Countdown to 2020!

[nazrey]

Inspiring Malaysians to win Nobel prize
13 June 2012 | Last updated at 08:49AM
http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general...-prize-1.93818



Professor Dr Ferid Murad (left) and Professor Datuk Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar
after the Nobel laureate delivered a lecture at UiTM, Shah Alam, yesterday.

SHAH ALAM: Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) created history by being the first university in the country to host a Nobel laureate, Professor Dr Ferid Murad, to present key lectures to its students.

UiTM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar said it had taken a step forward by inviting the 75-year-old Nobel prize winner in Physiology or Medicine to inculcate Nobel award-winning minds in researchers and students.

"It is important for local scientists and students to learn Dr Ferid's wisdom and fruits of his scientific understanding as it may inspire them to be the first Malaysian to win a Nobel prize.

"This is in keeping pace with the Ministry of Higher Education's Strategic Action Plan 2011-2015, which is to develop scientific thoughts among students to create a Nobel laureate.

"Hopefully, this initiative will open windows for collaboration with Dr Murad and his organisation (George Washington University, Unites States)," he said after attending Dr Murad's lecture titled "Journey of A Laureate", at UiTM, here, yesterday.

The 90-minute lecture, which was open to all academics, researchers and students from local higher learning institutions, saw Dr Murad sharing his mastery in biochemistry and pharmacology research, his interests in medicine and also his achievements that led to a Nobel Prize in 1998.

Dr Murad jointly won the Nobel prize with Robert F. Furghott and Louis J. Ignarro for their discovery of nitric oxide as a signalling molecule in the cardiovascular system.

Dr Murad, who is Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at George Washington University in the United States, said he is having a great time doing research now.

"It's a real thrill to discover something new. The ability to solve a problem and find an answer is what motivates most scientists."

He said he was working on three researches, which include embryonic stem cells, application of cancer cells and discovering a drug to treat the E. coli strain, which causes diarrhoea and cholera.

He said for a country's medical research to make more breakthroughs, universities, bio-tech companies and pharmaceutical companies must work hand in hand to produce the desired results.

[ejatidiaz]

really UiTM is the first one?
i think my university invited a nobel laureate to present a key lecture too back in 2009

[nazrey]

NEWS UPDATE:

Samsung to invest RM2.2bil in new plant in M'sia
Friday June 15, 2012
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...&if_height=202

SEREMBAN: Samsung SDI Energy Sdn Bhd, a unit of the Samsung Group Malaysia, will invest RM2.2bi l, over five years, to manufacture lithium ion cells and battery packs at its existing cathode ray tubes plant here, said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

He said the plant had already commenced operations in May and the Samsung Group has, todate, invested RM1.5b il in Malaysia.

...

Sime to invest RM1.4bil to expand China port
By SHARIDAN M. ALI Friday June 15, 2012
http://biz.thestar.com.my/archives/2.../p1-simep5.JPG



All together now: Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam (second from left)
officiating the Sime Darby port exhibition in Weifang. With him are (from left)
Weifang mayor Liu Shuguang, Weifang party secretary Xu Liquan and Sime
Darby president and group CEO Datuk Mohd Bakke Salleh. – Bernama

WEIFANG : Sime Darby Bhd plans to invest RM1.4bil in the next three years to expand its port operations in Weifang, China.

The investment is for the group to embark on a five-year development plan for the port to increase the terminal annual handling capacity to 50 million tonnes of cargo by 2017 from the current 18 million tonnes.

At the end of five years, the total number of berths at the port is expected to be nearly double of what are available today.

On top of the earmarked RM1.4bil, a further RM350mil investment is being considered depending on economic factors.

Sime Darby chairman Tun Musa Hitam said the expansion highlighted the growing importance of China to the group.

...

M’sia’s global takaful almost doubles
Malaysia’s market grew 24% last year at an average contribution of RM448.6 million per operator
Thursday, June 14, 2012 - 17:11
by Bernama Location: KUALA LUMPUR
http://www.mmail.com.my/story/m’sia’...almost-doubles

MALAYSIA’S contribution to the global Takaful industry is expected to increase to US$2.4 billion (RM7.6 billion) this year from US$1.4 billion (RM4.5 billion) last year.

Ernst and Young Partner (Assurance) Brandon Bruce Sta Maria said the estimation was based on expectations that the industry’s growth trend would be sustained for the next two years.

“Malaysia’s market grew 24% to touch a US$1.4 billion contribution last year at an average of US$141 million (RM448.6 million) per operator,” he said at the World Takaful Conference: Asia Leaders’ Summit 2012 here yesterday.

For the South East Asian region, Sta Maria expected the contribution to the industry to increase to US$3.4 billion (RM10.8 billion) from the US$2.2 billion (RM7 billion) achieved last year.

“With the current growth trend, and the addition of new frontier markets such as Indonesia and Bangladesh, it is expected that the global Takaful contributions will reach US$12 billion (RM38.2 billion) by this year,” he said.

He also said by contrast, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Takaful market, predominantly comprises the general takaful business with family Takaful accounting for as little as five per cent in certain markets.

He said strong competition, evolving regulations and a shortage of Takaful expertises, are identified as key risks in both the GCC and South East Asia.

...

Malaysia is now Asia's top IPO destination
Published: 2012/06/15
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...TUKAR/Article/



Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
(centre) and Chief Financial Officer of Samsung SDI Battery Division Korea,
Park Jong Ho (right) listened to the explanation from Senior Manager of
Government Relation and Corporate Communication, Mohd Khir Ramli (left)
on the latest Samsung Rechargable Battery Product at Samsung SDIEM.
Pix by Iqmal Haqim Rosman

SEREMBAN: Malaysia continues to attract investors with the approval of 1,411 projects valued at RM35.1 billion in the first quarter of the year.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the services sector was tops with RM17.6 billion.

