Latest news with #entrepreneurs
Free Malaysia Today
8 hours ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Ikhlas deregistered 3 years ago, RoS confirms
RoS director-general Zulfikar Ahmad said Ikhlas was deregistered on Nov 24, 2022 under the Societies Act 1966. (RoS pic) PETALING JAYA : Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (Ikhlas), an NGO advocating for small-time entrepreneurs, was deregistered three years ago, the Registrar of Societies (RoS) has confirmed. RoS director-general Zulfikar Ahmad said Ikhlas, which had listed former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its patron, was deregistered on Nov 24, 2022 under the Societies Act 1966 for failing to submit annual financial statements, Scoop reported. According to the portal, the NGO was led by Ridzuan Abdullah, who is also a secretariat of NGO Gabungan Ikhlas Malaysia. Gabungan Ikhlas Malaysia was reported to have issued statements in early January on the addendum linked to Najib Razak, the country's sixth prime minister. Ridzuan however declined to comment or confirm the deregistration of Ikhlas when contacted by Scoop. Two years ago, it was reported that Ridzuan had been charged with 12 counts of filing fraudulent claims with the Social Security Organisation to obtain incentives from the Penjana Kerjaya 2.0 Programme, totalling RM378,000. He was alleged to have submitted documents with inaccurate salary information, indicating that the employees listed had not actually been paid those amounts. The charges were framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
Daily Express
9 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
More capable women in key roles needed: Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sabah
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 Text Size: Lam suggested creating women's business incubators and cross-border partnership networks, particularly to strengthen Malaysia-China women's business connections. More women should participate in policy consultations and high-level forums. Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sabah's Women Entrepreneurs Committee hopes Sabah will introduce gender-responsive policies, including dedicated financing for women entrepreneurs and more quotas for female political candidates. Its President, Lam Lee Chin, called for the civil service to establish structured promotion mechanisms for women officers while pushing for greater female representation in politics and governance. Advertisement 'For Sabah to become a more resilient and competitive regional hub, we need capable women leaders in political and high-level decision-making roles,' Lam said in statement, here, last Wednesday. Despite Sabah's natural resources and strategic location, women continue to face significant challenges in business and politics, according to Lam. 'Female entrepreneurs struggle to access funding and market opportunities, while inadequate childcare policies force many women to choose between family and career advancement. 'In politics, women remain underrepresented in the state assembly and local governments. Even in the civil service, where women perform well at grassroots levels, few reach senior positions like permanent secretary or ministerial roles. Gender bias and stereotypes persist, with lingering doubts about women's leadership abilities,' Lam said. Advertisement To address these issues, Lam proposed a comprehensive approach involving government, business chambers, and civil society. She urged authorities to introduce gender-responsive policies, including dedicated financing for women entrepreneurs and minimum quotas for female political candidates. The civil service should also establish structured promotion mechanisms for women officers. Lam suggested creating women's business incubators and cross-border partnership networks, particularly to strengthen Malaysia-China women's business connections. More women should participate in policy consultations and high-level forums. 'Companies should implement gender diversity quotas at board and executive levels, while educational institutions and media should actively promote gender equality to challenge traditional stereotypes,' she said. The call comes as Assistant Minister Datuk Flovia Ng recently encouraged more women to contest in upcoming state elections. Lam expressed strong support for this initiative, saying it could diversify leadership perspectives in Sabah. Lam also acknowledged the statement by Liberal Democratic Party Women's Leader Glenna Wong, who described women as naturally creative, resilient and socially perceptive leaders capable of driving social transformation. 'We sincerely hope to witness Sabah's first female Chief Minister or State Secretary – a historic milestone in our journey toward political reform and gender equality,' Lam said. Drawing inspiration from countries like Finland, Iceland, and New Zealand, where women excel in politics and contribute to national well-being, Lam believes Sabah should lead in gender-balanced governance. She suggested the State could establish Women-First Development Zones or Women Entrepreneur Innovation Parks as pilot projects for policy innovation. 'Creating a truly women-friendly Sabah goes beyond empowering women, it is about shaping a better future for all,' she said. The Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sabah Women Entrepreneurs Committee, led by Datuk Dexter Lau, has committed to serving as a bridge between local and international resources to accelerate women's advancement in business and politics. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Entrepreneur
18 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Why Everyday People Are Turning to Ecommerce to Regain Control of Their Life
