Penang CM gets flak again for saying Johor unsafe

KUALA LUMPUR - Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng faces fresh allegations of yet again portraying Johor as being unsafe.

He was alleged to have made the latest claim when addressing a luncheon talk with the Foreign Correspondents Association of Singapore, recently.

TV3's Bulletin Utama last night played an audio recording of Lim saying: "So you don't have to worry about your safety when you come to Penang.

"In Johor, if you are Singaporean, you are likely to get kidnapped".

Local online news portal, The Mole reported that when contacted, Lim who is in Surabaya, Indonesia, declined to comment.

The DAP secretary-general had been in the hot soup for allegedly saying in an interview, with an Australian radio station, that Johor was not a safe state where the chances of being kidnapped was high.

He had since denied uttering the remarks.

Lim's remarks on Johor the first time around, however, drew the ire of many, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who had said Lim should not look down and sabotage other states.

Muhyiddin said Lim's action in undermining Johor would give a bad image of Malaysia and would also affect other states.

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Malaysia stock market and companies daily report (September 26, 2011)

PKT Logistics Group To Hit Revenue Of RM1 Billion By 2015
PKT Logistics Group (PKT), a total logistics service provider slated to list on Bursa Malaysia​ by mid-2012, is targeting to achieve RM1 billion in turnover by 2015 through addition of higher-value products and expansion of its client base. With the consolidation of a few firms, the company expects FY09’s revenue of RM150 million to more than double in FY11. Going forward, PKT will be focusing on the fast-moving consumer goods segment, projected to make up 40% of the company’s revenue, from the current 20%, by 2013. The company is looking to expand in the eastern, northern and southern growth corridors of Malaysia. It is targeting to invest RM1 billion to have five million square feet worth of warehouse space by 2015, from about one million square feet now. The firm is also steadily moving towards becoming an Asean logistics provider, and plans to have at least 30% of its revenue come from that region by 2013.

Corporate Malaysia under the microscope

Prime asset: BRDB’s assets include CapSquare Retail Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

THE air in corporate Malaysia is brick-thick with suspicion. Nary a major deal is trumpeted without it falling under the microscope. For investors and minority shareholders, that's clap-worthy; informed decisions are best made when there are multiple interpretations. For company directors and major shareholders, it keeps them on their toes. Who would fault that!

The landmark share swap exercise involving major shareholders of national carrier Malaysia Airline and till today continues to be riddled by nagging doubts that one party got the better of the deal. Then, there's  purchase of a 30% block in property company which unleashed a string of governance-related allegations, even going as far as threatening a potential reputational fallout of the chief securities regulator.

Against this backdrop, revealed an offer by its major shareholder of 18.88% to buy over four key investment assets. From the onset, the deal appeared benign, except that it's a related-party transaction (RPTs) which set off the siren of distrust.

RPTs are of course legitimate. However, as they involve interested parties, questions pop up on whether the corporate insiders are focused on the interests of shareholders or not. The biggest fear is an insider using a company's asset for personal benefit? Does it work in favour of the company or those running it? Does it equally benefit the buyer and the seller? In fact, strict governance hawks even suggest that RPTs be viewed as guilty until proven innocent. Rightly or wrongly.

BRDB's chief  in an interview with StarBizWeek himself admits: “I knew we were going to get walloped.”

On Sept 5, BRDB annnounced that Ambang Sehati had made an offer to acquire these assets namely  which owns Bangsar Shopping Centre, Menara BRDB, CapSquare Retail Centre and Permas Jusco Mall. Ambang Sehati the private vehicle of BRDB's and his uncle  and family gave the BRDB board two weeks to decide which lent a whiff of desperation to the deal. Details on the valuation of these assets, at that point, were glaringly absent.

Right on time, two weeks later, BRDB said its board had agreed to the proposed disposal of these assets for RM914mil (including net liabilities of RM484mil). To sweeten the deal, it plans to distribute part proceeds as cash dividend to shareholders.

The logic behind the deal is to enable BRDB to utilise capital more efficiently while allowing it to unlock the value of these assets. As far as rationales go, why not? As for Moiz, understandably altruism can't be the deal's sole dictator. He must eventually, as any salt-of-the-earth businessman would do, want to create further value in these assets. That being the case, couldn't Moiz, as chairman, still be able to do that if the assets were retained under BRDB? Or would the motivation to work an asset be far greater if it were wholly-owned? And what of the fact that the company has spent a substantial amount of money building and refurbishing these assets?

