Latest news with #GovTech
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Budget 2026 to focus on longer term reform agenda
PETALING JAYA: Against a global backdrop driven by uncertainties and intensifying competition, Budget 2026 will remain focused on delivering Malaysia's longer term economic reform agenda, while addressing short term challenges to maintain the momentum of growth and safeguard the resilience of the economy. At the same time, efforts will be undertaken to enhance the well-being of the rakyat through more targeted and outcome-driven assistance towards improving quality of life. According to the pre-Budget statement 2026 by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) , Budget 2026 aspires to advance the public sector reform agenda – enhancing governance, strengthening service delivery, and safeguarding fiscal sustainability. To this end, the Government will prioritise the modernisation of public service delivery, introduce frameworks and legislation to strengthen civil service performance, and reinforce the principles of integrity and ethical governance. MoF said these reforms will be underpinned by a commitment to optimise public resources, minimise leakages, and ensure that assistance is effectively targeted to those most in need. To elevate national governance standards, Budget 2026 is said to build upon ongoing reforms under the FRA and National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024–2028. These efforts are now being complemented by a suite of upcoming legislation — including the Government Procurement Act, State-Owned Enterprises Act, Ombudsman Act and Freedom of Information Act — aimed at reinforcing transparency, curbing leakages and restoring public trust. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) continues to lead enforcement and cross-border asset recovery efforts, including in cybercrime and digital asset flows. Starting 2025, reforms in corporate governance — such as new audit exemption criteria for selected private companies — will further balance business compliance and good governance. MoF said the Government is accelerating digitalisation across the public sector to optimise revenue collection, minimise leakages and improve programme delivery. This includes leveraging AI, big data analytics and automation to detect tax non-compliance — with agencies like LHDN using AI for more effective enforcement. The Government is also accelerating efforts to enhance service efficiency and accessibility through nationwide GovTech initiatives. Applications such as MyVisa 2.0 and MyJPJ, alongside digital one-stop centres, are reducing bureaucratic burden and enabling more seamless public transactions. These are underpinned by investments in digital infrastructure, data integration, and capacity building. While certain services and areas still require physical visits due to infrastructural or procedural constraints, the Government remains committed to overcoming these challenges through continued innovation and the expansion of GovTech solutions, ensuring that all Malaysians benefit from faster, more inclusive and citizen-centric services. Budget 2026 will drive performance-based evaluations, capacity-building and accountability measures under the Public Service Efficiency Commitment Act 2025 (Act 867). These efforts aim to create a civil service that is agile, digitally fluent and equipped to implement Ekonomi Madani with integrity and speed. The Government also remains steadfast in improving the ease of doing business by streamlining regulations, simplifying business processes, and accelerating the digitalisation of government services to reduce red tape and enhance complete service delivery. 'Raising the Ceiling' is one of the three central pillars of Ekonomi Madani, aimed at propelling Malaysia towards a high-income, competitive and sustainable economy grounded in humanistic values and social justice. This pillar focuses on breaking through long-standing structural constraints — particularly the nation's over-reliance on low- and medium-cost economic models. With Ekonomi MADANI setting the ambition for Malaysia to become one of the world's top 12 most competitive economies, a fundamental transformation of our industrial base is indispensable. This includes elevating Malaysia's position in global value chains and shifting towards higher productivity and innovation-driven growth. At the heart of the 'Raising the Ceiling' pillar is the imperative for Malaysia to capitalise on the next wave of industrial transformation. To kickstart this transition, the Government is prioritising investments in HGHV areas — covering new opportunities in frontier technologies and pathways anchored in sustainability. These include digital technology, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, renewable energy and AIdriven services — sectors with strong long-term growth potential, the ability to buoy Malaysia's export growth and the capacity to create high-skilled employment. This economic repositioning is compassed by a suite of policy levers designed to liberalise key sectors and attract quality investments. To complement the nation's industrial transformation, MoF said the Government will continue refining its suite of strategic investment incentives — with the New Investment Incentive Framework, slated for launch in the third quarter of 2025, to lead the way. The goal is to tailor incentives to the economic returns of each sector, fostering a mutually beneficial dynamic that attracts quality investments while ensuring meaningful national gains. MoF said Budget 2026 will sharpen this approach by further streamlining approval processes, dismantling bureaucratic hurdles and realigning incentives to better reflect the complexity, value-add and technological intensity of targeted industries. These reforms aim to transform Malaysia into a facilitative, competitive investment destination that rewards innovation, prioritises long-term sustainability and positions the country at the