K-KOMM minister shares PerantiSiswa tablet’s minimum specs, stresses that it won’t be ‘cap ayam’

The Communications and Multimedia Ministry (K-KOMM) together with the Finance Ministry (MOF) and the Higher Education Ministry (KPT) officially launched the PerantiSiswa Keluarga Malaysia programme today at MMU, Cyberjaya. However, application for the programme will only start tomorrow (15 April) via its official online portal here.

During the event, K-KOMM minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa guaranteed that the devices under the programme will be of high quality and not be ‘cap ayam’ (low quality). He also reiterated that the devices will be distributed starting from mid-June, as we’ve reported previously.

Annuar elaborated that his ministry has given a guiding principle to the MOF secretary-general for the devices. The K-KOMM minister requested for something that is already in the market that the people recognises and from an established, ‘premium’ brand with the appropriate capacity and functions.

It is also revealed that MOF is expected to complete the procurement process and issue the letter of award to the selected vendor by next week. As for the specs of the devices, Annuar said that he has been avoiding giving specific details because MOF is currently calling out for tender, hence only a minimum specs requirement were announced.

This will incentivise bidders for to offer something more than just the mere minimum in order to get the tender. Hence, Annuar said that he will only give out detailed specs when the procurement process is completed.

Speaking of the minimum specs, here is the full list of minimum requirements for the devices that has been set out by the government:

What do you guys think of the clarification by Annuar Musa? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news!


ASUS ZenBook Duo - Double the screen, double the productivity... kind of...

Usually, when you’re working in a content production company, you’re required to work on multiple softwares at the same time. Furthermore, having only one screen is sometimes not enough due to the fact that some applications take up quite a large portion of the display space compared to others. In order to remedy that, the only way to get more screen space would be to hook up a secondary monitor to your laptop or computer. Unfortunately, that would require you to fork out more money just to get yourself an additional display.

With all that said, ASUS has recently unveiled their brand new ASUS ZenBook Duo from the price of RM4699 and it comes equipped with an additional 12.6-inch touchscreen display called the ScreenPad Plus mounted just above the keyboard. The function of the additional screen is to act as a secondary display that the user can also interact with by either using a mouse or by touch input. We managed to get some time with it, so here's our review of the ASUS ZenBook Duo.

You can interact with the ScreenPad Plus via touch!

You can move around and resize windows easily with your fingers

You have just enough space for two windows

The ScreenPad Plus also features a specialised software that helps the user multitask and switch between apps with ease. Not only that, but you can also organise a bunch of application shortcuts on it and quickly tap on it when you need to use it. Also, it is best to note that the surface of the ScreenPad Plus has a matte texture to ensure that your fingers glide on the display.

Moving onto the design, you can see the ASUS logo accompanied by what looks to be a brushed metal finish on the lid. If you look closely towards the rear of the lid, you’ll notice two small rubber padding at the edge where the lid will come in contact with the surface it is on, this function is called the Ergolift, which will elevate the laptop when the laptop is fully open.

Look at that brush aluminium finish with the grain circular grain around the ASUS logo!

As for the primary display for the ZenBook Duo, it is Pantone Validated and 100% sRGB compliant which makes it pretty good for handling content that involves colours such as video editing, illustration, and graphic design. In terms of the display size and resolution, the laptop comes equipped with a 14-inch LED-Backlit NanoEdge display with a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 and it also has a screen-to-body ratio of 90%. There is also an infrared camera that is compatible with Windows Hello, which can be used even while in the dark.

Moving forward onto the keyboard section, the first thing that would most likely catch your attention would be the trackpad which is placed towards the right of the keyboard. However, unlike the ZenBook Pro Duo, the non-Pro variant’s touchpad does not come with the ASUS NumberPad that allows you to change the functionality of the touchpad to a capacitive NumberPad. The lack of a number pad might be a turn-off, especially for those who deal with numbers on a daily basis.

As for the keyboard itself, you might need to take a moment to get used to the layout due to the extra buttons like the function key being on the left side and the arrow keys which was moved directly under the enter key. Other than that, the keys on the keyboard are also individually backlit, making them easier to be used while in a dark room. Also, you might want to consider getting a wrist rest to place right below as you can’t rest your palm on the laptop due to the placement of the keyboard (the hidden price to pay for the ScreenPad Plus?).

The ASUS ZenBook Duo also comes with two USB 3.1 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.1 Type-C port, a single HDMI port, 3.5mm combo jack slot as well as a MicroSD card reader. Furthermore, it also features Bluetooth 5.0 and the new Intel Wi-Fi 6 which offers a much higher download and upload speeds than the previous Wi-Fi standards.

USB Type-A port towards the right along with a combo audio jack slot and a MicroSD card slot

USB Type-C, Type-A, HDMI port as well as the charging port located on the lft

As for the performance, the laptop is really in its element when it comes to production workloads and content creation. This is largely due to the fact that you have an additional screen real estate, which can be utilized to further streamline your workflow. Since the display is 100% sRGB compliant as well as Pantone Validated, doing work on Adobe Photoshop as well as Illustrator on it was a breeze.

However, one major flaw with the secondary screen that I’ve noticed so far was that it was very hard to see what was on it while working under the sun due to the glare it produces. Not only that, the placement of the touchscreen display was a little awkward due to the fact that my arm would sometimes hit the keyboard by accident.

The ScreenPad Plus can be quite hard to see at a steep angle

However, when it comes to video editing, our unit struggled a little due to the fact that it is running on a 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor instead of an i7. In terms of gaming performance, the laptop did well when it comes to generic esports titles such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2 and League of Legends due to the low tech spec requirements. Higher-end games like Fallout 4, Monster Hunter: World, and Nier: Automata will cause the laptop to lag up even when the graphic settings are turned all the way down due to the fact that it is running on an Nvidia MX250 graphics card.

Battery-wise, the laptop was able to last me around 5 hours or even more depending on what I was using it for. There is also an option to turn off the ScreenPad Plus secondary display, which can substantially increase the battery life to about a few hours longer. If you’re the kind of person to bring around your power adapter wherever you go, you’ll be thankful to know that the 65W power adapter is pretty light, making it rather easy to carry around.

Rainbow Six: Siege was quite laggy while playing on the laptop

In conclusion, the ZenBook Duo with its ScreenPad Plus is quite a capable laptop if you’re the kind of person who frequently works with two screens. Not only that, if you’re handling colour accurate projects from applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or even light video editing, the Pantone validated and 100% sRGB display is definitely a must-have to ensure that the colours are not messed up. Gaming performance isn’t that bad as well, as long as you stick to titles with low system requirements.

With all that said, the ZenBook Duo is far from perfect due to the fact that the secondary screen becomes very hard to see especially while using it under a bright light or when you view it at a steep angle. Other than that, I also didn’t like that it came with a MicroSD card slot instead of a full-sized SD card slot because most production equipment such as video and audio recording equipment, as well as DSLRs usually save into a full-sized card.

At launch, the ZenBook Duo’s price starts from RM4699 which is not too bad if you take into consideration the fact that you’re getting two displays on one laptop. However, if you don’t particularly like the layout of the ZenBook Duo, you could opt for the MSI PS63 Modern which comes equipped with an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor as well as an Nvidia GTX 1050 Max-Q GPU from RM4799 onwards.

If you want more power, there is also the Acer ConceptD 3 Pro which features an industrial-grade Nvidia Quadro T1000 graphics processor. However, the price is quite steep at RM5999 and you'll lose out on the ScreenPad Plus. as there are still no other laptops to offer a built-in secondary touchscreen display like the ZenBook Duo series.

Check out our hands-on first impression video of the ASUS ZenBook Duo!

If you're still keen on getting the ASUS ZenBook Duo for slightly heavier workloads such as video editing, you might want to consider getting the i7 variant instead which is priced at RM5699. If money is no object, why not get the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo which comes equipped with up to a 9th generation i9 processor, Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card as well as up to 1TB of primary storage starting from the price of RM12999.

Pros - Sleek design. 100% sRGB and Pantone Validated. ScreenPad Plus works well as a secondary screen.

Cons - ScreenPad Plus becomes virtually unusable under bright sunlight. The addition of a MicroSD card reader instead of a full-sized SD card reader is questionable, due to the fact that most professional recording equipment utilizes a full-sized SD card.

Summary - The laptop is a good step forward in terms of innovation with designers and productivity in mind.


K-KOMM to announce new initiatives to improve Malaysia’s broadband services soon

The Minister of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM), Tan Sri Annuar Musa has recently revealed that new initiatives are currently in the works by his ministry to improve our country’s broadband services. Furthermore, Annuar revealed that the initiatives will be announced by him soon.

Taking to his official social media accounts following a visit to Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) yesterday, no further details were given on the upcoming initiatives. However, given that the statement was asserted following a visit to DNB, the initiatives may potentially be in regards to 5G connectivity in Malaysia.

Speaking of which, the K-KOMM Minister shared that he has been regularly visiting DNB to get an update on the status of implementing 5G connectivity in Malaysia. Annuar said that the visits are to ensure that everything is in order and according to schedule.

