Co-operative Commission, BNM To Set Out Assessment Framework For Deposit Taking

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will set out the operational and assessment framework when considering an application by a co-operative society to undertake deposit taking from the public, other than its own members.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967020
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/07/31/Additional-diesel-approved-An-extra-25-million-litres-to-meet-demand-during-festive-season.aspx
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/30SKM/Article/index_html
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/784167
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (The Malaysian Insider): http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/soon-a-framework-for-co-operatives-that-want-to-offer-deposit-accounts
Published: July 31, 2013


Better collaboration: Ahmad Bashah (second from left) addressing the 
press conference after the inking of the MoU between Bank Negara 
and the Malaysia Co-operative Societies Commission.

Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the framework could ensure that co-operative societies that undertake deposit taking activity are financially sound.

Speaking during a press conference here, he said the framework aims to ensure that co-operative societies have robust governance and risk management systems in place, especially to manage liquidity and credit risks effectively.



"This is necessary to safeguard the interests of depositors," he said.

Under the Financial Services Act 2013 and Islamic Financial Services Act 2013, a co-operative society is required to obtain approval from BNM and the commission if they want to undertake a deposit taking activity from the public.

The operational and assessment framework is covered in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between the commission and the central bank.

The MoU today highlights the intent of BNM and the commission to cooperate and share information in areas of common interest for the effective discharge of each other's mandates.

The MoU encompasses cooperation in the exchange of information, formulation of legislation and policies, financial inclusion initiatives, capacity building and technical cooperation as well as cooperative arrangements for financial stability.

BNM in a statement said the collaborative arrangement between the authorities will also facilitate greater cooperation between the central bank and commission in advancing the country's financial inclusion agenda.

"This would contribute towards fostering the sound and orderly development of the co-operative society sector and enhancing its contribution to national development and economic growth," it said.

-- BERNAMA

Suruhanjaya Koperasi, BNM Akan Sediakan Rangka Kerja Penilaian Untuk Aktiviti Pengambilan Deposit

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Julai (Bernama) -- Suruhanjaya Persatuan Koperasi Malaysia dan Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) akan mewujudkan rangka kerja operasi dan penilaian apabila menimbangkan permohonan oleh persatuan koperasi untuk menjalankan pengambilan deposit daripada orang ramai, selain ahlinya.

Source from (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/Rangkakerjakoperasiambildeposit/Article
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/bnm-skm-jalin-kerjasama-1.188527
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/Ambildepositbukanahli/Article/index_html
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130731/ek_02/BNM-dan-SKM-jalin-kerjasama
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967111
Published: July 31, 2013


Ahmad Bashah (kiri) dan Nik Ali pada sidang media selepas majlis memeterai 
MoU antara Bank Negara dan Suruhanjaya Koperasi di Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (dua dari kiri) bersama (dari kiri) Nik 
Ali Mat Yunus, Mohammad Ibrahim dan Nor Shamsiah Mohd. Yunus pada 
majlis menandatangani kerjasama antara Bank Negara Malaysia 
dengan Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia di Kuala Lumpur

Gabenor Bank Negara, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz (kiri) dan 
Pengerusi Eksekutif SKM, Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus (kanan) selepas 
menandatangani perjanjian disaksikan Ahmad Bashah, di Kuala Lumpur. 

Timbalan menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah berkata rangka kerja itu boleh memastikan persatuan koperasi yang menjalankan aktiviti pengambilan deposit adalah stabil secara kewangan.

Bercakap pada sidang media di sini, beliau berkata rangka kerja itu menyasarkan untuk memastikan persatuan koperasi mempunyai sistem tadbir urus dan pengurusan risiko yang sesuai, terutamanya untuk menguruskan kecairan dan risiko kredit secara berkesan.

"Ini penting untuk memastikan kepentingan pendeposit terjaga," katanya.

Di bawah Akta Perkhidmatan Kewangan 2013 dan Akta Perkhidmatan Kewangan Islam 2013, sesebuah persatuan koperasi perlu mendapatkan kelulusan daripada BNM dan suruhanjaya itu jika mereka mahu menjalankan aktiviti pengambilan deposit daripada orang ramai.

Rangka kerja operasi dan penilaian itu terangkum dalam memorandum persefahaman (MoU) yang dimeterai antara jawatan kuasa itu dan bank pusat.

MoU itu hari ini menggariskan hasrat BNM dan jawatankuasa itu untuk bekerjasama dan berkongsi maklumat dalam bidang kepentingan bersama untuk menjalankan madat masing-masing secara berkesan.

BNM dalam satu kenyataan berkata persetujuan bersama antara pihak berkuasa itu juga akan meningkatkan kerjasama antara bank pusat dan suruhanjaya itu dalam mencapai agenda keterangkuman kewangan negara.

-- BERNAMA 

Koperasi Daerah Langkawi Akan Buka Hotel

LANGKAWI, 30 Julai (Bernama) -- Koperasi Pembangunan Daerah Langkawi (KPD), yang merupakan antara koperasi paling aktif di negara ini, dijadualkan mengurus operasi hotel 'KPD INN' hujung tahun ini.

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Ekonomi/20130730/ek_10/KPD-Langkawi-bakal-urus-hotel-di-Kuah---Pengerusi
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967032
Published: July 31, 2013

Pengerusi KPD Langkawi Ismail Yaakob berkata sebuah bangunan di kawasan Langkawi Mall, Kuah, berhampiran pejabat koperasi itu, sudah dibeli untuk tujuan itu.

"Kerja-kerja pengubahsuaian yang dijangka menelan belanja RM1 juta, untuk dijadikan 45 bilik serta kemudahan lain, akan dilaksanakan sebaik memperoleh kelulusan pihak berkuasa," katanya.

Ismail berkata projek itu merupakan antara usaha KPD Langkawi untuk mempelbagaikan penyertaan dalam bidang pelancongan, di samping meningkatkan pendapatannya.

KPD Langkawi menjalankan beberapa perniagaan, termasuk stesen minyak, perniagaan pemborongan serta wakil penjual motosikal tanpa faedah.

-- BERNAMA

Rebut geran niaga

INISIATIF yang dilakukan oleh kerajaan melalui Belanjawan 2013 membantu seramai 50,000 usahawan mikro, terutamanya wanita yang berpeluang meningkatkan jualan secara dalam talian.

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Keluarga/20130730/ke_03/Rebut-geran-niaga
Published: July 31, 2013


Golongan wanita boleh merebut peluang mempertingkatkan perniagaan mereka 
menerusi jualan dalam talian. - Gambar hiasan

Setiap seorang daripada mereka akan diberikan geran RM1,000 melalui peruntukan RM50 juta oleh Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM).

Program yang dinamakan Get Malaysian Business Online (GMBO ) ini telah pun dimulakan sejak 1 Januari tahun ini dan akan berakhir pada Disember 2013 nanti.

Ketua Jabatan Sekretariat Perancangan dan Koordinasi, Bahagian Pengurusan Jalur Lebar SKMM, Azizan Mohd. Afandi yang ditemui baru-baru ini berkata, objektif geran itu bagi membantu usahawan membangunkan laman sesawang, meningkatkan atau menambah baik laman sesawang sedia ada.

Menurut Azizan, sehingga kini sebanyak 58 peratus atau seramai 4,500 wanita telah memohon.
Sebanyak 26.4 peratus daripada mereka adalah wanita yang berumur di antara 26 tahun hingga 30 tahun, 22.4 peratus (31 - 35 tahun) dan 14.36 peratus ( 18-25 tahun).

Bagaimanapun kata Azizan, ini tidak bermakna wanita sahaja yang layak memohon kerana permohonan turut dibuka kepada kaum lelaki.

"Permohonan setakat ini begitu menggalakkan. Ini satu geran yang menarik untuk membantu usahawan.

"Syarat kelayakan tidak sukar, iaitu warganegara Malaysia berumur 18 hingga 65 tahun dengan keutamaan kepada usahawan wanita, mempunyai syarikat yang berdaftar, laman sesawang yang aktif dengan nama domain .com.my/.my/.edu.my/.net.my/org.my.

"Juga mempunyai langganan kepada perkhidmatan telekomunikasi jalur lebar atau ahli Pusat Internet 1 Malaysia (Pl1M), memiliki akaun bank tempatan atas nama usahawan atau syarikat yang digunakan untuk perniagaan dan keutamaan kepada usahawan mikro dengan jumlah pekerja sepenuh masa tidak melebihi 10 orang atau pendapatan tidak melebihi RM200,000 setahun,'' jelas Azizan.

Beliau menambah, pemohon tidak semestinya terlibat dalam perniagaan yang berurusan jual beli.

Mereka yang memberikan perkhidmatan seperti kedai makan, tukang paip, tukang mesin rumput dan sebagainya juga layak memohon.

Setakat ini ujarnya, terdapat usahawan yang telah berjaya mempromosi perniagaan mereka melalui dalam talian.

Sebagai contoh, Kabilah Hassan, pengusaha rumpai laut di Kunak, Sabah yang pendapatan sebelumnya RM450 sebulan dan kini memperoleh RM20,000 sebulan.

Seorang lagi yang dianggap berjaya ialah Zaidi Awang dari Sik, Kedah yang mengusahakan bantal kekabu.

Dengan bantuan Internet, hasil jualan Zaidi meningkat daripada 100 biji kepada 100,000 biji sebulan dengan pendapatan RM80,000 sebulan.

"Pihak kami mahu menggalakkan penggunaan internet dan komputer sebagai cara berkomunikasi yang mudah untuk membeli barang dan menjana ekonomi.

"Jika usahawan kecil tidak mengikut trend ini mereka akan lebih ketinggalan. Mereka mesti mempunyai laman sendiri supaya lebih profesional.

"Memang ramai yang masih tidak tahu mengenai penggunaan komputer dan Internet.

" Untuk itu, kami berkolaborasi dengan agensi-agensi kerajaan dan pemilik perusahaan kecil sederhana bagi memberi ceramah-ceramah di seminar dan sebagainya,'' kata Azizan.

Beliau menjelaskan, cara memohon amat mudah di mana pemohon tidak perlu menghantar borang atau menghantar dokumen.

