Racially divided, tone-deaf Malaysia at Paris Olympics

 

Malaysia’s gold-hued sports attire for the Paris 2024 Olympics is based on Malay traditional clothing. – Social media pic, July 31, 2024.

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Paris 2024 Olympic Medal Table

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Teams

Athletes

1. Team
   1 China	11	7	3	21
   2 France	8	10	8	26
   3 Japan	8	3	4	15
   4 Australia	7	6	4	17
   - Malaysia	0	0	0	0

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The writer believes that Malaysian squash player Sivasangari Subramaniam’s (pictured) achievements deserve a spot in the country’s history pages given her dedication and commitment to make Malaysia proud. – Facebook pic, July 31, 2024.

FOUR months ago, Malaysian squash player Sivasangari Subramaniam emerged as London Squash Classic champion, the second to do so in nine years after her predecessor Nicol David. 

The 25-year-old’s sensational victory left the squash fraternity speechless. Sivasangari was crowned Athlete of the Month by The World Games following her spectacular title-winning run at the London Classic. 

She went into the event ranked 16th in the world but was bent on creating history. She did so by defeating World No.1 Nour El Sherbini in the quarterfinal, World No.4 Nele Gilis in the semifinal and World No.2 Hania El Hammamy in the final at Alexandra Palace. 

How did Malaysia react to Sivasangari’s stupendous success? Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim offered a congratulatory note. The agong, state rulers, politicians, corporations, and civil society organisations remained indifferent. 

This youngster’s achievements deserve a spot in the country’s history pages given her dedication and commitment to make Malaysia proud. 

It was just two years ago when Sivasangari suffered life-threatening injuries in an accident in Kuala Lumpur and missed out on the Commonwealth Games. Mobility issues in the neck left her wondering if it was all over. 

That was 2022. Sivasangari has since won two gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games as well as the PSA World Tour Bronze-level Hong Kong Football Club Open. 

To the unitiated, these details are mundane. To an athlete who was close to facing disability, every victory is miraculous. 

So why has Sivasangari not made the cut as far as brands go, i.e. a face to inspire and a force to be reckoned with? 

Why has Nestle Malaysia shied away from endorsing Sivasangari as an ambassador for Milo, its most popular product? Has Nestle decided that only one race is worthy of acknowledgement to promote its beverage? Is the drink only for one particular race? 

Giving priority to the dominant race smacks of hypocrisy given the overwhelming success achieved by Malaysian athletes of Indian and Chinese ethnicity. 

There is no denying most advertisements in Malaysia are tone-deaf towards Indians in particular. Has this to do with the model’s or athletes’ skin colour?  

Why have billboards not celebrated Sivasangari’s astounding achievements? Has the Education Ministry appreciated this Cornell University graduate’s “never say die” attitude in bouncing back from a near fatal crash? Clearly not. 

So why then the fuss over the Malaysian contingent’s attire for the 2024 Olympic Games inauguration in Paris, which did not reflect the country’s diversity?  

The designer opted for a Malay look i.e. gold-hued attire featuring baju kurung with a headscarf for women and baju melayu teluk belanga for the men, as if only something based on Malay traditional clothing would do.  

Malaysia’s gold-hued sports attire for the Paris 2024 Olympics is based on Malay traditional clothing. – Social media pic, July 31, 2024.

Perhaps it has all to do with the overkill by the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim-led Madani government in trying to portray Malaysia as all things Malay.  

Still, how did Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh neglect Malaysia’s status quo of being a multiracial nation vis-a-vis the Olympic Games attire?  

The Olympic Games have no relevance to race, colour, or creed. It is a sporting event. So why must Malaysia constantly harp on driving home the fallacy that Malaysia is Islam and Islam is Malaysia?  

That the Malaysian government has brazenly transported its racial agenda to a podium that venerates success regardless of colour is simply unbecoming. – July 31, 2024.  

