Tuesday 1 March 2016

Inikah rekaan iPhone SE – peranti dengan skrin 4-inci?

Menurut pandangan penganalisis, 40% pengguna iPhone mahukan peranti dengan skrin bersaiz 4″. Ini adalah kerana mereka merasakan keseluruhan skrin peranti lebih mudah diakses dengan hanya sebelah tangan apabila skrin sebesar ini digunakan. 

Kali terakhir ia dikeluarkan oleh Apple ialah pada tahun 2013 dengan iPhone 5S. Ura-ura semakin kencang mengatakan pada bulan ini iPhone SE, iPhone dengan skrin 4″ akan dilancarkan oleh Apple. Beberapa spekulasi mengenai rekaannya mula tertiris.


Ada sumber mengatakan ia akan mengitar semula rekaan 5S dengan penambahan skrin 2.5D pada bahagian hadapan. Ini adalah bagi membolehkan kesemua kerangka dan aksesori 5S sedia ada digunakan semula oleh pemilik. Sumber lain pula mengatakan ia adalah sebuah iPhone 6 yang dikecilkan. 

Akaun @onleaksyang kerap meniriskan rekaan peranti pula percaya iPhone SE akan mempunyai rekaan hibrid 6 dan 5S. Martin Hajek ialah seorang artis 3D dan beliau menghasilkan gambaran tiga dimensi rekaan iPhone SE berdasarkan tiga sumber ini. Sekiranya anda berminat dengan SE, rekaan manakah yang akan anda pilih?


- Sumber: Amanz 

iPad Pro 9.7-inci akan ada Kamera 12-MP dan keupayaan rakaman 4K

Rakaman gambar atau video menggunakan tablet masih tidak begitu mesra pengguna, namun masih terdapat sejumlah pengguna yang menggunakannya untuk tujuan tersebut. Sehingga kini, sokongan kamera pada tablet boleh dikatakan pada keadaan asas sahaja, tetapi kini nampaknya pihak Apple ingin menyertakan sokongan rakaman 4K pada tablet akan datang mereka.

Mengikut desas-desus terkini, iPad Pro bersaiz 9.7-inci kelak dikatakan akan menyertakan kamera 12-megapixel – memperlihatkan peningkatan berbanding 8-megapixel yang digunakan pada iPad Pro 12.9-inci.

Dengan penggunaan sensor kamera yang lebih besar, ia dikatakan akan turut menyertakan sokongan rakaman video dalam bentuk 4K.

Ini mungkin membuatkan pihak Apple untuk memfokuskan sokongan fotografi pada iPad Pro ini kelak ketika pengenalannya.

Disamping sokongan fotografi, pihak Apple turut dijangka akan melengkapkan iPad Pro 9.7-inci ini dengan sokongan Apple Pencil untuk lakaran, dan juga Smart Keyboard untuk memudahkan pengguna membuat input menggunakannya.

- Sumber: Amanz

Prestasi mendatar, Datuk Seri Vida mahu pemain Kelantan 'mandi bunga'

Datuk Seri Vida kecewa dengan kegagalan pasukan itu mengutip mata penuh ketika bertemu Sarawak di gelanggang sendiri, minggu lalu.

LIGA M baru sahaja memasuki perlawanan keempat, namun kemeriahan lebih dirasai tahun ini, dengan pelbagai cerita di dalam dan luar padang.

Antara pasukan yang menerima tempias populariti tahun ini tentu sekali pasukan Kelantan yang dijenamakan semula sebagai Pamoga Qu Puteh The Red Warriors (PQPTRW), selepas menerima tajaan dari Vida Beauty.

Paling terbaru, kecoh apabila ramai yang memperkatakan tentang teknik rawatan 'mandi bunga' seperti yang diarahkan Pengasas Qu Puteh, Datuk Seri Dr.Hasmizah Othman.

