The East Coast Development Corridor | Kelantan,Terengganu,East Pahang | Petronas

[haze]

ECER to get two fish processing centres

KOTA BARU: The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will have two new fish processing centres to improve revenue capture and boost the earnings of fishermen.

These centres would be based in Kuala Besar in Kelantan and Kuala Besut in Terengganu.

Under the stewardship of Malaysia Fisheries Development Board (LKIM), the two centres will focus on downstream fisheries activities, including processed and ready-for-table fish-based food products, LKIM said in a statement. The centres will also monitor food processing methods, quality, standardisation, packaging, presentation and branding to help penetrate new markets.

They will act as accreditation centres for Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), halal and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certifications.

The centre in Kuala Besar will focus on fish floss (serunding ikan), anchovy (ikan bilis) crisps and fish-based rolls while Kuala Besut will be the base for keropok lekor and fish-based otoshimi.

LKIM director-general Mustafa bin Haji Ahmad said LKIM has been tasked with managing and monitoring 13 fish landing complexes in ECER – three in Kelantan, four in Pahang and six in Terengganu.

LKIM was established in 1971 to improve the socio-economy of fishermen and develop the fisheries industry.

[nazrey]

Pahang to host world's largest stem cell manufacturing plant
BY Jeeva Arulapalam Published: 2008/01/25
BusinessTimes



With the Bio-Cellular Research Organisation's facility in Malaysia,
the cost of stem cell treatments is expected to become more affordable to Malaysians

THE East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will host the world's largest stem cell manufacturing facility when US-based Bio-Cellular Research Organisation (BCRO) sets up operations there.

Pahang Technology Resources Sdn Bhd and BCRO Stem Cell Xenotransplantation Sdn Bhd will sign a memorandum of understanding on January 28, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the ECER Secretariat said in a statement issued yesterday.

Stem cell transplantation researcher BCRO will site its main manufacturing plant in Pahang from its present location in Slovakia.

BCRO is projecting an estimated RM280 million over a three-year period to transfer its technical know-how by its scientists from the US and European Union.

It supplies stem cell transplants to doctors and hospitals in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

It has extended treatments to 200 patients in South East Asia, Hong Kong and Australia, including about 100 cases in Malaysia over the last two and a half years.

Medical researchers anticipate stem cells to treat cancer, type 1 diabetes, spinal cord injuries and muscle damage, among other diseases.

With the BCRO's facility in Malaysia, the cost of stem cell treatments is expected to become more affordable to Malaysians.

[rizalhakim]

Mydin proposes to build country’s biggest hypermarket in Kelantan

By IAN MCINTYRE

KOTA BARU: MydinWholesale Emporium Sdn Bhd plans to establish the biggest hypermarket in Malaysia at the New Tunjong Township here.

The proposed RM100mil facility would sit on 7.2ha with a floor space of 650,000 sq ft and generating about 3,000 of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Earthworks on the latest outlet should begin by July and operations commence within a year, said managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin yesterday after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Mydin and Tunjong Development Corp Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Mentri Besar Inc, for the hypermarket project.

“It is a fast-track project and the construction of a hypermarket is not an arduous feat in terms of building and infrastructure. We are confident of unveiling it next year,” Ameer said.

Since Mydin started and grew in Kelantan, it was only appropriate for the supermarket and hypermarket chain to invest in the east coast state, he added.

The biggest hypermarket in the country currently is also owned by Mydin, which also operates 24 emporiums and another hypermarket.

The Subang Jaya, Selangor, facility has a built-up area of 500,000 sq ft.

Mydin is also embarking on an expansion exercise which would see it operating six more hypermarkets including the one in Tunjong by next year.

At the same event, an MoU was inked between Kelantan Utilities Mubaarakan Holdings Sdn Bhd, Perak-based Kinson Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Kelantan Handicraft Foundation for the formation of a joint venture company called Masna Pipes Industries Sdn Bhd.

Masna will make and supply asbestos cement water pipes for the east coast market.

Kelantan Utilities is the parent company of state water utility Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd.

[rizalhakim]

Properties to get boost from growth region
THE East Coast Economic Region (ECER) can boost the property sector and property prices in the long term, industry experts and real estate consultants say.

