Malaysia's Infrastructure and Utilities

[nazrey]

RM14b extra funds for govt projects
NST Online » 2008/09/18

KUALA LUMPUR: The national treasury is expected to release in stages an additional RM14 billion to ensure government projects nationwide are not delayed due to the rising costs of building materials.

Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed said the cost of government projects was estimated to have gone up between 15 and 20 per cent across the board, hence the move to increase the current RM70 billion development budget.

"To balance out the situation, we have also approved a three-month extension for contractors so they can adjust their implementation schedule.

"This means that if the completion date was initially set for 24 months, it will now be extended to 27 months without liquidated asset damages," he said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Mohd Zin said the Works Ministry had spent RM6.4 billion, or 65.8 per cent, of its RM13.4 billion budget under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. He said as of Aug 31, the ministry had completed 209 out of 521 projects nationwide, including 158 highway, road and bridge projects; 36 building projects; and 15 non-physical projects such as studies and design.

"The Works Ministry has been allocated RM2.589 billion to complete the remaining 312 projects currently being implemented or at the planning stage."

Mohd Zin added that his ministry would officially hand over 30 federal projects in Sabah, worth RM1.41 billion, next month.

[nazrey]

Scomi Engineering Still Keen On Penang Monorail
September 19, 2008 16:07 PM
By Massita Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 (Bernama) - Scomi Engineering Bhd, a monorail system supplier, is still interested to provide a monorail system for Penang, although the Penang Monorail project has been removed from the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

The company is willing to look at any city, state or federal government of any country that is considering implementing a monorail system. "We are more than willing to go to the discussion table and see how best we can fit into the requirement," its president, Hilmy Zaini told Bernama recently.

Scomi Engineering through a consortium with Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd had put in the bid in the early part of this year for the Penang Monorail project. Among other bidders was Japans Hitachi.

The 52km-monorail, expected to serve as the backbone for the states public transportation network, was reported to be worth RM1.6 billion.

According to Hilmy, the company carried out a thorough feasibility study for the project, including ridership and alignment studies as well as underground mapping.

Specific studies had to be taken in order to submit a meaningful bid, he said.

The consortium has spent several millions of ringgit so far, an amount that would have been normally incurred to put in such studies, he said.

On the impact of delaying the project, Hilmy said the obvious setback will be the price escalation.

"When we put in the bid, there was a specific period price validity. That has lapsed now. Prices as you know, keep increasing. The longer you wait the more expensive it is going to be.

"Concrete and steel prices have gone up more or less by 20 percent. Of course if there is firm interest again for Penang Monorail, we can do another costing as such," said Hilmy.

Asked whether Penangites urgently needed the monorail system, Hilmy said "it was an open secret that they have been asking for such a system for the last 10 years. What we have found out is that the most optimal system for Penang, at the right price and at the right construction period, is the monorail."

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

Malaysia to use nuclear energy by 2023
Saturday September 20, 2008 By SARBAN SINGH TheStar

GEMENCHEH: Malaysia will use nuclear energy to produce electricity by 2023 as global supplies of natural gas and coal deplete.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the Government was left with no choice but to use nuclear energy as it was the better alternative.

“I will be briefing the Cabinet in a fortnight. We have no choice but to start the ball rolling. You cannot say you want to use nuclear power in the next few months, and expect everything to be in place,” he said at the Mara Junior Science College here yesterday.

His ministry and the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry have prepared a paper on the nuclear energy issue.

Shaziman said the exceptionally-high prices of gas and coal were another reason the Government had to start looking for alternatives.

The price of coal, at US$70 (RM242) per tonne in June, had almost tripled recently. It was hovering between US$140 (RM485) and US$180 (RM623) per tonne now.

“When the Government raised electricity tariffs in June, it had expected the price of coal to remain around US$75 (RM260) per tonne. But the increase in coal prices had been exceptional and we need to act now,” he said.

Shaziman said the Government might also review its earlier decision to remove gas subsidies by only 5% annually.

“We feel the price of gas should reflect the market rate. The Government now gives a 70% discount and this is no longer viable,” he said, adding that although Petronas had sufficient gas reserves, it was for future use.

On a separate matter, Shaziman said the Government would start the construction of the Air Ngoi-ngoi treatment plant next year instead of in the 10th Malaysia Plan because of the high demand for treated water in Nilai and Enstek. The plant will produce 350 million litres of water a day.

Shaziman said the ministry had also sought an additional RM150mil from the Government for the construction of the Teriang dam next year to address the shortage of untreated water supply for the Sg Terip and Sg Linggi dams particularly during the dry season.

