Malaysia - Countries of the World

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Iris signs 3 pacts with Senegal
Published: 2010/07/09
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz0tAp63wU0

IRIS Corp Bhd (0010) has signed three initial pacts to supply electronic cards, build a renewable power plant and develop a housing project in Senegal.

It signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Interior to integrate e-passports and identification card systems, and supply driving licence and work permit cards.

The second MOU by Iris Eco Power Sdn Bhd is to build a power plant fuelled by solid waste from the city of Dakar and all the major cities of Senegal.

Iris Eco has also signed an MOU to partner Caisse des Depots et Consignations to build 1,000 houses in Bambilor, Senegal.
Meanwhile, Iris entered into a RM50 million deal with Koperasi Atlet Malaysia Bhd for the AutoPot System Farming Project in Perak.

KAMB has appointed Iris as the turnkey contractor for the Golden Melon Farming project in Tanjung Tualang, Perak.

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Turkish delights on their way to Malaysia
Published: 2010/07/09
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz0tApatjxr


TURKEY'S leading ice-cream company, Mado, plans to establish full-fledged operations, comprising dessert cafe chain, goat farming and production of mutton, milk and ice-cream in Malaysia in five years.

Mado and Dondurma AP Sdn Bhd recently inked a joint-venture agreement to introduce dessert cafe chain in Asia Pacific, with Malaysia as the production and distribution centre.

Dondurma AP's Shaifulbahrim Mohd Salleh said an investment of US$100 million (RM320 million) will be set aside for a five-year development in the country.

"The plan is to have our own outlets first before opening hundreds of Mado Cafes under a franchise system in Malaysia and then in the region," he said in an interview recently.

Shaifulbahrim said so far, the company has received 15 enquiries to participate in the franchise.

"One of them plans to open 10 Mado outlets. But we have to hold them because we want to open our outlet first to sort out the supply chain," he said.

He said the company plans to open between two and five branches with investments of between US$700,000 and US$1 million (RM2.24 million and RM3.2 million) for each dessert cafe outlet this year.

"We are a high-class brand. So, we have identified a few up-market tourist spots in Bukit Bintang and a few areas in the Klang Valley," he said.

Shaifulbahrim said in addition to ice-cream, the cafe will serve specialty coffee and baklavas as well as other Turkish desserts and pastries.

He said as the company uses goat's milk to produce Mado ice-cream, a production chain will be set up here to cater to the demand in the region.

"The factory will either be in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor.

"We will also need thousands of goats. So, this will be a good opportunity for those who are interested to supply goats," he said.

Shaifulbahrim said Mado's goats are fed herbs to remove the strong odour normally associated with goat's milk while enhancing its taste.

"The production technology also enhances the quality of the milk in combination with special orchid extracts found only in the Marash region of Turkey," he said.

To meet local demand, he said, Mado is in the midst of studying the possibility of having ice-cream with dragon fruit and durian flavours.

He said Malaysia will be a good start to expand in the region.

"The joint venture aims to be a major player in the high-end confectionary sector in the region, and Malaysia is well poised to benefit from the spillover effects plus technology transfer from the partnership," Shaifulbahrim said.

Mado is among Turkish companies participating in the three-day Malaysia International Food & Beverages 2010 (MIFB 2010), expo which starts today. It will make available all its 60 flavours of ice-cream at MIFB 2010. - Bernama

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MAHB clicks well with Indian infrastructure giant GMR
By B.K. SIDHU Monday July 12, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...1&sec=business

PETALING JAYA: A relationship that began in the 1990s has blossomed into a partnership where trust and confidence prevail as both partners look for new airport jobs in markets they are familiar with.

The parties are Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and Indian infrastructure giant, GMR Group.

The partnership bodes well for MAHB as it needs a partner with deep pockets to help it expand abroad and widen its earnings base.

For GMR, it wants a company that has the expertise.

Both were partners in the development of the mammoth Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi.

Both are also partners in the Sahiba Gocken International airport in Istanbul and the Rajiv Gandhi airport in Hyderabad.

Recently the GMR/MAHB consortium won the bid to build, operate, modernise and expand the Male International Airport in the Maldives for US$373mil.

GMR will hold a 77% stake while MAHB has 23% in the consortium for the Maldives job.

For the Turkey job MAHB’s stake is 20% while IGI has 10% and Hyderabad 11%.

But this is not an exclusive agreement.

For the Medina airport job, both have gone separate ways and both have been pre-qualified for the US$1.5bil job.

