Malaysian Business articles from October 2009

Malaysian Business archives from October 2009

Transparency & accountability.
October 16, 2009... TRANSPARENCY International-Malaysia President Paul Low recently resigned in accepting full responsibility for his actions. If only more people in power were like him. IT IS STILL rare in our country when a prominent person resigns from office...

Protecting the crown jewels.
October 16, 2009... WITH RECENT HIGH-PROFILE information theft (a.k.a database attacks), more companies are realising that it's not enough to padlock the front door to their networks but they also have to put a watchdog on their databases which house the crown...

Sturdy and lightweight.
October 16, 2009... FOR many professionals today, mobility is really the way to go, but what about power and performance? Well, the Lenovo's T 400s Thinkpad has you covered. For a start, the T400s comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo P9600 (2.53Ghz) processor and 2GB...

Market impact.
October 16, 2009... MAXIS, one of Malaysia's most well-known telcos, will be relisting soon. How will it affect the market? ONE OF Malaysia's most well-known telecommunication companies is back to delight investors, at least to some investors eagerly awaiting...

When gold price fluctuates.
October 16, 2009... HOW the price of gold is related to the US dollar and vice versa, and how central banks play a manipulative role. THERE has been a sudden increase in the price of gold with the expectation that if the value of the US dollar drops to its...

Innovation breeds success.
October 16, 2009... THE real estate sector is often perceived as an innovation laggard because it is closely associated with construction - widely known as a rather conservative business. But Cyberview Sdn Bhd is changing that notion. A conscious decision to...

The big boys.
October 16, 2009... OUR survey of the top-100 listed companies based on turnover mirrors the difficult times our corporations are facing, even the big boys. Combined profits have dropped a whopping 35% on the back of a marginal increase in turnover of some 11%....

Hard times, hard choices.
October 16, 2009... ON the whole, the revenues of Malaysia's Top 100 companies are up. But their earnings have plunged - a sign of the tough environment these listed entities have been operating in. But as they say, the tough get going, as exemplified by many of...

Top 50 companies.
October 16, 2009... HIGHEST increase in turnover AT a time when airlines were struggling with sluggish economic conditions and lower passenger loads, AirAsia Bhd sprang a surprise by charting a more than 100% growth in turnover for its financial year ended December...

Harnessing the power of the wind.
October 16, 2009... IS there potential in harvesting the wind into a renewable energy source? MALAYSIA is not exactly known as a land where the wind blows, but is there potential in harvesting the little wind we do get into a renewable energy source? Incredulous as...

Seeing the light.
October 16, 2009... IJM Land has been attracting a lot of attention lately on rising sentiment on the local property sector. Is the time right to buy? IS THE local property market poised for a rebound? Some analysts are beginning to turn optimistic on the sector...

Budget 2010: A fine balancing Act.
October 16, 2009... WITH two pressing issues to consider - a mounting budget deficit and the need to stimulate economic growth - the Malaysian Government walks an extra tricky tightrope in formulating policies for Budget 2010. IT IS almost that time of the year...

Succeeding with your bright ideas.
October 16, 2009... NEVER underestimate the power of the mind in achieving your objectives. EVERYTHING you've accomplished in life began as an idea in your mind. So how can you have more ideas? In my 25-year study of business innovators in fields as diverse as...

Falling back on reputation.
October 16, 2009... A reputation management expert tells how a reputational cushion can soften the blow faced by an organisation during a crisis. FORGET about going around the world in 80 days; news that affects your corporate reputation now travels around the...

Soaring high above office politics.
October 16, 2009... WHEN office politics wear you down, do you quit? The real test of character is when one is under immense pressure from office politics. It takes a strong character to keep the chin high and feel on top of the world. Of course, it's easier said...

Are you managing your content or is it managing you?
October 16, 2009... THERE is now a need to better manage and improve the speed and process to get information to the right people anytime, anywhere. With the advent of the Internet, mobile phones, PDAs, and other digital technologies, information has become...

Have money will spend.
October 16, 2009... THE slowing economy has not dampened the spending zeal of the world's super rich. If anything, they are spending more, but on a more selective basis. THE economic crisis may have wiped out trillions of dollars in wealth, but the super rich of...

The small debt resolution scheme (SDRS).
October 16, 2009... UNDER the initiative to provide flexibility in the conduct of rescheduling/restructuring for financing facilities, Bank Negara Malaysia recently expanded the Small Debt Resolution Scheme (SDRS) in its continuing effort to assist viable SMEs with...

A premier palm oil event.
October 16, 2009... THE International Palm Oil Congress 2009 is set to continue impressing industry players as a viable platform for facilitating the dissemination of latest innovations and ideas to boost the performance of palm oil globally. A BIENNIAL event...

