Grab clarifies Mandarin-speaking driver option was part of limited test
In response to the screenshots that went viral on social media, Grab said the test was conducted in response to a rise in tourist arrivals, especially from China.
The company said data showed that 1.4 million tourists from China visited Malaysia between January and April this year.
"In support of growing tourism in the country and to further expand our driver-partners' earning potential, we recently tested an expansion of our language-based ride types to cater to the needs of tourists visiting Malaysia.
"We experimented with GrabCar Mandarin as data showed 1.4 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia between January and April 2025.
"This experiment was crucial in testing the sustainability and demand among tourists, as we work towards introducing support for additional languages," the company said in a statement today.
Grab said the trial has since been paused to review its findings and to plan for the future rollout of similar language-based offerings.
"We have paused the experiment to review our findings and to plan future rollouts of other language-ride offerings, guided not only by tourism data but also through an internally conducted language proficiency survey within our driver-partner community.
"Once operational, the language-based service will be open for sign-up to all qualified driver-partners, regardless of background.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
40 minutes ago
- The Star
Economic Watch: Richer Asians put money on Hong Kong's wealth management boom as city diversifies products
by Xinhua writer Liu Yinglun HONG KONG, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's wealth management sector is receiving a particular boost in 2025 on top of years of steady growth owing to a brisk stock market and new investment options for an expanding high-net worth clientele in Asia. Latest data from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) showed that total assets under management of major private banks in Hong Kong grew by 14 percent in the first half of this year as compared to the end of 2024. Standard Chartered said the number of affluent clients in Hong Kong grew 8 percent in the first half of the year with net new money from such clients up 35 percent. HSBC's wealth management business added 600,000 clients. The surge in asset and wealth management is driven both by growing wealth in the Asia-Pacific region and Hong Kong's inherent strengths including a mature financial market and a robust banking system, noted HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue. Private wealth in Asia-Pacific is among the fastest-growing worldwide. The number of individuals with a net worth of over 10 million U.S. dollars in Asia surpassed 850,000 in 2024, up 5 percent year on year. Among them, over 470,000 are from the Chinese mainland, accounting for 20 percent of the global total, according to the Wealth Report 2025 published by real estate consultancy Knight Frank. "Hong Kong offers mainland high-net-worth individuals access to global assets. Foreign investors, increasingly heartened by China's economic prospects, can find here Chinese assets to keep in their portfolios," Pau Ka-Yan, tax partner of Deloitte China, told Xinhua. The Hong Kong bourse has recorded brisk tradings so far this year because global investors continued to increase their holdings in awe of the economic vitality of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, market observers noted. By the end of July, total market capitalization of Hong Kong's securities market hiked 44 percent year on year. By mid-July, the 52 initial public offerings raised 124 billion Hong Kong dollars (15.8 billion U.S. dollars) in total, nearly seven times the value recorded in the same period last year. To bolster the wealth management sector, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has introduced tax incentives for family offices and enhanced financial services. Now it is tapping the potential of digital assets. Total transaction value of digital asset-related products and tokenized assets in banks surged 233 percent to 26.1 billion Hong Kong dollars in the first half of the year, local data showed. The licensing process for fiat-referenced stablecoins issuers began after the Stablecoins Ordinance took effect on Aug. 1. "The availability of digital asset-related products has given Hong Kong a unique edge in the eyes of high-net-worth clients, who are developing an appetite for new asset types," said Pau. Analysts expect the wealth management business to sustain growth in the coming years as market connectivity strengthens between the mainland and Hong Kong. The HKSAR government is working to launch a renminbi counter for stock connect schemes so that mainland investors can buy Hong Kong stocks with greater ease. Global banks have announced plans to expand their wealth management businesses in Hong Kong. David Liao, co-chief executive of Asia and Middle East of HSBC, told Xinhua that the company will boost its private banking team this year and upgrade services through wealth centers across Hong Kong.
Malaysian Reserve
2 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
DDD Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K Have Opportunity to Lead 3D Systems Corporation Securities Fraud Lawsuit
NEW YORK, Aug. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE: DDD) between August 13, 2024 and May 12, 2025, both dates inclusive (the 'Class Period'), of the important August 12, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. So what: If you purchased 3D Systems securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. What to do next: To join the 3D Systems Corporation class action, go to or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than August 12, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) 3D Systems had understated the impact of weakened customer spending on 3D Systems' business, while overstating its resilience in challenging industry conditions; (2) in addition, the updated milestone criteria in the United Partnership (a partnership with United Therapeutics Corporation) would negatively impact 3D Systems' Regenerative Medicine Program revenue; and (3) as a result, 3D Systems' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the 3D Systems class action, go to call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: or on Twitter: or on Facebook: Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Kim, Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827case@
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
90-day extension of US-China tariff truce is likely, US commerce secretary says
A 90-day extension of a US-China tariff truce is likely, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Thursday, the most concrete signal from the US side about moving the deadline since bilateral talks concluded in Stockholm last week. 'I think we're going to leave that to the trade team and to the president to make those decisions, but it feels like likely that they're going to come to an agreement and extend that for another 90 days,' he said on Fox News when asked if the truce, which is set to expire on Tuesday, would be extended. Lutnick made similar comments last week while the talks were under way July 28 and 29, noting that a 90-day extension was a likely outcome of negotiations. But after the talks, only the Chinese side declared a consensus on extending the pause on tariff increases. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a CBS interview last Friday that the two sides were 'working towards' an extension. The commerce secretary spoke hours after US President Donald Trump's sweeping worldwide tariffs came into effect on Thursday, imposing at least 10 per cent on imports from about 90 countries, after multiple rounds of delays since they were first announced in April. Since April, the US has gradually increased tariffs on Chinese imports to as much as 145 per cent. In retaliation, Beijing imposed tariffs of up to 125 per cent and introduced export controls on strategic raw materials. In May, both sides agreed in Geneva to a 90-day suspension of new tariffs. A second round of talks followed in June in London, where an understanding to ease export controls on US semiconductors and Chinese rare earth minerals was struck, before the most recent round in Stockholm. Still, much appears in flux. On Wednesday Trump floated the idea that China could be subject to punitive tariffs for purchasing Russian oil, hours after he imposed 25 per cent tariffs on India for doing so. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro suggested on the same day that such action was unlikely because the higher duties might hurt the US. On Thursday, Lutnick also elaborated on Trump's Wednesday announcement that companies that manufacture semiconductors within the US would be exempt from 100 per cent tariffs on the chips they import, emphasising the role of an auditor in the process. 'If you commit to build in America during his term, and if you file it with the Commerce Department, and if your auditor oversees you building it all the way through, then he will allow you to import your chips while you're building without a tariff,' Lutnick said on Fox. Lutnick's remarks came as Trump continues his pressure on the semiconductor industry, posting on Truth Social on Thursday that Lip-Bu Tan, the chief of California-based Intel, should resign due to being 'highly conflicted'. Earlier in the week, US Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, sent a letter to the chair of Intel's board contending that Tan's ties to Chinese companies could pose a national security threat. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