"It's a long term game and the higher impact would be on industrial development in buildings and land for industrial," Henry Butcher Malaysia's property research director Fahariah Abdul Wahab said.

It is learnt that Kuantan can sustain another 150,000sq m of retail space, Kota Baru some 110,000 sq m and Kuala Terengganu some 135,000 sq m.

Fahariah said although the ECER hold about 14.8 per cent of Malaysia's population, it only recorded up to 9.1 per cent of residential, 6.5 per cent of commercial and 8.3 per cent of industrial property transaction in the country in 2006.

In terms of value, the residential sector in ECER only constituted 4.2 per cent of the national total.

"The ECER has the capability to create the needed mass and demand to propel property development in the region," Fahariah said.

She said if all ECER's initiatives are implemented smoothly, it would also give an advantage to the tourism industry and prospects for new hotel and resorts in the region.

"There are a lot of players interested in investing in hotels in the region.

"I believe before investing they will be looking at land prices and viability, because in terms of hotels, the region still lacks good quality hotels on the mainland where you need five to six star hotels to attract foreign and business tourists," she said.

Meanwhile, Ho Chin Soon Research Sdn Bhd director Ho Chin Soon said even though he sees some constraints in land sales and the impact skewed towards the oil and gas and agriculture sectors, the ECER will have positive spillover effects to property prices and property development activity in the region.

DPZ Asia's urban design consultant Kamal Ariffin Zahrain said he believes there is good development potential for the region as ECER's masterplan is structured to take full advantage of it.

"We see good viability as the master plan is well integrated and flexible enough to allow new ideas and changes to be made in future," he said.

by Business Times

[haze]

ECER will be good for real estate development

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD

KUANTAN: Progress in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will have positive impact on real estate development and prices, especially in the industrial sector, industry experts and property consultants said.

According to Henry Butcher Malaysia's property research director Fahariah Abdul Wahab, there would be obvious positive impact if all ECER's initiatives were implemented smoothly.

She said the move was timely, taking advantage of the good tourism potential and prospects for new hotels and resorts in the region.

``There are a lot of players interested in investing in hotels and I believe before investing, they will be looking at land prices and viability.

``This is because in terms of hotels, the region still lacks good quality hotels on the mainland where you need five- to six-star hotels to attract foreign and business tourists,'' she said Tuesday in a statement released by the ECER Secretariat here.

She added that it was a long term plan and the higher impact would be on industrial development in buildings and land for industrial use.

Ho Chin Soon Research Sdn Bhd said even though there were some constraints in land sales and the impact skewed towards the oil and gas and agriculture sectors, ECER would have positive spillover effects to property prices and development activity in the region.

DPZ Asia's urban design consultant Kamal Ariffin Zahrain said he believed there was good development potential for the region as ECER's masterplan was structured to take full advantage of it.

``The masterplan is well integrated and flexible enough to allow new ideas and changes to be made in future.

``The more integrated the masterplan, the better,'' he added.

As for Kelantan, Kamal Ariffin said Kota Baru's business activity was expected to get a boost from the ECER plans as it also included the build of an integrated city centre there.

At the moment, Kota Baru had no clear city centre with businesses growing robustly and as such, the planned integrated city centre was timely and would fill the gap for businesses to leverage on, he added.

[nazrey]

ECER to spark property boom
Wednesday February 6, 2008
TheStar

KUANTAN: Expect higher real estate prices once the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) takes off, say property consultants.

If all the ECER initiatives were implemented smoothly, there would be an obvious positive impact, said Henry Butcher Malaysia’s property research director Fahariah Abdul Wahab.

“There are a lot of players interested in investing in hotels and I believe before investing, they will be looking at land prices and viability.

“This is because in terms of hotels, the region still lacks good quality hotels on the mainland. You need five or six-star hotels to attract foreign and business tourists,” she said in a statement released by the ECER Secretariat yesterday.

She added that it was a long-term plan and the higher impact would be on industrial development in buildings and land for industrial use.

Quoting sources familiar with the ECER plan, Kuantan could sustain another 150,000sq metres of retail space, Kota Baru some 110,000sq metres and Kuala Terengganu 135,000sq metres.

The release also stated that although the ECER area had about 14.8% of the country’s population, it only recorded up to 9.1% of residential, 6.5% of commercial and 8.3% of industrial property transaction in the country in 2006.