Working hard, flying high.
October 16, 2009... THE CEO of Qatar Airways gives a revealing glimpse into his plans for Malaysia. IN 1996, an unheralded civil-servant joined a small Arabian carrier that few travellers outside the region would have heard about; a local outfit with just four...

A question of trust.
October 16, 2009... SHOULD you consider unit trusts in your investment portfolio? THE stock market has improved over the months but has yet to regain the confidence of many investors. While a high yield on investments is the single strongest factor that draws the...

Insure your economic value!
October 16, 2009... LIFE insurance coverage is important if you want to provide sufficient protection to those who depend on you. LIFE IS much more precious than mere material wealth. Deep inside our hearts we know that. There are myriad dimensions of value in...

Like father like son.
October 16, 2009... CHEF Wan is internationally famous. His son Chef Riz is a local celebrity chef with his own TV shows. Together, they intend to take on the world. Father and son tell SHARMILA VALLI NARAYANAN that the greatest gifts that can be passed down...

Kids welcome.
October 16, 2009... LUGGING the papooses on your next vacation? Fear not. There are plentiful child-friendly programmes available. CLUB Med Cherating A few years back, Club Med was synonymous with hedonism, hard parties and hot-looking GOs (Gentils...

Crisis management at its best.
October 16, 2009... YOU Can't Predict A Hero offers practical solutions to weather a crisis. PRACTICAL solutions in times of crises aptly describe this book by Wall Street legend Joseph J Grano, Jr. Set against the backdrop of his remarkable life story, You...

Asia's new dawn.
October 16, 2009... ASIA'S Turning Point: An Introduction to Asia's Dynamic Economies at the Dawn of the New Century shows where Asia's growth miracle has come from and where it is going in the future. FROM Japan, China, Asean, India and Vietnam to South Korea,...

Ogawa/V-Patch tie-up.
October 16, 2009... OGAWA World Bhd will venture into the distribution of clinical diagnostics products through a sole distributorship agreement with Australia-based V- Patch Medical Systems Pty Ltd, the developer of the V-Patch, the World's 1st on-board Real-Time...

Maxis goes Western Union.
October 16, 2009... MAXIS Communications Bhd and The Western Union Company have announced that they are working together to launch a service that will allow Maxis subscribers to send cross-border remittances directly from their mobile phones. The service is...

BMW & Quill get together.
October 16, 2009... BMW Malaysia and Quill Automobiles Sdn Bhd have signed an agreement that will see the opening of a new BMW 4S (Sales, Service, Systems and Spare- parts) Centre in Petaling Jaya, with a satellite workshop in Puchong. BMW Malaysia said in a...

Hello Singapore!
October 16, 2009... CIMB Group recently launched its retail banking business in Singapore at a ceremony attended by the Singapore Minister for Finance, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and about 300 guests. CIMB Group has Southeast Asia's largest branch network totaling...

Smart reader worlwide counts on Maxis Domestic Localfone 1300 for better customer access.
October 16, 2009... IN TODAY'S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE world, it is pertinent for a business to be able to reach out to its customers anywhere every time. Failure to do so will probably result in many missed opportunities. Realising the importance of constant...

Political instability can sabotage recovery.
October 16, 2009... BOTH the ruling coalition and the Opposition coalition have been plagued by problems of late. This doesn't augur well for us as an investment destination, especially when we are trying to recover from a global downtrend. THE POLITICAL parties...

Integrating healthcare solutions.
October 16, 2009... IN today's world, information technology mechanisms are being applied to make the healthcare systems more cost-efficient, flexible and responsive to patient needs. And to satisfy the new demands in healthcare, Philips is building a new...

MDec continues support for SMEs.
October 16, 2009... THE Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) is actively continuing its effort to make Malaysian ICT companies, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) internationally competitive. MDeC director, global profiling and portfolio...

The highest paid.
October 16, 2009... WITH reference to your cover story entitled Highest-Paid Directors in the Aug 16-31 issue, we would like to highlight that the director in the highest remuneration band in our company is our Group Managing Director Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng. We...

The denial syndrome.
October 1, 2009... A POOR showing in last year's general election plus the mushrooming of other Indian-based political parties are sign enough that the MIC has lost its appeal among the Indians in Malaysia and is in need of an urgent makeover. But party President...

Media frenzy.
October 1, 2009... TALK is rife that media giant The New Straits Times Press would be taken private. What's in store for minority shareholders if this were the case? Market talk of plans to take listed media company The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd (NSTP)...

Hot call.
October 1, 2009... THE impending relisting of telco giant Maxis is all set to spice up the local bourse. The local telecommunicationS scene should be spicier next year with Maxis Communications Bhd possibly relisted by then. But for now, analysts are mostly...

