21 Oct 2020
Funding Societies and TMIM team up to provide digital financing access and support to MSMEs
Financial assistance for underserved local MSMEs from Funding Societies utilising Yellow Pages digital advertising solutions to help with business expansion and sustainability during these challenging times.
Funding Societies Malaysia, the largest peer-to-peer (P2P) financing platform in the country and Southeast Asia recently collaborated with TM Info-Media Sdn Bhd (TMIM), a subsidiary of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) to offer business financing solutions for the underserved and unserved local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The mission kicks off into high gear with the prime utilisation of Yellow Pages' digital platform, a product of TMIM and also the leading digital business directory in Malaysia.
The collaboration will provide MSMEs with greater access to digital financing solutions. The solutions will facilitate business expansions as well as ensure sustainability of the MSMEs. It provides vital financing options to existing MSMEs and serves as a launch pad to aspiring entrepreneurs. The synergistic collaboration takes momentous steps towards Funding Societies' mission to improve the livelihoods of MSMEs and TM's role as the enabler of Digital Malaysia.
It also opens the door for as many as 70,000 MSMEs under the Yellow Pages listings to a variety of tailor-made financing products. With the aim of bringing game-changing revolutions to their customers, Yellow Pages Malaysia is no stranger to making innovative transformations in order to stay current in the digital age.
Wong Kah Meng, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Funding Societies Malaysia, commented on the partnership: "Digital financing is becoming more prevalent in Malaysia given its ability to promote financial inclusion, particularly benefiting the MSMEs that are either unserved or underserved by traditional financing avenues by providing easy access to financing solutions. As the largest P2P financing platform in the region, our partnership with TMIM will serve to accelerate our reach in providing the financing support that is much needed by our local MSME players. This is especially relevant given MSMEs are among the most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic."
Meanwhile, Sean Koh Chin Soon, Chief Executive Officer, TMIM said: "Our Malaysia Yellow Pages platform which has evolved from print to digital, interactive website and mobile app, is the perfect avenue to bridge the MSMEs out there with the resources they require. We are excited to collaborate with Funding Societies Malaysia in empowering local businesses through financial solutions. This will enable them to further expand their potentials thus supporting the sustainability of the businesses, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic. This is also in line with the Government's efforts to boost the growth of Malaysian economy and to propel local businesses. This initiative is befitting of TM Group's unique role in nation building and as the enabler of Malaysia's Digital Nation aspirations."
P2P financing is a digital financing solution that has been gaining traction in recent years. Its modern approach and speedy process makes pain points of traditional financing a thing of the past. Such setbacks including collateral requirement, onerous documentation, slow turnaround time, and high minimum requirements, all posed as hurdles for smaller businesses to obtain quick financing assistance. Through this collaboration, eligible businesses on the Yellow Pages platform can apply for the financing from Funding Societies without even needing to visit a physical branch.
Eligible MSMEs stand to enjoy the following financing benefits from Funding Societies:
- Discount on processing fee
- Fast disbursement with quick approval within five (5) working days
- Flexible tenure of up to 18 months
- No collateral requirement
- Minimal documentation requirement
Besides the collaboration with Funding Societies, TM through its consumer and SME product brand, unifi has also been continuously assisting businesses to stay productive in this emerging digital economy. Via unifi Business Club (uBC) specifically for its SME customers, unifi enables access to complete business solutions which include digital marketing tools, productivity boosters and financial solutions. By allowing businesses to leverage on its strategic partnerships, unifi aims to expedite its customers' recovery and enhance sustainability.
Interested MSMEs can apply for financing from Funding Societies on Yellow Pages website starting 5 October 2020. For more information on the partnership between Funding Societies and TMIM, please visit https://biz.yp.my/solutions/yellowpagesfinancing/.
