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KFH to cut bad loans, improve asset quality
02 April 2010, By Business Times
THE Malaysian unit of Kuwait Finance House (KFH), the Gulf state's top Islamic lender, will cut its bad loans to the industry average within five years as it finances stronger names, its chief said yesterday.
The Malaysian bank, which is running an audit on some of its previous contracts, had a non-performing financing (NPF) level of 6.73 per cent in September, said newly appointed chief executive officer Jamelah Jamaluddin.
This is more than three times the industry average of 2.1 percent, according to Bank Negara Malaysia data.
"We have a five-year plan ... to bring us in line with the industry," Jamelah told reporters yesterday.
Percepat projek MRT Johor Bahru-Singapura
31 March 2010, By Utusan
Ahli-ahli Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) mendesak kerajaan supaya tidak terlalu banyak 'berpolitik' sehingga menjejaskan rancangan mewujudkan perkhidmatan transit aliran massa (MRT) yang menghubungkan Singapura dengan Johor Bahru.
Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) yang bangun mencelah ketika Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan, Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri menggulung perbahasan usul menjunjung kasih titah ucapan Yang di-Pertuan Agong di Dewan Rakyat hari ini menegaskan, beliau mahu projek berkenaan dipercepatkan.
''Saya mendapati Timbalan Menteri begitu pantas menjawab bahawa projek ini masih lagi dalam peringkat kajian.
Change In Dates Of Sultan Johor's Birthday, Hari Hol
19 March 2010, By BERNAMA
Johor on Thursday announced a change in the dates for the observance of the sultan's birthday and Hari Hol.
A statement from the office of the State Secretary said the birthday of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, will be observed on Nov 22 and not on April 8.
It also said that Hari Hol would be observed on Jan 11, 2011 instead of June 19 this year.
Sultan Ibrahim was proclaimed the fifth Sultan of Johor on Jan 23 this year, a day after the demise of his father.
The statement said the sultan had consented to the change of dates.
JB takes action
22 February 2010, By The Star
NEW Johor Baru mayor Mohd Jaafar Awang is task-orientated and has set his priorities to rid the city of its unsavoury image. NELSON BENJAMIN and AUSTIN CAMOENS talk to him on his plans to bring back the city’s shine.
Q: What have you done to spruce up Johor Baru since taking office at the end of last year?
Malaysia and Singapore to promote natural sites
22 January 2010, By The Star
Malaysia and Singapore will jointly promote the Ramsar sites in Johor and the republic’s Sungai Buloh Nature Reserves as new eco-tourism products.
The co-operation will be the first tourism initiative under the Joint Ministerial Committee (JCM) of Iskandar Malaysia in which the neighbouring nations will work closely on the development of Iskandar.
“We have engaged international consultants to do an in-depth study on the project and determine how both countries can work together to promote the products.
“The consultants are expected to submit their report by the middle of the year,” said Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
More Singaporeans have weekend homes in Iskandar, Johor
18 January 2010, By Asia One News
AFTER a leisurely lunch on his patio, Mr Zulkifli Mansor can walk out to a putting green and practise a few strokes of golf - and he doesn't even have to leave his home.
From his balcony, Mr Tio Hong Tjoen sometimes casts a reel into the stream winding around his home. The Singapore permanent resident has caught fish weighing up to 3kg.
Mr Zulkifli, a 47-year-old civil servant, and Mr Tio, 53, who is in the furniture business, are among an increasing number of Singaporeans and permanent residents buying high-end homes across the Causeway, mainly as weekend residences.
From his doorstep, Mr Zulkifli can point out eight other properties belonging to Singaporeans in a neighbourhood of about 170 homes.
Frequent visitors to Malaysia can "fast track" through immigration
15 January 2010, By Channel News Asia
Singaporeans who travel frequently to Malaysia can now "fast track" through immigration.
If they have recently entered Malaysia at least four times in a month, they can apply for a special pass which allows clearance through either Woodlands (above) or Tuas checkpoint without having to fill up the white immigration card.
With the Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) pass - a sticker embedded with a Radio Frequency Identification chip that is stuck in the passport - they can zip through immigration clearance in Malaysia without worrying if their passport has been stamped.
All details will be captured electronically at the autogates.
The scheme was launched in July last year but only made available to Singaporean frequent travellers last month.
Faster clearance to JB
15 January 2010, By Straits Times Singapore
SINGAPOREANS who frequently travel to Malaysia will soon be able to zip in and out of the country without having to fill in immigration forms or have their passports stamped.
For RM30 (S$12.50) a year, they can get a pass that will be stuck in their passports. The pass holds the traveller's information, and will be scanned at road entry points to the country before users are sent on their way.
They do not have to fill in the white immigration cards or have their passports stamped, as the scan will capture their personal details.
More Singaporeans have weekend homes in Iskandar, Johor
12 January 2010, By Malaysian Insider
After a leisurely lunch on his patio, Zulkifli Mansor can walk out to a putting green and practise a few strokes of golf — and he doesn't even have to leave his home.
From his balcony, Tio Hong Tjoen sometimes casts a reel into the stream winding around his home. The Singapore permanent resident has caught fish weighing up to 3kg.
Zulkifli, a 47-year-old civil servant, and Tio, 53, who is in the furniture business, are among an increasing number of Singaporeans and permanent residents buying high-end homes across the Causeway, mainly as weekend residences.
From his doorstep, Zulkifli can point out eight other properties belonging to Singaporeans in a neighbourhood of about 170 homes.
Singapore to help boost eco-tourism in Johor
11 January 2010, By Malaysian Insider
Singapore is lending Malaysia its expertise in developing green reserves for eco-tourism.
The tourism agencies of both countries have started a joint feasibility study to look into how an attraction like Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in Kranji can be replicated across the Causeway.
The areas that Malaysia hopes to develop into tourism spots are all in Johor — Sungai Pulai, Tanjung Piai and Pulau Kukup.
All have been classified as Ramsar sites, a title granted by the Geneva-based Ramsar Convention Bureau to identify wetlands of international importance.
Johor's lush Sungai Pulai alone spans 9ha. Officially gazetted in 1923, it is the country's second-largest mangrove forest.