Permohonan boleh dibuat secara dalam talian melalui laman http://gmbo.skmm.gov.my. Jika pemohon tiada akses Internet, permohonan boleh dilakukan di Pusat Internet 1 Malaysia berdekatan. Nombor rujukan akan diberi bagi penghantaran permohonan lengkap.

Permohonan akan disemak berdasarkan syarat-syarat kelayakan yang ditetapkan dalam masa 30 hari bekerja atau lebih daripada tarikh permohonan yang dihantar.

Permohonan yang berjaya akan menerima sebanyak RM1,000 yang akan dikreditkan ke dalam akaun.
Bagi maklumat mengenai GMBO, hubungi 1-800-88-4040, emel gmbo@cmc.gov.my atau laman sesawang gmbo.skmm.gov.my.

LionGold To Take Over Canadian Gold Firm For Up To S$9.1 Million

SINGAPORE, July 30 (Bernama) -- LionGold Corp Ltd, Singapore's first Main Board-listed gold company, has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Acadian Mining Corporation at a price of C$0.12 each.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=966981
Published: July 31, 2013

Source from (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/guld/Article/
Published: July 31, 2013

The takeover offer corresponds with a transaction value of up to S$9.1 million (C$7.4 million), assuming full acceptance from outstanding shareholders and conversion of outstanding convertible notes.

In a statement, it said the shares will be paid for in cash from the Group's bank deposits.

Acadian is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange with multiple gold tenements in Nova Scotia, Canada.

The company is backed by an experienced team, which is focused on the Beaver Dam and Fifteen Mile Stream projects.

These are within the Meguma Gold Terrain and hold a combined resource of 1.333 million ounces of mainly free-milling gold.

The resource at Fifteen Mile Stream has recently been upgraded, and efforts are underway for a detailed feasibility study for an open pit mine with a centralised processing facility.

The area enjoys excellent infrastructure support and a climate conducive to year-round mining activities.

LionGold purchased an initial 9 per cent of Acadian through the subscription of a 6 million new share placement in March 2013 at a price of C$0.09 per share.

The Group is of the view that the proposed investment provides an inexpensive foothold in an underexplored gold-bearing region in Canada that is consonant with a longer-term plan to create a North American hub of gold mining operations.

-- BERNAMA

Langkawi District Development Coop To Open 45-room Hotel By Year-End

LANGKAWI, July 30 (Bernama) -- The Langkawi District Development Cooperative, one of the most active cooperatives in the country, will open a hotel called "KPD INN" that will be operational by year-end.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967065
Published: July 31, 2013

Chairman Ismail Yaakob said a building adjacent to Langkawi Mall in Kuah, near the cooperative's office, has been acquired to be developed into a hotel.

He said renovation work to build rooms and related facilities would start after receiving approval from the authorities.

He said the hotel would have 45 rooms for tourists coming to this tourist haven.

"This is one of the initiatives by the cooperative to diversify its participation in the tourism industry, besides increasing its revenue," he told reporters here today.

Ismail said the hotel would help meet requirements for hotel rooms in Langkawi particularly during school and festive holidays.

The cooperative is engaged in diverse businesses including operating petrol kiosks, as a wholesaler and as a motorcycle agent.

-- BERNAMA

LionGold Ambil Alih Syarikat Emas Kanada Pada S$9.1 Juta

SINGAPURA, 30 Julai (Bernama) -- LionGold Corp Ltd, syarikat emas pertama disenaraikan di Papan Utama Singapura, memeterai perjanjian untuk memperoleh semua baki saham Acadian Mining Corporation pada C$0.12 setiap satu.

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=967045
Published: July 31, 2013

Tawaran pengambilalihan itu bersamaan dengan nilai urus niaga sehingga S$9.1 juta (C$7.4 juta), sekiranya diterima sepenuhnya oleh pemegang saham dan penukaran nota boleh tukar yang tertunggak.

Dalam satu kenyataan, syarikat itu berkata saham itu akan dibayar secara tunai daripada deposit bank kumpulan.

Acadian disenaraikan di TSX Venture Exchange dengan pelbagai kawasan emas di Nova Scotia, Kanada.

-- BERNAMA

Gold up nearly 10% in 3 weeks

SINGAPORE: Gold edged higher on Friday, staying on track for its third straight weekly gain, helped by a weaker dollar and hopes of a prolonged period of easy monetary policy.

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/07/26/Gold-up-nearly-10-percent-in-three-weeks.aspx
Published: July 30, 2013

Bullion has gained nearly 10% in three weeks – its biggest such winning streak in nearly two years – after the Federal Reserve assured financial markets it would only start phasing out its stimulus when it was sure the U.S. economy was strong enough to stand on its own.

Spot gold had climbed 0.1 percent to $1,334.90 an ounce by 0652 GMT, nearly US$160 more than the three-year low hit on June 28.

"The mood towards gold has definitely changed in recent weeks as the market thinks most of the bad news is priced into gold already," said Danny Laidler, head of ETF Securities' Australia and New Zealand business.

"I wouldn't say people are bullish gold but they are definitely less bearish," said Laidler, adding that outflows from the firm's gold-backed exchange traded fund (ETF) have slowed.

Gold has still lost a fifth of its value this year as investors feared a strong recovery in the US might prompt the Fed to scale back its US$85 billion monthly bond purchases. Outflows from gold ETFs have also weighed on prices.

Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold ETF, fell 0.3% to 927.36 tonnes on Thursday – their lowest in four years.

"The fundamentals for buying gold are still there – loose monetary policy, concerns over the Middle East and Europe, and (economic) data from the US and China not being as positive as expected," Laidler said.

CHINA DEMAND

Physical demand in China has been key to supporting gold prices this year amid the exit from ETFs. Data from the Shanghai Gold Exchange shows that physical deliveries have totalled 1,198.4 tonnes so far this year. The exchange delivered 1,140 tonnes in all of 2012.

China's gold demand could hit a record 1,000 tonnes this year, the World Gold Council said on Thursday, which means it would overtake India as the world's biggest bullion consumer.

India is seeing a slowdown in demand as the government tightens rules to curb gold imports and tame a record trade deficit. Premiums in India jumped to $20 an ounce over London spot prices on Thursday due to short supplies.

Premiums in other parts of Asia remained stable from last week – Reuters

Newmont takes US$1.77bil writedown after gold falls

TORONTO: Newmont Mining Corp, the second largest gold producer, reported a surprise loss after taking a US$1.77bil writedown on the value of two Australian mines and stockpiles following a slump in bullion prices.

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/07/29/Newmont-takes-US177bil-writedown-after-gold-falls.aspx
Published: July 29, 2013

The second-quarter net loss was US$2.02bil, or US$4.06 a share, compared with net income of US$279mil, or 56 cents, a year earlier, the Greenwood Village, Colorado-based miner said yesterday in a statement.

Gold-mining companies have announced at least US$15bil of writedowns in the past two months after the precious metal’s steepest quarterly drop in more than nine decades in London.

Newmont took impairment charges on its Boddington and Tanami mines in Australia, and wrote down the value of stockpiles and ore on leach pads, the company said.

Goldcorp Inc said on Saturday it took a writedown on the value of assets of US$1.96bil, while Barrick Gold Corp, the biggest producer by sales, said yesterday that it expected to write down the value of a project on the border of Chile and Argentina by as much as US$5.5bil and is reviewing other assets for further charges. Newcrest Mining Ltd said on June 7 it may take a charge of as much as A$6bil (US$5.6bil).

Newmont rose 1.5% to US$30.38 at the close in New York. The shares have dropped 35% this year. — Bloomberg

PNS To Identify Small Businesses For Transformation Scheme

KUALA PILAH, July 26 (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Nasional Bhd (PNS), an agency under the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, will identify small businesses to enable them to be more competitive and systematic under its business transformation scheme.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=966250
Published: July 28, 2013

"We also hope to develop them into franchise businesses," the relevant minister, Datuk Hasan Malek, told reporters after breaking fast at the Taman Desa Anggerik mosque in Juasseh near here last night.

Hasan, who is also Kuala Pilah MP, said PNS has identified five potential franchisors for the programme, while urging locksmiths, cobblers, plumbers, electricians and the like to contact PNS to join the scheme.

Of the government's RM8 million micro franchise fund for businesses under RM50,000, PNS has disbursed RM5.7 million for 213 franchisees, mainly in the retail, services, food and beverage, and education sectors, he added.

-- BERNAMA

Gold scores first gain in three sessions

CHICAGO, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange ended higher on Thursday, after statistics showed that more Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, boosting investors' hope that the U.S. Federal Reserve may maintain its stimulus measures to spur economic growth.

Source from (Xinhuanet): http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-07/26/c_132574566.htm
Published: July 28, 2013


The most active gold contract for August delivery rose 9.3 dollars, or 0.70 percent, to settle at 1,328.8 dollars per ounce. Gold prices for the August contract had tallied a two-session loss of 1.2 percent, according to MarketWatch.

Market analysts said that gold trading in the day was mainly about U.S. data and the Fed, with the latest jobless numbers supporting gold prices. Statistics from the Labor Department showed that U.S. jobless claims rose by 7,000 to 343,000 in the week ended July 20, compared with market estimates of about 340, 000.

According to market reports, gold rallied 7.9 percent this month through Wednesday, heading for the biggest monthly gain since January 2012, after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said it was still too early to decide whether to begin scaling back the central bank's bond purchases in September.

The ICE dollar index slipped to 82.118 from 82.285 late on Wednesday. A weaker U.S. dollar is good for gold.

Silver for September delivery also rose 13.4 cents, or 0.67 percent, to close at 20.154 dollars per ounce. 

Lure of luxury ebbs in market now "saturated"

BEIJING, July 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Some major international luxury groups experienced a sales slowdown in China in the first half of the year, even as the European market continued rebounding.

Source from (Xinhuanet): http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-07/27/c_132578891.htm
Published: July 28, 2013


The growth of Kering SA's luxury division in China slowed to an average of 6 percent in the first half. The luxury group, which owns Gucci and Bottega Veneta, released its interim report on Thursday.