Dalam laporan akhbar Berita Harian semalam, Dr. Hasmizah atau Datuk Seri Vida, mahukan semua pemain menjalani rawatan spa untuk memastikan mereka cergas, tenang dan mampu berada dalam prestasi terbaik setiap kali turun menentang lawan.

Permintaan berbentuk arahan itu dibuat selepas beliau kecewa dengan kegagalan pasukan itu mengutip mata penuh ketika bertemu Sarawak di gelanggang sendiri, minggu lalu.

Pelbagai reaksi dilihat di laman sosial, dengan majoriti merasakan ia langkah yang baik kerana ia bolehlah dianggap seperti pencetus semangat buat pemain.

- Sumber: Astro Awani

Lexus GS facelift debuts in Malaysia, also new GS 200t


The Lexus GS facelift is now in Malaysia, with the new turbocharged Lexus GS 200t replacing the pre-facelift’s GS 250 variants. Three versions of the GS 200t are available – the GS 200t Premium which retails for RM439,200, the GS 200t Luxury which is on sale for RM484,100 and the GS 200t F Sport which goes for RM496,100.

With the facelift, the GS gets an updated signature spindle grille as well as new headlamps similiar to the design found on the IS, with the daytime running lights as a separate piece in the bumper. The rear gets revised taillights and a new lower bumper.

Under the hood, the GS 200t gets a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 241 hp and 350 Nm, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission powering the rear wheels.

The GS 200t Premium gets bi-LED headlamps with auto levelling and a washer system, rain sensor wipers, a leather interior and steering wheel, steering column power adjustment, paddle shifts, keyless entry and start, ECO, NORMAL and SPORT drive modes, cruise control, dual zone air cond, a 12-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system with 8″ display screen, and 10-way power adjustment with lumbar support, heating and ventilation for the front seats. There’s also memory function for the driver seat. Wheels are 17 inch with 225/50R17 tyres.

The GS 200t Luxury adds on Triple-L-Shape LED headlamps, a smart card key system for the keyless entry, uprated Luxury trim for the interior, wood on the steering wheel, a triple-zone air cond system with Nanoe ioniser, a 17-speaker Mark Levinson sound system with a larger 12.3″ display, 18-way adjustment for the front seats, memory function for both driver and passenger seats, four-way lumbar support and additional SPORT+ and CUSTOMIZE drive modes. Wheels are 18 inch with 235/45R18 tyres.

The 12.3-inch central display screen now has a new full-width map capability, while the Remote Touch Interface controller gains new shortcut buttons and a more user friendly interface. Curiously, the spec sheet seems to indicate seat heating is not available for the Luxury spec.

Other than the F Sport exterior, the GS 200t F Sport switches the front seats to 16-way adjustment for the driver and 10-way adjustment for the passenger. The seats are wrapped with exclusive F Sport leather to go with the specific F Sport trim on the rest of the interior. The meter panel is also exclusive to the F Sport variant, with a larger 8″ multi-info display. Wheels are 18 inch with 235/45R18 tyres.

In terms of safety, there’s ten airbags, a rear view camera, and the full suite of Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, VSC stability control, ABS, Brake Assist, traction control – basically the works. The GS 200t Luxury and F Sport add on a Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

If you prefer normally aspirated power and have much deeper pockets, you can have a look at the GS 350 which can be had as either a GS 350 Luxury for RM543,400 or a GS 350 F Sport for RM562,510. Output is 311 hp and 380 Nm. Mated to an eight-speed auto driving the rear wheels, the 100 km/h sprint is done in 6 seconds compared to the 200t’s 7.3 seconds. Specs-wise, the GS 350 is loaded like the top of the line 200t.

For those who want hybrid power, there’s the GS 300h which combines a 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine with the Lexus Hybrid Drive system. It’s not the same system as that found in the Camry Hybrid – this one is rear wheel drive and the 2.5 litre 2AR-FSE engine now gets a next generation D-4S direct injection system.