DNB is a special purpose vehicle of Malaysia owned by the Finance Ministry and regulated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Established in March 2021, DNB is currently in talks with major telco service providers in Malaysia for a 5G service agreement which due date is set for tomorrow, 30 June 2022.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the K-KOMM Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


K-KOMM to spend RM4 billion for fibre optic installation in over 4,000 Malaysian schools

The Communications and Multimedia Ministry (K-KOMM) has set aside RM4 billion in allocation so that over 4,000 schools in Malaysia will enjoy fibre optic connections. Announced by its minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa yesterday, the amount involves the installation of Point of Presence (PoP) fibre optic network hubs in the schools.

Annuar further elaborated that the installation will be made in schools in the northern, central, southern and eastern zones in Peninsular Malaysia as well as in Sabah and Sarawak. It is hoped that the initiative would provide more stability and higher speed internet connection for the schools.

As reported by national news agency Bernama, the K-KOMM minister said that his ministry is targeting 500 to 600 fibre optics installation in each zone. Furthermore, the tender process will start soon and that the installation project will be implemented over a 36-month period.

Annuar also declared his ministry’s willingness to collaborate with the Rural Development Ministry to improve the quality of fibre optic network services in rural areas. He further stressed that it is most important for K-KOMM to provide internet network stability to all schools in rural areas, especially in areas that have not received quality services.

What do you guys think of this initiative by by K-KOMM? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for all the latest tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


KBS Malaysia will give out 5000 face masks and hand sanitizers to all food deliverers

It seems that the Kementerian Belia dan Sukan Malaysia (KBS Malaysia) will be giving out up to 5000 face masks as well as hand sanitizers to food deliverers such as GrabFood and FoodPanda riders from 27 March until 14 April 2020. However, do note that stocks are limited, so be sure to stop by any of the designated areas to collect the products between 9AM and 4PM.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on KBS Malaysia giving out face masks and hand sanitizers to food delivery riders? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.


KENXINDA debuts in Malaysia, offers range of smartphones and devices each below RM500

KENXINDA's debut in Malaysia with (from left to right) Gary Lam Manager of Marcom & Public Relations, Plaza Lowyat, Daniel Chia, CEO, Kenxinda Malaysia, Elaine Liew, Executive Manager of Marketing & Leasing, Promotion,Plaza Lowyat, Albert Khoo, General Manager - Management & Operations, Plaza Lowyat and Daryl Chang, Head of Sales, Kenxinda Malaysia.

On 2 November 2015, KENXINDA Malaysia opened a roadshow in Low Yat Plaza to let their customers and passersby know about their new products. This includes feature phones, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and powerbanks; and here’s the catch, throughout this range of products each only costs below RM500.00 (gasp). They’re also offering a promotion price for the KENXINDA smartwatch for RM199 with a free Bluetooth headset that’s worth RM99 only, with this promotion valid for the next three months.

KENXINDA was established in the year 2003 in Shenzhen, China with a business philosophy of making their wide range of products affordable and stylish to their customers. This means they target the mid-low market of various countries and regions like South Africa, South East Asia and their own country as well.

Daniel Chia (second right) CEO of KENXINDA Malaysia, with his partners and showgirls

“We are proud to present KENXINDA to Malaysia as the 1st country in Asia. We believe that all our products will blow away our customers with the experience of our products yet with the most affordable price in the market.” Daniel Chia, CEO of KENXINDA Malaysia

He also added that he believes KENXINDA will be one of Malaysians’ favourite brand choices within the next six months as it suits the company’s vision perfectly. Besides that, KENXINDA’s full range in Malaysia also offers three feature phones, five smartphones, a smartwatch, tablets and powerbanks.

This smartwatch is literally like a phone

Showgirls showing the KENXINDA S-Watch (left) and the K2 model (right)

For more information, or if you want to know KENXINDA's product tech specs, do check out www.kenxinda.com.my and their Facebook page too!


KENXINDA introduces water, dust and shockproof Flattop W9 smartphone, and a new W3 smartwatch

On the last day of 2015, KENXINDA has revealed its latest Flattop W9 smartphone along with a new smart watch called KENXINDA W3. The Flattop W9, designed for heavy duty purpose is also waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof with IP68 rating. Both will be available in early January nationwide and will cost RM2299 and RM169 respectively.

In the other corner, the KENXINDA W3 smartwatch phone has a call function too. It is designed to suit those who prefer to use a watch phone on the go. It also sports a 32MB RAM, 32MB of expandable storage, 300 mAh battery, a 1.44 inch rectangular shaped 128X128 pixels resolution touchscreen, Quad band GSM network, Bluetooth 3.0, wireless earphone and a camera.

CEO of Kenxinda Malaysia, Daniel Chia was making an introduction of the Flattop series to the crowd attending the event

Besides the  two devices mentioned above, there is also range of new Flattop series smartphones alongside the KENXINDA Flattop W9 by KENXINDA. Below are the suggested retail prices of the newly launched KENXINDA devices and tech specs:

For more information on KENXINDA Malaysia info kindly log on to;


KFC follows McDonald's footsteps to launch a new tech product?!

Not long ago, we saw an advertisement from McDonald’s hinting that the fast-food chain was going to release a 5G smartphone, but it turned out to be just a new product on their menu which is fried chicken. However, we definitely agree that was a good and hilarious marketing stun pulled by the company to promote their new product. Now, it looks like KFC is also following the footsteps to promote new stuff from the company as well.

Earlier, KFC posted a poster on their Weibo account to show off a new technology product attached to its famous bucket box. The technology piece looks like a small charger or tiny version of electric car chargers that you can find at malls’ parking lots these days. Other than that, there’s also a race car at the back that makes the poster look more tech-ish.

However, we are not getting fooled twice by a similar marketing ploy. Just this morning, the account shared an updated poster and revealed the product is actually the new “vegan fried chicken nuggets”. Although it’s not some new technology (again), vegan fried chicken nuggets do sound interesting and “healthy”.

Let us know what you think about this KFC’s latest ad strategy on our Facebook page. Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more viral news.


KFC wants to unveil their KFConsole equipped with a Chicken Chamber on 11 December 2020?

Based on a tweet on KFC Gaming's twitter account, it seems that KFC wants to unveil the KFConsole on 11 December 2020, and it is expected to come equipped with a “Chicken Chamber”. Unfortunately, the promotional video did not mention any specifics such as the tech specs other than it looks like it comes with an optical drive and it is capable of achieving up to 4k and 120 FPS.

With all that said, do take some of the information with a grain of salt due to the fact that there it is highly unlikely that the product is both a gaming console and a fried chicken warmer. Would you be interested in getting the KFConsole as soon as it is unveiled? Let us know on our Facebook page and for more updates like this, stay tuned to TechNave.com.

The future of gaming is here.Introducing the KFConsole. #PowerYourHunger pic.twitter.com/ssUrX41Ab1


KFC will be the first fast food restaurant chain to be developing the world's first laboratory-produced chicken nuggets!

When we talk about fast foods, the first thing that comes in mind will be either McDonald or KFC for their fried chickens and burgers. Today, KFC has announced that the company is trying to create the world’s first laboratory-produced chicken nuggets as part of the company’s future concept.KFC will work with the Russian company 3D Bioprinting Solutions to develop and “print” chicken meat by using chicken cells and plant materials. In fact, the company will be providing the ingredients like breading and spices to the bioprinting form to replicate the signature KFC taste and texture of genuine chicken. The produced chicken nuggets will not be vegetarian but KFC will offer vegetarian options at some of its restaurants.

The company mentioned those bioprinted nuggets will be more environmentally friendly to produce than the standard chicken meat and cited the American Environmental Science and Technology Journal says it shows the benefits of growing meat from cells, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and energy consumption compared to traditional farming methods. KFC stated that the bioprinted nuggets will be available for final testing in Moscow this fall.Either way, there’s still no official confirmation on when will the bioprinted nuggets be available for KFC customers but will you still be interested to try on these bioprinted nuggets or be able to accept it? Let us know at our Facebook page and stay tuned for more tech news updates on TechNave.com


KINGMAX Upgrade SD and microSD Memory Cards

Recently, KINGMAX have upgraded their SD and microSD memory card product ranges to SD PRO and microSD PRO. The new cards feature an Ultra High Speed (UHS) boost which increases read and write performance. The KINGMAX SD PRO memory cards have been designed for photographers and videographers, speeding up sequential shots and HD video capture. The SDXC PRO memory card is perfectly compatible with UHS-I devices but works with Class 4, 6 and 10 devices as well. The new KINGMAX SDHC and SDXC PRO memory card offer the follow features:

KINGMAX microSD PRO memory cards on the other hand are designed for smartphone and tablet users. Tech specs for these cards include:

These new KINGMAX UHS-I cards are temperature proof, shock proof, x-ray proof and magnet proof as well. For more details check out the KINGMAX site.


KKD: 1.8 billion scam calls were blocked by MCMC from 2017 to 2022

The Minister of Communications and Digital (KKD), Fahmi Fadzil has revealed that a whopping 1.8 billion scam calls have been blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) from 2017 to 2022. Furthermore, a total of 300 million scam messages via SMS were also blocked since 2018.

