Malaysian Business articles from June 2009

Malaysian Business archives from June 2009

On solid ground.
June 16, 2009... CONSTRUCTION player WCT can look forward to brighter prospects ahead, thanks to some major contracts in the bag. WCT BHD CAN EXPECT sunnier prospects with the intensity of construction jobs rolling out the past few weeks, prompting some...

Idaman fights on.
June 16, 2009... PRACTICALLY without a core business since losing control of its insurance unit, Idaman Unggul Bhd faces impending delisting. But it isn't giving up. ONCE A RISING INSURANCE player with great potential to be bigger and better, Idaman Unggul...

Where will the market go?
June 16, 2009... AS sentiment and expectations seem to be the main driving force behind the current market rally, rather than solid economic fundamentals, is there room for a further rise? Or is the next move downwards? Malaysian Business gets the views of...

It's all about web 2.0.
June 16, 2009... WEB 2.0 is already producing leaders - Facebook, YouTube, MySpace and Google - but for many organisations, coping with its implications remains a challenge because for the most part, Web 2.0 has been flying underneath the corporate radar. But...

Taking stock.
June 16, 2009... AFTER A RISE OF 20% THIS year, market players must be wondering how local stocks will perform in the second half. Will the market be in for a correction? We talk to analysts and fund managers for their views on the market and what sectors would...

Foreign shareholding still low.
June 16, 2009... THE RECENT RUN-UP IN PRICES on Bursa Malaysia saw little contribution from foreign inflows. A study of the top 23 stocks in the market by Deutsche Bank Research recently, showed that foreign shareholding has continued to dip in a rising market....

A year of volatility.
June 16, 2009... THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT unfolded in October last year roiled equity markets around the world, with many bourses, Malaysia included, losing half or more of their values by year-end. While we have seen the local market retracing some of these...

Stocks on the cheap.
June 16, 2009... DESPITE THE RISING MARKET, some 21 Kuala Lumpur Composite Index-linked companies have single-digit price-earnings (PE) multiples. Topping the list is DRB-Hicom. The company may have posted a huge loss of RM60.73 million for its fourth-quarter...

The high payers.
June 16, 2009... WHEN SENTIMENT TURNS bearish, investors often turn to dividend yield stocks for their defensive nature and income-bearing ability. Such stocks are also popular in times of uncertainty. The top 20 Kuala Lumpur Composite Index companies in...

When cash is king.
June 16, 2009... WITHOUT CASH A COMPANY cannot last long. Companies with strong cash positions and low debt levels are said to have an edge in riding out a slowdown. They can capitalise on buying opportunities that crop up. Alternatively, they can expand...

A lesson for emerging economies.
June 16, 2009... THAT a crisis originating from the west can spread to East Asia points to two things - the huge trade and financial linkages and the need for emerging economies to be more self-reliant. IT APPEARS THAT THE WORLD economic and financial crisis...

Newsflow for Malaysian Exporters.
June 16, 2009... AN informative newsletter for Malaysian exporters called TradeMart is available now. Check it out! AN INFORMATIVE NEWSLETTER targeting Malaysian exporters has been made available beginning from January this year, thanks to the efforts of the...

A jolt from the ghost of recession past.
June 16, 2009... MALAYSIA'S whopping first-quarter contraction surprised many. So did the government's revised growth forecast. Are things that bad? THE GHOST OF THE 1998 RECESSION EMERGED with a vengeance two weeks ago with the news that the Malaysian economy...

Water thrill.
June 16, 2009... AS the pace of the awarding of contracts picks up in the water sector, investors are all excited about who the beneficiaries are. IS THE PACE OF THE AWARD of contract works picking up in the water industry, and should investors be excited...

A right to progress.
June 16, 2009... WHILE the authorities have implemented various programmes to improve the lot of the Orang Asli, the majority of them still live below the poverty line. What has gone wrong? DESPITE SOME VISIBLE EFFORTS in recent years to uplift the socioeconomic...

The way forward.
June 16, 2009... FOR Department of Orang Asli Affairs director-general Mohd Sani Mistam, the biggest challenge of the Orang Asli is to strengthen their human capital so that they can be competitive and economically independent. THE Department of Orang Asli...

