Business Times (Malaysia) articles from February 2006, page 4

Business Times (Malaysia) archives from February 2006

IBM to focus on innovation.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: MALCOLM ROSARIO IBM Malaysia Sdn Bhd aims to maintain its double-digit revenue growth in Malaysia this year by focusing on developing innovation and talent. Managing director Voon Seng...

RK Excel sets up technology transfer venture in Penang.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) GLOBAL motorcycle aluminium alloy rim maker RK Excel Co Ltd of Japan is transferring its world-class racing technology to Malaysia through a joint-venture company it has established in Penang. The RM25...

Leader Universal to enter S. Asia mart.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: MARINA EMMANUEL LEADER Universal Holdings Bhd is spreading its wings to South Asia as a power generator producer this year. The Penang-based company, which for over eight years has been an...

IFCA: Higher demand to fuel revenue.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: MALCOLM ROSARIO SOFTWARE developer IFCA MSC Bhd expects its revenue to grow by as much as 50 per cent this year, fuelled by a significant increase in demand for its software applications...

Gamuda stages technical rebound.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: S.N. LOCK SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia continued to trend marginally amid some profit-taking liquidations. Its overall declining counters outpaced its advancing counters by 499 to 310. ...

Southern Steel posts Q4 net loss.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) SOUTHERN Steel Bhd registered a net loss of RM18.31 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31 2006, compared with a net profit of RM7.29 million registered in the corresponding period last year, due...

Freight Management buys TCH Marine stake.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) SECOND board-listed international multimodal freight service provider Freight Management Holdings Bhd is taking up a 51 per cent equity interest in established Singapore-based barge and tugboat operator...

MDC stays committed to graduates.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) THE Multimedia Development Corp (MDC) says it will continue its commitment and support to help graduates start own information and communications technology (ICT) business as part of its initiative to...

MASkargo expects up to 10pc capacity growth.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: RUPA DAMODARAN MALAYSIA Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd (MASkargo), the cargo unit of national carrier Malaysia Airlines System Bhd (MAS), expects to increase its capacity by seven to 10 per cent this...

ABE appoints Limkokwing a degree destination.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: PRESENNA NAMBIAR THE Association of Business Executives (ABE) has appointed Lim Kok Wing University of Creative Technology as one of its degree destinations for diploma and advanced diploma...

Plastic exports likely to surge 21pc.
February 16, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: OOI TEE CHING MALAYSIA'S plastic exports are expected to grow 21 per cent to RM8 billion this year from 2005's RM6.6 billion which grew 20 per cent from 2004's RM5.5 billion. "This year...

Robust exports push surplus to RM99.8b.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: HAMISAH HAMID ; PRESENNA NAMBIAR MALAYSIA'S total trade reached RM967.8 billion last year, a 9.9 per cent growth over 2004, driven by robust exports. Exports in 2005 expanded by 11 per...

SBB rejects offer (HL).
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ADELINE PAUL RAJ SOUTHERN Bank Bhd's (SBB) board yesterday rejected a RM6.34 billion takeover bid by Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd (BCHB), saying it had instead identified another potential...

Special attention for SMEs.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: HAMISAH HAMID ; PRESENNA NAMBIAR THE International Trade and Industry Ministry will give separate attention to the small- and medium-sized companies instead of lumping the two into one group....

Malaysia to complete more FTAs this year.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) MALAYSIA is expected to complete free trade agreement (FTA) initiatives with Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand this year, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said. "The...

KL bourse volume tops 1b mark.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) BURSA Malaysia's trading volume crossed the one billion mark for the second consecutive day after the Prime Minister announced a Cabinet reshuffle yesterday. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index was up by...

Farm's Best swings to profitability.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) BROILER supplier Farm's Best Bhd swung to a net profit of RM6.64 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31 2005 from a net loss of RM710,000 posted in the same period a year ago on the back of...

CIMB-Principal plans more funds this year.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ADELINE PAUL RAJ CIMB-Principal Asset Management Bhd says it plans to launch at least nine new funds this year, most of which will be offshore ones as investors continue to diversify their...

RHB expects double-digit growth in consumer banking.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: DALILA ABU BAKAR RHB Bank Bhd expects its consumer banking division to record double-digit growth in the 2006 fiscal year, given the growing number of credit cards it has issued and the new...

High inventory not a cause for concern: Proton.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZURAIMI ABDULLAH PROTON Edar Sdn Bhd said the high inventory of Proton cars in 2005 is normal and not a cause for concern. "It's quite normal to have this kind of stock. It is a running...

Eurocopter clinches orders.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: KANG SIEW LI HELICOPTER maker Eurocopter Malaysia Sdn Bhd said it has received orders worth RM200 million for 12 helicopters this year, which meet its revenue target for the year. The...

