Friday, May 8, 2009

9th Finance Asia's Poll: Best Managed Malaysia Companies

This is the poll result from FinanceAsia's ninth annual poll of Asia's top companies. The votes were collected from 238 investors and analysts across the region. The result are kind of more or less expected if you do monitor finance and business news here in Malaysia, but it was still a good one to share out:

Best managed company Votes
1)Public Bank 36
2)CIMB 28
3)IOI Corp 15
4)YTL 12
5)Axiata (TMI) 11
6)Digi 10
7)SP Setia 9
8)Genting 8
9)Media Prima 7

Best corporate governance Votes
1)Public Bank 32
2)CIMB 23
3)Digi 14
4)Genting 13
5)Sime Darby 12
6)BAT Malaysia 9
7)IOI Corp 8

Best investor relations Votes
1)CIMB 27
2)Public Bank 22
3)Digi 21
4)BAT Malaysia 12
5)IOI Corp 10
6)Sime Darby 9

Best corporate social responsibility Votes
1)Sime Darby 27
2)Public Bank 24
3)CIMB 20
4)SP Setia 15
5)Digi 12
6)Axiata (TMI) 10
7)Genting 7

Most committed to a strong dividend policy Votes
1)BAT Malaysia 29
2)Public Bank 27
3)Digi 26
4)Sime Darby 10
5)IOI Corp 7

Best mid-cap Votes
1)SP Setia 19
2)IJM 9

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Bayan Lepas airport upgrade to take 2 years

THE RM250 million project to upgrade the Bayan Lepas International Airport (BLIA) will begin at the year-end and is expected to be completed in two years.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the project, to be carried out in stages, included expanding and upgrading the airport's passenger terminal, building a multi-storey car park and improving the security aspects.
"The expansion and upgrading of the airport is necessary as it cannot cater to more flights which have already seen an increase," he said after visiting the airport, in Penang, yesterday.
Lim said BLIA handled more than 3.4 million passengers, 193,000 tonnes of cargo and 39,798 flights last year.

He said BLIAS also recorded a profit of RM493.3 million between 2000 and 2008 or about 23 per cent made by Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad.

Lim also repeated his call for a low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) to be built in Penang due to the increased demand for air travel and to make Penang an important low-fare air travel hub in the region.

He said that according to AirAsia's forecast, about 1.7 million people would use Penang for low-cost air travel in 2009 and the number was expected to increase to 3.8 million in 2013. - Bernama

So co-incidence?

Hmm...do you really believed in black curse? Or it's just pure co-incidence? The day before, my colleague was telling me that he broke his badminton racket string during his game on Tuesday night. His was just changed barely 2 months. The first thing he told me when we met yesterday morning was that he played some very expensive badminton the night before while continuing his story.
Then yesterday night was my turn of badminton session. And mine too was broken during my 2nd game? Isn't this weird? Black curse? Just so 'ngam ngam'? I really don't understand. Even though I knew my racket string was quite old and it's almost time for it to break judging from the visible tiny tiny fibre that came loose from the strings, I did not expect them to give ways right after my colleague told me about his story. Now looks like I have to follow suit to spend money on the broken strings...haizzz.

I'm still thinking whether what string I want to change to. My last stringing was around 2 months ago on my another racket and if I'm not mistaken, it's BG66. I got help from my friend to do the stringing for me somewhere in the mainland (Bukit Mertajam). Not sure about the tension used for that strings for that racket but it's acceptable for normal skilled people like me. Wondering if this broken one wanna do the same or I get it done here myself with Yonex BG65. No matter what, money is flowing out again...

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

PTPTN may face RM46b deficit by 2020

According to Bernama report yesterday, The National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) may be saddled with a RM46 billion deficit by 2020, said Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said a study was being carried out by the ministry to address the situation and the findings would be handed to the government when they were ready.

"The government will decide on the new format needed for PTPTN to cater to the needs of students," he told reporters today.

More and more money is being given out each and every year with the growing intakes every year. But the amount being returned is not growing, and so far, ways and method to get back the loan returns from graduated students have been fruitless.