The name of the game.
June 16, 2009... SAVVY air-travellers need to know the useful names in commercial aviation. THESE DAYS, COMMERCIAL flights are an ordinary affair for millions of air-travellers who fly regularly for education, business, leisure or social reasons. Knowing some...

All in the family.
June 16, 2009... AFTER almost four years at the helm of Malaysia's first foreign Islamic bank, Datuk K Salman Younis, managing director of Kuwait Finance House (M) Bhd, has passed on the baton and left for a position at the parent company in Kuwait. He talks to...

Innovative approach to market.
June 16, 2009... TECHNOLOGY IS ENABLING PEOPLE to be more dependent on a day-to-day basis. More services are being offered online nowadays. Naturally, security is becoming a prevalent part of this growth and will become an obvious need. Realising this...

The power's in the people.
June 16, 2009... IN this second of a two-part article on employee choices, we look at the employee factor. MOST ORGANISATIONS REALISE that their people are their true assets. Some go one step further and say that their employees come first, customers second....

The green truth.
June 16, 2009... IS it fair to say that it is the Asian economies which are most probably willing to sacrifice the environment at the altar of industrialisation? Eye On Asia, a Grey Group proprietary study across 16 Asian countries, answers this question. ...

Investing right.
June 16, 2009... THE market has been moving over the last few months. How to capitalise on it? EQUITIES have been the conversation piece among many investors lately. The market is moving. After dipping to new lows in early March 2009, there was a strong rally...

Enlarging your territory.
June 16, 2009... ALL of us aspire to expand our financial territory by growing a little richer. How to do it? ONE OF MY favourite movies is the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan classic You've Got Mail. A line from it in particular sticks in my mind. The character played by...

A real hummer.
June 16, 2009... CHINA'S Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company is buying the US General Motors' brand icon, the Hummer. Is it viable, considering the gas-guzzling reputation of the marque? YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IF A State-backed enterprise or...

Pikom Leadership Summit (PLS) 2009.
June 16, 2009... MALAYSIA'S BUSINESS AND industry leaders are expected to attend the first ever Pikom Leadership Summit 2009 (PLS), scheduled from 20-21 July, 2009. Co-organised by Pikom (The National ICT Association of Malaysia) and Ministry of Science...

Malaysia remains in top three.
June 16, 2009... FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW, Malaysia retains third position in the A.T. Kearney's Global Services Location Index (GSLI) The A.T. Kearney's GSLI, which analyses and ranks the top 50 countries worldwide for locating outsourcing activities,...

Ties that bind.
June 16, 2009... HELEN Read and Benjamin Yong are the mother-and-son team behind the successful chain of boutiques Ms Read and the Delicious Group which owns Delicious Cafe and D'lish. They speak frankly to SHARMILA VALLI NARAYANAN about navigating delicate...

Top of the world.
June 16, 2009... IF you're not one to suffer from vertigo, then have a go at one of these towers. WHEN A city plays host to a tower, its skyline is instantaneously fingerprinted. Towers make a place iconic right away. They offer the visitor the best way to...

Saying it right.
June 16, 2009... PUBLIC Relations in Asia Pacific: Communicating Effectively Across Cultures discusses the skills and experience required to navigate cultural and geographical differences for effective communication. FIRST OF all, the authors of Public...

Only the toughest survive.
June 16, 2009... FINANCIAL Darwinism: Create Value or Self-Destruct in a World of Risk argues why financial institutions must adapt to the new financial order to remain competitive. FINANCIAL Darwinism: Create Value or Self-Destruct in a World of Risk by Leo...

Independent deepwater petroleum terminal.
June 16, 2009... THE State Government of Johor Darul Ta'zim and The State Secretary, Johor (Incorporated), inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dialog Group Bhd to establish an independent deepwater petroleum terminal at Pengerang, south-eastern Johor,...

Developing a fish forecasting system.
June 16, 2009... MIMOS recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) to develop a Fish Forecasting System (FFS). This is in line with increasing fish haul to a value of RM11 billion by 2010 as...

