KUCHING (Dec 11): Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (PETROS) to gradually increase natural gas supply to Sarawak to up to 1,200 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) by 2030. Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the MoU would realise firm progress towards the Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR), a 10-year plan designed for the full potential of the state’s abundant gas resources under the Sarawak Vision 2030. “This is a step-change achievement, a supply increase of 250% from the current 450 MMSCFD, securing Sarawak resources for Sarawak progress,” he said at the signing ceremony here on Saturday. On Dec 7, 2020, the state government and Petronas entered into a commercial settlement agreement (CSA) which envisages the formation and implementation of a comprehensive gas master plan for Sarawak. “Through the consultation framework, we are working on three key objectives with Petronas to benefit the Sarawakian contractor community.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 11): The heightened volatility that has emerged surrounding the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant is expected to persist next week, said Rakuten Trade Sdn Bhd vice-president of equity research Thong Pak Leng. Weekly turnover narrowed to 17.03 billion units valued at RM10.2 billion against 19.19 billion units valued at RM18.98 billion in the previous week. Main Market volume eased to 9.45 billion shares worth RM8.92 billion from 12.04 billion shares worth RM17.06 billion in the prior week. Warrant volume, however rose slightly to 1.5 billion units valued at RM242.27 million versus 1.49 billion units valued at RM215.84 million previously. ACE Market volume depreciated to 5.47 billion shares worth RM1.03 billion compared with 5.63 billion shares worth RM1.7 billion in the previous week.

"It's more difficult to find a truffle than to sell it," laments Darko Muzica, who oversees the Istra association of truffle hunters, an advocacy group campaigning to protect the peninsula's white truffle. Muzica, head of the Istra association of truffle hunters, with his dog in a forest near the Istrian town of Motovun. Vukadonovic, vice-president of the Istra association of truffle hunters, walking with his dogs while hunting for white truffles in the forest near Motovun. After digging away a layer of topsoil, Zgrablic carefully extracts a white truffle weighing some 20g – which could net up to €130 (RM620). Hoping to protect the area's lucrative truffle trade, the local association of truffle hunters has begun campaigning for "protected designation of origin" within the European Union.

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 13,281 live chickens and about 54 tonnes of frozen chicken parts brought in illegally from Thailand were confiscated in Kelantan from January to November this year. The Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) in a statement on Friday (Dec 10) said it had seized the entry of about 54 tonnes of frozen chicken pieces worth RM768,000 for failing to comply with entry requirements. According to Maqis, the General Operations Force (GOF) and the Marine Police Force seized 13,281 live chickens worth about RM100,000 which were brought in through an illegal base on the banks of Sungai Golok. Maqis said all the cases were investigated under Section 11 (1) of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 (Act 728) for importing agricultural products without a valid Import Permit from Maqis. Under Section 11 (3) of the same Act, (person/s) if convicted can be fined not exceeding RM100,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding six years or both.

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong is perplexed that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is still angry about the alcohol licensing issue despite an official directive by the Finance Ministry not to proceed with the proposed enforcement. “When you were Finance Minister and in charge of the Customs Department, did you cancel this requirement?” questioned Dr Wee. Earlier Friday (Dec 10), Lim accused Dr Wee of deceiving the public, claiming that Dr Wee had contradicted the Finance Ministry over the revocation of the Customs Department’s directive. According to a circular by the Customs Department dated Dec 9, the Finance Ministry had in a letter dated Dec 8 ordered the enforcement of liquor licensing to be discontinued. “Therefore, matters presented during a briefing previously will be cancelled,” said Customs Department assistant director-general Samson Sevanjanam.

The country, second only to Indonesia in palm oil production, has become more competitive in recent months due to higher export levies imposed by its southern neighbour. The steep drop in production pushed palm oil prices to record highs and sparked concerns about food inflation. To alleviate the situation, Malaysia in September approved the recruitment of 32,000 foreign workers for palm oil plantations, prioritising those from Indonesia. Some companies are considering repaying such recruitment fees to workers, a manager of a palm oil refinery told Reuters. That could double recruitment costs for each worker to about RM10,000, according to estimates by the Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA).

Unfortunately, we have not been very successful in making a dent towards achieving this target as our smoking prevalence has hovered around 21% to 25% since 1986. Essentially, we have not sustainably reduced our smoking prevalence for 35 years! A smoke-free futureWHO’s vision of creating a smoke-free generation is certainly a noble goal that we should all work towards. If we were to continue as is, the current trajectory shows that we would only achieve our 15% smoking prevalence goal in 2042, off target by 17 years. Essentially, Malaysia should adopt progressive policy changes if we want to achieve and enjoy the vision of a smoke-free future.

(Dec 9): China Evergrande Group’s inability to meet its obligations is a market event and will be dealt with in a market-oriented way, the head of the nation’s central bank said. The comments provide the latest signal that Beijing won’t bail out Evergrande as it strains under more than US$300 billion (about RM1.26 trillion) in liabilities. Hong Kong has established an effective system and well defined legal provisions to deal with such issues, Yi said. Risks from a few firms in the short term will not undermine Hong Kong’s financial system in the long term, he said. Beijing’s reluctance to bail out the developer sends a clear signal that the Communist Party won’t tolerate massive debt build-ups that threaten financial stability.

