Vistapoint Technologies : Camera design centre in Penang

The following are an article from today's Business Times, regarding Vistapoint Technologies, or better known as VPT among my fellow colleagues. The interview to be exact was held last Wednesday at our very own Design Center :)

MALAYSIA'S first camera design centre is expected to be set up in Penang by year-end.

The 100,000 sq ft state-of-the-art facility will be set up at the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone by Vista Point Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd, a business division of Flextronics International Ltd, one of the world's Electronics Manufacturing Services providers.

Vista Point vice-president for design and engineering Vijay Albuquerque told Business Times that the company has identified land in the Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.

"We are currently in talks with the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority in seeking a matching grant for the setting up of this advanced process development facility in Malaysia," he said in Penang.

Vista Point Technologies, headquartered in California, now operates from rented premises at the Bukit Jambul area in Penang where it develops camera modules and finger navigation tools for mobile phones which are exported.

The company's manufacturing facility here is located at Bukit Raja in Selangor.

Albuquerque did not disclose the new Vista Point investment, except to say that it will include the procurement of machinery and equipment which will be significant.

The company's started investing in 2005 with cumulative investments in excess of RM250 million. Vista Point currently employs 130 people in Penang.

Albuquerque said with the proposed expansion plans, the company is expected to create some 50 high-value jobs by year-end.

"We hope to grow our engineering team by 50 per cent a year from now," he added.

Albuquerque said about 85 per cent of new Vista Point designs are developed at its Penang Design Centre, from where it leverages on the engineering talent, together with the pool of equipment and tooling suppliers in the state.

The Penang Design Centre was opened in 2006 with a staff of 20.

BTimes

Penang Government Firm On Its Decision To Ban Sports Betting

Penang government would stand by its decision not to allow sports betting in the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government would not change its decision to deny Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd, which has been given a sports gaming licence, to carry out such betting activities in the state.

"We had sent a letter to the company stating our decision and we will still stand by our decision to ban them (the company) from opening betting outlets in the state," he told reporters here on Sunday.

Lim was commenting on a report today that business tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan was quoted as saying that he was ready to appeal to states under opposition rule, including Selangor, Penang and Kedah which have banned sports betting.

The sports gaming licence was issued to Vincent Tan's Ascot Sports early this year.

However, Lim said the state government has yet to receive any appeal letter from Ascot Sports, seeking to reverse the state government's decision.

"Although the state government is always ready for discussion but we have not received any appeal letter from the company," he said.

It was reporter today that, Vincent Tan had announced to donate to charity the entire proceeds of the RM525 million accrued from the sale of his 70 per cent stake in Ascot Sports to Berjaya Corporation Bhd.

Bernama

I personally truly support this move by the state government. If it's legal, then even the kids and teenagers will go for it and tell their parents..."it's legal, why not?"....

French Open final 2010: Rafael Nadal wins French Open

Congrats Rafa...a dominance win. Soderling just had no answer....

Rafael Nadal has once again proved that he is the King of Clay. He has won French Open final 2010.

But he had to really work hard for a year to be back at the top of the tennis world. And no one realizes better than the star Rafael, who after winning the historic match started sobbing uncontrollably. It was not that this was his first win. Before this triumph Nadal has seven Grand Slam title in his belt.

During his tennis career he has all major trophies and stayed at the top slot for a long time. But injury brought him down. He struggled to retain his form in the last year. It was only this time that he not only regained his form but also made it to the top in style by convincingly defeating his opponent on the tennis ground. The score says it all: 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.

Last year, he had lost the crown to Robin Soderling. But this year he took the revenge as he cornered him from the start of the game. Nadal was at his best form, giving no opportunity to his rival.

It was not a one off incident. Nadal has been concentrating on his game like anything for the last two weeks. Experts who saw him play in the tournament had predicted that Nadal would be the winner because they realized that he was back on the court with vigor and energy.

Pedrosa wins in Italy as Rossi recovers

Dani Pedrosa led throughout to take his first victory of the season at the Italian round at Mugello. Jorge Lorenzo finished second to tighten his grip in a title race which, for the time being, is missing Valentino Rossi.

