More than 90 projects worth billions to be farmed out by April

After some dithering, the construction of the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project is moving into higher gear. The two major contracts awarded by MRT Co last week that totalled some RMl.6bil is proof that things are moving.

MRT Co speeding up the award of contracts

THE Klang Valley My Rapid Transit (KVMRT), the country’s largest infrastructure project, is already gaining traction with the recent award of the two big packages worth RM1.74bil.

Construction sector to gain more

The kickoff of the country’s largest infrastructure project – the Klang Valley My Rapid Transit (KVMRT) – could spark re-ratings across several sectors starting with the construction sector which is the direct beneficiary.

More than 10,000 migrant workers needed for the MRT project

MORE than 10,000 migrant workers are expected to be brought in to work on the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project which will start construction this year.

Locations of two more mass rapid transit lines identified

UNDER the Greater KL/ Klang Valley Land Public Transport Master Plan draft, the Government has generally identified the locations of the other two mass rapid transit (MRT2) lines.

Numbers you can trust?

Errol Oh discusses how Malaysia fared in its debut in the Edelman annual trust and credibility survey.

TNB’s woes continue unabated

P Gunasegaram traces TNB’s woes to the 90s and says what could be done to temporarily exit the doldrums.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Tan Thiam Hock is back and here he advocates free-enterprise economy with dollops of humour and a pinch of sarcasm.

A conscientious budget

Andrew Sheng discusses Hong Kong’s recent budget and why it is the envy of many but also wonders about the role Hong Kong will play in global economic transformations.

Where is your pipeline of leaders?

Stephen Krempl stresses on the import ance of organisations to continuously indentify, groom and test their high-fliers to e nsure enduring success.

Development of Malaysia’s bond market is still assured despite global turmoil

DESPITE the current turmoil in Europe and shaky prospects for the global economy, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services maintains a strong outlook for Malaysia’s bond market. Our view reflects: positive bond market developments, ongoing growth in Islamic finance, and steady macroeconomic fundamentals in Malaysia.

Banking on nature attractions

Sentoria building on its Bukit Gambang success with safari park and residential projects

CSL plans to file IPO on Bursa Malaysia by this month

MAKING stationery products might not be the the most exciting business out there but it does not mean there is no money to be made from it. Case in point is China Stationery Ltd (CSL), which is headed for the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.

New Hoong Fatt looks to strengthen regional presence

AUTOMOTIVE replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, New Hoong Fatt Holdings Bhd (NHF), intends to capitalise on the growth opportunities within Asean to boost its business prospects.

Urgent need for framework on gas importation

TIME is running out for Tenaga Nasional Bhd and its major stakeholders in coming up with a framework for the import of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

ABC workshop on co-existence of traditional and digital media

THE 15th instalment of the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) Media Workshop 2012 in Bandung, Indonesia next month will address the perennial question whether the rise of digital media is providing traditional media with opportunities to survive and prosper.

Brands need to react fast to remain competitive

MARKETING communications firm Y&R Malaysia will be relying on its “Box of Tricks” to stay ahead of the competition and to weather the challengesthis year.

MBAM bullish on construction sector

DESPITE the global economic uncertainty, the Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) is bullish about the growth of the local construction industry in 2012.

Need for master planner of affordable housing

Angie Ng feels that a well-governed affordable-housing project will go a long way to making more people happy.

Things to do before you invest in fitness equipment

IT’S the New Year, and surprise, surprise, you’ve put on a few pounds!

Tan: How I made money from Facebook

PETALING JAYA: For a man who does not have a Facebook account, Tan Sri Vincent Tan surely knows the value of the Internet giant.

India’s move to withdraw cellular licences won’t hurt Axiata

PETALING JAYA: India’s move to revoke 122 cellular licences will have a minimal impact on Axiata Group Bhd, which has a stake in Idea Cellular Ltd, because earnings contribution from Idea is still small, analysts said.

Tabung Haji declares 6% bonus

PUTRAJAYA: Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) has declared a bonus of 6% for 2011 amounting to a total payout worth RM1.67bil.

Positive views on PTPN merger

PETALING JAYA: The emergence of a formidable world’s largest agro-commodities conglomerate from the proposed merger of 15 state-owned plantation companies in Indonesia as well as a planned listing for the merged entity, has set the industry abuzz with excitement.

Tun M: Selling off Lotus a viable option

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister and Proton Holdings Bhd adviser Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said selling off Proton’s performance carmaker subsidiary Lotus is a viable option, and the new owners (DRB-Hicom Bhd) might consider that.

Muhibbah may see positive change in APH deal

PETALING JAYA: Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd might see a positive change in fortunes after the Asia Petroleum Hub (APH) saga took a positive turn with CIMB Bank-led restructuring is reportedly in the works.

Wah Seong in RM75mil Congo palm oil venture

PETALING JAYA: Wah Seong Corp Bhd is buying a 51% stake in Atama Resources Inc for US$25mil (RM75.3mil), giving it access to a concession for an oil palm plantation in Congo.

