Best Of Malaysia volume 1

2 | Best of Malaysia

Best of Malaysia | 3



Publisher’s Note 

Presenting Malaysia 

to the World 

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Best of Malaysia. In 

June 2015, Malaysia embarks on the 11th and final phase 

of its five-year developmental plan that was set forth 

in 1955. Malaysia is also the Chair of the Association 

of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2015, bearing 

the responsibility of ensuring a more united ASEAN 

community. With all the global attention the nation 

receives, the publication of this edition could not have 

been more perfectly timed. 

Publisher & Chief Editor 

John Lim 

Project Team 

Nazhatulshima Bin Mohd Isa 

Fiona Lim 

Adeline Chin 

Creative Production 

Koh Mooi Leng 

Max Tan 

Editorial Team 

Joni Chng 

Thiagarajan A/L Duraisamy 

Shauna Joan 

Siti Noor Aziah Binti Othman 

Published by 

AcePremier.com Sdn Bhd 

N-2-6 Plaza Damas, 

60 Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 

50480 Sri Hartamas, 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 

Tel: +603-6203 2522 

Email: info@acepremier.com 

Malaysia has made considerable strides in its push 

towards the ultimate goal of becoming a high-income 

economy by the year 2020, mounting up achievements, 

and surmounting odds amidst challenging times. This 

volume aims to showcase the best Malaysia has to offer 

in terms of investment, entrepreneurial opportunities, 

and leisure travel. Within these pages is an overview 

of Malaysia as a nation, highlighting the key economic 

sectors, major travel destinations, and also outlines of 

exciting growth plans for the near future. 

We would like to thank all our partners whose support and 

contributions have made the premier edition of Best of 

Malaysia possible. It is our hope that this book represents 

a solid profile of Malaysia as the ideal business and 

lifestyle destination to a global audience. 

In association with Global Village Partnerships 


Foreword 

Message by 

PRIME MINISTER MALAYSIA 

Malaysia, strategically located in the heart of the vibrant Asia Pacific region, 

is poised to become a developed nation by the year 2020. As Government, 

we have launched the Economic Transformation Program (ETP) to propel 

Malaysia into a high-income nation by the year 2020. Our service to the 

country is paying dividends and although we have faced challenges, we 

continue to work hard with passion to stimulate growth, improve fiscal 

position and raise the standards of living. 

The inaugural Best of Malaysia project makes a valuable contribution to 

our efforts of economic growth by showcasing our achievements, ambition 

and aspirations as a nation and in return, inspiring us to continue growing 

and developing as a country. By celebrating our success with the world, it 

encourages Malaysians to take pride in our country and strive together to 

achieve our vision. The true heroes are the Malaysians who have become 

leaders in business and other arenas. 

As the Prime Minister of Malaysia, I am pleased to extend my invitation to 

both local and foreign investors to come and be part of the Government’s 

vision of transforming Malaysia into a high-income developed nation 

by 2020. Malaysia offers abundant opportunities for business, trade, 

investment and the Best of Malaysia is a visual presentation of what 

investors and visitors can expect in our country. 

The publication of the Best of Malaysia comes at a very opportune time as 

Malaysia will be the chair for ASEAN in 2015. We will be taking a proactive 

role in driving regional economic integration with the ASEAN Economic 

Community (AEC). I encourage Malaysian entrepreneurs to explore 

collaboration and partnership opportunities with our ASEAN neighbours 

to grow into significant regional leaders as ASEAN plays an increasingly 

important role in the global economy. 

Congratulations to the Best of Malaysia team for initiating this project to 

share the success and opportunities of Malaysia globally. The story of our 

beautiful country and our great nation’s growth and opportunities is being 

presented in this unique project. I take great pride in all the institutions, 

companies and individuals featured in the Best of Malaysia. I hope you will 

be inspired as it is an honour to share the achievements of our great nation 

with you. 

1Malaysia “People First, Performance Now” 

DATO’ SRI MOHD NAJIB 


Foreword 

Message by 

MINISTRY OF 

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY 

Malaysia, as the Chairman of ASEAN for 2015 is poised to take advantage 

of a booming market of over 600 million consumers and combined GDP 

of nearly US$3 trillion. The ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will be 

declared at the end of 2015 in our collective effort of transforming ASEAN 

into a region with freer movement of goods, services, investment, skilled 

labour and freer flow of capital. Our objectives for 2015 are clear — from 

establishing a peaceful and prosperous ASEAN Community to ensuring 

a more people centred ASEAN. The Ministry of International Trade and 

Industry is all geared up to play a proactive role in 2015. 

