THE Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) has announced that an additional 268 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have commenced operations until March 2024. This development brings the total number of Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCB) to 2,288 units.

As reported by Bernama, MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz highlighted that the ministry remains committed to its goal of adding 10,000 new charging stations. Additionally, the target for Direct Current Fast Charging (DC) stations has been increased to 1,500 from the previous 1,000.

Furthermore, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul mentioned the rapid growth of the EV market in Malaysia, with nearly 11,000 battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hybrids sold until March 2024.

During the National Electric Vehicle Steering Committee (NEVSC) meeting chaired by Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, discussions were held regarding the concept of an EV Battery Passport. Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul emphasised the importance of equipping all EV batteries with an identification system to ensure the detection and recycling of end-of-life batteries in alignment with the circular economy concept.

He underscored the necessity of integrating EVs into the circular economy and called for more initiatives to enhance the EV ecosystem in Malaysia.

Source: The Sun

Malaysia Accelerates EV Adoption with 268 New Charging Points

The State Government will empower the Manufacturing Investment Task Force this year to ensure that all approved investment proposals can be realized and their implementation accelerated.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the industrial and investment sector continues to drive the state’s economy and has contributed to the overall favorable investment amount.

According to Hajiji, in 2023, Sabah recorded investments amounting to RM11.346 billion, ranking the state seventh in Malaysia in terms of receiving the highest investments.

“The State Government has successfully stimulated the industrial sector and further encouraged growing investments in the economic chain,” he said at the opening and launching of the Bursa Marketplace Fair Sabah 2024 here today.

Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe delivered Hajiji’s speech.
Hajiji said that investors with impacts such as SK Nexilis Malaysia Sdn Bhd have expanded its investments in Sabah through its subsidiary, Curix Sdn Bhd, in the construction of a copper granulation plant in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) with an investment value of RM300 million.

He added that the oil and gas industry in Sabah is also developing in both upstream and downstream activities, adding that all these investments have met the high demand of the current global market and have focused on driving widespread growth and job opportunities for the people of Sabah.

Hajiji pointed out the importance of exposing the people of this state to education and financial literacy and having the mindset of an investor to make life better, contribute to community development, and help others achieve the same goals.

He added that based on research papers on the Malaysian Retail Investor Landscape recently published by Bursa Malaysia, respondents from Sabah and Sarawak generally have a relatively low level of understanding of stock investments.

“This underscores the importance of financial education in efforts to increase an individual’s proficiency in the stock market,” he said and reiterated that the State Government is fully committed to youth development as they represent the state’s largest investment that must be educated to become responsible investors in the coming decades.

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), more than half or 52.5 per cent of Malaysia’s population consists of Millennials, Gen Z, or younger generations, and data from the Malaysian Youth Development Research Institute states that Sabah has the second-highest number of youths in Malaysia.

“Therefore, now is the best time to help advance the status of our youth’s lives. I believe the Bursa Marketplace Fair can educate and help raise awareness of wise investing, especially among our youth,” he stressed.

Hajiji said as investors, it is important to learn how to acquire and protect capital, as well as to be vigilant against the increasing number of financial fraud schemes occurring every day.

“It mostly start with ourselves. This is where the role of Bursa Malaysia is crucial as they provide a lot of guidance and various investment opportunities that our youth should take advantage of,” he emphasized.

He also praised Bursa Malaysia for taking the initiative to cultivate financial literacy in young people through their gamification tool, Burmon Trader.

Hajiji hoped that the Bursa Marketplace Fair program will expose visitors to various digital tools that help educate and develop investors, such as MyBursa and the Bursa Anywhere app.

He also welcomed the recent launch of the Bursa Malaysia API gateway, given the low Central Depository System (CDS) account ownership rate in Sabah.

Source: Borneo Post

Govt will empower Manufacturing Investment Task Force

A total of 268 electric car (EV) charging stations have been operational, bringing the total number of EV charging bays (EVCB) to 2,288 units as of March 2024, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI).

MITI Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said that while the goal of 10,000 new charging stations remains unchanged, the target for direct current (DC) fast chargers has been increased from 1,000 to 1,500 stations.

“In the first quarter of this year, the country’s EV market has continued its rapid development, with nearly 11,000 units of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrids sold until March 2024,“ he said on social media platform X on Saturday.

Tengku Zafrul said that during the National EV Steering Committee (NEVSC) meeting, chaired by Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, there was also a discussion revolved around the EV Battery Passport concept.

He said the NEVSC meeting concluded that all EV batteries must be equipped with identification to facilitate tracing and recycling at the end of their lifecycle, aligning with the principles of the circular economy.

“EV vehicles are integral to the circular economy. There are numerous initiatives that can be implemented to enhance the current EV ecosystem.”

“In shaa Allah, we will collectively propel the development of the country’s EV industry and ecosystem in a progressive manner,“ he added.

Source: Bernama

MITI : 2,288 EV charging stations installed as of March 2024

Globetronics Technology Bhd is now in a stronger position to take on fresh opportunities due to its investments in new equipment and upgraded capabilities.

These opportunities stem from potential customers looking for manufacturing partners, with the more significant opportunities coming from its diversification strategies in Taiwan and China due to the trade and geopolitical tensions arising from US-China relations, the group said in its 2023 annual report.

“After many months of high engagement by our CEO, business development director and team, we are now in the final stages of wrapping up some transfer products from these activities in the financial year 2024 (FY24).

“The closest opportunity for us currently would be the potential transfer of products from an optoelectronics company looking to consolidate some of their production volumes from Malaysia and China operations.

“This represents a big opportunity for Globetronics and we have started pre-positioning by consolidating production space in our factories,” it said.

According to Globetronics annual report, its Taiwanese collaboration in advanced packaging technology also showed good progress in FY23.

The report added that due to the high capital investment needed and the risk involved, the initial collaboration opportunity for a synergistic partnership started by drawing on the experience and contacts of both parties to win over new customers collectively.

“To date, for this collaboration, the group is in the finalisation stages of having two potential new customers initiate a transfer of memory and automotive products, some of which will start in the second half of FY24,” Globetronics added.

The new product introduction team continues to actively engage potential customers in developing exciting new products.

“We have progressed with customers and partners, which has enabled the development pipeline to be very healthy. New projects and products at different stages are targeted to go into production in FY24, FY25 and FY26.

“For quartz crystal timing devices, we went end-of-life with our Japanese customer in the first quarter of 2023, as the technology has become obsolete.

“In addition, we are now working with a new customer to produce microelectromechanical systems (MEMs)-based timing products in small volume builds targeted for the second half of FY24.”

With the plans and activities we have in place with customers and in the development pipeline, Globetronics said it is excited and optimistic about its prospects in FY24 and beyond.

The group plans to invest in advanced packaging technology with partners in FY24 to enable the offering of new products and processes such as the flip-chip scale package solution, wafer level chip scale package, fan-out wafer level packaging, flip-chip ball grid array and silicon photonics.

The group’s business dropped in FY23 due to the slowdown in semiconductor demand triggered by oversupply and cautious consumer spending, which is cyclical in the industry.

“After almost two years of lacklustre performance in the technology sector due to supply overhang caused by the transition from the Covid-19 pandemic to reopening, there are signs of green shoots in stabilising and slightly increasing demand for product loadings.

“This painful adjustment was necessary to pave the way for a sustainable recovery.