But sales growth in China was 21.5 percent in the first half of 2012 and 45 percent in 2011.
The group reported 4.68 billion euros ($6.21 billion) in global revenue, up 4 percent on a comparable basis.

The Asia-Pacific region, excluding Japan, "delivered more modest growth of 3.7 percent" to the group in the first half.

Jean Marc Duplaix, chief financial officer of Kering, said the moderating sales growth in the Asia-Pacific region reflected a "tougher macro environment".

The slowdown of China's economic growth is being cited as the cause of the luxury market deceleration. Some experts said that well-known international brands had actually been hit harder by weak economic conditions and the government's crackdown on extravagance.

"The big names' business declined in China seriously in the first half of 2013, for macroeconomic and political reasons," said Zhou Ting, director of the Fortune Character Research Center.

After years of fast development, China's market is becoming saturated with well-known luxury brands, Zhou said. These brands must get used to slower growth in China, which is a healthier situation.

Duplaix also said in a conference call that demand in China was lower than in the past.
However, conditions in mature markets including Europe and Japan are getting better for luxury brands.

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury group by turnover, said in its interim report released on Thursday that the group "continues to grow in Europe in a more difficult economic environment" and Europe had "good resilience" in the first half of 2013.

Kering's luxury division also saw an 8.7 percent revenue increase in Western Europe during the period.

"This revenue growth was achieved not only thanks to tourism sales but also as a result of sales to the region's local customers," the group said in its report.

Chinese tourists contributed a lot to the United States' and Europe's market recovery, business insiders said.

Chinese people spent 60 percent of their luxury budget overseas, the result of a stronger yuan and increasing outbound tourism, according to a luxury market report by Bain & Co, a US-based consultancy company.

The luxury groups are still confident about the second half of 2013.

Kering forecast further positive momentum in the second half.

"Despite an uncertain European economic environment, LVMH will continue to gain market share," the company said.

The group said that its confidence comes from "the numerous product launches planned before the end of the year and its geographic expansion in promising markets, while continuing to manage costs".

 (Source: China Daily)

Malaysians who have struck it big overseas

BESIDES the buzz in the local mining scene, Malaysian investors have also tried their hands to secure some precious metal and mineral deals by venturing overseas. 

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/07/27/Malaysians-who-have-struck-it-big-overseas.aspx
Published: July 28, 2013

Among the more successful entrepreneurs are Tan Sri Nik Ibrahim Kamil, who controls RM2.5bil SGX-listed gold miner LionGold Corp Ltd, that has since embarked on a trail of aggressive acquisitions of gold mining companies.

LionGold became a hunter recently with takeover targets like Signature Metals Ltd and Castlemain Gold Ltd, both listed on the Australian stock exchange.

Both were deemed undervalued, and LionGold’s aggressive M&A strategy takes advantage of cash-strapped, small and mid-sized listed gold miners, trading at a fraction of their true value, in markets such as ASX.

Nik Ibrahim recently revealed that LionGold “is touching production figures of nearly 6,000 ounces (of gold) per month, and growing.”

“We control directly or indirectly nearly 15 million ounces of Joint Ore Reserves Committe (JORC) compliant gold resources,” he said.

LionGold has also taken a 10% stake in ASX-listed Citigold Corp, that has 11 million ounces of JORC compliant gold resources and its mine in Queensland is touted as Australia’s “highest grade gold field”.

It has also secured control over gold mines in Tasmania and Bolivia and recently started the process to acquire 60% of the Papua New Guinea operations of another ASX-listed gold miner.

Nik Ibrahim is famed for his tenure at the helm of KFC Holdings Bhd for two years from 2006 and also as the former managing director of the NSTP group.

The reason behind LionGold’s success is in the form of SGX-listed Asiasons Capital Group Ltd, which is its single largest shareholder, with a 10% stake, a private equity fund founded by Malaysians Datuk Jared Lim, Datuk Mohammed Azlan Hashim and chartered accountant Ng Teck Wah in 2007.

Asiasons had positioned LionGold in a way to leverage on the market opportunities and accelerate its growth trajectory, back by the fund’s capital.

While on the other end of the spectrum is Negri Sembilan royalty Tunku Naquiddin Tuanku Ja’afar, the chairman of Noble Mineral Resources Ltd, which boasts of 1.98 million ounces of gold deposit in Ghana via Central African Gold Ghana Ltd (CAGG) that owns the Bibiani gold mine.

Noble seems to have run into difficulties as its surface mining operations have been suspended and it has voluntarily suspended its stock from trading on ASX while the revision of its operational strategy is finalised. The company says it is pursuing a revised operational strategy focused on producing higher margin ounces to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project.

Tunku Naquiddin was once the largest stakeholder with a 27% stake via Global Gold Holdings Ltd, but has since diluted his stake to 10.3% with several corporate exercises involving the emergence of Resolute Mining Ltd.

Meanwhile, another low-key mining magnate is Malaysian-born Sam Chong who is now sipping coffee by Brisbane’s West End after toiling hard to become Australia’s wealthiest with a fortune of A$950mil made from coal mining following the rapid rise in coking coal price.

Coking coal used to produce iron out of ore experienced a surge in price with China’s insatiable hunger for steelmaking.

Chong’s ascent to success can be attributed to his stake in privately-held Jellinbah Resource which operates two coal mines and is currently in the process of developing another.

Besides his coal mines, he is also now dabbling in iron ore and property development.

Asians stick with their gold funds even as others flee

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (July 25, 2013): Asian investors are keeping faith in gold funds, taking in their stride a stunning plunge in the price of the metal over the past few months, as paper gold looks to be finding a stronger foothold in the region.

Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/780577
Published: July 26, 2013

In sharp contrast to Western markets, where investors made a beeline to exit gold fund investments, a net US$33.5 million was pumped into Asian gold and precious metals miners' funds in the three months to June, according to data from fund tracker Lipper and Reuters calculations.

Similar funds in the West saw net outflows of about US$18 billion, or about 11% of their end-March assets under management, in the same period, according to the Lipper data.

The conflicting responses to the 20% fall in gold prices this year show a growing appetite for gold funds in Asia and provide hope for a fledgling funds industry that has struggled to attract investors.
It also shows the limited presence of speculators and hedge funds, who dominate the Western market for gold funds.

"It's more about the mentality," said William Chow, managing director of Value Partners Group's exchange-traded fund (ETF) business. "Asian risk appetite for gold is more stable than that of US investors."

The firm runs the biggest Hong Kong-domiciled gold ETF, which held gold worth about US$100 million at end-June.

Asia's demand for physical bullion is unparalleled, from buying jewellery for weddings to storing coins under the bed.

Gold – coming off 12 years of gains – is headed for its worst annual performance since 1997 on worries global central banks will withdraw their easy-money policies of the past few years, making the metal less compelling for investors.

The precious metal fell sharply in April, down over US$200 an ounce in two days, and then again in June when it fell 15% over nine sessions.

India's SBI Gold Exchange Traded Scheme and Japan's Nomura Gold Futures Fund were among funds that saw inflows last quarter, data from Lipper, a Thomson Reuters company, showed.

"Gold is not just considered an investment tool in Asia, it is also seen as a luxury. So when the price drops, people tend to accumulate more," said Tanawat Roongtanapirom, a fund manager at Kasikorn Asset Management, which runs the US$591 million K Gold, Asia's biggest gold fund.

Despite the inflows, Asia remains a far smaller market for gold funds compared with the US, where top hedge fund managers such as John Paulson of Paulson & Co Inc, David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital Management and Dan Loeb of Third Point LLC have significant exposure to the metal.
Gold-backed ETFs are a relatively new concept in Asia.

China, the second-biggest gold buyer, only recently approved the launch of its first two gold ETFs. The funds raised a total of 1.6 billion yuan (US$261 million) in their initial funding round, which was below expectations.

And in top gold buyer India, annual consumption was about 860 tonnes in 2012, according to the World Gold Council. But the 14 gold ETFs there hold less than 40 tonnes of the metal in all.

"The trend of shifting from physical to gold ETFs is just beginning," said Kasikorn's Roongtanapirom.

Siyi Lim, an ETF analyst at OCBC Investment Research in Singapore, said individual investors are becoming more aware of the different gold products in the market.

"Increasingly, we see investors turning to ETFs as a way to gain immediate access to entry and exit," said Lim. "Demand is particularly strong in Hong Kong, Macau and India." – Reuters

Poh Kong Aims To Open Outlets In Sabah, Sarawak In 2-5 Years

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- Poh Kong Holdings Bhd, the largest retailer of gold jewelleries in Malaysia, expects to open its first outlet in Sabah and Sarawak within next two to five years in a bid to expand its business chain there.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=966047
Published: July 26, 2013

Source from (The Star Online): http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/07/26/Poh-Kong-eyes-Sabah-and-Sarawak-Jewellery-retailer-awaits-AEON-to-open-malls-in-the-states.aspx
Published: July 26, 2013



Its Executive Director Ermin D.M. Siow said Poh Kong was waiting for AEON Mall, a specialist shopping mall developer, to open a shopping mall in Sabah and Sarawak as the gold and jewellery retailer was currently working closely with AEON.

"We are working with them (AEON) quite closely. We follow them (open the outlet) wherever they open their shopping mall.

"As you can see, wherever AEON opens their shopping malls, we also have our outlet there," he told Bernama here today.

He added that AEON Mall was expected to open its store in Sabah and Sarawak in 2015 and Poh Kong was anticipating the announcement of its opening.

Siow said to date Poh Kong has 105 outlets in Peninsular Malaysia and the company opened at least three stores annually with an investment of RM3 million to RM5 million per store.

Commenting on why Poh Kong did not take the opportunity to open outlets in Sabah and Sarawak on its own, he said the company preferred to focus its business in Peninsular Malaysia as there was always demand from the people.

"Why bother to open outlet in a place where we are not sure about their demand and location.

"Besides, you must ensure that the trade must be there before you put your staff," he said, adding the market in the peninsula needed to be improved in terms of management and resources.

Siow also said there were two major problems that prevented Poh Kong from expanding to Sabah and Sarawak, that is, location and human resources.

