Today's Pick (22/01/13/15/939) NAP Review Attracts International Companies, Increases Motorcycle Production

NAP Review Attracts International Companies, Increases Motorcycle Production  

JITRA, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- The National Automative Policy (NAP) review, which was announced in 2009, has become an important factor in attracting international motorcycle companies to set up their operation in this country and helped boost motorcycle output.

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, said under NAP review, the freeze on issuance of manufacturing licences for several industry segments which were deemed strategic and had high impact on Malaysia's economy, has been lifted.

He said this included motorcycles with engine capacity of 200cc, hybrid and electric vehicles.

The impact of this for the local motorcycle manufacturing industry is that it provided over 100,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector, distribution, retail and after sales service," he said at the opening of KTM CKD (Complete Knock-Down) Factory here Friday.

Mukhriz said the cooperation between the government and manufacturers would encourage the local automotive sector to be more creative and innnovative.

He said the new plant would open the floodgates for many other automative-related initatives to be positioned in the northern states.

KTM, Austrian motorcycle maker, is Europe's second largest motorcycle manufacturer and it has formed a collaboration with Motonation Manufacturer Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of KTM motorcycle in Malaysia.

Source: Bernama

Date : 21 Jan 2013

Today's Pick (22/01/13/15/939)

Afternoon Highlight (21/01/13/13/71) RM210j bantu lonjak syarikat pertengahan

RM210j bantu lonjak syarikat pertengahan

KERAJAAN memperuntukkan RM210 juta untuk Program Pembangunan Syarikat Peringkat Pertengahan (PPSPP) bertujuan membantu meningkatkan daya saing syarikat bersaiz sederhana tempatan di peringkat antarabangsa.

Disertai 50 syarikat

Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, berkata program itu akan bermula tahun ini, dan buat permulaan sebanyak 50 syarikat akan dikenal pasti untuk menyertainya sebelum ditingkatkan secara berperingkat sehingga ia berakhir pada 2020.

Katanya, PPSPP yang akan dibiayai melalui kaedah perkongsian awam swasta dan adalah sebahagian daripada Program Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP) negara akan meliputi semua sektor, terutama pembuatan dan perkhidmatan.

Beliau berkata, syarikat yang dikategorikan sebagai Syarikat Peringkat Pertengahan ialah yang mempunyai jualan tahunan antara RM25 juta hingga RM500 juta.

Kerajaan beri sokongan

“Pelbagai sokongan, kemudahan dan perhatian Kerajaan sebelum ini lebih tertumpu kepada syarikat PKS (Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana) dan kini tiba masanya Kerajaan turut memberikan perhatian kepada Syarikat Peringkat Pertengahan supaya mereka juga dapat berkembang dengan lebih berjaya di persada antarabangsa,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas majlis perhimpunan perdana kementerian dan agensi berkenaan di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

PPSPP akan diketuai Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE) yang akan bekerjasama rapat dengan Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM), Lembaga Kemajuan Perindustrian Malaysia (MIDA), Perbadanan Produktiviti Malaysia (MPC), Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF) dan Institut Automotif Malaysia (MAI).

Ketika ini ada 9,900 Syarikat Peringkat Pertengahan di negara ini. Jumlah itu mewakili kurang satu peratus daripada syarikat “Sendirian Berhad” yang berdaftar dengan Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia.
Sumbang 30 peratus

Mustapa berkata, walaupun jumlahnya kecil, Syarikat Peringkat Pertengahan menyumbang sebanyak 30 peratus kepada nilai Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) negara dan 22 peratus kepada peluang pekerjaan.

Beliau berkata, sepanjang tempoh pelaksanaan PPSPP selama lapan tahun itu, ia dijangka mewujudkan 130,000 peluang pekerjaan dengan 21,000 adalah pekerjaan berpendapatan tinggi, meningkatkan nilai eksport sebanyak RM6 bilion, meningkatkan Pendapatan Negara Kasar (PNK) sebanyak RM6 bilion dan pertambahan lebih RM500 juta dalam Pelaburan Terus dalam Negara (DDI) menjelang 2020.

“PPSPP ialah program pecutan atau “acceleration programme” dan ia adalah usaha berterusan Kerajaan untuk melonjakkan pertumbuhan Syarikat Peringkat Pertengahan di negara ini agar dapat menjadi juara serantau dan global,” katanya.

Source : Berita Harian

Date : 21 January 2013            

Afternoon Highlight (21/01/13/13/71)

Afternoon Highlight (18/01/13/12/710) Malaysian entrepreneurs now more confident of success than ever before

Malaysian entrepreneurs now more confident of success than ever before

KUALA LUMPUR: The fear of failure rate among Malaysian entrepreneurs had fallen significantly over the last four years, from 65% in 2009 to 36% in 2012, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said.

“This trend was demonstrated from entrepreneurial pursuits that was shaped and focused on available opportunities, and signals an increasing rate of innovations, initiatives, and an improvement in the country's economic situation,” he said at the launch of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2012 yesterday.He noted that Malaysia's early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity or TEA rate for 2012 has increased to 7% compared to 4.4% in 2009.

“This increase was mainly driven by improvement-driven opportunity entrepreneurship as compared with necessity-driven entrepreneurship,” he said.

Ahmad Husni wants Malaysia's business retention rate getting even better although it has showed siginificant improvement over the past four years.

