KLJB Loan

05/09/2019

Since 1962, Malaysia has been buying treated water from Singapore at the cost of RM0.50 (S$0.17, US$0.12) per 1,000 gallons.

But the state of Johor is now aiming to be self-sufficient in its water needs within three years, and won’t rely on Singapore for water, according to Malaysia’s Minister for Water, Land and Natural Resources, Xavier Jayakumar.

The minster said on Monday (Aug 19) that the Government is looking at building new water treatment plants in Johor to raise the treated water supply to 260 million litres (68 million gallons) per day by 2022, Bernama reported.

Malaysia plans to raise Johor's treated water supply to 260 million litres per day in three years.

31/08/2019

29/08/2019

Malaysia with its abundant natural resources and inherent economic strength is capable of achieving a higher growth rate than now with more structural reforms, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus said.

“The global economy is changing and there are many factors driving global growth.

“We need to figure out where we fit in, what our comparative advantages are, and what we need to do now to take advantage of the full potential of our country,” she told Bernama.

Nor Shamsiah said more structural reforms were needed to generate new growth areas and higher-income jobs.

Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus says Malaysia’s economy has the ability to mitigate the impact of external headwinds.

22/08/2019

Shares in Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd fell 27.27% this morning, dropping 3 sen to 8 sen for a market capitalisation of RM8.86 million at 9.15am.

According to a report by The Edge Markets, the group turned in a seventh consecutive quarterly net loss at RM3.89 million for the three-month period ending June 30.

Its quarterly revenue had more than halved to RM25.91 million from RM63.87 million in the same quarter last year.

Utusan has been in the red since 2012. In August last year, the company triggered the PN17 criteria after defaulting on its principal and profit payments to Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd and Maybank Islamic Bhd totalling RM1.18 million.

Utusan shares dropped to 8 sen at 9.15am today.

15/08/2019

Malaysia’s rubber exports have consistently outperformed the national export growth rate over the last few years, says Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.

She said growth in the export of rubber products registered an average of 10% over the last decade.

“I would expect the rubber product industry to continue to achieve greater heights and take its place among the top five export performers,” she said after launching the Malaysian Rubber Export Promotion Council (MREPC) fund for automation and green technology here today.

Export of rubber products accounted for 2.4% of Malaysia's total exports.

08/08/2019

Malaysia recorded a trade surplus of RM10.26 billion in June, which was 71% higher compared to the same month of the previous year, and marking the 260th consecutive month of trade surplus since November 1997.

The international trade and industry ministry (Miti) said, however, that Malaysia’s trade in June contracted by 6% from the same month of 2018 to RM142.08 billion.

It said exports were down by 3.1% to RM76.17 billion, with imports 9.2% lower at RM65.91 billion.

In a statement, Miti said lower trade was recorded with China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Japan.

The volume of trade during the month, however, was 6% lower than the same period last year.

04/06/2019

HOW can small and medium enterprises (SMEs) embrace Industry 4.0 solutions to enhance productivity?

GPRO Global Sdn Bhd founder and executive director Jordan Tang will share his knowledge on the matter at the Export Excellence Awards 2019 roadshow in Johor Baru on June 18 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.

Tang has 28 years of entrepreneurial experience in managing IT-based companies. He has served as mentor to young entrepreneurs and nurtured aspiring technopreneurs.

Read more at

HOW can small and medium enterprises (SMEs) embrace Industry 4.0 solutions to enhance productivity?

04/06/2019

Malaysia is proposing a new currency based on gold as it is more stable as opposed to the current currency trading which is manipulative, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said by using the precious metal, it could be used to evaluate the exports and imports activities among the East Asian countries.

“We can make settlement using that (new) currency (gold). That currency must relate to the local currency as to the exchange rate and that is something that can be related to the performance of that country.

“That way we know how much we owe, how much we have to pay in the special currency of East Asia,” he said during a dialogue session at the 25th International Conference on The Future of Asia (Nikkei Conference) here yesterday.

Read more at

TOKYO: Malaysia is proposing a new currency based on gold as it is more stable as opposed to the current currency trading which is manipulative, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

04/06/2019

The FBM KLCI closed 11.22 points lower at 1,644.09 on profit-taking activity following six consecutive days of gains.

The sell-off came on the back of Wall Street's overnight performance, which saw the tech-heavy Nasdaq enter correction territory as regulators increased their scrutiny over leading tech giants.

Trading on Bursa Malaysia, which ended at the close of the morning session in the light of the Hari Raya holidays, saw slightly over one billion shares exchanging hands for RM1.01bil.

Market breadth was an even spread of 349 decliners, 334 gainers and 349 counters unchanged.

Heavyweight counters showing the biggest declines were Axiata falling 12 sen to RM4.56, Maxis slipping 11 sen to RM5.44 and Digi shedding 11 sen to RM4.77.

Profit-taking also landed Genting in the red after a strong push in the previous session. The counter shaved 20 sen to RM6.40.

Read more at

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI closed 11.22 points lower at 1,644.09 on profit-taking activity following six consecutive days of gains.

04/06/2019

If I am not mistaken, I have written on issues confronting the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) at least three times already. Over this period, PTPTN has continued to procrastinate and waver like a rudderless sampan in the ocean.

For how long more does Wan Saiful Wan Jan, PTPTN’s head, want to wait? What is he waiting for? Which stakeholders has he not engaged enough?

If we are incapable or unwilling to make a hard decision, let’s not find excuses and go on talking about it. Is this not what PTPTN is doing right now? Another six months or one year and soon the next election will be around the corner.

It must be paradoxical if we keep asking the recipients of subsidies whether they would like these to continue. Similarly, I think it is irrational to ask loan defaulters whether they should face tougher action for refusing to honour their obligations.

PTPTN should stop wasting more time debating blanket policies because no two borrowers or defaulters are the same.