financing System. 

Under this approach, the competition among the assurance companies is no longer on pricing. The law of large numbers dictates and has an impact on price. However, if private hospitals continue to have the unchecked freedom to determine the charges, the proposed measures will only temporarily reprieve policy owners.   

Conclusion
In the best interest of policy owners & to protect them against increasing premiums, re-introducing reimbursement health products would be the best approach. Policy owners themselves must take the role of questioning hospital charges, which directly impacts health assurance premiums. 

Assurers must develop products that limit the benefit payment according to age, gender, pre-existing conditions and risk exposure. A young person who enjoys employer insurance coverage does not need an RM1000,000 sum of cover. Having high annual and lifetime limits promotes "medical inflation". 

Assurers must get their act together as an industry, focus on their policy owners, ignore APHM public statements and develop a structured public education program explaining how assurers’ price their products.

21-3-2025  

Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan 
Reassurer and Assurance Industry Consultant

Dr. Mohamed Rafick is a trained physician with 12 years of experience in military medical services and over 22 years of experience in the assurance industry. He retired as the CEO of a multinational reinsurance company in 2019. Currently, he remains active as an independent international assurance industry consultant.

SOURCE: Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan 
Reassurer and Assurance Industry Consultant

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Name: Dr Rafick 
Tel: 012 2218956
Email: drrafick@gmail.com

--BERNAMA

CGTN: CHINESE PRESIDENT HIGHLIGHTS YUNNAN'S "FLOWER ECONOMY”, CULTURAL TOURISM DURING VISIT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- On a recent tour of southwest Yunnan Province, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Lijiang Modern Flower Industrial Park, an epitome of China's efforts to advance rural revitalisation.

Empowered by an intelligent production system, all the greenhouses in the park use soilless cultivation technology, with the coverage rate of integrated water and fertiliser irrigation facilities reaching more than 85 per cent.

Relying on the nearby Lijiang Airport, products such as fresh-cut roses and calla lilies are swiftly transported to major cities across China and internationally, providing jobs for more than 300 local villagers.

During his visit, President Xi interacted with local villagers and technicians, learning about flower varieties, market sales, and incomes, according to a statement.

Villagers shared that they earned an average of over 4,000 Chinese yuan (about US$557.46) per month, with peak seasons pushing their monthly income beyond 7,000 Chinese yuan. (US$1 = RM4.42)

Xi has focused on developing distinctive industries, emphasising that industrial revitalisation is key to rural revitalisation. Yunnan’s favourable climate has earned it the title of “plant kingdom”, and the province’s flower industry is a major driver of the regional economy.

In 2024, the province's flower planting area expanded to 1.95 million mu (about 130,000 hectares), with 350,000 mu dedicated to fresh-cut flowers. This has made Yunnan the world’s largest producer of fresh-cut flowers, with a total of 20.6 billion produced, providing direct employment for over 380,000 people in the industry.

Xi also visited the Old Town of Lijiang to observe efforts in protecting and utilising local cultural heritage. Lijiang’s rich cultural and scenic offerings, along with its thriving tourism industry, have contributed significantly to the local economy.

The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has experienced a surge in tourism, with 17.05 million visitors from January to September last year—a 13.07 per cent increase year-on-year.

Xi emphasised the importance of balancing cultural heritage protection with sustainable tourism development, encouraging the promotion of local culture and attractions.

-- BERNAMA