[nazrey]

Danawa in joint study on Kuching-Pontianak fibre optic link
By Sulok Tawie Published: 2008/09/22 BusinessTimes

SARAWAK-BASED Internet service provider and ICT firm Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd has teamed up with Indonesia's PT Trans Hybrid Communications to conduct a feasibility study on the Kuching-Pontianak fibre optic link.

The study, which began two days ago, is expected to be completed in three months.

Both companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Jakarta on July 20.

Danawa Resources will conduct the study and thereafter make recommendations for all parties to enter into a project development and construction arrangement. Parties involved comprise the state-owned telecommunication company Sacofa Sdn Bhd, Danawa and Trans Hybrid.

"This collaboration aims to position this future cable system between Kuching and Pontianak as one of the telecommunication projects in the region that would actively promote economic growth and cooperation in BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysian, the Philippines-East Asia Growth Areas)," Danawa chairman Datuk Hamed Sepawie told reporters in Kuching last Friday.

The laying of the 100km long fibre optic cable is scheduled to be completed within a year.

"The MOU will promote the creation of the crucial link between Kuching and Pontianak, thus connecting the Malaysian territory to the Indonesian territory in Borneo and onwards to Brunei," he said.

[nazrey]

'Explore Malaysian hybrid car mart potential'
Published: 2008/09/22

Malaysia wants Japanese automakers to consider Malaysia as a production base for hybrid engines, says the International Trade and Industry Minister

JAPANESE automakers should explore the the hybrid car market potential in Malaysia, said International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said in the Budget 2009, the government had proposed a 100 per cent exemption of import duty and a 50 per cent exemption of the excise duty on new completely built-up units (CBU) of hybrid cars.

“What we hope now is for the Japanese automakers to explore the hybrid car market potential in Malaysia. We want them to consider Malaysia as a production base for hybrid engines in the future,” he told reporters after delivering the keynote address at the Malaysia-Japan Business Forum in Malaysia today.

Muhyiddin said Malaysia is keen to learn hybrid technology from Japanese automakers.

During his trade and investment mission to Japan in July this year, he had met the top management of Toyota and Honda to discuss the matter.

“We are offering Malaysia as a first choice destination for Toyota and Honda to expand to. We are even prepared to discuss with them any customised incentive that they might want to propose.

“I think the future of hybrid cars, electric cars or anything that is energy efficient is rather bright, and we want to be part of the industry as well,” he said. — Bernama

[nazrey]

Japanese invited to make hybrid cars in Malaysia
By Ooi Tee Ching Published: 2008/09/23 BusinessTimes

Malaysia has offered to be Toyota and Honda first overseas production base and will consider giving Japanese carmakers customised incentives, says the trade minister


MALAYSIA has offered itself as a production base for Japanese hybrid cars if carmakers like Toyota and Honda plan to expand outside Japan.

"We hope Japanese automakers like Toyota and Honda will explore the potential of the hybrid car market here and consider Malaysia as a production base for future hybrid engines," International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

Three months ago, Toyota Motor Corp - the world's second largest carmaker by sales - said it wanted to produce 9,000 Camry hybrids in Thailand by next year, which will make it the first Asean country to venture into hybrid car production.

Soon after the announcement, Muhyiddin led a trade mission to Japan and met with the top management of Toyota and Honda.

"Although Toyota and Honda have no immediate plans to venture overseas, but I believe, later, they may want to. We now offer Malaysia as their first overseas production base," he said.

Under Budget 2009, franchise holders are given 100 per cent exemption on import duty and 50 per cent exemption on excise duty on imported hybrid cars.

"Hybrid cars, being fuel-efficient and eco-friendly, are the direction being taken globally. Malaysia aspires to be a significant participant in the use and making of fuel-efficient automobiles," said Muhyiddin.

Malaysia is also willing to consider giving Japanese carmakers customised incentives, he told reporters at a Malaysia-Japan business forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Also present were Masahiko Horie, the Japanese Ambassador to Malaysia, and Tan Sri Azman Hashim, president of the Malaysia-Japan Economic Association.

[nazrey]

Emrail may be front runner for MMC-Gamuda rail job
Published: 2008/09/23 BusinessTimes

Emrail's bid is one of the four proposals under technical evaluation by MMC-Gamuda, the RM12.5 billion Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project main contractor

BUILDERS MMC Corp Bhd and Gamuda Bhd may award a contract worth over RM1 billion to lay parallel railway lines over 329km from Ipoh to Padang Besar by the end of this year.

Business Times understands that the MMC-Gamuda team, which holds the main contract for the RM12.5 billion Ipoh-Padang Besar double-tracking project, had called for tenders in June, attracting local and international bidders.

A source said four proposals are under technical evaluation and the winning bid will be decided by December.

