Retail sector faces rising costs and prudent spending by consumers
PETALING JAYA: The local retail sector is expected to face challenging times this year as consumers continue to be prudent in their spending while retailers have to face rising cost of goods and operation.
DTZ Research's Property Times on Kuala Lumpur's fourth quarter 2011 report said the situation would affect rental rates, occupancy and future rental growth.
Another property consultancy, Knight Frank in its Second Half 2011 Real Estate Highlights report, said with the abundant supply of new suburban retail stock coming on stream in the medium term, “there is a note of caution that this high impending supply may have a detrimental impact on overall occupancy levels.”
Despite a marginal decline in the occupancy rate, Property Times said major developers were still optimistic and went ahead with a number of new retail projects.
The report revealed that new retail projects expected to be completed in the Klang Valley this year included Nu Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, with net lettable area of 700,000 sq ft; The Paradigm, Kelana Jaya (500,000 sq ft), Setia Alam Mall, Shah Alam (700,000 sq ft); and KL International Airport 2 (350,000 sq ft).
Those slated for completion in 2013 include IOI City Mall Putrajaya, Putrajaya (1.3 million sq ft); Sunway Velocity, Kuala Lumpur (800,000 sq ft); and The Strand Mall, Kota Damansara (300,000 sq ft).
Other future projects comprise the extension project of Suria KLCC by KLCC Property Holdings Bhd comprising a new 300,000 sq ft retail mall that will be integrated to the mall. Suria KLCC recently saw an extension of 140,000 sq ft in net lettable area.
The Naza group will also be developing two retail centres with over two million sq ft of retail space which will be part of its RM15bil KL Metropolis development at Jalan Duta.
Meanwhile, Pavilion REIT plans to add another 300,000 sq ft to its existing Pavilion shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur.
Property Times said one of the latest retail mall opening was that of KL Festival City Mall with approximately 450,000 sq ft of retail space that was completed in the fourth quarter of last year.
“With the completion of the mall and six others in the previous quarters, the retail stock in Kuala Lumpur now stands at 23.7 million sq ft, an increase of 7.4% from the preceding year,” the report said.
“Outside of Kuala Lumpur, the total stock in the rest of the Klang Valley stands at 22.5 million sq ft, a 3.7% increase from the previous year.”
It said during the period under review, retail centres in Kuala Lumpur recorded a slight decrease in average occupancy rate by 0.3 percentage point on a quarter-on-quarter basis and 1.3 percentage points to 90.7% on year-on-year basis.
Meanwhile, retail centres outside of Kuala Lumpur saw a decline of 1.1 percentage points quarter-on-quarter and 0.1 percentage point year-on-year in occupancy rate to 86.9%.
The decline was largely due to slow leasing rate in the newly-completed centres, it added.
The Knight Frank report said the three new shopping centres expected to open during the first half of this year Setia Walk in Puchong; Setia City Mall in Shah Alam; and Paradigm Mall in Petaling Jaya would add another 1.7 million sq ft to the existing retail stock in the Klang Valley.
During the second half year of 2011, there were eight retail property completions that added a total of 2.88 million sq ft of space to the market.
“The total cumulative figure for existing supply of retail space in the Klang Valley now stands at approximately 43 million sq ft,” the report added.
The new completions were that of Publika Mall @ Solaris Dutamas, 1 Shamelin, Kenanga Wholesale City, Southgate, Mines 2, KL Festival City, First Subang and Space U8.
There was one closure recorded during the period, namely Atria Shopping Centre, in Damansara Jaya. The 29-year-old mall, owned by OSK Property Holdings Bhd, will be redeveloped over four years into a new 450,000 sq ft mall and two 16-storey towers of SoFo Suites.
Date : 19 March 2012
Source : The Star
afternoon highlight (19/03/12/050/525)
Monday, March 19, 2012
Today's Pick (19/03/12/047/741) Study: Malaysia must move up the value chain
Study: Malaysia must move up the value chain
MALAYSIA needs to move up the value chain in its solar and medical devices industries if it wants to fulfil its high-income aspirations, a study has revealed.
In its 2011 final report, titled "Moving up the Value Chain", the Economic Planning Unit and the World Bank stated that Malaysia's prospective comparative advantage in manufacturing will need to be increasingly redefined in terms of unique value, rather than low cost.
The study noted, "This will require Malaysia companies stepping to the fore through innovation and building of a 'made-in-Malaysia' brand.
"It will also require domestic companies to better link-up with the well-established base of foreign multinational manufacturers, so as to extract greater value-added from Malaysia's integration in cross-border production networking," it added.
Stating that "moving up the value chain" is a highly-complex undertaking, the study said the move requires a fundamental reorientation towards innovation as the fundamental driver of growth, which in turn is supported by a healthy level of investments in human and physical capital.
"This process should not be confused with simply producing the same mix of products more efficiently and neither should it be construed as implying a shift in focus towards anything high-tech."
Instead, it said that the term moving up the value chain entails new, more complex and more skill-intensive activities in the manufacturing of products and requiring that these to be carried out at world-class standards of quality, productivity and competitiveness.
"As long as higher value is created, it does not matter whether these final products are low-tech, medium-tech or high-tech," it noted.
For Malaysia to move up the value chain in its solar and medical devices industries, the study has proposed that a coherent policy programme to be devised that would incorporate, among others:
EXPLOITING opportunities to develop upstream and downstream linkages between firms in the centre of the cluster and firms producing ancillary goods and services;
HELPING firms move from lower-value added third- and second-tier positions in global supply chains to higher-value added second- and first-tier positions;
PROMOTING supplier development programmes that help firms develop various types of skills ranging from management, technology acquisition, quality control to strategic planning; and
FOSTERING the establishment of private sector-led institutions that can help identify technology acquisition opportunities, marketing opportunities and employee training opportunities.
Date : 19 March 2012
Source : Business Times
Today's Pick (19/03/12/047/741)
MALAYSIA needs to move up the value chain in its solar and medical devices industries if it wants to fulfil its high-income aspirations, a study has revealed.
In its 2011 final report, titled "Moving up the Value Chain", the Economic Planning Unit and the World Bank stated that Malaysia's prospective comparative advantage in manufacturing will need to be increasingly redefined in terms of unique value, rather than low cost.
The study noted, "This will require Malaysia companies stepping to the fore through innovation and building of a 'made-in-Malaysia' brand.
"It will also require domestic companies to better link-up with the well-established base of foreign multinational manufacturers, so as to extract greater value-added from Malaysia's integration in cross-border production networking," it added.
Stating that "moving up the value chain" is a highly-complex undertaking, the study said the move requires a fundamental reorientation towards innovation as the fundamental driver of growth, which in turn is supported by a healthy level of investments in human and physical capital.
"This process should not be confused with simply producing the same mix of products more efficiently and neither should it be construed as implying a shift in focus towards anything high-tech."
Instead, it said that the term moving up the value chain entails new, more complex and more skill-intensive activities in the manufacturing of products and requiring that these to be carried out at world-class standards of quality, productivity and competitiveness.
"As long as higher value is created, it does not matter whether these final products are low-tech, medium-tech or high-tech," it noted.
For Malaysia to move up the value chain in its solar and medical devices industries, the study has proposed that a coherent policy programme to be devised that would incorporate, among others:
EXPLOITING opportunities to develop upstream and downstream linkages between firms in the centre of the cluster and firms producing ancillary goods and services;
HELPING firms move from lower-value added third- and second-tier positions in global supply chains to higher-value added second- and first-tier positions;
PROMOTING supplier development programmes that help firms develop various types of skills ranging from management, technology acquisition, quality control to strategic planning; and
FOSTERING the establishment of private sector-led institutions that can help identify technology acquisition opportunities, marketing opportunities and employee training opportunities.
Date : 19 March 2012
Source : Business Times
Today's Pick (19/03/12/047/741)
afternoon highlight (16/03/12/049/524) Minimum wage policy may impact inflation
Minimum wage policy may impact inflation
KUALA LUMPUR: Inflation pressures are expected to rise once the new minimum wage policy comes into effect, says Standard Chartered Bank.
A minimum wage can lead to an increase in supply costs (overall wage levels) for businesses, which are passed on to consumers.
It can also lead to higher wage levels for both minimum wage workers and others, which increase demand for goods and lead to higher inflation expectations.
The government's plan to implement a minimum wage, suggested at RM800-900 per month, may also be imminent.
"Given that a considerable 34 per cent of the workforce earns under RM700 per month, implementing a minimum wage would add to inflation expectations," it said in a note yesterday.
The inflation level has eased over the months and the government's administered price scheme will help to insulate the economy from higher global oil prices and the base effect will also help.
With the rise in inflation expectations, StanChart says Bank Negara Malaysia will keep its policy rate unchanged at three per cent this year.
On the minimum wage, it is said that the new wage policy could affect up to 3.8 million workers.
StanChart said it is possible that the government impose different wage levels in each state to account for the differences in salary scales.
Using the lowest daily wages of general construction workers across states (assuming 20 working days per month), it estimated that monthly salaries vary between RM800 and RM1,400.
The Malaysian Employers Federation has warned that around 200,000 small-time employers could close due to the potential increase in staff costs.
"Implementation of the new wage also will likely be gradually phased in to soften its impact and to allow time for companies to adjust and improve productivity, given the potential impact on business costs, particularly for smaller companies.
"This should help to moderate the immediate impact on inflation, from both demand-pull and supply-push views,"it added.
On the upside for inflation, given the generally firm domestic economy and tight labour market, the transmission to general wage levels may be faster, which will increase business costs.
The current unemployment level in Malaysia is low, it said, and this will moderate any impact on labour substitution.
"The pass-through of higher wages to general price levels could be tempered over the next few quarters, given the base effect and broader environment of moderating (albeit resilient) growth."
There is no need for Bank Negara to hike rates yet, but the risk that Bank Negara will maintain its current monetary policy stance has increased.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 16 March 2012
afternoon highlight (16/03/12/049/524)
KUALA LUMPUR: Inflation pressures are expected to rise once the new minimum wage policy comes into effect, says Standard Chartered Bank.
A minimum wage can lead to an increase in supply costs (overall wage levels) for businesses, which are passed on to consumers.
It can also lead to higher wage levels for both minimum wage workers and others, which increase demand for goods and lead to higher inflation expectations.
The government's plan to implement a minimum wage, suggested at RM800-900 per month, may also be imminent.
"Given that a considerable 34 per cent of the workforce earns under RM700 per month, implementing a minimum wage would add to inflation expectations," it said in a note yesterday.
The inflation level has eased over the months and the government's administered price scheme will help to insulate the economy from higher global oil prices and the base effect will also help.
With the rise in inflation expectations, StanChart says Bank Negara Malaysia will keep its policy rate unchanged at three per cent this year.
On the minimum wage, it is said that the new wage policy could affect up to 3.8 million workers.
StanChart said it is possible that the government impose different wage levels in each state to account for the differences in salary scales.
Using the lowest daily wages of general construction workers across states (assuming 20 working days per month), it estimated that monthly salaries vary between RM800 and RM1,400.
The Malaysian Employers Federation has warned that around 200,000 small-time employers could close due to the potential increase in staff costs.
"Implementation of the new wage also will likely be gradually phased in to soften its impact and to allow time for companies to adjust and improve productivity, given the potential impact on business costs, particularly for smaller companies.
"This should help to moderate the immediate impact on inflation, from both demand-pull and supply-push views,"it added.
