Today's Pick (27/03/12/053/747) Swings in gold prices to continue

Swings in gold prices to continue

PETALING JAYA: A better economic outlook and redemptions by gold investment funds has seen gold lose a bit of its shine over the past month.


Those factors point towards increased volatility for gold, which has risen in price as a safe haven commodity in recent years, but the spot price of the precious metal has dropped to US$1,660-US$1,670 an ounce from a recent high of US$1,784 on Feb 28.


Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd senior commodities strategist Nick Trevethan said there were near-term risks for gold prices due to more fund redemptions towards the end of the current quarter.


“What we're seeing is a return in fund redemptions similar to what we saw in the third and fourth quarters of last year,” he said, adding that the SPDR Gold Trust, an exchange-traded fund, was sharply lower last Tuesday.


Reports last week noted that the appetite for gold and silver was noticeably lower as more positive US economic data on housing and building permits lessen the possibility of a third round of quantitative easing (QE3). 


However, US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said last Thursday that spending was still too weak to support a faster pace of growth with gross domestic product expected to slow to under 2% this quarter after expanding 3% in the final quarter of 2011.

Trevethan told StarBiz that in the longer term, the speculation over the Fed implementing quantitative easing measures would still have an impact on gold prices.


He noted that a QE3 by the Fed was a decreasing likelihood and that “the markets had been over-hopeful of another round of quantitative easing”. Trevethan said the eurozone sovereign debt crisis should be in theory positive for gold since there was a close correlation between the value of the euro and gold prices.


“So far, we've seen gold prices dropping in tandem with the euro although on a net-net basis, we think it's positive,” he said, estimating spot gold to average US$1,700 before rising from the middle of the second quarter to US$1,830 by year-end.


Trevethan said the main support for gold prices would continue to be the buying of gold by the central banks of emerging economies as well as the demand for gold among Asian consumers.


He said central banks from emerging economies, which typically have 5% of their reserves in gold, was now looking to increase their holdings to around 15% and to do it over a 10-year period.


“This will mean increasing their holdings by another 22,000 tonnes but there's not enough supply for that and this have been going on for the last two years,” Trevethan said.


He said China would outstrip India in gold demand this year with probable demand of over 800 tonnes. “In Hong Kong, the typical Chinese tourist will buy 20 to 30 grammes of gold as this is for them a good hedge against inflation since the low interest rates of Chinese banks effectively eats away their savings,” Trevethan said.


Meanwhile Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd analyst Barnabas Gan said in an email reply that while the safe-haven demand for the US dollar would be limited given the economic recovery, there were potential headwinds in the making with slowing growth in China and lingering issues over the eurozone debt crisis.


“We do not disregard the possibility of a QE3 this year while also recognising that the hurdle for its introduction is higher,” he said, noting that despite the slightly bullish tone of the latest Federal Open Market Committee statement, the reluctance to hike benchmark interest rates suggests the Fed's recognition of the economic uncertainty.


Gan said financial markets would be looking for more action by the Fed as Operaion Twist (where the Fed sold short-term Treasury bonds and bought long-term Treasury bonds to induce long-term yields to drop, thereby bringing down borrowing costs) comes to an end in June.


He said the Fed would remain accommodative by keeping interest rates low until 2014 while gold's lure for investors could strengthen as high crude oil prices boosts the precious metal as an inflation hedge.


Gan said that on the technical side, the quick price adjustment suggests that gold could be entering over-sold territory and might prompt technical-minded market players to increase their holdings effectively raising prices above US$1,680.

Source : The Star

Date : 27 March 2012

Today's Pick (27/03/12/053/ 747)

Today's Pick (26/03/12/052/746) Consumers may face 1% levy hike on electricity use

afternoon highlight (19/03/12/050/525) Retail sector faces rising costs and prudent spending by consumers

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

Today's Pick (29/02/12/034/728) Miliki kereta secara pajakan

Miliki kereta secara pajakan

KUALA LUMPUR 27 Feb. – Kenapa perlunya memiliki kenderaan secara sewa beli jika anda boleh memajak pada kadar lebih menarik dan tidak perlu memikirkan soal penyelenggaraan.

