Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Comparing Malaysia’s Gambling Scene to the Rest of Southeast Asia

    Comparing Malaysia’s Gambling Scene to the Rest of Southeast Asia

    Southeast Asia is home to many traditional, conservative countries, meaning their stances toward gambling are a bit sterner than those of most countries in the Western hemisphere. However, this region is far from homogenous. The situation differs from country to country, while online and offshore gambling are a story of their own. 

    Still, where does Malaysia fit into all this? Perhaps even more importantly, how does it fare against some of its neighbors regarding the gambling scene?

    What form of gambling is legal in Malaysia?

    The only legal forms of gambling in Malaysia are betting on horse races (since 1961) and playing lotteries (since 1952). Sports betting, however, is illegal (both retail and online).

    Now, while online sites are illegal as long as they’re hosted in Malaysia, locals are not prohibited from offshore betting. For instance, a Malaysian can choose some of the apps in this list and legally play one of many typical casino games online or bet on their favourite sporting events. 

    The same thing goes for the majority of countries in Southeast Asia, with a few exceptions. For instance, in Singapore, there’s a sort of state monopoly on online betting, while in the Philippines, everything is legal.

    Overall, online betting is hard to regulate, so local authorities usually ignore offshore betting, making it a very popular option.  

    Casinos

    While betting is mostly illegal in Malaysia, casinos are regulated (under some rules that we’ll discuss later). So, it’s home to Genting Resort Malaysia. Sure, it’s just this one casino, but it’s a behemoth with over 3,000 slot machines and over 400 gaming tables. 

    In fact, in the whole of South East Asia, there are only three countries that directly ban casinos:

    • Thailand
    • Indonesia
    • Brunei

    Given the royal family’s proclivity for gambling, some find the last part particularly interesting. 

    In Laos, casinos are legal in special economic zones only. Still, locals are not accepted. The same thing goes for betting, in general.

    Also, remember that Southeast Asia is relatively close to Macau (the Vegas of the East). Needless to say, it’s hard for anyone to deal with such competition in gambling.

    Is Malaysia a popular destination for gamblers?

    Not exactly!

    As we’ve already explained, outside of one casino (albeit gigantic) and the national lottery, there’s not much legal gambling in Malaysia.

    Tourists who are interested in gambling destinations in Southeast Asia are more likely to visit:

    • Sihanoukville in Cambodia
    • Entertainment City in the Philippines

    While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact numbers (due to flawed methodology), it’s widely believed that these two countries have the region’s highest number of gamblers per capita. Now, there’s a reason why this is so hard to determine. Namely, in most countries in Southeast Asia, gambling is illegal for locals either way. So, it’s hard to find someone who openly admits (even anonymously) that they’ve partaken in this activity.

    For instance, in Cambodia, while casinos are regulated, all other forms of gambling are illegal. Moreover, betting in these casinos is only legal for visitors, while locals are not accepted.Most countries in Southeast Asia have similar rules where they regulate casinos but don’t allow locals. In Malaysia, for instance, while casinos are regulated, Muslims are prohibited from participating. In this scenario, the prohibition is based on one’s religion, not regionality.

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  • Pernod Ricard launches zero alcohol Beefeater 0.0%

    Pernod Ricard launches zero alcohol Beefeater 0.0%

    Liquor company Pernod Ricard has launched Beefeater 0.0% to join its zero alcohol portfolio.

    Beefeater 0.0% is produced by adding the essence of Beefeater London Dry Gin’s recipe to the base, keeping the latter’s taste – minus the alcohol.

    “Beefeater 0.0% is our very first zero alcohol expression, which captures the energy of our timeless London classic but without the alcohol,” said Murielle Dessenis, global VP for marketing gins at The Absolut Group, a company under Pernod Ricard.

    “We are proud to introduce an elevated option to the non-alcohol category, removing the need for consumers to compromise or miss out on the occasion.”

    Pernod Ricard will initially launch Beefeater 0.0% in Spain, complementing Beefeater’s existing moderated drinking range.

    Last year, the company opened a production line in Thuir, France, for the production of non-alcoholic drinks, research and development, and innovation.

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  • Viber launches a unique Business Calls service

    Viber launches a unique Business Calls service

    Viber announced a unique service that allows users to make free international calls to landline numbers directly through its Business Calls app. The new tool makes it easier for Viber users to track their orders, get support in the retail and delivery sectors, or simply assist them with product inquiries.

