Malaysian Business articles from December 2011

Malaysian Business archives from December 2011

Banking on talents.
December 16, 2011... Human capital development is of utmost importance for Motorola Solutions' Penang Design Centre for them to offer exceptional mobility communication solutions and be a trusted technology partner of choice to customers in the government and public...

Transforming the rural landscape.
December 16, 2011... Under the Rural Basic Infrastructure (RBI) National Key Results Area (NKRA), various development initiatives focusing on roads, electricity, water and housing have been rolled out to bring forth the fruits of modernisation to the less developed...

Fighting the Big C.
December 16, 2011... THERE is always reason to cheer when a Malaysian company makes it big in the biotech medical field. So we thought Bioven Malaysia's specialising in therapeutic vaccines for cancer warrants a cover story. After all, it may be on the verge of a...

Connecting rural communities.
December 16, 2011... The Rural Roads Programme under the Rural Basic Infrastructure (RBI) National Key Results Area (NKRA) has its origin in the Program Jalan Luar Bandar (JALB). It is an initiative launched in 1977 through the Accelerated Rural Road Programme to...

Creating success with enterprise development solutions.
December 16, 2011... As a cornerstone of Malaysia's journey towards achieving a fully developed high-income economy by 2020, Malaysia's ICT industry is no longer seen as just an enabler but is a key driver of the economy. And driving the country's ICT progress...

Clean water supply uplifts rural lives.
December 16, 2011... Connecting to the reticulation network is the default in adding water connections across the country. While some new connections will be built as part of continuous investments made in recent years to increase water treatment capacity, others...

Electrifying rural homes.
December 16, 2011... Connecting to grid-based electricity is the default option for adding connections across Malaysia. The new connections will be carried out upon new investments made to increase electricity generation capacity in parts of the country. However,...

Helping SMEs to go online.
December 16, 2011... IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE E-commerce activities in the country, Google Malaysia is investing up to RM10 million in the next one year to help local small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) set up their websites. Currently, Malaysian agency SME...

NetGear stamps its mark locally.
December 16, 2011... A US-BASED NETWORKING company NetGear Inc recently launched its new version of network attached storage (NAS) systems for highly value- conscious SMEs and home users. According to NetGear's ASEAN Regional Director Soo Kean Thai, the new...

The future lies in the Cloud.
December 16, 2011... How to make sure that cloud computing is working for your customers THE IDEA OF THE CLOUD IS IN THE public eye again, this time because Amazon has recently launched its latest ebook reader. Called the Kindle Cloud Reader, it offers users...

Whither credibility?
December 16, 2011... Pledges of closer supervision and tougher action by the authorities appear to have gone unfulfilled, as epitomised by several high-profile corporate misdemeanours. When will things change? THE VERY public, long-running spat between Malaysia...

MyIX experiences significant boosts.
December 16, 2011... THE PERSATUAN PENGENDALI Internet Malaysia, the operator of Malaysia Internet Exchange (known as MyIX) announced that its membership had increased by 76% from 25 members in early 2011 to 44 members as of November 2011. Chairman of MyIX Chiew...

Celcom selects IBM business analytics.
December 16, 2011... In a move to enhance customer experience through more personalised product offerings, Celcom Axiata Bhd has selected IBM business analytics technology. The new Celcom initiative will rely on advanced business analytics capabilities to launch...

ICT Lifetime Achievement Award for Tun Dr Mahathir.
December 16, 2011... IN RECOGNITION FOR HIS immense contribution to the ICT industry in the country, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been bestowed with the ICT Lifetime Achievement Award from Pikom, the National ICT Association of Malaysia. The former Prime Minister,...

Providing homes for rural folks.
December 16, 2011... One of life's most basic necessities is to have a roof over one's head. This requirement is recognised by the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) under the Rural Basic Infrastructure (RBI) National Key Results Area. The key issue in...

An Ultrabook from Acer.
December 16, 2011... * PRODUCT: Aspire S3 Ultrabook * BRAND: Acer * PRICE: RM2,599 THE ASPIRE S3 IS ACER'S FIRST venture into the world of the ultrabooks. It aims to offer enough of a kick to get through all your computing needs without taking up space in your...