In top gear.
October 1, 2009... FRESH takeover rumours have fuelled Proton's stock price of late. How true is such talk? Proton Holdings Bhd could be the 'most happening' stock at the moment. Its shares have soared by some 50% (as at Sept 17) in the past one month. In...

High-beta rebound play.
October 1, 2009... PREMIUM property player Eastern and Oriental is set to become one of the main beneficiaries of the recovery in the sector. Is the Malaysian property market primed for recovery? Judging from sales at some of the top developers in 2009, there...

Fighting piracy.
October 1, 2009... SOFTWARE piracy is a global problem with a heavy financial impact. Realising its influence to the country's economy, Malaysia has also joined other countries to combat the menace. Software piracy is still very much a serious problem faced...

Innovative marketing of top-notch Malaysian properties underway.
October 1, 2009... MALAYSIA Property Incorporated (MPI) is spearheading efforts to make the country an international real estate destination for foreign investors. Lacklustre performance in the marketing approach of the Malaysian real estate internationally...

A question of transparency.
October 1, 2009... NEWLY set-up government-linked private equity fund management firm, Ekuiti Nasional Bhd or Ekuinas, has a noble mandate. But even the best intentions can go awry if there is no proper governance and accountability. So when Ekuinas said it had...

Further upside.
October 1, 2009... DOES the Malaysian glove sector have more legs for its rally?. In the past few months, the glove sector has performed strongly in the market, with a few glove companies making multi-year new highs, hence significantly outperforming the...

Eye on Ekuinas.
October 1, 2009... THOUGH the establishment and avowed aims of Ekuiti Nasional Bhd are much lauded, one concern remains - how transparent and accountable will the government-linked private equity fund be?. Ekuiti Nasional Bhd or Ekuinas has a noble mandate - to...

Mission: To deliver.
October 1, 2009... AS head of Ekuiti a Bhd, Abdul Rahman Ahmad's biggest concern is that he does not disappoint. Government-linked private equity (PE) investment firm Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas) was only set up early last month and is still in the process of...

Still waters begin to stir?
October 1, 2009... SHIPPING has been one of the worst-hit sectors in the recent global economic downturn. How is Malaysia faring?. Arguably the biggest short-term loser in the global economic downturn has been the transport and logistics sector. When consumer...

Handling job losses.
October 1, 2009... EMPLOYERS have a duty to try to lessen the pain of retrenchment for their employees, say psychologists. The global economic downturn has taken its toll on the Malaysian workforce. From October last year to June this year, a total of 21,182...

Home tweet home.
October 1, 2009... TWEET talk ruled as social media buffs gathered to mark the formation of the local chapter of the Social Media Club. 'DO you want me to write your tweet handle on your name tag instead?' the lady at the registration asks. 'Your name on...

From crisis to courage.
October 1, 2009... HOW courage plays an integral role in the art of crisis leadership. Check. Double check. Check again. Because in the face of a crisis, your facts can never be too straight. And you can never be too sure. But what really constitutes a...

Innovation galore.
October 1, 2009... THE International Exposition of Research and Inventions of Institutions of Higher Learning 2009 is a showcase of exciting inventions and research from institutions of higher learning. The International Exposition of Research and Inventions of...

Thoughts for success.
October 1, 2009... NEVER underestimate the power of the mind in achieving your objectives. Can success truly be a science? You may wonder. Can your success and the success of your business be synthesised and made to work? Dr Napoleon Hill, in his Science of...

Getting out of the middle income trap.
October 1, 2009... AFTER being in the middle-income bracket for many years now, what is Malaysia doing to move on to the next level, ie, to become a high-income country?. Malaysia has been classified as a middle-income country because it has a per capita income...

A low-key divesting act.
October 1, 2009... EYEBROWS are naturally raised when an entity as powerful as the government's investment arm Khazanah chooses to disseminate information pertaining to inflow and ouflow of funds in a rather hushed tone. If transparency and good governance are in...

Upgrading travel online presence.
October 1, 2009... IN a move to better service its customers, home grown online travel agency, a PYOTravel.com recently revamped its web portal with strengthened technological capabilities and interfaces. As part of Malaysia's travel giant Reliance Pacific...

Island property mart heating up.
October 1, 2009... STRONG sales up north. The subhead in Hwang-DBS Vickers Research's recent property-focus note is enough to sum up the current sentiment or direction in Penang's property market. According to analyst Yee Mei Hui, recent launches have been...

Client care.
October 1, 2009... APPRECIATING your customers is one of the most important aspects of sales. Here are some ways you can do it. Imagine that you have just bought a new car. The salesman shakes your hand and says: 'Thank you very much Mr Buyer. Your decision...