MasterCard's consumer education programme.
June 16, 2009... MASTERCARD Worldwide has launched the e-Learning Center - an online consumer education resource, designed to give consumers access to locally adapted and easy-to-understand tools to assist them in managing their personal finances and encourage...

Seasons Rewards Card.
June 16, 2009... THE Grand Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur has introduced the Seasons Rewards Card, a food and beverage rewards programme. Multiple privileges to dine as well as discounted room stays at the hotel are on offer with the purchase of the card. Upon...

Cloud computing and the new network economics.
June 16, 2009... DATA CENTRE NETWORKS STAND AT THE epicentre of powerful technological and economic trends. Cloud computing, together with the processing, storage, and software technologies that make it possible, are already straining the capabilities of legacy...

Only the best will do.
June 16, 2009... AFTER a rather lengthy pause, the chairman of the National Economic Advisory Council has been named. The choice of candidate - a former minister - has drawn criticism, giving the impression that the government is slow in tackling the complex...

Sleek, fast, and connected.
June 16, 2009... CANON MARKETING (MALAYSIA) has unveiled a new all-in-one inkjet printer equipped with new handy features, the PIXMA MX868. Packaged with wireless networking, easier accessibility, new copy functions, added fax security, and a Quick Start...

All-in-one desktop.
June 16, 2009... LENOVO ANNOUNCED A NEW PC model designed to give consumers cool, fun-to- use and highly reliable technology with the latest capabilities at surprisingly affordable prices. The Lenovo IdeaCentre 3000 C300 all-in-one offers slick entertainment...

Making the right decision.
June 16, 2009... AS the debate on the importance of the English language in our education system rages on, it is hoped that common sense will prevail and all concerned will understand that to progress, we simply need to master it. DEPUTY Prime Minister (DPM)...

Amicable closure to Maika issue needed.
June 1, 2009... THE Maika issue rages on more than two decades after its launch, with no answers or solutions in sight, much to the dismay of the thousands of investors who had parted with their hard-earned life savings. Isn't it time the matter is solved...

The law of influence.
June 1, 2009... THE true measure of leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less. IF YOU A HAVE INFLUENCE, you will never be able to lead others. The proof of leadership is found in the followers. True leadership cannot be awarded, appointed...

Not so happy returns.
June 1, 2009... 'WE want results come rain or shine!' Unfair perhaps, but that's what many Malaysians demand of their fund managers. with returns expected to decline in the current challenging environment, how are Malaysia's four major government-linked...

Keeping the nest egg intact.
June 1, 2009... THE Employees Provident Fund remains ever mindful of the need to protect the rakyat's 'retirement money', especially in the present difficult climate. THE ASSET SIZE OF THE EMPLOYEES Provident Fund (EPF) has grown more than 14-fold in...

Fulfilling expectations.
June 1, 2009... WITH uncertainties still raging on the local and global fronts, how long can PNB maintain the high dividends that its investors have come to expect? PERMODALAN NASIONAL BHD (PNB) has since its inception in 1979 maintained a commendable track...

Growing acceptance.
June 1, 2009... FROM telecommunication corporations and government agencies to financial services and healthcare providers, businesses are starting to realise the bottom line benefit to getting their output under control. And one increasingly popular way of...

SPNB: Noble reasons for its existence.
June 1, 2009... SYARIKAT Perumahan Negara Bhd is unperturbed by the unfavourable economic climate in its quest to provide both affordable and comfortable homes for everyone. FEW housing developers would envy the role played by the Syarikat Perumahan...

The money's on the big four.
June 1, 2009... INVESTMENT FUNDS THE world over are feeling the heat of the global financial crisis. With most economies experiencing a slowdown, where can they put their money to generate decent returns for depositors? So, in this issue, we decided to look...

Fire power.
June 1, 2009... A minnow compared to its much bigger counterparts, LTAT, or the Armed Forces Fund Board, packs a punch when it comes to dividend payout. AS AT DECEMBER 2008, Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) assets stood at RM7.2 billion while its...

For a higher cause.
June 1, 2009... DESPITE its spiralling subsidy bill, the pilgrims' fund board has strived to maintain decent dividends to its depositors. LEMBAGA Tabung Haji (LTH) caused a stir among its depositors last month when it raised the cost of performing the...