Hari ini, DRB-HICOM Bhd. memperkenalkan konsep pemajakan kenderaan yang pertama seumpamanya di Malaysia, sekali gus mampu menyelesaikan masalah untuk mendapatkan pembiayaannya.

Konsep pajakan yang diperkenalkan oleh anak syarikat DRB-HICOM, DRB-HICOM Leasing Sdn. Bhd. (DLSB), membolehkan kenderaan persendirian dan komersial lebih mudah dimiliki orang ramai.

‘‘DRB-HICOM Leasing menyasarkan 5,000 hingga 10,000 pelanggan individu dalam tempoh tiga tahun akan datang jika ia menerima sambutan kelak,’’ kata Ketua Pegawai Operasi EON Bhd., Azman Idris.

Beliau berkata, konsep pajakan itu amat sesuai untuk digunapakai ketika pihak bank sedang hebat memperketatkan syarat-syarat kelulusan pinjaman kenderaan.

“Konsep pemajakan kenderaan telah lama menerima sambutan di Eropah dan negara-negara barat dan sudah pasti dapat meringankan beban kewangan orang ramai,” katanya sambil menambah pihak syarikat sebelum ini telah menjalankan pajakan kenderaan kepada kerajaan menerusi syarikat Spanco.

Beliau berkata demikian selepas majlis pelancaran MyLease dan perasmian Konsep 4S EON yang dilakukan oleh Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, di sini hari ini.

Turut hadir ialah Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan DRB-HICOM, Datuk Seri Mohd. Khamil Jamil, Pengerusi EON Bhd., Tan Sri Marzuki Mohd. Noor dan Ketua Pegawai Operasi Kumpulan DRB-HICOM, Datuk Lukman Ibrahim.

Konsep terbaharu ini membolehkan penyewa memiliki sebuah kereta baharu setiap beberapa tahun tanpa perlu memikirkan kos penyelenggaraan dan insurans atau pembaharuan cukai jalan kerana ia ditanggung sepenuhnya oleh oleh pemilik aset.

Konsep ini adalah pilihan terbaik ketika bank sedang mengetatkan syarat-syarat kelulusan pinjaman kenderaan kerana bayaran bulanan adalah jauh lebih rendah berbanding sewa beli.

Antara pakej-pakej penyewaan yang ditawarkan oleh DLSB ialah program penggantian kereta selepas tamat tempoh pajakan, penyelenggaraan berjadual dan tidak berjadual, pusat panggilan 24 jam, bantuan kerosakan dan lain-lain.

Menurut Azman, kadar sewa pajakan akan ditambah dengan kos penyelenggaraan berjadual atau tidak berjadual bersama servis-servis lain bagi mendapatkan jumlah keseluruhan kadar sewa pajakan.

Jumlah keseluruhan sewa pajakan itu akan dibahagikan mengikut jumlah keseluruhan tempoh pajakan bagi mendapatkan kadar sewa pajakan yang tetap setiap bulan.

Katanya, sebagai permulaan pihaknya akan menawarkan kemudahan itu kepada syarikat sebelum orang ramai pada hujung tahun ini.

Hasil kajian menunjukkan, jika penyewa itu adalah individu, ia mampu memberi penjimatan antara 15 hingga 25 peratus dari pinjaman jual beli ketika ini.

“Apa yang menarik, model-model kereta yang ditawarkan tidak tertakluk kepada Proton sahaja kerana bergantung kepada permintaan pelanggan,” kata Azman.

Source : Utusan Malaysia
Date : 27 February 2012
Today's Pick (29/02/12/034/728)

Today's Pick (27/02/12/032/726) PEDA bincang kaedah penjualan kereta lebih murah

PEDA bincang kaedah penjualan kereta lebih murah

PERSATUAN Pengedar-Pengedar Proton Edar Malaysia (PEDA) merancang untuk mengusahakan semakan eksais dan cukai atau membincangkan kaedah lain bagi penjualan kereta yang lebih murah supaya lebih ramai mampu memiliki kereta, manakala mereka yang mampu pula tidak dibebankan dengan pinjaman yang tinggi.

