Malaysian Business articles from January 2006

Malaysian Business archives from January 2006

Personal Data At Stake.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THERE are several execution flaws to the Government's directive to register all prepaid phone account clients, irrespective of new or existing ones, starting Jan 1. This is a follow-through of a three-month...

Give Our Kids A Chance.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) AS WE kick off the New Year, the main news headlines of the day would inevitably be the millions of children who are returning to school or the thousands who are attending school for the very first time. ...

Improving Workforce Productivity: New Hire Or Retraining?
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) A business is only as good as its people. It is no wonder then that over 60% of total corporate expenditure is spent on people-related costs - a huge proportion compared with other lines of businesses. Every...

All Eyes On MAS.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) MALAYSIA Airlines Bhd (MAS) is once again in the limelight. This time around, it is over two paintings bought for RM1.55 million. The airline has a history of grabbing the attention of the Malaysian public. On...

Outsourcing Business Continues To Grow.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE contact centre industry can expect an exciting 12 months ahead similar to the one it experienced in 2005. This was revealed in a latest research by Frost & Sullivan, which found that the number of contact...

Here to Stay?
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WHAT IS Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan)'s worth? As an operational outfit, it is no match for the commonwealth of the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN). But is Keadilan slowly shaping into an entity which...

The Indian Connection.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WITH A 6% mobile penetration rate, it is no wonder that many telecommunication companies are trying to get a piece of the Indian market. But while many try, few succeed. Maxis Communications Bhd has just become...

Seven-up?
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) BURSA Malaysia took a bold move recently to allow an extended settlement period for the purchase of equities. The question that has arisen is: Will the move bring about the desired result? On Dec 23, 2005,...

The Heat Is Up In The Online Job Market.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IT was Dec 29, 2005. Andrew Diamond, the managing director of Jobs and More Sdn Bhd, was working hard at his Damansara office when news came that JobStreet.com Corp Bhd, its largest competitor, was suing the...

More Than Just A Shipper.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) TAN SRI Halim Mohamad of Halim Mazmin Bhd fame is undoubtedly one of the more successful shipping tycoons in the country. He also prefers to remain rather low profile. So when we approached him to be...

Something To Crow About.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE year of the Rooster is ending with the cockerel showing its spurs. Few foresaw that the Rooster lunar year would bring new life to battered poultry-sector stocks. A strong earnings recovery, helped by...

Recovery Play.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) A MIDST a more cautious outlook for the residential sector in 2006, some analysts are already asking investors to diversify their exposure in the property sector. To be fair, the housing sector outlook appears...

Guess Who's Back In KFC?
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WHO would have thought that you could eat fish at a KFC restaurant? Long known for its finger licking good fried chicken, KFC's Malaysian outlets recently started offering a fish sandwich on their menu. Not only...

Over Blue Yonder.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) MENTION Tan Sri Halim Mohammad and people immediately equate him with the successful listed shipping-based company, Halim Mazmin Bhd (HMB). But the Bumiputera tycoon has ventured into more than just...

Taking The Ship Further.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THIS year will be an auspicious one for the Halim Mazmin (HM) group as it will be celebrating its silver anniversary in July. It will be an occasion the group will have good reason to be proud of. Under the...

In Honour Of Transparency.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) ONCE AGAIN, Malaysian Business has begun the search for excellence in corporate governance among public listed companies in Bursa Malaysia. The arduous task to determine the winners of the corporate governance...

What's In Store For Malaysia?
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE annual ritual is almost over for economists. Macro forecasts for 2006 have flooded financial and economic journals. Some projections look conservative while others are so glaring they raise eyebrows in the...

Healthcare For All.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) SHORTCOMINGS in current private medical healthcare practices have raised a few eyebrows. The Health Ministry is apparently 'toothless' when it comes to disciplining the increasingly burgeoning private healthcare...

The Great Greeks.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WITH THE new guidelines for the issuance of covered warrants in place, Bursa Malaysia is expected to see the listing of more covered warrants this year. A technical understanding of the pricing mechanism of...

It's People Who Make A Business.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) ANDREW Carnegie, one of the greatest American industrialists of the 20th Century, was asked, 'What do you attribute your success to?' He answered, 'Take from me all the ore mines, railroads, manufacturing plants...

Dare You Abandon The Dark Side Of Credit?
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) PERHAPS the most famous line - in all of what Stephen Covey calls the wisdom literature of mankind - on the perils of irresponsible borrowing is from Proverbs chapter 22 verse 7: 'The rich ruleth over the...

A Slice Of The German Biodiesel Pie.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) MALAYSIA has been debating for nearly 15 years the benefits of using its natural resources for the production of biofuels such as biodiesel, whose processing becomes attractive as oil prices skyrocket. ...