He said with the resource constraints that it was facing, it would be better for the company to focus its business in Peninsular Malaysia since it was easier for the management to manage the stores within the area.

He added that the company would priotitise its business in the peninsula if there was an opportunity for it to grow.

Siow also said Poh Kong was also considered by Malaysians as the one-stop-centre for jewels and gemsets.

"People prefer to shop jewelleries with us as we also provide seasonal products, which are designed depending on the festivals," he added.

Poh Kong recently launched the Anggun jewellery collection with prices ranging from RM200 to RM10,000.

-- BERNAMA 

RM111.4 Million For 7,500 Sarawak Poor Households Under 1AZAM

KUCHING, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Welfare, Women and Family Development ministry has set aside RM111.4 million for distribution to 7,500 poor households in the state before year end under the 1AZAM programme.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=965902
Published: July 25, 2013

Its minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said from January to the present, 2,314 of the household heads or 30.87 percent of the target had received the assistance.

"We still have a few months to achieve the target and the assistance will be channeled in stages," she told a media conference after chairing a poverty eradication meeting here Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Fatimah said the implementing agencies in the 1Azam programme had been increased to 28 from 16.

She said the measure was to ensure that payment of the assistance would be expedited.

-- BERNAMA 

RM111.4 Juta Program 1AZAM Bantu 7,500 Keluarga Miskin Di Sarawak

KUCHING, 24 Julai (Bernama) -- Kementerian Kebajikan, Wanita dan Pembangunan Keluarga Sarawak diperuntukkan sejumlah RM111.4 juta untuk membantu seramai 7,500 orang ketua isi rumah (KIR) miskin di negeri ini, di bawah program 1AZAM, sehingga hujung tahun.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=965897
Published: July 25, 2013

Menterinya, Datuk Fatimah Abdullah berkata dari Januari sehingga kini seramai 2,314 orang KIR atau 30.87 peratus dari jumlah sasaran itu telah menerima bantuan.

"Kita masih ada beberapa bulan lagi untuk mencapai sasaran ini dan bantuan akan disalurkan secara berperingkat," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Kumpulan Fokus Pembasmian Kemiskinan Negeri di sini.

Menurutnya bantuan di bawah program ini merupakan sebahagian daripada usaha untuk membantu KIR miskin yang berdaftar di bawah Sistem Bank Data Nasional (eKasih) sejak 2010 yang kini berjumlah 92,570 orang di negeri ini.

"Sehingga semalam (23 Julai), penerima bantuan 1Azam yang sudah terkeluar dari status KIR miskin berikutan peningkatan pendapatan mereka ialah seramai 2,166 orang," katanya.

Fatimah berkata jumlah agensi pelaksana program 1Azam ini turut ditambah daripada 16 buah kepada 28 bagi mempercepatkan proses penyaluran bantuan dengan bermatlamat dapat memberikan impak berterusan kepada penerima untuk mengekalkan penjanaan pendapatan.

-- BERNAMA 

CCM Aims For RM50 Billion Revenue By Year 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, Julai 23 (Bernama) -- The Cooperative Commission of Malaysia (CCM) is confident of achieving revenue of RM50 billion from sales and services for the cooperative sector by 2020.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=965431
Published: July 24, 2013

Its Executive Chairman, Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus said there were 10,600 registered cooperatives throughout the country at present, with seven million members.

"The sector recorded revenue of RM32 billion for the 2012 financial year and we expect to achieve six per cent growth this year.

"To achieve our target of RM50 billion in 2020, the cooperative sector needs to transform into a conglomerate. This is to enable it to penetrate the global market, as well as diversify its business and commercial activities, to sustain the growth, " he added.

He told the media this after officiating the CCM's online application system for honorarium and dividend payment and audit application.

Also launched today was the Rules and regulation for the CCM Financial and Accounts Management.

The rules will be in place from July 23 and is part of efforts to place the CCM as an excellent organisation as desired under the National Coperative Policy.

--BERNAMA 

SKM Sasar RM50 Bilion Perolehan Menjelang 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Julai (Bernama) -- Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) yakin sektor koperasi mampu mencatat perolehan jualan dan perkhidmatan sebanyak RM50 bilion menjelang 2020.

Source from (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/KoperasimampuraihRM50bpada2020/Article
Published: July 24, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=965419
Published: July 24, 2013

Pengerusi Eksekutif SKM Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus berkata terdapat 10,600 koperasi berdaftar di seluruh negara pada masa ini dengan keanggotaan melebihi tujuh juta.

Beliau berkata pada tahun kewangan 2012, sektor itu mencatatkan perolehan sebanyak RM32 bilion, dengan sasaran pertumbuhan enam peratus tahun ini, katanya.

"Bagi mencapai sasaran perolehan RM50 bilion, sektor koperasi perlukan transformasi untuk menjadi sebuah konglomerat yang berdaya menembusi pasaran dunia serta berupaya mempelbagaikan perniagaan dan aktiviti komersil," katanya.

Nik Ali berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas perhimpunan bulanan serta pelancaran Peraturan-peraturan Pengurusan Kewangan dan Perakaunan SKM bagi Kumpulan Wang Operasi(KWO) dan Kumpulan Wang Amanah (KWA).

Peraturan ini adalah selaras dengan kehendak Akta bagi memastikan urusan kewangan dan perakaunan KWO dan KWA dapat dilaksanakan secara sistematik dan efisien.

Beliau berkata peraturan ini terpakai mulai hari ini.

Ia adalah usaha SKM bagi memantapkan Suruhanjaya sebagai organisasi cemerlang selaras aspirasi Dasar Koperasi Negara, katanya.

Aplikasi dalam talian bagi kelulusan pembayaran honorarium, dividen dan kelulusan juruaudit swasta, turut dilancarkan pada majlis itu.

Aplikasi ini dibangunkan bagi membolehkan proses permohonan dan kelulusan honorarium, dividen dan audit, dapat dipercepat dan lebih mudah.

Koperasi dan Juruaudit boleh menggunakan permohonan secara dalam talian ini mulai 1 Julai lepas menerusi http://apponline.skm.gov.my

-- BERNAMA

Mydin Goes High-End With Sam's Groceria

GEORGE TOWN, July 23 (Bernama) -- Homegrown wholesale and retail giant Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd hopes to open every year, three to four of its premium supermarket, SAM's Groceria, to capture the high-end segment.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/PARAGON/Article/
Published: July 24, 2013

Source from (Business Times): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=965501
Published: July 24, 2013

MYDIN Mohamed Holdings Bhd plans to open three to four "SAM's Groceria" outlets, its premium supermarket, every year.

Its managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin said a second SAM's Groceria is set to open on Penang island by year-end to tap the growing high-end market there.

Mydin has earmarked RM11 million for the opening of the second store.

"A third outlet is expected to open in the Klang Valley next year at the Nu Sentral Retail Mall. We are looking to invest RM15 million there," said Ameer Ali after the soft opening of the Gurney Paragon Mall, here, yesterday.

The Gurney Paragon Mall, developed by Hunza Properties Bhd, is being positioned as a premier lifestyle shopping mall and SAM's Groceria is one of its tenants.

Other tenants include H&M, Victoria Secret's, Sephora, Debenhams, Michael Kors, Canali, Tumi, La Martina and Rabeanco.

Mydin has invested RM15 million in the first SAM's Groceria, taking up 30,000 sq ft of the mall's retail space, which includes a delicatessen.

It stocks 19,000 pork- and alcohol-free items, of which 60 per cent are imported, including premium items like cheese, butter and organic foods.

"We have also invested RM500,000 in self-scanning equipment, like those in European supermarkets, to enable customers to keep track of their expenses as they shop and also scan items for their ingredients," said Ameer Ali.

The scanners, which are manufactured by technology giant Motorola, enable shoppers to use dedicated check-out counters where their purchases have already been totalled up and can be packed faster.

Ameer Ali also said SAM's Groceria will introduce online shopping in a month or two. After selecting and paying online, shoppers can either pick up their purchases at SAM's Groceria's customer service counter in Pulau Tikus here, or pay a flat rate of RM10 for delivery within a 3km radius of the outlet.

"We want to cater to the premium segment of shoppers and it is now a matter of convincing some property developers to allow us to set up our high-end outlets within their developments," he added.

Amee Philips Targets China Market Next Year

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- Penang-based jeweller, Amee Philips Sdn Bhd, which has been experiencing resounding success locally and abroad, plans to expand its business to China next year.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=965553
Published: July 24, 2013

Chief Executive Officer Amee Philips said China was a good market to penetrate given its growing population and huge spending power.

"We want to set up a jewellery store there. The minimum expenditure required will be between RM5 million and RM10 million.

"For this venture, we will still control the manufacturing aspect of the product, especially the type of gold and diamonds used," she told Bernama.

Currently, the company manufactures its products at its Penang facility and retails them at its outlet in Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

"We are confident we can double our sales this year. Our outlet in Mandarin Oriental gives us a lot of exposure and it allow us to meet clientele from all around the world such as New York, Dubai and Mexico," she said.

Internationally, Amee Philips jewellery was already selling in New York, as a result of their collaboration with New York-based Malaysian fashion designer Zang Toi, as well as in London, through their agent there.

Going forward, Philips said her dream would be to set up an academy to scout for local talents such as stone setters, fine craftsmanship talents as well as provide training for them to sell the products.

"I hope this academy can be established in 2-3 years time. The local goldsmith line is dying and we need to inject new blood to bring back the luster to the industry," she added.

-- BERNAMA 

Amee Philips Sasar Pasaran China Tahun Depan

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Julai (Bernama) -- Syarikat barang kemas yang beribu pejabat di Pulau Pinang, Amee Philips Sdn Bhd, yang kini mengecap kejayaan kukuh di dalam dan luar negara, merancang untuk mengembangkan perniagaanya ke China tahun depan.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=965579
Published: July 24, 2013

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif, Amee Philips berkata China merupakan pasaran yang baik untuk ditembusi kerana populasi dan kuasa perbelanjaannya yang besar.

"Kami mahu mengadakan gedung barang kemas di sana. Perbelanjaan minimum yang diperlukan ialah antara RM5 juta dan RM10 juta.