Persatuan itu merancang menemui pihak dari Kementerian Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI) dan Kementerian Kewangan sebagai sebahagian daripada usahanya untuk menangani penyusutan kelulusan pinjaman dan jualan kereta yang, katanya, berlaku ekoran pelaksanaan garis panduan amalan pembiayaan yang bertanggungjawab oleh Bank Negara Malaysia yang berkuat kuasa pada 1 Januari.

Satu sesi dialog diadakan Jumaat lalu antara Bank Negara Malaysia dan pegawai kanan Proton, Perodua, Persatuan Automotif Malaysia, PEDA, DRB-HICOM dan Persatuan Penjual Kereta Perodua untuk menangani masalah kelembapan jualan sektor automotif.

PEDA dalam satu kenyataannya berkata, Bank Negara percaya isu itu timbul disebabkan pelaksanaan garis panduan itu oleh bank.

Ia juga menegaskan beberapa isu dan resolusi yang dikemukakan pada dialog itu.

Satu resolusi meminta bank mengeluarkan satu garis panduan seragam untuk mendidik orang ramai tentang kriteria kelulusan seragam dan syarat dokumentasi seragam bagi pemprosesan pinjaman kenderaan.

PEDA juga berkata, meskipun ia bersetuju dengan objektif dan hasrat Garis Panduan itu yang menggalakkan pemberian pinjaman berdasarkan kemampuan, namun, katanya kriteria kemampuan diberikan tafsiran yang keterlaluan oleh bank.

Katanya, dengan kereta yang lebih murah melalui eksais dan cukai yang lebih rendah atau cara lain, lebih ramai rakyat Malaysia mampu membeli kereta tanpa menjejaskan ekosistem automotif, sekali gus mengekalkan pertumbuhan industri di samping mengurangkan hutang isi rumah.

Persatuan itu berkata, industri automotif menyumbang dengan banyaknya kepada pendapatan negara melalui duti eksais dan cukai, kerana hampir 90 peratus daripada keseluruhan pengeluaran industri negara adalah bagi pasaran domestik.

“Penyusutan besar jualan kereta kami akan juga menjejaskan peluang pekerjaan secara keseluruhan,” katanya.

Meskipun kadar kelulusan kekal stabil pada 54 peratus bagi pembiayaan kenderaan pada Januari, persatuan itu berkata sebilangan besar permohonan pinjaman langsung tidak diterima untuk diproses yang menyebabkan kelulusan susut kepada kadar yang mencemaskan sebanyak hanya 30 peratus.

Source : Berita Harian
Date : 27 February 2012
Today's Pick (27/02/12/032/726)

afternoon highlight (24/02/12/034/509) Malaysian healthcare equipment sector set to boom

Malaysian healthcare equipment sector set to boom

KUALA LUMPUR: If you are in the healthcare business and wondering what is the next best thing to put your money in, the answer is to invest in medical equipment.

The segment is about to boom within the next three years in Malaysia, Frost and Sullivan vice-president of healthcare in Asia Pacific Rhenu Buller said.

"We estimate this segment to grow about 12.5 per cent in the next three years as hospitals improve their equipment in order to entice more patients to their facility.

"It is very important to have the latest products or equipment because medical tourism is becoming a major economic factor, not just in Malaysia but in other Asian Pacific countries as well.

"This year alone, the healthcare market is expected to reach RM13.2 billion," Bhuller said at a talk on "Rising Middle Income, Medical Tourism Create Impact for APAC Healthcare Market" in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

She said Indonesian patients represented the biggest bulk of healthcare travellers in Malaysia, constituting nearly 70 per cent of the total arrivals for medical tourism here.

"The latest agreement between Singapore and Malaysia on cross border medical reimbursement has resulted in steady inflow of Singaporean medical tourists to Malaysia, which is becoming the second largest nationality seeking medical treatment here," she said.

She added that Malaysia alone had seen an increase in medical tourists by 15 per cent to 20 per cent annually since 2005.

Besides medical tourism, Bhuller added that the positive outlook on the nation's healthcare was also because of the rising middle class and aging populace that changes healthcare services configuration and market strategies.

