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Vol 1 2009: January - June PP 8307/12/2009<br />
www.asli.com.my<br />
The Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with ASLI’s Senior Vice-President Ms Jean Wong,<br />
CPPS Chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. Behind is SUHAKAM<br />
Commissioner Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria.<br />
Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at an ASLI Forum.<br />
Chairman ASLI Foundation Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah receiving the Order of Australia Award from visiting<br />
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Ruud.<br />
Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and ASLI<br />
Advisory Council Member Dato Dr. Shanmughalingam.<br />
The Hon. Bill Clinton, former President of USA at his Public Lecture co-organised by the Sekhar<br />
Foundation and ASLI<br />
ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh with Hon. Bill Clinton, former President of USA.<br />
...<strong>more</strong> <strong>inside</strong>
NATIONAL SUMMIT ON URBAN POOR & LOW<br />
INCOME GROUPS<br />
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting the Prime Minister on arrival.<br />
The Prime Minister greeting Selangor Exco Member Teresa Kok whilst ASLI’s Ms Jean Wong looks on.<br />
Datuk Eddy Chen, Tan Sri Razak Ramli, Mr Tan Koon Swan, Tan Sri Michael Chen, Tan Sri Lim Gait<br />
Tong, Datuk A P Yong.<br />
The National Summit on Urban Poor and Low Income Groups was held<br />
on Monday, 14 July 2008, at Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa. Organised by<br />
ASLI, the Centre for Public Policy Studies and SUHAKAM, the objective of<br />
the National Summit was to gather key policymakers, academia, civil society<br />
and think tankers in addressing one of the most urgent issues burdening<br />
the nation today: urban poverty. With the rapid increase in costs of living,<br />
exacerbated by rising food and commodity prices, it was appropriate that the<br />
urban poor and low-income groups were considered as some of Malaysia’s<br />
best minds brainstormed on a series of issues in charting out solutions.<br />
Recommendations were then submitted to the Economic Planning Unit<br />
and the Prime Minister’s Department for further deliberation. Some of the<br />
main topics covered during the day-long event were as follows: “Adopting<br />
a Human Rights Approach to Urban Poverty Reduction”, “Helping Low-<br />
Income Groups: A Private-Public Partnership”, “Housing, Healthcare &<br />
Social Services for Urban Poor & Low Income Groups”, “Creating Business<br />
& Employment Opportunities for Urban Poor & Low Income Groups”, and<br />
finally “Impacts of Poverty on National Unity”.<br />
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi graced the occasion with<br />
a keynote address. He emphasized poverty in urban areas, driven by trends<br />
such as rural-urban migration, industrialization, immigration of foreign workers,<br />
and so on. Some of the problems include coordination between different<br />
government agencies, but reorganization has improved the effectiveness of<br />
local and state efforts to combat poverty. He also reiterated the complication<br />
of urban poverty as brought upon by multiple factors, and the need to tackle<br />
it from different perspectives. The root of it is a lack of income, which is<br />
Datuk Pardip Kumar, The Belgian Ambassador, Tan Sri Prince Gunaratnam, Mr Raymond Yong.<br />
worsened in urban areas with their high cost of living. Social safety nets<br />
were also stressed, from public housing initiatives to reviewing the CPI and<br />
assistance for hardcore poor and disabled. Finally, he stressed the need for<br />
cooperation and collaboration between NGOs, academia and government in<br />
addressing specific urban poverty needs. The ultimate objective is to address<br />
inequitable distribution of economic opportunities.<br />
Key speakers at the Summit included Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria,<br />
SUHAKAM Commissioner, Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Women,<br />
Family and Community Development, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Menteri Besar<br />
Selangor, Prof. Sr. P. Ramasamy S/O Palanisamy, Deputy Chief Minister<br />
II of Penang, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, President Parti GERAKAN/former<br />
Chief Minister of Penang, Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Deputy President, Parti<br />
Keadilan Rakyat, Prof. Dr. Sulochana Nair, from the UM Centre for Poverty<br />
and Development Studies, Ms.Teresa Kok, Selangor State Councilor,<br />
Dato’ Abdul Ghani Arifin, Deputy Director-General, Implementation and<br />
Coordination Unit Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk David Chua, Deputy<br />
Secretary General, Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry<br />
of Malaysia, and other prominent personalities.<br />
Dato’ Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI in his welcoming remarks proposed<br />
several measures to the government, specifically a transport voucher of<br />
RM50 per month to low income groups, reduction in EPF contributions,<br />
banks to decrease interest on housing loans, establish an independent<br />
monitoring system to track plans for low-income groups and to implement<br />
comprehensive social safety nets. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria stated that<br />
Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi of Khazanah Nasional, Datuk David Chua and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.<br />
Puan Sri Susan Cheah, Dato Dr. Ng Yen Yen and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.
NATIONAL SUMMIT ON URBAN POOR & LOW<br />
INCOME GROUPS<br />
Dato Dr. Micheal Yeoh presenting a memento to MIC President Dato Seri Samy Vellu.<br />
Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, SUHAKAM Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Hirman Ritom;<br />
Women, Community and Family Development Minister Dato Dr. Ng Yen Yen.<br />
Datuk Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Dato Syed Amin AL-Jeffri, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Prof Dr. Ramasamy and<br />
Dato Mohamed Dahan of GABEM.<br />
a conceptual overview of the human rights approach to poverty eradication<br />
includes a human welfare approach based on a charity model, where the<br />
poor are passive recipients. Prof. Dr. Sulochana Nair agreed, saying that the<br />
Poverty Line is very inaccurate in successfully calculating poverty. There is<br />
a great need to track public expenditures and set benchmarks and create<br />
mechanisms to ensure they are successfully met. Ms Teresa Kok stressed<br />
that 38% have income lower than RM2000 per month. The government has<br />
set RM800 as the poverty line, but this is just not enough. There is a need<br />
for the government to look closer at the town planning to accommodate the<br />
poor so that they have access to the resources of urban centers without the<br />
overwhelming costs.<br />
Datuk David Chua said that rapid urbanization has resulted in high urban<br />
concentration which places pressure on employment, housing, social<br />
amenities, and rising costs for all of these, and that there is a need for the<br />
public authorities to provide for affordable public housing, public transportation<br />
and urban management. Dato’ Seri Samy Vellu, President, Malaysian Indian<br />
Congress, said that eradication of poverty must cut across ethnic, religious<br />
and geographical groups, through skills development, producing knowledge<br />
workers. Datuk Hj. Mohd. Amin Nordin bin Abd Aziz, Deputy Director General,<br />
Services, City Hall Kuala Lumpur, announced that City Hall targets a zero<br />
squatter population by the end of 2008. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim called on the<br />
Ministry of Housing & Local Government to review its definition of the poverty<br />
line. In Selangor, 90% of the population lives within city limits, leading to high<br />
demand for social services and other measures for ameliorating urban issues.<br />
SUHAKAM Vice Chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun chairing a session with Gerakan President Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu<br />
Koon and PKR Deputy President Dr. Syed Husin Ali.<br />
Pursuing privatization of real estate projects excessively contributes to greater<br />
income disparities, suggesting that this approach be reviewed. Datuk Dr. Ng<br />
Yen Yen stated that Malaysia has amongst the lowest infant and maternal<br />
mortality rates in the world. The federal government creates incentives for<br />
employers to provide the disabled and other disadvantaged groups with<br />
gainful employment opportunities. Dato’ Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Immediate<br />
Past President Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and<br />
Industry (MAICCI), stressed on the need to develop micro-enterprises.<br />
Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, President Parti GERAKAN/former Chief Minister<br />
of Penang, said there must be a strong commitment to equitable and fair<br />
eradication of poverty irrespective of race. Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Deputy<br />
President, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, agreed that basic needs should be<br />
provided to all irrespective of ethnicity. There is too much discrimination,<br />
which favors certain ethnicities and in-turn most often the rich. Dr. Denison<br />
Jayasooria summarized the findings and recommendations from the day’s<br />
Summit. This included the need for government to review the poverty line,<br />
have a focal point at every ministry on urban poor, making data available<br />
transparently, and to address intra-ethnic income disparities. In his closing<br />
speech, Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew, Deputy Minister of Housing and Local<br />
Government (representing Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of Housing<br />
and Local Government), said that the government is committed to halving its<br />
poverty rate to 2.8% by 2010. The Summit’s findings and recommendations<br />
are available online, at www.cpps.org.my, under the heading “Poverty<br />
Reduction”.<br />
Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim whilst Ms Jean Wong<br />
looks on.<br />
<br />
Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and Ms Teresa Kok.
THE 13TH MALAYSIAN<br />
CAPITAL MARKET SUMMIT 2008<br />
Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak arriving at the Capital Market Summit with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael<br />
Yeoh.<br />
Dato Sri Najib receiving a memento from ASLI Director Dato Razman Hashim whilst Dato Dr. Michael<br />
Yeoh looks on.<br />
Dato Sri Najib presenting a memento to Bursa Malaysia Chairman Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah.<br />
Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak officiated and delivered the Keynote<br />
Address at the 13th Malaysian Capital Market Summit organized by<br />
ASLI on 4th December 2008 at the Prince Hotel Kuala Lumpur.<br />
In his Keynote Address, Dato’ Sri Najib spoke about the need<br />
to attract <strong>more</strong> investors to the Malaysian market. He stressed<br />
the importance of restoring investor confidence and enhancing<br />
national competitiveness. Dato’ Sri Najib also spoke about the<br />
importance of making Malaysia as a hub for Islamic capital market.<br />
He also said Bursa Malaysia and Securities Commission should<br />
come out with a plan and strategy to attract <strong>more</strong> investments from<br />
China. Dato’ Sri Najib emphasized that we need to remain vigilant<br />
to new global and regional developments. He called on Investors<br />
to plan their investment strategy well. He assured the Malaysian<br />
Government will do everything possible to ensure that confidence in<br />
the Malaysian market remains high backed by our strong economic<br />
fundamentals with over USD99.7 billion in foreign reserves enough<br />
to finance over 8 months of retained imports. He also proposed the<br />
establishment of an Asia Monetary Fund.<br />
In her Special Address the Securities Commission Chairman Dato’<br />
Sri Zarinah Anwar said she believed the timing of the Capital Market<br />
ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh having a word with Dato Sri Najib and Securities Commission Chairman<br />
Dato Sri Zarinah Anwar.<br />
Summit could not have been <strong>more</strong> prescient as the global financial<br />
turmoil has been ongoing for <strong>more</strong> than a year. Confidence in the<br />
financial markets has yet to return amid a continuing wariness over<br />
counter party risks. However, she asserted that the structure of the<br />
capital market today is <strong>more</strong> robust than it was during the previous<br />
crisis, with the market as a whole being <strong>more</strong> balanced. She said<br />
today Malaysia has a <strong>more</strong> diverse set of market participants with<br />
the strong growth of Malaysia’s investment management industry<br />
- assets under management have risen five fold during 2000 - 2008<br />
from RM46 billion to RM236 billion. She also spoke about the strong<br />
steps taken to enhance market resilience through measures that<br />
promote capital market stability and development, including putting<br />
in place safety nets that promote market transparency, facilitate<br />
proper oversight and encourage greater self and market discipline.<br />
She spoke of the need to deepen market liquidity and to enhance<br />
regulatory framework, processes and protocols to ensure that the<br />
capital market remains stable.<br />
The Capital Market Summit was sponsored by Maybank as Strategic<br />
Partner, Magnum as Corporate Partner and Bursa Malaysia as<br />
Sponsor. Over 200 participants attended the 2-day summit to<br />
discuss the impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the Malaysian<br />
Dato Sri Najib being greeted by Datuk Eddy Chen whilst Dato Johan<br />
Raslan and Dato Dr. Denison Jayasooria look on.<br />
Dato Dr. Thillainathan moderating the Bonds session.<br />
Dato Johan Raslan, Tan Sri Radzi Mansor, Dato Razman Hashim, Tun<br />
Dzaiddin Abdullah, Ambassador Masahiko Horie and Dato Dr. Michael<br />
Yeoh.