In my view, the Best of Malaysia project has come at the right time. I am 

pleased to see that publishers are supporting our approach in driving 

regional economic integration. I truly hope that this publication will 

encourage readers, especially Malaysian entrepreneurs, to explore more 

collaboration and partnership opportunities with our ASEAN neighbours. 

Information is the key towards becoming regional champions and the 

government remains committed in transforming our local industries to be 

more competitive in this region. 

The Ministry of International Trade and Industry continues to drive 

productivity, promoting innovation and formulating policies that will be 

crucial in creating and enabling an environment that is conducive for 

business while strengthening our relationship with global trading partners. 

We are committed in driving the transformation to propel Malaysia into 

becoming a high-income nation by 2020. While we continue to face 

challenges at home and abroad, we are confident that our hard work for 

the country is paying dividends. In 2014, our trade grew 5.9% and we 

successfully achieve this despite slow recovery in Europe and uncertainties 

in the global market. 

Our success stories deserve more recognition. May I take this opportunity to 

congratulate the publishers for initiating a project to share the success story 

of Malaysians both home and abroad. I share the Prime Minister’s hope that 

this publication will inspire Malaysians worldwide and I take pride in sharing 

the achievement of our great nation with you. 

MITI Driving Transformation, Powering Growth 

DATO’ SRI MUSTAPA MOHAMED 


Foreword 

Message by 

MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND CULTURE 

Malaysia is a thriving nation with a 

tropical weather which made it an ideal 

spot for a wholesome getaway and 

a perfect place to bask in the good 

vibes of a multicultural, historical and 

multiracial environment. Close to many 

Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia 

is a strategic location for international 

tourists; and today, our country is 

recognized as one of the top holiday 

destinations in the world. 

Tourism has been recognized as an 

important contributor for the country’s 

economic growth hence being 

accepted as one of the 12 National 

Key Economic Areas (NKEA). As such, 

the Ministry of Tourism and Culture 

(MOTAC) has throughout the decades 

steadfastly played a vibrant role 

towards improving the tourism industry 

– through activities, programs and the 

branding of “Malaysia, Truly Asia”. 

This is also aligned with the Malaysia 

Transformation Tourism Plan (MTTP), 

an aspiration to attract 36 million 

tourists that will generate an income of 

RM168 billion by the year 2020 and to 

make Malaysia a world-class holiday 

destination across the continents. 

Supporting these great objectives 

are the vision and mission of MOTAC 

to advance Malaysia as a travel and 

cultural pinnacle of the world, to 

catapult and improve the tourism and 

cultural sectors of the country and to 

inculcate, spread and preserve the 

Malaysian artistic and cultural heritage. 

I foresee the synergy between tourism 

and the cultural sectors will provide 

more support and stimulate the 

country’s growth thus welcome an influx 

of global tourists to Malaysia. 

In carrying out these responsibilities, 

MOTAC is working together with 

12 departments and agencies that 

are under its wings namely; Tourism 

Malaysia, National Archives of 

Malaysia, National Library of Malaysia, 

Department of Museums Malaysia, 

Department of National Heritage, 

National Department for Culture & Arts, 

Istana Budaya, National Academy of 

Arts, Culture & Heritage, Malaysian 

Handicraft Development Corporation, 

National Visual Art Development Board, 

Malaysia Convention & Exhibition 

Bureau and Islamic Tourism Centre. 

The publication of Best of Malaysia is 

timely as it aids and fulfills the vision 

and mission of MOTAC. Through this 

volume’s collection of appealing images 

and useful information, we are able 

to put our unique attractions in the 

spotlight – such as our beautiful white 

sandy beaches and islands, our world’s 

most biodiverse forests and so on. 

All this will bring tremendous benefits 

to hoteliers, travel and recreational 

agencies, private companies, sponsors, 

governmental departments and 

agencies as well as organizers of 

cultural shows, in addition to offering 

them appreciation for their involvement 

and contribution to the cultural and 

tourism industry. 

In all, Best of Malaysia offers 

information from many aspects about 

Malaysia including the success and 

potentials of Malaysia to progress 

forward and to be seen by all in a 

positive light. 

On behalf of MOTAC, I wish to 

congratulate the publisher, Ace 

Premier, for producing this meaningful 

representation of Malaysia. We are 

pleased to share the exceptional 

elements and culture of our beloved 

country to the world. 


