Tuesday, December 29, 2015

PNB declares 7.25 sen distribution, 0.5 sen bonus for ASB

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PNB umum dividen 7.25 sen, 0.50 sen bonus bagi ASB

KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a unit of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), on Tuesday announced an income distribution of 7.25 sen per unit and a bonus of 0.50 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2015.

This is slightly lower than the 7.5 sen per unit income distribution declared for ASB last year.

PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the income distribution portion would involve a total payout of RM10.41 billion, an increase of 4.3% compared with RM9.98 billion last year.

For the bonus portion, he said it would involve a total payout of RM451.73 million.

"The payment will benefit 8.87 million unit holders who currently hold a total of 142.54 billion units of ASB," he told a press conference after announcing the dividend distribution in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.

Ahmad Sarji said that up to Dec 23, 2015, ASB recorded a total gross income of RM10.06 billion.

ASNB declares 6.10 sen income distribution for ASN

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Ahmad Sarji (left) dan Hamad Kama Piah show the ASN dividend of 6.10 sen at the press conference. - Bernama pic
Ahmad Sarji (left) dan Hamad Kama Piah show the ASN dividend of 6.10 sen at the press conference. 
KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), a unit of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), on Monday announced an income distribution of 6.10 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Nasional (ASN) for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2015. That compares with 6.45 sen per unit announced in 2014.

PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the income distribution would involve a total payout of RM106.72mil and benefit 1.25 million unitholders who currently hold a combined 1.75 billion ASN units.

"As of Dec 23, ASN had recorded gross income of RM126.27mil," he told a press conference after announcing the dividend distribution.

Of the amount, profit from the sale of shares contributed 63.3%, followed by dividend income from investment in companies (28%) and other instruments (8.7%).
PNB president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said the lower dividend was due to the challenging economic background, such as weak commodity prices and bearish performance of the stock market.

"The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI recorded a fall of 5.5% to 1,663.51 points on Dec 23, 2015 compared with 1,761.25 points on Dec 31, 2014," he added.

The income distribution would be reinvested in additional ASN units and be automatically credited into the unitholders' investment book based on the net value as at Dec 31, 2015.

Unitholders will be able to update their ASN accounts beginning Jan 4, 2016, at any ASNB office or agents nationwide.

All transactions for ASN at the ASNB headquarters, offices and agents have been suspended from Dec 24 this year to Jan 3, 2016, to facilitate the calculation of income distribution. Transactions will resume on Jan 4, 2016.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Miss Malaysia full of grace

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Show of support: Vanessa (fourth from left) congratulating Wurtzbach after she was crowned Miss Universe at the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas. — Reuters
Show of support: Vanessa (fourth from left) congratulating Wurtzbach after she was crowned Miss Universe at the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas. 
PETALING JAYA: While the focus was on this year’s Miss Universe, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines, who was nearly “denied” her title by blundering host Steve Harvey, Malaysian finalist Vanessa Tevi Kumares was applauded for her gracious support for the stunned winner.
As other contestants were more occupied with consoling Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutier­rez, who had been mistakenly declared the winner by Harvey at the final in Las Vegas on Sunday, Vanessa was one of the first to approach Wurtzbach after the gaffe was corrected by Harvey.
The gesture did not go unnoticed by the audience, including those who caught it on television. Fellow Malaysians hailed Vanessa for supporting Wurtzbach by posting comments on the 24-year-old Seremban-born beauty’s Facebook page.
Hema Sulakshana said: “You represented the true Malaysian culture. Thank you! Keep winning my girl! We’re all so proud of you!”
Filipinos were also openly grateful.
Tagumeno Ako commented: “I am Filipino and I was teary-eyed when I saw how Vanessa supported Pia. What a real friend! This just shows that not all ‘beauty queens’ are bullies and insecure when they do not get the crown. Go Vanessa!”
“That was such a touching gesture. I hope to see you in Malaysia when I visit there someday,” added Judy Tolentino Pazon.
Backstage, a video posted by the Miss Universe Organisation on Facebook showed Wurtzbach describing the ending as a “very non-traditional crowning”.
The organisation has also issued a public apology, saying that “a live telecast means that human errors can come into play”.
Attempts to contact Vanessa were unsuccessful at press time.

Fire breaks out in Batu Caves Temple

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Firemen had to climb the long flight of temple steps to fight the blaze.
Firemen had to climb the long flight of temple steps to fight the blaze.
PETALING JAYA: A souvenir shop was razed after a fire broke out at the Batu Caves Temple on Wednesday.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Mohd Sani Harul said they received a distress call at about 5.25pm.
"We arrived there about seven minutes after receiving the alert.
"A team of firemen from the Selayang, Rawang and Gombak fire stations managed to control the fire within several minutes," he said.
Mohd Sani added that the shop was 90% damaged in the fire.
No fatalities were reported.