A move long awaited.
June 1, 2009... THE move to simplify Bursa Malaysia's listing requirements is good for the market and will bring Malaysia's equity guidelines in line with those of regional bourses. COME AUGUST, BURSA MALAYSIA WILL MERGE its Main and Second Boards. ...

On an uptrend.
June 1, 2009... SAPURACREST Petroleum is back in the news, as interest in oil and gas stocks gain momentum in tandem with the rebound in oil prices. WITH OIL PRICES HAVING rebounded from their lows of around US$ 25/barrel to around US$ 60/barrel in...

Errata.
June 1, 2009... IN our article on Valuecap Sdn Bhd published in our May 1, 2009 issue, the finance cost excluding dividend should have read RM211.65 million and not as stated, while the company posted a paper loss of RM1.8 million for FY06. Also, the market...

EON cap poser.
June 1, 2009... EON Capital Bhd's plan to 'evaluate its capital structure' has not gone down well with some shareholders. What are the implications for earnings, operations and investors? DESPITE HEIGHTENED RUMOURS of a fallout among key shareholders over...

Full steam ahead.
June 1, 2009... PORT operator NCB Holdings' fortunes are on the rise again, but margins may be squeezed. AFTER BEING 'FORGOTTEN' by investors for a long time, NCB Holdings could be facing an exciting time ahead. Analysts now believe that the stock has...

Gamuda perks up.
June 1, 2009... WILL Gamuda Bhd clinch the coveted RM20 billion Kota Damansara-Cheras LRT project? Going by its stock performance, it would seem that investors think so. MARKET SPECULATION THAT Gamuda Bhd may likely clinch the proposed 42km Kota...

The return of the commodity play?
June 1, 2009... RISING commodity prices have spurred local investors to pump their money into commodity stocks. Is the rally sustainable? COMMODITY prices have been rising this year in tandem with the rebound in equity markets worldwide despite the global...

Tackling global imbalances.
June 1, 2009... A look at how the build-up of current account deficits and surpluses in the global economy has contributed to the current economic crisis. POLICY-MAKERS ARE BUSY pondering the causes and lessons of the financial crisis now plaguing the...

Attracting foreign investment.
June 1, 2009... IS Malaysia's services sector door open wide enough? MALAYSIA'S PARTIAL OPEN-door policy for its services sector, which aims to attract foreign investment and expertise to the economy, should prove a success but may take time to live up to...

Selling Malaysia the intrade way.
June 1, 2009... AS the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation's 'Third International Trade Malaysia 2009' is a cost-effective platform to venture abroad, companies should take full advantage of the annual trade fair. EFFORTS TO PROMOTE MALAYSIA...

IATA meets in Malaysia.
June 1, 2009... THE International Air Transport Association will be holding its AGM in Kuala Lumpur this month. Its CEO is bullish on Malaysia. THE INTERNATIONAL AIR Transport Association or IATA was founded in April 1945. It is the main global...

Dynamic online business venture.
June 1, 2009... MENTION THE NAME SAIFULSHAM and many would quick to acknowledge that the name is one of the major forces in the local Bahasa Malaysia-based Internet marketing fraternity today along with the popular Internet Marketers (IM) such as Sen Ze,...

Penang's residential property prices holding firm.
June 1, 2009... PRICES of Penang's properties are still holding firm despite the anticipation of softening in the residential sub-sector in terms of the estimated lower number of transaction since March 2009. Lau Wai Seang, Director of Penang's Valuation...

Saving that spare cash.
June 1, 2009... THE uncertain economic climate has made Malaysians more aware of the need to save, making them the world's third greatest savers after Singapore and Hong Kong, says a Nielsen survey. THE CURRENT PERIOD OF economic uncertainty has provided...

The power of choice.
June 1, 2009... THIS is the first of a two-part article on performance measures. Here, we look at employee choices. PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE a standard in many organisations. Most aspects of a business are subject to performance measures. However, there...

Anger management.
June 1, 2009... DEALING with angry customers is an art form. Here, we give you some tips on how to do this and make them loyal for life! FIRSTLY, why do customers get angry? For the record, anger is normal and it's allright to get angry at some point. Our...

