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The government will focus on developing the electric vehicle (EV) sector, a high-impact sub-sector under the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030).

Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong said policies related to EVs would be reviewed every several months to support the sector’s growth.

“The EV sector is new. We will have a National EV Steering Committee (NEVSC) meeting soon,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today in response to a question from Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) on EV ownership being beyond the means of most Malaysians as well as efforts to promote EV usage.

Earlier when winding up the debate on the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review, Liew said EV’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes would begin in early 2024.

He said the development of EV technology-related talent has become the government focus with the NEVSC tasked to ensure the availability of higher education centres in producing EV talent.

“Following that, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia has been appointed as a NEVTF (National Electric Vehicle Task Force) member to coordinate research and talent development related to EV technology among local universities,” he said.

Liew also said that the Human Resource Ministry’s Skills Development Department, in partnership with the Industry Lead Body, has developed a National Skills Employment Standard related to EV in the use in TVET education and training.

Source: Bernama

Govt to focus on developing EV sector – MITI

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Banks have an important role in facilitating stronger trade in the digital trends, transforming the mobility ecosystem.

Citi Malaysia treasury and trade solutions (TTS) business and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) recently held a panel discussion with key automotive players in Malaysia titled Charged Up: Navigating the Transformative Path of Malaysia’s Automotive Industry.

“Automotive and mobility companies are increasingly evolving as they embrace digital transformation, which means an increased need for additional touch points to their end customers.

“Banking providers are therefore critical in facilitating and supporting this

change. Citi supports over 120 automotive clients in Malaysia. We are proud to be part of their journey and enhance the trade growth prospects in this country,” Citi Malaysia head of treasury and trade solutions Abdul Jalil Jalaludin said in a statement.

MIDA chief executive officer Datuk Wira Arham Abdul Rahman said sustainable development has always been at the core of Malaysia’s narrative.

He said Malaysia is actively championing electric mobility, and MIDA is committed to nurturing a dynamic ecosystem where both private and public stakeholders, such as Citi, can collaborate and develop

and commercialise innovative mobility solutions that will drive the future of sustainable transportation.

“In line with the recently launched New Industrial Master Plan 2030 (NIMP 2030), Citi’s commitment to financing innovation and environmentally responsible initiatives acts as a catalyst for advancing our shared vision and propelling Malaysia towards its industrial and economic objectives,” he said.

The panel discussion featured Citi TTS sales sector head for the industrial sector Vincent Couche and MIDA deputy director, transport technology division Sudiana Muhamad Nawati, who shared about the transformation of the automotive industry and how banks can help, as well as insights on where Malaysia is investing and the challenges in adopting a more sustainable automotive industry in Malaysia.

Citi is a strong partner in the mobility ecosystem in Asia, collaborating with more than 100 car manufacturers, suppliers and distributors.

Growth of trade financing for the sector has also seen a 40 per cent increase since the pandemic in 2020.

Citi’s solutions to address the changing treasury needs for corporates include payment and collection, financing, liquidity and cash management.

The MIDA-Citi partnership was first inked in 2021 following a memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties.

The partnership is intended to extend a financial platform and a seamless provision of end-to-end banking services by Citi Malaysia to new and existing foreign investors in Malaysia.

Source: NST

MIDA, Citi Malaysia spearhead transformation of automotive industry

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Global supply chain solutions leader, AIT Worldwide Logistics, has opened two new locations in Southeast Asia, one in Penang, Malaysia, and another in Singapore.

With the addition of these offices, AIT’s geographic footprint in Asia has expanded to six countries, supporting customers that continue to diversify sourcing of components and finished goods.

AIT Chief Business Officer, Greg Weigel said the new facilities are the latest example of the company’s adaptability and flexibility in response to shifting customer demands in the region.

“Establishing dedicated teams in Malaysia and Singapore further supports AIT’s robust business in Southeast Asia, while strengthening relationships with local partners.

“AIT’s expanding presence is helping shippers to reduce risk by embracing a broader variety of sourcing options in their supply chains,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, its Senior Vice President, Asia, Wilson Lee said: “Manufacturing is growing quickly in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia, and our subject matter experts in both newly opened locations are already serving customers in the automotive, industrial and technology sectors.

“AIT also has well-established global networks to support special shipping requirements for consumer retail, food logistics and life sciences, so we are well positioned to offer seamless onboarding for customers in those industries.”

Reporting to Lee, its Regional Director of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, Siau Hwee Tan, oversees the new AIT-Penang and AIT-Singapore offices, which provide comprehensive freight forwarding services with a primary focus on air and ocean imports and exports.

Both locations in Malaysia and Singapore are situated near major airports and seaports, with the new facilities joining more than a dozen AIT offices across Asia, and over 110 globally. The company expects to open additional facilities in the region in 2024.

Source: Bernama

AIT Worldwide Logistics growing in Southeast Asia with new facilities in Malaysia, Singapore

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Singapore and Malaysia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on renewable energy, says Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“Singapore and Malaysia are both moving towards a low-carbon and sustainable future. We are pursuing cross-border electricity trading, which will be a win-win for both countries,” he said at a joint press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

Both prime ministers met in Singapore today for the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a joint statement issued at the end of the retreat, the leaders affirmed the commitment to collaborate on renewable energy co-development and cross-border electricity trading.

It said both leaders also looked forward to energy collaboration on other fronts, such as the sharing of low-carbon and renewable energy technologies, carbon capture and storage, and carbon credits.

In this regard, the leaders noted the ongoing discussions for Singapore to import renewable energy from Sarawak, and the Malaysian government will give its assistance in accelerating the process.

Anwar said that Malaysia has given its commitment to supply renewable energy as Singapore has increased investments in Malaysia, including through the setting up of data centres.

“And our commitment (is) to accelerate the proposal by Sarawak to export energy to Indonesia and Singapore,” he said.

In addition, the leaders acknowledged the recently signed memorandum of understanding between Singapore Power and Tenaga Nasional Bhd to explore the technical feasibility of a second interconnector.

The Plentong-Woodlands Interconnector was upgraded in October 2022 to facilitate bidirectional electricity flows of about 1,000 MW between the two countries.

“These efforts will further enhance energy security and enable greater renewable energy integration,” said the statement.

Source: Bernama

Singapore, Malaysia to strengthen cooperation on renewable energy

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Selangor aims to attract selected high-quality investments aligned with the current industries identified by the state, according to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

He said the state is pursuing investments in public transportation, climate change solutions, higher-quality manufacturing, especially through automation, or new fields in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals to prepare for the next endemic or pandemic, and not just any type of investment.

“It is clear that the business of investment is not solely based on the past,” he shared in his opening speech during the 7th Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS) 2023 held here today (October 19).

“That is why I have made it crystal clear to my entire Selangor team that, while we have performed well, we cannot take things for granted or become complacent, hoping that our past successes can guarantee future success,” he said.

Amirudin noted that his team has already put in the hard work to attract foreign investors to establish their presence in Selangor.

