1. finance
2. bank

MALAYSIAeBiz
WEEKLY BUSINESS ROUNDUP 19 - 23 JANUARY 2015
This Week’s Highlight :
PM Announces Measures To Strengthen
M’sia’s Economic Resilience
Wednesday
January 23, 2015
Govt Expects Inflation Rate To
Drop To 2.5-3.5 Pct
KUALA LUMPUR -- The government
expects the inflation rate to drop to
between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent this year
from the original forecast of between
four and five per cent, Datuk Seri Najib
Tun Razak said. The prime minister said
in an interview on the TV3’s ‘Soal Jawab’
programme here Wednesday night,
the projection, which took into account
the implementation of the Goods and
Services Tax (GST), was due to the plunge
in crude oil prices by more than 50 per
cent due to the global supply surplus and
falling demand.
Thursday
M’sia Able To Breeze Through
Strong Headwinds - Najib
From Nor Baizura Basri
DAVOS (Switzerland) -- Malaysia is
confident of being able to breeze through
the strong global headwinds following the
country’s strong economic fundamentals,
the government remained confident that
says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib
the country’s gross domestic product (GDP)
will grow by between 4.5 per cent to 5.5
Tun Razak. Najib raised his concerns
per cent in 2015. He also said the current
on the current falling global oil prices
account will remain in surplus this year while
and believed the pre-emptive measures
the ringgit exchange rate will over time adjust
announced recently were a reality check.
to reflect Malaysia’ strong fundamentals.
“Of course, we are concerned with the
headwinds but we believe in strong
fundamentals. The market will make its
correction and in due course, we will
Top Stories
overcome strong headwinds and we will
Tuesday
be back on track,” he said in a keynote
M’sia Is Not In A Crisis -- Najib
address at a business luncheon on the
PUTRAJAYA -- Malaysia is neither in a sidelines of the 45th World Economic
recession nor a crisis as experienced Forum held here.
in 1997 and 1998, and 2009 which
warranted stimulus packages, Datuk Seri Friday
Foreign Investors Still Optimistic
Najib Tun Razak said. The prime minister
Of M’sia’s Potential - Najib
said the strategies announced in a special
From Nor Baizura Basri
message here Tuesday, on measures
to strengthen the country’s economic
DAVOS (Switzerland) -- Foreign investors
resilience were proactive initiatives aimed
are still optimistic of Malaysia’s potential
at making the necessary adjustments
although the country is faced with global
following the challenging external
economic challenges like declining crude
developments which were beyond the
oil prices and the ringgit’s depreciation,
government’s control. Hence, he said
says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun
the development expenditure of RM48.5
Razak. He said this was evident from
billion provided in the 2015 Budget would
the large turnout of foreign investors at
be maintained and spent. However, the
the business luncheon jointly hosted
operating expenditure is expected to be
by Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Malaysian
reduced by RM5.5 billion by reprioritising
Investment Development Authority and
expenditure, he added.
InvestKL.
PROACTIVE...The prime minister Tuesday announced key measures to sustain development
and economic growth --fotoBERNAMA
PUTRAJAYA -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Razak Tuesday announced a number
of proactive measures to ensure Malaysia’s
growth, development and deficit ambitions
remain on track in responding to changes in
the global economic landscape. In a special
address Tuesday morning, Najib said that
This Week’s
Monday
Najib Outlines 6 Areas To Drive
Economy, Protect People’s WellBeing
PUTRAJAYA -- Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Tun Razak Monday outlined
six priority areas as part of efforts
to drive the nation’s economy and
protect the people’s well-being. He
said the measures include those
relating to the need to make changes
and interventions in the wake of the
weak global economy caused partly
by the crude oil price slump. Speaking
at the Prime Minister’s Department’s
monthly assembly here, Najib, who is
also Finance Minister, said he would
announce the economic modifications
and interventions Tuesday.
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 1
MALAYSIAeBiz
SMEbrief
Operion Launches Free Ad
Posting Website For Start-Ups,
SMEs
KUALA LUMPUR -- Operion Ecommerce
& Software Sdn Bhd has launched FTZ.
my, a general classified website for
users to post free and lasting classified
advertisements. Upon registration
(which is free), users may post an
unlimited number of advertisements
immediately after submitting photo
and advertisement messages, the
internet marketing company said in
a statement here Monday. “FTZ.my
serves to provide business start-ups
and micro entrepreneurs access to a
more friendly online platform and post
items or products efficiently within
two minutes. Placing advertisements
on FTZ.my is free so as to encourage
budding entrepreneurs leverage on an
online facility without having to spend
money on setting up an e-commerce
website and maintenance,” it said,
adding the website is in line with the
government’s Small and Medium
Enterprise (SME) masterplan.
Aid Allocation A Big Relief To
Traders
By Rohaiza Ab Rahman
hoped the agencies and financial
institutions involved would make the
payment process easier.