“Wherever we go, MAHB is with us. They have the first right of refusal,’’ said GMR group general manager G.M. Rao in New Delhi recently.

He is also the founder and group chairman of GMR Group.

Rao is a mechanical engineer by profession and was once the major shareholder of Vsaya Bank in India.

GMR is an infrastructure group that builds and operates highways, airports and power plants.

It also owns coal mines in South Africa and Indonesia.

GMR Group is headquartered in Bangalore.

MAHB chairman Tan Sri Dr Aris Othman was quick to add that “we have become friends and we consider ourselves lucky to have a partner that is professional and reliable.’’

India is going to build more than 30 airports in the coming years and both companies are keen to be part of the development but will not give any specific details.

MAHB managing director Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Bashir would not say if MAHB was going for the Mumbai airport.

“We have not decided on (the Mumbai airport) yet. But if the opportunity arises (for us to work together in new ventures) we would be interested,’’ he said.

Doing business in India can be challenging and so will the Maldives job.

However, Rao is confident that the relationship with MAHB that is based on trust and confidence will go far.

“At every stage they are educating us,’’ Rao said, referring to the development of the IGI airport.

Apart from GMR and MAHB, German’s Fraport is also a partner in the consortium.

For IGI, MAHB was involved in operations, baggage handling and also the design of the airport.

The airport cost US$2.6bil but Bashir declined to reveal MAHB’s level of investment.

The bulk of the funding was obtained via a bridging loan.

Despite the new facilities, airport and landing charges will remain the same with Rao hoping that passenger growth will drive earnings.

IGI is home to 60 airlines and 10 domestic carriers and over the past five years the compounded annual growth rate in passengers had been 17%.

MAHB is also looking for more airlines to fly into KLIA.

There is talk that India’s low cost carrier SpiceJet is considering mounting flights to KLIA but this could not be confirmed.

Currently KLIA is home to 59 carriers.

Bashir does not expect immediate contribution from IGI as the gestation period will be six to seven years.

For investors it is about dividends.

Last year MAHB paid 47% of its earnings or RM177mil in dividends, about 16 sen per share base on its share base of 1.1 billion.

Analysts expect a higher dividend payout from the company this year.

Market consensus has put its earnings at RM382mil in current financial year ending Dec 31, 2010 and the guidance from the company is that it will continue to reward shareholders amply over the medium term.

Based on analyst projections of a 50% payout then shareholders could enjoy a total of RM190mil or almost 18 sen Going forward the challenge would be to get the new LCCT up and running by early 2012.

MAHB needs to raise RM2.7bil for the construction of the new low cost terminal at Sepang.

It was reported that it may issue RM1bil of Islamic bonds and US$500mil in conventional bonds.

Bashir declined to comment on this but reports said RM2.2bil would be used for the construction and RM500mil for the refinancing of current borrowings.

The other challenge for MAHB is to increase non-aeronautical earnings and while going overseas is one way it also needs to look at other avenues, such as increasing retail space. -ENDS-

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South Korea’s Honam to buy Malaysia’s Titan for RM4b
16 July 2010
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/b...itan-for-rm4b/

July 16, 2010SEOUL, July 16 — South Korea’s Honam Petrochemical Corp will pay 1.52 trillion won (RM4.06 billion) to buy Malaysia’s largest petrochemical maker Titan Chemicals Corp Bhd to expand its business to South East Asia.

Seoul-based Honam will pay RM2.35 for 72 per cent of Kuala Lumpur-based Titan, a 27 per cent premium over Titan’s closing share price of RM1.85 yesterday.

Honam will buy the controlling stake in Titan largely from Malaysian government-run trusts. The remaining 28 per cent of Titan will be purchased by Honam on the stock market by November.

“Through this takeover Honam will expand business in South East Asian markets and expand Titan’s production capacity,” said Lee Seung-hoon, a company spokesman.

Honam shares soared 9.4 per cent to 162,500 won as of 0538 GMT.

Honam is 57 percent owned by South Korea’s seventh-largest business group, Lotte Group. Lotte, best known in South Korea for its department stores and supermarkets, said earlier this year it will pay US$1.2 billion (RM3.85 billion) for department and discount stores owned by GS Retail.

The Titan acquisition will boost Honam from Asia’s No. 4 petrochemical maker to its second-largest after Taiwan’s Formosa Petrochemical by boosting annual production to 2.5 million tonnes from 1.75 million tonnes.