For domestic investment, this sector remains the largest with RM12.1 billion (53.1 per cent) of the total approved during this period.

“It is believed that this sector will play a bigger role in the country’s economic growth this decade.”

...

Najib opens Huawei Malaysia Global Training Centre
14 June 2012 | Last updated at 02:47PM
http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/najib...centre-1.94416



CYBERJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today opened the Huawei Malaysia Global Training Centre (MGTC) -- the first global ICT training centre of its kind outside China.

"The fact that Huawei chose Malaysia to build this centre is great honour, but I would like to think that it is a reflection of the increasingly important role we (Malaysia) play in the global marketplace," the prime minister said.

The opening of Huawei MGTC here also signified a further strenghtening of bilateral and investment ties between China and Malaysia, he said.

The Huawei MGTC is designed to provide the latest telecommunication and ICT technology training to Huawei's global customers all the way from Asia-Pasific to the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

It aims at positioning Malaysia as the venue for global professional training in next generation ICT technologies, and is expected to contribute RM1.2 billion in Gross National Income (GNI) by 2020.

...

[nazrey]

NEWS UPDATE:

Malaysian brands can make 'world's best' list
By Vasantha Ganesan Published: 2012/06/16
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cmmvb/Article/



MALAYSIAN brands have the potential to be among Interbrand's Best Global Brands as more brands from Asia make it to the list.

Interbrand, one of the world's leading brand consultant, compiles valuable brands which are country specific as well as on a global level.

"Over the next five years, there could be more companies in the top 100 list coming from this part of the world," said Interbrand Singapore director of client services Jonathan Bernstein.

Asian brands on the list now are mostly from Japan and South Korea. They include Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai, and most recently, HTC from Taiwan.

...

Petronas retail arm to expand S-E Asia reach
Published: 2012/06/16
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...PETMI/Article/

PETRONAS Dagangan Bhd, the retail arm of Malaysia's state oil firm Petronas, aims to expand into Indonesia and Myanmar as it widens its presence in Southeast Asia, its managing director told Reuters in an interview.

The largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) provider in Malaysia announced this month it will buy six downstream companies belonging to Petronas in the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia in a deal worth RM197.3 million.

"We need to build new engines for growth," CEO and managing director Amir Hamzah Azizan said, adding that the Malaysian market could become saturated over the next four years.

The company is interested in potential acquisition targets in Myanmar and Indonesia because of their large populations and strong economic growth potential, Amir said, without giving a timeframe for the expansion.

He said the company aimed to increase its overseas revenue contribution to 8 per cent from 2 per cent over the next four years. It had RM766.4 million in cash as of March 31, 63 per cent higher than a year earlier.

...

'KL to retain position as LCC hub in region'
BY BILQIS BAHARI Published: 2012/06/15
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

MINIMAL IMPACT: AirAsia’s decision to relocate Asean base to Jakarta will not affect status, says analyst

AIRASIA Bhd's decision to relocate its Asean base to Jakarta will not impact Malaysia's position as the leading low-cost carrier (LCC) hub in the region, an analyst based here said yesterday.

A Maybank Investment Bank analyst, who declined to be named, told Business Times that Malaysia's LCC hub would remain here and that the Malaysian operation could continue to grow with the completion of KLIA2 next year.

He said Kuala Lumpur would remain as the hub in the region and that AirAsia Bhd's move to set up its regional office in Jakarta would not change anything in Malaysia.

"There's never a question about the LCC hub moving to Jakarta. That is never the intention," he said.

The analyst said there would be no difference in terms of AirAsia's operations, be it located in Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta, adding that the AirAsia brand would be the same anywhere in the world.

AirAsia chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes announced on Wednesday that the the move was to bolster the group's operations in Asean and neighbouring regions.

He also said AirAsia would announce key personnel to run the regional structure as well as the new AirAsia Malaysia chief executive officer on Monday.

On the planned new management structure, the analyst said it would not affect the company's operations, adding that it was not something that AirAsia would do at the spur of the moment.

Meanwhile, the new office in Jakarta, the AirAsia Asean, will help AirAsia engage closely with the Asean secretariat, which is also based in the Indonesian capital.

The analyst said AirAsia's move complemented its regional growth ambition.

"By aligning all this with the Asean secretariat office, it makes it more credible for them in the long-term."

AirAsia shares shed three sen to close at RM3.65 on Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

M’sia to be hub for creative and digital content soon
Thursday June 14, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to become an international hub for creative and digital content by next year.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the Cabinet had recently agreed to the Kuala Lumpur communications and creative content industry market's proposal to develop the industry, which generates RM11bil of the ICT industry's annual RM40bil revenue.

“The move will increase productivity and promote new local products and inventions to give the Malaysian ICT industry an identity to be proud of,” he said at the launch of My1Content, the country's first integrated digital content platform, here yesterday.

Through the market, Kuala Lumpur is expected to be the base for the worldwide distribution of digital and creative content.

Dr Rais said local digital content was profitable as those from RTM and Malaysia National Film Development Corporation (Finas) had sold for RM300mil last year.

He expects Malaysia to become the base for international sharing of digital and creative content within a year of setting up the market.

My1Content is a virtual marketplace for content and application providers with potential buyers and brokers.

It is developed by Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) with the ministry and its agencies.

TM group CEO Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa said it offered software, applications, computer games, videos and music.

“So far, we have 48 multi-functional applications, 50 films and animated works and five recordings from indie bands,” he said, adding that the platform had back-end system support to minimise upfront investment for new companies.

[nazrey]

NEWS UPDATE:

M'sia recognised as important ICT practitioner, says Rais
Updated: Tuesday June 19, 2012 MYT 11:02:31 PM
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202

SINGAPORE: Malaysia is recognised in the region as an important ICT practitioner or player, said Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

"From the communications and broadcasting exhibition held in Singapore today and on other days, we could see that Malaysia's role is recognised by the region as an important practitioner and player in the ICT world.

