TMGS GIRL IN KUALA LUMPUR

CPO-PRICES

2010-08-05T03:09:00.000-07:00

CPO TO REMAIN STABLE AT RM2,650 TONNE UNTIL NEXT YEAR
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 (Bernama)-- The crude palm oil (cpo) market is expected
to remain stable until next year with prices hovering around RM2,650 per tonne
due to supply constraints brought on by the El Nino phenomenon and its
propensity to follow prices of competing oils, said an analyst with a domestic
research house.
"While the recent El Nino phenomenon was comparatively mild, it may be
enough to impede the growth of palm flowers which takes six months to mature and
produce fresh fruit bunches (FFB).
"Hence the impact to palm oil yield may be felt during the last-quarter of
the year, Syed Muhammed Kifni Syed Kamaruddin, a senior analyst with MIDF
Research told Bernama today.
CPO prices have been holding up quite well so far this year despite the
bumper South American soybean harvest.
"Hitherto, strong demand and tight global edible oil inventories, with
stock/usage ratio falling to multi-year lows, are providing support to edible
oils prices in general," he said.
From January and July, CPO prices were range-bounded hovering between
RM2,300 to RM2,700 per metric tonne.
"We also expect CPO prices to encounter immediate resistance at around the
RM2,600 per metric tonne level and consolidate thereafter in the near-term.
"CPO price movements have been, and will, likely continue to be influenced
by the general trend in major commodities particularly crude oil and soybean
oil, Syed Muhammed Kifni added.
He also said the sustainable way for the palm oil industry in Malaysia was
to continue expanding output by improving yields.
Continued expansion of plantation acreage is being limited by the scarcity
of land available and suitable for oil palm plantations.
The average FFB per hectare and the average oil extraction rate (OER) of oil
palm plantations in Malaysia have stagnated around 20 metric tonnes per hectare
and 20 per cent, respectively, in the past decade.
Various research efforts have been undertaken by both private and government
entities to enhance the yields of oil palm tree, however, the results so far has
been rather evolutionary rather than revolutionary.
Nevertheless, efforts are ongoing and some major plantation companies such
as Sime Darby Bhd and Genting Plantations Bhd have embarked on cutting-edge
genome research which hopefully may provide the industry with ground-breaking
solutions to its long-term growth conundrum.
Meanwhile, Head of Research, ECMLibra Investment, Bernard Ching said the
industry expected range bound trading over August with some negative bias
from rising production and bearish soybean news.
In July, CPO futures rebounded slightly and closed the month 7 per cent
better.
Early this year, the El Nino was on everyone lips but of late this has
switched to the La Nina.
"We believe it is too early to tell if the current La Nina spell will pose
significant threats to production," he said.
Ching also said there was not much to be excited about in the near-term for
CPO prices.
With prices hovering between RM2300-2700, companies at this level would
still be very profitable, he said, adding that in the mid-to-longer-term, the
key driver would be weather related events that might interrupt production.
Over the long-term, palm oil consumption can only increase hence prospects
are good for the industry to expand further.
"The only problem is the scarcity of suitable land that could dampen
growth," Ching added.
-- BERNAMA
WNA VMD

MSM-HARGA/I

2010-08-05T03:07:00.000-07:00

MSM KEKAL STABIL PADA RM2,650 SETONNE SEHINGGA TAHUN DEPAN
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Ogos (Bernama)-- Pasaran minyak sawit mentah (MSM) dijangka
kekal stabil sehingga tahun depan dengan harga-harganya berlegar sekitar RM2,650
setonne berikutan kenkangan bekalan yang disebabkan oleh fenomena El Nino dan
kecenderungan mengikuti rapat harga-harga minyak saingan, kata seorang
penganalisis firma penyelidikan domestik.
"Sementara fenomena El Nino baru-baru ini agak sederhana, ia sudah cukup
untuk menyekat perkembangan putik-putik sawit yang mengambil masa enam bulan
untuk matang dan seterusnya menghasilkan buah tandan segar (FFB).
"Bagaimanapun, kesan ke atas perolehan kelapa sawit mungkin dirasai pada
suku akhir tahun," kata Syed Muhammed Kifni Syed Kamaruddin, penganalisis kanan
MIDF Research memberitahu Bernama hari ini.
Harga-harga MSM berjaya bertahan dengan agak baik setakat tahun ini meskipun
dengan pengeluaran kacang soya yang luar biasa di Amerika Selatan.
"Sehingga kini, permintaan yang kukuh dan inventori minyak boleh dimakan
global yang ketat, dengan nisbah stok/penggunaan jatuh ke paras rendah
multitahun telah menyediakan sokongan kepada harga minyak boleh dimakan secara
umumnya," kata beliau.
Dari Januari hingga Julai, harga-harga MSM berada dalam julat kecil,
bergerak antara RM2,300 hingga RM2,700 tonne setiap metrik.
"Kami turut menjangka harga-harga MSM dapat berhadapan dengan halangan
segera sekitar paras RM2,600 setonne metrik dan kemudiannya mengukuh dalam
tempoh terdekat.
"Pergerakan harga MSM telahpun, dan mungkin terus dipengaruhi oleh
trend-trend umum dalam komoditi utama terutamanya minyak mentah dan minyak
kacang soya," kata Syed Muhammed Kifni.
Beliau juga berkata cara mengekalkan industri minyak sawit di Malaysia ialah
terus mengembangkan pengeluaran dengan meningkatkan perolehan.
Pengembangan berterusan keluasan perladangan terbatas oleh kekurangan jumlah
tanah yang ada dan sesuai untuk perladangan kelapa sawit.
Purata FFB setiap hektar dan purata kadar ekstrak minyak (OER) ladang kelapa
sawit di Malaysia ialah masing-masing sekitar 20 tonne metrik setiap hektar dan
20 peratus, pada dekad lalu.
Pelbagai usaha penyelidikan telah diambil oleh kedua-dua entiti persendirian
dan kerajaan untuk meningkatkan perolehan pokok kelapa sawit, dan hasilnya
setakat ini agak bersifat evolusi berbanding revolusi.
Bagaimanapun, usaha terus dijalankan dan beberapa syarikat besar seperti
Sime Darby Bhd dan Genting Plantations Bhd yang telah memulakan penyelidikan
termaju yang diharapkan dapat menyediakan industri itu dengan penyelesaian
berguna kepada pertumbuhan jangka panjangnya.
Sementara itu, Ketua Penyelidikan, ECMLibra Investment, Bernard Ching
berkata industri itu menjangkakan urus niaga berjajaran kecil pada bulan Ogos
dengan beberapa tempias negatif hasil daripada kenaikan pengeluaran dan laporan
lembap kacang soya.
Pada bulan Julai, niaga hadapan MSM melantun semula sedikit dan ditutup
lebih baik pada paras tujuh bulan.
Awal tahun ini, El Nino menjadi sebutan setiap orang dan sejak kebelakangan
ini, La Nina pula yang menjadi bualan.
"Kami percaya adalah terlalu awal untuk memaklumkan sekiranya La Nina ini
akan memperlihatkan ancaman besar kepada pengeluaran," kata beliau.
Ching juga berkata tiada banyak yang perlu diujakan mengenai harga-harga MSM
pada tempoh terdekat ini.
Dengan harga bergerak antara RM2300-2700, syarikat-syarikat masih lagi
mengaut keuntungan pada paras ini, kata beliau sambil menambah yang dalam tempoh
pertengahan hingga panjang, penggerak utama ialah yang berkaitan dengan cuaca
yang mungkin boleh menjejaskan pengeluaran.
Dalam tempoh jangka panjang, penggunaan minyak sawit boleh meningkat dan
sehubungan itu prospek adalah baik untuk industri untuk terus berkembang.
"Satu-satunya masalah ialah kekurangan tanah yang bersesuian yang boleh
menjejaskan pertumbuhan," tambah Ching.
-- BERNAMA
WNA VMD AA

Peluang Laksana Tanggungjawab Sosial Tenaga Nasional

2010-05-19T01:12:00.001-07:00

Oleh Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Mei (Bernama) -- Yayasan Tenaga Nasional (YTN) kini membuka peluang kepada pelajar tajaannya untuk melaksanakan Program Tanggungjawab Sosial Korporat (CSR) bersama-sama Tenaga Nasional.

Menurut Pengarah YTN, Azman Zakaria, langkah ini adalah satu pendedahan selain membolehkan pelajar berkenaan mempraktikkan sambil mendalami pelajaran mereka terutamanya dalam pengurusan sains sosial korporat.

Program CSR turut memberi kesedaran tentang tanggungjawab sosial korporat agar pelajar tajaan YTN lebih bertanggungjawab dan prihatin terhadap keperluan masyarakat.

Di samping itu, program itu melatih para pelajar untuk berfikir secara inovatif dan kritis serta menjana jati diri generasi muda yang akan menjadi barisan pelapis pemimpin pembangunan pada masa hadapan.

TAJAAN YTN

Pada masa ini YTN menaja 2,050 pelajar di institusi pengajian tinggi tempatan dan luar negara.

Pelajar tajaan YTN ditempatkan di Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) di kedua-dua kampusnya iaitu di Putrajaya dan Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang di samping universiti terkemuka tempatan dan luar negara.

Dalam usaha membentuk pemimpin pelapis negara, pelajar tajaan YTN diberi latihan praktikal bagi mempersiapkan mereka dengan ilmu pengurusan untuk menghadapi alam pekerjaan setelah tamat pengajian, kata Azman.

MEMBINA KEYAKINAN DIRI

Menurut Azman, YTN menyediakan landasan bagi memantapkan kemahiran sokongan sebagai penjana keyakinan diri pelajar menghadapi dunia luar terutama dalam bidang pekerjaan dan perhubungan awam.

Dalam membentuk kemahiran insaniah di kalangan pelajar, YTN mensasarkan program ini kepada semua pelajar tajaannya dalam dan luar negara.

Menurut Azman, keseluruhan kerja-kerja asas sehingga pelaksanaan program dilakukan sepenuhnya oleh para pelajar, manakala dana disediakan YTN dengan memberi panduan berupa dasar dan matlamat program.

Kata beliau, pelajar akan melaksanakan sepenuhnya program ini termasuklah perancangan, kaji selidik kesesuaian dan tahap keberkesanan, pulangan publisiti serta impak positifnya kepada semua pihak.

Program CSR ini berkonsepkan khidmat kepada masyarakat berasaskan pembangunan pendidikan. Para pelajar akan diberi kebebasan untuk merangka pelaksanaan dan pengisian program.

Kata Azman lagi, ini akan menjadikan mereke lebih kreatif dan inovatif bagi mencapai objektif penganjurannya secara optimum dan berekonomi selain belanjawan yang berhemah.

AGEN PERUBAH MASYARAKAT ORANG ASLI

Baru-baru ini, YTN melalui para pelajar tajaannya di UNITEN Kampus Putrajaya dengan kerjasama Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) Selangor, telah melaksanakan program CSR berkonsepkan program kesedaran dan motivasi peningkatan pendidikan kepada 40 pelajar Orang Asli dari seluruh Selangor.

Program yang bertemakan 'Strive For Excellence' (Berusaha Mencapai Kecemerlangan) ini berlangsung di Kampus UNITEN Putrajaya dari 9 hingga 11 April.

Anak-anak Orang Asli yang terlibat terdiri daripada pelajar Tingkatan Tiga yang akan menduduki Peperiksaan Menengah Rendah (PMR) pada hujung tahun ini.

Program ini dikendalikan sepenuhnya oleh pelajar tajaan YTN dalam bidang Kejuruteraan dan Sains Komputer dari UNITEN Kampus Putrajaya. Antara aktiviti dijalankan ialah ceramah motivasi, lawatan sekitar Kampus UNITEN dan Latihan Dalam Kumpulan (LDK).

Antara yang memberikan ceramah motivasi ialah Profesor Dr Juli Edo dari Universiti Malaya (UM). Profesor Juli merupakan anak Orang Asli dan bekas pelajar tajaan YTN.

Menurut Azman penganjur turut menempatkan dan melaksanakan keseluruhan program ini di Kampus UNITEN bagi memberi peluang kepada sasaran untuk merasai suasana kehidupan di kampus pusat pengajian tinggi.

"Di samping sebagai dorongan dan motivasi kepada pelajar Orang Asli berkenaan untuk belajar bersungguh-sungguh dan tahu hala tuju peningkatan dalam melanjutkan pelajaran sehingga ke peringkat yang lebih tinggi," beliau mengulas.

