Lebih 60 ribu penjaja berdaftar nikmati insurans P1MPIN

KOTA BHARU - Sebanyak 60,024 penjaja dan peniaga kecil di negeri ini telah mendaftar dengan Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM) yang membolehkan mereka menerima perlindungan Pelan Insurans 1Malaysia Penjaja dan Peniaga Kecil Nasional (P1MPIN).

Source from (Bernama): http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2014&dt=0213&pub=Kosmo&sec=Terkini&pg=bt_25.htm
Published: August 02, 2013

Pengarah Pejabat Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan (PPDNKK) Kelantan Sharuddin Jali berkata, skim perlindungan insurans yang diperkenalkan kerajaan sejak Januari 2012 itu memberi perlindungan 24 jam sehari tanpa mengira dimana mereka berada.

Penjaja dan peniaga kecil akan menerima faedah daripada skim ini seperti bayaran kos perubatan jika terbabit dalam kemalangan, katanya kepada pemberita selepas Majlis Penyerahan Cek P1MPIN di sini, hari ini.

Beliau berkata, bagi penjaja dan peniaga kecil yang meninggal dunia, wang pampasan akan diserahkan kepada waris.

Sehubungan itu, beliau meminta penjaja dan peniaga kecil yang belum mendaftar dengan SSM supaya segera berbuat demikian. - Bernama

Koperasi Sekolah Digalak Pelbagaikan Aktiviti Komersial

KUALA LUMPUR, 1 Ogos (Bernama) -- Suruhanjaya Koperasi Malaysia (SKM) menggalakkan lebih banyak koperasi sekolah mempelbagaikan aktiviti komersial khususnya penghasilan produk baharu yang dapat meningkatkan pendapatan koperasi tersebut.

Source from (Bernama): http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v7/bm/ge/newsgeneral.php?id=967695
Published: August 02, 2013

Pengerusi Eksekutif SKM Datuk Nik Ali Mat Yunus berkata koperasi sekolah seharusnya sentiasa mengamalkan sifat berdaya saing dan daya tahan dalam menghasilkan pelbagai produk termasuk produk teknologi maklumat.

"Sekolah adalah tempat terbaik untuk pelajar menceburi dan mempelajari bidang perniagaan dan keusahawanan. Jadi anggota koperasi diharapkan dapat memulakan budaya keusahawanan ini dengan membuka kedai-kedai runcit bagi memupuk minat para pelajar," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.

Beliau sebelum itu melancarkan Projek Perisian Animasi Eksplorasi Cabaran Sejarah (ECS) Kolej Vokasional, Gombak yang merupakan projek pertama seumpamanya dihasilkan dan dipasarkan menerusi koperasi sekolah itu.

ECS adalah sebuah perisian pendidikan bercorak permainan animasi 3D bagi mata pelajaran Sejarah mencakupi sukatan tingkatan empat dan tingkatan lima untuk peperiksaan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia yang dicipta sepasukan guru dan pelajar sekolah itu.

Perisian itu juga mendapat pengiktirafan luar negara apabila dianugerahi pingat emas dalam Program Penyelidikan Antarabangsa di Amerika Syarikat pada tahun lepas dan ia dipatenkan untuk dipasarkan ke sekolah lain sebagai bahan tambahan pembelajaran mulai hari ini.

Nik Ali berkata penciptaan perisian ECS itu merupakan ciptaan paling cemerlang pernah dihasil dan dipasarkan menerusi koperasi sekolah dan ia harus dicontohi koperasi sekolah lain.

"SKM bersedia menawarkan pelbagai pinjaman kewangan kepada mana-mana koperasi sekolah yang ingin melebarkan perniagaan mereka. Contohnya untuk ECS, kita telah beri pinjaman mudah di bawah Tabung Modal Pusingan sebanyak RM50,000 tanpa cagaran di samping memberi geran pengukuhan sebanyak RM20,000.

"Malah jika pasaran produk ini menampakkan peningkatan, kita akan tawarkan pinjaman yang lebih kompetitif untuk mengembangkan lagi produk tersebut," katanya.

Tambah Nik Ali, perubahan era pembelajaran kini yang banyak menggunakan teknologi maklumat dan komunikasi (ICT) dilihat peluang terbaik untuk koperasi sekolah menerokai dan mencari ruang menambah pendapatan.

Pada majlis sama, Kolej Vokasional Gombak menandatangani perjanjian persefahaman di antara Asdion Hospitality Solution Sdn Bhd dan Smart Ebook Technology Sdn Bhd sebagai jalinan kerjasama untuk memasarkan produk tersebut.

-- BERNAMA

Pilihan bijak: Dinar, jongkong atau barang kemas?

INI antara persoalan yang bermain di minda seseorang yang baru hendak bermula menyimpan emas. “Nak simpan dinar ,gold bar atau barang kemas ye? “

Source from (Sinar Online): http://www.sinarharian.com.my/bisnes/pilihan-bijak-dinar-jongkong-atau-barang-kemas-1.188779
Published: August 01, 2013



“Mana yang paling bagus?”

Ramai yang bertanyakan soalan ini apabila ingin memulakan simpanan emas.