As reported by Bernama, the matter was informed to Fahmi during his meeting with the National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NFCC) together with MCMC and several other parties. He further advised the public to be careful during this festive season as there will definitely be irresponsible scammers wanting to take advantage of the situation.

These include ‘cleaner scams’ on Facebook and various other types of scams that are not easy to deal with due to the ever-changing modus operandi of the scammers. Hence, Fahmi called upon Malaysians to always double-check offers for work or services before accepting them.

The KKD Minister also urged people who had fallen prey to scams to call the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) at 997. The hotline can be used to make a report so that immediate action can be taken and to prevent you from losing money.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news both locally and from around the globe.


ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED Review - The laptop with the best 4K OLED display so far

When it comes to laptops, some casual users won't care about colour gamut or screen resolution. But for those who do care, you can check out the new ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED (UX371) laptop, which was recently announced in Malaysia.

But isn't it just another convertible notebook? Well... Yes, but it has flagship features such as an OLED display (as the name suggests). Besides the screen's specs, it also has some uses for productivity. If you're curious about the ZenBook Flip S OLED laptop, read our review below to learn more.

Before we dive into the specs and functions, let's take a good look at the design. The ZenBook Flip S OLED design continues the ASUS' trademark simplistic design with a combination of black and gold. It has a lid with a matte cover that is polished and smooth but attracts fingerprints. One of our favourite parts of the design is the gold accents on the laptop's lid, as it gives off a premium feel.

Since it's only 13.9mm in thickness, the ZenBook Flip S OLED only has room for 2x Thunderbolt and 1x HDMI ports on the left, as well as 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 and power buttons on the right. There's no 3.5mm audio jack, but ASUS did provide a 3.5mm USB-C adapter in the box. Honestly, we felt that they could have added more ports on the right side. Also, there aren't many uses for Thunderbolt ports yet, so it's probably a better idea to get an extra USB hub.

Next, the keyboard come comes with backlighting while the touchpad still features the ASUS NumberPad2.0. The spacious trackpad may seem like a gimmick at first. But it can be handy in a variety of tasks, including spreadsheets. Finally, you can find a pair of Harman Kardon speaker grilles at the bottom on both sides.

The keyboard is quite responsive, and the backlighting is helpful when working in the dark

Nothing much at the bottom, but you can find a pair of Harman Kardon speakers

Now that we are done with the design, we move on to the performance section. The screen may seem pretty ordinary to a casual user, but it's a different story for tech enthusiasts. Not only is this a 13.3-inch OLED screen, but it also supports 4K resolution and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. It's basically a must-have for content creators, video and photo editors for their work. Furthermore, this display is certified by TUV Rheinland, meaning that it's better for our eyesight in the long run.

Whether it's for movies or image editing, the display's colour reproduction is beautiful and pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, you won't be able to see how good it looks through our photo below, so you'll just have to see it for yourself at a store. Anyway, the Pantone-certified OLED display is also great at delivering images with deeper blacks and produces less white noises.

If only you can see this beautiful image on the 4K OLED screen in person

An unsuccessful attempt at drawing the moon (lol)

Tent mode is one of the placement modes available

By the way, you can also use a stylus with the ZenBook Flip S OLED. It works efficiently, with no noticeable latency when drawing on Paint and Krita (sorry, no sophisticated drawing software, I'm just a writer trying to paint). The results turned out quite well if we do say so ourselves. You can even set up the laptop in tent mode or fold it like a tablet for an easier time drawing.

Our review unit came with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It's not one of the more powerful 2021 AMD CPUs, but it gets the work done. Overall, we were satisfied with its performance for daily tasks like writing, image editing on Adobe Photoshop, and more. For reference, you can check out the benchmarks below.

It can play simple video games like Dota 2, but that's about it

If you're thinking of getting this laptop for gaming...well, you can, but not those with intense graphics (Intel Evo and Iris Xe aren't built for that). At most, you can play games like Dota 2. But that's as far as you can go, so you can forget about modern first-person shooters. Even if you can, the graphics won't be maxed out and will look quite bad. On the bright side, the sound quality is decent but again, nothing extraordinary.

According to ASUS, the 67Wh battery on this laptop can last up to 15 hours. However, it really depends on what you do with it. In our experience, it was only able to last around 13 hours, probably because we were using some graphics apps. Fully charging the battery takes about an hour and a half, but it heats up when it's plugged in, which can be rather uncomfortable when you're typing. Of course, you can lower the temperature by using a laptop cooling fan.

So far, the ASUS ZenBook Flip S OLED has proven to be a pretty good productivity laptop. If you're looking for a compact convertible with an OLED 4K screen, as well as the hardware to handle most daily tasks, this is the ideal choice. However, it's priced at RM6799 means that not everyone can afford it.

With that kind of price tag, you could opt for a full desktop setup that can be upgraded via buffed up hardware like extra RAM or the latest graphics card. Speaking of which, you could also consider the ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 for RM6499. Yes, it's almost as expensive. But it does have a unique secondary display for content creation, so that's something to consider. Well, the choice is yours.

Pros: 13.3-inch 4K OLED touchscreen featuring gorgeous colours, stylus support (free stylus given), convertibility (like tent and tablet mode), and it's lightweight

Cons: Expensive price tag and no 3.5mm audio jack (but at least there's an adaptor included)

Conclusion: A good laptop for productivity and daily tasks if you emphasise colour accuracy


KKD: 31,092 people purchased Pakej Perpaduan SIM cards after one month

Last month, the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) launched the Pakej Perpaduan prepaid mobile internet plan. Now, one month after the launch, KKD Minister Fahmi Fadzil revealed that the RM5 per month SIM card has been purchased by a total of 31,092 people.

Announced through a Facebook post, Fahmi hoped that the initiative will be able to alleviate the burden of vulnerable groups and allow them to access the internet at a cheap price. As a recap, the Pakej Perpaduan prepaid mobile plan offers 30GB of data at 3Mbps speed with a validity period of 180 days at just RM30.

Replacing the previous Pakej Remaja, Pakej Perpaduan is available for youths below 30 years old, senior citizens, veterans of uniformed bodies, persons with disabilities and the B40. The package is currently offered by local telco companies, including CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, Unifi Mobile, Yes, OneXOX, Mcalls and TuneTalk.

Speaking of which, KKD is also set to announce further details on the fixed broadband version of Pakej Perpaduan today. Priced at RM69 per month at 30Mbps speed, make sure to stay tuned to TechNave for the latest development on this.


KKD: 33,540 PerantiSiswa tablets distributed via 31 centres nationwide since 17 February

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that a total of 33,540 tablets under the PerantiSiswa initiative have been distributed via centralised distribution centres nationwide within just 3 weeks. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil clarified that the centres were activated on 17 February 2023 to expedite the rollout of the devices to eligible students.

According to Bernama, Fahmi further asserted that there are still 9,000 devices yet to be distributed, which is expected to be completed soon. Overall, the PerantiSiswa initiative received 474,311 applications as of 15 April 2022.

Out of that number, 105,508 applicants were rejected but a second screening of them found that 23,394 met the conditions to receive the tablets. Besides that, the KKD Minister revealed that the initiative involved RM450 million and has benefited 359,742 students of institutions of higher learning from the B40 households.

So, what do you guys think of the PerantiSiswa initiative? Should it be continued and expanded by the government? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KKD: 350 telecommunication towers affected by floods have been upgraded

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that 350 telecommunications towers nationwide that had been affected by floods since 2014 have been upgraded. The upgrading works were done through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

According to Bernama, KKD Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that the ministry has the complete list of telecommunication towers affected by floods and will provide detailed information soon. Currently, upgrading works are still ongoing in Kelantan and the KKD has requested for the process to be expedited.

As of right now, improvement works have been done in the East Coast states, 127 of which were sites in Kelantan. The upgrade ensures that problems related to telecommunications will not arise when floods occur in the future and that people will continue to enjoy quality service.

In relation to that, MCMC chief operating officer Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus asserted that platforms of the flood-affected telecommunication towers were raised as high as one to four metres. These involve costs of between RM60,000 to RM180,000 depending on the surrounding area and situation at the site. He further revealed that during the floods in December 2022, about 100 towers were affected due to power outages but MCMC received good cooperation from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

So, what do you guys think of this initiative by KKD and MCMC? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news in Malaysia and beyond.


KKD: 5G network service offered in Malaysia currently priced at RM1.68 per GB

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that the current price of 5G network services offered to consumers in Malaysia is RM1.68 per GB. Its Deputy Minister, Teo Nie Ching further revealed that this price can be further lowered with the expansion of the 5G network in our country.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday (13 March 2023), Nie Ching clarified that Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB), the body responsible for Malaysia’s 5G network development implements a reference cost offer at RM30,000 per Gbps per month or 13 sen per GB. Hence, KKD believes that through the expansion of 5G network coverage, the prices can be lowered further for consumers.

The KKD Deputy Minister added that the current implementation level of 5G services is at 54.7 per cent. Moreover, the Ministry is confident that its 80 per cent coverage for populated areas by the end of the year can be achieved.