The real key to 21st century prosperity.
October 1, 2009... GENERATING multiple streams of income is a surefire way of achieving financial freedom. But where to begin? Most of US are familiar with the term 'multiple streams of income'. The enormous stress placed upon personal and household finances by...

Matching long-term savings with long-term investments.
October 1, 2009... THE older you get, the more risk-averse you become. So where to put your money?. When people approach retirement, something happens to them. They become risk-averse. A young man with 50 years of life expectancy will do risky things. He'll...

Back on track?
October 1, 2009... JUDGING by the rise in the South Korean stock market, is the worst over for the northeast Asian country?. If you look at the Kospi, South Korea's stock exchange, you'll note an important fact. Yet this one often goes begging, probably for...

Clarification.
October 1, 2009... IN our cover story entitled Harnessing the Halal Potensial, which appeared in the Sept 1-15, 2009 issues, the second column on page 24 with regards to the halal standard should read: 'A significant milestone for Malaysia was adoption of the...

Sitar supremo.
October 1, 2009... FOR a person who picked up the sitar because his father made him do it, veteran sitar musician Samuel J Dass has certainly come a long way. Here's Brenda James' perspective of Dass the musician, the performer and the teacher, and his views on...

The Allure of Windows 7.
October 1, 2009... IT is no exaggeration to say that the computing world eagerly awaits the launch of Windows 7 on Oct 22; at least the PC world definitely is. The public testing process of Windows 7 - involving the beta version released on Jan 9 and the...

Just like home.
October 1, 2009... HOMESTAYS make a great holiday option. How else can you get to soak in the unspoiled local culture while enjoying the creature comforts of a budget- friendly hotel?. It's a cross between a homestay and a B&B, and whichever way you see it,...

Winter chic.
October 1, 2009... BRAUN Buffel's Autumn/Winter 2009 Collection for men and women incorporates an invigorating touch to enliven tradition. Braun Buffel's Autumn/Winter 2009 collection is set on revisiting traditional styles with the refreshing touch of new...

Celebrating entrepreneurship.
October 1, 2009... BE the Solution - How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World's Problems shows us the amazing opportunities that entrepreneurship offers to the world. The conventional thought that business is for making money and that...

The simple truth.
October 1, 2009... THE Shark and The Goldfish: Positive Ways to Thrive During Waves of Change makes for quick-yet-insightful reading on surviving economic hardship. This is a business fable with valuable lessons on the importance of working hard, maintaining...

Standard Chartered expands priority banking.
October 1, 2009... STANDARD Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd has announced that it will expand its Priority Banking business with its latest customer offering that is designed for the country's growing affluent population. The proposition offers customised financial...

Alliance Optimal Income Fund declares 1.5 sen distribution.
October 1, 2009... ALLIANCE Investment Management Bhd has declared a gross cash distribution of 1.5 sen per unit for investors of Alliance Optimal Income Fund (AOIF) based on the financial year ended Aug 31, 2009. The cash distribution, which represents a 3.7%...

AirAsia-MofazFortec tie-up.
October 1, 2009... AIRASIA Bhd and Team MOFAZFortec Motorsport have sealed a partnership agreement where the low-cost carrier will be supporting the racing team's quest to dominate the World Series by Renault Formula 3.5 Championship. Team MOFAZFortec...

Axis reinforces position.
October 1, 2009... WITH increasing development potential of the market and growing local interest in network video solutions, Axis Communications, one of the market leaders in network video, is strengthening its presence in Malaysia. Its country manager Nafis...

How to discover the better developers.
October 1, 2009... WHO are the black sheep developers? This is a common question that I'm often asked at my property seminars. The participants all know about the risks of buying properties off the plan and so they want to reduce that risk before parting with...

Taken to task.
October 1, 2009... WHILE we are quick to bestow honorific titles on VIPs and lavish praise on people who matter for merely doing their jobs, we are hesitant to question them when they slack off or disappoint, especially if they yield power. Why the...

Sustainable electronic and paper statements.
October 1, 2009... THE perennial problem of unopened mail and its impact on the environment is one that has long bothered sustainability campaigners. Industry leaders state that 44% of all junk mail is thrown in the trash, unopened and unread. It is expected...

A compact MFP.
October 1, 2009... THE Oki Printing Solutions ES8430 multi function printer (MFP) is considered one of the most compact A3 colour printers around and yet delivers benefits to businesses that need access to high quality A4 and A3 colour printing. Interestingly,...

Always on experience camera.
October 1, 2009... SAMSUNG has unveiled the 12.2-megapixel Samsung ST1000 camera with built- in geo-tagging, Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity. Offering consumers an 'always on' experience, users can now send and post pictures almost as quickly as they take...