Ecommerce is more than just a business model. For many, it's about finding stability, freedom and a way to feel in control. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Ecommerce entrepreneurship is rarely about getting rich overnight. Many who try this seek solutions to their everyday problems — high cost of living, burnout from their 9-to-5, family needs or simply more independence. With each passing day, ecommerce is becoming more and more the best solution to overcome these challenges. Digging deeper, we conducted an email survey asking Sellvia store owners why they decided to start an online business. What really surprised us was the number of people who decided to participate in our study. Many of these replies were truly heartwarming, touching and in some cases, even eye-opening. This highlights the importance and impact that ecommerce can have on the lives of regular people. So, here are the seven most common challenges ecommerce helped solve, according to our survey respondents. 1. Finding financial stability More than 64% of our surveyed respondents claimed that they started their ecommerce business for the simple reason that traditional employment wasn't enough. For some, one paycheck fell short; others were limited by their health, age or they simply didn't have any better options. Ecommerce offered them something that nothing else could — a way to earn without needing any special skills, experience or big investments. Many people who responded had similar backgrounds: juggling multiple jobs, living paycheck to paycheck, trapped in an endless cycle. Having the ability to start an online business from the comfort of their own home gave them hope and, more importantly, a feeling of fulfillment and self-empowerment. For many, it was a reliable path to restoring their financial situation. Related: Selling as a Founder Is Brutal — It Was Also the Reason We Reached $400M in Revenue 2. Finding time for family About 38% of our surveyed respondents reported that they turned to ecommerce to find more time to spend with their families. Traditional 9-to-5 job schedules practically excluded them from being involved in the lives of their children. This is especially true for single-parent households. Launching an online store that can be built and managed on your own terms allowed them to finally enjoy time with their families, while having an income source that worked seamlessly in the background. For many, it was about convenience and about being present. Present for the most important moments that you couldn't experience otherwise. We heard from happy parents who were able to see those school plays, be home for dinner or care for their family members without worrying about losing income. This feeling of freedom gave them the emotional comfort they had long missed. 3. Leaving unpleasant working environments Approximately 22% said that starting an ecommerce store helped them escape workplaces where they felt stuck, undervalued and simply unfulfilled. They were tired of low paychecks and the sense of life just passing by them. In ecommerce, they found that they could make their own choices, become their own boss and finally create something of their own. Some highlighted that their whole mindset changed – they went from fearing Mondays to feeling excited about managing and updating their stores. Related: Yes, I Was a Toxic Boss. Here's How I Turned It Around 4. Turning hobbies into income Almost 37% indicated that their main motivation was to pursue their passion. Whether it was fashion, sports or gadgets, ecommerce was the best way to monetize what they already loved. In most cases, they referenced their stores as an "extension of self" — a reflection of their values, beliefs, and ideas. The personal connection with their hobbies helped them create the best possible experience. That meant better branding, creative advertising, and much more meaningful customer relationships. 5. Getting ready for retirement For around 20% of respondents, it wasn't at all about building an empire or a full-blown business — it was about having a reliable income later in life. One that was flexible, didn't require much time or huge investments. Some retirees shared that the rise of inflation, fixed incomes and the desire to stay mentally active pushed them into the world of online businesses. Others said that they did not wish to rely solely on pensions or savings. Ecommerce gave them a way to create a steady and reliable income, all without clocking into a job or having to push themselves physically. Related: The New Way to Retire: Start a Digital Business 6. Giving back to their communities Almost 13% stated that ecommerce helped them create a way to support their communities. Some people focused on promoting artists and cultural representation. Others donated portions of their profits to causes they cared about, for example, youth mentorship or educational scholarships. This idea of a "profit with a purpose" reappeared time and time again. For these ecommerce entrepreneurs, profit alone did not measure success – it was about the impact they could make. Not only are purpose-driven businesses good for your inner well-being, but they tend to perform well too. 7. Pivoting following career failures Roughly 19% of survey takers had gone through layoffs, having to retire early, or a declining demand for their profession. That's why they turned to ecommerce as a way to create their own path to financial stability. There was a common trend among those in midlife – many spent years pursuing careers that eventually offered no long-term stability or growth. Whether it was due to automation, outsourcing or driven by age, their experience and expertise were no longer valued. Ecommerce gave them a way to work and earn on their own terms. The bottom line What stood out most to us was that our study showed there wasn't a great need for huge profits or online fame. It was the desire for freedom — the freedom to work without burning out, to be close to your loved ones, to have a steady and reliable income and to build a financially secure future on one's own terms. Ecommerce isn't the magical answer to everything. But it can be one of the most practical, flexible and readily available solutions out there. And for many, it all started with a single online store.