THE 13TH MALAYSIAN<br />
CAPITAL MARKET SUMMIT 2008<br />
Mr. P.K. Basu, Mr. David Carbon, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and Mr. Joseph Tan.<br />
market. The first session is on the Global Financial Tsunami - What<br />
Next? How Will It End? Speakers include Mr. P.K. Basu of Daiwa<br />
Research, Mr. David Carbon, Managing Director, Economic and<br />
Currency, DBS Bank and Mr. Joseph Tan, Asia Chief Economist,<br />
Credit Suisse, Other sessions focused on Equity and Bond Market<br />
Outlook, Strategies to Benefit from Crashes, Outlook for the Capital<br />
Market, Islamic Capital Markets, Rejuvenating the Capital Market?<br />
How to Survive in Turbulent Times?<br />
The Chairman of the Securities Commission, Dato’ Sri Zarinah<br />
Anwar delivered the Special Address at the summit whilst Mr.<br />
Devanesan Evanson, Chief Market Operations Officer at Bursa<br />
Malaysia delivered the Luncheon Address. Other speakers include<br />
Tan Sri Mohd Ramli Kushairi, Dato’ Ali Abdul Kadir, Dato’ Seri<br />
Abdul Hamidy Hafiz, Dato’ Johan Raslan, Mr. Mohammed Rashdan<br />
Yusof, Dato’ Maznah Abdul Jalil, Dato’ Dr. Thillainathan, Mr. Gerald<br />
Ambrose and Dr. Tan Chong Koay.<br />
The conference also took stock of the Global Economic Turmoil<br />
and the impact on Asia. Small and open economies are <strong>more</strong><br />
vulnerable to a global slowdown. Economies with big domestic<br />
Tan Sri Mohd Ramli Kushairi Chairman SMI Berhad, Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir Chairman Dubai Investment<br />
Group and Dato Seri Hamidy Hafidz, CEO Affin Bank at the CEO Roundtable.<br />
bases like China and India to outperform. <strong>Asian</strong> Central Banks<br />
have shifted their focus from inflation to growth. <strong>Asian</strong> currencies<br />
are weak in the short term but positive in the long term. Asia is<br />
facing slowing demand for its production reduced external funding<br />
and trade financing.<br />
Malaysia does not have the structural problems of the West but<br />
merely enter a cyclical slow down. As at end October, foreign<br />
ownership in Malaysian market is only about 22%. Malaysian market<br />
now looks attractive with dividend yield rebounding to record levels<br />
and price to book at attractive levels, it was suggested that this is<br />
a good time for Malaysia to create its own relevance by developing<br />
some national champions and executive a strategy well. It was<br />
also proposed that <strong>more</strong> needs to be done to promote Malaysia<br />
overseas.<br />
There was general agreement that Malaysia is well placed to<br />
withstand the economic turmoil. PDS and equity issuance will<br />
decline in 2009. Those companies with weaker balance sheets and<br />
highly geared will be <strong>more</strong> difficult to raise funds in 2009.<br />
Mr. Mohammed Rashdan CEO of ASEAMBANKERS, Mr. Badlisyah Abdul Ghani, CEO, CIMB Islamic,<br />
Dato Maznah Abdul Jalil of Hong Leong Group, Mr. Mohamad Razlan Mohamed, CEO Malaysian Rating<br />
Corporation.<br />
ASLI’s Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Dato Razman Hashim and Ms. Jean Wong having a light moment with<br />
Dato Sri Najib.<br />
Mr. Choong Khuat Hock Partner / Head of Research, Kumpulan<br />
Sentiasa Cemerlang, Dr. Harm Zebregs Resident Representative IMF<br />
and Mr. Raymond Tang Chief Investment Officer CIMB-Principal Asset<br />
Management.<br />
Dato Johan Raslan, Mr. Muhamad Ibrahim, Mr. Abdul Wahab Jaafar<br />
Sidek.<br />
Mr. Low Tuck Seng Managing Director Frey Capital Switzerland, Mr.<br />
Gerald Ambrose, Managing Director Aberdeen Asset Management and<br />
Mr. Soo Lik Keoy Managing Director Mizuho Securities Hong Kong.
WORLD SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL CONFERENCE<br />
Dialogue with the Ministers session with H.E. Dr. Anton Apriyantono, Minister of Agriculture of Indonesia,<br />
Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Yusof Basiron, Chief Executive Officer of MPOC and The Hon. Datuk Peter Chin, Minister<br />
of Plantation Industries & Commodities Malaysia.<br />
From left Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI, The Hon. Mr Bill Cash MP, Member of Parliament for<br />
Stone/Chairman of Malaysia All Party Parliamentary Group, H.E. Dr. Anton Apriyantono, Minister of<br />
Agriculture of Indonesia, Dato Sabri Ahmad, Chairman of MPOB, The Hon. Datuk Peter Chin, Minister<br />
of Plantation Industries & Commodities Malaysia and Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Yusof Basiron, Chief Executive<br />
Officer of MPOC.<br />
Both Ministers Hon. Datuk Peter Chin and H.E. Dr. Anton Apriyantono at the Malaysia and Indonesia<br />
Joint Press Conference.<br />
Palm oil has been used in food preparations and household consumption<br />
for many years. Today it is consumed worldwide in almost every product<br />
in our daily usage from cooking oil, margarine, soap, beauty products etc.<br />
Despite the prominent position of palm oil in world markets, palm oil has<br />
become the target of a massive negative campaign and publicity, which<br />
has occasionally let to calls to boycott of palm oil-based products in several<br />
European countries. The campaign against palm oil-based products was<br />
unprecedented. Even though palm oil is widely used throughout the world,<br />
no governmental body has ever labeled it as unhealthful.<br />
On September 15, 2008, at the Palace Suite of the Royal Garden Hotel<br />
London, ASLI together with Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian<br />
Palm Oil Council (MPOC) with the support of the Ministry of Plantation<br />
Industry and Commodities Malaysia and the Ministry of Agriculture of<br />
Indonesia organized the World Sustainable Palm Oil Conference with the<br />
theme “The Road Ahead for Sustainable Palm Oil”.<br />
The conference was organized in London to discuss the future of palm<br />
oil as a sustainable agricultural crop and at the same time provided an<br />
international platform for the interchange of views, debate and sharing<br />
of knowledge for the use of sustainable palm oil. It provided a window<br />
for the oil palm industry to address issues, answer questions and<br />
queries highlighted in the current progress of the industry in its quest<br />
towards achieving sustainable production of palm oil. The conference<br />
also encouraged dialogue between civil society groups, end-users and<br />
producers on the sustainability and has managed to foster debate on the<br />
H.E. Datuk Abd. Aziz Mohammed, High Commissioner of Malaysia to United Kingdom and The Hon. Mr<br />
Bill Cash MP, Member of Parliament for Stone/Chairman of Malaysia All Party Parliamentary Group<br />
during Q & A session.<br />
sustainability of palm oil and clarifies responsible practices carried out by<br />
the palm oil industry.<br />
The conference was officiated by Datuk Peter Chin, Minister of Plantations<br />
Industries & Commodities Malaysia. In his Opening Keynote Address,<br />
Datuk Peter Chin stressed that over the past few years, the oil palm<br />
industry has been confronted on issues concerning the environment, in<br />
particular deforestation, loss of biodiversity and threat to wildlife. These<br />
have been complemented lately with concerns on carbon emission from<br />
development of peatland. All these as he stated have projected a wrong<br />
image to consumers around the world on the industry. He also added that<br />
in order to guide the industry towards adherence to sustainable practices,<br />
MPOB has introduced the five Codes of Practices along the entire oil palm<br />
supply chain. In addition, the ‘Manual for Sustainable Production of Palm<br />
Oil’ identifies issues raised by regulators, the industry and stakeholders for<br />
sustainable use of natural resources; social equitability; and improvements<br />
in industry practices. Through a consultative process with the industry, the<br />
Manual will outline the best practices to be adopted throughout the whole<br />
supply chain. All these efforts show the commitment of the Malaysian<br />
government and the oil palm industry towards sustainably produced palm<br />
oil.<br />
At the Special Ministerial Address presented by Dr Anton Apriyantono,<br />
Minister of Agriculture on the issue of deforestation, he added that,<br />
Indonesia has maintained 31.6 million ha of protected forest where wild<br />
animal live freely and where high biodiversity are kept. Out of the 133 million<br />
Mr M R Chandran, Advisor to Executive Board of RSPO, Datuk Leslie Davidson, Former Chairman of<br />
Unilever Plantations International, Mr Cyril Pinso, CEO of Borneo Conservation Trust and Datuk Fong Joo<br />
Chung, Former Attorney General of the State Government of Sarawak.<br />
<br />
Dato Zarir J Cama, Dato Seri Lee Oi Hian, CEO KL Kepong Bhd, Dato Lee Yeow Chor, Executive Director<br />
of IOI Group, and Mr M R Chandran, Advisor to Executive Board of RSPO.
WORLD SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL CONFERENCE<br />
The CEO Roundtable Dialogue Session from left Mr Jan Kees Vis, President of RSPO, Dato Lee Yeow<br />
Chor, Executive Director of IOI Group, Dato Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman/Executive Director of United<br />
Plantations Bhd, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI, Dato Seri Lee Oi Hian, CEO KL Kepong Bhd, Mr<br />
Jeremy Goon, Head of CSR of Wilmar International Limited Singapore and Dato Yeo How, President of<br />
<strong>Asian</strong> Agri of Indonesia.<br />
Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI, Ms Jean Wong, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of<br />
ASLI, Ms Putri Najib, Solicitor and daughter of Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak and the Hon. Datuk Peter Chin,<br />
Minister of Plantation Industries & Commodities Malaysia at the event.<br />
Lively discussion between Dr Rosediana Suharto, Executive Director of Indonesian Palm Oil Board Dato<br />
Seri Lee Oi Hian and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
The Minister of Plantation Industry and Commoditics Datuk Peter Chin arriving at the World Conference<br />
on Sustainable Palm Oil.<br />
ha of lands are forest and only 6.3 million ha which is about 5 percent are<br />
planted with oil palm, which is arguably a very small area as compared to<br />
what other countries have done to their natural forests. He also added that<br />
the issue of forest has been addressed at the EU proposed Directive on<br />
Renewable Energy which the Indonesian government appreciates as an<br />
effort to reduce green house gas emissions by use of renewable resources<br />
to include supplies from outside Europe. However as a concern he also<br />
added that many points within the regulations and directive includes<br />
calculations on land change should involve <strong>more</strong> parties with expertise as<br />
to provide scientific proof and transparent data, to avoid dispute at a later<br />
stage. He concluded that Indonesia are committed to supply palm oil to the<br />
world not only for food but also for any other uses and he urged that we<br />
should work together to balance its uses for food or energy.<br />
The Hon. Mr. Bill Cash British MP in his remarks also stated that there<br />
are undoubted controversies in respect of biodiversity and the natural<br />
environment in all countries, including Malaysia, but no one could argue<br />
that the Malaysian industry and Government agencies have not been<br />
prepared to put out arguments and analysis for public debate. He added<br />
that there may well be room for continuing improvement and law-making<br />
and compliance, but there can be no doubt that, despite criticism and<br />
continuing debate, there will continue to be a vigorous dialogue encouraged<br />
by the industry and government in the search for a proper and sustainable<br />
policy in the interests of the mutual necessity of a prosperous economy<br />
and a balanced environment.<br />
With the future optimistic picture for palm oil, continuous efforts were untaken<br />
to promote the health and nutritional benefits of palm oil worldwide and to<br />
curb these negative campaigns. In line with the campaign for sustainability<br />
Malaysia especially has continued to engage environmentalists and<br />
various stakeholders to assure them that their practices are sustainable<br />
and in ensuring that the oil palm industry grows in harmony with nature,<br />
several formulated initiatives, policies and practices to balance between<br />
“development need” and the need to “preserve the environment” have<br />
been carried out.<br />
Among the distinguished role-players who spoke at the conference were<br />
Dato’ Sabri Ahmad, Chairman of Malaysian Palm Oil Board; Dato’ Seri Lee<br />
Oi Hian, Chairman of Malaysian Palm Oil Council; H.E. Datuk Abd. Aziz<br />
Mohammed, High Commissioner of Malaysia to United Kingdom; Dr Ralph<br />
Timms, Consultant of Oils & Fats; Gavin Neath, Senior Vice President<br />
of Unilever PLC UK; Derom Bangun, Executive Chairman of Indonesian<br />
Palm Oil Association; Dr Antonio Trius, Chief Executive Officer of Cognis<br />
GmbH; Datuk Leslie Davidson, Former Chairman of Unilever Plantations<br />
International; M R Chandran, Advisor to Executive Board of the RSPO;<br />
Cyril Pinso, Chief Executive Officer of Borneo Conservation Trust; Datuk<br />
Fong Joo Chung, Former Attorney General of the State Government of<br />
Sarawak; Dato’ Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman/Executive Director<br />
of United Plantations Berhad; Jeremy Goon, Head of CSR of Wilmar<br />
International Limited Singapore; Dato’ Yeo How, President of <strong>Asian</strong> Agri of<br />
Indonesia and Jan Kees Vis, President of RSPO.<br />
Mr Max Say of ASLI and the Hon. Mr Bill Cash MP<br />
ASLI Palm Oil Conference team in London.