KUALA LUMPUR: Lagenda Properties Bhd has signed a collaboration agreement with the Koperasi Veteran Daulat Kedah Bhd. Under the agreement, Lagenda will offer customised financial plans for army personnel in need, wherein assistance would be provided to aspiring homeowners to restructure their finances for higher loan eligibility. In a statement, the affordable township developer noted that there have been various recent developments and attention drawn towards housing for army personnel in the country. However, Lagenda Properties managing director Datuk Jimmy Doh said that there were still a large number of military personnel who face the plight of housing, especially outside of the Klang Valley. “The housing dilemma is a very real issue amongst military personnel as many are priced out of the market.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 8): The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives ended lower on Wednesday following weakness in the overnight Chicago Board of Trade's (CBOT) soybean oil market and the Dalian Commodity Exchange during Asian trading hours. Mumbai-based Sunvin Group’s commodity research head Anilkumar Bagani said the market is now gearing up for Friday’s Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) November palm oil supply and demand monthly previews. “For palm oil, almost all the important supply and demand data is out now and the market is gearing up for Friday’s MPOB November palm oil supply and demand monthly previews. “The focus will be on end-November palm oil inventories, which will be guided by production and export numbers. Meanwhile, palm oil trader David Ng said the market ended lower on Wednesday in sync with the weaker soybean oil prices on CBOT.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kingsman Realty Sdn Bhd (Kingsman) walked away the biggest winner at the StarProperty Awards 2021 Realtors Edition gala dinner, sweeping a quarter of the total trophies. Close on Kingsman’s heels was IQI Realty Sdn Bhd (IQI) with 12 trophies while Foreward Realty Sdn Bhd (Foreward) came in third with nine trophies. In recognition of these efforts, StarProperty honours the finest talents in the Malaysian real estate industry. Global Link Properties Sdn Bhd (Global), Maxxan Realty Sdn Bhd (Maxxan), Tech Realtors Properties Sdn Bhd (Tech), Kith and Kin Realty Sdn Bhd, Believe Realty Sdn Bhd and Polygon Properties Sdn Bhd also clinched awards. The event was organised by StarProperty Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SMG.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kingsman Realty Sdn Bhd (Kingsman) was the biggest winner at the StarProperty Awards 2021 Realtors Edition gala dinner on Wednesday night (Dec 8), taking home over a quarter of the total trophies.Close on Kingsman’s heels was IQI Realty Sdn Bhd (IQI) with 12 trophies. "Beyond being a point of reference for those looking to purchase real estate, agents and negotiators bring even more added value from analysis and research to surveying and valuing, all for the benefit of the clients. "I'm not too sure if everyone here knows this, but I myself was from the property industry before joining Star Media Group. "So, I understand first hand the real estate agency's business dynamics and I'm no stranger to the different, innovative ways in which you go about your business. "We have an exciting initiative in the pipeline, a new property classified platform, and we hope to have all of you be part of it.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 8): ManagePay Systems Bhd has signed a deal for cashless retail payments at rest and service areas, lay-bys and other platforms with PLUS Malaysia Bhd. In a bourse filing on Wednesday, the end-to-end electronic payment solutions provider said its unit ManagePay Services Sdn Bhd is to provide services relating to software application development, merchant application, systems integration, payment terminals roll-out and Internet Payment Gateway PLUS Group's business partners operating along highways operated by PLUS Group. It said the deal is for a period of three years with automatic renewals of successive one year periods. ManagePay said the agreement does not require approval of the shareholders of ManagePay and any relevant regulatory bodies. At the midday break on Wednesday, ManagePay was unchanged at 18.5 sen, valuing it at RM159.35 million.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 8): ATA IMS Bhd shares soared 24% after trading at among their lowest levels last seen in February 2017. ATA IMS recently said Dyson Operations and Dyson Manufacturing had issued notices of termination of contracts, effective June 1, 2022. ATA IMS contended that if its workers were to perform overtime, it was solely on a voluntary basis. All workers on the premises of ATA IMS reportedly have valid work permits. Read also:ATA IMS: Contract termination by Dyson effective June 1, 2022ATA IMS says workers resigned after it implemented 'zero overtime on Sunday' policy

So the 33-year-old chucked it all in to lay down literal roots as part of a nascent back-to-the-farm movement in which young Chinese professionals are quitting the rat race for the simple joys of an organic, agrarian lifestyle. “People like me don’t feel that material comforts stimulate us, and deep down we remain unsatisfied,” said Hu. Before the 20th century China was a primarily agrarian country for thousands of years, most of its vast population scratching out a life from the soil. The former ad executive felt burnt-out due to excessive work hours and a deeply unhealthy lifestyle. But his life is now relatively stress-free, and Liang has realised just how few consumer goods he really needs.