"We noted that when Singapore's Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, saw Malaysia's development windows, he discovered that our country to be at par with several developing countries in terms of achievements that focus on improving people's lives," he told reporters at CommunicAsia 2012 held here.

...

Dr Subra: Malaysia has signed ILO convention on safety at work place
Updated: Tuesday June 19, 2012 MYT 6:16:09 PM
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia ratified the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Occupational Safety and Health on June 8, joining the ranks of developed nations to place importance on occupational safety and health measures at the work place.

With the ratification, Malaysia also agreed to be under ILO's scrutiny on matters related to safety and health measures at work places and adhere to its high standards, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.

He said Malaysia already had a well-established safety policy to ensure safety measures were implemented and adhere to it at all work places and it was only consistent that it ratified the convention.

...

Hub for special education
Tuesday June 19, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has inked a deal with the South-East Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (Seameo) to set up a regional centre for special education.

Called Seameo SEN, the centre will focus on strengthening, consolidating and enhancing the field of special education in the region.

Both Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his Brunei counterpart Abu Bakar Apong, who is also currently the Seameo president, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding here yesterday.

Under the memorandum signed by Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Rosli Mohamed and Seameo secretariat director Dr Witaya Jeradechakul, the centre will be given the green light to start its operations.

The Seameo SEN will be supervised by its own governing body comprising representatives from each member country, and they will review the centre’s operation and budget as well as set policies and programmes.

“The proposed centre will be operating temporarily at an existing teacher training institute in Malacca, which has a special education department.

“This existing institute has excellent facilities and modern facilities with a readily equipped office set-up, lecture halls, tutorial rooms, recreational room, accommodation, administration office and cafeteria conducive for human capital development,” said in a statement issued by the Education Ministry yesterday.

The setting up of the centre will be funded by the Malaysian Govern-ment.

Gevo plans biofuel facility in Malaysia
Published: 2012/06/20
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

Gevo Inc, a US producer of biofuels, is planning a manufacturing facility in Malaysia.

The facility will begin producing cellulosic isobutanol by early 2016, Englewood, Colorado-based Gevo said in a statement today. -- Bloomberg

Political stability needed to secure country's assets, says Najib
20 June 2012 | Last updated at 05:17PM
http://www.nst.com.my/latest/politic...-najib-1.96376



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak greets members of the Associated
Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) before
Najib delivered his keynote address at the ACCCIM 66th annual general meeting.

KUALA LUMPUR: The country's assets and wealth would remain secure if the people are willing to work together in ensuring continued political stability and certainty, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said that the absence of such stability may pose a threat to Malaysia's wealth.

"We've worked very hard to accumulate much assets and wealth in this country but they can decline or even evaporate if we don't work together to ensure political certainty and stability in this nation," he said.

Najib said this in his keynote address at the 66th annual general meeting of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) here, today.

Attending his first engagement since arriving home from Saudi Arabia at about 1am today, the prime minister stressed that political stability was important as it could influence business and market confidence.

Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, were in Saudi Arabia to pay their last respects to Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, 77, who died at a Geneva hospital on Saturday.

The couple also performed the 'umrah' (minor haj) during the visit.

The prime minister told the ACCCIM event that any form of instability or uncertainty would lead to greater business risks.

He cited financial predicament within the Eurozone, economic slowdown in the United States as well as political uncertainty in other regions as reasons for Malaysia to be more resilient economically.

Such developments made it necessary for the country to engender business and market confidence, he said.

Najib also called for cooperation from the private sector in ensuring that the country's resilience was further strenghtened to face challenges in a stormy global economy.

He said their participation was also pivotal in enabling the country to further embark not only on its transformation journey but also ensuring that real changes were implemented.

Najib reiterated the government's pledge to providing better business opportunities as well as a better life for all Malaysians.

"We haven't promised what we can't deliver," said Najib. -- BERNAMA

[davidwsk]

Bloomberg News

Asian Millionaires Outnumber Those in North America, Report Says

By Giles Broom and Doug Alexander on June 19, 2012

Asia-Pacific millionaires outnumbered those in North America for the first time last year as the world’s wealthy saw a decline in their fortunes, according to a report by Capgemini SA (CAP) and RBC Wealth Management.

The number of individuals in Asia-Pacific with at least $1 million in investable assets jumped 1.6 percent to 3.37 million, helped by an increase in rich people in China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, according to the World Wealth Report released today. So-called high-net-worth individuals in North America dropped 1.1 percent to 3.35 million.

“While throughout the world the euro-zone crisis has affected markets in general and investors’ level of uncertainty, within the Asia-Pacific region we have seen strength in their domestic economies underlying their performance from an economic standpoint,” Gay Mitchell, deputy chairman for RBC Wealth Management, said in an interview in Toronto. “As such it’s yielded an increase in population for high net-worth individuals.”

The population of millionaires worldwide was little changed at 11 million, according to the report. Their wealth dropped 1.7 percent to $42 trillion of assets last year, the first decline since 2008, as the euro region’s sovereign debt crisis and lack of economic growth in the U.S. roiled investors.

Emerging Economies

Emerging economies continued to grow in 2011, while the U.S. and Europe struggled under the burden of sovereign debt that sparked uncertainty across financial markets. China’s real gross domestic product surged 9.2 percent last year, even after slowing compared with 2010, Capgemini and RBC said. That beat growth of 1.7 percent in the U.S. and western Europe.

North America remained the richest region with $11.4 trillion in high net-worth assets, compared with $10.7 trillion in Asia-Pacific, the report said. Wealth in Europe fell 1.1 percent to $10.1 trillion after rising 7.2 percent in 2010. Latin America had the biggest drop among the regions, falling 2.9 percent to $7.1 trillion in assets for its rich. The Middle East was the only region to post growth in assets among the wealthy, increasing funds 0.7 percent to $1.7 trillion.