Beauty & The Beat.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) SLEEK, sexy and sizzling is perhaps the best description of one of Malaysia's youngest and most prominent violinists, Joanne Yeoh Pei Sze. Besides being impressive with the violin, she also dazzles the crowd...

Drive The City And Stay Eco-Friendly.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) COMPETITION in the 1,500 cc to 1,800 cc passenger car segment is tough when you have the top-two Japanese manufacturers doing battle. Honda has its work cut out in the promotion of its 1.5-litre offering, the...

Cheaper F1 Tickets.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) HILLSTAND tickets at this year's Petronas F1 Malaysian Grand Prix have been reduced by between 40% and 75%. A three-day ticket to watch the race from the Open Hillstand will cost a mere RM50 (from RM200...

Mitsubishi's Ninth Evolution.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE flagship performance car from Mitsubishi, the Lancer Evolution (more popularly referred to by enthusiasts as the Evo), is now entering its ninth evolution since its introduction in 1992. This 2.0-litre DOHC...

Volvo's Whiplash Protection.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) VOLVO has once again achieved top scores, this time in the 2006 new car whiplash ratings by the United Kingdom's Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (MIRRC) in Thatcham, which conducted tests on behalf of the...

Thai Crazy.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WITH THE New Year comes a new culinary adventure. There are standards to meet and palates to please. To start off 2006, Malaysian Business has decided to try out Tamarind Hill. Voted as 'Best Restaurant...

Learning From The Best.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) 'Just One Thing: Twelve Of The World's Best Investors Reveal' By: John Mauldin Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc Pages: 262 Price: RM79.80 THE title on the cover may make it sound more like a book about the...

Turning Coal Into Gold.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) 'The Demise of the Dollar...and Why It's Great For Your Investments' By: Addisson Wiggin Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc Pages: 218 Price: RM55.80 'THE twilight of the great dollar standard era is upon...

In The Interest Of The Minorities.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THANK you for the publicity given to Badan Pengawas Pemegang Saham Minoriti Bhd (BPPSM) or more popularly known as the Minority Shareholder Watchdog Group (MSWG) in the article The Tussle Continues in the Dec...

A Case Of One Too Many.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) I PERSONALLY believe that this is an area which consumers and business analysts pay very little attention to and it is time closer scrutiny is given. In the present heated climate on approved permits (APs)...

MDC CEO Looking For Technocrats.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) NEWLY appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDC), Badlisham Ghazali, is reportedly on the lookout for industry ICT professionals to help him run the government...

Ahead Of Schedule.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ), the country's first fully integrated free commercial and industrial zone, is set to be ready ahead of schedule in June. The 1,000-acre zone is modelled after Dubai's Jebel Ali...

A Windfall From Standard Chartered.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) STANDARD Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd (Standard Chartered) has announced the Grand Prize Winner of its 'MortgageOne - Desa ParkCity' contest. The winner, Andrew Ong, walked away with a Desa ParkCity condominium...

A Smart Partnership.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) TENAGA Nasional Bhd (TNB) has signed an agreement with Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) for the implementation of TNB's enterprise cash management activities using Maybank2e.net solutions. The latter is Maybank's...

Volvo Wins Duo Awards.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) VOLVO Car Malaysia Sdn Bhd (VCM) has clinched double awards at the New Straits Times - Mastercard Car of the Year Award 2005. The Volvo XC90 has been named 'Premium SUV of the Year' for the third consecutive...

PENTAX Meets Digital Needs.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) PENTAX Corporation has launched its Optio range comprising the Optio 60, Optio S60, Optio WPi and the istDS2 digital SLR camera. The Optio 60 is a compact, lightweight and easy-to-use entry-level camera with a...

Measuring Relaxation.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) OSE Silva, the founder of the Silva Mind Method, has introduced the Silva Method Trainer 1, a measuring device to set points of reference for entering, maintaining and exiting a state of mental relaxation. The...

Sleek Timepiece.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) GRAHAM London has introduced the bold, 'in your face' Swordfish recently. To ensure a perfect grip, the tip of the crown is recessed and ridged while the push-buttons have 'clous de Paris' motif. The original...

A Woman's Best Friend.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) MONTBLANC celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2006 with the Maharani pen, which is a tribute to the divine in every woman. The writing instrument is made of 18K white gold and inlaid with over 1,000 Top...

Dairy Products Help Gout.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IT has been reported that to prevent painful gout, one should drink milk, take dairy products and eat less red meat and seafood. Beans, peas, mushrooms, spinach and cauliflower do not seem to prevent gout,...

