Malaysian Business articles from February 2010

Malaysian Business archives from February 2010

Building a cloud-ready data centre network.
February 16, 2010... IT CAN BE DAUNTING TO INTER-connect a growing number of virtual and physical devices while trying to simplify the network to manage these resources at scale. Management complexity increases exponentially as more devices are added. This often...

Rethinking fuel subsidy schemes.
February 16, 2010... SOON, we will have a revamped fuel subsidy system in place. If not implemented properly, it could be open to abuse. Perhaps a relook would be viable. COME MAY, WE SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE A revamped fuel subsidy system. What it basically means is...

Don't gamble with security.
February 16, 2010... TODAY'S TOUGHENED ECONOMY and escalating threatscape calls for governments in Asia to better prepare themselves against sophisticated cyber attacks. The current economic downturn has caused a wave of cybercriminal activities attacking public...

Power and mobility.
February 16, 2010... THE Ferrari name is associated with fast cars, speedy performance, and good looks. Apply that to the laptop world and you'd naturally expect a notebook bearing the Ferrari name to share these characteristics. Acer certainly turns heads with its...

Functional benefits.
February 16, 2010... BROTHER INTERNATIONAL MALAYSIA, a leader in home and business IT peripherals, recently introduced a new range of LED technology compact colour printers. The newly unveiled printers are the HL-3040CN and HL-3070CW, which Brother International...

Bringing back the MECD.
February 16, 2010... BUMIPUTERA entrepreneurs are lamenting that there is no one body to look into matters relating to their development ever since the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development was dissolved. Perhaps it should be revived. SHOULD THE...

40 Riche$t Malaysians: Gains all round.
February 16, 2010... AS the world strives to get back on its feet and equities rebound, so have the fortunes of Malaysia's tycoons. In fact, Malaysian Business' 40 Richest list for this year contains 22 billionaires, eight more than last year. MALAYSIA'S 40...

Top 10 ACE market millionaires.
February 16, 2010... AS the economy continues its upward recovery, ACE Market taipans are gradually gaining their wealth back. DESPITE THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY experienced by the market today, the ACE Market (formerly Mesdaq) players continue to struggle to salvage...

The wealth club.
February 16, 2010... THIS issue has a different look. We decided to make it a special one with a longer shelf life so that more readers can enjoy our cover on '40 Richest Malaysians'. This year, all tycoons on our survey recorded gains in their net worth in...

Eyeing emerging markets.
February 16, 2010... SCOMI Group Bhd expands its monorail business. FOLLOWING ITS SUCCESS IN clinching the Mumbai monorail project - its first such job overseas - Scomi Group Bhd now plans to capitalise on its expertise in monorail and coach construction to...

Growth prospects.
February 16, 2010... NATIONAL postal service company Pos Malaysia is all set for some good times ahead, thanks to a potential tariff increase and an acquisition of a rival. POS Malaysia Bhd has not seen a tariff increase in recent times, but 2010 is poised to be...

On a growth path.
February 16, 2010... NAIM Holdings, with diversified earnings and strong earnings growth potential ahead, is looking increasingly attractive to investors. WITH THE LOCAL EQUITY MARKET giving back some of its gains in recent weeks, investors are now bracing for...

Rate hikes on the cards?
February 16, 2010... ECONOMIC conditions seem to be improving, things seem to be looking up. Is it time to push up interest rates? EXPECT THIS NEWS IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS: economic growth numbers will improve considerably across the globe; business and consumer...

Stopping Malaysia's investment decline.
February 16, 2010... MALAYSIA'S gross domestic investment as a percentage of GDP took a dive during the 1998 East Asian financial crisis and has stayed down since. What can be done? THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED FIFTH Trade Policy Review of Malaysia conducted by the...

Rate hike fears.
February 16, 2010... ARE we in for an interest rate hike, and if we are, what is the impact on equity and property markets? IS A BIG CORRECTION FINALLY here for the local equity market? In recent weeks, the Bursa Malaysia market rally has been somewhat destabilised...

Making its presence felt.
February 16, 2010... THE Sarawak Convention Bureau has been making news in the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions industry with its marketing campaigns and award-winning strategies. Wilson Henry reports on its recent win and need to establish a...

Applied faith the opening wedge to success.
February 16, 2010... THE science of success management system for you and your business. FAITH PLAYS AN IMPORTANT role in our lives. It is required for every aspect of our daily life. The difficulty in defining faith is that it is a state of mind. It is not a...

Green initiatives for ASOCIO.
February 16, 2010... THE Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) HAD appointed Looi Kien Leong, a well-known industry veteran within the Malaysian ICT circle, as its 13th President during its General Assembly held in Melbourne last December. Looi...