“Market volatility and the uncertainty from the economic environment certainly has investors concerned and we’ve seen a continued shift to preserving capital and investing in more conservative asset allocations, certainly in North America and in Europe,” Bill Sullivan, a Rosemont, Illinois-based director at Capgemini, said in a telephone interview. “Asia-Pacific individuals may have a slightly more aggressive attitude toward investing right now.”

Super Rich

The super-rich category with $30 million or more saw their assets shrink 4.9 percent, following 12 percent growth in the prior year, contributing to the total decline.

Global wealth will grow at 4 percent to 5 percent during the next five years, driven by wealth creation in emerging markets, especially Asia, excluding Japan, Boston Consulting Group said in a separate report this month. Wealth surged at a compound annual rate of almost 11 percent from 2002 to 2007 before the financial crisis, and the indebtedness of developed- market economies slowed growth, according to the Boston-based firm.

Global equity market capitalization ended last year at $43.1 trillion, down 19 percent from 2010, the report said. The MSCI AC World Index (MXWD), which tracks global stocks in developed and emerging markets, lost 9.4 percent in 2011 and the MSCI AC Asia Pacific Index (MXAP) fell 17 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.


http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...ca-report-says

[davidwsk]

[nazrey]

Govt is realistic, says Najib
By LEE YEN MUN and WANI MUTHIAH Friday June 22, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202

PUTRAJAYA: The Government is committed to building a sustainable national welfare system in order to achieve a realistic growth of the country's economy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

Najib, who assumed the role of Women, Family, and Community Development Minister on April 9, said his administration was not concerned with populist platforms that might jeopardise the nation's income level.

He said the Barisan Nasional-led economic reform initiatives, such as its entry point projects and the Economic Transformation Pro-gramme, builds a sustainable welfare model, whereby part of the country's revenue is distributed to the social sector.

“We adopt a realistic and sustainable attitude in this because we want our programmes to be continual and they are able to be increased over time,” he said at the ministry's monthly staff gathering yesterday.

Najib, who delivered his inaugural address here as minister since taking over the post from Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, thanked his predecessor and urged the staff to carry on the work started by her.

At a separate function in KUALA LUMPUR, Najib said concerted efforts must be made to tap the entrepreneurial skills and creative talent in the younger set to realise Malaysia's aims to become a high-income advanced nation.

He said companies like Apple, Microsoft, Dell and Facebook were founded by the younger generation who had sharp entrepreneurial acumen and creative talents.

“All of them started with shortcomings initially, but they have succeeded now. They started at the garage, but now they own companies worth millions of dollars”.

[patchay]

Plantation farmers in Malaysia got their big cash outs today...


(full article)
Malaysia's Felda surges 20% in debut of world's No.2 IPO
By Yantoultra Ngui and Niluksi Koswanage | Credit: Reuters/Samsul Said/Files
Bloomberg ASIA | Reuters | Financial Times | Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:31am IST

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Shares in Malaysian palm oil firm Felda Global (FGVH.KL) surged 20 percent in their trading debut on Thursday, as investors cheered on the world's second largest IPO after Facebook's rocky initial public offering.



The strong debut beat market expectations of a first day pop of 10 percent and brushed aside, for now, a widely flagged 36 percent drop in Felda Global's first quarter profit to 223.2 million ringgit that had initially unnerved some investors.

Felda raised $3.1 billion in Asia's biggest initial public offering this year - a sharp contrast to Facebook's botched debut and running against the prevailing global gloom in IPO markets.

Within the first 30 minutes of its debut, Felda Global shares were trading as high as 5.46 ringgit, a 0.91 ringgit, or 20 percent, premium to the IPO reference price of 4.55. (However) the local bourse fell 0.1 percent.

"The successful listing of Felda today signifies the endurance of our local stock exchange and proves the IPO market in Malaysia is powerful," said Ahmad Maslan, a government minister in charge of Felda Global's parent -- the Federal Land Development Authority.

A key attraction of Felda is that it gives investors a proxy to the rapidly expanding palm oil sector and represents a bright spot in an Asian IPO pipeline battered by the euro zone debt crisis and concerns over China's slowing growth.

On the downside, the burden of replanting ageing oil palms on the estates it manages - a key reason for its lower profits - may leave Felda Global with less to invest in its expansion plans from Southeast Asia to Africa.

"A lot of people were waiting for it for a long long time," said Linda Koh, a Kuala Lumpur-based analyst with research house InsiderAsia, speaking before the stock began trading.

"The free float for the public portion is quite small. And more importantly, it will get a lot of support from the local institutions. It's a very important company for the government."

The institutional component of the offer was oversubscribed by more than 30 times. Despite strong demand, the IPO was priced slightly below the top of a 4.00-4.65 ringgit range to "leave some money on the table", as one source involved in the deal said.

Felda debuts into a Malaysian stock market that has risen nearly 5 percent this year, outperforming rise of less than 1.5 percent in the MSCI Asia ex-Japan index but lagging some Southeast Asian peers such as Thailand and the Philippines.

Felda's listing plans were initially met with resistance from the farmers who partly owned the firm and feared the loss of control of an asset they had invested in for generations.

The government, a key shareholder in the firm via state-linked funds, sweetened the deal with windfall payment to the farmers, generated from the a fifth of the IPO proceeds, in what is likely to be an election year.


Chairman of Malaysia's Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) Mohd Isa Abdul Samad speaks during a news conference after the listing of the company's initial public offering (IPO) in Kuala Lumpur June 28, 2012. Shares in Malaysian palm oil firm Felda Global surged 20 percent in their trading debut on Thursday, as investors cheered on the world's second largest IPO.REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad


EMBARRASSMENT?

To keep the farmers happy, government-linked funds and the domestic pension fund, which accounted for part of the institutional tranche, made a rush for the stock during the book-building process.