Usaha YTN ini juga dilihat sebagai serampang dua mata dalam membantu Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) untuk memajukan golongan masyarakat ini.

TAJAAN YTN

Semenjak penubuhannya pada tahun 1993, YTN telah menaja 8,820 pelajar untuk melanjutkan pelajaran dalam dan luar negara melibatkan perbelanjaan melebihi RM500 juta.

Sebahagian besar bekas pelajar biasiswa tajaan YTN kini berkhidmat dengan Tenaga Nasional.

Pada hakikatnya, Tenaga Nasional melalui YTN secara langsung telah menyumbang kepada pembangunan tenaga manusia profesional serentak dengan pembangunan negara. Jumlah keseluruhan yang dibelanjakan untuk tujuan kebajikan sejak YTN ditubuhkan adalah melebihi RM35 juta.

Semua sumbangan dan program yang dilaksanakan membuktikan keprihatinan YTN/Tenaga Nasional terhadap masyarakat umum.

YTN tidak hanya menumpukan kepada penajaan pelajar ke peringkat tinggi sahaja, malahan mengemblengkan sebahagian lagi dana dan usahanya dalam mengendalikan program-program kebajikan berasaskan pendidikan bersesuaian dengan misinya untuk 'Mempertingkatkan Pendidikan dan Menggalakkan Kebajikan'.

Ia turut memberi sumbangan kebajikan kepada masyarakat yang memerlukan melalui penganjuran program-program pembangunan pendidikan dan kemasyarakatan.

Antara program termasuk Program Kem Remaja Bestari, Program Pemangkin Generasi Cemerlang, Bantuan Perubatan Kanser, Sumbangan Tajaan Pembedahan Kanak-kanak Mengidap Penyakit Jantung, Sumbangan Alat Bantuan Mengajar Ke Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK) dan Pusat Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Khas (3PK), Tajaan Bil Elektrik Pusat Cyber Komuniti.-- BERNAMA

Chance To Perform Tenaga Nasional's Social Obligation

2010-05-19T01:10:00.001-07:00

By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- Students sponsored by the Yayasan Tenaga Nasional (YTN - Tenaga Nasional Foundation) now have the opportunity to help implement the utility company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

YTN Director Azman Zakaria said this is an exposure to enable the students to put into practice what they have learnt particularly in the corporate social science aspect.

The CSR programme is also geared to create awareness on the corporate social responsibility for the students to be more responsible and sensitive to affairs in the society.

This programme trains the students to think critically and innovatively towards the needs of the society in the effort to instil them with the sense of belonging, turning them into future leaders capable of leading the nation to more progress.

YTN-SPONSORED

The foundation is now funding 2,050 students at institutions of higher learning in the country as well as abroad.

The students are located at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), both at the campus in Putrajaya and Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang apart from a number of prestigious tertiary education institutions locally and in foreign countries.

In the 'journey' to unearth and create the nation's future leaders, the YTN-sponsored students are accorded with practical training to equip them with the knowledge to face the career industry right after completing their studies.

BUILDING SELF CONFIDENCE

Azman said YTN provides the necessary platform to reinforce the soft skills in the move to build the students' self-confidence to meet challenges in their career as well as in public relations.

The foundation is offering its sponsored students in the local and foreign universities to be involved in the CSR programme by instilling them with 'spiritual skills'.

He said the students would be in charge and prepare all of the groundwork, right until the implementation stage of the programme with the YTN providing the funds as well as the guidelines and objective of the programme.

According to Azman, the students would be totally responsible for the planning, research on the programme's feasibility and level of efficiency apart from the publicity returns and its positive impacts.

The CSR programme is based on the concept of serving the commuity's education development. The students would be given the freedom to draw up the programme's implementation and its contents.

Azman said this would make the students more creative apart from being innovative towards achieving the goals of the programme in an optimum and economic manner and utilising a prudent budget.

AGENT OF CHANGE FOR THE ORANG ASLI

Recently the foundation, through its sponsored students at the UNITEN Campus in Putrajaya and with the collaboration of the Selangor Orang Asli Affairs Department (JHEOA) had carried out a CSR programme to motivate improvement of education among 40 Orang asli children from Selangor.

The 'Strive For Excellence' programme was held at the Putrajaya UNITEN Campus on April 9-11. The Orang Asli children in this programme are those who would be sitting in the PMR examination end of this year.

The programme was carried out by YTN-sponsored students in the engineering and computer science courses. Among the activities held were motivation sessions, tours around UNITEN Campus as well as In Group Training.

Among those who gave the motivation talk is Universiti Malaya's (UM) Professor Dr Juli Edo, an orang asli and former student funded by YTN.

Azman said this programme was staged at the UNITEN Campus in a move to expose the Orang Asli children the 'feel and way of life' in a campus of a tertiary education institution.

"Apart from giving the inspiration and motivation to the Orang Asli children to study really hard and know the direction that they are taking right up to the uiversity level", he said.

YTN's effort is also a two-prong strategy aimed at assisting the JHEOA to develop the Orang Asli community.

YTN FUNDING

Since its inception in 1993, YTN had funded the tertiary education of 8,820 students to the tune exceeding RM500 million and most of them are now serving with Tenaga Nasional.

Tenaga Nasional, via YTN, has contributed to the development of the country's professional manpower and the overall amount given to social activities since the establishment of YTN had reached more than RM35 million.

The programmes implemented showed the concern on the society by Tenaga Nasional and YTN.

The foundation has not only focussed on tertiary education but also moved its funds for education-based welfare activities in line with its mission of 'Improving Education and Encouraging charity'.

YTN provided charity contributions through the staging of education and community development programmes.

Among the programmes held were youth camps, assistance for children who needed urgent medical treatment, contribution of teaching aids for in-community Centres and sponsorship of electricity bills for community cyber centres.-- BERNAMA

HAI-O-PERFORMANCE

2009-11-13T23:24:00.002-08:00

HAI-O AIMS TO FURTHER BOOST PERFORMANCE
FROM WAN NOR AZURA MIOR ABD AZIZ

SINGAPORE, Nov 14 (Bernama) -– Hai-O Enterprise Berhad, a multi-level
marketing firm, which continues to deliver impressive results, wants to further
improve performance following remarkable achievements by its Malay and
Bumiputera entrepreneur team.
Chairman Tan Sri Osman S. Cassim said while the business environment remains
challenging, Hai-O was focused on recapturing some of the opportunities which
may have been delayed by the global economic downturn.
The company has displayed improved performance over the last three years,
with Compounded Annual Growth Rate of over 40 per cent in revenue and over 60
per cent in net profit.
For the first quarter results ended July 31, 2009, the group recorded a
higher revenue of RM148.57 million as compared to RM112.91 million in the same
quarter last year, an increase of about 32 per cent.
" We have good prospects for next year as well. We have increased our
products such as healthcare products and will further expand our business," said
Osman in an interview with BERNAMA at the Third Forbes Asia 200 Best Under A
Billion List celebrations in Singapore on Wednesday.
The company is one of eight corporations from Malaysia to clinch the
prestigious Forbes award.
" This award is given based on several criteria. Some of them are good
performance, good corporate governance, good returns to shareholders and
future prospects for the company," he said.
With the start of the direct-selling business in Indonesia in the first
quarter of next year, it would contribute further to Hai-O's
impressive results, he added.
Meanwhile, Group Managing Director Tan Kai Hee, when met at the
award ceremony, attributed the company's success to the hardwork of its 95 per
cent truly loyal Malay and Bumiputera marketing team.
He said the company hopes to produce more millionaire Bumiputera
entrepreneurs despite the challenging global economic downturn.
Of the more than 100,000 distributors registered with the company, about
10,000 to 20,000 of them are very active, he said.
" We are so lucky to have the group of Bumiputera entrepreneurs who are
sincere, honest, hardworking and always provide good service and can win over
consumers' heart," said the humble 75-year-old businessman.
He said there are also about 10 to 15 Bumiputeras who could become
millionaires within a year through their hardwork.
Tan said apart from the Hai-O Group being formally recognised for its
hardwork over the years, he believed it is also the goal pursued by other small
and medium enterprises (SMEs) country-wide.
From 2007 to 2009, the company has passed Forbes' strict selection process,
with a long-term and sustainable management concept.
" There is an old saying, " pride leads to loss while modesty brings
benefit". Therefore, we will not be complacent as we were listed by Forbes for
three consecutive years," he added. -- BERNAMA
WNA TOM

IT-PERSOFT

2009-11-13T23:24:00.001-08:00

PERSOFT TO MEET CRITERIA FOR CYBERCENTRE STATUS IN NEXT 6 MONTHS

PETALING JAYA, Nov 13, (Bernama) -- Persoft Corp Sdn Bhd will allocate RM6
million for its subsidiary Persoft Properties Sdn Bhd to carry out an exercise
to further upgrade Persoft Tower.
Group executive director Shaiful Annuar Ahmad Shaffie said the company was
expected to fulfil the qualifying criteria for MSC Malaysia Cybercentre status
within the next six months.
Persoft Properties had received approval to be developed as an MSC Malaysia
Cybercentre from the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry on Nov 9, 2009.
Shaiful Annuar said the company would use RM4.5 million out of the RM6
million allocation to enhance the building infrastructure as well as the
interior and exterior of the premises.
"This upgrading will be carried out in two phases and is expected to provide
an exceptional business environment for our tenants and ensuring continuous
sustainability and business growth," he told reporters at a briefing on Persoft
Tower, formerly known as Menara Luxor, here today.
As part of Persoft's value proposition for the Cybercentre status, Shaiful
Annuar said the company would offer an incubator venture programme to assist
information and communications technology (ICT) companies in capital funding,
technical advice and business expansion.
The company also planned to provide Microsoft training and certification
programmes as well as information technology graduate practical training for
final-year students in local universities, he said.
According to Shaiful Annuar, Persoft Properties aims to provide a
competitive world-class infrastructure and business-enabling office environment
to house more than 30 MSC Malaysia status companies by 2011, especially newly
set-up local companies.
"Today we are proud to inform that we are the first privately-owned
Bumiputera company with MSC Malaysia status and at the same time we own and
manage Persoft Tower which has been approved by the government to be developed
into a cybercentre," he said.
Persoft Properties was incorporated on Feb 16, 2007, with an authorised
capital of RM500,000 to own, manage or operate all properties belonging to the
Persoft group of companies.
Shaiful Annuar said with the completion of the MSC Malaysia Cybercentre
exercise, the company was confident of achieving a revenue growth of 20 to 25
per cent.
He said the company's total revenue stood at RM98.2 million as at Dec 31,
2008. -- BERNAMA
WNA LC

PIPOC2009-CPO

2009-11-13T23:22:00.000-08:00

CHOPPY TRADE EXPECTED FOR CPO PRICES TILL YEAR END
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- The immediate term outlook for crude
palm oil prices remains bullish although a choppy trade is expected for the
commodity the rest of this year, says a market player.
Futures Broker Representative of CIMB Futures Sdn Bhd, Teoh Ghim Ming
expects CPO prices to range from RM2,150 to RM2,350 till end of the year.
"Crude palm oil market would trade and fluctuate more independently from
other commodities i.e. crude oil, metals or stock markets," Teoh said.
He said the three major factors likely to influence the price
direction of CPO futures would be the current choppy random-walk nature of crude
oil, buoyed by weakness in the dollar, and purchasing from China, India and
European countries.
Other factors could include the development of the crop in Brazil,
Argentina and Paraguay all which have experienced a drop.
"We do not know which factor will come into play. Obviously, one of
these factors will impact prices," he told Bernama after presenting his paper at
the ongoing International Palm Oil Congress 2009 (PIPOC 2009) here.
He presented a paper on "Understanding the Palm Oil Market Trend - What's
Next".
For the first quarter of next year, the objective will be to push and close
above the psychological resistance level at RM2,400 to RM2450 level.
"A success full rate above this technical hurdle will take the market into
the RM2,650 to RM2,700 zone in the fist quarter next year," Teoh said.--BERNAMA
WNA SD

PIPOC2009-PREMIUM

2009-11-13T23:21:00.002-08:00

MARKET NEEDS TO RECOGNISE SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL, SAYS DOMPOK