MOT

MOT

CHAPTERS 

BEST OF MALAYSIA 

1 5 

Property Development 108 Healthcare 124 

2 6 

Construction 112 Education & Learning 128 

3 7 

Infrastructure 116 Conference & Exhibition 134 

4 8 

Logistics 120 Retail & Trading 138 


9 14 

Oil & Gas 144 Electrical & Electronics 164 

10 15 

Timber & Wood 148 Media & Entertainment 168 

11 16 

Plantation & Agriculture 152 Banking & Finance 172 

12 

Automotive 156 

17 

Charity 176 

13 

Courier & Delivery 160 





MALAYSIA 

THE RISING STAR 

OF ASIA 

Looking to the future while cherishing the past, Malaysia is a fast 

growing country in the dynamic Asian region. Centuries of trading 

history combined with a vibrant economy makes it an attractive 

business and investment destination. 


FACTS ON MALAYSIA 

Total Area 

Political Structure 

System of Government 

Head of State 

Prime Minister 

330,000 square kilometres 

(127,000 square miles) 

Population 30.3 million (2014) 

Major Ethnic Groups 

Major Languages 

Major Religions 

Time 

Climate 

Currency 

A federation with 13 states (11 in Peninsular 

Malaysia and 2 in Malaysian Borneo) and 

3 federal territories. As a federation, the 

governance of the country is divided between 

the federal and the state governments. 

Parliamentary democracy with a constitutional 

monarch 

DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul 

Halim Mu’adzam Shah 

YAB Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Bin Tun Hj. Abd. 

Razak 

Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban 

Bahasa Malaysia (official language), English, 

Mandarin, Tamil 

Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism 

GMT +8 hours 

Tropical – warm and sunny throughout the 

year. Daily temparatures range from 33°C 

(90°F) in the afternoon to 22°C (70°F) during 

the night. 

Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 


MALAYSIA 

KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS 

Population 

GDP 

2014 

30.3 million 

RM835 billion 

GDP Growth 6% 

Per Capita Income 

RM34,123 

(USD10,426) 

Inflation Rate (CPI) 3.2% 

Labour Force 

14 million persons 

Unemployment 2.9% 

Total Export (f.o.b) 

Total Import (c.i.f) 

Major Exports Products* 

(Jan - Dec 2014) 

Major Export Markets* 

(Jan - Dec 2014) 

RM726 billion 

RM601 billion 

• Electrical and electronic products 

• Petroleum products 

• Liquefied natural gas (LNG) 

• Chemicals and chemical products 

• Palm oil 

• Crude petroleum 

• Singapore 

• People’s Republic of China 

• Japan 

• USA 

• Thailand 


AT THE CENTRE 

OF TRADE 

AND CULTURAL 

EXCHANGE 

Much of Malaysia’s history was greatly 

influenced by its strategic position at an 

important crossroad in the world, whereby 

geographical circumstances made it 

a convenient meeting place for traders 

from the east and west. Adding to its 

favourable location was the abundance 

of natural resources to be mined, fertile 

lands and bountiful waters. 


The early settlers to inhabit Malaysia 

were seafarers and farmers who built an 

economy off the land’s natural bounty. 

Malaysia first gained global notice as early 

as the 15th century, with the establishment 

of the Malacca Sultanate. The land 

prospered and became one of the most 

influential trading ports in Southeast Asia. 

The economy and commerce thrived due 

to the northeast and southwest monsoon 

winds that allowed traders bearing goods 

from Arabia, China and India to sail across 

the Straits of Malacca, not only to the 

city’s port, but also to neighbouring cities 

and states. 

Malacca’s prosperity came to the notice 

of the Portuguese whom arrived in 1511, 

thus beginning Malaysia’s long history of 

European colonisation. The arrival of the 

Portuguese was followed by the Dutch 

about a century later, whom were then 

succeeded by the British Empire that 

managed to establish the longest presence 

of foreign power throughout the country 

since the 1700s. Under British rule, the 

immigration of Chinese and Indians to serve 

as labourers were encouraged; an event 

which helps create the multicultural fabric 

of Malaysian society as we know today. 

After centuries under colonisation, the 

first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku 

Abdul Rahman spearheaded the effort 

for independence by leading a team of 

political leaders to negotiate with the 

British for independence. An agreement 

was reached and Malaysia – then known 

as Malaya – finally achieved independence 

on August 31st, 1957. The nation of 

Malaysia only came into being in 1961, 

when Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak 

joined Malaya in a federal union. Singapore 

later opted out of the union peacefully, 

in 1965. The Federation of Malaysia at 

present consists of 13 states and three 

federal territories. 