Touch 'n Go denies additional GST to be imposed on reloads

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PETALING JAYA: There will be no additional Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed on Touch 'n Go reloads on top of those already in place.
In a statement on its Facebook page, Touch 'n Go Sdn Bhd said there was a fake notice circulating on social media that a 6% GST charge would be imposed on all reloads starting Jan 1, 2016.
It clarified that GST was only applicable on the reload fee of 50 sen when topping-up the card at certain agents.
It also listed the agents where no reload fee was charged as well as those that imposed the 50 sen charge.
A 6% GST charge on the 50 sen reload fee amounts to 3 sen.

Former cop gets 100 years' jail for rape, sodomy

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KOTA KINABALU: A former state anti-vice chief was jailed a total of 100 years and given 15 strokes of the rotan for raping and sodomising a 13-year-old girl.

Deputy Supt Rohaizat Abd Ani (pic), 56, a father of two children, was found guilty of four charges of rape and one of sodomy between February and May 2012.

Sessions judge Ainul Shahrin Mohamad slapped the maximum 20 years jail for each of the charge.

Rohaizat was found guilty of raping and sodomising the victim between 4.30pm and 5.30pm  in a room at Tang Dynasty Hotel here on Feb 1, 2012. The next day, he again raped the girl between 12.30pm and 1.30pm in another room of the same hotel.

Between May 1 and 6, the accused raped the girl in a room of the same hotel.
Rohaizat will have to serve 80 years in all - 20 years for the first two charges (both to run concurrently) and 20 years each for the other three (to run consecutively).
Rohaizat, dressed in a dark grey jacket, remained calm and showed little or no expression. His wife, who was present at the court, also showed no expression as the judge read out the sentence.

Ainul Shahrin allowed a stay of execution of the sentences pending appeal in the High Court. Bail was set at RM100,000 with one local surety and the accused was told to surrender his passport and report to the police in Bukit Aman on the 1st and 15th of each month.

The judge agreed with Deputy Public Prosecutor Azeezi Nordin that as a senior police officer (aged 52 at the time of the incident), Rohaizat should be a guardian to the public and not otherwise.

Azeezi said: "The victim was 13 years old at the time of incident, she was raped and sodomised by a  52-year-old, it was clearly a total manipulation of an adult against a child.

"The repetitious act of the accused in three months starting from February showed that the accused never consider the victim's age, emotions and consequences of his action."

Rohaizat’s lawyer, Zahir Shah, said they would file an appeal against the sentence.

Rohaizat, who is suspended from duties, had served as Setiu police chief briefly and was serving as deputy chief Federal Reserve Unit in Penang when he was charged in Aug 2013.

Counsel Mary Lee was holding a watching brief for the Sabah Women Action Resource Group (SAWO).

Long list of complaints against shop involved in fracas at Kota Raya

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Airing their grouses: People lining up to lodge complaints at the counter manned by officers from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry at the Kota Raya shopping complex. —KAMARUL ARIFFIN/ The Star
Airing their grouses: People lining up to lodge complaints at the counter manned by officers from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry at the Kota Raya shopping complex. 
PETALING JAYA: Just days after the fracas at the Kota Raya shopping complex, disgruntled consumers were back, this time armed with a long list of complaints.
They came to lodge reports at the complaints counter operated by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, which opened on Monday.
The strange thing was that almost all the complainants, mostly fo­­reigners, pointed their fingers at one handphone shop – the one that was attacked on Sunday.
Bangladeshi Redowan Hassan, 22, claimed the stall clerk there did not give him the phone after he had made payment for.
“I was told to come back at night to collect the phone but it was closed.
“All I have from him is just the receipt,” said Redowan.
A woman who wished to be called “Jasmine” said she learned about the shop’s reputation after numerous media reports.
She had bought a phone on Dec 7 for RM2,050, but she later found out that the model was priced at only RM800.
“It was only later that I checked with the distributors after reading the news.
“They told me I had been cheated,” said the 53-year-old Malaysian.
An Indonesian maid called Vivian said the shop had cheated her multiple times.
“When I bought my phone, the price tag was RM300 and I paid upfront.
“But when the receipt came, the total was RM1,600. I was shocked and asked for my money back but they refused to give me the phone or my cash.
“As I had no money to pay the remaining sum, I had to borrow money from my employer to get the phone,” claimed the 43-year-old.
She added that the purchased phone was faulty and she had to pay for the “repairs” numerous times.
Asked about the many complaints against the same shop, the ministry’s enforcement director Mohd Roslan Mahyudin said he would wait for all the complaints before taking action against it.
“As of now, we have only complaints. Action will be taken after investigations,” said Roslan.
He added that consumers should use the proper channels to voice complaints.
“Of course, I urge the public to follow the law.
“If it’s a consumer or counterfeit problem, they can lodge a report with the ministry.
“We will investigate and take action,” said Roslan.
His statement echoed that of Dang Wangi deputy police chief Supt Habibi Majinji who had warned the public not to take the law into their own hands.

