Pertama Digital Bhd is looking to capture bigger opportunities in the government and enterprise digitalisation space, with plans to expand its offerings in a higher number of locations and serve more members of the public.
In a press conference after its annual general meeting (AGM) today, Chairman Tun Dato’ Seri Zaki Bin Tun Azmi explained that mobile and digital technology have evolved at an overwhelming pace, and that integration of IT solutions by government agencies and enterprises across the nation have gained significant momentum.
“This has also been reflected in the progress and achievement of Pertama Digital’s products, such as eJamin which reported that a total of RM121.50 million in bail collections were collected in the calendar year 2021, MyPay’s Coin Conversion which has collected 9 million pieces of idle coins worth almost RM 1.7 million since its launch in April 2021, and MySMS which supported nationwide contact tracing and subsequently Covid-19 vaccination programme via its integrated messaging service to every resident of Malaysia,” added Tun Zaki.
During the AGM, it was noted that two members of the Board of Directors have elected not to be retained. Pertama Digital said that this was a natural development in the course of the Group’s pivot from its previously discontinued business operations in production and sale of fabric products, to focus on its mobile and digital solutions businesses.
Be Top Group Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary Top Textile (Suzhou) Co. Ltd, the fabric production company based in China which is involved in the discontinued business operations of Pertama Digital, had also agreed to sell a portion of its assets to Executive Director Sabri Ab Rahman who is currently a substantial shareholder with 11.74% stake.
“As Pertama Digital moves to stand on its own two feet without the previous owners and discontinued business operations, we are in the process of onboarding new prominent faces that are able to provide relevant expertise in our mobile and digital aspirations,” noted Tun Zaki.
Recently, Ex-Chief of Justice Malaya Tun Dato’ Seri Zaki Bin Tun Azmi had also been redesignated as Chairman of the Board effective 30 May 2022, after serving as Independent Non-Executive Director since 21 April 2020.
For the 18-month financial period ended 31 December 2021, Pertama Digital’s continuing operations (mobile and digital solutions) registered a revenue of approximately RM9.38 million and loss after tax of approximately RM2.88 million. The Group said that this was primarily due to operating costs, one-off corporate exercise expenditure, expenses relating to digital banking license application and allowance for impairment loss on goodwill. Nevertheless, with various plans in the pipeline which will be announced at appropriate times, Pertama Digital said that the outlook of its mobile and digital solutions businesses is bright. The prospects of the Group’s new business operations and its planned expansions are expected to augur well with positive earnings accretive potentials