THE 4TH ASIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT<br />
ASLI President Mirzan Mahathir speaking at the Opening of the 4th Asia Economic Summit in Hong<br />
Kong.<br />
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang with Mr. Mirzan Mahathir & Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
Prof. Toyoo Gyohten, former Vice Minister of Finance Japan, Ambassador Wu Jianmin of China, Prof.<br />
Jeffrey Lehman, former President Cornell University, USA and Mr. Tadakatsu Sano, former Vice Minister,<br />
MITI, Japan.<br />
About 150 leading thinkers, business leaders and senior<br />
government officials met in Hong Kong on 8th and<br />
9th December 2008 at the 4th Asia Economic Summit<br />
organised by ASLI and Asia Society.<br />
The opening session focussed on enhancing<br />
competitiveness and the business environment and the<br />
role of governments. Indonesia’s Trade Minister Dr Mari<br />
Pangestu spoke about the need for policy, bureacratic<br />
and institutional reforms. She said the crisis could be an<br />
opportunity to re-prioritise and to push the envelope on<br />
reforms. She stressed that over the next few years there<br />
will be a greater role for governments but suggested this<br />
should be temporary and should have a sunset clause.<br />
Prof. William Miller of Stanford University and President<br />
Emeritus of Stanford Research <strong>Institute</strong> stressed the<br />
need to focus on the high tech economy and the need to<br />
have very good university-industry collaboration as well<br />
as to have good global linkages and to encourage risk<br />
taking. Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang<br />
spoke about what the Hong Kong government is doing to<br />
tackle the global financial crisis.<br />
Chairman Hang Lung Group and Asia Society Hong Kong Centre Mr. Ronnie Chan, Chairman Singapore<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> of International Affairs Simon Tay, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Dato Dr. Michael<br />
Yeoh.<br />
The session on Asia economic outlook saw presentations<br />
by Prof Eisuke Sakakibara, Japan’s former vice minister<br />
for Finance, Mr. Tony Tyler, CEO of Cathay Pacific and<br />
Mr Soo-lik Keoy, Managing Director of Mizuho Securities.<br />
Prof Sakakibara said the current crisis will be longer and<br />
deeper than people expect. He does not see a bottom<br />
and warn of the possible collapse of consumption. He<br />
suggested <strong>Asian</strong> countries earmark 10% of their foreign<br />
reserves for an <strong>Asian</strong> Monetary Fund.<br />
The former Managing Director of the World Economic<br />
Forum Claude Smadja felt this crisis is not the same<br />
as previous crisis and suggested we need to be <strong>more</strong><br />
pessimistic about this crisis. He shared his analysis on<br />
how China will play a role in the world economy. China<br />
will seek a bigger role as rule setters in international<br />
bodies like WTO and IMF. He argued that US and China<br />
have common interests. Ambassador Wu Jianmin of<br />
China’s Foreign Affairs University stressed that China<br />
will never seek hegemony. He emphasised that the global<br />
crisis calls for global solutions and the right agenda. He<br />
felt the crisis is an opportunity to accelerate East Asia<br />
Indonesia’s Trade Minister Dr. Mari Pangestu speaking at the<br />
Summit.<br />
Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang speaking at the Summit.<br />
<br />
An exchange between China’s Ambassador Wu Jianmin and Mr.<br />
Claude Smadja former Managing Director World Economic Forum<br />
moderated by Mr. Ronnie Chan.
THE 4TH ASIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT<br />
Country Heights Founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, President Lippo Group Stephen Riady and Metro Kajang<br />
Group Managing Director Datuk Eddy Chen.<br />
CEO HSBC Asia Pacific Mr. Sandy Flockhart, Ms Sarah Liao Hong Kong’s former Secretary for Environment<br />
and Public Works and Ms. Christine Loh, CEO Civic Exchange, Hong Kong.<br />
CEO Cathay Pacific Mr. Tony Tyler, Ms. Soo Lik Keoy and Prof. Eisuke Sakakibara former Vice Minister<br />
of Finance Japan.<br />
Indonesia’s Trade Minister Dr. Mari Pangestu, Stanford University’s Prof. William Miller and Dato Dr.<br />
Michael Yeoh.<br />
community building. Mr Toyoo Gyohten, Japan’s former<br />
Vice Finance Minister suggested that Asia needs its own<br />
currency either like the Euro or a basket of currencies.<br />
Asia needs open, robust, competitive capital markets.<br />
He stressed Asia needs a new business model focussed<br />
on trust and modesty.<br />
Other sessions discussed were on private equity in<br />
China and Asia, climate change and the environment,<br />
Asia’s property market, corporate governance and CSR,<br />
meeting Asia’s infrastructure development, and how Asia<br />
can have a sustainable future. Other speakers included<br />
Sandy Flockhart; CEO HongKong and Shanghai Bank;<br />
Dr Sarah Liao, former Secretary of Environment and<br />
Public Works Hong Kong Government; Stephen Riady,<br />
President Lippo Group Indonesia; Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew,<br />
Deputy Chairman and Founder, Country Heights Group<br />
Malaysia; Mr Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister Penang;<br />
Ronald Arculli, Chairman Hong Kong Exchanges; Mr CY<br />
Leung, Member Hong Kong Executive Council; Andrew<br />
Brandler, CEO CLP Holdings; Dr Fu Yu Ning, President<br />
China Merchants Group; Mr Martin Craigs, President<br />
Pacific Basin Economic Council and Mr. Ian Buchanan<br />
Senior Executive Adviser, Booz & Co, Australia.<br />
The conference was sponsored by Hang Lung Group,<br />
Better Hong Kong Foundation, Petra Group and Cathay<br />
Pacific. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange<br />
Mr Ronald Arculli warned that the worst of the financial<br />
crisis is yet to come. “We are sitting right at the heart<br />
of the crisis, the volatile market and credit crunch may<br />
last for some time”. However, Ronnie Chan Chairman<br />
of Asia Society and Hang Lung Group said the winter<br />
will pass.<br />
In the concluding session Penang Chief Minister Lim<br />
Guan Eng said Penang will be turned from a sweatshop<br />
to smart shop. Mr CY Leung a member of Hong Kong’s<br />
Executive Council said Asia should not waste a good<br />
start and should focus on a new shared vision. Finally<br />
there was a consensus that Asia should take the lead<br />
in climate change and should focus on sustainable<br />
development initiatives including moving towards a low<br />
carbon economy.<br />
Mr. Stuart Dean, Mr. Martin Crawford, Dr. Fu Yu Ning, President<br />
China Merchants Group and Mr. Ramakrishnan of Bajaj Group India.<br />
Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Mr. Ian Buchanan, Mr. Mirzan Mahathir & Prof.<br />
William Miller.<br />
Hong Kong Stock Exchange Chairman Mr. Ronald Arculli speaking<br />
during lunch.
MALAYSIA-INDIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE<br />
Meeting at the Prime Minister’s office with the Malaysia-India Strategic Dialogue delegation. Flanking<br />
the Prime Minister are Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.<br />
Group photograph with the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister’s office of members of the Malaysia-<br />
India Strategic Dialogue.<br />
The Prime Minister welcoming the Leader of the Indian delegation Ambassador Satinder Lambah.<br />
The Malaysia-India Strategic Dialogue was initiated by the Confederation<br />
of Indian Industry, New Delhi and ASLI. It was held over a two-day period<br />
in Kuala Lumpur and covered a wide range of bilateral issues. The Indian<br />
delegation was led by Ambassador Satinder Lambah, Special Envoy of the<br />
Prime Minister of India and included the Media Adviser to the Indian Prime<br />
Minister Dr. Sanjaya Baru and other business leaders.<br />
After a closed-door exchange of views, the delegation called on the Prime<br />
Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. A wide ranging discussion was<br />
held with the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s office. ASLI’s CEO Dato’<br />
Dr. Michael Yeoh outlined the key issues discussed during the Strategic<br />
Dialogue to the Prime Minister.<br />
During the meeting with the Prime Minister, Ambassador Lambah conveyed<br />
the Indian Prime Minister’s personal regards to Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad<br />
Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with President of the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of<br />
Commerce Dato Kenneth Eswaran and ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
Badawi. He also strongly felt that we need to remove negative perceptions<br />
about Malaysia and India in both countries and he proposed a Malaysia-India<br />
Partnership Foundation to be established as a public private sector initiative.<br />
The Prime Minister replied that he is happy the Indian delegation has come<br />
with a mission and vision to improve relations between our two countries.<br />
He said that the historical ties between Malaysia and India is a long standing<br />
one and that the Malaysian Civil Service was modeled along the lines of<br />
the India Civil Service. He agrees in principle to the suggestion of setting<br />
up a Malaysia-India Foundation. The Prime Minister also said that Malaysia<br />
companies have been active in India and Indian companies have been active<br />
in Malaysia.<br />
At the Strategic Dialogue, several issues were discussed. There is a<br />
recognition to better manage perceptions on both sides to close the perception<br />
gap. It was also suggested that closer collaboration be established between<br />
Minister of International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin receiving a memento from the<br />
Indian delegation leader Ambassador Satinder Lambah.<br />
10<br />
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng with Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam Ms Jean Wong and Dato Dr.<br />
Michael Yeoh.
MALAYSIA-INDIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE<br />
The Indian delegation at Lunch with the Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister<br />
Prof. Ramasamy.<br />
MIDA Director General Dato Jalilah Baba with Ambassador Satinder Lambah.<br />
Dato Seri Samy Vellu, Ambassador Satinder Lambah, Deputy Minister Datuk Devamany.<br />
centres of excellence. The tremendous potential in education was highlighted.<br />
Tourism is another key sector that has potential for further development.<br />
Greater collaboration in outsourcing opportunities was also raised. Another<br />
proposal put forward is to work together on research and development and<br />
development of small and medium industries.<br />
The Indian side felt there could be closer collaboration between the two<br />
countries on global issues such as energy security, food security, financial<br />
flows, climate change and combating terrorism. There was also a suggestion<br />
to make Malaysia a biotech hub for India and proposal for Malaysian<br />
entrepreneurs to plant onions in Kerala as most of Malaysian onions come<br />
from Kerala.<br />
The Malaysia-India CEO Forum was also held alongside the Strategic<br />
Dialogue. The Minister of International Trade & Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin<br />
Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha with Mr. Dilip Chenoy, Mr. P.D. Khedekar, Mr. David Wong<br />
and Prof. Lee Poh Ping.<br />
Yassin delivered the Opening Keynote Address at this forum attended by<br />
Malaysian and Indian CEO’s. The Indian delegation highlighted India’s<br />
economic re-integration into Asia and the evolving framework of India-<br />
East Asia relations including the conclusion of an India-ASEAN FTA on<br />
closer economic cooperation agreement. The forum discussed how to get<br />
a larger Indian business presence in Malaysia as there are over 200 Indian<br />
companies in Singapore compared to only 74 in Malaysia.<br />
Among other issues discussed were having exchange of scholars and<br />
visiting professors between the two countries and the establishment of a<br />
Chair of Malaysian Studies in India and a Chair of India Studies in Malaysia.<br />
Media collaboration was another area covered. It was agreed an exchange<br />
of editors and journalists would be beneficial. There was agreement that<br />
future strategic dialogues should include civil society organizations. The<br />
next Malaysia-India Strategic Dialogue will be held in New Delhi in 2009.<br />
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Ambassador Dato Choo Siew Kioh.<br />
11<br />
Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha, Ambassador Satinder Lambah and Dr. Sanjaya Baru former<br />
Press Secretary to Prime Minister India.
EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS<br />
ASLI Senior Vice President Ms Jean Wong greeting the Prime Minister whilst Kamala, Dato Dr. Michael<br />
Yeoh and Tan Sri Navaratnam look on.<br />
The Regent of Negri Sembilan with Tan Sri Navaratnam, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and the Japanese<br />
Ambassador.<br />
Minister of Energy Water and Communications Dato Shaziman Abu Mansor with Japanese Ambassador<br />
Horie and ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
Minister of International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Opening of the Malaysia-<br />
India CEO forum.<br />
Mr. Low Tuck Seng, Mr. Michael Chow, Ms. Jean Wong, Prof. William Miller, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew and Dato<br />
Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
Dato Seri Effendi Norwawi, Dato Razman Hashim and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
ASLI Trustee and Chairman Telekom Malaysia Tan Sri Radzi Mansor with Deputy Minister of Energy,<br />
Water and Communications Dato Joseph Salong, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and Ms Jean Wong.<br />
Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz with Dato Razman Hashim & Ms. Jean Wong.<br />
ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting the ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan at the ASEAN<br />
Education Forum in Honoi.<br />
A delegation from the Royal College of Defence Studies UK calling on ASLI.<br />
12
EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS<br />
Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak arriving at ASLI’s Capital Market Summit accompanied by Dato Dr.<br />
Michael Yeoh, Dato Sri Zarinah Anwar and Ms. Jean Wong.<br />
Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Ambassador Horie, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Dato Sri Zarinah Anwar,<br />
Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah, Dato Razman Hashim, Dato Johan Raslan, Ms. Jean Wong and Tan Sri Radzi<br />
Mansor.<br />
Lion Group Chairman Tan Sri William Cheng, MUI Group Chairman Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng, PPMC<br />
Chairman Dato Majid Khan, INTI Group CEO Tan Yew Sing and Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong.<br />
ASLI Director Dato Razman Hashim, Japanese Ambassador Horie, Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah and Tan Sri<br />
Navaratnam welcoming Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak.<br />
THE INAUGURAL GLOBAL EMERGING MARKETS SUMMIT 2008<br />
The Global Emerging Markets Summit 2008 was co-organized by ASLI and Perception<br />
Management International Sdn Bhd (PMI). The idea was mooted in October 2007 by<br />
PMI and crystallized with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both<br />
organizations as founding partners and sponsors. It was agreed that should the project<br />
succeed, it would be institutionalized for the long term. Part of the agenda was to tap into<br />
the growing importance of the global emerging market in the context of the changing<br />
international economic order. GEMS made its debut in London from August 5-6 and<br />
the response was positive.<br />
At the Opening Ceremony, the Opening Address was delivered by Sir John Stuttard,<br />
Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, and followed by the Keynote Address on “The Role of<br />
Tourism in the Branding & Development of Emerging Markets” delivered by the<br />
Honourable Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia.<br />
Among the key topics in the programme were Global Economic Challenges & Emerging<br />
Markets: The Rise of China and East Asia, BRIC & Mortar - Real Estate Potential in<br />
Emerging Markets, Africa Beyond Aid -The Time Has Come, Relooking ASEAN - Has<br />
Southeast Asia Regained its Shine, Energy & Infrastructure in the Middle-East and<br />
Investing in Emerging Markets - Managing Risks, Maximising Returns.<br />
GEMS 08 featured 20 international speakers from 10 countries - Ghana, Malaysia,<br />
the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brussels,<br />
South Africa. Among the distinguished speakers were Mr. Ronnie Chan, Chairman,<br />
Hang Lung Properties, Hong Kong; Mr. Stephen Perry, Chairman, The 48 Group Club,<br />
United Kingdom; Mr. David Fouquet, Former Secretary - General of Europe <strong>Institute</strong><br />
for Asia Studies & Director of Asia Europe Project, Brussels; Dato’ Ikmal Hijaz Hashim,<br />
CEO, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Malaysia; Mr. Edward Boateng,<br />
Chairman, Millennium Development Authority (MIDA), Ghana; Mr. John Battersby,<br />
Country Manager United Kingdom, International Marketing Council of South Africa; Mr.<br />
Roger Hayes, Senior Counselor, APCO Worldwide & Board of Trustees, Malaysia-<br />
Europe Forum; Mr. Asif Ahmad, Head of South East Asia Pacific Group, Foreign and<br />
Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom; Mr. Peter E Barker-Homek, Chief Executive<br />
Officer, TAQA (Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), UAE; Datuk Dr Mohd Ghazali<br />
Md Noor, Director, Strategic Planning Office, Islamic Development Bank Group,<br />
Saudi Arabia; Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, CEO, Commonwealth Telecommunications<br />
Organisation, United Kingdom; Mr. Nicholas Moy, Group Chairman, Gryphon Emerging<br />
Markets; Mr. Low Tuck Seng, Managing Director, Frey Capital AG, Switzerland; and<br />
Ms. Alayne Reesberg, Reesberg Partners, United Kingdom.<br />
The inaugural GEMS was rounded up with a Luncheon Talk by Her Excellency Madam<br />
Fu Ying, Ambassador, The People’s Republic of China to the UK.<br />
Lord Mayor of London Sir John Stuttard, Tourism Minister Dato Seri Azalina Othman Said and Dato Dr.<br />
Michael Yeoh.<br />
Hang Lung Group Chairman Mr. Ronnie Chan, Mr. Stephen Perry, Mr. David Fouquet.<br />
Datuk S.K. Lingham, Dato Ikmal Hijaz, Dato Dr. Mohamed Ghazali Noor, Ambassador Fu Ying and Dato<br />
Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
13<br />
The Organizers, Speakers and <strong>Asian</strong> Ambassadors in London at the Summit.
ASLI CO-ORGANIZE BILL CLINTON LECTURE<br />
ASLI Director Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam with The Hon. Bill Clinton.<br />
Datuk Vinod Sekhar and the Hon. Bill Clinton.<br />
The <strong>Asian</strong> <strong>Strategy</strong> and <strong>Leadership</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> (ASLI) co-organised the Public<br />
Lecture in Kuala Lumpur by the Hon Bill Clinton, former President of USA. The<br />
former President was invited by Dato’ Vinod Sekhar to deliver the Sekhar Memorial<br />
Lecture and to receive the BC Sekhar Medal for transformational leadership.<br />
Former President Clinton spoke on Building Common Humanity and answered<br />
several questions. It was the former President’s first visit to Malaysia.<br />
President Clinton stressed that we live today in a <strong>more</strong> interdependent world than<br />
at any time in history. He said we have to change the way we think. He also spoke<br />
about the importance of sustainability and energy and shared his perspectives on<br />
the Arab-Israeli conflict.<br />
Chairman ASLI Foundation & Sunway Group Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah and the US Ambassador James<br />
Keith.<br />
The former President emphasised that every country must put its own house in<br />
order. He stressed that we have no choice but to share the future.<br />
Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Chairman ASLI Foundation, Plantation Industry and Commodities Minister<br />
Datuk Peter Chin, Tun Hanif Omar & Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at the Bill Clinton VIP Reception.<br />
Dato Chew Chee Kin, Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Khas, Dato Seri Effendi<br />
Norwawi, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and US Ambassador James Keith at the Clinton VIP Reception.<br />
ASLI COO Ms. Jean Wong greeting Tourism Minister Dato Seri Azalina at the Clinton Lecture.<br />
Dato Seri Dr. Jamaluddin Jarjis having a word with Datuk Peter Chin at the Clinton Lecture. Behind are<br />
Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock and Khairy Jamaluddin.<br />
Central Bank Governor Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz having a word with Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Tun Hanif<br />
Omar and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
UMNO Deputy Youth Leader Khairy Jamaluddin having a word with Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Dato Dr.<br />
Michael Yeoh and Ms. Jean Wong.<br />
14
NATIONAL TOURISM FORUM 2008<br />
Dato Sri Azalina Dato Othman Said, Minister of Tourism with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at the official<br />
opening of National Tourism Forum.<br />
Distinguished panel of speakers at the forum: Dato Kee Phaik Cheen, Chairman of Penang Tourism<br />
Action Council, Dato Razali Hj Mohd Daud, Acting Director-General, Tourism Malaysia, Mr. Anthony<br />
Wong, Group Managing Director of <strong>Asian</strong> Overland Services Tours & Travel and Dr. Wong Kong Yew,<br />
Programme Director of Taylor’s College-School of Hospitality and Tourism.<br />
Dato Mokhzani Mahathir and the ASLI Team.<br />
The National Tourism Forum 2008 was held on 25 - 26 September 2008 at the Prince<br />
Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur, with the theme, “The Evolution and the Implications<br />
of Tourism Dynamics”. The forum had attracted the participation of key executives and<br />
decision & policy-makers from the government agencies, industry associations, NGOs,<br />
hotels & resorts, airlines & airports, travel & tour operators, retailers as well as public and<br />
private investors with vested interest in the Tourism and its downstream industries.<br />
As one of the world’s fastest growing industries and the second largest revenue<br />
earner in Malaysia, the Tourism industry is the backbone of enormous businesses and<br />
employment opportunities for thousands of Malaysians. In its dynamic evolution since<br />
the new millennium, we have seen the advent of many new tourism facets and the<br />
proliferation of the Internet which allowed greater price transparency and control for<br />
travelers. It had also weathered numerous economic cycles, endured terrorism threats<br />
& attacks, outbreaks of diseases and natural disasters, all of which have significantly<br />
impacted the industry. As organizations and individuals the world over are faced with<br />
volatile oil prices, inflation and increasing cost of operations/living, travel and tourism will<br />
inadvertently be impacted once again.<br />
In the Keynote Address, Dato’ Sri Azalina Dato’ Othman Said, Minister of Tourism,<br />
commended on the strong performance of the industry which has been growing steadily<br />
for the past 10 years and reached a new high of 20.9 million tourist arrivals in 2007. She<br />
was also confident that Malaysia is on track to achieve the targeted tourist arrival of 22.5<br />
million by the end of 2008. Responding to queries from the floor at the question and<br />
answer session afterwards, Dato’ Sri Azalina acknowledged that persistent problems<br />
such as the quality of taxi services were a nuisance to the industry. However, she added<br />
that this was likely to be the case of ‘one bad apple spoils the barrel’ and was sure<br />
that the ministry and relevant authorities had been monitoring the situation and would<br />
continue to do so to contain these problems.<br />
The forum then proceeded with presentations and panel discussions that covered a<br />
broad range of travel and tourism related issues over the course of the 2-day forum.<br />
They included topics such as Discovering New Tourism Facets and Strengthening<br />
Established Tourism Segments, Risks and Opportunities in Sports Tourism: Ploughing<br />
Deeper to Boost Yields, Going Green: Discussing the Expectations and Deliverance<br />
Key players of the Medical Tourism Industry: Mr. Suresh Ponnudurai, Managing Director of MalaysiaHealthCare.<br />
com, Dr. Chong Su-Lin, CEO of Sunway Medical Center, Dato’ Teddric Mohr, CEO/President of Penang Adventist<br />
Hospital and Mr. Stuart Pack, CEO of Hospitality, Leisure & Health Division, Country Heights Holdings Bhd.<br />
of Ecotourism, The Personnel Touch: Panel Discussion on Human Capital in Tourism<br />
Sector, Marching in the Medical Tourists: A Healthy Outlook, Malaysia Truly Asia:<br />
Selling Malaysia and the Malaysian Culture, When All Good Intentions Fail: The Cavity<br />
in the Tourism Sector and Panel Discussion: Malaysia vs. Asia: Regional Tourism for<br />
Increased Tourist Traffic.<br />
The panel of speakers, panelists and moderators was made up of experienced and<br />
prominent players from various sectors of the industry. They were Dato’ Razali Hj Mohd<br />
Daud - Acting Director-General, Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Kee Phaik Cheen - Chairman,<br />
Penang Tourism Action Council, Ms Elizabeth Wong - Chairman, Selangor Tourism,<br />
Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee, Ms Gracie Geikie - Chief Executive<br />
Officer, Sarawak Tourism Board, Dato’ Mokhzani Mahathir - Chairman, Sepang<br />
International Circuit Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Pardip Kumar Kukreja - Executive Chairman,<br />
Grand Paradise Holdings Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Teddric Mohr - CEO/President, Penang<br />
Adventist Hospital, Datuk Ismail Adam - Council Member, Badan Warisan Malaysia,<br />
Datuk Hj Mhd Amin Nordin bin Abd Aziz - Deputy Director General of Services, DBKL,<br />
Mr. Ahmad Kamil Mohamed - President, Malaysia Sports Tourism Council, SAC II Ku<br />
Chin Wah - Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Kuala Lumpur, Polis Diraja Malaysia,<br />
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Badaruddin Mohamed - Tourism Research Circle, Universiti Sains<br />
Malaysia, Dr Asma Abdullah - Intercultural Consultant & Facilitator, Dr Chong Su-Lin -<br />
Chief Executive Officer, Sunway Medical Centre, Dr Loh Chi Leong - Executive Director,<br />
Malaysian Nature Society, Dr Shamsudin Ibrahim - Director of Forestry Division, FRIM,<br />
Dr Wong Kong Yew - Programme Director, Bachelor & Master Degree Programmes,<br />
Taylor’s College - School of Hospitality and Tourism, Mr. Rohizam Md Yusoff - Chief<br />
Executive Officer, VirtualMalaysia.com, Mr. Anthony Wong - Group Managing Director,<br />
<strong>Asian</strong> Overland Services Tours &Travel, Mr. Jimmy Leong - President, Malaysia Tourist<br />
Guides Council (MTGC), Mr. Kenneth Kassem – Marine Coordinator, WWF Malaysia,<br />
Mr. Mark Lankester - Chief Executive Officer, Tune Hotels Sdn Bhd, Mr. Phua Tai<br />
Neng - Chief Operating Officer, Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Mr.<br />
Reginald T Pereira - Chief Operating Officer, Malaysia Association of Hotels Training<br />
and Education Centre (MAHTEC), Mr. Stuart Pack - CEO of Hospitality, Leisure &<br />
Health Tourism Division, Country Heights Holdings Berhad, Mr. Suresh Ponnudurai -<br />
Managing Director, MalaysiaHealthCare.com and Ms Joyce Yap - President, Malaysian<br />
Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management.<br />
Chairman of Selangor Tourism, Consumer affairs and Environment Committee Ms Elizabeth Wong,<br />
President of Tourism Educators Association of Malaysia Assoc. Prof. Dr. Badaruddin Mohamed and CEO<br />
of Sarawak Tourism Board Ms Gracie Geikie at a panel discussion.<br />
15<br />
Mr. Phua Tai Neng, Chief Operating Officer of MATTA, Ms Joyce Yap, President of PPK Malaysia, Dato<br />
Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Executive Chairman of Grand Paradise Holdings Sdn Bhd, Mr. Reginald Pereira,<br />
Chief Operating Officer of MAHTEC and Mr. Mark Lankester, CEO of Tune Hotels Sdn Bhd.