The South Korean company makes ethylene and propylene that are used for making plastics, film and paints. Titan makes olefins and polyolefins, intermediate products for ethylene and propylene.

HSBC is the financial adviser to Honam. — Reuters

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Malaysia, Italy to cooperate in air traffic management
Published: 2010/07/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz0u79Vi8KG

MALAYSIA and Italy will establish a formal framework for co-operation in the area of air traffic management with specific reference to the operational and technological development.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said both countries recognised the need to formalise the bilateral cooperation in this area due to challenges posed by the growing demand.

He said this in his address at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Malaysia and ENAV S.p.A. Italy in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Under the MOU, both parties will also endeavour to take necessary steps to encourage and promote technical co-operation in the areas of operational and technological short and medium term improvements, training and research and development and any other areas of co-operation on air traffic management that will benefit both countries.

ENAV S.p.A. provides air traffic control services in Italy and its services also include air navigation and aeronautic information publication.

Through this MOU, Kong said he hoped that the safety, capacity and smooth air traffic flow in Malaysian air space would be enhanced.

"The communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management which is now a must in air transport can be further explored and ventured to ensure that Malaysia is able to expound such a sophisticated and modern equipment in air traffic management in this region," he said. - Bernama

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Raymond keen to set up regional office in KL
Published: 2010/07/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz0u7A12Q9D

INDIAN textile giant, Raymond Ltd, which finds Malaysia an attractive investment destination and a gateway to Southeast Asia, plans to set up an office in Kuala Lumpur to facilitate its regional retail business.

Its vice-president for international business, Ram Bhatnagar, said the office here will facilitate its business in Southeast Asia.

"We will be having a chain of stores going forward and this will require a lot of staff training.

"Our intention is to hire the local people. It will not be feasible to send them to India to be trained," he said in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Bhatnagar said Malaysia was chosen as a threshold for the region because it has one of the fastest growing economies along with a booming retail industry.

"The growing economy in Malaysia and the local Indian population will make our entry here much easier," he said.

Bhatnagar said the company will open close to 35 stores in the region with an investment of about RM600,000 per outlet.

The textile giant launched its first store, The Raymond Shop (TRS), in Malaysia last week, marking its entry into the region's retail business.

The outlet in Bangsar offers a wide range of men's clothing including ready-to-wear apparel, made-to-measure clothing and accessories.

Raymond has more than 50 years of retail experience in India and has over 500 TRS outlets in over 15 cities across the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Bhatnagar said over the next three years, the company plans to open about 25 local outlets and three in Singapore.

"In the immediate term, we are looking at another two more outlets in the Klang Valley and gradually move to Johor Baru, Malacca and Penang.

"We might simultaneously go to Singapore and Indonesia. In the next 24 months, we will definitely have a presence in Singapore and we are targeting about three to four outlets there.

"As for Indonesia, we are targeting just one outlet in Jakarta," he said.

Bhatnagar said in the next five years, the company will be making its presence felt in Thailand as well as China.

He said Raymond was not looking at setting up facilities in Malaysia in the immediate term. It will focus on India due to the availability of raw materials.

"To date Raymond has 18 facilities globally," he said.

Bhatnagar said the company aims to secure a return on investment of between 20 per cent and 25 per cent from the regional market in the next three years.

"The region, however, will not be a major contributor to Raymond's growth as of now," he said.

The Raymond products include pure wool, wool blended with exotic fibres like camel hair, cashmere and angora and innovative blends of wool with polyester, linen and silk. - Bernama

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Nomura raises presence with Labuan office
By Adeline Paul RajPublished: 2010/07/19
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz0u7AmLtiw

JAPAN'S Nomura, a global investment bank, has set up a branch in Labuan, seeking to boost its presence in Malaysia and the region.

The offshore branch, Nomura's first in Asia, opened today and enables it to market risk-management solutions to Malaysian corporates, government-linked entities, banks and insurers, said Samir Bhandari, head of macro sales for Asia ex-Japan in the fixed income division.

He said Nomura aims to become one of the world's leading investment banks in three to five years and that its growth would be driven mainly by client businesses.

As such, it wants to boost its presence in countries like Malaysia, which is considered to be among Nomura's most important markets in Southeast Asia, in order to be closer to potential clients.

"The majority of our revenue comes from clients rather than proprietary trading, and that is really what's driving our global strategy. So it's imperative for us to become a local player and deliver local solutions ... which is why we chose to start with a Labuan branch in Malaysia," the Singapore-based Bhandari told Business Times in a telephone interview.