Nie Ching asserted that currently, the price of basic internet data, calls and SMS in Malaysia is the third cheapest in the ASEAN region, behind Singapore and Brunei. As for 5G services, for now, service providers are adopting a neutral technology concept in offering prices with no difference between 5G and 4G services.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Deputy Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD: 800,000 attempted cyberattacks were recorded in Malaysia from 2017 to 2021

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that our country recorded approximately 800,000 attempts of cyberattack during a 5-year period. Its Deputy Minister, Teo Nie Ching further elaborated that this was from Cyber Security Malaysia’s (CSM) statistics from 2017 to 2021.

According to Bernama, Nie Ching called these attempted cyberattacks a worrying situation as it involves losses to our country and its people. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, the KKD Deputy Minister also revealed that losses of RM27 million to scam calls were recorded in Malaysia within the first two months of 2023.

She further elaborated that over 1700 complaints of scam calls were received each month by the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC). Accordingly, in order to circumvent these issues, CSM’s allocation was increased from RM9 million last year to RM23 million this year, while NSRC’s allocation was increased to RM10 million this year.

So, what do you guys think of this statement by the KKD Deputy Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD: A security vulnerability in MyJPJ app was identified and resolved before its launch

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that a security vulnerability in the MyJPJ app was successfully resolved prior to its launch last Friday. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that the vulnerability was identified by Cyber Security Malaysia (CSM) during the development process of the app and users shouldn’t worry about their personal data when using MyJPJ.

According to Bernama, the KKD Minister asserted that the vulnerability was not a major one. The defect was identified by CSM and the Transport Ministry (MOT) was notified, with Fahmi personally informing Transport Minister Anthony Loke of the matter. The issue has since been resolved prior to the app’s launch.

Previously, we reported that Malaysian drivers no longer need to display the road tax sticker on their vehicles anymore with the implementation of the Digital Motor Vehicle License and Digital Private Malaysian Driving License starting Friday. Instead, road users can just use the MyJPJ app to show their road tax in digital form. Furthermore, traffic enforcement can still verify vehicle and identification numbers even without users having the app downloaded.

The digitalisation initiative will be implemented in stages with the first phase covering individual plate vehicles and motorcycles owned by Malaysians. Fahmi also stressed that CSM will continue to monitor the cyber infrastructure used by the government, including applications and websites, to reduce the risk of being hacked.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and on the international scene.


KKD: Additional features to DNB’s 5G implementation will be announced this March

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) is currently studying and evaluating the available options to ensure the 5G implementation will be expanded throughout Malaysia. Moreover, the Ministry is expected to announce the introduction and implementation of 5G by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) with added features by the end of March 2023.

As reported by Bernama, KKD Minister, Fahmi Fadzil hopes that the extra features won’t have any negative effect on our nation’s finance. Furthermore, he hopes that the 5G network will have at least 80 per cent coverage of populated areas by 2025.

Fahmi further stressed that the implementation of 5G was to assist companies and factories to gain efficient and fast communication services. As such would help improve productivity as well as offer efficient service to the public.

Previously, we reported that the Malaysian Government is reviewing the rollout of the national 5G network by DNB due to some concerns about transparency. Moreover, on 13 January 2023, the government announced that the 5G network implementation policy is expected to be tabled before the Cabinet by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

So, what do you guys think of the KKD Minister’s statement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and on the international scene!


KKD: Almost RM600 million lost to scams and cyber crimes last year in Malaysia

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that almost RM600 million in losses were recorded in 2022 due to scams and other cyber crimes in Malaysia. Hence, the ministry will focus on educating the public to be more digitally literate and not become victims.

As reported by Bernama, KKD Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching stressed that the problem of cyber crimes in Malaysia is quite serious. She further asserted that the ministry is implementing several initiatives to circumvent the issue, including working with social media platforms such as TikTok to raise awareness.

In February and March this year, KKD will work together with social media platforms to promote a programme called “Stop For Three Seconds”. Teo said that the “Three seconds” here is to help the community to think first whether any information received is authentic or not.

Moreover, social media platforms will also help promote the National Scam Response Centre’s (NSRC) 997 hotline. A government initiative to help victims of cyber crimes to prevent losses, the 997 hotline operates 12 hours daily and is a one-stop centre comprising representatives from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), private banks, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

So, what do you guys think of the initiatives by KKD to combat scams and other cyber crimes? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KKD: Beware of scam calls using the ministry’s name claiming your phone number is involved in criminal activity

The Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) has advised the public to beware of suspicious calls in which irresponsible quarters are using KKD’s name to commit scams. The modus operandi of these scammers is to call unsuspecting victims and claim that their phone number is blacklisted for being involved in criminal acts.

In a statement yesterday (20 December 2022), the KKD Rapid Response Team (RR) denied the fake news which has gone viral on social media regarding this new scam tactic. KKD RR stressed that the ministry has never made any telephone calls to consumers requiring them to contact the police for alleged blacklisting of their phone numbers due to criminal activity.

The team further urged the public to always verify the authenticity of callers before giving out any personal information. Moreover, if you have received any suspicious calls or messages similar to these scammers’ modus operandi, do report the incident to the police or the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) Scam Response Centre at 03-26101559, 03-26101599 or 997 (National Scam Response Centre – NSRC) within 24 hours.

So, what do you guys think of this statement by KKD? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news.


KKD: Beware of scam viral messages alleging RM900 assistance via TnG eWallet

The Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) has advised the public to be wary of a new scam that is being shared via SMS and messaging apps. The viral message alleges that RM900 will be credited to Bantuan Warganegara Malaysia (BWM) recipients via their Touch ’n Go eWallet, which is nothing but a front for a phishing website.

In a statement yesterday (18 December 2022), the KKD Rapid Response Team (RR) said that the contents of the message have been identified as being similar to other previous fake viral messages. The public is advised to not be deceived into providing personal information via the link provided.

The ministry further urged Malaysians to be cautious and not spread dubious messages and to always refer to official sources for verified information. Today, KKD reiterated the warning in a Facebook post and stressed that the government never announced any such assistance as alleged by the viral messages and urged the public to not fall for scammers’ tactics.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by KKD? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


ASUS ZenBook Pro 16X OLED unveiled with 13th Gen Intel Core & RTX 4080

It's day 2 and ASUS continues to unveil more products. This time around, it's the ZenBook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602BZ) creator laptop, featuring a unique Intel processor and a brand-new ASUS Supernova System-on-Module (SoM) Design.

With the SoM design, it enables an upscaled performance from the 13th Gen Intel Core i9-13905H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU with NVIDIA Studio drivers, and support up to 32GB of LPDDR5X DRAM with a 7500 MHz memory frequency. On paper, the new 2023 Zenbook Pro 16X OLED should improve video-editing performance and 3D rendering capacity better.

According to ASUS, the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED offers 1.4-times-faster video editing and up 8.9-times-faster 3D rendering times compared to the predecessor. And like the predecessor, it has a CNC-machined unibody with an AAS Ultra mechanism that automatically lifts and tilts the keyboard to ensure a comfortable typing angle (up to 7°) and enhances system cooling, increasing airflow by 30%, for maximum performance.

On top of that, the 2023 Zenbook Pro 16X OLED has upgraded visuals, featuring a 16-inch 16:10 3.2 K 120 Hz OLED HDR Dolby Vision touchscreen with a 0.2 millisecond response time. It's also accompanied by 100% DCI-P3 gamut, Pantone Validatedm, TÜV Rheinland certified and DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified with 550 nits peak brightness.

There’s also an up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0 x 4 SSD with a 6500 MB/s transfer speed, in an elegant 16.9 mm-thin 2.4 kg-light chassis with full I/O ports including the latest SD Express 7.0 card reader, HDMI 2.1, two Thunderbolt 4 slots, and a long-lasting 96 Wh high-capacity battery. It's worth mentioning that the ASUS Dial and an enlarged ASUS NumberPad return too.

ASUS has not made any announcement on the price and availability yet. The laptop should also be making its way to the Malaysian market too so stay tuned for that, only at TechNave.com.


KKD, DNB and telco companies hold an engagement session today to discuss Malaysia's 5G coverage

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) is holding an engagement session with Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) and all local telco companies today to discuss the 5G coverage in Malaysia. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that among the discussions is for DNB to be managed in a more transparent manner.

According to Bernama, the engagement session was initiated following the tabling of Budget 2023 yesterday by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. During the tabling, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister stressed that the Unity Government will take an approach to ensure DNB was managed more transparently and comprehensively.

This is to ensure that full participation by telecommunication service providers can be achieved. Furthermore, Fahmi said that one of the objectives that would be set was for DNB to ensure 5G coverage in 80 per cent of populated areas nationwide by the end of 2023.

Speaking of Budget 2023, do check out our coverage here to know about the tech highlights that will be implemented as part of the annual budget. As always, do stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD: DNB’s 5G network ‘monopoly’ may be reviewed in the next two weeks

Recently, the Unity Government has announced reviews of a couple of monopolies in our country, Touch ’n Go for toll and public transport payments, as well as Puspakom for vehicle inspections. Now, it looks like the government is potentially reviewing yet another ‘monopoly’, the 5G network by Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB).