“For Globetronics, we also had to make painful adjustments in FY23 to restructure our operating base, given the expired pioneer status in one of the principal subsidiaries including an increase in the minimum wage and utility costs.

“As a result of the various measures that we have taken, together with investments in new equipment to upgrade our capabilities, we are now in a stronger position to take on the many opportunities heading our way,” it said.

Meanwhile, Globetronics had a slow start in the first quarter ended March 31 with revenue of RM29.9mil, translating into a net profit of RM5.7mil due to subdued global demand in the premium wearables space.

However, analysts expect its volume loading numbers to pick-up in the second half of the year from a low base and the introduction of next-gen sensors for the upcoming smartphone product cycle.

In a report, UOB Kay Hian Research said the group is rationalising its lower-margin business and pursuing new programmes with existing and new customers.

“While the group is still not fully out of the woods yet, the game changer could be the fruition of its active engagements with potential Chinese and Taiwanese customers, which could happen in late 2024,” the research firm said, maintaining a “hold” call on the stock with a target price of RM1.30.

Source: The Star

Globetronics counts on upgraded capabilities

An armoured vehicle plant will be built in the Padang Tengku Industrial Estate (Phase II) to further boost the development of the Lipis district as a defence city thus stimulating the economic growth of the local population as well as job opportunities.

Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the company, MILDEF International Sdn Bhd, is in negotiations to finalise the investment and is expected to start investing when the Ketech Asia Sdn Bhd’s phase one investment in the ammunition plant is fully operational, expected in the last quarter of this year.

He said the armoured vehicle plant site had been approved by the Pahang State Secretary Incorporated (PSK) while the project implementing agency was under the purview of the Pahang State Development Corporation (PKNP).

“In line with the approval of the ammunition and armoured vehicle projects, all forms of investment related to defence will be proposed to be implemented in the Padang Tengku Industrial Estate (Phase II).

“Indirectly, it can increase wages and service contracts through job opportunities that will be offered to locals,” he said in the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang today.

He said this in his reply to a question from Datuk Mustapa Long (BN – Padang Tengku) who wanted to know the level of progress in the implementation of Lipis as a defence city and the positive impact on the local population.

When answering a supplementary question from Mustapa who wanted to know the government’s steps in ensuring that the armoured vehicle plant remains built and the water supply that is often affected in the area, Wan Rosdy said PKNP and PSK always follow up with the relevant parties.

“It’s quite hard to go somewhere else as we already have an ammunition plant. As there is an ammunition plant, it will go together with an armoured vehicle (plant) and PKNP (the main agency of the armoured vehicle project) as well as a one-stop agency for investors who will facilitate the company throughout the negotiation process.

“The negotiation process by holding discussions with the state’s technical agencies to ensure that the company complies with the state’s development requirements and related to water supply; I understand negotiation with PAIP (Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad) has been carried out to ensure that there are no problems once the factory is built on site,” he said.

Commenting on the RM150 million ammunition plant, the first in the country to be developed on PKNP land leased to the company with an area of 40 hectares, he said it had reached 82 per cent completion as of March 15.

“Basic approval was obtained from the Home Ministry on March 4, 2022, to obtain a licence to manufacture ammunition under Section 12 of the Arms Act 1960 (Act 206) in Kuala Lipis starting from Jan 1, 2022, until Dec 31, 2024.

“The opening of the plant is expected to open up 150 new job opportunities,” he said.

Meanwhile, state Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib said within 10 years, from 2013, PSK had signed 235 sale/lease agreements and 22 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) covering foreign direct investment (FDI) projects and domestic direct investment (DDI).

“Of the total MoUs, four of them have been realised through sale/lease agreements which have contributed RM534.2 million to the state government,” he said.

He said this when answering a question from Chan Chun Kuang (PH-Semambu) who wanted to know the memorandum which had been signed between the state government and foreign or local investors within a period of 10 years.

Source: Bernama

Armoured vehicle plant to be built in Lipis – MB

Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM) plans to designate Malaysia as an export hub for the Volkswagen brand, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

He said following a discussion between MITI and VGM officials, the carmaker revealed its intention to manufacture electric vehicles and conventional models within the country.

“In the past, Volkswagen models were solely imported, but now certain models are being assembled in Malaysia. Notably, the Touareg model is being assembled here for the first time outside of Europe,“ he said on his social media platform X on Thursday.

He expressed confidence that this collaboration would enhance Malaysia’s position in the regional automotive sector.

Source: Bernama

Volkswagen to establish Malaysia as export hub – Tengku Zafrul

Smart Asia Chemical Bhd (Smart Asia) has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Batu Gajah, Perak to enhance the company’s growth strategy and commitment to innovation and customer service.

The new facility, spanning 95,170 square feet, has been meticulously designed to optimise production processes and enhance operational efficiencies.

With the expanded manufacturing space, Smart Asia anticipates a 27.00 million-litre increase in annual manufacturing capacity for decorative paints and protective coatings.

This represents a growth of 309.99% from the company’s current annual manufacturing capacity of 8.71 million litres as of the end of fiscal year 2023. Additionally, the Perak facility’s strategic location will facilitate expansion of the company’s customer-base within the Central and Northern regions of Malaysia due to its proximity to customers.

Menteri Besar Perak Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad at the opening ceremony, said: “The inauguration of Smart Asia’s new plant, which represents a significant investment in our local economy; where we believe this will generate promising job opportunities and bolster economic vitality of the state as a whole. Moreover, by leveraging the abundant calcium carbonate available in Perak, and in alignment with the State’s Roadmap, Perak Sejahtera 2030, and the Pelan Perindustrian Perak (P3) spearheaded by InvestPerak, we are confident that this project will contribute significantly to adding value to the minerals mined within Perak state, rather than exporting scarce primary resources out of the country.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, at the event said: “Smart Asia’s new facility in Batu Gajah not only showcases the dynamic potential of Perak but also marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of Malaysia’s paint industry. Local manufacturers must ascend the value chain, adopting what is now the defining technology—automation and IoT—to significantly enhance production efficiency.

“The company’s strategic implementation of Industry 4.0, beginning in Johor and now expanded to Perak, serves as a commendable example of this advancement. MIDA is fully committed to supporting our manufacturers’ transition from traditional practices to technology-driven production, which will boost productivity, elevate product quality, and integrate Malaysia more deeply into the global production network.”

Lim Kok Beng, Non-Independent Executive Director, and Chief Operating Officer of Smart Asia Chemical Bhd added, “Our goal is to solidify our position as a reputable national paint brand in Malaysia. With this aim in mind, our Group has decided to set up our Perak facility. This move will not only streamline our manufacturing operations but also increase our manufacturing capacity, ensuring we meet the growing demand for our products.”

The new Perak facility introduces two innovative systems, the Industrial Tinting System and the Automated Paint Production System, revolutionising the manufacturing process for enhanced efficiency and quality. The Automated Paint Production System facilitates precise transfer of raw materials from storage to dispersion tanks, movement of semi-finished products between stations, automated loading and unloading, and rigorous quality checks throughout.

The Industrial Tinting System, which is also integrated with the Automated Paint Production System, will enable the continuous flow of the manufacturing processes. This integration of software and systems enables the company to reduce their dependency on human operators during manufacturing activities.