The lowdown on luxury.
February 16, 2010... DIFFERENT people have different attitudes toward luxury items. What is yours? DATA FROM A GLOBAL STUDY on luxury brands reveals interesting insights into the psyche of consumers when it comes to 'luxury', and the odd relationship they have with...

At a standstill.
February 16, 2010... WHILE there is talk of reform, nothing has materialised, putting the Japanese economy in limbo, again. IN JAPAN TWO PLUS TWO does not always add up to four. That's been the problem for every Japanese government since the 1990s economic...

Not quite the norm.
February 16, 2010... SEASONAL investing - does it really work? SO FAR, many articles have been written on investment styles and strategies which investors of varying profiles - from the savvy to the novice - have adopted at some point in time in their investment...

Desperately seeking... balance!
February 16, 2010... STRIKING a balance between the ways we consume and preserve the money that flows into our lives is a wise course of action. A QUARTER of a century ago, in 1985, Madonna starred in Desperately Seeking Susan. As much as I admire the...

Unveiling EmbunWeb.
February 16, 2010... TWO HOSTING SERVICE PROVIDERS have joined forces and merged their web hosting operations in order to attract more local small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. EmbunWeb is a joint collaboration between two entities, previously known as...

Driven by a passion for good food.
February 16, 2010... THE humble chicken rice soars to great heights under the watchful eyes of Gaik Wong and Wong Kah Lin. Over a cup of three-layered tea, the dynamic duo share with BRENDA JAMES what it took to grow a brand from scratch, challenges in the early...

Pulau Tenggol beckons.
February 16, 2010... MALAYSIA is blessed with world-class coral attractions. Located in the coral triangle linking Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Australia, it has its fair share - 5.4 million kilometers of seaborne flora and fauna with more than...

A guide to financial freedom.
February 16, 2010... ROADMAP to Financial Freedom - The Ultimate Guide to Achieve Financial Freedom is essential reading to help people achieve their financial freedom. IF YOU'RE like the average Malaysian, you'll probably worry a whole lot about your finances....

Getting through a rough patch.
February 16, 2010... SEVEN Lessons for Leading in Crisis provides in-depth information on facing a crisis. WHAT IF you were told that the economic crisis last year was not caused by sub-prime mortgages, credit default swaps or excessive greed but were merely...

MAXIS unveils unity solutions.
February 16, 2010... MAXIS BHD IS AIMING FOR 30,000 users to utilise its newly-launched Unity Solutions service by year end as part of a strategy to expand its small and medium enterprise (SME) business segment. Anchored on a unified digital platform, Unity...

F&N inks strategic beverage distribution agreement with AirAsia.
February 16, 2010... 100PLUS, the No 1 ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage in Malaysia, is poised to take to the skies through a strategic partnership agreement signed between F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd (F&N) and AirAsia Bhd, which will effectively see...

Your gateway to Malaysian lifestyle.
February 16, 2010... THE Organiser of the Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) will be introducing a new exhibition entitled 'ID Trends' in conjunction with MIFF 2010, which will be held at the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre (MECC) from March 3-7,...

Mercedes-Benz Malaysia maintains leadership.
February 16, 2010... MERCEDES-BENZ Malaysia maintained its leadership of the premium passenger car segment on the back of a commendable sales performance of 3,903 passenger cars in 2009, accounting for 49% of the top marques sold in Malaysia. 'Despite a slight...

Standard Chartered Malaysia's strategic branch expansion.
February 16, 2010... TO ENHANCE customer experience, Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia has relocated its branch in Puchong. The new 4,700 square-feet-branch, strategically located in Bandar Puteri Puchong, has doubled the size of its banking hall to provide spacious...

SAP value academy.
February 16, 2010... SAP MALAYSIA RECENTLY introduced the SAP Customer Value Academy, the company's global programme designed to help customers understand the essentials of value management and gain clarity into their SAP investments, in Kuala Lumpur. The Value...

Cradle partners infovalley.
February 16, 2010... CRADLE FUND SDN BHD HAS collaborated with Infovalley Group, which specialises in life sciences technology innovation and business initiatives, to initiate a programme that will launch an idea stage technology creation initiative focusing on life...

Doing away with support letters.
February 1, 2010... LETTERS of support, issued by high-ranking politicians in support of a project, carry a lot of weight and are open to abuse. Hence, abolishing them will go a long way in sprucing up transparency. WHAT role, if any, do support letters by...

Capital flows: Is Malaysia losing out?
February 1, 2010... IS Malaysia losing out on the investment front as foreign and domestic capital cast their eyes elsewhere, notably the fast-changing economies of the region? FOREIGN INVESTORS ARE ONCE again accumulating Malaysian equity and fixed income assets,...