"This Felda IPO is an embarrassment," said an official with a Malaysian bank-backed fund management firm. "About 23 percent of the book was allocated to 'friends and family', all at the expense of legitimate investors with potential synergies."

The official was making reference to global commodities trader Louis Dreyfus, which ended up with a 0.5 percent slice of the IPO as a strategic investor after it was promised a 2.5 percent as part of a refining and marketing alliance with Felda Global.

"It is not an issue for Louis Dreyfus, the alliance was more important than the cornerstone," said an official at Felda Global. "The Felda Global connection gives Louis Dreyfus a foot in Malaysia, it is an alternative and complements the alliance Louis Dreyfus has with Kencana Agri in Indonesia."

Felda Global's appeal has attracted other cornerstone investors - including Qatar Holding LCC, a unit of the Gulf nation's sovereign wealth fund, and Hong Kong's Value Partners (0806.HK) - who are locked into the shares for six months.

CIMB Investment Bank (CIMB.KL), Maybank Investment Bank (MBBM.KL) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) acted as joint global coordinators for Felda Global's flotation, with JPMorgan (JPM.N) and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) working as joint bookrunners.

AGEING OIL PALMS

Felda Global plans to use the bulk of its proceeds to snap up more plantations in Southeast Asia and Africa and boost its refining and market business in its bid to become a peer to Archer-Daniel Midlands (ADM.N), Bunge (BG.N) and Cargill by 2020.

But it could stumble with replanting its ageing oil palm trees that account for 53 percent of the 320,000 hectares of oil palm estates it has taken up in a lease from its parent - among the highest in the industry.

Replanting means loss of income for the three years it takes for trees to mature. But if Felda Global Group delays replanting, it's revenue will eventually trickle lower.

In addition, Felda Global's estates, with an annual average productivity of 19.9 tonnes per hectare, rank the third lowest among the major Malaysian plantations firms, after Tradewinds Plantation Bhd (TWSP.KL) and Boustead Holdings Bhd (BOUS.KL).

"If they aren't able to increase their yield for the past 10 years, how are they able to do it in the next three years," said a palm oil analyst with independent research house in Kuala Lumpur.

(Additional reporting by Elzio Barreto in HONG KONG; Editing by Denny Thomas and Alex Richardson)

Article >>> http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/0...85R00520120628

[nazrey]

siapa kata Felda bankrupt dulu

[davidwsk]

FELDA gave out a lot of assistance to Planters....

[davidwsk]

MAYBANK KIM ENG

Maybank to purchase Kim Eng Securities
By Melissa Goh | Posted: 06 January 2011 1223 hrs

www.maybank-ke.com





SINGAPORE : Malaysia's leading banking group Maybank is poised to emerge as one of top five brokerages in Southeast Asia after making a move to acquire Singapore broker Kim Eng Holdings.

It is launching a general offer for Kim Eng, offering $3.10 per share for the shares of the brokerage after buying over a substantial stake from key shareholders.

The acquisition also marks Maybank's foray into the Thai market.

In making the announcement at Maybank headquarters on Thursday, CEO of Maybank Group, Abdul Wahid Omar, said he plans to take Kim Eng private after completing the takeover.

He added : "We expect..exciting times ahead, Kim Eng will extend investment banking scope and reach very much in line with regional aspiration. They are complementary business and geographic footprint."

The acquisition will complete Maybank's footprint in Southeast Asia.

While the Malaysian lender has a commercial-banking presence in the region, up to now its stock broking and investment banking business has been limited to the home market.

Tying up with Kim Eng will give it stockbroking operations across the region in markets like Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

Under the deal, Maybank is acquiring a 44.6 per cent stake in Kim Eng Holdings at S$3.10 a share - it is buying a 15.44 per cent stake from Mr Ronald Anthony Ooi and a further 29.19 per cent stake from Yuanta Securities Asia Financial Services.

The two transactions are worth a combined S$798.5 million.

It has made an offer for all remaining shares at the same price, resulting in a total consideration of almost S$1.8 billion, or about US$1.4 billion, for the acquisition.

That works out to a multiple of 1.91 times of Kim Eng's book value and a price to earnings ratio of 20 times.

And the purchase price represents a premium of 15 percent to the counter's last closing price of S$2.70.

Maybank has described the valuation as fair.

It noted that Kim Eng's significant presence in Southeast Asia, as well as Hong Kong, New York and London would provide many cross-selling opportunities and enhance Maybank's distribution capabilities.

The acquisition is also in line with the bank's vision to be a regional financial leader by 2015.

Apart from tapping into Kim Eng's 200.000 client base, the current management team led by Chairman and CEO Ronald Ooi will remain for a minimum period of three years to oversee the integration which is expected to be completed by April this year.

Kim Eng is expected to boost Maybank's income from investment banking from the current 2 per cent to 8 per cent in the next financial year and further boost its overseas earnings from the current 29 percent to 34 per cent by 2012.

Japan's Nomura Holdings and Maybank's investment banking arm are advising Maybank on the sale.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...103032/1/.html

[davidwsk]

REIT boom on Bursa Malaysia

By Ben Shane Lim of theedgeproperty.com

Monday, 02 July 2012 13:01


KUALA LUMPUR (July 2): The real estate investment trusts (REITs) listed on Bursa Malaysia have a total market capitalisation of RM17.82 billion, and this figure could easily double within a year.

There are 14 REITs on Bursa. The largest are Pavilion REIT, Sunway REIT and CapitaMalls Malaysia Trust. IGB REIT, with RM4.6 billion in assets, is expected to list in mid-August with IGB’s two iconic malls, Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall.

Last week, KLCC Property Holdings Bhd (KLCCP) announced that it would explore a REIT structure. Should this materialise, it could put additional RM13 billion or more in assets into the REIT ecosystem. KLCCP’s asset portfolio of prime real estate includes the Petronas Twin Towers, Suria KLCC Mall and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

There is also speculation that another prized asset, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, could be injected into the REIT by the group’s parent, KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd. “There is always demand for REITs. I think IGB REIT will receive a good response, assuming it gives a good price,” said Loong Kok Wen, an analyst at RHB Research.

