Saturday, January 23, 2010

Six ECER Projects To Be Implemented In Terengganu This Year

January 12, 2010 19:49 PM

Six ECER Projects To Be Implemented In Terengganu This Year

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- A total of six more new projects planned under the East Coast Economic Region development programme will be implemented in Terengganu this year.

Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Ahmad Said, said under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, 38 projects had been approved for implementation in Terengganu including 14 cross-border projects involving other ECER states.

"From these, 17 projects were implemented in 2008, 15 projects last year, while six more projects will be implemented this year.

"On the whole, I am very satisfied with the implementation and progress of all these projects which are being actively undertaken by the ECER Development Council (ECERDC)," he said.

He was speaking to reporters here chairing the ECER Development Council's Implementation and Coordination Committees meeting here Tuesday.

He had also launched ECER's human capital development programme Tuesday.

Also present at the event were the Chief Executive Officer of ECERDC, Datuk Jebasingam Issace John, and State Government Secretary Datuk Mokhtar Nong.

As for the six new projects, they would include a tourism programme in Teluk Bidara, Dungun and Pulau Besar, Setiu which will see the development of high quality hotels and chalets as well as homestay programmes in traditional fishing villages. The programme also covers the upgrading of the homes involved.

Apart from that, cluster projects involving the production of goat and goat meat will be also implemented as part of efforts to establish the state as the largest centre for goat and goat meat production. The project will occupy 160 hectares of land in Ulu Tersat, Kuala Berang.

"The development of the Heavy Industries Park involving a duty-free zone in Kemaman port will be also implemented this year to enable the Terengganu people to take up opportunities that would come with the main activities in the businesses of trade, logistics, fishing, oil, gas and petrochemical industries," he said.

In mid year, the Agropolitan Besut-Setiu project involving the planting of corn, kenaf as well as the cultivation of ikan keli will take off. This project is expected to help 3,000 poor people in the area.

-- BERNAMA

ECER To Bring In More Investments In 2010

ECER To Bring In More Investments In 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will focus on bringing in more domestic and foreign investments in 2010 while increasing private sector participation within the region.

ECER Development Council chief executive Datuk Jebasingam Issace John said ECER has already attracted a total of RM26 billion in expressed and committed investments, from both local and foreign sources.

"There are several existing projects within the ECER Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that investors might find highly lucrative yet safe for investment such as Malaysia's first fully integrated plastics and polymer park, the Kertih Polymer Park (KPP) which is now ready for occupancy within its 140-hectare land area," he said in a statement here on Saturday.

Set up to promote a plug-and-play concept, Jebasingam said KPP will tap into the potential synergies from integration with the nearby Kertih Integrated Petrochemical Complex in Terengganu.

The park, which has drawn immediate commitments of RM565 million in investments, is expected to be fully operational in 2015.

Another area that ECER is focusing on is the Pekan Automotive Industrial Park, with planned upgrades in infrastructure and landscaping as well as the setting up of a central marketing centre in 2010.

"As a whole, the Pekan Automotive Industrial Park is expected to generate over RM4 billion in investments throughout its four stages of development and create a total of 10,580 jobs," Jebasingam said.

Meanwhile, efforts have been made to attract investors to participate in key viable projects outside the SEZ, which would act as suppliers of feedstock and to support the development of projects within SEZ.

This includes projects for the tourism and agriculture clusters.

For agriculture, the Muadzam Shah Cattle Research and Innovation Centre will be built in May 2010 to accommodate 1,300 breeders and bulls as a means to reduce dependency on imported cattle stock.

Meanwhile for tourism, ECER has designated some 106 hectares in Teluk Bidara, Dungun to be built with high-quality hotels, resorts and chalets.

To boost the city's tourism pull, Kuala Terengganu city centre's construction as an integrated waterfront heritage city will begin within the second half of 2010.

To enhance the region's natural tourism resources, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai will be developed as an eco-tourism destination, forming a part of the Lanchang - Kuala Lipis adventure trail and Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Pahang into a world-class elephant conservation and education facility.

-- BERNAMA

ECER To Bring In More Investments In 2010

ECER To Bring In More Investments In 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will focus on bringing in more domestic and foreign investments in 2010 while increasing private sector participation within the region.

ECER Development Council chief executive Datuk Jebasingam Issace John said ECER has already attracted a total of RM26 billion in expressed and committed investments, from both local and foreign sources.

"There are several existing projects within the ECER Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that investors might find highly lucrative yet safe for investment such as Malaysia's first fully integrated plastics and polymer park, the Kertih Polymer Park (KPP) which is now ready for occupancy within its 140-hectare land area," he said in a statement here on Saturday.

Set up to promote a plug-and-play concept, Jebasingam said KPP will tap into the potential synergies from integration with the nearby Kertih Integrated Petrochemical Complex in Terengganu.

The park, which has drawn immediate commitments of RM565 million in investments, is expected to be fully operational in 2015.

