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MALAYSIA GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:04:48 PST

MALAYSIA GLOBAL BUSINESS FORUM 2012

STRATEGIC PARTNERS: MALAYSIA & THE ARAB WORLD

21 FEBRUARY 2012

Your Excellencies and distinguished guests.

Thank you for inviting me to this session of yourforum on Malaysia’s relations with Arab nations.

We have always regarded the Arab countries as our strategic trade and investment partners and this forum gives us an opportunity to forge closer business links between Malaysian and Arabentrepreneurs.

The global economy is facing very challenging times. Sluggish growth in the United States and a worsening debt crisis in the Eurozone suggest that we need to be prudent in managing our economic affairs.

The coming months will therefore test our economic resilience to the fullest. Let us, therefore, intensify our trade and investment engagement so that we can minimize the impact of the global economic slowdown on our countries. We need to build on our strengths and find ways to sustain the momentum of our own economic growth.

Honourable guests,

Allow me to share with you an overview of how Malaysia is positioned to do business with the Arab world. In the past, Malaysia’s economy was driven by manufacturing and the export of commodities. Over the last two decades, we have expanded and diversified our economy, and are now focussed on developing more high value and capital-intensive manufacturing industries.

Our strategic geographical location has also enabled us to serve as the gateway to Asia for Arab businesses.

For your information, we recovered quickly from the economic slowdown of 2009. Our economy grew by 5.1 per cent last year. And we are confident we will do just as well, if not better, this year.

Our manufacturing sector continues to attract foreign investment. Our focus has expanded and we are on the lookout for quality investments in the services sector.

Last year, the Government opened up 17 services sub-sectors to foreign equity participation. Foreigners can now own up to 100% of businesses in sectors such as telecommunications, private higher education, international schools and private hospitals services. This should pique your interest.

Distinguished guests,

On the trading front, our trade with Arab countries increased four-fold over the last ten years, topping US$17.6 billion in 2011. However, this trade is confined to a narrow range of products. Our main exports were palm oil, electrical & electronic products and chemical & chemical products. Petroleum & petroleum products constitute our main imports from the Arab region. Thus there is a lot of room for us to improve our trade mix.

There are also other industries where Malaysian companies can provide you with competitive products and services - such as halal food and services, oil and gas equipment and services, building materials, pharmaceuticals and healthcare services, including medical tourism. These are some of the areas I urge you to explore during your business matching sessions which have been scheduled for this afternoon.

It is heartening to note that investments into Malaysia from Arab countries, especially from the Gulf region, have been growing. Major investments are coming from Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. These investments are mainly in real estate, shopping malls, hotels, financial services and healthcare services.

Conversely, Malaysian companies are also investing abroad. Malaysian companies have established a strong presence in the Arab region. Companies such as IJM Construction, WCT Engineering, Eversendai Engineering and Malaysia Airports Holding have built a strong reputation in the construction of ports, airports, road and highways, bridges, residential and commercial buildings, and power generation facilities in the Western Asia region. Many of these Malaysian companies have teamed up with Arab partners and employ highly skilled Malaysians.

Malaysia is today a premier international Islamic financial centre for the origination, distribution and trading of Islamic capital market products, including treasury instruments such as sukuk. Currently, there are ten Islamic banks in Malaysia of which three are Arab, including a consortium led by the Qatari Islamic Bank. I would urge companies that are seeking Islamic financing facilities to take advantage of the wide range of Syariah-compliant services available in Malaysia.

The second sector that I would like to make a special mention of is halal products and services. Malaysia is actively developing and promotinghalal products and the halal services industry. We have a Malaysian Halal Standard that meets the requirements of the global Muslim community, and which also measures up to international health and safety standards such as C.O.D.E.X and H.A.C.C.P. The Malaysian Halal certification is already well received by O.I.C members.

The provision of halal products and services is a rapidly expanding business globally, with tremendous growth potential in Western Asia and among minority Muslim populations in largely non-Muslim countries. I wish to invite the Arab business community and representatives to collaborate with Malaysia to take advantage of this burgeoning market.

Distinguished guests,

Malaysia regards the Arab countries as our strategic economic partners. I am delighted to recall that last year, my Minister, the Honourable Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, visited the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. We also received a number of high-level visits from the Western Asia region, including the visit by the Prime Minister of Qatar in December 2011 and various Ministerial visits from other Arab countries.

This frequent exchange of visits between our two sides is a testimony of the friendly relations and strong economic ties between Malaysia and the Arab world.

Allow me to conclude by reminding the business community that it cannot rely solely onGovernment initiatives alone to get going.Business Councils and Chambers of Commerce should assume a facilitative role and aggressively promote business to business exchanges. Itherefore commend the Arab Malaysia Chamber of Commerce for gaining recognition from the Arab League.

Finally, I’d like to thank the organisers of this forum and everyone for your presence here. I wish you every success.

Thank you.

4TH ANNUAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SUMMIT

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:03:06 PST

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR

DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

4^TH ANNUAL CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SUMMIT

5^th MARCH 2012 (MONDAY)

ROYALE CHULAN HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR

Assalamualaikum W.B.T and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Megat Najmuddin,

Chairman of Asian World Summit;

Distinguished Delegates;

Menbers of the Media;

Honourable Guests.

I’d like to start by expressing my sincere appreciation to the organizing committee and in particular Asian World Summit for their invitation to officiate this 4^th Annual Corporate Governance Summit.

I believe that such summits are an integral part in a big network of vigorous debates on corporate governance that could sprout new ideas on effective corporate governance.

We need to have regular but honest discussions to this end.

Therefore I commend the Asian World Summit for organizing this international event on corporate governance. Perhaps, the confluence of the divergent cultures and economic systems within the Asian hemisphere could produce good if not better ideas on this topic to share with the rest of the world.

I am also delighted that we will hear from the experts on how we can improve on our efforts to enhance corporate governance. That coupled with the presence of a number of prominent entrepreneurs and corporate leaders here today will positively add to the deliberations.

Honourable guests,

Mark Twain said that - “It is curious - curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare”.

It is based on this profound sense of ethics that the Government has pulled out all the stops to do what is right for its citizens and create an environment where justice, ethics and integrity permeates.

I do not intend to speak much less lecture you on the topic of corporate governance of which you have dedicated your careers to. I would prefer to put into context the efforts of the Government to set Malaysia off on the right foot with the rest of the region.

For your information, Vriens & Partners, a Southeast Asia-focused corporate advisory firm specializing in political risk analysis, government affairs and public policy headquartered in Singapore has this to say about Malaysia in its ‘Good Governance for International Business 2011’ report. This report measures good governance based on 6 pillars namely Rule of Law, Openness to International Trade and Business, Political Stability, Taxation, Corruption Perception and Fiscal/Monetary Administration. These said pillars have a major impact on drawing in business and foreign investments.

For starters, Malaysia was ranked at 8^th position in overall performance out of 19 economies among Asia Pacific economies.

Malaysia was ranked 7^th for ‘Rule of Law’ which measures judicial independence, the protection of property rights, the effectiveness of contract enforcement, and the capacity of the legal system to settle business disputes

In terms of ‘Openness to International Trade and Business’ which assesses Government attitudes towards international business entering and operating in domestic markets-Malaysia was ranked 6^th position out of 19 economies. For this pillar, assessment is based on the incentives given to international investors such as dual regulatory regimes, the treatment of international acquisitions, capital controls and the openness of the economy to foreign goods and services.

In terms of ‘Political Stability’ which assesses the consistency of Government policies as well as the possibility of violence or terrorism occurring-Malaysia was ranked 8^th in the Asian region.

Malaysia scored well on ‘Taxation’ which assesses the tax environment in terms of the administrative transparency and efficiency in tax collection along with local taxation rates particularly the corporate tax rate.

In the ‘Corruption’ category that assesses perceptions in the abuse of power or fiduciary duties for personal gain in the public and private sectors be they petty or systemic forms of corruption-Malaysia was ranked 8^th position.

In terms of ‘Fiscal & Monetary Administration’ that assesses the management of state finances and monetary regulation that encourages economic growth and stability, Malaysia was at 8^th position which was a reflection of the stability of her macroeconomic environment and high national savings rate.

Thus, I would like to add that the said findings show that Malaysia has improved its standing in the stated categories even outperforming many other advanced Asian nations. While I don’t mean to discount the achievements of our fellow Asian countries but I think that competition amongst ourselves when it comes to corporate governance or battling corruption is indeed a good thing. I would applaud other countries that improve their rankings against ours.

Distinguished guests,

These results were the culmination of various laws and initiatives instituted by the Government. Allow me to share with you some of the more recent efforts of the Government in fighting graft as well as upholding ethical practices:

· ‘The Code of Business Ethics and Integrity Pledge for SMEs in Malaysia’ (SME Pledge) was introduced to create awareness among SMEs to adopt anti-corruption initiatives. It also allows SMEs to obtain up to date information on anti-corruption measures.

· The SME Pledge recently launched on the 23^rd of December 2011, is a collaborative effort between SME Corp. Malaysia and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC); with the support of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC), Institute of Integrity Malaysia (IIM), Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and Transparency International (TI).

· The MACC is also encouraging Government-linked companies (GLCs) as well as private companies to sign a corporate integrity pledge with the aim of creating a corruption-free business environment. One of the important elements of this pledge is the Corporate Integrity Pact (CIP), intended specifically for companies involved in the procurement of large projects. By virtue of the CIP, both the owner of the project and the prospective bidder will undertake a pledge not to engage in corrupt practices throughout the tender process.

· Furthermore, Malaysia has come up with the Kuala Lumpur Principles which for the moment is intended for the medical device sector. This is a business ethics guideline that will provide companies especially resource constrained SMEs without compliance personnel or adequate ethical procedures with greater clarity on what constitutes appropriate business interactions across the Asia Pacific region. This set of principles for the region’s medical devices industry is the first of its kind and will ultimately improve the quality of patient care, encourage innovation and promote the growth of SMEs that produce medical devices. However, it is our hope that the code of ethics for the medical devices sector will only be the beginning to many more guidelines that will cover all economic sectors in the country.

· For your information, the Government has also undertaken other anti-corruption initiatives such as various internal auditing systems and the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance to mention but a few.

· The MACC has also formed a dedicated division to further reduce the chances of corruption involving government departments, government-linked companies and enforcement agencies. Dubbed the Inspection and Consultation Unit- it is staffed with around 60 well-trained officers specialising in various fields that will identify and propose measures to fight corruption which is getting more complex in nature.

· The Government has also passed the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 to encourage the disclosure of corrupt acts while protecting the informant’s identities. The Malaysian Judiciary has also set up special corruption High Courts as well as Session courts.

Honourable guests,

The fight for better corporate governance and anti-corruption is not merely the realm of the public service. Many people feel that the Government owes a duty to be transparent and ethical to its citizens but that the private sector operates in a vacuum where the free-market or being a capitalist is a licence for entrepreneurs to adopt unethical activities. This is not correct. Both the public service and the private sector must strive for better ethical practices and not seek loopholes around the law and rules. It is not uncommon for business people to employ the best brains be they accountants or lawyers to circumvent corporate governance rules to make profits. Private companies must not indulge in unethical or worse illegal behaviour while competitively bidding for overseas tenders as such acts affect Malaysia’s standing as a whole.

Mark Twain was spot on when he spoke for the need of moral courage. It will certainly take a lot of courage to do what is ethical and the Government is leading the charge.

My fellow Asians,

Let today’s summit be the catalyst for an Asian idea on corporate governance. Asian values have long rested on our sacred religious beliefs, strong family bonds and a concern for the greater good of our communities. Even to this day, we firmly hold on to our values while accepting the good in modernity and rejecting the negative aspects of Western culture. We must never trade those in for what the German historian and philosopher dubbed the “Faustian Civilisation” when he predicted the “The Decline of The West” in his book published in 1918. Indeed, it is undisputable that US capitalism devoid of the fibre of morality or ethics is partly to be blamed for their problems. Spengler charged that the West was on a destructive path in pursuit of money. The EU for that matter shows the world the devastating effects of economic mismanagement of intertwined national economies.

In this context, the US subprime mortgage crisis unravelled the failure if not complicity of an entire regulatory system of checks and balances. How did the likes of Lehman Brothers, Freddie Mac, Fannie May and American International Group carry on for so long what the Federal Bureau of Investigation calls the possibility of fraud? Why didn’t the relevant stakeholders check on their companies’ activities? Were the stakeholders equally greedy? To top it off, the Federal Reserve known to be a stickler for rules facilitated these transgressions and worst still exercised the largest bail out in modern history. These are all examples of how a system can not only discard good governance but actually encourage unethical behaviour.

This brings me back to my earlier point that no amount of rules and regulations can substitute a firm belief in ethics. We have to get our political and economic philosophy correct right off the bat. And we can do this premised on our good Asian values. Asia must develop its own corporate governance policies for this New Asian Century or suffer the same fate currently plaguing Western nations.

I entrust all of you with this enormous task. The future of Asia is bright and let’s keep it that way.

And with that, I take my leave. I wish all participants a pleasant stay in Malaysia. Please do revert back to my office on the findings of this summit and I hope to see you soon.

Thank you.

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS HI-TEA 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:34:17 PST

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR

DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

AT THE

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS HI-TEA 2012

10 FEBRUARY 2012 (FRIDAY)

SME CORP. MALAYSIA, KUALA LUMPUR

Assalamualaikum W.B.T and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Dr. (Ir.) Mohamed Al Amin Abdul Majid,

Chairman of SME Corporation Malaysia;

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Hafsah Hashim,

CEO of SME Corp. Malaysia;

Puan Shamsimar Yusof,

Chairwoman,

Panel of Women Entrepreneurs, SME Corp. Malaysia;

Distinguished Speakers and Moderator; and

Honourable guests,

Before I begin, please allow me to express my sincere appreciation to SME Corporation Malaysia for organising the Women Entrepreneurs Hi-Tea today. Today’s event was proposed by the Honourable Minister, YB Dato’ Sri Mustapha Mohamed last October during the Women Entrepreneurs Luncheon.

2. I am delighted to see the good turnout this afternoon comprising of prominent businesswomen from various industries. Thank you for sparing a portion of your precious time to be with us at this Hi-Tea despite your hectic schedule.

Distinguished guests,

3. Women of today have certainly achieved greater successes in society. A number of prominent women in society come to mind-Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz (Governor of Central Bank of Malaysia), Tan Sri Datuk Zarinah Anwar (Chairman of the Malaysian Securities Commission) and sportswoman such as Datuk Nicol Ann David, the world no. 1 squash player who serves as an inspiration to both men and women and Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza who has also ventured into the business world.

4. In MITI, we have our own Datuk Dr. Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria. In SME Corp, we have our own Dato Hafsah Hashim and in MATRADE we have our own Dr. Wong Lai Sum. All very capable women.

5. I believe that the presence of Malaysian women at the helm of various organisations or in the corporate sector will continue to be the positive trend as women continue to excel in various fields; even in those that were once dominated by men.

Honourable guests,

6. I wish to assure you that the Government will continue to provide support for women through various initiatives that will facilitate your empowerment. As all of you are aware, one of the key agenda in the 10^th Malaysia Plan is the empowerment of women. We will increase our effort towards addressing issues confronting women to enable them to realise their full potential and participate more effectively in the socio-economic development of the country.

7. Further efforts will also be made to improve women’s participation in entrepreneurial activities. This commitment is manifested by the National Key Result Area (NKRA) that has identified the prioritisation of creating 4,000 women entrepreneurs by 2012 by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development.

8. In addition, as announced by the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Y.A.B. Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak on June 2011, the Government is also determined at increasing the number of women in decision making positions. I am sure that most of you are aware that Malaysia’s corporate sector has been given a five year transition period to raise the number of women to at least 30% of women as members of the board of directors.

9. Furthermore, to accord due recognition of the contribution of women to nation-building the inaugural Prime Minister’s Award for Woman Entrepreneur and Social Activist was also introduced in September of 2011.

10. Also, the 2012 Budget allocated RM2.11 billion specifically for programmes to empower women. The details of such initiatives have been made public.

11. Last month, the Cabinet approved the setting up of a Woman Leadership Chair to boost women’s participation in this country’s development. The Chair, to be set up at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) will nurture leadership qualities amongst women in this country.

12. In addition, I was briefed that as at 31 December 2011, a total of 3,440 applications from women-owned companies were approved amounting to RM179.07 million for various types of grants and soft loan schemes under the Special Assistance Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs under SME Corp. This approval recorded an 81% success rate from the total number of applications.

13. The formation of the Panel of Women Entrepreneurs under SME Corp is another step forward for women in Malaysia. This panel’s task is to advise and recommend improvements to current programmes designed for women entrepreneurs carried out by various Govt. ministries or agencies. Among notable programmes of this panel include:

· The National Women Convention held in 2007 and 2009 which was participated by more than 800 participants respectively;

· The National Women Entrepreneurs Award in 2008 and 2009 that provides recognition to the achievements of women entrepreneurs;

· The Directory of Women Entrepreneurs in 2008;

· Outreach programmes such as talks with business personalities and regional workshops for women entrepreneurs.

· The Annual Women Entrepreneurs Luncheon that promotes networking.

14. For women entrepreneurs seeking opportunities in the international market, MATRADE is well-positioned to facilitate export opportunities for them mainly through their programme called Women Exporters Development Programme (WEDP). WEDP can help women SMEs to develop the necessary skills and acquire knowledge to penetrate overseas markets. At present, 71 women-owned companies have been assisted since 2005 to venture abroad.

15. Cyberspace is a truly globalized business platform. For your information, SME Corp. has also engaged the online community to participate in this Hi-Tea. I am told that participations from Yayasan Keusahawanan Sosial (YKS) with its online marketing portal, eMak and also e-Entrepreneurs Women Association Malaysia (eWA) are with us today. Thank you very much for your support.

Cherished participants,

Indra Krishnamurthy Nooyi, the Indian-born American CEO of PepsiCo has this advice which I believe holds true regardless of gender. She said “Leadership is hard to define and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the ends of the earth, you are a great leader.”

16.And before I end my short speech, I would like to once again commend SME Corp for putting together today’s event. I hope that all of you will benefit from this and encourage other women leaders to join in. I wish you all the very best in your future endeavours.

Thank you.

SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS MALAYSIA SDN BHD: FACILITY EXPANSION AND 787 FIXED LEADING EDGE PROGRAMME

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:09:03 PST

SPEECH

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR

DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS MALAYSIA SDN BHD:

FACILITY EXPANSION AND 787 FIXED LEADING EDGE PROGRAMME

9 FEBRUARY 2012 (THURSDAY)

MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE CENTRE (MIAC), SUBANG

Assalamualaikum W.B.T and Salam 1Malaysia.

His Excellency Mr. Paul W. Jones,

United States Ambassador to Malaysia;

Mr. Francis Hiew,

Managing Director of Spirit Malaysia;

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Noharuddin Nordin,

Director-General of MIDA;

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid,

Managing Director of Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad;

Distinguished Guests.

1. Thank you for this invitation to officiate this twin event; the groundbreaking ceremony for Spirit AeroSystems Malaysia’s facility expansion and the launch of the company’s Boeing 787 Fixed Leading Edge (FLE) project.

2. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Paul W. Jones for his support and presence today.

3. In my opinion, both said projects are indicative of how far Malaysia’s aerospace manufacturing industry has progressed. We began in the 70s by providing basic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services to meet the demands and requirements of commercial as well as military aircraft. We have since acquired much experience and expertise. The expansion of Spirit Aerospace Malaysia’s facility here reflects the big strides we have made in this industry.

4. The launch of this company’s FLE project is testament to the high level of skills we have here in the aerospace industry. It also speaks volumes about the level of confidence major manufacturers of aircraft components have in our ability to deliver quality work and services.

5. I am made to understand that this FLE project has to do with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner project. This aircraft is Boeing’s latest high-technology product and Spirit Malaysia is involved in the sub-assembly of carbon composite skins for Boeing 787’s wing structure.

6. We welcome Spirit Aerospace’s decision to locate this new sub-assembly activity here. This project will create more opportunities for Malaysians to acquire new skills at the high-end of the aerospace industry. It will also give local companies the opportunity to be involved in engineering and technology integration of a new generation of sophisticated aircraft.

7. We hope, that with Spirit Aerospace’s increased presence here other global aerospace companies will set up their manufacturing operations in Malaysia.

Distingushed Guests,

8. The Government is fully committed to support the development of this industry. Our National Aerospace Blueprint calls for Malaysia to be developed into a major aerospace player by 2015. We anticipate that aero-manufacturing and MRO services are activities that will grow significantly over the next few years.

9. This growth however needs to be accompanied by increased investments in research and human capital development.

10. Today, most R&D activites in aerospace technology are undertaken collaboratively between industry and research institutions. In this context, the Malaysia Aerospace Council has established the Aerospace Manufacturing Innovation Centre to serve as the focal point for research in advanced aerostructures.

11. As for skills development, programmes such as LEADER Aerospace, a bridging programme with matching funds between the Ministry of Higher Education and Spirit and other aerospace companies will help to ensure a steady supply of professionally certified and highly skilled workers.

12. Thus, the future looks promising for the aerospace industry in the country. I am told that this FLE project is targeted to take off in July. I wish you every success in this venture.