In terms of value, the residential sector in ECER only constitutes 4.2% of the national total.

“The impact will not happen overnight as it will take a period of between two to three years,” Fahariah added.

Ho Chin Soon Research Sdn Bhd director Ho Chin Soon said even though there were some constraints in land sales and the impact skewed towards the oil and gas, and agriculture sectors, ECER would have positive spill-over on property prices and development activity in the region.

DPZ Asia’s urban design consultant Kamal Ariffin Zahrain said he believed there was good development potential for the region as ECER’s masterplan was structured to take full advantage of it.

“The more integrated the master plan, the better,” he added.

As for Kelantan, Kamal Ariffin said Kota Baru’s business activity was expected to get a boost from the ECER which includes plans to build an integrated city centre there.

The planned integrated city centre was timely and would fill the gap for businesses to leverage on, he added.

[rizalhakim]

Islamic hotel for Terengganu


A model of the Wakaf Hotel in Kuala Terengganu, due for completion in 21/2 years.


KUALA TERENGGANU: The country will have its first ever Islamic-themed hotel here within the next 2 1/2 years.

The RM20 million three-star Wakaf Hotel will include separate swimming pools for both sexes, built under a canopy, rooms provided with copies of the Quran and prayer mats, among others.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, in announcing this yesterday, said the hotel would help solve the limited number of rooms here and cater to religious functions.

“It can help woo tourists, local and foreign, especially from Muslim countries, besides accommodating officials from religious departments,” he said after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the state Religious and Malay Culture Council (Maidam) and the Wakaf, Zakat and Haji Department here.

The seven-storey hotel will be built on a 0.7ha site, near the Masjid Sultan Zainal Abidin or “Masjid Putih", and the Kuala Terengganu City Council bus station.

Comprising 182 rooms, the hotel will also house two dorms, five seminar halls and three retail units.

Maidam and the Wakaf, Zakat and Haji Department will jointly operate and manage the hotel.

[rizalhakim]

RM95m landmark for Kuala Terengganu




The public admiring a model of the Paya Bunga Square at the launch yesterday.


KUALA TERENGGANU: Once it is completed late next year, Paya Bunga Square, in the heart of the city, will be a landmark.

The RM94.4 million building, nestled between the Kuala Terengganu City Council bus stop and Paya Bunga Complex, includes a five-star hotel, restaurant, a shopping complex and offices.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said the building, a project under the East Coast Economic Region, would be constructed in two phases.

The first phase is a four-storey podium that will house a restaurant and an upscale shopping centre.

The second phase is a 12-storey hotel with 201 rooms and seminar hall that can seat 400.

There will also be 12 floors of office space and a car park for 441 vehicles and 196 motorcycles.

"It will be a new landmark for the city," Idris said at the ground-breaking ceremony yesterday.

[rizalhakim]

[nazrey]

Kuwait Finance plans financing initiatives for ECER
Published: 2008/03/19
BusinessTimes

The Islamic bank is in talks with Terengganu firms on financing within the East Coast Economic Region

KUWAIT Finance House (Malaysia) Bhd is in discussions with Terengganu’s state investment company, Terengganu Inc, and its related companies on financing initiatives within the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

“We have looked into specific financing opportunities for some of the related companies, ranging from infrastructure, oil and gas, shipping, plantation/agriculture and IT (information technology),” said its managing director Datuk Salman Younis.

“So far, all of the discussions are focused on financing,” he said in a statement today.

On plans for retail branches within the ECER, Younis said the Islamic bank will evaluate the feasibility based on the success of its corporate, investment and commercial businesses there.


He said the bank is involved in the financing of a flight training school and garment manufacturer, both in Kota Baru.

Kuwait Finance House, one of the largest Islamic banks in the world, has embarked on several projects, including establishing a fund investing about US$330 million for projects in the Iskandar Development Region.

The ECER master plan envisages Terengganu becoming a tourism gateway, a hub for oil, gas and petrochemical industries, a centre of educational excellence and agriculture focused on goat rearing and as a citrus valley.

Kelantan will become centre of trading, human capital development, educational excellence as well as poultry and herbal cultivation.