In my own opinion, the ways currently being undertaken by the government are inefficient and waste of funds. They should have link up with Bank Negara of screening and monitoring those defaulters that are taking loans to purchase vehicle or properties so that the loan won't be approved unless they have settle their PTPTN loans. This is just one of the way, there are many much more effective ways such as blocking them from going overseas or even deducting the amount from defaulter's EPF account. All these are workable ways instead of complaining and coming up with useless ways that waste more money, time and efforts...

Monday, May 4, 2009

Penang Bridge Marathon Photo Exhibition

Date: 4th May ~ 24th May 2009

Location: Queensbay Mall Ground Floor

Organizer: Penang Bridge International Marathon Committee

email: info@penangmarathon.gov.my This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web site: www.penangmarathon.gov.my

The first major exhibition of marathon event ever to be held in Malaysia. It takes a unique look at the journey of the event. A tribute to all PBIM 2008 participants.

A selection of 30 photos from our Penang Bridge International Marathon 2008 will be exhibited all over Penang starting from 4th May 2009 at Queensbay Mall.

Penang Bridge International Marathon is the largest mass-participation sports events in Penang. Bringing tens of thousands of runners out onto the streets. The runners came for pleasure, for fitness, to lose weight, to improve on a personal best performance over a distance, or to compete against others for a prize. All of them are, knowingly or unwittingly participating in one of the greatest sports event in Malaysia.

After Queensbay Mall, the exhibition will move on to other shopping complexes, schools or hotels. Details will be publish soon for more info. Hmm...one good way to encourage people to participate in this year's run. Good business/promotion strategy??? You can even enjoy early bird discount of 10% :)

Komtar Tower Run 2009 31st May 2009

Event: Komtar Tower Run 2009
Date: 31st may 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 7:30am onwards by category
Venue: Lebuh Tek Soon, Komtar

COMPETITION CATEGORIES

Participants 18 years old and above –
CATEGORY A – MEN OPEN
CATEGORY B – WOMEN OPEN

Participants between ages 13 - 17 years old –
CATEGORY C – BOYS JUNIOR
CATEGORY D – GIRLS JUNIOR

ENTRY FEES
MEN / WOMEN OPEN – RM20 per person for Malaysian / MyKad Holders & RM30 per person for foreign participants
BOYS / GIRLS JUNIOR – RM10 per person for Malaysian / MyKad Holders & RM15 per person for foreign participants

All participants would be required to complete the participation forms prior to the event.

PRIZES
Category A : Men Open
1st placing - RM1,500.00
2nd placing - RM1,000.00
3rd placing - RM 800.00
4th placing - RM 300.00
5th placing - RM 300.00
6th – 10th (Consolation) - RM 100.00*

Category B : Women Open
1st placing - RM1,500.00
2nd placing - RM1,000.00
3rd placing - RM 800.00
4th placing - RM 300.00
5th placing - RM 300.00
6th – 10th (Consolation) - RM 100.00*

Category C : Boys Junior
1st placing - RM1,000.00
2nd placing - RM 800.00
3rd placing - RM 500.00
4th placing - RM 200.00
5th placing - RM 200.00
6th – 10th (Consolation) - RM 50.00*

Category D : Girls Junior
1st placing - RM1,000.00
2nd placing - RM 800.00
3rd placing - RM 500.00
4th placing - RM 200.00
5th placing - RM 200.00
6th – 10th (Consolation) - RM 50.00*

*Cash Voucher

Besides the cash prizes, winners would also be given trophies.
Certificates of Participation would be given to all participants regardless whether they complete the race or not.
Attractive lucky draw prizes are also up for grabs and all participants would be given lucky draw coupons.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Happy Labour Day 1st May 2009

Hmm...it's our day...Labour's Day!!! Wishing each and everyone out there Happy Labour's Day...may you have a nice and enjoy long weekend since we will be having 3 days off from Friday till Sunday...hooray !!!


Let's go out and play, enjoy and relax for the day...I'm sure I will definitely...but also with labour's hard work because I'm having 2 days of tough hiking in a row...hahahaha...good also, it's a keep fit exercise :p