Distinguished Guests,

13. Without further ado, it is my privilege to officiate this groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Spirit AeroSystems Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s new assembly complex and to welcome the company’s Boeing 787 Fixed Leading Edge programme.

Thank you.

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:31:16 PST

Salutations,

YBhg Dato’ Mokd Khalid Harun

President of MATTA & Patron of WITM 2012

Puan Zarinah Hashim

Chairwoman, WITM 2012

Members of the MATTA Executive Council

Members of the Media

Distinguished Guests

Salam 1 Malaysia and Welcome.

First and foremost, allow me to extend my sincere appreciation to the organisers for their kind invitation to my office to officiate this event.

Malaysia has over the past few years, hosted many international events be it in the tourism sector or in other trade and industry sectors. Malaysia has certainly proven itself to be a capable organiser of these world-class events.

With our world-class exhibition and hotel facilities, not to mention other supporting world class infrastructure, Malaysia and especially Kuala Lumpur is fast becoming a preferred trade and exhibition destination. The geographical location of Malaysia located at the mid-point between the southern and northern hemispheres and between Greater Asia and the West with comfortingly warm year-round tropical weather and a stable political and economic environment makes us amongst the world’s preferred event destination.

Thus, coming soon in May & June of 2012, Malaysia will once again play host to an international event, the World Islamic Tourism Mart (WITM 2012) with the objective of enhancing and unlocking the great potential that Muslim tourism has. At the same time, events like WITM 2012 could help in making Malaysia, the Islamic business & tourism hub for this region.

For your information, WITM 2012 is organised by MATTA to cater to the expanding Muslim tourism market not only in this country but worldwide. Muslims make up about 1.6 billion of the world’s population and have over the years become more observant to Islam’s tenets andcertainly more affluent. This has led to a very large consumers’ market that is yet to be fully explored or tapped into. Even travel agents that are not Bumiputra or Muslim owned have set up their own Muslim tour departments.

WHY? Because they too have realised the potential of Muslim tourism. Therefore, I believe that WITM 2012 will help you and the tourism industry to realise this potential to a greater degree.

In my opinion, MATTA with its proven track record for organising successful events will make WITM 2012 the benchmark not only for Muslim tourism but for the local tourism industry as a whole.

Furthermore, WITM 2012 provides an opportunity to network. As such, I would encourage the various tourism industry sectors to network and create new joint-ventures that offer ever more exciting Muslim travel packages. There are still many destinations that could benefit from a unique Muslim sightseeing tour. A good package that includes halal food, the observance and ease of performing the solah as well as visiting historical Islamic sites and meeting other Muslims of different cultures could be a hot seller.

Honourable guests,

The Ministry of International Trade & Industry is proud to lend its support to WITM 2012. We encourage more Malaysian organisations to stage international events of all interests and sizes in Malaysia that will ultimately increase the inflow of visitors and increase the opportunity for Malaysian products and services to be showcased to an international audience.

Undoubtedly, The Muslim tourism market is an emerging market with huge potential. With a global population of 1.6 billion, and a combined GDP of USD 1.8 trillion, the Muslim tourist could reshape tourism as we know it.With that in mind, events like WITM 2012 are indeed heading in the right direction to make Malaysia the preferred business & tourism hub and to tap into the Muslim travel market. Being a majority Muslim country, Malaysia has that advantage in this region and we should look at supporting and participating in events like WITM 2012 so that we do not miss out on this golden opportunity to increase our business trade and lift our local tourism sector further.

In conclusion, WITM 2012 is the next big event happening in Malaysia that is not to be missed! I wish MATTA all the very best and hope to see this event grow in stature over the coming years. I hope to see you soon Insha’Allah.

And with that I officially launch the World Islamic Tourism Mart 2012.

Thank you.

OFFICIATING BMW CONCEPT CARS

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:28:42 PST

SPEECH

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

OFFICIATING BMW CONCEPT CARS

18 JANUARY 2012 (WEDENESDAY)

PAVILLION, KUALA LUMPUR

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Morning and Salam 1Malaysia.

Mr. Geoffrey Briscoe,
Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia;

Members of the Press;

Honourable Guests.

1. First of all I would like to thank BMW Group Malaysia for organising the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics showcase here in Kuala Lumpur and for yet again inviting me to be a part of their innovative efforts here in Malaysia.

2. Despite tumultuous conditions in the global automotive industry over the past few years, I am pleased to report that the state of the Malaysian automotive market remains relatively strong. From January to December 2011, the total vehicle sales amounted to 599,877 units throughout the country compared to the total vehicle sales in 2010 which amounted to 605,156 units.

3. While it is true that this figure represents a modest decrease in the domestic vehicle market, Malaysia was able to demonstrate positive growth during such challenging times in the global industry. This remains to be a testament to the dynamism and resilience of our national economy.

4. Be that as it may, the Malaysian Government is appreciative of the possibility that this year will be one filled with economic challenges. Headwinds in Europe and several other Western countries forewarn of potential downward tendency in global markets which are still wary from the losses of the 2008/2009 recession.

5. To that end, the Malaysian Government has taken numerous steps to insulate the economy from recessionary pressures by promoting local investment as well as technology intensive foreign direct investment. We have also shifted the focus of our export and trade economy to non-traditional markets.

6. For your information, in 2009 the Malaysian Government implemented the National Green Technology policy with the aim of taking the nation into a new era of energy efficiency, economic growth, increased innovation and sustainable development. The key objective outlined by this policy was to ensure sustainable development and to conserve the environment for our future generations.

7. Further to that, to counter the effects of the economic slowdown, the development and adoption of advanced technology would be crucial in ensuring that Malaysia remains on track towards becoming a high-income status nation by the year 2020.

8. In the years to come, innovation and creativity will be key features which ensure that Malaysia will continue to develop itself as reputable manufacturers of advanced technology products. Greater emphasis will be placed on strengthening research & development and in the delivery of innovative products into global markets as a means of enhancing economic growth and national competitiveness.

9. With that objective in mind, the Government has placed significant emphasis on the introduction and development of environmentally friendly products and services which comply with the Green technology standards which have been set by the Government and have become a standard requirement in most Government procurement processes today.

10. Moving forward, we will continue to introduce significant measures to encourage the growth, development and adoption of Green technology. Being a strong passenger and commercial vehicle market, we are particularly keen to explore measures through which Green technology can be introduced to the automotive industry, and with the co-operation of companies such as BMW, we are confident that Malaysia can be developed into a hub for the development and assembly of advanced and environmentally friendly automotive technology.

11. Therefore, we would encourage the use of clean and Green technology alternatives such as Advanced Diesel Technology, Hybrid Technology and Electric Mobility domestically, while also creating strong economic opportunities for the country as an exporter of technologically advanced vehicles throughout Asean and beyond.

12. Today, our efforts in exploring Green technology development in the automotive industry have already born fruit and it is our hope that, with the co-operation of companies such as BMW, we will be able to explore new measures through which further opportunities in automotive sustainability can be implemented.

Honourable Guests,

13. It is encouraging to see a multinational such as BMW taking proactive steps towards introducing and improving alternative energy solutions for the local automotive industry. As the world’s leader in automotive sustainability, BMW’s efforts have not only led to significant contributions to the preservation of the world’s resources and environment but have fostered greater awareness of the development of sustainable technologies right here in Malaysia.

14. The positive impact which BMW has had towards the environment, and towards the growth of a sustainable automotive industry, through its comprehensive BMW EfficientDynamics strategy is a sterling example of what can be accomplished by private or non-government entities that display high levels of innovation and initiative as well as a genuine concern for the societies which they serve.

15. We welcome BMW Group Malaysia’s continuing emphasis on sustainability and support for the Green revolution. For our part, the Malaysian Government has been offering a comprehensive mix of fiscal incentives, duty exemptions and R&D grants to support further investments in the production of hybrid and electric vehicles in Malaysia. For example, in the Budget 2012, the Government has given full exemption of import duty and excise duty on hybrid cars and electric cars until end of 2013.

16. Therefore, it is our hope that BMW will choose to explore the possibility of introducing the manufacture and assembly of these vehicles in Malaysia soon.

17. The BMW Group’s BMW EfficientDynamics strategy is a demonstration of the possibilities and opportunities to be discovered with the power of innovation. It is my aspiration that other corporate entities from both Malaysia and abroad will emulate the commitment, initiative and concern for the societies which they serve. I would like to once again commend BMW for its bold, imaginative and passionate efforts.

18. As Henry Ford put it – “A business that makes nothing but money, is a poor business”.

19. With that I would like to thank BMW Group Malaysia once again for their kind invitation and without further ado announce the official launch of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics showcase here in Kuala Lumpur.

Thank you.

RE: SME Pledge.

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:48:13 PST

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR

DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

AT THE

LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF SME PLEDGE

23 DECEMBER 2011 (FRIDAY)

KL SENTRAL, KUALA LUMPUR

Assalamualaikum W.B.T and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seri Hj Abu Kassim Bin Mohamed,

Chief Commissioner of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC);

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Sutinah Sutan,

Deputy Chief Commissioner of Prevention Section MACC;

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Hafsah Hashim,

CEO of SME Corp. Malaysia;

Members of the Media;

Distinguished Guests.

1. First and foremost, please allow me to extend my appreciation to SME Corp. and the MACC for inviting me here today to be part of the launching of the SME Pledge.

Honourable Guests,

2. The business world today faces a grave concern focusing on corruption. The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), including the micro enterprises face a serious challenge of fighting corruption in their cycle of growing and sustaining their business.

3. At the recent APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA in November, the Leaders were unanimous in their opinion that transparency and good governance are key factors in ensuring long-term economic competitiveness leading to sustainable economic growth and prosperity. The Leaders were also supportive towards efforts to increase public trust by fighting corruption and by committing themselves to transparent and accountable governance.

4. Malaysia, in particular, came up with the Kuala Lumpur Principles (intended for the medical device sector) a business ethics guideline that will provide companies especially resource constrained SMEs without compliance personnel or adequate ethical procedures with greater clarity of what constitutes appropriate business interactions across the APEC region.

Honourable Guests,

5. This set of principles for the region’s medical devices industry is the first of its kind and will ultimately improve the quality of patient care, encourage innovation and promote the growth of SMEs that produce medical devices. However, it is our hope that the code of ethics for the medical devices sector will only be the beginning to many more guidelines that will cover all economic sectors in the country.

6. We acknowledge that corruption is a problem to be dealt with in our country. We also recognize the dangers that corruption poses to our economic growth and prosperity. It is for this reason that the KL Principles is adopted to promote anti-corruption practices in both the business dealings or corporate lifestyle of our SMEs. Surely, instances of corruption can be reduced if the Rakyat, public servants, business people and politicians perceive it as a ‘high-risk, low-reward’ activity. This education of society on the evils of corruption rests on the premise that a corrupt individual is likely to be caught and punished severely.

7. For your information, the Government has also undertaken other anti-corruption initiatives such as various internal auditing systems and the Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance to mention but a few. In this context, today’s SME Pledge, is just one of the very many initiatives taken to create awareness amongst our local SMEs and to make it known that the Government disapproves of unethical business transactions and neither do we condone corrupt practices.

8. Furthermore, I am told that the MACC has formed a dedicated division to further reduce the chances of corruption involving government departments, government-linked companies and enforcement agencies. Dubbed the Inspection and Consultation Unit- it is staffed with around 60 well-trained officers specialising in various fields that will identify and propose measures to fight corruption which is getting more complex in nature.

9. In addition, the Government has also formulated the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 to encourage the disclosure of corrupt acts while protecting the informant’s identities. The Malaysian Judiciary has also set up special corruption High Courts as well as Session courts.

10. On the whole, the Government has implemented numerous other initiatives to stop corruption. Perhaps too many to list here.

8. Rest assured, that Malaysia will soldier on and fight corruption with our arsenal of dedicated agencies such as the MACC that we have armed with effective laws. Starting with and not exclusive to this SME Pledge, Malaysia will continue to work towards reducing corruption across all sectors of our economy.

9. In this regard, I have no hesitation to lend my support to and affirm this SME Pledge initiative. I thus call upon all SMEs to participate in this initiative to ensure transparent business relations for the sake of long-term economic competitiveness which could lead to overall sustainable economic growth and prosperity for the Rakyat.

Distinguished guests,

11. Let’s address the elephant in the room. I am aware that there is a general feeling that the big crooks escape prosecution while only the small fish fry. Let’s be candid about this subject. Although the MACC has good reason to dispute this perception based on case history and statistics-it remains that the Rakyat is unconvinced. To educate the public on the evils of corruption we must create the confidence in people that powerful politicians or individuals of influence are treated no less different from the ordinary citizen or that it is only the lower rank public servants or minor political figures that are prosecuted. This applies to big corporations who shouldn’t be given any special treatment in comparison to SMEs on this issue of corruption. Creating public confidence and trust with regards to anti-corruption initiatives is also a perception battle. Therefore, I urge the MACC to do more to discard this perception. Until the Rakyat is reasonably convinced can our efforts be of greater impact.

However, let us bear in mind that as more arrests or prosecutions are carried out by the MACC, the Rakyat’s negative perception on corruption in Malaysia may be reinforced. The point is that as more corrupt activities are uncovered it unfortunately adversely affects our perception of the prevalence of corruption in Malaysia instead of positively shaping our view of the MACC’s efforts in reducing corruption. Perhaps this contributes towards the drop by four places to 60th place Malaysia's ranking in the Corruption Perception Index by Transparency International. It is again unfortunate that when such an index findings is made public, the perception perpetuated by some unscrupulous parties is lay the blame solely on the Govt's shoulders when the CPI actually pertains to private sector indiscretions overseas. So, in this context let us be fair to those entrusted with this fight against graft.

Thank you

SEMPENA MAJLIS PENYAMPAIAN SIJIL PERSEKITARAN BERKUALITI (5S)

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:05:29 PST

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx

SEMPENA MAJLIS PENYAMPAIAN SIJIL PERSEKITARAN BERKUALITI (5S)

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
TIMBALAN MENTERI
PERDAGANGAN ANTARABANGSA DAN INDUSTRI

SEMPENA MAJLIS PENYAMPAIAN
SIJIL PERSEKITARAN BERKUALITI (5S)

22 DISEMBER 2011 (KHAMIS)

KULIM TECHNOLOGY PARK CORPORATION SDN. BHD.

ASSALAMUALAIKUM W.B.T DAN SALAM 1MALAYSIA.

YANG BERUSAHA TUAN HAJI MOHAMAD SOBRI BIN OSMAN,
PRESIDEN KULIM TECHNOLOGY PARK CORPORATION SDN. BHD;

YANG BERBAHAGIA DATO’ MOHD RAZALI HUSSAIN,
KETUA PENGARAH PERBADANAN PRODUKTIVITI MALAYSIA;

WAKIL-WAKIL INDUSTRI, KETUA-KETUA ORGANISASI,

TUAN-TUAN DAN PUAN-PUAN YANG DIHORMATI SEKALIAN.

1. TERLEBIH DAHULU SAYA INGIN MENGUCAPKAN RIBUAN TERIMA KASIH KEPADA PERBADANAN PRODUKTIVITI MALAYSIA (MPC) KERANA TELAH MENJEMPUT SAYA KE MAJLIS PENYAMPAIAN SIJIL AMALAN PERSEKITARAN BERKUALITI ATAU ‘QE’ UNTUK KULIM TECHNOLOGY PARK CORPORATION SDN. BHD. DAN 3 BUAH ANAK SYARIKATNYA IAITU KULIM GOLF & COUNTRY RESORT SDN BHD, KULIM TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT SDN BHD DAN KULIM BIO RESOURCE CORP SDN BHD.

TUAN-TUAN DAN PUAN-PUAN SEKALIAN,

2. DALAM DUNIA PERNIAGAAN YANG SANGAT KOMPETITIF PADA MASA KINI, ORGANISASI SWASTA KHASNYA TERPAKSA BERLUMBA-LUMBA UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KUALITI DAN TAHAP KEPUASAN PELANGGAN SERTA MENGURANGKAN KOS OPERASI. SALAH SATU USAHA PENAMBAHBAIKAN YANG TELAH DIAPLIKASIKAN DI BANYAK NEGARA-NEGARA MAJU ADALAH MELALUI AMALAN PERSEKITARAN BERKUALITI ATAUPUN LEBIH DIKENALI SEBAGAI 5S.

3. AMALAN ‘QE’ YANG UMUMNYA BERASAL DARI NEGARA JEPUN TELAH DIPOPULARKAN OLEH HIROYUKI HIRANO PADA SEKITAR 1980AN. PADA PERINGKAT AWAL IANYA DIPERKENALKAN UNTUK SEKTOR PEMBUATAN. ‘QE’ PADA HARI INI TELAH DIAMALKAN OLEH LEBIH DARIPADA 50 BUAH NEGARA DI SERATA DUNIA.

4. ORGANISASI–ORGANISASI GERGASI DUNIA SEPERTI TOYOTA, IKEA DAN GENERAL MOTOR TELAH LAMA MELAKSANAKAN AMALAN QE INI DAN IANYA TERBUKTI MEMBERIKAN KESAN YANG SUNGGUH MEMBERANGSANGKAN. SELAIN DARIPADA MEMBERI MANFAAT DALAM MENGURANGKAN KOS OPERASI ORGANISASI, AMALAN ‘QE’ JUGA TERBUKTI DAPAT MENGURANGKAN PEMBAZIRAN DAN MEMBANTU AKTIVITI LESTARI HIJAU (GREEN SUSTAINABILITY) DAN AKTIVITI 3R (REDUCE, RECYCLE AND REUSE OF THE ENVIRONMENT). PENDEKATAN INI ADALAH SELARAS DENGAN LANGKAH KERAJAAN UNTUK MEWUJUDKAN PERSEKITARAN HIJAU DAN MENGGALAKKAN INISIATIF TEKNOLOGI HIJAU.

5. AMALAN PERSEKITARAN BERKUALITI INI JUGA SERINGKALI DIKAITKAN DENGAN KECEKAPAN DAN PELAKSANAAN KERJA YANG LEBIH BAIK, MUDAH DAN CEKAP. AMALAN QE JUGA DAPAT MENINGKATKAN DAYA KREATIVITI DAN INOVASI PARA PEKERJA UNTUK PENINGKATAN KUALITI KERJA DAN PENAMBAHBAIKAN PRODUK YANG DIHASILKAN. MELALUI PENDEKATAN QE SECARA TIDAK LANGSUNG BOLEH MENINGKATKAN DAYA SAING SYARIKAT. DI SAMPING ITU, IA JUGA DAPAT MEMUPUK SEMANGAT KERJA BERPASUKAN YANG TINGGI SERTA MENINGKATKAN MORAL PEKERJA.

TUAN-TUAN DAN PUAN-PUAN SEKALIAN,

6. MENURUT LAPORAN GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS 2011-2012 (GCR) OLEH WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM (WEF), MALAYSIA BERADA DI KEDUDUKAN YANG KE-21 BERBANDING DENGAN TAHUN 2010, DIMANA MALAYSIA BERADA DI KEDUDUKAN YANG KE-26. WALAUPUN TERDAPAT PENINGKATAN DARI SEGI PRESTASI NAMUN SAYA KIRA MASIH BANYAK LAGI USAHA YANG PERLU DILAKUKAN UNTUK MEMBOLEHKAN KITA BERADA DI TANGGA 10 TERATAS. PENCETUSAN IDEA MELALUI INOVASI UNTUK MEMBERI NILAI TAMBAH PRODUK, PROSES DAN PENGGUNAAN TEKNOLOGI YANG TERKINI PERLU DIGIATKAN LAGI. BEGITU JUGA DENGAN KAEDAH KITA BERURUSAN DENGAN PELANGGAN LUAR TERUTAMANYA PELABUR PERLU DIBERIKAN FOKUS UTAMA. INI MEMANDANGKAN MALAYSIA MEMPUNYAI PRASARANA YANG CUKUP BAIK SEPERTI YANG TERDAPAT DI KULIM TECHNOLOGY PARK INI.

7. BAGI MEMASTIKAN PELAKSANAAN AMALAN ‘QE’ INI DIBERIKAN TUMPUAN DAN MEMASTIKANNYA DIJALANKAN BERTERUSAN, PELBAGAI PROGRAM PENGIKTIRAFAN DIPERKENALKAN, CONTOHNYA DALAM BENTUK PEMBERIAN SIJIL DAN ANUGERAH. MPC JUGA ADA MENGANJURKAN KONVENSYEN ‘QE’ UNTUK MEWAR-WARKAN AMALAN TERBAIK DI KALANGAN ORGANISASI PELAKSANA ‘QE’. PEMBERIAN ANUGERAH DAN PENGIKTIRAFAN JUGA TURUT DIBERIKAN BAGI SYARIKAT PENGAMAL ‘QE’ DI LUAR NEGARA SEPERTI DI JEPUN. CONTOHNYA, JAPAN INSTITUTE OF PLANT MAINTENANCE MEMPERKENALKAN TOTAL PREVENTIVE MAINTAINTENANCE (TPM) EXCELLENT AWARD. PENGIKTIRAFAN YANG SAMA JUGA TURUT DIBERIKAN DI NEGARA-NEGARA SEPERTI KOREA SELATAN, UNITED KINGDOM, THAILAND, PERANCIS DAN SINGAPURA. DI MALAYSIA, KITA MEMPERKENALKAN PERSIJILAN ‘QE’ DI SAMPING MENGANJURKAN KONVENSYEN ‘QE’ PERINGKAT WILAYAH DAN KEBANGSAAN.

8. SAYA DIMAKLUMKAN SEHINGGA NOVEMBER PADA TAHUN 2011, MPC TELAH MEMPERSIJILKAN SEBANYAK 532 ORGANISASI YANG MELAKSANAKAN AMALAN PERSEKITARAN BERKUALITI, DI MANA SEBANYAK 313 MEWAKILI SEKTOR KERAJAAN MANAKALA 158 DARI SWASTA DI MANA SEBANYAK 61 SYARIKAT ADALAH DARI PERUSAHAAN KECIL DAN SEDERHANA (PKS). JUMLAH PENYERTAAN DARI SEKTOR KERAJAAN TELAH BERTAMBAH MEMANDANGKAN QE TELAH MENJADI SALAH SATU DARI KEPERLUAN YANG DIGUNAKAN UNTUK PENILAIAN ‘STAR RATING’ OLEH PIHAK MAMPU. INI MENUNJUKKAN BAHAWA QE INI BOLEH DIAPLIKASIKAN DIMANA SAHAJA BUKAN HANYA TERTUMPU DI SEKTOR PEMBUATAN MALAHAN UNTUK SEKTOR PERKHIDMATAN. SAYA MENYERU SUPAYA LEBIH BANYAK PKS UNTUK MENGAMALKAN QE YANG MANA SELARAS DENGAN INISIATIF MPC UNTUK MENGGALAKKAN LEBIH BANYAK SYARIKAT TERLIBAT DALAM AMALAN ‘QE’ MELALUI ‘ENTERPRISE INNOVATION INTERVENTION PROGRAMME (EIIP)’ ANJURAN MPC.

9. UNTUK MEMASTIKAN KESINAMBUNGAN PROGRAM ‘QE’ INI, MPC SETERUSNYA AKAN MEMPERKENALKAN PROGRAM ‘LEAN QE’ YANG MENEKANKAN KEPADA PELAKSANAAN PENGUKURAN DAN PRODUKTIVITI MENYELURUH BAGI MENENTUKAN IMPAK KEPADA PELANGGAN ADALAH LEBIH TINGGI.

TUAN-TUAN DAN PUAN-PUAN SEKALIAN,

10. AKHIR KATA, SAYA INGIN MENGUCAPKAN SYABAS DAN TAHNIAH KEPADA KULIM TECHNOLOGY PARK CORPORATION SDN. BHD. DAN KESEMUA 3 ANAK SYARIKATNYA YANG TELAH BERJAYA MENDAPAT PENSIJILAN ‘QE’. SEMOGA USAHA PENAMBAHBAIKAN BERTERUSAN DALAM BIDANG KUALITI, PRODUKTIVITI DAN JUGA ELEMEN LESTARI (SUSTAINABILITY) SEPERTI ‘CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY’ AKAN DITERUSKAN UNTUK MENJADIKAN SEMUA ANAK SYARIKAT DI BAWAH KULIM TECHNOLOGY PARK LEBIH KOMPETITIF DAN BERDAYA SAING DI MASA HADAPAN. ADALAH MENJADI HARAPAN SAYA JUGA AGAR AMALAN ‘QE’ INI DAPAT DILAKSANAKAN OLEH SEMUA ORGANISASI DI KAWASAN PERINDUSTRIAN KULIM DAN KEDAH AMNYA. MEMETIK KATA-KATA ARISTOTLE, ‘QUALITY IS NOT AN ACT, IT’S A HABIT’. SYABAS SEKALI LAGI DAN SEKIAN, TERIMA KASIH.

INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE SIGNING CEREMONY SECRET RECIPE CAKES & CAFÉ with SECRET RECIPE RESTAURANTS INDIA PVT. LTD & FABA GLOBAL GROUP CO., LTD, CAMBOD

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:04:34 PST

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx

INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE SIGNING CEREMONY SECRET RECIPE CAKES & CAFÉ with SECRET RECIPE RESTAURANTS INDIA PVT. LTD & FABA GLOBAL GROUP CO., LTD, CAMBODIA

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE SIGNING CEREMONY
SECRET RECIPE CAKES & CAFÉ
with
SECRET RECIPE RESTAURANTS INDIA PVT. LTD &
FABA GLOBAL GROUP CO., LTD, CAMBODIA

19 DECEMBER 2011 (MONDAY)

MECC HALL, MATRADE

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Afternoon and Salam 1Malaysia.

His Excellency Mr. Sevala Naik,
Deputy High Commissioner of High Commission of India;

Mr. Puth Hemonna,
Counsellor of Trade of Royal Embassy of Cambodia;
Dato’ Steven Sim,
Chief Executive Officer of Secret Recipe Cakes & Café Malaysia;

Mr. Chelikam Rajashekara Reddy and Mr. Ganesan KP Vijayan,
Directors of Secret Recipe Restaurants India Pvt. Ltd;

Mr. Luu Meng and Mr Ung Lyheng,
Directors of Faba Global Group Co., Ltd Cambodia;

Dr. Wong Lai Sum,
CEO of MATRADE;

Senior Directors Representatives from MATRADE;

Senior Representatives from Malaysia Franchise Association (MFA);

Senior Representatives from Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association (MRCA);

Senior Officers from MITI;

Members of the Media;

Distinguished Guests.

1. First and foremost, please allow me to extend my appreciation to Secret Recipe Cakes & Café Malaysia for having me here to witness the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Secret Recipe Cakes & Café with Secret Recipe Restaurants India Pvt Ltd and, and Faba Global Group Co. Ltd Cambodia and to officiate this significant occasion.

2. The signing of these two memoranda will be a very positive boost in encouraging local brands, SMEs and companies to take similar paths. The collaboration between these companies represent the type of partnerships that we hope to see more of in the future. That is, partnerships that will bring together local enterprises and foreign investors, so that all parties can benefit from the cross provisions of best practices and trades.

Distinguished Guests,

3. Secret Recipe has been one of Malaysian’s favourite household names for many years now and has never failed to please and tempt our taste buds especially with its award-winning cheese cakes. In fact, Dato’ Steven has informed me that next year will be their 15th Anniversary. For the last 14 years, I believe many Malaysian families have grown up with this brand. We are proud to have such a strong brand with great products, born and bred in Malaysia.

4. I recall when I was involved in building the franchise industry through MFA a few years ago, Secret Recipe was growing its outlets steadily and had about 150 outlets at that time, and today they have grown to more than 211 outlets in Malaysia itself and another 76 outlets overseas. Their overseas outlets are also expanding quickly to fill the gaps in China; I believe there are 12 outlets in Shanghai and another 6 outlets in Melbourne, Australia.

5. For your information, over the last decade the local franchise industry enjoyed a healthy pace of growth between 10 per cent and 15 per cent each year.

6. As a matter of fact, the franchise industry currently contributes about 6 per cent to our country's retail sector revenue, while in the US and Australia franchises contribute more than 50 per cent. Therefore, it is evident that there is great potential and room for growth in this sector locally.

7. In this context, the Government is giving a lot of focus to SMEs and the franchise industry in line with the ETP (Economic Transformation Programme) to achieve key economic objectives. An example of support in this area will be The National Franchise Development Blueprint which has been finalised and launched recently to spur the franchise industry to greater heights.

Honourable Guests,

8. As franchise penetration to overseas markets is expected to grow between 10 per cent and 25 per cent next year especially among Asian countries-developing countries in high gear like India and Cambodia are both on the radar screens of global companies and businesses looking for expansion. Their anticipated economic growth, demographics expansion and robust GDP trends makes for a robust and very attractive consumers market. Thus, Secret Recipes venture into these markets is timely.

9. Secret Recipe’s strength lies in its branding, product positioning and franchise expansion that has opened many doors and possibilities for its ventures into the international arena. Though operating via the café chain outlets, through the franchise concept, Secret Recipe is able to also create further exports and trade from its manufacturing of food products to their overseas franchisees under the franchise system.

10. Consequently, Secret Recipe’s venture to overseas markets have increased their own manufacturing and productions activities from their base here in Malaysia as export volumes sharply increase as they now supply their own products to ten countries. Secret Recipe’s 360 degrees franchise and business model that includes managing the supply chain, manufacturing, export trade and franchise is truly commendable. Well done.

Honourable Guests,

11. Without further ado, I would like to thank you for joining me this afternoon and I commend all parties involved and wish you great success in your partnerships. Before I take my leave, I would like to once again thank the organisers for their kind invitation. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to His Excellency Sevala Naik for his support.

12. And with this I end my short speech with a quote – ‘Life has no limitations, except the ones you make’.

Thank you.

‘Q-CELLS IN FOCUS: A WORLD OF SUNSHINE’

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:06:18 PST

SPEECH

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR

DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

‘Q-CELLS IN FOCUS: A WORLD OF SUNSHINE’

8 DECEMBER 2011 (THURSDAY)

SELANGOR SCIENCE PARK 2, CYBERJAYA, SELANGOR D.E

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Morning and Salam 1Malaysia.

Mr. Franz Vollmann,

Managing Director of Q-Cells Malaysia;

Mr. Iruthaya Das Arulanadam,

Finance Director of Q-Cells Malaysia;

Mr. Hannes Behacker,

Senior Vice President of Asia-Pacific/Middle East, Q-Cells SE;

Members of the Media; and

Honourable Guests.

1. Firstly, I would like to thank Q-Cells for inviting me to officiate this event here today, named ‘Q-Cells in Focus: A World of Sunshine’.

2. It is indeed a pleasure for me to be back here again, as I had visited the Q-Cells manufacturing plant a few months back and had been very impressed by their technology, their emphasis on quality and the way the production activities are operated.

3. Personally, I am all for pushing forward the development of Green Technologies (GT) in Malaysia, and am confident that the solar industry has big potential in the local market as well as in the region.

4. As you are aware, the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program for renewable energy was implemented on 1^st of December. This marks the beginning of a new era for renewable energy and Green technologies in Malaysia.

5. Today, we are gathered here at the premises of Q-Cells, one of the leading PV companies worldwide. I am told that apart from its manufacturing facility in Thalheim, Germany, where the company’s headquarters are located, the manufacturing facility in Malaysia is the group’s second production plant.

6. I have been informed that Q-Cells have chosen Malaysia out of 30 countries to invest in. The Malaysian Government is delighted to have a technological leader which holds four world records for technologies it has created and made available to the world of PV -to establish its presence here in Malaysia, thus enabling the hoped transfer of knowledge & expertise and making its high-quality products easily accessible to the local PV market.

7. To date, with its manufacturing facility, state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, technology and knowledge transfer as well as continuous optimisation activities, the Q-Cells Group has invested close to RM1.5 billion in Malaysia.

8. Malaysia’s economy and population is growing and this has brought about an increasing energy demand along with sustainability and environmental issues. Since we are all; globally faced with finite energy resources and would also like to significantly reduce our CO2 emission, we will have to quickly take into consideration and manage the aspects of energy generation as the country strives towards a high-income economy.

9. With the recently passed Renewable Energy Act and Sustainable Energy Development Act, Malaysia has shifted its fuel mix from the 4-fuel strategy consisting of gas, coal, hydropower and oil to include renewable energy.

10. Malaysia has had the advantage of being more or less insulated against global fuel price fluctuation that has occurred in the past years. However, with fossil fuels depleting fast, the decision for a renewable energy of the future has to be made wisely. Malaysia, with its abundance of sunlight, is in an excellent position to make solar PV a very viable form of generating energy.

11. However, to build up a solid and high-quality solar industry in the local market, we need accurate data, we need proven technological know-how and we need technical expertise. Q-Cells to my mind offers experience of 3GW of built-up installations using its cell technology and about 500 MW of PV systems installed by Q-Cells as a system integrator.

12. We have heard from Mr. Vollmann that the new Q-Cells Solar Testfield provides performance data on various solar technologies, (for example, crystalline and thin film), used in the tropical climate. The analyses of these will bring the Malaysian solar market a step up and I understand that these data will also be made available to interested customers and business partners.

Distinguished Guests,

13. I would be remiss in my duties if I did not share with you some of the wonderful initiatives undertaken by the Government to incentivise the renewable energy industry.

· Firstly, you could apply for Pioneer Status which exempts you 100% from paying income tax of statutory income for a period of 10 years.

· Investment tax allowance of 100% on the qualifying capital expenditure incurred within a period of 5 years.

· Exemption from import duty and sales tax on imported machinery, equipment, materials, components, spare parts/replacement parts and consumables (as per section 14(2) Customs Act 1967).

· Exemption from sales tax on machinery, equipment, materials, components, spare parts/replacement parts and consumables purchased from local manufacturers (as per section 10 Sales Tax Act 1972).

· Under the Budget 2009 and 2011, Import duty and sales tax exemption on solar photovoltaic system equipment for the usage by third parties are given to importers, including photovoltaic services providers approved by the Energy Commission.

· Sales tax exemption on the purchase of solar heating system equipment from local manufacturers.

· These incentives are effective for applications received from 30 August 2008 till 31 December 2012.

14. For your information, at present a total of 101 projects benefitting from the said incentives have been approved. These projects are anticipated to generate approximately 530MW electricity from biomass and mini hydro, 187.22 KWP electricity from solar, 804,000 ton steam, 1,400 GJ heat and 1,000 RT chilled water. In this context, the new Renewable Energy (RE) policy will transform Malaysia to become a leader in renewable energy and also in Green technology applications.

15. In this way, Malaysia will progress into a nation that is able to satisfy its own energy needs from indigenous RE resources, be independent from fuel imports, a be a leader in Green technology development while able to conserve its natural environment so that it can also be enjoyed by future generations.

16. A sustainable local RE industry could help mitigate green house gas emissions due to power generation from fossil fuel while creating a new source of economic activity for the country. It is envisaged the new RE policy will put Malaysia on the forefront of ASEAN countries to pursue Green technology aggressively towards a sustainable future for our country.

17. Also, this policy aims to enhance the utilisation of indigenous RE resources to contribute towards national electricity supply security and sustainable socioeconomic development.

18. Allow me to crystallise the objectives of this policy. It is to:

· increase RE contribution in the national power generation mix;

· facilitate the growth of the RE industry;

· ensure reasonable RE generation costs;

· conserve the environment for future generations; and

· enhance awareness on the role and importance of RE.

19. Therefore, the Government has established the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) to administer and manage the implementation of the feed-in tariff mechanism which is mandated under the Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 725).

20. You may also be interested to know that the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Programme functions as a support mechanism to the RE policy which allows electricity that is produced from indigenous RE resources to be sold to power utilities at a fixed premium price and for a specific duration.

21. For companies to generate electricity from RE resources there are 2 types of licenses:

· Public License (for sale to utility provider) e.g. TNB and SESB; and

· Private License (for own consumption).

22. Foreign equity allowed for FiT programme is up to 49 percent. Please do access www.seda.gov.my for further information.

Honourable Guests,

23. Before I take my leave, I would urge you to take advantage of this opportunity at this event to share and gain from discussions. We look forward to your contribution to help develop Malaysia into a leading hub in the region for the solar industry and to pave the ‘Green’ way for the country into the future. I would also like to once again thank the organisers for their kind invitation.

24. With that, I hereby officially declare today’s event, Q-Cells in Focus: A World of Sunshine officially open and wish all guests of Q-Cells an informative and fruitful event. I wish the Management of Q-Cells with all its staff success in helping to shape the future of solar energy in Malaysia.

Thank you.

GRADUATION CEREMONY OF SME@UKM PROGRAMME

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:52:04 PST

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx?v=148

GRADUATION CEREMONY OF SME@UKM PROGRAMME

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

GRADUATION CEREMONY OF SME@UKM PROGRAMME

21 NOVEMBER 2011 (MONDAY)

DANAU GOLF CLUB, BANGI

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, a very good afternoon and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Professor Dr. Saran Kaur Gill,
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Industry & Community Partnerships,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM);

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Hafsah Hashim,
CEO of SME Corporation Malaysia;

Mr. Sumiya Hayashi,
President of Tokyo SME University of Japan;

Excellencies and Distinguished Guests.
2. First of all, let us praise the Almighty that with his blessings, we are able to gather here today. I am pleased to be here this afternoon at this highly exciting event and I would like to thank all present for taking your time off your busy schedule to witness the achievements made under the SME@University Programme.

3. I am delighted to note that today 21 CEOs from 21 SMEs will be graduating from the SME@University Programme which commenced on 25 June this year, at University Kebangsaan Malaysia. As all of you are aware, the SME@University Programme is a programme aimed at enhancing the management skills of entrepreneurs, towards developing capable CEOs of SMEs. This programme which is based on the Japan SME University’s Programme model, is a coordinated and concerted effort of five parties, namely SME Corp. Malaysia, Human Resource Development Corporation which also known as Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB), SME Support of Japan and UKM-Centre for Entrepreneurship and SMEs Development (UKM- CESMED).

4. As for the SME CEOs, who participated in this 3 month programme, I am sure that they would have acquired better and deeper insights on the different perspectives of doing business, including creative marketing, appropriate finance and accounting standards, business growth strategies and innovation, which are key requisites for world class CEOs.

5. I believe that they would have also equipped themselves with the updated business tools to be applied in their businesses. Over the time they spent together with fellow CEOs, I am sure they would have the privilege of sharing knowledge and experiences, thus enriching their body of knowledge, while developing new capabilities. What makes this a very interesting experience is that, these pioneer group of ‘students’ who are CEOs of companies, have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in doing business, at classes in a university campus environment, mingling around with a top-notch professors, PHD students and industry players. Indeed, SME@University is an apt description of this unique programme.

Honourable Guests,

6. I understand that it is not easy for the CEOs to spend time away from business. For this I would like to applaud the ‘pioneer students’ of the SME@University Programme for their perseverance to complete this Programme, and if not for their strong will, they would not have been here with us today. It is definitely not easy to juggle between studies, managing a family and running a business. For your information, come rain or shine, these ‘students’ have worked their way to UKM every Saturday without fail to fulfil the requirements of this programme. And mind you, these ‘students’ did not come from within Klang Valley but from all over the country such as Kelantan and Johor. A lot of sacrifice has been made and as I pointed out earlier, and without persistence, their success would not have been possible. As the Japanese proverb says, ‘fall seven times, stand up eight’.

7. In this regard, I am happy to share with all of you on the outcome of SME@UKM. As I mentioned earlier, a total of 21 CEOs have participated in this programme, and after going through the 3 months course, I am pleased to inform that out of the 21 CEOs, three have taken a step further by enrolling themselves in the MBA program at UKM and another CEO has pursued her MBA at the University of Hull, United Kingdom. This is a good indicator of this programme, demonstrating that a balance approach of theoretical and practical lessons through semi-coaching and semi-consulting process have very much benefitted the participants of this programme. Over and above, I believe this programme has brought about a positive change in mindsets of these entrepreneurs on doing business. The ability of entrepreneurs, being able to look at business using different perspectives means that they are able to innovate thus bringing their business to greater heights.

8. In recognising the importance of continuous learning among the SMEs, I am pleased to inform that SME Corp. Malaysia is looking into the possibility to offer to all the ‘pioneer students’ of SME@UKM, enrolment in the ‘General Management Programme’, under the Cambridge Judge Business School. This intensely practical, skills-based programme will equip you with the understanding on integrating marketing, operations and strategy from a strategic business perspective. This two-week Programme, in Kuala Lumpur, will also enable you to develop your management skills and knowledge, alongside selected and highly motivated international peer group. Do let us know if you are interested.

Distinguished Guests,

9. This SME@UKM programme would not have been a reality without the unwavering efforts contributed by all parties involved. With this I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Professor Dr. Mohd. Fauzi Mohd. Jani, Director of Center for Entrepreneurship & SME Development (UKM-CESMED) and his team: Associate Professor Dr. Tih Sio Hong, Associate Professor Zaimah Darawi, Mr. Radzuan Rahid and their fellow professors and lecturers. Their dedication and tireless efforts has brought about fruition to this initiative. Thank you all again.

10. I’m sure all of you agree that an excellent initiative such as this should not just end here. We will strengthen the ties between SME Corp, the academia and industry players by working hand in hand again with other centres of excellence such as UiTM, UPM, UMK and UIAM. I was made to understand that the next SME@University is scheduled to kick-off at UiTM in January 2012, followed by UPM in February, UMK in April and UIAM in June 2012. I am delighted to mention that today, MITI and SME Corp is honoured to hand over the torch to the UiTM to initiate the implementation of SME@UiTM in 2012.

Distinguished Guests,

11. Before I conclude, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone involved especially PSMB for supporting the funding of the programme, to UKM as the pilot and prime content developers of the program module and SME Support of Japan for facilitating the collaboration in making this, a success! Not forgetting, to the ‘pioneer graduates’ of SME@UKM, Congratulations! You made it! Last but not least, it is my fervent hope that many more SMEs out there will come on board this programme next year. With that, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours!

Thank you.