NATIONAL PROPERTY & HOUSING SUMMIT 2008<br />
Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam having a word with Dato Seri Ong Ka Chuan, whilst Dato Razman Hashim<br />
looks on.<br />
A group photo with the Summit Sponsors with Dato Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of Housing and Local<br />
Government officiating the event.<br />
Dato Razman Hashim, ASLI’s Director presenting a memento to Dato Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of<br />
Housing and Local Government.<br />
The National Property & Housing Summit 2008, which was held over<br />
a course of two days from 13th to 14th November 2008 at Sunway<br />
Resort Hotel & Spa, Bandar Sunway, has again turned out to be<br />
another success. This year’s summit was co-organized with REHDA<br />
and FIABCI Malaysia and supported by the National House Buyers<br />
Association.<br />
This year’s theme on “Coping with Current Economic Challenges -<br />
Towards Sustainable Property Development” was meant to reflect the<br />
current economic backdrop of the property and housing sector and how<br />
property players could work together towards sustainability in property<br />
businesses in times of economic challenges.<br />
At the Opening Ceremony, the Minister of Housing & Local Government,<br />
Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan officiated the ceremony and delivered the<br />
Opening Keynote Address. The CEO Roundtable discussion followed<br />
immediately after the morning break. Among the key panelists present<br />
were Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, Deputy Chairman of Country Heights<br />
Holdings Berhad; Datuk Eddy Chen, President of ASEAN Association<br />
for Planning & Housing and Managing Director of Metro Kajang; and<br />
Mr. Lai Voon Hon, Executive Director, Ireka Corporation Bhd and<br />
President/CEO, Ireka Development Management. The roundtable<br />
From L to R: Mr. George Stewart LaBrooy CEO/Executive Director, AXIS REIT Managers Bhd, Datuk Ng<br />
Seing Liong, JP, President of Rehda, Dato F.D. Iskandar, Group Managing Director, Glomac Bhd and Sr<br />
Elvin Fernandez, Managing Director, Khong & Jaafar.<br />
discussion was moderated by Datuk Jeffrey Ng, Executive Director of<br />
Sunway City Bhd and Immediate Past President of REHDA.<br />
In the roundtable discussion, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew shared with<br />
participants some tips on his marketing plans in times of economic<br />
downturn. He reckoned that local players should go overseas and bring<br />
back investors rather than depending entirely on domestic demand and<br />
in order to survive, being innovative and creative does not only apply<br />
to product development, but also to proper implementation (of property<br />
development) and marketing strategies in property businesses. On<br />
the other hand, Datuk Eddy reasoned that despite the fact that the<br />
economy might be facing a recession soon, and the outcome also<br />
depends on the global economic outlook. He added that companies<br />
needed to re-look at their financial management and balance sheet as<br />
property might face asset devaluation. He did not foresee a crash in the<br />
property sector, but expected a downturn instead. He suggested that<br />
the public should not be panic, and should instead believe in a property<br />
cycle where what go up must come down and vice versa for what come<br />
down must go up. Mr. Lai Voon Hon also shared similar thought that<br />
property players should go out and explore, sell products that meet the<br />
market needs in economic downturn and avoid low-cost marketing trap.<br />
Datuk Jeffrey rounded up the discussion and added that the promotion<br />
Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam highlighting a point whilst Datuk Eddy Chen and Dato Chew Chee Kin<br />
look on.<br />
Dato Voon Tin Yow, Executive Director & COO SP Setia Bhd addressing the audience with him is BG (Rtd)<br />
Datuk Goh Seng Toh, Honorary Vice-President, National House Buyers Association.<br />
16
NATIONAL PROPERTY & HOUSING SUMMIT 2008<br />
ASLI’s Director, Dato Razman Hashim presenting a memento to the Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri<br />
Dato Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.<br />
on Malaysia My Second Home should be in the agenda of the Ministry<br />
of Tourism.<br />
On the first day, the Luncheon Keynote Address on “Property<br />
Development in the Selangor State” was delivered by the Chief Minister<br />
of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. The second day’s Luncheon<br />
Address on “Incorporating Feng Shui in Property Development” was<br />
delivered by Mr. Joey Yap, CEO of Yap Global Consulting.<br />
Among the key issues and new developments discussed in the summit<br />
were globalization and liberalization of the property sector and its<br />
impact on Malaysian developers, islamic mortgages and potential of<br />
islamic finance in housing & property development, innovation and<br />
branding in property development - key success factors, towards<br />
sustainable development - best practices in sustainability and green<br />
development, where are the new property hot spots and how will the<br />
economic climate impact on real estate investment and success stories<br />
in Malaysia Real Estate.<br />
Among those who presented ideas and spoke at the summit were<br />
Datuk Ng Seing Liong, JP, President, REHDA; Datuk Richard Fong,<br />
Dato Lee Yeow Chor, Executive Director of IOI Properties, Tan Sri Dato Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Chief<br />
Minister of Selangor and Dato Razman Hashim, ASLI’s Director at the Luncheon Address. IOI Properties<br />
is the Luncheon Host Sponsor for the Summit.<br />
President, FIABCI Malaysia; Sr Elvin Fernandez, MD, Khong & Jaafar<br />
Sdn Bhd; Mr. George Stewart LaBrooy, CEO/ Executive Director, Axis<br />
REIT Managers Bhd; Dato’ F.D. Iskandar, Group Managing Director,<br />
Glomac Bhd; Dato’ Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, Executive Chairman,<br />
Rahim & Co. Chartered Surveyors; Dato’ Voon Tin Yow, Executive<br />
Director & COO, SP Setia Bhd; Brigadier General (R) Datuk Goh Seng<br />
Toh , Honorary Vice-president, National House Buyers Association;<br />
Mr. Ngian Siew Siong, MD, Sunway City; Mr. David Mizan Hashim,<br />
Founding Principal, Veritas Design Group; Mr. Colin Ng Cho Leng,<br />
Head of Corporate Investment, Goldis Bhd, YM Tengku Abdul Aziz<br />
Tengku Mahmud, Head, Property Development, Sime Darby Property<br />
Berhad; Mr. Hamzah Saari, Head of Consumer Banking, CIMB Islamic<br />
Bank; Pn Rajashahridatul, Head, Product Planning & Development,<br />
RHB Islamic Bank; Mr. Azizi Ali, Senior VP/Head of Islamic Business<br />
& Securitization, Cagamas; Mr. Ho Chin Soon, Director, Ho Chin Soon<br />
Research; Mr. Ismail B. Ibrahim, Federal Commissioner, Iskandar<br />
Regional Development Authority; Dato’ Alan Tong Kok Mau, Executive<br />
Chairman, Bukit Kiara Properties; Mr. Yusof Abu Othman, Senior<br />
General Manager, EMKAY Group; and Dato’ Dr Lian Chin-Boon,<br />
Professor Emeritus & Director, Pulai Springs Resort.<br />
Distinguished Panelists of the CEO Roundtable Discussion. L to R: Mr. Lai Voon Hon, Executive Director, Ireka<br />
Corporation Bhd, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, Deputy Chairman, Country Heights Holdings Bhd and Datuk Jeffrey Ng,<br />
Executive Director, Sunway City Bhd.<br />
From L to R: YM Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mahmud, Head-Property Development, Sime Darby Property<br />
Bhd, Mr. Ismail Ibrahim, Federal Commissioner, Iskandar Regional Development Authority and Mr. Ho<br />
Chin Soon, Director, Ho Chin Soon Research.<br />
A panel of distinguished speakers: Mr. David Mizan Hashim, Founding Principal, Veritas Design Group, Mr.<br />
Ngian Siew Siong, Managing Director, Sunway City and Mr. Colin Ng, Head of Corporate Investment, Goldis.<br />
Dato Alan Tong, Executive Chairman, Bukit Kiara Properties addressing the Summit.<br />
17
THE 2 ND ASEAN EDUCATION FORUM<br />
Vietnam’s Vice-Minister of Education and Training Prof Banh Tien Long with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael<br />
Yeoh.<br />
The ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan with the Joint Organisers of the Forum.<br />
Speakers at the Forum with the ASEAN Secretary General.<br />
In 2007, following ASEAN’s adoption of ASEAN Charter on its 40th Anniversary,<br />
the 1st ASEAN Education Forum was held and had gallantly taken the first step in<br />
a journey towards the development of ASEAN education space.<br />
Following the success of the inaugural forum, the ASEAN Education Forum was<br />
held for the second time on 19 November 2008 at the Vietnam National University,<br />
Hanoi (VNU). This year’s forum took place amidst a challenging time in the global<br />
economic landscape - a time when the need for ASEAN to retain its economic<br />
resilience cannot be further emphasized.<br />
With education being seen as key to continuous progress, development and<br />
competitiveness of ASEAN, the education community had decided to take on a<br />
<strong>more</strong> proactive role in furthering regional cooperation and alliance in education<br />
development. As such, ASLI had the opportunity to jointly co-organise this forum<br />
with 2 key stakeholders from the industry - VNU and the Vietnam University<br />
Network. The forum also enjoyed the support of the Vietnamese government<br />
via Vietnam National Council of Education (VNCE) which acted as one of the<br />
supporting organisations, alongside the Hanns Seidel Foundation.<br />
Themed “Bridging the Gap within the ASEAN Community: Education for All”, the<br />