“Just the other day, I inaugurated Daiso Japan’s largest global distribution centre, which will be built in Pulau Indah, Selangor,” he said.

Similarly, other investors such as Toyota, Texas Instruments, Wistron, Airbus, Aerodyne, and ALP had played an instrumental role in Selangor’s economy, contributing to the state’s 11.9 per cent growth last year, surpassing the national growth rate by 3.2 per cent, he added.

The seventh edition of SIBS 2023, which begins today until October 22, will feature several trade show components, including the Selangor International Food and Beverage Expo, the Selangor International Medical Expo and the new Selangor Industrial Park Expo, with at least 1,050 booths open for 50,000 visitors.

Source: Bernama

Amirudin: Selangor poised to draw in selected high-quality investments

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Integrated timber giant Samling Timber Group today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Loggo IP Pty Ltd (LIP), an Australian developer of engineered wood products using planted wood species such as acacia and eucalyptus for building systems.

The buildings include houses, commercial and government complexes, three-storey walk-ups, shop-top houses as well as mid-rise and multi-residential apartments blocks.

The MoU was signed by Samling Group CEO Lawrence Chia and LIP founder and managing director Pat Thornton.

“We will work together on a pilot project in Sarawak using Loggo IP’s patented engineered wood technology focused on a burgeoning forest recovery industry to develop small diameter true rounds or peeler cores,” Chia said in a statement.

He said that every year millions of peeler cores are produced as waste from plywood production. These were largely used in low-value recovery options such as packaging and as fuel for thermal energy processes.

Thornton said: “As the world shortage of timber hits home, we are convinced Samling, long respected globally for its high standards of sustainable forest management, can develop these cost-competitive systems across Southeast Asia and beyond.

“However, in a world’s first, LIP has developed and patented three versatile engineered wood products as well as columns and each can be made from low-value forest thinning or peeler cores. Two of these beams can use Samling’s ply as a web. Apart from the financial benefits, Loggo’s low-tech, minimal processing and set-up costs and the economic advantage of these low-value plywood by-products is a green and sustainable way to increase returns.

“We embarked on a business plan whereby we would research, develop, and register a plethora of worldwide patents in secret. In 2015 we began applying this principle to peeler cores, with Malaysia in mind, having already recognised its ability to be the manufacturing hub throughout Asia with its already established paths to market with timber exports to China, India, Indonesia etc.”

The Asia-Pacific floor coverings market is estimated to exceed US$250 billion (RM1.18 trillion) by 2027.

Source: The Sun Daily

Samling, Loggo IP in tie-up to develop wood-based building products

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EP Manufacturing Bhd (EPMB) has launched its RM30mil hi-tech car seat manufacturing facility in Tanjung Malim, which is set to play a critical role in the rollout of upcoming Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (Proton) vehicles.

In a statement, EPMB said the new facility is 2.5 kilometres away from Proton’s factory in Tanjung Malim. The plant has has an initial capacity to manufacture 150,000 sets of car seats every year.

The development of EPMB’s first car seat manufacturing plant provides a compelling case study of collaboration and technology transfer within the Proton ecosystem.

It involved a technical partnership between EPMB and Chinese vehicle parts manufacturer Zhejiang Jujin Automobile & Motor-cycle Accessories Co., Ltd., which currently supplies car seats to Geely.

The launch of the plant was witnessed by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad and Proton chief executive officer Dr. Li Chunrong.

“We view the opening of this plant as a major step forward in EPMB’s partnership with Proton, which spans nearly four decades. This is the first time the group has ventured into seat assembly manufacturing, and we are honoured that Proton has given us this opportunity. We are fully committed to Proton’s success as it pursues its regional growth targets and new energy vehicle (NEV) roadmap.

“As for the group, this venture will enable us to diversify our core manufacturing business from the production of metal and plastic products, unlocking a new business stream with substantial growth potential,” EPMB group chief executive officer Ahmad Razlan Mohamed said.

Source: The Star

EPMB launches RM30mil manufacturing facility in Tanjung Malim

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The government is developing a national standard for battery-swapping to help boost the development of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, said Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Liew Chin Tong.

He said this encompasses aspects such as safety, functionality and battery-swapping technology to ensure that the technology developed and used is safe, standardised, of high quality and environmentally friendly.

Liew added that the development of this standard involved various government agencies such as the Road Transport Department, the Malaysian Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute, as well as industry players, especially electric motorcycle manufacturers and higher education institutions.

“It takes into account existing international standards such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission and the United Nations Regulation.

“The national standard for battery swapping is expected to be ready and gazetted next year,” he said in reply to a question from Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya) di the Dewan Rakyat today.

According to Liew, NanoMalaysia Bhd has held discussions with the Motorcycle and Scooter Assemblers and Distributors Association of Malaysia and agreed to form a consortium to realise the goal of standardising the Battery Storage System (BSS) technology.

“The government is always exploring opportunities to establish strategic cooperation with the EV industry players from any country, including aspects related to battery-swapping.

“The government, through the National EV Task Force and the National EV Steering Committee, will remain committed to formulating and implementing programmes and initiatives to catalyse the country’s EV industry development agenda,” he added.

Source: Bernama

Govt to develop national standard for EV battery swapping — Liew

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The opening of the RM3 billion Sabah Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd Factory is a testament to the success of the state government’s Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development plan, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said the high-impact investment venture was an example of what can be achieved when the government, private sector, and the community unite with a shared vision.

“This is a result of our collective efforts in the form of economic development and employment opportunities for the benefit of Sabah and her people,” he said at the grand opening of the factory at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park on Tuesday.

The chief minister said the state government is committed to ensuring that investing in Sabah is as seamless as possible.

“For this to happen, we have taken proactive steps by establishing a dedicated investment task force committed to facilitating and streamlining the investment process.

“This task force is designed to provide comprehensive support, guidance, and a conducive environment for investors to thrive and succeed,” he said.

Regarding the Kibing Group venture, he said the task force had expedited the factory’s operational commencement to under 24 months after the signing of the initial agreement in January 2022.

“This achievement underscores the dedicated efforts of the task force, tirelessly working in synergy with various government departments and agencies to transform this investment into a reality here in Sabah.

“I wish to emphasise the state government’s commitment to facilitate investments into Sabah. We are resolute in our mission to create an environment that attracts more investors, such as this Kibing venture, to Sabah.

“These investments are not just about numbers on a financial ledger. They are about creating employment, fostering innovation and improving the lives of our people,” he said.

Hajiji recalled his visit to the Kibing’s first glass factory at the Tuanku Jaafar Industrial Area in Negeri Sembilan two years ago following an invitation from Kibing Group chairman Yu Qi Bing and president Datuk Lim Swee Ee, where the chairman informed him that the group was keen to establish its state-of-the-art innovative solar glass manufacturing factory in Sabah.

“Today, the project has become a reality. Thank you to our esteemed Chinese investment partner, the Kibing Group, for their unwavering confidence and commitment in bringing the first phase of this project costing RM3 billion to fruition with the establishment of this cutting-edge solar glass manufacturing factory right here at the KKIP,” he said.

He said the significance of this endeavour cannot be overstated.

“With an impressive annual production capacity of 440,000 tonnes of solar glass, Sabah has now positioned itself as one of the prominent players in Malaysia’s solar glass manufacturing industry, and we are poised to make significant contributions to the renewable energy sector.

“This achievement not only promises economic growth but also underscores our commitment to sustainability and green technology. The venture also created job opportunities, with 1,100, or more than 80% of its 1,300 workers, being Sabahans,” he said.

Hajiji said this has not only strengthened the local workforce but has also enriched the livelihoods of citizens, providing them with stable employment.

He was optimistic that the Kibing Group would continue to thrive and play an instrumental role in contributing to Sabah’s long-term prosperity.

“The Sabah government, on its part, remained committed to extending its welcome to investors such as the Kibing Group from China, acknowledging the invaluable role they play in the economic growth and development of the state.

“The state government will continue to be an investor-friendly destination and committed to expediting economic growth and development,” he added.

Source: Bernama

Kibing’s new glass factory testimony to Sabah Maju Jaya Plan’s success — Hajiji

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The investment implementation rate is close to 80 per cent for the period from 2018 to June 2023.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said out of the total investment approvals of RM753.9 billion in the manufacturing and services sector, up to RM593.5 billion or 78.7 per cent had been realised during the period.

“For the period 2018 to June 2023, the total investment approved is worth RM753.9 billion in the manufacturing and services sector under the supervision of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).

“This investment involves 9,201 projects that will generate a total of 455,984 new job opportunities.

“Of the total approvals, up to RM593.5 billion or 78.7 per cent of the total investment approved during the period had been realised. The investment implementation rate for that period is close to 80 per cent,“ he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2024 for the ministry in the Dewan Rakyat today.

He said the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) always implements careful planning from time to time, especially to improve aspects related to facilitating the entry and realisation of investments.

Tengku Zafrul said the government has taken an approach in making administrative reforms through the establishment of the Investment and Trade Action Coordination Committee (JTPPP) under MITI.

“The JTPPP which had been convened for the first time on Oct 16, 2023 was chaired by me. The second meeting will be held tomorrow.

“In general, JTPPP acts as a platform that is able to monitor and take action on issues faced by investors, especially for strategic and iconic investment projects.

“The JTPPP monitoring starts as early as when the application is expressed by the company concerned, until the investment projects are realised,“ he said.

He said the establishment of the JTPPP is an administrative reform initiative, expressing the government’s commitment in an effort to ‘translate plans into action’ while also supporting the role of the National Investment Council (MPN), which is an investment-related council at the highest level of the country.

“From January to June 2023, Malaysia has attracted a total of RM132.6 billion in approved investments in the service, manufacturing and primary sectors, which is 60 per cent of the target for 2023.

“Domestic direct investment (DDI) is the main contributor with total approved investments worth RM69.3 billion (52.2 per cent), while foreign direct investment (FDI) amounts to RM63.3 billion (47.8 per cent),“ he said.

He said various incentives have been introduced and implemented by the government which not only aims to attract investment in electric vehicles (EVs) but also to benefit the people.

“The incentives offered include direct and indirect tax exemptions.

“For direct taxes, the government offers income tax exemptions through the Pioneer Status Incentive or Investment Tax Allowance of up to 100 per cent for a period of up to 10 years to encourage investment in the production of EVs and related critical components such as batteries, motors and others.

“Indirect tax incentives include those for import duty, excise duty and sales tax,“ he said.

To encourage the use of EVs in the country, the government is also offering incentives directly to EV owners such as a complete exemption from road tax for EVs whether they are locally assembled or imported for four years until Dec 31, 2025.

He said the government is also offering individual income tax relief of up to RM2,500 for the cost of installation, rental and purchase including hire purchase of equipment or EV charging facility subscription fees for the assessment year 2022-2023.

“Under Budget 2024, this incentive period has been extended for another four years until the assessment year 2027,“ he said.

He said under Budget 2024, the government has introduced the Electric Motorcycle Usage Incentive Scheme with a rebate of up to RM2,400 — this scheme aims to help petrol-type motorcycle users to switch to electric motorcycles.

Source: Bernama

Tengku Zafrul: Investment implementation rate almost 80% up to June 2023

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The Malaysian government is confident in realising the RM170 billion investment pledge from China, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced during his visit to the country in April this year.

Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said an investment commitment means agreeing to invest in Malaysia.

“The next step is that the company will apply for investment approval from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

“At this stage, the investor will make known more details of their investment. This is also the time when they will apply for investment incentives,” he said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday.

Tengku Zafrul also said that once the details of the investment and incentives have been agreed upon, then the investment will be approved.

“After approval, for small investments, it may take a year to see results. If it is a large investment that requires advanced technology and equipment, it may take up to three years to start realising it,” he said.

The minister said the government has also created an investment and trade action coordination committee (JTPPP) to examine the latest status of investment projects.

“One of the JTPPP’s functions is to examine the latest status of investment and trade projects that have been announced to monitor and resolve issues and challenges faced by investors and exporters.

“This JTPPP reports to the National Investment Council, which is chaired by the prime minister. The council meets monthly to discuss the progress of all investment commitments.

”That is how serious the prime minister and the government are trying to realise all investment commitments,” he said.

Tengku Zafrul also said that as of June this year, the country has secured approved investments worth RM132.6 billion, more than 60 per cent of this year’s target.

Source: Bernama

Govt confident about realising RM170bln in investment commitments from China — Minister

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Gamuda Bhd has inked a joint venture (JV) agreement with Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd and Kerjaya Kagum Hitech JV Sdn Bhd to form a JV company, UPP Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The purpose of the proposed JV would be to undertake a private finance initiative to develop the Upper Padas Hydroelectric Power Plant in Tenom, Sabah, with a total estimated project cost of RM4 billion, Gamuda said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today.

The group said it would take up a 45 per cent stake in the JV company, while Sabah Energy would hold 40 per cent and Kerjaya Kagum the remaining 15 per cent.

It said that the hydroelectric dam project would be delivered via the JV company’s wholly owned unit, Upper Padas Power Sdn Bhd, which will act as the project developer.

“The project is estimated to have a construction period of five years and an initial operating period of 40 years.

“As part of the proposed JV, a power purchase agreement (PPA) is to be finalised and entered into between the project developer and the offtaker, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd,” it said.

The group said that upon completion, the project would provide an additional generation capacity of 187.5 MW for Sabah, delivering up to 1,052 gigawatt-hours of clean energy per annum.

Gamuda would make due announcements on the tariff details and developments on the PPA once appropriate approval is obtained, it said, adding that the project developer would execute the PPA by the first half of 2024.

It added that the proposed JV would be funded via a combination of internally generated funds and borrowings with a minimum debt-to-equity ratio of 80:20.

“Barring unforeseen circumstances, the project is expected to start construction in 2024, with commercial operation to start in 2029,” said Gamuda.

Source: Bernama

Gamuda inks JV agreement to develop RM4bil hydroelectric power plant in Sabah

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US private equity firm KKR is investing US$400 million (RM1.9 billion) in Malaysian telecommunications infrastructure and subsea service provider OMS Group.

In a joint statement issued today, KKR and OMS announced the signing of definitive agreements under which KKR will commit US$400 million in a tailored solution for OMS Group.

Founded in 1988, OMS Group is a neutral provider of integrated solutions for subsea telecom cable services, including installation and maintenance projects. OMS has a track record of more than three decades of providing mission-critical services to clients, including major subsea equipment providers, large-scale cloud service providers, and telecom companies, and is internationally accredited for its quality management system.

OMS Group is one of the largest independent operators in this sector, with a diverse fleet including cable ships and cable barges, as well as cable landing stations serving the global telecommunications market.

KKR’s investment positions OMS Group will be used to accelerate its growth, including through expanding its fleet size and capabilities and investing in cable landing stations and subsea cable routes to serve global fast growing cross-border data transmission trends and the demand for com-prehensive subsea cable services.

KKR Infrastructure director Projesh Banerjea said, “OMS Group has established itself as a market leader with a longstanding track record of success and growth in Southeast Asia. Our tailored solution for OMS Group also creates strong adjacencies with KKR’s recent digital infrastructure investments and builds on long-term secular tailwinds in the region, including increased data consumption, enterprise cloud needs, a focus on digitalisation by governments, and a booming digital economy.”

Commenting on KKR’s investment, OMS Group CEO Ronnie Lim said, “KKR’s investment in OMS Group underscores the value of OMS Group’s capabilities, which provides immense economic value to communities, corporations, and countries around the world by constructing and maintaining critical subsea data infrastructure.

“Together with KKR’s strong track record in supporting and investing in data infrastructure assets and its platform-building expertise, OMS Group is in a stronger position to support its clients to build and maintain greater global connectivity.”

The transaction is expected to be completed by the first quarter of next year.

Source: The Sun Daily

US private equity firm KKR invests US$400m in Malaysia’s OMS Group

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia will certainly reciprocate Singapore’s increasing investments and trade into Malaysia with serious attempts to resolve most of the outstanding issues.

“…outstanding issues sometimes deemed to be contentious by parties but I must suggest here that it was, to a large extent, resolved amicably through friendship,” said Anwar in a joint press conference with his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.

Anwar expressed his excitement about the level of achievement in resolving those issues which he said “is quite unprecedented.”

Both Prime Ministers met in Singapore today for the 10th Singapore-Malaysia Leaders’ Retreat, the first since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anwar noted that he has always suggested that both countries should not take any issues in isolation and look at the whole bilateral setup and the interest in resolving the issues.

Citing water supply issues that have been long outstanding, Anwar said Malaysia’s position is clear “that we have to honour the commitment of water from Johor to Singapore.”

“We will have to work jointly to ensure Johor would be able to enhance the capacity through Johor river to supply both Johor’s needs which is also expanding, and for Singapore.

“I think instead of focusing purely on price mechanism, we should look at the possibility of Singapore participating in a joint effort, where a study which can be conducted immediately, and also in terms of management of Johor river with Johor state,” he said.

According to a joint statement issued after the Retreat, the leaders reaffirmed their commitments as provided for in the 1962 Johore River Water Agreement (62WA).

Both Leaders agreed to reconvene the Joint Technical Committee to resume discussions on measures to safeguard the water quality, as well as increase the yield of the Johore River, to ensure its sustainable supply to the extent required by the 62WA.

The Leaders also agreed that both countries will resume discussions on the raw and treated water prices, without prejudice to each other’s respective long-declared positions on the right to review the prices under the 62WA.

They further expressed their appreciation to the Singapore and Johor water authorities for their ongoing close cooperation on water issues.

The leaders encouraged the water authorities to maintain their excellent working relationship and looked forward to more areas of collaboration between the two countries.

As for airspace issues, Anwar said there is some agreement on the perimeters and described it as “some remarkable feet in terms of both bilateral relations.

In the joint statement, the leaders agreed to review the delegation arrangements for the provision of air traffic services over Southern Peninsular Malaysia.

These were recommended and approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1973 and implemented through the Operational Letter of Agreement between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore Area Control Centres concerning Singapore Arrivals, Departures and Overflights 1974.

“This review shall be in accordance with ICAO’s requirements for safe and efficient air traffic management as well as accommodate both countries’ current and future operational needs,” said the statement.

Both leaders tasked the respective Transport Ministers to deliberate and agree on a set of principles and outcomes to guide both civil aviation authorities to move forward as expeditiously as possible.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia to reciprocate Singapore investment boost by resolving outstanding issues — PM

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Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), and the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) are investing RM2 billion in ams-Osram AG’s Malaysian semiconductor operation.

PNB, EPF and KWAP announced today that they had signed a RM2 billion sale and leaseback transaction agreement with Osram Opto Semiconductors Sdn Bhd.

In a joint statement, the companies said the transaction offers a unique opportunity for PNB, EPF, and KWAP to invest in a high quality and high specification industrial real asset in Malaysia which provides competitive returns.

Osram Opto is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Austria-based ams-Osram, a leader in intelligent sensors and emitters.

The sale and leaseback transaction is expected to conclude in December.

The co-investors will each own 33.3 per cent equally. The investment is for a 10-year period with a clear exit strategy.

“In addition, the investment catalyses foreign direct investment (FDI) by enabling our partner to deploy more capital in Malaysia.

“This aligns with one of the goals of the Madani Economy Framework, which aims to establish Malaysia as a leading Asian economy and enhances our global competitiveness, resulting in high impact growth investments for the country.

“Furthermore, it is in line with Malaysia’s New Industrial Master Plan 2030, in its objective of advancing economic complexity,” noted the companies.

They added the injection of capital to the electrical and electronics (E&E) sector enables ams-Osram to establish the world’s first fully automated 8.0-inch LED and micro LED manufacturing facility.

“The facility will foster the development of an ecosystem to support high value-added activities such as semiconductor fabrication. It underscores Malaysia’s vision of becoming a prominent high-tech manufacturing hub that would rejuvenate the ‘Made in Malaysia’ brand,” they said.

Source: NST

PNB, EPF & KWAP invest RM2bil in ams-Osram semiconductor ops in Malaysia

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Gentari Sdn Bhd, via wholly owned subsidiary Gentari International Renewables Pte Ltd, has entered into an agreement with AM Green BV to jointly invest, in phases, into a green ammonia platform, AM Green Ammonia Holdings BV.

AMG Ammonia was established by the founders of Greenko, one of India’s leading renewable energy companies. An affiliate of Singapore investment entity GIC is also an investor in AMG Ammonia.