Malaysian bauxite rush brings wealth, and worries

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BUKIT GOH: Malaysian farmer Surin Beris’s palm plantation has been razed and bulldozers are tearing into its red soil, releasing potentially hazardous dust into the environment -- yet he couldn’t be happier.

Surin, 67, is reaping a windfall from a modern-day gold rush in Malaysia’s sleepy rural state of Pahang for the high-grade bauxite that lies in its ruddy soil.

Demand for bauxite, which is used in aluminium production, is soaring -- fuelled by heavy demand from China.

The boom is a “gift from Allah”, said Surin, a Muslim in a bright white skullcap who previously made about RM2,000 per month cultivating the plum-sized fruit that is squeezed to make palm oil.
Bauxite mining took off in Malaysia shortly after Indonesia, a top producer, banned mineral ore exports in January 2014 to encourage domestic metals processing, leaving major consumers like China in a supply crunch.

Malaysia has helped filled the gap. Previously an insignificant producer, there has been a sharp rise in mining, most of it illegal like Surin’s.

Malaysian bauxite output more than quadrupled year-on-year in 2014, to nearly 963,000 metric tons, according to government figures, and is expected to rise.

Pillaging the land

But critics warn the mining is being done amateurishly and with little or no government attention to potential environmental harm.

Bauxite mining can release carcinogenic heavy metals such as strontium, cesium and other harmful substances, as well as low levels of radiation.

Since it generally lies just below the surface, extraction involves stripping off topsoil, leaving exposed pits.

In Pahang, where the landscape is dominated by tropical forests and agriculture, red dust swirls around the pits and along the roads on which bauxite-laden trucks rumble toward the port of Kuantan on the South China Sea, where the ore is shipped to China.

Critics fear heavy metals could enter the water supply or food chain, affecting communities for years.

Environmentalists say local rivers and the shores along Kuantan are frequently stained red from mining run-off, and residents complain of a rise in respiratory problems and skin rashes.

“My four-year-old granddaughter is in pain because she cannot breathe properly. We inhale dust everyday,” complained Manap Muda, a village head near Kuantan who said authorities were turning a blind eye.

Fuziah Salleh, a Kuantan opposition parliament member, said legal loopholes allow small landowners to mine without approval and that many were “raping the land for profit”.

“The people are greedy and are making massive money at the expense of public health,” she said.

The government has begun to admit a problem.

Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the natural resources and environment minister, gave AFP a government report stating that “high concentrations” of hazardous substances were found in water samples taken in August from the Pengorak river, near bauxite mining areas and Kuantan.

“Our findings showed that there was aluminium, arsenic, mercury, and manganese. The mining activity worsened the water quality,” he said in an interview.
The river has been rendered unfit for drinking, irrigation, swimming or fish, the report said.

Let the good times roll

Malaysia’s six-decade-old ruling coalition is routinely accused of paying inadequate attention to the environmental and social side effects of the harvesting of the country’s rich resources.

Timber exploitation, for example, is a key source of political funding that helps sustain the coalition but which environmentalists say has contributed to the decimation of once-majestic rainforests.

Mohamad Soffi Abdul Razak, chair of the Pahang state government’s environment committee, dismissed the health and environment fears, saying authorities intend to let the good times roll.

“The bauxite rush is creating jobs. Pahang is blessed by God,” he said.

Wan Junaidi, however, said he would press for more sustainable mining and measures to prevent the release of dangerous elements.

Few expect the bauxite rush to be slowed, however. “I have complained, but corruption is keeping illegal mining alive,” said Manap Muda, the village head.
Fuziah was infuriated when shown the government report on contamination. She called for an immediate suspension of bauxite exports.

“We should not toy with human life. It is shocking that the frightening water sampling data is released three months after the sampling was done,” she said, warning of “irreversible” damage.

Surin admits mining without a permit, but dismisses the environmental concerns as envious fear-mongering.

Flush with cash, he sees a wealthy new era for himself, planning to eventually build and rent out homes on his cratered property.

“I’ll replant the oil palm trees and visit the holy land of Mecca again with my family,” he boasted.

Adenan Satem reassures Sarawakians no bibles will be seized

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Adenan Satem
Adenan Satem
KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem has repeated his government's promise not to interfere in matters of faith.

"Let me reassure my Christian friends no bible will be taken from you and there will be no restriction on the use of the bibles among  Christians in Sarawak," Adenan said in his Christmas message on Thursday, delivered in English and Malay.
He said he was in "no position" to tell individuals "how to worship".
"How to manage your religion is your business. I have as well declared that Christians in Sarawak can use the word 'Allah' provided it is used with respect and reverence."
These reassurances, he added, were not mere rhetoric as in the last 20 months the Government had "provided millions of ringgit in allocation to build churches and temples".
"Living in peace and harmony with each other is our tradition. I want to thank Sarawakians for recognising the need to ensure racial and religious harmony continue to prevail.
"It is alright to have differences in opinion and in ways of doing things. I do not expect people to agree with me all the time.
"More importantly, we must respect others and different opinions. We should be open to discuss and work for the greater interest, welfare and well being of all Sarawakians."
He said the Sarawak Government would spend RM600mil next year to build rural roads and bridges not allocated for by the Federal Government.