forefront of economic value creation. The strategic policy levers are designed to generate economic multipliers that cascade through the entire supply chain, building ecosystems that support HGHV sectors. These efforts aim to drive inclusive, broad-based growth and catalyse development across all economic corridors. Budget 2026 will continue cultivating these downstream ecosystems and accelerating regional development through the following focus areas: • MSMEs and Digital Adoption: Supporting small businesses by easing access to export markets and financing their digital transition to improve productivity and competitiveness. • Tourism and Services Growth: Leveraging Visit Malaysia 2026 to revitalise tourism and adjacent service sectors. • Islamic Finance and Economy: Strengthening premium halal supply chains and cementing Malaysia's global leadership by leveraging Islamic finance as a key enabler. • Regional Development: Diversifying economic growth beyond established urban centres by developing catalytic nodes across states — replicating models such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), Kulim Hi-Tech Park and Penang Silicon Island.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Short-term rental management software leader Deckard Technologies enters new growth phase with AllTheRooms acquisition
Deckard Technologies builds on growth momentum, entering a new phase with major acquisition, brand refresh, new long-term rental product line and SOC 2 Type 2 data security accreditation. SAN DIEGO, August 07, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Deckard Technologies, the leading GovTech data company dedicated to helping local governments address residential property-related challenges, announced it has acquired Wilmington, DE-based short-term rental analytics & data group AllTheRooms, consolidating its market leading short-term rental management and tax compliance software offer and expanding coverage to new markets in the United States and beyond. The acquisition marks the start of a new phase of growth for Deckard Technologies, building on the success of Rentalscape, the leading short-term rental (STR) software platform. "The acquisition of AllTheRooms significantly strengthens our existing short-term rental license and property tax software solutions and opens major new commercial opportunities. It marks the start of a new era for us," Deckard Technologies CEO Nick Del Pego said. "STR management is an ongoing challenge for local government teams. They need vacation rental compliance tools and property tax assessment software that delivers accurate data and is easy to set up and use. Our customers have come to expect a high standard of service and attention from Deckard Technologies and with this acquisition, the best short term rental management software just got better." The acquisition also delivers established customer relationships in new markets and allows Deckard Technologies to significantly enhance Rentalscape with new capabilities including: A superior tax compliance software solution based on an expanded data set Historical property rental data, and Customizable real-time analytics. The acquisition of AllTheRooms includes a portfolio of 6 U.S. patents that strengthen its AI-powered property intelligence platform. These include a patent for Bayesian matching (US-10579626-B2) which accurately deduplicates short-term rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, as well as a booked-blocked classifier machine learning model that distinguishes real bookings from blocked dates to improve enforcement and tax reporting. A third, focused on validating web content (US-10460261-B2), helps identify legitimate rental activity. AllTheRoom's data integrates seamlessly with Deckard Technologies' existing platforms, significantly enhancing data capabilities and providing scope for scale, efficiency and infrastructure consolidation. Deckard Technologies' technical and engineering capabilities will also be strengthened with the addition of key members from the AllTheRooms team, including CEO Will Pearson, who joins as Director of Operations. "We're thrilled to be joining the Deckard Technologies team and combining our capabilities," Pearson said. "We are really excited about what this talented team will be able to deliver for STR property management software customers and the new opportunities we can explore together." AllTheRooms existing customers and product lines will continue to be serviced under the AllTheRooms brand. Building on momentum for a new phase of growth The AllTheRooms acquisition builds on significant business momentum for Deckard Technologies through 2025, marked by 60% year-on-year revenue growth. In the past 12 months, Deckard Technologies has signed more than 150 new Rentalscape customers, including key communities in California, Arizona, Ohio, Vermont and Alabama. Rentalscape is trusted by over 400 jurisdictions in the United States, Canada and Australia, managing more than a quarter of a million business properties for short term rental licenses. New customers signed in the 12-month period include: City of Panama City Beach, FL Sullivan County, NY Sonoma County, CA Ottawa County, OH Town of Northlake, TX To capitalize on customer momentum Deckard Technologies has expanded its team with several key new hires including West Region Sales Director Dainius Marijosius and Central East Sales Director Bob O'Keefe. New Long-term Rental Management Solution to Meet Local Government Demand Building on its success in the short-term rental compliance market, Deckard Technologies announced it is launching a new platform dedicated to long-term rental property management. The launch comes amid growing demand from municipalities for solutions for rental registration, compliance, and communication with landlords and tenants. "Our clients need more than just spreadsheets. They need integrated tools that combine registration, compliance, inspections and analytics," said Deckard Technologies CTO