On the upside for inflation, given the generally firm domestic economy and tight labour market, the transmission to general wage levels may be faster, which will increase business costs.
The current unemployment level in Malaysia is low, it said, and this will moderate any impact on labour substitution.
"The pass-through of higher wages to general price levels could be tempered over the next few quarters, given the base effect and broader environment of moderating (albeit resilient) growth."
There is no need for Bank Negara to hike rates yet, but the risk that Bank Negara will maintain its current monetary policy stance has increased.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 16 March 2012
afternoon highlight (16/03/12/049/524)
Today's Pick (16/03/12/046/740) Women on board can help avoid crisis
Women on board can help avoid crisis
KUALA LUMPUR: If the Lehman brothers were the Lehman sisters, the West would not be in the mess it is in, said NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW) director Tan Sri Dr Rafiah Salim.
She was speaking at a panel discussion on the merits of gender diversity in the boardroom organised by CSR Asia.
The lack of female participation in boards, she said, had led to the implementation of the policy that required companies to have a minimum 30% of women as board members.
“I want to emphasise that when this was first announced, I was thoroughly verbally abused on TV, radio, everywhere. But it is a target, not a legislation.
“We’re not saying ‘appoint Malaysian women’ just because they wear skirts – no way. It is because they have the ability and capability to do it.
“We could have followed the Norway system whereby you have to have 40% of women on the board or you will be delisted. But we believe our corporate sector is mature enough to not need legislation.
“We are going for persuasion, but we are not just going to hope and pray for it to happen. We sat and talked to various parties. All this because we wanted the private sector to move on its own steam rather than legislate,” she said.
Fellow panelist and Minority Shareholders Watchdog Group chief executive officer Rita Benoy Bushon said she was skeptical at first about the quota because it could have resulted in tokenism and impacted the quality of a board’s decision-making, but she was now convinced that the policy was necessary.
“We know the labour force is full of women, but we also want to have their ‘brainforce’ at the board level,” she said.
Rafiah cited a study conducted by the Cranfield school of management on gender diversity in Asia which found that Malaysian companies came out on top in terms of their equality at the junior, middle and senior levels, but this did not extend to the CEO and non-executive board level.
“So what are the men doing? Are women good enough to do the hard work, to break our backs, but not good enough to get to the top because we don’t play golf with you? Or because we don’t go to clubs with you or to the same old boy’s association?”
“When I ask some of the captains in town why they are not appointing women, they say, ‘Where are they?’ But if you keep looking at the golf course, of course you can’t find them,” Rafiah exclaimed.
She added that NIEW was currently working on a framework to create board-ready women candidates.
“We are identifying capable women who will be trained via an onboarding programme paid for by the Federal Government. The first group has gone through (the training) already. By the end of the year, we will have 250 women ready,” she said.
Source : The Star
Date : 15 March 2012
Today's Pick (16/03/12/046/740)
KUALA LUMPUR: If the Lehman brothers were the Lehman sisters, the West would not be in the mess it is in, said NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women (NIEW) director Tan Sri Dr Rafiah Salim.
She was speaking at a panel discussion on the merits of gender diversity in the boardroom organised by CSR Asia.
The lack of female participation in boards, she said, had led to the implementation of the policy that required companies to have a minimum 30% of women as board members.
“I want to emphasise that when this was first announced, I was thoroughly verbally abused on TV, radio, everywhere. But it is a target, not a legislation.
“We’re not saying ‘appoint Malaysian women’ just because they wear skirts – no way. It is because they have the ability and capability to do it.
“We could have followed the Norway system whereby you have to have 40% of women on the board or you will be delisted. But we believe our corporate sector is mature enough to not need legislation.
“We are going for persuasion, but we are not just going to hope and pray for it to happen. We sat and talked to various parties. All this because we wanted the private sector to move on its own steam rather than legislate,” she said.
Fellow panelist and Minority Shareholders Watchdog Group chief executive officer Rita Benoy Bushon said she was skeptical at first about the quota because it could have resulted in tokenism and impacted the quality of a board’s decision-making, but she was now convinced that the policy was necessary.
“We know the labour force is full of women, but we also want to have their ‘brainforce’ at the board level,” she said.
Rafiah cited a study conducted by the Cranfield school of management on gender diversity in Asia which found that Malaysian companies came out on top in terms of their equality at the junior, middle and senior levels, but this did not extend to the CEO and non-executive board level.
“So what are the men doing? Are women good enough to do the hard work, to break our backs, but not good enough to get to the top because we don’t play golf with you? Or because we don’t go to clubs with you or to the same old boy’s association?”
“When I ask some of the captains in town why they are not appointing women, they say, ‘Where are they?’ But if you keep looking at the golf course, of course you can’t find them,” Rafiah exclaimed.
She added that NIEW was currently working on a framework to create board-ready women candidates.
“We are identifying capable women who will be trained via an onboarding programme paid for by the Federal Government. The first group has gone through (the training) already. By the end of the year, we will have 250 women ready,” she said.
Source : The Star
Date : 15 March 2012
Today's Pick (16/03/12/046/740)
afternoon highlight (15/03/12/048/523) Singapore SMEs eyeing Malaysia, China for expansion
Singapore SMEs eyeing Malaysia, China for expansion
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is one of the most preferred locations for Singaporean small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with expansion plans, according to the United Overseas Bank (UOB) Mid-Sized Corporate Business Sentiment Survey conducted in December 2011.
Thirty-seven per cent of the 1,600 mid-sized Singaporean companies surveyed expressed intentions to expand their business in Asia in 2012 because of continuing demand from countries in the region.
Of these, 21 per cent are eyeing Malaysia as a potential location for business expansion. China is at the top of the list at 27 per cent, while Indonesia and Vietnam are tied in third place is at 15 per cent.
"Prospects are positive for companies eyeing Malaysia as an expansionary destination," said UOB Malaysia chief executive Chan Kok Seong in a statement.
"Malaysia's facilitative and open policies to attract foreign direct investment, such as the allowance of 100 per cent foreign equity holdings and funds repatriation to their base country, have made it attractive for companies to do business here.
"There is high interest from Singapore companies wanting to establish a presence in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, which has a lot more potential for growth.
We note that this trend is increasing and believe that the close proximity to Singapore is a key consideration as it allows Singaporean companies to manage their business from their doorstep."
He also attributed the increase in interest to the recent announcement made by Singapore in wanting to reduce its dependency on foreign labour.
The extension of the Mass Rapid Transit system from Singapore to Johor Baru within the next four to five years is another positive factor for businesses considering opening or moving operations to Johor Baru.
In recent months, UOB Malaysia has received an increased number of enquiries from Singaporean companies about purchasing industrial factories and warehouses in Johor Baru, especially from those in the food and beverage industry.
"With our network of banks across the Southeast Asian region, we are well poised to facilitate outgoing and incoming cross-border deals through our UOB Global Business Development arm.
We have industry specialists who are domain experts in the specific regulatory and legal policies, and are able to provide advisory on optimal financing and investment schemes for cross-border deals," said Chan.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 15 March 2012
afternoon highlight (15/03/12/048/523)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is one of the most preferred locations for Singaporean small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with expansion plans, according to the United Overseas Bank (UOB) Mid-Sized Corporate Business Sentiment Survey conducted in December 2011.
Thirty-seven per cent of the 1,600 mid-sized Singaporean companies surveyed expressed intentions to expand their business in Asia in 2012 because of continuing demand from countries in the region.
Of these, 21 per cent are eyeing Malaysia as a potential location for business expansion. China is at the top of the list at 27 per cent, while Indonesia and Vietnam are tied in third place is at 15 per cent.
"Prospects are positive for companies eyeing Malaysia as an expansionary destination," said UOB Malaysia chief executive Chan Kok Seong in a statement.
"Malaysia's facilitative and open policies to attract foreign direct investment, such as the allowance of 100 per cent foreign equity holdings and funds repatriation to their base country, have made it attractive for companies to do business here.
"There is high interest from Singapore companies wanting to establish a presence in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, which has a lot more potential for growth.
We note that this trend is increasing and believe that the close proximity to Singapore is a key consideration as it allows Singaporean companies to manage their business from their doorstep."
He also attributed the increase in interest to the recent announcement made by Singapore in wanting to reduce its dependency on foreign labour.
The extension of the Mass Rapid Transit system from Singapore to Johor Baru within the next four to five years is another positive factor for businesses considering opening or moving operations to Johor Baru.
In recent months, UOB Malaysia has received an increased number of enquiries from Singaporean companies about purchasing industrial factories and warehouses in Johor Baru, especially from those in the food and beverage industry.
"With our network of banks across the Southeast Asian region, we are well poised to facilitate outgoing and incoming cross-border deals through our UOB Global Business Development arm.
We have industry specialists who are domain experts in the specific regulatory and legal policies, and are able to provide advisory on optimal financing and investment schemes for cross-border deals," said Chan.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 15 March 2012
afternoon highlight (15/03/12/048/523)
Today's Pick (14/03/12/044/738) Malaysia’s focus on high-tech investments
Malaysia’s focus on high-tech investments
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has shifted its investment focus to more high-technology and capital-intensive industry-related deals, said International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
He said Malaysia now was targeting especially green and emerging technologies.
“We are also focusing on attracting industries that undertake research and development. We no longer want to attract labour-intensive investments. Malaysia is now focused on technology-driven foreign direct investments.
“For the past two years, we have been experiencing steady growth in attracting these kind of investments,” Mukhriz said after the launch of the Indian Chemical Exhibition 2012 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He said as part of efforts to make Malaysia a preferred investment destination, the Government had liberalised many sectors of the economy, to allow greater foreign participation in equity, management and employment.
On another note, Mukhriz said bilateral trade between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi had the potential to touch US$15bil this year.
He said that through the many initiatives such as trade missions, exhibitions and briefings by both governments, the movement of goods and services would increase significantly and in line with the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
The trade figure is projected to be achieved in 2015 under CECA, as per the aspiration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.
Last year, bilateral trade between Malaysia and India reached US$12.5bil, up 33% from 2010.
Meanwhile, Indian investments worth US$1.2bil in the manufacturing sector were implemented last year, with Malaysia’s investment in India totalling US$2.8bil in the same period. — Bernama
Source : The Star
Date : 14 March 2012
Today's Pick (14/03/12/044/738)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has shifted its investment focus to more high-technology and capital-intensive industry-related deals, said International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.
He said Malaysia now was targeting especially green and emerging technologies.
“We are also focusing on attracting industries that undertake research and development. We no longer want to attract labour-intensive investments. Malaysia is now focused on technology-driven foreign direct investments.
“For the past two years, we have been experiencing steady growth in attracting these kind of investments,” Mukhriz said after the launch of the Indian Chemical Exhibition 2012 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He said as part of efforts to make Malaysia a preferred investment destination, the Government had liberalised many sectors of the economy, to allow greater foreign participation in equity, management and employment.
On another note, Mukhriz said bilateral trade between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi had the potential to touch US$15bil this year.
He said that through the many initiatives such as trade missions, exhibitions and briefings by both governments, the movement of goods and services would increase significantly and in line with the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
The trade figure is projected to be achieved in 2015 under CECA, as per the aspiration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh.
Last year, bilateral trade between Malaysia and India reached US$12.5bil, up 33% from 2010.