Pahang will focus on manufacturing and becoming a port city with integrated logistics distribution centre and palm oil industrial cluster as well as cattle and pineapple, while Mersing in Johor will be developed for tourism. — Bernama

[nazrey]

Terengganu in ECER tourism push
Monday March 24, 2008
TheStar

KUALA TERENGGANU: Boosted by the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), Terengganu is mounting an aggressive push in tourism initiatives to target 3.5 million tourists for the Visit Terengganu Year (VTY) 2008 campaign.

VTY 2008 secretariat head Tengku Mohd Arifin Tengku A. Rahman said the 3.5 million-tourists target was an increase from the 2.8 million achieved last year.

The tourism sector contributed RM1.47bil to the state’s economy.

Terengganu has lined up 25 major events, including the Monsoon Cup yacht race.

“We are also pitching for our own Federation of Equestrian International horse-racing event.

The state is also giving emphasis to its Crystal Mosque.

“It is not only the first of its kind in the world, it is an icon of Malaysia,” Mohd Arifin said.

Made of crystal glass and a steel foundation, the mosque is part of the RM250mil Islamic Civilisation Park on a 23ha site within ECER.

The state-of-the-art mosque boasts latest ICT facilities with which sermons can be aired via the Internet.

The park had 700,000 visitors within six days of its opening on February 3.

Malaysia Association of Hotels chairman Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad said the uniqueness of Terengganu's tourism was the conservation of nature despite development.

He said the state had taken a proactive approach to development by emphasising heritage conservation, promotion of local handicraft and protection of the environment.

“The west coast is losing its culture and heritage because of development.

“I feel Terengganu should maintain what it has, and this should be its trademark,” he added.

Raja Kamarul said the Terrapuri Village in Kampung Mangkok was a good example.

Located next to a turtle wildlife sanctuary and looking towards the famous tourist islands of Redang and Perhentian, the resort features 28 Terengganu-style Malay houses.

Slated to open in the middle of 2008, the village combines Terengganu’s unique architectural heritage with modern conveniences.

Another tourist development is the Kuala Terengganu City Centre.

With Kuala Terengganu declared as a heritage waterfront city, this development will have a water sports amphitheatre, hotels, a signature pedestrian bridge and a silverware and handicraft centre.

Other attractions include a traditional boat-building yard, maritime centre, integrated shopping mall, edutainment centre, cruise terminal, marina and jetty.

Terengganu's tourist attractions include the islands of Perhentian, Redang, Kapas and Tenggol, as well as Kenyir Lake on the mainland.

Sultan Mahmud Airport, located 15km from the town, will be upgraded to an international aviation hub under ECER at a cost of RM123mil.

The East Coast Expressway will see travel between Johor Baru and Kota Baru reduced from 11.3 hours to 7.1 hours, and halve travel time from Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur to four hours.

[rizalhakim]

Hartanah: Bio Lojing mesra alam
Oleh Hartini Mohd Nawi
tini@hmetro.com.my





BAKAL muncul antara bandar hijau dan pembangunan seiring pemuliharaan alam sekitar, Lembah Besar Bio Lojing di Gua Musang, Kelantan, kian mendapat perhatian.

Projek yang sudah memasuki fasa kedua itu dibangunkan Kumpulan Mofaz dengan kerjasama dua konsortium iaitu Solarin Holdings dan Telemont Sdn Bhd.


Fasa kedua bernilai RM10 bilion itu membabitkan pembangunan di kawasan seluas 5,200 hektar dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya menjelang 2013.

Menurut Presiden Kumpulan Mofaz, Mohamed Fauzy Abdul Hamed, projek berkenaan dijangka memulakan kerancakan di Wilayah Ekonomi Pantai Timur (ECER), sekali gus meletakkan Kelantan di peta dunia sebagai bandar hijau negara.

"Keistimewaan projek ini ialah menampilkan konsep mesra alam dengan penggunaan tenaga daripada sumber semula jadi iaitu solar, air dan angin menerusi teknologi dari Eropah," kata Mohamed Fauzy.

Menerusi fasa kedua, antara pembangunan yang dirancang ialah membina hotel bertaraf lima bintang, litar perlumbaan bagi kenderaan yang menggunakan tenaga solar dan elektrik, pusat peranginan, hartanah komersial dan kediaman.