TROPICAL 

WONDER 

Malaysia is located in the Southeast region 

of Asia, and consists of two parts of land – a 

peninsula and two eastern states of Sabah 

and Sarawak on the Borneo Island, separated 

by the South China Sea. The Peninsula, 

commonly known as West Malaysia, shares 

a land border with Thailand in the northern 

states of Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Kelantan. 

In addition, the southernmost state of Johor is 

linked to Singapore by a narrow causeway and 

bridge. On the eastern region, Sabah borders 

with Indonesia, whereas Brunei forms an 

enclave in Sarawak. 

Due to its position at Earth’s equator, 

Malaysia is subject to a tropical climate with 

temperatures ranging around 25 to 35 degrees 

Celsius throughout the year. Being equatorial 

means Malaysia’s winds are characterised by 

the annual southwest monsoon from April to 

October, followed by the northeast monsoon 

which lasts until February. 


The weather is usually warm and humid around 

most cities. Fortunately, Malaysia’s topography 

is filled with mountainous range and rainforests, 

with coasts dotted by islands. Cooler 

temperatures and breeziness can be enjoyed 

at the numerous islands. The air is even colder 

atop the peak of mountains and highlands 

throughout the country. The occasional rainfall 

is expected all year long, despite the hot 

weather. However, heavy downpour for days 

on end is also common, especially during the 

southwest monsoon season. 

Despite the extreme weather conditions 

that constantly shift from scorching heat to 

heavy rains, Malaysia is known for being safe 

from major natural disasters like typhoons, 

earthquakes and tsunamis. 



THE STATES 

AND FEDERAL 

TERRITORIES 

OF MALAYSIA 


Malaysia is made up of 13 states and three 

federal territories. There are 11 states 

and two federal territories located on the 

peninsula, also known as West Malaysia. 

The two other states are on the island 

of Borneo, and the remaining federal 

territory is a cluster of islands offshore of 

the region, forming the part of the country 

collectively known as East Malaysia. 

Each state has their own assembly and 

government headed by a chief minister. 

Of all 13 states, nine of them have 

monarchies, with a hereditary ruler. The 

states of Kedah, Selangor, Kelantan, 

Johor, Perak, Pahang and Terengganu are 

headed by a Sultan, while Perlis is ruled by 

a Raja, and Negeri Sembilan by a Yang Di- 

Pertuan Besar. The remaining four states 

without a monarcy – Penang, Malacca, 

Sabah and Sarawak – have appointed 

governors (Yang Di-Pertua Negeri) in 

equivalent positions. 

Perlis 

Situated in at the northwestern extremity 

of the Peninsula Malaysia, Perlis is the 

smallest state in Malaysia. Also known by 

its official name Perlis Indera Kayangan 

(loosely translated to mean ‘land of the 

gods’), the state is known for its unspoilt 

rural natural environment where life is 

less stressful. The capital city is Kangar, 

and the state’s economy is based on 

agriculture, with rice, sugar and fruits 

followed by forestry and fishing. 

Kedah 

Known as the rice bowl state, Kedah has a 

landscape dominated by lush green paddy 

fields, dotted by traditional Malay houses, 

coconut palms, local fruit trees, and 

endless rolling hills. Off its western shores 

are clusters of islands that make up the 

archipelago of Langkawi, easily the most 

popular island resorts in the country. 



Kedah’s capital city, Alor Setar, is centrally situated 

where access to the Thai border and the rest of the state 

is convenient. The major industries in Kedah are rice, 

rubber and tourism. The Arabic honorific of Kedah is 

Darul Aman (‘Abode of Peace’). 

Penang 

The state of Penang is geographically and administratively 

divided into two sections, an island and a strip of mainland 

opposite the island known as Seberang Perai, separated 

by a channel 3km wide and linked by the 13.5km Penang 

Bridge. Known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient’, the island state 

is famous for beautiful beaches, an assortment of unique 

local cuisines, and lively nightlife scene. Elegant buildings 

that are remnants of Malaysia’s British colonization 

can be seen in its capital, George Town. Penang is 

Malaysia’s third-largest economy after Selangor and Johor. 

Manufacturing is the most important sector, along with 

tourism, finance, shipping and the service industry. 