In 2009, only 4.3% of new businesses survived beyond 42 months period and that has increased to 7% in 2012. “Our retention rate is higher than the advanced countries such as United Kingdom (6%) and Germany (5%), while South Korea and China have higher rate at 10% and 12% respectively,” he said.

In line with that, Ahmad Husni said the Government was giving more attension towards improving entrepreneurs's capabilities through advisory services, coaching, training and funding via government agencies including Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd, SME Corp, Malaysian Biotechnology Corp and Multimedia Development Corp. He added that the agencies under his ministry and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry had augmented the status of local entrepreneurship andestablished a positive perception of entrepreneurship as a career.

“The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report in 2012 showed that Malaysia ranked 25th out of 144 countries, mainly in health and primary education as well as financial market development,” he said.

He said Malaysia was first to launch the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Global Report in Asia hosted by Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UniRazak),

“This report contains indicators which can serve as benchmarks for us to measure our efforts to develop entrepreneurship,” said Ahmad Husni. Prof Roland Xavier, the acting dean of Universiti Tun Abdul Razak's (UniRazak) Bank Rakyat School of Business and Entrepreneurship said Malaysia's entrepreneurial activity rate for this year will increase gradually at about 8%.

“Malaysia's vibrant economy coupled with high job opportunities would give a steady increase in the entrepreneurial activity rate,” he said. GEM was initiated in 1999 as a partnership between the London Business School and Babson College and UniRazak become a member in 2008 and conducted first nationwide research on entrepreneurship in 2009.

Only 10 countries involved during the initial level, but now GEM has conducted research in 96 countries, with each having its own national team that is resposible to conduct a survey of about 2,000 adults. The research program is to assess the level of national entrepreneurial activity for all participating countries.

Date :18 Jan 2013

Source : The Star

Afternoon Highlight (18/01/13/12/710)

Today's Pick (18/01/13/13/937) Malaysian Companies Invited To Participate In US$90 Billion Indian Corridor

Malaysian Companies Invited To Participate In US$90 Billion Indian Corridor

January 17, 2013 12:15 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The Indian government expects to attract Malaysian investors to participate in its US$90 billion Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor development project.

In making the call, Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vijay K. Gokhale, said Malaysian companies, which are known globally for their immense level of knowledge and expertise in infrastructure development and logistics, would be able to contribute significantly to the mega-project.

He said the Indian government, through the high commission in Kuala Lumpur, was set to embark on a series of promotional exercises including investment seminars and roadshows.

"We have listed a number of countries that we would like to invite for participation. Malaysia is among the frontliners of the list," he told Bernama.

The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor is a mega infra-structure project with financial and technical assistance from Japan, covering an overall length of 1,483 kilometres between the two main cities in the 1.2 billion population nation, namely New Delhi and Mumbai.

Described as an ambitious project, it is aimed at developing an industrial zone spanning across six states in India, with major expansion in infrastructures and industries including industrial clusters and rail, roads, ports and air connectivity to be seen in the states along the route of the economic corridor.

On the promotional activities, Gokhale said the High Commission has joined hands with the Malaysia-India Business Council to organise an investment seminar, slated to be held in March 2013.

"We have invited several notable speakers from both India and Malaysia. We are expecting about 100 companies to join in this seminar.

"The seminar would serve as a bridge to enable more Malaysian companies to do business in India, especially in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor," he added.

Source : BERNAMA

Date : 17 January 2013

Today's Pick (18/01/13/13/937)

Afternoon Highlight (17/01/13/11/709) Peluang labur di Arab Saudi

Peluang labur di Arab Saudi

Pelbagai insentif disedia tarik pelabur tempatan, asing

Perbadanan Pembangunan Perdagangan Luar Malaysia (MATRADE) menggesa ahli perniagaan Malaysia untuk meneroka pasaran Arab Saudi yang sedang berkembang pesat dan mencatat Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) lebih 60 peratus daripada anggota Negara Kerjasama Teluk (GCC).

MATRADE berkata, dalam usaha mencipta lebih banyak persekitaran perniagaan yang lebih kondusif, Kerajaan Arab Saudi menerusi agensinya, Pihak Berkuasa Pelaburan Umum Arab Saudi (SAGIA) dan Pihak Berkuasa Hartanah Perindustrian Arab Saudi (MODON) menawarkan pelbagai insentif untuk pelaburan tempatan dan asing di negara berkenaan.

Katanya, insentif terbaru yang diumumkan termasuk tawaran kepada pelabur asing 100 peratus pemilikan hartanah, kadar sewa yang kompetitif bagi tanah perindustrian, tarif kuasa yang kompetitif serta dana eksport.

Tembusi pasaran Arab

“Peluang yang banyak juga tersedia untuk syarikat Malaysia menembusi pasaran Arab Saudi menerusi Rancangan Pembangunan Lima Tahun (2010-2014) ke-9 dengan peruntukan sebanyak AS$385.1 bilion (RM1.162 trilion).
“Rancangan itu membabitkan projek daripada pelbagai sektor dengan tumpuan untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup penduduk, meningkatkan pengambilan pekerja, pembangunan ekonomi di seluruh rantau dan meningkatkan daya saing ekonomi kerajaan,” kata MATRADE dalam satu kenyataan di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.
Mengikut agensi itu, antara projek pembangunan utama yang dijalankan syarikat Malaysia di Arab Saudi termasuk Universiti Al-Faisal di Riyadh, Universiti Sains & Teknologi King Abdullah di Thuwal, projek menaik taraf Jambatan Jamarat dan kawasan sekitarnya di Mina, pembinaan Menara Kingdom di Riyadh, pembangunan perbandaran Bandar Ekonomi Jazan dan projek pembangunan Jabal Omar di Makkah.