MoBif signs deal with China telco.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) MOBIF Bhd, a maker of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) products, has signed an initial RM95 million deal with a telecommunications company (telco) in China to sell its products. "With this signing,...

Nor Mohamed: Interest rates to remain stable.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: KAMARUL YUNUS INTEREST rates in the country will remain stable, with no unduly volatile movement expected this year, Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said. Noting that...

PUNB fund to help Bumis enter wholesale sector.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ANNA MARIA SAMSUDIN PERBADANAN Usahawan Nasional Bhd (PUNB) is setting up a RM40 million wholesale financing scheme to assist Bumiputera entrepreneurs in venturing into the wholesale...

Minetech clinches RM22m job.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) TURNKEY quarry operator Minetech Resources Bhd, which has clinched a RM21.7 million civil engineering contract yesterday, expects its current order book to keep it busy till the end of 2007. The...

Greatpac gains Momentum.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) DISPOSABLE plastic products maker Greatpac Holdings Bhd is spending close to RM1 million to acquire 999,998 new ordinary shares in Momentum Suria Sdn Bhd to enable it to have greater presence in the...

Boost for Kulim Hi-Tech Park.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: MARINA EMMANUEL KULIM Hi-Tech Park's position as the country's wafer fabrication centre is set to get a boost with the entry of several new investments to the park this year and 2007. ...

RAM reaffirms ratings of Maxis notes.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) RATING Agency Malaysia Bhd (RAM) has reaffirmed the "P1/AAA" ratings of Maxis Communications Bhd's proposed 7-year RM500 million Commercial Paper/Medium-Term Notes Programme (CP/MTN). It has also...

Ace Polymers Islamic debt affirmed at 'A'.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) MALAYSIAN Rating Corp Bhd (MARC) has affirmed the rating of Ace Polymers (M) Sdn Bhd's RM70 million Bai' Bithaman Ajil Islamic Debt Securities (BaIDS) at "A". The affirmation reflects Ace's status as...

New platform for audit committee members.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) AN AUDIT Committee Institute Malaysia (ACI Malaysia) is being set up to help company directors stay informed of changes to financial reporting standards. KPMG and the Institute of Internal Audit...

MBF Cards reaches out to football fans.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZURINNA RAJA ADAM MBF Cards (M) Sdn Bhd aims to secure 75,000 cardmembers for its limited edition MBF Mastercard 2006 Fifa World Cup card. The homegrown credit card and charge card...

Texchem net profit up fivefold.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) TEXCHEM Resources Bhd, a diversified group, said its net profit grew almost fivefold for the year ended December 2005, helped by an improved performance of its packaging division and a RM6.6 million...

Innovation key to success: Fuji Xerox.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) INNOVATION has been one of the key drivers of success for Fuji Xerox Malaysia, which celebrates its 40th anniversary today. "The drive for innovations has not died over the years, rather it has grown...

Private sector urged to be more active in APO projects.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: AZLAN ABU BAKAR THE Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) hopes to see more private sector participation in its activities as part of efforts to enhance productivity in member countries. ...

Lofsa to focus on regional promotion.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) LABUAN Offshore Financial Services Authority (Lofsa) will focus on promoting business within the Asia-Pacific region and continuing to attract companies from around the world to Labuan. In a...

Mutiara Rini sells office tower, land to LTAT for RM168m.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) BOUSTEAD Properties Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary Mutiara Rini Sdn Bhd (MRSB) is selling a 26-storey office tower to be built on freehold land in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, to Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera...

Carotech stages technical rebound.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: S.N LOCK SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia remained firm yesterday. Second- and third- liners continued to lead the market leadership. Overall market volume continued to stay above the 1 billion...

Boustead to rebrand BP stations.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: CHONG JIN HUN DIVERSIFIED entity Boustead Holdings Bhd will spend some RM30 million to rebrand the 245 BP petrol stations in Malaysia to realise its goal of becoming a key player in the...

Exercise caution,NR producers told.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: MARINA EMMANUEL MALAYSIA is urging the eight-nation Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) to exercise caution in managing the supply of natural rubber in the world as one...

Next Level Customz hopes to clinch deal with US firm.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) MALAYSIAN custom car expert Next Level Customz hopes to finalise a master franchise deal for Asia with American giant West Coast Customs, the California-based company famous for its role in MTV reality...

Smart multi-function appliances from LG.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) LG ELECTRONICS (M) Sdn Bhd (LG Malaysia) will introduce a wide range of home appliances this year to meet consumer demand for appliances with wide-ranging functions and easy-to-operate controls. ...

Asean furniture secretariat will be in KL.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZAIDI ISHAM ISMAIL THE Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) plans to form a permanent secretariat in Kuala Lumpur to better strategise the furniture sector's future direction as...