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The Malaysian Insight

Medal Table

 < click Live update

Paris 2024 Olympic Medal Table

Sports results

Teams

Athletes

1. Team
   1 China	11	7	3	21
   2 France	8	10	8	26
   3 Japan	8	3	4	15
   4 Australia	7	6	4	17
   - Malaysia	0	0	0	0

   More stats on olympics.com

At Paris Olympics and beyond: How AI enhances China's Olympic performance, promotes sports culture

Having jumped off the starting block and plunged into the water, Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle, at La Défense Arena in Paris, won an Olympic gold medal in the men's 100m freestyle on Wednesday local time, breaking the world record amidst loud cheers.

SAFEGUARDING DATA IN M’SIA’S NEW ERA OF E-INVOICING

Vast potential: Digitalisation boosts growth and efficiency, but adopting strong cybersecurity measures and secure software can protect data, systems and customers. Image: Blake Wisz / Unsplashed

AS THE roll out for Malaysia’s e-invoicing mandate draws near, small businesses around the country are embarking on their digital transformation journeys.

In doing so, they unlock numerous benefits such as increased efficiency and productivity and improved customer engagement, while becoming more competitive and resilient.

This digital shift however, can also introduce significant data and security risks.

Understanding these risks is crucial to protect businesses, their data and their customers.

Data breaches and other online crimes, including hacking and financial fraud, can have disastrous effects on businesses, such as the exposure of sensitive customer information, intellectual property theft and the disruption of business operations.

These breaches in security can result in significant losses for companies, sometimes amounting to millions of ringgit.

Additionally, small businesses, often the targets of cyber-attacks because they are seen as more vulnerable, may lose valuable consumer trust and potential opportunities.

Ahead of the phased mandate launch in August, business owners can ensure they are fully prepared by understanding the key advantages and risks of e-invoicing, and take proactive measures to safeguard their business.

Security first: Cyber threats are increasingly complex and widespread. Small businesses can protect sensitive data by choosing reputable software with strong security.

Security benefits and e-invoicing considerations

Despite the risks, the shift towards e-invoicing is certain to offer businesses numerous immediate and tangible benefits.

Enhanced efficiency, reduced errors and improved transparency in financial transactions make e-invoicing more secure than manual handling and traditional invoicing practices.

With oversight from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), e-invoicing is tracked through the Peppol framework and verified in real-time, providing an additional layer of security and accountability.

Verification through Peppol ensures that invoices are authentic, preventing fraud and alterations.

This standardised network facilitates the secure and efficient exchange of electronic documents, protecting them from cyberattacks and potential data breaches.

Choose a reputable software provider

As Malaysian businesses look to adopt solutions that will enable them to comply with the upcoming mandate, prioritising reputable software providers to ensure data, privacy and security protection cannot be overstated.

In today’s digital landscape, cyber threats are pervasive and increasingly sophisticated, targeting vulnerabilities in businesses of all sizes.

By choosing established software providers known for robust security measures, small businesses can protect sensitive customer information and internal data from breaches and theft.

Reliable software providers offer regular updates, advanced encryption and compliance with regulatory standards, ensuring that businesses remain resilient against evolving cyber threats.

Additionally, this proactive approach fosters customer trust, as clients are more likely to engage with businesses that prioritise their privacy and data security.

Xero, for example, adheres to stringent security standards and compliance requirements to effectively safeguard user data.

By incorporating multi-factor authentication (MFA), user accounts and financial data remain secure and protected while Xero’s encryption protocols prevent unauthorised data access, safeguarding it from cyber threats.

With a global presence, including in countries such as the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, Xero maintains a high level of cybersecurity features and compliance measures to meet regional and international standards.

The accounting platform currently supports many local businesses in streamlining processes and improving data security.

Additional precautions

In addition to leveraging the security features of cloud accounting software like Xero, Malaysian businesses can take extra precautions to safeguard their accounting data. This includes:

> Paying attention to security notices: staying informed about security alerts and notices from software providers to promptly address emerging threats.

> Reporting unusual activity: encouraging employees to report any suspicious or unusual activity related to accounting data to prevent potential security breaches.

> Deploying antivirus and anti-malware solutions: installing reputable antivirus and anti-malware software on their devices to protect against potentially malicious software.

There is no question that digitalisation presents enormous opportunities for growth and efficiency for small businesses, but with that, come some critical security risks.