Menariknya, kegiatan yang sedang dijalankan di Lembah Besar Bio Lojing itu ialah perhutanan semula untuk pembangunan hutan mapan, perladangan organik bersepadu skala besar, pengurusan perladangan kambing biri-biri Dorper dan penanaman buah-buahan serta herba.

Pembangunan itu turut direka sebagai platform bagi makanan organik dan halal, bioteknologi serta tenaga diperbaharui semula dengan objektif penyelidikan dan pembangunan. Bandar hijau itu di bawah tempoh pegangan pajak selama 99 tahun.

Di samping itu, projek fasa pertamanya sudah bermula sejak enam tahun lalu dan membabitkan projek pertanian termasuk tanaman 200,000 pokok karas, 338,000 pokok kayu jati dan pokok getah di kawasan seluas 2,400 hektar.

Kawasan berkenaan turut menempatkan ladang organik berintegrasi yang dibahagikan kepada ladang sayur, buah dan ternakan yang kini sudah mengeluarkan hasil.

Lebih membanggakan kerana bandar hijau di bawah tempoh pegangan pajak selama 99 tahun itu bakal membuka lebih 150,000 peluang pekerjaan kepada penduduk tempatan.

[rizalhakim]

ECER states ramp up swiftlet farming
Published: 2008/03/29


THE East Coast Economic Region (ECER) states are ramping up swiftlet farming, with Kelantan emerging as the country's second largest swiftlet farmer after Perak.

Swiftlet farms produce highly-prized and much coveted birds' nests, where male swiftlets deposit salivary strands to build nests.

A kilogramme of unprocessed white edible birds' nests was priced between RM4,500 and RM6,000 in 2006, while its processed version fetched retail prices of RM15,000 to RM25,000 in Hong Kong and China.

The total consumption value of edible birds' nests throughout the world in 2006 was estimated to be in between RM8 billion and RM12 billion.


Hong Kong, at a 50 per cent consumption rate, is the world's biggest buyer of birds' nests, while China stands at eight per cent, Taiwan four per cent and Macau three per cent, with consumption weight value of 160 tonnes for 2006.

As of June 2004, there were about 300 birds' nest locations in Kelantan, especially in Kota Baru, Tumpat and Rantau Panjang.

Other swiftlet farms within the ECER are in Pasir Mas in Kelantan; Kampong Air Papan in Mersing; Kuala Besut, Kuala Terengganu, Tok Soboh, Kampung Pinang in Terengganu; as well as Rompin and Pekan in Pahang.

Nespure Birdsnest Sdn Bhd managing director Ng Ching Phock said swiftlet farming has become a new industry to generate Kelantan's economy, apart from offering jobs to its people.

With its own outlet and swiftlet farm in Kota Baru, Nespure Birdsnest markets birds' nest products directly from its outlet and sells to third parties.

It is also the first outlet in the east coast to sell sea swiftlet's birds' nest products.

"Locally harvested birds' nests are among the world's best in quality and are in demand from the international market, either raw or processed," Ng said in a statement yesterday.

"At Nespure Birdsnest, Muslim workers are employed to collect, clean, process, and select quality bird's nests by using traditional methods."

Meanwhile, Bio Research Centre (M) Sdn Bhd (BRC), one of Perak's largest swiftlet farmers, is also exploring swiftlet farming in Mersing, Kota Baru, as well as Kuantan and Kuala Rompin in Pahang.

Its managing director Loke Yeu Loong said: "Since the production of commercially harvestable quantities of edible birds' nests started to grow in 1998, more and more SME (small and medium enterprise) businessmen, landlords and investors have began to realise the financial viability of the swiftlet farming industry in Malaysia."

In Malaysia, the industry has been growing by leaps and bounds over the last eight years.

By the end of 2006, there were nearly 36,000 swiftlet farms throughout the country, with an average annualised growth rate of 35 per cent per year in the last five years.

Malaysia is the world's third largest producer of edible birds' nests with seven per cent of gross supply value, behind Indonesia (60 per cent) and Thailand (20 per cent).

The Perak state government has offered 10 potential sites for swiftlet farming, while Johor has proposed swiftlet eco-parks in Endau and Desaru. The Negri Sembilan state government is also interested in setting up similar eco parks.