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The premium for certified palm oil should
be at US$50 per tonne compared to US$8 dollar per tonne currently in order
to support the sustainable palm oil industry due to the costly certification
process.
In stating this, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri
Bernard Dompok said some of Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) members
who are non-producers were not fully supportive of the high premium certified
sustainable palm oil.
"At the moment there's no premium paid by the market, so the market needs to
recognise the effort of plantations companies," Dompok told reporters after
officiating the International Palm Oil Congress (PIPOC) 2009 here today.
Currently, a total planted area of 157,000 hectares in the country are
producing more than one million tonnes of palm oil which have been certified by
the RSPO.
"But the takers in the markets are not there, and I am very sad when the
plantation companies tried their best to produce it but this is not responded by
the market," Dompok said.
Malaysia and Indonesia have done very well to support the sustainable palm
oil production, according to him.
In Malaysia, close to 40 per cent of the planted areas are managed by
smallholders and as such, outreach efforts needed to be made to bring on board
this particular segment of the industry, he said.
The Malaysian oil palm industry has been actively involved in the challenge
to produce palm oil under the RSPO ambit, Dompok said.
In addition to ensuring sustainable production, the industry has also
voluntarily adopted the Code of Practices (COPs) drawn up by the Malaysian Palm
Oil Board (MPOB), he said.
The code covers the entire supply chain of oil palm and palm oil,
incorporating elements of sustainability and food safety to ensure the
production of sustainable and environmentally friendly palm oil for the global
community.
"The adoption and implementation of COPs in the palm oil supply chain is
pertinent and forms part of the industry strategy to comply with food safety and
quality requirements of importing countries," the minister said.
On another development, Dompok said the RM100 million oil palm research
facility embarked by the MPOB and plantation companies had shown encouraging
results in palm oil production.
The MPOB research has successfully generated over 400 sequences representing
90 per cent of the functional genes in oil palm, he said.
The centre was set up to help boost the oil palm industry's productivity
through a better understanding of the plant's genetic code.
In a move to acquire the latest techniques in sequencing complete oil palm
genome using new generation sequencers, the MPOB is now collaborating with South
Korea's Macrogen and US-based Orion Genomics. -- BERNAMA
WNA LC

PIPOC2009-PRODUCTION

2009-11-13T23:21:00.001-08:00

CPO PRICES TO STAY STEADY REST OF THE YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Crude palm oil (CPO) prices are expected to
stay steady and rangebound for the rest of the year, said Minister of Plantation
Industries and Commodities, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, today.
While the prices of oil in the world have fluctuated in the past month, the
price of CPO has relatively been stable, at between RM2100 and RM2200 per
tonne in the last few months.
He also said CPO's current price averaged at RM2,244.50 a tonne compared
with less than RM1,700 a tonne during the period from October to December 2008.
"I don't detect any changes in the underlying conditions," said the minister
after the opening of the International Palm Oil Congress 2009 (PIPOC 2009) here
today.
Also present at the event were Chairman of Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB),
Datuk Sabri Ahmad and Director-General of (MPOB), Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid.
"Overall palm oil output is slightly less or similar to last year with about
four per cent drop," said Mohd Basri.
According to MPOB website, the total production of palm oil for the first
nine months of 2009 was 12.46 million tonnes compared with 12.94 million tonnes
in the corresponding period of last year, a drop by 3.6 per cent.
The total production of palm oil in 2008 meanwhile was 17.7 million tonnes,
out of which close to 85 per cent was exported, with earnings increasing to
RM65.2 billion for the year.
Palm oil exports for the first eight months of this year was also steady
despite the global economic slowdown.-- BERNAMA
WNA SD

PIPOC2009-PALMOIL

2009-11-13T23:20:00.000-08:00

MPOB AND ORION COMPLETE SEQUENCING OF THREE OIL PALM GENOMES

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and
Orion Genomics today announced that a consortium co-led by the Advanced
Biotechnology and Breeding Centre has sequenced three oil palm genomes from two
palm species, an important food and biofuel crop.
This genome sequencing effort provides a comprehensive genetic blueprint of
E.oleifera and E.guineensis, including the pisifera and dura palms, they said.
MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid said knowledge of the
genomic sequence of these oil palm varieties enabled researchers to understand
genetic differences between trees for more resistant to disease than usual.
"Our goal in completing the oil palm genome sequence is to dramatically
improve oil yields both for the production of food, feed and fuel," he said at
the plenary session on "Sequencing the Oil Palm Genome: The Beginning" at the
International Palm Oil Congress 2009 here today.
Oil palm plantations on average produce 3.9 tonnes of oil per hectare per
year, nearly 10 times more than other productive oil-bearing crops, Mohd Basri
said.
Therefore, it has the potential to meet growing demand for food and
renewable fuel, he said.
Used in cooking oil, margarine, baked goods and other foods, palm oil is the
most consumed edible oil in the world.
It feeds more than three billion people in 150 countries worldwide and is
also a common ingredient in soaps and cosmetics.
Last year, Malaysia produced 17.7 million tonnes of crude palm oil and
exported RM65.2 billion (US$17.6 billion) worth of palm oil products.
New technologies are now enabling palm oil to be transformed into biodiesel,
a promising renewable fuel.
MPOB and Orion Genomics, along with Mogene LC, also unveiled plans to study
the epigenetic make-up of oil palm next year in an effort to improve yields.
Epigenetics is the study of the pattern of chemical groups that influence
whether specific genes are turned on or off, said Orion Genomics' president and
chief executive officer Nathan Lakey.
"We theorise that by studying oil palm epigenetics, we may be able to help
to speed the development of varieties of oil palm that produce more oil, rapidly
increasing the per acre efficiency of this crop, which already is the single
largest producer of edible oils worldwide," he said. -- BERNAMA
WNA LC

MAHATHIR-TAKAFUL

2009-11-13T23:13:00.000-08:00

DR M RECEIVES TOKOH TAKAFUL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TAKAFUL INDUSTRY

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir
Mohamad was conferred "Tokoh Takaful Award" at the Malaysian Takaful Association
inaugural Dinner and Awards Nite 2009 in recognition of his outstanding
contribution to the takaful industry.
Dr Mahathir has been instrumental in ensuring the takaful industry received
strong support from the government and this support has remained to this day.
" We owe much to Tun Mahathir as in October 1982, barely a year after coming
into office as the fourth Prime Minister, a special task force was formed to
explore the viability of an islamic insurance company in Malaysia," said
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah when speaking at the
event.
Dr Mahathir had passed on a legacy to the Malaysian Islamic financial industry,
said Malaysian Takaful Association Chairman Datuk Syed Moheed Syed Kamarulzaman.
He said Dr Mahathir was also a multi-skilled individual and a strategist in his
own sense, making him the perfect candidate to receive the award.
WNA MSL TOM

MALAYSIA-TAKAFUL

2009-11-13T23:11:00.000-08:00

HELP ENSURE NATION'S POSITION AS LEADING TAKAFUL PROVIDER REMAINS INTACT: AHMAD HUSNI

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The takaful industry should take meaningful
and effective steps to ensure that the country's position as a leading global
takaful provider remains intact, said Minister of Finance II, Datuk Seri Ahmad
Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah.
"The global takaful landscape will change at an accelerated rate in the next
five years and the growth potentials are too irrestitable for any player to
ignore," he said at the Malaysian Takaful Association Dinner & Awards Nite 2009
here today.
He said Malaysia has seen a compound annual growth rate of 39 per cent
between 2005 and 2007.
"It is estimated that global gross takaful contributions will touch US$8
billion by 2012," he said.
Ahmad Husni said the current financial crisis has brought forth concerns to
financial institutions across the globe, including the takaful operators.
"However, the Islamic financial system has proven to be resilient and immune
to the cancerous malignant credit products that were the root cause of the
current credit crisis," he said.
Syed Moheed said takaful operators have an important role to promote
innovation, equipping their business strategies with research and development
and design new innovative products and services.
" Innovation is the key to increase progression and sustaining growth
in the industry," he said.
The takaful industry witnessed positive response and confidence based on
growth in the last decade as Malaysians from all walks of life, religions and
races are receptive towards takaful, he added. -- BERNAMA
WNA MSL TOM

RSPO-OUTLOOK

2009-11-13T23:08:00.001-08:00

RSPO SEES BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
(RSPO) sees a brighter future for palm oil following its sixth general assembly
held here.
According to RSPO secretary-general Dr Vengeta Rao, the assembly has paved a
progressive path for members to work towards a brighter future for the industry.
He said the RSPO would continue to commit to the principles of integrity and
transparency, and engagement with all stakeholders in achieving sustainability
in agricultural practice.
The RSPO is a global initiative on sustainable palm oil with the aim of
promoting the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through cooperation within
the supply chain and open dialogue between its stakeholders.
Rao said the proposed resolutions by GAPKI or Gabungan Pengusaha Kelapa
Sawit Indonesia and Malaysian Palm Oil Association for the RSPO to commission a
working group to establish a system to share the cost of certification for
smallholders had been well accepted.
Members have also agreed to commission a working group to establish a system
to share the certification and verification costs on new plantings currently
borne by growers, he told reporters after the meeting here today.
It has also accepted the establishment of a working group to provide
recommendations on how to deal with existing plantations on peatlands, as
proposed by Wetlands International, he said.
"By the eighth RSPO meeting next year, the executive board will have to
develop the terms of reference for the committee and appoint its members," he
added.
The committee will be tasked with developing business models for sustainable
options for current oil palm plantations on peatlands, Rao said.
This, he said, will include exploring water management regimes appropriate
to reduce emissions and mechanism to facilitate restoration of peatlands. --
BERNAMA
WNA LC

MALAYSIA-RSPO

2009-11-13T23:04:00.000-08:00

MALAYSIA-RSPO
MALAYSIA NEEDS TO PLAY ITS ROLES IN RSPO
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia needs to play its roles correctly
in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and has a choice of walking
away from the RSPO process if it is going to undermine the palm oil industry.
RSPO secretary-general Dr Vengeta Rao, in stating this, said the country
could benefit from the roundtable process as it was meant to improve the
environment and to improve productivity in agriculture.
"However, if it allows itself to be bullied, of course you would be
bullied," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the 7th Roundtable Meeting on
Sustainable Palm Oil here today.
"Because Malaysia was part of the formation, to leave it, you should give a
reason. It is not that you cannot leave the RSPO, you can leave the RSPO," he
said.
However, Malaysia could walk away from the RSPO process if it felt that its
views were ignored and the requirements set unfair to the industry, he added.
He was asked to comment on a report that western environmental
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were like schoolyard bullies, taking
advantage of palm oil producing countries.
The report quoted Don D'Cruz, a specialist who spent a decade fighting NGO
campaigns, as saying that the RSPO process, although good-intentioned, was
likely to cause a great deal of damage to the palm oil industry in countries
like Malaysia and Indonesia.
Rao said if there were matters in RSPO unfair or unreasonable to Malaysia,
such as non-tariff barriers, the country has to make its view clear before
deciding to walk away from the roundtable.
With this, other stakeholders would have an opportunity to consider whether
something could be done to resolve the issue, he said.
According to Rao, all stakeholders are concerned about the palm oil
industry.
"Indeed at the 6th roundtable, the Indonesian delegation walked away during
the general assembly but Indonesia remained as a member of RSPO as all parties
concerned have agreed to compromise," he said.
RSPO is a non-profit association that unites stakeholders from seven sectors
of the palm oil industry, comprising palm oil producers, processors and traders,
consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental and
nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or
developmental NGOs.
Aim of the association is to develop and implement global standards for
sustainable palm oil.
Rao said Malaysia as a producer may not be happy with the RSPO but as a
global supplier, it cannot decide on its own how it will produce palm oil.
He agreed that the RSPO process was costly, saying that to be a member of
RSPO required two thousand euros a year.
He added that RSPO members are also required to pay between US$1 and US$3
per hectare to obtain the RSPO certification.
Rao said the cost, however, would also depend on the company's size and its
business volume.
"They will also need to pay the auditor, and with the RSPO certification,
their palm oil will be at higher price," he said.
On whether the RSPO was created out of a desire by western food
multinationals to head off what they viewed as an inevitable campaign on
palm oil, Rao said western food multinationals are important as they are large
buyers.
However, the global palm oil market is not only focusing on western food
multinationals as there are other markets for the industry, he said. -- BERNAMA
WNA LC