The Labuan business, however, allows it to do only non-ringgit products. The bank plans to offer interest rate, foreign exchange, commodity and credit products to clients, as well solutions that are a combination of these.

Bhandari said Nomura's niche lies in its structured product capabilities. "That's our unique selling point, it's probably better than (our rivals')," he claimed.

Nomura may eventually be interested in setting up a banking subsidiary in Malaysia, Bhandari said. This would enable it to do ringgit-based products, thus widening its spectrum of offerings to clients.

"We're currently discussing strategy internally on what markets in Asia we want to focus on over the next 12 to 24 months to best service the needs of our clients," he remarked.

Nomura, which first gained a presence in Malaysia 36 years ago, already has corporate advisory and securities licences here.

It has historically derived most of its revenues from within Japan, but this changed after it bought the Asian and European operations of its bankrupted rival, Lehman Brothers, in September 2008. Now, around half its revenue comes from outside Japan, Bhandari said.

Nomura was the top-earning investment bank in Asia Pacific last year.

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Do more to make Malaysia sexy to fund managers: Aberdeen Asset
By Presenna NambiarPublished: 2010/07/27
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz0uxGAR3pw



The Malaysian economy is not currently viewed as sexy compared to, say, Indonesia, according to Aberdeen Asset Management managing director

Malaysia needs to make itself interesting to attract foreign fund managers to invest here.

"We are doing the right things, but the Malaysian economy is not currently viewed as sexy compared to, say, Indonesia with a population of 260 million people and relatively no exports," Aberdeen Asset Management managing director Gerald Ambrose said at the FTSE Malaysian Market Insights and Investment Opportunities Seminar in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Malaysia had an index weighting of more than 20 per cent in the 1980s, but the weighting under the FTSE Global All Cap Index for Asia-Pacific, excluding Japan, has dropped since to 3.7 per cent.

"The cruel truth is that you don't have to have some Malaysia (exposure) anymore. So Malaysia has to do a lot more to be on that portfolio on merit," Ambrose said.

CLSA Quantitative Research head Chris Lobello viewed Khazanah Nasional Bhd's move to place out some of its shares in Telekom Malaysia Bhd to institutional investors as a step in the right direction.

"The liquidity issues in Malaysia make it a difficult place to invest in. With it (Malaysia) only making up half a per cent of global indices, it is easy to step away from it," Lobello said.

He added that the only thing to do was to push up the country's weighting by promoting liquidity and free float in the stock market.

Meanwhile, a report on the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Index series indicated that liquidity in the Malaysian market had increased since the transition to the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) a year ago.

Monthly trading value of the Main Market has risen 13.6 per cent in the period from July 6 last year to July 6 this year.

The report also indicated that over a one-year period, Malaysia has seen strong growth and outperformed most of the regional benchmarks.

The FBM KLCI has risen 22.6 per cent year on year compared to the FTSE Asia Pacific All Cap Ex Japan Index, which rose only 10.2 per cent.

The FBM KLCI covers 30 companies, and around 70 per cent of the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Emas Index, a broad benchmark that aims to capture 98 per cent of Bursa Malaysia's Main Market.

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South Korea translates and sells Malaysian novel
Wednesday July 28, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...563&sec=nation



From Malaysia to South Korea: Muhyiddin signing the plaque of the cover of
the novel at Paju Book City in Seoul yesterday. The plaque is held by the
Malaysian National Institute of Translation managing director Mohd Khair
Ngadiron (right) and Paju Book City chairman Yi Ki- Ung. Looking on is
Malaysian Ambassador to South Korea Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim.

SEOUL: South Korea has, in collaboration with the Malaysian National Institute of Translation, translated an old Malaysian novel Nyawa di Hujung Pedang (Life at the Edge of a Sword) by Ahmad Murad Nasaruddin.

The novel will be on sale in the republic from today.

The book, first published in 1944, was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Paju Book City, about 50km from Seoul.

The first 1,000 copies that were published on Tuesday will be sold at 10,000 Won (RM30) each.

The novel by Ahmad Murad, who died on Aug 12, 1974, is set against the backdrop of life in a 1940s Malaya occupied by the Japanese.

It revolves around a young man Yazid, who is falsely accused of being a Japanese informer, resulting in his torture and death.

Among reasons the novel became the choice of the South Korean publisher was due to its contents, which shared a similar thread to the Japanese occupation of South Korea.

Muhyiddin, in his speech, said Malaysia would take the Paju Book City concept as an example to set up the Kuala Lumpur Book City in the near future.