The offers were from Australia's MVM Rail Pty Ltd, a provider of rail track construction and maintenance services; Hiss Niaga Sdn Bhd, a local Bumiputera firm; Emrail Sdn Bhd, a railway engineering expert; and a China-based consortium.

It is learnt that MVM and the Chinese consortium had offered to do the job for RM2 billion and over RM1 billion respectively. Hiss Niaga, meanwhile, made a partial offer for the track laying contract, worth about RM500 million.

Emrail (formerly TIME Salam Engineering Sdn Bhd, a unit under Renong Group) offered to lay the tracks along the 329km stretch for RM1.2 billion.

"Emrail could be the front runner for the job as it has over 20 years of engineering skills and had successfully completed the Ra-wang-Ipoh job last year," the source said.

"It has high-tech machinery that is not in use which can be readily deployed at the Ipoh-Padang Besar site. It was able to work out a proposal lowering the contract sum as it has the equipment," he added.

Emrail's portfolio includes a RM700 million contract to lay tracks for the Rawang-Ipoh project, and a RM40-odd million job to lay tracks along the Kerdau-Sg Yu east coast line.

Both projects have been completed.

In July, the MMC-Gamuda team awarded the rail systems contract worth RM1 billion to Ingress Corp Bhd's 49 per cent associate company, Balfour Beatty Rail Sdn Bhd, and its joint venture partner, Ansaldo STS Malaysia Sdn Bhd. - By Sharen Kaur

[nazrey]

Sapura Tech may bid for rail project telecom works
By Sharen Kaur Published: 2008/09/23 BusinessTimes

SEVERAL local and foreign companies, including Sapura Technology Bhd, have bid for work under the RM3.45 billion project to lay parallel railway lines between Seremban and Gemas.

Sapura Tech, for instance, has made a RM100 million bid to carry out telecommunication works, an industry source said. Sapura Tech has declined to comment.

The main contractor for the project is India's national railway firm, Indian Railway Construction Co International Ltd (Ircon).

Ircon had called for tenders for electrification, signalling and telecommunication packages. This is the second round of tenders after it awarded initial works in May this year.

Business Times understands that Global Rail Sdn Bhd, Australia's Westinghouse Rail Systems and Ansaldo Signal, and Germany's Siemens have also bid for several packages.

Global Rail had made a RM300 million bid to design, supply, construct, test and commission several packages consisting of signaling and electrification works, train protection system and rail-track point machines.

Global Rail, a railway engineering firm, is controlled by Fan Boon Heng, who headed Balfour Beatty Rail Sdn Bhd for over 15 years.

The industry source said the proposals made by Ansaldo, Westinghouse and Siemens are in the range of RM280 million to RM380 million.

"Ircon is still deciding whether to award the jobs based on the proposals or break them down into smaller packages so it could undertake offshore procurement on its own and give the installation work to local contractors," a source said.

The four-year Seremban-Gemas project, which covers 110km, is fully funded by the government.

It will cover 34 river bridges, 27 road bridges, 107 culverts, two viaducts of 1.25km and 0.6km lengths and an 8km tunnel.

Ircon expects to complete building the first stretch from Seremban to Sg Gadut by early 2009, and then from Sg Gadut to Gemas in 2011.

It has awarded contracts to build stations, bridges, railway embarkment, culverts, drainages and foundation for track laying to Loh & Loh Corp Bhd, Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd and IJM Corp Bhd. These are worth some RM1.1 billion in total.

[nazrey]

Iskandar Malaysia Secures RM1 Billion Investment From World's Leading Oil Terminal Operator
September 26, 2008 20:48 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- MMC Corporation Bhd's unit Seaport World Wide Sdn Bhd (SWW) and world's leading oil terminal, Vitol Terminal BV's unit ATT Tanjung Bin Sdn Bhd Friday sealed a deal which will see ATT investing up to RM1 billion in Iskandar Malaysia.

Under the agreement, SWW will lease approximately 48 hectares of land at the rate of RM20 per square feet (for 30 years) to ATT.

Vitol Terminals chief executive officer, Rob Nijst said ATT will be investing RM1 billion (for phase one) to construct facilities for an oil terminal which will provide for blending and storage of crude oil, petroleum and petrochemical products with an initial capacity of 750,000 cubic meters.

ATT will construct 5 to 12 berths (in phases) and marine jetties which can handle various sized tankers from 25,000 - 180,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT) and Single Buoy Moorings (SBM) capable of handling the larger tankers, he said in a statement here, Friday.

He said besides the strategic location of Tanjung Bin in relation to the navigational routes, shipping anchorages and regional energy pricing centre, other supporting factors for choosing Tanjung Bin was the competitive operating costs available in Iskandar Malaysia.