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TM and Cybersecurity Malaysia join forces to strengthen national cyberspace resilience
Both companies will leverage each other’s expertise, technical capabilities and global best practices to create a safer and more robust cyber ecosystem. Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) via its enterprise and public sector business solutions arm, TM ONE, today sealed a Memorandum of Collaboration (MoC) with CyberSecurity Malaysia, the national cybersecurity specialist agency under the purview of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (KKMM), to empower and strengthen the level of cybersecurity in Malaysia. The MoC was signed in a virtual event by Dato' Ts. Dr. Haji Amirudin Abdul Wahab FASc, Chief Executive Officer, CyberSecurity Malaysia and Imri Mokhtar, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), TM. The ceremony was witnessed by General Tan Sri Dato' Seri Panglima Mohd Azumi Mohamed (Retired) Chairman of the Board of Directors, CyberSecurity Malaysia and Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Bakke Salleh, Chairman of TM. The event was also graced by the presence of YB Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia. Commenting on key aspects of the memorandum, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Bakke Salleh noted: "We are honoured to collaborate with CyberSecurity Malaysia in this strategic initiative, which is aimed at elevating the nation's cybersecurity network and ecosystem and strengthening Malaysia's self-reliance in cyberspace. It is vital for the adoption of cybersecurity to be in tandem with the pace of transformation in order to secure our digital economy. Being a strategic partner, it is our pleasure to lend our expertise not just for this initiative but in Malaysia's mission to enhance its cybersecurity capabilities. This collaboration will enable both parties to enhance the ability of the public and business sectors to fend off cyberattacks that can come from all corners of the world and make cybersecurity a key thrust towards a sustainable digital economy, digital government and digital society. TM as the enabler of Digital Malaysia, is here to bridge the need for cybersecurity in order to successfully use cloud services; and to enable organisations to focus on their transformation journey, securely and comfortably." Meanwhile, General Tan Sri Dato' Seri Panglima Mohd Azumi Mohamed (Retired) said, "As a cybersecurity specialist and technical agency, CyberSecurity Malaysia is strongly committed to ensure the e-Security aspects of the country and will continue to identify areas that could endanger national security and the well-being of the people. The main focus is to strengthen capacity through monitoring and providing effective response towards cyber threats and attacks to avoid major impact. With the signing of this strategic partnership, the principles and mechanisms of collaboration will enable both entities to merge and benefit from each other's technology and expertise, thus enabling both organisations to act as commercial strategic partners locally and internationally." The initiative between both parties includes the sharing of global best practices, leveraging each other's technical capabilities and is set to deliver optimal cybersecurity technology solutions to local enterprises and public sectors. TM's role encompasses offering end-to-end comprehensive cybersecurity solutions to both Malaysia and the world. This is delivered principally through CYDEC, which is a portfolio of active cyber defense capabilities, managed security products and services, powered by TM's Global Security Operations Center (GSOC). CYDEC is indeed paving the way for greater digital trust and cyber resilience in the digital era. These managed security services ensure access to real-time, continuous, predictive cybersecurity, quickly and without complexity, for added assurance and is well-positioned to secure and protect our nation's strategic Critical Network & Information Infrastructure (CNII). Another key aspect of this strategic collaboration is to explore the development of advanced security monitoring capabilities by tapping on TM ONE's extensive cloud infrastructure. Both parties will also endeavour to advance digital forensic capabilities and enhance incident response services. This will eventually feature cyber-outreach, a capability and capacity development programme, which will help to upscale the skillset and digital intelligence potential of Malaysia's public and private sector workforce. This MoC also signals the continued urgency of addressing the relentless surge of cyber threats impacting both the public and business sectors as a fundamental step to enabling a sustainable, safe and successful digital society. TM ONE CYDEC cybersecurity solution comprises four (4) key elements: Managed Security Service Provider – an end-to-end security solution and management in real-time through predictive protection on private or public networks Cybersecurity Subscription Service – a self-service Digital Risk Protection portal powered by a renowned global telecommunications player, Telefonica Digital Identity Services – provide authority certificates and digital signatures that comply with Malaysia's regulatory and legal systems Professional Services – offers holistic security consulting and assessment services on an organisation's cybersecurity strategy and landscape For further information on TM ONE CYDEC cybersecurity solution, visit www.tmone.com.my/solutions/cybersecurity-services and for more info on CyberSecurity Malaysia, visit www.cybersecurity.my.
TM BAGS TOP TECH AWARD FOR ITS DIGITAL WORKFORCE SOLUTION
Telekom Research & Development Sdn Bhd (TM R&D), the innovation arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) wins the “Digital-Utilities” Award for its smart workforce management solution known as FORCE at the recent Malaysia Technology Excellence Awards 2023 (MTEA), organised by the Asian Business Review. This is the seventh award received by TM R&D from MTEA in the last five years, spotlighting its role in accelerating the use of advanced technology and mobile-first approach to spearhead industrial productivity and operational efficiencies as Malaysia transitions into a digital economy. Through cross learnings from deployment within the TM ecosystem, TM R&D’s advanced analytics software in the FORCE platform measures and reports business performance metrics in real-time. This enables fast-paced businesses to make precise data-driven decisions to improve complex tasks scheduling of large fieldwork teams across geographies that in turn, significantly ease resource planning and operational costs. Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Sharlene Thiagarajah, Chief Executive Officer, TM R&D said, “In promoting growth mindsets through innovation and capacity-building, TM R&D has been consistently recognised for advancing tech solutions to meet fast-evolving digital needs of today’s competitive businesses. Our work in R&D is helping companies in the region adopt automation and digital solutions in improving workforce productivity and efficiency which translates into reducing cost of doing business.” “FORCE provides operational efficiencies and first-class customer experience by automating day-to-day tasks of large field teams. It proves to be an indispensable tool not only for its ability to automate functions of a workforce but also in enabling seamless execution of digital solutions. Today, FORCE can be effectively deployed in key sectors such as the Water and Utility Industry, IT Services, Public Services, Manufacturing, Hospitality and Plantation Management,” added Dr. Sharlene. The workforce management solution is designed to enable the adoption of digitalisation progressively within the organisation’s own growth strategy, allowing it to rapidly reap benefits with minimal costs. Dr. Sharlene concluded, “Winning this award inspires us to create smarter digital solutions in line with TM’s transformation towards becoming a human-centred TechCo and enabling a more Digital Malaysia.” For more information about TM R&D and its innovations, visit www.tmrnd.com.my or email your inquiry to business@tmrnd.com.my or follow them on LinkedIn (TM Research & Development) for more news and updates.