Consider revising fuel prices on weekly, not monthly basis, says dealers association

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PETALING JAYA: The Petrol Dealers Association has urged the government to revise the fuel price on a weekly basis as the monthly managed float system could cause them to incur huge losses.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani said the petrol dealers have complained to him that the system has adversely affected the volume of oil supply sent to them.
He said currently oil companies would distribute their supply to the petrol dealers based on their forecasts for oil prices.
"A lot of oil companies now use this opportunity by sending the petrol dealers oil supplies in large volume at the end of each month if they expect the price to fall the following month.
"If the fuel is expected to increase in the next month, they will then reduce the supply," he said in a statement on Thursday.
Johari claimed that if this matter is not managed properly, it could cause more than 3,200 petrol dealers such as Petronas, Shell, Caltex, Petron and BHP to experience a loss of 70%.
To avoid this problem, he said the petrol dealers have suggested that the fuel prices be revised once a week with a maximum price difference of 5sen, so the price change would not be too "noticeable" compared to the previous price.
"This will benefit the consumers, the petrol dealers and the oil companies regardless what the market price is," he said.
The retail price for RON95 petrol and diesel was fixed on a managed float system and has been in effect since Dec 1 last year, following the removal of all fuel subsidies.
Under the managed float, similar to that now used for RON97, retail prices would be based on the monthly average world price of crude oil.

Miti: AP system to remain, with improvements

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A file picture of imported cars parked at Klang's Northport, awaiting APs to be issued.
A file picture of imported cars parked at Klang's Northport, awaiting APs to be issued.
PETALING JAYA: The Open Approved Permit (AP) system will continue to be carried out but with improvements, following thorough research done by the Government on the used imported cars industry, says the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti).
In a statement, Miti said that the system, along with new improvements, would come into effect Jan 1, 2017.
Among the improvements include allowing eligible new bumiputera companies who strictly adhere to the criteria to participate in the used car business.
The Government will also carry out a program to utilise some of the revenue contribution from the Open AP system to enable the public to directly benefit from it, with specific details to be announced soon.
In the research carried out, issues covered included analysis on the AP's effects, contribution and implications of the Open AP system to the development of the automotive industry and the social economic impact to the country, among others.
The research was conducted over six months and took into account the opinions of various parties, including industry players, consumer associations, several NGOs and politicians.
"The research team opined that the current Open AP system gives opportunities to the public to purchase used imported cars at a competitive price.
"They also found that the distribution and importation of used-cars industry contributed significantly to the automotive industry and the country's socio-economic development," said Miti.
Its contribution to the supporting businesses and service sectors such as banking, insurance, shipping and logistics was estimated to be RM450mil a year.
It also directly provided job opportunities to 3,800 high- and medium-income earners. The Government also collects some RM2bil a year from taxes.
The study also found that the Open AP system contributed 5% out of the 36% bumiputera equity in the automotive sector.
"If the system were discontinued, there would be no more used imported cars allowed into the country and this would deny many people the opportunity to buy such cars. Also, the percentage of Bumiputra equity participation in the automotive sector would reduce to 31%," said Miti.
In line with the improvements, a qualified and independent auditor would be selected to audit all companies involved to ensure compliance to the new criteria.

Increased traffic flow on North South Expressway at 6pm

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KUALA LUMPUR: A traffic crawl stretching over 25km was reported from Nilai to Pedas as traffic flow on the North South Expressway from both directions increased as of 6pm Thursday.

A PLUS Expressway Sdn Bhd Traffic Control Centre spokesman said the number of vehicles had increased on the Seremban route heading to Senawang and Ayer Keroh to Jasin.
The spokesman said the North-bound traffic flow was slow from Pendang to Alor Setar following an accident involving two vehicles at Km51 at 3pm.

"The vehicles have been moved to the road shoulder but traffic was still moving slowly," he said.

Slow traffic was also reported from Jelapang to the Menora Tunnel, Sungai Perak to Bukit Gantang, Bukit Lanjan to Jalan Duta, Sungai Buaya to Rawang, Bukit Beruntung to Tanjung Malim, Slim River to Sungkai and Tapah to Gopeng.
A Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) spokesman said traffic flow on the East Coast Highway from Gombak to Genting Sempah, near the Gombak Toll Plaza was also reported to be slow.

Slow and controlled traffic conditions were also reported from Lentang to Bentong and the Karak Toll Plaza heading to Lanchang.

The MRR2 is also backed up in both directions at Pandan Perdana, possibly due to an accident.

Traffic around the city however seems clear, except for roads around major shopping malls in areas around  KLCC and Bukit Bintang.