LOCAL MARKET EXPECTS TO HOLD FORT, SAYS MIDF

2009-09-07T01:28:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
Composite Index (FBM KLCI) is expected to hold the fort despite the anticipated
weakness on Wall Street, says MIDF Research.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 185.7 points or -1.96 per cent from
9496.3 to 9310.6 due to profit-taking on Tuesday.
The tone is set for the next few weeks for depressed sentiment as the
market discounts the positive macro news, said MIDF.
However, regional equity market momentum is not expected to be broken as
liquidity is still flowing into the market, said MIDF in its research note.
" Last week, foreign fund purchases of equity in six Asian markets (Taiwan,
South Korea, India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines) surged to US$2.7
billion," the research house said.
Meanwhile, September is expected to be a lull month for the local market as
the market is wary of the Wall Street and awaits the next wave of positive news
flow after the encouraging 2009 earning numbers.
-- BERNAMA
WNA TOM

3COM WINS MILLION DOLLAR DEAL TO NETWORK IPG

2009-09-07T00:54:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- 3Com Corporation announced today it has
won a million dollar tender to equip the Institutes of Teacher Education (IPG)
under the Education Ministry.
The global enterprise networking solutions company said it will provide
products to power 10 campus networks nationwide for IPG which offers training to
teachers at various graduate levels.
The solutions will "help reduce the IPG's total cost of ownership without
compromising performance, security and reliability", it said in a statement.
Under the contract, 3Com, together with partner Sigma Rectrix Systems (M)
Sdn Bhd, will develop a high-speed wired and wireless campus network for IPG's
campuses nationwide.
With the new network, the ministry will be able to achieve its goal of
placing graduate-level teachers in all secondary schools and 50 percent of all
primary schools by next year, 3Com said.
"3Com's established reputation of being the market leader in
price-performance and convergence, coupled with our broad networking portfolio
and our innovative wireless and security technologies, gives us the unique
ability to outfit our customers with cost-effective solutions that span from the
data centre to the network edge," said 3Com Malaysia country manager Marcus Lai.
"With strong local support services and our investment in a direct-touch
partner model, 3Com is in a position of strength to continue to win sizeable
deals over competition despite the current economic crisis," he said. -- BERNAMA
WNA LC

KPMG RECOGNISES PLCs FOR SHAREHOLDER VALUE CREATION

2009-09-07T00:40:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- The average economic profit over invested
capital (EP/IC) among Malaysian public-listed companies (PLCs) increased to
15.46 percent in 2008 from 14.35 percent in 2007, according to audit and tax
advisory firm KPMG.
The firm today recognised several PLCs in the country for demonstrating
exemplary shareholder value creation for the financial year ended 2008.
"The shareholder value creation, saw an upward trend despite the impact of
the global market turmoil locally," KPMG business advisory executive director
Anita Menon told reporters at 2008 KPMG Shareholder Value Award ceremony here.
She said consumer market, agriculture and plantations were among the sectors
that saw positive improvement in their shareholder value creation in 2008.
The award recognised companies across nine industries, comprising
agriculture and fisheries, financial services, infrastructure, consumer markets,
leisure, energy and natural resources, industrial markets, construction and
property, and information and communications technology.
British American Tobacco Bhd was declared to have the highest EP/IC.
On the outlook for next year, KPMG head of Malaysia financial services, Dr
John Lee, said the EP/IC for next year is expected to be lower due to the impact
of the global financial crisis.
Securities Commission chairman Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, who officiated the
event, said delivering shareholder value was key towards achieving success in
today’s markets where competition for capital was intense.
"In other words, there is an increased awareness among companies that the
essence of shareholder value boils down to being able to set long-term
objectives and delivering them," she said in her speech.
The global nature of capital markets means that capital can easily migrate
to higher yielding, often foreign opportunities, Zarinah said.
"It is essential therefore that all companies understand and appreciate the
critical role that they play in building investor confidence and in ensuring
that the Malaysian capital market remains competitive," she said. -- BERNAMA
WNA LC

CPO PRICES TO FETCH RM3,000 PER TONNE?

2009-09-07T00:39:00.002-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Depleting stocks and lower output is expected
to shore up crude palm oil prices.
The golden crop is forecast to fetch about RM3,000 per tonne in the next six
months against its current price of RM2,400 per tonne, said the Chief Executive
Officer of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Tan Sri Dr Yusof Basiron.
He said supply shortages would be the norm of the future if biofuel usage is
factored in.
Speaking on the trends and potential for Malaysia's plantation and natural
resources sector at the "Industry Insights Seminar 2009" here today, Yusof said
very few countries are in a net supply excess position for oils and fats.
" Developed countries in Europe have embarked on bio-diesel programmes in a big
way although their bio-diesel industry have yet to take of," Yusof said.
Yusof said this provided an optimistic scenario for oils and
fats suppliers and exporters.
He estimated crude palm oil output in 2009 to reduce slightly to 17.3
million tonnes compared with 17.7 million tonnes produced last year.
" The world is experiencing an acute shortage of oils and fats in view of
the growing world population, economic growth and demand for bio-fuels.
" With a growing population, consumption will be affected if there's global
recession as more than 80 per cent of vegetable oils end up in food,
oleochemicals and biofuel," Yusof added.
He said there would be a 50 per cent increase in world population to 9
billion people in 2043 from 1999's population of 6 billion people.
-- BERNAMA
WNA VMD

PETRONAS YES TO NEW GAS SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH MMC

2009-09-07T00:39:00.001-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Petronas has agreed to a new gas supply
agreement with Gas Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a 41.8 percent-owned unit of MMC Corp Bhd
(MMC).
In a statement, MMC chief executive officer, Datuk Hasni Harun, said the
agreement would consist of 300 million standard cu ft of natural gas per day.
"With the increase in gas supply, the company is expected to expand its gas
pipeline network, which currently covers 1,642km," he said.
He said the agreement would enable Gas Malaysia to provide long-term supply
of natural gas to its industrial users, which would incur lower energy costs
from using competitively-priced natural gas.
Gas Malaysia is the sole supplier of natural gas to the non-power sector and
currently supplies energy to over 31,000 residential and 600 commercial
customers.
It also supplies to industrial customers throughout Peninsular Malaysia. --
BERNAMA
WNA THS

CRADLE LOOKING TO FUND 100 PROJECTS BY NEXT MAY

2009-09-07T00:37:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, manager of the Cradle
Investment Programme (CIP) for the Ministry of Finance, is looking to finance
100 projects by May next year, focusing on solutions for tourism industry.
Its chief executive officer, Nazrin Hassan, said the company has funded 369
projects worth RM30 million since its inception in 2003.
"The ministry has allocated RM100 million for the programme," he told
reporters at the Standard On-line Tourism (SOTA) International Conference 2009
here today.
Over 300 technopreneurs attended the conference.
The event also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between
Cradle and Creative Advances Technology Sdn Bhd (CAT), a leader in technology
for tourism sector, to launch the CAT-CRADLE-SOTA Technopreneur Development
collaboration.
Meanwhile, CAT chief executive officer, Rohizan Md Yusoff, said the
collaboration was to boost tourism industry in the country.
He said on-line transactions for the industry globally had reached US$200
billion (US$1=RM3.54)
Tourism is the second largest income earner for the country, with tourist
arrivals of 22.05 million in 2008 and tourism receipts amounting to RM48
billion. --- BERNAMA
WNA THS

PNB ANNOUNCES 6.3 SEN INCOME DISTRIBUTION FOR ASW 2020

2009-09-07T00:36:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) today announced an income distribution of 6.3 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020 (ASW 2020) for the year ending Aug 31, 2009 as against 7.0 sen per unit in the previous year.
Its chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the income distribution involved a total payment of RM592.26 million.
"It will benefit 872,322 unit holders who currently hold 11.01 billion units of ASW 2020," he told a press conference here.
ASW 2020 unit holders will receive their income statement from the end of October.
Up to Aug 17 this year, ASW 2020 recorded an income of RM661.28 million, an increase of 12.62 percent from the RM587.18 million posted in the previous corresponding period.
Profit from the sale of shares contributed RM311.27 million or 47.7 percent
while dividend income from investing companies RM223.69 million or 33.83 percent
and interest and other income RM126.32 million or 19.10 percent.
Meanwhile, PNB president and group chief executive Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah
Che Othman said PNB sold 14.5 billion trust units in the first eight months of
this year.
Of the amount, 7.7 billion units were subscribed by Bumiputeras and the balance of 6.8 billion units by non-Bumiputeras.
"As a whole, since PNB launched Amanah Saham 1Malaysia (AS 1Malaysia) and
increased the units of ASW 2020 and Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM), it has sold
14.5 billion units," he said.
PNB currently manages funds totalling RM120 billion.
Asked on the progress of AS 1Malaysia, Hamad Kama Piah said 1.962 billion
units had been sold to date.
"Even though, its sale was quite slow, the demand for AS 1Malaysia was
better compared to ASW 2020 and ASM," he said.
ASW 2020 sold 70.18 million units on the first day of its launch on Aug 28,
1996 and ASM 173.6 million units when it was launched on April 20, 2000 while AS
1Malaysia touched 1.08 billion units on its launch on Aug 5, 2009, he said.
He added that for AS 1Malaysia, about 56 percent of the Chinese quota had
been filled, representing 1.66 billion units. -- BERNAMA
WNA JR

EON BANK TO FORM STRATEGIC JOINT VENTURES

2009-09-07T00:27:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- EON Bank Group is actively in talks with
various companies to form strategic joint-ventures on an exclusive basis.
Head of Consumer Banking Michael Lor said this would allow the bank to
develop products and propositions which were now highly expected among
customers.
"We hope to leverage through either an equity stake, insurance company or a
strategic joint-venture with exclusive partners," he told reporters after the
company entered into a partnership agreement with UniAsia Life Insurance Bhd to
launch "Wealth Planner", an innovative savings and insurance plan.
Lor added that the group was also reviewing its entire bancassurance
strategy as there are vast potential for further growth.
"We expect to achieve a non-interest income of between 25 and 30 per cent
over the next 3 years.
"At present, the bank's non-interest income was about 20 per cent," he said.
On Wealth Planner, Lor said EON Bank was targeting over 6,000 customers for
the product which would translate into new deposits of RM75 million by year-end.
He said unlike the conventional fixed deposit, the Wealth Planner savings
and insurance plan guaranteed interest rate returns of 5 per cent, per annum,
and a guaranteed 5 per cent annual cash back on the sum assured.
For a deposit of RM50,000, a depositor would accrue returns of RM1,275
against RM500 earned on the same sum in a normal fixed deposit savings account.
The Wealth Planner promotion begins today and will end on Dec, 31 2009.
-- BERNAMA
WNA VMD

SUBANG SKYPARK AIMS FOR RM7 MILLION REVENUE

2009-08-17T10:01:00.001-07:00

PETALING JAYA, Aug 17 (Bernama)-- Subang SkyPark Sdn Bhd is confident of
recording RM6 million to RM7 million in revenue from its refurbished Skypark
Subang Terminal (SST), formerly known as Terminal 3, by May next year.
Executive director Tan Sri Ravindran Menon said the city airport operator
was confident of achieving its target with the completion of works at SST by
October this year.
"The RM40 million terminal is 90 percent completed and destined to become
Malaysia's premier airport in the city," he told reporters at a media sneak
preview of the SST here today.
When fully operational, the SST is able to accommodate an average of 60
flights daily, comprising of local and regional arrivals and departures, he
said.
Presently, Berjaya Air and Firefly are using the terminal for international
and domestic flights.
The 150,000-square foot SST is expected to handle 2.5 million passengers by
end of this year, Ravindran said.
Currently, passenger numbers are peaking at 60,000 a month, he said.
The company is involved in the RM300 million redevelopment plan for the
Subang airport, consisting of RM40 million for phase one, RM110 million for
phase two and RM150 million for phase three.
Ravindran said the three phases included a city airport for turbo-prop
aircraft, fixed base operations for business jets, and maintenance, repair and
overhaul facilities.
The three phases are scheduled for full completion by end-2011, he said. --
BERNAMA
WNA LC