“These advancements incorporated in Perak plant further demonstrate Smart Asia’s commitment to enhancing our operational and automation capabilities across our products and services, as we strive to transition towards an ‘Industry 4.0’ manufacturing plant, optimising operations while upholding high standards of product quality,” Lim said.

Source: Business Today

Smart Asia Chemical opens new manufacturing plant in Perak

Sarawak’s strategic alliances with United Kingdom’s (UK) leading industry partners in the development of compound semiconductors would drive innovations to increase the capability of microchips to power new technologies and applications, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said that in recent years, the semiconductor landscape has witnessed a paradigm shift with compound semiconductors emerging as the cornerstone of next-generation technologies.

“Unlike traditional silicon-based semiconductors, compound semiconductors offer unparalleled performance capabilities across numerous applications, ranging from telecommunications and energy systems to advanced electronics and beyond,” Abang Johari said.

He said this in a posting on the Sarawak Premier’s official Facebook page, “Sarawakku”, to mark the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Sarawak’s SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd and UK’s Compound Semiconductor Catapult in a ceremony held at the London parliament building today.

Abang Johari is visiting the UK with Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki as part of his entourage.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Sarawak SMD Semiconductor was represented by its chief executive officer (CEO) Shariman Jamil while CSA Catapult was represented by its CEO Martin McHugh.

Abang Johari said SMD Semiconductor operates as a wholly owned entity of the Sarawak government, established in 2022 to drive technological self-reliance and innovation to realise the state’s vision for the semiconductor sector.

He said Sarawak aspires to transcend into a leading hub and pivotal solutions provider, fostering an environment conducive to research and development and the commercialisation of cutting-edge semiconductor technology.

“At its core, SMD Semiconductor is on a mission to cultivate an optimal ecosystem, strategically positioning Sarawak as a premier investment destination for the semiconductor industry and a forefront solutions provider,” Abang Johari said.

He expressed confidence that the MoU would yield tremendous benefits for both parties, propelling both toward a future of innovation and shared success.

“I firmly believe that as SMD Semiconductor forges strategic alliances and collaborations with leading UK industry partners, it will be instrumental in driving innovations that reshape the capabilities and applications of compound semiconductors,” Abang Johari noted. 

Source: Bernama

S’wak on mission to develop compound semiconductors with UK companies

Sarawak’s biomass industry has attracted the interest of foreign investors including from Singapore, China, and Japan, said Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh.

He said these potential investors have proposed to develop biomass plants from waste to energy through the conversion of agricultural wastes, such as oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) and kernels, wood and municipal wastes as feedstock.

“Biomass is one of the promoted industries that can be developed for green energy.

“Sarawak is well positioned with huge potential to further develop the biomass industries with our feedstock from planted forest, agriculture and municipal wastes,” he said.

Mussen said this in response to a question from Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira Sambang who had asked whether there were any interests from abroad to set up biomass plants as another source of clean energy during the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting here today.

Currently, he said the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and the private sector have initiated biomass projects in Sarawak to produce wood pellets by utilising material from planted forests.

“These wood pellets are exported to Japan, South Korea and Europe/ STIDC will continue to carry out research on other raw materials as feedstock such as bamboo, sago trunk, oil palm trunk, Napier grass (Hybrid Tropical Grass) and algae.”

On the efforts that have been taken to promote the biomass industry in Sarawak, Mussen said the Sarawak government has conducted a benchmarking visit to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom in April this year to gain insight into biomass energy production technologies and infrastructure.

“Sarawak Government is also exploring the technical feasibility and commercial viability to develop power generation using biomass sourced locally, converting existing coal-fired power plants with biomass and producing wood pellets,” said Malcom in response.

On the incentives offered to attract investments in biomass, Mussen said among the incentives offered by the federal government through the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) are Pioneer Status or Investment Tax Allowance to promote biomass industry for the Utilisation of Biomass to Produce Value-Added Products, Waste Recycling Activities and Green Technology Project.

Source: Borneo Post

Sarawak’s biomass industry attracts interest of Singapore, China, Japan investors, says deputy minister

THE Covid-19 pandemic that upended commercial aviation two years ago left one segment largely untouched — the business aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industry.

In 2020 and 2021, airlines were forced to ground their fleets amid lockdowns in many countries. In contrast, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd reported an increase in MRO spending as owners continued to service their business jets bought for personal use or for charter.

“The demand for business aviation has been growing since our inception in 2009 [in Malaysia]. Then Covid-19 came in 2020. In the business aviation market, we noticed that aircraft ownership didn’t get impacted as much. Aircraft owners were still holding on to their assets, and we were still seeing business aircraft being delivered in the region, such as Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam,” Ivan Lim Wah Teik, 41, regional vice-president for Asia at ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia, tells The Edge in an interview.

“But because aircraft owners couldn’t fly as borders were closed [during the pandemic], they took the opportunity to send their aeroplanes for maintenance to prepare their aircraft to fly again when borders reopened,” he says.

This boded well for business aviation MRO providers such as ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia. The company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of France’s aircraft maker Dassault Aviation, saw its revenue surge during Covid-19. Companies Commission of Malaysia data shows its net profit rising 20% year on year to RM4.74 million in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2022 (FY2022), while revenue increased 33% y-o-y to RM68.97 million.

The Malaysian unit is one of the 14 ExecuJet MRO facilities across five continents acquired by Dassault Aviation in 2019. Dassault Aviation also has its own MRO service centres that only provide services for its range of aircraft.

“Our business has been pretty resilient. We didn’t have to resort to any retrenchments or salary cuts during the pandemic. We were in a much more fortunate situation compared to our counterparts in the commercial aviation industry,” says Lim.

“Post-pandemic, business aviation has rebounded sharply due to pent-up demand for air travel after two years of lockdowns. Asia was one of the last regions to reopen its borders. So we are now seeing a boom in aircraft demand. We benefit from this situation because in every sale of an aircraft, a pre-purchase inspection is performed. This has partly driven our revenue.

“Business aviation is also tied to the wealth of the region. When the pandemic came, what we saw was that there were certain people who could afford to fly private. Trying to get on a plane during that time was difficult. Many airlines cut routes and business aviation became one of the options because it has always been an effective tool in running a business, especially if you have multi-locations. That realisation came during Covid-19, especially.”

Recently released figures by Hong Kong-based consulting firm Asian Sky Group underline this performance, with the number of business jet departures in Asia-Pacific in 2023 increasing by over 43% compared with 2019. The most popular business jet routes in Asia-Pacific were concentrated in two areas: Southeast Asia and India, including Singapore to Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur.

While most MRO companies provide maintenance services dedicated to supporting a business jet manufacturer’s clients, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia supports aircraft from a number of different manufacturers.

“Our business model is [to handle] multi-brand original engine manufacturers (OEMs). While we provide factory-owned maintenance services for the Falcon family of business jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation, we also support Bombardier and Gulfstream business aircraft models. In other regions, ExecuJet MRO Services facilities also handle maintenance services for Embraer and Textron Aviation business jets,” says Lim.

“For us here, we started off back in those days — before our acquisition by Dassault Aviation in 2019 — servicing the MRO business of Bombardier and Gulfstream. Following the acquisition by Dassault Aviation, we added Falcons to our list of supported models. We have built strong capabilities and service levels over the years, so it made sense that we just continued on [this business] in parallel.”