Meanwhile, Indian investments worth US$1.2bil in the manufacturing sector were implemented last year, with Malaysia’s investment in India totalling US$2.8bil in the same period. — Bernama
Source : The Star
Date : 14 March 2012
Today's Pick (14/03/12/044/738)
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
afternoon highlight (13/03/12/046/521) MIDF salur pinjaman RM365j
MIDF salur pinjaman RM365j
400 syarikat, perusahaan dijangka dapat manfaat pembiayaan 3 skim
MALAYSIAN Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF) mensasar menyalurkan pembiayaan berjumlah RM365 juta tahun ini di bawah tiga skim pinjaman mudah yang dikendalikannya.
Skim itu ialah Skim Pinjaman Mudah Untuk Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (SLSME), Skim Pinjaman Mudah Untuk Automasi dan Permodenan (SLSAM), serta Skim Pinjaman Mudah Untuk Automotif dan Pembangunan (SLSAD).
Pengarah Urusan Kumpulannya, Datuk Mohd Najib Abdullah, berkata pihaknya menjangkakan sekurang-kurangnya 400 syarikat dan perusahaan akan mendapat manfaat daripada pembiayaan itu.
“Daripada jumlah keseluruhan pembiayaan itu, kami bakal menyalurkan RM213 juta di bawah SLSME, RM60 juta di bawah SLSAM dan RM92 juta kepada SLSAD,” katanya kepada Berita Harian, baru-baru ini.
Beliau menambah, daripada 400 syarikat dan perusahaan yang disasarkan itu pula, 236 adalah bagi SLSME, SLSAD (100) SLSAM (64).
Tahun lalu, MIDF menyalurkan pembiayaan berjumlah RM273 juta di bawah tiga skim pinjaman mudah itu kepada 392 syarikat yang sebahagian besarnya diperuntukkan untuk SLSME dengan nilai keseluruhan RM179 juta membabitkan 359 syarikat.
Mengenai kriteria utama untuk pembiayaan itu, Mohd Najib berkata, setiap permohonan akan dinilai secara terperinci dari segi tahap daya maju perniagaan dan kebolehan menjana keuntungan atau aliran tunai yang sewajarnya untuk membayar balik pinjaman.
Katanya, MIDF juga melihat komitmen pinjaman syarikat terbabit dengan institusi kewangan lain, komitmen pemegang saham atau pengarah terhadap perniagaan dan komitmen lain yang berkaitan perniagaan syarikat sebelum meluluskan permohonan mereka.
“Sektor yang menjadi keutamaan sejak 50 tahun lalu adalah perkilangan atau pembuatan dengan 78 peratus usahawan dari sektor itu mendapat kemudahan pinjaman MIDF setakat ini,” katanya.
Mengenai kos pembiayaan skim berkenaan, beliau berkata, MIDF mengenakan kadar faedah pinjaman serendah empat peratus kepada syarikat atau perusahaan dalam kategori Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) dan lima peratus bagi syarikat bukan PKS.
“Tempoh bayaran balik mengikut jenis pinjaman.
Contohnya, bagi pembiayaan pembelian aset tetap seperti hartanah perindustrian atau komersil, tempoh yang dibenarkan sehingga 15 tahun.
Bagi pembiayaan pembelian mesin, jentera dan peralatan pula, tempohnya adalah sehingga enam tahun,” katanya.
Sementara itu, Mohd Najib berkata, MIDF merancang memperkenalkan skim pinjaman khusus untuk pembiayaan pembelian hartanah komersial.
Menerusi produk itu, katanya, ia memberikan kelebihan kepada peminjam atau usahawan beroperasi di premis milik mereka dengan kos pembiayaan tetap tanpa perlu bimbang mengenai pergerakan Kadar Asas Pinjaman (BLR).
“Kelebihan utama program pembiayaan ini ialah proses kelulusan pinjaman dan pengeluaran wang akan dipercepatkan supaya syarikat atau perusahaan yang berdaya maju boleh mengembangkan perniagaan mereka dengan kos yang minimum,” katanya.
Source : Berita Harian
Date : 12 March 2012
afternoon highlight (13/03/12/046/521)
afternoon highlight (12/03/12/045/520) VW AG, DRB-Hicom guna komponen tempatan
VW AG, DRB-Hicom guna komponen tempatan
VOLKSWAGEN AG (VW AG) dan DRB-Hicom Bhd menyasarkan untuk menggunakan sehingga 40 peratus komponen tempatan bagi model pemasangan tempatan (CKD) kenderaan jenama Jerman itu dalam tempoh 12 hingga 18 bulan akan datang, kata Naib Presiden Kanan Pengeluaran Kumpulan Luar negara VW AG, Dr Christof Spathelf.
"Kami sedang menyediakan program teknologi komponen untuk mencapai 40 peratus dalam tempoh 12 hingga 18 bulan akan datang.
Ini akan dijalankan secara berperingkat, 0 hingga 15 peratus dan akhirnya 40 peratus.
"Wawasan dan sasaran kami adalah untuk mencapai 40 peratus.
Pada masa ini, kami membawa komponen dari Jerman untuk memastikan kualiti," kata beliau pada majlis pelancaran Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI CKD di Kompleks Automotif DRB-Hicom di Pekan, Pahang semalam.
Pelancarannya disempurnakan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan DRB-Hicom, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil, berkata majlis itu adalah satu peristiwa penting yang melengkapkan komitmen DRB-Hicom bagi operasi CKD kenderaan Volkswagen untuk pasaran tempatan dan seterusnya, pasaran Asean.
Pada Disember 2010, DRB-Hicom dan VW Ag menandatangani perjanjian kerjasama untuk membentuk perkongsian bagi pemasangan tempatan kenderaan Volkswagen di kemudahan pembuatan automotif DRB-Hicom di Pekan.
Model Passat 1.8 TSI adalah yang pertama dalam beberapa model Volkswagen yang akan dipasang di Kompleks Automotif DRB-Hicom, Pekan itu.
Ketua Pegawai Operasi DRB-Hicom Datuk Lukman Ibrahim, berkata dalam mencapai sasaran 40 peratus itu, DRB-Hicom dan VW AG mempunyai program yang memastikan vendor dalam taraf tertentu untuk menjadi vendor kepada Volkswagen.
“Vendor tempatan akan diadakan beberapa latihan dan ujian yang VW AG mahukan untuk memastikan program ini akan meliputi sebanyak mungkin tanpa menjejaskan kualiti kereta," katanya.
Lukman berkata, DRB-Hicom dan VW AG menilai 27 vendor dan 20 memenuhi keperluan.
“Ini adalah sebahagian daripada persiapan yang sedang berlaku sehingga kita melaksanakan penggunaan tempatan," katanya. Ketua Bahagian Operasi Komersil China-Asean VW AG, Weiming Soh, berkata syarikat itu meninjau untuk mengeksport menjelang 2014.
“Sekitar 2014 akan menjadi masa yang baik untuk eksport. Kami kini meneliti potensi eksport Passat ke negara lain dalam dan luar Asean.
“Kami sedang mengkaji mengenainya dan meneliti proses, terutama pasaran pemanduan sebelah kanan.
Kami ingin memastikan bahawa apabila kami mengeksport, yang datang dari Malaysia, berkualiti dan diterima oleh rantau lain," katanya.
Soh juga berkata, harga Passat CKD itu akan ditentukan dalam beberapa hari atau minggu ini.
“Kami memerlukan sedikit masa untuk mengukuhkan logistik kami. Ia akan mengambil hari atau minggu.
Apabila sudah selesai dan peniaga berpuas hati, kami akan mengumumkan harganya," katanya.
Beliau berkata, harga bagi Passat CKD dan yang diimport sepenuhnya (CBU) akan berbeza.
“Apabila kami melancarkan kereta, kami melancarkan dengan spesifikasi berbeza dengan pilihan yang berbeza.
Pada satu peringkat, kami mungkin akan melancarkan dengan satu pilihan saja, yang anda akan lihat minggu depan.
“Memandangkan kami dapat memahami pasaran dengan lebih baik, kami mampu membawa masuk pilihan berbeza untuk memenuhi segmen pasaran berbeza atau profil pelanggan yang berbeza," tambah beliau.
Mohd Khamil berkata, lebih banyak model Volkswagen akan dipasang menjelang akhir tahun ini atau tahun depan.
“Kami masih berbincang dengan Volkswagen. Pada akhir tahun ini atau tahun depan, akan ada model lain.
Kami perlu membuktikan kemampuan kami.
Setakat ini, mereka gembira," katanya. Mohd Khamil juga berkata, Kompleks Automotif DRB-Hicom, yang direka untuk 96,000 unit setahun dengan dua giliran, akan dapat mencapai penggunaan yang lebih tinggi antara 50,000 dan 60,000 kereta dari 23,000 hingga 25,000 unit sekarang ini.
“Saya percaya dengan angka yang kami ada buat sementara waktu ini dengan Volkswagen, kami mungkin boleh mencapai penggunaan yang lebih tinggi antara 50,000 hingga 60,000 kereta," katanya.
Sehingga kini, lebih 300 unit Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI sudah dipasang di kompleks automotif di Pekan itu, katanya. – BERNAMA
Source : Berita Harian
Date : 12 March 2012
afternoon highlight (12/03/12/045/520)
VOLKSWAGEN AG (VW AG) dan DRB-Hicom Bhd menyasarkan untuk menggunakan sehingga 40 peratus komponen tempatan bagi model pemasangan tempatan (CKD) kenderaan jenama Jerman itu dalam tempoh 12 hingga 18 bulan akan datang, kata Naib Presiden Kanan Pengeluaran Kumpulan Luar negara VW AG, Dr Christof Spathelf.
"Kami sedang menyediakan program teknologi komponen untuk mencapai 40 peratus dalam tempoh 12 hingga 18 bulan akan datang.
Ini akan dijalankan secara berperingkat, 0 hingga 15 peratus dan akhirnya 40 peratus.
"Wawasan dan sasaran kami adalah untuk mencapai 40 peratus.
Pada masa ini, kami membawa komponen dari Jerman untuk memastikan kualiti," kata beliau pada majlis pelancaran Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI CKD di Kompleks Automotif DRB-Hicom di Pekan, Pahang semalam.
Pelancarannya disempurnakan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan DRB-Hicom, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil, berkata majlis itu adalah satu peristiwa penting yang melengkapkan komitmen DRB-Hicom bagi operasi CKD kenderaan Volkswagen untuk pasaran tempatan dan seterusnya, pasaran Asean.
Pada Disember 2010, DRB-Hicom dan VW Ag menandatangani perjanjian kerjasama untuk membentuk perkongsian bagi pemasangan tempatan kenderaan Volkswagen di kemudahan pembuatan automotif DRB-Hicom di Pekan.
Model Passat 1.8 TSI adalah yang pertama dalam beberapa model Volkswagen yang akan dipasang di Kompleks Automotif DRB-Hicom, Pekan itu.
Ketua Pegawai Operasi DRB-Hicom Datuk Lukman Ibrahim, berkata dalam mencapai sasaran 40 peratus itu, DRB-Hicom dan VW AG mempunyai program yang memastikan vendor dalam taraf tertentu untuk menjadi vendor kepada Volkswagen.
“Vendor tempatan akan diadakan beberapa latihan dan ujian yang VW AG mahukan untuk memastikan program ini akan meliputi sebanyak mungkin tanpa menjejaskan kualiti kereta," katanya.
Lukman berkata, DRB-Hicom dan VW AG menilai 27 vendor dan 20 memenuhi keperluan.
