Latest news with #MediaPrima
Hype Malaysia
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Pavilion Damansara Heights Unveils 'Pavilion Bloom' Campaign Where Art, Style & Community Flourish
This July, Pavilion Damansara Heights brings in a vibrant season of beauty and community with 'Pavilion Bloom', a floral-themed campaign that transforms the mall into a beautiful large floral display featuring breathtaking installations, live performances, interactive workshops, exclusive rewards and free parking promotions, offering a fresh and inspiring shopping experience. Running through 31st July 2025, the 'Pavilion Bloom' campaign invites visitors beyond retail therapy. From hands-on family-friendly workshops to fashion showcases, floral-themed photo contests to fragrant café indulgences, there's something blooming for everyone. A Floral Wonderland at the Heart of the City Upon entering the mall, you are instantly greeted by the Rose Dome, a magnificent centrepiece adorned with 1,999 preserved roses. It sets the tone for a journey through lush floral displays across the mall, a blooming dreamscape designed to delight, inspire and bring people together. Each weekend, the mall comes alive with a curated lineup of experiences that merge art and lifestyle. Think Kashfi Zulkrifi Art & Fashion Show, the irresistibly quirky Cat Fashion Week by Media Prima and the Children Festival by Binkboo featuring young celebrity Toby Leung. These events are more than entertainment, where they are an invitation to pause, create and connect. Perks, Rewards and Picture-Perfect Moments To further enhance the bloom element, Pavilion Damansara Heights is rolling out a host of promotions. Visitors can enjoy complimentary weekend parking (valid on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays with no minimum spend) and free 2-hour weekday parking with a minimum accumulated spend of RM100 (across a maximum of two receipts) – valid till 30th September 2025. And that's not all. With every RM300 and above spent in a single receipt, visitors are entitled to 'Blooming Rewards', redeeming cash vouchers or exclusive gifts worth up to RM200. There's also the '#PavilionBloom Snap & Win' contest, where the best floral moments on social media stand a chance to win coveted prizes. Brands in Full Bloom: Where Retail Meets Art As 'Pavilion Bloom' flourishes throughout the mall, visitors are invited to discover a handpicked selection of lifestyle tenants that embody the spirit of 'Pavilion Bloom' and reflect how style, beauty and creativity bloom at every corner. The tenants include Artelier Café, A Cut Above, FEITH London, Ted Baker, The PxP Pickleball Club and TROVE – each offering exclusive promotions throughout the campaign period. What's Next? A Garden of New Openings Even as 'Pavilion Bloom' dazzles, Pavilion Damansara Heights is already planting the seeds for what's to come. Among the highly anticipated upcoming openings are the iconic family favourites like Toys'R'Us, alongside a diverse range of lifestyle tenants including Books Kinokuniya Malaysia, K11 Karaoke, Marks & Spencer (M&S), Massimo Dutti and more, each adding another petal of promises to deepens the mall's promise to deliver a premium retail experience for all ages and lifestyles. Whether you're here to indulge in a luxurious salon treatment, sip a rose latte, find your signature scent, or simply take in the blooming artistry around you, Pavilion Damansara Heights invites you to be part of a season filled with beauty, joy and discovery. With Pavilion Bloom in full swing, the mall offers more than just shopping — it's a celebration of community, creativity and the art of living well. As the city's newest lifestyle destination, from quiet moments to bold expressions, every visit is a canvas for your lifestyle to bloom. For more information, visit
Focus Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Is AI in the newsroom a tool, threat, or a transformation?