Earlier in the afternoon, he was briefed on the South Korean education system which uses the Internet at the South Korean Education and Research Information Service and Hanam Information Industry High School.

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Sabah’s forest conservation areas attract world’s scientists
Wednesday July 28, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...922&sec=nation

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is fast emerging as a key tropical forest research centre, with three of the state’s key pristine conservation areas now attracting international scientists.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said he was glad that research originating from the Danum Valley dating some 20 years was now being replicated on a larger scale at Sabah’s Lost World of the Maliau Basin.

“Research efforts are now beginning in the Imbak Canyon in the southern region. This speaks volumes of the benefits of our efforts to maintain the sanctity of our conservation areas,” he said.

He noted that about 50 Malaysians, most of them Sabahans, had gained their post graduate degrees based on work done in Danum.

Musa said this after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding between The Royal Society of Britain and the Danum Valley Management Committee (DVMC) for a five-year continuation of a rainforest research and training programme that began in 1985.

He noted that about half of the 330 studies carried out at the 43,800ha Danum Valley – nearly twice the size of Penang island – was carried out through collaboration between the Royal Society and DVMC.

Through this collaboration, the Danum field centre is now regarded as a leading rainforest establishment in South-East Asia.

Globally, it is one of three top facilities of its kind, the others being La Selva in Costa Rica and Panama, Musa said.

He credited this success to the Sabah Forestry Department, Yayasan Sabah, Universiti Malaysia Sabah and the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry.

The Royal Society’s foreign secretary and vice-president Prof Lorna Casselton said the 25-year research efforts at Danum Valley had gone beyond understanding the effects of timber harvesting and forest recovery after disturbance by logging.

She said the research work now encompassed how a changing climate and landscape – particularly agriculture development – were likely to affect rainforests.

Casselton said the research conducted at Danum so far had looked into things like atmospheric chemistry, forest restoration and carbon sequestration.

Other research efforts included the role of logged forests and forests within agriculture plantations in supporting biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and the changing climate of South East Asia and its likely impact on forest systems

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Malaysia close to deal with S. Korea
By V.P. SUJATA Thursday July 29, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...157&sec=nation

SEOUL: Malaysia hopes to reach a comprehensive agreement with South Korea on mutual assistance in education by the end of the year.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Memorandum of Understanding would cover curriculum, teachers’ education, vocational and technical sectors, and sports and ICT in schools.

“South Korea on the other hand could send its students to learn English in Malaysia,” he added.

He said Education Ministry officials would have to discuss the matter thoroughly and prepare the MoU in time for South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak’s official visit to Kuala Lumpur by year’s end.

Muhyiddin, who paid a courtesy call on South Korean Prime Minister Chung Un Chan yesterday afternoon, said the proposed agreement was received positively by the premier.

During the meeting, Muhyiddin thanked the prime minister for allowing Malaysian students to study in South Korea under the Look East policy as well as offering them scholarships.

Muhyiddin, who also met captains of industry during his four-day visit to South Korea, said investment pledges received by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority from 15 conglomerates totalled RM3.8bil.

These, he said, included new investors as well as existing ones interested in expanding their businesses in Malaysia.

The investors had expressed interest in fields like green technology, oil refinery, shipbuilding, electric vehicles, food and beverages, defence equipment, as well as plans to open overseas headquarters and regional establishments in Malaysia, he said.

One of the conglomerates, said Muhyiddin, was Samsung Group which had expressed interest in solar energy, light-emitting diodes (LED), defence equipment and shipbuilding.

“The competition for foreign investment is now stiff, so we have to work hard,” he told reporters after the courtesy call on Chung and an earlier visit to Samsung City in Suwon, about 50km from here yesterday.

He was briefed by Samsung Group Malaysia president Datuk Lee Sang-Bai on their plans in Malaysia over the next five years.

Lee, who is also chairman of the Korean Chamber of Commerce Malaysia, described Malaysia as a country located in the “centre” and was the best place to invest in.

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TPP likely to have better direction come Apec 2011
Thursday July 29, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...1&sec=business



Demetrios Marantis ... ‘Malaysia is looking very carefully at TPP.’

PUTRAJAYA: The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which concluded its second round of negotiations last month, is expected to have a “better sense” of direction a year from now, especially with the United States hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) 2011 meeting.

Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Demetrios Marantis said negotiations remained at an early stage as the eight TPP countries were still working out on regional issues to be included in the agreement.

“We will have much better sense in a year from now about how negotiations are going and what is the timetable.