OFFICIATING FIRST SOLAR (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD: 3000 WATT PANEL PRODUCTION

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:51:09 PST

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx?v=148

Wednesday November 16, 2011

OFFICIATING FIRST SOLAR (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD: 3000 WATT PANEL PRODUCTION

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

OFFICIATING FIRST SOLAR (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD:
3000 WATT PANEL PRODUCTION

16 NOVEMBER 2011 (WEDNESDAY)

KULIM HI-TECH, KEDAH

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Morning and Salam 1Malaysia.

Mr. P'ng Soo Hong,
Managing Director of First Solar (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd;

Ir. Ahmad Hadri Haris,
Senior Director of Public Affairs;

Tuan Haji Muhamad Sobri Osman,
President of Kulim Technology Park Corporation;

Kulim Industrial Tenants Association (KITA) members;

Members of the Media, and

Honourable Guests.

1. Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank First Solar (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. for inviting me to this momentous occasion. Although this is my second time here, I’m still amazed with the fact that First Solar is the first solar module manufacturing plant in Malaysia but within four years, has turn from a single plant in 2008 to six plants fully ramped up by mid 2011, workforce growth from 109 employees in 2007 to approximately 3500 employees as of October 2011, currently the largest single site for thin-film solar module manufacturing in the world with a capacity of approximately 1.62GW power worth of solar panels annually and most importantly contributed approximately RM3.45 billion to the local economy since starting operations.

Honourable Guests,

2. Solar technology isn’t new. Its history spans from the 7th Century B.C. till today. We started out concentrating the sun’s heat with glass and mirrors to light fires. Its use and importance has increased significantly since.

3. Today, we have everything from solar powered buildings to solar powered vehicles. With an abundance of solar energy – enough shining on the earth every hour to meet the world demand for an entire year – it's no surprise that solar energy has time and again been harnessed to meet the growing needs of mankind.

4. From the ancient Mediterranean homes built to face the sun during the cold winter months to highly sophisticated thin-film photovoltaic cells which generate electricity from sunlight, solar energy continues to be a leading source of primary and alternative energy. Utilising solar technology and other forms of renewable energy helps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for energy production thus directly reduces CO2 emissions which contribute to climate change and consequently global warming.

Honourable Guests,

5. Climate change is not just about the warming of the earth but rather more profound is its impact on humankind’s existence on this planet we call home. It affects every facet of our lives and in particular our food security. This issue not only besets Asia but the entire world. The current events of extreme weather patterns are said to be the after effects of global warming. Just imagine the consequences if the great rivers of Asia like the Yangtze, Yellow River, Mekong, Ganges and the others run dry due to the effect of prolonged drought. Many would argue that this phenomenon is already occurring. It has been said that climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril.

6. Malaysia is in the fight against climate change. We are committed to reduce our carbon emissions. Our Prime Minister has envisioned Green technology as the new growth engine for Malaysia. We foresee that Green technology will help Malaysia remain competitive in the international marketplace as global demand for environmentally sound products increase. Furthermore, our PM has also said that Green development strategies are not only due to economic considerations but that we have a moral obligation to leave behind an ecosystem that future generations can live in.

7. Hence, the National Green Technology Policy was formulated to:

• minimise growth of energy consumption while enhancing economic development;
• facilitate the growth of the Green Technology industry and enhance its contribution to the national economy;
• increase national capability and capacity for innovation in Green Technology development and enhance Malaysia’s competitiveness in Green Technology at the global arena;
• ensure sustainable development and conserve the environment for future generations; and
• enhance public education and awareness on Green Technology and encourage its widespread use.

Honourable Guests,

8. Today’s event is in line with the Government’s policy to facilitate the growth of our Green Technology industry and enhance its contribution to the national economy. Today, First Solar (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has reached the accumulative production of 3000 mega watts (more than 38,000 solar panel’s output). I was informed that this is achieved only within 3 years of production compared to others that require 6 to 8 years. I am certainly pleased with this development. Well done! I am also encouraged by the recognition by First Solar of our highly skilled and qualified workers. This is something that we can all be proud of.

9. With today’s momentous output, Malaysia is firming up its position as one of the largest solar panel producing nations-overtaking much larger competitor nations as world-class companies start to expand their capacities in Malaysia.

Honourable Guests,

10. The reasons behind Malaysia’s success are manifold. The Government gives support in the form of tax breaks, loans and clear regulations. Many world-class companies have started solar manufacturing operations in Malaysia including First Solar. With incentives such as a 15 year tax holiday for solar company profits, low interest rates and good infrastructure such as in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, I dare say that we are a favoured destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in this regard.

11. Thus, the message that I want to send out this morning is that the Government is committed to ensuring that we provide the best environment for investments both foreign and domestic to thrive.

Honourable Guests,

12. I believe this is just the beginning of a bright and profitable future for First Solar.

13. Bill Gates said and I quote, ‘Almost every way we make electricity today, except for the emerging renewable and nuclear, puts out CO2. And so, what we're going to have to do at a global scale is to create a new system. And so, we need energy miracles’.

14. With that, I wish First Solar (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd all the best and success in your future endeavours and congratulations on achieving the accumulative production of 3000 mega watt of solar panels. Once again thank you for the kind invitation and I look forward to further success stories from this company.

Thank you.

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx?v=148 Friday November 11, 2011 OFFICIATING THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE (PKT LOGISTICS GROUP)

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:50:17 PST

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx?v=148

Friday November 11, 2011

OFFICIATING THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE (PKT LOGISTICS GROUP)

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

OFFICIATING THE GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE (PKT LOGISTICS GROUP)

11 NOVEMBER 2011 (FRIDAY)

THE ONE LOGISTICS HUB, SECTION 32, SHAH ALAM

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Afternoon and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Wira Jalilah Baba,
Group Chairman, PKT Logistics Group

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ SK Tio,
Group Founder and President of PKT Logistics Group;

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Michael By Tio,
Group CEO and Managing Director of PKT Logistics Group;

Members of the Press, and

Honourable Guests.

1. Firstly, I would like to thank PKT Logistics Group for inviting me to officiate this momentous occasion.

2. Over 30 years, PKT Logistics Group’s growth has been on the uptrend. It has evolved from a custom brokerage and forwarding service provider and later diversified downstream to provide complimentary services such as NVOCC (Non Vessel Operating Common Carrier), container haulage, warehouse and distribution-under subsidiary companies. This is a success story of which Malaysian companies can learn from the advantages of organic growth. Start small but move from strength to strength.

3. I am also encouraged by PKT Logistic’s vision, which is to be one of Malaysia’s champions of the logistics industry in this region and the rest of the world.

4. Logistics has assumed a very prominent role as it provides the backbone to facilitate international trade. The value chain involves integration of various service providers – transport, distribution, freight and ancillary services – to deliver a total supply chain solution. In order to give more focus on this sub-sector, the Government has set up the Malaysia Logistics Council (MLC) in 2007 to be the focal point for the overall coordination on strategies, policies, regulations and rules for the logistics sector.

Honorable Guest,

5. The services sector is already in the driver’s seat of the Malaysian economy but it had taken us sometime to realise its importance. In fact, this realisation only took place in 2006 when the Government launched the Third Industrial Master Plan for the period 2006 to 2020. The IMP3 had identified eight services sub-sectors, including the ICT, distributive trade, tourism and logistics sub-sectors, as growth engines of the future to be further developed to enhance Malaysia’s trade and global competitiveness. In this regard, the IMP3 also identified GDP growth targets and the quantum of investments required annually to increase its share of the GDP to 65 per cent by 2020.

6. We are therefore a new boy on the block as far as services are concerned. We are only now moving towards a services economy, particularly at a time when many developed countries, including those in the European Union, have already established competitive services sub-sectors that are well poised and geared towards taking full advantage of opportunities in this sector. The fact that services accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the GDP of the EU and for more than 75 per cent of the GDP in some of your member states indicates the competitiveness of this sector in your countries.

7. The services sector in Malaysia is poised to achieve greater heights. Apart from the NEM and the Third Industrial Master Plan, the Government is also actively engaging the private sector through the Tenth Malaysia Plan to focus on growth of specific services sub-sectors to uplift the sector’s contribution to the GDP. In addition, the Government also undertakes to better the enabling environment through revision of regulatory frameworks as well as liberalisation of select subsectors. Efforts are also being streamlined to raise the level of value-added, innovation and creativity into the sector.

8. If you browse MITI website through the list of sub-sectors that were unilaterally liberalised, you would appreciate that:

• We are liberalising these sub-sectors earlier than our commitments to liberalise by 2015 in the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services by 2015;

• We have gone beyond the 70 per cent ASEAN equity that we are committed to achieve in AFAS by 2015;

• Several sub-sectors, such as computer related services, are sub-sectors that our trading partners had expressed interest in our negotiations; and

• With WTO negotiations not making much progress, the unilateral liberalisation was aimed at offering international investors an opportunity to participate in the economy, thus not limiting it to only those countries with which we have free trade arrangements.

9. What does Malaysia want when it liberalises the services sector?

• We want foreign investors to invest in a wide range of services sub-sectors, not only limited to sub-sectors such as finance and insurance, real estate and distributive trade;

• We want to add new capacities and capabilities in the country, not only to fill in vacuums in services supply within the country but to position the investments to take advantage of ASEAN integration. The liberalisation of theme parks, convention centres, hotels and restaurants were aimed at further enhancing our attraction as a tourist destination. Such high impact projects have multiplier effect on the economy and build capacities for the future;

• We want technology and expertise to provide quality life for the aged and disabled, when we liberalised welfare homes and homes for the disabled;

• We want to create high value jobs and help up-grade skills and expertise in the country and not invest in sub-sectors where the domestic workforce will continue to compete with foreign workers for a decent wage; and

• We want to provide a first mover advantage in some sectors that is already liberalised in ASEAN, such as the logistics sub-sectors.

Honourable Guests,

10. Some people perceive that by giving more focus to the services sector, the manufacturing sector is no longer a priority. This is not a correct interpretation of this new focus. The development of the services sector would in fact complement and support the development of the manufacturing sector. This is particularly true of the reliance of the manufacturing sector on a competitive and efficient logistics supply chain to move its goods and products to the consumers in overseas market.

11. As manufacturers outsource production parts and components worldwide to lower the cost of production, the logistics sector assumes a critical role towards achieving this objective.

12. This brings me to the purpose of our meeting today which is the launching of PKT Logistic’s Green lighthouse. The modern and Green features to be incorporated in this lighthouse is indeed in line with the Government’s policy to promote the Green Building in Malaysia.

13. I am made to understand that PKT Logistic intends to invest over RM240 million in Malaysia over time. It is anticipated that this will contribute significantly to the country through various multiplier effects such as the creation of new high-income jobs that will help create a high-income society as mooted by our Prime Minister. This is a good sign and I would urge other companies to similarly increase their investments in Malaysia.

14. Finally, I would like to congratulate the management of PKT Group and all of PKT Logistics’ staff as you celebrate a new chapter in PKT’s history. I wish you all the success for the future. I am told that today the 11-11-11 (11th of Nov 2011) is particularly auspicious. This seems like a very good start.

Thank you.

RE: Gelombang Merah Speech

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:48:32 PST

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx?v=148

UCAPAN

Saturday December 03, 2011

Gelombang Merah Speech.

Bismillahirahmannirahim, assalamualaikum warohmatullahi wabarakatuh.

Y.Bhg Dato Pengerusi Tetap (YB Dato Timb Pengerusi Tetap), YAB Dato Seri Presiden & YAB Tan Sri Timb Presiden, Naib2 Presiden, Ketua2 Sayap, Ahli Majlis Kerja Tertinggi, Sidang Perwakilan seperjuangan yang saya hormati sekelian.

I Mukhriz Mahathir from UMNO Kubang Pasu representing UMNO Kedah Darulaman, rice bowl of the country, birthplace of two Party Presidents and Prime Ministers, with great pride stand here to debate the UMNO President’s Ucapan Dasar. Thank you for this privilege.

Strong and brave warriors,
UMNO exists to fight,
For the honour of Malay civilisation,

Honourable delegates,

Alhamdullilah we are gathered here today to affirm and give praise and thanks for the prosperity and success that we have attained from the pledges, zeal, leadership principals that has been carried by past successive leaders based on :

The believe in God,
Loyalty to King and Country,
The sanctity of our Federal Constitution,
Respect for our Laws,
Politeness and civility.

How wise were our founding fathers. Not only did they make history, returned to us our pride and glory but the most important thing is that they created a philosophy on how to govern ourselves in an environment that is both complex and unique.

If in the past our pride and stature was trashed by the colonial powers, our national resources stolen, our right to determine our own future denied for 400 years, now we can stand up on our own two feet with full confidence without depending on others.

If in the past we were in awe to the symbols of pride of foreigners that caused us to look down on ourselves, now we can take pride in Putrajaya and the Twin Towers of KLCC. They represent the sense of confidence and national pride that can never be broken by anyone.

If in the past we had to depend on the pity of foreigners that came to steal our natural resources, now Malaysia is renowned as a country that has its place as the 24th biggest trading nation in the world.

It is proven that our country is a special gift from God. With the abilities of the Rakyat guided by the correct policies, there isn’t any ambition that we cannot achieve.

The struggle that isn’t finished.

All that I have said so far is the truth. However, we must admit and accept that our struggle is not yet done There is just a lot of work that we must do.

We must work hard to fulfil the hopes of Kak Fauziah, the single mother from Kodiang that has diabetes and high blood pressure-her son Azzim’s salary that is not enough to pay for his mother’s required treatment and neither is it enough to cover the cost of Akmal’s studies in UiTM nor Azli who is still in school.

We must work hard to fulfil the hopes of Firdaus that intends to marry the girl of his dreams Farah whom he has known since he was still in school or even to buy his house coupled with his PTPN loan and credit card bills that have driven him to borrow from the loan sharks.

We must work hard to create business opportunities for Azwan so that he can help his father Abang Mi a fishermen in Kuala Sanglang and to help his disabled brother Azri.

It is evident my Honourable Delegates that there is much work to be done to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of Malaysians that still require our assistance and support.
Although they are hoping that their grievances will be addressed by the Government, but they know that they too have to work hard to attain a comfortable life and not just depend on the Government completely. They have never strayed from this responsibility.

They know all this. But they only hope that their leaders will not overlook their plight and let them drift away from mainstream development or lose out on a good education. They hope that their leaders won’t indulge in constant infighting that causes neglect to the citizens. That’s our citizens’ only hope and that has become our sacred trust and duty to the citizens to uphold.

Now, through the transformation programmes thought of by Dato Seri Najib, Firdaus can buy his first house with PR1MA. TEKUN can help Azwan start a small businesses.

Kak Fuziah is learning how to sow a baju kurung under the 1Malaysia Training Scheme that will prepare her to set up her own businesses. The subsidy received by Abang Mi helps him buy sugar and rice at reasonable prices at Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia in Padang Sera. These are all the approaches taken by our Right Honourable Prime Minister to solve the Rakyat’s problems. It is clear that our PM possesses the leadership qualities of former great leaders and he serves with sincerity and honesty solely for the Rakyat.

Foreign interference.

Notwithstanding all our PM is doing, the opposition practices the culture of politics of destruction. Theirs’ is to negate all our successes and thwart all our worthwhile initiatives.

They say our government is corrupt, practices nepotism, cronyism, and inefficient, not relevant, not liberal enough, not Islamic enough, too far left, too far right, not firm, restricts freedom and human rights and much more. The opposition is trying to portray our government that was voted in through 12 democratic elections by the will of the voters is to be considered according to the opposition the same as dictator governments in Arab nations that do injustice to their citizenry. Utter rubbish.

The opposition uses all sorts of labels to incite hatred within the people against UMNO and our leaders. Mahafiraun, Mahazalim, Hitler, thieves of the nation’s assets- all to vilify our leaders.

Human rights, freedom of speech, free and fair elections, equality, anti-corruption and etc are supposedly the exclusive campaign ownership or exclusive copyright of the opposition as if the opposition parties are the only ones allowed to use these ideas when in fact in reality their actions do not reflect this at all. They are the ones who have transgressed all these noble ideals in since assuming power.

Furthermore, the opposition has launched sustained intense attacks on institutions that have for so long diligently served the people and protect the people’s interests like the PDRM, Armed Forces, justice system, SPR and SPRM in a very planned and systematic manner both within the country and overseas.

Anwar Ibrahim himself has flared the seeds of revolution ala Arab Spring that he has renamed the Malaysia Spring. How desperate Anwar must be after having failed miserably to bring down our duly elected Government that Anwar orchestrated through undemocratic means on the 16th September 2008.

Lately, the opposition uses street protests as a means to challenge the mandate of the Government and when the Government is forced to react to maintain order and peace, the opposition with the planned support of Western media broadcasts to the world images that tarnish Malaysia’s standing internationally. Furthermore, in this tense situation where communication is super fast, one tweet or FB alone can result in riots and chaos like what happened in London recently.

Anwar says that they only want the right to assemble peacefully. But the fact remains that a planned opposition conspiracy was in play like the faked death at the BERSIH 2.0 rally that could trigger or serve as a tipping point that will flare up violence to erupt all over the country. In this situation, a Malay proverb says it all-an egg at the end of the horn-where bloodshed is imminent.

Is this what we want? Are these scenes of violence and chaos that we see in the Arab nations what we want for ourselves?

Anwar and his goons say street demos are a normal way in advanced countries and must be copied in Malaysia. According to Anwar and gang, this is true democracy.

Yes, we also practice democracy. The difference being that we practice democracy according to what is good for us based on our own interpretation. Yes, we too want to be a developed-nation by 2020. But certainly a developed-nation of our own definition and mould. If there are good practices in the West we will certainly apply them if it is good and beneficial for us. However, if those practices aren’t compatible with our Eastern values we will surely reject them. What is of pertinence is that we protect our rights and choose what is good and suitable for our country and her people without blindly copying all that the West does just because it is the norm for the Westerners.

Weren’t these very advanced nations that the opposition praises to the skies the very ones who transgressed human rights when they launched a war on an Arab country based on a lie? Aren’t these Western nations that the opposition so adore the very ones that kill in the most brutal fashion innocent civilians in the nations that they colonise? Aren’t these Western nations the ones that commit atrocities with the unconvincing justification to remove a dictator and promote democracy?

Weren’t these Western nations the very ones that brought on the worst financial crisis in history to the rest of the world? Aren’t these Western nations the very ones that negate anyone’s right to freedom of speech when you defy their will?

Despite all this, there are still those who are willing to be traitors from within our midst that collude with foreign powers to rape our nation. Unfortunately, when we expose these subversive activities, we are the ones who the opposition accuses of creating a conspiracy theory.

Actually my Honourable Delegates, whether you realise it or not, the opposition is the new tool of the foreign powers. The opposition gets a lot of funding and lots more of other support to attain their objective of what they have coined as regime change. Question I am asking is, are we going to allow the new era of colonisation to happen here?

It is our responsibility to state the facts to the Rakyat so that the Rakyat understands and are not easily deceived with the lies and deception of the opposition. I am confident that all of you will bear this burden to the best of your abilities.

If it is true that you are ready to fight with Dato Seri Najib to return the strength and glory of UMNO, if you truly are willing to sacrifice anything for UMNO and if you are convinced that we need a big majority in the next general elections for the sake of our children’s future-this is the time to unite and commit ourselves to a big win for our party. Even if our wings are broken we shall strive on!

PAS’s failures in Kedah.

Honourable guests,

In the three years since PAS has governed Kedah, there hasn’t been any plan at all to stimulate the state’s economy.

In the religious context, although PAS claims to fight for Islam, not one mosque or surau has been built since the 12th general elections. Despite this, they are still willing to destroy a madrasah that is a 100 years old to build a shopping mall! The top leaders of PAS themselves were grinning from ear to ear when moving the demolition machinery to break the ground! The reality is that UMNO representatives are actually the ones who build the mosques and suraus throughout Kedah.

PAS does not build mosque or suraus but the numbers of vice massage parlours are on the rise! At one point these parlours were told to shut down during the holy fasting month of Ramadan but under severe DAP pressure PAS relented and that order was rescinded. The excuse given is that these dodgy massage parlours do not permit Muslims during the fasting month. What’s the meaning of all this? Does this mean that other than Ramadan, the PAS led government allows Muslims to patronise the parlours of sin?

When Pas is questioned, their response is that these vice parlours are only to satisfy the demands of non-Muslims. This is a big insult to our non-Muslim friends. Are PAS Kedah leaders saying that non-Muslims in Malaysia love vice activities?

This is the attitude of PAS leaders in Kedah. In Kedah lingo, PAS is really ‘kemereh’. Do you Sirs and Madams understand what kemereh means? Kemereh is worse than koman-meaning to say that everything they do does not materialise. It becomes a mess. PAS will even resort to chopping down a small tree as big as your thigh to gain revenue from it. PAS can’t even breed catfish successfully what more to administer a state?

PAS leaders say that they have achieved 80.7% of their 12th general elections pledges. Not 80% mind you but 80.7%. Where in the world did they get that 0.7% baffles me. Even the Rakyat haven’t a clue of what election promises have they fulfilled! This is an insult to the Kedahans, as if Pas is treating the Kedahans like they are dumb and so easily deceived by the leaders of PAS. This PAS is really kemereh.