“The KLCCP REIT could easily be the biggest REIT and will have no trouble attracting investors with its high quality assets in central KL,” she said. The introduction of the mega REITs would create a split in the sector between big and small REITs. “The bigger REITs will attract more funds than the smaller ones and therefore have a lower yield.

The smaller REITs may have higher yields but will also be riskier and have less liquidity,” noted Loong. However, Yee Mei Hui, an analyst with HwangDBS Vickers Research Sdn Bhd (HDBSVR) believes there is sufficient liquidity in the system to absorb the introduction of two mega REITs.

Due to the volatile market conditions, many investors have flocked to REITs to shelter from the external economic headwinds. Consequently, the surge in interest has stretched the existing REITs on Bursa to close to peak valuations. “I am not very bullish on REITs at the moment. Their valuations appear to be peaking, although they will stay there as long as there is uncertainty in the market,” said Loong.

The uncertainty in the broader market has whet investor appetite for REITs and as a result yields have become compressed, limiting upside. “Investors and funds have flocked to defensive stocks, and REITs fall under this category. Funds prefer to invest in REITs that offer high dividend payouts instead of holding cash,” said Loong, who noted that the trend could reverse when risk appetite returns.

“The yields are very stretched at the moment, especially considering that the fixed deposit (FD) rate is 3.2% for 12 months. The spread of REIT yields over the FD rate is at its smallest since the 2008 financial crisis,” said Loong.

The top five biggest REITs by market capitalisation have an average 12-month trailing dividend yield of 5% and have seen their share prices rise 15% in the past one year. “The bigger REITs have slightly lower yields but they are also more stable. On top of that, their yields cannot fall much further. As risky assets, I don’t see them trading at yields of less than 4%.

At 4% they would be trading a premium of only 80 basis points on the risk-free FD rate,” said Loong. HDBSVR’s Yee, in contrast, is positive on the REIT sector and believes that there is a healthy demand for REITs due to the attractive yields.

“I am still positive on REITs, especially retail REITs compared with office REITs, because retail rentals are on an upward trend while office rentals are being smothered by a huge oversupply coming into the market.

In addition, consumer spending in Malaysia continues to be robust,” said Yee. While office rentals would underperform retail rentals, the KLCCP REIT would not be affected due to the high quality of its offices, said Loong.

“KLCCP REIT has Petronas as the master leasee of the twin towers and should have no problems at all with rentals. The buildings it owns boast excellent technical specifications and amenities that will attract multinational companies to its offices,” said Loong.

“For now, my top picks of the REITs are Axis REIT and Hektar REIT. When IGB REIT lists, then it will be my favourite. Why? Because I expect the IPO to be good and it will also be the biggest REIT until KLCCP,” said Loong.

This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 2, 2012.

http://www.theedgeproperty.com/news-...-malaysia.html

[nazrey]

NEWS UPDATE:

StanChart makes KL hub for Islamic banking
Published: 2012/07/04
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz1zduQmT80

Standard Chartered Bank is making Kuala Lumpur its global business hub for Islamic consumer banking.

This is part of a strategy to grow its Islamic banking business in Malaysia and across its global footprint.

In this regard, Standard Chartered's Global Head of Islamic Banking and a new team of experts, will be based at its head office in the capital by year-end to further drive business momentum in the country.

It will also continue working with other new markets to build and strengthen its Islamic banking proposition under the Standard Chartered Saadiq brand.

In a statement today, Standard Chartered said the new hub underscores the strategic importance of the Malaysian market for the bank's overall strategy and ambitions for the Saadiq franchise.

"Malaysia has established itself as a leading international Islamic financial centre.

"With Kuala Lumpur as our global hub for Islamic consumer banking, we look forward to capitalising on Malaysia's long-standing experience and expertise in Islamic Banking, and further contribute to the scale of Islamic finance activities in the country," said Standard Chartered Saadiq chairman, Shayne
Nelson.

The new global hub will managed by Wasim Saifi as the new chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Saadiq Bhd, in addition to his role as Global Head, Islamic Consumer Banking.

Standard Chartered Bank was the first international bank in Malaysia to offer Islamic banking products in 1993.

In 2008, Standard Chartered Saadiq Bhd was established as a full-fledged Islamic banking subsidiary, and has launched several first-to-market Islamic products. -- BERNAMA

Malaysia’s eKasih is No. 1
Friday June 29, 2012
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...&if_height=202

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's eKasih project, a national poverty databank to provide aid to the poor, clinched the first prize in the United Nations Public Service Awards in New York.

It won under the category of “Advancing Knowledge Management in Government” for Asia and the Pacific, pushing Korean's initiative of National Science and Technology Information Service to second place.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tweeted about it yesterday, saying: “eKasih project won 1st prize in the United Nations Public Service Awards 2012, a prestigious award for public service. Malaysian Pride!”

The awards honour creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions.

The eKasih, launched in November 2007, is used by relevant agencies for fair distribution of assistance and to avoid overlapping aid programmes.

In PUTRAJAYA, Najib said education plays a key role in expanding the social mobility of underprivileged Malaysians.

He said the country had seen rapid movement of Malaysians up the social ladder, with many having made a better life for themselves as quickly as within one generation.

“Education is the only way Malaysia can continue to improve on this positive trend if the country intends to sit among the ranks of developed nations,” he said.

“The focus should be on intellectual capital because if we only look at physical development, our (overall) development would sputter or not go smoothly,” he said in an informal dialogue with academics at his official residence here.

During the event, Najib also launched the 1Malaysia Tuition for the rakyat (TR1M) programme.

He also presented a RM2mil grant to cover operational costs.

TR1M launched its pilot programme in Selangor on June 18, covering 107 schools in the state and serving over 10,000 students with the help of 350 teachers.