As reported by NST, the Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) is touted to make a decision on the matter soon. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil asserted that as of right now, no policy decision has been made on the role of DNB.

The KKD Minister added that the government is hoping to do so in “a week or two”. However, the policy decision may not necessarily be made from the monopoly point of view.

Previously, KKD, DNB and telco companies held an engagement session to discuss our country’s 5G coverage. This was in response to the tabling of Budget 2023 in which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that the Unity Government will take an approach to ensure DNB was managed more transparently and comprehensively.

Besides that, Anwar also recently urged all ministries to study existing monopolies under their purview. With DNB being a 5G single wholesale network (SWN), many experts have called the company a monopoly.

So, what do you guys think of the whole situation? Would you be in favour of a breakdown of DNB’s monopoly? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this.


KKD: Details of the RM69/month 30Mbps Pakej Perpaduan broadband plan to be unveiled this 29 March

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that the full details of the Pakej Perpaduan broadband plan will be announced on 29 March 2023. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil asserted the matter during a press conference in Parliament today.

The broadband version of the Pakej Perpaduan mobile internet plan that was released last month, KKD previously revealed that the upcoming plan would entail a 30Mbps speed cap. Furthermore, the plan would be priced at RM69 per month.

As of the time of writing, the above is the only information available regarding the Pakej Perpaduan broadband plan. However, should it retain the requirements of its mobile internet plan namesake, the broadband plan may be set to benefit Malaysians from the B40 group, youths below 30 years old, senior citizens, veterans of uniformed bodies and persons with disabilities.

Given that it’s a broadband plan, it may also be restricted to certain areas and would not be as widespread as the Pakej Perpaduan mobile internet plan. Of course, these are all mere speculations, as we just have to wait until this 29 March to know for sure.

So, what do you guys think of the Pakej Perpaduan broadband plan? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD: Internet access issues, especially in rural areas to be resolved by June 2023

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) yesterday announced that internet access issues in Malaysia, especially in rural areas would be resolved by June this year. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that the issues could be resolved almost completely if all telco companies work together, such as sharing telecommunications towers.

Hence, his Ministry through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will be holding discussions with the companies to identify and agree on solutions. As reported by Bernama, Fahmi revealed that he had previously stressed to MCMC that network sharing and quality of internet access to be resolved by June 2023.

Furthermore, the KKD Minister asserted that telco companies are willing to cooperate based on his previous discussions with them. Fahmi also confirmed that KKD will be striving for broadband wireless access (BWA) which uses technologies such as satellite to provide coverage in rural areas or areas that are restricted by their geographical location.

So, what do you guys make of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news such as this.


KKD: Malaysian telco companies compounded RM7.47 million since 2018 for subpar services

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that a total of 170 compounds totalling RM7.47 million have been issued to telco companies and license holders for failing to meet the required service standards. The compounds were issued by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) from 2018 to 2022.

According to Bernama, KKD Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching elaborated that 49 compounds worth RM2.19 million were imposed for non-compliance with mandatory standards for public mobile services. Meanwhile, 59 compounds worth RM2.69 million were for non-compliance with standards for wireline broadband services and the other 62 compounds worth RM2.59 million were for non-compliance with standards for wireless broadband services.

Responding to a question from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kota Belud, Isnaraissah Munirah Majlis at the Dewan Rakyat today, Nie Ching also revealed that Celcom Axiata Berhad was fined RM50,000 for failing to comply with wireless broadband service quality standards in Sabah. Moreover, the KKD Deputy Minister asserted that feedback and complaints on the quality of services and telecom network can be made through the MCMC complaints portal here.

Besides that, Nie Ching asserted that MCMC issued 29 directives to service providers that failed to comply with mandatory standards at 29 different cities in Sabah. As of 9 November last year, all 29 directives were met by the respective service providers.

The KKD Deputy Minister stressed that quality of service reviews will continue this year with a target of 4000 sites across the country. These include 225 sites in Sabah so as to ensure that the mandatory standards would continue to improve broadband network issues, especially in rural areas.

So, what do you guys think of this initiative by KKD and MCMC? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD Minister: 4G coverage in Sabah’s populated areas is now at 88.06%

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that the 4G network coverage in Sabah’s populated areas has increased to 88.06 per cent. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that the statistic is as of the third quarter of 2022.

Furthermore, the 4G network coverage has increased from the 73.41 per cent recorded before the implementation of the National Digital Network (JENDELA) plan in the second quarter of 2020. As reported by Bernama, Fahmi further elaborated that in order to expand quality broadband services in Sabah’s rural areas, the government had accelerated the provision of broadband services through satellite technology.

Specifically, the plans which were actually to be implemented under Phase 2 of JENDELA (2023 -2025) were successfully expedited and completed under Phase 1 last year. Besides that, a total of 171,554 premises in Sabah have also been provided with fibre optic connections for fixed broadband services, while it was still in the process of being implemented in the remaining 79,611 premises out of the planned 251,165.

4,096 transmitters have also been upgraded to 4G, while another 27 of the 4,123 planned upgrades were still underway. KKD has also built 159 new towers and is in the process of completing the remaining 455 towers out of the planned 614 towers. Fahmi clarified that the initiatives currently in the implementation stage are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2023.

So, what do you guys think of the 4G network coverage in Sabah? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD Minister: DNB must explain its 50% 5G network coverage claim which MCMC had yet to verify

Previously, we reported on Digital Nasional Bhd’s (DNB) statement that the 5G network coverage in Malaysia reached almost 50 per cent in 2022 and that it is on track for up to 80 per cent coverage in 2024. However, it looks like DNB may have jumped the gun or didn’t disclose its data or sources for the claim as the Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) has today questioned the figure’s validity, revealing that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had not yet verified the information.

According to Bernama, KKD Minister Fahmi Fadzil called on DNB to explain how it concluded that the implementation of 5G network coverage in our country had reached the claimed 50 per cent figure. He elaborated that MCMC had not yet verified the information and advised DNB not to publish anything prior to verification.

Fahmi made the statement in response to a tweet claiming that the numbers by DNB were bogus. In the statement on Monday (1 January 2023), DNB chief operating officer Nasution Mohamed claimed that 5G network coverage in Malaysia had reached 15 million Malaysians involving 3900 sites and will reach over 30 million people and businesses when fully implemented.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest trending tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


KKD Minister: Good news on internet and phone charges awaits the B40, M40 groups this Christmas

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) is set to announce good news regarding telecommunications to help reduce the impact of rising living costs, especially for the B40 and M40 groups in Malaysia before Christmas. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that the good news would revolve around internet prices and phone charges in our country.

As reported by Bernama, Fahmi asserted that his ministry is looking at the issues of internet and phone charges and teased how ‘Santa Claus’ will be coming soon to deliver some good news. Moreover, KKD will also emphasise on improving connectivity and access, which he said is far more important.

Fahmi further elaborated that numerous calls have been made by the public social media for several matters to be scrutinised, especially in terms of costs and quality of service. In terms of connectivity, he clarified that some areas were facing service problems because not all mobile network operators (MNOs) were operating in said area.

The KKD Minister revealed that a study has been done so that immediate and appropriate measures can be taken to help the people both in terms of price and quality of service. KKD is also concerned about the issues involving 4G and 5G networks, with Fahmi stressing that the people “don’t only want cheaper services” but also “better services as well”.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news in Malaysia and beyond.


KKD Minister: Government is discussing with telco companies to cut down internet prices

The Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) has announced that it is currently in discussions with telco companies in Malaysia to cut down the prices of their services. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil revealed that he had asked the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the telcos to conduct a study to fulfil the people’s aspiration for cheaper telco services.

As reported by Bernama, Fahmi said that he is holding talks with MCMC and telcos to explore ways on which to cut down on costs. He further stressed that Malaysians, especially young people are hoping that the price of internet and lines can be reduced.

The KKD Minister then teased about an upcoming special announcement, which he said may be made in the “coming weeks”. Besides that, Fahmi also said that he was studying the best ways to improve the quality of services and resolve issues concerning 4G and 5G network reach in certain areas of Malaysia.

He iterated that our country must move faster in regards to developing our nation’s telecommunications infrastructure as while we are still discussing 5G, other countries have already begun talks of 6G. Hence, as the minister responsible, Fahmi said that he will be exploring ways to help this process.

So, what do you guys think of the KKD Minister’s statement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KKD Minister: MCMC has until June 2023 to resolve telcos’ service quality issues

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to resolve service quality issues affecting telco companies in Malaysia. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil asserted that MCMC has until June 2023 to complete this task.

According to Bernama, Fahmi said that there have been frequent public complaints regarding internet access in certain areas. These include inside buildings, along highways and even in certain stadiums.

The KKD Minister iterated that there should be cooperation among telco companies through MCMC on areas that should be prioritised. For example, network access in-buildings would require certain equipment to be installed.

Fahmi alluded to the need for such a measure so that it would be fair to consumers. This is because users are penalised for late payments of bills by having their lines disconnected but when service quality is not up to the mark, telco companies don’t get flak.