Perak 

The second largest state in Peninsula Malaysia, Perak 

carries the Arabic honorific of Darul Ridzuan (‘Abode of 

Grace’). Full of old world charm, the capital city of Ipoh 

features many old buildings and structures, while the 

town of Taiping has the country’s oldest museum, the 

oldest zoo and the cool highland resort of Maxwell Hill 

(Bukit Larut). The name of the state literally translates 

to ‘silver’ in Malay. This is a reference to Perak’s 

abundance of tin, the mineral that is the main driver of 

its economy. Other than tin mining, Perak is also known 

for palm oil, manufacturing and local fruit farming. 


Selangor 

The heartland of the nation and state that 

surrounds the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur 

and Putrajaya, Selangor is the most developed 

city in Malaysia. Within Selangor is Klang Valley, 

the industrial hub containing the capital city Shah 

Alam, cities Petaling Jaya, Klang and the second 

largest port in Malaysia, Port Klang. Selangor is 

also home to most higher learning institutions, and 

the nation’s most advanced infrastructures. With 

a bustling economy of industrial, commercial and 

tourism activities, Selangor is also the centre of 

arts, and entertainment. 

Putrajaya 

Considered Malaysia’s most intelligent garden city, 

Putrajaya is Malaysia’s new administrative capital 

and third federal territory after Kuala Lumpur and 

Labuan. As the principal seat of government, it 

is where all the Federal Government ministries, 

departments and agencies are situated. The city’s 

planning is based on a futuristic model city with 

lush greenery that coexists along state-of-the-art 

infrastructures and modern amenities. The city was 

developed to ease Kuala Lumpur of congestion 

and to ensure continued economic growth in the 

Klang Valley. 


Kuala Lumpur 

The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur is 

the nation’s capital city. What started out 

as a tin mining town is now a modern 

metropolis where everything hip and 

happening in the nation takes place. 

The city boasts some of the most iconic 

buildings, such as the PETRONAS Twin 

Towers and KL Tower. 

Negeri Sembilan 

The name Negeri Sembilan translated 

literally as ‘nine states’; so called because 

it once consisted of nine separate districts, 

each ruled by a different chieftain. The 

state’s capital, Seremban, is only 50 

kilometres away from the capital city 

of Kuala Lumpur. Negeri Sembilan is 

also known for the seaside town of Port 

Dickson, a popular seaside getaway. 

Tourists to the state will be captivated 

by its rustic villages, lush forests with 

splendid waterfalls, and clear river 

streams. Negeri Sembilan’s economy 

consists mainly of agricultural and 

farming activities such as rubber, palm 

oil, livestock, fruit orchards and vegetable 

farms. The state is also productive 

in manufacturing activities, including 

electrical and electronics, textiles, 

furniture, chemicals, machinery, metal 

works and rubber products. 

Malacca 

Rich in history and heritage, Malacca is a 

place to truly experience Malaysia’s diversity. 

Facing the Straits of Malacca, the state 

was once of the most influential trading 

ports in Asia, making it a gathering point for 

traders from both east and west. Today, the 

intermingling of various cultures is reflected 

in the architecture of homes and buildings in 

Malacca city, its capital. In addition to being 

a tourist hub, Malacca is also a manufacturer 

for various products, especially food 

and consumer products, automotive 

components and electronic parts. 

Johor 

The southernmost state on the peninsula, 

Johor is the country’s second largest 

economy. Its leading sectors are 

agriculture, especially rubber, palm oil 

and pineapples. Due to its proximity to 

Singapore and the development of the 

Iskandar Malaysia economic zone, Johor 

is industrialising rapidly. The state’s 



capital, Johor Bahru is linked to Singapore 

by road and railway. With modern towns 

developing in spite of picturesque rural 

villages, Johor is a state that offers an 

exciting metropolitan atmosphere while 

retaining some charm from the olden days. 

The official name of the state is Johor 

Darul Ta’zim (‘Abode of Dignity’). 

Pahang 

Being the largest state in Peninsular 

Malaysia, Pahang is dominated by vast 

stretches of rainforest that houses exotic 

flora, fauna and wildlife. Additionally, the 

state is rich in agricultural and natural 

resources, from palm oil, rubber and 

cocoa, to timber and fisheries. It is also 

a favourite eco-tourism destination, with 

famous highland resorts, waterfalls, fishing 

villages and beaches. The state capital is 

Kuantan, while at the heart of Pahang is 

Taman Negara, Malaysia’s oldest national 

park. Hence, it is easy to see why the state 

deserves the honorific of Darul Makmur 

(‘Abode of Tranquility’). 