Gold prices rally seen

KUALA LUMPUR: Gold prices are expected to rally this year with an average forecast of US$1,975 per ounce, serving as a good hedge against global uncertain environment.

Labuan FSA investigates Pubel Bedford

PETALING JAYA: The Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA) is conducting investigations on Sabah-based Pubel Bedford Capital Ltd pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Labuan Financial Services Authority Act 1996 (LFSAA) and the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010 (LFSSA).

MARC downgrades Perwaja notes

The outlook on the rating is negative, the agency said in a statement.

F&N Q1 profit falls sharply on loss of Coca-Cola business, Thai floods

PETALING JAYA:Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd’s (F&N) net profit for its first quarter ended Dec 31, 2011 plunged 61% to RM41.75mil from RM107.08mil in the previous corresponding period, mainly due to the loss of the Coca-Cola business and operating losses arising from the Thailand floods last year.

MARC keeps rating on IJM Corp notes

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC) has affirmed its MARC-1/AA- ratings on IJM Corp Bhd’s RM1bil commercial paper/medium term notes programme (CP/MTN) with a stable outlook.

No progress from Tricubes

PETALING JAYA: Tricubes Bhd, a Practice Note 17 company, has yet to make any progress to regularise its condition.

Maxbiz to appeal against delisting

PETALING JAYA: Maxbiz Corp Bhd intends to appeal against Bursa Malaysia’s decision to remove the securities of the company from the stock exchange.

AirAsia JV gets certifi cation

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Bhd has announced that its joint-venture entity with All Nippon Airways Co Ltd had on Feb 1, obtained an Air Operators Certificate from the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau.

Hibiscus clarifies results

PETALING JAYA: Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd has clarified that its full unaudited financial report for the six months ended Sept 30, 2011, reflected the true and fair loss position of the group.

Up close and personal with Hans De Cuyper

As the CEO of an insurance entity, he is focussed on ‘rebranding and humanising’ the financial service market.

Your 10 questions for Serap Ataay

Serap Ataay answers your 10 questions.

Labour of love

Out of love for legal literature, Datuk Seri Visu Sinnadurai has come up with a book that showcases speeches by some of the world’s most prominent figures in the law fraternity.

Snapshorts

Fed move brings cheer to markets

The Federal Reserve’s decision last week to keep its already record-low interest rates steady until 2014 may have brought cheer to markets, but it is not such good news for inflation.

Study shows smart hands at work

Shares on Bursa Malaysia started out on an easier note, with the FBM Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) dropping 1.99 points to 1,518.91 due to lack of clear leads on the horizon.

Global foreign exchange market

THE week started with a risk-off mood as European debt fears increased. Investors worried about continued delay in an agreement with Greece’s private sector bondholders on a debt restructure, and Portugal’s soaring bond yields raised the risk of a Portuguese default.

Eye on stock

EVERGREEN Fibreboard Bhd hit an intra-day high of RM1.11 in early deals, the best level in almost six months before reversing to close marginally easier, shedding one sen to RM1.08 owing to profit-taking activity yesterday.

Panasonic sees record US$10b annual loss

TOKYO: Japan’s Panasonic Corp has forecast a record net annual loss of US$10.2bil, joining beleaguered rival Sony Corp in a sea of red ink, both struggling to fix their broken TV businesses and overcome criticism that they have lost their way.

India, EU try to break logjam over carbon tax

NEW DELHI: The European Union (EU) is willing to consider whether India’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions could qualify for waivers under an EU law that charges airlines for polluting, the 27-nation bloc’s climate chief Connie Hedegaard said.

CEO: Telenor may quit India

OSLO: Norwegian telecom firm Telenor could quit India now after the Indian Supreme Court revoked its mobile licences and not wait for new market rules to be introduced, the company’s chief executive told Reuters.

SMX to launch black pepper futures contract

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Mercantile Exchange (SMX) announced yesterday that it would launch the world’s first black pepper futures contract next week.

Wegelin charged with helping to evade taxes

STAMFORD: The United States indicted Wegelin, the oldest Swiss private bank, on charges that it enabled wealthy Americans to evade taxes on at least US$1.2bil hidden in offshore bank accounts, according to the US Justice Department.

Insiders, rating firms depict MF Global risk hunger

WASHINGTON: MF Global’s former chief risk officer told Congress he tried to warn the firm’s leadership that it was on an unsustainable path, but was ousted for his efforts.        

Petroplus refineries draw more suitors

ZURICH: More potential buyers lined up for the assets of insolvent refiner Petroplus on Thursday, with private equity group Goldsmith registering interest in all five of its plants.

Euronext, D Boerse end merger plans

NEW YORK: NYSE Euronext and Deutsche Boerse say they have terminated their merger plans, following the decision by the European Commission to block the proposed deal.       

12 banks probed over interbank rates

ZURICH: Switzerland says it is investigating a dozen US, European and Japanese banks suspected of conspiring to manipulate interbank lending rates used to set interest rates on hundreds of trillions of dollars of securities.