The programme, whose participants include students who received the 1Malaysia netbook, offers online interactive tuition classes for students preparing for the UPSR examination, while students sitting for the PMR and SPM examinations will attend conventional tuition classes in their schools.

Petronas in Asia’s top 10 list
Friday June 29, 2012
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...&if_height=202

KUALA LUMPUR: Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), along with Samsung Group, Toyota Motors and Tata Group, were in the list of Hay Group’s Asia’s top 10 best companies for leadership.

The global management consulting firm, which released the list yesterday, also named the global top 20 companies for leadership and examined how these companies nurtured talent and fostered innovation in their ranks.

This year, General Electric topped the global list, followed by Procter & Gamble, IBM, Microsoft and Coca-Cola. — Bernama

[nazrey]

NEWS UPDATE:

PTP investing RM1.4bil to make Port of Tanjung Pelepas more competitive
By SHARIDAN M.ALI Monday July 2, 2012
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...&if_height=202

TANJUNG PELEPAS: The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) is investing RM1.4bil over the next three years in new cranes, electrifying existing rubber-tyred gantries (RTGs) and building new berths.

“The industry is continuously evolving and shipping lines continue to build larger vessels to achieve economies of scale. Ports will therefore need to deploy bigger capacity cranes. For example, Evergreen is building 10 mega-sized vessels with a 13,800 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) load capacity,” said PTP chairman Datuk Mohd Sidik Shaik Osman.

...

RM1b investment fund for Malaysian firms
Published: 2012/07/03
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today announced the establishment of a RM1 billion Domestic Investment Strategic Fund.

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

He said the fund would be managed by the Malaysian Investment D
Development Authority (MIDA) and 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.

The fund will function to harness and leverage on outsourcing opportunities created by multinational corporations operating in Malaysia; intensify technology acquisition by Malaysia-owned companies and enable these companies to secure international standards/certifications in strategic industries.

...

Malaysia shines amid investment banking gloom
Published: 2012/07/03
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

IN AN otherwise dismal year for Asia's investment banking industry, a ray of hope has appeared from the most unlikely of places: Malaysia.

State oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) announced the country's largest ever outbound takeover last week, offering to buy its Canadian partner Progress Energy Resources Corp for US$4.7 billion (RM14.9 billion) to gain control of vast shale gas deposits to supply lucrative Asian markets. The news broke on the same day local palm oil firm Felda Global listed its US$3.1 billion IPO with a 20 per cent pop.

Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan are among the investment banks benefiting from the deal-making boom at a time when fees are tough to come by.

A few key business relationships have paid off for BofA-Merrill, while Goldman's expanded business and JPMorgan's decades-long operation in Malaysia have been a boon for them.

Another US$5 billion to US$7 billion (RM15.5 billion to RM22 billion) of Malaysian stock offerings are expected during the next year, turning the normally sleepy Kuala Lumpur financial hub into one of the most active deal centres in the world.

"I would imagine we're one of the few markets where head-hunters are paying any interest at the moment by virtue of the fact that things are happening," said Steve Clayton, senior country officer for JPMorgan Malaysia.

Clayton says that headcount at J.P Morgan Malaysia will increase over 50 per cent within the next two years. The bank's franchise in the country dates back to 1964.

The Petronas deal, one of the biggest outbound deals from Asia this year, will boost Malaysian M&A volume to US$19.3 billion (RM61 billion). Malaysia's share of Asian M&A volume doubled to eight per cent so far this year.

Aviva and ING's planned sale of insurance operations in Malaysia are among the country's other M&A deals expected to be completed sometime this year.

The burst of deal activity is also part of a trend that began a few years ago when Malaysia's state firms and privately-owned companies started to venture abroad to tap growth outside their saturated domestic market.

The same momentum saw state investor Khazanah Nasional acquiring hospital groups in Singapore, Turkey and India. It is now injecting these assets into a business that is seeking to list in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in a US$2 billion (RM6.3 billion) deal this year.

Deutsche advised Khazanah on its acquisitions in Singapore and Turkey and is also a key adviser on the IPO.

At nearly US$5 billion (RM15.5 billion) year-to-date, equity and equity-related deal volumes in the country are the most since at least 2000, according to Thomson Reuters data, and already equal the total for all of 2011. Reuters

Bursa Malaysia ditutup tinggi
Selasa , 03 Julai 2012, 14 Syaaban 1433 H Emel Kawan
http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/ar...cle/index_html

Langkah pemimpin zon euro tangani krisis hutang lonjak saham tempatan

Harga saham di Bursa Malaysia ditutup tinggi semalam dengan sentimen yang meningkat di pasaran serantau selepas pemimpin zon euro bersetuju dengan pakej 120 bilion euro sebagai langkah jangka pendek untuk menangani krisis hutang, kata peniaga. Penanda aras FBM KLCI, kekal melebihi paras 1,600, naik 1.70 mata daripada Jumaat lepas untuk ditutup pada 1,600.85.

Indeks Kewangan menambah 25.289 mata kepada 14,266.27, Indeks Perladangan meningkat 12.131 mata kepada 8,496.19 manakala Indeks Perusahaan susut 0.12 mata kepada 2,847.35.

Indeks FBM Emas menambah 23.391 mata kepada 10,941.03, Indeks FBM 70 menokok 72.79 mata kepada 11,992.17 dan Indeks FBM Ace meningkat 26 mata kepada 4,380.70.

[nazrey]

NEWS UPDATE:

Malaysia to grab Asia IPO top spot with $2 bln IHH listing
Published: Tuesday July 3, 2012 MYT 12:36:00 PM
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...&if_height=202

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia launched on Tuesday the US$2 billion initial public offering of state-backed hospital operator IHH Healthcare Bhd, marking the third biggest listing of the year globally and cementing its status as Asia's top IPO destination for 2012.