“It is still early with only two rounds and we have not moved into text yet,” he told reporters as he concluded his two-day trip to Malaysia yesterday.

Marantis was responding to a question on whether there would be a framework coming out soon from the TPP negotiations.

The negotiations, which started in March this year, will enter its third round in October in Brunei and fourth round at the end of this year.

Regional trade issues that have been discussed included achieving regulatory coherence, streamlining regional supply chain and how to include small and medium enterprises in increasing their share of regional trade.

On Malaysia’s stand on TPP, Marantis said he managed to update on the process and progress of the negotiations through his meeting with International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

“I think Malaysia is looking very carefully at TPP. Even though right now there are eight members of the TPP, we are hopeful that the TPP will continue to grow and take on new members as other countries are ready to meet the high standard of TPP,” he said.

He added that membership in TPP would be decided on consensus by its members. The eight TPP members are Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. — Bernama

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Proton, Perodua eye Adelaide opportunities
Published: 2010/07/29
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...cle/index_html

MELBOURNE: Representatives from vehicle producers Proton and Perodua, along with members of the Malaysian Automotive Association, have arrived in Adelaide to explore trade opportunities.

South Australian Industry Minister Tom Koutsantonis said Proton and Perodua wanted to produce more environmentally-friendly vehicles and would look closely at local green car technologies.

"They want to know more about our research and development, particularly around new lightweight materials and component manufacture," he was quoted by the Australian Associated Press as saying.

He said Malaysia's car industry was relatively young but was growing strongly and that could mean good business opportunities for component makers in Adelaide. –- Bernama

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Ranhill pre-qualified for RM645mil Bangladesh power plant project
Friday July 30, 2010
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...2&sec=business

PETALING JAYA: Ranhill Bhd, in ollaboration with Bangladesh-based STS Educational Group Ltd, have been pre-qualified for a 150-225 MW combined power plant project worth US$200mil (RM645mil) in Bangladesh.

The pre-qualification was done by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (under the Ministry of Electricity, Power and Mineral Resources Department of Electricity).

The proposed project will be undertaken on a build-own-operate basis at Bhola, Bangladesh, Ranhill told Bursa Malaysia in a statement yesterday.

“The closing date for the bid is by the last quarter of 2010,” it said.

Ranhill’s shares closed unchanged at RM7.65 yesterday.

A total of 1.3 million shares changed hands.

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Malaysian Food Manufacturers Make Inroads Into Latin America
August 03, 2010 11:00 AM
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/ne....php?id=518349

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysian food manufacturers participating in a processed food marketing mission to Brazil and Chile have secured immediate sales valued at RM3.58 million with a further RM19.2 million in potential sales being identified.

The mission, held from July 21 to 29, was organised and led by Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

Among the products promoted by Malaysian companies in the mission included confectionery, energy and health drinks, frozen foods, palm oil-based food ingredients, sauces and snacks.

Palm oil-based food ingredients and cocoa products were the two major products sourced by the Latin American importers, where immediate sales were generated by mission members.

In a statement Tuesday, Matrade Chief Executive Officer Datuk Noharuddin Nordin said there was growing demand for Asian food and food ingredients in Latin America.

He said many major supermarkets offer special areas for display and promotions, and Malaysian exporters should take advantage of the opportunities available in this growing niche market.

"There is also good potential for Malaysia to increase its exports of cocoa products and palm oil-based food ingredients to Brazil.

"Distance and language differences should not hinder Malaysian companies from exporting to Latin America, particularly for products where Malaysia is a globally competitive supplier," he said.

The trade mission is in line with Matrade's objective of opening up new non-traditional markets for Malaysian exports.

Matrade's trade bureaus in Sao Paulo and Santiago arranged a total of 129 one-on-one business meetings between representatives of the participating Malaysian companies and local Brazilian and Chilean business visitors during the mission.

Most of the participating Malaysian companies were promoting their products for the first time in the Latin American market.

During the business meetings, Malaysian exporters had the opportunity to promote their products to leading food importers as well as major supermarkets and retail chains, such as Velarde Hnos SA and Cencosud SA in Chile and Walmart and Makro in Brazil.

-- BERNAMA

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Genting closer to clinching racino project
By CECILIA KOK Thursday August 5, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Genting Malaysia Bhd’s indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Genting New York LLC (Genting NY) is one step closer to clinching the project to develop and operate a video lottery facility at the Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City.