Jessica Flanagan. "This platform is purpose-built to meet those needs". The new Long-Term Rental platform provides municipalities with a centralized system to: Identify unregistered long-term rental properties Enable digital registration, license management and payments Track safety inspections, rent increases and tenant protections The long-term rental management and compliance market is estimated to be three to seven times larger than the short-term rental market in the U.S. alone, providing a significant new commercial opportunity for Deckard Technologies. Brand refresh, SOC 2 Type 2 compliance marks new growth phase The acceleration in Deckard Technologies' growth is also being marked by an updated website that enhances user experience and showcases the expanding growing range of GovTech software solutions. The refreshed brand and online presence highlight a commitment to innovation, product development, and technology-driven growth – powered by real customer insights. The maturity of Deckard Technologies solutions has also been underscored by the addition of SOC 2 Type 2 compliance certification, which tests security controls over a period of time to validate ongoing data privacy efforts. The new accreditation adds to the SOC 2 Type 1 certification achieved in April 2025. "Now we've gone a step further. Deckard is officially SOC 2 Type 2 compliant. This reflects not just how our systems are designed but how they perform in the real world. Our security controls are not only robust on paper – they work day in and day out. That has been validated by independent auditors, confirming that our controls are effective, consistently applied, and aligned with the high standards our government partners expect," Flanagan said. About Deckard Technologies Deckard Technologies is a GovTech data company helping local governments address residential property-related challenges. Founded in 2018, Deckard Technologies operates globally with offices in the U.S., Colombia and Australia, delivering actionable insights on the business of short and long-term rentals. Its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform provides real-time data to help governments improve compliance rates up to 95%, optimize tax revenue collection, and better address their community's values through smarter rental business oversight. Trusted by over 400 jurisdictions worldwide, Deckard Technologies' scalable, cost-effective products leverage patented processes and combine best-in-class data collection with intuitive, AI-powered solutions, transforming how local governments monitor and manage properties. Learn more at View source version on Contacts For media inquiries, contact: Chloe SassonChief of Staff & Director of MarketingDeckard TechnologiesEmail: chloe@ Phone: +61 429 115 250 Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Short-term rental management software leader Deckard Technologies enters new growth phase with AllTheRooms acquisition
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Deckard Technologies, the leading GovTech data company dedicated to helping local governments address residential property-related challenges, announced it has acquired Wilmington, DE-based short-term rental analytics & data group AllTheRooms, consolidating its market leading short-term rental management and tax compliance software offer and expanding coverage to new markets in the United States and beyond. The acquisition marks the start of a new phase of growth for Deckard Technologies, building on the success of Rentalscape, the leading short-term rental (STR) software platform. 'The acquisition of AllTheRooms significantly strengthens our existing short-term rental license and property tax software solutions and opens major new commercial opportunities. It marks the start of a new era for us,' Deckard Technologies CEO Nick Del Pego said. 'STR management is an ongoing challenge for local government teams. They need vacation rental compliance tools and property tax assessment software that delivers accurate data and is easy to set up and use. Our customers have come to expect a high standard of service and attention from Deckard Technologies and with this acquisition, the best short term rental management software just got better.' The acquisition also delivers established customer relationships in new markets and allows Deckard Technologies to significantly enhance Rentalscape with new capabilities including: A superior tax compliance software solution based on an expanded data set Historical property rental data, and Customizable real-time analytics. The acquisition of AllTheRooms includes a portfolio of 6 U.S. patents that strengthen its AI-powered property intelligence platform. These include a patent for Bayesian matching (US-10579626-B2) which accurately deduplicates short-term rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, as well as a booked-blocked classifier machine learning model that distinguishes real bookings from blocked dates to improve enforcement and tax reporting. A third, focused on validating web content (US-10460261-B2), helps identify legitimate rental activity. AllTheRoom's data integrates seamlessly with Deckard Technologies' existing platforms, significantly enhancing data capabilities and providing scope for scale, efficiency and infrastructure consolidation. Deckard Technologies' technical and engineering capabilities will also be strengthened with the addition of key members from the AllTheRooms team, including CEO Will Pearson, who joins as Director of Operations. 'We're thrilled to be joining the Deckard Technologies team and combining our capabilities,' Pearson said. 