Nasihat saya ialah –pelbagaikan bentuk simpanan emas fizikal anda kerana setiap jenis mempunyai kelebihannya sendiri.

Dalam artikel kali ini,anda boleh baca info tentang jenis emas fizikal ini,kelebihan serta kelemahannya :

Tentang Dinar :

Kelebihan :

#Boleh digunakan untuk muamalat dan ibadah aqiqah

#Digunakan untuk membayar zakat

#Dijadikan hantaran dan mas kawin

#Cenderamata/hadiah untuk orang yang tersayang

#Simpan untuk pergi haji

#Tabungan/simpanan/pelaburan

Lain-lain :

•    Dinar dengan syiling emas rupa sama tetapi berbeza dari segi fungsi sebenar.Berat standard dinar ialah 4.25g tetapi syiling emas ada pelbagai jenis berat.Dari segi harga,syiling emas agak mahal jika dibandingkan dengan dinar dan gold bar kerana kos pembuatan lebih tinggi.

•    Ada tempat pajakan @ ar rahnu yang tidak menerima dinar,jadi simpanlah untuk tujuan yang telah disebutkan di atas.

Tentang Gold Bar :

Kelebihan

#Harganya lebih murah berbanding barang kemas kecuali jongkong 1 gram kerana kos pembuatannya tinggi

#Memberi pilihan kepada mereka yang ingin membuat simpanan semata-mata.

#Pilihan untuk mereka yang sudah banyak barang kemas,dan ingin simpan dalam bentuk jongkong pula.

#Bentuk fizikalnya lebih menyerlah berbanding emas untuk simpanan/pelaburan yang lain dan menjadi kebanggaan kepada pemiliknya

#Sesuai untuk simpanan jangka masa panjang seperti untuk pendidikan anak-anak,perkahwinan,simpanan hari tua ,membeli rumah dan lain-lain.

Lain-lain :

•    Harga gold bar di kedai emas biasanya sama untuk semua,sebagai contoh katakan harga pasaran ialah RM200g
maka harga 10g =RM2000 dan 100g=RM20000

Syarikat emas fizikal pula biasanya menawarkan harga yang lebih murah untuk emas yang lebih berat

Contoh : RM1800 untuk 10g dan RM16500 untuk 100g

•    Namun begitu,untuk jongkong 1gram,tiada mana-mana institusi yang menawarkan harga murah kerana kos pembuatannya tinggi.
Bayangkan sekeping jongkong 1kg (1000g) ,hendak dipotong kecil menjadi 1g,perlu dipotong dan ditempa sebanyak 1000 kali!!

Disebabkan inilah harga jongkong kecil 1gram lebih mahal.Namun harga gold bar jongkong kecil @ gold bar 1gram keluaran syarikat emas fizikal biasanya murah RM20-RM50 berbanding kedai emas.

•    Tidak banyak tempat pajakan@ ar rahnu yang terima gold bar untuk pajakan,jadi simpanlah untuk tujuan yang disebutkan di atas.

Tentang Barang Kemas

Kelebihan

# Dijadikan barang perhiasan wanita

#Mudah menarik kaum hawa untuk memilikinya kerana rekaan yang cantik dan kilauan yang memukau.

# Fungsi 4 dalam 1 – Perhiasan,simpanan,pelaburan dan perniagaan

#Mudah untuk dapatkan tunai kerana diterima di semua pajakan@ ar rahnu.
 
Lain-lain :

•    Barang kemas kini tidak terhad untuk dipakai oleh kaum wanita sahaja,tetapi kaum lelaki juga suka membelinya untuk tujuan simpanan,pelaburan dan bisnes.

•    Dari segi harga,kedai emas biasanya mengenakan upah tukang dan harganya lebih mahal sehingga 20% dari harga emas mentah,manakala syarikat pengeluar emas fizikal menjual barang kemas dengan harga yang sangat murah dan tiada upah tukang.

•    Sesuai untuk mereka yang sudah memiliki banyak dinar dan gold bar dan hendak mempelbagaikan bentuk simpanan emas fizikal sebagai salah satu alternatif apabila hendak memajak nanti.

•    Sebaiknya jika untuk simpanan,pilih yang jenis padu dan emas 999 atau emas 916

•    Elakkan yang mempunyai banyak batu permata

•    Elakkan membeli emas putih kerana susut nilainya mencecah sehingga 70%

•    Ramai menyangkakan emas yang disadur seakan-akan emas putih sebagai emas putih,sebenarnya ia adalah Chrome ( lama-lama warnanya akan pudar dan kembali ke warna emas )

Kesimpulannya,setiap jenis dan bentuk emas fizikal yang dihasilkan ada peranannya tersendiri dan sebaiknya  pelbagaikan  bentuk simpanan.Sebagai contoh,saya sendiri membeli dinar dan gold bar selepas berpuas hati dengan pelbagai koleksi barang kemas untuk dipakai.Sebelum itu saya mempunyai lebih banyak dinar dan gold bar dari barang kemas,tetapi saya seimbangkan semula.Kini saya simpan dinar dan gold bar untuk matlamat jangka masa panjang yang ingin dicapai.

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