Other planned strategic developments within Iskandar will provide synergistic value to the company's project, he said.

MMCs chief executive officer, Hasni Harun said the setting up of Vitol Terminals facility in South West Johor was timely and marked another chapter of MMCs investment in Iskandar Malaysia.

Under the terms of the agreement, MMC, through its fully owned subsidiary SWW will have the option to acquire a 20 percent interest in the project.

"This is a significant progress to MMCs and SWWs long term plans to develop the area into a new growth area for marine activities as outlined in the master-plan which was committed together with the state government back in 2002. Under the master-plan, we have already completed the construction of the Tanjung Bin Power Plant built at a cost of RM7.6 billion and the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) which is today ranked 17th amongst the worlds busiest ports," added Hasni.

Meanwhile, Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Othman, director of MMC and SWW said that the deal demonstrates Vitol Terminals confidence in MMC as a world class infrastructure and utilities provider who is capable of catering to world class requirements.

"We are also currently negotiating deals with other parties who are interested in being a part of the Tanjung Bin Petroleum and Maritime centre. The presence of Vitol Terminals BV is good for both MMC and Iskandar Malaysia as it will further spur other global players to come and invest here," said Sidik.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

Originally Posted by nazrey

Source : TheStar

MALAYSIA: Power-Surplus Sarawak Funds Another New Dam
By Anil Netto* IPSNews



The proposed Murum Dam is just 60 km upstream
from the 2,400 Mw Bakun Dam (in the picture.)
Credit:Raymond Abin/IPS

PENANG, Malaysia, Sep 27 (IPS) - Preliminary work on a 3 billion ringgit (875 million dollar) dam in Murum in the north Borneo state of Sarawak has put the spotlight on a controversial scheme to build a string of public-funded dams to provide cheap electricity for energy-intensive industries to the state.

Its advocates say that the proposed 944 Mw Murum Dam, near the site of the contentious 2,400 Mw Bakun Dam, still under construction, in the upper Rejang basin in central Sarawak will boost job opportunities, diversify sources of electricity generation and draw new investment.

But while private firms may benefit from the dam construction work and cheap electricity, critics argue that the human cost, the financial burden and risk to the state and the public, and the environmental cost could be too high.

Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), 65 percent owned by the Sarawak state, officially informed the Malaysian stock exchange on Sep. 2 that the Murum Dam project had been awarded to China’s Three Gorges Project Corporation, which reportedly submitted the lowest bid among eight companies.

SEB also told the Malaysian stock exchange the same day that a ''detailed Environmental Impact Assessment has been submitted to the relevant authorities for final approval'' -- which means that the project was awarded before the final approval of the detailed EIA was obtained.

While the state is using its resources to build the dams, about a thousand indigenous folk in the Murum Dam catchment area will lose their homeland. Most of these are Penan, amongst the last of the world’s hunter-gatherers, living near the Murum, Plieran and Danum rivers and tributaries.

Weng, a Penan, whose longhouse, traditional wooden houses, and ancestral land will be flooded, laments: ''The good things we ask for, they (the government) do not give. We ask for schools, clinics, but till now we have yet to see them. What we don't want, what is bad for us, that they provide -- logging, oil palm plantations, acacia plantations ...''

The haste to commence work on the dam leaves activists worried that there might not be proper consultation and inadequate work on the resettlement of one of the most marginalised and disenfranchised peoples in the country.

The experience of the problem-ridden 2,400 Mw Bakun Dam, whose reservoir area will cover 695 sq km, is hardly inspiring. The 8 billion ringgit (2.3 billion dollar) Bakun Dam is expected to be completed in June 2010 and start generating power in 2012.

Some 11,000 indigenous people -- mainly Kenyah, Kayan, Lahanan, Ukit and Penan -- were displaced and just over 9,000 of them were transferred to a resettlement scheme in Asap River from 1997. A delegation from the Malaysian Human Rights Commission, visiting the area in 2006, found shoddy housing, poor drainage and roads, delays and disputes in the compensation payment.

Critics point out that a large portion of the dams' catchment areas has already been degraded by massive plantation developments.

"The whole Bakun catchment is being destroyed by logging and plantation," points out Raymond Abin, programme development officer at the Borneo Resources Institute (Brimas), a group working closely with indigenous communities to monitor environmental and development issues. Forests have been logged to plant oil palm, pulp and wood tree plantations.

Moreover, the Murum Dam, just 60 km upstream from Bakun, lies in one of the three main catchment areas for Bakun.

''Has any work been done on cumulative impacts? How will all this affect the micro-climate or local climate, the hydrological regimes, the animal life of the area, already much devastated by the logging and plantation development?'' asked a Sarawak-based academic, who declined to be named.