“Kejayaan terbaru syarikat Malaysia adalah dalam eksport lampu dan kelengkapan syarikat di Arab Saudi bernilai RM21 juta dan menerima jemputan daripada entiti kerajaan untuk terbabit dalam projek mercu tanda di negara berkenaan.

Perluas kepakaran

“Dalam sektor perkhidmatan, syarikat Malaysia berpeluang meluaskan kepakaran mereka di Arab Saudi dalam pengurusan dan latihan sumber manusia; pengurusan dan operasi hotel; teknologi komunikasi dan maklumat; pengurusan kemudahan bersepadu, perkhidmatan seni bina, pengurusan projek, perkhidmatan kejuruteraan, perbankan Islam dan teknologi hijau,” katanya.

Pada 2011, dagangan dua hala Malaysia dengan Arab Saudi meningkat hampir empat kali ganda daripada AS$955.1 juta (RM2.883 bilion) pada 2000 kepada AS$3.79 bilion (RM11.44 bilion), jelas agensi itu.

Eksport utama Malaysia ke Arab Saudi adalah produk elektrik dan elektronik; barangan logam perkilangan, peralatan pengangkutan, peralatan jentera, alat ganti dan bahan kimia serta keluaran kimia.

Sumber: Berita Harian

Tarikh  : 17 Jan 2013      

Afternoon Highlight (17/01/13/11/709)

Today's Pick (17/01/13/12/936) Malaysian logistics seen growing 9.5% to RM139.74bil by value this year

Malaysian logistics seen growing 9.5% to RM139.74bil by value this year

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian logistics industry is expected to grow 9.5% to RM139.74bil by value this year compared with RM127.66bil in 2012, due to strong sustainable economic growth in the country and strong intra-Asian trade, said business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

Global vice-president, transportation & logistics practice Gopal R said that external trade for Malaysia remained resilient and was expected to increase 6.5% to RM1.42 trillion this year as compared to RM1.34 trillion last year.

“Growth of the country's external trade signifies the growth of the transportation and logistics industry especially for import and export forwarding, air freight and ocean freight-related businesses,” Gopal told reporters during a briefing on the industry's outlook yesterday.

He added that the positive outlook on foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows were also expected to drive the transportation and logistics market .

Gopal said that Malaysia's total exports for the 10 months of 2012 increased 1.1% while total imports grew 7.4% compared with 2011.

He said that trade with Asean countries account for 27.4% of Malaysia's trade.

“Exports to Asean increased by 10.1% while imports grew by 7.5% despite the challenging global trading environment,” he said.

Gopal forecast Malaysia's total cargo volume (air, rail and sea) to grow moderately at 5%, reaching 530.67 million tonnes in 2013 compared with 505.26 million tonnes in 2012.

He said that total cargo volume by sea was expected to grow 5% to 523.3 million tonnes in 2013.

“The total cargo throughput in 2012 stood at 498.2 million tonnes. Containerised cargo represents more than 70% of total cargo throughput by sea in the country; of which, about 47% is handled by Port Klang,” he said, adding that transhipment accounted for 22.5% of total sea cargo throughput last year.

Cargo volume by rail is expected to increase to 6.47 million tonnes in 2013 as compared to 6.16 million tonnes in 2012.

Gopal said the air freight market has been impacted by the global economic slowdown.

He estimated air cargo volume to increase marginally at 1.1% to 900,000 tonnes in 2013. He said that contract logistics was likely to generate substantial revenue stream for logistics companies.

He noted that many companies in Malaysia still manage their logistics needs internally, or engage logistics service providers for certain logistics tasks such as transportation, storage and import/export only when needed.

Gopal said with rising awareness of green issue globally, industry players would need to co-ordinate sustainable logistics practice in a way that meets customer requirements at minimum cost.

“Greening logistics operations include lower CO2 emission, more efficient use of fuel and also cutbacks in consumption of power, water, paper and other commodities,” he added

On a longer-term, Gopal said the Malaysian logistics industry was forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2 per cent to reach RM207.4bil in 2017.

Source : The Star

Date : 16 January 2013

Today's Pick (17/01/13/12/936)

Afternoon Highlight (16/01/13/10/708) Steel policy revamp begins

Steel policy revamp begins

Megasteel to start first phase of restructuring by month-end

PETALING JAYA: The first phase of the restructuring of the national steel policy is expected to be implemented by month-end, with debt-laden hot-rolled coils (HRC) producer Megasteel Sdn Bhd kick starting things, said industry sources.

Megasteel, a Lion Group unit, had sought Government assistance to impose stricter enforcement on the import of HRC, cold-rolled coils (CRC), plates, coated steel and pipes into Malaysia, as the influx of cheaper imported products into the country had placed many a flat steel producer in an uncompetitive position, resulting in severe margin squeezes.

Megasteel itself has been badly affected by the inflow. For the financial year ended June 30, 2011, it recorded a net loss of RM223.7mil on the back of an RM2.8bil revenue.

An industry source told StarBiz that the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) was currently in the final stages of helping Megasteel. Solutions include placing the company's restructuring under the framework of the Corporate Debt Restructuring Committee, monitoring its turnaround period, keeping its HRC prices within an agreed range and stricter enforcement of duty exemptions on imported steel goods.