As Malaysia’s SKS Airways Sdn Bhd and Singapore’s low-cost carrier Scoot take delivery of their Embraer jets, does ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia plan to handle this aircraft type? “We don’t do commercial MRO services. We are specific to business or corporate jets. Of course in business, you never say no to any opportunity, but it is very unlikely. That is not our forte. That is not where we are heading to as a strategy,” says Lim.

What about Embraer business jets? “We are driven by the market, competition and market size. That is something that we are always on the lookout for. If it makes sense, we will invest. If it doesn’t, then we won’t. Because to add a new product line into your service offering, you have to invest in tooling, send your engineers for aircraft type training and so on. It is quite a commitment financially. Like any investment consideration, you have to look at the financial revenue,” he says.

Lim points out that today, Falcon work accounts for 55% to 60% of ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia’s revenue, with the rest coming from Bombardier and Gulfstream business jets. “Falcon aircraft has driven our growth because all this work prior to 2019 was going to our competitors in other parts of the region. Following the acquisition by Dassault Aviation, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia’s facility at Subang Airport (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport) is the only factory-owned service centre in Asia.”

Steady growth in the Malaysian unit is poised to accelerate as its new facility at Subang Airport kicks off. Commencing in early March, the 105,000 sq ft hangar can accommodate up to 15 medium and large business jets at any one time.

Lim says already the company is utilising up to 80% of the capacity at its facility, catering to its growth needs for at least five years.

He notes that Subang Airport was picked as a regional centre for Dassault Aviation’s MRO business as ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia already has an established presence here. “Subang Airport has many advantages. One is that it is located close to Kuala Lumpur International Airport and financial hubs in the region. It is just that over the years, its potential hasn’t been fully tapped. Furthermore, the Malaysian government has been supportive of this investment and our operations here.”

He also commends airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) for seeing the potential of business aviation early, which has led to the presence of several major players in Subang Airport, including Dassault Aviation, Collins Aerospace, Senior Aerospace, Spirit Aerosystems and Airbus Helicopters that serve the sector. According to MAHB, Subang Airport currently hosts over 60 aviation players.

“We welcome the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP). Under the plan, business aviation is one of MAHB’s key focuses, which is music to our ears. In fact, this [105,000 sq ft hangar] facility is one of the initiatives under the SARP. We are fully supportive of it. It will drive further growth.”

The SARP will see the return of single-aisle commercial jet services from June this year. To this, Lim says: “The challenge is to try to find the balance to serve both commercial aviation and business aviation. Commercial aviation in many parts of the world always takes precedence over business aviation because as commercial aviation grows, passenger numbers also grow. But it comes at the expense of business aviation where landing slots become limited. That could be something to watch out for.”

Changes in consumer behaviour brought on by Covid-19

Today, ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia is the only business aviation MRO service provider in the country. “We don’t have competitors here. Our competitors are based in other airports in the region such as Singapore, the Philippines and Hong Kong,” says Lim.

“There are multi-OEM MRO service providers in other parts of Asia who compete with us, but we have always been able to defend our market share. It is becoming increasingly harder to run a third-party MRO outfit without the support of the OEMs themselves.

“Commercial MRO is different because the commercial aircraft manufacturers themselves don’t run a factory-owned service centre in competition with the airlines. In commercial aviation, it is common to see the airlines setting up their own MRO unit to service the fleet of aircraft they bought from the manufacturers. At the same time, these airline MROs will then start providing third-party services as well. That is the trend we have been seeing.”

Lim says that while the business aviation MRO market in Malaysia is sizeable, it is not big. “Aircraft owners can fly their planes anywhere in the world to get their maintenance done. You are not confined to where you are located. For example, about 90% of our revenue comes from overseas.”

The Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030 reveals that the country’s commercial and business aircraft MRO was worth RM5.3 billion in 2014, accounting for 20% of the Southeast Asian market.

Lim is optimistic ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia will continue to achieve consistent levels of annual growth.

“We try to achieve 10% to 15% growth in revenue every year. The market [for business aviation MRO] is big and we haven’t tapped all the markets yet. For one, we haven’t started supporting the Chinese operators on a grander scale because while we have been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for Bombardier and Gulfstream business aircraft models, we haven’t managed to get the certification for the Falcon models of aircraft. The delay in the ratification was due to Covid-19 and China shutting its borders.

“Hopefully, the CAAC will approve our facility for the Falcon business aircraft models by the middle of this year. Then it will allow us to tap into the Chinese market where there are many Falcon business jets that are registered in the Chinese registry. In the meantime, they are sending their aircraft to other MRO facilities worldwide within the group,” says Lim.

Another thing going for ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia is that the pandemic has resulted in changes in consumer behaviour.

“Ten to 15 years ago, North America and Europe were popular choices for many customers when it came to maintenance checks of their aircraft because they are mature markets, with all service providers there offering a lot of options.

“In the case of the Falcon family of business jets, before the acquisition by Dassault Aviation of the worldwide maintenance activities of ExecuJet, customers would send their aircraft to its service centres in France. But with the Subang facility, there is now an option for aircraft owners in Asia,” says Lim.

“Additionally, because of the border closures during Covid-19, there were stringent requirements if one were to move their aircraft from one country to another and so, aircraft owners wanted something that was nearby and convenient in the region, offering similar high levels of service.

“We have observed that more clients are now more inclined to send their aircraft for maintenance services within the region, and we expect this trend to continue. We haven’t reached any point of saturation yet and we don’t foresee that happening anytime soon. That’s part of the reason why we are so confident to build such a big facility at Subang Airport,” says Lim.

“As long as the aircraft is in circulation, it still needs maintenance whether it is flown or not flown. If the utilisation of the aircraft is high, it means it would need more maintenance.”

A challenge ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia is facing these days is the shortage of skilled workers, especially aircraft engineers. Like the rest of the aviation industry, the MRO sector saw many workers leave during the pandemic after airlines drastically cut costs. In the years that followed, many of them joined other industries and did not return to aviation.

“Already, the pool [of engineers] is getting smaller, and now commercial aviation has recovered and is also dipping in and taking everyone that they can. The airline business is a much bigger business. It will take time to replenish the labour force again. For us, we have been able to hire experienced people from neighbouring countries who want to relocate to Asia and this is one part of the world that they are keen on. Additionally, being part of the ExecuJet MRO Services group and the larger Dassault Aviation MRO network helps. We do have resources that we can share across the networks,” says Lim.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

Unscathed by Covid-19, ExecuJet sees continued strong demand for business aviation MRO services

The semiconductor industry presents Malaysia with a once-in-a-generation opportunity for exponential economic growth, and industry players are advised to capitalise on this billion-dollar sector, said Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong on Tuesday.

He said the government is paying close attention to the semiconductor industry, heralding it as the modern equivalent of oil, with a global value estimated at US$580 billion this year, projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030.

“Every part of our lives is increasingly connected to semiconductors, whether it’s our phones, cars, or smart cities.

“We believe Penang, Kulim (in Kedah) and Malaysia in general are playing important roles in this sector,” he said in his speech at the opening ceremony of LAM Research Corp’s automated warehouse here.

Liew emphasised the necessity for collaborative efforts to establish a dynamic, secure and resilient semiconductor supply chain in Malaysia, one not easily replaceable by other global counterparts. 

