Sabah & Sarawak
Wood-based manufacturers’ earnings prospects to face challenges in 2018
Wood-based manufacturers’ earnings prospects are projected by analysts to face some challenges in 2018. The research arm of Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd believed earnings prospects of the wood-based manufacturing players will face some challenges in 2018, underpinned mainly by the sharp strengthening of the ringgit towards the later part of 2018, which may negatively affect manufacturers’ margins. Palm oil ban an economic colonialisation — Felda
The Federal Land Development Authority ( Felda) has labelled the European Union (EU) as hypocrite and accused it of trying to carry out an economic colonialisation of palm oil producing countries over its proposed ban on the commodity. Chairman Shahrir Abdul Samad said the move was skewed towards colonialisation as it was prompted by a baseless argument as they knew there was a connection between oil palm and income of the people in the rural areas.
Govt wants Labuan ibfc to trigger local economy
The federal government strives to turn the Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (IBFC) into a business and financial hub that can help trigger more meaningful economic activities on the island, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said. The Prime Minister said it was time for Labuan IBFC to take a relook at its operational journey to enable it to provide an additional spillover and integrate its operations with the local economy.
Full MSPO certification for KLK’s operations
All Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd’s (KLK) upstream operations – its supplying estates and palm oil mills – in Malaysia have been certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standards as at end of December 2017, a year ahead of the mandatory timeline for producers that already have Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certifications.
Smallholders, rubber tappers yet to apply for monsoon season aid
About 155,829 smallholders and rubber tappers have yet to apply for the monsoon season aid (MSA) approved under the 2017 Budget, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong.