Business

Friday September 18, 2009

SATS forms new unit to operate hi-tech park

By ZAZALI MUSA


Former CEO of Kulim Hi-Tech Park to helm subsidiary

JOHOR BARU: Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd (SATS) has formed a new subsidiary, called Senai Hi-Tech Park Sdn Bhd (SHTP), to oversee the Senai Hi-Tech Park project.

SATS deputy chief executive officer Shahrull Allam Shah Abdul Halim said the company has also appointed former Kulim Technology Park Corp Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Shukri Tajuddin to helm the subsidiary.

Shahrull said as CEO of SHTP, Ahmad would be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the park.

“We believe that with his vast experience managing Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Ahmad will contribute immensely to Senai Hi-Tech Park,’’ he told StarBiz yesterday.

»It is a pre-requisite for companies operating in our park to have R&D elements« SATS CEO, SHAHRULL ALLAM SHAH ABDUL HALIM

Shahrull said SHTP would be calling for tenders for earthworks of the project before the end of the year, followed by infrastructure work.

International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said recently that the Federal Government had agreed in principle to part finance the infrastructure work for the Senai Hi-Tech Park.

The Government would allocate RM300mil for the infrastructure work while the balance of RM215mil would be borne by the developer.

Senai Hi-Tech Park will be the second high-tech park in Malaysia after Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah.

Shahrull said SHTP had recently started marketing the project to foreign investors in Germany and Singapore and would be going to the United States next month and Japan early next year.

He added that the high-tech park aimed to attract investments in the avionics/aeronautics industry, information and communications technology industry including integrated circuit design and high-tech manufacturing, among others.

Among the companies and investors targeted are those in the pharmaceuticals industry from Austria, Germany and Switzerland; oil and gas and solar energy sectors in the United States; and Japan’s motor vehicle sector.

“It is a pre-requisite for companies operating in our park to have research and development (R&D) elements,” he said, adding that there would be a flagship building known as the knowledge centre where most of the R&D activities would be undertaken.

Senai Hi-Tech Park, spanning 404.68ha, is located next to Senai International Airport and is one of the three components of the multi-billion ringgit Senai Aviation & Airport City project, the other two components being residential and commercial, in addition to an air cargo logistics centre occupying a 404.68ha site.

“Our park will probably be the first integrated high-tech park in the world connected to the airport. Similar parks like the ones in Frankfurt and Dubai are located several kilometres away from the airport,’’ Shahrull said.

SATS subsidiary Enigma Harmoni Sdn Bhd, which is linked to billionaire Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, has received approval from the Kulai Municipal Council for the Senai Aviation & Airport City project.

MMC International Holdings Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Syed Mokhtar’s MMC Corp Bhd, has stakes in Senai International Airport, Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Johor Port.

Opened in 1974, Senai Airport is managed by SATS, which took over the operations of the airport from Malaysia Airport Holdings Bhd in 2003.

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