MALAYSIA EXPECTS BETTER GROWTH IN 2010

2009-08-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is expected to record better growth
in 2010 in tandem with the positive growth forecast for Europe, said Deputy
Finance Minister Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung.
"Since Malaysia's major exports are to Europe, the recovery there is bound to
have a positive impact on our economy.
"These countries are showing positive signs of economic recovery and this
augurs well for Malaysia," he told reporters after launching the Marine Customs
Officers Association's blog.
Chor was commenting on the encouraging growth chalked up by France and Germany
in the second quarter of 2009 and its impact on Malaysia.
However, he said Malaysia can no longer depend on the American and European
markets to sustain exports as consumers there have turned cautious in their
spending following the economic crisis.
Chor said the massive capital injection undertaken by countries, worldwide,
has had a positive impact in stimulating their domestic economies.
Speaking on a another development, Chor said the Royal Malaysian Customs
accrued RM8.935 billion in taxes and duties, between January and May 2009,
against RM8.797 billion collected in the same period last year.
In 2008, the department raked in RM28.63 billion in taxes and duties, the
highest since the department's inception, compared with RM4.9 billion collected
in 2007.
Chor also said,"Against the current economic scenario, smuggling activities
in the Malaysian waters is expected to be rampant".
-- BERNAMA
WNA VMD

1st GLOBAL SEEKS TO TURN TOBACCO SPECIES INTO PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS

2009-08-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- 1st Global Biotech (M) Sdn Bhd, a leader
in research and development (R&D) of enzyme-based products, is working towards
turning tobacco species into pharmaceutical products.
Its chief executive officer Professor Suffian Jusoh said the Science,
Technology and Innovation Ministry had approved RM5 million for the project for
a two-year period.
"The ministry released one million ringgit last week to start the research,"
Suffian told reporters at a media conference here today.
The company was now working closely with its joint-venture partner,
Taiwan-based Biozyme Biotech, to transfer the technology from Taiwan to
Malaysia, he said.
According to Suffian, the research is aimed at extracting Coenzyme Q10
(CoQ10)from tobacco leaves.
CoQ10 has a naturally stimulating effect on the energy-intensive cells of
the heart and acts as an antioxidant to help protect the body from free
radicals, he said.
Zymtech Corporation Sdn Bhd's managing director Raymond Chan said the
company, a subsidiary of 1st Global, planned to be a global leader in supplying
enzyme-based health supplements.
The company was targeting to market its enzyme-based products to countries
like Indonesia and China, Chan said.
"Demand for Zymtech products has been encouraging with the world growing in
awareness about enzyme supplements," he said. -- BERNAMA
WNA LC

PANASONIC TARGETS MONTHLY SALE OF 1,000 BLENDERS AND DRY ION

2009-08-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

PETALING JAYA, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Home appliance manufacturer, Panasonic
Malaysia Sdn Bhd, is targetting to sell 1,000 units, each, of its blender and
dry ion, monthly, during the Panasonic - Giant Malaysian's Choice Campaign.
Its executive director, Jeff Lee Wee Leong, said both products were
manufactured locally and would be sold exclusively at 43 Giant hypermarkets.
"We decided to partner with Giant as it is the leading hypermarket in
Malaysia which promoted local products," he told reporters after the launch of
the campaign by the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and
Consumerism, Datuk Tan Lian Hoe here today.
During the campaign, which would end on Oct 31 2009, consumers can purchase
the blender and dry ion at a special price of RM79.99 and RM46.99, respectively.
Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd, based in Shah Alam, manufactured more
than 20 electrical products including blenders, dry ion, stand fans and
rice cookers.
-- BERNAMA
WNA VMD

ICAPITAL.BIZ SEES FBM KLCI REACHING 1,500 LEVEL WITHIN TWO YEARS

2009-08-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
(FBM KLCI) is expected to increase between five and 10 percent from the current
level by year end, said icapital.biz Bhd (icapital), managing director, Tan Teng
Boo.
The FBM KLCI closed at 1,186.19 today, up 5.65 points from yesterday.
Tan is also projecting the FBM KLCI to reach 1,500 points within two
years depending on the economic development in the country as well as globally.
"As long as Malaysia does not face major political calamities, the
longer-term outlook for Bursa Malaysia remains positive," he told reporters
after the company's annual general meeting here today.
On the global economic outlook, Tan believed the global economy led by China
has begun a V-shaped recovery and the current rally the beginning of a new bull
market.
"The global economy is facing a secular boom with cyclical inflation."
He also believed the global economic contraction in the last three quarters
was not due to the U.S. sub prime or mortgage problems.
"Analysis showed that global economic activities contracted only
after the collapse of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2009.
"In the last twelve months, the global economy impacted by the US-led
financial crisis, went through a very turbulent period, leaving investors
totally confused," he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia's only listed close-end fund, icapital.biz recorded a
revenue of RM11.414 million for the period ended May 31, 2009, a fall of
RM34.252 million or 75 percent compared to the same period last year.
As of July this year, the company has invested in 17 listed companies
including Parkson Holdings, Astro, KL-Kepong Bhd, F&N Holdings Bhd and Petronas
Dagangan Bhd, topping the list in terms of the size of unrealised profits.
Its investments totalled RM156.99 million while total unrealised gain was
M60.80 million.
The conservative fund now has cash holdings of below RM40 million, which Tan
said was the lowest in the fund's history and a reflection of the many
bargains available on Bursa Malaysia.-- BERNAMA
WNA TNS SD

FIREFLY SUSPENDS SINGAPORE-MELAKA ROUTE

2009-08-17T09:37:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's community airlines, Firefly Sdn
Bhd, has suspended its planned Singapore-Melaka route scheduled for commencement
on Sept 1, said managing director Eddy Leong.
The move would allow the airline to evaluate in greater detail the request
by the Melaka state government to focus on the Indonesian sector.
The Melaka Government recently asked the airlines to focus more on
Indonesian routes such as Pekanbaru, Djambi and Palembang to boost medical
tourism.
"We will continue to talk to the state government. We remain positive that
Firefly will light up Melaka just like how we did for Perak," he said in a
statement.
Following the suspension of the Singapore-Melaka route, Leong said Firefly
would re-deploy the aircraft meant for the sector to the Singapore-Ipoh sector.
Firefly will operate daily flights between Singapore and Ipoh from Sept 1.
Currently, it serves the sector four times a week. -- BERNAMA
WNA TOM

MK LAND EXPECTS DOUBLE-DIGIT GROWTH IN SALES

2009-08-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

PETALING JAYA, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- MK Land Holdings Bhd expects double-digit
growth in sales annually to RM1 billion within five years mainly from its
Armanee terrace condominium, Rafflesia and Metropolitan Square projects in
Damansara Perdana.
Its executive chairman/chief executive officer, Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal
Abu Bakar, said with the expected good response to the projects, the company was
confident of achieving RM600 million in sales by 2010.
"The three projects, worth over RM3.5 billion, will last the company for the
next five year," he told reporters after handing over the motorcycles to the
Royal Malaysia Police in Damansara Perdana here today.
He said the company recorded RM52 million in sales in July, exceeding its
initial target of RM42 million.
Mustapha Kamal said the company recently sold 178 units of the Armanee
Terrace condo (Wing C) to a local company.
He, however, declined to give details.
Mustapha Kamal said the company was optimistic of turning in positive result
for the fourth quarter ended June 20, 2009 despite a slowdown in property
market.
The company is expected to announce its fourth-quarter result on Aug 28.
He said the company recorded a profit in the third quarter due to its
aggressive sales. -- BERNAMA
WNA THS

EDGE-BURSA RAT RACE 2009 RAISES RM1.7 MIL FOR CHARITY

2009-08-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

BURSA-RAT RACE
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The 10th Edge-Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur
Rat Race 2009 raised RM1.7 million for charity.
The Corporate Malaysia's unique race saw the participation of 159 teams from
67 local and foreign companies.
Bursa Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Yusli Mohamed Yusoff
said he hoped to see more participation from corporations in future.
He said Bursa Malaysia pledged to plant one tree for every participating
team.
"We will be planting more than 150 trees this year in efforts to offset
carbon footprints to the environment," he told reporters.
The local bourse had planted 140 trees at the Kepong Metropolitan Park since
last year's race.
Meanwhile, since the first race in 2000, 110 charitable organisations have
benefited from the funds collected.
The run kicked off with a one kilometre CEO Race with 61 captains of
industry taking part, followed by the 4.5km main race, both starting from the
Bursa Malaysia grounds. -- BERNAMA
WNA TOM

MOSTI APPROVED 3,882 PROJECTS WORTH RM2.5 BLN FROM JAN 2006 TO JULY 2009

2009-08-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Science, Technology and
Innovation (MOSTI) approved 3,882 projects involving science, technology and
innovation totalling RM2.5152 billion, between January 2006 and July this year.
Its minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said, out of this figure, 2,638
projects, worth RM492.2 million, were approved under the ministry's Science
Fund.
He was speaking at the opening of the 10th Asian Conference on Analytical
Sciences (Asianalysis X and LabAsia 2009) in Kuala Lumpur today.
MOSTI has put a major emphasis on the training of young scientists in
state-of-the-art technologies by providing funds under its Human Capital
Development programme towards achieving the target of 50 researchers, scientists
and engineers (RSEs) per 10,000 labour force in the near future.
At the moment the ratio is 27 RSEs per 10,000 labour force.
Ongkili said MOSTI was also giving attention to innovation in Malaysian
products and services to ride through the economic recession.
"MOSTI will spearhead Malaysia's Year of Innovation and Creativity next
year. The National Innovation Foundation which was set up last year will focus
on further developing innovative and creative ideas produced by the grassroots
with the aim to commercialise them," said Ongkili.
Meanwhile the 10th Asian Conference on Analytical Sciences which started
today has been able to attract a large following of senior as well as young
analytical scientists from Austria, Bangladesh, China, Germany, Japan as well
as other Asian countries.
The event which ends on August 13 will also see a group of young analytical
chemists presenting their research findings. Close to 550 papers will be
presented.-- BERNAMA
WNA SD

HR MUST FOCUS ON RETAINING, DEVELOPING STAFF IN PRESENT TIMES

2009-08-17T09:09:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Human Resources (HR) practitioners in the
country should balance the basic needs and use the present downturn to drive up
the performance of companies, says a HR expert.
Director, Talent & Organization Performance of Accenture, Low Choy Huat said
the key to successful talent management in difficult times was the ability to
think ahead and strategically create a workorce with capabilities to outperform
the competition.
"We recommend HR to proactively focus on retaining and developing the right
talent through adopting talent segmentation," Low said at a media briefing on
"HR Challenges and Opportunities in Uncetain Times" here today.
HR practitioners must also find innovative ways to engage the
workforce while getting the right costs by optimising HR service delivery.
Low said a recent company research showd that chief executive officers
of companies expected HR to make key decisions on talents.
"Only 11 percent are very satisfied with the contribution of their HR
function," he added.
Low said the competition for talent will become a business challenge in the
future.
"Companies that deal with the recession by cutting back too drastically on
talent management practices may find themselves woefully unprepared for the long
term," he added.-- BERNAMA
WNA SD

HDC, SMIDEC IN STRATEGIC COLLABORATION WITH NESTLE

2009-08-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- Halal Industry Development Corporation
(HDC) and the Small and Medium Industries Development Corporation (SMIDEC) have
entered into a strategic collaboration with Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd to enhance the
capacity and capability of small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs).
Under the collaboration, SMIDEC, via an evaluation system, would identify
and recommend SMEs in the halal industry who can become competent suppliers to
Nestle.
HDC Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin said the corporation
would assist selected SMEs and Nestle in promoting Malaysia's halal products
internationally.
Speaking at a press conference after the signing of a Memorandum of
Agreement between HDC, SMIDEC and Nestle here today, Jamil said the corporation
would assist Nestle with its on-going halal food development, training and
consultancy programmes for SMEs.
Nestle (Malaysia) Managing Director Sullivan O'Carroll said the company has
about 150 suppliers and 40 were local companies.
"In terms of value, the local companies supplied only 10 per cent of the
raw materials and ingredients to Nestle", O'Carroll said.
Present to witness the signing ceremony were International Trade
and Industry minister, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and SMIDEC Chairman Datuk Ir.
Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid.
Meanwhile, SMIDEC Chief Executive Officer Hafsah Hashim said several
Japanese companies were keen to invest in Malaysia's halal food and beverage
industry.
"One company has begun operations in Johor while SMIDEC is now luring
another five to six Japanese companies to invest in the country", she said.
Habsah also said in order to draw greater SME partcipation, SMIDEC provided
matching grants for the development and promotion of halal products.
As at June 30, 2009, SMIDEC approved 270 applications for a matching grant
of RM15.88 million. -- BERNAMA
WNA VMD