AmMerchant wins two FinanceAsia awards.
February 15, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) FINANCEASIA Magazine has awarded two of its 2005 annual Achievement Awards to AmMerchant Bank for being one of the lead managers of the world's first-rated Islamic Residential Mortgage Backed...

Benefiting from the rule of one.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: SHAHRIMAN JOHARI WHEN news broke that Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd (BCHB) was eyeing Southern Bank Bhd (SBB), there was a fair amount of scepticism that Datuk Nazir Razak would have too...

Special treatment for Customs' Golden Clients.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: HAMIDAH ATAN SPECIAL treatment will be accorded to companies, importers and exporters complying with the standards and procedures set by the Customs Department. Finance Minister II Tan...

AMMB price eases.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) SHARES of AMMB Holdings Bhd fell slightly despite the group having achieved better profit growth in its third quarter ended December 2005. AMMB shed 1 sen, or 0.4 per cent, to close at RM2.64. The...

REDtone confident of solution to Mobile Money issue.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: HO SIEW YEE REDTONE International Bhd may come up with a solution as early as this week on how to keep the independence of its mobile payment unit, Mobile Money International Sdn Bhd. A...

Al Rajhi unveils big plans for ops here.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) SAUDI Arabia's Al Rajhi Bank, formerly known as Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corp, plans to open 50 branches in Malaysia within five years, the bank said in a statement. Al Rajhi, West Asia's...

Prudential to offer more products.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: GOH THEAN EU PRUDENTIAL Assurance Malaysia Bhd, a unit of UK-based Prudential plc, plans to introduce three major life insurance products by end of this year to attract more consumers. ...

Compugates, MoBif reply to queries from Bursa Malaysia.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) BURSA Malaysia Securities Bhd issued unusual market activity queries to Compugates Holdings Bhd and MoBif Bhd yesterday for sharp price increases and high volume in their shares recently. "Investors...

Khazanah appoints four to senior management jobs.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) KHAZANAH Nasional Bhd has appointed four new executive directors to its senior management ranks effective yesterday. Mohammad Zainal Shaari has been appointed executive director and chief operating...

Shell to expand petrol station chain.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: KANG SIEW LI OIL company Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd plans to add 20 filling stations to its network this year, bringing the total to 850 petrol stations. Shell Malaysia Trading and...

Malaysia's first biopharmaceutical plant ready in June.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZAIDI ISHAM ISMAIL MALAYSIA'S first RM100 million biopharmaceutical plant in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, will be ready in June 2006. Aimed at bolstering the country's drug industry, the plant...

MSC Management aiming for Mesdaq listing by 2010.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZURAIMI ABDULLAH MSC Management Services Sdn Bhd, provider of information technology (IT) and non-IT management services, plans a listing on the local bourse by 2010. The company wants to...

UEM Builders gets RM32.6m contract.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) KHAZANAH Nasional Bhd has awarded a RM32.6 million contract to UEM Builders Bhd for the latter to undertake the Phase 1 development of the Agriculture Exposition Centre in Serdang, Selangor. Works on...

Avangarde to seek reprieve on delisting.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: DALILA ABU BAKAR AVANGARDE Resources Bhd, classified under Practice Note 17, will meet Bursa Malaysia today to explain why it should not be delisted from the exchange's second board. ...

LBCN states requirement for reviving project.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: CHONG JIN HUN PRIME Utilities Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, LBCN Development Sdn Bhd, which recently took over the stalled Alam Perdana residential job in Kuala Selangor, needs the consent...

Expect more surprises.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: BERNARD THE February contract on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed lower at 926 last Friday. A total of 3,608 contracts were transacted with an open interest of 21,529 contracts. Our...

Advance Info gets SC nod for listing.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) ADVANCE Information Marketing Bhd has received the Securities Commission's permission for an initial public offering that would lead to its listing on the Malaysian Exchange of Securities dealing and...

Public Mutual to launch Islamic fund.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) MALAYSIA'S biggest private unit trust firm, Public Mutual Bhd, is launching the Public Islamic Dividend Fund (PIDF) today, a fund that invests in Syariah-approved stocks with attractive dividends. ...

DHL gets environmental management system certification.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) LEADING express and logistics company DHL was recently awarded the globally-recognised Environment Management System/ISO 14001:2004 (EMS) certification by SGS International Certification Services in...

Land & General rebounds to close at day's high.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: S.N. LOCK SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia rebounded with second- and third-liners stealing the limelight as market volume hit 1.35 billion units yesterday, a new high in recent weeks. The...

TH Group unit invests in Alpha Biologics.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) TH GROUP Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Asiaprise Biotech Sdn Bhd, is acquiring a 39.47 per cent stake in an independent contract bio-manufacturing organisation (CMO) called Alpha Biologics Sdn Bhd for...