Kelantan 

Located in the northeast corner of the 

peninsula, Kelantan is home to colourful 

traditions, and also vast beaches and 

rainforests. The official state name is 

Kelantan Darul Naim (‘The Beautiful 

Abode’), and its capital city is Kota Bharu. 

Rice and tobacco farming are two of the 

state’s major produces. Other produces 

include rubber, palm oil, and fruits. Fishing 

is also an important industry. Regarded 

the ‘Cradle of Malaysian Culture’, Kelantan 

is the place to catch a glimpse of Malay 

culture. The traditional sports like giant 

kite-flying, top-spinning, and Silat are 

regularly held throughout the state. 

Other cultural arts like shadow puppetry 

(wayang kulit), dances and bird-singing 

competitions remain fixtures in Kelantan. 

The state is also home to cottage 

industries like handicrafts, batik printing 

and weaving. 

Terengganu 

Located on the northeastern coast of 

Peninsular Malaysia, Terengganu is 

endowed with a wealth of breathtaking 

natural landscapes which remains largely 

unaffected by modern developments. In 

fact, there are nine islands off its coast that 

are gazetted as a marine park, including a 

turtle conservation area. The coastal city 

of Kuala Terengganu is the state capital. 

Though already a tourist destination, the 

state’s economy receives a boost with the 

discovery of oil and gas along its coast. 

Terengganu is also traditionally famous for 

its boat building industry. 

Sabah 

Home to over 30 different indigenous 

groups and unique cultures, Sabah is a 

land with plenty to explore. Its capital 

being Kota Kinabalu, the state is also 

home to Southeast Asia’s highest peak 

– Mount Kinabalu, along with a number 

of national parks, some of the most 

beautiful diving sites, and the renowned 



Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary. Oil, 

mineral resources and timber make the 

state an important player in the Malaysian 

economy. Sabah is also known as ‘The 

Land Below the Wind’, because of its 

geographical location that is below the 

typhoon belt. 

Sarawak 

The largest Malaysian state, Sarawak is 

best known as the land of vastness in 

terms of ethnic diversity, natural wonders 

and land mass. Known as the ‘Land of 

the Hornbills’, roughly three quarters of 

Sarawak’s landmass is still covered with 

the world’s oldest tropical rainforest that 

houses exotic and fascinating flora, fauna 

and wildlife. Sarawak is also where one 

of the world’s largest and impressive 

networks of caves can be found. The 

capital city of Kuching is the state’s most 

populated city, and also the fourth largest 

city in Malaysia. Besides it’s natural 

wonders, Sarawak is also rich in oil and 

gas, timber, sago and pepper. 

Labuan 

Formerly part of Sabah, Labuan was given 

federal territory status in I984. Its capital 

city is Bandar Labuan. Besides being well 

known as an international offshore financial 

centre, Labuan is also fast becoming 

popular as an island resort. Its water is rich 

in marine life and offers many fishing spots 

all year round. Additionally, there are several 

historical ship wreck sites that proves to 

be a draw for curious diving enthusiasts. 

Perhaps Labuan’s biggest attraction is its 

duty-free status, making it a paradise for 

shoppers. Along with its financial sector, 

Labuan is also a hub for oil and gas 

production and related industries. 



A SOVEREIGN, DEMOCRATIC 

AND INDEPENDENT NATION 

Malaysia follows a federal constitutional 

monarchy structure of governance, which 

is a legacy left by British colonisation. 

Modelled after the Westminster 

Parliamentary system, the Yang di-Pertuan 

Agong (the King) is the paramount ruler 

and Head of State, while the Prime 

Minister is the Head of Government. 

The paramount ruler is selected for a fiveyear 

term among the nine Sultans of the 

Malay states. The appointed governors 

(Yang Di-Pertua Negeri) of four other states 

with no monarchy do not participate in the 

selection. The King will also act as leader 

of the Islamic faith. Presently, Sultan Abdul 

Halim Mu’adzam Shah of Kedah is the 

14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, succeeding 

the title from Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of 

Terengganu in 2011. 

Ranks of Authority 

The Federal Government is the highest 

authority in the nation, headed by the 

Prime Minister, with administration based 

in the federal territory of Putrajaya. The 

Government is composed of members 

from two Houses of Congress: the Senate 


(Dewan Negara), and the House of 

Representatives, also commonly 

known as House of Commons 

(Dewan Rakyat). 