The GS 300h is CBU with no hybrid tax incentives so it’s priced at a lofty RM631,700. The engine itself has 178 hp and 221 Nm output, but the hybrid motor has 140 hp and 300 Nm. Combined output is 220 hp. The system uses a 192 cell NiMH battery, backed by an eight year warranty.

All Lexus GS come with a 3 year, 100,000 km warranty. The facelifted car is now in Lexus showrooms – we’ll have a live gallery up soon.

- Source: paultan.org

Samsung dan LG perkenal telefon pintar Realiti Maya

PENGUNJUNG mengunakkan gogel platform realiti maya untuk mendengar pembentangan di Mobile World Congress (WMC) di Barcelona. - Foto EPA

BAHANG Mobile World Congress (WMC) di Barcelona kini bermula dan menepati jangkaan, platform realiti maya (VR) mendapat pentas utama di kebanyakan pengeluar jenama mudah alih terkemuka dunia.

Kecenderungan minat pengguna yang semakin meningkat dan peralihan keperluan menggunakan kandungan digital menerusi VR, berjaya mempengaruhi perkembangan pasaran global walaupun sebenarnya teknologi itu sudah berada di pasaran sejak hampir 10 tahun yang lalu.

Pembukaan acara penting industri peranti mudah alih global yang berlangsung seminggu bermula hari ini itu menyaksikan beberapa firma elektronik global mula melancarkan peranti VR masing-masing.

Pagi ini, AFP melaporkan Samsung Electronics dan LG mula memperkenalkan peranti telefon pintar baharu dengan kamera yang lebih baik dan keupayaannya memaparkan paparan VR untuk digunakan bersama set kepala VR keluaran mereka.

Langkah itu dilihat sebagai serampang dua mata untuk syarikat menaikkan minat pengguna dan memperbaiki jualan di tengah-tengah kelembapan permintaan terhadap peranti mudah alih.

Samsung melancarkan dua versi telefon pintar iaitu Galaxy S7 dengan skrin rata dan Galaxy S7 edge, dengan skrin lengkung. Kedua-dua peranti pintar baharu itu dibangunkan dengan kamera yang mampu merakam dalam persekitaran cahaya rendah.

Pada majlis yang sama, gergasi elektronik Korea Selatan itu turut memperkenalkan Gear 360, kamera sfera kecil berserta tripod, yang mampu merakam 360 darjah di sekeliling pengguna secara serentak.

Langkah memperkenalkan peranti dan set kepala tontonan berserta kamera merakam kandungan VR sebelum pelancaran pembukaan MWC 2016 itu adalah usaha Samsung untuk terus mengukuhkan kedudukan di hadapan Apple.

Kamera yang direka khas untuk merakam gambar dan video sekeliling pengguna itu boleh dimuat turun ke Facebook dan YouTube, atau dinikmati dengan lebih baik menerusi set kepala VR Samsung, Gear VR, yang akan mula dipasarkan menjelang November ini.

Ketua Eksekutif dan Pengasas Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg turut mengadakan kejutan dalam sidang media Samsung untuk mengumumkan kerjasama dengan Firma Teknologi Korea bagi mempromosikan penggunaan VR dalam laman sosialnya.

Pada majlis yang sama, LG turut berkongsi kedudukan Samsung dengan memperkenalkan peranti premium baharunya iaitu G5, telefon modular pertama menggunakan komponen berbeza, yang membolehkan pengguna menaik taraf secara bebas, meliputi semua komponen utama telefon, termasuk bateri.

G5 ditawarkan dengan aksesori seperti sistem bunyi dibangunkan oleh Bang & Olufsen dan set kepala VR yang membolehkan ia bersaing dalam liga pasaran yang sama seperti set kepala VR milik Samsung tahun lalu.