He referenced Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s directive for the ministry to formulate a strategic plan for the semiconductor industry.

Expressing optimism, Liew encouraged industry players to collaborate with the government, aiming to establish Malaysia as an exceptional destination for semiconductor production.

Nasdaq-listed Lam Research, a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry, officially opened its new automated warehouse here on Tuesday.

The facility complements Lam’s manufacturing operations in Malaysia, which is home to the company’s largest manufacturing facility.

Lam Manufacturing Malaysia (LMM) general manager Eng Keat Lee highlighted the warehouse’s advanced features, including automated logistics systems capable of delivering thousands of parts daily, nine times faster than conventional methods, to support adjacent manufacturing operations.

“We take pride in enhancing Lam’s largest and most innovative manufacturing facility with the opening of our new, state-of-the-art automated warehouse here in Penang,” he added.

He said the facility features several automated solutions, including Malaysia’s largest automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS), acknowledged in the Malaysia Book of Records for having the country’s largest ASRS storage bin capacity.

Moreover, the warehouse is equipped with autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles to streamline repetitive and time-consuming tasks.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow was also present at the automated warehouse opening ceremony on Tuesday.

Source: Bernama

Semiconductor industry offers Malaysia chance for exponential growth — deputy minister

More than 98% of the total manufacturing projects approved in 2023 have been implemented or are in the planning stage as of May 5, says the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz

According to the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti), Malaysia saw a total of RM152 billion approved investments for the manufacturing sector in 2023, of which RM46.1 billion were realised last year, involving 445 projects.

“As Miti and its relevant agencies such as the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation have diligently pulled out all the stops in the past one and a half years in realising and implementing committed investments and exports, we are seeing more and more companies wanting to make Malaysia their regional manufacturing or services hub.

“In short, Malaysia is where global starts. This means that Malaysia is where global companies can situate their regional hubs, and where domestic homegrown companies can grow into global champions,” the minister said in his speech at the soft launch of the 3D Visualisation and Virtual Augmented Mixed Reality Lab here today.

The launch of the 3D lab, an initiative led by the National Aerospace Industry Corporation Malaysia, under the Malaysian Aerospace Centre of Excellence, was held on the sidelines of the Defence Service Asia 2024 exhibition.

Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said the Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030 aims to position Malaysia as the number one supplier of competent aerospace industry workforce in Southeast Asia and achieve an annual revenue of RM55.2 billion and creating 32,000 jobs by 2030.

“Additionally, the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 also provides further impetus to our aerospace industry blueprint by ensuring there will be sufficient fiscal support and funding to create a stronger ecosystem that can support the manufacture of more complex aerospace products, which in turn will position Malaysia well as a regional services hub for the aerospace industry,” he said.

In 2023, Tengku Zafrul said, Malaysia recorded a total trade of RM23.2 billion, with exports valued at RM6 billion and revenue at RM18.1 billion, with top exports in the aerospace sector, including parts of aircraft, helicopters and planes.

“I must commend the Malaysian aerospace players, who have helped further entrench Malaysia as a critical supplier in the global aerospace parts and components supply chain, with almost 28,500 skilled workforce and more than 250 companies that are active in the Malaysian aerospace industry ecosystem.

“We can (also) be proud of the fact that we have attracted more and more investments from global aerospace players in the past two years, where the team here and I have been involved in leading a few negotiations with new prospects for our aerospace industry,” he said.

During Miti’s recent trade mission to Germany and France, Tengku Zafrul said, Malaysia managed to secure potential investments of up to RM46 billion from the likes of Airbus Group, Institut de Soudure Groupe and Simaero, among others.

“All this reflects global aerospace players’ trust in Malaysia’s industrial capacity and our strong commitment to supporting the global aerospace value chain. This, in turn, strengthens the ecosystem by ensuring an increase in the labour market’s productivity and efficiency,” he added. 

Source: Bernama

Over 98% of manufacturing projects approved in 2023 implemented, or are in planning stage

Malaysian aerospace companies should venture into manufacturing their own aircraft platforms and avionics, said Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (Tusas) president and chief executive officer Prof Temel Kotil.

He said Malaysia has immense potential in doing so, given its industries have been at the forefront of electrical and electronic fields, as well as manufacturing, in the region.

“Due to the country’s defence needs, Malaysian companies should do more in terms of investment in helicopter and aircraft manufacturing.

“The success (in the field) should shift to specific products such as avionics. Big companies could build platforms, but Malaysian companies should tap into opportunities in manufacturing the sub-components,” he said to Bernama, on the sideline of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NATSEC) Asia 2024 exhibition, here, today.

Kotil said that Tusas is keen to expand its engineering divisions and assist Malaysian companies to participate in the aerospace industry.

“Turkish Aerospace are utilising Malaysia’s engineering capabilities, but the locals (Malaysians) should focus on making platforms for aircraft, and helicopters, for the country’s and regional needs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tusas Malaysia Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mohd Shahiman Sulaiman said that it is actively engaging with Malaysian companies towards that end.

“Currently, we are working with 50 companies in Malaysia, and this is only the second year; we are looking for more. The 50 are Tier 2 and Tier 3 companies, and this year we are targeting a few Tier 1 companies,” he said.

He also highlighted that the government’s focus on empowering Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI), is a good avenue to increase the potential of Malaysia’s aerospace industry. 

Source: Bernama

Malaysia should venture into aerospace manufacturing, says Turkish Aerospace chief

Shares in Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) reached a new high seen in five years following the group’s positive results.

The share rose by three sen or 96 sen to RM32.96 per share as of time of writing, which is the highest seen since April 2019.

According to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd (MIDF Research), F&N’s management alluded that the expansion of manufacturing operations to Cambodia is a pivotal future investment for the group.

This entails shifting production of sweetened condensed milk from the current Thai import operation to facilities within Cambodia.

“Given that export sales to Cambodia reached RM200 million per annum, establishing a new manufacturing plant closer to the market emerges as a pragmatic approach to capture the growing demand, minimise product delivery time, logistical expenses, and supply-related risks,” it said in its analysis.

“Recall that the group entered a lease agreement for a parcel in Cambodia on February 15, 2024.

“Management highlighted that the moderation of skimmed milk powder prices has benefited F&B Thailand the most and more than mitigated the impact of higher sugar prices in F&B Thailand.”

Meanwhile, the analysis saw that the impact of higher sugar prices was greater in F&B Malaysia as opposed to rising rice, gelatin and cocoa powder prices.

The contribution of rice is merely for Sri Nona Ketupat products, meanwhile gelatin and cocoa powder merely used for Cocoaland’s products.

Note that food pillar (Sri Nona and Cocoaland) only contributed about six per cent of total revenue.

“Cost optimisation is preferred rather than a price hike,” RHB Research said.

“Despite the elevated prices of certain input costs, the normalization in most raw materials, coupled with various price hikes completed in FY22 to FY23, has offset the impact.”

Recall that the group increased ketupat and gummies bear prices in FY23.

“As such, management does not foresee any price hikes in the near term and instead would focus on cost optimisation, with a price hike being considered only as a last resort.”

Meanwhile, F&N’s integrated dairy farm project on track. The group allocated a total capex of RM1.7 billion for Phase 1 of the integrated dairy farm in Negeri Sembilan and expects to allocate RM1 billion for Phase 2.