"Untuk penerokaan ini, kami akan masih menguasai aspek pembuatan dari segi produk, terutamanya jenis emas dan berlian yang digunakan," kata beliau kepada Bernama.

Pada masa ini, syarikat menghasilkan produk di kilangnya di Pulau Pinang dan memasarkannya di cawangan di Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

"Kami yakin dapat menggandakan jualan kami tahun ini. Cawangan kami di Mandarin Oriental memberikan kami banyak pendedahan dan ia membolehkan kami berjumpa dengan pelanggan dari seluruh dunia seperti New York, Dubai dan Mexico," kata beliau.

Di peringkat antarabangsa, barang kemas Amee Philips telahpun dijual di New York hasil kerjasama dengan pereka fesyen Malaysia yang berpangkalan di New York, Zang Toi, serta di London, menerusi ejen mereka di sana.

Bergerak ke hadapan, Philips berkata impian beliau ialah mewujudkan satu akademi mencari bakat tempatan seperti bakat kehalusan kerja tangan serta menyediakan latihan untuk mereka menjual produk.

"Saya berharap akademi ini boleh ditubuhkan dalam tempoh 2-3 tahun. Industri tukang emas telah pupus dan kita perlu menyuntik sesuatu yang baharu untuk mengembalikan kegemilangan industri itu," kata beliau.

-- BERNAMA 

Chow Tai Fook: Probe due to trade body ties

HONG KONG: Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd didn’t manipulate gold prices and was pulled into China’s probe of Shanghai jewellers because of its membership in a local trade association, said its managing director Kent Wong.

Source from (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20130724000205/Article/
Published: July 24, 2013

The world’s largest listed jewellery chain was asked to provide information to regulators because it is a member of the Shanghai Gold & Jewellery Trade Association, he said.

Chow Tai Fook was among several gold shops being investigated for possible price manipulation, the official People’s Daily said on July 19. Bloomberg

Tun Mahathir nasihat peniaga Pekan Rabu kembangkan perniagaan

ALOR SETAR 22 Julai - Para peniaga di kompleks beli-belah Pekan Rabu di sini, dinasihatkan menjadikan pengalaman berniaga di situ sebagai batu loncatan memajukan perniagaan masing-masing.

Source from (Utusan Malaysia): http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/Utara/20130723/wu_03/Tun-Mahathir-nasihat-peniaga-Pekan-Rabu-kembangkan-perniagaan
Published: July 23, 2013


Dr. Mahathir Mohamad mencuba songkok kegemarannya sambil diperhatikan 
pemilik kedai Songkok Style Tun, Sardi Dahar ketika membeli-belah di Kompleks Pekan Rabu, Alor Setar

Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad berkata, mereka tidak boleh sekadar berpuas hati berniaga di situ tetapi perlu menjadikan kompleks perniagaan tersebut sebagai platform untuk belajar dan mengembangkan perniagaan.

Katanya, mereka perlu mencari banyak peluang untuk berkembang maju dalam bidang berkenaan.
"Saya tidak mahu orang berniaga di sini kekal sampai mati dan diwariskan kepada anak sebaliknya Pekan Rabu ini adalah tempat mereka belajar berniaga.

"Selepas itu mereka kena cari peluang-peluang lain untuk berkembang maju dengan menggunakan pengalaman yang diperoleh di sini," katanya kepada pemberita selepas membeli-belah di kompleks itu hari ini.

Beliau yang pernah berniaga di situ diiringi Pengerusi Koperasi Pekan Rabu, Azmi Shahab meluangkan masa lebih sejam membeli pelbagai kuih tradisional selain menempah baju Melayu.

Dr. Mahathir berkata, Pekan Rabu merupakan lokasi beli-belah yang berjaya dan boleh dikembangkan ke seluruh negara supaya menjadi jenama terkenal.

"Trend Pekan Rabu ini boleh diguna di tempat-tempat lain supaya orang tahu Pekan Rabu ada di mana-mana," ujarnya.

Bekas Perdana Menteri itu turut mengesyorkan Pekan Rabu yang akan dibina semula membuat pengubahsuaian dari aspek reka bentuk melibatkan kedudukan tingkat bagi memberi kemudahan serta keselesaan kepada pengguna.

Sebelum ini, Kerajaan Pusat memperuntukkan RM55.58 juta untuk membina semula Pekan Rabu yang merupakan mercu tanda ikonik Kedah berusia lebih 93 tahun.

Kompleks perniagaan serba moden itu bakal dibina setinggi enam tingkat melibatkan empat tingkat lot perniagaan manakala dua tingkat lagi digunakan sebagai tempat meletak kereta.

Contohi LTAT jana keuntungan pelaburan

Kuala Lumpur: Kejayaan Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) dalam menjana keuntungan kepada pelaburnya wajar dicontohi oleh agensi yang berada di bawah Kementerian Pertahanan dan syarikat berkaitan pertahanan di negara ini.

Source from (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/ContohiLTATjanakeuntunganpelaburan/Article/index_html
Published: July 23, 2013

Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein Onn berkata dasar LTAT yang jelas dan strategik adalah rujukan terbaik bagi memastikan industri pertahanan tempatan setanding dengan industri pertahanan luar negara. “Saya berharap agar LTAT terus menggembleng tenaga untuk meningkatkan pendapatan melalui sektor yang terdapat dalam industri ini, sekali gus menjadi penanda aras dan pemangkin kepada segala pihak terbabit,” katanya selepas majlis penyerahan Bas Berkonfigurasi Khusus oleh LTAT kepada Angkatan Tentera, di sini baru-baru ini. Sebelum upacara itu, Hishammuddin diberi taklimat mengenai program LTAT khususnya berkaitan prospek pelaburan dan inisiatif membantu syarikat yang dilaksanakan di bawah aktiviti tanggungjawab sosial korporat (CSR).

“Sesi ini memberi gambaran jelas tentang teras utama LTAT dalam usaha menambah nilai dan membantu pihak berkepentingan terutama anggota angkatan tentera,” katanya. Bas terbabit adalah yang pertama seumpamanya di Malaysia dan dilengkapi lif unik automatik yang tidak memerlukan penumpang kurang upaya turun daripada kerusi roda apabila turun dan naik dari kenderaan itu.

Ia bernilai kira-kira RM400,000 dan boleh membawa 25 penumpang dengan ruang tambahan untuk kerusi roda dan turut memiliki pendingin udara dan kemudahan audio visual untuk penumpang. LTAT mencatatkan rekod pencapaian paling tinggi sejak 40 tahun bagi tahun kewangan berakhir Disember tahun lalu di mana ia membolehkan ahli layak menerima dividen dan bonus berjumlah 16 peratus.

HISHAMMUDDIN mencuba lif unik automatik untuk penumpang orang 
kelainan upaya (OKU) pada Majlis Penyerahan Kunci Bas Berkonfigurasi 
Khusus kepada Angkatan Tentera di Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

Sabah PKKM Organises Hari Raya Craft Promotion From July 25

KOTA KINABALU, July 21 (Bernama) -- The Sabah branch of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (PKKM) is organising an Aidil Fitri Craft Promotion 2013 at 1Borneo Hypermall, Likas, near here, for 11 days from July 25, 2013.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=964930
Published: July 21, 2013

Its Director Mohd Latif Dirun said the promotion was aimed at encouraging and introducing to the community particularly in Sabah to use local handicraft products in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya celebration.

Besides that, he said the promotion would give opportunities for the handicraft entrepreneurs to market their products and act as a meeting place for traders, entrepreneurs, wholesalers and other sectors in preparation for Hari Raya celebration.

"We also want to expand the craft market based on the high purchasing power among visitors to shopping malls," he said to Bernama here.

Mohd Latif said the craft promotion would adopt an 'open sales' concept involving exhibition, craft products sales, demonstration and interactive or educational crafts.

He said a total of 40 entrepreneurs including eight textile entrepreneurs from Peninsular Malaysia would participate in the craft promotion.

The rest of the entrepreneurs are from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak which are involved in other craft segments.

Earlier, Mohd Latif was quoted as saying that the Sabah branch of PKKM raked in craft sales of close to RM30 million through various craft promotion programmes in the state in 2012.

He said this was the result of the One District, One Industry (SDSI) programme with overall sales of RM26 million, annual craft promotion programme at Lintasan Deasoka in Kota Kinabalu (about RM600,000), craft promotion programme at 1Borneo (RM800,000) and the balance was from sales by small traders.

-- BERNAMA 

PKKM Sabah Anjur Promosi Kraf Aidilfitri

KOTA KINABALU, 21 Julai (Bernama) -- Perbadanan Kemajuan Kraftangan Malaysia (PKKM) cawangan Sabah akan mengadakan Promosi Kraf Aidilfitri 2013 di 1Borneo Hypermall, Likas dekat sini selama 11 hari bermula 25 Julai ini.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=964949
Published: July 21, 2013

Pengarahnya Mohd Latif Dirun berkata promosi itu bertujuan menggalakkan dan memperkenalkan produk kraf tempatan sempena sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri tidak lama lagi.

Selain itu, katanya, ia menjadi tempat pertemuan peniaga, pengusaha dan pemborong kraf dan bidang lain yang menjurus kepada persiapan menyambut Hari Raya.

"Kita mahu memperluaskan pasaran kraf berdasarkan kuasa membeli yang tinggi di kalangan pengunjung pusat membeli-belah," katanya kepada Bernama, di sini.

Mohd Latif berkata konsep promosi kraf itu adalah jualan terbuka yang melibatkan aktiviti pameran, jualan produk kraf, demonstrasi dan interaktif atau pendidikan kraf.

Beliau berkata seramai 40 usahawan, termasuk lapan pengusaha tekstil akan menyertai jualan kraf itu.

Katanya 32 pengusaha bidang kraf lain dari seluruh negara turut serta dalam ekspo jualan kraf itu.

Sebelum ini, Mohd Latif dipetik sebagai berkata bahawa PKKM cawangan Sabah meraih hasil jualan kraf hampir RM30 juta melalui pelbagai program promosi kraf di negeri ini sepanjang tahun lepas.