HP Tablet PC for business.
December 16, 2011... * PRODUCT: The HP Slate 2 Tablet PC * BRAND: Hewlett-Packard * PRICE: RM2,229 THE HP SLATE 2 TABLET PC COMES with expanded touch capabilities, enhanced multitasking performance and embedded security, providing added flexibility to mobile...

Fat finger traders.
December 16, 2011... A trader accidentally keying in a wrong order results in markets going haywire. When this happens, details must be revealed to avoid speculation. Sadly, in Malaysia, this is not the case. IN MAY LAST YEAR, a Wall Street trader caused one...

Malaysia confident of growth.
December 16, 2011... Despite the IMF's sobering outlook for the global economy, Malaysia remains confident of its official growth target and forecast. OFFICIAL projections of Malaysia's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2011 at between 5.0% and 5.5% and for...

Business as usual.
December 16, 2011... Recession or no recession, Kossan Rubber Industries is confident of maintaining its performance thanks to its 'recession-proof' products, notably rubber gloves. DESPITE the looming spectre of a global recession, Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd...

A turnaround story.
December 16, 2011... SEG International's strong financial position in a growing industry makes it a company to watch out for. It has taken a long time for the market to recognise SEG International Bhd (SEGI) as a turnaround story, at least according to local...

Building on excellence.
December 16, 2011... Solid foundations have set UEM Land on the path of growth from township builder to a developer par excellence. PEERING into the future, the year 2015 is a milestone, which will define the strategic growth and development journey now being...

Biotech healing: The new wave.
December 16, 2011... Biotechnology, notwithstanding the advances made, remains a vast untapped field for the treatment of human ailments. All it needs is some cutting- edge research. Malaysian-Cuban joint venture Bioven Malaysia is right there on the wave with its...

All about cancer.
December 16, 2011... CANCER is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 7.9 million mortalities (around 13% of all deaths) in 2007. Lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer cause the most cancer deaths each year. The most frequent types of cancer...

Hard medicine.
December 16, 2011... Biotech projects are confronted with many stumbling blocks and many firms are not even making money. AROUND THE WORLD, MAJOR drugmakers, which have in the past built their businesses around chemical-based drugs, have been rushing to scoop up...

Moving to the next level.(Company overview)
December 16, 2011... With strong backing from the government, Malaysia aims to upgrade its biotech sector via home-grown research and technology transfer. THE GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN strong support to the biotech industry through financial support for research and...

Spurring growth in Malaysia's premier Cybercity.
December 16, 2011... Cyberjaya has gained prominence as the choice site to set up office. CYBERVIEW Sdn Bhd, the landowner mandated to spearhead the development of Cyberjaya - MSC Malaysia's pioneer and premier cybercity - has posted a total sale of 2.27 million...

Banking entity to Universal financial institution.
December 16, 2011... Continuing the two-part article on the role of Islamic Financial Institutions, we look at evolvement of these institutions into universal financial service providers. The shift for Islamic banks from their current status as merely banks into...

The many wonders of I-shift.
December 16, 2011... The intelligent gear system pioneered by Volvo Trucks boosts drivability and fuel efficiency. If driving in heavy traffic on unfamiliar roads can be stressful, what more if one were to drive a 480 HP (horse power) truck? This was the basis...

Going from strength to strength.(Company overview)
December 16, 2011... Small and medium sized-enterprises play an important role in the Malaysian economy in terms of economic growth. SME Corp Malaysia, the main agency in charge of formulating policies and strategies for SME development, gives the details. SMALL...

Economic headwinds return.
December 16, 2011... As Asia shivers from the economic headwinds blowing from the West, what will protect Malaysia? Most likely domestic demand. IF YOU'VE EVER THOUGHT ECONOMIC numbers are out of whack lately, take heart - you are not alone. Look a. The global...

Market trends and elections.
December 16, 2011... Does an election really bring gains to investors and the market in general? We look at the historical trend. It is coming close, most will agree, but only Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abd Razak knows when the coming General Election...

Of governance and perception.
December 16, 2011... Just like an individual, body language is also applicable to big business, where perception rules in the dealings of companies. To avoid any misinterpretation and misconception, it would be best if corporates practised good governance. It was...