AMG Ammonia is projected to produce five million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of green ammonia using round-the-clock renewable energy by 2030. The platform aims to deliver green ammonia, as it is currently the most mature and stable form of transporting hydrogen.

The five MTPA of green ammonia produced is equivalent to about one MTPA of green hydrogen, and would represent 20% of India’s target for green hydrogen production by 2030, or 10% of Europe’s target for imported renewable hydrogen.

This size and capacity will place AMG Ammonia among the world’s pioneers in large-scale and cost-competitive green ammonia production. The first export of green ammonia from this platform is targeted by late 2025, and aims to serve key OECD markets, such as Germany, Japan and South Korea, as well as Singapore.

Gentari and AM Green both bring complementary capabilities across the green hydrogen value chain, including renewable energy, electrolysers, and ammonia production and marketing capabilities.

The parties will mutually invest in AMG Ammonia, demonstrating full commitment to realise the platform’s potential and expand their presence in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Post-investment from Gentari, AM Green and GIC, AMG Ammonia will be a fully funded platform for the targetted ammonia production plan.

Gentari CEO Sushil Purohit said, “As Gentari expands our portfolio of clean energy solutions in Malaysia, Asia Pacific and beyond, we believe in the critical importance of industry-level collaborations that combine complementary strengths and unlock synergies. This partnership with AM Green and GIC is a testament to our commitment in accelerating green hydrogen adoption globally, to make an impact in the pursuit of a net zero future.”

Greenko Group and AM Green founder Anil Chalamalasetty said, “We are delighted to partner with Gentari and GIC, to venture into the global low carbon green economy.”

Source: The Sun Daily

Gentari, AM Green to jointly invest in green ammonia platform

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Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz has signed a “side letter” to improve the provisions of the Malaysia-Singapore Business Development Fund (MSBDF) agreement for third countries.

Tengku Zafrul said the signing of the letter was done together with Singapore’s Minister of Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, witnessed by the Prime Ministers of both countries Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Lee Hsien Loong.

“The MSBDF was signed in 2004 to strengthen cooperation between the private sector of Malaysia and Singapore by exploring business and investment opportunities in third countries.

“After almost 20 years since the signing of the agreement, during the First Annual Ministerial Dialogue (1st AMD) session held between Miti (Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry) and MTI (Ministry of Trade and Industry) Singapore on June 14, 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, I along with Gan Kim Yong agreed to expand the scope of the fund’s financing to include projects implemented in Malaysia and Singapore.

“This improvement will increase the potential of economic cooperation between the two countries, especially in promoting cross-border trade. In addition, it will also encourage the private sector from both countries to explore wider market opportunities in industries related to the digital economy and the green economy,” he said in a statement.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also exchanged between SME Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp) and Enterprise Singapore (ESG) on the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia and Singapore.

In a separate statement, SME Corp said this collaboration will encompass the exchange of policies, expertise and information, all directed toward enhancing the competitiveness of micro-enterprises and SMEs in both Singapore and Malaysia on a global scale.

“Additionally, it will encourage entrepreneurship development and promote reciprocal business exchanges between the two nations, underpinning a foundation of shared benefits and mutual reciprocity,” it said.

Meanwhile, a joint statement from both countries’ leaders said the update of the MSBDF will provide funding support for Singapore and Malaysia enterprises to jointly pursue opportunities in third countries and conduct joint pilots in each other’s country, especially in emerging areas such as green economy and digital economy.

“The leaders (also) took note of the MoU on Collaboration on Development of Malaysia and Singapore SMEs signed between Enterprise Singapore and SME Corporation Malaysia.

“The leaders also warmly welcomed the progress made on the MoU on personal data protection, cybersecurity and digital economy signed in January 2023. These instruments demonstrate the confidence of both countries in each other’s economy and the commitment to strengthening bilateral economic links,” the statement said.

Source: Bernama

Tengku Zafrul: Malaysia, Singapore agree to expand financing scope of business development fund

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While it is going to get busy in the long run completing its Island Medical City project in the next five to 10 years, Island Hospital expects to close 2023 treating 200,000 patients and anticipates a 50 per cent revenue growth to above RM600 million compared to last year.

The private hospital, which is located in Georgetown, Penang, has started to see a number of patients return to pre-pandemic levels, according to chief of staff Lim Kooi Ling.

“We have reached close to 90,000 patients in the first half of the year and we are confident that we can finish this year with 200,000 patients with half of them being health travellers from more than 60 countries, namely Indonesia, Singapore and countries from the Middle East,” she told Bernama.

Lim shared that in 2019, Island Hospital had close to 170,000 patients but during COVID-19 with the border lockdown and travel restrictions, the number of patients dwindled.

With that now over, this hospital is getting busier than ever, which is also in line with the Penang state government’s vision towards making the state the city for medical tourism in Malaysia.

According to data from the Malaysia Health Travel Council, when the borders reopened post-COVID-19, close to 300,000 (295,367) health travellers visited Malaysia to seek medical treatment and 31 per cent of this number (the patients) received their treatment at Island Hospital.

The hospital has been recognised through various external parties and this year, it has been recognised by Newsweek as the Best Specialised Hospital in Asia Pacific.

“We are also recognised by Global Health Asia Pacific Awards for Value-Based Hospital, Smart Hospital, Health Screening Service Provider and Diagnostic Imaging Centre.

“For many of the important services that we have, I think we are proud to be called the ‘smart hospital’, she shared.

Holistic medical tourism infrastructure

Lim noted that the hospital has a 50:50 ratio between foreign patients, or “health travellers”, and local patients.

Realising the significant number of health travellers, Island Hospital has a dedicated international patient service and dedicated international patient service centre, whereby it would conduct end-to-end logistics and assistance for the patients to help them before they come to the hospital.

“We also offer a significant cost advantage, not only versus other countries like medical tourism hospitals, for example in Singapore, but also versus hospitals in Kuala Lumpur.

“Besides, our patients and their families have the advantage of good medical care at a reasonable price as well as the tourism element that Penang has to offer,” Lim explained.

She also said that the hospital had to pivot its business strategy during COVID-19 and act accordingly, including chartering about 10 flights to treat selected cases in Medan and Jakarta, Indonesia.

Island Medical City

Moving forward, the hospital envisioned taking the Island Hospital brand and reputation as a medical tourism hospital and to further take it to the next level, thus giving it the international standard integrated medical hub.

“We are planning to have facilities not only for this new hospital (Phase 1) but additional hospital components to achieve a total of 1,000 hospital beds … we also have in our approved planning 318 medical suites.

“On top of that, we are very much here to serve our local patients first and foremost and also our health travellers. Therefore, there is also an approved hotel component built specifically for our patient’s family members.

“And with that, we believe that this medical hub will be almost like a one-stop centre for medical tourism,” she emphasised.

Lim noted that Phase 1 and 2 of the construction have been completed and the hospital will begin constructing Phase 3 next year, pending clearance from the Ministry of Health.

“We have this land bank and we have this ability for this brownfield expansion which all in all will be close to two million square feet of space. It will definitely be something that will keep us busy for the next five to 10 years.