Reengineer or Perish!
June 1, 2009... IF you don't secure your financial planning, you might one day face immense financial difficulties. To avoid this, we offer you a seven-step strategy. HOW secure is your 'financial fortress'? Is it possible that despite doing well today,...

A Malaysian icon.
June 1, 2009... IN the local entertainment industry, where the norm seems to be 'here today gone tomorrow', Datuk Khadijah Ibrahim is one of the rare ones who has had a career that has spanned more than 30 years with still no signs of slowing down. She has...

Green ventures.
June 1, 2009... IF there is one place golfers will find paradise, it is Sabah. From lowlands to highlands and amidst magnificent views of the South China Sea, we list the best of the best to tee off. SABAH'S geographical diversity lets you play golf in a...

In a class of their own.
June 1, 2009... IF it's functional luxury that you are looking for, then Braun Buffel's Spring/Summer 2009 collections would make the perfect buy. BRAUN Buffel's Spring/Summer collections for 2009 epitomise evolution and a bold daring spirit. Confidence...

Governing the board.
June 1, 2009... OWNING Up: The 14 Questions Every Board member Needs to Ask takes to task the corporate board to address the issues which have cropped up due to the unprecedented challenges companies are facing today. THE failure of corporate governance...

Not so sly after all.
June 1, 2009... POORLY Made in China - An insider's account on the tactics behind China's production game unveils the underhanded tactics employed by Chinese manufacturers which all foreigners should be wary of. POORLY Made in China is a dramatic romp...

IIUM Dentistry Faculty improves IT system.
June 1, 2009... THE Kulliyah of Dentistry of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) has successfully installed a RM3.59 million new computer system that incorporates both the clinical and academic modules. The newsystem, in collaboration with...

Why 'they said' is very dangerous.
June 1, 2009... I'D like to share a question on property investment that I received recently. Please excuse the grammar because that was how the question came in. And oh yes, so as to protect the innocent, I've altered the name of the developer. Enjoy!...

Bridging the expectation gap.
June 1, 2009... AFTER the controversial cancellation of the crooked bridge project, it has come as a surprise that the Malaysian government is talking about a third bridge to link Malaysia and Singapore. Is this a viable project or merely a policy of...

Volvo XC60 is coming to town.
June 1, 2009... A quick look at the latest news and events around town. VOLVO'S bold entry into the 'crossover' segment, the XC60, is making its way to Malaysia. The XC60 is a daring, emotionally charged creation. The car combines two distinct...

Bosch Malaysia's double-digit growth.
June 1, 2009... BOSCH in Malaysia marked 2009 with new beginnings by setting up Robert Bosch Sdn Bhd, its latest Southeast Asian subsidiary in Kuala Lumpur which will be led by Malaysian-born Alan Tan. 'The establishment of Robert Bosch Sdn Bhd...

MAICSA goes platinum.
June 1, 2009... THE Malaysian Association of Institute Chartered Secretaries and Administrators or MAICSA, on May 12 in Kuala Lumpur, launched the Direct Access MAICSA Platinum MasterCard. The free-for-life credit card carries the MAICSA logo and is issued...

Enter the Audi Q5.
June 1, 2009... DRB Hicom Bhd has rolled out the new Audi Q5 SUV. Touted as the SUV for a new generation, it combines the right technology and traditional qualities such as intelligence, comfort and power. The new-performance SUV combines the dynamism of...

Efficient management of government funds.
June 1, 2009... LAST March, the Malaysian government announced a RM60bil "mini budget" as part of the second economic stimulus package, to help the country weather the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression in the 1930s. The RM60bil...

Next generation Netbooks.
June 1, 2009... AFTER PREVIEWING ITS UPCOMING lineup of products way back in April, Acer has unveiled the next generation of Aspire One Netbooks - the 11.6-inch, WXGA Aspire 751h-1192 and 10.6-inch, WSVGA D250-1042. Both the netbooks sport high definition...

Performance gaming.
June 1, 2009... MICROSOFT CORP. RECENTLY announced the availability of a new SideWinder X3 gaming mouse that combines gaming performance and versatile design. The ambidextrous, eight-button gaming mouse delivers comfort for either hand along with the...