- Sumber: BH Online 

Renault Captur price revealed- RM117,200


The retail price for the Renault Captur – which was first previewed here in July last year – has finally been revealed by TC Euro Cars. The price list has gone up on the Renault Malaysia website, and has the B-segment SUV going for RM117,200 (on-the-road, without insurance), which falls just under the estimated RM118k to RM123k bandied about at point of preview.

The 4.12 metre-long Captur, which is based on the Clio supermini, is powered by a 1.2 litre TCe 120 turbocharged engine with 118 hp at 4,900 rpm and 190 Nm at 2,000 rpm. The downsized motor is paired to a six-speed EDC dual-clutch gearbox and power goes to the front wheels. Performance specs include a 0-100 km/h time of 10.9 seconds and a 192 km/h top speed.

Standard equipment for the Malaysian model includes auto headlights and wipers, DRLs, a MediaNav system with a seven-inch touchscreen and AUX, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, reverse camera, automatic climate control, keyless entry and push start and fabric seats.

Safety kit for the five-star Euro NCAP-rated Captur, which rides on 17-inch wheels and 205/55 profile tyres, includes four airbags, ESC, ASR, EBD and brake assist as well as Hill Start Assist. The Captur comes with a five-year unlimited mileage factory warranty.

- Source: paultan.org

Yana enggan sahkan khabar berbadan dua

PELAKON dan pengacara, Yana Samsudi

KUALA LUMPUR: Hanya kerana dirinya dilihat agak berisi sewaktu menghadiri majlis perkahwinan rakan baik, Shaheizy Sam dengan Syatilla Melvin di Pulau Pinang, baru-baru ini, pelakon dan pengacara, Yana Samsudin heboh dikatakan sudah berbadan dua. 

Malah akui bintang Adnan Sempit ini, ada yang mengucapkan tahniah kepadanya berikutan cerita berkenaan, selain beberapa sahabat yang memegang perutnya apabila bersua muka. 

Bagaimanapun ketika ditemui beberapa hari lalu, isteri kepada Fadzil Zahari ini tidak mengiyakan mahupun menafikan perkhabaran berkenaan.

"Ada wakil media turut menelefon saya bertanyakan kebenaran khabar itu. Sebenarnya, baju yang saya pakai pada majlis Sam dan Tilla agak besar, sebab itu saya nampak agak berisi.

"Menjawab persoalan sama ada saya benar-benar hamil, apa yang saya boleh cakap ketika ini ialah rahsia. Tahun lalu, terlalu ramai orang bertanyakan soal zuriat, saya rasa lebih baik kita fokus pada artis yang baru beranak daripada bertanyakan pada saya.

"Saya belum mempunyai apa-apa berita untuk dikongsikan. Kalau ada apa-apa, saya akan beritahu nanti. Buat masa ini, ada atau tiada, saya tidak mahu komen," katanya sambil tersenyum lebar. 

Memohon maaf kerana tidak dapat memberikan jawapan berhubung perkara itu, Yana pada masa sama, meminta orang ramai untuk mendoakan kesejahteraannya. 

Yana akui ramai insan yang menyayangi dan mengambil berat mengenai dirinya, namun hanya itulah jawapan terbaik yang boleh dikongsikan buat masa ini.

Begitupun, ia tidak bermakna pelakon ini jelek dengan persoalan mengenai soalan zuriat yang diajukan kepadanya dan suami. 

"Sebenarnya, pertanyaan sebegitu tidaklah membuat saya tertekan, apatah lagi ia adalah berita gembira. Ia bukanlah berita tidak elok, tetapi apabila terlalu kerap bertanya, saya pun tidak tahu hendak jawab apa lagi.

"Sekiranya saya berbadan dua sekalipun, saya takkan selesa berkongsi mengenainya pada peringkat awal kehamilan. Keluarga suami saya mempunyai latar belakang dalam dunia kedoktoran, jadi mereka ada bercakap, kalau kurang daripada 12 minggu, lebih baik jangan dihebahkan kerana ia belum sah lagi," katanya. 