"Asia's population is expected to grow to 4.5 billion by 2050, which accounts for 60 per cent of the world's population.

"Currently there are about 4.8 million Asian households with income above RM150,000 per annum and this is expected to grow by another three per cent to five per cent in Southeast
Asia," Buller added.

Source : New Straits Times
Date : 24 February 2012
afternoon highlight (24/02/12/034/509)

afternoon highlight (22/02/12/033/507) Carmakers driven into a corner

Carmakers driven into a corner

AUTOMOTIVE sales may decline this year due to higher rejection rate of car loans as a result of new lending guidelines from Bank Negara Malaysia.

Car sales in January dropped by 25 per cent to 40,948 units from the 54,781 units recorded in the same period last year. The decline is above most analysts' expectations.

"It is too early to say whether the lower car sales is a one-off slump or the start of a prolonged decline. But we are not discounting the possibility of a lower total industry volume this year," said an analyst from a foreign brokerage.

The guidelines, aimed at improving consumer protection and making them more prudent as borrowers, required banks to look at their customers' net income instead of gross income when considering loan applications.

The guidelines were implemented early this year.

The country's two largest carmakers, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd and Proton Holdings Bhd, are expected to be the biggest casualties of the new guidelines.

"It generally hurts the lower income segment the most," the analyst said.

According to sources, loan approval rate has declined substantially at Perodua.

Its popular Myvi, which registered an approval rate of 75 per cent in December 2011, posted an approval rate of 68 per cent last month.

Worst hit was its Viva models, with its approval rate declining to about 55 per cent in January, down from 70 per cent in December 2011.

"January was still survivable for me as my branch performed rather well. But we are feeling the impact this month.

I have submitted 20 applications for approval and after one week, only three were approved," said a Perodua branch manager who declined to be named.

According to the branch manager, the guidelines were also slowing down the car purchasing process.

"Last time, if a customer with good record comes to purchase a vehicle, we could submit the application in the morning and get the loan approved on the same day.

"But now, we need up to two days and this is slowing us down," said the branch manager.

Proton Edar Dealers Association Malaysia, in a statement yesterday, said the guidelines had "severely damaged" members' sales, with only 30 per cent of applicants securing car loans in the first two months of the year.

"If this measure is not reviewed, the automotive industry, which supports the country's economic growth, will collapse," said its president Armin Baniaz Pahamin.

Meanwhile, analysts are mixed on the possibility of Bank Negara tweaking part of the guidelines to help the industry.

"There is always the possibility.

The main reason for the guidelines is to reduce or put household debts in control.

"Since the main culprits for household debts are credit cards and personal loans, we don't see why a minor relaxation can't be applied on hire purchase loans," said an analyst from a local research house.

However, another analyst believes it is unlikely the central bank would make a "U-turn".

"It is not Bank Negara's style to do that.

Nevertheless, I believe this is not the end for the automotive industry.

I believe the industry, which includes the carmakers, banks and car buyers, will eventually adjust to the new rule.

"We expect a soft first half for the auto sales, before improving in the second half," said the analyst from a foreign brokerage.

Source : New Straits Times
Date : 22 February 2012
afternoon highlight (22/02/12/033/507)

afternoon highlight (20/02/12/031/505) Revised Malaysia auto policy rollout in two months

Revised Malaysia auto policy rollout in two months

The much-awaited revised National Automotive Policy (NAP) will be announced in two months, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said.

One of the key areas being looked into by the government is the opening up of the lucrative 1.8-litre segment.“We’re almost there and doing some touchup on the details due to the recent developments between Proton Holdings Bhd and DRB-HICOM Bhd,” Mustapa said in an interview with newspapers of The New Straits Times Press group last Friday.

He chaired the last meeting on Wednesday with all the stakeholders including Toyota, Nissan and Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd.Representatives of banks, insurance companies and Fomca (Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations) were also there.

“It was very inclusive for the first time and the stakeholders were happy to share their views,” Mustapa said.The NAP, which was first introduced in 2006, is being reviewed to transform and integrate the local automotive industry intothe regional and global industry networks.