The group has completed the land preparation for key activities on 1,000 acres with the expectation to complete the land preparation for all 2,000 acres by October 2024. The first milking remains unchanged by early 2025.

The integrated dairy farm targets 2,000 dairy cows in the first phase (shipped from a US avian-free state) with a total production capacity of 100 million litres per annum.

“We are positive about F&N’s outlook mainly underpinned by the robust out-of-home beverages consumption; return of leisure and business tourists to Thailand and Malaysia; normalise certain raw material input costs; and benefit from the shift in Malaysian consumer preferences towards local brands.

“We also commend the group’s initiative in the integrated dairy farm to improve self-supply (cost savings) and to cater to the underserved fresh milk market with affordable prices in Malaysia.”

Source: Borneo Post

F&N peaks at five year high as future investments on track

AUTO parts maker EP Manufacturing Bhd targets to commence the first phase of its factory in HICOM Pegoh Industrial Park in Melaka in the third quarter of 2024 (3Q24). 

EP Manufacturing group CEO Ahmad Razlan Mohamed said the company expected to achieve a production of 6,000 units by the year-end. 

“We have completed an agreement with Great Wall Motor Co Ltd (GWM) for the manufacturing and assembly of vehicle models,” he told The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) in a recent interview. 

A Tier-1 automotive supplier, EP Manufacturing operates five plants and factories across Malay- sia, supplying modular assemblies, safety and critical components to carmakers such as Proton Holdings Bhd and Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sendirian Bhd (Perodua). 

In January, EP Manufacturing announced that its subsidiary, PEPS-JV (Melaka) Sdn Bhd (PJVM), will serve as the contract vehicle assembler for the Malaysian unit of China’s GWM for the next eight years. 

EP Manufacturing’s focus will be on assembling and producing GWM’s Haval H6 and Haval Jolion SUV models. 

The move into car assembly aligns with EP Manufacturing’s commitment to vertical integration, presenting an opportunity to expand revenue streams and diversify its business portfolio. 

It then said the assembly activities will take place at the Melaka facility, aiming for an annual output of 20,000 units by 2028. 

Additionally, the facility will cater to the production of China-based Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd (BAIC) vehicles. 

In April, EP Manufacturing announced its partnership with BAIC to assemble and manufacture BAIC’s authorised model vehicles in Malaysia. 

It said its wholly-owned subsidiary PJVM had finalised an agreement with BAIC, a subsidiary of Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd, one of China’s largest carmakers and a Fortune Global 500 company. 

Under the terms of the 10-year agreement, PJVM will be responsible for assembling and manufacturing the vehicles in Malaysia, with a targeted capacity of at least 5,000 vehicles per year by Sept 1, ramping up to 10,000 vehicles annually by March 1 of the following year. 

PJVM will also handle the procurement of all necessary devices, equipment, permits or approvals for vehicle assembly and manufacturing. 

In return, BAIC will authorise PJVM for assembly and manufacturing, provide technical support and training, and oversee the assembly process. 

The agreement superseded a memorandum of understanding signed in August 2023, focusing on developing BAIC’s BJ40P and X55II SUVs and right-hand drive electric vehicles (EVs) for Malaysia and other South-East Asian markets. 

EP Manufacturing said it viewed the collaboration as an opportunity to vertically integrate its operations and tap into the growing automotive market, thereby enhancing its income streams and financial stability. 

“The strategic collaborations with original equipment manufacturers from China signify our commitment to charting a course towards better profitability for our stakeholders,” said EP manufacturing executive chairman Hamidon Abdullah in a statement. 

EP Manufacturing had previously announced an investment of over RM100 million for the construction of the plant in Melaka. The facility was expected to create around 1,000 new jobs upon full operation and initially produce up to 30,000 vehicles annually. 

Source: The Malaysian Reserve

EP Manufacturing targets 6,000 units by year-end at Melaka plant

Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition 2024 (APGH 2024) is timely in driving innovation and attracting investment in green hydrogen, in tandem with Malaysia’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said in a statement on Saturday said the government is actively seeking international collaboration to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, as hydrogen holds immense potential as the future of clean energy.

Fadillah, who is also Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, recently received a courtesy call by the organiser of APGH 2024 led by Sarawak Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.

APGH 2024 will be held from June 10 to 12 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Sarawak, and is poised to draw 100 exhibitors, 500 conference delegates, 50 speakers and 4,000 trade visitors from countries including Japan, South Korea, Chile, Brazil, Germany, Italy and Spain, and from the Nordic Region.

Meanwhile, Hazland said that through the Post-Covid Development Strategy, Sarawak is actively pursuing initiatives such as hydrogen development, renewable energy sources, carbon capture and storage, and sustainable aviation fuel

“These efforts directly contribute to reducing our carbon footprint and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. At APGH 2024, our invited international experts will share their global insights to add to our collective knowledge and skills base, focusing on the hydrogen market,“ he said.

During the visit, the organiser emphasised its unwavering commitment to accelerating Malaysia’s green hydrogen and energy transition goals. It also outlined plans to facilitate knowledge sharing, forge strategic partnerships, and showcase the latest advancements in technology, innovation, and sustainable solutions for green hydrogen production and utilisation.

More information about the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition 2024 available at www.hydrogenapac.com. 

Source: Bernama

APGH 2024 timely in driving innovation, attracting investment in green hydrogen: Fadillah

Sarawak is set to export a total of 240,000 tonnes of hydrogen to Japan and Korea by 2028, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He was cited in a Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) report as saying that this would establish Sarawak as a leading producer of clean and renewable energy.

He pointed out that with a hydrogen energy source, Sarawak would indirectly become a major player in power generation, thus boosting Sarawak’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) through sales tax.

“We will export 240,000 tonnes of hydrogen to Korea and Japan, and for domestic use, we will retain 7,000 tonnes of hydrogen.

“This means that if we export, we can impose sales tax, which will add to the state’s revenue. Additionally, we will become a major producer in terms of renewable energy,” he said at the Aidilfitri gathering organised by the Sarawak Bumiputera Chamber of Entrepreneurs (DUBS) here yesterday.

He added that the government has made significant efforts to provide infrastructure for development and digital economy in large-scale projects for Sarawak entrepreneurs to benefit from.

As such, he called on entrepreneurs to also master new technology.

“There is no other way; we need to have skills in technology, whether it’s digital technology or technology that adds value to our resources,” he said.

Source: Borneo Post

Premier: Sarawak set to export 240,000 tonnes of hydrogen to Japan, Korea by 2028

Penang today unveiled plans to establish its own one million sq ft integrated circuit (IC) design and digital park at the Bayan Lepas Industrial Park.

The 42.5ha project consists two phases.

The development of the first phase is underway. It features two office buildings — GBS By The Sea and GBS TechSpace — totalling 350,000 sq ft, with an investment of RM347 million.

It is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year.

The second phase, which involves 500,000 sq ft, introduces the establishment of a prominent structure, GBS TechnoPlex, at RM308 million.

The project is expected to be completed by 2027.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in announcing the ambitious plan, said the development underscored Penang’s commitment to fostering innovation, driving growth in key industries and attracting top-tier talent to the state.

“Construction for both phases commenced early last year. Once completed, the park will host high-impact initiatives spanning IC design, research and development (R&D), global business services (GBS), digital technology investments and a circular digital economy ecosystem.