The chief of  Rita Benoy Bushon questions if BRDB may miss the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of future price appreciation and rising rental yields if these assets are divested. No doubt, Jagan and team as well as the independent advisers will have to iron out these creases of concerns in the weeks ahead.

There is also another source of unease. But this one is easier to explain away.

For the deal to forge ahead, it would need the nod of a simple majority of disinterested shareholders. According to the company's latest annual report, of the 30 major shareholders based on the record of depositors as at April 25, 2011, Credit Suisse is in the top spot with a 23.57% interest. However, under the list of substantial shareholders (5% and above), there is no mention of Credit Suisse which can be construed that none of the individual accounts in this “pooled” nominee account own more than 5% each.

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Last chance

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has indicated Labor will not try again to reinstate offshore processing if the Opposition votes down its amendments.

Ms Gillard repeatedly said today that if the Parliament voted down her Government’s contentious amendments to the Migrati

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has indicated Labor will not try again to reinstate offshore processing if the Opposition votes down its amendments.
Ms Gillard repeatedly said today that if the Parliament voted down her Government’s contentious amendments to the Migration Act then that would end offshore processing “for all time”.
It comes as two more boats carrying asylum seekers were intercepted overnight and taken to Christmas Island, where the more than 100 people on board would be processed.
The Government wants to change the law to give it the power to process asylum seekers offshore, after it said a recent High Court ruling effectively threw the legality of this in doubt.
However, the Opposition is planning to vote against the changes, demanding the Government accept an amendment that would effectively prevent Ms Gillard from reviving her so-called Malaysia solution.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said that Ms Gillard should recall parliament, pass the Coalition’s amendments and reopen the processing centre on Nauru.
He said that almost 540 people had arrived since the Malaysian deal was signed for 800 transfers.
“The Government has never had a plan for illegal arrival 801, and illegal arrival 801 is only a few boats away,’’ he said.
“This point has been highlighted by the Commonwealth Ombudsman stated in their submission: ‘in our view there are no guarantees that the Agreement will have any long term utility or efficacy. Once the 800 transferee quota has been met it seems that the Agreement will be spent. Accordingly, it is not clear whether it is an ongoing or durable solution to the problems caused by humanitarian movements of people’.’’
Ms Gillard said Mr Abbott’s amendment – which would limit offshore processing to countries that have signed the United Nations refugee convention - would not get through Parliament and it was “crystal clear” that left just two options.
“Passing the legislation and enabling executive government to make appropriate arrangements for offshore processing … or seeing that legislation fail, in which case this government and governments in the future would have no option but to process asylum seekers on shore,’’ she said.

on Act then that would end offshore processing “for all time”.

It comes as two more boats carrying asylum seekers were intercepted overnight and taken to Christmas Island, where the more than 100 people on board would be processed.

The Government wants to change the law to give it the power to process asylum seekers offshore, after it said a recent High Court ruling effectively threw the legality of this in doubt.

However, the Opposition is planning to vote against the changes, demanding the Government accept an amendment that would effectively prevent Ms Gillard from reviving her so-called Malaysia solution.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said that Ms Gillard should recall parliament, pass the Coalition’s amendments and reopen the processing centre on Nauru.

He said that almost 540 people had arrived since the Malaysian deal was signed for 800 transfers.

“The Government has never had a plan for illegal arrival 801, and illegal arrival 801 is only a few boats away,’’ he said.

“This point has been highlighted by the Commonwealth Ombudsman stated in their submission: ‘in our view there are no guarantees that the Agreement will have any long term utility or efficacy. Once the 800 transferee quota has been met it seems that the Agreement will be spent. Accordingly, it is not clear whether it is an ongoing or durable solution to the problems caused by humanitarian movements of people’.’’

Ms Gillard said Mr Abbott’s amendment – which would limit offshore processing to countries that have signed the United Nations refugee convention - would not get through Parliament and it was “crystal clear” that left just two options.

“Passing the legislation and enabling executive government to make appropriate arrangements for offshore processing … or seeing that legislation fail, in which case this government and governments in the future would have no option but to process asylum seekers on shore,’’ she said.