Besides that, the KKD Minister also announced that his ministry would be focusing on solving internet network problems, especially in the 3 per cent of populated areas involving the interior and Orang Asli villages.

As most telco companies won’t usually install fibre networks in these areas due to the cost, KKD is looking into several ways to resolve the issue. Among the approach that may be taken include the use of satellite internet systems and other technologies.

So, what do you guys think of Fahmi’s statement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and on the international scene!


2021 Samsung Galaxy A series smartphones could finally feature OIS

The Samsung Galaxy A series may not as be as popular as the Galaxy S and Note series, but the phone lineup is certainly popular with many countries including Malaysia because of its affordability and price. In fact, the Galaxy A51 was the most shipped Android phone of Q1 2020 and a new report just came in that selected devices from the lineup could start using Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) next year.

According to reports, the Galaxy A71, Galaxy A81 and Galaxy A91 are expected to feature the OIS. So far, only the Galaxy A91 has not made an appearance since last year, but rumours have it that it could be a rebadged Galaxy S10 Lite while the Galaxy A81 might be a Galaxy Note 10 Lite in disguise. Only time will tell.

But this begs a question, though - why would Samsung risk a premium feature on a mid-range tier phone lineup? Well, as we mentioned earlier, the Galaxy A51 was the most shipped Android phone which also means that the Galaxy S20 series didn't do that well thanks to the pandemic. While OIS is usually featured on premium phones, perhaps it's time to up their game with the rise of affordable mid-range phones from China and the iPhone SE 2020 dominating the segment.

Should this be true, fans and consumers are likely to favour the Galaxy A series more in the future. Do you happen to own one of them? Let us know what you think and stay tuned for more trending gadget news at TechNave.com.


ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED & ZenBook 13 OLED Malaysia release: up to 10th Intel Core, price starting from RM4299

Today, ASUS Malaysia unveiled two upcoming ZenBook laptops during Computex 2021. At the ASUS Innovation Summit today, a ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED (UX582) and ZenBook 13 OLED (UX325) equipped with up to 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processor are finally coming to the Malaysian market after a few months since their debut. There are a couple of variants so sit tight and read the details below.

Starting with the ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED, the design is still more or less the same with a 14-inch OLED display is accompanied by the ScreenPad Plus which has an improved brightness of 400 nits now. Powered by the aforementioned processor, the laptop also comes with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and 32GB of RAM, as well as a 1TB PCIe 3.0 x 4 SSD of storage.

Not only is the 14-inch display using OLED, but the resolution is in 4K UHD with HDR alongside a NanoEdge touchscreen function. The colour contrast is improved with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and it's backed up by a VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification which is great for visual editing. As a PANTONE Validated certified laptop, the laptop has a wide colour gamut with 100% DCI-P3 coverage as well as TÜV Rheinland-certified.

The ZenBook Pro Duo 15 OLED has two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports that support up to 40Gbps data transfer rate along with Power Delivery and DisplayPort functionality for an additional 8K external display or two 4K UHD displays. In terms of connectivity, it features an Intel WiFi 6 (802.11ax) which is three times faster than WiFi 5.

Next up, the ZenBook 13 OLED is a new-gen 13-inch laptop using a FHD OLED HDR Nanoedge display. It's quite lightweight as it measures 13.9mm in thinness and weighs just 1.14kg but able to standby up to 13 hours of battery life. Of course, the trademarked ASUS NumberPad 2, ErgoLift hinge and an IR camera are present as expected.

Powered by up to the latest Intel 11th generation i7 processors with 8 GB RAM, the ZenBook 13 OLED has plenty of space with 512 GB PCIe x2 SSD and the latest WiFi 6 (802.11ax). Even though it’s thinner, lighter, and incredibly compact, it includes an HDMI port, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, USB Type-A and a micro SD card reader.

In total, there are four variants with two each to one series. All four laptops will be available from 7 June 2021 onwards at every ASUS Official Store and Authorised Dealers. You may refer to the prices below:

Stay tuned for more local trending tech gadget deals at TechNave.com.


KKD Minister: Malaysia and Singapore may annually hold a cyber security round table

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that Malaysia and Singapore may hold a round table on cyber security every year. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that both countries are currently discussing the need for the round table in order to boost cyber security.

According to Bernama, Fahmi said that the matter will be discussed with his Singapore counterpart Josephine Teo during the latter’s visit to Malaysia this Saturday (4 February 2023). Moreover, the bilateral meeting would also cover matters in the memorandum of understanding (MoUs) signed between Malaysia and Singapore on Monday (30 January 2023).

Among the matters that will be discussed include cyber security, personal data protection and digital economy. Besides that, closer cooperation between agencies of both nations to jointly overcome cyber security problems will also be explored. Speaking of cyber security, Fahmi also previously announced that the government is in the midst of setting up the Malaysian Cyber Security Commission.

So, what do you guys think of KKD’s efforts to strengthen cyber security in our country? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD Minister: Malaysia to establish a Cyber Security Commission

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has announced that the government is planning to set up the Malaysian Cyber Security Commission. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that the commission is part of efforts to strengthen cyber security in our country.

According to Bernama, Fahmi said that his ministry will cooperate with relevant agencies such as CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) in setting up the commission. Besides that, the KKD Minister also revealed that several amendments affecting KKD agencies would be tabled in the coming Dewan Rakyat session beginning this 13 February.

The agencies include the Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP), National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Fahmi further elaborated that the amendments would strengthen the agencies as there is no point in having data if it is not safe.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and on the international scene.


KKD Minister: New MSAP implementation enables lower broadband service prices in Malaysia

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has announced that the implementation of the new Mandatory Standard on Access Pricing (MSAP) will enable lower prices of broadband services in Malaysia. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that the new MSAP was implemented beginning yesterday (1 March 2023).

As reported by Bernama, Fahmi asserted that the implementation can reduce the cost to recipients of access services involved in providing fixed broadband services to users. The KKD Minister further elaborated that indirectly, services provided to consumers at the retail level can be offered at a lower and more competitive price or at a higher speed.

Fahmi gave an example by comparing the prices for wholesale high-speed broadband services prior to and subsequent to the new MSAP. Previously, the price for a speed of 100Mbps is RM515 per month while after the new MSAP, the same speed is RM254.64 per month.

So, what do you guys think of the MSAP implementation? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond!


KKD Minister instructs MCMC and telcos to establish SOP for telecommunications access in disaster areas

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and telco companies to urgently establish standard operating procedures (SOP) for telecommunication access in disaster areas. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil made the directive while visiting the location of the landslide incident tragedy at the Fathers’ Organic Farm campsite in Gohtong Jaya yesterday.

As reported by Bernama, Fahmi revealed that he will be discussing with MCMC and mobile network providers to speed up the formulation of the SOP to help the search and rescue operations. Speaking to reporters last night, the KKD Minister said that the communication line at the disaster site was unsatisfactory.

He further asserted that the ministry may get cooperation from telcos to ensure that the problem of getting access to the internet or line does not occur, especially in disaster situations in the future. As an early measure to overcome the current problem in Gohtong Jaya, Telekom Malaysia (TM) and telcos have been instructed to send their Mobile Coverage Vehicles to allow the implementation of Coverage on Wheels at the location.

Accordingly, telecommunications equipment has since been delivered, including by TM, Celcom, Digi and UMobile. Maxis has also done (antenna) tilting to help reduce the issue which is mostly a technical and geographical problem. The KKD Minister will also be bringing up this matter at the Cabinet Meeting next Wednesday (21 December 2022).

So, what do you guys think of the statement by Fahmi Fadzil? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news in Malaysia and beyond.


KKD: Only 25% more to achieve 2023's target for 5G network coverage

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that our country is close to reaching its 5G network coverage for 2023. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil lauded the progress, saying that it was a positive development for the nation.

As reported by Bernama, Fahmi further elaborated that the progress showed that the government was on the right track in ensuring the target of 80 per cent 5G network coverage for populated areas before the year’s end can be achieved. Currently, Malaysia only needs approximately 25 per cent more to achieve the aforementioned target as the coverage is now at 55 per cent. Hence, the KKD Minister stressed that it is important that this is not interrupted.

He added that there were some recommendations on what KKD can do to expedite the process during discussions with telco companies. Fahmi also revealed that he will be holding a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim this week to finalise the policy and direction of 5G implementation in Malaysia.

So, what do you guys think of our country’s 5G network coverage? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KKD: Over half of telco towers affected by recent Johor floods have been repaired

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that more than half of the 160 telco towers affected by the recent floods in Johor have been repaired. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that this was the situation as of 12 March 2023.

According to Bernama, the KKD Minister confirmed that only the telco towers in Batu Pahat have yet to be repaired due to water levels still being high there. He further asserted that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has identified several telco towers susceptible to floods in Johor for a site-heightening process. This would essentially future-proofing them and ensure communications are not disrupted during floods.