'We are really excited about what this talented team will be able to deliver for STR property management software customers and the new opportunities we can explore together." AllTheRooms existing customers and product lines will continue to be serviced under the AllTheRooms brand. Building on momentum for a new phase of growth The AllTheRooms acquisition builds on significant business momentum for Deckard Technologies through 2025, marked by 60% year-on-year revenue growth. In the past 12 months, Deckard Technologies has signed more than 150 new Rentalscape customers, including key communities in California, Arizona, Ohio, Vermont and Alabama. Rentalscape is trusted by over 400 jurisdictions in the United States, Canada and Australia, managing more than a quarter of a million business properties for short term rental licenses. New customers signed in the 12-month period include: City of Panama City Beach, FL Sullivan County, NY Sonoma County, CA Ottawa County, OH Town of Northlake, TX To capitalize on customer momentum Deckard Technologies has expanded its team with several key new hires including West Region Sales Director Dainius Marijosius and Central East Sales Director Bob O'Keefe. New Long-term Rental Management Solution to Meet Local Government Demand Building on its success in the short-term rental compliance market, Deckard Technologies announced it is launching a new platform dedicated to long-term rental property management. The launch comes amid growing demand from municipalities for solutions for rental registration, compliance, and communication with landlords and tenants. 'Our clients need more than just spreadsheets. They need integrated tools that combine registration, compliance, inspections and analytics,' said Deckard Technologies CTO Jessica Flanagan. 'This platform is purpose-built to meet those needs'. The new Long-Term Rental platform provides municipalities with a centralized system to: Identify unregistered long-term rental properties Enable digital registration, license management and payments Track safety inspections, rent increases and tenant protections The long-term rental management and compliance market is estimated to be three to seven times larger than the short-term rental market in the U.S. alone, providing a significant new commercial opportunity for Deckard Technologies. Brand refresh, SOC 2 Type 2 compliance marks new growth phase The acceleration in Deckard Technologies' growth is also being marked by an updated website that enhances user experience and showcases the expanding growing range of GovTech software solutions. The refreshed brand and online presence highlight a commitment to innovation, product development, and technology-driven growth – powered by real customer insights. The maturity of Deckard Technologies solutions has also been underscored by the addition of SOC 2 Type 2 compliance certification, which tests security controls over a period of time to validate ongoing data privacy efforts. The new accreditation adds to the SOC 2 Type 1 certification achieved in April 2025. "Now we've gone a step further. Deckard is officially SOC 2 Type 2 compliant. This reflects not just how our systems are designed but how they perform in the real world. Our security controls are not only robust on paper – they work day in and day out. That has been validated by independent auditors, confirming that our controls are effective, consistently applied, and aligned with the high standards our government partners expect," Flanagan said. About Deckard Technologies Deckard Technologies is a GovTech data company helping local governments address residential property-related challenges. Founded in 2018, Deckard Technologies operates globally with offices in the U.S., Colombia and Australia, delivering actionable insights on the business of short and long-term rentals. Its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform provides real-time data to help governments improve compliance rates up to 95%, optimize tax revenue collection, and better address their community's values through smarter rental business oversight. Trusted by over 400 jurisdictions worldwide, Deckard Technologies' scalable, cost-effective products leverage patented processes and combine best-in-class data collection with intuitive, AI-powered solutions, transforming how local governments monitor and manage properties. Learn more at
The Sun
7 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Cautious optimism over Malaysia's ambition to become AI-driven nation
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's bold plan to become an AI-driven nation by 2030 unveiled under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has drawn cautious optimism from both industry and academia, who agree the roadmap is ambitious but achievable if executed effectively. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 13MP positions AI (artificial intelligence) as a key driver of Malaysia's transition to a high-value digital economy, anchored by initiatives such as the National AI Action Plan, MyDigital ID and major foreign investments in AI and cloud infrastructure. Cybersecurity firm LGMS Bhd's chairman, Fong Choong Fook, said the initiatives signal a turning point for Malaysia's digital ecosystem. 'Malaysia's tech ecosystem stands to gain the most from three key areas in the 13MP,' he said, citing the acceleration of the National AI Action Plan, the full digitalisation of public services by 2030, and major foreign investments as game-changers. 'First, the acceleration of the National AI Action Plan and full digitalisation of public services will unlock huge demand for AI, cybersecurity and GovTech solutions,' Fong explained. 'Second, the MyDigital ID and unified GovTech gateway are critical where they lay the digital infrastructure needed for secure transactions, identity management and seamless service delivery.' Fong noted that large-scale foreign commitments are already reshaping Malaysia's digital landscape. 'Major investments like Microsoft's RM10 billion AI and cloud initiative and ByteDance's RM10 billion data centre and AI hub in Johor signal strong global confidence and will directly fuel job creation and knowledge transfer,' he said. Despite these positive developments, Fong cautioned that several structural challenges must be addressed to fully realise RMK13's ambitions. 