Police Twitter generates 2,000 tweets

KUALA LUMPUR: Within hours of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) going on Twitter yesterday, they received about 2,000 hits.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar launched  in conjunction with first anniversary of the police's Facebook page which has garnered 85,000 fans to date.

“Twitter is as popular as Facebook, with over 200 million Twitter users the world over.

"It is many a Malaysian’s favourite social networking site, so we hope to get closer to the public via Twitter, too," he said.

Ismail said the objective was to make the police force a people-friendly organisation.

“Just like Facebook, our Twitter page will channel information such as the latest news on police success in solving crime, the activities and programmes we have with the people, or even send statements on current issues.”

He said the Twitter account will update traffic conditions nationwide, especially during rush hours.

Police officers and PDRM’s Facebook fans also celebrated the first-year anniversary, with over 70 fans from all over Malaysia attending at the Royal Malaysian Police College (RMPC) in Cheras.

Ismail said communications between police and the public has improved since the Facebook page was launched.

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Coalition rejects PM's revised migration changes

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has rejected the Government's latest proposed changes to the Migration Act, saying they pay only lip service to concerns about protections for asylum seekers.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard presented redrafted legislation to Mr Abbott on Monday in a plea for his support to send asylum seekers to Malaysia.

But Mr Abbott says the Government's plan will not work,Malaysian and repeated his belief that temporary protection visas, turning back the boats, and negotiating an arrangement with Nauru remained the right way forward.

He says the Opposition will put forward a different proposal, one that in effect will rule out the Government's preferred Malaysian option.

"I will be taking to our party room tonight a proposal for amendments which will put beyond legal doubt the ability of the Government to send people offshore for processing, provided they are sent to countries which have acceded to the UN refugee convention," Mr Abbott said.

"The difficulty with the initial proposals was it clearly stripped out the protections the Howard government had explicitly built into the Migration Act.

"Effectively the proposals the Government put to us last Friday amounted to offshore dumping, not offshore processing. We made those points crystal clear."

Malaysia is not a signatory to the refugee conventions and has been criticised by human rights advocates for the way it treats asylum seekers.

Mr Abbott says the amended proposal put to him today by Ms Gillard concedes the force of his argument without actually addressing it.

"What the new proposal does is pay lip service to protections without actually guaranteeing them," he said.

"Arguably the Government's proposal today is actually an inferior proposal to the one last Friday because it increases the risk of judicial review without actually strengthening the rights protections that were entirely absent last Friday."

Mr Abbott says his party's alternative position, which he will take to the party room tonight, will "put beyond legal doubt the ability of the Government to send people offshore for processing".

"The former solicitor general David Bennett... has analysed the Government's proposals and the proposed amendments I will be taking to the party room, and he concludes our proposals provides more legal certainty and more rights protections than the Government's proposals."

Political interest

The Government's proposed amendments to the Migration Act have been drafted to circumvent the High Court's scuttling of its Malaysian refugee swap deal.

After the lunchtime meeting with Mr Abbott, Ms Gillard said the draft bill released on Friday had been updated to include "more words" that guaranteed Australia would honour its obligations under UN refugee conventions.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says Mr Abbott has rejected the Government's proposals purely out of political interest.

"Clearly, Mr Abbott is doing this for one reason and one reason alone: because he wants to stop the Malaysia agreement being implemented," Mr Bowen said.

"The Opposition wants to stop the Malaysia agreement being implemented because they are scared it will work.

"It is not in [Mr Abbott's] political interest for it to work. He doesn't want to stop people smuggling because he wants to keep his three-word slogans.

"We will be introducing this legislation on Wednesday and will not be accepting the Opposition's amendments.

"We will be opposing their amendments in the Lower House and in the Senate."

Greens leader Bob Brown says the Government's amendments do nothing to protect the rights of asylum seekers when they arrive in Australia.

"Today's announcement by the Prime Minister is nothing short than an effort to get around the High Court, the legal system of this country, to further breach international law and to cosy up to Tony Abbott."