The sale of shares in IHH follows the $3 billion listing on the Malaysian bourse last week of palm oil firm Felda Global Ventures Holding, which was the world's biggest IPO of the year after Facebook Inc.

...

IHH eyes China, India after flotation
Published: 2012/07/05
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...ihipo/Article/

KUALA LUMPUR: IHH Healthcare Bhd, Asia's largest hospital operator, will look to buy assets in China and India with their billion-plus populations after the local firm uses its initial public offering (IPO) proceeds to pay down debt, a top company official said yesterday.

IHH's US$2 billion (RM6.3 billion) stock debut on the Malaysian and Singaporean bourses on July 25 will give it a market value of US$7.24 billion, making it the world's second biggest listed healthcare provider after HCA Holdings .

It plans to grow by owning and operating hospitals in China, while looking at brownfield and greenfield joint-ventures and acquisitions on the northern and western regions of India, IHH managing director Dr Lim Cheok Peng said.

"They have among the largest populations in the world," Lim said in an interview here. "The healthcare infrastructure is not up to standard at this point in time and coverage is not universal, this is why we want to penetrate these markets."


IHH is looking to add in another 17 new hospitals with 3,300 beds by 2015, boosting its total hospitals to 47 with 8,200 beds, according to Lim.

About 75 per cent of the RM6.5 billion t capital expenditure for the expansion has been paid for, with the remainder to be funded via the IPO proceeds, he added.

The group posted a profit of RM394.117 million in 2011 versus RM574.754 million in 2010 - a drop of 31 per cent on higher staff costs.

IHH, the healthcare arm of Malaysia's state investor Khazanah, will use around 90 percent, or RM4.66 billion, of its IPO proceeds to repay borrowings in 12 months.

That will save some RM120 million in interest payments and allow the firm to gear for further expansion, Lim said.

Total debt stood at around US$2.4 billion as of the end of March, according to company data.

IHH also holds a 35.8 per cent stake in Parkway Life real estate investment trust (REIT), one of Asia's largest healthcare REITs with 36 properties in total.

"With the IPO and subsequently the paring down of debt level, there is more room for us to gear, we also have a REIT that at some point in time we can utilise to monetise our fixed assets," he added.

Lim also said IHH would pay a dividend when it is appropriate.

"While it is a defensive stock, it is also a growth stock. For the benefit of both shareholders and company, there has to be a balance," he said.

"If we don't need the money for expansion, we will give it back to the shareholders."

IHH's assets include Singapore hospital operator Parkway Holdings, Turkish hospital group Acibadem AS, India's Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd and Malaysia-based Pantai Hospitals and International Medical University.

"We are truly the first healthcare company that covers multiple geography," said Lim. "Even you take HCA, the largest in the world, they are country-centric, they are only based in America." Reuters

[nazrey]

NEWS UPDATE:

Japanese SMEs keen to foray into global halal mart via KL
By Rupa Damodaran Published: 2012/07/05
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...up04c/Article/

KUALA LUMPUR: Small and medium Japanese companies, which have fought shy of Islamic markets in the past, are keen to make a foray into consumer products in global Islamic market via Kuala Lumpur.

With the purchasing power on the rise in Malaysia, the timing could not be better to introduce and market the latest Japanese lifestyle goods to Malaysia, says Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) managing director Joji Ikeshita.

The larger Japanese companies, especially those in the manufacturing sector, are familiar with the expertise in the Malaysian market, but SMEs are unfamiliar with the tastes and demands of Muslim customers.

Italian Quality Committee forum to feature Malaysia
By Roziana Hamsawi Published: 2012/07/05
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New.../msta/Article/

KUALA LUMPUR: The 11th annual forum of the Italian Quality Committee, also known as the Comitato Leonardo, which will be held in Rome next week, will feature Malaysia as among the three important countries for Italian business community.

The Italian Trade Promotion Agency (ICE) said in a press statement Malaysia, alongside Brazil and Russia, had been chosen as countries with great potentials.

At the forum's roundtable, there will be presentation on survey findings by the Comitato Leonardo of its interviews with top Malaysian market players in various fields, including fashion, technology, green business and food and gastronomy.

The event, it said, would be attended by the Italian Minister of Economic Development, the president of Confindustria and ICE president as well as members of the diplomatic missions in Italy.

Malaysia, said the statement, would be represented by Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur, the former president of the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers, who is expected to speak on the strong economic collaborations and trade relations between Malaysia and Italy.

The statement said in view of the recent collaborations and cooperation between Malaysia and Italy following the establishments of the Malaysia-Italy Joint Economic Committee, Italian entrepreneurs could now look at the country witih renewed interests.

Malaysia's May exports jump on Asian demand
BY Rupa Damodaran Published: 2012/07/05
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...up04b/Article/

MALAYSIA'S exports jumped sharply in May, supported by strong bilateral trade with Singapore, China and India as well as improving external demand for electrical and electronic (E&E) products.

Exports rose by 6.7 per cent, higher than market expectations, while imports increased by 16.2 per cent, causing the trade surplus to narrow to RM4.6 billion from RM7.5 billion in April.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Dr Chua Hak Bin said trade surplus narrowed to its smallest since August 2002.

The International Trade and Industry Ministry said on a month-on-month basis, exports and imports rose by 1.8 per cent and 7.9 per cent respectively.



...

[patchay]

UNCTAD World Investment Report 2012 - East Asia Region (excluding Japan) by FDI Inflows Ranking

[davidwsk]

Originally Posted by patchay

UNCTAD World Investment Report 2012 - East Asia Region (excluding Japan) by FDI Inflows Ranking

Yay

Patchay The one we need to watch for is the 2012 index....Definitely jump a lot....

With all the FDI in Iskandar, KL, Penang, blah blah blah....

probably more than 20 billion in USD.

Not sure when the 2012 index will be out...

[sepul]

Singapore is unbelievable