KOTA BAHARU -- The government’s
allocation to help entrepreneurs and
micro businesses affected by the
floods will help them recover. Deputy
president of Malay Chamber of
Commerce (DPMM) Kelantan, Hanafee
Yusoff, said the aid announcement was
a big relief to the traders. “Over 1,000
members were affected by the floods,
especially micro traders. Some lost the
shops and all the equipment and some,
the houses were destroyed,” he told
Bernama here Tuesday. Meanwhile,
president of Persatuan Pedagang
dan Pengusaha Melayu Malaysia
(Perdasama) Kelantan, Hishamuddin
Zakaria, said although it would take a
long time for traders to recover from
the disasters, the assistance from
the government was a relief from
the financial aspect. He wanted the
traders to enjoy the assistance and
M’sian Entrepreneurs Told To
Explore Opportunities In Indonesia
By Azeman Ariffin
Propertyupdate
PropUP
E&O Buys Land In London For
RM308.9 Mln
KUALA LUMPUR -- Eastern & Oriental
Property (UK) Ltd (EOP UK), a whollyowned subsidiary of Eastern & Oriental
Bhd (E&O), has acquired a 0.48-hectare
freehold site in Hammersmith, West
London for RM308.9 million (57
million pound sterling). To date, EOP
UK has three property assets in prime
London locations, which together with
the latest Hammersmith project, have
a combined gross development value
of about RM1.4 billion, E&O said in a
statement here Monday.
Govt Widens GST Exempt Supply
To All Stratified Residential
Properties
PETALING JAYA -- The government
has agreed to extend the Goods and
Services Tax (GST) exemption list from
low- and medium- cost properties to
stratified residential properties, say
JAKARTA -- Malaysian entrepreneurs
have been urged to identify areas to
explore and expand their businesses,
particularly in the fields of plantation
and services, in Indonesia. Malaysia
Chambers Jakarta (MCJ) president
Abdul Halim Ashari said they should
seize business opportunities and tap
into the huge market as Indonesia,
with a population of nearly 250 million
people, is the world’s 10th biggest
economy. “Indonesia is striving to
become the fifth biggest economy by
2020. Indonesia will further improve
its maritime infrastructure to boost
sea transportation and trade,” he told
reporters here Thursday.
property-related professional bodies
in a statement here Tuesday. The
bodies are the National House Buyers
Association (HBA); Royal Institution of
Surveyors Malaysia (RISM); Association
of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate
Agents and Property Consultants in
the Private Sector of Malaysia (PEPS);
and Malaysian Institute of Professional
Property Managers Malaysia (MIPPM).
IRIS To Invest RM130 Mln To
Develop Land In TPM
KUALA LUMPUR -- IRIS Corp Bhd
Tuesday announced that it has placed
an initial investment of RM130 million
to participate in the development
of a piece of land in Technology
Park Malaysia (TPM) Bukit Jalil. The
company entered into a teaming
agreement with TPM Corp Sdn Bhd
to form a strategic collaboration to
develop, construct and manage a
proposed residential development
project on the land through an entity
to be agreed (the SPV).
PR1MA To Deliver Its First 600
Units Affordable Homes By YearEnd
KUALA LUMPUR -- Perbadanan
PR1MA Malaysia (PR1MA), which is a
step closer to making home ownership
a reality for middle-income earners, is
expected to deliver its first 600 units
of affordable homes by year-end. Its
Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Abdul
Mutalib Alias, said the units were from
its projects in Bertam (Penang) and
Kuala Ketil (Kedah) with 300 units
respectively. “I would say by year-end,
although we are targeting this August.
My team is really pushing hard so
that all the units can be delivered
by August,” he told reporters here
Thursday.
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 2
MALAYSIAeBiz
MARKET
Exchange Rate
(Ringgit : Foreign Currency)
Scoreboard
Buying
Selling
USD
3.6015
3.6045
Losers - 365
EUR
4.0593
4.0634
Not Traded - 524
GBP
5.3958
5.6021
Unchanged - 310
100 YEN
2.0439
2.0469
Gainers - 535
Value - 3134477223
Volume - 26131244
BURSA: KL Shares End Firmer On
Continuous Buying Support, CI
Up 21.33 Pts
KUALA LUMPUR -- Bursa Malaysia
ended on a firmer note Friday on
continuous buying support for
selected heavyweights, amid bargain
hunting activities and positive regional
market sentiments, dealers said.
The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia
KLCI (FBM KLCI) gained 21.33 points
to end at 1,803.08, after hovering
between 1,788.78 and 1,809.33
throughout the day.
A dealer said the local equity
market was reacting to the recent
announcement of the revised budget,
which in turn helped boost the
upward trend.
Gainers trounced losers by 535
to 365, while 310 counters were
unchanged, 524 untraded and seven
others suspended.
Total volume rose to 2.61 billion
units worth RM3.13 billion from 2.58
billion units worth RM2.87 billion on
Thursday.
Main Market volume declined to 1.77
billion units worth RM2.94 billion
from 1.86 billion units worth RM2.69
billion Thursday.
The liquidity surplus in the
conventional system slipped to
RM23.06 billion from RM27.68 billion
earlier, while in the Islamic system,
it decreased to RM3.76 billion from
RM7.57 billion.
In the morning, BNM called for
seven tenders -- two conventional
money market, two repos, two AlWadiah and a commodity Murabahah
programme.
The central bank also conducted
a late conventional money market
tender for RM23 billion and a RM3.7
Source: Bank Negara Malaysia
billion Al-Wadiah money market
FOREX: Ringgit Closes Lower tender, both for three-day money.
Against US Dollar
KUALA LUMPUR -- The ringgit closed The overnight Islamic reference rate
weaker against the US dollar Friday as stood at 3.22 per cent, while the onetraders trim their position ahead of the , two- and three-week rates stood at
weekend, a dealer said. As at 5pm, the 3.28 per cent, 3.32 per cent and
local note was quoted at 3.6015/6045 3.36 per cent, respectively.
against the greenback compared with
KLIBOR Futures Close Untraded
3.6000/6030 on Thursday.