‘Weed out extremism from young’

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Bro Charles: 'We must teach the young how to love and respect one another.'
Bro Charles: 'We must teach the young how to love and respect one another.'
KOTA KINABALU: The right culture inculcated in schools will go a long way in preventing extremism from taking root among the young, says renowned educationist Datuk Brother Charles O’Leary.
Stressing that hate and extremism were interrelated, Bro Charles, as he is fondly referred to said: “We must teach the young how to love, how to respect each other, how to respect nature, how to respect our environment.
The former principal of the La Salle secondary school here who served between 1969 and 1986 said educational institutions must do more to instil moderation into the nation’s mainstream.
He said as teachers had a vital and influential role, they should deepen their awareness about the values they should teach.
“If we pour out hate, revenge, murder, then, of course, there will be no peace. This is the great responsibility for our leaders, parents and teachers,” he said
Bro Charles, who is the last surviving member of the pioneer group of La Salle Brothers who came to Borneo in the 1950s, said any teacher who does not impart these values should not be a teacher in the school.
Many of his former students have gone on to become leaders in politics, government and business.
Among them are Sabah’s former Yang Di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Shah Abdullah and former Chief Ministers Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
He had also taught Sarawak’s ex-Chief Minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, who is now head of state, when he was posted to St Joseph’s school in Kuching for seven years before coming to Sabah in the 1960s.
Quoting the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, Bro Charles said: “People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Pointing out that there were extremists in most religions, Bro Charles said it was sad that they used God and religion for their own ends.
“They don’t respect other people’s beliefs and religions. They take their scriptures literally or wrongly interpret them,” he said, adding that there should be mutual respect for moderation to take root.
“Leaders are preaching unity but no one seems to be paying heed. We need to practise moderation. The concept of 1Malaysia means nothing if we don’t do that,” Bro Charles said.
He said the 1Malaysia concept was a wonderful idea but people needed to sit down as a community to reflect and have dialogues.
“The trouble is that many extremists do not want dialogues. They only want their version and they don’t want to open their minds.”

Monday, December 21, 2015

Malacca to allow vaping

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Business as usual: A worker at a vape outlet in Malacca preparing a liquid vape. — A. Malex Yahaya / The Star
Business as usual: A worker at a vape outlet in Malacca preparing a liquid vape. 
MALACCA: The trading of vape devices and liquids are deemed legal in the state and licences will continue to be issued to entrepreneurs venturing into the industry.
The state government would go on giving out licences until the Federal Government initiates new laws to control vaping or imposes a total ban on vape products.
State Housing, Local Government and Environment committee chairman Datuk Ismail Othman said the decision to regard vape products and e-cigarettes as legal was made after a study which showed that the sales of such merchandise was not widespread in Malacca.
“There are also a number of young entrepreneurs who had ventured into the business and we do not want to demoralise them by imposing a ban.
“We will continue to provide them the opportunity to generate income but they should abide by any new laws, including a ban, if decided by the Federal Government,” he said yesterday.
Ismail said many young entrepreneurs had invested huge sums of money in products and posh vaping outlets.
“So we do not mind rendering them a helping hand until the laws are changed,” he said.
The Health Ministry had on Nov 9 announced that while there would be no ban on vaping, under existing laws, the sale of e-liquids containing nicotine could only be supplied by licensed pharmacists and registered medical practitioners and such sales also had to be recorded.
Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah who made the announcement, said the sales of nicotine was prohibited by other agents as well, under the Poisons Act 1952 (Revised 1989).
The Government has since started raiding vape suppliers and seizing items containing nicotine in various parts of the country.
Ismail confirmed that the Malacca Historic City Council (MBMB) had issued the latest batch of 20 licences a few days ago, adding that those who were keen to apply for licences could still do so.
“But the licences are meant for the legitimate operation of outlets and the local councils will not be responsible for contents in the liquids and other products sold,” he said.
Ismail said monitoring and enforcement of the various types of liquids came under the scope of law enforcement agencies like the police and health department.
However, State Health, Sports Development and Anti-Drugs committee chairman Datuk Ab Rahaman Ab Karim, warned entrepreneurs against lacing vape liquids with prohibited substances.
He said random samples would be collected from these outlets, and those found trading in narcotic substances would face the consequences.
“The state is kind enough to legalise vape and e-cigarettes but those in the business should not take advantage and peddle illegal substances,” he said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said an analysis was done on vaping in the state with the cooperation of consumers’ associations and the food and beverage industry guilds.
“It was found that there was no vaping craze in the state.
“There are not many vapers so it will not make much of a difference if we allow it,” he said.
Idris said he also asked youth groups to gather the sentiments of vapers and was told that the majority would not take it as a problem if the products were totally banned.
Asked whether vaping would be allowed in non-smoking zones in the Historic City, he said it depended on the volume of nicotine released.
“If users are issued a compound for vaping in non-smoking zones, they can contest it in court, provided they can prove that their devices were not emitting nicotine-laced vapours,” he said.
Malacca has gazetted 21 areas in the city and other towns as smoke-free zones since June 15, 2011.