Mart to test resistance.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: W.Q. MUN Long-term Trend: Bullish Short-term Trend: Bullish Momentum Index: + 51 Relative Strength Index: 74 Observations: Encouraged by news of improvement in the crop's fundamentals, the...

Westports: Additional gate lanes shorten haulage time.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) HAULAGE waiting time at Westports, which averages seven minutes, is expected to be shortened to about three to four minutes with the opening of four additional gate lanes at its container gate terminal....

Asian Aerospace to move to Hong Kong.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) THE next Asian Aerospace exhibition will be held in Hong Kong, show organiser Reed Exhibitions announced yesterday. Next week's 13th edition of Asian Aerospace will be the last to be staged in Singapore....

Upgrade for Pelangi resort on Langkawi.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) PELANGI Beach & Spa Resort Langkawi has allocated some RM15 million for a refurbishment programme which will see the hotel upgrading its guestrooms and turning the function rooms into a ballroom. Work...

Book your hotel rooms online - in ringgit.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) HOTEL room bookings in Malaysia can now be made in ringgit on wotif.com - a global specialist in online hotel accommodation bookings. The move is a direct response to the growing demand from...

Sabah to get new container port.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: JONISTON BANGKUAI SABAH Ports Sdn Bhd (SPSB), which took over the operations of seven ports in the state in 2004, is developing a new dedicated and modern container port at Sepanggar Bay, 25km...

Solid Group in world record bid.
February 14, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZURAIMI ABDULLAH BUMIPUTERA-owned Solid Group is working on a RM140 million project that will put Malaysia on the world record map. The feat - to create a 10ft x 60ft mural laden with gold...

Trumeter: Malaysia a springboard to region.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: AZLAN ABU BAKAR BRITISH measuring instruments manufacturer Trumeter Co Ltd, having set up its regional office in Malaysia is making a fresh attempt to boost sales in the relatively untapped...

Mobile phone firms to record good year: Survey.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) MALAYSIA'S mobile phone firms are set for another good year although 2006 will see slower growth in new subscribers. The industry, worth some RM10 billion annually, has enjoyed blistering customer...

BCHB offer likely today (HL).
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: RAJAN MOSES BUMIPUTRA-COMMERCE Holdings Bhd (BCHB) appears bent on a merger with Southern Bank Bhd (SBB) and is not taking "no" for an answer from the smaller bank. Sources familiar with...

Jadi Imaging wants to be among top 3 toner makers.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: AZLAN ABU BAKAR TONER maker Jadi Imaging Holdings Bhd aims to become one of the top three biggest independent toner manufacturers in the world by 2008. The company is the sole...

Transnasional aims to list on Bursa Malaysia mid-year.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: DALILA ABU BAKAR KONSORTIUM Transnasional Bhd (KTB), which is taking over the listing status of Park May Bhd under a restructuring, aims to make its debut on Bursa Malaysia in the middle of...

Spending on travel expected to rise.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: HAMISAH HAMID MALAYSIAN consumers are expected to spend more on travelling this year in line with changing lifestyle, payment solutions provider MasterCard International said. Its...

Bearish week for bond market.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) IT WAS a bearish week for the government bond market due to interest rate concerns. Comments by Bank Negara Malaysia on interest rates during the week induced players to increase their bets on a rate...

Roasters forecasts RM56m sales.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZURINNA RAJA ADAM ROASTERS Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, the master franchisee for fast food restaurant Kenny Rogers Roasters for Asia Pacific, is projecting RM56 million in sales this year. The...

Olympus snaps bright picture of revenue, mart share.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: VASANTHA GANESAN OLYMPUS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd expects growth in revenue and market share this year, amid an anticipated 10 per cent drop in the average price of cameras to about RM1,050 this...

MAS: Temptations to post higher profit.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: GOH THEAN EU MALAYSIAN Airline System Bhd (MAS) expects net profit and sales from its in-flight shopping arm - Temptations - to grow by at least 15 per cent for the next financial year ending...

SYF Resources expected to continue uptrend.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: S.N. LOCK LAST week, share prices on Bursa Malaysia paused for a short consolidation after a fine two-week run-up. Major weaknesses on the regional stock markets and foreign institutional...

Consolidation likely amid strong volume.
February 13, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: NGU CHIE KIENG TRADING activity on Bursa Malaysia is likely to remain active this week with growing focus on lower-liners as average market volume, which surged to a new two-year high last...

Remittances to Bangladesh.
February 11, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) IN THE article titled "Bangladeshis can now send money home via Agrani Bank" published yesterday, Agrani Remittance House Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mahmudul Ameen Masud clarified that the...

Tan's strategy coming under Killinghall scrutiny?
February 11, 2006... (From Business Times (Malaysia)) Byline: RAJAN MOSES THE future of Tan Sri Tan Teong Hean's position as chief executive officer of SBB and his strategy for the bank are coming under the scrutiny of key shareholders of Killinghall...