The official statement by Miti is expected to be issued, at the latest, by the end of the month, added the source.

The source who dismissed talk of a possible delay in the implementation of the steel policy however, admitted that the full restructuring of the national steel policy cannot be carried out at “one go”. It would need to be implemented in stages this year due to the complexity of the various issues brought up by local steel players, explained the source.

In February last year, Miti hired the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to undertake a comprehensive study on the strategic RM40bil local steel industry on the back of increasing petitions and submissions from disgruntled steel manufacturers on the lack of competitiveness of local steel products as opposed to the imported ones.

BCG then put forth its recommendations to the ministry last July for further action.

This resulted in five steel working groups formed by Miti who meet regularly to discuss the issues and make recommendations to the newly established Malaysia Steel Council (MSC), headed by Industrial Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed himself.

The recommendations made to the MSC Technical Working Committee will basically form the framework for the restructuring of the national steel policy, thus dispelling the unfairness or disparity currently existing in the local sector and moving towards a level playing field.

“In fact, the Megasteel solutioning is only part of the measures to tackle the entire local steel industry's problems,” said a prominent steel player who declined to be quoted.

He said the Government would need to formulate effective mechanisms for local players to stay competitive and be on par with other regional players amidst the influx of cheaper imported goods, increasing protection measures and volatility in the prices of raw materials.

Post-Megasteel solutioning, the steel player expects the Government to impose, for the very first time, an anti-dumping duty on imported steel products beginning mid-February should Miti's current investigation on anti-dumping on imported steel wire rods (SWR) from several countries into Malaysia yields proof.

“This type of measure is in compliance with the practices under the World Trade Organisation.

“However, the local importers of SWR will have to understand the implications of this, especially pertaining to imports from certain countries,” he pointed out.

It should also be noted that the net effect of the recommendations made by the five steel working groups in relation to the Megasteel solutioning, access to key inputs, steel industry capabilities, standards and the importation process, and trade measures would eventually result in the full restructuring of the domestic steel industry.

The steel industry player concluded: “If the various issues are identified and addressed, it should augur well for the domestic steel industry towards competitiveness in the long term.”

Source : The Star

Date : 16 January 2013

Afternoon Highlight (16/01/13/10/708)

Today's Pick (16/01/13/10/9334) Branding group to help more Malaysian firms attain global success

Branding group to help more Malaysian firms attain global success

KUALA LUMPUR: The Branding Association of Malaysia is set to increase its membership to 1,000 by 2020 and is looking forward to helping more small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain national as well as international success.

Association president Datuk Eric Chong said the association envisions that its members would become internationally acclaimed Malaysian brands.

"We have been working tire-lessly in identifying the best homegrown Malaysian brands," he said at the Branding Association of Malaysia's 12th annual dinner yesterday.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation chairman Datuk Mah Siew Keong was the guest of honour at the function.

Also present was Media Prima Bhd chairman of Datuk Johan Jaaffar.

Founded more than a decade ago, the branding association was formed with the primary goal of developing the potential of Malaysian brands as successful ventures in the global market.

It currently has 300 members.

"We believe that the ultimate economic success of a company is a result of the collective success of all its business entities combined.

"Therefore, to strengthen Malaysia, we must first strengthen Malaysian businesses," said Chong, adding that the association believes that Malaysian businesses will never be truly internationally competitive without a proper understanding and application of the Art of Branding.

Source : New Straits Times

Date : 16 January 2013

Today's Pick (16/01/13/10/9334)

Afternoon Highlight (15/01/13/09/707) S’wak expected to be among nation’s top 3 growth contributors soon

S’wak expected to be among nation’s top 3 growth contributors soon

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak could become the top three contributors to the country's economy in the next few years as Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) is expected to drive the state gross domestic products growth (GDP) up to 10% in 2015 from less than 5% last year, said Kenanga Research.

Currently, the biggest state in Malaysia contributes about 8% to Malaysia's overall real GDP growth.

Kenanga Investment Bank hosted an exclusive conference called “The Sarawak Growth Story” on Thursday where it introduced the upcoming segments and future prospects of Sarawak with a specific focus on Score and the state's infrastructure, oil and gas as well as plantation sectors.

Sarawak's GDP growth contribution was bested only by Selangor, Johor and Penang.

Being Malaysia's largest and possibly the richest state, Kenanga said in a report that Sarawak was moving in a right direction as it would soon hit the halfway mark of the five-year 10th Malaysian Plan (10MP) which began in 2010.

“Much of the budget allocation in the 10MP is being channelled towards improving infrastructure, particularly transportation, managing urbanisation and developing Sarawak as an energy development hub.

“With Score leading the growth trajectory, we believe that Sarawak could exceed current growth of 5% to 6% by 2015, possibly outpacing the projected average national growth of 6.0%.

“This is premised on the progressive development of Score phase projects, specifically the smooth implementation of RM1.8bil deep-sea port project in Samalaju,” it said.

To make Sarawak's long-term growth plan a reality, Kenanga said Score's aim was to harness some 20,000MV of potential hydroelectric power in Sarawak (mainly from Bakun hydroelectric), plus some 1.46 billion tonnes of coal, 1.3 billion barrels of oil and 40.9 trillion cu ft of natural gas located in the central region.

“At the same time, the project would cover some 70,709 sq km of territory (about half the size of Peninsular Malaysia) or home to nearly a million people.

“The Government projects 1.6 million jobs opportunities to be created under Score by its target completion date of 2030,” it said.