MPOB-PEKEBUN KECIL

2009-07-07T01:18:00.001-07:00

MPOB-PEKEBUN KECIL
MPOB LULUS PERMOHONAN RM41.974 JUTA UNTUK TANAMAN SEMULA
Oleh Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

BANGI, 7 Julai (Bernama) -- Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia (MPOB) telah
meluluskan permohonan berjumlah RM41.974 juta bagi program penanaman semula
sawit yang melibatkan kawasan seluas 6,995 hektar.
Ketua Pengarah MPOB Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid berkata sehingga 2 Julai
lepas, lebih RM1 juta telah dibayar bagi program penanaman semula itu,
melibatkan 186 hektar ladang sawit.
Beliau berkata pekebun kecil yang telah mendapat kelulusan MPOB
bagi penanaman semula pokok sawit yang berumur lebih 25 tahun, perlu
melaksanakan kerja-kerja penebangan secepat mungkin.
"Ini boleh membawa kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi di kalangan pekebun kecil dari
industri sawit di sektor anak benih di negara kita. Dengan demikian dapat
menjana satu pertumbuhan di kalangan mereka ini dan membawa kepada tanaman pokok
yang lebih mendatangkan hasil," kata Basri dalam temubual eksklusif dengan
Bernama baru-baru ini.
Beliau berkata statistik MPOB menunjukkan terdapat 46,061 hektar kawasan
sawit milik pekebun kecil di Malaysia yang boleh ditanam semula.
Jumlah berkenaan melibatkan 24,763 pekebun kecil di seluruh negara, katanya.
Basri berkata pekebun kecil perlu merebut peluang yang diberi kerajaan bagi
meningkatkan sumber pendapatan mereka.
Beliau berkata kerajaan menyediakan peruntukan sebanyak RM50.134 juta yang
perlu diagihkan sehingga hujung tahun ini bagi merangsang ekonomi sawit negara.
Di bawah pakej rangsangan ekonomi kedua, kerajaan menyediakan bantuan
sebanyak RM6,000 sehektar bagi tananam semula sawit.
Bantuan itu adalah tambahan kepada Skim Insentif Tanam Semula Sawit (SITS)
2008 yang berjumlah RM1,000 sehektar yang telah dilaksanakan mulai 1 Dis
lepas oleh Kementerian Perusahaan Perladangan dan Komoditi.
Beliau berkata kerajaan telah memperuntukkan dana sejumlah RM100 juta di
dalam skim bantuan pakej rangsangan ekonomi kedua bagi membantu para pekebun
sawit sehingga Disember 2010.
Antara objektif skim tersebut adalah bagi mempercepatkan usaha penanaman
semula sawit di bawah SITS 2008, kata beliau.
Ini akan membantu meringankan kos penanaman semula khususnya pekebun kecil
yang meliputi aktiviti penebangan, pembelian anak benih sawit, penyediaan tapak,
baja dan racun.
Ia juga akan mengurangkan pengeluaran sawit yang dijangka menyumbang kepada
penurunan paras stok minyak sawit negara, seterusnya mengimbangi harga minyak
sawit, katanya.
-- BERNAMA
WNA NHD

MPOB - SMALL HOLDERS

2009-07-07T01:17:00.000-07:00

MPOB-SMALLHOLDERS/BM
MPOB APPROVES RM41.974 MLN FOR REPLANTATION BY SMALLHOLDERS
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abd Aziz

BANGI, July 7 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has approved
applications for a total of RM41.974 million by smallholders for replantation
exercise involving 6,995ha, MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Basri Wahid
said.
As at July 2, more than RM1 million had been disbursed involving 186ha, he
told Bernama in an inteview recently.
He said smallholders who had been given the approval to carry out
replantation should start cutting down their oil palm trees aged more than 25
years as soon as possible.
"This will benefit the smallholders in the palm industry," he said.
He said the amount set aside for disbursement to stimulate the country's oil
palm sector this year was RM50.134 million. According to MOPB statistics,
46,061ha oil palm holdings belonging to 24,763 smallholders nationwide can be
replanted.
Under the second stimulus package, the government allocated RM6,000 in aid
per hectare for oil palm replantation. This was in addition to the 2008 Oil Palm
Replantation Incentive Scheme worth RM1,000 per hectare implemented by the
Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry since Dec 1 last year.
Basri also said that the government had allocated RM100 million under the
second stimulus packlage to assist oil palm smallholders until Dec 2010 and
among the objectives was to speed up the replantation exercise under the 2008
scheme.
This would reduce palm oil production and the country's stock, hence
balancing the price of palm oil, he said.
-- BERNAMA
WNA JR

PERODUA- PHASE OUT KANCIL

2009-05-08T23:47:00.000-07:00

PERODUA-KANCIL
PERODUA TO PHASE OUT KANCIL NEXT MONTH
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abdul Aziz

RAWANG, May 4 (Bernama) -- Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) is
preparing to phase out its first and oldest model, Kancil, next month after 16
years on the road.
Its Managing Director, Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar, said Perodua
would stop production of the popular 660cc Kancil and would replace it with the
Viva.
"Right now we are in the final month of the production of the Kancil. After
16 years (and) after 750,000 Kancils on the road, we are ready to phase it out."
"We would probably launch the Viva 660 basic to replace the Kancil around
July," he told Bernama in an interview recently at the manufacturing plant here.
The Kancil was the first model manufactured by Perodua, introduced shortly
after the company's incorporation in 1994.
The first batch of Kancils was launched on August 29, 1994, with a
manufacturing capacity of 45,000 units per annum.
"For April this year, almost 1,000 units of the Kancil have been registered
and we are now down to the final 1,000 to be sold in May or early June the
latest", he said.
Since its maiden launch, the Kancil has been through several processes of
modifications, upgrades and facelifts.
As for the basic Viva, he said the price would be cheaper compared to the
current Viva.
Perodua expects to sell a RM25,000 entry level car.
Currently, he said the cheapest Viva is about RM28,000.
"We are doing all these to prepare for our big launch in November of our
Multi-Purpose Vehicle. Our mass production will start sometime end-September. So
we do this in preparing for this new line for the MPV," Syed Abdull said.
The new Perodua MPV is internally codenamed Perodua D46T and is expected to
be priced between RM60,000 and RM65,000, he said.
The new Perodua D46T will be based on the Toyota Passo Sette, also known as
the Daihatsu Boon Luminas.
It measures 4,180mm long, 1,695mm wide and is 1,620mm tall, with a long
2,750mm wheelbase to maximise the interior space (2,550mm long). -- BERNAMA
WNA MR SD

Pineapple-KOSAS

2009-05-08T23:45:00.000-07:00

KOSAS-PINEAPPLES
KOSAS TO TAP MIDDLE EAST AND EUROPEAN MARKETS FOR PINEAPPLE PRODUCTS
By Wan Nor Azura Mior Abdul Aziz

BANTING, May 8 (Bernama) -- The Koperasi Serbaguna Anak-Anak Selangor Bhd
(KOSAS)is planning to market pineapple products to the Middle East, apart from
stepping up exports to Europe.
Its chairman Datuk Mohd Aini Taib said the multipurpose cooperative had
plans to export 80 containers of pineapple products to Europe.
"To date, the cooperative has successfully exported 15 containers worth
RM180 million to Europe", he told Bernama here today.
KOSAS has 800 hectares of land in Kuala Langat which is suitable for
pineapple cultivation.
"We have been encouraged to cultivate pineapples by the Selangor Agriculture
Department and through funding from Agro Bank", Mohd Aini said.
He said KOSAS was also planning to expand its hectarge under pineapple
cultivation to 200 hectares in Tanjung Sepat, Banting.
The produce from the harvest would cater for local needs and the export
market.
Mohd Aini said pineapples grown in the country were inadequate in meeting
local market demand as the industry suffered from an acute shortage of
workers.
As such, KOSAS was contemplating tapping the Indonesian market as a
processing centre for high quality pineapples. -- BERNAMA
WNA MR AS

Real Estate Sector-Property

2009-03-04T02:20:00.000-08:00

Exclusive Interview Island & Peninsular
Demand for houses remains healthy.
Wan Nor Azura Bt Mior Abdul Aziz
Assignment on 4 March 2009

The slowdown in global economy should not cloud potential investors' decision on Malaysia's real estate sector.

According to Island & Peninsular Berhad (I&P)'s Group Managing Director Datuk Ir Jamaludin Osman, while people were talking about a global slowdown, there has been continuous purchase of the group's houses and lands.

"Last year we are doing fine in the sense that starting from last year people are talking about the slowdown in economy. I think we manage to sell houses namely in Alam Impian itself, Alam Sari, Bangi and also Bandar Kinrara", he said.

"We feel that there is still a demand for the houses during this time. Of course you will see some slowdown but demand is still there", he added.

Jamaludin spoke to BERNAMA TV in an exclusive interview on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur.

He said last year the sales revenue from its lands and houses stood at 780 million ringgit.

On future prospects, I&P is confident that it will maintain its revenue for this year despite the challenging economic and business environment.

Jamaludin said the group expects to maintain its earnings with continuous promotions and new product offerings.

On to its Alam Impian townhouse development, Jamaludin said Alam Impian which rests on a 494-hectare elevated land in Shah Alam, is an exciting new mixed development within a prime location.

"The sales for the Alam Impian that we have done for the past two year that 2 phases that comprising 250 units is already handed over the keys to the purchasers about one month ago", Jamaludin said.

Launched in 2006, Alam Impian is another testament to I&P constant innovativeness in township development which will offer a total of 10,000 homes for a population of 50,000 upon completion.

Conceived on the idea of ‘Township of the Arts', the township will be akin to the largest platform for the arts with features such as installation of art pieces in designated areas, landscape and street art, graffiti walls, an art gallery, linear parks, an amphitheatre and a 12.4-hectare central town park.

WNA

2009-02-27T03:19:00.000-08:00

Crude palm oil C-P-O prices, expects to stabilise
Wan Nor Azura Bt Mior Abdul Aziz
Assingment on 25/2/2009

Crude palm oil C-P-O prices, expected to stabilise between 1,800 and 1,900 ringgit per tonne, are still at manageable levels to support export earnings this year.

Despite the global recession, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui said, the palm oil industry would be able to provide the country with the export earnings that it needed.

"From 1,400, because of our efforts, its now gone up to 1800 - 1900 what ever is this price at the particular moment of time even its stable and our cost is control properly so there will always be a profit margin for our producers", he said.

In 2008, palm oil contributed 65.2 billion ringgit in export earnings, which marked another significant and record year of contribution from the industry.

Chin said the contribution of Malaysian palm oil to the world's oils and fats market was also very significant.

Palm oil accounted for 11.1 percent or 17.73 million tonnes of the total 160 million tonnes of oils and fats produced globally in 2008.

And Malaysia would need higher income from overseas sale of palm oil as it attempted to avoid a recession, Chin told reporters at the Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Malaysia's Exports (PRIME) 2009 at Bukit Kiara on Thursday.

In his speech, Chin described PRIME as a platform to promote market expansion and ensure continuous improvement of Malaysian palm oil exports.

PRIME is one of Malaysia Palm Oil Council (MPOC)'s export promotion strategies to encourage exporters to penetrate new markets and introduce innovative product lines to develop new areas of business.

(ENDS)

Islamic Finance Market

2009-02-27T03:11:00.000-08:00

Assignment 27/2/2009

ISLAMIC FINANCE MARKET NOT SEVERELY HIT BY ECONOMIC CRISIS
Wan Nor Azura Bt Mior Abdul Aziz

The Islamic finance market is not severely hit by the global economic crisis compared to the conventional market as it is backed by real assets.

Dr Zaha Rina Zahari, co-author of an Islamic Finance Encyclopedia, said the Islamic market was not greatly affected as many Islamic finance products were structured in a more transparent way.

"So hopefully will not be affected as badly but global markets been what it is, you can't help be affected, you will be affected, you will be affected, I am not saying that you won't, you will but probably lesser extent than the conventional market", she said.

Zaha Rina said the Global Islamic Financial Services Industry had experienced spectacular growth in the last 4 decades, driven in part by the greater awareness and understanding of Shariah Compliant Instruments.

She was speaking to reporters after the launch of her Islamic Finance Encyclopedia by Securities Commission (SC) chairman Datuk Seri Zarinah Anwar at Bukit Kiara on Friday.