“Ini adalah sebahagian daripada persiapan yang sedang berlaku sehingga kita melaksanakan penggunaan tempatan," katanya. Ketua Bahagian Operasi Komersil China-Asean VW AG, Weiming Soh, berkata syarikat itu meninjau untuk mengeksport menjelang 2014.
“Sekitar 2014 akan menjadi masa yang baik untuk eksport. Kami kini meneliti potensi eksport Passat ke negara lain dalam dan luar Asean.
“Kami sedang mengkaji mengenainya dan meneliti proses, terutama pasaran pemanduan sebelah kanan.
Kami ingin memastikan bahawa apabila kami mengeksport, yang datang dari Malaysia, berkualiti dan diterima oleh rantau lain," katanya.
Soh juga berkata, harga Passat CKD itu akan ditentukan dalam beberapa hari atau minggu ini.
“Kami memerlukan sedikit masa untuk mengukuhkan logistik kami. Ia akan mengambil hari atau minggu.
Apabila sudah selesai dan peniaga berpuas hati, kami akan mengumumkan harganya," katanya.
Beliau berkata, harga bagi Passat CKD dan yang diimport sepenuhnya (CBU) akan berbeza.
“Apabila kami melancarkan kereta, kami melancarkan dengan spesifikasi berbeza dengan pilihan yang berbeza.
Pada satu peringkat, kami mungkin akan melancarkan dengan satu pilihan saja, yang anda akan lihat minggu depan.
“Memandangkan kami dapat memahami pasaran dengan lebih baik, kami mampu membawa masuk pilihan berbeza untuk memenuhi segmen pasaran berbeza atau profil pelanggan yang berbeza," tambah beliau.
Mohd Khamil berkata, lebih banyak model Volkswagen akan dipasang menjelang akhir tahun ini atau tahun depan.
“Kami masih berbincang dengan Volkswagen. Pada akhir tahun ini atau tahun depan, akan ada model lain.
Kami perlu membuktikan kemampuan kami.
Setakat ini, mereka gembira," katanya. Mohd Khamil juga berkata, Kompleks Automotif DRB-Hicom, yang direka untuk 96,000 unit setahun dengan dua giliran, akan dapat mencapai penggunaan yang lebih tinggi antara 50,000 dan 60,000 kereta dari 23,000 hingga 25,000 unit sekarang ini.
“Saya percaya dengan angka yang kami ada buat sementara waktu ini dengan Volkswagen, kami mungkin boleh mencapai penggunaan yang lebih tinggi antara 50,000 hingga 60,000 kereta," katanya.
Sehingga kini, lebih 300 unit Volkswagen Passat 1.8 TSI sudah dipasang di kompleks automotif di Pekan itu, katanya. – BERNAMA
Source : Berita Harian
Date : 12 March 2012
afternoon highlight (12/03/12/045/520)
Today's Pick (12/03/12/042/736) Petronas Dagangan to set up 30 auto spas
Petronas Dagangan to set up 30 auto spas
KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Dagangan Bhd, the domestic marketing arm of Petroliam Nasional Bhd, wants to open up to 30 auto spa facilities at selected service stations this year.
Managing director and chief executive officer Amir Hamzah Azizan said the new spas will be set up in selected areas, namely in the Klang Valley, Johor, Penang and Terengganu.
The auto spa service was first launched late last year and it has six spas in the Klang Valley.
"Given the favourable response, we will definitely be extending this service to the rest of our Petronas stations in stages over the next few years," he said after the launch of Petronas Durance car care products and air fresheners here yesterday.
He noted that Petronas Dagangan would require heavy investments for the auto spa service.
Meanwhile, Amir said, the company would focus on promoting the newly launched Petronas Durance products through its 972 service stations nationwide as well as at retail stores and hypermarkets in major cities this year.
Petronas Durance, a strategic partnership between the company and its Italy-based sister company Petronas Lubricants International, comprises a range of high quality car care products to protect both the interior and exterior of vehicles.
The new product is also complemented by a collection of air fresheners for cars.
Petronas Dagangan has four core businesses of retail, commercial, liquefied petroleum gas and lubricants.
Its retail business continues to grow through the opening of new retail service stations, complimented by the broad expansion in products and services offered through the Mesra convenience stores.
Amir added that Petronas Dagangan plans to open about 67 new service stations nationwide this year.
For the nine months period ended December 31 2011, Petronas Dagangan pre-tax profit increased by RM5.5 million to RM898.9 million from the same period in 2010 , while revenue increased by RM5.4 billion to RM22.3 billion from the year before.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 12 March 2012
Today's Pick (12/03/12/042/736)
KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas Dagangan Bhd, the domestic marketing arm of Petroliam Nasional Bhd, wants to open up to 30 auto spa facilities at selected service stations this year.
Managing director and chief executive officer Amir Hamzah Azizan said the new spas will be set up in selected areas, namely in the Klang Valley, Johor, Penang and Terengganu.
The auto spa service was first launched late last year and it has six spas in the Klang Valley.
"Given the favourable response, we will definitely be extending this service to the rest of our Petronas stations in stages over the next few years," he said after the launch of Petronas Durance car care products and air fresheners here yesterday.
He noted that Petronas Dagangan would require heavy investments for the auto spa service.
Meanwhile, Amir said, the company would focus on promoting the newly launched Petronas Durance products through its 972 service stations nationwide as well as at retail stores and hypermarkets in major cities this year.
Petronas Durance, a strategic partnership between the company and its Italy-based sister company Petronas Lubricants International, comprises a range of high quality car care products to protect both the interior and exterior of vehicles.
The new product is also complemented by a collection of air fresheners for cars.
Petronas Dagangan has four core businesses of retail, commercial, liquefied petroleum gas and lubricants.
Its retail business continues to grow through the opening of new retail service stations, complimented by the broad expansion in products and services offered through the Mesra convenience stores.
Amir added that Petronas Dagangan plans to open about 67 new service stations nationwide this year.
For the nine months period ended December 31 2011, Petronas Dagangan pre-tax profit increased by RM5.5 million to RM898.9 million from the same period in 2010 , while revenue increased by RM5.4 billion to RM22.3 billion from the year before.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 12 March 2012
Today's Pick (12/03/12/042/736)
afternoon highlight (09/03/12/044/519) RM22bil plan to turn Mersing into the likes of Bali and Hawaii
RM22bil plan to turn Mersing into the likes of Bali and Hawaii
JOHOR BARU: Radiant Starfish Development Bhd plans to position Mersing town into an international tourist destination on par with Gold Coast, Bali, Caribbean and Hawaii.
Chief executive officer Ungku Safian Abdullah said the town had all the ingredients to become a tourist hotspot and its potential had yet to be exploited.
“I can guarantee you that Mersing town will no longer look like what it is seven years from now,'' he said at a press conference yesterday.
Ungku Safian said Mersing, which was located on the north east of Johor, was sandwiched between 40 unspoiled islands and the 200-million-year old Endau-Rompin National Park.
He was speaking after the signing of memorandum of agreements with YPJ Holdings Sdn Bhd, Sinohydro Corp (M) Sdn Bhd, Shengrong International Group Co Ltd and CIMB Insurance Brokers Sdn Bhd witnessed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
The agreements entail the development of the RM22bil Mersing Laguna, which involves the building of hotels and villas, land reclamation, a water theme park and provide insurance coverage for the project.
Ungku Safian said the reclamation works and related infrastructure would cost RM4.2bil and RM1bil respectively, adding that some RM17bil was required for develop the rest of project which would take seven years to complete.
The components of the project will consists 22 blocks of five-storey boutique hotels with 3,000 rooms, 4,000 villas and service apartments, marina facilities and commercial development
“Mersing Laguna is aimed at attracting tourists with high spending power and travellers who would love nature and eco-tourism,'' he said.
Mersing Laguna is one of the nine projects announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Feb 28 under the East Coast Economic Region.
Source : The Star
Date : 9 March 2012
afternoon highlight (09/03/12/044/519)
JOHOR BARU: Radiant Starfish Development Bhd plans to position Mersing town into an international tourist destination on par with Gold Coast, Bali, Caribbean and Hawaii.
Chief executive officer Ungku Safian Abdullah said the town had all the ingredients to become a tourist hotspot and its potential had yet to be exploited.
“I can guarantee you that Mersing town will no longer look like what it is seven years from now,'' he said at a press conference yesterday.
Ungku Safian said Mersing, which was located on the north east of Johor, was sandwiched between 40 unspoiled islands and the 200-million-year old Endau-Rompin National Park.
He was speaking after the signing of memorandum of agreements with YPJ Holdings Sdn Bhd, Sinohydro Corp (M) Sdn Bhd, Shengrong International Group Co Ltd and CIMB Insurance Brokers Sdn Bhd witnessed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
The agreements entail the development of the RM22bil Mersing Laguna, which involves the building of hotels and villas, land reclamation, a water theme park and provide insurance coverage for the project.
Ungku Safian said the reclamation works and related infrastructure would cost RM4.2bil and RM1bil respectively, adding that some RM17bil was required for develop the rest of project which would take seven years to complete.
The components of the project will consists 22 blocks of five-storey boutique hotels with 3,000 rooms, 4,000 villas and service apartments, marina facilities and commercial development
“Mersing Laguna is aimed at attracting tourists with high spending power and travellers who would love nature and eco-tourism,'' he said.
Mersing Laguna is one of the nine projects announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Feb 28 under the East Coast Economic Region.
Source : The Star
Date : 9 March 2012
afternoon highlight (09/03/12/044/519)
Today's Pick (09/03/12/041/735) Alliance aims to sustain SME segment growth
Alliance aims to sustain SME segment growth
ALLIANCE Bank Malaysia hopes to sustain between 15 and 17 per cent growth in its small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business segment in the next financial year.
The SME segment makes up about 25 per cent of the bank's total business.
Steve Miller, head of Alliance SME Banking, said the growth would be driven by transaction banking such as trade and payment collections, introduction of new products and the upgrading of its Internet and mobile banking.
Yesterday, the bank launched the "MyBusiness Platinum Card", which provides SME business owners additional platform to market their company by having their brand on the card's face.
"The Alliance Bank MyBusiness Platinum card is a result of our conversation with the SME business players.
"It not only gives them complimentary space for branding but will also generate a lot more interest about what their company stands for each time they swipe it when making their purchases," said Miller.
The card includes cash-back feature of up to 1.25 per cent on total monthly card expenditure. It also allows card members the option to either opt for a longer interest-free repayment period or cash rebate on interest paid.
Also present was Jim Cheah, MasterCard Worldwide vice-president and senior country manager for Malaysia and Brunei.
Alliance Bank was recently recognised for its "Excellence in SME Banking" by IDC Financial Insights at the seventh annual Financial Insights Innovation Award.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 9 March 2012
Today's Pick (09/03/12/041/735)
ALLIANCE Bank Malaysia hopes to sustain between 15 and 17 per cent growth in its small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) business segment in the next financial year.
The SME segment makes up about 25 per cent of the bank's total business.
Steve Miller, head of Alliance SME Banking, said the growth would be driven by transaction banking such as trade and payment collections, introduction of new products and the upgrading of its Internet and mobile banking.
Yesterday, the bank launched the "MyBusiness Platinum Card", which provides SME business owners additional platform to market their company by having their brand on the card's face.
"The Alliance Bank MyBusiness Platinum card is a result of our conversation with the SME business players.
"It not only gives them complimentary space for branding but will also generate a lot more interest about what their company stands for each time they swipe it when making their purchases," said Miller.