KUALA LUMPUR -- The three-month
The dealer said the ringgit showed Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate
some strength against the greenback (KLIBOR) futures contracts on Bursa
at opening Friday following European Malaysia Derivatives were untraded
central bank’s quantitative decision Friday. Spot month February 2015,
amid signs of oil prices stabilising March 2015, April 2015 and June
before selling in the evening, erasing 2015 remained pegged at 96.15,
96.18, 96.18 and 96.17, respectively.
earlier gains.
Open interest stood at 1,320
The ringgit, however, strengthened, contracts. At the 11 am fixing, the
against other major currencies. It underlying three-month KLIBOR
firmed against the Singapore dollar stood at 3.86 per cent.
to 2.6863/6905 from Thursday’s
2.6997/7033
and
appreciated KLCI Futures Close Higher
against the yen to 3.0439/0469 from KUALA LUMPUR -- The FTSE
3.0534/0565 Thursday. The local unit Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI)
strengthened against the British pound futures contracts on Bursa Malaysia
to 5.3958/6021 from 5.4540/4589 Derivatives closed higher Friday in
Thursday and increased against the euro tandem with the firmer cash market.
to 4.0593/0634 from 4.1767/1806 Contracts for January 2015 rose 22.5
points to 1,808, February 2015 and
previously.
March 2015 garnered 22 points each
to 1,806 and 1,805.50, respectively.
Money Market: Short-Term Rates
Close Stable On BNM’s Intervention June 2015 went up 23.5 points to
KUALA LUMPUR -- Short-term interbank 1,804. Turnover increased to 12,175
rates ended stable Friday on Bank lots from 10,204 lots on Thursday,
Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) intervention while open interest improved to
to reduce excess liquidity from the 49,489 from 46,097 contracts
previously. The underlying FBM KLCI
financial system.
ended 21.33 points higher Friday at
1,803.08.
SGD
2.6863 2.6905
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 3
Banking
&Finance
RHB Economist Ranked Fourth
Most Accurate US Economic
Forecaster
KUALA LUMPUR -- RHB Investment
Bank’s wholly-owned unit, OSK-DMG
Singapore’s Chief Economist Thomas
Lam has been ranked the fourth
most accurate economist worldwide
in forecasting the US economy in
2014. The “Bloomberg Ranking of Top
Economic Forecasters” said Lam was
among the 74 economists who had
submitted forecast over the last two
years for a total of 14 US economic
indicators. The indicators encompassed
durable goods orders, existing home
sales, consumer price index, housing
starts, industrial production, ISM
manufacturing and non-manufacturing,
new home sales, non-farm payrolls,
personal spending, personal income,
retail sales, gross domestic product
and unemployment rate.
HSBC Expects Ringgit To Trade
Around RM3.57 By Year-End
KUALA LUMPUR -- HSBC expects the
ringgit to stabilise in the second half of
this year and trade around RM3.57 to a
dollar by year-end, says Head of Foreign
Exchange Research Asia Pacific Paul
Mackel. He, however, said the currency
would remain volatile against the US
dollar as the greenback strengthened
broadly against major currencies. “In
the second half of last year, the dollar’s
strength became broad and it would
continue throughout this year,” Mackel
told a press conference here Monday.
He said the key source of the dollar’s
strength was from the monetary
policy divergence between the Federal
Reserve, European Central Bank and
Bank of Japan.
Maybank Cardmembers Can Now
Redeem Asia Miles With Treats
Points
KUALA LUMPUR -- Maybank has
partnered with Asia Miles, a leading
travel and lifestyle reward programme,
that will enable Maybank cardmembers
in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and
the Philippines to redeem Asia Miles
with their Treats points. Maybank
cardmembers can now charge their
MALAYSIAeBiz
Maybank cards and use their Treat
points to redeem an array of awards
from Asia Miles. In a joint statement
here Monday, Maybank said to celebrate
the partnership, a 33 per cent top-up
bonus will be offered to cardmembers
when they convert their Treats points
to Asia Miles from today till February
28. Maybank Head of Cards Group
and Community Financial Services,
B.Ravintharan, said today there are
over 2.6 million Maybank Group credit
cardholders in the four countries.
Room To Adjust Govt’s Opex HSBC
KUALA LUMPUR -- There is room to
adjust the government’s operating
expenditure (opex) in line with its
commitment to achieve the three per
cent fiscal deficit target this year. HSBC
Economist for Southeast Asia, Lim Su
Sian, said the adjustment was on the
backdrop of the impact of falling oil
prices on the government’s revenue.
“There is room to adjust the opex. Let’s
see exactly which part of the opex that
can be cut back,” he said during HSBC’s
Economic and Market Outlook 2015
here Monday. Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Razak is set to announce a review
of the 2015 Budget Tuesday.
Bank Muamalat Allocates RM100
Mln To Develop 4.47ha Wakaf
Land
KUALA LUMPUR -- Bank Muamalat
Malaysia Bhd is allocating RM100
million to develop 4.47 hectares (ha)
of wakaf land this year via collaboration
with UDA Waqf Sdn Bhd, a whollyowned unit of UDA Holdings Bhd. UDA
group managing director, Ahmad Abu
Bakar, said the group has identified
about 120ha of wakaf land to be
developed over two to three years.
“Bank Muamalat is supporting us not
only in financing. It can also venture as
equity partner. “We believe that with
Bank Muamalat’s strength, coupled
with our project management skill,
we can jointly develop the wakaf land
successfully,” he told reporters after
the signing of the agreement between
UDA Waqf and Bank Muamalat here
Tuesday. Bank Muamalat’s Chief
Executive Officer, Datuk Mohd Redza
Shah Abdul Wahid, said the RM100
million fund was for this year.