The swiftlet farming industry is governed by various guidelines drawn up by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government as well as Jabatan Perkhidmatan Haiwan.

Bank Pertanian Malaysia is offering end-financing of up to 85 per cent as birds' nest cultivation has been termed an agro-based industry.

[hetfield85]

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/2...c-ceeeaba.html

KERTIH PLASTIC PARK TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS IN ECER
Bernama - 1 hour 20 minutes ago

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Kertih Plastic Park, developed under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER), is well positioned to attract more investments, the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association (MPMA) said today. MPMA president Lim Kok Boon said this was because it has been set up as the first and only specialised industrial park in the country focusing on the plastics industry. "This means that both the federal and state governments are aware of the importance of the plastics industry to the country's economy and are seriously looking into developing further the plastics industry," he said in a statement. Lim said a specialised park meant that the government could look into the specific needs of the plastics industry. He said at least one of the association members had bought land in the country's first plastic park. Other members, he added, were waiting for the park’s full launch when the infrastructure facilities are established before making any further commitments. According to Lim, the main attraction at the park is its proximity to the resin production plants in Kertih, Terengganu, and Kuantan, Pahang. Resin is the main raw material for the plastics industry and proximity to the source of supply results in substantial savings on transportation costs. In addition, plastics manufacturers could leverage on the existing Eastern Corridor incentives to enhance their competitiveness, Lim said. “The main opportunity that plastics manufacturers are looking at is to use the park as a production hub for plastic products mean for export. Besides the availability of resins, the attractive land cost would make our plastics manufacturers even more competitive," he said. "Land cost at the park is about RM5 per square foot which is several times lower when compared to the land cost of between RM20 and RM60 in states like Selangor, Johor and Penang,” he added. Lim said if the park could be developed into an attractive location for investment, it would boost the plastics industry in the region and the petrochemicals industry would stand to benefit from it due to higher demand for resins. Currently, more than 95 percent of the plastics manufacturing companies are located outside the East Coast. Meanwhile, industry experts said the setting up of plastics park will further value-add and extend the oil, gas and petrochemical value chain, via downstream manufacturing of plastics products and integration with related plants and services within the existing Petronas Petroleum Industry Complex. Investors in the park will be able to reap economies of scale and direct cost savings through tapping into operational and infrastructural synergies at site and obtaining "just-in-time" raw materials supply, they added. It is learnt that the park's development will also be supported by world- class research and development (R&D) input from the Petronas Polymer Technology Centre. The centre aims to spur the growth and global competitiveness of the plastics industry in the Kertih Plastic Park by carrying out R&D for plastics application, joint venture projects with manufacturers and end users, and offering technical services including product testing, technology development and training. -- BERNAMA AFH LC

[LoveArki]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

Hartanah: Bio Lojing mesra alam
Oleh Hartini Mohd Nawi
tini@hmetro.com.my





BAKAL muncul antara bandar hijau dan pembangunan seiring pemuliharaan alam sekitar, Lembah Besar Bio Lojing di Gua Musang, Kelantan, kian mendapat perhatian.

Projek yang sudah memasuki fasa kedua itu dibangunkan Kumpulan Mofaz dengan kerjasama dua konsortium iaitu Solarin Holdings dan Telemont Sdn Bhd.


Fasa kedua bernilai RM10 bilion itu membabitkan pembangunan di kawasan seluas 5,200 hektar dan dijangka siap sepenuhnya menjelang 2013.

Menurut Presiden Kumpulan Mofaz, Mohamed Fauzy Abdul Hamed, projek berkenaan dijangka memulakan kerancakan di Wilayah Ekonomi Pantai Timur (ECER), sekali gus meletakkan Kelantan di peta dunia sebagai bandar hijau negara.

"Keistimewaan projek ini ialah menampilkan konsep mesra alam dengan penggunaan tenaga daripada sumber semula jadi iaitu solar, air dan angin menerusi teknologi dari Eropah," kata Mohamed Fauzy.

Menerusi fasa kedua, antara pembangunan yang dirancang ialah membina hotel bertaraf lima bintang, litar perlumbaan bagi kenderaan yang menggunakan tenaga solar dan elektrik, pusat peranginan, hartanah komersial dan kediaman.

