Time to go for Touch 'n Go

More: We look at Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go losing its monopoly as well as Line Corporation and Mizuho putting a pause on their joint venture. [Read from your browser]( Daily Newsletter --------------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Tech in Asia's free Daily Newsletter! Get full access to our subscribers-only Daily Newsletter and other insightful analysis on the big and messy topics of Asia’s tech and startup community by [registering here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- IN FOCUS In today's newsletter, we look at: - [Touch ‘n Go losing its iron grip on payments]( - Line Corporation and Mizuho Financial Group putting their joint project on hold - Other newsy highlights such as an Indonesia-based social commerce startup ceasing operations and a funding round for an Indonesian digital exchange platform. --------------------------------------------------------------- Hello {NAME} When I was younger, my parents would take my siblings and I up to Malaysia for a short holiday every now and then. As a kid, a multiple-hour drive up to Kuala Lumpur or Malacca was mind-numbingly boring, so I’d often take the opportunity to observe my surroundings during the drive. One thing I noticed, of course, were the toll stations. That, as well as the big “Touch ‘n Go” signboards. I didn’t understand the concept of a monopoly at the time, so the only impressions I had were: - Wow, this company is everywhere! - That’s a really … eye-catching color scheme. Fast forward some 20 years, and the Malaysia trips eventually died down. Recently, however, I took a trip to Port Dickson, and I was surprised not by the fact that Touch ‘n Go was still around, but that it continues to be the sole payment provider for the country’s toll booths. After all, we’ve seen a whirlwind of development in the region’s digital payments space. Surely there had to be other forms of paying your dues while driving on Malaysia’s highways. Apparently not, it seems. However, that’s all about to change soon, as the Malaysian government has just announced that it would be reviewing the company’s monopoly. Today’s story explores what this means for Malaysia’s transportation payment infrastructure. -- Jonathan  ---------------------------------------------------------------  THE BIG STORY [Touch ‘n Go loses its monopoly in Malaysia. What now?]( Fret not: Ant’s investment in TNG Digital is safe. --------------------------------------------------------------- TRENDING NEWS [SG’s Endowus cuts less than 10% of staff, citing market downturn]( CEO Gregory Van told Tech in Asia that the job cuts were due to a “sharp pull back in the financial markets and tech sector” last year. [Weekly funding: Top 3 sees bets from Ant, SoftBank]( Keep track of all the startup investment activities in Asia through our weekly funding list. [Swiss VC firm Tenity to expand SEA fintech investment]( The firm sees huge potential in Southeast Asia, where there is still a large underbanked and underinsured market. [JD.com to pursue HK listings for industrial, property units]( By spinning off JD Industrials and JD Property, the ecommerce major looks to increase operational and financial transparency. [SG, Malaysia announce payment system linkage]( The move will enable customers of participating financial institutions to make payments through QR codes with Singapore’s NETS and Malaysia’s DuitNow. [Ex-Coc Coc CEO wants to rebuild it with AI]( Victor Lavrenko believes that the Vietnamese browser and search engine can become more competitive by joining the AI race. --------------------------------------------------------------- TECH IN ASIA'S FOUNDERS MEETUP: PHILIPPINES Join us and share the hardest challenges you’ve faced as a founder If you’re an entrepreneur based in the Philippines, you’re invited to Tech in Asia’s Regional Founders Meetup, which will be held on April 25 at Draper Startup House - 5048 P. 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