No Exodus Of Funds From M’sia
- Zeti
KUALA LUMPUR -- There will not be
any exodus of funds from Malaysia,
says Bank Negara Malaysia Governor
Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz. Despite the
ringgit’s fall, Malaysia’s current account
surplus was healthy while foreign direct
investments continued to flow into the
economy. Zeti said this phenomenon
included fluctuations in the foreign
exchange market which was not unique
to Malaysia. Developed financial markets
such as Malaysia would be subject to
volatile capital flows and Malaysia had
experienced all this before, she said. “In
fact, the more developed your financial
markets, the more susceptible you will
be to the volatile inflows and we have
progressively liberalised our markets.
Therefore, financial markets are
highly open and vulnerable to external
developments,” she told reporters on
the sidelines after Prime Minister Datuk
Seri Najib Tun Razak unveiled proactive
measures to keep the economy on
track.
BNM’s Int’l Reserves At RM388.6
Bln
KUALA LUMPUR -- Bank Negara
Malaysia’s (BNM) international reserves
amounted to RM388.6 billion (equivalent
to US$111.2 billion) as at Jan 15, 2015.
The central bank said the reserves
position was sufficient to finance 8.1
months of retained imports and was
1.1 times the short-term external debt.
The bank said the main components of
the international reserves were foreign
currency reserves (US$101.9 billion),
International Monetary Fund position
(US$900 million), Special Drawing
Rights (US$1.9 billion), gold (US$1.4
billion) and other reserve assets
(US$5.1 billion). BNM’s total assets
stood at RM408.27 billion.
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 4
MALAYSIAeBiz
MPOB Expects Demand For CPO
To Rise
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Malaysian
Palm Oil Board (MPOB) expects crude
palm oil (CPO) offtake to increase this
year due to the depreciation of the
ringgit and tax exemption given by the
government. Its Chairman Datuk Ar
Wan Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad said
the situation would encourage higher
exports of the commodity, resulting in
lower inventory level and higher CPO
prices. “Last year, we experienced a
slight decrease with lower demand
from importers especially China.
However we are confident that the
CPO market will continue to stabilise
this year due to the positive reaction
that occurs from the flood situation
at this moment,” he told reporters on
the sidelines of the Palm Oil Economic
Review and Outlook Seminar 2015
here Monday.
The BOTTOM Line
has recorded a 54 per cent rise in
overall sales of its cars worldwide for
the past nine months. Lotus’ overall
car sales increased by 551 to 1,565 in
2014 from the previous year, the British
sports carmaker said in a statement
here Monday. Group Lotus plc Chief
Executive Officer Jean-Marc Gales
said the positive reception received
by all of its new models in both new
and established markets showed that
Lotus’ product development strategy
was heading in the right direction.
Govt Revises Deficit Target To 3.2
Pct In 2015
PUTRAJAYA -- The government
Tuesday revised the country’s fiscal
deficit target for 2015 to 3.2 per cent
of gross domestic product (GDP),
up from the 3.0 per cent set out in
the Budget, in the wake of falling
oil prices. Prime Minister Datuk Seri
Najib Tun Razak said without any fiscal
measures, the deficit would rise to 3.9
per cent of GDP. Speaking at a special
address here this morning, Najib said
Malaysians have to accept the reality
that the original Budget 2015 target
could not be achieved, due to external
factors such as the slump in global oil
prices.
in Thailand. The expansion will support
our double-digit growth from Thailand,”
he told reporters after the company’s
annual general meeting (AGM) here
Tuesday.
Petronas’ Dividend Contribution
‘Slightly Lower’ This Year - Irwan
Serigar
PUTRAJAYA -- Petronas’ dividend
contribution to the government this year
will be slightly lower than the previous
contribution as the amount would be
calculated based on last year’s crude
oil price. Dispelling misconceptions
that the national oil corporation’s
contribution to the government would
be severely slashed due to the slump
in crude oil prices, Treasury SecretaryGeneral Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar
Abdullah said the amount, which has
already been decided by Petronas,
would be announced soon.
Brahim’s Optimistic Of Continuing
In-Flight Contract With Khazanah
SEPANG -- Brahim’s Holdings Bhd
is optimistic of continuing its in-flight
contract with Khazanah Nasional
Bhd, says executive chairman, Datuk
Seri Ibrahim Ahmad Badawi. He said
the company has the facilities to
perform the job. “As a 100 per cent
Malaysian-owned company, I think
F&N To Invest RM32.89 Mln To
it is our obligation to help Malaysia
Expand Thai Ops
KUALA LUMPUR -- Fraser & Neave Airlines (MAS),” he told reporters at the
Holdings Bhd (F&N) has set aside launch of syariah compliant-warewash
300 million baht (RM32.89 million) machine here Tuesday.
in capital expenditure (capex) to
support the double-digit revenue MCKIP Achieves 72 Pct
growth of its Thai dairy division. Chief Investment Target
Executive Officer, Lim Yew Hoe, said KUALA LUMPUR -- The Malaysia-China
the amount would be used to expand Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) has
the company’s production capacity achieved 72 per cent or RM7.2 billion
Lotus’ Sales Jump 54 Pct In Nine
in Thailand by adding one tall can of its targeted investment volume
Months
packaging line for evaporated milk. of RM10 billion with the majority
KUALA LUMPUR -- DRB Hicom Bhd’s “We want to take advantage of the coming from the steel and port sector.
wholly-owned unit, Group Lotus plc growth in the evaporated milk segment Alliance Steel (M) Sdn Bhd, a whollyAirline Profit Expectations For
2015 Become More Positive - IATA
KUALA LUMPUR -- Airline profit
expectations for this year have
become more positive, consistent with
improvements in recent performance,
the International Air Transport
Association (IATA) said. In its Airline
Business Confidence Index quarterly
survey of airline chief financial officers
(CFOs) and heads of cargo in January,
respondents expressed confidence
that financial performance had
started to improve in the second half
of 2014, after no gains in the second
quarter (Q2), and the outlook remained
positive, suggesting there would be
further growth in profitability, IATA said
in a statement here Monday.