Another area that ECER is focusing on is the Pekan Automotive Industrial Park, with planned upgrades in infrastructure and landscaping as well as the setting up of a central marketing centre in 2010.

"As a whole, the Pekan Automotive Industrial Park is expected to generate over RM4 billion in investments throughout its four stages of development and create a total of 10,580 jobs," Jebasingam said.

Meanwhile, efforts have been made to attract investors to participate in key viable projects outside the SEZ, which would act as suppliers of feedstock and to support the development of projects within SEZ.

This includes projects for the tourism and agriculture clusters.

For agriculture, the Muadzam Shah Cattle Research and Innovation Centre will be built in May 2010 to accommodate 1,300 breeders and bulls as a means to reduce dependency on imported cattle stock.

Meanwhile for tourism, ECER has designated some 106 hectares in Teluk Bidara, Dungun to be built with high-quality hotels, resorts and chalets.

To boost the city's tourism pull, Kuala Terengganu city centre's construction as an integrated waterfront heritage city will begin within the second half of 2010.

To enhance the region's natural tourism resources, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai will be developed as an eco-tourism destination, forming a part of the Lanchang - Kuala Lipis adventure trail and Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Pahang into a world-class elephant conservation and education facility.

-- BERNAMA

MBSB wants to further tap east coast states

Tuesday January 19, 2010
MBSB wants to further tap east coast states
By ZAZALI MUSA

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) wants a deeper market penetration in the east cost states where demand for financial products is still largely untapped.

Chief executive officer Ahmad Zaini Othman said the company would focus on two main segments – personal financing and disbursement of loans to owners of Malay reserve land.

He said unlike in the west coast states, property development activities in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu were moving at a rather slower pace.

“These two segments in the three east coast states offer good growth prospects for us, especially for Islamic financing products,’’ Ahmad Zaini said recently.


From left: MBSB regional business representantive (southern region) Abdul Halim Zainal, Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali and Ahmad Zaini Othman at the opening of the sales and service centre.

He was speaking at the opening of the MBSB Tebrau sales and service centre at Taman Mount Austin near here by company chairman Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali.

The centre was relocated from Pasir Gudang where MBSB’s Masai outlet was opened in 2000. MBSB presently has 32 sales and service centres nationwide.

Ahmad Zaini said most of the Malay reserve land remained undeveloped as financial institutions were not keen to provide loans to the land owners due to the status of their land.

“We are willing to offer financial assistance to the land owners or we could look at jointly developing the land with them,’’ he added.

Ahmad Zaini said MBSB owned several pieces of land in the country with an estimated current market value of RM300mil and had no immediate plan to dispose of or develop them.

He said the company also planned to open a regional business representative office in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) to better serve its customers and attract new ones.

It presently has four sales and service centres in the ECER – in Kuantan, Kemaman, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Baru.

Ahmad Zaini said the company would be targeting more civil servants as its potential customers and planned to introduce more products tailored to their financial capabilities.

“There are over 1.5 million civil servants in the country and the figure offers good growth potential for our personal finance business,’’ he said.

The personal finance division currently contributes about 30% of MBSB’s total business while the balance 70% comes from home mortgages.

- The Star -

Terengganu Government Makes Major Reshuffle Of Officers

January 20, 2010 20:04 PM

Terengganu Government Makes Major Reshuffle Of Officers

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu government has made a major reshuffle of state administrative posts, involving the movement of 48 officers, to fill vacancies and enhance the delivery system.

Acting State Secretary Datuk Mazlan Ngah, who is the state financial officer, said the new appointments would take effect on Feb 1. Current State Secretary Datuk Mokhtar Nong is on leave prior to retirement in April.

The reshuffle involved, among others, Kuala Terengganu Mayor Datuk Mat Razali Kassim and Deputy State Secretary (Development) Datuk Adzlan Mohd Dagang who would swap positions, he told reporters after attending the weekly meeting of the state executive council, here on Wednesday.

Mazlan said Dungun District Officer Zulkifli Mohamad had been appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Terengganu East Coast Economic Region (ECER), while his former position would be filled by Syarikat Air Terengganu (SATU) CEO Mustofa Abdul Rahman.

Deputy State Secretary (Management) Husein Embong would take over as SATU CEO from Mustofa, he said.

Mazlan also announced that Kuala Terengganu District Officer Datuk Mohd Alim Muda would be replaced by Setiu District Officer Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail.

"The former has been appointed CEO of the Terengganu Skills Development Centre," he said.

The reshuffle also sees Terengganu Integrity Institute Director Mohd Akil Mat appointed as Setiu District Officer and Hulu Terengganu District Officer Aziz Mamat appointed as Yayasan Terengganu Director, leaving his position to be filled by Besut District Officer Wan Mohd Wan Ibrahim.

Mazlan said the reshuffle also involved Yayasan Terengganu Director Md Kamarul Al-Amin Ismail, who would replace Zulkifli Abu Bakar as Yayasan Islam Terengganu Director, as the latter would take up the post of deputy director (macro) of the State Economic Planning Unit.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the reshuffle was done based on the officers' capabilities and merit points.