Fahmi said that previously, such a process was successfully implemented in Kelantan and Terengganu which are often hit by floods. Besides that, KKD Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching has also asked telco companies to improve the hardening of their towers so that services are not interrupted during floods.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD: Prepaid users to enjoy free additional internet quota and cashback this Hari Raya

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has announced that prepaid package users will enjoy free additional internet quota and cashback in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil elaborated that this is applicable for a certain period until 31 May 2023.

In a statement, Fahmi elaborated that this initiative is a collaboration between KKD via the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and telco service providers. Here are some of the free internet quotas being offered by telco companies as part of the initiative:

Fahmi added that the facilities provided are subject to the terms and conditions of the service providers. Moreover, he hoped that this facility can be fully utilised by prepaid package users in conjunction with this festive season.

So, what do you guys think of this collaborative initiative between KKD, MCMC and telco companies? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KKD announces Pakej Perpaduan prepaid plan, 30GB for RM30 with 180 days validity

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) today announced the Pakej Perpaduan prepaid mobile internet plan, an expansion to the Youth Package introduced by the previous government. The prepaid plan is now available for youths aged 30 and below, those from the B40 category, persons with disability (PwD), senior citizens and Army veterans.

Set for introduction in February 2023, the package offers discounted prices compared to current packages available in the market. Moreover, this package is priced at RM30 for internet speeds between 1Mbps to 3Mbps with a 30GB internet quota and a validity period of 180 days.

In a statement, KKD Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that Pakej Perpaduan is a basic plan and it is up to telco companies to offer add-on services to the package. The five telcos that will be offering this prepaid plan are CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, Telekom Malaysia (TM) and YTL Communications (Yes).

Fahmi further elaborated that the aforementioned telco companies will provide more information regarding Pakej Perpaduan in the near future. So, do stay tuned for each respective telco’s announcements.

So, what do you think of this initiative by KKD? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KKD instructs Malaysian telcos to install generators in flood hotspot areas to avoid service disruption

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has instructed local telecommunications companies to install generators in flood hotspot areas. This is following the flash floods that have severely affected some parts of Malaysia.

According to Bernama, KKD Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said that the directive was aimed at preventing the affected areas from experiencing communication service disruptions. Furthermore, the ministry will also work with the telco companies and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to ensure no telco services are interrupted.

Speaking at a temporary evacuation centre at the SRJK Cina Bukit Batu in Kulai yesterday, Nie Ching asserted that KKD had asked telco companies to improve the hardening of their telecommunication towers. They were also told to relocate the towers to higher areas so that services are not interrupted during floods.

So, what do you guys think of the KKD Deputy Minister’s statement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and beyond.


KKD instructs all telco companies to block URL links in SMS to circumvent scams

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has instructed all telco companies in Malaysia to block any URL links in short message services (SMS). The directive, made through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was to ensure that no malicious URL is being spread that would possibly make people become victims of scams.

According to Bernama, KKD Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching elaborated that the directive would be implemented in phases. Furthermore, she hoped that telco companies would be able to implement it soon.

The KKD Deputy Minister added that several online scams happen when people click on the wrong link. Moreover, they might end up being scammed after giving personal information through phishing websites that the URLs redirect to.

In relation to that, KKD had previously announced that it will be calling up Telegram to discuss the issue of scammers on the platform. The ministry also revealed that 800,000 attempted cyberattacks were recorded in our country from 2017 to 2021.

So, what do you guys think of this latest measure against scams being implemented by KKD? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and beyond!


ASUS ZenBook UX305F review - Thin and light ultrabook on-the-go

If there is one thing ASUS is good at, there is without a doubt the fact that they really know how to design aesthetically pleasing yet quality-built ultrabooks. The ASUS ZenBook UX305F is no exception and it is one of the most elegant notebook PCs I have ever laid my hands and eyes on.

You will notice straight away at first look, that the ZenBook UX305F is entirely cased with brushed aluminium and with first touch, feels very smooth with just a bit of that roughness for a good grip. The overall design is as minimalistic as can be with just an ASUS logo right in the middle.  On the sides, three USB 3.0 slots, an SD card reader and a Micro HDMI port with clearly no fan port due to a silent, fanless design.

Side view (right). A compact 13mm thickness with 2x USB 3.0 ports with SD card reader

Side view (left). Single 3.5mm Audio/Mic jack, Micro HDMI, USB 3.0 and power port

As an Ultrabook, it has to be relatively thin as well as light. The ZenBook UX305F definitely impresses in this aspect as it only weighs 1.2kg with a thickness of only 13mm. To put things into perspective, the Macbook Air 11 is around 16.8mm.

As far as specs go, this ZenBook UX305F comes with the following:

For the sake of ease, I will split the performance review into 3 categories, home entertainment, work use and lastly gaming.

13.3-inch FHD display boasts excellent pictures

The first thing I would like to point out would be how beautiful the screen looks, the colours are vivid and the contrast is just right on the 13.3–inch full HD display. Watching my Netflix and browsing the internet has been a real pleasure to the eyes because of the dazzling colours the display provides. The stereo speakers though are not something to jump up and down about. Yes, the speakers are by ICEpower by Bang & Olufsen but the loudness is very much lacking. I find myself using earphones most of the time when watching my series. Oh, and the speakers are bizarrely positioned under the ZenBook UX305F, which further reduces the sound volume. Other than that though, everything else is perfectly fine.

Bottom view. Position of stereo speaker (Right).

The Intel Core M holds up to most of my videos and minimal lag can be observed during normal use. However, noticeable moments of lag can be seen during heavy browsing. Like watching some YouTube while browsing online merchants and reading blogs. It also gets a bit hotter than what I'd like but this is mostly because of its fanless setup.

Benchmark comparison on PCMark 8, Home Conventional

According to the benchmarks though, the score is not very impressive but it is consistent with the performances I’ve seen thus far. The Core M somewhat lacks in processing power when handling large loads and thusly falls just short of some standard work PCs in the market. But hey, for the price of around RM2999, it’s not the end of the world.

I have been using this thing for work for as long as I have worked here and I must say, the keyboard feels really good. It kind of reminds me of how the Macbook feels if I type long enough. All peripheral control buttons such as on/off button or the volume controls are all integrated on the keyboard layout. The touchpad is also of a good generous size and it really feels good to the touch to help with that pesky report that needs finishing.

This device was also designed for those working on-the-go, the lightweight and small build makes it a blessing to bring around. I can carry this thing anywhere without even feeling that its there. The impressive 45Whrs battery life also allows me to work in a Starbucks for hours without a charger.

The three USB 3.0 ports are a pleasure to have especially when I tend to transfer documents to and fro handheld to PC. Coupled with the built in 256GB SSD, I won’t have to wait long for any transfers and lengthy boots. Using Word or Excel to do some work seems to be fine with no noticeable performance drops but try not to conference call while doing so; you will definitely see a lot of lag. Same goes for some light image editing (the beautiful screen really helps with image editing).

Gaming benchmark comparison on 3DMark, Sky Diver

Here comes the tricky part. Clearly, this device was not manufactured with gaming in mind. The Intel® HD graphics 5300 was not known for its raw rendering power so I only ran it through the 3DMark Sky Diver benchmark. True enough, it could barely hold 7 FPS at a time. All in all, not a very impressive score but still acceptable.

Knowing this, I took the liberty of avoiding testing with some big name games such as Overwatch or Dota2. Instead, I tested with a more casual game; Minecraft.

Performance testing with dynamite blocks on Minecraft

Walking around and mining was seemingly okay and I was able to hold up a good 60 FPS the whole time. Blocks tend to render considerably slower than I’d like but still very playable. So, I took it one step further by creating complex redstone circuits and blowing up different numbers of dynamites. The circuits managed to hold up pretty well but a drop of performance can be seen when blowing up large numbers of dynamite. Impressively, the game did not crash even after a detonation of around thirty blocks of dynamite. The PC temperature did rise up considerably though, might want to keep an eye on that.

Oh and those with gaming headsets with a microphone jack, you might want to consider getting an external soundcard or a USB mic adapter because this device only has one integrated 3.5mm Audio port for both audio and microphone.

I will be honest, when I first laid my hands on this device I thought it would be around RM3600 because of how great it looks in terms of finishing and build quality. So for around RM2999 this is quite a bargain, but for a home/work environment of course. I wouldn’t recommend pro-gaming on this laptop anytime soon.

Pros: Highly portable, solid build, beautiful screen, decent performance

Cons: Gets a bit hot, soft sound system, lags at high loads

All in all, the ASUS ZenBook UX305F ultrabook is clearly built for individuals who like to have their laptops on the go with its lightweight portability and its great battery life. The beautiful screen and luxurious design also adds to aesthetic value and can also brighten up any room you decide to use it in.


KKD to announce “good news” for prepaid users in Malaysia on Monday

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) is set to announce some “good news” for mobile prepaid users in our country next week. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil asserted that the announcement will be made on Monday (17 April 2023).

However, Fahmi didn’t expressly reveal what the good news would entail. As reported by Bernama, the KKD Minister clarified that there are still things to iron out before an announcement can be made.

He added that KKD is currently discussing the matter with several major telco companies in our country. Given the timing’s proximity with the Hari Raya Aidlifitri celebrations, it is believed that the good news is in relation to some sort of free and discounted services during the festive period.