Malaysia Automotive Institute recently commented that the second review of the NAP had been more comprehensive, with inputs from industry stakeholders who were previously not consulted.

These included the Malaysian Automotive Recyclers Association (MAARA) and Federation of Automobile Workshop Owners Association of Malaysia.

The trade minister disagreed that the delay showed that the NAP hinged on Proton and DRB-HICOM, although he acknowledged that both play a major role in the sector.

“They are two big players and we have to take their views into account,” Mustapa remarked. Referring to the takeover of Proton by DRB-HICOM, he said there are processes and procedures for the companies to effect a full takeover.

“Being in a transition period, there are legal requirements to comply with, which was why the ministry had to engage withthem,” he added.DRB-HICOM is the largest automotive company by sales.

On the 1.8-litre segment, Mustapa said he had received keen interest from foreign automotive companies including the Chinese and Japanese for a more liberal environment in the segment.

The current policy does not allow foreign carmakers to get the licence to directly manufacture vehicles in the segment.

Foreign manufacturers now produce vehicles such as Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla Altis and Kia Forte with their Malaysian partners.

Overall, the NAP will help Malaysia regain its lost status as the region's largest passenger car market that has now been overtaken by Thailand, with Indonesia following closely.

It will also bring a lot of focus towards developing energy-efficient vehicles, Mustapa added.

Source : New Straits Times
Date : 20 February 2012
afternoon highlight (20/02/12/031/505)

afternoon highlight (15/02/12/028/502) Eksport farmaseutikal RM564 juta lepasi sasaran

Eksport farmaseutikal RM564 juta lepasi sasaran

LIOW (kanan) bersama Presiden Persatuan Farmaseutikal Malaysia, Ewe Kheng Huat ketika pelancaran buku Phama Industry Fact di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

INDUSTRI farmaseutikal negara semakin mendapat perakuan global apabila eksport produk berkenaan melonjak melepasi sasaran kepada RM564 juta pada 2011, naik enam peratus berbanding tahun sebelumnya berikutan keberkesanan pelaksanaan 13 projek permulaan (EPP) di bawah Program Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP).

Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, berkata tahun ini, pihaknya menyasarkan peningkatan eksport yang lebih tinggi iaitu lapan peratus kepada RM610 juta.

“Sektor kesihatan adalah sebahagian daripada 12 Aktiviti Ekonomi Utama Nasional (NKEA) dan berpotensi untuk menyumbang kepada keluaran dalam negara kasar (KDNK),” katanya selepas majlis pelancaran buku PhAMA Industry Fact, di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Sektor kesihatan adalah sebahagian daripada 12 Aktiviti Ekonomi Utama Nasional (NKEA) dan berpotensi untuk menyumbang kepada keluaran dalam negara kasar (KDNK).

- Liow Tiong Lai, Menteri Kesihatan Beliau berkata famaseutikal adalah satu daripada 13 projek permulaan (EPP) berkaitan sektor penjagaan kesihatan di bawah Bidang Ekonomi Utama Negara (NKEA).Industri itu, katanya, diperakui sebagai segmen ekonomi strategik dan dibangunkan sebagai enjin pertumbuhan ekonomi Malaysia, katanya.

“Oleh itu, saya berharap lebih banyak syarikat multinasional menjalin usaha sama dengan syarikat farmaseutikal Malaysia memandangkan ia adalah antara strategi utama yang boleh mendorongnya mencapai potensi sepenuhnya.

“Kementerian Kesihatan memperakui hakikat bahawa bagi merealisasikan kesemua matlamat NKEA penjagaan kesihatan, kita perlu terbabit sepenuhnya dengan kesemua pemegang kepentingan,” katanya.

Liow berkata, sektor swasta sangat penting dalam merealisasikan objektif NKEA dan kementerian akan menggalakkan lebih banyak dialog bersama wakil organisasi korporat bagi memperoleh maklumat belas kritikal untuk masa hadapan.

Industri penjagaan kesihatan dijangka menjana RM42.2 bilion pendapatan negara kasar dengan lebih 260,000 pekerjaan baru diwujudkan menjelang 2020.