ARTIFICIAL Intelligence (AI) is altering the task of journalism in the ways the news is collected, processed, and delivered. Through automated summaries or tools that can identify deepfakes, AI provides newsrooms a means to increase productivity and velocity. But with such powers come profound questions: Can we trust AI-generated content? What becomes of journalists' jobs? And how do we ensure that ethics remain at the forefront? As newsrooms, including those in Southeast Asia, press on with AI, it is worth considering both the opportunities and challenges. AI is not aiming to replace journalists—it seeks to make their work easier. The technology is capable of handling tedious tasks like summarising articles, scanning through vast datasets, and writing initial reports. However, the artistry of storytelling, emotional understanding, and values-based thinking are uniquely human traits that AI cannot replicate. A recent instance involving the fabrication of book titles in an AI-generated summer reading list illustrates its shortcomings. Blunders like these demonstrate why human supervision is imperative. Ultimately, AI should be regarded as an alleviating aid, not a substitute. Fast forward five years from now, the ideal newsroom is one in which AI is fully integrated, but journalists remain in control. AI can manage tedious work such as sifting through data, customising content for different demographics, and drafting preliminary versions of stories. This liberates reporters to focus on investigating, storytelling, and tough ethical decisions. The partnership between AI and human beings is crucial—AI offers up the data, and journalists supply the understanding. Transparency, accountability, and regular training will ensure that newsrooms remain rooted in journalistic values. AI excels at handling tasks that require processing large volumes of information. It can generate financial reports, sports news, or weather predictions in moments. It also assists with verifying facts by swiftly comparing various sources. However, when it comes to comprehending cultural context, interpreting subtle cues, or making moral choices, AI continues to struggle. It lacks human intuition and often amplifies biases present in its training data. This is where human judgement becomes essential. Across Southeast Asia, news organisations are beginning to adopt AI, although the pace of implementation varies. In Malaysia, Media Prima has announced plans to integrate AI across its operations by the end of 2024. Bernama is offering AI training for its staff and has previously experimented with AI-generated content, such as an Azan (call to prayer) video during Ramadan. These preliminary steps show both growing interest and a clear recognition of the caution required in AI integration. While AI can enhance productivity, excessive dependence on it may pose serious risks. It could lead to a decline in critical thinking, weaken ethical oversight, and undermine the human factor that lends journalism its trustworthiness. That infamous summer reading list with imaginary books is only one example of what can go awry. If news organisations are not careful, over-reliance on AI might erode public confidence. The right balance—using AI as a tool, not a crutch—is crucial. To maintain journalism's credibility, a multi-faceted strategy is essential. News organisations should use AI technologies to detect manipulated content while also equipping journalists with digital literacy and critical thinking skills. Transparency is vital—AI-generated content should be clearly marked, and its role in the reporting process explicitly explained. Above all, media outlets must establish and follow rigorous ethical standards regarding the use of AI. These actions will help preserve public trust. AI will undoubtedly transform journalism, but that doesn't necessarily mean job losses. Instead, it's likely to create new roles focused on managing AI systems, curating content, and ensuring ethical compliance. For example, Reuters uses an AI tool called Lynx Insight to help journalists identify emerging stories, freeing reporters to concentrate on more creative and investigative tasks. What's needed now is for journalists to upskill—to learn how to work with AI, not against it. Journalists must acquire knowledge in data analysis, AI principles, and digital ethics to stay relevant. Understanding how AI functions and learning to interpret data responsibly will be crucial. In evaluating AI-generated content and guarding against misinformation, reporters will need strong digital literacy. Even in the AI era, ethics and transparency must remain central values. With the right training, modern journalists can continue to be vital and relevant. AI is rapidly integrating into the daily routines of journalism. While it offers immense benefits in speed and information processing, it can never replace the thoughtfulness, compassion, or ethical judgement that human journalists bring. As newsrooms—particularly in Southeast Asia—embrace these technologies, caution, accountability, and a commitment to truth must guide their journey. The journalists who adapt and learn to collaborate with AI will not just survive the changes— they will shape the future of trustworthy, meaningful journalism. ‒ July 16, 2025 Prof Ts Dr Manjit Singh Sidhu is a Professor at the College of Computing and Informatics, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Unsplash/Vanilla Bear Films
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
'Paling Malaysia' rap contest offers RM5,000 prize
MALAYSIANS with a flair for rhythm and local pride stand a chance to win RM5,000 by taking part in Media Prima's 'Rap Paling Malaysia' contest. Open until Aug 11, the contest invites participants to submit a 30-second to one-minute rap video that captures what it means to be 'Paling Malaysia'. The entry must include at least one of the following phrases: "Paling Malaysia", "Confirm Malaysia", or "Rojak". Entries can be uploaded on TikTok or Instagram using a public account, with the hashtags #MediaPrima, #OhBulan, #RapPalingMalaysia and #ConfirmMalaysiaMPB. To complete the entry, participants must submit their video link via this official Google Form. There is no limit to the number of submissions, whether solo or in a group. According to the organisers, creativity, relatability and a strong Malaysian identity are key judging criteria. "We're looking for the most creative, relatable, and full-of-Malaysia-vibes rap! Whether it's about nasi lemak, football fever, or mum's legendary rendang – as long as it screams 'Paling Malaysia', we want to hear it!" the organiser said in a statement.