''Indeed, how will Murum affect Bakun? Doesn't the public deserve to know the results of these cumulative impact assessments?'' the academic added.

The plan for the Murum Dam comes at a time when uncertainty hangs over what to do with all the electricity to be generated from the 205-metre high Bakun Dam. The original plan was to transmit the electricity via cables under the South China Sea to the peninsula, making it the world's longest undersea electricity transmission. But in 2001, the plan was changed to confine the supply to Sarawak and neighbouring Sabah state.

In 2005, however, the government decided it would not be cost effective to transmit electricity to Sabah because of the distance. The Cabinet decided the following year to once again channel Bakun's electricity to the peninsula even though the peninsula currently has a comfortable reserve capacity.

SEB entered into a "heads of agreement" this May to supply 3,000 Mw of electricity to national electricity corporation Tenaga Nasional Bhd in the peninsula from 2017 and another 5,000 Mw from 2021.

But these plans were thrown into uncertainty after Sime Darby, a government-linked corporation, worried about the plan's viability, pulled out in August from an understanding to lead the laying of 15 billion ringgit (4.4 billion dollar) undersea cables.

The electricity from the Bakun Dam will now be channelled to the aluminium smelter plants until the Murum Dam is ready, the Sarawak Energy managing director said in June. If and when the submarine cables are laid in the South China Sea, the electricity from Bakun would then be channelled to the peninsula.

(*This is the first of a two-part feature on a dam in power surplus Sarawak that is being built with public funds for private gain.) (END/2008)

[nazrey]

Penang resort hospital to be ready in 2011
Monday September 29, 2008 By LOOI SUE-CHERN TheStar

GEORGE TOWN: A specialist centre cum resort providing Western and Eastern medical and homeopathy treatment -- touted to be the first in Asia -- will be built in Batu Kawan in Penang.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Farrali International Specialist Hospital and Wellness Resort (FISH-WR) to be completed by 2011 would attract more medical tourists to Penang.

He said medical tourism would be further developed to increase the state tourism’s contribution to the GDP from 22% to 30% by 2013.

“Medical tourism’s potential has increased since people discovered they can enjoy five-star medical treatment at affordable costs at different locations in the world.

“We do not want to be left out of this industry and FISH-WR will make medical tourism a success in Penang,” he said at the agreement signing ceremony between Penang Develop- ment Corporation and Farrali Mutiara Medical Group (KPFM).

Lim, who is chairman of the corporation, said the state-of-the-art FISH-WR would change the country’s medical tourism landscape and set itself apart from other healthcare centres focusing on medical tourism.

To be built by the 100% Bumiputra-owned KPFM, the 60,703 sq m hospital will be a leading diabetic and cancer care centre in the region and provide complementary healing methods like acupuncture and ayurvedic treatments.

Other facilities include 200 service apartments, 30 floating chalets, 100 hotel rooms and a nursing institute run by an established international nursing college to provide education and training in the field.

KPFM chief executive officer Dr Mohd Ghouse Mohd Noor said the RM300mil project would be completed in 2011 and create 300 jobs in the early stages.

[nazrey]

Call To Widen East-West Highway To Dual Carriageway
September 27, 2008 22:54 PM

JELI, Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed has proposed the widening of the East-West Highway linking Jeli in Kelantan and Grik in Perak to a dual carriageway.

He said the project, which was estimated to cost RM1 billion, would be in tandem with the development of the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) and would stimulate the economies of the northern states including Kelantan.

"I will propose it to the government to include the project in the 10th Malaysia plan," he told reporters after the launch of a road safety campaign here today.

Mustapa, who is also Member of Parliament for Jeli, said the project would also increase the economic activities of villages along the 150km highway.

On the early transition of power from Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he hoped party members would be calm and not create any trouble during the process in the interest of all quarters.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

Malaysia Successful In Building A Good Education Model, Says Unesco DG
October 08, 2008 12:07 PM
From Leslean Arshad

PARIS, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has made significant progress in the education field over the years and earned international respect for successfully establishing a commendable education model, Unesco Director-General Koichiro Matsuura said.

"We are happy that there has been very good progress in the area of education in Malaysia and the strong leadership of the minister (Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein)" he told Bernama here on Tuesday.

He also expressed his appreciation for Malaysia's unwavering support towards Unesco's Education For All (EFA) agenda.

Despite their tight schedule at the ongoing United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco) executive board meeting, Matsuura and Hishammuddin met for half-and-hour on the sidelines of the meeting.