Some of the companies Kenanga believed offered investors the right insights and investment opportunities into the market were Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd, Naim Holdings Bhd, Sarawak Cable Bhd, Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Sarawak Energy Bhd and Sarawak Oil Palm Bhd.

On challenges, Kenanga said apart from external shocks, the other main obstacle for Sarawak to achieve its higher growth potential would be the inability of the domestic economy to fully optimise the current development.

“With a population of just two million, Sarawak is under populated and is in real need to be in industries that are value-added and capital intensive.

“Meanwhile, income distribution within Sarawak has been an ongoing issue, mainly due to the historically uneven spread of the population between urban and rural areas. The relatively higher unemployment rate doesn't help either,” it said.

Source : The Star Date : 15 Jan 2013 Afternoon Highlight (15/01/13/09/707)

Today's Pick (14/01/13/08/932) Malaysian vehicle sales may decline

Malaysian vehicle sales may decline

KUALA LUMPUR: Growth partnership outfit Frost & Sullivan expects Malaysia’s vehicle sales to decline 2.9% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 600,000 units this year, as buyers await details of the revised National Automotive Policy (NAP).

Its partner and head of the automotive and transportation practice for Asia Pacific, Kavan Mukhtyar, said on Wednesday that the marginal decline in total industry volume (TIV) was also due to concerns about the general election (GE), possible increase in fuel prices and continued tighter lending guidelines.

“The overall uncertainty surrounding the GE and the NAP are likely to restrain fresh demand as well as the significant replacement market,” he said.

In 2012, the TIV is likely to be 618,000 units, says Frost & Sullivan, growing 3% y-o-y due to pent-up demand, normalisation in the automative parts supply chain and launch of several new models.

Kavan said it would be a stagnant market for the automotive sector this year, despite his outlook for Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) to maintain a 5% growth, mainly driven by strong performance in the construction, and oil and gas sectors.

“Both the construction and oil and gas sectors will drive the commercial vehicle segment to grow almost 9.9% y-o-y to 82,000 units this year, but the passenger vehicle segment is likely to fall 4.7% y-o-y to 518,000 units, as some consumers hold back on purchases of big-ticket items due to the uncertainties,” he said. “Sales for the A-segment for this year will continue to fall, at 15% y-o-y to 50,000 units, due to limited models offered and stricter credit control.”

He said automakers were likely to adopt a cautious approach in launching new models until the revised NAP was announced. New vehicle models expected to be launched this year included the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Kia Rio, Kia Picanto, Kia Fort K3, Land Rover Range Rover, Honda Brio, Honda Accord and Toyota Corolla Altis, he noted.

The B-segment (small and compact cars) is likely to see a decline of 4% y-o-y to 100,000 units in 2013, while the C-segment (mid-sized sedan) will see a fall of 2% y-o-y to 225,000 units.

He said the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) segment would see a drop in sales by 9% y-o-y to 90,000 units, as customers experienced model fatigue.

Kavan underlined several key factors that would likely impact sales demand this year, including reduction in taxes and duties on cars, increase in fuel prices and electricity tariffs, constant interest rates and continued stricter loan approvals.

“With the duty exemption for hybrid vehicles extended until Dec 31, 2013, hybrid vehicle sales are expected to almost double this year (35,000 units) as compared with 2012 (18,000 units),” he said.

“There is also likely to be an extended scope and incentives for green cars in the revised NAP to include low-emission conventional combustion engine cars and other alternative fuel vehicles, “ he added.

Source: The Star

Date :10 Jan 2013          Today's Pick (14/01/13/08/932)

Afternoon Highlight (14/01/13/08/706) Sime Darby tawar sukuk pelbagai mata wang

Sime Darby tawar sukuk pelbagai mata wang



Sime Darby Bhd muncul konglomerat Asia pertama yang menawarkan sukuk pelbagai mata wang selepas menerima kelulusan Suruhanjaya Sekuriti (SC) bagi terbitan bernilai AS$1.5 bilion itu.

Program sukuk itu adalah penanda aras penting, memandangkan ia program sukuk berbilang mata wang antarabangsa pertama Asia oleh korporat rantau ini di bawah prinsip syariah, ijarah.

Dalam kenyataannya semalam, Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan Sime Darby, Datuk Mohd Bakke Salleh (gambar), berkata syarikat bangga menjadi konglomerat Asia pertama yang melancarkan program sukuk berbilang mata wang itu.

“Ini mewakili komitmen berterusan Sime Darby untuk menyokong inisiatif dan usaha berterusan kerajaan untuk meletakkan Malaysia sebagai pusat kewangan Islam antarabangsa,” katanya.

Sime Darby diberi penarafan korporat A, A dan A3 masing-masing oleh Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P), Fitch Ratings Ltd serta Moody’s Investor Service, Inc.

Penarafan lebih tinggi

Penarafan itu lebih tinggi atau setanding penarafan berdaulat Malaysia pada A-/A-/A3 masing-masing oleh S&P, Fitch dan Moody’s.

Ia mencerminkan kedudukan Sime Darby sebagai satu daripada peserta perladangan terbesar dunia, portfolio perniagaannya yang pelbagai, saiz dan skala, trek rekod di samping profil kewangan yang mantap.

Program sukuk itu menyediakan Sime Darby keupayaan kewangan untuk memenuhi keperluan pembiayaan menuju ke depan, ketika ia mengembangkan portfolio perniagaannya ke peringkat global.