The card includes cash-back feature of up to 1.25 per cent on total monthly card expenditure. It also allows card members the option to either opt for a longer interest-free repayment period or cash rebate on interest paid.
Also present was Jim Cheah, MasterCard Worldwide vice-president and senior country manager for Malaysia and Brunei.
Alliance Bank was recently recognised for its "Excellence in SME Banking" by IDC Financial Insights at the seventh annual Financial Insights Innovation Award.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 9 March 2012
Today's Pick (09/03/12/041/735)
afternoon highlight (08/03/12/043/518) RM1b sales expected this year, with focus on 4 clusters
RM1b sales expected this year, with focus on 4 clusters
KUALA LUMPUR: The sixth edition of International Trade Malaysia (Intrade 2012) is expected to rake in RM1 billion in sales, from RM973.9 million last year, as it focuses on a dedicated four clusters this year.
The number of profiled clusters has been reduced from 10 last year to allow greater focus on the chosen clusters this year, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said.
The four clusters to be showcased are electrical and electronics and information and communications technology, automotive, manufacturing support and lifestyle.
"We feel that there is a huge potential in these sectors... therefore, with a more concentrated effort in these clusters, we hope Intrade 2012 will ensure a focused exhibitors and visitors," Mukhriz told a media briefing here yesterday.
He also said that the four clusters are ideally positioned to expand the country's export.
"They possess strong growth potential by tapping the many opportunities available in international trade," he added.
The theme for Intrade 2012 is "Energising Export Growth", to reflect the importance of sustaining Malaysia's export opportunities in the face of increased competition and uncertainties in the global economy.
Lifestyle product is chosen to be among the four selected clusters following a growing demand for products like jewellery, textile and clothing and gifts and premium products from Malaysia.
Last year, Malaysia's export of lifestyle products increased 23.5 per cent to about RM25 billion. Collectively, lifestyle products contributed 5.3 per cent of the country's manufactured export.
During the year under review, jewellery contributed RM7.16 billion to the country's total export; textile and clothing RM10.8 billion; while gifts and premium RM7 billion.
Intrade 2012, which will be held from November 27 to November 29 at Menara Matrade, Kuala Lumpur, is expecting strong participation from Asia particularly Asean countries, Japan, Pakistan and India.
Last year, the trade expo hosted some 8,972 visitors from 77 countries.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 8 March 2012
afternoon highlight (08/03/12/043/518)
KUALA LUMPUR: The sixth edition of International Trade Malaysia (Intrade 2012) is expected to rake in RM1 billion in sales, from RM973.9 million last year, as it focuses on a dedicated four clusters this year.
The number of profiled clusters has been reduced from 10 last year to allow greater focus on the chosen clusters this year, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said.
The four clusters to be showcased are electrical and electronics and information and communications technology, automotive, manufacturing support and lifestyle.
"We feel that there is a huge potential in these sectors... therefore, with a more concentrated effort in these clusters, we hope Intrade 2012 will ensure a focused exhibitors and visitors," Mukhriz told a media briefing here yesterday.
He also said that the four clusters are ideally positioned to expand the country's export.
"They possess strong growth potential by tapping the many opportunities available in international trade," he added.
The theme for Intrade 2012 is "Energising Export Growth", to reflect the importance of sustaining Malaysia's export opportunities in the face of increased competition and uncertainties in the global economy.
Lifestyle product is chosen to be among the four selected clusters following a growing demand for products like jewellery, textile and clothing and gifts and premium products from Malaysia.
Last year, Malaysia's export of lifestyle products increased 23.5 per cent to about RM25 billion. Collectively, lifestyle products contributed 5.3 per cent of the country's manufactured export.
During the year under review, jewellery contributed RM7.16 billion to the country's total export; textile and clothing RM10.8 billion; while gifts and premium RM7 billion.
Intrade 2012, which will be held from November 27 to November 29 at Menara Matrade, Kuala Lumpur, is expecting strong participation from Asia particularly Asean countries, Japan, Pakistan and India.
Last year, the trade expo hosted some 8,972 visitors from 77 countries.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 8 March 2012
afternoon highlight (08/03/12/043/518)
Today's Pick (08/03/12/040/734) Minimum wage could ‘kill SMEs’
Minimum wage could ‘kill SMEs’
PETALING JAYA: Eighty per cent of small and medium-scale enterprises (SME) could be forced to shut down if the Government's proposed minimum wage policy of between RM800 to RM1,000 is implemented across the board.
The SMI Association of Malaysia said SMEs were mostly labour-intensive and based on the nature of their operations, they would not be in the position to absorb the cost spike.
The effects of such ruling would be harder on the SMEs if implemented on a blanket basis, national vice-president Michael Kang said at a joint conference by 16 manufacturing, retail and service sector associations yesterday.
“You see, most of the SMEs are labour-intensive; they don't have modern machines. An increase in salaries will have a tremendous effect on the manufacturing cost,” he said, “It could totally kill SMEs because for most of them, their net profit margin is only around 3% to 5% .”
The potential chain reaction could be grave as well, considering SMEs make up 99.2% of the Malaysian economy and accounted for 59% of the workforce.
Furthermore, Kang said SMEs played a vital supporting role in the manufacturing supply chain. “The majority of these SMEs are the supporting industry to many multi-national companies. So if manufacturing cost increase, they will be affected too.”
He added that the Malaysia Employers Federation's estimation that 200,000 SME businesses would suffer was realistic.
The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association president Lim Kok Boon said industries with higher concentration of SMEs could face more severe impact.
He said that the plastics industry, about 75% to 80% were SMEs but listed companies, would also not be spared.
Lim also said that a clear definition of the minimum wage was needed as employers were still not sure if the policy covers allowances and benefits.
“Some trade unions are saying that the minimum wage is between RM800 and RM900, not including benefits and the benefits,” he said, adding that if Employees Provident Fund contribution, overtime claims, incentives and bonuses are calculated based on the higher wage, it would further aggravate the burden.
Source : The Star
Date : 7 March 2012
Today's Pick (08/03/12/040/734)
PETALING JAYA: Eighty per cent of small and medium-scale enterprises (SME) could be forced to shut down if the Government's proposed minimum wage policy of between RM800 to RM1,000 is implemented across the board.
The SMI Association of Malaysia said SMEs were mostly labour-intensive and based on the nature of their operations, they would not be in the position to absorb the cost spike.
The effects of such ruling would be harder on the SMEs if implemented on a blanket basis, national vice-president Michael Kang said at a joint conference by 16 manufacturing, retail and service sector associations yesterday.
“You see, most of the SMEs are labour-intensive; they don't have modern machines. An increase in salaries will have a tremendous effect on the manufacturing cost,” he said, “It could totally kill SMEs because for most of them, their net profit margin is only around 3% to 5% .”
The potential chain reaction could be grave as well, considering SMEs make up 99.2% of the Malaysian economy and accounted for 59% of the workforce.
Furthermore, Kang said SMEs played a vital supporting role in the manufacturing supply chain. “The majority of these SMEs are the supporting industry to many multi-national companies. So if manufacturing cost increase, they will be affected too.”
He added that the Malaysia Employers Federation's estimation that 200,000 SME businesses would suffer was realistic.
The Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association president Lim Kok Boon said industries with higher concentration of SMEs could face more severe impact.
He said that the plastics industry, about 75% to 80% were SMEs but listed companies, would also not be spared.
Lim also said that a clear definition of the minimum wage was needed as employers were still not sure if the policy covers allowances and benefits.
“Some trade unions are saying that the minimum wage is between RM800 and RM900, not including benefits and the benefits,” he said, adding that if Employees Provident Fund contribution, overtime claims, incentives and bonuses are calculated based on the higher wage, it would further aggravate the burden.
Source : The Star
Date : 7 March 2012
Today's Pick (08/03/12/040/734)
afternoon highlight (07/03/12/042/517) Bigger opportunity for women entrepreneurs
Bigger opportunity for women entrepreneurs
KUALA LUMPUR: Home-based women entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to market their productsin shopping malls with the help of Wawasanita Malaysia, a non-governmental women organisation.
For a start, Wawasani-ta has identified 120 women entrepreneurs to showcase their pro-ducts in shopping malls, with the first stop being the Sogo shopping complex.
"We have a dedicated area in the shopping complex with free rental, where they can showcase their products for a maximum of 10 days.
If their products are a hit with the customers, they can cut a deal with the shopping complex owner to feature their products permanently by paying a minimal rental and utility costs," said Wawasanita Malaysia president Noor Hayati Abdul Rahman after the launch of the organisation's new branding officiated by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir here yesterday.
Noor Hayati said most of the products that would be placed at the shopping mall are traditional food and Muslimah (Muslim women) apparels.
"We are talking with the management of Sogo to display the items within the next three months at the mall, just in time for the fasting month," she said.
Besides Sogo, Tesco, Jusco, Carrefour as well as Kedai Mesra in Petronas petrol stations will also be involved.
Noor Hayati said in-training will also be provided to these entrepreneurs to expose them to the open market.
"We will be getting government grants for the training that will take up to one year," she said.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 7 March 2012
afternoon highlight (07/03/12/042/517)
KUALA LUMPUR: Home-based women entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to market their productsin shopping malls with the help of Wawasanita Malaysia, a non-governmental women organisation.
For a start, Wawasani-ta has identified 120 women entrepreneurs to showcase their pro-ducts in shopping malls, with the first stop being the Sogo shopping complex.
"We have a dedicated area in the shopping complex with free rental, where they can showcase their products for a maximum of 10 days.
If their products are a hit with the customers, they can cut a deal with the shopping complex owner to feature their products permanently by paying a minimal rental and utility costs," said Wawasanita Malaysia president Noor Hayati Abdul Rahman after the launch of the organisation's new branding officiated by Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir here yesterday.
Noor Hayati said most of the products that would be placed at the shopping mall are traditional food and Muslimah (Muslim women) apparels.
"We are talking with the management of Sogo to display the items within the next three months at the mall, just in time for the fasting month," she said.
Besides Sogo, Tesco, Jusco, Carrefour as well as Kedai Mesra in Petronas petrol stations will also be involved.
Noor Hayati said in-training will also be provided to these entrepreneurs to expose them to the open market.
"We will be getting government grants for the training that will take up to one year," she said.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 7 March 2012
afternoon highlight (07/03/12/042/517)
Today's Pick (07/03/12/039/733)Ministry allocates RM200mil for price standardisation scheme
Ministry allocates RM200mil for price standardisation scheme
BERA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (MDTCC) has allocated RM200mil to fund transport costs under the price standardisation scheme for rural traders and retailers nationwide this year.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, RM101mil was allocated to 485 areas in Sarawak, RM90mil for 460 areas in Sabah while the remainder would be channeled to states in the peninsula.
"Sabah and Sarawak are given bigger chunks of the allocation as shops operating in rural areas and islands are burdened with high transport costs, causing them to increase the price of their goods.
"With this transport aid scheme, necessity goods can be sold for the same price as in nearby cities and towns," he told reporters after presenting the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) to 1,800 residents of Bera on Saturday.
Ismail said, for example, prior to the price standardisation scheme, a 14kg gas cylinder in Bario (a remote village in Sabah) cost RM148 but was sold for RM27, which is the same in town.
"Meanwhile, the price of goods including controlled items such as cooking oil, sugar, flour, milk, rice and others were sold at normal prices as in the town areas," he added.
Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera assemblyman, said the price standardisation scheme will be extended nationwide to 920 more areas before year-end.