AirAsia: Expect airport congestion during year-end holiday period

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A file picture of the check-in counters at KLIA2.
A file picture of the check-in counters at KLIA2.
PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Berhad says airport congestion is expected during the holiday season, and is encouraging all its passengers to arrive three hours prior to their scheduled flight departures.
In a statement, AirAsia said airport congestion at most major airports, including KLIA 2, was expected during this period, with at least 40,000 passengers moving through its gates daily.
AirAsia said travelling formalities such as customs and immigration clearance as well as security checks might take longer than usual during this peak travel period.
A local news portal reported Saturday that hundreds of AirAsia passengers were temporarily stranded at KLIA 2 due to a systems failure, but the airlines has since denied it.
"It was due to airport congestion. Everything is back to normal and operating normally," said AirAsia.
They encouraged passengers to use self check-in options via web, mobile apps or kiosk services, which are available 14 days before and up to one hour prior to departure for AirAsia flights, and up to four hours prior to departure for AirAsia X flights.
"It is also highly recommended for guests to print out their boarding passes before arriving at the airport to ease the travel process.
For guests with baggage to check-in, baggage drop counters close 60 minutes before flight departures for all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights.
"As congestion is expected at the baggage drop counters, immigration checkpoints, security scanning, and baggage clearance during this holiday season, it is advisable to complete the baggage drop process and proceed to the boarding gate as early as possible," the statement read.
AirAsia said guests with group bookings, reduced mobility or special needs are only allowed to check-in at the counter and should allocate more time to clear all travelling formalities.
"Rest assured, AirAsia's ground staff will be available at the airport to assist all guests with their travelling needs and to ensure a pleasant journey for everyone."

MAS flight to Yangon turns back, lands safely

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File pic of MAS aircraft at the KL International Airport.
File pic of MAS aircraft at the KL International Airport.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines flight MH742 that departed for Yangon made a turn back and landed safely in KLIA at 3.45pm Sunday.
MAS said in a statement to The Star: "Malaysia Airlines flight MH742, 20 December 2015, that departed from KL International Airport (KLIA) at 1.59pm bound for Yangon made an air turn back towards Kuala Lumpur and has landed safely in KLIA at 3.45pm today.”
MAS said it was investigating the incident and would release a statement once the probe is completed.
The flight operating on the Boeing 737-800 (twin jet) aircraft, was scheduled to arrive in Yangon at 3.05pm.

Kota Raya closed following fight over mobile phone

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File pic of Kota Raya shopping centre.
File pic of Kota Raya shopping centre.
KUALA LUMPUR: Kompleks Kota Raya was closed Sunday afternoon following a fight over the sale of a mobile phone.
It is learnt that the fight, which occurred at about 4.55pm, erupted when a number of customers, some armed with parang, returned to the complex seeking a refund for the phone.
It is understood that the management of the shopping complex decided to bring down the shutters and close the building to avoid further incidents.
Police were seen patrolling the surrounding area later in the evening.
When contacted, City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad said police were still investigating the incident.

The bauxite boom or bane

What say you on the issue below?