“With our new facilities to complement our existing hospital facilities, we have been able to grow our market share.

“That is a sign that this concept of Island Medical City is something that we are able to translate into reality,” she said, adding that the gross development value for the whole project is more than RM2 billion.

Currently, its market share is 32 per cent in Malaysia and 52 per cent in Penang.

Island Hospital also spent RM30 million in training its staff.

Comfort at the core

This hospital, which was founded in 1996, carried the tagline “To Comfort Always” and started operations with a 600-bed capacity, making it one of the largest private hospitals in Malaysia that provides tertiary as well as quaternary medical services.

It has 14 operating theatres, 14 intensive care unit beds and more than 80 full-time doctors.

It has five core specialties; orthopaedics, surgery, oncology, gastroenterology and cardiac.

After almost 30 years in the healthcare industry, Island Hospital is one of the four finalists of the flagship programme initiated by the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC).

The programme is a government initiative aimed at raising Malaysia’s global healthcare profile to elevate Malaysia’s private healthcare services.

Lim expressed her optimism about championing the programme, given the hospital’s track record and success stories.

“We have been treating more than 1.5 million patients over the years, which is bigger than the population of Penang,” she concluded.

Source: Bernama

Island hospital, a medical tourism powerhouse

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Appropriate regulations and investments are needed to spur the growth of data centres in the country, as the value of the data centre market is expected to rise to about US$1.57bil in 2027.

Vantage Data Centres chief operating officer for Asia-Pacific Giles Proctor told StarBiz a regulatory environment that remains favourable to foreign direct investment by making land transactions simple and permit timely applications are vital to speed up the development of such centres.

“To continue to reap the benefits of the data centre investment boom, Malaysia will need to continue investing in its electrical grid and telecommunications infrastructure. The emerging needs of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure are expected to require large amounts of increasingly clean energy.

“We welcome the establishment of the Digital Investment Office by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and Malaysia Digital Economy Corp (MDEC) to promote and facilitate digital investment.

“The Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint has certainly attracted more players to deploy capital in the country. Coupled with various tax incentives it can further boost foreign or local investments and accelerate data centre and green technology development,” he said.

He said the government and the private sector need to forge partnerships to foster investments in the race for technology innovation. For Malaysia to become a successful data centre hub, it would need to create the right incentives for digitalisation and infrastructure flexibility.

Proctor said to position the country as the potential investment location for data centres, it would require a degree of readiness.

The telecommunication companies, connectivity providers, energy providers and state governments would need to work hand-in-hand to build a thriving ecosystem, he noted.

Market research firm Arizton estimated the value of the Malaysian data centre market at US$1.06bil in 2021. That figure is expected to grow rapidly to US$1.57bil by 2027.

United States-based Vantage Data Centres is a specialist which has 26 campuses spanning five continents, 12 countries and 18 markets with an information technology (IT) capacity totalling nearly 1.5 gigawatt (GW) once all campuses are fully developed in the next few years.

Proctor said Vantage’s footprint in Malaysia had grown more than eight-fold since it entered Asia-Pacific in late 2021. In May this year, he said it announced an additional US$3bil investment to develop its second campus in Cyberjaya with 256 megawatts (MW) of IT capacity.

This reflected Vantage’s firm belief in the opportunity for data centre development in the country, he said.

He said Malaysia was a growing data centre market in South-East Asia due to its favourable investment climate, large and growing digital ecosystem, and attractive renewable energy sources.

MDEC estimates that in Asean there are 440-plus million Internet users and a digital economy valued at US$3 trillion, which all augur well for the development of data centres.

Proctor added the data centre boom was bringing the most advanced construction techniques, sustainable practices and innovative technology to Malaysia, creating high-quality jobs and a greener economy.

“Accelerating digital infrastructure development in the country can drive sustainable economic growth, pushing towards an inclusive ecosystem that offers technology and access to digital advancement,” he noted.

Proctor said the surging demand for AI and cloud computing for digital transformation would drive significant additional investment into data centres.

There would be demand for more capacity for computational power to meet the huge demands for AI, especially as it enters data-rich fields like healthcare and finance, he said.

In terms of competition for the development of data centres, he said it would be stiff going forward.

He said there was growing demand and competition for data centres to locate across Asia as the cities in the region aspire to be the hub to drive the next wave of technological innovation.

Source: The Star

Fostering growth of data centres vital

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The Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu remains a choice destination for foreign direct investment after having attracted more than RM52bil in total investments.

The latest investor is China’s solar technology firm, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co Ltd, which will invest RM1.3bil in a monocrystalline ingot manufacturing plant.

The new plant, which has a design capacity of six gigawatt (GW), is expected to commence commercial operations in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24).

Recently, Sarawak Deputy Premier and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the new plant project.

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This will be LONGi’s second manufacturing facility in Sarawak, after its first plant in Sama Jaya High-Tech Park, Kuching.

LONGi two weeks ago had also commissioned the operation of a solar module plant (phase one) in Serendah, Selangor with a capacity of 2.8GW.

The two-phase project, which has a combined capacity of 8.8GW, is estimated to cost RM1.8bil.

According to Awang Tengah, foreign and local investors are coming to Sama Jaya Industrial Park, which was set up under the Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy or Score in 2008, due to the state government’s investment-friendly policies.

The operations of the industries there are powered by renewable hydro energy drawn from the 2,400MW Bakun and 944MW Murum dams.

The major energy-intensive investors in Samalaju Industrial Park include South-East Asia’s largest integrated aluminium smelter Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, OM Holdings Ltd, Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd and Sakura Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd, which each owns and operates a ferroalloy plant and polysilicon producer, OCIM Sdn Bhd.

Awang Tengah said the major investments by these industries have created vast economic spinoffs for the local economy.

In 2022, the industries in Samalaju recorded total export sales of some RM18.4bil and generated RM532mil in wages for more than 8,000 workers, of which 83% were locals.

To meet the increasing demand of water and electricity from the industries, he said the existing water supply to Samalaju Industrial Park will be raised to 200 million litres per day (MLD) by 2026 from the current 80 MLD.

“The water extension project is currently under tender preparation and works are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2024,” he added.

Awang Tengah said state-owned Petroleum Sarawak Bhd or Petros is undertaking the Samalaju pipeline project that will deliver up to 300 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of natural gas to the industries via pipeline.

The pipeline is expected to be completed in 4Q25 and Petroliam Nasional Bhd has agreed to supply 150 mmscf/d of gas to Samalaju.

To enhance power supply, Awang Tengah said Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) is constructing a 1,000MW combined cycle power plant, which is expected to generate first power in 2026.

With all the projects, Awang Tengah said the Sarawak government will continue to step up its efforts to attract and facilitate more quality investments to Samalaju Industrial Park, which is supported by a specially-built Samalaju Industrial Port to facilitate the import of raw materials and export of finished products from the industries.

