Latest news with #Marlia
New Straits Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: 'Hottest' awards Anugerah Melodi returns
THE TV3 viewers' choice entertainment awards, Anugerah Melodi, will be back this Aug 3, and it has been rebranded as one that is "hotter than ever". All fans of local entertainment can now brace themselves for Anugerah Melodi Terhangat 2025 or AMT 2025), the "hottest" entertainment phenomenon that is expected to shake up the arts scene next month. TV3 general manager for programme content Marlia Zul Amran said that after nine years, TV3 and video streaming service Tonton are proud to announce the return of popular entertainment talk show and magazine 'Melodi's latest awards show, this time with added excitement, colour and style. At a press conference in Tanamekar The Hills, Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, recently, Marlia said that AMT 2025 was not an ordinary award show, but a contemporary pop culture explosion powered by the voices of Malaysians. "While at heart, it is part of 'Melodi', a much-loved programme that has entertained Malaysians since 1993, AMT 2025 celebrates the most impactful entertainment personalities, not only popular celebrities but also those who have created viral and inspiring moments in digital entertainment." Marlia added that the awards show, whose venue has yet to be announced, will take place at 9pm on Aug 3, and will be broadcast live on TV3 and streamed exclusively on Tonton. "Of course, it will have a red carpet event, which will take place an hour prior and will also be live on 'Melodi's TikTok channel and TV3 Malaysia," she said. PASSIONS Media Prima Television Networks branded and entertainment in-house production general manager Russell Mark Rodrigues said that the awards show will focus on personalities who are popular and have the aura, charisma, influence and high digital impact. "AMT 2025 is an awards show for the era of social media, and celebrates not only celebrities but their stories, hopes, dreams and passions," he said. LEADER Marlia siad that the awards marked TV3's commitment to continue as a leader in entertainment that is relevant and young at heart. "This is an awards for those who are trending and touch the hearts of the people. "We believe that this is the right time to celebrate the energy and aura of celebrities who truly bring joy to Malaysians. "We want to create a night that recognises, inspires and sets a new benchmark for our entertainment industry." TIKTOK The awards will be hosted by actress Ain Edruce and actor Fikry Ibrahim, while the red carpet event, themed "TikTok Melodi Berapi". will be hosted by Fiza Saad (Fiza Frizzy) and Imran Aqil. Marlia said: "A total of 11 categories make up the awards and the nominees are selected based on influence, achievement and viral moments throughout the last year." The categories are Hottest Drama Celebrity, Hottest Tonton Original Drama, Samsung Galaxy Hottest Celebrity Icon, Goals Hottest Celebrity Couple, Hottest Masculine Celebrity, Hottest Feminine Celebrity, Hottest "Onz" Music Celebrity, Hottest Trending Celebrity, Hottest "Stylo" Celebrity, Hottest Newcomer Celebrity and the Proton X50 Superstar Choice Award. The nominees can be viewed at Tonton's website. Marlia said: "The highlight of the night is the Ultimate Award that will be given to the most influential figure recognised for his or her positive impact in entertainment." MIX Actor Zamarul Hisham, who is in the running for Hottest Masculine Celebrity, said that he was thankful to be nominated for the awards. "I'm glad that the nominees are a healthy mix of veterans like me, as well as newcomers. Competition is stiff in my category, though, so may the best man win," he said. Keith Foo and Riena Diana are marking their first nomination as a celebrity couple, and they are also hoping that the drama that brought them together, 'Salju Rindu Di Bumi Auckland' wins in its category. Riena said: "What I love about this drama is that I get to play both a mother and a daughter, at different times in the story." Voting will run until July 31, and to vote, visit the official AMT 2025 Tonton website at The top winner will take home a brand new Proton X50. Marlia said that the nominees will meet and greet fans in the Melodi Terhangat Superstar Tour series, which will be held in AEON Mall, Tebrau City, Johor Baru, on July 12, AEON Mall, Bukit Mertajam (July 19) and AEON Mall Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan (July 26).