Now see and hear this!
December 16, 2011... MJ Group of Companies, which distributes the exclusive Bang & Olufsen range of audio and video products, aims to make Malaysia one of its top- performing markets. BANG & Olufsen, or B&O, is regarded globally as a mark of...

Lost grandeur.
December 16, 2011... The United States has a longstanding rift with Iran - a country rich in history since the time of Alexander the Great - dating back to the toppling of the Shah back in 1979. Can their relationship ever be cordial again? In evaluating the...

Thought leaders international.
December 16, 2011... The in-demand careers of the future will be very different from those of the not-so-recent past - a shift that could help liberate women in the workplace. The writer reveals the must-have careers of the future. Over the coming decade, three...

Management accounting excellence.
December 16, 2011... Utility giant Tenaga scoops top honours at the eighth National Award for Management Accounting 2011. Tenaga Nasional Bhd walked away the big winner at the recent 'National Award for Management Accounting 2011', beating other top companies. ...

Open your eyes - choose wisely!
December 16, 2011... Effective financial planning involves figuring out how to grow our wealth faster than inflation erodes it. Choose your path well. I began this column sitting on an AirAsia preferential 'hot seat' waiting for my brief flight from Changi...

Year-end tax planning.
December 16, 2011... Upfront planning and leveraging on opportunities are important to achieve an optimal tax position for the organisation. What are these opportunities? Under the current self-assessment system, the tax returns filed by taxpayers are considered...

Thailand on the mend.
December 16, 2011... Despite the devastating impact of the floods on its economy, Thailand remains an attractive place for foreign investors and is expected to recover soon. THAILAND has been battling through its worst floods in decades. The floods have severely...

The king of fruits.
December 16, 2011... Adnan Lee's MBG fruit outlets are becoming an ubiquitous sight in shopping malls. He tells Sharmila Valli Narayanan of his fascinating journey from a fruit hawker to a 'branded' fruit businessman who has opened up MBG outlets in China. They...

The future of air travel.
December 16, 2011... Come the New Year, Emirates' A380 will commence daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai, promising unrivalled luxury. The Emirates A380 promises customers in all classes the most luxurious travel experience available. And come the New Year,...

Real world advice.
December 16, 2011... 'You Can't Lead with Your Feet on the Desk: Building Relationships, Breaking Down Barriers, and Delivering Profits,' * By: Edwin D Fulle * Publisher: Wiley * Pages: 208 * Price: RM95.80 You Can't Lead with Your Feet on the Desk...

The slow road to China.
December 16, 2011... 'American Wheels Chinese Roads - The Story of General Motors in China,' * By: Michael J Dunne * Publisher: Wiley * Pages: 227 * Price: RM119.80 American Wheels Chinese Roads - The Story of General Motors in China tells of the trials...

Malaysia to be India's textile hub in Asean.
December 16, 2011... IN conjunction with the largest India Textile Exposition in Asean - INTEXPO 2011 - India has signed three separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with key trade organisations in Malaysia. The signing was the first step towards developing...

Big global loyalty programme launched.
December 16, 2011... AN innovative global loyalty programme that allows members to earn points when travelling and shopping and redeem the accumulated points for exciting rewards including flight seats, was launched recently. The programme, called BIG, enables...

Spennare expands Asian footprint.
December 16, 2011... SPENNARE, the manufacturer of portable display systems, recently inked an exclusive deal with Display Asia, part of the People 'n Rich Group of Companies, to distribute and market the full range of its products in Asia. Products include pop-up...

Ice power.
December 16, 2011... FOR chefs Mohd Zaid Razak and Mustaffa Kamal Othman from Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre's cold kitchen (the Centrel), it was an honour to be selected to join nine of their peers in the creation of a keris from ice blocks and make it into the...

Android-powered REGZA tablets.
December 16, 2011... Toshiba has unveiled the company's first Android-powered tablets, REGZA Tablet AT1S0 and AT100. Featuring hi-resolution touch display, the REGZA Tablets offer a complete tablet experience with entertainment-optimized features in a portable...

Enter the ECONAVI.
December 16, 2011... PANASONIC has launched the ECONAVI series of air-conditioners with 10 new models with a Sunlight Detection feature which can give energy savings of up to 50%. This new feature detects changes in sunlight intensity in the room to reduce energy...

