IOI Properties' near-term outlook remains challenging
KUALA LUMPUR: IOI Properties Group Bhd is keeping its FY22 sales projection to RM2.3bil, the same level as that of the current year, as market confidence remains low, says RHB Research. "While some smaller tenants terminated their leases, the overall occupancy rate is still hovering around 95%. "Still, we remain upbeat on IOIPG’s overseas markets where COVID-19 is better contained, so demand should see a more sustainable recovery," said RHB.Over the longer-term, IOI Properties targets to launch the Marina View project in two years, pending approvals from the authorities. "Net gearing is expected to rise to around 0.70x from 0.47x presently. The group’s land-holding cost may be reduced, if the project can be rolled out earlier," said RHB.The research house maintained its "buy" call on the stock with a target price of RM1.53.
Source:The Star
October 08, 2021 02:26 UTC
Quick take: Freight Management jumps 25% in active trade
KUALA LUMPUR: Freight Management Holdings Bhd is one of the most heavily traded counters on Bursa Malaysia in early trade Friday. The logistics and freight service provider jumped 25.58%, or 22 sen to RM1.08 with over 30 million shares traded. RHB Retail Research said Freight Management may print an all-time-high as it breached above the consolidation point of 85.5 sen – forming a “higher high” bullish pattern. “However, falling below the 80 sen support – below 21-day average line - may reverse the momentum,” RHB said. For the full financial year ended June 30, Freight Management’s net profit more than doubled to RM27.03mil from RM12.04mil posted a year ago.
Source:The Star
October 08, 2021 02:15 UTC
Malaysian father writes book in hospital ward while accompanying sick child
When JK Joseph’s six-year-old daughter Zephanie was hospitalised during the first movement control order, he wrote a book while staying with her at the hospital. Diversion from mental anguishThe property negotiator spent those nights and days at the hospital, writing a book, specifically a collection of 250 humour snippets across 126 pages, using just his smartphone. “In a way, writing the book in the hospital ward helped to keep me in a positive frame of mind,” says Joseph. While the entire book is written by Joseph, his wife Eunice and daughter Zephanie did a simple illustration for the cover. While he did all the writing, his wife and daughter did a simple artwork for the cover of the book.
Source:The Star
October 08, 2021 01:52 UTC
Rising chip prices fuel Samsung's best quarterly profit in 3 years
SEOUL (Reuters) -Samsung Electronics Co Ltd on Friday flagged a 28% jump in its third-quarter operating profit to the highest in three years, driven by rising memory chip prices and display sales for new flagship smartphone launches. The world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker estimated its July-September profit at 15.8 trillion won ($13.3 billion), below a Refinitiv SmartEstimate of 16.1 trillion won. "The mobile business' operating margin might have been lower than the market expected," said Park Sung-soon, analyst at Cape Investment & Securities. Rising memory chip prices and shipments, plus a jump in profitability at Samsung's chip contract manufacturing business, likely raised the chip division's operating profit by about 79% from a year earlier, analysts said. Semiconductors accounted for about half of Samsung's operating profit in the first half of the year.
Source:The Star
October 08, 2021 00:27 UTC
Prioritise our kids
I READ with frustration the appeal for karaoke centres and other businesses in the entertainment industry to be reopened. What are the criteria for this rotational system? Are they required to follow this rotational system, too? I believe that if karaoke centres can reopen with “strict SOP”, so can schools. Parents should then be given the choice whether to send their children to school or keep them at home for online learning.
Source:The Star
October 08, 2021 00:00 UTC
A recipe for building unity
If we start by embracing diversity in our local and state communities, then we can do so at national and global levels too. The Badminton Association of Malaysia was “utterly appalled” by the “dreadful remark”, while other politicians joined the condemnation. Flimsy defences were invoked, citing strong emotions at Malaysia’s loss, and references to non-derogatory usages of the offensive word. The former is not an excuse for racism, and the latter must be assessed according to intent. Worse still are the attempts to cite places such as Masjid Kapitan Keling in Penang (truly a beautiful building which I have written about separately) as a licence to use the word.
Source:The Star
October 08, 2021 00:00 UTC
Appealing for increase in Socso pension
My son qualified for a Sosco pension after facing the medical board twice even though his was an obvious case. He is now drawing a monthly pension of RM590. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has given all ministers 100 days to prove their worth as part of the new government. I am a very senior citizen with neither income nor pension, but I am subsidising my son’s monthly medical and living expenses with my limited savings. I also sincerely wish our present PM is made aware of this matter by his aides so that he can instruct Socso to do what is necessary, immediately.