“Bagi memastikan kesemua 13 EPP berkembang seperti dirancang, Kementerian Kesihatan akan memantau aktiviti NKEA,” kata Liow

Source : Berita Harian
Date : 15 Feb 2012
afternoon highlight (15/02/12/028/502)

Today's Pick (08/02/12/019/713) New blueprint for auto sector

New blueprint for auto sector

It is to prepare the industry for global technological enhancements up to year 2025

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) is developing a blueprint that will detail the development and enhancement of the local automotive industry up to year 2025.

Chief executive officer Madani Sahari said the blueprint, known as Malaysia Automotive Industry Roadmap 2025 (MAIR 2025), is to gear up the local automotive sector for the global technological enhancements that was expected to take place by 2025.

Within MAIR 2025, the roadmap will include technological, industry and market directions.

“We're developing a roadmap that will define the local automotive industry as a whole. Its scope ranges from the manufacturing sector right up to after-sales,” he told StarBiz.

Madani said MAIR 2025 would be different from the National Automotive Policy (NAP), which detailed policies that extend up to 2020.

“The NAP is from a policy angle but it doesn't really give you a blueprint. We have set a mission for 2015 and 2020 (under the NAP) but 2025 is another key milestone and important deadline.

“We need to adopt, adapt and innovate the right technology into our auto industry and we need to understand what is the technology, going forward,” he said.

Madani noted that the issue of “going green” had become an increasingly important factor in the global automotive scene.

“Globally, everyone is venturing into it, doing a lot of research on how to green the automotive industry in totality.”

Apart from developing its own technology, he said Malaysia also needed to be able to attract players that could supply green technology that could be applied locally.

“One of the ways to achieve the right technology in Malaysia is to have the right strategic foreign direct investment (FDI).

“We need to attract some strategic FDI and there is some domestic investment that we will need to do. There are players in Malaysia that want to invest domestically and this needs to be promoted and enhanced to complete the local automotive eco-system.”

Madani also said the blueprint was to cater to the “re-proliferation” of vendors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) come 2025.

“In the late 1990s, a lot of vendors came into the sector and a lot of proliferation (of vendors and OEMs) took place during that time. Then, from the year 2000 until now, there was a consolidation among the OEMs and suppliers.”

Citing research done by the MAI, Madani said there would be a re-proliferation of suppliers and at certain levels, OEMs, from 2015 onwards.

“But this re-proliferation is about suppliers coming in with a different business plan and the fundamentals of their business plan will involve the use of information technology and digital virtual reality concepts that are and will continue to move the automotive industry.

“This blueprint is to prepare Malaysia, moving ahead. We need to resolve our structural issues and enhance the eco-system. Then, the next step is to get the businesses ready to incorporate this new technology and that's what I mean by re-proliferation,” he said.

Madani also said the development of human capital was an important aspect of MAIR 2025.
Since last year, MAI had been collaborating with various local universities to develop talents for the Malaysian automotive industry.

“To create the manpower with the necessary skill and knowledge at each level of the (automotive) industry, we've started a customised human capital development programme.

These are for people already within the industry and it's a flexible initiative that can be done over the week or weekend.

“We want them to be enhanced in the skills and knowledge that they have to perform their existing jobs,” he said.

MAI has also commenced a “talent management programme” to cater to retirees with the relevant expertise in the automotive field.

“The local automotive industry is about 25 years old and there is now a large batch of retirees.

But this group of people have specific skills, knowledge and culture that we don't want to lose.

“So we have this talent management initiative where we get the retirees and we document their experiences to those that are willing to contribute. We take them in and make them our associates to advise companies that require their expertise,” Madani said.

MAI is also collaborating with the Higher Education Ministry to set up an industry centre of excellence to enhance the development of the different sub-systems (such as cooling, heating and suspension) involved in the development of a typical automobile.

An agency under the International Trade and Industry Ministry, MAI was established as the focal point and coordination centre for the development of local automotive industry.

“We need to do things in a manner that is different to quantum leap our improvement. This year, we are implementing a strategic, adaptive engagement and coordination approach to achieve our targets,” Madani said.