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Better earnings prospects for group

Hong long bank which achieved record profits for the sixth consecutive year, is on a new threshold of earnings with enhanced contribution from the merged  Hong long bank group.
Recognising the concerns over a potential economic slowdown, HLFG president says the domestic economy is still positive and Malaysian companies are on a stronger footing.
As a large part of HLFG's businesses are still centered in Malaysia and the bulk of its overseas income coming from its associate share in the Bank of chengudu Choong does not expect HLFG to be specifically nor significantly affected by adverse European or US exposures except via a general worldwide economic downturn.
“Given our careful and prudent business model, coupled with our customer strength, we expect to fare better in any financial crises. We have also been very disciplined in the mergers and acquisitions (M&As) completed in the past years such that we do not believe we have overpaid more than fair market value over the longer term. Looking forward, despite financial turbulence, we are prepared to sacrifice short-term profits for long-term gains, and will also look out for any opportunities that may emerge in this period,” says Choong
He adds that there is no fixed dividend policy for the group. “We want the flexibility to balance short-term needs of , and long-term needs of the company,'' says Choong.
In this respect, the group has made its assessment and given the appropriate market yield with the remainder for re-investment.
Big steps forward
“For the last five years, we have been re-engineering the group and laying the foundation for growth,'' he tells StarBizWeek. “It is now time to accelerate the rate of growth and double or triple the business that is made of commercial banking, insurance and investment banking.''
The full value from the synergies arising from the enlarged commercial banking operations is expected by 2013; some merger costs may still be experienced in 2012.
The insurance business is the “hidden star” of the group, and the target is to grow its agency force to 12,000 by financial (FY) 2013 from 8,000 currently.


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Malaysia stock market and companies daily report (September 16, 2011)

Genting Malaysia Invests In Resorts World Miami For US$3 Billion

Genting Malaysia (Genting) will invest US$3 billion (RM9.27 billion) in a master plan for Resorts World Miami, which is one of the largest projects in Florida, comprising about 10 million sq ft of mixed-use development. Rising from 5.62 hectares of bayfront land currently housing the Miami Herald Media Company, Resorts World Miami is located in the heart of the city of Miami, midway between Miami International Airport and Miami Beach. The company has also acquired all outstanding mortgages of the Omni Centre property, to the north and adjacent to the Miami Herald site. Including the acquisition of other properties, Genting has assembled a contiguous 12.14 hectares waterfront site overlooking the Bascayne Bay.

Significance: Genting chairman and chief executive officer Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay is optimistic that Resorts World Miami will accelerate Florida’s evolution as a global destination and likely create a successful destination resort in the Americas.


Proton In Strategic Partnership With Mitsubishi; Focus On Lotus Turnaround

Mitsubishi Motors Corp (MMC) and Proton Holdings (Proton) will strengthen their strategic pact, with new projects to jointly develop engines, assemble MMC cars and share parts and components at Proton’s facilities. With this deal, Proton can also reduce its cost per unit by leveraging on economies of scale. The deal, which is part of MMC’s plan to expand its footprint in Asean, may also see the company providing its hybrid, electric and plug-in technologies to Proton. Meanwhile, Proton will also focus on turning around Lotus and does not intend to sell the loss-making sports car unit. It aims to cut losses at Lotus by 7% this year and expand Lotus’ presence overseas. Sales of Proton cars are also starting to pick up in China.


Significance: The strategic pact is a win-win situation for Proton and MMC as Proton can expand its line-up of cars while employing its under-utilised production capacity and create an additional income with contract assembly and Mitsubishi can benefit from low trade barriers in Asean.


PM Urges Local Investors To Drive Up Domestic Investments

In view that Malaysia’s domestic investment is still a distance away from the full year target of RM94 billion, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak urged more local investors to put their funds in the country, alongside the government’s incentives. Najib said the country requires domestic investments of about RM940 billion over 10 years in order to attain high-income and developed country status by 2020. Direct domestic investment (DDI) in manufacturing from January to July totalled RM15.9 billion. Separately, RM11 billion was poured into the services sector in the first quarter of the year, bringing the combined DDI to RM26.9 billion. Sectors which will be provided with high-impact funding include halal, green energy, biotechnology, aerospace, advanced electronics, pharmaceutical and medical devices and maintenance-repair-overhaul engineering industries.


Significance: In an effort to drive up confidence in domestic investors, the Malaysian government has guaranteed equal incentives to both local and foreign investors, and has assured the private sector that it has no plans to withdraw the re-investment allowance.


This article is contributed by Shares Investment. Visit Sharesinv.com for the latest Singapore, Malaysia and China stock market news and reports.