Straits Times
13-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Known for its KL Foodie platform, parent company Foodie Media plans IPO on Bursa Malaysia
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Nicholas Lim Pinn Yang, who co-founded Foodie Media with wife Ang Rui Mei in 2018, aims to raise capital by listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. KUALA LUMPUR – As a young boy, Foodie Media's head honcho Nicholas Lim Pinn Yang would wake up early and accompany his father, a frying-pan salesman, to the bustling local markets. Seeing his father's lively product demonstrations and interacting with customers taught him the art of selling, sparking an entrepreneurial spirit that nudged him toward a path that involved talking up good food. 'My father understood the importance of live demonstrations. To show the advantages of non-stick pans, he would fry popcorn for the kids while also showing that fish wouldn't stick in another pan, to attract the aunties. 'Now, with the rise of social media, thousands of people can watch online. It's a big leap from the 20 or so shoppers who used to watch my father's demos,' Mr Lim told The Straits Times at his office in Bangsar on July 9. Penangite Mr Lim, 32, has come a long way since: From a humble food blogger offering free reviews nearly 10 years ago to co-founder and chief executive officer of a digital media company with online content that's amassed 40 million followers on social media – chalking up a net profit of RM7.45 million (S$2.24 million) on revenue of RM23.95 million for its latest financial year. Set up in 2018, Foodie Media, with 70 employees, is mainly involved in the digital media publishing sector, where it creates, produces and distributes content across established social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Threads, X, Instagram, YouTube, Douyin, RedNote, WhatsApp and blogs. In addition to top 'foodie' platforms like KL Foodie and Penang Foodie, it manages 34 lifestyle-focused brands in South-east Asia, covering a wide range of topics beyond food and beverage to travel, leisure, lifestyle, property and sports. Next up: Going public. Foodie Media wants to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO) on the local stock exchange Bursa Malaysia, to increase its workforce and acquire a livestreaming building, among other plans. It filed on June 23 to list on the ACE Market for emerging companies , offering 250 million shares or 28.15 per cent of the company's enlarged issued share capital. The IPO is touted as a first in terms of food-related content for a Malaysian digital media company, and will join established listed players in the sector such as Star Media Group and Catcha Digital , and Rev Digital, a subsidiary of listed Media Prima . Star Media Group controls The Star newspaper and two radio, while Catcha Media operates social media portals. Media Prima is the country's biggest integrated media group with television station and newspaper assets. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors In the beginning, Mr Lim ventured into the world of food-writing by launching the Penang Foodie blog in 2016, with one of the earliest free F&B reviews on the island widely known as Malaysia's foodie paradise. Subsequently, recommendations for 'Penang's Best Breakfast' and the island's 'Top 10 Nasi Kandar' stalls gradually grew followers for the blog to 1,000 on Facebook in the first year. The rise of short videos was a pivotal moment for Mr Lim and his team in 2018. Turning blog articles into video slideshows was a hit. The first slideshow, 'Top 10 Street Foods in Penang,' garnered 15,000 shares on Facebook, far surpassing the 300 shares typically seen for written reviews. That gave Mr Lim the confidence to shoot his first outdoor video, featuring a burger stall, without charging the owners for the effort and resulting publicity. ' I was hesitant to appear on camera but we still went ahead. A day after the video was published, it received over 20,000 views, and there was a long queue at the burger stall,' he recalled. 