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 5
MALAYSIAeBiz
owned Malaysian subsidiary of China’s
Guangxi Beibu Gulf Iron and Steel
Investment Co Ltd, invested RM4.2
billion in MCKIP while Kuantan Port
Consortium Sdn Bhd allocated nearly
RM3 billion to develop the Kuantan
port. International Trade and Industry
Deputy Minister Datuk Lee Chee
Leong told reporters here Tuesday,
the connectivity between MCKIP to
Kuantan port and various industrial
parks were in steady progress.
GST To Bring Additional RM1.0
Bln Revenue To Cushion Opex
Reduction
PUTRAJAYA -- The government is
expected to accrue an additional
RM1.0 billion in revenue this year from
the implementation of the Goods and
Services Tax (GST) to be implemented
on April 1, says Finance Ministry
Secretary-General Tan Sri Mohd Irwan
Serigar Abdullah. He told reporters here
Tuesday, the additional revenue would
come from the number of companies
that have registered for the GST which
is currently at over 304,000.
December CPI Up 2.7 Pct To 111.8
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Consumer
Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.7
per cent to 111.8 in December
2014 compared with 108.9 in the
same month in 2013, the Statistics
Department said. In a statement here
Wednesday, the department attributed
the increase to the rise in the indices
for alcoholic beverages and tobacco
(10.6 per cent); restaurants and hotels
(4.1 per cent); transport (four per
cent); housing, water, electricity, gas
and other fuels (3.4 per cent); health
(3.3 per cent); and food and nonalcoholic beverages (2.4 per cent). The
department said these six groups of
goods and services contributed 96.9
The BOTTOM Line
per cent to the increase in the CPI for attributed the better performance to
December last year.
improvement in sales of electricity by
18.5 per cent, mainly from electricity
2014 Car Sales At All-Time High -- sales in Peninsular Malaysia and
MAA
Sabah.
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia’s car
industry recorded a total industry HLI Q2 Pre-Tax Profit Jumps To
volume (TIV) of 666,465 units for 2014, RM87.19 Mln
an all-time high, said the Malaysian KUALA LUMPUR -- Hong Leong
Automotive Association (MAA). The TIV Industries Bhd’s pre-tax profit for
eclipsed 2013’s 655,793 units, it said. the second quarter ended Dec 31,
Its president, Datuk Aishah Ahmad, told 2014, jumped to RM87.19 million
reporters here Wednesday, the strong from RM57.58 million in the same
2014 performance was attributed period a year before. Revenue rose
to factors like a stable economy and to RM535.56 million from RM499.35
employment rate, positive consumers’ million, the company said in a filing
sentiment and steady consumer to Bursa Malaysia Thursday. “The
spending, particularly during the first good performance was mainly due
half of the year.
to the higher profit contributions
from our consumer products, driven
MATRADE Targets RM400 Mln In
by favourable sales mix and lower
Sales At Gulfood 2015
production cost,” it said.
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Malaysia
External Trade Development Corp Bank Muamalat Eyes 200 Pct
(MATRADE) aims to rake in RM400 Deposit Growth With Campaign
million in sales at the Gulfood 2015, SHAH ALAM -- Bank Muamalat
the biggest annual food and hospitality Malaysia Bhd (BMMB) targets deposits
trade show in Dubai, United Arab to grow 200 per cent or by RM200
Emirates (UAE) from Feb 8-12. Its million by the end of its Oh Yeah!
deputy chief executive officer, Datuk campaign on May 31 this year. Chief
Dzulkifli Mahmud, told reporters here Operating Officer Mashitah Osman
Wednesday, 81 Malaysian exhibitors, said the bank expects 60,000 new
of which 35 per cent of them were new acounts by the end of the campaign
companies and 25 per cent Bumiputera period. “The campaign signed up
firms, would participate in the four-day 30,000 new customers from June 1 to
Dec 31 last year, and we are optimistic
specialised mission.
about achieving the target,” she told
TNB Q1 Pre-Tax Profit Rises To reporters after giving away cash prizes
to winners of the June-December
RM2.62 Bln
KUALA LUMPUR -- Tenaga Nasional 2014 campaign here. The 12-month
Bhd’s (TNB) pre-tax profit for the first campaign, which began on June 1 last
quarter (Q1) ended Nov 30, 2014 year, offers a total of RM3.48 million in
rose to RM2.62 billion compared with cash prizes and is open to customers
RM1.62 billion in the same period in aged 18 and above who open a new
2013. Revenue jumped to RM11.03 account with a minimum deposit
billion from RM9.57 billion. In a filing of RM1,000 or existing customers
to Bursa Malaysia here Thursday, TNB who deposit over RM1,000 in their
accounts.
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 6
BizTALK
MALAYSIAeBiz
Axiata Digital Collaborates
With US-Based Advertising
Company
KUALA LUMPUR -- Axiata Digital
Advertising, a unit of Axiata
Group Bhd, has entered into a
strategic alliance with US-based
Adknowledge Inc to strengthen
Axiata’s
mobile
advertising
presence in the Asia Pacific region.