In her speech, Zarinah said The Encylopedia was set to become a useful reference material for anyone seeking quick references in understanding the terminologies of Islamic Finance.

"Well this is an important initiative we welcome contribution to the compilation of knowledge and information on Islamic capital market as you know the Islamic capital market is very important segment of our financial system this is an area where malaysia have competitive edge", Zarinah said.

Zarinah said Malaysia had a comprehensive Islamic finance system with a comprehensive Islamic capital market comprising products such as bonds, unit trust, private equity and fund management.

The encyclopedia was co-authored by Dr Zaha Rina, Prof Dr Bala Shanmugan and Nafis Alam, all of whom are renowned individuals in their respective fields.

(**ENDS**)

PLUS - Lorong Tambah Nilai Bermesin

2009-02-15T23:14:00.000-08:00

16 Februari 2009

Hampir seminggu PLUS menggunakan mesin untuk lorong TAMBAH NILAI. Saya sebagai pengguna aktif PLUS yang menggunakan highway setiap hari pergi dan balik agak kesal dengan sikap PLUS yang menutup lorong TAMBAH NILAI tanpa sebarang pengumuman.

Agak menyedihkan lagi dengan menggunakan mesin tersebut, pengguna akan dikenakan bayaran sebanyak 50 sen sebagai caj perkhidmatan. Bagi mereka yang tidak begitu mahir dengan penggunaan mesin terpaksa mengambil masa yang lama untuk membuat penambahan nilai.

Wajarkah caj perkhidmatan tersebut dikenakan kepada pengguna sedangkan pengguna terpaksa menggunakan mesin untuk menambah nilai tanpa bantuan pekerja plus?

Plus seharusnya peka dan perihatin kepada penggunanya.

Dengan pemberian diskaun 10 peratus kenderaan ringan (Kelas 1) yang menggunakan Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) dan Lebuhraya ELlITE oleh syarikat PLUS Expressways Berhad 18 November lalu tetap membebankan pengguna jalanraya.

Diskaun tersebut tidak realistik memandangkan kebanyakan pengguna jalan raya bergerak pada waktu siang.

November lalu juga, syarikat PLUS Expressways Berhad turut memberi rebet 5 peratus untuk pengguna yang hanya menggunakan Touch N' Go dan Smart Tag minima RM200 setiap bulan. Ini beerti pemberian rebet tertumpu kepada mereka yang menggunakan Touch N' Go dan Smart Tag.

Walaupun plus cuba menarik hati pelanggan secara memberi rebet 5 peratus, namun ianya adalah pemberian yang tidak ikhlas dari syarikat tersebut.

TIME DOT COM BHD - POSITIVE GROWTH

2009-01-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

Assignment on 29 January 2009

Shah Alam, 29 January 2009, Time dotCom Berhad (TdC's) expects to achieve 18 percent growth in sales revenue in 2009.

The company's new Chief Executive Officer, Afzal Abdul Rahim said although it is an ambitious target but nevertheless achievable.

"I think that, If we get it right this time, we hope to see a positive quarter this year & hopefully continuosly positive quarter beyond that. I understand that 2009 for us a year of rebuilding and renew , as long throw work to have to do before we take advantage. Again the company has tremendous amount of pontential", he said.

Afzal said the telecomunications service provider turnaround plan was aimed at positioning and upgrading current businesses that were relevant to TdC's revenue.

TdC has not been able to meet or surpass growth indicating that to turn the ailing company around the company needed a complete overhaul from the ground.

The company's revenue declined from 798 million ringgit in 2003 to 301 million ringgit in 2007.

Afzal, the new CEO who has instituted a number of changes in TdC including divesting its payphone business, was speaking to reporters after briefing the media on Time dotCom Bhd's restructuring on Thursday.

He said TdC would focus on its more lucrative operations with greater growth potential which included its data service offerings in the wholesale, enterprise and corporate market segments.

Afzal said the new focus would allow TdC to optimise its existing infrastructure, which had been inefficiently deployed over the years.

TdC's restructuring would also include aggressive cost cutting measures and cost saving efforts such as a reassessment of its capital expenditure, freeze on recruitment and advertising.

wna

EKONOMI MALAYSIA TIDAK TERJEJAS TERUK

2008-12-02T20:05:00.000-08:00

BNS KSE
MALAYSIA-EKONOMI/I
PAKAR EKONOMI YAKIN MALAYSIA TIDAK TERJEJAS TERUK
Oleh Wan Nor Azura Bt Mior Abdul Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 Dis (Bernama) -- Seorang pakar ekonomi yakin ekonomi Malaysia tidak akan terjejas teruk akibat kemelesetan global, berikutan pelbagai inisiatif rangsangan fiskal yang diperkenalkan oleh kerajaan untuk merancakkannya.

Banyak pihak merasakan bahawa kerajaan harus mempercepatkan perbelanjaan
agar dapat, bukan sahaja mengelakkan Malaysia daripada mengalami pertumbuhan
negatif, malah juga memacu perkembangan ekonomi.

Menurut ketua pakar ekonomi kumpulan RAM Holdings Berhad, Dr Yeah Kim
Leng, jika langkah-langkah fiskal itu berkesan secara kolektif, maka semua
sektor utama ekonomi tidak akan jatuh menjunam.

Yeah, bagaimanapun berkata, Malaysia tidak akan terjerumus ke kancah
kemelesetan memandangkan tiada penyusutan mendadak pengeluaran.

Jumaat lepas, gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz,
mengumumkan bahawa sektor pembuatan susut 1.8 peratus disebabkan terutamanya
oleh prestasi lemah industri berorientasikan eksport.

Bercakap kepada BERNAMA Yeah berkata sektor pembuatan akan menyaksikan
pertumbuhan yang jauh lebih rendah tahun depan.

"Saya rasa kita berkemungkinan mencapai empat peratus memandangkan
pertumbuhan sederhana dan kelembapan global," katanya.

Katanya, buat masa ini kelembapan sektor pembuatan Malaysia sebahagiannya
bersifat saiklikal dan sebahagian lagi dari sudut struktur.

Meskipun Malaysia berada pada kedudukan yang agak tinggi dari segi daya
saing dalam kalangan ekonomi berorientasi eksport yang baru berkembang, namun
pertumbuhannya seolah-olah terhenti dalam tahun-tahun kebelakangan ini.

Yeah berkata kebanyakan ekonomi paling maju seperti Amerika Syarikat,
Jepun dan negara-negara Kesatuan Eropah telahpun dilanda kemelesetan dalam suku
ketiga dan keempat tahun ini.
--BERNAMA
WNA AS KY

MALAYSIA ECONOMY - SOFT LANDING

2008-12-02T19:51:00.000-08:00

MALAYSIA-ECONOMY
ECONOMIST CONFIDENT MALAYSIA WILL HAVE SOFT LANDING
By Wan Nor Azura Bt Mior Abdul Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- An economist is confident that the
Malaysian economy will have a soft landing following various fiscal stimulus
initiatives introduced by the government to pump prime it, against the backdrop
of a global recession.

Many feel that the goverment should fast track spending in order to not
only prevent Malaysia from slipping into negative growth but also spur economic
expansion.

According to the group chief economist of RAM Holdings Berhad, Dr Yeah Kim
Leng, if the fiscal measures worked collectively, then all major sectors of the
economy would not go into a tail spin.

Yeah, however said, Malaysia was not headed for a recession with no sharp
decline in output.

On Friday, Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz had announced
that manufacturing dropped 1.8 percent due mainly to weaknesses in the
export-oriented industries.

Yeah told BERNAMA that the manufacturing sector would see much lower
growth next year.

"I think we can likely achieve four percent in the face of a moderate
growth global slowdown", he said.

Currently he said, the slowdown in Malaysia's manufacturing was partly
cyclical and partly structural in nature.

Although Malaysia ranked relatively high in manufacturing competitiveness
among the export-oriented emerging economies, its improvement appears to have
stagnated in recent years.

Yeah said that the most advanced economies such as the United States,
Japan and the EU countries had already slipped into a recession in the third and
fourth quarters of this year.--BERNAMA
WNA AS

COLUMBIA ASIA-EXPANSION PLAN

2008-11-14T23:29:00.000-08:00

Columbia Asia invest 400 million ringgit - Assignment 14/11/2008

Columbia Asia, the international healthcare provider, will be investing over 400 million ringgit over the next 24 months to build six mid-sized community hospitals nationwide.

The Chairman of Columbia Asia Group of Companies, Rick Evans, said the expansion was in line with the company's goal to focus on the increasing demand for affordable healthcare services across Asia.

They are aim at the middle income groups that is our market but interesting in Malaysia 70 percent of our revenue almost come from third party, insurance and employer, 30 percent come from people directly.
SUPER: Rick Evans\Chairman\Columbia Asia Group of Companies.

Evans told reporters this after the signing of a 116 million ringgit syndicated Financing (Commodity Murabahah\Tawarruq)-i & Al Ijarah Thumma Al Bai for its proposed three new hospital buildings.

The signings were between Columbia Asia Sdn Bhd (CASB), Bank Rakyat, RHB Islamic Bank Bhd and Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd.

The financing involved 58 percent of the total investments for the three hospitals in Balakong, Bukit Rimau and Setapak, estimated to cost 225 million ringgit.

Evans said the remaining investments would be from internally generated funds.

CASB has six hospitals in various stages of development in Malaysia, namely in Balakong, Bukit Rimau, Kota Damansara, Nusajaya, Setapak and Bintulu.

The six hospitals are expected to open end 2010.

Meanwhile, CASB is 30 percent owned by the Employee Provident Fund, and 70 percent by Columbia Asia Healthcare Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian company with subsidiaries in Vietnam, India and in Indonesia.

Columbia Asia, opened its first hospital in 1994, in Malaysia.

Upon completion of the six hospitals, Columbia Asia would have 11 hospitals in Malaysia and by end 2011, it expects 35 hospital operating regionally.

BAKUN-RIGTH TIME TO TAKE-OFF

2008-11-14T23:07:00.000-08:00

TNB SAYS GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SUPPORT FOR BAKUN - Assignment 12/11/2008

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) said the government should give full support to the Bakun hydroelectric dam project for it to be feasible and really take-off.

Its chief executive officer, Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, said the concern was to ensure that the selling price of power by Bakun to Tenaga would remain at an affordable level.

Che Khalib also said that the timing was right to lock in the project as the global economic slowdown had resulted in lower prices of essential raw materials for the project.

I think is a good time for TNB to lock in because metal prices has came down almost half for example. Copper prices came down over the last 3 month by almost 50 percent of high from 8000 high to almost 4000 now.
Super: Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh \CEO\Tenaga Nasional Berhad

Che Khalib was speaking at a press conference held in conjunction with the International Energy Security Forum in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

On the company's financial performance, he said it would likely be affected by the rising coal prices.

Definitely affect our bottom line, definitely, I have nothing to hide here, If it continues to be high at 120 US dollar definitely we continue to see losses.
Super: Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh \Chief Executive Officer\Tenaga Nasional Berhad

Currently, the price of coal ranged from 100 to 120 US dollars per tonne.

And Tenaga Nasional had already secured its coal supply until December 2009.

TNB registered a lower net profit of 2.59 billion ringgit for its financial year ended Aug 31, 2008 (FY08) compared to its forecast of 3.14 billion ringgit.

Losses in the fourth quarter was due to forex loss, higher fuel costs and slowing demand.

MALAYSIA-ENERGY SECURITY

2008-11-14T23:00:00.000-08:00

International Forum and Energy Security -Assignment 12/11/2008

Malaysia is enacting a national energy policy to ensure that energy security for the country is assured.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie said energy security was a global issue that represented an urgent challenge to Malaysia because it was interlinked with economic security and national security.

As such, there was a need for a comprehensive energy security roadmap with a clear policy framework and compatible electricity sector regulations.
In his opening remarks at the International Forum and Energy Security held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Moggie said the utility giant was currently listening to views of global experts and other stakeholders who could help the government to adopt policies and strategies.

He said that most of the options available to increase energy security took significant time to plan and develop, and they required specific policy and regulatory support.

In Malaysia, providing adequate and secure supply of energy to meet increasing demand is a key priority and a major challenge. Crucial to sustaining electricity supply reliability is ensuring sustainable fuel supply at our power generating plants.
SUPER:Tan Sri Leo Moggie \ Chairman, TNB

A strategic and prudent energy policy, he said, was therefore necessary and should include security of crucial energy sources capable of withstanding
disruptive events and risks.