For the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Awang Tengah said his ministry was currently implementing a SME cluster project, covering 100ha at the Samalaju Industrial Park.

The project will be implemented in 10 phases, with the first two phases covering 16.4ha when completed.

The project involves basic infrastructure such as road access and a drainage system, the SEB substation and a Telekom Malaysia Bhd cable underground trench.

The high-rise water tanks will also be provided.

Source: The Star

Samalaju Industrial Park continues to attract FDI

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The recently approved RM11.3 billion investment in the manufacturing sector is testament to Sarawak’s attractiveness as one of Malaysia’s leading investment destination, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

The Sarawak government, he said, has adopted the business-friendly policy and is supportive of both foreign and domestic investments.

“We welcome investments and collaborations, particularly in six priority sectors promoted under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, namely manufacturing, commercial agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining, and services that can create mutual benefits for all.

“The state is now focusing on developing and promoting low carbon solutions, green and circular economy, to which we also aim to be a regional leader in innovation and high technology-based economy,” he said.

Awang Tengah said this in his opening remark at the JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited 20th anniversary celebration of the 1st Gas Helang Field, here Saturday.

The Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment also stressed on human capital development as the driving force of the state’s next phase of economic development, to which he was pleased to note on the future collaboration between JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration (Malaysia) Limited with Sarawak Skills Centre on career and skills development programmes.

“As Sarawak moves towards its 2030 aspiration, I hope such initiatives will successfully contribute to its shift from a traditional commodity-based to a sustainable technology-based economy,” he added.

Awang Tengah, also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, said that the state government through Petroleum Sarawak (Petros) will continue to drive the development of oil and gas industries, as part of PCDS 2030.

“Petros is already participating in 17 blocks offshore Sarawak, and has started its drilling activities in Onshore SK433 and completed the subsurface studies in Limbang / Lawas area.

“Petros will continue to be actively involved in upstream projects, especially in rejuvenating onshore exploration and commercialisation.

“For the midstream and downstream projects, Sarawak is investing in its 10-year Sarawak Gas Roadmap, with four hubs namely in Bintulu, Samalaju, Miri and Kuching.”

He said from these four hubs, Petros will promote domestic gas utilisation across Sarawak by developing gas distribution infrastructure, promote petrochemical industries and provide sustainable, reliable and affordable energy to the household, commercial and industrial customers.

The four key projects are gas to power in Miri; gas to power in Samalaju; pipeline from Kidurong to Samalaju; and Kuching Gas Hub, he said, adding that the state is currently developing gas distribution systems via VPA and pipeline, Gas Power Plants and Petrochemical complexes.

“Currently under this roadmap, Petros is planning to complete Miri Combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) and Samalaju Pipeline by 2027.

“Next, Sarawak will be developing the Kuching Gas Hub to promote and accelerate the development of gas-based industry in Kuching,” he disclosed.

Thus, Awang Tengah said Petros, as the resource manager for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) in Sarawak, welcomes international and regional investors including JX Nippon to connect directly with Petros to explore the opportunity.

Also present at the event were state Transport Minister Datuk Sri Lee Kim Shin; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Deputy Minister in the Premier Office, Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring Datuk Gerawat Jala; and JX Nippon Oil & Gas Cooperation president Toshiya Nakahara, vice president Tetsuo Yamada, senior vice president Shinji Oka and managing director Katsunori Ozawa.

Source: Borneo Post

Business-friendly policies make Sarawak top investment destination, says Awang Tengah

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While cement and concrete are fundamental building materials that have been in use from as far back as the 1800s, building materials specialist YTL Cement is constantly looking to innovate its products and itself to keep up with the increasing demand for sustainable construction practices.

YTL Cement believes that research and product development are essential in maintaining the right balance between cost, time, and sustainability. Thus, it has set up its Construction Development Lab, a research and development (R&D) centre with state-of-the-art facilities and expertise to meet industry needs.

Construction Development Lab technical director (product), Ir Soo Thong Phor and general manager, Lim Tze Liang talk about the evolution of cement and the industry over the past decades.

How have cement and concrete structures evolved over the years?

Soo: Cement’s earliest recorded use dates back 12,000 years, featuring cement-like variations and whitewashed floors crafted from limestone and clay. Historically, similar mortar was formed with volcanic ash, sticky rice, and lime to sustain the structures of ancient civilisations. We have come far since then, where cement and concrete have found diverse applications.

At present, the cement and concrete industry has evolved tremendously, from the construction of basic building structures to 118-storey skyscrapers. The quality, strength, and performance of cement, which is the basic binder that glues the sand and stones together, have also improved immensely. Likewise, the strength of concrete has evolved from a relatively low strength grade of 20.0MPa (megapascal) to over 100.0MPa.

How many types of cement are there, and what are their functions?

Soo: Essentially, there are six types of common cement in Malaysia, where their basic function is to bind the sand and stones together. However, depending on the strength required, the ease of application, and the size and type of structures, each type of cement is chosen according to the needs of the structures. To date, cement and concrete make up the essential building materials used for the construction of buildings and infrastructure. There is no perfect substitute for cement and concrete.

Cement is commonly distributed in two ways — by bag and bulk. Bag cements are sold in hardware stores to be used for smaller-scale production or general purposes. Meanwhile, bulk cement is specially blended and transported in silos via concrete trucks, suiting larger-scale projects or special construction requirements.

How has the cement manufacturing process evolved over the years?

Soo: The process of cement manufacturing has changed over time, from more conventional energy-intensive wet processes to the current more energy-efficient dry processes. This is mainly due to the strong emphasis on aspects such as energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and the use of advanced technologies to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment.

Are we seeing changes in demand in terms of cement cost, sustainability, and efficiency from players in the Malaysian construction industry?

Soo: Over the years, the demand of the Malaysian construction industry players for low-cost and sustainable products has increased significantly. Previously, the players only demanded lower-cost products. However, their demand has changed now, especially with new ESG (environmental, social and governance) requirements and awareness of sustainability. They want both low-cost and sustainable products.

In light of this, we have unveiled our ECO Product Range to meet the pressing need of sustainable developments. It consists of ECOCem, ECOConcrete, ECOSand and ECODrymix. These offerings contain lower embodied carbon and recycled materials.

We are currently developing Flocem, a flowable cement, which is highly workable and can be easily placed. Likewise, we have introduced FlowBuild, a flowable concrete, which can also be placed easily, with minimum vibration. This reduces noise pollution as well as the labour required for the placement and compaction of concrete. Both products have distinct advantages, ranging from low-carbon benefits to great workability without the need for additional water, enabling increased productivity and quality in building projects. The high slump allows for easy pouring and placement, resulting in time saved and increased production on site.

As a result, these offerings have met the dynamic needs of the industry to juggle time, cost, and sustainability.

With the new demand, how has the cement raw material sourcing and production process changed?

Soo: The production process has evolved to become increasingly energy efficient. In addition, the cement industry has been maximising the use of alternative raw materials that have a lower carbon footprint and use less energy, while conserving depleting natural raw materials.