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan Yana tidak menafikan beliau ada berjumpa dengan pakar nutrisi bagi mendapatkan khidmat nasihat mengenai pemakanan yang sihat.

- Sumber: BH Online 

Zika can trigger severe neurological disorder: study

A paramedic takes a blood sample from a pregnant women at the maternity of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) in Guatemala City on February 2, 2016. - AFP photo Johan ORDONEZ

PARIS: Scientists on Tuesday said they had confirmed that the Zika virus sweeping Latin America and blamed for severe birth defects can also trigger a dangerous neurological disorder.

In a study published in the medical journal The Lancet, a team probed Zika's suspected role in a 2013-2014 outbreak in French Polynesia of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) -- a rare condition in which the body's immune system attacks a part of the nervous system that controls muscle strength.

Research into patients who fell ill with GBS, supported by blood tests, proved that the mosquito-borne virus was the culprit, they said.

"This is the first evidence for Zika virus causing Guillain-Barre syndrome," the study said.

The syndrome -- which can also be caused by bacterial infections as well as the dengue and chikungunya viruses -- provokes muscle weakness in the legs and arms.

In rich nations, GBS is lethal in about five percent of cases, and another five percent suffer lasting disabilities. More than a quarter of patients require intensive care.

With 1.5 million cases of Zika infection already recorded in Brazil, and tens of thousands in neighbouring countries, researchers warn that an outbreak of Guillain-Barre could strain healthcare facilities, especially outside of big cities.

"In areas that will be hit by the Zika epidemic, we need to think about reinforcing intensive care capacity," said Arnaud Fontanet, a co-author of the study and a professor at the Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit of the Institut Pasteur in Paris.

"We know that a certain number of those patients are going to develop GBS, and 30 percent of them are going to need intensive care, especially for assisted breathing," he told AFP.

By itself, Zika is no more threatening than a bad cold or a mild case of the flu. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all.

But the rapidly expanding virus -- present in nearly four dozen countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) -- is suspected to be the cause a sudden increase in cases of neonatal microcephaly, a severe deformation of the brain and skull among newborns.

Brazil reported last week 583 confirmed cases of babies with the irreversible birth defect since October 2015, four times the previous annual average.

Zika is spread among humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in 130 nations. But recent evidence suggests that it can also be sexually transmitted by men carrying the virus.

In the study, two dozen researchers identified 42 cases of Guillain-Barre in French Polynesia in the aftermath of a Zika epidemic that infected some 200,000 people.

For Fontanet, there was no doubt that the virus caused the upsurge in GBS cases.

"The links are as strong as they would be for saying that tobacco causes lung cancer," he told AFP.

Three kinds of evidence supported this conclusion, he said.

The first was a 20-fold increase in the number of GBS cases during the Zika epidemic.

The second was that 90 percent the patients struck with the debilitating syndrome had been infected the week before by the mosquito-borne virus.

- Taken by surprise -

Both epidemiological findings were supported by blood analysis.

"We found traces of the recent presence of Zika in 100 percent of the GBS patients," including antibodies built up to fight the virus, said Fontanet.

The researchers were also able to exclude previous infection with the dengue virus -- also common in French Polynesia -- as a cause.

They did acknowledge, however, the biological mechanism by which Zika triggers the muscle-depleting syndrome has yet to be identified.

Some experts who did not participate in the research agreed that it was a breakthrough.

"This study provides the most compelling evidence to date of a causative link between Zika virus infection and the serious neurological condition Guillain-Barre syndrome," said Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust in Britain.

"The scale of the crisis unfolding in Latin America has taken us all by surprise, and we should be prepared for further unforeseen complications... in the coming weeks and months."

Others, though, cautioned that the findings were not conclusive, and may not apply directly to other affected regions.

"A significant amount of work has still to be undertaken before the same conclusions can be extended to the Zika outbreak in South America," said Peter Barlow, spokesman for the British Society for Immunology.