Source : The Star
Date : 7 February 2012
Today's Pick (08/02/12/019/713)

afternoon highlight (03/02/12/021/496) Gold, Oil Prices To Rise This Year

Gold, Oil Prices To Rise This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Gold and oil prices are set to rise this year on positive sentiment for both commodities amid global economic slowdown, said Standard Chartered Bank.

Its consumer banking group wealth management chief investment strategist, Steve Brice, said the gold prices were expected to touch an average of US$1,975 per ounce in the fourth quarter driven by four factors.

"They are high debt level in the West; negative real interest rate; high demand from China and India as well as central banks; and, limited supply for the precious metal," he said in a media briefing here today.

He said continuous uncertainty in global economy had boosted interest in gold as an hedging alternative against riskier investment.

He said the oil price was expected to rise to US$100 per barrel in the second half of this year driven by the geopolitical risks in the Middle East and strong demand from emerging market, expecially China.

"We didn't expect any significant decline in oil prices this year" he said.

On equities, he said, the bank was putting a 'neutral' call on Malaysia's equity market.

Brice said the country's equity market had posted a strong performance last year on a relative basis.

However, he said, the equity prices had gone up since then and were more expensive now.

"We are not bearish on Malaysian equity market but we think that some regional markets are better pick," he said.

Source: Bernama Date : 3 February 2012

Today's Pick (25/01/12/015/707) EKUINAS perluas sektor makanan, minuman

EKUINAS perluas sektor makanan, minuman

Ambil alih rangkaian restoran milik Revenue Valley

Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (EKUINAS), pengurus dana ekuiti persendirian milik kerajaan mengembangkan pelaburannya dalam sektor makanan dan minuman (F&B) dengan membeli 85.76 peratus kepentingan dalam Kumpulan Revenue Valley, sebuah syarikat F&B yang sedang pesat berkembang di Malaysia dan Singapura, membabitkan pelaburan RM64.7 juta.

Revenue Valley adalah pemilik dan pengurus rangkaian francais restoran Manhattan Fish Market, Tony Roma’s Malaysia dan Popeyes.

Dana persendirian itu dalam kenyataannya berkata, pelaburan itu adalah sebahagian strategi EKUINAS untuk membentuk sebuah Kumpulan F&B Malaysia terkemuka yang mempunyai portfolio jenama F&B tempatan dan global merangkumi semua segmen pasaran.

Katanya, pelaburan itu membabitkan pembelian ekuiti daripada pemegang saham sedia ada Revenue Valley, terutama Sweet Benefit Sdn Bhd dan Creative Goal Sdn Bhd, serta suntikan modal tambahan bagi membiayai program penambahan cawangan secara agresif.

Cadangan pelaburan itu adalah tertakluk kepada syarat terdahulu dan dijangka dimuktamadkan suku pertama 2012, katanya.

Manhattan Fish Market adalah restoran makanan laut kasual popular, manakala Tony Roma’s Malaysia ialah restoran layanan penuh (FSR) kasual yang terkenal dengan menu stik dan daging rusuk, sementara Popeyes adalah rangkaian restoran layanan pantas (QSR) yang menawarkan hidangan sajian ayam dan makanan laut yang beroperasi di Malaysia dan Singapura.

Revenue Valley ditubuhkan pada 2002 oleh usahawan George Ang dan Dickson Low, yang mana selepas kemasukan EKUINAS itu akan kekal dalam syarikat sebagai pemegang saham minoriti.

Ia berkembang pesat sehingga kini dengan 47 cawangan merangkumi ketiga-tiga jenama di Malaysia, Singapura dan Thailand, selain bakal memperkenalkan jenamanya ke seluruh rantau ini dan peringkat global.

Kumpulan terbabit mencatatkan jualan hampir RM100 juta bagi tahun kewangannya berakhir 30 September 2010.

Pengerusi EKUINAS Tan Sri Raja Arshad Raja Tun Uda dalam kenyataan mengumumkan pelaburan itu berkata, menerusi pelaburan itu, EKUINAS sudah membuat lapan pelaburan setakat ini sekali gus memperluaskan portfolio F&B kepada lima jenama popular dengan jumlah jualan terkumpul mencecah hampir RM200 juta menerusi 97 cawangan seluruh Malaysia, Singapura dan Thailand.

