Matching grants to Redesigning the future Saving the economy from Servicing the people help SMEs digitalise with Aerodyne the pandemic through mobile apps 3 7 8&9 11 FREE l MAY 2021 EDITION l www.selangorjournal.my SELANGOR SIBS 2021 goes hybrid The Selangor International Business Summit will return in October this year, bigger and better than before. It will be held in hybrid form, offering in- vestors the choice of either attending in person or to visit its virtual platform. The annual summit is Selangor’s opportunity to strengthen its position as a competitive and pre- ferred investment destination in Asia, offering the state an avenue to demonstrate its resilience, agility and determination to succeed despite the challenges brought MORE ON on by Covid-19. PAGE 6 2 NEWS Selangor Journal l MAY 2021 MB: Nestle’s RM150m plant shows investor confidence SHAH ALAM - The Selangor gov- production centre not only pro- ernment welcomes the effort by duces quality products but has Nestle Malaysia Bhd (Nestle) in also been developed sustainably opening a Plant-Based Food Pro- and is environmentally friend- duction Centre involving an invest- ly, as almost every element of its ment of almost RM150 million. packaging can be recycled. Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amiru- "Congratulations to Nestle for din Shari said Selangor is fortu- its commitment towards the en- nate to host a high-tech facility vironment that also complements that would produce quality plant- the Sustainable Development based food products for the local Goals (SDGs) which is the current and international market. global guideline,” he said. “The centre is the first of its On April 7, Amirudin had ac- kind in Southeast Asia and is a re- companied the Sultan of Selan- flection of the investor confidence gor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris in the stability and administration Shah Alhaj, along with Tengku of the state government,” he said Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku in a statement on Facebook on Permaisuri Norashikin and Raja April 8. Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah He said the state-of-the-art to the centre, here. Building young minds for the future By ZAREEF MUZAMMIL the cooperation is a new direction towards enhancing the individual potential, talents and achievement of the stu- SHAH ALAM - Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said robotics and dents sponsored by the foundation. Year-end target for coding programmes would be able to bring beneficial “As the driving force of the programme, we are helping long-term human capital investments to Selangor. out the Selangor government by providing competent hu- smart projects The Menteri Besar said giving students exposure to arti- man capital that is suited for the progress and prosperity ficial intelligence (AI) and big data would produce scientists of the state. KUALA LUMPUR - The Smart Selangor Delivery and technocrats who can meet the needs of the future. “We hope that this collaboration will be formed with Unit (SSDU) aims to develop at least 55 per cent “In line with the digitalisation policy and the state gov- fresh ideas while identifying other forms of potential of the 60 initiatives under the Smart Selangor ernment’s efforts to complete its digital infrastructure as partnerships that would benefit the development of the Programme by end of the year. well as internet accessibility, I am confident that this field state’s education,” he said. Its Strategic Planning director Mazlan Mahadi of learning would be beneficial for the state. Eddie said he is optimistic that the foundation’s ser- said the programme, which aims to develop Se- “The Selangor Foundation (Yayasan Selangor) will col- vices would be enhanced through the collaborations. langor as a liveable and smart state in the Asean laborate in implementing the learning programme and region by 2025, is 40 per cent on track. hopefully the plan would be rewarding in empowering in- The agencies involved in the programme are as follows: Some of the initiatives started from as far dividuals, which would contribute to achieving the smart back as 2015. state vision,” he said in his speech at the signing ceremo- ■ Selangor State Education Department (JPNS) “We expect that we would be able to meet the ny of an education collaboration in conjunction with the ■ Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) target as efforts to implement the initiatives are Selangor Foundation’s 50th anniversary held at the offi- ■ Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS) on schedule,” he said at the International Busi- cial residence of the Dato’ Menteri Besar, here on April 28. ■ Universiti Selangor (Unisel) ness Review Asean Awards 2020, here on April 3. Amirudin reiterated his hopes that the Selangor Foun- ■ Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (Kuis) At the event, SSDU was presented with the dation would think 100 years ahead and continue to be ■ Yayasan Raja Muda Selangor (YRMS) Government Delivery Services (Government innovative when executing educational programmes. ■ Bumiputera Education Leader Foundation (YPPB) Services Delivery in Smart State Development) “Since 50 years ago, it (Selangor Foundation) has been ■ Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy award by IBR Asia Group. widely known as one of the state government’s agencies Corporation (Sidec) Mazlan said the recognition was made possi- that serves as a platform for the people to receive assis- ■ Malaysian Technology Development ble by the faith and support given by the state tance such as scholarships, study loans and admission to Corporation (MTDC) government. hostels. ■ Maxis “I believe this achievement will motivate the “Therefore, we appreciate the role that it has played ■ Kolej Yayasan Saad (KYS) SSDU members to work harder together to en- over the years and we acknowledge that it has produced ■ REAL Education hance technological and digital development in many professionals, corporate figures and successful in- ■ Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Selangor,” he said. dividuals among its alumni,” he said. (CIMA) SSDU began its operations in May 2016 when Meanwhile, the Selangor Foundation has sealed a deal ■ TYMBA Education it was mandated by the Selangor government to to collaborate with 18 public and private agencies as well ■ Almotahida Education Group Sdn Bhd execute a host of smart initiatives under an um- as non-governmental agencies to carry out various edu- ■ Exzellent Profis Sdn Bhd brella of 12 domains. cational programmes in line with the smart state vision ■ Selangor Federation of Peninsular Malay Students The domains include, among others, smart by 2025. Association (GPMS) governance, smart waste management and Its chief executive officer Eddie Ahmad Khodzali said ■ Alumni of Yayasan Selangor Association (PAYS) smart traffic management. Selangor Journal l MAY 2021 NEWS 3 State to offer RM5m matching grants to selected SMEs SHAH ALAM - The state government on Applications for the grant opened on April 12 launched the Selangor SME Digi- April 15 and will continue until 12pm on talisation Matching Grant worth RM5 mil- May 15. lion with the aim to help small- and medi- To date, a total of 100 digital service um-sized enterprises (SMEs) to digitalise providers have been approved to provide their business. their digital solutions. Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Five areas of digitalisation are offered Shari said the initiative, estimated to under the initiative. They are: e-com- benefit at least 1,000 businesses, was in- merce, HR and payroll system, cloud ac- troduced to aid the digitalisation of the counting, digital marketing, electronic SMEs that are facing challenges from the point of sales (ePos) system, and payment Covid-19 pandemic. gateway. He said a 50 per cent matching grant or Those who wish to participate should a maximum of RM5,000 has been allocat- be registered under the Malaysian laws, ed to each SME to subscribe to a chosen must be at least 51 per cent Malay- digital service provider. Photo by SME Magazine Asia sian-owned, have a business or operation “SMEs that lack resources to digitalise address registered in Selangor, be at least their businesses are invited to apply for langor SME Digitalisation Matching Grant Ng Wan Peng. one year in operation, and have a mini- this grant to strengthen the digital reach here on April 12. When asked whether there would be mum annual sales turnover of RM300,000 of their business. Also present were state executive an evaluation process, Amirudin said a and not exceeding RM1 million. “The state government has always been councillor for industry and trade Dato’ panel will be set up to justify and analyse Each application is limited to only committed to the digitalisation agenda, to Teng Chang Khim, Selangor Informa- the businesses that would be selected to one company but the SMEs may apply help the SMEs in going digital. We want to tion Technology and Digital Economy receive the matching grant. to up to three digital services with one assure that merchants and consumers in Corporation (Sidec) chief executive offi- “We will not be just taking any ‘Tom, or more service providers that are en- the state would benefit from the various cer Yong Kai Ping and Special Evaluation Dick, and Harry’ but it will be based on dorsed by Sidec. initiatives and grants provided,” he said Committee for the Selangor SME Digital- their performance and the presentation For further information, visit www. in his speech during the launch of the Se- isation Matching Grant chairman Dato’ (presented) to us,” he added. sidec.com.my/selangorgrant2021. Bringing cashless solutions to small enterprises KUALA LUMPUR - Selangkah Ventures knowing that fast cash is needed to pur- seamless one, especially now during the (SELangkah Pay is a payment portal Sdn Bhd (SVSB) has launched SELang- chase more supplies for the next day’s Raya season where more companies, for utility bills and SELangkah Wallet is an kah Biz, a mobile application and digital trade.