Sentul Saga continues.
February 1, 2010... THE Sentul Raya redevelopment project moves inexorably on as squatters' claims for compensation remain unresolved. What needs to be done? EVENTS SURROUNDING THE displacement of squatters and the poor in the redevelopment of Sentul in Kuala...

Rubber gloves grab the limelight.
February 1, 2010... ANALYSTS believe rubber-glove companies will continue to draw investor interest as global glove demand continues to rise. RUBBER-GLOVE companies will remain a star in 2010 and are returning to their heyday after ending 2009 in style, analysts...

Moving forward and staying relevant.
February 1, 2010... WHEN Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman took over the helm of the country's largest voluntary investment institution Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) in 1998, his first priority was to formulate a strategy to ensure that funds invested by the...

Reaching for the cloud.
February 1, 2010... CLOUD computing, one of the hottest trends in the ICT industry today, offers on-demand, utility-like availability of computing resources at a low cost. Mb-e looks at the progress of cloud computing acceptance in Malaysia and its challenges. ...

Another sun rising.
February 1, 2010... WITH more and more property developers coming on stream, it is imperative "not to jump onto the bandwagon" but to devise ways to set oneself apart from the crowd. This is exactly the direction pursued by SunwayMas Sdn Bhd, which prided itself as...

PNB grows bigger.
February 1, 2010... THE last time we interviewed Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah for a cover story, it was 11 years ago. In that span of time, PNB has grown by leaps and bounds growing from strength to strength....

Man with a social obligation.
February 1, 2010... HEADING an organisation tasked with increasing public investment participation is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. It is a trust Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman strives to be worthy of. SO UNIQUE IS PERMODALAN NASIONAL BHD (PNB)...

A hedge for the future.
February 1, 2010... FROM managing funds to managing property, Permodalan Nasional Bhd sets its sights on diversifying its future. AFTER more than three decades of solid track record as an equity fund manager, Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) has now set its sights...

Restructuring for value.
February 1, 2010... TRACKING Permodalan Nasional Bhd's 10 years of value enhancement for its companies. THE DECADE BEGINNING 2000 saw Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) undertake a number of restructuring and rationalisation exercises to further add value to the...

Strengthening Malaysia's trade account.
February 1, 2010... A look at Malaysia's current account and its effects on international reserves and the ringgit. THE Balance of Payments' current account, which is generally defined as the exports of goods and services minus imports, indicates the health of a...

Integrity and communication.
February 1, 2010... SLOGANS and catchphrases aside, implementation and communication must be solid in order for us to progress as a nation. IN THE 1950s, IT USED TO BE Sedia Berkhidmat. The lapel pinned on every policeman's chest was laced with those two words,...

Dailies hold their ground.
February 1, 2010... A study has found that newspaper readers take note of 57% of the ads that appear in the pages - making it a pretty effective medium for advertisers. WITH THE GROWING SOPHISTICATION and fragmentation of media, there has been constant talk and...

The politics of money.
February 1, 2010... ARE economic policies implemented for the greater good of the people and the nation, or for narrow and short-term political interests for the elite for whom they govern? NEVER MIND WHAT NAOTO Kan, Japan's newly minted Finance Minister, said...

Forging win-win partnerships.
February 1, 2010... FORGING successful partnerships is a viable method of generating sales. How to do it? HOW MANY business channels can your business utilise to generate leads? Employing a sales force is one way, using direct mail or embarking on Internet...

Five 'Money and Life' ideas from Da Vinci.
February 1, 2010... LEONARDO Da Vinci, most synonymous with the Mona Lisa, was a true genius, and in numerous fields at that. His thoughts and ideas, 500 years old, were way ahead of their time and are still relevant today. I RECENTLY spent a delightful Saturday...

The return of tight money.
February 1, 2010... Traders Club Survey We held our monthly Trader's Club recently. I asked those who thought deflation would be a problem in 2010 to raise their hands. No hands went up. Inflation? Almost everyone. Inflation in Australia We had a guest speaker...

Understanding warrants.
February 1, 2010... HOW volatility is the key to warrant selection. WHILE most traders understand that there are various methods for estimating the value of warrants theoretically, trading warrants doesn't end by just getting hold of a calculation tool which...

Yes Prime Minister.
February 1, 2010... MATTHIAS Chang, once a vocal critic of the-then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad (now Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad), and later his political secretary and now one of his staunchest defenders, has been accused of selling out to the...

I Ching makes its entry on the web.
February 1, 2010... I CHING, THE WORLD RENOWNED sacred book that provides in depth wisdom and divination purpose for individuals in all situations and traditionally available with I Ching scholars or Feng Shui consultants for reference, is now available online. ...

Counting on cost-effective workplace solutions.
February 1, 2010... WITH so many uncertainties looming as a result of the global economic downturn, companies are increasingly cutting down on the size of their workforce - and ultimately - the workspace. This has prompted the growth of mobile workforce that...