Sebagai tambahan kepada menjadi program berbilang mata wang, struktur yang mematuhi syariah itu akan membolehkan Sime Darby meraih kumpulan pelabur konvensional dan Islam lebih besar dari Asia, Timur Tengah dan Eropah.

Citigroup Global Markets Ltd, HSBC Amanah Malaysia Bhd, Maybank Investment Bank Bhd dan Standard Chartered Bank adalah Pengatur Utama Bersama bagi Program Sukuk itu.

Sime Darby adalah satu konglomerat pelbagai negara yang beroperasi di lebih 20 negara yang mempunyai ibu pejabat yang berpangkalan di Malaysia.

Enam bahagian teras Kumpulan itu ialah perladangan, hartanah, peralatan perindustrian, permotoran, tenaga dan utiliti serta penjagaan kesihatan.

Sime Darby antara syarikat terbesar tersenarai di Bursa Malaysia dengan permodalan pasaran RM57.6 bilion sehingga 9 Januari 2013. Bagi tahun kewangan berakhir 30 Jun 2012, kumpulan mencatat pendapatan RM47.6 bilion dan untung sebelum faedah dan cukai RM5.9 bilion.

Source : Berita Harian Date : 14 Januari 2013
Afternoon Highlight (14/01/13/08/706)

Today's Pick (11/01/13/07/931)RM300m for domestic investment strategic fund

RM300m for domestic investment strategic fund


SERI KEMBANGAN: The Government has allocated RM300mil under the Domestic Investment Strategic Fund this year to be disbursed to selected local companies to attract foreign investment.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the fund would be managed by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

“Mida has identified 18 local companies from various sectors, including services, electrical and electronic, and engineering sectors to be awarded the fund this year.

“Each company will be given a different amount of fund, on a case-by-case basis,” he told reporters after a working visit to Infovalley Group of Companies.

In July 2012, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the establishment of a RM1bil Domestic Investment Strategic Fund.

The fund is intended to accelerate the participation of Malaysian-owned companies in the global supply chain of high-value added, high-technology, knowledge-intensive and innovation-based industries.

The fund would be granted on a negotiable basis, based on the request of the companies and the merits of each case with the objective to enhance technological capabilities of domestic investors.

For the period from July to December last year, a total of RM89mil was disbursed under the fund to eight local companies.

The International Trade and Industry Ministry said the objective of the visit was to promote better understanding of the operations and services provided by Infovalley, in particular the application of next-generation technologies.

“The visit included a demonstration on the digital autopsy facility which has allowed autopsies to be conducted in a non-invasive manner,” it said in a separate statement.

The technology could also be applied in education, healthcare services and logistics. — Bernama

Source : Bernama Date : 11 January 2013

Today's Pick (11/01/13/07/931)

Afternoon Highlight (10/01/13/07/705)Proton may drive ASEAN + CHINA CAR

Proton may drive ASEAN + CHINA CAR


HUGE MARKET: Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia likely to work with China to develop project

KUALA LUMPUR: DRB-HICOM Bhd may initiate a drive among four nations to develop an Asean plus China car project, its top executive said.

Proton Holdings Bhd will be a key driver of the initiative, with potential partnerships between Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, which have Southeast Asia’s three largest car markets, and China, which has the world’s largest automotive market.

“Proton will play a crucial part in the potential project,” DRB-HICOM Bhd group managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil told the New Straits Times yesterday.

"We are one of the few countries in the world that has four national carmakers. Proton is the leader of the pack. It makes no sense for a Malaysian company to market a regional car without the presence of its top carmaker. It might now be an Asean + China car project as the Chinese market is huge."

DRB-HICOM Bhd, the country's biggest automotive company, fully owns unlisted Proton.

The group bought an initial 42.7 per cent stake in Proton from Khazanah Nasional Bhd for RM1.29 billion more than a year ago, and delisted the carmaker from Bursa Malaysia. Last year, Khamil had said 2020 was the earliest possible date that DRB-HICOM could come out with an Asean car.

In January last year, DRB-HICOM told Bursa Malaysia that one of the reasons it was buying Proton was because it could help develop Proton's presence in the regional market as an Asean carmaker.

Khamil refuted suggestions that the planned car project would be marketed under the Volkswagen-DRB-HICOM joint venture banner.

Business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, in a report in August, said the Asean region was tipped to become the sixth biggest automotive market in the world by 2018.

The report stated that by 2018, vehicle sales in the region was expected to grow to 4.7 million units versus 2.4 million units sold in 2011.

Despite the huge appetite to own vehicles, the region does not have a home-grown car that can stamp its mark in the region. Rather, Malaysia and Thailand have been making a name for themselves by assembling cars from Germany and Japan.

Thailand is known as the Detroit of the East.

Source : New Straits Times
Date : 10 January 2013
Afternoon Highlight (10/01/13/07/705)

Today's Pick (10/01/13/07/931) Call to seize opportunities under Mafta

Call to seize opportunities under Mafta


MELBOURNE: The New South Wales (NSW) state government has encouraged its business community to take advantage of the opportunities offered under the Malaysia-Australia Free Trade Agreement (Mafta) which came into force last week.

"Given that Malaysia is NSW's 11th largest merchandise export market, the start of Mafta is welcome news.

"From milk and wine to processed foods, iron and steel, a number of NSW industries stand to benefit from cuts to tariffs under the agreement," NSW Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Stoner said in a statement.