Red problem: Extraction activities have left towns and village roads coated in red dust due to the influx of lorries transporting bauxite to ports in Kuantan and Kemaman.
Red problem: Extraction activities have left towns and village roads coated in red dust due to the influx of lorries transporting bauxite to ports in Kuantan and Kemaman.
Miners say the activity creates jobs but experts are concerned about the pollution effect
OVER the last two years, the surge in bauxite mining activities in Pahang has resulted in big-money business for prospectors, miners and residents alike.
This year, bauxite production is seeing exponential growth due to strong demand from China, which is Malaysia’s largest export destination for the mineral.
However, it seems to have come with environmental concerns due to unscrupulous practices by some contractors, prompting the Pahang government to revoke the mining licences of 34 contractors in July, leaving only 11 operators.
“Bauxite deposits are located just a few meters underground and is typically extracted via open-cast mining. This explains the large profit margins that can be derived as the extraction process does not require technologically advanced equipment,” says an analyst of a bank-backed research house.
According to China’s customs data on bauxite imports from Malaysia, the monthly production growth in Malaysia has been nothing short of staggering this year.
China imported a record 3.72 million tonnes of bauxite from Malaysia for the month of September, a tenfold increase from just 343,000 tonnes in January.
Malaysia is on track to produce 20 million tonnes of bauxite this year. Between May and August, the country’s total bauxite exports have averaged around 2 million tonnes a month, according to data by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics.
Lorries lining up to transport bauxite to the Kuantan Port
Lorries lining up to transport bauxite to the Kuantan Port.
In comparison, total production last year was a mere 963,000 tonnes, while only 208,770 tonnes of bauxite were extracted in 2013, according to data by the Minerals and Geoscience Department.
The bauxite mining activity is primarily concentrated at several locations in Pahang, such as Bukit Goh and Sungai Karang in Kuantan.
A look at the revenue contribution from bauxite mining towards several public listed companies show that the business offers market beating margins.
Among the companies listed on Bursa Malaysia currently involved in bauxite mining are Tanah Makmur Bhd, WZ Satu Bhd and Asdion Bhd.
Another firm, Spring Energy Resources Bhd, is seeking to list on Bursa Malaysia to raise funds among others to expand its bauxite mining activities, according to the company’s prospectus.
Tanah Makmur began its venture into bauxite in mid-2014 following its discovery of some 1.2 million tonnes of bauxite deposits on its KotaSAS township landbank, which was earmarked for property development.
Tanah Makmur’s bauxite exports market is about 3% of the total expected 20 million tonnes of bauxite production this year.
The company reported in its latest quarterly earnings filing that its bauxite extraction activity contributed revenue and pre-tax profits of RM20.92mil and RM8.17mil respectively, translating to a pre-tax margin of 39%.
According to industry experts, a company like Tanah Makmur, which owns the bauxite reserves outright, could reap as high as 50% in profit margins from bauxite extractions.
Kenanga Research analyst Voon Yee Ping says that since mid-2014, Tanah Makmur has been extracting about one million tonnes of bauxite on mining rates of between 130,000 and 150,000 tonnes per quarter.
“Currently, the business contributes about 20% to 25% of Tanah Makmur’s revenue,” she tells StarBizWeek.
It has been reported that the price of bauxite skyrocketed late last year to over US$75 per tonne after Indonesia halted the export of bauxite.
This year, the average price of bauxite is US$45 per tonne, which is higher than the historical average price of US$30 per tonne, says an analyst.
The China factor
Bauxite is the raw material that is converted into aluminium metals.
The first stage in the production chain is the conversion of bauxite into aluminium oxide, or alumina. Aluminium is then extracted from alumina via a smelting process.
With more and more production facilities being built in China, the country’s alumina production capacity has grown in tandem with smelter capacity in recent years.
This means that instead of buying alumina from overseas markets, importing bauxite is cheaper and more preferable for China since the country has its own refineries and smelters to produce aluminium.
Recently, Malaysia has emerged as a key export partner to China due to several favourable factors.
The first is cheap freight costs given the relative short distance between the two countries. This puts Malaysia in an advantageous position over Australia, which is currently the biggest exporter of bauxite to China.
Secondly, Indonesia, which was previously the third largest exporter of the mineral to China, had instituted a ban on bauxite exports in January 2014 in order to spur domestic production of aluminium.
Malaysia has swiftly plugged the shortfall in supply, as evidenced by the tremendous growth in its own bauxite production and exports since early last year.
A mining executive says most of the bauxite players are private companies and the majority of bauxite extracted is shipped to China from Kuantan, resulting in port congestion.
“Every day there are many lorries carrying bauxite lining up at the port,” he says.
Kuantan Port is 62% owned by IJM Corp Bhd. The conglomerate’s infrastructure division reported an increase in revenue to RM301.34mil for the quarter ended Sept 30 from RM175.83mil a year ago, partly on the strength of greater cargo earnings from the port.
Environmental worries
The aggressive bauxite mining has created environmental concerns.
Extraction activities have left towns and village roads coated in red dust due to the influx of lorries transporting bauxite to ports in Kuantan and Kemaman in Terengganu.
Another concern is the risk of water contamination, given the mining sites’ proximity to several major rivers running through the state.
Experts warn that the cleared areas could increase risks of mudslides and landslides, particularly with the current rainy season in the east coast.
On the other hand, proponents of mining activities say the bauxite boom has resulted in wealth and job creation for many in the state.
Felda Bukit Goh Bauxite Issues Committee chairman Datuk Dr Abd Wahid Manap says some 200 settlers in the area are set to receive monetary compensation from contractors seeking mining rights on their respective plots of land.
At present, contractors are promising to pay settlers a huge sum of money to mine bauxite on their land, he says.
