Nexus Health Solution Sdn Bhd advises the public and private sectors including homeowners to look into disinfection and sterilization of their premises to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, post-MCO (movement control order).
According to the definition, Covid-19 is an epidemic “in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world”.
The coronavirus is affecting 210 countries and territories around the world.
As of April 28, 2020 (5.00 pm Malaysian time), there are 3,075,523 positive coronavirus cases around the world with 211,788 deaths (19 per cent). While 925,114 (81 per cent) patients have recovered, there are still 1,938,621 active cases (currently infected patients). Of the infected patients, 56,289 or three per cent are serious or in critical condition.
"No one thought that at the beginning of 2020, we would have to face this infectious respiratory disease. The basis of hygiene during coronavirus danger is frequent hand washing. This is an essential measure to limit the spread of infections," said Datuk Sunil Sachdev from Nexus Health Solution.
"However, wearing a face mask and the frequent washing of hand is not enough to contain the spread of the disease. A new study found that the coronavirus appears to linger in the air in crowded spaces or rooms that lack ventilation. Business owners will seriously have to consider the process of disinfection and sterilization post-MCO to protect themselves and their employees," he said.
Datuk Sunil Sachdev from Nexus Health Solution and also founder of Big Tree Event & Supplies
Sunil, who is also the founder of Big Tree Event & Supplies, an event management company advised large corporations and small business owners to take aggressive measures to prevent the spread of the virus, especially when people return to work.
"We've had several inquiries from business and building owners on how best to do this. Everyone is worried. Even if the number of positive cases is dropping, which is a good sign, everyone wants their space protected long term. Hopefully, the MCO is lifted on May 12. We are working to disinfect and sterilize several office spaces and other buildings," said Sunil.
Sterilization and disinfection work carried out by Nexus Health Solution
Nexus Health Solution is a leading healthcare consulting company that specializes in Infection Prevention and Control under the division of Infection Control Consulting & Services.
It is the FIRST and ONLY infection prevention and control consulting company in Malaysia and Southeast Asia that emphasises on infection control and occupational safety.
Currently, due to Covid-19, the company is offering its services for Terminal Disinfection (Hotels, Hostels, Factories, Warehouses, Schools, Hospitals, Office buildings, Shopping Malls, Golf Resorts, Retail outlets, Restaurants, Clubs) to prevent the spread of the disease as per Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia guidelines.
The company is also offering its services to disinfect and sterilize public parks and spaces, as well as playgrounds.
For more information on disinfection and sterilization of homes, buildings and public spaces, call Datuk Sunil Sachdev at 016-3332385 or 016-4929142.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the unprecedented Movement Control Order will hurt the local property market NSTP/OSMAN ADNAN
Published by NST Property, April 22, 2020
The turbulence in the economy because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the unprecedented Movement Control Order (MCO) will hurt the local property market but to say property prices will drop by any fixed percentage is absurd.
"Yes, all these situations have caused uncertainty. But for certain groups of people who have concluded that the property market will fall by 10 per cent, 20 per cent or 30 per cent post-MCO is an overstatement. They must have a crystal ball. You can have all the data and make a guess, but you cannot predict by how much house prices will fall or when the market will recover," said Siva Shanker, chief executive officer, real estate agency Rahim & Co International.
There is a confluence of three black swans and a situation that the country has never been in before, says Siva Shanker, chief executive officer, real estate agency Rahim & Co International. File Photo
Black swan theory
Shanker, a senior real estate expert and past president of Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA), used the black swan metaphor to describe the current situation.
A black swan is an unpredictable event that is beyond what is normally expected of a situation and has potentially severe consequences. Black swan events are characterised by their extreme rarity and their severe impact.
"There is a confluence of three black swans and a situation we have never been in before. There is a global economic crisis, political uncertainty, and this virus situation. We have had viruses before but Covid-19 may be a bit more serious than others. I think it can be beaten but it will take time. Once this is beaten, the market will get through but no one can give an analysis on how the property market can perform in the next six months," he told NST Property.
Property prices to fall or increase? Pixabay Photo
Shanker said all the fundamentals were in place and the market was ready for an upswing.
"But then, the virus came. During the lockdown period, everything grinds to a standstill. Everybody is staying at home. Everyone is scared. Who wants to look at properties now?
"I think the market is going to go down. There is no question about it. The economy is expected to go down and the property market is not far behind. It will go into negative territory this year," he said.
Shanker said in the next one to two months, when people go back to work, some order may return.
He anticipates that the market will start moving again.
"There will always be somebody who needs to rent, buy or sell. We will need three to six months from now before there is some clarity in the market. By then, there will be more data available and we can see how the market is behaving, and then make a more meaningful assessment of the situation. With that, we may be able to predict more definitive numbers and percentages.
"So for those people to say definitively 10 per cent, 20 per cent or 30 per cent is pure guesswork. If you're a qualified property professional, you can perhaps make some estimates because of your experience and market knowledge, but there is no way anyone can be definitive about market behavior, especially in a situation like this.