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Forestry planting boosts region

Up to 1000 contractors in Marlborough are thought to be reaping the benefits of a large new forestry block in the Waihopai Valley, near Blenheim.

The block is owned by forestry company Timbergrow, which is a subsidiary of the powerful Tiong family of Malaysia.

 

The family have investments in a slew of industries around the world and their portfolio includes a controlling 53 per cent stake in New Zealand King Salmon.

Timbergrow forestry managers Blair Townsend and Trevor Tidey could not be contacted.

But Thomas Song, managing director of sister Tiong forestry company Ernslaw One, said contractors had started in July planting radiata pine seedlings on 800 hectares in Marlborough.

He believed at least 1000 Marlborough contractors had been employed to help develop the block.

More seedlings would be planted on a further 2600ha of the same block near the Waihopai Spy Base during the next two years, Mr Song said.

The company had been attracted by the low land prices, and was looking for more sites in Marlborough, he said.

"We're continuing to plan our vision in the long term. We're very bullish about New Zealand forestry."

Their confidence came from increasing demand, particularly from China but also expected from India in five to 10 years.

"We can see India moving up to be the main demand ... it is the price-setter for soft wood."

India's requirement that wood exports be fumigated with methyl bromide has stirred debate in Picton, with some residents concerned about the affect of the gas on their health.

Tests in January showed methyl bromide levels at Waitohi wharf and Picton jetty were well below the Environmental Risk Management Authority's benchmark for an allowable and safe level of methyl bromide.

The Government has set a deadline of 2020 for all methyl bromide gas to be recaptured after fumigation.

The first logs from the Waihopai block will not be ready to harvest for 15 years. That wait, and the small size of the block ruled out any plans for a mill, Mr Song said.

Tiong companies have a total of 100,000ha planted in forestry throughout New Zealand, making them the fourth largest forest owner in the country.

The companies collectively exported 1.4 million cubic metres of logs a year, at a value of $380 million, Mr Song said.

Marlborough Forest Industry Association president Kevin Parkes said he welcomed news of the development.

With a holding of more than 1000ha, the Tiong development was one of the big players in Marlborough, albeit on the smaller end. Nelson Forests had the biggest holding of 19,000ha, according to the latest figures available from 2005. Flight timber had 5000ha, while Marlborough Regional Forestry (a Marlborough and Kaikoura district councils operation) totalled 3100ha, Mr Parkes said. 

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Malaysia stock market and companies daily report (September 14, 2011)

High Costs Due To Gas Shortage To Weigh Down Tenaga Nasional
Tenaga Nasional (TN) had spent close to RM2.1 billion from January 2010 to August this year to substitute gas with distillates (diesel), which cost five times more than gas, as a temporary measure in view of the gas supply shortage. Currently, the additional cost is incurred by TN through its reserves and TN has already depleted RM5 billion in reserves. TN has proposed to the government for the extra fuel costs to be shared between the utility, Petronas and IPPs (independent power producers). If the proposal does not come through, TN may have to go to the banks, for the first time ever, to seek money for its operational expenditure.

Significance: As a result of higher costs incurred and depletion of its reserves, TN expects its fourth quarter results to be possibly its worst performance ever.


AWC Rolls Out An Array Of Plans
AWC, an asset management company, is coming up with a one-megawatt solar power project in Malaysia.  AWC also designs and supplies automated pneumatic waste collection system and is also involved in renewable energy and green building services. Meanwhile, AWC signed two agreements yesterday to buy 70% of Resource Data Management Asia (RDM Asia) and to collaborate with a green technology company, Resource Data Management (RDM), to enhance its capabilities as a pro-environment services provider in Asia.

Significance: As the market for RDM products in Malaysia is estimated at RM100 million and substantially higher for the potential market in Asia, AWC expects a healthy growth in the demand to likely contribute to a better topline.


YTL Corp Aims To Continue Growing At 20% CAGR
YTL Corp (YTL) hopes to continue growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% and is not retrenching or cutting down on its advertising and promotion expenses. For its 4G network, YTL will invest RM2.5 billion, on top of the RM2 billion it has invested so far, to build new towers to widen the coverage. Although YTL has not made a significant purchase over the last three years
 
Significance: Despite the gloomy global outlook, YTL is still optimistic on its business in Malaysia as the Malaysian economy looks set to ride on the government’s economic liberalisation program.