“We strive to be at the forefront of the digital economy through this initiative,” he said at the Penang Development Corp (PDC) here today.

Last week, Chow announced the intention of three new semiconductor companies to invest in Penang — China Wafer Level CSP Co (WLCSP), Ningbo SJ Electronics Co (SJE) and Wuxi AMTE Inc (AMTE).

His announcement came on the heels of his predecessor, Lim Guan Eng, asking him to explain how the state lost a multi-million ringgit IC design project to Selangor.

Selangor had recently announced that the state would build an IC design park in Bandar Puteri, Puchong, in July.

Tech-related companies, such as ARM Limited and Phison Malaysia had already committed to setting up operations in the park, touted to be the largest in Southeast Asia.

Lim had said that a postmortem should be conducted to determine how Penang missed the opportunity despite it being the leader in the sector.

According to Chow, the Penang government is formulating an incentive package for strategic investors keen on enhancing and complementing the park.

He said the incentives were designed to bolster Penang’s current investment ecosystem.

Chow said the manufacturing and services sectors remained the state’s twin engines of growth, noting that both sectors contributed 95 per cent of the state’s total revenue.

“We are seeing an increasing demand from the digital economy sectors, particularly the IC design, R&D and GBS.

“We have garnered nearly RM20 billion of approved investments in the services sector over the past five years.

“Penang boasts a thriving ecosystem of over 200 Malaysia Digital Status companies.

“Moreover, we are witnessing the rise of third-party service providers, including IC design and knowledge-based solutions firms, alongside the established players in Penang,” he added, adding that over the last three decades, Penang has nurtured more than 20 specialised IC design companies, featuring a strong presence from global leaders.

Source: NST

Penang unveils 1 million sq ft integrated circuit design and digital park plan

NCT Group of Companies has teamed up with Smartsel Sdn Bhd and Mikro Sdn Bhd to drive the capabilities of the NCT Smart Industrial Park (NSIP).

The partnership also aims to introduce advanced sustainability practices to positively impact its carbon footprint.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Smartsel, a licenced provider of network facilities and services, will focus on the integration of 4G and 5G networks to drive telecommunications and digital operations at the NSIP, while simultaneously bolster the connectivity infrastructure within Selangor. 

The collaboration with Mikro will see an emphasis on ensuring superior quality components are utilised in electrical distribution systems to optimise NSIP’s energy management and operational safety.

“The MOUs are pivotal to creating a sustainable and cutting-edge foundation for the telecommunications and industrial infrastructure at NSIP, on track to be the nation’s first net-zero emission industrial park by 2050,” NCT founder and group managing director Datuk Seri Yap Ngan Choy.

“Strategic investment decisions and multistakeholder collaborations are necessary to propel growth and economic development. These MOUs mark a transformative phase for NSIP, further elevating its value and establishing it as a key component in Selangor’s progress as a hub of innovation and sustainability with robust 4G and 5G networks in place. 

For the process of 4G and 5G network deployment, Smartsel will facilitate the necessary local authority approvals by working closely with various stakeholders and state authorities. 

Khairul Azmi Misran, director of Smartsel, said it shares NCT Group’s commitment to harnessing the power of connectivity to boost the country’s digital economy, while realising the digital potential of its managed industrial park. 

“By seamlessly deploying faster connectivity at NSIP, this will drive economic and technological advancements.”

Mikro’s expertise, meanwhile, will be fundamental to NSIP’s carbon footprint reduction,

Mikro chief executive officer Syed Mohd Hafiz said the collaboration allows for an integration of its advanced X-series products with its powerful Mikrosafe app.

This will enhance both safety and energy efficiency in Malaysia’s electricity distribution systems, setting a new benchmark for industrial operations in Malaysia, he added.

NSIP is located within the Integrated Development Region in South Selangor.

The state has achieved more than 96 per cent of 5G network coverage as of February this year.

Source: NST

NCT Group, Smartsel & Mikro to drive NSIP capabilities

A semiconductor hub in Bukit Beruntung, Rawang, is set to boost the country’s gross domestic product to 30 per cent by 2028.

Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) (MBI) chief executive officer Saipolyazan M. Yusop said the development of the green energy concept industrial area would be completed as soon as possible.

“This (hub) is a follow-up to the Prime Minister’s announcement on the construction of a design park for integrated circuits and semiconductor drives in Puchong. 

“It will be a semiconductor research centre and will make Bukit Beruntung an industrial hub. This development will bring profit and economic benefits to the local community,” said Saipolyazan.

He said this to the media at the MBI Hari Raya open house here yesterday.

In March, Selangor signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four firms — Phison Malaysia, SkyeChip, United Kingdom-based ARM Ltd and China-based Shenzhen Semiconductor Industry Association — for the development of the research centre.

The centre, which will be managed by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation, has the capacity to generate economic returns of up to RM1 billion.

The development is expected to create jobs, especially in engineering, with monthly salaries of between RM5,000 and RM7,000.

Source: Selangor Journal

Semiconductor hub in Bukit Beruntung to boost state GDP

Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong said it is time for Malaysia to see biomass as the feedstock for new and advanced fuels and other green industries.

He emphasised the government’s strategy to bolster the biomass sector as biomass is often seen as the byproduct of the palm oil industry.

“The mindset shift means biomass is seen as a necessary enabler for new and high value-added industries that will help achieve the missions set out in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030,” he said in a statement issued by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

Yesterday’s session at Mida Sentral brought together key stakeholders from the biomass ecosystem, demonstrating a concerted effort to drive high-value investments and progress towards Malaysia’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The session highlighted Malaysia’s dedication to promoting sustainable investments in the biomass sector, which is crucial for achieving its net-zero target by 2050 as per the Paris Agreement 2016.

MIDA chief executive officer Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid highlighted its role to foster a favourable environment for the growth of the biomass industries in Malaysia.

“The biomass sector not only presents exciting business opportunities but also plays a crucial role in contributing to a circular economy for a sustainable future.

“In this regard, we are working to accelerate the use of biomass and help communities realise a clean energy future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mida chairman Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob commented on the investment trends, noting a fluctuation in the biomass sector since 2019 and the challenges this poses.

“The scope of oil palm biomass is staggering, encompassing renewable energy, biofuels, biochemicals, bioplastics, bio-fertilisers, and more.

“However, we also observe a concerning trend of fluctuating investments in the biomass sector since 2019, not meeting our ambitious target of RM10 billion as set in the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

“Hence, Mida recognises the imperative of collective action between relevant authorities and stakeholders, as well as industry players to address challenges within the biomass value chain, including feedstock stability, mobilisation, and pricing mechanism, which are key to attracting long-term investment,” he said.

The meeting attracted 120 participants from ministries, government agencies, government-linked investment companies, private sector, foreign chambers, academic institutions and financial institutions.

It aims to catalyse the adoption of biomass technologies across various industries.

The session also featured two presentations “Overall Biomass Investment and Prospects” and “Palm-Based Biomass Market Trends,” which outlined opportunities to attract investments in high-value biomass products like biogas and biofuels.

Source: Bernama

Timely for Malaysia to see biomass as feedstock for advance fuels, says Liew

ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia, a subsidiary of luxury business aircraft maker Dassault Aviation, inaugurated its new maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at Subang Airport on Thursday.