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
MotorK Announces Strategic Changes in the Leadership Team
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: MotorK PLC (AMS: MTRK) ("MotorK", the "Group" or the "Company"), a leading SaaS provider to the automotive retail industry in the EMEA region, today announced key changes to its leadership structure designed to strengthen the Company's strategic positioning and accelerate growth in the EMEA market. Marco Marlia, Co-Founder and CEO, will transition to the role of President, where he will focus on business development, industry relations, strategic partnerships, and key enterprise initiatives. This move will allow Marlia to leverage his industry expertise and relationships to drive high-value strategic deals that align with the Group's growth strategy. In addition to his new role, Mr. Marlia will continue to serve as a board member, ensuring continuity and providing strategic guidance as the Company advances its long-term vision. Amir Rosentuler, currently serving as Executive Chairman, will, in the short-term, assume the additional responsibilities of interim Chief Executive Officer, working closely with the executive team to implement the Company's strategy with a heightened focus on profitability and operational excellence. Marco Marlia, President, said: "As we enter this next phase of growth, I'm excited to concentrate my efforts on building strategic relationships and initiatives that will create significant value for our customers and shareholders. This organisational evolution allows me to play directly to my strengths while ensuring MotorK continues to innovate and expand in a rapidly changing market." Amir Rosentuler, Executive Chairman and interim CEO, commented: "MotorK has built an impressive foundation in the automotive retail digital solutions space. I look forward to working more closely with our talented team to drive sustainable growth and profitability. Marco's continued leadership as President will be invaluable as we pursue these objectives together." The leadership changes are effective immediately and reflect MotorK's commitment to aligning its organizational structure with its strategic priorities. The Group remains focused on expanding its enterprise business segment while maintaining its industry-leading position in digital automotive retail solutions. Forward-looking information and disclaimer This press release may include forward-looking statements. Other than reported financial results and historical information, all statements included in this press release, including, without limitation, those regarding our financial position, business strategy and management plans and objectives for future operations, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words 'targets', 'plans', 'believes', 'expects', 'aims', 'intends', 'anticipates', 'estimates', 'projects', 'will', 'may', 'would', 'could' or 'should', or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, projections and key assumptions about future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond MotorK's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions, the behavior of other market participants and the actions of governmental regulators. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release and are subject to change without notice. Other than as required by applicable law or the applicable rules of any exchange on which our securities may be traded, we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Important information This press release contains information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). ABOUT MOTORK PLC MotorK (AMS: MTRK) is a leading software as a service ('SaaS') provider for the automotive retail industry in the EMEA region, with approximately 385 employees and eleven offices in eight countries (Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, the UK, and Israel). MotorK empowers car manufacturers and dealers to improve their customer experience through a broad suite of fully integrated digital products and services. MotorK provides its customers with an innovative combination of digital solutions, SaaS cloud products and the largest R&D department in the automotive digital sales and marketing industry in Europe. MotorK is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 5th Floor One New Change, London, England, EC4M 9AF - Company Registration: 9259000. For more information: or
New Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Experts warn of EV battery pollution risks amid surge in EV adoption
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must be prepared to manage the anticipated surge in electric vehicle (EV) battery disposal, in line with the government's target of having 1.5 million EVs on the road by 2040. Environmental non-governmental organisations and experts have raised concerns about the potential chemical pollution risks associated with EV battery waste, particularly over the next eight to 10 years. An expert from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Professor Dr Marlia Mohd Hanafiah, said Malaysia's current EV battery disposal facilities require serious attention. She stressed the need for the government to take proactive measures to ensure the proper management of EV battery waste. "One of the major environmental risks from landfill disposal of EV batteries, which contain heavy metals, is the leakage of toxic electrolytes and the release of metal ions into the soil. "This can lead to groundwater contamination if batteries are discarded in landfills without proper treatment," she said. According to a report by BIMB Securities, mass EV adoption in Malaysia could begin as early as next year. Previously, it was reported that Malaysia aims for EVs to account for around 15 per cent of new car sales by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050 — part of the country's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Marlia also warned that incineration could release toxic fumes, posing health risks to nearby populations. She added that EV batteries are at risk of fire or explosion when exposed to heat, and that discarding rather than recycling these batteries results in the loss of critical rare earth elements, increasing the demand for unsustainable mining. To address this, Marlia proposed that the government establish centralised EV battery collection centres, managed either by the government or authorised vendors, to ensure safe collection and inventory tracking. She added that the government could work with EV manufacturers to implement battery take-back schemes. "The government could also establish dedicated recycling and material recovery plants for EV batteries. "This would involve hydrometallurgical processing — using acid leaching to extract cobalt and lithium — as well as pyrometallurgical methods, which use high-temperature smelting to recover metals," she said. Marlia noted that this recycling technology may require international cooperation for technology transfer and to build local capacity. She also called for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy for EV manufacturers and importers, along with a digital life-cycle tracking system. "This would mean every EV battery produced is registered in a centralised digital tracking system that monitors the battery from production to end-of-life, ensuring traceability," she explained. Meanwhile, Malaysian Ecological Association president Professor Ahmad Ismail said that while the widespread use of EVs benefits air quality and reduces carbon emissions, there are significant environmental risks if EV-related activities are not managed holistically. He highlighted the issue of expired batteries and their disposal methods as a major concern, affecting both the environment and human health. He noted that although Malaysia has clear regulations on scheduled waste, effective enforcement is key. "The main issue lies in the disposal mechanism for EV batteries. The country must implement a systematic and controlled disposal system. "This includes increasing the capacity and availability of disposal facilities. EV batteries contain materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, mercury, lead, and copper, which can contaminate the environment and accumulate in aquatic animals, especially through the food chain," he said. Ahmad warned that without proper guidelines, EV users may dispose of batteries incorrectly, due to lack of awareness and potentially harm the environment. He explained that the primary materials in EV batteries — lithium, manganese, copper, and cobalt — if not properly handled, can cause toxicity, neurological issues, organ failure, and even cancer, affecting both humans and wildlife. "This is why public awareness, especially among EV users, is crucial so that they can responsibly manage their battery waste," he said. Ahmad said Malaysia already has policies in place to drive EV development and infrastructure, through tax incentives, investments, and partnerships aimed at achieving 20 per cent EV sales by 2030 and 38 per cent by 2040. He noted this aligns with the National Energy Policy 2022–2040. "In line with this, the government must also prepare to address the hazardous waste issues from the EV industry, including battery disposal. "Educational programmes, training, and research on EV batteries should be implemented immediately to align with national targets," he said. Ahmad added that the growth of EV production and usage requires skilled talent capable of managing hazardous materials to prevent environmental pollution. "According to the Global EV Outlook 2024, EVs accounted for 20 per cent of global vehicle sales, totalling 17 million units. The Malaysian Investment Development Authority projects Malaysia's battery market will grow 5.28 per cent annually from 2022 to 2027. "Malaysia's target of having 1.5 million EVs on the road by 2040 is achievable, given rising demand, national climate commitments, and the 286 per cent increase in EV sales in 2023, which saw 10,159 units sold," he said.