"No matter how bad times are, transactions will never go to zero. There will be some transactions and gradually the market will recover. There will be pent up demand. When the virus situation is over, we can expect that 2021 will be a better year," he said.
Engage a professional disinfecting company to keep homes and buildings safe, post-Covid-19. File Photo
Published in NST Property, April 23, 2020
With a rising number of positive coronavirus or Covid-19 cases in Malaysia (5,532 as of April 22), people are understandably anxious about how to protect their space, post-MCO (movement control order).
Whether it is an office building, residential, shopping mall, hotel, hostel, factory, airport, seaport, public transport hub, convention centre, hospital, or education centre, they will have to sterilise and disinfect their space after the MCO is lifted to build confidence and safeguard their staff.
The MCO is expected to end on April 28 but talks have it that Malaysia may extend its travel curbs till early May to prevent the spread of the virus, but with more sectors open for business.
Eversendai Corp Bhd executive chairman and group managing director Tan Sri AK Nathan said people must weather this unprecedented pandemic to come out stronger without panic. NSTP/MOHD KHAIRUL HELMY MOHD DIN
Eversendai Corp Bhd executive chairman and group managing director Tan Sri AK Nathan said the global Covid-19 pandemic has certainly changed the way large corporations, small business owners, and people do things, amid these highly uncertain times.
"They are responding in extreme ways, motivated by fear. We must weather this unprecedented pandemic to come out stronger without panic. Sterilising and swab test is essential to safeguard all workforce," Nathan told NST Property.
Post-MCO, there may be a rush with business owners and tenants looking to sterilise and disinfect their building before they go full force into work.
"Even if the MCO is lifted on April 28 or at a later date, it does not mean Covid-19 is no more. Post-MCO, employers, and employees will have to go back to work but many will be afraid as they don't want to catch the virus which may still be lingering around in some places," said a hotelier.
The hotel he works for in Kuala Lumpur employs around 400 people while occupancy rate on average is about 70 per cent.
"When the MCO is lifted, most of them will be going back to work and after the dust has settled, we can expect tourists to come back again. But to be safe, the management has decided to sterilise and disinfect the whole building post-MCO by appointing a professional disinfecting company even though we have no positive cases. Business owners will have to ensure the environment is safe and protected, even a few months after this Covid-19 pandemic is over," he said.
Big Tree Event & Supplies, who works closely with hotels, golf resorts, exhibition and convention centres, is proactively taking aggressive measures to contain the spread of the virus, said its founder Datuk Sunil Sachdev.
Sachdev said this unprecedented situation has created an extremely challenging business environment, affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
“We have to work together and manage this critical moment. Sterilisation and disinfection of office space and building are the most critical as people will have to return to work post-MCO and they want to move about in a safe environment. We are working closely with our respective partners, including a professional disinfecting company to keep the environment safe from Covid-19,” he said.
Superboom Projects Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Peter Chan said at The Haven in Ipoh, Perak, the objective is to attempt a record of zero contamination of the virus in the development premises and to keep all staff and residents safe.
Superboom Projects Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Peter Chan said The Haven in Ipoh attempts to record zero contamination of the Covid-19 virus in the development premises. Photo Courtesy of Superboom Projects
Chan said the company cleans common areas frequently, and disinfect ‘frequently-touched areas’ three times a day.
"We have been safe so far, and if we continue to be diligent and successful in our work, all will be well when the lockdown is lifted. But, of course, we will need to be as diligent in cleanliness after the official lifting," Chan said.
Keep homes, buildings safe, post-Covid-19
Covid-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered virus. According to the evidence available currently, Covid-19 virus is primarily transmitted between people through respiratory droplets and contact.
Harpreet Kaur is a qualified infection preventionist and founder of Nexus Health Solution Sdn Bhd.
Transmission may also occur through fomites in the immediate environment around the infected person, says Harpreet Kaur, a qualified infection preventionist and founder of Nexus Health Solution Sdn Bhd.
"For example, a sick person who has been coughing and sneezing goes out for grocery shopping will pass the virus on to someone else at the store who may have touched the same surface that has been touched by the sick person. Therefore it is very important to wear a mask when you are not well and wash hands frequently," she told NST Property.
Harpreet, who is also the head of department for post-basic infection control at a private healthcare college in Klang Valley said that scheduled environmental disinfection is important to break the chain of infection.
"Many people are looking forward to going back to their old 'normal' especially going back to work and school once the MCO is lifted. But can we be 'normal' again? Social distancing will still need to be maintained at all times. The compliance of hand hygiene must be adhered to continuously to break the chain of infection. Masks need to be worn if you are not well and avoid crowded places. Cough etiquette should be observed and routine disinfection needs to be carried out by workplaces and schools to ensure their environment is safe," she said.
Engaging a professional disinfecting company
Harpreet said that organisations should procure a good disinfecting company to disinfect the building premises the right way, using the right disinfection that is recommended by Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, and using the right principles of terminal disinfection.
She said since the outbreak of Covid-19, many companies have mushroomed overnight with untrained staff and using various types of disinfection, claiming that it can kill coronaviruses.