forum called for <strong>more</strong> result-orientated efforts to develop new education partnerships<br />
in ASEAN with the objective to promote closer collaboration in Education, Human<br />
Capital Development and Training among both the Public and Private education<br />
sectors in ASEAN countries.<br />
In his Opening Address, Professor Dr Mai Trong Nhuan, President of VNU stressed<br />
on the importance of enhanced cooperation, exchange and integration for improved<br />
education quality and coming together to overcome poverty and backwardness to<br />
advance together towards common prosperity of the ASEAN region. An educationfor-all<br />
system can help to diminish and eradicate the disadvantages in education<br />
From Left: Prof. Dato Hassan Said, Mr. Thai of Hanns Siedel Foundation, Dr. Nantana of the Asean<br />
University Network, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Mr. Andrew Crow of Oracle and Prof. Robin Pollard of Monash<br />
University.<br />
opportunities, in order to shorten the knowledge gap that currently persists within<br />
various groups and communities of each nation.<br />
At the Closing Keynote Address, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary-General,<br />
reiterated the importance of the education space development for ASEAN as<br />
reflected the in ASEAN Social-Cultural Community - one of the three main pillars<br />
of ASEAN community. He also remarked that it is only through education that pride<br />
and spirit of ASEAN-ness can be effectively inculcated in its citizens.<br />
Other distinguished speakers and moderators who participated at the forum<br />
were Prof. Dr Banh Tien Long - Vice Minister, Ministry of Education and Training,<br />
Vietnam (MOET), Mr. Karl-Peter Schoenfisch - Director, Hanns Seidel Foundation,<br />
Prof. Dr Nguyen Hoa - Rector, College of Foreign Languages, VNU, Prof. Dato’ Dr<br />
Hassan Said, Vice Chancellor & President, Taylor’s University College, Malaysia,<br />
Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Nga - Director, Center of Quality Assurance<br />
and Education Development, VNU, Assoc. Prof. Nantana Gajaseni - Deputy<br />
Executive Director, ASEAN University Network, Prof. Alan K. L. Chan - Associate<br />
Provost, National University Singapore, Prof. Nguyen An Ninh - Director General,<br />
Department of Examination & Accreditation, MOET, Assoc. Prof. Pham Hong Tung,<br />
Vice Director, R&D Department, VNU, Mr. Peter Ng - President & Vice Chancellor,<br />
UCSI University, Malaysia, Prof. Robin Pollard - Pro Vice Chancellor & President<br />
- Malaysia, Monash University, Prof. Dr Vu Minh Giang - Vice President, VNU,<br />
Prof. Dr Cao Van Sam, Vice Director-General, Department of Vocation Training,<br />
Ministry of Labor, Dr William Wan - Managing Director, Talent Plus Asia Pacific,<br />
Prof. Dato’ Dr Ansary Ahmed, President/CEO, Asia e-University, Prof. Dr Srisakdi<br />
Charmonman - Chairman and CEO, College of Internet Distance Education,<br />
Assumption University of Thailand, Mr. Andrew Crow - Education Industry Director<br />
- ASEAN, Oracle Corporation, Asia-Pacific, Prof. Dang Ung Van - Rector, Hoa Binh<br />
University, Hanoi and Mr. Thai Quang Trung - Regional Programme Coordinator,<br />
Hanns Siedel Foundation.<br />
UCSI University President and Vice Chancellor Dato Peter Ng with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
Prof Ian Pashby, CEO/Vice President Nottingham University Malaysia Campus addressing the Forum.<br />
18
CSR & SUSTAINABILITY BUSINESS CONFERENCE<br />
Datuk Shahrir Samad presenting a memento to Siemens Malaysia CEO Tan Sri Rainer Althoff for<br />
sponsoring the conference.<br />
Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Shahrir Samad with ASLI Director Puan Sri Susan<br />
Cheah and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.<br />
Puan Sri Susan Cheah presenting a memento to Datuk Peter Chin Minister of Plantation Industry and<br />
Commodities.<br />
Businesses today around the world, as well as their stakeholders, are becoming<br />
increasingly aware of the need for socially responsible behaviour especially in addressing<br />
the greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Business community’s adoption of<br />
CSR practices is in step with the global trend towards <strong>more</strong> responsible and responsive<br />
corporate behaviour. Companies now clearly have come to view that climate change<br />
mitigation as the most important social and environmental issue confronting our global<br />
community. A sustainable environment is essential for achieving and sustaining economic<br />
growth, poverty eradication, and human development.<br />
Equipped with the apt and timely theme “Accelerating CSR Practices beyond Boundaries”,<br />
ASLI was privileged to organize the CSR & Sustainability Business Conference on<br />
October 23, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur. The conference was<br />
officiated by Dato’ Shahrir Abdul Samad, Minister of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs<br />
and Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui delivered the Special Luncheon Address.<br />
In his Opening Keynote Address, - Dato’ Shahrir Samad stated that as we are faced<br />
with the increased pressure from internal and external stakeholders, <strong>more</strong> organizations<br />
are measuring and reporting on their social and environmental performance as well as<br />
the usual financial reporting measures. He added that the worldwide growth of socially<br />
responsible investment funds, investment rating systems such as the Dow Jones<br />
Sustainability Index and investment policy disclosure requirements have put pressures<br />
on companies to make these non-financial disclosures. Dato’ Shahrir also added that it<br />
has become increasingly clear that businesses, governments and citizens all have an<br />
interconnected stake in the health and well-being of the planet as well as its people.<br />
Sustainability necessarily involves many interconnected issues, from the acquisition and<br />
use of energy to fuel productive economies, to the impact of economic growth on local<br />
and regional environments and living conditions, to access to clean and abundant water<br />
and other natural resources. These issues, together with questions about how best to<br />
build healthy economies that can equally support burgeoning populations in high-growth<br />
regions, as well as aging populations in others, are all part of the dialogue on sustainability.<br />
Thus, as he concluded, CSR and sustainability have become increasingly intertwined.<br />
Datuk Shahrir Samad with sponsors of the Conference.<br />
In his Special Luncheon Address on “Sustainable Business for Sustainable Development”,<br />
Datuk Peter Chin stressed that corporate social responsibility is part of the wider<br />
sustainable development strategy, which emphasises the long-term economic growth,<br />
social cohesion and environmental protection. Sustainable development is becoming<br />
ever <strong>more</strong> important for companies, both in their business activities and in their activities<br />
as corporate citizens. Acting sustainably ensures a competitive advantage. He added that<br />
due to the increased importance of this fact, CSR or CR (corporate responsibility) should<br />
be a core part of a company’s business culture and feature in planning, implementation,<br />
staff policy and day-to-day decisions. He concluded that we need to ensure that in times<br />
of global financial crisis, we do not sway from the commitment we have pledged in social<br />
accountability. Globalization in itself has created new opportunities for enterprises. It has<br />
also increased their organizational complexity and the increasing extension of business<br />
activities has led to new responsibilities. In order for us to remain competitive, it would be<br />
in good faith to abide by both internationally and locally accepted standards of CSR.<br />
Among the distinguished role-players who spoke at the conference were Tan Sri<br />
Rainer Althoff, President / CEO of Siemens Malaysia Sdn. Bhd; Y.A. Dato’ Ranita<br />
Hussein, President of Advisory Council of Jurists, Asia Pacific Forum; Julian Wynter,<br />
Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia<br />
Berhad; Rasila Hamzah, Managing Director of Russ Consulting Sdn. Bhd; Gurmit Singh<br />
K.S., Chairman, Centre for Environment of Technology & Development (CETDEM);<br />
Ralph Dixon, Director of Environmental Investments of YTL Corporation Bhd; Surin<br />
Suksuwan, Technical Officer - Peninsular Malaysia of the WWF-Malaysia; Rajan<br />
Moses, Managing Director, of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Kuala Lumpur; Datuk<br />
Vinod B. Sekhar, Founder / President & Group Chief Executive of The Petra Group;<br />
Dato’ Ghazali Dato’ Yusoff, Executive Chairman of Nusantara Technologies Sdn Bhd;<br />
Adelina Iskandar, General Manager - Customer Services Division of SYABAS; Prof Dr<br />
Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President, Malaysian AIDS Council & Head, Infectious Disease<br />
Unit of UM Medical Centre (UMMC); Dr Geoffrey Williams, Managing Director of OWW<br />
Consulting Sdn. Bhd; Jeff Zweig, Chief Guru - Southeast Asia of the Web Guru Asia and<br />
Gaurav Rai, Hotel Manager of the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur.<br />
The CEO Roundtable with Mr. Julian Wynter CEO Standard Chartered Bank, Tan Sri Rainer Althoff CEO<br />
Siemens, Dato Ranita Hussein President Asia Pacific Advisory Council of Jurists and Mr. Andrew Chan<br />
Executive Director PricewaterhouseCoopers<br />
19<br />
Dato Shahrir Samad having a word with Mr. Thai of Hans Siedel Foundation and Mr. Julian Wynter CEO<br />
Standard Chartered Bank.