'I'm happy to provide value for clients, support small and medium enterprises (SME), and grow our followers.' Now, he aims to ride the wave of growing online advertisement space versus traditional media. Foodie Media has benefited from the digital media advertising boom in Malaysia. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of digital media advertising rose by 11 per cent from 2019 to 2023, reaching RM2.37 billion, according to the IPO prospectus. In contrast, traditional media recorded a negative CAGR of 0.2 per cent over the same period, despite reaching a value of RM5.1 billion in 2023. Despite the economic downturn caused by Covid-19, Mr Lim managed to keep his team intact by earning affiliate income through e-commerce platforms. The recurring Malaysian food content not only helped ease the homesickness of sojourners but also increased followers on social media by 40 per cent between 2020 and 2022, said Mr Lim. In the pipeline, ideas are brewing for fresh content which drives website traffic and increases user engagement. A new series, titled Cooking for Colleagues, landed in May 2025. Episode 1: Fillet-O-Fish, a one-minute clip, has gotten more than 6,000 likes in the first month on Instagram. The company is also moving into livestream sales and trying its hand at producing and distributing drama shorts, said Mr Lim. In Malaysia, livestream sales are thriving, as leading e-commerce platform Shopee's numbers show. At the end of 2023, over one million Malaysians had registered to stream on Shopee Live, a livestream platform on the app that lets viewers watch product-related content and interact directly with sellers. That year, 80,000 sellers boosted earnings by 25 per cent from the previous year, while livestream orders grew 500 per cent over the same period. Popular Malaysian food influencer and entrepreneur Khairul Aming credited 70 per cent of his sales, or RM42 million, in 2024 from livestreaming two bestselling Kelantanese food products , Dendeng Nyet Berapi (spiced beef jerky) and Sambal Nyet (dry sambal or chili paste) . Micro-dramas , or short-form video series typically spanning one to two minutes per episode, could also fill a gap in a potentially lucrative market, given today's shorter attention spans. 'In the past, we used to sit down with our parents to watch TV at 8pm, but now audiences are shifting to ultra-short dramas,' noted Mr Lim. 'We recently collaborated with a third-party video production house to promote the China-based milk tea brand Chagee through a short drama titled Di Sebalik Permata (Behind the Gem) .' The Economist estimates the market for these micro-dramas could reach a valuation of US$14 billion in China alone by 2027. But Foodie Media will continue to rely on culinary storytelling to engage its followers – as seen in its organic or ad-free content featuring TBX The Baking Xperiment café in Subang, Selangor, interviewed by KL Foodie on July 4. The café's new recipe, Tapai Tiramisu – made with fermented rice – garnered 623,000 views on social media as of July 11. For Mr Lim, the advent and rise of digital media enables street vendors and SMEs to overcome the physical limitations his father once faced. 'When it rained, I felt sorry for my dad as he couldn't run his stall without sales (because there were fewer customers due to bad weather) . Now, with online markets, the sky is the limit.'
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Immigration to check entry records of missing British teen
KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department will conduct checks on the entry records of a 17-year-old British boy who was reported missing after allegedly boarding a flight to Malaysia last month. Its director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the department has not received any information regarding the matter. "We will conduct checks; we have not received any information yet," he said during a visit to Media Prima today. He had earlier appeared as a guest on Malaysia Hari Ini (MHI) in conjunction with the 103rd Immigration Day celebration on July 21. Daily Mail reported that David Balisong, from Cheadle, Greater Manchester, had told his brother on June 6 that he was leaving early for school, where he was sitting for his A-level exams. He boarded a one-way flight to Kuala Lumpur on the same day without informing anyone.