PAS is banking that the people of Kedah are forgetful. After three years of PAS sitting on their hands doing nothing, but as elections approach –they PAS start giving handouts to the people in the hope that Kedahans will remember these small insincere tokens and forget all the good work that UMNO has been doing all these many many years. For PAS, if the Malays are the type that easily forget and are easily deceived then the future for PAS to win is bright.

Question is, are Kedahans truly forgetful or ungrateful? PAS is really kemereh and insulting the Kedah people. I, We believe that the Kedahans are intelligent and wise people and will make the right choices in voting as the people in Kedah are so fed up with the excuses given by PAS government on why even rubbish can’t be collected all over Kedah! We are sick and tired of the excuses as to why PAS can’t develop this state. We are fed up that the village roads are NOT maintained NOR upgraded despite the fact the the Federal Government has provided funding for it. People are sick and tired of PAS incessantly blaming UMNO, BN and the Federal Government for all of PAS own failures and inadequacies.

As PAS keeps whining and giving one lame excuse after another, the bulldozers are about to destroy the small shops at Taman Ria Jaya, Sungai Petani at the GO from PAS. The Chinese small traders close shop in Alor Setar at rumah kampong Sungai Setar. The area of Sik experiences land slip because the big trees holding the earth have been chopped off. The Salahiah Madrasah in Kancut that is 100 years old is to be demolished to give way to a shopping mall.

We are livid with this predicament brought on by PAS and I believe that the Kedah people are ready and eager to return power to UMNO if we field the right winnable candidates.

Our pledge is our support,
UMNO Kedah heeds the call,
Whoever is selected the winnable candidate,
Our party success is foremost of importance!

The precondition to our party win is that we MUST be united. We must show the people that we are not caught up with infighting at the divisional level, we MUST be united. In order to prove to the Rakyat that we are serious and to safeguard the future of our children and grandchildren, we MUST be united. United we stand in loyalty shoulder to shoulder-this is our pledge at the beginning of our UMNO song!

When we are UNITED, our efforts no matter how small will combine with the efforts of our other comrades and this will create a wave that will create a tide and will turn into a great big red wave that will bring down the walls of hatred sowed by the opposition. Gone will be the walls of division built by the opposition. All the scurrilous lies and labels of hate created by the opposition will be erased. Smashed will be the shield of religion that PAS has manipulated and compromised just to win votes.

We call this great big wave the RED wave and it is engulfing all of Kedah. If you my brothers and sisters want to be part of this great strong wave – know this that there is no problem that we can’t solve, no dream that we can’t achieve.

We will regain Kedah for UMNO. We will defend Putrajaya. That is the solemn oath of UMNO Kedah!

Sekian, wabillahi taufik walhidayah wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Kedah supports the President’s Ucapan Dasar.

YB Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir.

Membahas Usul Ucapan Dasar Presiden UMNO oleh Mukhriz Mahathir

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:47:13 PST

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx?v=147

UCAPAN

Saturday December 03, 2011

Membahas Usul Ucapan Dasar Presiden UMNO oleh Mukhriz Mahathir

Saya Mukhriz Mahathir dari UMNO Kubang Pasu mewakili UMNO Kedah Darulaman, negeri jelapang padi, negeri kelahiran dua Presiden parti dan Perdana Menteri, dengan rasa penuh bangga berdiri disini untuk membahas usul Ucapan Dasar Presiden UMNO. Terima kasih atas penghormatan ini.

2) Gagah berani pendekar perang,
Menyusun langkah menyinting baju
Wujud UMNO untuk berjuang,
Demi maruah keramat Melayu

3) Alhamdulillah berkumpulnya kita hari ini adalah untuk memperakui hakikat dan mensyukuri nikmat kejayaan yang telah dicapai hasil dari ikrar, keazaman dan prinsip kepimpinan yang datang silih berganti berdasarkan kepada :

Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan
Kesetiaan kepada Raja dan Negara
Keluhuran Perlembagaan
Kedaulatan Undang-undang
Kesopanan dan Kesusilaan

4) Begitu bijaksana sekali pemimpin-pemimpin terdahulu. Bukan saja mampu melakar sejarah, mengembalikan maruah dan kegemilangan lampau, malah yang paling penting ialah keupayaan mereka mencipta falsafah negara di dalam persekitaran yang begitu kompleks dan unik.

5) Kalau dulu maruah dan martabat kita disepak terajang oleh penjajah, hak untuk menentukan masa depan kita sendiri dinafikan lebih 400 tahun lamanya, kini kita mampu berdiri sendiri dengan penuh yakin tanpa bergantung kepada orang lain.

6) Kalau dulu kita terpegun dengan mercu-mercu tanda kebanggaan negara asing hingga timbul perasaan rendah diri di kalangan kita, kini kita juga dirikan Putrajaya dan Menara KLCC sebagai lambang keyakinan dan semangat bangsa kita yang tidak boleh dipatahkan.

7) Kalau dulu kita bergantung kepada belas ihsan kuasa asing yang datang merompak hasil bumi kita, kini Malaysia tersohor sebagai negara yang mampu menguasai pasaran global sehingga menjadi negara pedagang yang ke-24 terbesar di dunia.

8) Terbukti, negara kita ini adalah satu anugerah Tuhan yang teristimewa. Dengan kebolehan rakyatnya, dipandu dengan halatuju yang betul dan benar, tiada cita-cita yang mustahil untuk kita capai.

PERJUANGAN YANG BELUM SELESAI

9) Kesemuanya ini adalah kebenaran. Namun hakikat yang harus kita semua akui ialah.. perjuangan kita masih belum selesai. Terlalu banyak kerja yang masih perlu kita lakukan.

10) Kita perlu bekerja keras untuk memenuhi harapan Kak Fuziah, ibu tunggal dari Kodiang yang sakit kencing manis dan darah tinggi – gaji anaknya Azzim tak cukup untuk bayar kos ubat, belanja Akmal di UiTM dan Azli yang masih dibangku sekolah.

11) Kita perlu bekerja keras memenuhi harapan Firdaus yang ingin berkahwin gadis pujaannya Farah yang dikenali sejak di sekolah lagi serta mampu membeli rumahnya sendiri walaupun berhutang PTPTN dan kad kredit yang mendorongnya untuk meminjam dari Ahlong.

12) Kita perlu bekerja keras untuk mewujudkan perniagaan untuk Azwan supaya dia dapat bantu ayahnya Abg Mi seorang nelayan di Kuala Sanglang yang anak seorang lagi Azri adalah OKU.

13) Jelas sekali, para perwakilan yang saya hormati, terlalu banyak kerja yang perlu kita lakukan untuk memenuhi segala harapan rakyat Malaysia yang masih memerlukan bantuan dan sokongan.

14) Walaupun berharap, mereka yang mengadu nasib kepada kami tidak meletakkan tanggungjawab untuk menentukan masa depan mereka sepenuhnya diatas bahu Kerajaan semata-mata. Mereka tahu mereka juga perlu bekerja keras untuk menempah kehidupan yang lebih selesa, dan mereka tidak pernah mengabaikan tanggungjawab ini.

15) Mereka tahu itu semua. Tetapi harapan mereka adalah agar pemimpin seperti kita tidak terlepas pandang akan nasib mereka. Tidak lalai, tidak biarkan mereka tercicir dari arus pendidikan dan pembangunan perdana. Tidak bersengketa sesama sendiri hingga abaikan tugas dan tanggungjawab kita. Itu sahaja harapan mereka, dan sudah menjadi amanah kita untuk tidak menghampakan mereka.

16) Kini melalui program transformasi cetusan idea Dato Seri Najib, Firdaus mampu membeli rumah pertama dengan adanya PR1MA. TEKUN membantu Azwan memulakan perniagaan secara kecil-kecilan.

17) Kak Fuziah sedang belajar menjahit baju kurung di bawah Skim Latihan 1Malaysia supaya boleh berniaga nanti. Bantuan subsidi diesel dan wang sara hidup nelayan juga dinikmati oleh Abg Mi yang boleh membeli gula dan beras dengan harga yang berpatutan di Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia di Padang Sera. Ini semua pendekatan Perdana Menteri untuk menyelesaikan masalah rakyat. Jelas Presiden kita mewarisi ketokohan pemimpin-pemimpin terdahulu dalam berkhidmat dengan ikhlas dan jujur semata-mata demi rakyat.

CAMPURTANGAN ASING

18) Namun begitu, pihak pembangkang yang mengamalkan budaya politik pemusnah menidakkan mentah-mentah segala kejayaan kita dan memperlekeh setiap inisiatif kita.

19) Kata mereka Kerajaan kita ini korup, mengamalkan nepotisme, kronisme, tidak cekap, tidak relevan, tidak cukup liberal, tidak cukup Islam, terlalu berhaluan kiri, terlalu berhaluan kanan, tidak tegas, mengongkong kebebasan dan hak asasi manusia, dan banyak lagi. Seolah-olah Kerajaan pilihan rakyat yang telah 12 kali memenangi pilihanraya ini mahu disamakan dengan kerajaan diktator yang menzalimi rakyat di negara-negara Arab.

20) Pelbagai label jelek digunakan untuk menimbulkan rasa marah serta benci rakyat terhadap UMNO dan pemimpin kita. Mahafiraun, Mahazalim, Hitler, perompak harta rakyat tak lekang di bibir mereka, menghina para pemimpin kita.

21) Hak asasi manusia, kebebasan bersuara, pilihanraya yang bebas dan adil, kesamarataan, anti-rasuah, dan sebagainya menjadi kempen hakcipta terpelihara, seolah-olah hanya mereka yang layak gunakan walhal tindakan mereka adalah sebaliknya.

22) Anwar Ibrahim sendiri telah mencetuskan bibit-bibit revolusi ala Arab Spring yang dia namakan Malaysia Spring. Betapa terdesaknya Anwar setelah gagal menggunakan kaedah tidak demokratik pada 16 September 2008 untuk menjatuhkan Kerajaan yang dipilih rakyat.

23) Demonstrasi jalanan digunakan untuk mencabar mandat Kerajaan, dan apabila Kerajaan terpaksa bertindak - maka dengan sokongan terancang media Barat, dunia disajikan imej-imej yang memburukan nama baik Malaysia. Dalam situasi sebegini tegang, ditambah pula dengan teknologi telekomunikasi yang serba pantas, satu tweet atau FB saja, mampu mencetuskan huru hara ala Kota London.

24) Memang Anwar akan kata, "kami hanya mahu hak untuk berhimpun secara aman". Tapi hakikatnya satu konspirasi terancang telah digerakan seperti lakonan kematian sewaktu perhimpunan Bersih 2.0 yang boleh dijadikan pencetus atau tipping point yang bakal mengakibatkan keganasan merebak keseluruh negara. Dalam situasi sebegini, ibarat telur dihujung tanduk, bila-bila pun pertumpahan darah boleh berlaku.

25) Adakah ini yang kita mahu? Adakah adegan-adegan ganas yang kita lihat berlaku dinegara-negara Arab hendak kita saksikan disini?

Kata Anwar dan kuncu-kuncunya, demonstrasi jalanan adalah perkara biasa dinegara-negara maju, dan seharusnya dicontohi oleh Malaysia. Menurut mereka, inilah demokrasi yang sebenar.

26) Ya, kita juga pengamal demokrasi. Bezanya kita amalkan demokrasi mengikut terjemahan kita sendiri. Ya, kita juga mahu jadi negara maju. Tetapi tentulah negara maju yang mengikut definisi dan acuan kita sendiri. Jika ada amalan-amalan terpuji dinegara-negara maju, sudah tentu kita akan mencontohinya. Tapi jika ada amalan-amalan yang tidak sesuai dengan budaya ketimuran kita, sudah tentu kita tolak.

27) Penting bagi kita untuk mempertahankan hak kita untuk memilih apa yang sesuai bagi negara dan rakyat, dan tidak meniru secara membabi buta setiap yang dilakukan oleh negara-negara Barat atas alasan ianya sesuatu yang lazim bagi mereka.

28) Tidakah negara-negara maju yang pembangkang agung-agungkan itu juga - yang melanggar hak asasi manusia bila mencetus peperangan di rantau Teluk atas alasan yang kini terbukti penipuan? Tidakah negara-negara maju yang mereka sanjungi itu juga - yang membunuh dengan kejam rakyat biasa yang tidak bersalah dinegara-negara yang mereka jajah - atas alasan menjatuhkan diktator dan mempromosi demokrasi kononnya!

29) Tidakah negara-negara Barat ini juga yang kini mencetuskan krisis kewangan yang paling teruk dalam sejarah dunia? Tidakah negara-negara ini juga yang menidakkan hak bersuara sesiapa yang menentang kehendak mereka?

30) Namun, ada juga pengkhianat-pengkhianat dinegara kita ini yang sanggup bersubahat dengan kuasa-kuasa asing untuk memperkosa negara. Malangnya apabila kita mendedahkan kegiatan-kegiatan subversif ini, kita pula yang dituduh mempromosi teori konspirasi.

31) Sebenarnya, sidang perwakilan yang saya sanjungi, sedar ataupun tidak, pembangkang adalah alat penjajahan era baru kuasa-kuasa asing. Mereka ditaja dengan dana yang besar dan pelbagai bantuan yang lain untuk menjayakan apa yang diistilahkan sebagai perubahan rejim atau regime change. Soalnya adakah kita akan membenarkan penjajahan era baru ini berlaku?

32) Menjadi tanggungjawab kitalah untuk menerangkan fakta sebenar kepada rakyat supaya rakyat faham dan tidak terpedaya dengan tipu helah pembangkang. Saya yakin tuan-tuan dan puan-puan mampu menggalas amanah ini.

33) Jika benar Tuan-tuan bersedia bersama Dato Seri Najib ingin mengembalikan kekuatan UMNO,
jika benar Tuan-tuan sanggup berkorban apa saja untuk UMNO.
Dan jika benar Tuan-tuan yakin kita perlu menang dengan majoriti yang besar di PRU kelak,
demi masa depan anak cucu kita, inilah masanya kita bersatu hati dan bertekad untuk memenangkan parti keramat kita ini. Patah sayap bertongkat paruh. Perjuangan ini akan tetap kita teruskan!

KEGAGALAN PAS KEDAH

34) Dalam tiga tahun setengah sejak PAS mengambilalih Kedah, tidak ada langsung usaha mereka untuk merancakan ekonomi di negeri tersebut.

35) Dalam konteks agama pula, walaupun PAS kononnya memperjuangkan Islam, tidak ada satu masjid atau surau pun yang mereka bina sejak PRU12. Dah lah tak bina masjid, madrasah yang berusia seratus tahun pun nak diroboh untuk dirikan pusat beli belah! Malah pemimpin tertinggi PAS negeri sendiri yang tersenyum riang menggerakkan jentolak untuk acara pecah tanah! Hakikatnya wakil rakyat UMNO lah yang membina masjid dan surau diseluruh negeri Kedah.

36) Masjid tidak mereka bina, tapi rumah urut pula yang semakin bertambah! Kejap suruh tutup dibulan puasa, tiba-tiba atas tekanan DAP buka balik. Kononnya orang Islam tidak dibenarkan masuk rumah-rumah urut ini dibulan puasa. Apa maksud ini semua? Adakah selain bulan Ramadhan, Kerajaan PAS benarkan orang Islam melanggani pusat-pusat maksiat ini?

37) Bila kita tanya, depa kata "rumah-rumah urut ini untuk memenuhi permintaan masyarakat bukan Islam"! Ini satu penghinaan besar kepada rakan-rakan kita yang bukan Islam. Adakah pemimpin PAS Kedah bermaksud orang bukan Islam di Malaysia ini suka pi pusat-pusat maksiat?

38) Begitulah sikap pemimpin PAS di Kedah. Ikut loghat Kedah, PAS ni kemereh betoi. Kemereh ni lebih teruk dari koman, buat semua tak jadi, pendek akai. Balak sebesar betis pun depa tebang untuk cari duit. Nak bela ikan keli pun tak reti - apa lagi nak tadbir sebuah negeri?

39) Kata pemimpin depa 80.7% dari janji PRU12 telahpun ditunai. Bukan 80% tuan-tuan, tapi 80.7%! Yang 0.7% ni mai mana pun saya tak tau. Rakyat pun tak tahu janji mana yang PAS dah tunai! Ini satu penghinaan kepada rakyat Kedah, seolah-olah pemimpin PAS menganggap orang Kedah ni bodoh, begitu mudah nak ditipu oleh pemimpin PAS. Kemereh sungguh pemimpin PAS Kedah ni.

40) PAS berharap rakyat Kedah ni pelupa. Selama tiga tahun setengah PAS tak buat apa-apa, tapi bila dah dekat pilihanraya barulah macam-macam habuan depa hulur dengan harapan kerja sikit yang PAS buat itu lah yang rakyat ingat, kerja baik UMNO buat selama ini akan rakyat lupa. Bagi depa, kalau orang Kedah ni macam Melayu yang mudah lupa, cerahlah peluang untuk depa menang.

41) Soalnya betui ka rakyat Kedah lagu tu? Betui ka orang Kedah ni tak pandai bersyukur dan tak kenang budi? Pemimpin PAS ini begitu kemereh dan menghina rakyat sebenarnya. Kami percaya rakyat Kedah bijak dalam membuat pilihan nanti kerana kami Rakyat Kedah dah cemuih mendengar alasan kenapa sampah tak boleh dikutip sekitar Kedah. Kami dah cemuih mendengar alasan bahawa Kerajaan PAS tak mampu membangun negeri, kami dah cemuih mendengar alasan bahawa jalan-jalan kampung tak dibaiki walaupun peruntukan dah Kerajaan Pusat bagi, kami dah cemuih mendengar alasan bahawa segala masalah di Kedah - semua salah kita!

42) Sambil depa bagi alasan demi alasan, penjaja berdepan dengan trakter yang nak robohkan gerai di Taman Ria Jaya, Sg Petani. Peniaga runcit Cina gulung tikar di Alor Setar, rumah kampung di Sungai Setar, Sik alami hakisan tanah kerana pokok-pokok sebesar peha pun ditebang, Madrasah Salahiah di Kancut yang berusia lebih 100 tahun pun nak dirobohkan untuk beri laluan kepada pusat beli belah.

43) Serik dengan keadaan ini, saya percaya rakyat Kedah bersedia mengembalikan kuasa kepada UMNO sekiranya kita letakan calon yang boleh menang.

Ikrar diberi tanda sokongan
UMNO Kedah menyahut seruan
Biarpun siapa menjadi pilihan
Kemenangan parti sentiasa didahulukan

Cuma pra syaratnya ialah - kita perlu bersatu. Untuk tunjukkan kepada rakyat bahawa pemimpin bahagian tak lawan das sesama sendiri, kita mesti bersatu. Untuk buktikan kepada rakyat bahawa kita serious menjamin masadepan anak cucu mereka, kita harus bersatu. Untuk meyakinkan rakyat bahawa kita pilihan terbaik di PRU kelak, kita wajib bersatu. Bersatu kita bersatu dengan setia berganding bahu - itupun ikrar kita dipermulaan lagu UMNO!

44) Apabila kita bersatu, usaha kita yang sekecil mana sekalipun akan bercantum dengan usaha rakan-rakan lain lantas menggerakan arus, maka arus menjadi ombak, ombak menjadi gelombang, dan gelombang yang besar hasil perpaduan antara kita akan mampu meruntuhkan tembok kebencian yang pembangkang dirikan, retak dan pecahlah dinding pemisah antara keikhlasan kita dan harapan rakyat, leburlah segala fitnah yang pembangkang sajikan, berkecailah perisai atas nama agama yang pembangkang salahgunakan untuk memperdaya rakyat.

45) Gelombang yang kami namakan Gelombang merah ini sedang bergerak di seluruh Kedah. Jika Tuan-tuan dan Puan-puan turut memainkan peranan menggerakan gelombang merah ini, tiada masalah yang tak boleh kita rongkai, tiada impian yang tak boleh kita capai. Kedah akan kita rampas semula, Putrajaya akan tetap kita pertahankan! Itulah bai'ah UMNO Kedah!

Sekian. Kedah mohon menyokong!

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC FINANCE & BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM AND HALAL CARNIVAL (IIBSC 2011): GO ISLAMIC, GO GLOBAL

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:01:40 PDT

http://www.mukhriz.com/speech.aspx

Thursday October 06, 2011

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC FINANCE & BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM AND HALAL CARNIVAL (IIBSC 2011): GO ISLAMIC, GO GLOBAL

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC FINANCE & BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM AND HALAL CARNIVAL (IIBSC 2011): GO ISLAMIC, GO GLOBAL

6 OCTOBER 2011 (THURSDAY)

DEWAN TUANKU CANSELOR (DATC), UiTM

Assalamualaikum W.B.T and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Professor Dr. Abdullah Mohamed Said,
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Student Affairs) of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM);

Professor Dr. Faridah Hj Hassan,
Director of Institute of Business Excellence (IBE),
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM);

Distinguished Guests, Speakers, Professors and Students.

1. My heartiest congratulations go to the Institute of Business Excellence, UiTM and student organisation, KONSEN for organising this big event – International Islamic Finance & Business Symposium and Halal Carnival 2011. As nations begin to emerge not only from the worldwide recession and the credit crisis, we are now facing the uncertainty of climatic changes, more economic instability and political strife all over the world. This period of fragile recovery and change brings with it a series of new and important issues for the global community.