Menariknya, kegiatan yang sedang dijalankan di Lembah Besar Bio Lojing itu ialah perhutanan semula untuk pembangunan hutan mapan, perladangan organik bersepadu skala besar, pengurusan perladangan kambing biri-biri Dorper dan penanaman buah-buahan serta herba.

Pembangunan itu turut direka sebagai platform bagi makanan organik dan halal, bioteknologi serta tenaga diperbaharui semula dengan objektif penyelidikan dan pembangunan. Bandar hijau itu di bawah tempoh pegangan pajak selama 99 tahun.

Di samping itu, projek fasa pertamanya sudah bermula sejak enam tahun lalu dan membabitkan projek pertanian termasuk tanaman 200,000 pokok karas, 338,000 pokok kayu jati dan pokok getah di kawasan seluas 2,400 hektar.

Kawasan berkenaan turut menempatkan ladang organik berintegrasi yang dibahagikan kepada ladang sayur, buah dan ternakan yang kini sudah mengeluarkan hasil.

Lebih membanggakan kerana bandar hijau di bawah tempoh pegangan pajak selama 99 tahun itu bakal membuka lebih 150,000 peluang pekerjaan kepada penduduk tempatan.

The building in the pic looks like Reflection in Singapore...

[nazrey]

Aquaculture project in Pahang to start soon
Sunday April 13, 2008
TheStar

PEKAN: The first of four aquaculture projects to rear freshwater fishes at a cost of RM10mil each will be operational by June, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said that Kuala Pahang had been chosen as the site for the launch, while the authorities were in the midst of identifying suitable locations in Johor, Kedah and Kelantan.

“The test bed project in Sepang which started a year ago using proven technology from Australia has harvested a good yield.

“All participants in this project will stand to receive a minimum payment of RM500 in the form of a dividend.

“We are also looking at exporting these freshwater fishes as there is a high market demand overseas,” he said after launching the project here yesterday.

Najib, who is also the Pekan MP, said that the project would enable fishermen to earn additional income when they could not go out to sea during the monsoon season.

“The Government’s aspirations to eradicate hardcore poverty among fishermen will be realised with this project.

“We will also invest another RM20mil to build housing and basic amenities as a value-added package for the participants,” he added.

[rizalhakim]

Syarikat Australia labur RM1 bilion di Pahang

KUANTAN 17 April - Sebuah syarikat perlombongan dan pemprosesan kimia dari Sydney - Lynas Corporation Ltd. bersetuju melabur sehingga RM1 bilion bagi membina kilang untuk mengeluarkan 'lathanides' di kawasan perindustrian Gebeng, dekat sini.

Kerja-kerja pembinaan kilang itu sedang dimulakan di kawasan seluas 101.25 hektar dan dijangka beroperasi pada September tahun depan.

Menurut kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh Sudut Akhbar Pejabat Menteri Besar, di sini hari ini projek gergasi tersebut akan memberi manfaat kepada negara dan negeri Pahang berdasarkan perbelanjaan operasi melebihi RM2 bilion.

''Pelaburan ini juga dijangka mendatangkan hasil eksport kepada negara sehingga mencecah lebih RM4.7 bilion bagi tempoh 15 tahun pertama," kata kenyataan itu.

Lathanides ialah produk kimia daripada bahan mentah sekumpulan elemen logam yang antara lain digunakan sebagai pemangkin bagi pengeluaran mentol jimat tenaga dan bahan bateri sel kering.

Menurut kenyataan itu, pegawai tertinggi syarikat terbabit diketuai oleh Pengerusi Eksekutifnya, Nick Curtis telah memaklumkan tentang hasrat syarikat itu untuk membuka kilang itu, ketika melakukan kunjung hormat ke atas Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob di sini, baru-baru ini.

Pada pertemuan itu, Naib Pengerusi Operasi Lynas Corporation Ltd., Michael Wolley, Pengarah Urusan Lynas Malaysia, Marshal Ahmad, Pengarah Projek, Bill Moss dan Ketua Eksekutif Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Pahang (PKNP), Datuk Lias Mohd. Nor turut hadir.