Lung Cancer Link.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) A study carried out in China has concluded that prolonged exposure to petrol, vehicle exhaust and kitchen smoke, and an unhealthy diet could cause lung cancer. It was found that kitchen-oil smoke impairs the...

Parents To Eat Well For Children.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) RESEARCHERS say families should sit down and have their meals together as it has been found that the way children eat is directly related to the way their parents eat. The best way for parents to get their...

Fibre Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) A study has shown that eating dietary fibre specifically from fruits and cereals lowers the risk of heart disease. A previous research has suggested a connection between a higher intake of fibre and a lower...

Vitamin B-12 May Slow Bone Loss.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) OLDER women with low levels of vitamin B-12 are more likely to experience rapid bone loss, according to The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Research has shown that women with the lowest levels of...

ICT City Takes Shape.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IN October last year, I-Bhd caught many by surprise with its announcement to Bursa Malaysia that it is entering into a joint-venture agreement with its major shareholder Sumurwang Group for the development of a...

Nextnation Evolves Into A Global Player.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IT is common knowledge that the messaging industry has, over the years, grown into a multibillion ringgit industry and, hence, attracted a host of new entrants. However, while the infusion has been swift, often...

Riding High.
January 16, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WHILE telecommunication companies (telcos) have been facing intense competition, the surge in competitive behaviour is proving to be both good and bad for Intec Telecom Systems. 'A very competitive telecoms...

Architectural Abandon.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IF your walls are bare concrete or unplastered brickwork, your guests would most likely surmise you quarelled so much with the renovation contractors that they downed tools and simply took off leaving you...

Oracle Eyes SAP's Installed Base.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE battle for the business software solutions market in the region has just taken a dramatic turn as Oracle takes steps to accelerate its OFFSAP (Oracle Fusion For SAP) initiative in the Asia Pacific. Oracle...

Another Bitter Pill?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WILL the debate on the implementation of a National Healthcare Plan ever end? Or more importantly, when will such a scheme be implemented? But given the recent turn of events, something seems to be brewing....

Technology Should Enrich Humanity.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) BILL Gates and his wife Melinda, alongside Irish rocker Bono, have been jointly named Persons of the Year 2005 by Time magazine for their charitable work and activism aimed at reducing global poverty and...

Back To The Old.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) E&O Property (Penang) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of E&O Property Development Bhd, officially launched its integrated masterplan development of the seafront Seri Tanjung Pinang on Penang Island. The inaugural...

A Whole New World.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) I-Bhd's 29.16-hectare I-City development recently had its logo launched on Nov 28 by Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. The RM1.5 billion development at Section 7, Shah Alam,...

Chic In PJ.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) LUXOR Properties Sdn Bhd recently unveiled its upcoming freehold condo development, Park 19 Residences, located in SS2, Petaling Jaya. Promising resort living, this boutique development reserves three out of its...

Looking Forward.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) MARK the term e-Empowered employee (EEE), because research house IDC predicts that the spending and growth in 2006 within the information and communications technology (ICT) sector will be fuelled largely by the...

Impetus For Growth.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) DECEMBER was a particularly busy month for Malaysia. At a time when most people were looking forward to winding down the year, Pulau Langkawi hosted the LIMA 2005 while Kuala Lumpur hosted the 11th Asean Summit...

Stronger Through Alliance.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE recently concluded East Asia Summit (EAS) was full of photo opportunities of leaders of some very powerful nations. Topping the Kodak- moment list would be Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi extending...

How Will 2006 Turn Out?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE movers and shakers of corporate Malaysia are often well liked by the stock market. After all, without their manoeuvres, the market would be a dull place. While Bursa Malaysia has remained relatively...

Datuk Azman Mokhtar: Taking Khazanah Abroad.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WITH over RM60 billion worth of assets under its management, choosing the right person to head Khazanah Nasional Bhd is a crucial task. And not many can find fault with the person picked - Datuk Azman Mokhtar,...

Datuk Tony Fernandes: No More The Underdog.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IN the last four years, the well-liked Datuk Tony Fernandes has made his way from underdog to top dog in the airline business. He and his company AirAsia Bhd, which have become synonymous with each other, have...

From Plastic To Property.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) MAH Sing Group Bhd's story is one of a little property developer that could. Despite a relatively short development history, it has a lot going for it - a 250-hectare landbank, RM1.5 billion in future gross...

Settlement In Sight?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IN the last few months, Shoon C Hor and Benny Khaw of local software firm, NexusEdge Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd (NEM), have been spending more time learning about law than software development. Why? In August...