He advised the officers involved in the reshuffle to perform their duties to the best of their ability.

For those who were not chosen today, he said: "There's always the next time."

At present, the menteri besar said, there were 40 vacancies in the state government administration.

-- BERNAMA

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Government surgical facilities in Terengganu out of action

My Persenol Note: I like the idea of Terengganu opening its own IJN facilities.. if they are smart enough, incorporating top notch healthcare facilities in a resort environment.. they are able to offer health tourism to rake in the dollars as well..

Wednesday January 6, 2010
Government surgical facilities in Terengganu out of action
By R.S.N. MURALI


KUALA TERENGGANU: Almost all the operating theatres in government hospitals in the state are not functioning. And Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said is not amused.

Ahmad also expressed disappointment over the delay in the completion of operating theatres in several hospitals in the state, saying it was a loss to the Government and could jeopardise the lives of patients.

The operating theatre in Besut Hospital has been delayed by six years, the one in Kemaman Hospital by three to four years, while the one in Setiu Hospital has been delayed by nearly seven years.

The problems faced by other operating theatres in the state include bug infestation and leaks. It is learnt that 60 surgeons from various departments in public hospitals depended on the operating theatres.

A senior official from the Terengganu Health Department said there were six public hospitals in the state with operating theatres and one private health institution that provides surgical services.

The defective operating theatres have also affected the function of supporting units, like patient rehabilitation and post-surgical treatment.

“These hitches are a burden to medical officers,” he said.

The official said completed operating theatres could not be utilised due to some glitches, the worst-affected being the hospital in Setiu where a leaking roof — due to sloppy workmanship — had damaged the facility.

However, he said defects in the operating theatres had forced hospital authorities in other districts to refer their patients to either Kuantan, Kota Baru or Kuala Terengganu hospitals, depending on the proximity and urgency of cases.

The Metri Besar, who handed over RM5.7mil worth of multislice computerised tomography equipment to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital here yesterday, said: “The people are angry with the government. Surgeons are also disappointed because they cannot do their job,”

Ahmad hoped the Public Works Department would take note of the matter.

He also said Terengganu would soon have a heart institute costing RM27mil in Kijal, Kemaman, and that the state government had bought the Strawberry Park in Kijal to house the institute.

The tomography machine is capable of capturing 64 X-ray images at each scanning session and can be configured to capture up to 128 images.

The Terengganu Public Works Department has been directed to probe the leak and submit its report to the state government as soon as possible.

State Health, Unity and Consumerism Affairs Committee chairman Dr A. Rahman Mokthar said the government would decide later whether it would bear the cost of remedial work based on the report.

ECER To Bring In More Investments In 2010

January 02, 2010 13:47 PM
ECER To Bring In More Investments In 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The East Coast Economic Region (ECER) will focus on bringing in more domestic and foreign investments in 2010 while increasing private sector participation within the region.

ECER Development Council chief executive Datuk Jebasingam Issace John said ECER has already attracted a total of RM26 billion in expressed and committed investments, from both local and foreign sources.

"There are several existing projects within the ECER Special Economic Zone (SEZ) that investors might find highly lucrative yet safe for investment such as Malaysia's first fully integrated plastics and polymer park, the Kertih Polymer Park (KPP) which is now ready for occupancy within its 140-hectare land area," he said in a statement here on Saturday.

Set up to promote a plug-and-play concept, Jebasingam said KPP will tap into the potential synergies from integration with the nearby Kertih Integrated Petrochemical Complex in Terengganu.

The park, which has drawn immediate commitments of RM565 million in investments, is expected to be fully operational in 2015.

Another area that ECER is focusing on is the Pekan Automotive Industrial Park, with planned upgrades in infrastructure and landscaping as well as the setting up of a central marketing centre in 2010.

"As a whole, the Pekan Automotive Industrial Park is expected to generate over RM4 billion in investments throughout its four stages of development and create a total of 10,580 jobs," Jebasingam said.

Meanwhile, efforts have been made to attract investors to participate in key viable projects outside the SEZ, which would act as suppliers of feedstock and to support the development of projects within SEZ.

This includes projects for the tourism and agriculture clusters.

For agriculture, the Muadzam Shah Cattle Research and Innovation Centre will be built in May 2010 to accommodate 1,300 breeders and bulls as a means to reduce dependency on imported cattle stock.

Meanwhile for tourism, ECER has designated some 106 hectares in Teluk Bidara, Dungun to be built with high-quality hotels, resorts and chalets.

To boost the city's tourism pull, Kuala Terengganu city centre's construction as an integrated waterfront heritage city will begin within the second half of 2010.

To enhance the region's natural tourism resources, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai will be developed as an eco-tourism destination, forming a part of the Lanchang - Kuala Lipis adventure trail and Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary in Pahang into a world-class elephant conservation and education facility.

-- BERNAMA