There are 70 members of the 

Senate with a six-year term of 

office; 44 of them are appointed 

by the King, whereas 26 were 

elected by the 13 states. At the 

House of Representatives, the 

222 members are elected from 

individual districts by popular 

votes to serve a maximum of five 

years in office. 

As stated by the Constitution, the 

Prime Minister is the indirectly 

elected Head of Government 

of Malaysia. He is officially 

appointed by the King, who 

deemed him suitable to command 

the confidence of the majority 

of the members in the House of 

Representatives. Since 2009 until 

present, Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun 

Razak has held office as the sixth 

Prime Minister of Malaysia. 

Directly under the Federal 

Government are the individual 

state governments, each with 

their own State Legislative 

Assembly (Dewan Undangan 

Negeri), led by the appointed chief 

ministers. Lastly, at the lowest 

rank of governance are the local 

authorities, authorised to collect 

taxes, grant license and permits to 

businesses and trade, and uphold 

the various regulations in its area 

of jurisdiction. Additionally, it is 

also the local authority’s duty to 

provide basic amenities, manage 

peace, and also oversee the 

planning and development of its 

designated area. 

General Elections 

While it is constitutional that a 

general election must be held 

at least once every five years, 

the King has the authority to 

dissolve parliament and call for 

an election anytime. Malaysia’s 

general elections exist at two 

levels: the national level to vote 

for membership in the House of 

Representatives, and State level 

to vote for membership in various 

State Legislative Assemblies. 

Two Legal Systems 

Malaysia’s constitution allows for 

a unique dual justice system. The 

main legal system is based on the 

English Common Law. Under this 

judiciary system, there are written 

laws which have been passed in 

the Constitution, and unwritten 

laws which are not stated 

anywhere, but can only be found 

in case decisions by a judge. The 

secondary justice system is based 

on the Islamic Sharia laws, which 

applies only to Muslim individuals. 


TOWARDS A GLOBAL 

HIGH-INCOME ECONOMY 

Malaysia started out as a producer of raw 

materials – mainly tin, rubber, and palm 

oil – in the 1970s because of the abundant 

availability of these resources. The nation’s 

economic growth is largely attributed to 

better optimisation of natural, mineral and 

human resources. Backed by government 

policies and programmes that foster 

economic development since 1955, with the 

implementation of the First Malaysia Plan – a 

five year economic transformation blueprint, 

Malaysia is able to diversify its economy. 

In fact, growth has been rapid and steady 

since the late 1990s, despite the 1997-98 

Asian economic crisis. Indeed, Malaysia 

has one of the highest living standards in 

Southeast Asia. 

Essentially a trade-oriented and open 

economy, export is one of the sectors that 

spurred Malaysia’s growth, to consistently 

achieve more than 7% in Gross Domestic 

Product (GDP) since the 1980s. This 

resulted in the country developing a more 

industrialised economy, and become 

a leading exporter of electrical goods, 

electronic parts and components, ICT 

products and natural gases. The country’s 

economy benefitted immensely from 

the demand for raw materials due to the 

progress in heavy industries in the Far East 

and the western hemisphere. Currently, 

Malaysia’s top export destinations and 

main sources of foreign investments are 

Singapore, China, Japan and the USA. 

Besides export and industrialisation, 

Malaysia’s oil and gas industry supplies 

roughly 32% of government revenues. In 

the finance and banking sector, Malaysia 

is one of the leaders in Islamic finance 

outside of the Middle East. Other profitable 

sectors include tourism, and knowledgebased 

services in the field of science and 

technological developments. 

In spite of all the progress, the government 

continues to stimulate growth by introducing 

more business-friendly policies, improving 


infrastructures, and implementing various 

initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship, 

technological advancement, and foreign 

investments. The ultimate goal is to propel 

Malaysia towards high-income status 

by 2020 while ensuring that growth is 

also sustainable, and wealth is equality 

distributed among the population. 

The most significant initiative is the 

launching of the New Economic Model 

(NEM) in 2010, which charts a number of 

reforms for achieving economic growth 

that is primarily driven by the private 

sector, moving the economy into higher 

value-added activities in both industry 

and services. 


A KALEIDOSCOPE OF 

CULTURES 

Malaysia’s multiculturalism stems from having an interesting 

course of history. Having been an influential trade and 

commerce hub for merchants all over the world since 

ancient times, Malaysia was also essentially a hub for 

cross-cultural exchange for centuries. Hence, the Malaysian 

society today is a kaleidoscope of cultures, co-existing and 

intermingling in harmony. 