    Specifically designed for businesses, the new service allows early adopters to create searchable business accounts with an embedded Viber Business Call button or add the tool to their existing accounts in the app.

    “Nine years ago, Rakuten Viber was the first messaging app to offer business messaging, revolutionizing how businesses communicate with their customers. Since then, we have developed a robust business messaging ecosystem and are now taking a significant step forward by introducing in-app Business Calls, a distinctive offering in the market,” says Cristina Constandache, Chief Revenue Officer at Rakuten Viber.

    Additionally, users can initiate a call directly from a chat with a business. At the same time, brands can include a Viber call link on their websites to make it easier for customers to get in touch with them.

    More importantly, all business calls will be free for customers, regardless of where they’re calling from. It’s also important to add that businesses can designate a specific number for Viber or continue using their regular call center number.

    According to Viber, the new Business Calls service is now available globally. If you’re a business, you’re advised to contact the Viber team to learn how to get started.

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  • Fruit, vegetable exports rise by 89%

    Fruit, vegetable exports rise by 89%

    According to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, fruit and vegetable exports have risen by 89.2% this year to US$459 million due to a surge in demand from China.

    China has imported large volumes of durian, bananas and dragon fruit.

    Cold snaps in many places in that country have limited domestic banana supply since the fruit turns black when the temperature drops.

    China harvested dragon fruit in abundance last year, but the season is over, and Vietnam is able to export the fruit from January to May.

    Chinese use dragon fruit as an item of worship during the Lunar New Year, and so demand for imports from Vietnamese has skyrocketed.

    During President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Vietnam, the Chinese side said it would open its market to many Vietnamese agricultural products, including fresh coconuts, frozen fruit products, citrus fruits, avocados, custard apples, and water apples.

    The two sides also signed a protocol for watermelon export.

    In addition to China, the U.S., the EU and some Asian countries are also set to open their doors to more Vietnamese fruits.

    The U.S. and Australia plan to import passion fruit, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India want to buy grapefruit with India also eyeing durian imports.

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  • Gold prices gain

    Gold prices gain

    Saigon Jewelry Company gold bar price went up 0.26% to VND76.65 million ($3,113.95) per tael Wednesday morning.

    Gold ring price was stable at VND64.05 million per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Globally gold prices inched lower on Wednesday, as hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials and strong U.S. data doused hopes for early interest rate cuts, while investors awaited a slew of economic reports this week for more clarity on rate trajectory.

    Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,024.46 per ounce. U.S. gold futures were unchanged at $2,025.50.

    “Recent economic data out of the U.S. has called for some recalibration in dovish market rate expectations, with some pushback on the timeline for Fed rate cut weighing on gold’s appeal,” said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong.

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  • AirAsia launches new route to Ahmedabad

    AirAsia launches new route to Ahmedabad

    AirAsia is set to launch a new route from Kuala Lumpur to Ahmedabad, India’s first UNESCO World Heritage City.

    This move, scheduled for 1 May 2024, expands AirAsia’s network and solidifies its presence in South Asia.

    The latest network addition will become the airline’s eleventh route to India and the third new route in 2024 alone.

    Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, has a rich tapestry of history and culture. Home to one of India’s largest cotton textile hubs, serene lakes, and ancient mosques dating back to the 15th century, the city attracts history enthusiasts and travelers alike.

    Its vibrant streets offer some of the world’s best street food, and it stands as a hub for sought-after jewellery markets.

    To celebrate this milestone, AirAsia is extending a special promotional fare. Travel enthusiasts can book flights from Kuala Lumpur to Ahmedabad starting at just RM209 and from Ahmedabad to Kuala Lumpur from only INR7,999.

    This exclusive offer is available for booking until 28 January 2024, with travel valid from 1 May 2024 to 19 March 2025. You can secure seats through the airasia Superapp or the website.

    He highlighted the significance of this expansion, considering the recent Malaysian government initiative for visa-free entry into Malaysia for Indian nationals.

    Lingam shared, “When we launched our very first flight into India in 2008, our vision and mission had always been to enhance affordable connectivity between our two nations.”

  • Google Chat is getting a new moderation tool

    Google Chat is getting a new moderation tool

    Google starts this week with yet another update for its Chat app. After bringing star messages to iOS and Android, Google Chat is now getting a new moderation tool in the admin console.

    The new moderation tool has been specifically designed for reviewing and taking action on reported Google Chat content via the Admin console under Apps / Google Workspace / Moderation.