On February 1, the WHO declared a public health emergency due to rising cases of microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome, even though the link to Zika remained circumstantial.

- Source: AFP

Berlawak tidak semestinya di TV - Johan

JOHAN bersama trofi yang dimenangi pada AME 2016.

KUALA LUMPUR: "Apabila menang kategori Artis Lawak Meletop, saya dapat rasakan, berlawak itu tidak semestinya di TV," kata Johan mengulas kemenangannya pada Anugerah Meletop Era (AME) 2016, yang berlangsung di sini, baru-baru ini.

Menurutnya, walaupun jarang muncul di kaca TV, sebaliknya dengan memberikan tumpuan kepada bidang penyampaian radio, beliau juga mampu membuatkan orang ramai terhibur.

Selain kemenangan dalam kategori terbabit, Johan turut membawa pulang beberapa trofi lain termasuk Top Top Meletop (Lelaki), yang turut dimenanginya pada edisi lalu.

"Terima kasih kerana peminat menerima lawak saya di radio. Walaupun setahun sekali saya muncul dalam program lawak di TV, kemenangan semua ini lebih kepada kejayaan saya berada di radio.

"Saban hari, orang mendengar suara saya di radio. Setiap hari juga saya kena fikirkan kelainan untuk slot JoHaRa Pagi Era bersama Haniff dan Ray. Selain itu, kejayaan saya ini lebih kepada keluarga. Sebelum datang ke anugerah ini pun, anak saya cakap dan berdoa semoga papa mereka menang dan alhamdulillah, ia dipermudahkan," katanya yang percaya, amalan bangun sebelum Subuh turut memudahkan rezeki seseorang.

Diusik pertanyaan apakah beliau kini termasuk dalam golongan pelawak paling mahal di Malaysia, Johan berkata, beliau tidak boleh menilai dirinya sendiri. 

"Orang lain yang boleh menilai saya. Siapa kita untuk mengatakan diri kita bagus dalam kerja yang dilakukan? Bagaimanapun saya bersyukur kerana mempunyai isteri (Ozlyn Wati) yang menjadi tulang belakang selama ini.

"Beliaulah yang banyak memeriksa bahan untuk saya persembahkan. Beliaulah juga yang akan komen sama ada lawak yang saya sampaikan menjadi atau sebaliknya. Di belakang kejayaan saya ada isteri dan di belakangnya ada anak kami," katanya.

Ditanya apakah kejayaan yang dikecapi menjadi tekanan dalam hidupnya, bagi dirinya, perkara itu wujud di mana-mana sekali pun.

"Tidak menang pun ada tekanannya juga, apatah lagi apabila menang. Di mana-mana pun, termasuk di media sosial, tekanan itu pasti ada. Orang pasti akan mencari kesalahan kita," katanya.

- Sumber: BH Online 

Munafik pungut RM2.3j empat hari tayangan

SYAMSUL Yusof dan Nabila Huda.

KUALA LUMPUR: Filem seram, Munafik, mencatat kutipan memberangsangkan apabila memungut RM2.3 juta dalam tempoh empat hari tayangan.

Diterbitkan oleh Skop Production Sdn Bhd (SPSB), filem arahan Syamsul Yusof itu turut mendapat ulasan yang baik daripada pengkritik apabila mengetengahkan cerita yang penuh kejutan dan unsur keagamaan di dalamnya.

Menampilkan bintang seperti Nabila Huda, Fizz Fairuz, Sabrina Ali, Pekin Ibrahim, A Galak dan Syamsul sendiri, filem terbabit ditayangkan di 112 pawagam di seluruh negara, termasuk Brunei dan Singapura. 

Penerbitnya, Datuk Yusof Haslam, berkata pihaknya mendapat maklum balas positif bukan saja daripada kalangan penonton tempatan, malah peminat filem seram dari kedua-dua negara jiran itu juga antara penyumbang terbesar kutipan, khususnya pada hari pertama tayangan.