"Australian investors are also now guaranteed the right to majority ownership in companies across a wide range of service sectors in Malaysia, including education, investment banking, direct insurance, telecommunications, accounting, auditing and bookkeeping, management consulting, taxation services, tourism, research and development, and mining-related services.

"The agreement is an important extension of NSW and Australia's relationship with Asia, but the NSW government continues to call on the Australian government to step up efforts to secure increased access to key markets for which trade agreements are not yet in place.

"In particular, NSW seeks the conclusion of high-quality agreements with China, India, Indonesia, Japan and South Korea."

Under Mafta, 97.6 per cent of Australian goods exported to Malaysia are eligible for tariff-free treatment, rising to 99 per cent in 2017.

"(Australian) farmers will be pleased to see Mafta includes dairy and rice, with a liberalised licensing arrangement for liquid milk exporters that will allow access for higher value retail products and open access arrangements for rice from 2023 with all tariffs eliminated by 2026."

Stoner said NSW manufacturers can take advantage of the elimination of virtually all tariffs on processed foods, plastics, chemicals and manufactured products.

The agreement also allows for business-friendly rules of origin provisions, more Australian business executives to work in Malaysia and for longer periods, the establishment of a framework for mutual recognition of qualifications and licensing for professionals, stronger protection of Australian trademarks and copyright, and improvements to e-commerce. Bernama

Source : New Straits Times
Date : 10 January 2013
Today's Pick (10/01/13/07/931)

Afternoon Highlight (09/01/13/06/704) Iskandar Malaysia to get 3rd theme park

Iskandar Malaysia to get 3rd theme park


JOHOR BARU: Iskandar Malaysia is set to get its third theme park after Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park and Legoland Malaysia, says Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB).

IIB president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim said the park's investors will make an announcement in three to six months.

"The third theme park is oriented towards young adults and children," he told reporters at the Raffles American School groundbreaking at Educity, Nusajaya, here yesterday, without disclosing the park's location, construction cost or investors.

On December 27 last year, Bernama reported from Jakarta that Indonesian theme park developer PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol was planning to expand to Iskandar Malaysia.

According to its director Winarto, the company has been invited by the Malaysian government to open a theme park in Iskandar Malaysia and was scouting for a suitable location.

The project will be in collaboration with the local authority and Khazanah Nasional as the intermediary, Winarto said, adding that the park will be built on a 50ha site and construction is expected to begin in 2013.

The RM750 million Legoland Malaysia, which opened on September 15 2012, has attracted 250,000 visitors, and targets one million visitors in its first year of operations. Meanwhile, the RM110 million Puteri Harbour has attracted 55,000 visitors. Bernama

Read more: Iskandar Malaysia to get 3rd theme park http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/8THIRD/Article/#ixzz2HSTFUGrC

Source : Business Times
Date : 9 January 2013
Afternoon Highlight (09/01/13/06/704)

Today's Pick (09/01/13/06/930) Higher retail sales in Malaysia seen

Higher retail sales in Malaysia seen


FESTIVE SEASON A REASON: Sector expected to grow 5.8pc in 2012

THE retail industry is expected to expand by 5.7 per cent in the last quarter of 2012 while the growth for the year is estimated at 5.8 per cent, according to Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) managing director Tan Hai Hsin.

Tan said the fourth quarter growth forecast is slightly higher than RGM's earlier projection at 5.5 per cent, but lower than Malaysia Retailers Association (MRA) retailers' estimate at 6.2 per cent.

He said the last quarter growth rate is to be supported by the festive holidays, school holidays and year-end sales.

"Malaysian consumers will still remain cautious in their retail spending," Tan said in the Malaysia Retail Industry Report.

The report is based on the interviews with MRA members on their retail sales performances for the rest of 2012.

Tan said the third quarter of last year saw the industry grew at a lower-than-expected rate of 4.8 per cent in sales, compared to an earlier retailers' estimate of 5.3 per cent.

"Although the Hari Raya celebration took place during the third quarter, retail sales did not grow much higher than expected," he said.

He said retail sales in the third quarter slowed down despite civil servants and pensioners receiving cash payment during the period.

"During this quarter, retailers still needed to absorb the rising cost of goods and offer attractive discounts to attract shoppers to buy at the same time. Many retailers were still suffering from negative growth in their profit margins."

For 2013, RGM is maintaining its earlier growth forecast of the retail industry at 6 per cent in 2013.

Tan said many retailers will enjoy better sales during the first quarter of this year when the government hands out cash under the second round of Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia to Malaysians from this month.

Also, about five million students from Year One to Form Five will receive RM100 cash from January 15 2013.

The industry is also expecting electrical and electronics retailers to benefit from the RM200 rebate on smartphones for those aged between 21 and 30 years, with a monthly income of not more than RM3,000.

"Furthermore, bookstores will get a big boost in sales when the RM250 1Malaysia Book Voucher is distributed to all private and public university students from February 2013," he said.

RGM expects macro economic environment of Malaysia to remain weak for the first half of 2013, as major turnarounds are not expected on the eurozone debt crisis, the US sluggish economy and weak China exports.

Source : The Star
Date : 8 January 2013
Today's Pick (09/01/13/06/930)

Afternoon Highlight (08/01/13/05/703)50 halal firms to benefit from project

50 halal firms to benefit from project


Fadilah (left) at the preview of Malaysia’s first in-depth research report on the halal industry. Looking on is Persis Management & Services Sdn Bhd CEO Fe Jazzareen Mor Japar Khan

SUBANG JAYA: Fifty companies from the halal industry are expected to benefit from a special pilot project spearheaded by the Department of Standards Malaysia to help them understand and better implement halal requirements.