NATIONAL SUMMIT ON<br />
URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT<br />
Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Minister of Transport with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at the National Summit on Urban<br />
Public Transport.<br />
Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Chairman of Malaysia Airlines with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and<br />
Ms Jean Wong.<br />
Dato Hj Markiman Kobiran, Chairman of CVLB speaking at a panel discussion. Fellow panelists are Dr<br />
Aizi Razman Ismail, Undersecretary, Technical & Geospatial Division, Ministry of Federal Territories and<br />
Mr. Moaz Yusuf Ahmad, Advisor for TRANSIT-Klang Valley.<br />
The National Summit on Urban Public Transport, which was recently held on 18<br />
September 2008, at Gardens Hotel & Residences, saw participation of key industry<br />
players from the Government, Private Sectors, Civil Societies and Consumer Bodies to<br />
discuss the challenges of enhancing public transport and the way forward.<br />
Themed “Improving the Public Transport Delivery System”, the Summit recognised the<br />
absolute importance of a comprehensive public transport system to the development<br />
of a modern city. A good public transport system would be essential to a strong<br />
economy, an improvement in the quality of life and would lead to better environment<br />
for the urban community. An efficient system would also be able to link businesses<br />
with employees and customers and provide a realistic and cost-effective alternative<br />
to private vehicles.<br />
In the Keynote Address, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Minister of Transport, identified rising<br />
oil prices as one of the imperative factors of improving the public transport system<br />
as the public have become even <strong>more</strong> reliant on a <strong>more</strong> efficient system. The need<br />
to improve public transport system had been an ongoing issue and unfortunately,<br />
according to Datuk Ong, we are still grappling with the identified concerns. Datuk Ong<br />
also highlighted the misconception that public transportation is within the jurisdiction of<br />
Ministry of Transport when there are 13 different agencies jointly responsible in<br />
regulating public transport systems. This has lead to a number of complications and<br />
he vouched for the need of a single body that is recognized by the Government to be<br />
in charge of public transport. The single commission would be able to speed up the<br />
progress in resolving problems surrounding public transport and would be entitled in<br />
the enforcement, licensing, monitoring and transport fees, among others.<br />
Following that, a panel discussion on “Enhancing Public Transport in the Klang Valley”<br />
saw the participation of 3 distinguished panelists: Dato’ Hj. Markiman bin Kobiran<br />
- Chairman of Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, Dr Aizi Razman bin Ismail -<br />
Undersecretary, Technical & Geospatial Division, Ministry of Federal Territories and<br />
Mr. Moaz Yusuf Ahmad - Advisor, Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit<br />
Mr. Nithiyananthan Nesadurai, President of EPSM, Mr. Gurmit Singh, Chairman of CETDEM, Prof Dr.<br />
Abd Rahim Md Nor, Public Transport Expert & Professor of UKM, Datuk Eddy Chen, President of ASEAN<br />
Association for Planning & Housing, Ir. Dr. Gue See Sew, Managing Director of G&P Geotechnics, Mr. R.<br />
Nadeswaran, Editor of The Sun and Mr. Paul Selvaraj, CEO of Consumer Research & Resources Centre,<br />
FOMCA.<br />
(TRANSIT - Klang Valley). Issues such as issuance of license of public and commercial<br />
transport, sustainable development to encourage sustainable transportation and poor<br />
planning of public transportation were discussed with the participation from the floor.<br />
Next, the summit heard 2 special presentations by Mr. Uwe Ahrens - Chief Executive<br />
Officer, Melewar Integrated Engineering Sdn Bhd and Ir Dr Leong Siew Mun - Director<br />
of Urban Transport, DBKL. The presentations were titled “Success factors of Public<br />
Transportation Systems” and “Challenges in Public Transport Integration in Kuala<br />
Lumpur City” respectively.<br />
At the session entitled “Towards an Efficient Urban Public Transport”, panelists included<br />
Dato’ Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh - Chairman & Managing Director, Konsortium<br />
Transnasional Berhad, Dato’ Dr Thillainathan Ramasamy - Past President, Malaysia<br />
Economic Association, Mr. Shaipudin Shah Harun - Executive Director, Syarikat<br />
Prasarana Negara Berhad, Mr. Suffian Baharuddin - CEO, RapidKL, Prof. Sulik<br />
Suleiman Salleh - Public Transport Expert and Mr. V Kanesan, Senior Vice President,<br />
Special Projects, Scomi Group Berhad. The session was moderated by Tan Sri Dato’<br />
(Dr) Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman - Past Chairman of Chartered <strong>Institute</strong> of Logistics and<br />
Transport Malaysia, who in summary of the session, commented that for the past the<br />
industry has been facing similar problems for the past 30 years - regulatory issues, lack<br />
of masterplan, lack of integrated public transport system and lack of quality in delivery.<br />
He stressed on the urgency of taking correction actions or continue to grapple with the<br />
same problems that in time, would grow in magnitude.<br />
In the final session, an open forum on “Consumers’ & Users’ Perspectives on Urban<br />
Public Transport”, moderator Datuk Eddy Chen - President, ASEAN Association for<br />
Planning & Housing and Past President of REHDA, commented that there seemed<br />
to be conflicting priorities at various government departments and bodies involved<br />
In transportation. Integration remained as one of the important needs lacking in the<br />
system, along with accessibility to transport for both the abled and OKUs. He also<br />
noted that sustainable public transport needed to be looked at seriously, especially with<br />
impending climate change issues.<br />
Dato Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, Chairman & Managing Director of Konsortium Transnasional, Tan Sri<br />
Dato (Dr) Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Past President of Chartered <strong>Institute</strong> of Logistics and Transport<br />
Malaysia, Dato Dr. R. Thillainathan, Past President of Malaysia Economic Association and Mr. Suffian<br />
Baharuddin, CEO of RapidKL.<br />
Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Munir, Chairman of MAS, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Minister of<br />
Transport, Dato Ng Cheng Kuai, Dato Alan Tong Kok Mau, Group Chairman of Bukit Kiara Properties and<br />
Mr. James Beltran, Deputy Chairman of Melewar Holdings.<br />
20
Strategic Issues Forum (SIF)/Corporate Malaysia<br />
Roundtable (CMR) Royal Luncheon ADDRESS<br />
ASLI Director Dato Chew Chee Kin greeting the Regent of Negri Sembilan.<br />
ASLI Director and Chairman Strategic Issues Forum Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam presenting a memento<br />
to HRH The Regent.<br />
HRH The Regent of Negri Sembilan delivering his Royal Address.<br />
On November 26, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur, SIF/<br />
CMR organised a Special Royal Luncheon Address on “The Role of the<br />
Constitutional Monarchy in 21st Century Malaysia” with D.Y.M.M Tunku<br />
Naquiyuddin bin Tuanku Ja’afar, The Regent of Negeri Sembilan. The<br />
luncheon was well attended by corporate figures, Ambassadors, High<br />
Commissioners and NGOs and several civil societies.<br />
The Royal Address was apt and timely as recently the Conference of<br />
Rulers issued a Statement calling on Malaysians to abide by the Social<br />
Contract, which provides protection for all Malaysians. The Institution of<br />
the Malay Royalty is another key pillar in the Constitution of Malaysia - the<br />
other key pillars being Parliament (the Legislature), the Government (the<br />
Executive), and the Judiciary. Recently, HRH The Sultan of Selangor and<br />
HRH Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah, the Raja Muda of Perak have come to the<br />
forefront with their public pronouncements. The Malay Rulers constitute<br />
a key Institution in the Malaysian Constitution.<br />
HRH Tunku Naquiyuddin has called on royal immunity to be reinstated<br />
so that the constitutional monarchy can be restored to its full sovereignty.<br />
He added that if the Ruler were to exercise his duties in a fair, just and<br />
impartial manner to protect the Federal Constitution, his sovereignty<br />
needed to be protected too. The restoration would enable the<br />
constitutional monarchy to play a <strong>more</strong> fitting role in the 21st century<br />
as guardian of the Federal Constitution. He added that this was so the<br />
Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.<br />
endeavor to safeguard the interests of all communities, promote peace,<br />
prosperity, economic security and good governance could be fulfilled.<br />
Tunku Naquiyuddin also stated that the full immunity from civil and<br />
criminal proceedings should be reconsidered so that they are on par with<br />
other constitutional monarchs around the world but there should also be<br />
guidelines where immunity should not be given to rulers who physically<br />
abused the people. He added that it was ironic that judges were immune<br />
in the performance of their judicial functions but Rulers were not. He<br />
urged that we bring back the immunity, debate it and define it.<br />
HRH also added that the loss of immunity was perhaps the single biggest<br />
setback to the institution of the Ruler as there are a lot of people that<br />
were grateful where the country had Rulers to intervene in matters of<br />
interest because they did not want them messed up by politicians. He<br />
said a Ruler was a personage who had the keen sense of what the rakyat<br />
wanted.<br />
Politicians, as he added on, have a lot of self-interest and self-motivation,<br />
greed and corruption. Rulers become some sort of referee to instinctively<br />
come in to safeguard the constitution. HRH Tunku concluded that,<br />
sovereignty and immunity have always been symbiotic. It really becomes<br />
nonsensical that a sovereign Ruler can be taken to court for trying to<br />
protect the best interests of the nation and the people.<br />
Corporate Malaysia Roundtable Advisory Council Member Tan Sri Kishu Tirathrai with the Ambassadors<br />
of Ireland, Namibia, Norway and Russia.<br />
Dato Chew Chee Kin, Tengku Panglima Besar Negri Sembilan, Singapore High Commissioner Jesudasan,<br />
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk Joseph Adaikalam.<br />
21
MALAYSIA-CHINA BUSINESS COUNCIL<br />
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin flanked by MCBC Joint Chairmen Tun Musa Hitam and Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew.<br />
Tun Musa Hitam and Vice Mayor of Dalian officiating the Malaysia China Business and Investment Forum<br />
in Dalian, China.<br />
Tun Musa Hitam and CCPIT Vice Chairman Zhang Wei at the Joint<br />
Meeting of the Malaysia China Business Council in Dalian, China.<br />
Tun Musa Hitam, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah.<br />
Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Tun Musa Hitam and Mayor of Dalian Dr. Xia<br />
Deren.<br />
Tun Musa Hitam, Malaysian Joint Co-Chairman of the Malaysia-China Business<br />
Council (MCBC), led the Malaysian Delegation to Dalian, China in November 2008<br />
for the 5th Annual Joint Council Meeting and Malaysia-China Business Forum hosted<br />
by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).<br />
Approximately 60 members of the council from both Malaysia and China attended<br />
the 5th Annual Joint Council Meeting on 3rd November 2008 at Shangri-La Hotel,<br />
Dalian. Among the Malaysian delegation who attended the meeting were Dato Dr.<br />
Michael Yeoh - the Malaysian Joint Secretary-General of the MCBC and CEO of<br />
<strong>Asian</strong> <strong>Strategy</strong> and <strong>Leadership</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> (ASLI), Datuk David Chua - Malaysian Joint<br />
Secretary-General of the MCBC, Dato’ Abdul Majid Khan - Executive Chairman,<br />
INS Bioscience Bhd, Datuk Yong Ah Pwi - President, Malaysia-China Chamber of<br />
Commerce, Tan Sri Law Hiew Ding - Executive Chairman, Timber World Agencies<br />
Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Abdul Halim Harun - Group MD / CEO, UMW Corporation Sdn<br />
Bhd, Mr. Tan Koon Swan - Advisor, MCB Industries Sdn Bhd, Mr. Tan Yew Sing -<br />
President, INTI International Education Group, Mr. Tan Kai Hee - Managing Director,<br />
Hai-0 Enterprise Berhad, Mr. Zulkifly Zakaria - Executive Director, UMW Oil & Gas,<br />
Mr. Adlan Ahmad - Executive Director, Iskandar Investment, Mr. Lee Yong Ming -<br />
Director, MIDA, Shanghai, Ms Tan Mee-Wah - Executive Director, EPC Consulting<br />
Ltd, Ms Tham Choy Lin - China Bureau Chief, Bernama (Malaysian National News<br />
Agency), Ms Lau Mei San - Assistant Vice President - Communications, Iskandar<br />
Investment, Mr. Too Kia Hong - Trade Commissioner, MATRADE Beijing, Ms Chong<br />
Fei Shan - Head of the Malaysian MCBC Secretariat and Programme Director of<br />
ASLI.<br />
The Meeting was moderated by Datuk David Chua and co-chaired by the Hon.<br />
Tun Musa and H.E. Mr. Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of the CCPIT in a closed door<br />
conference hall at Shangri-La Hotel, Dalian.<br />
Tun Musa said in his welcome speech that this meeting was important as it<br />
presented an opportunity for council members to discuss about the future direction<br />
and further collaboration in the council. In the meeting, H.E. Mr. Zhang Wei also<br />
delivered welcome remarks and he hoped that this meeting could bring Malaysians<br />
to experience and see the development in Dalian. Subsequently, work and activities<br />
carried out by the council were reviewed and presented by Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh<br />
and Mr. Chen Zhengrong respectively. Both parties agreed to organize <strong>more</strong> future<br />
activities to further promote closer bilateral relationship between China and Malaysia<br />
especially in times of economic uncertainties and slowing global economies. There<br />
was also an engaging discourse and exchanges of views on government policies and<br />
strategic solutions that both countries would adopt in light of the rising pressure from<br />
the global economic meltdown.<br />
The Malaysia-China Business Forum 2008 with the theme “Business and Investment<br />
Opportunities in Malaysia and China” was held in conjunction with the 5th Annual<br />
Joint Council Meeting on the same day and was jointly organized by the China<br />
Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Malaysia-China Business<br />
Council. More than 130 delegates in the business community from Malaysia and<br />
China attended the forum. Tun Musa Hitam, Joint Co-Chairman of the MCBC, Mr.<br />
Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of the CCPIT, Mr. Dai Yulin, Vice Mayor of the People’s<br />
Government of Dalian and Member of the Standing Committee of the Dalian CPC<br />
Committee, Mr. Li Bozhou, Chairman of the CCPIT Dalian Sub-council, Ms Yu Tao,<br />
Vice Chairman of the CCPIT Dalian Sub-Council, Dato’ Dr. Michael Yeoh and Datuk<br />
David Chua - Malaysian Joint Secretaries-General of the MCBC, were among the<br />
eminent members and guests present at the forum.<br />
At his opening speech, Tun Musa mentioned that greater synergy could be forged<br />
through business partnership between business counterparts in both countries as<br />
conducting business or investing in a foreign country could be a daunting experience<br />
due to lack of knowledge and experience. Having a local partner in a foreign country<br />
could help ease off the pain and headaches of conducting businesses in a foreign<br />
country. Also, given the strong Chinese currency, Tun Musa urged Chinese Enterprises<br />
to invest in Malaysia and likewise, Malaysian companies to take advantage of the<br />
business opportunity presented in this forum.<br />
Mr. Zhang Wei said in his speech that as a result of the growing bilateral relationship<br />
between both countries, the bilateral trade between China and Malaysia had<br />
increased by 25.8% to US$36.1bil from January to August 2008. Consequently,<br />
China has become Malaysia’s 4th largest trade partner and exporter, and second<br />
largest importer. In particular, palm oil, rubber and electronics industries have huge<br />
markets in China. On the other hand, China’s machinery, light industry and textiles<br />
are popular in Malaysia. By the end of 2007, Malaysia’s business investment in China<br />
had amounted to US$390mil and it was the second largest in ASEAN countries. He<br />
believed that the bilateral trade could be boosted further with the China-ASEAN FTA’s<br />
final negotiation falling into place.<br />
Mr. Adlan Ahmad, Executive Director of Iskandar Investment, and Mr. Lee Ming Yong,<br />
Director of MIDA in Shanghai, were two invited Malaysian speakers at the forum.<br />
While Mr. Adlan spoke about the investment opportunities in Iskandar Investment, the<br />
Southern Development Corridor in the Johor State of Malaysia, Mr. Lee presented the<br />
investment opportunities in Malaysia.<br />
Earlier the MCBC held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Mines Resort City.<br />
This was preceded by a Golf Tournament. The Minister of International Trade and<br />
Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin opened the AGM.<br />
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin presenting a Golf prize to Tun Dzaiddin<br />
Abdullah whilst ASLI’s Ms Chong Fei Shan looks on.<br />
Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Gu, Datuk David Chua, Dato<br />
Dr. Michael Yeoh, Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng and Tan Sri Law Hieng Ding.<br />
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MCBC Members visiting the Dalian Development Area.