    The search giant announced that super admins will have access to the moderation tool when it becomes available in Google Chat. Also, they will be able to assign users the new “Moderate Chat content report” privilege.

    Google recommends that this privilege only be assigned to users who are best suited to review Chat content; otherwise, it will be ineffective at reducing the super admins’ workload.

    Once users submit a new report, the moderation tool can be used to see all reports associated with the message, review the edit history of a message and conversation transcript (including up to 5 message posted before the reported message), as well as details that provide info about the type of conversation with number of participants, space managers, guidelines, and more.

    It’s also important to add that moderators will be able to add comments to the report should the content require further auditing in the future.

    In the same piece of news, Google announced that the moderation tool will also include a tab for managing quarantine Gmail message. The Gmail tab is available to all Google Workspace customers.

    The new moderation tool accessible by going to Apps / Google Workspace / Moderation will be rolled out in the next two weeks. It will be available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard and Education Plus customers.

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  • Toyota recalls nearly 26,000 cars to tighten shock absorber nuts

    Toyota recalls nearly 26,000 cars to tighten shock absorber nuts

    Toyota Vietnam has announced the recall of 25,971 Avanza Veloz, and Yaris Cross cars to fix faulty front shock absorber nuts.

    The nuts were not tightened sufficiently due to design issues, and could become loose and cause noises, even fall off.

    The affected Toyota Avanza and Veloz models were manufactured between Jan. 7 and Oct. 28, 2022, in Indonesia, or assembled in Vietnam between Nov. 14, 2022 and Aug. 14, 2023.

    A total of 25,523 Avanza and Veloz cars will be recalled. Also recalled are 448 Yaris Cross cars made in Indonesia between June 2 and Aug. 30, 2023.

    There have been no accidents caused by the fault, the Japanese company said.

    It also said 6,368 Avanza, Veloz and Raize cars manufactured in Indonesia between Sept. 12 and Dec. 7, 2022, have brake pads that are at risk of failing sooner than designed.

    Their front fork dust covers were damaged during assembly, and this could cause dust and water to enter the covers, causing the pads to rust and wear out.

    The affected cars will be repaired free of charge at authorized Toyota dealers. The recall began on Jan. 19 and will last until the repairs are completed.

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  • Gasoline price rises to six-week high

    Gasoline price rises to six-week high

    On Thursday, gasoline and diesel prices climbed for the second week, with gasoline being at the highest since early December.

    The popular gasoline RON95 rose 2.51% to VND22,480 per liter, the highest since Dec. 7.

    Diesel increased by 2.49% to VND20,190, the highest since Nov. 23.

    Gasoline prices rose globally in the last seven days due to escalating tension in the Middle East and a slower-than-expected recovery in China’s economy. Red Sea conflicts and the surge of the U.S. dollar were also contributing factors, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance, which control gasoline prices.

    RON95 rose 2.7% to $101.43 per barrel, while diesel rose 2.4% to $100.84.

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  • Apple supplier Goertek to set up $280M Vietnam subsidiary

    Apple supplier Goertek to set up $280M Vietnam subsidiary

    Apple supplier Goertek plans to invest US$280 million to set up a new subsidiary in Vietnam as it seeks to expand in the Southeast Asian market.

    To be based in the northern province of Bac Ninh, it is likely to manufacture headphones, smart watches and virtual reality and augmented reality electronics products, the Chinese company said in a recent filing with the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

    It hopes to “use local resources in Vietnam to enhance the company’s overall competitiveness.”

    It has been in Vietnam for 10 years with subsidiaries Goertek Vina and Goertek Technology Vina.

    In 2022 the latter reported revenues of $2.5 billion and a net profit of $191 million.

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  • No dedicated Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify apps for the Vision Pro

    No dedicated Netflix, YouTube, or Spotify apps for the Vision Pro

    It was back in July when we first told you that Netflix wasn’t planning a dedicated app for the Vision Pro. And while those planning to shell out $3,499 for the Vision Pro might have hoped that Netflix would change its mind, that is not the case, as the spatial computer kicked off pre-orders today in the U.S. Other streamers have announced plans to build an app for the Vision Pro including  Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Paramount Plus. The device will be released on February 2nd.

    Netflix also notes that it is not making its iPad app available to Vision Pro users, which means that the only way for Netflix subscribers to stream using the Vision Pro is to use the Safari browser and visit the Netflix website. Unlike those viewing content on one of the aforementioned streamers supporting Vision Pro, movies, television shows, and documentaries viewed on Netflix will not feel so immersive.