Pecahan hasil tersebut adalah RM26 juta daripada program Satu Daerah Satu Industri (SDSI), kira-kira RM600 ribu daripada program promosi kraf tahunan di Lintasan Deasoka, RM800 ribu daripada program promosi kraf di 1Borneo, Likas dan selebihnya hasil jualan usahawan kecil-kecilan, katanya.

-- BERNAMA 

Dubai offers gold in return for weight loss

Those interested can sign up from Friday for the initiative which lasts over the next 30 days and coincides with Ramadan, a month of fasting.

Source from (BBC News): http://www.widgetserver.com/syndication/l/?instId=df9de5d4-6017-44e8-8739-215457730860&token=5f332ef9bcd6af8197bd29be5d13a89dd70622160000013ffcb3e82d&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fbusiness-23373186%23sa-ns_mchannel%3Drss%26ns_source%3DPublicRSS20-sa
Published: July 21, 2013

Authorities in Dubai are offering gold in return for weight loss in an scheme to encourage healthier living.

For each kilogram lost, participants will receive a gram of gold, which is currently worth about $45 (£30).

Those taking part - dubbed "golden losers" - need to lose at least two kilos to receive the payout.

The three participants who lose the most weight will be entered into a draw to win a gold coin worth $5,400.

Called Your Weight in Gold the scheme was announced by Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality.

"Ramadan is the most appropriate season to launch such initiatives as it reminds us about many health benefits of reducing weight and encourages us to take strong steps to change our bad lifestyles," he said.

There has been alarm across Gulf States at the sharp rise in obesity blamed on increasing fast-food diets and a lack of exercise.

The Your Weight in Gold scheme is being sponsored by the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) .

Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of the DMCC said: "We would highly encourage everyone from all walks of life to take part in this great initiative and hope DMCC's contribution of AED 100,000 ($27,225) worth of gold coins will help motivate individuals."

At Friday's registration participants will be able to receive advice on how to lose weight without harming their health.

The final weigh-in will take place on 16 August.

Syarat Baharu Bank Negara Beri Impak Kepada Angkasa

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Julai (Bernama) -- Syarat baharu Bank Negara Malaysia mengehadkan tempoh maksimum pinjaman peribadi dan pembiayaan pembelian rumah untuk penjawat awam bakal memberi kesan kepada prestasi kewangan Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad (Angkasa).

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=964027
Published: July 18, 2013

Presidennya Datuk Abdul Fattah Abdullah berkata kebanyakan koperasi di bawah Angkasa menawarkan tempoh maksimum pinjaman peribadi selama 10 tahun namun ada beberapa koperasi yang menawarkan pinjaman sehingga 25 tahun.

"Kita akan melakukan kajian secara menyeluruh mengenai kesan pensyaratan baharu oleh Bank Negara terhadap kira-kira 600 badan koperasi yang menawarkan pinjaman kepada anggota-anggota," katanya kepada Bernama di sini, hari ini.

Terdahulu, beliau menyampaikan sumbangan 1,000 kotak kurma kepada Timbalan Ketua Pengarang (Perkhidmatan Berita Dalam Negeri) Pertubuhan Berita Nasional Malaysia (Bernama) Datuk Zakaria Wahab untuk diagihkan kepada semua petugas agensi berita itu di Wisma Bernama.

Turut hadir Timbalan Presiden Angkasa Mutadho Bahri dan Naib Presiden Angkasa Kamarudin Ismail.

Abdul Fattah berkata Angkasa akan mengadakan perbincangan dengan gabungan koperasi terbabit pada Jumaat ini bagi mengkaji kesan syarat baharu Bank Negara itu terhadap prestasi dan operasi syarikat serta kedudukan kewangan masing-masing.

Pada 5 Julai lepas, Gabenor Bank Negara Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz mengumumkan bank pusat itu menetapkan tempoh maksimum pinjaman peribadi selama 10 tahun manakala pembelian rumah 35 tahun untuk para penjawat awam.

Langkah itu bertujuan mengekang hutang isi rumah ketika ini yang berada pada paras 83 peratus daripada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK).

Sementara itu, Abdul Fattah menyarankan penubuhan koperasi keluarga dan kariah masjid dalam usaha mencapai sasaran 16,000 koperasi di seluruh negara menjelang 2020.

Sehingga kini, katanya terdapat 10,500 koperasi di bawah naungan Angkasa dengan keanggotaan lapan juta orang selain aset kira-kira RM100 bilion.

-- BERNAMA 

Langkah Kawalan Pinjaman Peribadi BNM Tidak Jejas Koperasi Kredit Negara - SKM

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Julai (Bernama) -- Langkah kawalan pinjaman peribadi yang ditetapkan oleh Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) baru-baru ini tidak memberi kesan yang ketara kepada koperasi-koperasi kredit negara, kata Pengerusi Eksekutif Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=963776
Published: July 17, 2013

Source from (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/LangkahBNMtidakberikesanbesar/Article/index_html
Published: July 18, 2013
Beliau berkata dasar itu berkemungkinan hanya bersifat sementara dan ia merupakan langkah terbaik dalam mengelak isu hutang isi rumah yang semakin meningkat.

"Kita masih dalam proses pelarasan, dan kini masih belum nampak koperasi-koperasi kredit mengalami masalah serius.

"Malaysia merupakan antara negara yang mempunyai kadar pinjaman yang tinggi, dan langkah BNM itu perlu dianggap antara kawalan positif dalam memberi kesan kepada kestabilan kewangan negara," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita ketika ditemui pada majlis pelancaran logo baharu SKM oleh Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan Datuk Hasan Malek, di sini.

Pada 5 Julai lepas, Bank Negara menetapkan tempoh maksimum pinjaman peribadi dihadkan kepada 10 tahun berbanding 25 tahun sebelum ini.

Bank pusat itu turut mengehadkan tempoh pinjaman pembiayaan pembelian rumah kepada maksimum 34 tahun berbanding 45 tahun sebelumnya.

-- BERNAMA 

New Consumer Loan Guidelines Will Not Impact Credit Cooperatives -- SKM

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- The new guidelines on consumer lending policies by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) recently will not have a significant impact on credit cooperatives in the country, says Cooperative Commission of Malaysia (SKM) Executive Chairman Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=963806
Published: July 17, 2013

He said the policy might be a temporary measure and it represented a good move to rein in the rising household debt.

"We are still in the process of adjustment and have still not seen a serious effect among the credit cooperatives.

"Malaysia is one of the countries that has high loan rate, BNM's move must be considered as a positive control in providing an impact to the financial stability in the country," he said.

He said this to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the new logo for SKM, officiated by Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Datuk Hasan Malek, here today.

On July 5, Bank Negara decided to limit the maximum tenure of personal loans to 10 years, compared with 25 years previously.

The central bank has also reduced the tenure of financing for properties to 35 years from 45 years before.

-- BERNAMA 

Wakil TEKUN di Pulau Perhentian

Kuala Besut: Wakil Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan Niaga (TEKUN Nasional) akan ditempatkan di Pulau Perhentian bagi kemudahan penduduk pulau peranginan itu mendapatkan bantuan dan maklumat mengenai pinjaman perniagaan.

Source from (Berita Harian): http://www.bharian.com.my/bharian/articles/WakilTEKUNdiPulauPerhentian/Article
Published: July 17, 2013

Pengarah Urusan dan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif TEKUN Nasional, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hassan, berkata wakil TEKUN Nasional akan dilantik daripada kalangan penduduk pulau itu sendiri.

“Jadi mereka tak perlu susah nak ke Besut untuk cari wakil kita.

“Kami nak bantu rakyat...kami nak tengok lebih ramai orang Melayu terbabit dalam perniagaan dan maju,” katanya selepas merasmikan Program TEKUN dan Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani Bersama Rakyat di sini, semalam.

Beliau berkata, Terengganu muncul negeri ketiga di Malaysia selepas Selangor dan Johor mempunyai bilangan usahawan paling ramai mendapat kemudahan pinjaman TEKUN Nasional sepanjang 15 tahun lalu.

Sejak 1998 hingga 30 Jun lalu, seramai 27,470 usahawan di Terengganu dibantu membabitkan modal bernilai RM311 juta.

Cooperative Movements Urged To Explore International Market

KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) - Cooperative movements in the country have been urged to explore new businesses in the international market to strengthen the sector.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=963824
Published: July 17, 2013

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek said the cooperatives sector which contributed to the national economy was also capable of generating more revenue if it ventured into fields such as properties, trading and construction.

"The current operation of cooperatives is mainly within the country and I hope those successful in properties and housing will venture overseas as there are greater opportunities abroad," he said at the launch of the Malaysian Cooperatives Commission's (SKM) new logo here today.

Also present were Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister, Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and SKM executive chairman Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus.

Commenting on the spiralling price of chicken, Hasan said enforcement had been carried out including issuing compounds to traders in several states found raising the price of chicken, under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

He however said further information on the short and long term solutions on the issue would be announced at a media conference this Friday.

The price of chicken rose above the ceiling level since last week causing consumers to fret over the coming festive season.

-- BERNAMA

Gerakan Koperasi Disaran Terokai Pasaran Antarabangsa - Hasan

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Julai (Bernama) - Gerakan koperasi di negara ini disaran menerokai bidang baharu di pasaran antarabangsa bagi memantapkan sektor berkenaan, kata Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan Datuk Hasan Malek.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=963811
Published: July 17, 2013

Katanya sektor koperasi yang turut menyumbang kepada ekonomi negara mampu menjana perolehan lebih besar sekiranya bidang baharu seperti harta tanah, perdagangan dan pembinaan turut diceburi.

"Koperasi sedia ada banyak terlibat di peringkat dalam negara dan saya harap mereka yang sudah berjaya dalam bidang tertentu seperti harta tanah dan perumahan dapat meluaskannya ke luar negara kerana peluang di peringkat antarabangsa lebih besar," katanya pada majlis pelancaran logo baharu Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) dan Iftar Ramadan di sini hari ini.