“With more than two billion mobile
users in the Asia Pacific region, we
believe this partnership will ensure
that consumers see more relevant,
targeted advertisements. “That
means a better experience for
them, and more efficient, intelligent
advertisement buys for brands and
agencies,” said Axiata President
and Group Chief Executive Officer
Jamaludin Ibrahim in a statement
here Monday.
Lower Ringgit Will Attract
More Investments From The
U.S - MIDA
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Malaysian
Investment Development Authority
(MIDA) is optimistic that the
lower ringgit will attract more
investments from the US. Its
Deputy Chief Executive Officer,
Datuk Phang Ah Tong said
however, which sector would
garner the highest investment
had yet to be determined. “We
expect the electronic, medical
device, aerospace and engineering
machinery sectors as well as
resource-based industries such as
rubber and furniture will do well,”
he told reporters here Monday.
MIDA Calls For Boost Of
Renewable Energy To Power
Capacity Mix
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Malaysian
Investment Development Authority
(MIDA) hopes the contribution
of renewable energy (RE) to the
country’s electricity generation to
increase to five per cent this year
from two per cent at present. Its
Deputy Chief Executive Officer,
Datuk Phang Ah Tong said the
number of RE production sources
was not encouraging as the
country awaited the feed-in tariff
(FiT) policy. He said in the Tenth
Malaysia Plan (10MP), the RE
production capacity was targeted
to hit five per cent, instead it was
languishing at less than two per
cent as the country was nearing
the end of the plan. “We have to
catch up as by the 11th Malaysia
Plan, we are looking at a 11 per
cent contribution (from RE),” he
told reporters on the sidelines of
the MIDA and Asean-Korea Centre
Joint Collaboration Seminar here
Monday.
HSBC Forecasts Growth
Rate Of 5.2 Pct For M’sia’s
Economy In 2015
KUALA LUMPUR -- HSBC has
forecast a growth rate of 5.2 per
cent for Malaysia’s economy this
year from 5.8 per cent last year.
Its Economist for South East Asia,
Lim Su Sian said the downside risk
would be on exports. However, he
said Malaysia is not in dire straits
as it has enough foreign reserves to
cover its short-term external debts
of less than one year. “However,
there are vulnerabilities to watch
out for, particularly on the effects
of GST on inflation,” she said at the
HSBC media session on Malaysian
Economic and Markets Outlook
2015, here Monday.
Perodua, Honda, Mercedes
Lead OEMs In Seizing NAP’s
Customised Incentives
KUALA LUMPUR -- Original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
such as Perodua, Honda and
Mercedes-Benz have moved
ahead of other competitors in
seizing customised incentives
provided in the National Automotive
Policy (NAP) 2014. Frost and
Sullivan Principal Consultant in
Malaysia Animesh Kumar told
Bernama here Monday, many OEMs
had approached the Malaysia
Automotive Institute and the Ministry
of International Trade and Industry
to discuss the incentives further.
Finance Ministry Sets Up
National Disaster Trust Fund
Account
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Finance
Ministry Monday established the
National Disaster Trust Fund Account
to facilitate various parties to make
contributions to help undertake
infrastructure repair works as well
as welfare aid for the flood victims.
Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri
Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah said
the initiative to establish the fund
was taken after the ministry received
enquiries from various parties with
regards to their intentions to make
financial contributions on their
concerns to help the flood victims.
“The establishment of the trust
account would provide a platform
for government-owned companies,
federal statutory bodies and
subsidiaries, financial institutions,
corporations as well as individuals
to channel their contributions,” he
said in a statement here Monday.
Three Strategies To Ensure
Economic Growth On A Strong
Trajectory
PUTRAJAYA -- The government
will implement three strategies to
ensure economic growth not only
remains on a strong trajectory but
that the country achieves a Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) growth of
between 4.5 per cent and 5.5 per
cent this year, says Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. In a
special address on current economic
developments and the government’s
financial position, he said the first
strategy would be to ensure a
balanced, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth to boost exports
of goods and services. Najib said
import-substitution services such
as shipping, port, education and
professional services would be
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 7
BizTALK
MALAYSIAeBiz
actively promoted to reduce
dependence on foreign sources
for procurement of goods and
services. The government would
also accelerate the implementation
of recommendations made by
the National Export Council which
included assisting exporters,
especially small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) to obtain new
clients in new markets.
FMSDC To Conduct ‘Meister’
Courses To Improve Youths’
Skills
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Federation
of Malaysian Skills Development
Centre (FMSDC) and the MalaysianGerman Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (MGCC) have forged a
collaboration to improve the quality
of the local workforce. Under the
cooperation FMSDC and MGCC will
run the Malaysian Meister (master
craftsman) Programme (MMP), a
breakthrough in the Technical and
Vocational Education and Training
(TVET), particularly in mechatronics
and solar technology said Economic
Planning Unit human capital
development section director Dr
Mohd Gazali Abas here Tuesday.
Tata Motors To Make A
Comeback To M’sian Market
From Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar
MUMBAI (India) -- India’s largest
car company, Tata Motors Ltd,
will be returning to the Malaysian
market in style soon, said its
head of international business,
commercial vehicles, R.T. Wasan.
Tata considered Malaysia as
an important market in the
Association of South-East Asian
Nations (Asean) after Indonesia and
Thailand, he said. Wasan said the
company intended to venture into
the commercial vehicle segment as
it has the potentials to grow further
and revolutionise transportation
industry in Malaysia. “We will
introduce several models soon and
offer our full range of products within
the next two to three years,” he told
a media familiarisation trip to Tata
plant located in Pune, Maharashtra,
India, recently.