2. When world economies were reeling from the debilitating global financial crisis originating from speculative no-collateral junk loans such as subprime derivatives, spooked financial market players were looking for an alternative financial system which was more steadfastly ethics-based. In their desperation they looked everywhere only to finally find a safe haven and solution in Islamic Finance as espoused by Malaysia. So enamoured were they of the virtues of this values-based financing that investors from all religious denominations began to take it seriously and learnt about the many types of financial tools created by Malaysian banks.

3. In fact, as the number of syariah-compliant loans began to rise, indicating the growing demand for such financial tools from among Muslim and non-Muslim clients, more and more international banks not normally associated with Islamic tenets started to offer Islamic Financial products. Now it is no longer strange to see international commercial banks issuing Islamic loans to clients who are also non-Muslim. Such is the success of the global Islamic Finance and Banking system which had its principles and details thought out by intellects from Malaysia and the rest of the Muslim world, that the global financial system now has an alternative that provides much needed stability and safety to financial assets.

Distinguished Guests,

4. As testimony to the reliability of Islamic Finance and Banking, in 2009 the Vatican suggested that banks should look at the rules of Islamic finance to restore confidence amongst their clients at a time of global economic crisis. The Vatican’s official newspaper called ‘Osservatore Romano’ stated that – “The ethical principles on which Islamic finance is based may bring banks closer to their clients and to the true spirit which should mark every financial service”. Many non-Muslims can see the wisdom as well as the advantages of Islamic Finance over conventional systems. Therefore, Muslims have very little excuse to fall behind in this respect.

5. Furthermore, on the establishment of the global halal industry, it was during the OIC COMCEC meeting several years ago that Malaysia suggested for halal to be included as an item in the agenda of the meeting. There were many objections in the beginning-mostly questions on whether Malaysia was implying that food being consumed in Muslim countries were actually non-halal. Our explanation and response was that whilst Muslims may feel that they adhered to all the tenets of Islam to ensure the food we prepare for consumption are halal, but there are still weaknesses and loopholes that we have ignored for far too long. In this day and age, with the cutting edge technology that is at our disposal, it is unacceptable to use "darurat" as an excuse to not be absolutely sure we strictly follow out by the obligations and commandments of the holy Al-Quran.

6. When it was pointed out that as Muslims rise early in the morning to have their bath before performing fajr prayers, and they brush their teeth to keep themselves clean as they prostrate before Allah SWT, little did they know that either the toothpaste they used had pig bone as an ingredient, or the toothbrush was made of pig bristle. Surely using these items cannot be halal, and yet here we were confidently performing our prayers oblivious to the fact that we may have not adhered to our obligations in respect to halal.

7. Another good example is in the way we prepare our foods. Even if we make sure our meats are slaughtered properly but then use ingredients that are not permissible in their preparation such as the use of lard in sauces, then we would have been remiss in our religious obligations. Or even when we've done everything to ensure our food is halal, but then use a plate that says bone China on the back, then again we would have been negligent as the plate could have been made of pig bone.

8. Clearly we have to be more vigilant in the way we fulfil our religious obligations especially when we have all the means to determine whether the way we or others prepare food is indeed halal.

9. Such persuasive arguments were how we convinced our brothers and sisters in OIC COMCEC to put halal on the agenda. Since then, the production and export of halal food everywhere in the world has created a typical blue ocean market, and the non-food halal sector has seen healthy growth. Now the global halal market is valued at USD2.7trillion annually, fuelled not only because of a huge Muslim market or whether the Muslim minority in developed nations have high disposable income, but also because non-Muslims now consider halal products more hygienic in an era where diseases such as avian and swine flu had gone endemic in various parts of the world.

Honourable Guests,

10. I think it would not be an exaggeration to say that Malaysia has done a great service, in fact a fardu kifayah for the global Ummah by developing both the Islamic financial system and the halal industry. This fardu kifayah that we have spent much time and effort on has benefited not only Muslims but also non-Muslims from across the world. Sadly I don't think Malaysia gets anywhere near enough credit for the good work its put in. Despite that, it is with some level of satisfaction that we see Islam so directly associated with the highest form of ethics by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The association or branding of Islam with ethics or values-based finance is something that cannot be denied even by people who don't consider themselves to be friends of Islam. Whether they like it or not, they too have to use terms like sukuk, mudarabah, takaful etc as their clients demand for Islamic financial products.
11. Imagine the contradiction when someone says Islam promotes terrorism while at the same time making use of Islamic banking facilities or consuming halal products. How do these people justify their propaganda that Muslims are inclined towards violence while also acknowledging that Islam expounds ethics and good values? It is evident that the more demand there is for Islamic Banking and Finance as well as for halal products and services, the stronger our ability to defeat the propaganda to malign Islam as a violent religion.

12. Thus, brothers and sisters, I think that what you as the organisers of IIBSC are doing is truly noble and important. You may see it as another symposium that revolves around Islamic Banking and halal, but I see it as another step towards creating better understanding between peoples of the world and between different faiths. From where you sit, you may see a carnival, but I see an attempt to promote global peace.

13. Congratulations on such a noble endeavour.

14. Thus, with the recitation of Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim, I officially declare open the ‘International Islamic Finance & Business Symposium and Halal Carnival (IIBSC) 2011’.

Thank you.

19th ANNIVERSARY NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL DINNER AND DANCE

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:00:36 PDT

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Saturday October 01, 2011

19th ANNIVERSARY NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL DINNER AND DANCE

YB DATUK MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

AT THE
19th ANNIVERSARY NEW ZEALAND ANNUAL DINNER AND DANCE

1 OCTOBER 2011 (SATURDAY)

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Evening and Salam 1Malaysia.

His Excellency David Pine,
New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia;

Mr. Richard Tankenserly,
Chairman of the Malaysia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce;

Members of the Malaysia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce;

Distinguished Guests.

1. Thank you for inviting me tonight and I would firstly like to convey Minister Mustapa’s apology for his absence as he is currently away on an official visit to Europe. I am indeed delighted to be sharing the floor with the rest of the members of the Malaysia New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, or MNZCC and to address you tonight on your 19th Anniversary of New Zealand Annual Dinner and Dance.

2. As we will all be entertained by New Zealand’s finest singers and entertainers, The Kiwi All Stars, I will not bore you with a long speech and instead try to keep things short and simple.

3. Firstly, let me congratulate the MNZCC on its 19th anniversary. Indeed, the Chamber has been actively contributing in enhancing bilateral trade and economic ties between Malaysia and New Zealand since its establishment in 1992. For this, I must commend all the members of MNZCC for setting a track record other business councils here in Malaysia will find challenging to emulate.

Honourable Guests,

4. The Malaysia-New Zealand bilateral relationship has always been good. It is underpinned significantly by the commercial and people-to-people links, in which our business councils are so often involved.

5. Apart from a small aberration arising from the world wide economic slowdown in 2009, the state of the bilateral trade and economic relations between our two countries remain strong. Our bilateral trade enjoyed an average growth rate of 11.2% between 2000 and 2010. From January to July 2011 alone, bilateral trade which was valued at US$1.1 billion increased 5.8% over the corresponding period in 2010. And, this is expected to be further boosted following the implementation of the Malaysia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (MNZFTA) which came into force on 1 August 2010.

6. From 2007 until July 2011, a total of 38 manufacturing projects are approved with participation from New Zealand, valued at US$75.8 million. As at 31st December 2010, a total of 26 manufacturing projects were implemented with total investments of US$34.7 million. New Zealand companies which have significant investments in Malaysia cover a wide variety of sectors, including food/food technology, ICT and telecommunications, electronics, software, information technology, and building products. Malaysia welcomes more New Zealand projects to be established here in Malaysia.

Distinguished Guests,

7. Food is usually a fond subject of discussion as you would notice in Malaysia due to the cultural and culinary diversity. In March this year, Malaysia participated in the International Cultural Festival 2011 (AICF) at Mount Roskill War Memorial Park, Auckland where we promoted the Malaysia Kitchen programme in New Zealand. This programme under the auspices of MATRADE is aimed at promoting Malaysian restaurants overseas including those in the USA and in UK. We promote better awareness and demand for Malaysian cuisine through an integrated, holistic and multi-pronged approach working with the restaurant operators.

8. I am sure most of you would have experienced, or at least have sampled some of the popular and varied Malaysian favourites such as Nasi Lemak, Satay, Laksa, Teh Tarik, Mee Curry, Roti Canai and other dishes like rendang and for the more adventurous, several other exotic and exquisite Malay, Nonya and a host of ethnic or regional specialties. Malaysia Kitchen operators offer an array of Malaysian menu from simple quick meals to fine dining to our overseas clientele. Presently, there are approximately 200 Malaysian Kitchen Restaurants all over the world.

9. There are 47 Malaysia Kitchen Restaurants operating in New Zealand, to be precise, 20 Restaurants in Wellington and 27 Restaurants in Auckland. We are hoping that our New Zealand friends would visit some of the Malaysia Kitchen Restaurants in New Zealand.

10. I also would like to take this opportunity to urge the New Zealand business community here to participate in the upcoming International Trade Malaysia (INTRADE 2011) which will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 22nd until 24th November 2011. In 2010, INTRADE attracted more than 8,000 trade visitors from 77 countries with sales of RM 4.2 billion recorded. INTRADE 2011 presents a unique platform for New Zealand participating companies to enhance their networking and business development given the international exposure.

Honourable Guests,

11. People-to-people relations between our two countries especially in the areas of education and tourism are doing extremely well. More than 30,000 Malaysians had received their education in the various colleges and universities in New Zealand. Today, there are approximately 2,305 Malaysian students pursuing their tertiary education in New Zealand. We welcome more New Zealand nationals to pursue post graduate studies and training in our tertiary institutions.

12. The number of tourists from New Zealand visiting Malaysia has also been increasing, from 63,000 in 2009 to slightly more than 66,000 in 2010. The most significant achievement in our bilateral tourism cooperation was the launch of Air Asia X in Christchurch on 2 April 2011. Air Asia X, currently has 4 return-flights a week between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch. This invariably will increase the exchange of tourist and business travel in a significant way.

Distinguished Guests,

13. In closing, I would like to thank MNZCC for the opportunity to be with you tonight. I am sure this close cooperation between the Chamber and MITI will continue to bring our business communities and our people closer.

14. I also would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all and the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team every success in the match against Canada soon in the 2011 Rugby World Cup Tournament.

Thank you and Selamat Malam.

PROGRAM MATRADE BERSAMA USAHAWAN DAN PENGEKSPORT

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:09:34 PDT

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Tuesday September 20, 2011

PROGRAM MATRADE BERSAMA USAHAWAN DAN PENGEKSPORT

YB DATUK MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
TIMBALAN MENTERI PERDAGANGAN ANTARABANGSA DAN INDUSTRI

PROGRAM MATRADE BERSAMA USAHAWAN DAN PENGEKSPORT

20 SEPTEMBER 2011 (SELASA)

PERSADA JOHOR INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE
JOHOR

Assalamualaikum W.B.T dan Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berusaha Dato’ Zakaria Kamarudin
Pengarah Kanan MATRADE,

Tuan-tuan dan Puan-puan yang saya hormati sekalian.

1. Terlebih dahulu saya ingin mengucapkan syukur ke hadrat Allah SWT kerana kita semua dapat berkumpul pada hari ini sempena Program MATRADE dengan Usahawan dan Pengeksport di negeri Johor. Saya mengucapkan syabas kepada semua yang hadir dan juga kepada MITI, MATRADE dan semua agensi-agensi MITI yang mengambil bahagian di dalam usaha berterusan mereka berkongsi maklumat dan berinteraksi bersama pihak industri bagi membantu usahawan dan pengeksport Johor menangani saingan dan cabaran-cabaran yang dihadapi bagi membangun dan memperkasakan lagi usahawan dan pengeksport Malaysia terutama dalam keaadan ekonomi dunia yang semakin lembab. Semoga apa jua hasil perbincangan dan dialog pada hari ini akan mendatangkan hasil demi kejayaan dan manfaat kita bersama.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2. MATRADE, being the national trade promotion agency, organises a series of dialogues and networking session throughout the country. For the Southern region, various exporters’ development seminars and workshops are being held every month to equip companies with business knowledge and market intelligence to assist them in venturing into the global arena.

3. Today, after this dialogue, apart from meeting with the related government agencies like SME Corporation, SME Bank, HDC, MIDA, MPC, MIDF, INSKEN, EXIM Bank, SIRIM and TPM Biotech during the “trade clinic” session, two successful SMEs, namely Salutary Avenue Manufacturing Services Sdn Bhd and Grace Cosmetics Industries Sdn Bhd will be sharing with you their experiences in venturing into global market.

4. Especially for Johor, MATRADE has also invited its former Trade Commissioners from the Netherlands and Tokyo to discuss the business opportunities available in these two countries. I am sure these sessions will further facilitate and broaden your horizons.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

5. Malaysia’s global trade expanded by 7.7% to RM724.09 for the period Jan-Jul 2011 as compared to 2010. Exports for the same period grew by 6.9% to RM396.35 billion while imports expanded by 8.7% to RM327.75 billion. In terms of contribution to total exports, the manufacturing sector continued to be the leading export sector accounting for 68.3% of total exports with a value of RM270.58 billion.

6. Export performance by product sectors was mixed, with major gainers being chemicals and chemical products, manufactures of metal, textiles and clothing, processed food and iron and steel products.

7. Exports of services also increased by 4.7% to RM52.44 billion for Jan-June, 2011 as compared with the corresponding period in 2010. In fact, the second quarter performance of the exports of services was 8.3% higher than the previous quarter. The export performance of selected services sub-sectors which contribute to the growth for the period include construction, ICT services, insurance and financial services which increased by 23.5% to RM17.37 billion and transportation services increased by 2.1% to RM7.67 billion.

8. Malaysia’s trade in 2011 is projected to grow although at a slower rate compared with 2010. With IMF forecast of world trade volume to increase by 8.2%, imports from advanced economies to increase by 6.0% and emerging and developing-economies to also increase by 12.1%, we envisage that the growth for Malaysia’s exports will be led by the developing and emerging markets.

9. This is indeed in line with the recent growths registered for the two busiest ports-Port Klang, increased by 8.9% and Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) by 16.8%. Both these ports have been left largely unscathed by the slowdown in international commerce. In particular, PTP which is located here in Johor registered a remarkable 16.8% growth for the first half of this year.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

10. According to a census conducted by the government, there are nearly 700,000 SMEs registered in Malaysia. However, only 56,978 SMEs that were registered in Johor in 2010 of which less than 2,000 were registered by MATRADE and SME Corp as already exporting or export-ready companies.

11. To assist these SMEs especially those that are pursuing the export market, MITI through MATRADE will continue to undertake various programmes in the areas of Exporters Development and Export Promotion.

12. Businesses interested in the export market should attend the Seminars, Briefings and Workshops on Export-related topics organised by MATRADE to broaden your knowledge and understanding on the subject. In addition, MATRADE also circulates online newsletters, trade magazines and trade leads to its registered members to keep you updated on trade developments that are evolving around the world.

13. For locally held but of international level trade exhibitions, again this year MATRADE will organise International Trade Malaysia or INTRADE 2011 to be held at MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur from the 22nd-24th of November 2011. This is the 5th series organised so far to show case export-ready products and services to an audience who are on the lookout for quality products and services, and good business opportunities. For large organisations, this is a good platform to create and enhance brand loyalty and outreach. For the niche SME's, it is a platform to bring wide customer reach to your brand. As one of ASEAN's leading export-oriented trade platform, trade buyers and visitors converge at INTRADE Malaysia as they explore and are convinced of the brands, products and services that they see and try. INTRADE 2011 features all industries, products and services which are export-ready. For this year, product clusters comprise:

• Automotive;
• Electrical & Electronics;
• Food & Beverage;
• Furniture & Interiors;
• Gifts, Souvenirs, Handicrafts & Jewellery;
• Health, Pharmaceutical, Cosmetics & Personal Care;
• Industry Support;
• Information & Communication Technology;
• Professional & Business Services; and
• Wood Products.

14. For this year’s INTRADE, MATRADE expects about 9,000 visitors from 80 participating countries will visit the event and as many as 7,300 business meetings will be arranged during the 3-day event. Last year’s INTRADE concluded with RM4.2 billion worth of on the spot and potential trade sales from these business meetings.

15. In conjunction with INTRADE 2011 that has been successfully organized for the past four years, the KL International Trade Forum (KLITF) will also be held at the same venue on the 24th of November 2011. This forum provides an interactive platform for business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to gain insights into global business prospects and opportunities, to network and establish collaboration towards gaining a competitive edge in the challenging global market.

16. Distinguished speakers from Malaysia and abroad will share their knowledge and personal experiences in breaking through the international market and sustaining their businesses internationally through implementation of business strategies effective for their business entity. The audience will have the opportunity to learn best business practices, growth strategies, cost-cutting measures and innovative solutions to stay ahead of the competition in international trade.

17. This year, KLITF is expected to attract about 1,500 local and international participants. Entrepreneurs, exporters and business leaders from Johor are highly encouraged to participate in these two events.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

18. In this era of intense competition globally, SMEs in Johor are also encouraged to fully utilise the Free Trade Agreemetns (FTAs) negotiated bilaterally or regionally to further enhance market access for Malaysia’s products and services.

19. For this, we are glad to note that there was an increase in the utilisation rate of preferential schemes achieved under the regional and bilateral FTAs which has contributed to the growing trade between Malaysia and its FTA partners. Trade with almost all FTAs partners increased in the 7 months of 2011 which totalling to 343,457 Certificate Of Origins issued for the whole of Malaysia with the Free on Board (FOB) valued at RM72,987 billion. The top products utilising the Preferential Tariffs are:

• RDB Palm Oil;
• LCD TV;
• Furniture and wooden bed;
• Latex and nitrile examination gloves;
• Prepared binders (chemicals) for foundry mould;
• Compressor in refrigerating system;
• Air conditioner;
• Fully refrigerated butane;
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG); and
• Acetic acid.

20. In this regard, I urge Johor companies to participate in these preferential tariffs provided under the Free Trade Agreements for effective market access and marketing.

21. Apart from that, Johor SMEs are also encouraged to create links with larger exporting firms in order to develop a stronger supply chain to the already exporting firms. Targeted sectors are exporters of intermediate and capital goods in the E&E, oil & gas, automotive and medical devices sectors. This integration with the global supply chain is vital in sustaining our exports internationally which can be achieved through specialised programmes and marketing missions abroad targeting international procurement offices and trading establishments.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

22. Finally, let me congratulate the organizers, especially the team that has been tasked with organising this programme and to thank all of you for your participation and continued support for this programme.

23. With the recitation of Bismillahhirrahmannirrahim, it gives me great pleasure to officially launch “Program MATRADE Bersama Usahawan dan Pengeksport Johor”.

Thank you.

MEDIA CONFERENCE KL INTERNATIONAL TRADE FORUM 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:08:28 PDT

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Thursday September 15, 2011

MEDIA CONFERENCE KL INTERNATIONAL TRADE FORUM 2011

YB DATUK MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

MEDIA CONFERENCE
KL INTERNATIONAL TRADE FORUM 2011

15 SEPTEMBER 2011 (THURSDAY)

23rd FLOOR, EAST WING, MATRADE

Assalamualaikum W.B.T. Good Morning and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Mah Siew Keong,
Chairman of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE);

Yang Berusaha Dr. Wong Lai Sum,
Chief Executive Officer of MATRADE;

Distinguished Guests,

Members of the Media,
1. First and foremost I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to MATRADE for inviting me to this Media Conference on the Fifth KL International Trade Forum (KLITF), which will be held on the 24th of November in conjunction with INTRADE 2011.

2. I commend the effort and commitment of MATRADE for hosting this forum since 2007. My sincere thanks also go out to the members of the media and friends of MATRADE for their presence here today and their continued support.

3. For your information, the KLITF is one of a number of activities which MATRADE organises to promote Malaysian exports. MATRADE has all year round of activities consisting of trade fairs and exhibitions held in many parts of the world for this purpose. Some of the trade fairs that have generated good opportunities for Malaysian companies are:

• Malaysia Services Exhibition 2011 held in Abu Dhabi, UAE;
• MIHAS 2011 held in Kuala Lumpur;
• Arab Health 2011 held in Dubai, UAE;
• CEBIT 2011 held in Hannover, Germany
• Gulfood 2011 held in Dubai, UAE

4. KLITF however is held in Malaysia with the same objectives of promoting Malaysian products and services and to help Malaysian companies establish business linkages with foreign parties.

5. This year’s KLITF theme is ‘Game Changer’. It reflects MATRADE’s vision and mission of how Malaysia needs to reposition to compete and thrive in the volatile international marketplace.

Distinguished Guests,

6. Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and a soft US economy is affecting confidence and dampening the outlook for global trade.

7. Challenging market conditions, along with increasingly discerning consumer demands, rapid developments in technology and environmental concerns continue to pose challenges to businesses. Thus, we can no longer conduct our economic affairs without attitude changes or policy improvements.

8. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) through agencies such as MATRADE has been focussed on ensuring that Malaysian companies sustain itself from the impact of the current global economic slowdown. MATRADE as the national trade promotion agency has so far undertaken more than 200 programmes in the areas of ‘Exporters Development’ and ‘Export Promotion’. Our ongoing participation in overseas promotional activities have continuously focused on retaining our share in traditional markets while expanding into fast growing ones as well as diversifying into the emerging markets of West Asia, Central Asia and Africa.

9. In hosting events such as the KLITF we hope to be able to offer greater opportunities for Malaysian companies to forge new alliances and collaboration towards gaining a competitive edge with partners from various parts of the world. I am confident that this year’s KLITF will deliver just that and help bring about significant Malaysian business presence in the global marketplace.

10. This year marks the fifth consecutive year that we are hosting the KLITF. In the past, we have been fortunate to hear top business leaders speak about their business experiences and how they rose above expectations during trying economic times. Speakers such as HRH Raja Nazrin Shah, the Regent of Perak, YABhgTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s fourth prime minister and the king of shoes himself, Dato’ Jimmy Choo have brought intellectual depth and insights to this forum.

11. This time around, I am pleased to share with you that a number of sought after speakers will be addressing this year’s forum. Among them is Mr Hermawan Kartajaya, a renowned Indonesian marketer who is the President of the World Marketing Association. Joining him is our very own New York based designer, Mr. Toi See Zang, the founder of the internationally renowned brand ‘Zang Toi’.

12. Other notable panellists include Dr. Pawan G. Agrawal, the President of the Mumbai Dabbawala Education Centre in India who will be talking to us about the unique business model of the Dabbawalas. Also, YM Tengku Farith Rithauddeen will share his experiences and travails on nurturing Skali Group to success. Not forgetting, YM Tengku Rozidar Tengku Zainol Abidin, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of 1901 Hotdogs Malaysia. She has agreed to relate to us the ups and downs in her quest to make 1901 hotdogs a flourishing business.

Honourable Guests,

13. Networking provides an excellent opportunity for you to broaden your contacts which is vital in your business operations, especially so if you are in international trade. There are numerous methods of networking in this day and age; from social networking websites to networking organisations boasting of members from the pool of who’s who in the business world. Furthermore, as the meeting place for businesses that are export ready, forums like KLITF offer more than just a networking platform for local and foreign business leaders to interact. This forum held in conjunction with INTRADE 2011 offers participants a greater breath of opportunities.

14. I believe that prominent events such as KLITF and INTRADE have taken on greater roles in relation to the evolving marketplace. If anything, recent world economic events have taught us that only businesses based on a strong foundation of integrity and commitment to excellence are capable of competing in a dynamic business environment.

15. In Malaysia’s instance, SMEs play an important role in developing our economy and providing jobs. In this context, Malaysian companies need to be in touch with the latest in business trends and equipped with cutting edge technology while armed with the necessary expertise. Therefore forums like KLITF could offer such insights and break to acquire these gains and keep one jump ahead of the competitors.

16. SMEs must play their parts in germinating new concepts and challenge existing methods or norms. This starts with the business community thinking beyond existing frameworks whether it is in terms of the technology available or acceptance of economic doctrine for example. So, the success of Malaysian companies depends on whether they are able to discard inefficient methods and devise novel effective strategies.

17. I believe that Malaysian and foreign SMEs will find this forum of great value. Perhaps things could prove fortuitous here and turn these SMEs into high growth and innovative companies that will in turn allow them to become global players. Such a transformation is important for Malaysia as SMEs will have the ability to eventually increase their contribution to GDP up to 40% from the current 31% by 2020.

18. So please mark your calendars for the KL International Trade Forum on the 24th of November 2011 and encourage others to do the same. All indications are that KLITF 2011 will match if not exceed your expectations.
19. On that note, I would like to once again thank you for your presence at this media conference and I look forward to seeing you at KLITF 2011 this November.

Thank you.

PAKISTAN-MALAYSIA BUSINESS FORUM

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:42:27 PDT

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Tuesday September 13, 2011

PAKISTAN-MALAYSIA BUSINESS FORUM

YB DATO' MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

PAKISTAN-MALAYSIA BUSINESS FORUM

13 SEPTEMBER 2011 (TUESDAY)

MATRADE

Mr. Zafar Mahmood,
Secretary of Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan;

Mr. Tariq Iqbal Puri,
Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP);

Dr. Wong Lai Sum,
CEO MATRADE;

His Excellency Masood Khalid,
High Commissioner of Pakistan in Malaysia;

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Salam 1Malaysia and a very good morning to all of you. Since it is Syawal, please accept my warmest Eid Mubarak greetings.

2. It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to be here this morning to officiate the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Forum, organised by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and supported by MATRADE. I believe this Forum together with the Seminar on Investment Opportunities in Pakistan held on 31st of March 2011 in JW Marriott, Kuala Lumpur shall provide the momentum in enhancing our bilateral engagement.

3. I am pleased to see such good turnout today. I was informed that there are at least 100 Malaysian businessmen and senior executives attending this Business Forum. I am pleased to also welcome the delegation from Pakistan led by Mr. Zafar Mahmood, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan and Mr. Tariq Iqbal Puri, Chief Executive Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

4. I understand that this delegation consists of prominent Pakistani businessmen dealing with textile & clothing, agriculture and food products, leather and leather products, as well as electronics. I wish you all a productive networking and business matching session.

Distinguished Guests,

5. Malaysia and Pakistan have always maintained close bilateral relations. Trade assumes a key role in forging close ties between our countries. A watershed in our bilateral engagement is the signing of the Malaysia-Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA) in 2007. The Agreement which came into force on 1st January 2008 represented Malaysia's first bilateral free trade agreement with a member of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) and with the South Asian region.

6. This comprehensive and substantive agreement encompassed liberalization of trade in goods and services, investment, as well as bilateral technical cooperation and capacity building in areas such as intellectual property protection, construction, tourism, healthcare and telecommunications.

7. This year marks yet another milestone for the MPCEPA whereby trade officials from Malaysia and Pakistan met at the MPCEPA Review Committee on 12 September 2011. The Committee monitors the performance of the MPCEPA, identify issues that are impeding implementation of MPCEPA and recommend measures to address those issues.

8. Since the implementation of MPCEPA in 2008, bilateral trade has increased steadily. Malaysia is now among the top trading partners of Pakistan from ASEAN. In 2010:

• Pakistan was Malaysia’s:

 21st largest trading partner;
 17th largest export destination; and
 49th largest source of imports;

• Among OIC member countries, Pakistan was Malaysia's:

 4th largest trading partner;
 3rd largest export destination; and
 9th largest source of imports;

• Malaysia was Pakistan’s:

 25th largest export destination; and
 5th largest source of imports.

9. Our total trade grew by 133 per cent from USD873.3 million (RM3.42 billion) in 2006 to USD2.48 billion (RM7.99 billion) in 2010. Malaysia’s exports to Pakistan amounted to USD2.33 billion (RM7.52 billion) in 2010, an increase of 31.3 per cent.

10. Malaysia’s major exports to Pakistan include palm oil, chemical products, electrical and electronic products, textiles and clothing, and machinery, appliances and parts.

11. On the other hand we imported USD147.8 million (RM475.9 million) of goods from Pakistan in 2010 as compared to USD149.5 (RM525.8 million) in 2009. From January to June this year, total trade was valued at USD1.32 billion (RM4.0 billion) which grew by 11.7 per cent from the same period in 2010. Malaysia imported mainly textiles and clothing, vegetables, seafood, and chemical as well as chemical products from Pakistan.

12. In terms of FDI, Pakistan was ranked 19th last year in terms of approved investment in the manufacturing sector. As of May 2011, approved investments from Pakistan are worth USD292.3 million (RM1,096.2 mil.) in 25 projects. These investments were mainly in paper, printing and publishing, food manufacturing, textiles and textile products, leather and leather products, and scientific and measuring products.

13. Investments from Malaysia into Pakistan for the period up to 2010 amounted to USD819.5 million (RM2.6 bilion). Malaysian companies operating in Pakistan are mainly in infrastructure development and construction, petroleum exploration and energy.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

14. Trade and investment between Malaysia and Pakistan is still relatively low. We continue to trade in a rather narrow range of products. There is therefore, untapped potential to enhance two-way trade. Trade promotion activities such as we are having today are very useful.

15. The role of the private sector role is also very crucial in implementing the trade and investment framework created by our governments. This Forum is certainly a step in the right direction.
16. I am also enthused by the formation of the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council (Mal-Pak) on 2nd of July 2010. To date, Mal-Pak has 31 members and further increase of its membership can be expected. In any case, it is not the numbers that we are looking for but more on the effectiveness and quality of the engagement. Business councils assume a significant role in networking and building rapport with government agencies to facilitate trade and reduce the overall cost of doing business. It is also the role of business councils to actively identify and disseminate business opportunities quickly and establish the infrastructure to enhance information and resource sharing. This will enable the private sector to leverage on the favourable business environment and opportunities that are created. This will help keep the small and medium enterprises better informed and benefit from the evolving opportunities.

17. In this regard, I would like to encourage our businesses to engage with the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Council. The Council can advise on how to avoid pitfalls and reduce start-up risks and facilitate your entry into the Pakistani and Malaysian markets.

Distinguished Guests,

18. Today’s programme includes several presentations by prominent speakers who will talk on business opportunities in the Pakistani markets. As for Malaysian companies, please utilise this opportunity to interact, network and build relationships. I would like to also urge Malaysian businessmen to further deepen your understanding of the workings of MPCEPA in order to gain maximum benefit from it.

19. Similarly, I would also like to encourage Pakistani companies to find suitable local partners to expand your business presence in Malaysia. Malaysia is an ideal gateway for Pakistan businesses seeking to explore opportunities in ASEAN and the Far East.

20. Let me thank you once again for your participation in today's business forum. I wish you every success in your business networking and business matching endeavours. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the organisers for their kind invitation.

21. Now, it is my pleasure to formally open the Malaysia-Pakistan Business Forum.

Thank you.

OFFICIAL SIGNING CEREMONY OF AWC BERHAD SHARE SUBSCRIPTION INTO RDM ASIA SDN BHD AND RDM ASIA COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH R

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:41:36 PDT

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Monday September 12, 2011

OFFICIAL SIGNING CEREMONY OF AWC BERHAD SHARE SUBSCRIPTION INTO RDM ASIA SDN BHD AND RDM ASIA COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH RESOURCE DATA MANAGEMENT LTD

YB DATO' MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

FOR OFFICIAL SIGNING CEREMONY OF
AWC BERHAD SHARE SUBSCRIPTION INTO
RDM ASIA SDN BHD

AND

RDM ASIA COLLABORATION AGREEMENT
WITH RESOURCE DATA MANAGEMENT LTD

12 SEPTEMBER, 2011 (MONDAY)

SIME DARBY CONVENTION CENTRE, KL

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Morning and Salam 1Malaysia.

His Excellency Mr. Simon Featherstone,
British High Commissioner to Malaysia;

Mr. Azmir Merican,
Group Chief Executive/Managing Director of AWC Berhad;

Mr. Andrew Chandler,
Managing Director of Resource Data Management Ltd;

Mr. Raj Samuel,
Director of Resource Data Management Asia Sdn Bhd;

Distinguished Guests,

Members of the Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. Let me begin by extending my sincere appreciation to the organisers for their kind invitation to witness the formulation of two significant agreements between AWC Berhad, RDM Ltd, UK and RDM Asia.

2. I believe that it is a positive step for AWC Berhad, a company which has grown its business by promoting energy efficient solutions and pro-environment engineering technology has made this far-sighted move to acquire a strategic stake in Resource Data Management Asia Sdn Bhd and to collaborate with UK-based Resource Data Management Ltd, an award-winning high technology solution company.

3. It is encouraging to know that the collaboration with RDM Ltd will enable AWC to venture into and employ new cutting edge solutions for various industries in Malaysia and the region. Indeed, I understand from AWC Berhad that the engineering solution that has proven to be highly successful in the UK and Europe is currently not directly available in Malaysia and to most of Asia.

4. This exclusive distributorship agreement through RDM Asia, with Resource Data Management Ltd (RDM Ltd) will allow the development, marketing and distribution of RDM Ltd’s award-winning products in Malaysia and in the Asian region. At the same time, this collaboration will provide AWC Berhad the edge to move ahead in the industry that requires advance technology to drive down operating costs via intelligent energy usage. Being market leaders in Facilities Management, AWC Berhad will be able to deploy this technology to its existing and new clientele given the benefits of RDM`s technology in improving operational and capital efficiencies across industries.

5. I see this as a win-win collaboration as it presents an opportunity for both parties to work together to market RDM products in Malaysia and in the region.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

6. As you know, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry has always encouraged and supported such collaborations. In this regard, I would like to commend AWC Berhad for making the right decision to pursue this opportunity in the Green economy.

7. For AWC Berhad this initiative will not only enhance its engineering capabilities as a pro-environment technology solutions provider but also allows for the introduction of a proven technology into this region. On the same note RDM`s track record in this respect is certainly impressive where many clients have benefited from improved energy consumption translated into savings. I am confident that AWC Berhad will achieve similar success here given the wide range of industries such as hypermarkets, hospitals and other high-energy consuming sectors that are constantly looking to improve energy efficiency.

8. I am pleased to note that sustainable development and environmental protection are making the top agendas for many Malaysian home grown companies. This is in line with the Government’s strategy of encouraging investments both foreign and local in Green technology. We believe that Green technology will be the new driver for economic growth as it offers enormous opportunities and immense potential in economic regeneration, innovation and wealth creation.

Distinguished Guests,

9. Please allow me to share some insight and perspectives into Malaysia’s National Green Technology Policy.

10. In pushing for a low-carbon economy, the Government launched the National Green Technology Policy on 24 July 2009 which serves as the basis for all Malaysians to enjoy an improved quality of life by ensuring that the objectives of our national development policies will continue to be balanced with environmental protection. The Government also hopes to create a new avenue of growth for the country from Green technology in line with our New Economic Model.

11. The country’s vision for a low-carbon growth trajectory will be driven by four main pillars, namely, energy, economy, environment and society. In the transition to a low-carbon economy the key issue for our policy makers is how to strike a balance between economic efficiency and environmental protection as the driver for economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. This needs to take into consideration the importance of promoting the notion of the environment and eco-efficiency as a business opportunity rather than a cost item.

12. In addition, related policy reforms such as the removal of barriers to competition and market liberalization by the Government could further stimulate new economic activities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

13. The National Green Technology Policy outlines five strategic thrusts towards implementing the framework for Green growth in Malaysia. I will highlight the main areas that are most relevant to today’s event. These thrust areas provide the impetus to increase Malaysia’s competitiveness in the regional and international markets.

14. Thrust 1 is aimed at strengthening the institutional framework especially among Government ministries, agencies, private sectors and other stakeholders. To strengthen the platform for our Green agenda, the National Green Technology and Climate Change Council was established to spearhead Green technology adoption in this country.

15. Thrust 2 aims to create a conducive environment for Green technology development. This includes the introduction and implementation of innovative economic instruments and the establishment of effective fiscal and financial mechanisms to support the growth of Green industries. We are all aware that not everyone is well versed in the various business opportunities of the new Green economy. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the awareness of local players. There will be greater promotion of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in Green technology that will in turn foster Domestic Direct Investments (DDIs) and greater local industry participation.

16. Furthermore, thrust 5 of The National Green Technology Policy is for Green technology to move forward at an accelerated pace especially with respect to promotion and public awareness. Green technology is a new sector for the country and not many entities or individuals fully understand this subject matter, especially the general public. We believe a policy can only succeed with the support of the public at large. Hence, the Government is undertaking substantial efforts to increase public awareness so that all efforts by the Government to pursue the development of Green technology will be well received by all members of the society. There will be continuous promotion, education and information dissemination to create acceptance by the public and corporate sector to adopt Green practices.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

17. Before I conclude this short speech. I would like to highlight the Low Carbon City Framework (LCCF). LCCF was initiated to provide a framework to achieve holistic sustainable developments that will subsequently reduce carbon emissions. The four main focus areas in the LCCF are Urban Environment, Urban Transportation, Urban Infrastructure and Buildings. The tools that come with this framework are:

• the Low Carbon Cities Framework which helps stakeholders such as the local authorities, planners, developers and decision makers understand the carbon footprint of cities and guide them in taking the appropriate reduction measures in arriving at their national climate goals; and
• The GHG Assessment System which uses a library of emission factors and statistics which convert inputs into greenhouse gas emissions.

18. These initiatives are a testament to the seriousness of the Government in promoting Green Technology.

Distinguished Guests,

19. These are exciting times for us. Before I conclude, I would like to call on the private sector to take full advantage of the benefits made available under the National Green Technology Policy to promote greater trade and investment flows between Malaysia and the UK and with the rest of the world.

20. Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to thank HE Simon Featherstone, the British High Commissioner to Malaysia for his support and the cooperation given by members of his staff in enhancing Malaysia-Great Britain ties. Once again thank you to the organizers for inviting me to deliver this special address.

21. I’d like to end with a quip on this topic of environmental protection, “There's so much pollution in the air now that if it weren't for our lungs there'd be no place to put it all”.

Thank you.

THE CREATIVE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS 2011 PRESS CONFERENCE

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:04:39 PDT

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Wednesday August 17, 2011

THE CREATIVE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS 2011 PRESS CONFERENCE

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

AT THE CREATIVE YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS 2011 PRESS CONFERENCE

17 August 2011 (WEDNESDAY)

Sunway Hotel, Petaling Jaya

(Salutation)

Assalamualaikum W.B.T, Good Afternoon and Salam 1Malaysia.

1. First of all, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the organisers for their kind invitation. I am pleased to be among young entrepreneurs today and soon we will announce the 10 Finalists of 2011 Junior Chamber International Creative Young Entrepreneur Awards. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Junior Chamber International Malaysia and the Junior Chamber International Petaling Jaya for their laudable effort in organizing this inspiring and timely event. I believe that we all need to be as creative as we can to successfully wade through the strong waves of the current global economic scenario. Be creative and innovative in order to better our nation’s economy; or to enhance the administration of your company; or to better our society as a whole; or to develop our businesses; excel our careers; or even in our daily routines – we must be creative.

2. This is due to the changing of global trends and human development. The world is ever-changing and if we do not adopt an open or unrestricted mindset we will eventually fail to adapt to the new reality and be rendered irrelevant so to speak.

3. Successful nations in the past are falling behind developing nations and growing regions that are forming a new economic nucleus powering the global economy. The world is in such a dynamic state that new ways of thinking and doing things are being applied every day. Hence, the need to constantly think outside the box.

4. Take your mobile phone as an example. Who would have thought that it will be such an important tool for us today? As compared to being just a limited communication tool within reach of the privileged just two decades ago-it has evolved to become an important Smartphone made available to the general population. We would be hard press to go a day without our Smartphone.

5. The budget aviation industry offers another good example. Previously, it was inconceivable that one day you can travel to Penang from KL cheaper by airplane than by bus. Such conveniences are the result of efforts of successful entrepreneurs who believe in the power of creativity and innovation and successfully embrace it. With Vision 2020 just 9 years away, it is the Government’s aim to engage the younger generation to continue to realise our nation’s dream. We will need to draw on as much creativity as we can muster to achieve a developed-nations status.

6. Therefore, I am pleased to note that the one of the main objectives of the JCI Creative Young Entrepreneur Award (CYEA) is to recognise the outstanding young entrepreneurs in Malaysia for their creativity. I believe we have a lot of creative talents in Malaysia, and it is my hope that this award will encourage more young entrepreneurs to take a more creative approach in their work. This event aims not only to recognize these creative entrepreneurs but more importantly spur them to compete at the international arena as far as this award goes. Hopefully, Malaysia can have a spot among the Top 3 global winners replicating the success of Datuk Seri Edmund Santhara in 2008 who went on to become the World Winner. Indeed, this bears strong testimony to the fact that Malaysians are able to compete and lead internationally.

7. I am certain that our Top 10 finalist which will be announced shortly faced many obstacles before reaching where they are today and for that I would like to applaud their efforts. To be selected from among your peers by a group of established judges is by no means a small feat and I hope that you will not stop here but will press on to achieve greater heights for your business. It is my hope that when we announce the Top 3 winners during the CYEA Awards Ceremony in Sunway Convention Center on 26th September 2011, you will strive even harder to compete with your international peers at the CYEA International Round of Competition and Malaysia will have another World Winner when the final results are announced during the JCI World Congress in Brussels, Belgium from 1st to 5th November 2011.

My young friends,

8. Here’s some food for thought. Murugavel Janakiraman the founder of Bharat Matrimony – one of India’s largest matrimonial website companies and one of India’s top youth entrepreneurs initially didn’t have any idea of how big his company could be. Critics dimmed his prospects of success because they felt that Indians were too conservative for an online marriage portal to succeed. He tackled this problem by providing various creative privacy measures that gradually made Indians comfortable with his product. Mr. Janakiraman said that he didn’t get into this business solely to make money. He says every entrepreneur must be driven by purpose and passion. He was quoted as saying – “It’s not about the money”. It’s about creating success, creating the name, creating the institution which can live forever”.