What Will The New Year Bring?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WHILE the stock market has remained relatively quiet throughout 2005, there was no dearth of significant developments in the corporate sector. Be it a hostile takeover, the removal of a long-serving chieftain or...

Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay: Upping The Stakes.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) HE may the scion of one of Malaysia's earliest and richest entrepreneurs, but Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay is much more than merely his father's son. True, it was Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong who built the Genting group into...

Datuk Mohd Shazalli Ramly: Telecommunications' Latest Star.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE latest entrant to the sizzling telecommunications sector, Datuk Mohd Shazalli Ramly looks more an advertising executive than a seasoned corporate player. But maybe that's exactly what the sector needs -...

Datuk Che Khalib Mohamad Noh: Tenaga Sees The Light.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) TENAGA Nasional Bhd's President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Che Khalib Mohamad Noh has come a long way since he started in July 1, 2004 to improve the utility company's costs and productivity. An...

Izham Yusoff: Just The Tonic For KUB.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IZHAM Yusoff may not yet be a familiar name in corporate circles but the 38-year-old accounts graduate is determined to repay the trust put in him by the government to revive ailing KUB Malaysia Bhd. ...

Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir: Can He Drive Proton Forward?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WHEN Proton Holdings Bhd's supremo Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff made a sudden departure from the company in July 2005, he left behind a much-publicised vacant position. In less than a month, numerous...

Idris Jala: Wing of change.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) EVEN before he reported for his first day of work, Idris Jala had hogged the media. The reason was obvious: Idris was taking on one of the hottest seats in town, namely as CEO of the troubled and ailing...

Datuk Nazir Razak: Banking On Regional Expansion.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) DUBBED Malaysia's maverick investment banker, Datuk Nazir Razak is one personality who will be hard to ignore in 2006. He is Malaysia's banking man-to-watch as the industry expands regionally and consolidates...

Datuk Noorazman Aziz: Winning Back Confidence.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE large losses posted by Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd (BIMB) last year shook the confidence of investors in the growing Islamic banking industry. How the losses - amounting to RM456.4 million - were accumulated...

KFC Holdings Bhd, QSR Brands Bhd And Kulim (M) Bhd: Still squawking.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE acrimonious battle going on in KFC Holdings Bhd makes it an interesting company to watch. There has been a protracted tussle to control the fried chicken retailer since early last year. The saga involves...

Tan Sri Tan Teong Hean: How Will He Play His Cards?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) TAN Sri Tan Teong Hean hogged the Malaysian corporate limelight with Southern Bank Bhd (SBB)'s recent proposed acquisition of Singapore insurer, Asia General Holdings Ltd (AGHL), for RM2.2 billion. Tan had...

Boustead Holdings Bhd: Daunting Task Ahead.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) BOUSTEAD Holdings is tasked with the daunting responsibility of reviving beleaguered PSC Industries Bhd (PSCI), which it took control of last year following the failure of the shipbuilding group to deliver the...

MiTV Corp Sdn Bhd: Joining The Race.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THIS year is expected to be a challenging year for the country's second pay-TV operator, MiTV Corp Sdn Bhd, and its major shareholder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun. The company is seen to continue attracting...

Media Prima Bhd: Working The Media Giant.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) MEDIA Prima Bhd and its boyish looking managing director Abdul Rahman Ahmad have pulled off a coup in the free-to-air (FTA) television business. Through a series of deals ending with the purchase of the ntv7...

Biodiesel: Fuelling The Next Growth?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WHILE 2005 will be remembered for the spike in oil prices and higher pump prices of petrol and diesel, 2006 could be the year when local companies, especially plantation-owners, begin producing biodiesel for...

Islamic Finance: Making Good Progress.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) THE Islamic financial sector should see some interesting developments in 2006 to complement the country's effort to become an Islamic financial hub. For one, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will be issuing four...

Fuel Gets Things Moving.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IF there is one lynchpin of the transportation industry, it must be fuel. It is not an exaggeration to say that without fuel, the transportation industry would come to an abrupt halt. This was clearly seen...

Oil & Gas: All Fired Up.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) OSK Research believes the oil and gas industry will soon be back in the reckoning of investors. The research house anticipates 2006 to see reality matching the hype on the sector, with more tangible deliverables...

Water: Tariff Increases Soon?
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) WATER, besides being essential to human life, is also a key component in industries from food to electronics. Only in the last few years has water grabbed the news headlines, covering issues on water quality and...

Mobile Messaging: The Challenges Multiply.
January 1, 2006... (From Malaysian Business) IN end-November 2005, the share price of Mesdaq-listed mTouche Technology Bhd staged a run-up that exemplified the fortunes of the mobile messaging industry for that year. First it was an imperceptible...