There should also be proper management and transition to other fuel sources and energy source diversity, as well as timely investment in energy
infrastructure capacity and networks.

Other factors to look at, he noted, were affordability of energy supply, promotion of the efficient use of energy to maximise the value of the energy consumed and sustainable energy in terms of the stewardship of the environment.

EPU-STIMULUS PACKAGE

2008-11-14T22:35:00.000-08:00

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH EPU ON 7/11/2008

Without the stimulus package, Malaysia's growth is forecast at 2.5 percent but with the recently announced 7 billion ringgit boost, the country could achieve 3.5 percent growth in 2009.

Economic Planning Unit Director General Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob said Malaysia could not escape the effects of the global financial crisis and that the government was watching the situation closely and would be taking the necessary measures if the situation got worst.
At this point of time I think we are watching it very very closely easily daily how the world economy unfold. And we have the economic council that meets monthly to discuss measures to be undertaken.
Super: Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob \ Economic Planning Unit, Director General

He said Malaysia was taking precautions to face the challenges posed in 2009 by concentrating more on domestic sources of growth such as private consumption, investment and business competitiveness, to boost the Malaysian economy.

Among others, the government was working on promoting the production sector to make sure that Malaysia's export would be more diversified to various countries.

He said Malaysia should be looking at more of its exports to the Asean market as well as China and India.

Sulaiman told BERNAMA TV this recently, commenting on the impact of the stimulus package to the economy and its outlook.

On the difference between the current crisis and the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis, he said the sources of the crises were different and therefore, Malaysia had to respond differently, according to the sources and the cause of the crisis.

We have been affected, also in the past during 1986 crisis when we had drop all the commodity prices and we have also crisis 97-98 what was referred East Asian Financial Contagion when economy drop almost 8 percent in 1998.
Super: Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob \ Economic Planning Unit, Director General

He said Malaysia's economy was an open economy and therefore, would be able to enhance the standard of living, per capita income, due to being a world market.

However, when the world market shrank, Malaysia would equally be affected.

ICT-GROWTH

2008-11-14T22:29:00.000-08:00

E-Asia 2008 Assignment 11/11/2008
The Asia-Pacific region continues to see tremendous growth in information and communication technology I-C-T.

However, studies have shown that developing countries have a lower rate of return from ICT compared to developed countries.

As such, Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communciations Datuk Joseph Salang said,
there was an urgent need to build capacity
both in infrastructure and human resources to further support the ICT development.
For instance, he said, the Ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission M-C-M-C) were keen to stimulate the development of the mobile content industry.

To drive the applications, MCMC had launched an initial grant scheme of 20 million ringgit to assist network content developers to create local content.

In his speech at the launch of e-Asia 2008 in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday Salang said it would continue to develop the industry further through the three major drivers of constructive policies, effective capacity building and supportive incentives schemes.

The growth in ICT infrastructure, applications and contents provides the opportunity for this region to set standarss, including next-generation services for the world.
Super: Datuk Joseph Salang \Dep. Energy, Water & Communciations Minister

On e-Asia 2008, Salang said the event was a platform for ICT players to start networking and establish partnerships for cooperation and
collaboration.

He also urged the ICT industry to build on each other's strengths to create activities and growth in developing nations as well as creating markets for
themselves.

2008-11-14T22:16:00.000-08:00

Assignment EA Technique on 10/11/2008

EA Technique (M) Sdn Bhd, via its subsidiary, Johor Shipyard and Engineering Sdn Bhd, will build a 25 million ringgit dry dock at Tanjung Langsat port in Pasir Gudang, Johor.

Its Managing Director, Datuk Abdul Hak Md Amin, said that when the company had its own dry dock, the Ea Technique could save on the outflow of funds and help in developing the local shipping industry.
The dock, to be spread over 0.4 hectares, was expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2009.

The dock would have two slipways, which could repair ships of seven thousand deadweight tonnes and 10 thousand deadweight tonnes, respectively.

At the moment we have quite a number of enquiries especially on offshore vessels which quite positive and also repair site.
Super: Datuk IR Abdul Hak Md Amin\MD\EA Technique (M) Sdn Bhd

Meanwhile, EA Techique on Monday signed an agreement with Sumber Samudera Sdn Bhd to build a double hull black oil tanker and two mooring boats with an option to build another two tankers, at an estimated cost of 202 million ringgit.

The company had earlier secured a 418 million ringgit contract from a major oil company to supply three oil tankers over a 10-year period, with an option for another three years.

EA Tech, a subsidiary of Sindora Bhd (Sindora), was the owner and manager of a fleet of oil tankers and support vessels for charter in the lucrative oil and
gas transport.

It had also been awarded a 11.7 million ringgit seven-year contract, with an option for another three years, to provide two mooring boats and crew for an oil terminal in Melaka.

Assignment with Muhyiddin 22 October 2008

2008-10-22T03:15:00.000-07:00

THE NEW LEADERSHIP TO CONTINUE INVESTORS CONFIDENCE IN MALAYSIA

The new leadership to come into power in March 2009 will continue to focus on building investor confidence in Malaysia.

International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin, who is contesting for the Umno Deputy Presidency, reassured both local and foreign investors that there will be enough incentives to generate investments.

Muhyiddin said political stability has always been Malaysia's selling point to investors, but after the March 2008 general election, the scenario has changed to "political uncertainties."

SOT
But we want to bring back the so call good days during difficult times, we want to bring back the so call confidence that we have sort of lost among Malaysian and foreign on us. We want to bring back the spirit of trust and of course to reinstate what some feels lost credibility.
SUPER: Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin\Minister of International Trade and Industry.

Muyhiddin was replying to a question from Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ramon Navaratnam, the corporate advisor for the Sunway Group, who wanted to know how the new leadership would be different after March 2009. The minister earlier delivered a keynote speech at a luncheon organised by the Malaysian Institute of Directors in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. In his speech, the minister said businessmen should be brave enough to face the onslaught of the global financial crisis.

In my opinion, the qualities of good corporate leadership are the same whether times are difficult or trouble-free. The major difference is that a difficult business environment is much less forgiving and more costly.In a robust and growing environment, it is easier to internalise failures and move on.
SUPER: Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin\Minister of International Trade and Industry.

SOT
In my opinion, the qualities of good corporate leadership are the same whether times are difficult or trouble-free. The major difference is that a difficult business environment is much less forgiving and more costly. In a robust and growing environment, it is easier to internalise failures and move on.
SUPER: Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin\Minister of International Trade and Industry.

Muyhiddin added that failures should not necessarily become the stigma of a bad leader. (**ENDS**)

CALL FOR TMGS STUDENTS AND TEACHERS

2008-09-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Buddies, For the past few years I've been searching and hoping to see all my friends from TMGS Taiping. I've lost contacts with everyone of you. TMGS all sorts of names that we call such as The Monkey Girls School, Tin Minyak Gas Senget and another name I do not want to reveal here....those who know will surely laugh hahahah.

Especially from those Edwardians and Convents girls and even Georgian will call us that name.

I thought of all my awesome my friends, my teachers, my school.

I was a former TMGS student right from standard one [1978] until Form 5 [1988].

To all my beloved primary and secondary school teachers, Ms Ng and Ms Foo (because of you guys really make myself to understand and speak english), whom I dearly missed, my caring english teacher Mrs Zainal (you are such a pretty teacher) Puan Zaharah, Ms Amirul, Ms Toh, my ever loving ustazah, the strict and concerned Ms Satwant Kaur, and my BM teacher Puan Rohani (where r u now..)

The attractive Mr Kanapathi (my hockey teacher..you are such wonderful teacher in my life.....love to see you again one of this day.....I miss you so much ...shall we go to McDota again hahahaha...that was interesting, you treated us with McDota chicken in Taiping just after we won our hockey game. My most admire teacher at that time was Mr Salleh....wonder how do you do, hope you still maintain as handsome as before.

To all of my teachers whom I have not mentioned here ...I hope you all in good health and happy always.

I would like to express my deepest and my heartfelt gratitude for your endless efforts and hard work, for your never-ending patience in teaching me to read and write from ABC and Alif Ba Ta and most of all, thank you so much for making me a whole human being as I am today. How I wish I can see all of you and chat again.

Your contributions, big or small, truly mean a lot to me. I could not have done it without all of you. Only The Almighty can ever repay your kindness and your compassion to me. I'm so greatfull and a very BIG THANK YOU from me to all of you.

And to all of my primary and secondary school friends, Nani Rusla Adura , Joy Khoo Saw Kim, Janet, Ong Gaik Siew, Jasmin Kaur (I really admire your mini car...if you want to sell don't forget to contact me ya...) Raja Fatiha, Sharon Goh Elene ( where are you Sharon, hope you will not forget me ya....as I always remember you but just don't have you number to contact), Noor Akma Ismail, Noor Azizan (hope I can have your rambutan again) and for those I did not mentioned thier names, wish all of you can contact me.

The TREACHEREAN spirit is strong as ever, regardless which part of the world we are in. Never can I replace such wonderful memories from TMGS, it will forever be etched in my memory banks.

I think if we actually get to do our reunion we'll take weeks to finish talking & updating each other.. In the meantime, keep in touch buddies!

The wonderful moments that we have shared during our school time, the infatuations, the fights, laughther and tears and everything those are the sweetest and the most valuable memories that are still treasure in my mind.

I really miss Taiping now....... As all of us know we are "FROM TAIPING WITH LOVE".

Please call me at 0133672882 or email me at azuramior@hotmail.com

LOVE

2008-09-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

Where is all the love in this world?

Troubled times this crazy world, we're all living in strange days
Where money talks or you get lost, in the crowd at the fool's parade
If it's what it seems, what it's supposed to be, it's not safe anymore
There's hurt and pain, all the suffering, that my heart can't ignore
Well you can see, what you want to believe
And tell yourself it doesn't matter, it doesn't happen to me
Things like this don't happen around here
Where is all the love in this world?
Somewhere one day someone finds a cure for
Doesn't anybody care anymore
Have you seen a picture of me hanging somewhere on a wall
Yeah it looks like me, It feels like me, hey I'm out there somewhere lost
Like a stranger in my homeland, Oh God please hear my plea
Help us love each other, one another, can't we all just live in peace
Well you can see, what you want to believe
And tell yourself it doesn't matter, it doesn't happen to me
Things like this can't happen around here
Where is all the love in this world?
Somewhere one day someone finds a cure for
Doesn't anybody care anymore
Where is all the love
When a finger pulls the trigger on a gun
Words are cutting deeper full of hatred drawing blood
When you can't take it back, when it can't be undone
There's no where to run
Where is all the love in this world?
Somewhere one day someone finds a cure for
Doesn't anybody care anymore
WE ARE ALL THE LOVE!

INVESTORS LOOKING FOR INTEREST-FREE BANKING

2008-09-26T03:21:00.000-07:00

MY ASSIGNMENT 26/9/2008 (IBBM)

More investors are looking for interest-free banking. As such, more countries and global financial institutions are having Islamic windows and rolling out Islamic products and services amidst the challenges and uncertainties in the global market.

Director of Banking & Finance Unit of Monash University, Professor Bala Shanmugam said investors' awareness have grown and the essence of Islamic banking has been building up in many parts of the globe.

Speaking to reporters after a preview on the 6th International Islamic Finance Conference 2008 in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, Bala said investors were looking for interest free banking to avail much needed credit for development.

"I think the acceptance is increasing overtime as you know by now nearly 60 countries has got into Islamic finance and even non Muslim countries sucah as the UK, US, Japan of late, Hong Kong, Singapore and all this countries getting into Islamic finance".
SUPER: Professor Bala Shanmugam \ Director of Banking & Finance Unit\Monash University

According to the Malaysia-based Islamic Financial Services Board and Saudi Arabia's Islamic Development Bank the islamic financial services industry worldwide, including banking assets were expected to grow 2.8 trillion US dollars by 2010.

On the conference, Bala said the objective was to provide a platform and communication channel for researchers, academicians and business leaders.

The conference themed "Innovation is Islamic Finance: A fast Track to Global Acceptance" would be held between October 13 and 14 in, Kuala Lumpur. United States, United Kingdom, Iran, and Singapore were among 10 countries participating in the event.(*ENDS*)