Mengulas mengenai kenaikan harga ayam yang mendadak, Hasan berkata tindakan penguatkuasaan telah pun diambil termasuk mengenakan kompaun ke atas peniaga yang didapati menaikkan harga ayam secara berlebihan mengikut Akta Kawalan Harga dan Anti Pencatutan 2011.

Beliau bagaimanapun berkata maklumat lanjut berkenaan isu itu sama ada untuk diselesaikan dalam jangka pendek atau panjang akan diumumkan pada satu sidang media, pada Jumaat.

-- BERNAMA 

Dubai gold sales under pressure, futures trading booms

DUBAI, July 16 (Xinhua) -- While the precious metals derivative market DGCX reported lately that traded contracts doubled in the first half of 2013, jewelry shopkeepers feel the squeeze that physical gold loses its shine amid the price slump and due to new U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Source from (Xinhuanet): http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-07/16/c_132546815.htm
Published: July 17, 2013


"Investors continue to exit the gold market in favor of other asset classes, most likely to be investing in equities," Gerhard Schubert, the head of precious metals at bank Emirates NBD in Dubai, said on Tuesday.

The price of gold hit a 3-year low at around 1,180 U.S. dollars per ounce in June, before recovering slightly. The fall of gold has motivated retail investors to shift capital from precious metals to stocks.

On July 1, new U.S. sanctions on gold trade with Iran went into effect. "Many gold traders are confused and refrain from selling to the thousands of Iranian tourists," said Mohammed Ala, a Jordanian shop-owner in the gold souq in the old town of Deira.

Despite the sharp decrease in the yellow metal's value, institutional and private investors continued to buy and sell futures contracts at the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) which reported that for the last six months that 7.72 million contracts changed hands, an increase of 101 percent year on year.

Besides futures and options on gold, derivatives contracts on silver and currencies such as the Indian rupee are also traded at the DGCX, the only derivatives market by international standards in the Middle East.

GBM nears completion of gold mine buy

KUALA LUMPUR: Australia-listed GBM Resources Ltd is closer to bedding down the acquisition of a gold mine in Malaysia, following the completion of a technical and legal due diligence.

Source from (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/gbmandi/Article/
Published: July 17, 2013

In a disclosure to the Australian Securities Exchange, the company said it has executed a formal acquisition and joint-venture agreement with Angka Alamjaya Sdn Bhd (AASB) to recommission the Lubuk Mandi gold mine in Terengganu.

GBM announced on June 11 that it had entered into a binding term sheet to undertake a share swap with AASB.

Under the terms of the agreement, GBM and AASB will undertake a share swap, in which the former will acquire about 40 per cent of AASB by issuing 15 per cent of ordinary shares in GBM, subject to shareholder approval at the company's shareholders' meeting on Monday.


Apart from GBM shareholders' approval, the remaining conditions on the agreement include procuring project funding of up to S$6 million (RM15.17 million) for AASB.

It was also noted that the GBM board has approved the transaction to prepare for an ongoing plan to develop the Lubuk Mandi gold mine and recommence mining operations.

The exploration target for the project is estimated to contain between 174,000 and 443,000 ounces of gold, with the development plan to focus on the retreatment of the tailings dam, followed by the recommencement of hard rock mining.

Both parties have also agreed that following the completion of the share swap, further exploration and development of the tailings dam on the Lubuk Mandi gold mine, satisfaction of any regulatory requirements and market conditions, the parties intend to complete an initial public offering of AASB shares on the Singapore Stock Exchange.

GBM managing director Peter Thompson was quoted as saying in a previous statement that the company's strategy is well supported by its major Singaporean shareholders and is in line with its business objective of delivering shareholder value via project generation.

The Lubuk Mandi gold mine, which, in the 1990s, was owned and operated by Terengganu State Economic Development, produced 108,000 ounces of gold from two shallow pits.

KATM eyes co-op bank licence by mid-2014

PETALING JAYA (July 16, 2013): Koperasi Angkatan Tentera Malaysia Bhd (KATM), which plans to become a cooperative bank by January 2015, is planning to secure the necessary licence from the regulators by the middle of next year, its CEO Gen (R) Datuk Ahmad Zahudi Salleh said.

Source from (The Sun Daily): http://www.thesundaily.my/news/770957
Published: July 16, 2013



The country's armed forces multipurpose cooperative will submit its application for the cooperative banking licence to Bank Negara Malaysia before the end of this year.

"We are halfway there. We are targeting to secure the licence at least by the middle of next year and then have six months of preparations before we start operations as a full-fledged cooperative bank," Ahmad Zahudi told SunBiz in an interview.

"The proposal is almost ready and we will apply soon if not before the end of this year."

KATM expects to spend up to RM100 million in the next three years to set up the cooperative bank, which would more than double its workforce to about 600.

KATM's total fees and share capital stood at RM915.8 million as at Dec 31, 2012, surpassing the minimum capital requirement of RM300 million to be a cooperative bank.

"We have surpassed that minimum capital requirement a long time back. Our shareholders' fund was RM1.2 billion as at December 2012," said Ahmad Zahudi.

KATM has been planning to upgrade itself into a cooperative bank since last year and has since implemented a transformation plan towards the 2015 target.

"The plan involves five modules and will take between 20 months and 30 months to be completed. We expect the plan to be completed in July next year.

"From this transformation project, we are aiming to increase our total assets to RM13 billion by 2020. Out of this amount, up to RM8 billion or two-thirds will be generated from non-members business activities," said Ahmad Zahudi.

KATM membership is open to all members of the Malaysian Armed Forces and all civil servants in the Ministry of Defence.

Total membership as at December 2012 was about 147,440.

"Our target to become a cooperative bank, while maintaining KATM's exclusivity to our members, by 2015 is also a strategy to bring KATM to a higher level and for the long term benefits of our members," said Ahmad Zahudi.

Last year, the military cooperative's total assets stood at RM2.38 billion, and recorded an operating profit of RM282.88 million.

KATM has consistently paid dividend of 12% since 1996. In 2011, the army cooperative paid a record dividend of 14% and replicated that feat last year as well for a total payment in excess of RM119 million.

In 2012, KATM recorded a record pre-tax profit of RM249.09 million, up 18.6% from 2011. Its major revenue contributors are from financing, insurance and investment.

Gold Price In India To Surge To RS28,000 (US$467) Per 10 Grammes

NEW DELHI, July 15 (Bernama) -- Gold price in India is expected to surge to Rs28,000 (US$467) per 10 grammes again towards the year-end as the demand is to increase due to the wedding season, a study revealed.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=963241
Published: July 16, 2013

"The price will hover between Rs26,500 (US$442) and RM27,500 (US$459) before crossing Rs28,000 per 10 grammes around November and December," a study by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) on gold trends showed.

"We tend to disagree with the general discourse among analysts who say that the gold has lost its flavour in favour of equities largely on the back of improvements in the US economy," said the study.

It said even if the assumption that the US economy was improving was correct, then the next consequence would be the increase in inflation in the American economy.

"At that point of time, gold will again be seen as a safe haven against inflation," said the study.

The study was based on inputs from several domestic and international analysts and those in the bullion trade and fund managers.

It said the continuing pressure on the rupee would also influence gold prices in the domestic market as the landed price would increase with currency depreciation.

The rupee has gone down to a record low of Rs61.20 per US dollar in recent days.

As for the domestic demand for the next few months, it said that would be largely driven by end-users.

Some of the pure-play investors have burnt their fingers after betting excessively on the yellow metal and investing with the bullish outlook even when gold was selling in excess of Rs33,000 per 10 grammes, the study said.

In the world market, gold price has tumbled to US$1,200 per troy ounce from US$1,800.

"Though the gold exchange-traded funds are a small fraction of the overall bullion trade, investors have lost significantly and are not expected to return for some time," the study said.

Investors would return once the price cross the Rs28,000 mark as most of them follow the trend and are not contrarian in nature, the study added.

-- BERNAMA

Harga Emas Di India Melonjak Kepada RS28,000 (AS$467) Setiap 10 Gram

NEW DELHI, 15 Julai (Bernama) -- Harga emas di India dijangka melonjak sekali lagi kepada Rs28,000 (AS$467) setiap 10 gram menjelang akhir tahun dengan permintaan akan meningkat ekoran musim perkahwinan, demikian menurut satu kajian.

Source from (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/global/harga-emas-di-india-melonjak-tinggi-1.182811
Published: July 16, 2013

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=963280
Published: July 16, 2013

"Harga akan bergerak antara Rs26,500 (AS$442) dan RM27,500 (AS$459) sebelum mencecah Rs28,000 setiap 10 gram sekitar November dan Disember," kata kajian yang dibuat oleh Persatuan Dewan Perdagangan dan Perindustrian India (Assocham) mengenai trend emas.

"Kami enggan bersetuju dengan pendapat sesetengah penganalisis yang menyatakan emas sudah hilang tarikannya berbanding ekuiti ekoran penambahbaikan di dalam ekonomi AS," kata kajian itu.

Malah, katanya, sekiranya andaian yang ekonomi AS telah semakin pulih betul, maka, akibat yang seterusnya ialah inflasi akan meningkat dalam ekonomi Amerika.

"Dan pada masa itu, emas akan sekali lagi dilihat tempat yang selamat jika dibandingkan dengan inflasi," kata kajian itu.

Kajian itu dibuat berdasarkan kepada maklumat daripada beberapa penganalisis domestik dan antarabangsa serta para pengurus dana dan urus niaga emas.

-- BERNAMA

Singapore Jewellery And Gem Fair 2013 To Rake In S$100 Million Sales

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 (Bernama) -- The maiden four-day Singapore Jewellery and Gem Fair 2013, which will begin on October 12, is expected to rake in sales of S$100 million (RM251 million).

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bu/newsbusiness.php?id=963403
Published: July 16, 2013

The exhibition, to be held at the Singapore Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, would be an excellent platform for international jewellery traders, manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and crafters to explore the Asean jewellery market, said fair organiser, UBM Asia Trade Fairs Pte Ltd.

UBM Asia Managing Director Paul Wan said the event would also benefit jewellery buyers in securing the best deals.

He said over 200 leading jewellery companies from 25 countries across the globe including Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel and Japan would participate in the fair to showcase their finest jewellery.