Will the new economy work?
February 1, 2010... AS we await the Prime Minister's new economic model for the country, we can't help but wonder what exactly it is going to be. Clear communication is vital to enlist the cooperation of all in implementing it and forging ahead as a nation. ...

Heritage on foot.
February 1, 2010... AFTER checking off all that is on your usual tourist list, and you have nothing else to do, go and explore the heritage trail. You will come off better knowing and understanding the city, its people and its trade and commerce, writes WILSON...

Hey good-looking.
February 1, 2010... FACIAL First's 'Masculine' range of facial treatments answers the needs of men everywhere for good skin care. TIMES HAVE certainly changed, and as the popularity of the word 'metrosexual' grew, so did the desire for men to look and feel good...

Tourism Awards 2008/2009.
February 1, 2010... THE Ministry of Tourism honoured several tourism industry players for their excellent performance recently at the 'Malaysia Tourism Awards 2008/2009' at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. The event, graced by Deputy Prime Minister...

The LG viewing experience.
February 1, 2010... SHOPPING for a new TV? An LG TV may not be at the top of your list, but electronics and home appliances maker LG Electronics is determined to make the brand one of the top-two choices in the local TV market. LG recently introduced the SL90,...

IBM announces new ASEAN Telecom Centre of Excellence.
February 1, 2010... IBM has announced the opening of the Asean Telecom Centre of Excellence (CoE) to accelerate telecommunications solution development and streamline product delivery to help Asean telecommunication service providers compete more effectively in the...

In search of peace.
February 1, 2010... KECHARA Media & Publications recently launched His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche's inspirational book If Not Now, When? - The Peace Edition. The book is both in English and Chinese and is circulated by MPH Distributors. If Not Now,...

Nothing like a Rolls-Royce.
February 1, 2010... ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars is pleased to announce the appointment of Quill Motorcars Sdn Bhd as its authorised dealer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Quill Motorcars Sdn Bhd is part of the Quill Group of Companies, a leading multi-disciplinary group...

4As introduces the Putra Brand Awards.
February 1, 2010... THE Putra Brand Awards was launched recently. Organised in association with the Malaysia's Most Valuable Brands (MMVB), the awards is a recognition and brand valuation exercise initiated by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents...

In Shangri-La.
February 1, 2010... SHANGRI-LA Hotel KL has been awarded the 'Best Hotel Services for 5-Star Hotel' by the Minister of Tourism Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen at the 16th Malaysian Tourism Awards 2008-2009 held recently. The hotel's VP and GM Lothar Nessman attributed...

New corporate identity.
February 1, 2010... THE SOFT drinks division of Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, marketer and manufacturer of Malaysia's iconic and pervasive F&N soft drinks brands, has a new corporate identity. F&N Beverages Marketing Sdn Bhd (FNBM) and F&N...

A shining example.
February 1, 2010... BUILDING Passion with Mustapha Kamal probes the psyche of the Emkay Group's Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal, a successful Bumiputera entrepreneur who built his empire on passion and the conviction that failure was not an option. ANYONE who has ever...

Surviving the hard times.
February 1, 2010... UPSIDES in a Downturn: Proven Strategies to Succeed in Any Recession or Tough Times teaches you how to steer your company out of difficult times by using practical and workable solutions. AUTHOR and award-winning marketer Victor Loh has a...

PIKOM projects 8% growth.
February 1, 2010... THE NATIONAL ICT ASSOCIATION of Malaysia (PIKOM), in its annual analysis of ICT spending, projects an encouraging 8% overall growth for the industry in 2010. Describing the growth projection for the year as cautiously optimistic, president of...

MDV loans RM50 Million to P1.
February 1, 2010... MALAYSIA DEBT VENTURES Berhad (MDV), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance Inc. recently signed an agreement with Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (P1) to finance the expansion of the latter's 4G WiMAX service nationwide. ...

The risks of investing overseas.
February 1, 2010... AS you grow wealthier, a thought will come to your mind, 'All my investments are in Malaysia. While I've done well, I'm taking a big risk by putting all my money in one place. If something should happen, then I could lose it all. I think I...

Triumvirate of change.
February 1, 2010... THE ASIA/PACIFIC EXCLUDING Japan (APEJ) telecommunication and networking industry is being shaped and driven by a 'triumvirate of change' and the impact of these changes will be felt in 2010 and beyond, predicts IDC. 'There is a triumvirate...

Not too late to stock up?
February 1, 2010... SEMICONDUCTOR player Unisem is poised to see better days ahead as demand for technological innovations and products heat up. WHICH sector in 2010 will attract positive assessment from most investment houses and analysts? If you are thinking...