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LabAsia has doubled in size

KUCHING: LabAsia 2011, the Malaysian 3rd Laboratory and Analytical Equipment, Instrumentation and Services Exhibition and Conference is back, bigger than ever before!

Twice its size since the last show in 2009, it will be participated by more than 150 companies with four major pavilions from Germany, China, India and Singapore that bring the world’s lab technology to this bi-annual trade show.

As one of the largest and most focused exhibitions for laboratory equipment, analytical devices and instrumentation technology, it is an event not to be missed by lab professionals including managing directors, lab managers, researchers, scientists, chemists, QA and QC managers and procurement managers.

There will be the latest laboratory instruments and technologies.

Connect with renowned providers in the biggest three-day gathering from China, Germany, India, Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore touting the latest technologies from their home countries: Europe, United Kingdom and USA.

There are 26 free informative technical seminars from which to obtain information on the latest technology.

Additionally there are three international conferences organised by Malaysian Institute of Chemistry (Institute Kimia Malaysia) and to be held at the same location: CHEMRAWN XIX – The 19th IUPAC International Conference on Chemical Research Applied to World Needs 2011; ExTech 2011 – The 13th International Symposium on Advances in Extraction Technologies 2011; and WISE 2011 – International Symposium on Women in Science and Engineering.

Visitors who pre-register before the deadline are entitled to the following: complimentary show directory, complimentary coffee/tea at the Visitor Pre-Registration Lounge and stand a chance to win an iPAD2 daily!

LabAsia 2011 has also organised a Business Matching Programme, an opportunity to meet up with Renowned Overseas Laboratory Equipment Manufacturers at LabAsia 2011.

The Business Matching Programme is aimed at helping you increase your range of products and services, and business network.
Regional Scientific Equipment agents and distributors are able to have a one-to-one meeting with renowned overseas laboratory equipment manufacturers.

LabAsia 2011 will be held at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur from Sept 27-29.

Opening hours are from 10am to 6pm. 

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Country is 6th most competitive —Review

KUCHING: Malaysia is the sixth most competitive country in Asia-Pacific in the Global Competition Review (GCR) 2011-2012 published in the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan said the country being rated 21st this year was behind Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia.

“Among the Asean countries, we are the second after Singapore. According to the latest standing of GCR, Malaysia is now placed 21st against 26th last year,” he said when witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Smart Reader Worldwide Sdn Bhd and Prodigy Music Centre at a leading hotel here yesterday.

Sagan, who is Baram MP, pointed out that GCR evaluated a country’s economic performance based on 12 core aspects including infrastructure, macro economic environment and education.

He said WEF reported that Malaysia had to work harder on three aspects namely market size, innovation and technology preparation.

He added that the improved global standing showed that government transformation programme (GTP), economic transformation programme (ETP) and new economic model (NEM) had come with positive impacts.
Thus, he called on the private sector to co-operate with the government, to ensure that all official programmes would be implemented successfully.

“This is also in line with the government’s effort to maintain Malaysia as a competitive country with heightened economy in offering job opportunities to its people,” he said.

Smart Reader Worldwide Sdn Bhd corporate advisor S Selvanathan and Prodigy Music Centre managing director Sharnaz Saberi signed the MoU.

The deal was sealed to enhance skills of music teachers from Smart Reader with the ultimate aim of providing quality lessons.

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Malaysia Junior Golf Open to draw 124 players

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 124 golfers will tee off in the 100PLUS Malaysia Junior Golf Open at the Saujana Golf and Country Club from Sept 12-15.

Japan’s Jun Ishida and Myanmar’s Phone Pyae Chan Han and Aug San Myo were the latest to sign up, joining golfers from 10 other countries to make it a record-equalling 12 nations.

Malaysia make up the largest contingent with 72 participants, followed by Singapore (18), Indonesia (nine), the Philippines (six), India (five), Bangladesh (three), Taiwan (three), Sri Lanka (two), South Korea (two), Myanmar (two), England (one) and Japan (one).

Malaysia’s charge will be led by Jeremiah Kim and Isza Fariza Ismail, who are currently participating in the Lion City and Santi Cups respectively.

Previous Malaysian winners include Akhmal Tarmizi Nazari and Gavin Kyle Green (boys) and Kelly Tan and Michelle Koh (girls). 

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