By adopting cybersecurity measures and choosing software with robust protection features, small businesses can safeguard their data, systems and customers.

Proactive security management not only protects against financial losses and reputational damage but also builds trust with customers, fostering long-term business success.

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E-invoicing system set to go

PETALING JAYA: With two days to go, most of the 5,000 companies under Phase 1 of the e-invoicing rollout are raring to go and looking at a smooth takeoff, say stakeholders.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia treasurer-general Datuk Koong Lin Loong said these companies, with an annual turnover of RM100mil and above, should not face any major hiccups when transitioning to e-invoicing on Thursday.

“They will be able to cope with the transition as these companies have the resources to do so,” he said when contacted yesterday about worries some businesses have expressed about beginning the e-invoicing process.

Asked if accounting firms acting for these companies are facing pressure in switching to e-invoicing, Koong, who is a practising auditor and licensed tax agent, said that it is unlikely.

ALSO READ: How e-invoicing affects you

“There is some misunderstanding that e-invoicing is like the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which required some companies to change their entire accounting system.

This is not the case with e-invoicing because companies are already generating invoices through email and their existing computing systems. The only difference is that their invoices will now be digitised and linked to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN),” he added.

Koong also said that it is quite normal for businesses to express worries whenever a new system is introduced, like mobile phone and QR code payments, for instance.

ALSO READ:‘There’s time for smaller companies to learn the new system’

“There would have been a lot of complaints prior to the Covid-19 pandemic (in 2020) if businesses had been asked if ewallets could be used to make payments. They were practically non-existent.

“But nowadays such payments are widely accepted even among smaller businesses and hawkers,” he said.

Experts say the pandemic greatly sped up digital payments globally, as, for a few years, people were living mostly online.

ALSO READ:LHDN announces six-month grace period for einvoicing implementation

When it comes to e-invoicing, the driving force is efficiency in collecting taxes and stopping leakages to increase the government’s tax revenue. To further ensure a smooth transition, Koong said the LHDN has announced some flexibility and relaxation of e-invoicing regulations.

For instance, there will be no prosecution action under Section 120 of the Income Tax Act 1967 for non-compliance with e-invoicing rules, provided the business complies with consolidated e-invoicing requirements.

This means the supplier can gather all statements or bills issued and then issue a consolidated einvoice as proof of the supplier’s income, according to einvoicemalaysia.my.

ALSO READ:Are you ready for e-invoicing starting Aug 1?

Koong added that the LHDN is planning to roll out an e-invoicing mobile app and e-POS (electronic point-of-sale) system by the end of this year, free of charge for businesses to download.

Phase 2 of the e-invoicing system will be implemented on Jan 1, 2025, for companies with a turnover of below RM100mil and up to RM25mil, while full implementation under Phase 3 will begin on July 1, 2025, for businesses with an annual turnover of above RM150,000.

Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia secretary-general Ahmad Yazid Othman said most Phase 1 companies are ready, although some may still be facing some difficulties, especially smaller businesses that serve the larger companies under the Aug 1 rollout.

He added that companies are expecting to run into teething problems just as they did when the GST was first implemented in April 2015.

ALSO READ:The e-invoicing dilemma

“The LHDN has given its assurance of some flexibility and relaxation of regulations during the initial implementation period, and this is most welcome.

“We hope that companies will not delay implementing e-invoicing with these assurances, which will at the same time motivate other companies to speed up the transition process when their turn comes,” he said.

Ahmad Yazid, who is also a senior fellow with the Malay Economic Action Council, said the experience gained from Phase 1 of the e-invoicing process will be helpful for both the LHDN and businesses to better prepare for the coming phases next year.

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Related stories:

How e-invoicing affects you

‘There’s time for smaller companies to learn the new system’

LHDN announces six-month grace period for einvoicing implementation

Are you ready for e-invoicing starting Aug 1?

Microenterprises unprepared for e-invoicing, says Wee

The e-invoicing dilemma

Navigating e-Invoicing for SMEs

Over 5,000 applications for MyInvois access ahead of Aug 1 rollout, says LHDN

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The e-invoice conundrum dilemma