"The companies are not aware that this is a high-risk thing to do as it can endanger their staff and on the other hand it is hazardous to clients. People are being exposed to unknown hazards such as cross-contamination during disinfection exercise. There are principles of disinfection that need to be adhered to during terminal cleaning and disinfection," said Harpreet.
She said the process of doffing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is very important, and that the staff should not cross-contaminate and infect themselves with the disease.
A trained staff from Nexus Health Solution disinfecting a semiconductor factory in Klang Valley. Photo Courtesy of Nexus Health Solution
"Disinfecting staff must be trained intensively as they are not doing normal cleaning but performing disinfection procedures that are hazardous to them. The recommendation of disinfection that is being done by the World Health Organization (WHO) or by MOH is always based on clinical evidence and studies that have been conducted.
"Many false claims are done by these companies such as on the efficacy of the disinfectant products, especially on social media. Some even make claims that the disinfection effect can last for a certain time. By principle, any disinfected surface that has been contaminated has to be disinfected again to remove the bioburden.
"In conclusion, it is very important for organisations to procure guidelines adhering to a company rather than going for cheaper options as the disinfection process is done poorly is equivalent to disinfection not done at all or can make the contamination worse," she said.
Nexus Health Solution is the first and only infection prevention and control consulting company in Malaysia and Southeast Asia that emphasises on infection control and occupational safety.
The company has collaborated with MOH to organise various national and ASEAN level conferences and seminars in infection control.
Harpreet said it is currently working with various private and government organisations for better infection control practices and patient safety.
General prevention tips
1. Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub
2. Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing
3. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth
4. Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze
5. Stay home while MCO is in force
6. If you have a fever, a cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call in advance
7. Clean your house frequently using a disinfectant especially frequently touched items such as remote controls, door knobs, switches, chairs, refrigerator and others, including your mobile phones and laptops
Vortex Consolidated Bhd executive director Chan Swee Ying has a 17.18 per cent stake.
By New Straits Times - April 15, 2020
KUALA LUMPUR: Is there a boardroom tussle at loss-making Vortex Consolidated Bhd, which is majority-controlled by individual insiders?
Things are heating up in Vortex with some of the board of directors gradually raising their stake in the company to take control.
Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market-listed Vortex, formerly SKH Consortium Bhd, is an information technology, construction and property development company.
Its executive director Chan Swee Ying is currently the second largest shareholder, with a 17.18 per cent stake.
According to filings with Bursa, the largest shareholder is Datuk Neoh Soo Keat with a 17.33 per cent stake.
Master Knowledge Sdn Bhd is the third largest with 13.49 per cent.
Master Knowledge is controlled by Choo Peng Hung, who is managing director and executive director of Vortex.
Several private companies collectively have a strategic interest of 18.6 per cent.
The shareholders have been diluting their shares in the past year, with total shares outstanding growing by 36.2 per cent.
"I believe the fight for board control in Vortex is real," said a source close to the company.
"Neoh has been looking to list his company, Trinity Group, since 2015. He is keen on a backdoor listing and may be eyeing Vortex, which has RM52.83 million in cash, as a potential," said the source.
There is speculation that Chan also wanted to take control of Vortex, either via MMag Holdings Bhd, or MSCM Holdings Bhd.
Chan is an independent non-executive director of MMAG, an ICT solutions provider, which is the single largest shareholder of MSCM with ownership of 30 per cent as at March 1 this year.
"Chan is believed to be still holding substantial ICPS (irredeemable convertible preference shares issued in 2019) in Vortex which she can convert, even at a loss, to gain control of the company. Neoh on the other hand, still has to buy a lot of shares if he wants to use Vortex as a vehicle for his Trinity listing.
"Both Chan and Neoh see long-term potential upside in Vortex. The company is currently unprofitable and it is trying to bring in new business to mitigate the losses incurred from its existing divisions," said the source.
In a January 6 filing to Bursa, Vortex confirmed that it was in talks to buy a stockbroking firm, but has yet to enter into any definitive agreements.
Vortex is reportedly in talks to buy one of the last standalone stockbroking firms. Among the remaining ones are PM Securities Sdn Bhd and SJ Securities Sdn Bhd.
In the third quarter of FY2019, Vortex achieved higher revenue of RM42.1 million versus RM40.63 million in the same period in FY2018.
This was mainly due to the increase in revenue in IT and ICT, as well as from its property development and property investment divisions.
The property development division posted an increase in revenue mainly due to progress billings from The Louvre, its RM341 million mixed development in Kajang.
Despite higher revenue, the group's net loss increased to RM1.9 million in the period under review, from RM465,000 in the third quarter of 2018. This was mainly because of interest expenses incurred on the term loans.
"Vortex has short term assets worth about RM200 million, which exceeds its short term liabilities of RM78 million. It has sufficient cash runway for over three years, to help it grow," said the source.
As of December 31 2019, Vortex had RM48.98 million of cash and cash equivalents comprising cash and cash balances of RM13.95 million and short-terms investment of RM35 million.
The company recently sold its semi-detached factory in Shah Alam for RM10.6 million.
It gained RM1.8 million from the disposal, which is 22 per cent return on the investment.