"They will exhibit diamonds, pearls, precious and semi-precious gemstones, fine gold and silver jewellery at the fair which would be sprawled over 8,300 sq metre of exhibition space.

"As such, we expect 8,000 trade visitors to patronise the exhibition over the four days," he said at a press conference here today.

Project Manager Ong Wei Hong said the exhibition would be held annually and was targeted at high-end, second and third tier customers.

"If the event is very successful, I believe it will, we will increase the exhibition space to 13,000 sq ft next year," said Hong.

-- BERNAMA 

Gold price rebound no change in bearish trend: expert

DUBAI, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The increase of gold prices by 4.98 percent last week was mostly triggered by investors who covered their short positions, said Gerhard Schubert, head of commodities at bank Emirates NBD, on Saturday.

Source from (Xinhuanet): http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-07/14/c_132538897.htm
Published: July 15, 2013


The gold prices rise by 61 U.S. dollars to 1,285 dollars was no signal for a reversal at all, said Schubert, "as the price action seen can easily be described as a short covering rally in a bear market environment." Regarding interest in physical gold buying, Schubert said in his weekly commentary on precious metals that it had still been strong, especially in the early days of last week, "with interest waning in the wake of the rising prices."

However, the outflow from exchange traded funds (ETF) with gold as an underlying continued at stop-watch speed. According to British firm ETF Securities, investors pulled some 18.5 billion dollars out of gold ETFs in the second quarter alone.

Chinese imports are still going strong but the turnover of the Shanghai Gold and Futures Exchange plummeted at the end of last week, said Emirates NBD's Schubert.

The expert added that the gold market had to rely on a still accommodating interest rate scenario for the medium to longer term (1 to 2 years), "in order to generate enough fresh interest to sustain current prices and look potentially towards higher prices. " Schubert's opinion is based on United States federal reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's recent comments that the economic basis for a reduction in Quantitative Easing (QE) have not been met yet and that a reduction in QE would not automatically mean higher interest rates. Earlier in the week, the International Monetary Fund reduced its growth outlook for the global economy to 3.1 percent from 3.3 percent.

The trend that investors act more and more risk oriented and prefer stock markets over commodities undermined the weak outlook for gold, said Schubert, who added that gold producers in South Africa cut in their own flesh. "The major centralized wage negotiations for the gold mining industry in South Africa are under way with the highest ever demands on record, in an industry plagued by rapidly falling prices." 

PP1M tingkat ekonomi penjaja

Penjaja atau peniaga makanan boleh dikatakan sudah sinonim dengan budaya masyarakat negara ini yang majmuk dalam memenuhi cita rasa menjamu selera.

Source from (Harian Metro): http://www.hmetro.com.my/myMetro/articles/PP1Mtingkatekonomipenjaja/Article/index_html
Published: July 15, 2013

Peranan penjaja atau premis makanan bukan lagi sekadar untuk menikmati hidangan sebaliknya meliputi fungsi sosial seperti lokasi santai keluarga, perbincangan perniagaan, perkongsian minat sukan dan sebagainya.

Menyedari hakikat itu, Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri Koperasi Dan Kepenggunaan (KPDNKK) melalui Program Strategi Lautan Biru Kebangsaan (NBOS) mengambil inisiatif melaksanakan Program Penjaja 1Malaysia (PP1M).

Inisiatif ini dilaksanakan dengan kerjasama pelbagai agensi kerajaan dan swasta iaitu pihak berkuasa tempatan (PBT), Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri, Kementerian Kesihatan, Jabatan Pertahanan Awam Malaysia (JPAM), Pasukan Sukarelawan Malaysia (RELA), Jabatan Belia dan Sukan dan Kementerian Dalam Negeri.

Turut terbabit Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan, penuntut institut pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) dan swasta (IPTS), sukarelawan IM4U, persatuan penduduk serta persatuan penjaja dan peniaga kecil.

Sektor swasta yang turut terbabit pula adalah Shell, Petronas, Giant Hipermarket, Alam Flora, Nestle Product Malaysia, NSK Trade City dan AEON yang sentiasa menyokong pelaksanaan aktiviti PP1M dari segi penajaan dan sukarelawan dalam setiap aktiviti dianjurkan PP1M.

Pembabitan sektor swasta ini sedikit sebanyak dapat menjimatkan kos pembiayaan bagi pelaksanaan program PP1M.

Bagi memastikan PP1M benar-benar mencapai objektif yang disasarkan iaitu untuk meningkatkan ekonomi golongan peniaga dan penjaja kecil, pelaksanaan PP1M adalah dengan mengambil kira keperluan dan kesesuaian pihak penjaja itu sendiri.

Sehubungan itu KPDNKK mengambil kira pandangan persatuan peniaga dan penjaja kecil dalam merangka aktiviti dan program yang bersesuaian.

Fokus utama adalah untuk memastikan pendapatan penjaja dan peniaga kecil dapat ditingkatkan melalui premis perniagaan yang bersih manakala produk makanan dan minuman yang dijual adalah berkhasiat.

Untuk itu, premis perniagaan penjaja seperti medan selera atau gerai perlu ditransformasikan menjadi sebuah pusat perniagaan yang serba lengkap dan selesa bukan saja kepada pelanggan, malah kepada peniaga itu sendiri.

Di bawah NBOS, kerja mentransformasi infrastruktur premis penjaja ini dilaksanakan secara gotong-royong.

Pendekatan ini bukan saja dapat menjimatkan kos pelaksanaan, malah dapat menggabungkan idea dan buah fikiran pihak yang berkepentingan khususnya penjaja sendiri.

Gabungan tenaga dan idea itu dapat membuahkan satu jalan penyelesaian bersepadu ke arah mentransformasi premis penjaja dengan menganjurkan aktiviti gotong-royong membaik pulih dan menaik taraf premis penjaja.

Melalui gotong-royong yang sudah dilaksanakan di 13 lokasi PP1M setakat ini, kerja membaik pulih dan menaik taraf premis dilaksanakan meliputi aktiviti pembersihan, mengecat premis perniagaan dan membaik pulih kemudahan di medan selera.

Aktiviti lain ialah kerja pendawaian elektrik, menggantikan kemudahan rosak, menyeragamkan papan tanda gerai dan membersihkan kawasan persekitaran termasuk longkang dan sistem perparitan.

Dari aspek kebersihan dan kesihatan, Kementerian Kesihatan memberi bimbingan kepada penjaja berhubung panduan penyediaan sajian makanan bersih dan berkhasiat di samping kebersihan persekitaran gerai.

Ia dapat menghindari persekitaran gerai busuk, pembiakan tikus dan lalat serta perparitan yang dipenuhi sampah. Cara demikian bukan saja dapat memberi imej lebih positif kepada golongan penjaja dan pengusaha premis makanan, malah meningkatkan taraf pendapatan mereka apabila premis penjaja kelihatan lebih meyakinkan untuk menarik pelanggan.

Daripada perspektif Persatuan Penjaja Bumiputera Wilayah Persekutuan, pelaksanaan program gotong-royong PP1M di Pusat Penjaja Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz (TPCA), Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur tahun lalu berjaya mengubah imej pusat penjaja itu kepada sebuah lokasi menjamu selera yang lebih berdaya maju dan meyakinkan.

Selepas lokasi itu menjadi lokasi sulung program gotong-royong PP1M, transformasi infrastruktur dan kemudahan di situ berjaya meningkatkan jumlah pengunjung setiap hari.

Ia bukan sekadar pengunjung dalam kalangan penduduk berhampiran, malah turut menarik minat pelancong asing kerana kedudukan medan selera itu di tengah ibu kota.

Program PP1M wajar diperluaskan lagi supaya bilangan penjaja dan peniaga yang mendapat manfaat daripadanya dapat dimaksimumkan. Dengan keahlian persatuan itu kira-kira 62,000 di sekitar Kuala Lumpur, usaha kerajaan melalui NBOS amat diharapkan untuk menaik taraf ekonomi golongan penjaja.

Lebih-lebih lagi, dengan pembabitan PBT dan KPDNKK selaku pihak yang berkait rapat dengan golongan penjaja dan peniaga kecil.

Sehingga Jun tahun ini, program PP1M dilaksanakan di 13 lokasi medan selera dan pusat penjaja di seluruh negara iaitu:

Pusat Penjaja Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz (TPCA), Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

Pusat Penjaja Padang Sarkas, Taiping, Perak.

Medan Selera Batu Buruk, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu.

Medan Selera Gerai Majlis Perbandaran Temerloh, Lurah Semantan, Temerloh, Pahang.

Medan Selera Anjung Perdana, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Medan Selera Triang, Bera, Pahang.

Medan Selera Brasmana, Kuala Perlis, Perlis.

Bazaar Jalan Lee Sam, Negeri Sembilan.

Anjung Selera, Teluk Likas, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Gerai EMBA, Pantai Bersih, Bagan Ajam, Pulau Pinang.

Medan selera Sungai Kuah,Pandak Mayah, Langkawi.

Pasar Majlis Daerah Simunjan, Sarawak.

Medan Selera Batu Gajah, Batu Gajah, Perak.

Pelaksanaan PP1M ini dijangka mampu menepati matlamat yang ditetapkan hasil kerjasama erat dan perancangan strategik semua pihak yang terbabit demi masa depan penjaja yang lebih terjamin.

Selain dapat mengeratkan kerjasama di kalangan agensi kerajaan melalui NBOS, ia juga mampu mendekatkan lagi komuniti penjaja dan peniaga dengan pihak KPDNKK selaku kementerian yang baru diberi tanggungjawab menguruskan hal-ehwal golongan peniaga itu.

Program PP1M akan terus diperkembangkan di masa depan dengan pembabitan lebih banyak pihak termasuk sektor swasta dan agensi kerajaan.

Di masa akan datang, ia bukan saja menyasarkan kepada perubahan prasarana penjaja untuk meningkatkan pendapatan mereka sebaliknya turut memfokuskan kepada transformasi minda golongan penjaja dan peniaga kecil supaya lebih berwawasan dan berpandangan jauh untuk memajukan kerjaya perniagaan mereka.