He urged traders to heed all regulations set, while those who do not and are found to sell above the fixed price will face action according to the Price Control Act.
He said the ministry's enforcement officers will also continue monitoring prices to ensure traders don't flout regulations. - Bernama
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 5 March 2012
Today's Pick (07/03/12/039/733)
BERA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (MDTCC) has allocated RM200mil to fund transport costs under the price standardisation scheme for rural traders and retailers nationwide this year.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, RM101mil was allocated to 485 areas in Sarawak, RM90mil for 460 areas in Sabah while the remainder would be channeled to states in the peninsula.
"Sabah and Sarawak are given bigger chunks of the allocation as shops operating in rural areas and islands are burdened with high transport costs, causing them to increase the price of their goods.
"With this transport aid scheme, necessity goods can be sold for the same price as in nearby cities and towns," he told reporters after presenting the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) to 1,800 residents of Bera on Saturday.
Ismail said, for example, prior to the price standardisation scheme, a 14kg gas cylinder in Bario (a remote village in Sabah) cost RM148 but was sold for RM27, which is the same in town.
"Meanwhile, the price of goods including controlled items such as cooking oil, sugar, flour, milk, rice and others were sold at normal prices as in the town areas," he added.
Ismail Sabri, who is also Bera assemblyman, said the price standardisation scheme will be extended nationwide to 920 more areas before year-end.
He urged traders to heed all regulations set, while those who do not and are found to sell above the fixed price will face action according to the Price Control Act.
He said the ministry's enforcement officers will also continue monitoring prices to ensure traders don't flout regulations. - Bernama
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 5 March 2012
Today's Pick (07/03/12/039/733)
afternoon highlight (06/03/12/041/516) Green building rating system soon
Green building rating system soon
KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry is drawing up a green building rating system that can be applied by the public and private sectors in promoting the green industry development in the country.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor, said in ensuring the success of the effort, the ministry had decided that building construction use the Industrialised Building System (IBS) technology.
"For example, materials used in IBS for building schools, especially in the rural areas, should be able to reduce temperatures by up to two degrees Celsius.
"This can reduce electricity usage and give comfort to the users," he said at a dinner and prize-presentation of the Greentech House Competition 2011 (GTH 2011) at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) international campus here last night.
Shaziman said his ministry was discussing with the Finance Ministry to get funds to replace the normal street lights with the light-emitting diode (LED) which could reduce electricity consumption between 50 to 55 per cent.
Shaziman said the National Green Technology policy, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2009, also spurred demand for green industry as the first choice in providing products and services.
"The main aspect emphasised in this policy is to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and to promote energy efficiency.
"The government's effort in incorporating green technology covers two aspects, namely innovation involving the creation and development of green technology and usage or application of green technology in the work processes."
Shaziman said the competition focused on innovative research based on green technology and was the best platform to educate society towards creating a healthier nation based on green technology.
The GTH Competition 2011, organised by UTM and BE-Basic, showcased creative concepts of residential buildings that promoted sustainability, energy conservation, use of building materials from natural sources and alternative energy sources.
Universiti Teknologi Mara with its "Superhomes" project and UTM's Zenith Team with the "Infinity where the limitation powers the innovation" project were adjudged joint winners, each collecting RM5,000 and a certificate. Bernama
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 6 March 2012
afternoon highlight (06/03/12/041/516)
KUALA LUMPUR: The Works Ministry is drawing up a green building rating system that can be applied by the public and private sectors in promoting the green industry development in the country.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor, said in ensuring the success of the effort, the ministry had decided that building construction use the Industrialised Building System (IBS) technology.
"For example, materials used in IBS for building schools, especially in the rural areas, should be able to reduce temperatures by up to two degrees Celsius.
"This can reduce electricity usage and give comfort to the users," he said at a dinner and prize-presentation of the Greentech House Competition 2011 (GTH 2011) at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) international campus here last night.
Shaziman said his ministry was discussing with the Finance Ministry to get funds to replace the normal street lights with the light-emitting diode (LED) which could reduce electricity consumption between 50 to 55 per cent.
Shaziman said the National Green Technology policy, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2009, also spurred demand for green industry as the first choice in providing products and services.
"The main aspect emphasised in this policy is to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and to promote energy efficiency.
"The government's effort in incorporating green technology covers two aspects, namely innovation involving the creation and development of green technology and usage or application of green technology in the work processes."
Shaziman said the competition focused on innovative research based on green technology and was the best platform to educate society towards creating a healthier nation based on green technology.
The GTH Competition 2011, organised by UTM and BE-Basic, showcased creative concepts of residential buildings that promoted sustainability, energy conservation, use of building materials from natural sources and alternative energy sources.
Universiti Teknologi Mara with its "Superhomes" project and UTM's Zenith Team with the "Infinity where the limitation powers the innovation" project were adjudged joint winners, each collecting RM5,000 and a certificate. Bernama
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 6 March 2012
afternoon highlight (06/03/12/041/516)
Today's Pick (06/03/12/038/732) Govt to introduce more KR1M products
Govt to introduce more KR1M products
BERA: The Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) outlets will expand its range of products as more retailers and members of the public are expected to sell the KR1M brand items.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said those who were interested to sell KR1M products could sign up with the ministry.
He said a special committee had been formed to review each application before approval was given.
Ismail said applications were open until the end of March.
He said the Government was aiming to open 60 more KR1M outlets nationwide by the end of the year.
To date, there are 25 outlets throughout the country.
He added that the Government had allocated RM40mil this year to upgrade existing KR1M outlets with new equipment, such as cupboards and shelves.
When asked about the variety of products, Ismail said there were currently 250 types of products available at KR1M outlets and this would be increased from time to time.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 6 March 2012
BERA: The Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) outlets will expand its range of products as more retailers and members of the public are expected to sell the KR1M brand items.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said those who were interested to sell KR1M products could sign up with the ministry.
He said a special committee had been formed to review each application before approval was given.
Ismail said applications were open until the end of March.
He said the Government was aiming to open 60 more KR1M outlets nationwide by the end of the year.
To date, there are 25 outlets throughout the country.
He added that the Government had allocated RM40mil this year to upgrade existing KR1M outlets with new equipment, such as cupboards and shelves.
When asked about the variety of products, Ismail said there were currently 250 types of products available at KR1M outlets and this would be increased from time to time.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 6 March 2012
afternoon highlight (05/03/12/040/515) PERODUA pertimbang skim pajakan individu
PERODUA pertimbang skim pajakan individu
PERUSAHAAN Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (PERODUA) akan mempertimbangkan cadangan skim pajakan kereta keluarannya kepada pengguna individu, jika kemerosotan jualan susulan penilaian lebih ketat oleh bank terhadap bakal pembelinya terus berlarutan.
Pengarah Urusannya, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, berkata skim itu diputuskan sebaik pengeluar kereta nasional terbesar dari segi jualan itu, mendapati ia berdaya maju dan menjadi kaedah terbaik menangani krisis.
“Skim pajakan kenderaan sesuatu yang kami akan pertimbangkan jika ia berdaya maju."
“PERODUA mengalu-alukan perbincangan dengan syarikat automotif lain jika mereka ada cadangan mengatasi masalah semasa yang menghimpit industri automotif tempatan,” katanya, baru-baru ini mengulas strategi kumpulan jika bank terus memperketatkan syarat pinjaman.
Pengguna kini hanya terbuka kepada satu cara untuk memiliki kenderaan iaitu menerusi sewa beli dengan bank. Namun dengan pajakan, pengguna tidak lagi perlu memohon pembiayaan bank. Mereka hanya membayar ansuran kepada syarikat yang memajakkan kenderaannya.
Ia juga membolehkan pengguna menukar kenderaan baru setiap beberapa tahun tanpa perlu risau kos penjagaan, pembaharuan cukai jalan dan susut nilai.
Kini, Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON), anak syarikat DRB-Hicom Bhd satu-satunya syarikat automotif yang memperkenalkan skim pemajakan kenderaan dalam negara.
Di bawah panduan baru Bank Negara 1 Januari lalu, bank perlu mengambil kira pendapatan bersih iaitu selepas ditolak potongan wajib seperti caruman Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP), potongan cukai berjadual (PCB) serta semua tanggungan hutang ketika menilai kemampuan pemohon membayar pinjaman.
Sebelum ini bank hanya mengambil kira jumlah pendapatan kasar.
Berikutan itu, jualan kenderaan PERODUA khususnya ViVa terjejas teruk berikutan model itu di bawah kategori mampu milik selain menepati kemahuan golongan pembeli kereta pertama.
Jualan juga menurun dengan drastik terutama di utara Semenanjung dan di pantai timur, termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak.
Aminar berkata, meskipun kumpulan menanggung bebanan teruk, khususnya peningkatan stok yang tidak terjual berikutan pembeli gagal menepati piawaian bank, PERODUA masih berharap dapat mengadakan perbincangan susulan dengan Bank Negara bersama wakil bank bagi menyelaras semula langkah baru itu.
“Syarat tambahan pinjaman berhemah berdasarkan panduan baru Bank Negara mungkin ditafsir secara berlainan oleh bank.
“Begitu juga dokumen bagi menyokong pinjaman yang berbeza antara bank. Ini melambatkan proses kelulusan pinjaman,” katanya sambil mendedahkan paras pembiayaan tidak berbayarnya (NPL) masih rendah iaitu sekitar satu peratus.
Beliau berkata, PERODUA juga pada peringkat perbincangan dalaman bagi melaksana strategi lain jika masalah penurunan penjualan berpanjangan.
Source : Utusan Malaysia
Date : 5 March 2012
afternoon highlight (05/03/12/040/515)
PERUSAHAAN Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (PERODUA) akan mempertimbangkan cadangan skim pajakan kereta keluarannya kepada pengguna individu, jika kemerosotan jualan susulan penilaian lebih ketat oleh bank terhadap bakal pembelinya terus berlarutan.
Pengarah Urusannya, Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh, berkata skim itu diputuskan sebaik pengeluar kereta nasional terbesar dari segi jualan itu, mendapati ia berdaya maju dan menjadi kaedah terbaik menangani krisis.
“Skim pajakan kenderaan sesuatu yang kami akan pertimbangkan jika ia berdaya maju."
“PERODUA mengalu-alukan perbincangan dengan syarikat automotif lain jika mereka ada cadangan mengatasi masalah semasa yang menghimpit industri automotif tempatan,” katanya, baru-baru ini mengulas strategi kumpulan jika bank terus memperketatkan syarat pinjaman.
Pengguna kini hanya terbuka kepada satu cara untuk memiliki kenderaan iaitu menerusi sewa beli dengan bank. Namun dengan pajakan, pengguna tidak lagi perlu memohon pembiayaan bank. Mereka hanya membayar ansuran kepada syarikat yang memajakkan kenderaannya.
Ia juga membolehkan pengguna menukar kenderaan baru setiap beberapa tahun tanpa perlu risau kos penjagaan, pembaharuan cukai jalan dan susut nilai.
Kini, Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EON), anak syarikat DRB-Hicom Bhd satu-satunya syarikat automotif yang memperkenalkan skim pemajakan kenderaan dalam negara.
Di bawah panduan baru Bank Negara 1 Januari lalu, bank perlu mengambil kira pendapatan bersih iaitu selepas ditolak potongan wajib seperti caruman Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP), potongan cukai berjadual (PCB) serta semua tanggungan hutang ketika menilai kemampuan pemohon membayar pinjaman.