'Talent remains the biggest bottleneck. We're seeing a lot of reskilling efforts, but these must be laser-focused on industry-relevant AI and digital capabilities,' he said. He also highlighted weaknesses in Malaysia's early-stage funding ecosystem. 'We still lack a robust pipeline for seed-to-Series A capital, especially for deep tech and AI-driven start-ups.' On regulation, Fong called for clearer governance frameworks to support innovation responsibly. 'AI ethics, safety and data use policies are still evolving. Clearer rules are essential to enable responsible innovation at scale,' he said, while commending Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo for laying strong groundwork through the National AI Framework and the establishment of the National AI Office. Universiti Malaysia Kelantan Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Big Data director Dr Muhammad Akmal Remli echoed the view that 13MP's AI push is a milestone moment, but stressed that implementation will determine success. 'The initiatives outlined in 13MP reflect a comprehensive and holistic approach. It's encouraging to see AI positioned as a top national priority,' he said. 'This clear direction signals strong political will to integrate AI into key sectors and public services.' Akmal welcomed the plan's focus on strengthening research, development, commercialisation and innovation, saying it could create a foundation for deeper collaboration between academia, government and industry. 'This is crucial to help Malaysia move beyond just AI adoption into actual AI innovation and even exports,' he said. Both experts agreed that Malaysia's aspiration to lead Asean in AI by 2030 is ambitious but achievable, provided key gaps are addressed. 'The real challenge lies in implementation,' Akmal said. 'It's not just about policy documents but ensuring we have the right people, the right expertise and the right strategies on the ground.' He emphasised that Malaysia must first strengthen its talent pipeline by producing more skilled AI practitioners and embedding AI literacy into tertiary and vocational education. Equally important, he said, is boosting funding and incentives for applied AI research to encourage deeper collaboration between industry and academia. Akmal also highlighted the need for clear, forward-looking policies on data privacy, ethics and cybersecurity to foster public trust and attract investment. 'Without robust data governance, innovation will be limited, and public confidence will suffer,' he noted. In addition, he pointed out that Malaysia needs stronger cloud and high-performance computing infrastructure, as well as greater access to open datasets, to enable meaningful AI innovation. Rather than focusing solely on competing head-to-head with regional players, Akmal said, Malaysia should position itself as a competitive AI hub that fosters collaboration and healthy competition within Asean. Fong said Malaysia's strengths, from cloud infrastructure and 5G rollout to its multilingual workforce, provide a solid platform to build upon. 'With the right focus, especially as Asean Chair 2025, we can position ourselves as a regional AI and digital hub, not by outspending others, but by being the most agile, inclusive and implementation-focused,' he said. Both agreed that continued investment, regulatory clarity and coordinated execution will be critical for Malaysia to transform AI ambition into sustainable economic growth and regional leadership.
The Sun
01-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Experts cautiously welcome AI and 5G vision
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's ambitious plan to expand 5G coverage and accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has drawn cautious praise from experts who say the country is on the right track but only if gaps in infrastructure, talent and governance are urgently addressed. 'In the next five years, we'll see rapid advancements in technologies like digital twin systems, predictive maintenance and additive manufacturing – all of which rely on fast, stable connectivity,' said Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) AI manufacturing expert Dr Yupiter HP Manurung. 'These are long-term investments that can boost national resilience, but only if matched with strong local capabilities.' The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) also welcomed the focus on digital transformation in the 13MP. 'Pikom applauds the government's commitment to building a future-ready digital ecosystem that accelerates adoption of AI and 5G, empowering businesses and communities alike,' said its chairman Alex Liew. 'However, visionary planning alone is not enough – successful execution and robust monitoring are critical.' Liew emphasised the need to bridge infrastructure gaps and digital literacy disparities to ensure broad-based inclusion. 'Inclusivity must remain a core principle – guaranteeing equitable benefits across all demographics.' He also urged the government to approach GovTech not as a siloed effort, but as a collaborative process. 'To realise Malaysia's ambition as a leading AI-driven nation, GovTech must involve the quadruple helix collaboration (a concept of interaction between major segments of the society) in which the government, industry, academia and civil society are co-creators of public digital services.' He called for structured public-private working groups, open innovation models and agile policy frameworks to strengthen areas such as service interoperability and procurement reform. The digital reforms are aimed at expanding 5G coverage to 98% of residential, industrial and rural areas. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament that the initiative is part of a broader effort to build a strong digital backbone that enables inclusive participation in the AI-driven economy. 'This isn't just about infrastructure – it's about ensuring that every Malaysian, wherever they are, can take part in the digital future.'