The Italian, 31, watched his home race – he lives in nearby Tavullia – unfold from his hospital bed in Florence, where he is recovering from surgery to pin the compound fracture of his right tibia, an injury sustained in a crash during Saturday's free practice.

Rossi high-sided over his Fiat Yamaha and landed awkwardly. He was airlifted to a specialist clinic for the operation and is expected to remain there for the rest of this week, with a racing return unlikely for at least two months.

The crash ended a run of 230 grands prix by Rossi since his debut in 1996, during which time he won nine titles. This year he was running second in the points to his team-mate Lorenzo, who now has a real chance of taking the sport's elite crown for the first time.

Lorenzo realises after this latest race, however, that nothing comes easily as he had to overcome the determined challenge of Andrea Dovizioso to take second place after the first five hard laps, by which time pole starter Dani Pedrosa had taken charge of the race.

Pedrosa moved into second place in the standings, 25 points down on Lorenzo, who reflected: "It was a very tough race for me. I struggled as the tyres were not working well and Dani was very fast."

Happy birthday Rafa !

Spain's Rafael Nadal poses beside a birthday cake presented to him at the Roland Garros stadium on the occaision of his 24th Birthday during the French Open tennis championship.

I bet he would be more happy to pose with the French Open winner's trophy comes this Sunday now that he's the overwhelming favourite to reclaim 'his' title as King of Clay.

1st Malaysia International Guppy & Betta Charity Competition 12th - 13th June 2010

You like fishes? Or more spesific small colourful fishes in guppy and betta? If your answers are yes to all the questions, then make sure you do not miss this first ever eye-opener event...

1st Malaysia International Guppy & Betta Charity Competition

Date: 12-13 June 2010

Venue: Gurney Plaza, Penang

Entry Fees: RM15 per entry for BSM members, RM20 per entry for non BSM members

Class List

GROUP A: REGULAR CLASSES

Division A: Halfmoon ST

A1. Red STM (Dark and Light Body)

A2. Black STM

A3. Dark Iridescent STM

A4. Clear/Yellow/Orange STM

A5. Pastel/Opaque STM

A6. Patterned STM

A7. Metallic Dark STM

A8. Metallic Light STM

A9. AOC STM

Division B: Halfmoon DT

B1. Dark Solid Color DTM

B2. Light Solid Color DTM

B3. Patterned DTM

B4. Metallic Dark/Light DTM

B5. AOC DTM

Division C: Crowntail ST

C1. Red/Black CTM

C2. Dark Iridescent CTM

C3. Light Solid CTM

C4. Patterned CTM

C5. Black Orchid CTM

C6. Metallic Dark CTM

C7. Metallic Light CTM

C8. AOC CTM

Division D: Shortfin ST

D1. Red STM Show Plakat

D2. Black STM Show Plakat

D3. Blue STM Show Plakat

D4. Steel STM Show Plakat

D5. Green/Turquoise STM Show Plakat

D6. Clear/Yellow/Orange STM Show Plakat

D7. Pastel/Opaqe STM Show Plakat

D8. Bicolor/Butterfly STM Show Plakat

D9. Marble/Grizzled/Multicolor STM Show Plakat

D10. Metallic Dark STM Show Plakat

D11. Metallic Light STM Show Plakat

D12. AOC STM Show Plakat

D13. Halfmoon Shortfin

GROUP B : OPTIONAL CLASSES

Division H: Female Classes

H1/3. Solid Color Female

H2/4. AOC Female

Division I: Temporary Classes

I2. Giant Plakat

Best of Variety Awards

Best Halfmoon

Best Doubletail

Best Crowntail

Best Shortfin

Best of Show (chosen from the Best above)

Photo of the Day - Boatman

Got this nice photo from the National Geographic site. It's their photo of the day, featuring a boatman paddles his bamboo raft along the river at Wawa Dam, Philippines.

It's so peaceful and relaxing...I wish to be sitting on that bamboo raft...