"Tidak dinafikan, promosi dari mulut ke mulut antara faktor filem ini menjadi tarikan kepada penggemar karya genre seram. Boleh dikatakan, hampir semua penonton memberikan maklum balas positif terhadap garapan terbaharu Syamsul ini.

"Saya juga tidak menjangka, filem ini berjaya di Brunei dan Singapura. Peminat di sana menyukai elemen Islamik yang diterapkan dalam naskhah berkenaan. Lebih-lebih lagi Munafik terpelihara dari segi aurat yang tidak menyajikan adegan bersentuhan antara lelaki dan wanita," katanya ketika dihubungi BH Online hari ini.

Tambah Yusof, Munafik, yang memilik jalan cerita agak rumit dan bijak memperdaya khalayak, berjaya menarik penonton baharu yang sebelum ini jarang ke pawagam.

"Kita juga mendapati ada antara penonton baharu yang mula ke pawagam selepas mendengar maklum balas positif mengenai filem ke-39 terbitan kami," katanya.

Lebih penting, menurut produser berkenaan, beliau mengharapkan penonton dapat menceduk sedikit ilmu bermanfaat daripada filem terbabit.

- Sumber: BH Online 

Here's why you can't find that 'right job' online

The report finds that only certain sectors are hiring, while others are a lot more cautious in their recruitment.

KUALA LUMPUR: If one wonders why it is so hard to find for the right job posting in career websites, it is partly because employers are just not listing as many positions as they used to on cyberspace.

E-recruitment in Malaysia has dropped significantly over the past year, recording a 28 percent decline in job postings, according to the Monster Employment Index (MEI), a monthly gauge of online job posting activity in the country.

The report finds that only certain sectors are hiring, while others are a lot more cautious in their recruitment.

Below is the breakdown of which industry and occupation have grown the most and the least over the past year.

While the annual pace of decline in Malaysia's hiring activities has eased slightly (from December 2015 to January 2016), Malaysia's struggling economic growth continues to take its toll on the country's hiring situation, registering a -28% year-over-year decline.

According to the latest Monster Employment Index (MEI) report, a monthly gauge of online job posting activity in Malaysia, this is a marginal improvement from the -33% year-over-year decline in between December 2014 and 2015.

None of the sectors tracked by the Index registered a positive annual growth. Between January 2015 and 2016, the Oil and Gas sector reported no change in online hiring, at 0% year-over-year. This is also the only sector that witnessed a positive month-on-month growth.

On the other hand, the Logistics, Courier/Freight/Transportation and Shipping/Marine industry performed the worst between January 2015 and 2016, recording a -33% annual decline.

Annual demand across all occupational groups continues to witness a decline, with the Marketing and Communications roles experiencing the least annual dip at -1%. The pace of growth in the group has also slowed down between December 2015 and January 2016.

Demand for Software, Hardware, Telecom jobs continue to register the sharpest decline at -66% year-over-year.

"Global sluggish economic growth has led to a slow-down in hiring activity amongst companies in Malaysia, as recruiters remain cautious, holding off on new recruits. The second half of the year however, appears to be more promising as Malaysia's financial climate is likely to stabilise with declining oil prices and depreciation of the ringgit," said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director, Monster.com (India, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong).

"In addition, it is likely that IT professionals would experience a surge in demand as Malaysia slowly transforms into the Asia Pacific hub for IT consulting and shared services. Furthermore, as more MNCs move to Malaysia, demand for Accounting and Finance professionals are also expected to rise in the country."

The Monster Employment Index Malaysia is a monthly gauge of online job posting activity, based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities, culled from a large representative selection of career websites and online job listings across Malaysia. The Index does not reflect the trend of any one advertiser or source, but is an aggregate measure of the change in job listings across the industry

- Source: Astro Awani