Setakat ini, katanya, jumlah komitmen pelaburan EKUINAS adalah sebanyak RM659.64 juta, selain membantu kemasukan modal menerusi rakan pelaburnya yang berjumlah RM779.28 juta ke dalam ekonomi Malaysia.

“Kami gembira dengan pelaburan di dalam Kumpulan Revenue Valley kerana ini dapat mengukuhkan lagi rancangan kami untuk membina sebuah kumpulan F&B ternama di Malaysia dengan portfolio pelaburan yang merangkumi pelbagai jenama.

“Dengan lebih 20 cawangan restoran di Singapura dan Thailand, Kumpulan Revenue Valley serta-merta menempatkan kami di pasaran serantau dan berupaya menjadi pemangkin bagi pelan perkembangan Kumpulan F&B EKUINAS pada masa depan,” katanya.

Raja Arshad berkata, pelaburan terbaru ini adalah susulan kepada pelaburan EKUINAS sebelum ini dalam rangkaian francais restoran makanan segera, Burger King dan San Francisco Coffee.

Sementara itu, Ketua Eksekutif EKUINAS, Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad berkata, Kumpulan Revenue Valley adalah syarikat berpotensi tinggi dengan kumpulan pengurusan mantap selain mempunyai rekod prestasi kukuh dalam penjanaan pertumbuhan.

“Dengan memiliki lima jenama di bawah Kumpulan F&B kami, EKUINAS berpeluang memanfaatkan sinergi seluruh rangkaian dari segi perkembangan cawangan, pemasaran dan komunikasi, serta operasi pentadbiran,” katanya.


Source : Berita Harian
Date : 20 January 2012

afternoon highlight (18/01/12/012/487) Vehicle sales down last year, record seen this year

Vehicle sales down last year, record seen this year

PETALING JAYA: Total vehicle sales reached 599,877 units last year, a 0.9% decline from 2010's all-time high of 605,156 units, due to the impact from the Japanese earthquake and floods in Thailand, according to the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA).

“As a result of the two natural disasters, sales of vehicles were lower during the second and fourth quarters of 2011 compared with similar corresponding periods in 2010,” MAA president Datuk Aishah Ahmad told a briefing yesterday.

However, she is optimistic of this year's outlook.

Passenger vehicle sales slipped 1.6% last year to 535,112 units from 543,594 units in 2010, while sales of commercial vehicles grew 5.2% to 64,765 units from 61,562 units in 2010.

Perodua sold the most vehicles last year with 179,989 units, maintaining its top position with a 30% market share of the total vehicle market. Proton maintained its second position with 158,657 units, accounting for 26.4% of the total vehicle market.

This was followed by Toyota and Honda, which sold 86,951 units (14.5%) and 32,480 units (5.4%) respectively. The fifth position was maintained by Nissan, with 32,276 units (5.4%) sold.

Total hybrid vehicles jumped over 2,000% to 8,334 units in 2011 from 328 units a year earlier, due to the ongoing excise duty exemptions on such vehicles.

Honda recorded a surge in hybrid vehicle sales to 4,596 units from 129 units in 2010, while Toyota sold 2,457 units versus 198 units previously. Lexus sold 1,267 units compared with just one unit previously. Porsche, meanwhile, sold 14 units last year.

“This year, sales of hybrid vehicles will grow further as more models are introduced. There are also one or two companies that are planning to introduce hybrids,” said Aishah.

As for its outlook on the automotive industry for 2012, the MAA has forecast total industry volume increasing 2.5% to 615,000 units.

Aishah said consumer confidence was expected to remain relatively high, owing to greater stability in the employment market.

“The extension of tax incentives for hybrids and electric vehicles to December 2013 under Budget 2012 would help to promote greater demand for the energy-efficient and eco-friendly vehicles,” she said, adding that the introduction of new and exciting models would generate interest.

Aishah said total vehicle sales in January would be boosted by promotional campaigns by car companies and the rush for deliveries for the Chinese New Year festival.

Source: The Star
Date: 18 January 2012