Sebelum ini bank hanya mengambil kira jumlah pendapatan kasar.
Berikutan itu, jualan kenderaan PERODUA khususnya ViVa terjejas teruk berikutan model itu di bawah kategori mampu milik selain menepati kemahuan golongan pembeli kereta pertama.
Jualan juga menurun dengan drastik terutama di utara Semenanjung dan di pantai timur, termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak.
Aminar berkata, meskipun kumpulan menanggung bebanan teruk, khususnya peningkatan stok yang tidak terjual berikutan pembeli gagal menepati piawaian bank, PERODUA masih berharap dapat mengadakan perbincangan susulan dengan Bank Negara bersama wakil bank bagi menyelaras semula langkah baru itu.
“Syarat tambahan pinjaman berhemah berdasarkan panduan baru Bank Negara mungkin ditafsir secara berlainan oleh bank.
“Begitu juga dokumen bagi menyokong pinjaman yang berbeza antara bank. Ini melambatkan proses kelulusan pinjaman,” katanya sambil mendedahkan paras pembiayaan tidak berbayarnya (NPL) masih rendah iaitu sekitar satu peratus.
Beliau berkata, PERODUA juga pada peringkat perbincangan dalaman bagi melaksana strategi lain jika masalah penurunan penjualan berpanjangan.
Source : Utusan Malaysia
Date : 5 March 2012
afternoon highlight (05/03/12/040/515)
Today's Pick (05/03/12/037/731) Harvard don: Malaysia must move up the income chain
Harvard don: Malaysia must move up the income chain
Kuala Lumpur: A Harvard University professor said Malaysians must decide whether they want to be a “star” or be stuck at where they are now.
He said failing to decide meant the country would continue to be ranked among the middleincome group for the next 10 to 20 years and could eventually slide further.
“Your Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has come out with a clear strategy for Malaysia to move up the value chain.
The question now is whether it can be carried out,” said Professor Richard H.K. Vietor of Harvard Business School.
Vietor, who is also an International Adviser and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s International Business School, said Malaysia had most of the ingredients to move up but it continued to be stuck in the middle, below countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.
The problem for middle income country like Malaysia started in 2001 when China joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO),explained Vietor, the author of the 2007’s publication “How Countries Compete: Strategy, Structure, and Government in the Global Economy”.
“After that, China absolutely dominated lowcost manufacturing and India dominated lowcost services, both of which Malaysia could not compete with.”
At the same time, Malaysia could also not compete with the high-end, high-value added countries such as the United States and Singapore.
Singapore, he said, had the same problem in 1985 and 1986 when it realised it could not continue to be involved in low-cost manufacturing.
Then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew told the city state's 5,000 manufacturers to move up the value-added chain.
"He gave incentives and the manufacturers started producing high-value added goods," said Vietor, who included a chapter on Singapore Inc in his book.
Vietor, who will be giving a public lecture this afternoon on "How Countries Compete" at UTM's Jalan Semarak campus, here, said Malaysia could not hope to compete on cost with the likes of China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia.
"Even the US cannot compete with China in this respect.
What Malaysia needs is to be different and more focused, such as producing branded or high-quality goods," he said,
Malaysia also needs to address one of its biggest problems, which is too much saving and too little investment.
With investment and savings rate at 22 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively, Malaysia has a macro-economic problem.
"How can you grow if you are not investing? Compare this with China and Singapore where their savings are high but their investments are high, too.
"I have asked Malaysians why they are not investing and many said they had nothing to invest in or there were not enough opportunities," he told Business Times yesterday.
However, this is expected to change with the new approaches developed under the New Economic Model, which was introduced in 2009 to improve productivity and encourage creativity.
In fact, many of the initiatives announced by Najib could "unstuck" Malaysia from the middle-income trap.
Among these are moving investment and exports up the value chain, stimulating domestic innovation and research and development, continuing investment in infrastructure, reducing regulatory barriers to doing business and enhancing labour skills in needed categories.Malaysian firms, he said, should also be less risk adverse.
"In the US, individuals and firms take more risk.
If they go bust, they will pick themselves up and start anew," said Vietor, who wants to see more venture capital initiatives to help individuals start up and grow their businesses.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 5 March 2012
Today's Pick (05/03/12/037/731)
Kuala Lumpur: A Harvard University professor said Malaysians must decide whether they want to be a “star” or be stuck at where they are now.
He said failing to decide meant the country would continue to be ranked among the middleincome group for the next 10 to 20 years and could eventually slide further.
“Your Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has come out with a clear strategy for Malaysia to move up the value chain.
The question now is whether it can be carried out,” said Professor Richard H.K. Vietor of Harvard Business School.
Vietor, who is also an International Adviser and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s International Business School, said Malaysia had most of the ingredients to move up but it continued to be stuck in the middle, below countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.
The problem for middle income country like Malaysia started in 2001 when China joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO),explained Vietor, the author of the 2007’s publication “How Countries Compete: Strategy, Structure, and Government in the Global Economy”.
“After that, China absolutely dominated lowcost manufacturing and India dominated lowcost services, both of which Malaysia could not compete with.”
At the same time, Malaysia could also not compete with the high-end, high-value added countries such as the United States and Singapore.
Singapore, he said, had the same problem in 1985 and 1986 when it realised it could not continue to be involved in low-cost manufacturing.
Then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew told the city state's 5,000 manufacturers to move up the value-added chain.
"He gave incentives and the manufacturers started producing high-value added goods," said Vietor, who included a chapter on Singapore Inc in his book.
Vietor, who will be giving a public lecture this afternoon on "How Countries Compete" at UTM's Jalan Semarak campus, here, said Malaysia could not hope to compete on cost with the likes of China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia.
"Even the US cannot compete with China in this respect.
What Malaysia needs is to be different and more focused, such as producing branded or high-quality goods," he said,
Malaysia also needs to address one of its biggest problems, which is too much saving and too little investment.
With investment and savings rate at 22 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively, Malaysia has a macro-economic problem.
"How can you grow if you are not investing? Compare this with China and Singapore where their savings are high but their investments are high, too.
"I have asked Malaysians why they are not investing and many said they had nothing to invest in or there were not enough opportunities," he told Business Times yesterday.
However, this is expected to change with the new approaches developed under the New Economic Model, which was introduced in 2009 to improve productivity and encourage creativity.
In fact, many of the initiatives announced by Najib could "unstuck" Malaysia from the middle-income trap.
Among these are moving investment and exports up the value chain, stimulating domestic innovation and research and development, continuing investment in infrastructure, reducing regulatory barriers to doing business and enhancing labour skills in needed categories.Malaysian firms, he said, should also be less risk adverse.
"In the US, individuals and firms take more risk.
If they go bust, they will pick themselves up and start anew," said Vietor, who wants to see more venture capital initiatives to help individuals start up and grow their businesses.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 5 March 2012
Today's Pick (05/03/12/037/731)
afternoon highlight (02/03/12/039/514) Penurunan pengeluaran minyak, gas diatasi dalam 2 tahun
Penurunan pengeluaran minyak, gas diatasi dalam 2 tahun
KUALA LUMPUR 28 Feb. – Penurunan sebanyak 5.7 peratus di dalam pengeluaran minyak dan gas mampu dipulihkan dalam tempoh beberapa tahun akan datang.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Unit Pengurusan Prestasi dan Pelaksanaan (Pemandu), Datuk Seri Idris Jala berkata, penurunan tersebut disumbang oleh medan minyak yang semakin matang dan masalah teknikal yang berkaitan pasir, khususnya di Semenanjung Malaysia.
“Kemerosotan pengeluaran minyak disebabkan oleh masalah medan minyak Kikeh di Sabah dan syarikat minyak, Murphy Oil memerlukan tempoh dua tahun atau lebih untuk mengatasinya, “ katanya semasa sidang akhbar selepas menjadi panel pada pertemuan di antara Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri dengan majlis-majlis perniagaan dan ketua-ketua misi perdagangan asing di sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
Tambah Idris, di bawah Program Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP), sejumlah RM132 bilion nilai pelaburan di dalam projek minyak dan gas telah diumumkan yang mana ia mampu mengurangkan kesan kemerosotan pengeluaran dalam tempoh 10 tahun akan datang.
“Dalam tempoh beberapa tahun, kita akan mampu menarik lebih banyak pelaburan besar di dalam sektor minyak dan gas.
“Kerajaan sedang mempelbagaikan usaha supaya sektor ini terus kekal tumbuh seiring dengan sektor-sektor lain yang menyokong perkembangan ekonomi negara, “ katanya.
Menurut Idris, walaupun terdapat penurunan di dalam sektor minyak dan gas namun ekonomi Malaysia tetap merekodkan pertumbuhan positif.
Source : Utusan Malaysia
Date : 29 February 2012
afternoon highlight (02/03/12/039/514)
KUALA LUMPUR 28 Feb. – Penurunan sebanyak 5.7 peratus di dalam pengeluaran minyak dan gas mampu dipulihkan dalam tempoh beberapa tahun akan datang.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Unit Pengurusan Prestasi dan Pelaksanaan (Pemandu), Datuk Seri Idris Jala berkata, penurunan tersebut disumbang oleh medan minyak yang semakin matang dan masalah teknikal yang berkaitan pasir, khususnya di Semenanjung Malaysia.
“Kemerosotan pengeluaran minyak disebabkan oleh masalah medan minyak Kikeh di Sabah dan syarikat minyak, Murphy Oil memerlukan tempoh dua tahun atau lebih untuk mengatasinya, “ katanya semasa sidang akhbar selepas menjadi panel pada pertemuan di antara Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri dengan majlis-majlis perniagaan dan ketua-ketua misi perdagangan asing di sini hari ini.
Turut hadir Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.
Tambah Idris, di bawah Program Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP), sejumlah RM132 bilion nilai pelaburan di dalam projek minyak dan gas telah diumumkan yang mana ia mampu mengurangkan kesan kemerosotan pengeluaran dalam tempoh 10 tahun akan datang.
“Dalam tempoh beberapa tahun, kita akan mampu menarik lebih banyak pelaburan besar di dalam sektor minyak dan gas.
“Kerajaan sedang mempelbagaikan usaha supaya sektor ini terus kekal tumbuh seiring dengan sektor-sektor lain yang menyokong perkembangan ekonomi negara, “ katanya.
Menurut Idris, walaupun terdapat penurunan di dalam sektor minyak dan gas namun ekonomi Malaysia tetap merekodkan pertumbuhan positif.
Source : Utusan Malaysia
Date : 29 February 2012
afternoon highlight (02/03/12/039/514)
Today's Pick (02/03/12/036/730) DRB-HICOM bina kolej RM592.5j
DRB-HICOM bina kolej RM592.5j
DRB-HICOM Bhd mengukuhkan lagi asas perniagaannya apabila melabur RM592.5 juta untuk membina sebuah kolej universiti automotif di Hab Automotif DRB-HICOM di Pekan, Pahang.
Kolej universiti yang dibangunkan anak syarikatnya, HICOM University College Sdn Bhd itu yang akan dikenali International College of Automotive dan ia bakal melengkapi ekosistem perniagaan automotif konglomerat itu di negara ini.
Pengarah Urusan Kumpulannya, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil, berkata pembinaan kolej universiti itu dijangka dapat mewujudkan sehingga 500 peluang pekerjaan baru dan menarik 7,000 pelajar dari dalam serta luar negara menjelang 2020.