9. In this context, the question that I would like to pose to this audience is can we achieve economic progress without stability? Is regressive politicking an essential element in a democracy? Can anything positive come out of a culture of extremism void of the values of compromise?

10. These posers are pertinent to all of you as young entrepreneurs. To my mind, events around the world show that political gridlock can effectively shut down a government and cause global turmoil. Perhaps, one of the greatest lessons that we can draw from such events is that a nation must always be true to its founding ideals. We flounder when we turn our backs on those values. Being united as a nation in the spirit of compromise and hard work will never be out of fashion. Let us reject the stated notion that "politics as a practice, whatever its professions has always been the systematic organisation of hatreds”.

11. I am confident that you as the custodians of this nation’s future will make the right choices.

Honourable Guests,

12. In conclusion, I would like to once again thank the organisers for their invite. I would also like to commend the Organising Chairman JCI Member Stewart Lee and his committee for their sheer dedication and tireless efforts in making this event a success. Personally, I’m really encouraged to see an NGO promoting creativity in such a wonderful manner. Let’s all continue to support one another in the spirit of 1Malaysia as we build up our businesses and continue the march towards achieving Vision 2020.

13. To the Muslims members, Selamat Berpuasa and Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

14. With that, I take my leave and hope to see you again soon.

Thank you

LAUNCHING OF SHELL BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 02:03:34 PDT

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Monday August 15, 2011

LAUNCHING OF SHELL BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE

YB DATO' MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

AT THE LAUNCHING OF SHELL BUSINESS SERVICE CENTRE

15 AUGUST 2011 (MONDAY)

CYBERJAYA

Assalamualaikum W.B.T dan Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berusaha Encik Azman Ismail,
Managing Director of Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd;

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Badlisham Ghazali,
CEO of Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC);

Mr. Mike Sinclair
Vice President of Shell Business Service Centre;
Ms. Mabal Tan,
General Manager of Shell Business Service Centre Kuala Lumpur;

Members of the Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. First and foremost, allow me to thank the organisers for their kind invitation and to congratulate Shell Malaysia on their official launch of the Shell Business Service Centre here in Kuala Lumpur.

2. I am delighted to be here to share this very important milestone with you, not least because Shell was one of the first multinationals to set up an IT service centre here in Cyberjaya in 2001.

3. I am also encouraged that after ten exciting years, Shell continues to have a significant presence in Cyberjaya through its Shell Business Services Centre or SBSC.

4. This fact demonstrates your confidence and commitment to Malaysia and her talent throughout the past 120 years of Shell’s history in the country.

5. Shell was the first petroleum company to set up here both in the downstream business as well as the upstream business and we are pleased to see your continued investment in the discovery, development and stewardship of the country’s oil and gas resources.
Honourable Guests,

6. The energy industry is a key contributor to our nation’s economic progress and development as well as a key source of revenue for the Government. Shell’s contribution to Malaysia in this respect and the development of her workforce is praiseworthy.

7. To put things into context, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows to Malaysia are expected to reach US$10 billion in 2011 surpassing last year’s strong record of US$9.1 billion. Undoubtedly, the Government’s initiatives such as the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) are key drivers in attracting foreign investments.

8. Accordingly, Shell continues in its role as a long-term partner in Malaysia’s economic development through its RM5.1 billion investments for 2011.

9. A part of this investment is manifested in this Shell Business Services Centre – not just in the infrastructure but perhaps more importantly in the human capital investment of the talented senior and young people employed here.

10. I have been made to understand that SBSC KL employs as much as 2,100 knowledge workers or knowledge thinkers as I would prefer to call them. The majority of these employees are Malaysians but also include 15 other nationalities. I am told that the personnel’s average age is 33 years old providing the following services to the Shell Group across the world – IT, Finance, HR, Contracting and Procurement, Customer Service and Supply & Distribution.

11. Thus, the Malaysian Government acknowledges Shell’s role in developing the Malaysian labour force in line with this Government’s aspiration to become a high-income nation by 2020.

12. Needles to say, we are elated that SBSC has been placed in Cyberjaya. This is all part of Cyberjaya’s stellar organic growth. Furthermore, Shell’s pioneering ways continue with its choice of this particular building to house SBSC - I note that this green building is the first of its kind in Malaysia certified LEED Gold. I believe that there are many Green advocates among your youthful workforce and they should take pride in this recognition.

13. Shell could do well when recruiting aspiring candidates who are environmentally conscious. I believe that this will be a draw to meet Shell’s aspiration to grow its personnel to 3000 in the next two years.

14. For your information we have achieved wonderful successes in the second phase of the MSC spanning 2004 - 2010. Among them are:

• Value-added contribution to GDP stands at RM35.73 billion;
• Shift of local industry from trader to exporter where exports grew by 6.2 times;
• Strengthened our position as a global ICT hub where investments reached RM27.8 billion with FDIs taking the lead at 60% of total investments;
• The diversification of the domestic ICT industry where new sub-sectors (SSO) created with 31% contribution to total revenue;
• 83,841 net new jobs with an average salary of RM4542 per month created;
• 668 technopreneurs nurtured creating additional 1670 job opportunities; and
• The MSC’s value-added contribution to GDP for 2010 amounted to RM7.65 billion or 1.37% of total GDP in 2010.

15. For this year. We have outlined the following target outcomes:

• Industry Enhancement:
- RM7.8 billion GDP Contribution, RM1.5 billion of new investments, 117,000 of total jobs, RM29 billion of revenue and RM10 billion of exports;
• Infusion of ICT:
- Increase ICT adoption and productivity among 400 SMEs, digital Government framework and increase ICT adoption and productivity among 400 SMEs;
• Knowledge Infrastructure:
- 1,000 IPs generated 73% commercialisation, 2 new cybercities/centres, 1,000 professionals developed and 10,500 graduates up-skilled; and
• Thought Leadership:
- Innovative Digital Economy Framework.

16. These are just some of the salient points. There is much more to be proud of.

17. However, despite our best efforts there are those who say that the MSC is a failure! When I look around this room I don’t see any failures-what I do see are talented hardworking people who have an ambition for themselves and their country. When I drive around Cyberjaya to meet with a fraction of the 100,000 plus Malaysian citizens attached to a multitude of international brands who are striving to make a difference in their lives and contribute to this beloved country – I don’t see any losers. The actual losers are the politicians who will say anything regardless of consequences, disparage anyone, and discredit every noble effort just to project themselves. Worse still, not only do they pull wool over the eyes of the Rakyat about the internationally recognised success of the MSC, the opposition has had no qualms taking their campaign of hatred to foreigners to impede the growth of the MSC that will in turn feed their desire to destroy this project and then relish in this hoped failure. Theirs is a selfish cause devoid of any sense of patriotism let alone pride in their own ability to achieve anything truly inspiring.

18. You are living proof that their allegations are false. You represent the difference between progressive politics and regressive politicking. You are the custodians of the future of the MSC, and to a large extent you are also the present and future of this great nation of ours.

19. My friends, before I conclude my short speech – I’d like to restate what Mr. Peter Voser said. To my mind, whether you are the CEO of a multinational giant like Shell or an official representing Government or the proprietor of a SME company; this extraction could prove useful – “Getting the best out of every member of your team is essential. You also need to be able to drive accountability but at the same time empower people and foster localised entrepreneurialism”. I believe this to be true and indeed practicable in our local context.

Honourable Guests,

20. I would also like to take this parting opportunity to commend the Shell Group of Companies and more specifically Shell Malaysia for continuing to believe in Malaysia as a good investment destination for high value-added services. It speaks volumes of the correct positioning for Malaysia by the Government to be a service hub for high-tech work in this region and that our policies of late have been well received by global MNCs.

21. I would encourage Shell to further ramp up their investments here. Ignore the naysayers and continue to use Malaysia as a platform for mutual sustainable growth.

22. And with that I take my leave. I thank once again the organisers for their kind invitation and I hope to see all of you on another fortuitous occasion. Selamat berpuasa and Hari Raya Aidilfitri to the Muslim staff. I wish you a safe journey back to your hometowns. Insha’Allah.

Negara Kebajikan Pas - Rumah Urut Bercambah di Kedah

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:24:38 PDT

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KENYATAAN AKHBAR Sunday July 31, 2011

Negara Kebajikan Pas - Rumah Urut Bercambah di Kedah

Tahniah dan syabas di atas pengakuan Exco Kerajaan Kedah PAS yang mengakui bahawa pusat-pusat hiburan termasuk rumah urut memang bercambah di Alor Setar, Sg Petani dan beberapa bandar di Kedah.

Tahniah juga kepada slogan Negara Berkebajikan dan Kedah Sejahtera. Mungkin di atas berkat ke dua-dua slogan ini telah melahirkan lebih banyak pusat hiburan dan rumah urut semenjak tiga tahun yang lalu. Apa pun, pertambahan mendadak pusat-pusat hiburan di sekitar Alor Setar, Sg Petani dan beberapa bandar di Kedah ketika ini boleh dianggap sebagai sesuatu yang mengejutkan bagi sesebuah kerajaan yang melaungkan slogan suci seperti ini.

Persoalannya, kenapa pentadbiran PAS hanya mengakui wujudnya pusat-pusat hiburan yang disyaki menawarkan khidmat tidak bermoral, setelah ianya didedahkan kepada pengetahuan umum? Apakah PAS akan mendiamkan saja isu ini dari pengetahuan rakyat Kedah yang majoritinya Melayu-Islam, jika tiada pihak yang mendedahkannya?

Walaupun wakil Kerajaan PAS memberi alasan pusat hiburan ini tidak berlesen, ianya tidak sekali-kali melepaskan mereka dari tanggungjawab bagi membanteras kegiatan kotor ini. Kenapa tindakan tidak diambil terhadap pusat-pusat hiburan yang tidak berlesen? Ke mana hilangnya sistem penguatkuasaan Majlis Kerajaan Tempatan di bawah pentadbir PAS hingga sesiapa juga bebas untuk menjalankan aktiviti tidak bermoral secara haram?

Persoalan yang lebih menimbulkan kemusykilan kita ialah, apakah faktor yang menyumbang di sebalik kegagalan pemimpin PAS membendung pertumbuhan pusat-pusat hiburan ini, sehingga mereka dilihat seolah-olah tidak berbuat apa-apa untuk mengekang gejala ini dari berleluasa?

Lebih menarik lagi ialah, apabila rakyat melihat bagaimana gelagat tokoh PAS Kedah tarik brek kecemasan dan "go-stan" keputusan awal mereka yang tidak membenarkan pusat hiburan beroperasi sepanjang bulan Ramadhan, setelah menerima tekanan DAP yang turut disokong oleh PKR. Pernahkah para pemimpin atasan PAS merujuk kepada ahli akar umbinya dalam perkara ini? Saya tidak percaya penyokong PAS yang alim akan menerima penjelasan dan justifikasi pemimpin atasan mereka dalam isu ini.

Adakah kebenaran "flip-flop" ini dikhususkan hanya untuk pelanggan bukan Islam? Melihat kepada percambahan ketara pusat hiburan yang paling dibenci oleh PAS sewaktu partinya memperjuangkan hukum Islam, ia seolah-olah menggambarkan penduduk bukan Islam telah bertambah berkali ganda sejak Kedah ditadbir di bawah PAS, walaupun ini sebenarnya tidak berlaku.

Adakah pakatan "Three Stooges" DAP-PKR-PAS berpendirian begini kerana mereka memikirkan bahawa budaya melanggan rumah-rumah urut, beli arak, berjudi dan lain-lain kerja tidak bermoral ini memang menjadi budaya penganut bukan Islam? Dan, adakah kegiatan ini dianggap suatu hak keistimewaan yang tidak boleh ditarik balik?

Mungkin juga pemimpin PAS Kedah beranggapan tindakannya menarik balik keputusan menutup pusat hiburan pada bulan Ramadhan ini dianggap konsisten dengan konsep Negara Kebajikan mengikut definisi mereka. Walhal konsep negara berkebajikan ala BN selama ini telah memberi fokus kepada usaha membaiki atau membina rumah baru untuk rakyat miskin, meringankan kos sara hidup nelayan, memberi elaun bulanan kepada penjaga OKU atau pesakit terlantar, membina dan membaikpulih masjid dan surau, membantu mangsa banjir dengan memindahkan mereka ke pusat pindahan dan memastikan keperluan mereka cukup, dan banyak lagi. Itupun belum diambilkira, antara lain subsidi berjumlah berbilion ringgit yang telah diberikan untuk faedah rakyat sejak berpuluh tahun lamanya.

Pemimpin PAS tidak sedar konsep negara berkebajikan yang dijanjikannya sudah lebih 50 tahun ketinggalan dibelakang BN. Apabila semua keperluan dan kebajikan untuk faedah rakyat sudah berjaya diangkat dan dimartabat oleh BN, PAS baru terkial-kial mahu mengorak langkah. PAS baru tersedar dari lamunan perjuangan Islam retoriknya dan mengakui realiti bahawa berkhidmat dan melakukan kebajikan secara konsisten dalam memastikan kehidupan rakyat terbela adalah perkara paling pokok dan pra-syarat untuk rakyat menerima perjuangan sesebuah parti. BN telah melakukannya dengan berkesan tanpa perlu pun menjenamakan perjuangan sucinya dengan retorik Negara Kebajikan!

Tindakan flip flop PAS membatalkan keputusan asal ini pada hakikatnya telah mewujudkan persepsi umum, seolah-olah rakyat bukan Islam memang cenderung melakukan aktiviti tidak bermoral.

Saya tertarik dengan aduan yang telah dibuat oleh Profesor Dr Clara Chee. Wakil pertubuhan bukan kerajaan wanita ini bimbang dan telah membuat aduan mengenai kehadiran rumah-rumah urut yang disyaki menawarkan khidmat seks yang tumbuh seperti cendawan selepas hujan di sekitar negeri Selangor. Aduan beliau ini jelas membuktikan apa yang kami di BN perakui bahawa masyarakat bukan Islam juga sebenarnya menolak keras kegiatan tidak bermoral ini. Mereka juga tidak rela melihat pusat-pusat hiburan ini turut dilanggani oleh suami-suami atau anak-anak mereka, termasuk pelajar-pelajar IPT dan remaja belasan tahun.

Berdasarkan aduan ini, jelas kepada kita bahawa, rakyat dari pelbagai agama menolak alasan kerajaan negeri PAS, yang memberi jaminan bahawa kewujudan pusat-pusat hiburan ini adalah semata-mata untuk memenuhi permintaan masyarakat bukan Islam.

Pendirian mereka itu sebenarnya telah menghina kebijaksanaan (insulting the intelligence) rakyat. Kita juga ingin bertanya kepada pemimpin PAS yang telah acap kali tunduk dengan kemahuan DAP, bagaimana mereka mahu memastikan pusat-pusat hiburan itu tidak turut dilanggani oleh umat Islam, termasuk di bulan puasa al-Mubarak?

Rakyat Kedah juga mahu bertanya kepada pemimpin PAS, apakah kerajaan PAS hari ini sebenarnya takutkan tekanan DAP atau lebih takut dengan ugutan pengusaha-pengusaha pusat hiburan yang berselindung di belakang DAP? Atau apakah pemimpin PAS lebih bimbang dengan risiko kehilangan sokongan undi masyarakat cina sehingga terpaksa mengkompromi hukum Allah SWT dengan menutup sebelah mata terhadap segala kegiatan tidak bermoral yang sememangnya ditolak oleh semua agama ini?

Apapun, pengakuan berani ini memang kita alu-alukan. Tahniah kerana hasil transformasi negeri berkebajikan di Kedah (Selangor dan Pulau Pinang), kini telah menyaksikan peningkatan pusat-pusat hiburan dan rumah urut. Ibarat kata pepatah, "lain yang ditanam, lain pula yang tumbuh". Mungkin PAS juga prihatin dalam menjaga kebajikan mereka-mereka yang dahagakan aktiviti tidak bermoral ini.

Mampukah pemimpin PAS memberi alasan atau jawaban dalam perbicaraan di akhirat kelak dengan menggunapakai alasan dan jawaban yang diberi sebagai halwa telinga semasa di dunia ini?

Wallahualam.

Mukhriz

OFFICIATING PERODUA DESIGN ENGINEERING PROGRAM (DEP) GRADUATION CEREMONY

noreply@blogger.com (Mukhriz Mahathir) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:32:51 PDT

Tuesday May 24, 2011

OFFICIATING PERODUA DESIGN ENGINEERING PROGRAM (DEP) GRADUATION CEREMONY

YB DATO’ MUKHRIZ MAHATHIR
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY

OFFICIATING PERODUA DESIGN ENGINEERING PROGRAM (DEP) GRADUATION CEREMONY

24 MAY 2011 (TUESDAY)

PERODUA PLANT, RAWANG

Assalamualaikum W.B.T and Salam 1Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh,
Managing Director of PERODUA;

Yang Berbahagia Brigadier Jeneral Dato’ Profesor Dr. Kamarudin Hussin,
Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UNIMAP);

Mr. Abdul Rahim Hitam,
Managing Director of Ingress Technologies Sdn Bhd;

Puan Hajah Noraini Soltan Talib,
Managing Director of Sipro Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd;
Mr. Mohamad Razali Osman,
Chief Operating Officer of Sapura Industrial Sdn Bhd;

Members of the Media;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

1. I would like, first and foremost, to thank Perodua and the Malaysia Automotive Institute for inviting me to witness this graduation ceremony of trainees trained in the field of Digital Engineering. This programme, a collaborative effort between MAI, and Perodua and in collaboration with UNIMAP, is a welcomed contribution to our effort to upgrade skills in our automotive industry. This initiative is another programme of MAI, under MITI, focused on enhancing our human capital capability for the benefit of our automotive industry.

2. Although I am not by training a person with a technical background, I have to confess that I have long had an interest in the use of computers and advanced software for design and manufacturing technology. The technology, of course, has advanced from CAD to CAM, and again to CADCAM. And with every passing year, new concepts and new techniques of design using digital technology are being introduced. What passes for digital engineering these days is an amazing combination of skill, creativity and technology.

3. Much progress has been made in this area of technology where numerous software and techniques have been developed and lately this field has been recognised as ‘digital engineering’, and I believe this terminology was introduced to sum up all the acronyms I mentioned earlier simply to describe engineering development using digital technology.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

4. Early this year, when I was in Japan, I had an opportunity to visit a few establishments engaged in digital engineering work. One of them is called ‘Dipro’, a name which some of you may be familiar with. The company specialises in the design and development of automotive vehicles and parts.
5. At the Dipro plant, I was shown how digital engineering is used - from conceptualisation of a product to its manufacture. The product concept is first outlined using the appropriate software. It is then presented in two or three dimensional views for examination and evaluation. The concept can thus be tested for functionality and durability during application, among other things.

6. Prototypes are then generated using advanced prototyping equipment in real 3D size for the benefit of production engineers and customers. The next stage is to develop the tooling requirements for the manufacture of the parts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. I am sure what I have described is not new to many of you, especially those from Perodua and your vendors. You have been exposed to this design environment, and can appreciate why it is important for us to develop the knowledge and skills to use digital engineering in our automotive industry. If we want to be competitive, if we want to be world-class, we must embrace the latest technology in this field.

8. In this respect, I am pleased to acknowledge that three of Perodua Tier-1 companies, namely, Sapura, Ingress and Sipro, are supporting this programme by taking the trainees to be part of their engineering team and exposing them to the real automotive engineering work and experience.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

9. The point that I like to emphasise again is the need to be competitive and to stay competitive. The automotive industry is one of the most competitive industries in the world, and unless you have the knowledge, the skills and the products to compete in the international marketplace, you will soon end up as an also ran.

10. In this context, let me relate to you an interesting story about the development of digital engineering in Vietnam. In 2003, a select group of 30 Vietnamese students in a local energy company were sent to Japan to further their engineering studies. Supported by Nissan, the students underwent practical training in one of the company's establishments. Nissan was impressed by the quality of their work and upon their return to Vietnam, the company decided to outsource some of its digital engineering requirements to these students who now work for Nissan Techno Vietnam.
11. Nissan Techno Vietnam was established by Nissan to develop local Vietnamese expertise in digital engineering. The company started with 50 employees. Today, it employs some 2,000 people who provide digital engineering services for Nissan and its affiliates around the world.

12. Please take note of this. Although Vietnam does not have a national car project today, it already has the digital engineering know-how to design cars and car parts. Imagine what will happen should the country decide to go into car manufacturing. I have no doubt it will hit the ground running, and give all the other car manufacturers in the region and beyond a run for their money.
13. There is a lesson in this for us. It is that we must always be vigilant and continuously strive to upgrade our skills and knowledge if we want to stay ahead of the curve. We must think strategically and have a comprehensive and coherent industry development plan that anticipates the future if we want to stay relevant.

14. In this context, therefore, I appreciate the efforts MAI, Perodua, its vendors and UNIMAP have made to offer this digital engineering programme to the local industry. I call upon all OEM and parts manufacturers to support initiatives such as this by accepting their students in your facilities for industrial training.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

15. I like to end by congratulating once again all the participants, or should I say "graduating designers", of this programme. I understand that PERODUA, SAPURA, INGRESS AND SIPRO have offered permanent postings to all members of this graduating class. Congratulations to everyone.

Thank you.