In its filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, Genting said its unit on Wednesday received the recommendation of the New York State Division of Lottery to implement the “racino” project that would contain about 4,500 electronic slot machines.

The recommendation, however, would have to be approved by the New York state’s governor, the temporary president of the New York state senate and the speaker of the New York state assembly before the video lottery licence could be awarded to the company, Genting said.

More http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story...0&sec=business

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Originally Posted by nazrey

Manchester United and TM ink partnership deal
BY M. VEERA PANDIYAN Friday March 12, 2010



TM Group CEO Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa receiving a TM
Manchester United jersey from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford

MANCHESTER: Manchester United (MU) and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) have forged a five-year agreement to link the two brands in marketing campaigns and promotional activities.

With the deal, TM becomes the English Premier League champion’s official integrated telecommunications partner in Malaysia with licensing, intellectual property (IP) and dealership rights to produce and distribute merchandises bearing the club’s crest and team images.

TM’s brand and association with MU will be showcased to 4.2 million fans in Malaysia and more than 330 million fans and football followers worldwide.

The partnership deal, the financial commitments of which were undisclosed, was announced at Old Trafford yesterday by TM group chief executive officer Datuk Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa and MU chief executive officer David Gill.

MU manager Sir Alex Ferguson were among those present, along with TM vice-president for group marketing Sherene Azura Azli, and MU commercial director Richard Arnold.

Zamzamzairani described the partnership as “the union of two great brands.”

“We are indeed very happy seeing two champions in their respective fields coming together. TM, one of Malaysia’s most dynamic and innovative telecoms brands, and Manchester United, one the world’s most recognised sports brands and successful football clubs,” he said.

Loyal TM customers and new subscribers will benefit from the partnership by getting opportunities to win trips to Manchester to watch MU home matches in special promotions and contests throughout the five-year contract period.

Zamzanzairani said the deal would cover a broad marketing platform for TM’s products and services, including iTalk prepaid calling cards, Streamyx broadband service and its broadband TV portal, Hypp.TV (www.hypp.tv).

It will also provide MU fans and TM customers in Malaysia access to MU’s latest news, fan videos, team profiles and online contests. Visitors need only register as a member on Hypp.TV, to view the contents and be part of the online fan activities.

Meanwhile, Gill said MU’s tour of the Far East last year showed the strength of feeling that Malaysians had for the club.

“We know that this partnership will help the club to reach the millions of fans we have in Malaysia and MU are delighted that TM has developed from sponsor of a tour match into a full-fledged partner,” he said. — BY M. VEERA PANDIYAN

TM, MU kick off partnership
Thursday August 5, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.as...52&sec=central



Joint force: Humphreys, Robson, Zamzamzairani and Kung at the recent
launch of the five-year partnership between TM and Manchester United.

A five-year deal between Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) and Manchester United will make MUTV, the official TV Channel for Manchester United, available in Malaysia.

The five-year partnership programme with Manchester United, under an agreement signed in March, made TM the official integrated telecommunications partner of Manchester United in Malaysia

The partnership enables TM to exercise various licensing rights, intellectual property (IP) and dealership rights to produce and distribute selected merchandises bearing the Manchester United crest and team images.

But the most interesting aspect of TM’s partnership with the football giant is that it has made it possible for MU fans and TM customers in Malaysia to get access to the long-awaited rich football content on Manchester United such as latest news and statistics – with the arrival of MUTV.

Present at the event were TM group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, TM chief marketing officer Rozalila Abdul Rahman, TM New Media executive vice-president Jeremy Kung, Manchester United relationship director Nick Humphreys, and Manchester United sales director Jon Naspe and Manchester United team legend Bryan Robson.

“Manchester United has a huge following in Malaysia. TM is making access to both MUTV and MUTV Online a reality for all four million diehard fans of Manchester United,” Zamzamzairani said.



Lucky fan: Robson obliging a young fan for an autograph.

MUTV will be available on TM’s IPTV service – HyppTV, whereas MUTV Online will be accessible through its broadband TV portal, Hypp.TV (http://www.hypp.tv/manutd).

This ground-breaking partnership will bring the action of Manchester United direct to its more than 4.2 million fans of the Club in Malaysia.

“Streaming on broadband connection powered by TM, is indeed a great way to share the excitement of the English Premier League with football fans and TM customers,” he said.

Already a phenomenon in other countries such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Hong Kong, the MUTV channel offers the best of football to Malaysians with a range of club-related news and matches, exclusive behind-the- scenes interviews, chat shows, series and documentaries on the club and its players, and much more exciting MU programmes which are specifically targeted to MU fans in Malaysia.