Hishammuddin is an elected executive board member of Unesco after securing 147 votes in the Asia-Pacific group at the organisation's 34th general conference in October last year.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said that Matsuura had expressed his desire to see the continuation of the EFA agenda when he no longer holds office.

Hishammuddin, who is also president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation, added that he gave his assurance that Malaysia and the Asean countries would not desert the agenda.

Matsuura's term as director-general is expected to end in October next year.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

Iskandar Malaysia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Official Website

Iskandar Malaysia, formerly known as Iskandar Development Region (IDR) and South Johor Economic Region (SJER) is the new main southern development corridor in Johor, Malaysia. The Iskandar Malaysia was established on 30 July 2006. It is named after Sultan Iskandar of Johor.

It is against this backdrop that in July 2005, the Government of Malaysia had tasked Khazanah Nasional to conduct a feasibility study for the development of a special economic zone in South Johor in what was then referred to as the Southern Belt Economic Zone (SBEZ).

In October 2005, Khazanah presented a Conceptual Outline Plan for the proposed South Johor Economic Region (SJER) to the National SJER Planning Committee (NSPC) that concluded that there was a strong economic, social and developmental rationale for the proposed development of SJER. The NSPC was chaired together by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Chief Minister of Johor, Abdul Ghani Othman. Khazanah acts as the secretariat for the committee. The NSPC further tasked Khazanah to develop a detailed and comprehensive Master Plan for the development of SJER that aims to address socio-economic development in a holistic and sustainable fashion.

In March 2006, the Ninth Malaysia Plan covering the period 2006 to 2010 was launched by the Prime Minister. It identified newly named Iskandar Malaysiaas one of the catalyst and high-impact developments under the Plan. This was further reinforced when in November 2006, the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Johor and Khazanah announced further details on Iskandar Malaysia on the following Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP):

The Iskandar Malaysia is administered by Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).

Northern Corridor Economic Region
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Official Website

Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) (Malay: Wilayah Ekonomi Koridor Utara or Korridor Utara) is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia. This programme is a Government initiative to accelerate economic growth and elevate income levels in the north of Peninsular Malaysia - encompassing the states of Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and the north of Perak. NCER is also one of the three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia, other development regions being the Iskandar Malaysia (formerly known as Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region) and the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) which is for the east coast states - Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. The NCER initiative will span from 2007 to the end of the 12th Malaysia Plan period, i.e. 2025. The NCER was launched on 30 July 2007 in Alor Star, Kedah and on 31 July 2007 in Butterworth, Penang. Both event was launched by its own Chairman which is the Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

East Coast Economic Region
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Official Website

East Coast Economic Region (ECER) (Malay: Wilayah Ekonomi Pantai Timur or Korridor Pantai Timur) is a new economic development corridor in Malaysia. coast of Peninsular Malaysia - which covers states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the north of Mersing district of Johor. ECER is also one of the three development regions formed in Peninsular Malaysia, other development regions being the Iskandar Malaysia (formerly known as Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region) and the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER). The ECER initiative will span for 12 years starting from 2007. The master planner for ECER is Malaysia-owned oil and gas company, PETRONAS.

The ECER was launched by Malaysia's Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bahru on October 30, 2007 and in Kuantan the next day. During the launch of the project, the Prime Minister announced a RM 6 billion allocation for the opening phase of the project, strengthening the Malaysian government's commitment to the project.

“ We want to ensure that no Malaysian, including the people in Pahang, is left behind in the national development mainstream, we want the prosperity achieved by "Pahang Darul Makmur" to be clearly and fairly reflected, - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia. ”


A four member secretariat has been setup in Terengganu to monitor the progress of the project and develop the master plan. Details of the Master Plan has yet to be released as details are still being worked out between the states and the Master Planner which is Petronas. It is expected they will meet up once a week.

After this Economic Region, almost all area in Peninsular Malaysia had become Economic Region, only Northern Johor, Southern Perak and Southern Negeri Sembilan not included. Klang Valley include Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Northern Negeri Sembilan, and Melaka originally is an Economic Region. This show Government have initiative to develop whole Peninsular Malaysia become Economic Region.

Sabah Development Corridor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Official Website

The Sabah Development Corridor or SDC (Malay: Koridor Pembangunan Sabah or Koridor Sabah) is a new development corridor in Sabah, Malaysia. The SDC was launched on 29 January 2008.

The project is expected to take 18 years with total investment of up to RM 105 billion.On average, starts from the year of 2009, RM5.83 billion will be allocated each year for development. 900,000 jobs are expected to be created with this project along with a waterfront city, tourism sub project and a Sabah Railway terminal. The project kick-started with the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announcing that the government has allocated an extra RM 5 billion under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to improve infrastructure and lower the cost of doing business in the state.