Entrepreneur
19 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The Hidden Dangers of Using Generative AI in Your Business
Rushing to adopt generative AI can derail your business. Here's what leaders need to know. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. AI, although established as a discipline in computer science for several decades, became a buzzword in 2022 with the emergence of generative AI. Notwithstanding the maturity of AI itself as a scientific discipline, large language models are profoundly immature. Entrepreneurs, especially those without technical backgrounds, are eager to utilize LLMs and generative AIs as enablers of their business endeavors. While it is reasonable to leverage technological advancements to improve the performance of business processes, in the case of AI, it should be done with caution. Many business leaders today are driven by hype and external pressure. From startup founders seeking funding to corporate strategists pitching innovation agendas, the instinct is to integrate cutting-edge AI tools as quickly as possible. The race toward integration overlooks critical flaws that lie beneath the surface of generative AI systems. Related: 3 Costly Mistakes Companies Make When Using Gen AI 1. Large language models and generative AIs have deep algorithmic malfunctions In simple terms, they have no real understanding of what they are doing, and while you may try to keep them on track, they frequently lose the thread. These systems don't think. They predict. Every sentence produced by an LLM is generated through probabilistic token-by-token estimation based on statistical patterns in the data on which they were trained. They do not know truth from falsehood, logic from fallacy or context from noise. Their answers may seem authoritative yet be completely wrong — especially when operating outside familiar training data. 2. Lack of accountability Incremental development of software is a well-documented approach in which developers can trace back to requirements and have full control over the current status. This allows them to identify the root causes of logical bugs and take corrective actions while maintaining consistency throughout the system. LLMs develop themselves incrementally, but there is no clue as to what caused the increment, what their last status was or what their current status is. Modern software engineering is built on transparency and traceability. Every function, module and dependency is observable and accountable. When something fails, logs, tests and documentation guide the developer to resolution. This isn't true for generative AI. The LLM model weights are fine-tuned through opaque processes that resemble black-box optimization. No one — not even the developers behind them — can pinpoint what specific training input caused a new behavior to emerge. This makes debugging impossible. It also means these models may degrade unpredictably or shift in performance after retraining cycles, with no audit trail available. For a business depending on precision, predictability and compliance, this lack of accountability should raise red flags. You can't version-control an LLM's internal logic. You can only watch it morph. Related: A Closer Look at The Pros and Cons of AI in Business 3. Zero-day attacks Zero-day attacks are traceable in traditional software and systems, and developers can fix the vulnerability because they know what they built and understand the malfunctioning procedure that was exploited. In LLMs, every day is a zero day, and no one may even be aware of it, because there is no clue about the system's status. Security in traditional computing assumes that threats can be detected, diagnosed and patched. The attack vector may be novel, but the response framework exists. Not with generative AI. Because there is no deterministic codebase behind most of their logic, there is also no way to pinpoint an exploit's root cause. You only know there's a problem when it becomes visible in production. And by then, reputational or regulatory damage may already be done. Considering these significant issues, entrepreneurs should take the following cautionary steps, which I will list here: 1. Use generative AIs in a sandbox mode: The first and most important step is that entrepreneurs should use generative AIs in a sandbox mode and never integrate them into their business processes. Integration means never interfacing LLMs with your internal systems by utilizing their APIs. The term "integration" implies trust. You trust that the component you integrate will perform consistently, maintain your business logic and not corrupt the system. That level of trust is inappropriate for generative AI tools. Using APIs to wire LLMs directly into databases, operations or communication channels is not only risky — it's reckless. It creates openings for data leaks, functional errors and automated decisions based on misinterpreted contexts. Instead, treat LLMs as external, isolated engines. Use them in sandbox environments where their outputs can be evaluated before any human or system acts on them. 2. Use human oversight: As a sandbox utility, assign a human supervisor to prompt the machine, check the output and deliver it back to the internal operations. You must prevent machine-to-machine interaction between LLMs and your internal systems. Automation sounds efficient — until it isn't. When LLMs generate outputs that go directly into other machines or processes, you create blind pipelines. There's no one to say, "This doesn't look right." Without human oversight, even a single hallucination can ripple into financial loss, legal issues or misinformation. The human-in-the-loop model is not a bottleneck — it's a safeguard. Related: Artificial Intelligence-Powered Large Language Models: Limitless Possibilities, But Proceed With Caution 3. Never give your business information to generative AIs, and don't assume they can solve your business problems: Treat them as dumb and potentially dangerous machines. Use human experts as requirements engineers to define the business architecture and the solution. Then, use a prompt engineer to ask the AI machines specific questions about the implementation — function by function — without revealing the overall purpose. These tools are not strategic advisors. They don't understand the business domain, your objectives or the nuances of the problem space. What they generate is linguistic pattern-matching, not solutions grounded in intent. Business logic must be defined by humans, based on purpose, context and judgment. Use AI only as a tool to support execution, not to design the strategy or own the decisions. Treat AI like a scripting calculator — useful in parts, but never in charge. In conclusion, generative AI is not yet ready for deep integration into business infrastructure. Its models are immature, their behavior opaque, and their risks poorly understood. Entrepreneurs must reject the hype and adopt a defensive posture. The cost of misuse is not just inefficiency — it is irreversibility.
Medscape
21 hours ago
- Business
- Medscape
Infographic: Doctors Who Enter the Entrepreneurial World
Nearly 4 of 10 doctors surveyed were already involved in an entrepreneurial venture apart from their primary medical job or considering one. One in four of those physicians aimed to eventually spend 100% of their time on the outside venture. They frequently were confident of eventual success and profitability, according to a new Medscape report. This infographic presents key findings from a new report profiling doctors who feel the entrepreneurial urge. To learn more, check out the Medscape Physicians as Entrepreneurs Report 2025. Medscape Physicians as Entrepreneurs Report 2025