Felda To Aggressively
Promote FGV Products To
Spur ‘Buy Malaysia’ Products
KUALA LUMPUR -- Felda will
aggressively promote products
manufactured by Felda Global
Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) and
its settlers in an effort to encourage
buy Malaysian-made products.
Felda Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa
Abdul Samad told reporters here
Tuesday, for this purpose, a Felda
products expo would be organised
in February or March this year
to highlight Felda’s products
comprising mostly food products.
Customs To Issue Forceful
Registration Notice By MonthEnd
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Royal
Malaysian Customs Department
(Customs) will issue a maximum
compound fine of RM15,000 to
individuals and traders through
forceful registrations for the Goods
and Services Tax (GST). Customs
Director-General Datuk Seri Khazali
Ahmad said the forceful registration
notice would be issued at the end of
this month.
Boeing Maritime Surveillance
Aircraft Ready For Demo
Flights
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Boeing
Maritime Surveillance Aircraft
(MSA) programme is now ready
for customer demonstration flights,
having completed the baseline
ground and flight testing of the
aircraft mission systems. Flights
for prospective customers around
the world were scheduled to
begin in the coming months, said
Boeing in a statement released
in Seattle. The mission system
testing followed last year’s
airworthiness and certification
testing. “The mission systems
flight test programme proved the
functionality and performance
of the onboard sensors and was
a huge accomplishment for the
MSA team,” said David Utz, MSA
Demonstrator Flight Test Manager.
Puncak Semangat & IBM
Team Up To Drive Big Data
KUALA LUMPUR -- IT service
providers, Puncak Semangat
Sdn Bhd and IBM, have teamed
up to offer big data solutions
to businesses and enterprises.
Chairman Tuan Syed Azmin Syed
Nor said the company was in a
unique position to offer analytics
and data driven solutions to
partners, the government sector
and the market at large. He
pointed out that International
Data Corp expected IT spending
in Malaysia to cross US$10 billion
(US$1.00=RM3.59) this year. A
survey by Multimedia Development
Corp also revealed that big data
spend will go up by 25 per cent
next year, he said in a statement
here Friday.
http://images.BERNAMA.com
/foto/shopping/
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 8
BizEVENTS
Labuan IBFC Launches Website
For Centralised Resource Centre
KUALA LUMPUR -- The Labuan Financial
Services Authority (Labuan FSA) and its
wholly-owned subsidiary, Labuan IBFC
Inc Sdn Bhd (Labuan IBFC), Monday
announced the launch of its joint
website, www.labuanibfc.com, offering
a centralised resource centre for the
jurisdiction. The website acts as a onestop source of information on structures
and solutions available in Labuan IBFC,
including all statutory provisions and
guidelines governing the jurisdiction,
said Labuan IBFC in a statement here
Monday.
Hyrax Oil MD Among 14 AsiaPacific Women In EY EWW
Programme
KUALA LUMPUR -- Managing Director
of Hyrax Oil Sdn Bhd Datuk Hazimah
Zainuddin is among 14 Asia-Pacific
women chosen to participate in the
inaugural EY Entrepreneurial Winning
Women (EWW) Asia Pacific programme.
The programme aims to assist
established women-led businesses
that are ready to scale operations and
become global market leaders, and also
includes women from Australia, China,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, New Zealand,
Singapore and South Korea. EY Global
Middle Market Leader and Executive
Sponsor of the programme Annette
Kimmitt said in a statement here Monday,
there are nearly six million formal,
women-owned small businesses in East
Asia alone, and women entrepreneurs
are already playing an essential role in
creating sustainable economic growth in
the region.
Avanade Appoints New Country
Manager
KUALA LUMPUR -- Avanade, a global
business technology solutions, cloud
and managed services provider, has
appointed Subra Suppiah as its new
Country Manager for Malaysia. Avanade’s
Senior Vice-President/General Manager
for Asean Kevin Wo said Subra has over
24 years experience in the information
technology
and
communications
MALAYSIAeBiz
sector. “Prior to Avanade, Subra held
management and senior sales positions
with Teradata, Knowledge Base, Oracle,
NCR and Unisys. His strong leadership,
proven success and focus on business
development would guide Avanade to
the next phase of growth in the region,”
Wo said in a statement here Monday.
iSentia To Launch New Media
Intelligence Solution
KUALA LUMPUR -- iSentia, one of AsiaPacific’s leading media intelligence
company, will be launching Mediaportal,
a new media intelligence solution,
across Southeast Asia in the coming
weeks. Its Chief Executive Asia,
Cameron Buckley, said in a statement
here Monday that iSentia was excited
to unveil Mediaportal to its clients in
seven countries. “Mediaportal will
allow communication professionals in
the region to distribute media releases
using professional media lists, monitor
their media coverage and create reports
in real time. It has been designed
specifically for the Asian market, based
on extensive research and feedback
from our clients. They now have the
most advanced and user friendly media
intelligence solution available,” he said.
Unisys To Supply Cloud System
To MASKargo
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia Airlines
Kargo (MASkargo) will use the cloudbased Unisys Logistics Management
System (LMS) from Unisys Corporation
to manage its domestic and
international cargo services. In a
statement here Tuesday, Unisys said
under the contract with Malaysian
Airline System Bhd, Unisys would
replace MASkargo’s current in-house
mainframe-based system with the LMS
service. The Unisys system will interface
with MASkargo’s automated robotic
warehouse and revenue management
systems, which allows airlines to reduce
costs compared to running in-house
systems, and enables enhancements
to be deployed each month and made
immediately available to clients.