Key objectives of the project are:
make Sabah a gateway for trade, investment and tourism
transform the state into a harmonious state regardless of race or religion
create job opportunities in the state
make the state more technology-savvy
make the state a comfortable state to live in

Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Official Website

The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy or SCORE is a new development corridor in central Sarawak state, Malaysia. SCORE was launched on 11 February 2008. It is one of the five regional development corridors being developed throughout the country.

SCORE is a major initiative undertaken to develop the Central Region and transform Sarawak into a developed State by the year 2020.

It aims to achieve the goals of accelerating the State's economic growth and development, as well as improving the quality of life for the people of Sarawak.

Five Economic Corridors Attract RM56.5 Billion Investment
October 11, 2008 20:31 PM

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 11 (Bernama) -- The country's five economic corridors have managed to attract local and foreign investments amounting to RM56.5 billion in the first seven months of this year.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said this was an encouraging achievement which helped to advance the national economy, including the biotechnology industry.

He said biotechnology was expected to lead the push in the development of the five economic corridors comprising Iskandar Malaysia in Johor, Northern Corridor Economic Region, East Coast Economic Region, Sabah Development Corridor and Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.

This was in line with the government's aim to make Malaysia a regional hub for the industry, Ongkili said when closing a seminar on opportunities in the biotechnology and herbal industries at Penampang near here Saturday.

He said the government would also continue with its efforts to strengthen the biotechnology industry, not only as a sector of the economy and also as a firm ecosystem.

Ongkili said those managing the economic corridors would decide on the biotechnology segments to focus based on their strengths.

"For example, the region in Sabah can focus on marine biotechnology while that in Sarawak can concentrate on biofuel," he said.

On the local herbal market, Ongkili said it was estimated to be worth RM3.8 billion with growth of 15 to 20 percent annually.

He said Malaysia was the world's fourth largest export of herbal products after China, India and Indonesia.

-- BERNAMA

Note: 1 US $ = RM 3.80

[nazrey]

Proposed Score railway to be ready by 2015
October 13, 2008 16:10 PM

DAMAI (Sarawak), Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Sarawak's proposed rapid railway system (RRS), which will be built with the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), is expected to be in place by 2015 to complement the development of its halal hub and deep-sea fishing industry, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said today.

He said the project's feasibility study would also take into consideration the development of the Similajau deep-sea port in Bintulu to connect the 320-kilometre regional corridor in Sarawak's central region up to Tanjung Manis in Mukah division.

"It is our ambition to connect the whole of Score by a railway corridor eventually before 2030 to cut down on transportation time," Taib told reporters after officiating the opening of the three-day Parliamentary discourse on government entitled "Scenario Planning and Change Management: Managing Score and the Future".

However, he said, a detailed feasibility study needed to be conducted first as such a railway network would be costly to develop due to the region's topography, including the soft soil structure of the Batang Rajang delta.

Earlier in his speech, Taib said about RM9 billion would be spent on infrastructure development in Score, which was projected to attract more than RM300 billion worth of investments in the next 30 years.

He was confident that Score, which was expected to create 1.5 million jobs by 2030, would present immense opportunities and challenges of a positive future in transforming Sarawak and ensuring that its economic spin-off effects would give the people a sense of fair distribution in income.

The location of the state's vast natural resources for renewable energy, including hydro and coal within Score, justified the development of the the 70,000-square kilometre corridor, which had the ability to attract heavy industries such as the aluminium smelter plants, he said.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

Malaysia's First Planetarium To Be Upgraded Using Warner Bros. Expertise
October 17, 2008 14:27 PM

KUCHING, Oct 17 (Bernama) -- The Sultan Iskandar Planetarium here, Malaysia's first astronomy education centre, is to be upgraded with the possibility of using expertise from Warner Bros, one of the world's largest producers of film and television entertainment.

Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Fadillah Yusof who disclosed this, said the ministry was prepared to assist the planetarium in this effort.

"The country's first planetarium which has been in operation for 19 years is now in need of upgrading in terms of infrastructure, in line with current technological developments.

"The ministry will cooperate with the Sarawak government to identify aspects or areas which need to be improved in order to continuously draw people to the planetarium and avoid boredom for the visitors.

"If possible, we want to create realistic situations during the screenings at the planetarium," he told reporters after launching its "Mirrordome" digital screening, today.

For instance, Fadillah said, visitors watching on the screen, a rocket being launched into space might "experience" what the astronauts were going through, and his could happen with Warner Bros. expertise.

"Perhaps the seats need to be changed so that the visitors could 'feel' the vibrations when the rocket is launched into space or hit a meteor," he added.