“The payments will help the settlers cope as it will take time for palm oil to generate yields again. The cleared land will be replanted with oil palm trees, but it takes up to three years until the owners can start harvesting again to generate returns,” he adds.
According to Wahid, contractors in the area need to comply with a standard operating procedure to ensure that mining activities are done responsibly and without threatening the environment.
“We are confident the state government will resolve this issue soon,” he adds.
TANAH MAKMUR BHD
Pahang-based plantation player Tanah Makmur Bhd is expected to sustain its earnings from its bauxite-mining activity despite lower crude palm oil prices expected in the near term.
Tanah Makmur, which is also involved in the property development business, found 1.2 million tonnes of dry bauxite on its 607.04ha KotaSAS township landbank in January 2014.
The company commenced the mining of bauxite in the middle of its financial year 2014 (FY14) at Bukit Goh Land, Pahang, after awarding the contract to SE Satu Sdn Bhd through its 60%-owned subsidiary Kreatif Selaras Mining Sdn Bhd.
According to a report by Kenanga Research analyst Voon Yee Ping, Tanah Makmur’s mining operations are expected to contribute RM65mil to RM92mil to its FY15-to-FY16 revenue.
She notes that Tanah Makmur’s plantation business contributed about 50% or RM194mil to the company’s FY14 revenue and its property segment contributed the remaining 50% or RM195mil.
“Under its plantation segment, Tanah Makmur owns a landbank of 17,969ha, of which 17,057ha is planted as of FY14, with an average tree age of 9½ years. Under its property segment, the company also mines bauxite on its property, which contributed RM86mil or 22% of FY14 revenue,” she says.
“Based on the current reserve of an additional 0.8 million tonnes of bauxite, Tanah Makmur would be able to garner extra revenue from mining until 2017,” she tells StarBizWeek.
“Furthermore, management has mentioned that preliminary studies indicate that there are a further 0.8 million tonnes of bauxite reserves, which we estimate could contribute RM140mil in additional revenue in FY16-FY17 estimates, if confirmed,” Voon says.
WZ SATU BHD
WZ Satu Bhd, formerly known as WZ Steel Bhd, ventured into the mining business in August 2013 with the emergence of a new substantial shareholder, Tengku Uzir Tengku Ubaidillah.
The ailing steel company received an exclusive mining bauxite contract in January 2014 from Kreatif Selaras Mining Sdn Bhd through its 49%-owned subsidiary SE Satu Sdn Bhd.
Notably, Tanah Makmur has a 60% stake in Kreatif Selaras.
It has been reported that the transformation of WZ Satu into a mining player from a steel manufacturer took place after it bought the stake in SE Satu in December 2013 for RM490,000. The remaining 51% in SE Satu is held by Spring Energy Sdn Bhd.
The contract includes mining, extracting and producing bauxite ore from eight hills measuring 66ha in Kuantan, Pahang, for a period of 36 months with conservative reserves of 1.2 million tonnes.
According to filings with Bursa Malaysia, Tengku Uzir holds about 23% in WZ Satu and about 7% in Tanah Makmur.
It has been reported that WZ Satu’s mining division will contribute between 35% and 50% of its FY14-to-FY16 earnings.
WZ Satu’s revenue remained relatively flat from RM93.24mil in FY08 to RM87mil in FY13. In FY14, for the 16-month period ended Aug 31, 2014, the company reported a net profit of RM20.31mil on the back of RM351.4mil in revenue.
The company said that its mining division contributed about RM18.5mil in FY14.
After Tengku Uzir came aboard, aside from mining, the company has ventured into construction as well as oil and gas.
ASDION BHD
Asdion Bhd, an information technology and logistics firm, gained traction after it announced plans to supply bauxite to commodities trader Hong Kong International Mining Exchange Ltd (HKIM).
The company clinched a contract in June this year worth US$112mil (RM414mil), which saw its share price soar to its highest level ever of RM1.59. The stock was at the 60-sen level in late January. Yesterday, shares in Asdion closed at 53 sen.
Under the agreement, Asdion’s subsidiary will provide logistics-related services to HKIM for the delivery of a total of four million dry tonnes of bauxite at a base price of US$28 per dry tonne.
Asdion bought a 51% stake in logistics company TAZ Logistics Sdn Bhd earlier this year for RM6mil, whose business activities are focused at the Kuantan Port.
It has been reported that TAZ is among the three active licensed logistics companies mandated by Kuantan Port to handle cargo coming through the port.
Asdion, whose biggest shareholder is Datuk Tey Por Yee, recently announced that Kuantan Port Consortium Sdn Bhd had renewed the cargo-handling licence for one year effective Dec 10, 2015.
The company has targeted for its venture into the commodity trading business to contribute more than 25% of net profit moving forward.
The loss-making firm returned to profitability after having posted a net profit of RM3.86mil for the first six months of its financial year ending March 31, 2016 from a net loss of RM1.09mil in the same period last year. The company attributed the increase to its diversification into the commodity trading business.
SPRING ENERGY RESOURCES BHD
Riding on the booming bauxite mining sector, Spring Energy Resources Bhd, a company specialising in quarry mining, is gunning for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.
According to the company’s draft prospectus, it marked its foray into the bauxite-mining business in January 2014. It was appointed by Kreatif Selaras from its 51% stake in SE Satu for bauxite mining works in January 2014 in Bukit Goh Land.
The company says the contract value is RM80.44mil. Under the contract, Kreatif Selaras is paying SE Satu a fixed rate of US$13.75 a tonne with a minimum performance tonnage per month of 50,000.
SE Satu is entitled to an additional payment of US$0.30 for every US$1 excess over the selling price (FOB basis) of more than US$40 a tonne. On the downside, SE Satu shall see a reduction in the payment of 30 US cents for every US$1 shortfall if the actual selling price falls below US$30 a tonne.
Spring Energy says its bauxite-mining division contributed about RM61.27mil or 20% of the company’s revenue in FY14.
From its IPO exercise, the company is planning to utilise its proceeds to partly finance the expansion of its quarry and bauxite operations. It is looking at a capital expenditure of about RM23mil for its bauxite operation expansion, according to its draft prospectus.
It says that its venture into bauxite mining is currently in its second year and the mining works agreement is valid for a period of three years.