Previously, Fahmi’s predecessors had implemented free calls to all networks during Aidilfitri and if we have to guess, the announcement this Monday would be in a similar vein.

What do you guys think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and beyond!


KKD to grill Telegram over scammers and other public security issues on the platform

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) would be calling up messaging platform Telegram to discuss issues involving the application, especially regarding the security of users. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that although Telegram was used by many, including the government to share information, KKD would not compromise when it comes to matters of public security.

According to Bernama, Fahmi said that there are many scammer activities reported on Telegram. Hence, his ministry would be discussing with the Telegram service provider to help the authorities take appropriate action under existing laws.

Besides that, there are also other concerning issues such as the spread of pornography and extremism on the platform. The KKD Minister stressed that these matters are taken seriously and hoped that Telegram would cooperate.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by the KKD Minister? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and beyond!


KLFW 2017 Vivo Night recap - A night with our TechNavers!

The KL Fashion Week 2017 has come to a close and has officially marked its successful 5-years show in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur. Started from 16 August, 150 designers came and show cased their latest fashion to the public. It is also the first time for vivo to be featured with its vivo V5s as the official smartphone of #KLFW2017.

Bernard posing with the four lucky TechNavers

Aside from thousands of participants from other states, vivo Malaysia was also generous enough to give some extra entry for TechNavers to witness the grand event. Our TechNave's Joshua and Bernard went to the KLFW 2017 Vivo Night with four lucky readers, one of them even came all the way from Johor just to join us! That dedication!

Don't worry, TechNavers. We will definitely have more activities for you to participate in the future. Thank you all for your enthusiastic support and stay tuned for more nerdy news at TechNave.com!


KLIA is now using thermal scanners for body temperature check for all departing passengers

Previously, we wrote that the Royal Palace was integrated with thermal scanning to check for COVID-19 symptoms and we thought the airports should have it too. Today, it seems that our wish has come true. According to @MY_Airports, a few thermal scanners have been set up in KLIA main terminal for all passengers, staff and crew since yesterday (23 March). Here's how it works.

For all staff and crew who are working, and also for passengers who are travelling (why are you even travelling at this period? Stay home!), you will need to go through the thermal scanning before going to the check-in counters. The thermal scanners are currently located in between the entrances to check-in counters B and C, as well as counters H and I. As you already know, your body temperature must be below 37.5 degrees or else your access will be denied. No senders and greeters are allowed into the check-in areas too, except for those who need special assistance.

Thermal screening for departing passengers at klia2. Stop and have yourself checked first before entering the check-in areas. Please remain vigilant about your health condition and stay safe all the time. #thermalscanners #klia2 pic.twitter.com/ZZt0LhBq3l

Practise social distancing at our airports nationwide. Thank you airport teams for getting these markers up and ready over the weekend. Passengers are advised to travel responsibly. Don’t forget to wash your hands frequently too before you board your flight! #MYairportsupdates pic.twitter.com/54gtUyC3q7

Moreover, the KLIA team are also practising social distancing by putting up markers on the seats and check-in areas. All travellers are reminded to regularly wash their hands and look after their hygiene before boarding the flight. In case of being denied entry for going over the recommended body temperature, kindly do a quick health check-up at the nearest clinic or hospital.

This action might be long overdue but it's better than nothing. As always, stay at home as much as you can and stay tuned for more tech news at TechNave.com.


KLIA’s autogate system will be extended to foreigners beginning September 2022

The automated entry system (autogate) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) will soon be extended to non-Malaysian citizens thus reducing the queues at the airport’s immigration counter. Announced by the Immigration Department director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud yesterday, the implementation will begin in next month.

As reported by Bernama, the expansion is meant to improve the management efficiency of foreign citizens entering Malaysia, involves foreigners who hold long-term visit passes. These include those who work and study in Malaysia, expatriates, individuals married to locals and participants of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

However, the Immigration department director-general said that the the use of the autogate system would depend on the type of passport being used by said foreigners. Khairul further elaborated that only passports with chips and that comply with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

So, what do you guys think of the expansion of KLIA’s autogate usage? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news in Malaysia and beyond.


KPDN: Touch 'n Go’s initiatives to resolve its service issues are still insufficient

Previously, we reported that the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) had recommended Touch ’n Go (TnG) implement several immediate actions to resolve issues arising from its services. TnG subsequently implemented a few initiatives following an engagement session with the KPDN special task force but now, the ministry has announced that they are still insufficient.

In a press release on 9 February 2023, KPDN said that its task force will hold another engagement session with TnG. Amongst the issues that will be discussed in the session would be the implementation of a clear action plan, especially more detailed measures for improvement with regard to TnG services.

Last month, the KPDN special task force was established specifically to look into TnG issues highlighted by the public. Since the first engagement session, TnG has implemented these measures:

KPDN took notice of these measures by TnG but believed that they are still insufficient. However, the ministry did not reveal when the next engagement session with TnG will be held.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by KPDN? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KPDN recommends Touch ’n Go to change its visa card name to avoid confusion

The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has recommended Touch ’n Go (TnG) change the name of its visa card. This is because the word “Touch ’n Go” is synonymous with the toll payment system, hence it would confuse the public who may get the visa card for the purposes of paying for tolls when the card is unable to do so.

As reported by Bernama, KPDN Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said that the recommendation is one of the immediate actions directed by the ministry in an engagement session with TnG management to resolve issues arising from TnG card services. The company was given one week to produce the next follow-up action plan based on the recommendations.

He further said that TnG needs to explain to users that its visa prepaid cards are only for the purpose of purchasing goods and services and for withdrawing money. Moreover, TnG was also instructed to carry out advocacy and early notification to users to inform them of the expiry of the card period.

Besides that, the company was told to improve the methods and speed up the process and period of refunds and balance transfers. TnG was also instructed to add card sales centres and services in locations other than the existing centres in KL Sentral and Bangsar.

The company must also request online business platform providers to take down advertisements selling TnG cards by third parties who do not have permission to sell the cards. Speaking of which, Salahuddin stressed that the KPDN's enforcement division will take legal action against any party that sells TnG cards above the price set by the issuer under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

So, what do you guys think of the recommendations by KPDN to TnG? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more trending tech news.


KPDNHEP: 3919 new traders are now actively using e-wallets throughout Malaysia

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) has revealed that traders are now more welcoming of e-wallets and cashless transactions throughout the country. Its deputy minister, Datuk Rosol Wahid in a statement yesterday shared that a total of 3919 new traders are actively using these cashless transactions nationwide as payment methods.

As reported by Bernama, this was in accordance to an initiative launched by the ministry called the Retail Sector Digitalisation Initiative (ReDI). Furthermore, Rosol also added that e-commerce transactions have surged up to 30 percent in our country in the first quarter of 2021.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), a whopping RM254.6 billion of cashless transactions were recorded in Malaysia during that period. Besides that, the KPDNHEP deputy minister also referenced a 2022 report by PayNet which showed that cash payments have now dropped to 78 percent in Malaysia compared to 89 percent prior to the pandemic.

This latest development in Malaysia follows a wider trend in Southeast Asia that are currently at the peak of the financial revolution phase. Now, 49 percent of the urban population in the region are using e-wallet services and it is projected to reach 84 percent by 2025.

So, what do you guys think of the increased popularity gained by cashless payment transactions in our country? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for the latest tech news in Malaysia and beyond!


KPDNHEP: Those caught selling illegal streaming devices face up to 20 years jail and RM200,000 fine

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) has warned all traders against selling streaming technology devices that contain copyright works without physical or digital permission. Its Enforcement Director, Azman Adam stressed that those caught red-handed can be fined up to RM200,000 or jailed for up to 20 years or both.

This is as stipulated under Section 43AA of the Copyright Act 1987, whereby the aforementioned punishments can be taken against any individual or dealer who was found to be selling streaming technology devices containing copyrighted works without permission. Besides that, KPDNHEP can also take action under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which allows for all accounts belonging to offenders/suspects to be frozen and forfeited if found guilty.

As reported by Bernama, the KPDNHEP Enforcement Director asserted that the ministry will take strict and continuous enforcement action to combat such illegal activities. Furthermore, Azman iterated that the ministry views the matter seriously and will not compromise with anyone involved in the sale of streaming technology devices containing copyrighted works without physical or digital permission.

In a statement on Friday (21 October 2022), Azman also revealed that from 2018 to September 2022, KPDNHEP successfully foiled 531 cases of physical distribution of pirated content worth an estimated RM5.4 million. Moreover, during the same period, the ministry successfully blocked 2252 websites too, which contain pirated copyright works and a total of 2391 content items have been taken down for action.

The KPDNHEP Enforcement Director added that another initiative taken by the ministry to combat digital copyright violations was to block illegal websites through the Cyber Copyright Enforcement (CYCORE). Up until last month, a total of 319 websites were successfully blocked, involving the removal of 1,902 content items.

So, what do you guys think of the statement by KPDNHEP? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and stay tuned to TechNave for more tech news from Malaysia and beyond!