Digital imaging at its best.
December 16, 2011... EPSON has launched the EB-S/X/W series of projectors. The series has a total of seven models with different combinations of resolutions, brightness and features. Improvements include higher brightness ratings of up to 3,000 lumens, HDMI, RS232C...

In pursuit of biotech ventures.
December 1, 2011... techpark@enstek has emerged the choice destination among biotech players Techpark@enstek, a 210-hectare technology park developed by TH Properties Sdn Bhd in Bandar Enstek, Negri Sembilan, is slowly but surely becoming the preferred site to...

Penny for your stocks.
December 1, 2011... THE RECENT KEEN INTEREST IN penny stocks led by Harvest Court Industries Bhd has lit up our stock market. At the same time, it has raised the red flag, considering that these stocks have risen without much or any fundamental backing. This is...

MyKris sets to soar.
December 1, 2011... MyKris - a local Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) - strives to provide an excellent Internet Services with high availability and outstanding quality to allow businesses to enhance productivity, and compete globally. A local Wireless...

APAC mobile internet market surges on.
December 1, 2011... MOBILE INFRASTRUCTURE REVENUES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC (APAC) region have exceeded US$400 million in the second quarter of 2011, growing at 30% per year. According to Synergy Research, this has allowed networking equipment to become one of the...

Who is who in techpark@enstek?
December 1, 2011... IBA-BioMolecular Industries Sdn Bhd The company is principally engaged in the business of manufacturing and research and development of radioisotopes and radio pharmaceutical products for Positron Emission Tomography (PET). BioM has been...

Residential development spurring Cyberjaya's growth.
December 1, 2011... Residential development continues to be a dominant force in Cyberjaya's development progress in the first 11 months of 2011 (the other two prominent components are enterprise and commercial). Of the staggering RM3.04 billion in total...

Adopting BYO
December 1, 2011... THE BRING-YOUR-OWN (BYO) initiative is the notion of allowing or requiring at least some employees to use their own personal computers, notebooks, smartphones or tablets for work. With the falling cost of computing devices, the diversity of...

Mobile traffic growth with new DNS services.
December 1, 2011... IN A MOVE TO SUPPORT Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to scale their DNS infrastructures more efficiently with significantly reduce costs - so as to enable more quickly deployment of new revenue-generating services, US-based Application...

Microsoft moves on with BI.
December 1, 2011... REALISING THAT BUSINESS intelligence (BI) is becoming more pervasive throughout Malaysia Microsoft is taking the lead by giving local companies flexible deployment options that provide them with the necessary security and capabilities for...

Buy the BOOK then the house.
December 1, 2011... I gave a talk on the right way to invest in gold at a bookstore in Subang Parade recently. The response was quite good, and the bookstore managed to sell a few copies of my book on the subject. After the talk, a lady came to ask me a few...

Paving a pathway into the cloud.
December 1, 2011... Although cloud service technology is easily available and is a potential business game-changer, it is best for enterprises to not plunge straight into it without a well thought out plan. First, be clear on your business strategy and what the...

BN's future hinges on Umno.
December 1, 2011... Regaining Malay support is the precursor to improving the Barisan Nasional's chances in the coming general election. How hard is Umno working to fulfil this? IT has been almost a year since talk of an early general election surfaced, and it...

Family ties.
December 1, 2011... The Securities Commission wants the roles of chairman and chief executive officer in listed companies to be separated. What will become of family- owned enterprises where the same person holds both portfolios? JUST as the dust is settling on...

Higher value.
December 1, 2011... With a much higher ROE than its international peers, Padini Holdings deserves a better valuation. When one gets to be rated as one of the country's top-30 local brands, it is an achievement that deserves more than just a pat on the back. And...

Little threat from rising NPLs.
December 1, 2011... Despite the apparent overbuilding in the property sector, analysts do not expect banks to be unduly affected by falling values or bad loans. BANK Negara Malaysia (BNM)'s new loan rules to promote responsible lending and borrowing are expected...

Storm clouds brewing.
December 1, 2011... Fresh competition and global economic uncertainties pose more challenges for Malaysian carriers and an airport operator. THE gales around Malaysian carriers and airport operator will be fiercer than ever. On top of high fuel prices and global...