Fadillah said the use of Mirrordome technology was the beginning of the upgrading process, while the initiative of the Sarawak government which was responsible for the daily operations of the Sultan Iskandar Planetarium should be emulated by others.

The Mirrordome technology allows for digital film screening while previously a projector was used for showing the planets and stars to the planetarium visitors.

The technology application was contributed by Paul Bourke, a computer visualisation researcher from the University of Western Australia.

On the state government's request from the federal government to set up a science centre in Sarawak to promote interest in science among the younger generation, Fadillah said his ministry was prepared to study it but the decision would depend on the country's financial situation.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

Sabah Has Potential To Become MICE Hub For East Asia
October 15, 2008 16:40 PM

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Sabah can grow to become a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) hub for East Asia, including China, Sabah International Expo 2008 (SIE2008) organising chairman Datuk Wong Khen Thau said today.

He said with Malaysia becoming one of the preferred venues for MICE, which has been developed as a major tourism product, and the number of tourist arrivals in Sabah increasing annually, conditions were ideal for the state to become a popular MICE destination.

"Since 2000, the SIE has become grander and more recognised. This years SIE has tripled in the number of booths and there is still potential for expansion," Wong said at the event's opening here.

"Today, with 380 booths and exhibitors from over 22 countries participating, SIE2008 has placed Kota Kinabalu second only to Kuala Lumpur in terms of exposition scale," he said.

"Therefore, we hope that the state government will expedite the implementation of a plan to develop the Kinabalu International Convention Centre where SIE may find a permanent home," he added.

Wong, who is also the Federation of Sabah Manufacturers president, said SIE was an important vehicle in promoting Sabah internationally.

He said Sabah's investment attractions were unique and therefore, the state could not rely solely on the International Trade and Industry Ministry to promote its potential to the world.

"The major thrusts of SIE have always been agriculture, manufacturing and tourism as Sabah is a large state. This is in line with the state government's economic development focus," he added.

Meanwhile, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the SIE was important for the state as it continued to restructure and diversify its economy from one that dependent on primary exports to being technology- and knowledge-driven.

"Private sector efforts such as events like SIE become even more important when we examine the business prospects and amount of work that Sabah still needs to put in to attain the goals and objectives of the Sabah Development Corridor from 2008 to 2025," he said.

-- BERNAMA

[nazrey]

KL-Putrajaya Highway renamed as Maju Expresway
Wednesday October 22, 2008 By CHARLES FERNANDEZ
TheStar

THE 26km KL-Putrajaya Highway, which was opened last December and renamed as Maju Expressway (MEX) six months later, is confusing many motorists.

For regular highway users, the name change is no issue, but first-time users find themselves driving in circles on this route.

Despite the name change, signboards for KL-Putrajaya Highway are prominently displayed along major routes leading to MEX, while more vehicles are using the expressway, especially limousines and taxis.

The expressway provides links between MRR1 and MRR2 and highways such as Besraya, KL-Seremban, New Pantai Expressway and Kesas.

It offers road users a shorter and more direct route to the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and is easily accessible from the city centre.

When opened to traffic, motorists heading for the highway from Putrajaya or the Dengkil-Puchong highway had to drive slowly to look for the access to MEX or risk missing it.

This was because there were enough access and exit signboards to and from the highway at four interchanges - Kampung Pandan, Salak South, Kuchai Lama and Bukit Jalil - but the access sign at the Putrajaya link was missing.

“Now, the problem is different. The name change is causing confusion and the highway operators have not done anything to rectify the problem,’’ a motorist said.

He said even radio deejays who mentioned MEX as the former KL-Putrajaya Highway in their daily traffic updates were no longer doing so as they assumed motorists would be used to it by now.

“Local travellers and tourists get wrong information on the directions and end up at wrong destinations.

“I heard one man telling a motorist heading to KL from the LCCT to take the MEX by following the directional signboard through Dengkil. The poor guy would have ended up nowhere if I had not offered to help,’’ said motorist Munip Abdul Razak from Dengkil.

Munip said that first-time visitors to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya would be lost unless the relevant authorities installed proper signboards pointing to MEX.

Managed by Konsortium Lapangan Terjaya Sdn Bhd, the expressway was completed on Dec 5 with toll plazas at Salak South and Putrajaya.

The Putrajaya, Kampung Pandan, Salak South, Kuchai Lama and Bukit Jalil interchanges provide access to the Golden Triangle, Damansara, Jalan Duta, Old Klang Road, Federal Highway, Sungai Besi, Sri Petaling and Bangi, easing congestion on these routes.

[nazrey]

by kdubachelor

image hosted on flickr

[nazrey]

Penang Bridge Expansion Work
by kdubachelor

image hosted on flickr