What has YTL Cement done to meet the new demand?

Soo: Sustainability has become paramount in today’s business market. As a responsible business, YTL Cement recognises the finite nature of our resources. To address today’s demands and challenges, we’ve established the Construction Development Lab to help industry players re-evaluate their actions, strategies, and objectives. Since then, we have continuously been seeking ways to improve production efficiency and maximise the use of alternative raw materials and fuels, in the production of cement and concrete.

What is the role of YTL Cement’s Construction Development Lab in view of the changing demand for cement’s cost, sustainability, and efficiency?

Lim: The Construction Development Lab is one of the special research facilities dedicated solely to the R&D of innovative cement and concrete products. Our research explores low embodied carbon alternatives in materials and construction methods, addressing customer demand for sustainable, cost-effective products.

We are an R&D facility established to future-proof the construction sector, where we develop bespoke cement and concrete solutions with the goal of reducing the environmental impact of a project and lowering the cost of construction.

Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and expertise to meet construction challenges, the lab has a team of experienced experts who develop innovative solutions for the construction industry. Our lab has collaborated with six accredited cement labs throughout Peninsular Malaysia, and we also have a network of concrete and aggregate labs to conduct product testing.

We work closely with industry players to understand and meet their needs. Architects, engineers, and customers have been leveraging the team’s experience and expertise to develop innovative solutions for their projects. In the past, we have also collaborated with researchers, institutions of higher education, and government agencies for research and education towards construction excellence.

Please share some references of how YTL Cement’s Construction Development Lab works to innovate and create bespoke products.

Lim: We were involved in the works for Merdeka 118, The Exchange 106, and the Petronas Twin Towers. YTL Cement, through the Construction Development Lab, has been collaborating with industry players to offer high-quality bespoke cement and concrete products, to meet the stringent specifications required. We work with industry players from the specification stage, right through to tendering, trial mix, and the actual construction until the completion stage.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

R&D vital in building materials innovation

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Malaysia is a primary focus for international businesses looking to expand their footprint in Asean, with one in four international firms planning to expand into the country over the next two years, according to a survey by HSBC.

The HSBC Global Connections survey also found that 27% of businesses which already have operations in Malaysia plan to prioritise growth over the same period, the banking group said in a statement on Monday.

“Malaysia’s skilled workforce, rising consumer prosperity, and its network of free trade agreements are tied as the primary attractions for international firms doing business in market, with 28% respectively selecting these features of the market as making it attractive in business expansion,” it said.

Meanwhile, staffing quality, financial stability — including currency volatility, inflation, and interest rates — and the challenge of adapting to fast-moving regulatory and policy changes top the list of challenges, all tied at 31%, for international businesses operating in Malaysia, HSBC said.

HSBC Malaysia head of commercial banking Karel Doshi said Malaysia is leading the way in the Asean region and international businesses are increasingly optimistic about their growth prospects in Malaysia.

“For businesses, expanding their operations to Malaysia can unlock some incredible growth opportunities, but it does come with some challenges. Therefore, it is important to find an experienced partner with deep knowledge both on international and local (levels) to help them overcome these challenges,” she said.

The statement said international connectivity remains a competitive advantage for the country and HSBC Malaysia continues to strengthen its position as the only international bank that offers a full suite of products and services to government, companies and retail customers, connecting them to international opportunities, and connecting international businesses to opportunities in Malaysia.

The top three attractions for Asean, HSBC said, are its skilled workforce (27%), growing digital economy (26%) and competitive wages (25%).

Amanda Murphy, HSBC head of commercial banking for South and Southeast Asia, said Southeast Asia is an attractive manufacturing base, with increasingly advanced supply chains and a highly skilled workforce attracting global firms to the region.

“But the consumer story is also one to watch for international businesses as digital adoption and domestic spending power grow,” she added.

Source: Bernama

Malaysia a key focus for international firms eyeing expansion in Southeast Asia — HSBC

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Malaysia should develop its integrated circuit (IC) design industry given the importance of design in sustaining growth in technology, according to Taiwan-based Phison Electronics Corp chief executive officer Datuk Pua Khein-Seng.

The Malaysian, known as the inventor of the USB flash drive, said Malaysia has a lot of design talent, but many are residing overseas given the fledgling design industry here.

“We have to make (the) design (business) sustainable. The best way is by building local (design) startups rather than just having multinational (semiconductor) companies coming here and hiring locals.

“The startups can become profitable or undertake an initial public offering, thus showing some sustainable model story. Then it would attract a lot of student talent from overseas back to the country to help build a seat of technology,” he told Bernama in an interview here.

He expressed hope that Phison can do “something here” but noted that it may be difficult given the preference for attracting factories.

Pua said Malaysia is doing well in the capital-intensive industries, which contribute to high revenue and Gross Domestic Product mainly in manufacturing, but he believes China is catching up in design and Taiwan is ahead.

“At Phison, what we are doing is a design not manufacturing; and to be honest, design can create more value, but in design, you cannot see any return within three years,” he said, adding that the profit can however be attractive.

Saying that design is “the root” of technology, he urged Malaysia to try not only to attract manufacturing businesses but also those involved in design.

Phison, established in 2000, is the world’s largest independent provider of NAND Flash controllers and storage solutions. It has about 3,000 engineers doing storage design for products such as personal computers, gaming consoles and smartphones.

The company has shipped over 600 million NAND controllers worldwide yearly and topped over US$2 billion in sales revenue in 2022.

Phison and Virtual Reality Solution Sdn Bhd (VRS), which are involved in design of ICs for NAND controllers, are keen to collaborate to establish a research and development centre based in Malaysia as well as progressing the cybersecurity growth in Malaysia.

“Malaysia is a kingdom of outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) in the semiconductor industry, but I have positive hopes that Malaysia will have a bright chance to move towards IC designing capability in the future, overcoming the middle-income trap for Malaysia and at the same welcome back our talents outside of Malaysia, as well as opening doors to more local talents and creating more job opportunities,” Pua said.

Source: Bernama

Design industry vital to sustain growth in technology — Phison CEO

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Industry players in the manufacturing sector in Melaka have been urged to be more proactive in adopting green technology as part of efforts to reduce environmental pollution.

State Housing, Local Government, Drainage, Climate Change and Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin said this is because green manufacturing practices promote the use of cleaner technology and production for every product.

“This is in line with Melaka’s vision to be a smart and green city and our target of reducing the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 45 per cent,” he told reporters after officiating the state-level National Environment Day 2023 celebration at Politeknik Merlimau here today.

Also present were Melaka Environment Department director Rosli Mustafa and Melaka Green Technology Corporation chief executive officer Ismail Hashim.

Meanwhile, Rais expressed hope that the approval process for the construction of a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant or incinerator at the Sungai Udang sanitary landfill would be expedited as the existing disposal site is nearing full capacity.

Source: Bernama

State exco urges Melaka manufacturing industry to be more proactive in adopting green technology

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