Also held in conjunction with the celebration of the partnership, was a five-day showcase of various TM products and services.

Back by popular demand, TM also once again organised the “TM Fanatic Kick Challenge”, where the participant with the most goals scored within an allotted time walked away with RM2,000 in prize money.

To participate, the public were required to subscribe to UniFi, Blockbuster Deals package of 1Mbps or higher or purchase the RM30 iTalk pre-paid calling card. The challenge was opened to all new TM customers only.

TM further treated football fans to a personified experience by bringing in a living MU legend – Bryan Robson.

Affectionately known to fans as Captain Marvel, the former player and current Global Ambassador for Manchester United was seen signing autographs and thrilling diehard fans with his mere presence.

“TM will continue to explore opportunities to satisfy the people’s deep passion for football and we believe that we can enrich such experience by making it possible for fans to meet their club heroes and watch them play.”

Other activities include Manchester United Museum and Old Trafford 100 Years Exhibition (which includes current players Park Ji-sung and Dimitar Berbatov’s football boots, a match ball from the 2010 Carling Cup final, Jackie Blanchflower’s 1957 Cup final shirt, and Shay Brennan’s 1968 European Cup final shirt, and much more).

Also on display was a copy of the Manchester United Opus (one out of 10,000 copies in the whole world signed by Sir Alex Ferguson himself).

For details on TM or MUTV, visit www.tm.com.my or www.manutd.com.my.

[nazrey]

Korea's Cheong Ah-Net keen to set up ops in Malaysia
Published: 2010/08/07
http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_New...#ixzz0vu02NLnm

CHEONG Ah-Net Network, a Korean medical and dental supplement company based in Incheon Metro City, plans to set up operations in Malaysia as part of its expansion programme.

Its vice chairman, Kenneth Tak, said representatives of the company had been visiting several places in Malaysia searching for the right location for its venture and they were spending their time in Langkawi yesterday as it is considered a potential area for investment.

According to Tak, the company's local partner has suggested Kulim and Langkawi as Kulim is being developed as an industrial area while Langkawi is more of a tourism location.

"Both places have their advantages. We will look into it and think about it. Maybe in Langkawi, we can focus on dental surgery (dental hospital). We can have tourists as our customers. They can come here for vacation and also get our services," he said after a meeting with the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) in Langkawi yesterday.

During the meeting, the Korean delegation was briefed by Lada general manager Azman Umar about Langkawi and investment opportunities on the island.

Tak said members of the delegation also visited several private hospitals in Kedah, including the Kedah Medical Centre in Alor Star.

"We want to look into other areas for investment. We will go to the places first. After that we will discuss with our partner on the investment plan," he said.

NNF Construction Sdn Bhd's chief executive officer Datin Na'emah Ishak, who brought the Korean company to Malaysia, said Cheong Ah-Net Network is interested to invest in Malaysia and transfer its expertise in dental implants.

Na'emah said the Korean company proposed to set up a hospital targeting foreign tourists in Langkawi under its plan.

"Though there are other business opportunities, the company is more interested in the medical and dental sector to start its operation in Malaysia," she said. - Bernama

[nazrey]

US and Malaysian green activists to link up for clean energy tomorrow
Thursday August 12, 2010
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...006&sec=nation

KOTA KINABALU: Environmental activists and musicians in Sabah will “trade” stories and tunes with their counterparts in United States in support of clean energy during a live event.

The event, which is scheduled to start at 9.30am tomorrow in Kota Kinabalu and 6.30pm on Thursday in San Francisco, will connect activists, poets and musicians on both sides of the globe.

The “Wins of Change” event, to be streamed on the Internet, will see famous American environmentalists such as Julia Butterfly Hill, Joanna Macy and Drew Dellinger taking part as well as singer-songwriter Amir Yussof and local indigenous musicians.

The event is organised by Green SURF, which is a coalition of non-governmental organisations pushing for alternatives to a proposed 300-megawatt coal fired power plant on east coast’s Lahad Datu district.

The coalition — including WWF Malaysia, Malaysian Nature Society and Sabah Environmental Protection Association — said the public could watch the event at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia branch office in Centre Point here.

“Wins of Change will connect Sabah and California, in which environmental activists, artists, poets and musicians gather in support of Green SURF and its fight for clean energy,” said its executive director Cynthia Ong.

Entrance to the event is free. For details, contact Neville at 088-270705 or 016-8211424.

[nazrey]

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