Source:The Star
October 08, 2021 00:00 UTC
Noble deed to save lives
THEY not only protect people from criminals, but they also took time off from their duties to contribute to the community by donating blood. A large group of policemen were recently spotted in Balik Pulau, Penang, queuing up to give blood at the district police headquarters. Lans Kpl Wan Nurshaidatul-wanie said she felt that donating blood is her responsibility to the country, apart from her duty as a policewoman. “To me, donating blood is another way to contribute to society as the blood will be used to save lives,” he said. Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Kamarul Rizal Jenal said 20 police personnel and 80 people from Balik Pulau signed up for the donation drive.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:37 UTC
Drawing contest calling for entries
THE Lions International Poster Contest 2021-2022 is open to students aged 11 to 13 until today. The contest, which allows participants to complete their drawing at home, is divided into three stages – club level, district level and world level. “This year, an expected average of 30 participants from each club will join the contest. “This means that if each club presents 30 participants, there will be 1.44 million participants worldwide as there are 48,000 clubs worldwide. “This competition has been carried out since 1988, attracting 47 million participants.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:37 UTC
Buda, Meilaura flex muscles to a silver
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian bodybuilding team closed their campaign on a high note with Buda Anchah and Meilaura Dora Jimmy combining to claim silver in the mixed pair category at the World Bodybuilding and Physique Cham-pionships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Buda and Meilaura were adjudged the runners-up behind Ukrainians Nikolay Sikachina and Yulia Vorono to hand Malaysia their fourth silver in the world meet at the Hugo Arena on Wednesday. It was the third podium finish for both Buda and Meilaura in Tashkent. Meilaura, who is from Sabah, made a big breakthrough for women’s bodybuilding in the country by contributing gold in the women’s 55kg and overall categories. Sarawak veteran Buda contributed two silvers earlier in the men’s 80kg and 40-49 years categories.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:26 UTC
Long courtship finally ends in wedded bliss
John Chong finally tied the knot with Evelyn Hee after four years of courtship. Chong, 32, said they welcomed the SOP relaxations for wedding ceremonies. “Due to the pandemic, we only planned for the registration but now, we can go ahead with an actual ceremony. Earlier yesterday, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that Hindu and Christian marriage rites will soon be allowed under the National Recovery Plan (NRP). “These are among the new relaxations under the NRP agreed to by the Special Committee on Covid-19 Pandemic Management.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:15 UTC
Parents not rushing to travel
JOHOR BARU: Parents with young children are taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding whether to travel to other states once the government lifts the ban on interstate travelling, which is likely to be soon. “It is good that the government is looking at lifting the interstate travel ban but at the moment, I am not taking any risks to travel with my family outside Johor. Housewife Shahizatul Farha Rosli, 37, who has three young children between the ages of four and eight, said that she and her husband are thinking of visiting their family in Terengganu when interstate travel resumes. Menwhile, in IPOH, some parents are ready to take their children on interstate travels once the ban is lifted. “I plan to travel to Kuala Lumpur so my grandmother can meet my son, who hasn’t seen her for almost a year.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:15 UTC
Mall operators gaining momentum
In its latest Malaysia Retail Industry Report, RGM said retail businesses were hit hard by the numerous lockdowns that were implemented to curb the rise in Covid-19 cases. “In June this year, RGM estimated a 4% growth rate in retail sales for 2021. During the second quarter of 2020, Malaysia’s retail industry suffered a year-on-year decline of 30.9% because of business closures. “Retail performances during the second quarter of this year had been affected by a series of lockdowns,” it said. “Non-essential retailers remained close and Malaysian consumers were asked to stay at home.”For the third quarter of 2021, RGM expects retail industry sales to plunge 15.1%.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:14 UTC
Some parents feel the time is not right to travel with kids
PETALING JAYA: Now that the adolescents are getting their vaccine jabs, parents with children who are too young to be vaccinated against Covid-19 are taking precautions to ensure safe travel. For them, returning to a sense of normalcy will take some time as not everyone in the family is vaccinated. When outdoors, Dr Moy said parents should avoid bringing their young children to crowded places where keeping physical distancing is hard. It is advisable to limit travel for the young who are as yet to be vaccinated to avoid the spread of the disease,” he said. “The adults need to adhere strictly to the SOP as young children may lack the discipline.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:11 UTC
Khairy: Roadblocks off, SOP checks still on
KUALA LUMPUR: Although roadblocks at borders will be removed when interstate travel is permitted, Khairy Jamaluddin said authorities will continue with checks on standard operating procedure compliance. The Health Minister admitted that it would be more difficult to catch SOP offenders as having large-scale roadblocks was no longer viable. He said the government was also making plans to reduce the current ceiling price of Covid-19 self-test kits. On another matter, Khairy said the government would not make it mandatory for the people to get Covid-19 vaccine booster shots. Khairy also said the status of a fully vaccinated person would not be affected if they do not get booster shots.
Source:The Star
October 07, 2021 23:03 UTC