The 149,500-square-foot installation is now Malaysia’s largest business aviation MRO centre, more than doubling the size of its previous facility established in 2009, bolstering Malaysia’s position in the fast-growing Asian business aviation market, said ExecuJet in a statement on Thursday.

ExecuJet president Graeme Duckworth described the opening as a “pivotal moment” for the company’s regional operations.

“We are expanding support for operators of multiple aircraft brands across the region. The Subang facility is key to that strategy,” he said.

The expansion is part of ExecuJet’s broader strategy to address the increasing demand in the region.

ExecuJet started in South Africa in 1991 and subsequently expanded globally with additional facilities in Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and Belgium, and a franchise in China.

The Subang site aims to invest in training its personnel to be internationally certified, for it to be approved to perform line and heavy maintenance on aircraft registered with regional civil aviation authorities together with the Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, whether on Falcons, Bombardier and Gulfstream aircraft.  

ExecuJet regional vice-president Ivan Lim anticipates further growth in the Subang workforce from 84 to 100 by the year’s end, with plans for continued expansion over the next five years.

Malaysian Investment Development Authority chief executive officer Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid said ExecuJet’s expansion will enhance Malaysia’s stature as an ideal location for aerospace companies aiming to expand in this region.

“We are excited to witness the positive influence this facility will have on our aerospace ecosystem and remain committed to supporting ExecuJet in their expansion journey,” he said.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, meanwhile, said ExecuJet’s latest facility is among several development projects under the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP) and represents a pivotal step forward in advancing the plan’s business aviation sector.

“Anchored on three key segments — aerospace, business aviation and city airport — one of the aims of SARP is to transform Subang Airport into a regional hub for business aviation,” the group said in a statement.

Source: The Edge Malaysia

Dassault Aviation’s MRO unit ExecuJet expands in Malaysia with new facility at Subang Airport

Malayan Flour Mills Bhd (MFM) is investing a total of RM100 million in the financial year of 2024 (FY2024), of which RM32.0 million will be used to install a new milling line in Lumut.

MFM chairman Datuk Oh Chong Peng said the new milling line will have the latest, more efficient, cost-effective technology.

It will also raise the existing 1,800 million tonnes daily capacity by another 600 million tonnes.

“The balance of RM60.0 million will be to construct and install flour silos and flour blending facilities in Mekong Flour Mills Ltd in southern Vietnam,” he said in MFM 2023 annual report.

Oh said MFM had a capital expenditure (capex) of RM34.8 million in FY 2023; the bulk of which was invested in 14 additional wheat silos in Mekong Flour Mills Ltd to double its capacity from 50,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes and to enhance its warehouse and workshop.

In northern Vietnam, Vimaflour Ltd also completed its installation of 18 additional wheat silos with an extra storage capacity of 65,000 tons in FY2023, Oh said.

As for its poultry integration segment, most of the capex was invested to raise the capacity of both the wastewater treatment and rendering facilities at its primary processing plant. The segment intends to invest about RM218.0 million to upgrade and expand breeder farms and automate the primary processing plant.

The poultry integration segment saw lower sales in FY2023 due to a brief change in consumer behaviour toward other quick service restaurant (QSR) chains due to a boycott and not so much as a fundamental shift in consumer preference for non-poultry meat with western QSR brands favoured by Malaysians.

The situation allowed MFM to develop a new sub-segment in the food services channel.

“Therefore, while the group continues to strategise for new markets, it will continue to stand ready to support key customers affected by the boycott,” he said.

Furthermore, MFM aims to take the synergistic partnership with Tyson International Holding Company to the next level.

“Firstly, we hope to work towards setting up technology-enabled farms for both parent stocks and broilers to help ensure a sufficient supply of broilers to our processing plant at Kampung Acheh Industrial Estate in Sitiawan, Perak.

“Secondly, we aim to leverage their competitive edge and technical expertise to improve our operations, venture into new export markets, and undertake product development initiatives,” Oh said.

Meanwhile, for the flour and grain trading segment, MFM will continue to build relationships with suppliers to secure an uninterrupted supply of raw materials to production facilities in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

The collective sizeable operations in these countries provide the group with an advantage.

Source: Bernama

Malayan Flour Mills invests RM100 mln in FY24, installs milling line in Perak

Sarawak’s strategic alliances with United Kingdom’s (UK) leading industry partners in the development of compound semiconductors would drive innovations to increase the capability of microchips to power new technologies and applications, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said that in recent years, the semiconductor landscape has witnessed a paradigm shift with compound semiconductors emerging as the cornerstone of next-generation technologies.

“Unlike traditional silicon-based semiconductors, compound semiconductors offer unparalleled performance capabilities across numerous applications, ranging from telecommunications and energy systems to advanced electronics and beyond,” Abang Johari said.

He said this in a posting on the Sarawak Premier’s official Facebook page, “Sarawakku”, to mark the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Sarawak’s SMD Semiconductor Sdn Bhd and UK’s Compound Semiconductor Catapult in a ceremony held at the London parliament building today.

Abang Johari is visiting the UK with Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki as part of his entourage.

At the MoU signing ceremony, Sarawak SMD Semiconductor was represented by its chief executive officer (CEO) Shariman Jamil while CSA Catapult was represented by its CEO Martin McHugh.

Abang Johari said SMD Semiconductor operates as a wholly owned entity of the Sarawak government, established in 2022 to drive technological self-reliance and innovation to realise the state’s vision for the semiconductor sector.

He said Sarawak aspires to transcend into a leading hub and pivotal solutions provider, fostering an environment conducive to research and development and the commercialisation of cutting-edge semiconductor technology.

“At its core, SMD Semiconductor is on a mission to cultivate an optimal ecosystem, strategically positioning Sarawak as a premier investment destination for the semiconductor industry and a forefront solutions provider,” Abang Johari said.

He expressed confidence that the MoU would yield tremendous benefits for both parties, propelling both toward a future of innovation and shared success.

“I firmly believe that as SMD Semiconductor forges strategic alliances and collaborations with leading UK industry partners, it will be instrumental in driving innovations that reshape the capabilities and applications of compound semiconductors,” Abang Johari noted.

Source: Bernama

Sarawak on mission to develop compound semiconductors with UK companies

Penang will continue to focus on transforming the state into an international hub for trade, especially in the electronics and semiconductor sectors, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said today.

He said this is in line with the state’s efforts to provide more employment opportunities to the younger generation.

“With Penang’s robust record in investment policies and facilities, the state government is confident that Penang will continue to be a preferred destination for high-quality and high-value investors, thanks to the diligent efforts of the workers in this state,” he said in his Labour Day message.

He said Penang only has an unemployment rate of 2 per cent, citing the Labour Force Survey for the fourth quarter of 2023.

He said Penang also has a Labour Force Participation Rate of 73.3 per cent, which proved that workers in the state are hardworking and always striving to improve their living standards.

He expressed his appreciation to all workers in Penang who had worked hard for the state to successfully record an investment inflow of RM71.9 billion in 2023, the highest in Malaysia.

“I would like to remind everyone to embody the Madani values in our lives as workers and individuals,” he said.

He reminded the people to continue to contribute to the wellbeing of their workplace.

“Showcase your creativity in development and innovation sectors, be someone who always respects their colleagues regardless of their background, position, or status,” he said.

He said the state government and its leadership will continue to work hard to ensure the wellbeing of the people.

Source: Malay Mail

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