Month: December 2020

A better lookout for fresh graduates in 2021, 2022 The employment for fresh graduates in Malaysia is likely to increase as employers scale up hiring next year and 2022. According to the New Straits Times, Talentbank recently revealed that a total of 73.41% of respondents plan to hire fresh graduates from private and public universities in Malaysia in 2021. The recruitment, market research, education and employer branding company, with 196 organisations in Malaysia conducted the survey back in October, which also showed that 21.97% of respondents were unsure about hiring fresh graduates while 4.62% of employers are unlikely to hire. Talentbank Chief Executive Officer Ben Ho stated that the survey's outcome comes as good news in the current volatility and uncertainty amid the ongoing...

Workers should upskill or reskill to stay in the job market In order to stay relevant and competitive in the post-pandemic world, employees need to brush up their skills or learn new skills to accommodate the job market, according to a survey by United Overseas Bank (UOB). According to the New Straits Times, UOB Malaysia said the widespread view comes amid expectations that it would be tough to secure a new job because of the economic recession. Based on the recent UOB Consumer Sentiment Study, 90% or nine out of ten Malaysian employees recognize the need to reskill or to upskill. "Meanwhile, 85 percent of Malaysian respondents believe that companies will prefer hiring people who can perform multiple functions, and 83 percent think employers will reduce headcount by stepping up the...

Melaka will introduce seaplanes next year to further boost tourism Seaplanes will be a new icon for Melaka’s tourism sector from next year with the investment in these planes to be worth about RM500 million. State Tourism, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman, Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis said the seaplanes which could land on or take off from water, were manufactured by a company in Penang and expected to be based at the Sungai Rambai Aerodrome, Jasin, near here. “There will be further discussion with the company and investors on the matter soon,” he told reporters after officiating at the Tourism Melaka Futsal Challenge 2020, held at the Batu Berendam Sports Complex, here, yesterday. He said many more tourism products would be introduced next year to further attract domestic ...

Christmas celebrations pre-2020 Amidst living under a new normal, it has not dampened the spirit of Christmas for many people globally. Albeit 2020 has been the ‘worse’ year ever for many, yet as people are preparing to celebrate Christmas and welcoming the new year, people carry hopes 2021 will bring new beginnings and it will be something worth being merry about. Here IKON takes a look at how some countries across the world celebrated Christmas prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 (in pictures).   United States America Before America gets turned on turkey and settles in to watch some football, all eyes turn to Manhattan during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2020. The annual pageant of giant balloons, floats, cheerleaders, clowns, marching bands, theater, and Broadway in N...

Prime Minister set to be among the first Malaysians to receive Covid-19 vaccine Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has offered himself and be part of the first batch to get the Covid-19 vaccine injection in a move to assure the people of its safety. In a televised message, he said that frontliners would be the next group to be vaccinated. The vaccine will also be given to target groups comprising high-risk groups such as senior citizens, those with non-communicable diseases (NCD), and chronic respiratory illnesses. According to Muhyiddin, the government has just signed an agreement with AstraZeneca, a research-based biopharmaceutical company to secure 6.4 million doses, or 10% more vaccines. "This means a guarantee to 40% supply of vaccines have been secured via the agreement...

Malaysian Government Welcomes More Hollywood Film VFX Work with Base Media Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia ("KKMM") and National Film Development Corporation Malaysia ("FINAS") announced that they approved the 30% incentive under the Film In Malaysia Incentive ("FIMI") for the VFX work completed by Base Digital Production, a subsidiary of Base Media, on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX). Through FIMI, the cost-of-production for studios to outsource production work to Malaysia-based companies is competitively comparable with neighboring regions. The ease of application and the seamless process of FIMI allows for big productions like Star Wars, Netflix's 6 Underground, and The Mandalorian to obtain FIMI Rebate. Thus, FINAS is welcoming international appli...