THE 5TH NATIONAL UTILITIES SUMMIT<br />
Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI accompanying Dato Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Energy,<br />
Water and Communications to the 5th National Utilities Summit.<br />
Mr. Gurmit Singh, Centre for Environment, Technology & Development Malaysia, Tan Sri Md Radzi Bin<br />
Mansor, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Mr. Abdul Wahab Bin Jaafar Sidek, Ministry Shareholders WatchDog<br />
Group, Mr. Michael Oh, Mr. Rosman Hamzah, Alstom Asia Pacific and Dato Teo Yen Hua, National Water<br />
Services Commission.<br />
German Ambassador, HE Dr. Guenter Georg Gruber having a discussion with ASLI’s CEO, Dato Dr.<br />
Michael Yeoh. Looking on is Dato Ghazali Dato Yusof, Board Member, MIDA.<br />
The 5th National Utilities Summit was held on 14th and 15th October 2008<br />
at Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur with a theme this year on “Plowing Through<br />
the New World Order - Towards Greener Developments, Greater Efficiency<br />
& Synergy”. Dato Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Water, Energy and<br />
Communications, officiated the Opening Ceremony and delivered the Opening<br />
Keynote Address at this National Summit.<br />
This unique annual summit was categorized into three main sectors of the<br />
national utilities industries: namely, water industry, energy industry and<br />
telecommunication and ICT sector. The summit started off with the first<br />
session: CEO Roundtable on ‘Overcoming Challenges & Moving Towards<br />
Efficiency’ that focused its discussion on industry update and recent changes<br />
in the national utilities industry, impact of recent political changes on the<br />
national policy & its implementation, key challenges in the national utilities<br />
industry moving forward, growth opportunities and sustainability in the utilities<br />
industry and overseas expansion opportunities. Key panelists who spoke<br />
at the roundtable discussion were Dato’ Pian Bin Sukro, Chairman, Energy<br />
Commission; Dato’ Teo Yen Hua, CEO, National Water Services Industry<br />
(SPAN); Dato’ Sri Che Khalib bin Mohamad Noh, President/Chief Executive<br />
Officer, Tenaga Nasional Bhd; and Datuk (Dr) Ir. Mohd Annas Mohd Nor,<br />
Special Advisor - International Business, Genting Sanyen Sdn Bhd & Former<br />
Chairman, Energy Commission.<br />
For the water industry, the key topics of discussion were integrated water<br />
resource management, sewerage sector under SPAN and greenhouse<br />
effects and sewage management - zero waste management. For the energy<br />
Dato Sri Che Khalib Bin Mohamad Noh, President/CEO, Tenaga Nasional Bhd addressing the Summit at<br />
the CEO Roundtable discussion.<br />
industry, key issues were deliberated at the roundtable discussion on ‘New<br />
World Energy Order - An Inevitable Change?’ For telecommunication<br />
sectors, the discussion took on an open forum style on ‘Pricing and Quality<br />
in Telecommunication Services’ and followed by respective presentation of<br />
thoughts on ‘Rolling Out Broadband in Malaysia’.<br />
Invited role-players and distinguished speakers present were Ir. Haji Mohmad<br />
Asari bin Daud, Executive Director, Malaysian Water Association Mr. Hong<br />
Chern Wern , who represented Professor Dr Chan Ngai Weng, President,<br />
Water Watch Penang; Mr. Ridhuan bin Ismail. Executive Director, Sewerage<br />
Regulatory Department, SPAN; Mr. Gurmit Singh K.S., Chairman, Centre<br />
for Environment, Technology & Development, Malaysia (CETDEM); Dato’ Ir.<br />
Syed Muhammad Shahabudin, Immediate Past President, Malaysian Water<br />
Association; Prof Ir Dr Hj. Wan Ramli Wan Daud, Founder Director, Fuel Cell<br />
<strong>Institute</strong>, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; Mr. Ahmad Zairin Ismail, Acting<br />
CEO, Pusat Tenaga Malaysia; Mr. Shanthan Selvakumar, Regional Manager,<br />
Sindicatum Clean Energy; Mr. Muhammad Sha’ani bin Abdullah, Secretary-<br />
General, FOMCA; Mr. Amarjit Singh, Senior Director of Content, Consumer,<br />
Security and Postal Division, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia<br />
Commission; Ms Tricia Yeoh, Director, Centre for Public Policy Studies, <strong>Asian</strong><br />
<strong>Strategy</strong> and <strong>Leadership</strong> <strong>Institute</strong>; Dr Guenter Georg Gruber, Ambassador,<br />
Embassy of the Federal Republic of German, Malaysia; Mr. Peter Chew Lye<br />
Hock, Chief Technical Officer, Sacofa-Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd; Mr.<br />
Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd; and<br />
Mr. Zamani Zakariah, Senior Director, MylCMS, Technology and Standards<br />
Division, Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission.<br />
Dato Ir. Syed Muhammad Shahaludin Immediate Past President, Malaysian Water Association<br />
moderating a session with him is Mr. Gurmit Singh, Chairman, Center for Environment, Technology &<br />
Development Malaysia.<br />
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The ASLI Team at the Conference.
UPDATE ON CENTRE FOR PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES<br />
The Centre for Public Policy Studies has been involved in a range<br />
of projects and activities throughout the year. It has focused on two<br />
overarching themes in 2008, specifically Enhancing Socioeconomic<br />
Policy, and Enhancing Governance. It has continued to play an<br />
important role in encouraging policy dialogue on key issues,<br />
educating the public, and engaging various stakeholders ranging<br />
from policymakers to civil society and academia in the process.<br />
This is done in various forms, including public forums, policy<br />
factsheets, policy papers submitted to Government, involvement<br />
in closed-door consultations and roundtable discussions, research<br />
and analysis. In its efforts at expanding the work on public policy, it<br />
has also recently hired two additional full-time staff, Noel Dass as<br />
Senior Research Analyst and Khairiah Mokhtaruddin as Programme<br />
and Research Associate.<br />
In the first half of the year, it launched its “Minda Muda Research<br />
Study: Young Malaysians and National Unity” on 18th April, which<br />
was conducted jointly with the National Young Lawyers’ Committee<br />
of the Bar Council. Funded mainly by the Jabatan Perpaduan<br />
Negara & Integrasi Nasional (JPNIN), the study explored young<br />
Malaysians’ attitudes to national unity.<br />
The CPPS has continued to encourage public policy dialogue, the<br />
first of which in 2008 was the Mid-Term Review of the 9th Malaysia<br />
Plan Open Forum, jointly organized with Wawasan Open University<br />
on 24th April. The six strategic thrusts of the 9th Malaysia Plan<br />
were discussed against actual achievements at national level,<br />
from key policymakers and experts on economic competitiveness<br />
and socioeconomic inequalities. A significant “National Summit on<br />
Urban Poor and Low-Income Groups”, which was graced by the<br />
Prime Minister, was also jointly conducted with SUHAKAM and<br />
ASLI in July. Its findings and recommendations were subsequently<br />
forwarded on to the relevant government agencies. Urban poverty<br />
was addressed, as it is becoming a major challenge in the<br />
country.<br />
As a result of the March 8th General Election, local issues have<br />
emerged as an important feature of everyday politics. New state<br />
governments have had to deal with problems at local level, and<br />
hence the CPPS took the opportunity to conduct a seminar on<br />
Local Council Reforms together with Malaysia Think Tank, held<br />
on 27th July. Academics and practitioners addressed the issues,<br />
including local council elections, in this informative and interactive<br />
discussion. Recommendations were also compiled from the seminar<br />
and are available online.<br />
months to a year is possible. The objective was to brief the<br />
public on what to expect. Linked to this are its effects on the food<br />
situation. The CPPS jointly organized with the Joint Action Forum<br />
on Food, Aliran, and the United Nations Country Team, a Food<br />
Forum on 15th November, exploring ground problems, realities and<br />
issues faced by local farmers and fishermen. That food prices and<br />
increased costs of living have had an adverse impact on their lives<br />
was the starting point of the discussion, from which experts then<br />
drew up recommendations which were presented to Members of<br />
Parliament thereafter for further follow-up.<br />
Aside from public seminars, the CPPS has engaged itself in<br />
researching on specific policy issues, and sending them out as<br />
public information through its very well-received Policy Factsheets.<br />
Started during the campaign period of the Election, this has<br />
continued through the year, selecting poignant issues to focus<br />
upon, including crime, public transportation, health, corruption, the<br />
economy, human rights, and the elections. Response has been<br />
positive and the factsheets will continue to be disseminated widely<br />
online.<br />
As part of its engagements with the public, the CPPS has continually<br />
written Press Statements on issues of public policy it has taken a<br />
strong stance towards. These include statements on the Internal<br />
Security Act, the social contract, the Race Relations Act and the<br />
2009 Budget, amongst others. The CPPS has also made public<br />
presentations and speeches at various locations, including the<br />
following: Vistage Malaysia (CEOs group), Sisters in Islam, Harvard<br />
University Project for <strong>Asian</strong> and International Relations, churches,<br />
ISO 9001 event and universities, amongst others.<br />
Upcoming events include the launch of the Open Budget Index,<br />
which is part of the International Budget Project. Conducted<br />
internationally, but only for the first time in Malaysia this year, the<br />
CPPS engaged in the rigorous process of evaluating Malaysia’s<br />
National Budget on how publicly accessible and transparent it<br />
is, in light of international budgetary standards. The Index ranks<br />
all researched countries to compare and contrast. The launch is<br />
expected to be in February 2009.<br />
The CPPS’ most recent research paper involves the services sector,<br />
which the CPPS conducted together with Prof. Sieh Mei Ling, a<br />
member of the CPPS Advisory Panel. The paper was consequently<br />
presented at an annual Malaysian <strong>Institute</strong> of Economic Research<br />
(MIER) conference on the Economy in December 2008.<br />
The Financial Crisis, rooted in the subprime and housing sector<br />
crisis of the United States, has been foremost on Malaysians’<br />
minds. The CPPS organized a public seminar on the Financial<br />
Crisis, and its impending impacts on Malaysia on 12th November.<br />
Primarily to educate the public on the economic situation, all<br />
panelists were pessimistic and a predicted recession in the next<br />
The CPPS continues to engage on issues of public policy<br />
pertinence, and sends its updates regularly to its subscribers of its<br />
newsletters, and keeps in touch with the public through its website<br />
that it regularly updates. (Interested parties can connect with the<br />
CPPS on www.cpps.org.my or send an email to cpps@cpps.org.<br />
my)<br />
CONTACT INFORMATION<br />
ASIAN STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE<br />
(a subsidiary of the non-profit ASLI Foundation)<br />
“Khazanah ASLI” 1718, Jalan Ledang, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.<br />
Tel: (603) 2093 5393 Fax: (603) 2093 3078<br />
http://www.asli.com.my Email: dmyeoh@asli.com.my<br />
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No. 18 & 28, Jalan 12/118B, Desa Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 603-9171 0300 / 603-9171 1628 Fax: 603-9171 0351 / 603-9171 1328<br />
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