SIRIM, KPRJ Petroleum Inks
MoU For One-Stop Centre In
Pengerang
SHAH ALAM -- SIRIM Bhd Tuesday
signed a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) with KPRJ Petroleum Sdn Bhd to
develop and complete a petroleum onestop centre by early 2019 in Pengerang,
Johor. SIRIM Bhd President and Chief
Executive Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Mohd
Yusof said the MoU focused on strategic
cooperation in maintenance, repair and
overhaul, components and machinery
with calibration services through the
one-stop centre.
iPRroperty.com Malaysia Bags
Two Awards
KUALA LUMPUR -- iProperty.com
Malaysia Sdn Bhd has bagged the
‘Property Magazine of the Year’ award
for its monthly property publication and
‘Digital Media of the Year’ award for
its website on December 2014. In a
statement here Wednesday, iProperty.
com said this was the fifth year the
property website has won recognition
from advertising and marketing
companies in Malaysia.
1MDB Appoints Abdul Samad
Member Of Board Of Advisors
KUALA LUMPUR -- 1MDB has appointed
Tan Sri Dr Abdul Samad Alias, chairman
of Perbadanan Insurans Deposit
Malaysia (PIDM), to the company’s
Board of Advisors. In a statement here
Tuesday, 1MDB said the appointment
added to the list of eminent local and
international figures who currently sat
on its Board of Advisors, an honorary
body that helped determine and guide
the vision of the company. 1MDB is a
strategic development company whollyowned by the Malaysian government.
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 9
Insight
By Salbiah Said
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) --There is
no magic bullet to good health, but taking
the right water keeps the doctor away.
For FAMR Holdings Sdn Bhd, the
producer of a new health drink, Cypress,
the real magic is in its bottled water,
which is rich in 84 minerals that are
essential for a healthy body.
It’s No Magic Bullet, But
Cypress Is For Healthy
Lifestyle
The product, said to be the first of its
kind in Malaysia, is a result of extensive
study from its research team. It contains
six raw materials - Hunza crystal salt
from the Himalayan Mountains in
Pakistan, extracts of cypress, amber and
Al-Manna (Gum Arabic), zam-zam water
and purified, alkaline and oxygenated
water.
Its managing director Siti Zaleha Abdul
Ghani told Bernama in an interview: “The
mineral composition in Cypress makes it
‘air sunnah’ (sunnah water). (Sunnah is
the way of life prescribed as normative
for Muslims on the basis of the teachings
and practices of Prophet Muhammad
and interpretations of the Quran).
Cypress is produced at its Original
Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) factory
in Johor, with a capacity of 40 containers
a month. One container is equivalent to
1,600 boxes, with 24 bottles in each box.
Imported Raw Materials
Siti Zaleha said except for alkaline water,
which is processed locally, most of the
raw materials are sourced abroad, with
crystal salt imported from Holland,
cypress and amber from Turkey, and
zam-zam and Al-Manna from Saudi
Arabia.
At present, the Cypress drink, which
is sold at RM4.50 each in Peninsular
Malaysia and RM5.50 each in Sabah
and Sarawak, comes in 500 ml size, with
plans to produce the drink in other sizes
in the future.
THIRST QUENCHER...Fisherman, Ismail Sulong, 63, quenches his thirst with Cypress, the latest
health drink in the market, donated by FAMR and Koperasi Bernama in Kemaman, Terengganu.
A total of 2,400 bottles were contributed to flood-afficted residents on Jan 10. --fotoBERNAMA
Cypress Extra, is marketed through Farid
& Alice Marketing Resources, which is
based in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur.
F&A is the acronym for her son Farid and
daughter Alice.
Siti Zaleha, who is the founder said, the
company, which was incepted as a sole
enterprise three years ago, converted to
Sdn Bhd last year, focusing on marketing
and distributing the drink, with the
support of close friends and relatives.
Together with her husband Sharudin Haji
Mat Daud as consultant, they decided at
the end of 2013 to expand the business
further by appointing distributors for the
product. Starting off with one container,
Cypress became popular in Johor Baharu
and Singapore, with positive testimonials
from satisfied customers.
MoA With Koperasi Bernama
Moving forward, Siti Zaleha said the
company plans to invest RM12 million on
its bottling plant in Kuala Terengganu in
two years’ time, with the acquisition of a
The product, which is branded as F&A two-acre (0.8 hectare) leased land, which
is pending state government approval.
The company also signed a memorandum
of agreement (MoA) with Koperasi
Bernama Berhad on Dec 22, 2014 to
promote a healthy lifestyle among the
public through the sale of the drink.
Under the MoA, FAMR Holdings would
gain assistance with advertising and
promotion of its ‘Cypress Extra’ alkaline
sports drink.
The agreement was signed by Bernama
General Manager, Datuk Zulkefli Salleh,
who is also Koperasi Bernama chairman,
with Siti Zaleha representing FAMR
Holdings. Koperasi Bernama, which
holds a 30 per cent stake in Farid &
Alice Marketing Resources, has been
appointed as its exclusive distributor to
jointly market the Cypress drink for the
company.
Siti Zaleha said, FAMR will launch the new
packaging and design for the Cypress
drink next month. It will also be taking
part in the World Minerals Exhibition in
Brunei on Feb 27, which will be officiated
by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
© 2014 BERNAMA. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form except with the prior written permission of BERNAMA.
MALAYSIAeBiz : 10