    Netflix spokesperson Kumiko Hidaka said, “Our members will be able to enjoy Netflix on the web browser on the Vision Pro, similar to how our members can enjoy Netflix on Macs.” However, certain features that Netflix subscribers can enjoy on mobile platforms, such as viewing content offline, will not be made available to Vision Pro users. Netflix might have decided that it was best to wait and see how popular Vision Pro would become before deciding to spend time and money on a dedicated app for the platform.

    Disney+ is taking a different tact and has decided to go all-in on Vision Pro. Subscribers can view streaming Disney+ content in one of four immersive environments, including one based on Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre. Others are based on Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., Avengers Tower from Marvel’s Avengers films, and one environment made for Star Wars fans is set in the cockpit of a landspeeder located in the Tatooine desert.

    Disney, constantly rumored to be a possible acquisition for Apple, loves Vision Pro. Bob Iger, Disney CEO, says, “At Disney, we’re constantly searching for new ways to entertain, inform, and inspire by combining exceptional creativity with groundbreaking technology to create truly remarkable experiences. Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary platform that will bring our fans closer to the characters and stories they love while immersing them more deeply in all Disney offers. We’re proud to be once again partnering with Apple to bring extraordinary new Disney experiences to people worldwide.”

    If Vision Pro becomes a hot commodity, Netflix could decide to develop a dedicated Vision Pro app for future versions of the spatial computer. Other high-profile streamers that are not launching apps for Vision Pro include Google’s YouTube video streamer and audio streamer Spotify.

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  • Nepal Airlines extends partnership with Unilode

    Nepal Airlines extends partnership with Unilode

    Unilode Aviation Solutions and Nepal Airlines have extended their full-service ULD management partnership for another three-year term.

    Nepal Airlines awarded the management of its containers and pallets to Unilode in 2018 and has since benefitted from the operational efficiencies provided by Unilode’s digital ULD pool of more than 160,000 units.

    Nepal Airlines currently operates two widebody aircraft to 12 international destinations and will further expand its network in the Asia Pacific region.

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  • Uniqlo sues China rival Shein over viral bag copies

    Uniqlo sues China rival Shein over viral bag copies

    Japanese fashion giant Uniqlo said Tuesday that it is suing Chinese rival Shein over copycats of a massively popular crossbody pouch dubbed online the “Mary Poppins carryall.”

    Videos of fans praising its deceptively small size have gone viral on social media, with one clip on TikTok of a young woman unpacking numerous large items racking up more than a million views.

    The lawsuit filed in Japan against Shein Japan and two subsidiaries “demands the immediate cessation of sales of the imitation products, and compensation for damages incurred,” Uniqlo said in a statement.

    The nylon Round Mini Shoulder Bag, retailing for $19.90 in the United States, has reportedly become Uniqlo’s best-selling bag ever, repeatedly selling out.

    Shein, founded in 2008 in China and based in Singapore, has quickly conquered the global fast fashion market by catering to young customers through social media.

    Valued at $66 billion last year with revenues reportedly over $23 billion, the online retailer is eyeing a major initial public offering in New York potentially this year, the Wall Street Journal reported in November.

    The firm has been accused of exploiting unpaid labour, obscuring production processes and encouraging overconsumption as it faces the wrath of environmental and human rights activists.

    Last month, Chinese-owned online retailer Temu sued Shein in a US court, accusing it of “mafia-style” intimidation tactics to keep the upper hand in the local market.

    Shein Japan was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.

  • Airlines add more flights amid high holiday demand

    Airlines add more flights amid high holiday demand

    Vietnam Airlines has increased the number of flights with up to 66,200 more seats to meet high demand during the upcoming holiday.

    The group announced Tuesday morning that 310 flights will be added between Jan. 25 and Feb. 24. Air travel demand is expected to rise during the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday in early February.

    This means Vietnam Airlines Group, which includes Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company, will offer a total of 12,374 flights during the holiday season, up 10% from the same period last year.

    The new flights will mostly be on domestic routes between Ho Chi Minh City/Hanoi and Da Nang, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Hue and Quang Nam.

    The hike came after the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam asked airlines to increase their number of night flights to meet high demand as most seats have been occupied.

    As of Jan. 12 Vietnamese airlines had sold 80-100% of seats departing HCMC and Hanoi between Jan. 24 and Feb. 25, the authority said.

    Customers have been complaining that they have trouble booking tickets due to low supply and prices being higher than in previous years.