Credence, TM’s new cloud and digital services company, to empower enterprises’ digital capabilities – from infrastructure to insights
Powered by TM as a corporate start-up, Credence will bring new expertise and agility to grow TM’s digital services to support customers’ requirements and capture new opportunities. Kuala Lumpur, 6 July 2022 – Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) today launched Credence, a new cloud and digital services company focused on expanding the capabilities of enterprises and the public sector in their digital transformation journey. “With enterprises re-evaluating their capabilities and offerings to respond to today’s increasingly digital demands, TM is poised to become an astute digital solutions provider in addition to its established connectivity leadership position. “TM will empower organisations in the private and public sector to transform with greater efficiency and flexibility while offering a superior return on investment. We recognise that now is an opportune time to leverage on our strengths, address market needs and launch a dedicated company – Credence – that is focused on technology and digital innovation,” said Imri Mokhtar, TM’s Group Chief Executive Officer. “TM will offer a differentiated advantage in how we bring end-to-end digital solutions and services to customers through Credence. Leveraging both local and international technologies as well as expertise, Credence will provide greater and faster time-to-value by understanding local customer requirements and challenges. “In the long run, through our foray into the digital services market, we aim to improve TM’s growth trajectory and unlock significant value for both our customers and stakeholders,” Imri explained. Credence is led by Krish Datta, an experienced technology leader who joined TM in late 2021 to shape its new digital services arm. Leveraging TM’s established resources, infrastructure, and its strong links to enterprises and the public sector, Credence is well-positioned to accelerate Malaysia’s digital transformation journey. “We offer organisations the ability to embark on their digital journey with better predictability, lesser concern and disruption while choosing the best tech solutions that suit their needs and priorities, enabling them to focus on their core business,” said Krish. He explained that Credence will provide capabilities from tech infrastructure to business insights, cloud advisory, IT landscape migration, SaaS, managed services as well as analytics and insights. “Credence aims to deliver outstanding experience for our customers. We are the only company that is able to offer our customers the full end-to-end solutions from infrastructure to insights (I2I). Our approach is to meet customers where they are, discover what their mission-critical goals are, and work with them according to their needs and priorities. “We are also platform and technology-agnostic – putting us in a better position to offer solutions with a stronger customer bias vis-a-vis a vendor bias,” explained Krish. As part of the launch, Credence announced key partnerships with VMware, AWS and Huawei, which enables them to offer a broad range of options to enterprises, customised to their individual growth needs. “We are pleased to announce that Credence is working with VMware to deliver their first sovereign cloud service in Malaysia, keeping in mind the data sovereignty of customers in Malaysia,” said Krish. “Malaysia’s digital-first approach is enabling massive transformation and opportunity for businesses in the country. VMware is working with Credence to help enterprises in regulated industries, and companies in the e-commerce and energy sectors to meet their unique cloud and data sovereignty requirements within Malaysian borders,” said Ajay Turki, Director Cloud Sales, Southeast Asia & Korea, VMware. “We are also enhancing the offerings of TM’s Cloud Alpha Edge to include services, SaaS solutions as well as data insights to be the leading Government cloud service provider,” added Krish. “At its core, however, digital transformation is less about technology and more about people, and the success of organisations depends on developing, cultivating and nurturing the next generation of technologically-skilled professionals. Through Credence, we aim to address the current digital and tech skills gap – making strategic hires from the tech sector as well as transferring similar skillsets from TM to spearhead this new digital start-up. “In this way, we hope to nurture a pipeline of next-generation tech and digital talents, and equip Malaysians for a digital future by upskilling them with digital capabilities, and providing them access to the right data and tools. This will not only benefit organisations but our collective progress as a nation, solidifying our Digital Malaysia aspirations,” concluded Imri.
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