Menurut kenyataan itu, bahan mentah terbabit akan diangkut dari lombong kawah terbuka milik syarikat tersebut di Mt. Weld, New South Wales, Australia untuk diproses menjadi lathanides di Gebeng.

Katanya, sebanyak 400 peluang pekerjaan akan disediakan dalam tempoh 18 bulan akan datang hingga loji berkenaan siap.

Lynas Corporation Ltd. memilih Pahang sebagai tumpuan pelaburannya kerana negeri ini mempunyai sistem infrastruktur bermutu.

Gebeng yang terletak berdekatan Pelabuhan Kuantan, mempunyai kemudahan infrastruktur yang lengkap termasuk bekalan gas, wap, air dan elektrik yang sangat penting dalam pengeluaran lathanides.

''Bahan-bahan yang diperlukan untuk pengeluaran lathanides seperti asid sulfurik, asid hidroklorin, sodium hidroksida serta kapur juga mudah didapati di sini," kata kenyataan itu.

[nazrey]

Skyscraper in Kota Baru
Tuesday April 22, 2008
By IAN MCINTYRE
TheStar



Datuk Dr Stanley Chew (right) exchanging documents with Kelantan State
Secretary General Datuk Mohd Aiseri Alias after the signing ceremony. With
them is Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yaakob.

KOTA BARU: The first phase completion of a RM300mil mixed development project in Jalan Raja Dewa here in 36 months will transform the skyline of the state capital.

The Dataran Raja Dewa project was hailed as an iconic real estate boost for Kelantan with the building of a twin towers of 31 storeys, said developer Petraz Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Dr Stanley Chew.

Sited on 6.3ha, the project would showcase Islamic architecture, he said after signing a memorandum of understanding between the Kuala Lumpur-based Petraz and the Kelantan government last Wednesday.

Dr Chew said Petraz had 23 years' experience in the property market with its niche in the warehousing industry in Klang, Selangor.

On Petraz’s foray into Kelantan, he said real estate was reaching saturation levels in other states while Kelantan was an emerging market.

“There is potential here so we have come to seek the opportunities while bringing about modern development to the town,” Dr Chew said.

He said the developer was discussing with potential anchor tenants including five-star hotel operators, hypermarket operators and shopping mall operators about the commercial aspect.

The shophouses would likely be leased by state government departments and local merchants, he said, adding that the first phase would be ready in 36 months and the second by 2014.

Besides bringing in new commercial enterprises and investments, the project is set to become a new landmark for Kota Baru.

The project comprises 40 units of three-storey shophouses, four blocks of five-storey office lots, twin 31-floor office lots, an eight-storey building which can house trade exhibitions and a three-storey car park.

There are also two 12-storey service apartments and 126 town houses in the project.

[patchay]

rendering?
cool KB Twin Towers

[nazrey]

Pahang to become dairy hub
Thursday April 24, 2008
By ROSLINA MOHAMAD
TheStar

KUANTAN: Pahang is geared towards becoming the East Coast Economic Region (ECER)'s dairy hub when a RM50mil farm in Rompin comes into operation this month.

The farm, managed and owned by First Dairy Farm (M) Sdn Bhd, is located in Muadzam Shah on a 446ha of land in an area designated under the ECER master plan for cattle and dairy activities.

First Dairy Farm president Datuk Wan Abdullah Wan Salleh said the company had imported Jersey breed cows from more than 20 farms in Australia, expecting to produce more than eight million litres of milk this year.

``The dairy farm will be developed in four stages with the first batch of 284 Jersey cows from Australia already here.

``We expect to have a fourfold increase to 1,200 heads of dairy cows in the second phase of our operations by yea-end,'' he said in a statement released here on Wednesday.

He added that the indoor barns were the first in the country to be equipped with air-conditioned control units that provided climate conditions similar to the country where the cows originate.

It would maintain the quality of milk produced, he said.

``All the cows are milked twice a day with each dairy cow producing up to 22 litres of fresh milk a day.

``When fully operational, milk production will increase to 22,000 litres a day,'' Wan Abdullah said.

He also said the movement of the dairy cows would be monitored through closed-circuit televisions.

First Dairy Farm executive director S.Muhd Alwi said the dairy farm planned to tap into the strong milk demand from Australia, New Zealand and West Europe as Malaysia was still heavily dependent on imports from the countries.