“Projek pembinaannya sudah dimulakan tahun ini dan ia dijangka siap sepenuhnya tahun depan,” katanya pada sidang media selepas majlis pertukaran dokumen perjanjian antara DRB-HICOM bersama Ketua Eksekutif Majlis Pembangunan Wilayah Ekonomi Pantai Timur (ECERDC), Datuk Jebasingam Issace John di Putrajaya, semalam.
Majlis itu diadakan selepas mesyuarat ahli lembaga pengarah ECERDC bersama Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Pertukaran dokumen turut disaksikan Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
Mengulas lanjut, Mohd Khamil berkata kolej universiti berkenaan akan dibangunkan di tapak seluas 16.9 hektar dan ia akan membantu mewujudkan tenaga kerja tempatan bermutu tinggi untuk industri automotif.
“Kolej universiti ini akan menawarkan sehingga 30 kursus, daripada pengajian asas dalam bidang kejuruteraan serta perniagaan hingga program doktor falsafah.
“Kumpulan pelajar ini akan membantu menyokong perkembangan industri automotif tempatan sama ada dalam sektor hiliran atau huluan,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, International College of Automotive sudah memulakan pengajiannya pada Mac tahun lalu dan kini disertai oleh kira-kira 600 pelajar dari Malaysia dan Thailand.
Katanya, apabila kampus itu siap sepenuhnya, ia akan mempunyai tiga fakulti yang setiap satunya mempunyai kemudahan masing-masing.
“Kampus itu akan turut dilengkapi kemudahan penginapan untuk kakitangan,” katanya.
Tegasnya, penubuhan kolej itu secara langsung akan mengukuhkan lagi kedudukan Taman Automotif Pekan sebagai hab automotif di Malaysia dan rantau Asia Pasifik.
Hicom University College ditubuhkan pada 2010 dengan modal dibenarkan RM10 juta.
Source : Berita Harian
Date : 1 March 2012
Today's Pick (02/03/12/036/730)
DRB-HICOM Bhd mengukuhkan lagi asas perniagaannya apabila melabur RM592.5 juta untuk membina sebuah kolej universiti automotif di Hab Automotif DRB-HICOM di Pekan, Pahang.
Kolej universiti yang dibangunkan anak syarikatnya, HICOM University College Sdn Bhd itu yang akan dikenali International College of Automotive dan ia bakal melengkapi ekosistem perniagaan automotif konglomerat itu di negara ini.
Pengarah Urusan Kumpulannya, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil, berkata pembinaan kolej universiti itu dijangka dapat mewujudkan sehingga 500 peluang pekerjaan baru dan menarik 7,000 pelajar dari dalam serta luar negara menjelang 2020.
“Projek pembinaannya sudah dimulakan tahun ini dan ia dijangka siap sepenuhnya tahun depan,” katanya pada sidang media selepas majlis pertukaran dokumen perjanjian antara DRB-HICOM bersama Ketua Eksekutif Majlis Pembangunan Wilayah Ekonomi Pantai Timur (ECERDC), Datuk Jebasingam Issace John di Putrajaya, semalam.
Majlis itu diadakan selepas mesyuarat ahli lembaga pengarah ECERDC bersama Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Pertukaran dokumen turut disaksikan Menteri Besar Pahang, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
Mengulas lanjut, Mohd Khamil berkata kolej universiti berkenaan akan dibangunkan di tapak seluas 16.9 hektar dan ia akan membantu mewujudkan tenaga kerja tempatan bermutu tinggi untuk industri automotif.
“Kolej universiti ini akan menawarkan sehingga 30 kursus, daripada pengajian asas dalam bidang kejuruteraan serta perniagaan hingga program doktor falsafah.
“Kumpulan pelajar ini akan membantu menyokong perkembangan industri automotif tempatan sama ada dalam sektor hiliran atau huluan,” katanya.
Beliau berkata, International College of Automotive sudah memulakan pengajiannya pada Mac tahun lalu dan kini disertai oleh kira-kira 600 pelajar dari Malaysia dan Thailand.
Katanya, apabila kampus itu siap sepenuhnya, ia akan mempunyai tiga fakulti yang setiap satunya mempunyai kemudahan masing-masing.
“Kampus itu akan turut dilengkapi kemudahan penginapan untuk kakitangan,” katanya.
Tegasnya, penubuhan kolej itu secara langsung akan mengukuhkan lagi kedudukan Taman Automotif Pekan sebagai hab automotif di Malaysia dan rantau Asia Pasifik.
Hicom University College ditubuhkan pada 2010 dengan modal dibenarkan RM10 juta.
Source : Berita Harian
Date : 1 March 2012
Today's Pick (02/03/12/036/730)
afternoon highlight (01/03/12/038/513) E-payment ikut telefon bimbit, tablet akhir tahun ini
E-payment ikut telefon bimbit, tablet akhir tahun ini
KUALA LUMPUR 28 Feb. – Pasukan Petugas Khas Pemudahcara Perniagaan (Pemudah) sedang menyediakan sistem pembayaran dalam talian (e-payment) sektor awam yang lebih mesra pengguna, bagi memudahkan orang ramai melakukan sebarang transaksi menerusi telefon bimbit dan tablet menjelang akhir tahun ini.
Pasukan itu sedang membangunkan sistem yang dinamakan sebagai Mobile Government (MyMobile), di mana projek perintisnya telah dimulakan suku pertama tahun ini.
Menurut Laporan Pemudah 2011, projek perintis itu telah melibatkan agensi kerajaan seperti Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) dan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN), dan seterusnya akan melibatkan sehingga 20 lagi agensi kerajaan menjelang akhir tahun ini.
Inisiatif tersebut dijangka meningkatkan kadar pembayaran dalam talian sektor awam mampu sehingga 90 peratus pada masa hadapan.
Tahun lalu, Pemudah juga telah berjaya membantu 236 agensi kerajaan dalam menawarkan sehingga 449 perkhidmatan dalam talian melibatkan agensi yang lain serta bank.
Dalam laporan itu, antara agensi tersebut adalah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) Majlis/Jabatan Agama Islam Negari (MAIN/JAIN) yang bersetuju menyelaraskan sistem pensijilan halal di mana ia telah berjaya mengurangkan tempoh permohonan sijil itu daripada 90 hari hingga 30 hari.
Source : Utusan Malaysia
Date : 29 February 2012
afternoon highlight (01/03/12/038/513)
KUALA LUMPUR 28 Feb. – Pasukan Petugas Khas Pemudahcara Perniagaan (Pemudah) sedang menyediakan sistem pembayaran dalam talian (e-payment) sektor awam yang lebih mesra pengguna, bagi memudahkan orang ramai melakukan sebarang transaksi menerusi telefon bimbit dan tablet menjelang akhir tahun ini.
Pasukan itu sedang membangunkan sistem yang dinamakan sebagai Mobile Government (MyMobile), di mana projek perintisnya telah dimulakan suku pertama tahun ini.
Menurut Laporan Pemudah 2011, projek perintis itu telah melibatkan agensi kerajaan seperti Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) dan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN), dan seterusnya akan melibatkan sehingga 20 lagi agensi kerajaan menjelang akhir tahun ini.
Inisiatif tersebut dijangka meningkatkan kadar pembayaran dalam talian sektor awam mampu sehingga 90 peratus pada masa hadapan.
Tahun lalu, Pemudah juga telah berjaya membantu 236 agensi kerajaan dalam menawarkan sehingga 449 perkhidmatan dalam talian melibatkan agensi yang lain serta bank.
Dalam laporan itu, antara agensi tersebut adalah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) Majlis/Jabatan Agama Islam Negari (MAIN/JAIN) yang bersetuju menyelaraskan sistem pensijilan halal di mana ia telah berjaya mengurangkan tempoh permohonan sijil itu daripada 90 hari hingga 30 hari.
Source : Utusan Malaysia
Date : 29 February 2012
afternoon highlight (01/03/12/038/513)
Today's Pick (01/03/12/035/729) OEMs stand to gain from growing in-vehicle tech market
OEMs stand to gain from growing in-vehicle tech market
KUALA LUMPUR: The growing demand for in-vehicle technologies among car owners can benefit local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) keen to capitalise on the US$70 billion (RM210 billion) market.
Terence Foo, a partner at the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company Accenture, said these technologies are no longer limited to the luxury vehicle market segment.
He said local OEM suppliers should consider seeking collaboration with car manufacturers to offer seamless "connected vehicles."
Accenture recently surveyed 7,000 drivers across seven countries, including 1,000 drivers in Malaysia about their preferences for in-car safety, anti-theft and entertainment technologies.
The online survey found that most drivers here are interested in using automated driver-assistance and traffic-avoidance technologies in the future, said Foo.
Briefing the press on the findings of the survey, Foo said 91 per cent of the Malaysian respondents wanted a technology that automatically called a recovery organisation when their cars broke down.
He added that only one per cent of the respondents said their cars currently have this technology, indicating a strong demand for cars with such systems.
"Collaboration with car manufacturers to offer such technologies is timely as this can influence sales," he said.
Accenture estimated that the growing popularity of these technologies could add up to US$200 (RM600) in revenues per vehicle in mature markets each year.
Accenture's Connected Vehicle Group managing director Marcello Tamietti said in a statement that in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems are quickly becoming part of mass market car buying around the world."
As consumer desire for IVI technologies grows, it will be important for automotive manufacturers to seek partnerships that can offer a sustained, seamless IVI experience," he said.
He added that IVI technologies are capturing the imagination of global consumers, whether in developed or emerging markets.
"The key challenge for vehicle manufacturers will be keeping pace with the ever-changing technologies which car buyers want and capitalising on the tremendous potential that the IVI market represents," said Tamietti.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 1 March 2012
Today's Pick (01/03/12/035/729)
KUALA LUMPUR: The growing demand for in-vehicle technologies among car owners can benefit local original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) keen to capitalise on the US$70 billion (RM210 billion) market.
Terence Foo, a partner at the global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company Accenture, said these technologies are no longer limited to the luxury vehicle market segment.
He said local OEM suppliers should consider seeking collaboration with car manufacturers to offer seamless "connected vehicles."
Accenture recently surveyed 7,000 drivers across seven countries, including 1,000 drivers in Malaysia about their preferences for in-car safety, anti-theft and entertainment technologies.
The online survey found that most drivers here are interested in using automated driver-assistance and traffic-avoidance technologies in the future, said Foo.
Briefing the press on the findings of the survey, Foo said 91 per cent of the Malaysian respondents wanted a technology that automatically called a recovery organisation when their cars broke down.
He added that only one per cent of the respondents said their cars currently have this technology, indicating a strong demand for cars with such systems.
"Collaboration with car manufacturers to offer such technologies is timely as this can influence sales," he said.
Accenture estimated that the growing popularity of these technologies could add up to US$200 (RM600) in revenues per vehicle in mature markets each year.
Accenture's Connected Vehicle Group managing director Marcello Tamietti said in a statement that in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems are quickly becoming part of mass market car buying around the world."
As consumer desire for IVI technologies grows, it will be important for automotive manufacturers to seek partnerships that can offer a sustained, seamless IVI experience," he said.
He added that IVI technologies are capturing the imagination of global consumers, whether in developed or emerging markets.
"The key challenge for vehicle manufacturers will be keeping pace with the ever-changing technologies which car buyers want and capitalising on the tremendous potential that the IVI market represents," said Tamietti.
Source : New Straits Times
Date : 1 March 2012
Today's Pick (01/03/12/035/729)
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