A giant in the making.
December 1, 2011... A giant in the Making Genting Malaysia opens casino in New York, with even bigger plans for Florida. Genting Malaysia Bhd, part of the Genting stable, opened its New York casino on Oct 28 at the Aqueduct racetrack. The Genting facility and...

Surprise move.
December 1, 2011... The decision by PLUS Expressways to waive RM6.5 billion in compensation owed by the government to them is raising eyebrows. THE decision by PLUS Expressways Bhd to waive RM6.5 billion in compensation owed by the government to them has raised...

Salient points of new concession agreement.
December 1, 2011... WhEN the UEM Group and EPF complete their acquisition of PLUS Expressways Bhd (PLUS), the revised concession agreements and concession assets of the five expressways will be placed under a new company to be called Projek Lebuhraya Usahasama Bhd...

Penny-wise?
December 1, 2011... The frenetic interest in penny stocks, despite their lack of sound fundamentals, has raised the red flag. But what likely caused the frenzy in the first place? WHETHER you like it or not, the action on Bursa Malaysia has moved to penny...

Ditching the banal.
December 1, 2011... It's high time advertisers got out of their creative comfort zone and went for the untried and unproven. But can they? THE ever-evolving technology and the ubiquitous nature of today's media present unparalleled opportunities for marketers to...

Broadcast battle.
December 1, 2011... Asian Broadcasting Network is the latest player to jump on the pay TV segment with its upcoming digital cable TV launch. Can it take on pay TV giant Astro and learn from the mistakes of previous operators who had failed rather dismally? IT...

Volvo steps ashore in Singapore.
December 1, 2011... Trucking in Singapore is set to soar, especially for Volvo users, with the setting up of a one-stop facility in Tuas. VOLVO Group, the world's second biggest maker of heavy trucks and buses, has set up its own retail and after-sales...

Islamic financing's future.
December 1, 2011... What role must Islamic financial institutions play in the economic and finance world of tomorrow? The first of a two-part series. Islamic finance at its heart offers a system of finance for both individuals and companies that are based on...

ICT challenge.
December 1, 2011... Becoming a leader in information and communications technology will play a big part in Malaysia's goal of achieving high-income status by 2020. Are we on track? Malaysia's goal of achieving high-income status by 2020 will depend in large part...

Next stop, social media?
December 1, 2011... In this final of a three-part series, we look at why companies should align eServices strategies with the practices their customers demand. In Part Two, we covered a case study of a credit union company successfully integrating eServices....

Vigilance needed.
December 1, 2011... The fragile global economy may hit Singapore's growth. The world economy and financial system are at their most fragile since the 2008-2009 global credit crisis, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said, as it urged borrowers and...

Expanding the pool of Malaysia's chartered accountants.
December 1, 2011... TO RAISE MALAYSIA'S ECONOMIC performance, business organisations need to start hiring more professionally-qualified staff to manage their daily operations. This is one of the foremost reasons why the Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA)...

Seeing the green light.
December 1, 2011... Malaysian Banking Bhd does its bit for the environment with its Maybank MEACP Clean Energy Master Fund, which will finance start-up projects in the Asia Pacific involved in producing clean renewable energy. BANKING on the current interest in...

Hiring practices solution in tough times.
December 1, 2011... The writer applauds Malaysian businesses' plans for dealing with economic uncertainty. Each day, the news from the West brings further economic gloom: crises in the Eurozone, predictions of negative growth in the advanced economies. It's...

Leading change successfully.
December 1, 2011... Eight powerful leadership characteristics for leading change in Asia. CHANGE in Malaysia and across Asia is accelerating at an incredible pace as organisations work to not only maximise their market potential but also streamline regional...

The strategy of Master salesmanship.
December 1, 2011... The art of master salesmanship for you and your business. Like all things in life, a plan that is both definite and sound is the first step necessary to lay the foundation for success in every endeavour of any calling. To attain the mastery...

Profitable lessons I've learnt from Brian Tracy.
December 1, 2011... Author Brian Tracy has an enormous capacity to create wonderful learning tools on vital life planning disciplines; in the area of finance as well. It would bode you well to look him up. ONE OF my favourite authors is Brian Tracy. What's...