Helping local players to be self-sufficient, Standards Malaysia has initiated a series of activities for businesses to ride on the waves of the expanding halal industry, said its director general Fadilah Baharin at the preview of Malaysia's first in-depth research report on the halal industry.

According to her, the halal industry grew 75% between 2010 and 2011 and expected it to grow further.

Globally, the halal market is estimated to be RM6.3 trillion annually while in the first half of 2012, RM16bil worth of halal products and services were exported from the country.

“Malaysian businesses can tap on the extensive opportunities in the industry to increase the amount of exports,” she said.

Through workshops and an in-depth research, which involved 650 consumers and 350 industry players, industry players are expected to benefit from the insights provided, she added.

Findings of the research will be published in the Malaysia Halal Industry Market Report 2012.

One of the key insights of the research indicated that the interpretation of halal' was currently limited to pork and alcohol-free processes.

However, there was a lack of understanding on Halalan Toyyiban', which sets criteria on safety, hygiene and cleanliness, she said.

Source : The Star
Date : 8 January 2013
Afternoon Highlight (08/01/13/05/703)

Today's Pick (08/01/13/05/929) MyCreative agih RM200 juta

MyCreative agih RM200 juta


Johan Ishak, Ketua Eksekutif, MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd

Dana disalur dalam bentuk ekuiti, pinjaman kepada syarikat kreatif tempatan

Kuala Lumpur: MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd akan menyalurkan peruntukan Dana Mycreative kepada kumpulan pertama penerima seawal bulan depan.

Ia berikutan maklum balas memberangsangkan terhadap dana itu yang dilancarkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak pada September lalu.

Proses penerimaan permohonan dan penilaian setakat ini berjalan sangat lancar. Justeru, kami menjangkakan 2013 akan menjadi tahun yang penting kepada industri kreatif Malaysia," Johan Ishak, Ketua Eksekutif, MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd

Anak syarikat Kementerian Kewangan Diperbadankan itu memperoleh mandat daripada kerajaan untuk mengagihkan peruntukan RM200 juta bagi menerajui pertumbuhan industri kreatif tempatan.

Dana itu akan diagihkan sama ada dalam bentuk ekuiti atau pinjaman kepada syarikat kreatif tempatan berdaya maju dalam lapan bidang iaitu seni visual, seni persembahan, muzik, kesusasteraan, kandungan kreatif, seni fesyen dan rekaan serta seni tradisional.

Terima 50 permohonan

Ketua Eksekutif, Johan Ishak, berkata dalam tempoh tiga bulan selepas dana itu dilancarkan, pihaknya menerima kira-kira 50 permohonan daripada penggiat industri kreatif tempatan yang mengendalikan syarikat untuk dikembangkan ke tahap lebih tinggi.

Beliau berkata, daripada permohonan yang diterima, kira-kira separuh syarikat berkenaan sudah membuat pembentangan kertas kerja berhubung pelan perniagaan masing-masing.

“Kami sedang melakukan proses penilaian terperinci untuk tiga permohonan diterima. Ada pemohon sudah membuat pembentangan perlu datang sekali lagi untuk mengemukakan pelan lebih menyeluruh.

“Kini, ada satu permohonan sudah melepasi proses penilaian, namun ia hanya akan dimuktamadkan selepas Lembaga Pengarah MyCreative meluluskannya. Perkembangan lanjut mengenai penerima pertama itu mungkin dapat diketahui pada Februari ini,” katanya kepada BH.

Berdasarkan perangkaan terkini kerajaan, industri kreatif tempatan kini dianggarkan bernilai RM9.4 bilion serta menyumbang 1.27 peratus kepada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK).

Kembang industri kreatif

Angka itu bagaimanapun masih rendah berbanding beberapa negara lain yang mempunyai industri kreatif mantap seperti Kanada (7.4 peratus), Britain (6.4 peratus) dan Singapura (5.6 peratus).

Kerajaan berhasrat mengembangkan industri kreatif tempatan pada kadar 11 peratus setahun hingga 2020.

Johan berkata, jumlah permohonan memberangsangkan yang diterima setakat ini membuktikan penggiat seni kreatif tempatan memerlukan dana untuk mengangkat martabat industri berkenaan ke tahap lebih tinggi pada peringkat antarabangsa.

“Proses penerimaan permohonan dan penilaian setakat ini berjalan sangat lancar. Justeru kami menjangkakan 2013 akan menjadi tahun yang penting kepada industri kreatif Malaysia,” katanya.

Dana MyCreative sebahagian insentif kewangan serta geran disediakan kepada penggiat seni kreatif tempatan.

Antara dana yang disediakan oleh pelbagai agensi kerajaan termasuk Geran Industri Kreatif (RM120 juta) dan Dana Pembangunan Industri Kreatif (RM100 juta).

Permohonan untuk Dana MyCreative terbuka kepada syarikat tempatan berdaftar serta majoriti kepentingannya dimiliki rakyat tempatan.

Ia boleh dikemukakan menerusi laman web MyCreative Ventures di www.mycreative.com.my.

INFO: Industri kreatif, Malaysia
RM200 juta - dana pembangunan.
RM9.4 bilion - nilai industri.
1.27 peratus - sumbangan kepada nilai ekonomi.

Source : Berita Harian
Date : 7 January 2013
Today's Pick (08/01/13/05/929)