A 

KALEIDOSCOPE 

OF 

CULTURES 


The three main ethnic groups in Malaysia 

are the Malays, Chinese, and Indians. 

Being the largest ethnic group, the Malays 

make up more than half of the population. 

Individuals of Malay descend practice 

Islam and speak the Malay language as 

their mother tongue. The second largest 

ethnic group, the Chinese, are mostly 

decedents of immigrants who arrived 

during the 19th century. Although most 

Malaysian Chinese are Mandarin literate, 

the community is made up of several 

sub-groups who speak different Chinese 

dialects. The most common of these 

dialects include Hokkien, Cantonese, 

Hakka and Teochew. Finally, the Indians 

in Malaysia are mostly descendants of 

Tamil-speaking South Indians immigrants 

who came to the country during the British 

colonial rule. 

Besides the major ethnic groups, Malaysia 

is also home to a myriad of indigenous 

ethnic groups and tribes with their own 

unique language, culture and heritage. In 

the peninsular, the indigenous people are 

generally referred to as Orang Asli (literally 

meaning ‘original people’). There are three 

main tribes of Orang Asli; the Negrito, the 

Senoi and the Proto-Malay. Over in East 

Malaysia, Sabah has over 32 recognised 

ethnic groups, the largest of these being 


the Kadazan Dusun, the Bajau and the Murut. 

Most of the indigenous groups of Sabah are 

seafarers and agricultural communities. In the 

neighbouring Sarawak, there are over 40 ethnic 

and sub-ethnic groups. The major indigenous 

groups are the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu, 

known collectively as the Dayaks. Traditional 

Dayak communities live in longhouses that can 

accommodate from 20 to 100 families. 

Within the myriad of ethnic groups are unique 

cultures that can only be found in the intricate 

fabric of Malaysian society. A notable example 

is a subgroup in the Chinese community 

known as the Peranakan people – also 

known as Baba-Nyonyas or Straits Chinese. 

These are decedents of 15th to 17th century 

Chinese immigrants to the Malay Peninsula 

and British Malaya, whom then embraced the 

local customs through intermarriage, and thus 

establishing a distinctive culture and heritage 

of their own. 

Malaysia’s cultural diversity is reflected in 

almost every aspect of the nation; in the food, 

architecture, the arts, lifestyle, and especially 

in the myriad of cultural and religious festivities 

that take place whole year round. 


Hari Raya Aidilfitri 

Commonly known as Eid Al-Fitr in other 

predominantly Muslim nations, Hari Raya 

Aidilfitri celebrates the first day of Syawal, 

which is the 10th month of the Muslim 

calendar, after a month of fasting during the 

previous month of Ramadan. This major 

Muslim festival is a time for family gatherings 

and open houses. This joyful day is ushered 

in with prayers in mosques and visiting the 

graves of departed loved ones. 

Chinese New Year 

The first day of the Chinese lunar calendar 

marks the most important festival of the 

Chinese community that lasts for a full two 

weeks. Celebration begins with a family 

reunion dinner on the eve. On the auspicious 

day itself, thundering of drums and clang 

of cymbals accompanying lion dances will 

be filling the air around town. It is a time for 

friends and relatives to visit one another, and 

for children and unmarried adults to be given 

gifts of money enclosed in red envelopes. 

Deepavali 

Known as the Hindu festival of light, 

Deepavali is a celebration of the day when 

the forces of good overcame the forces of 

evil. Hence, the homes of Hindus will be 

lit with little oil lamps to signify the victory 

of light over darkness. On the day of the 

celebration, devotees will take an oil bath 

in the wee hours of the morning, attend 

prayers, and then hold an open house to 

entertain guests who come by for a visit. 

Christmas 

Although it does not snow in the tropics, 

Malaysians celebrate the birth of Christ in 

the true traditional style each year. Homes 


of Christians are decorated with all the 

trappings of the season to usher in the 

Yuletide spirit. Companies and schools 

would organise parties where everyone 

exchanges gifts on days leading up to 

Christmas, and churches hold midnight 

masses on the eve. 

Gawai Dayak 

Celebrated by the Dayaks of Sarawak 

who live in longhouses, Gawai Dayak is 

a major celebration for the indigenous 

community where festivities last for a 

week. It is a thanksgiving festival for the 

bountiful harvest and also a time to rest 

from work before the new planting season. 

Gawai Dayak is celebrated with primitive 

rituals, huge gatherings, contests, drinking 

and dancing. The celebration is an official 

public holiday in the state of Sarawak on 

31st May and 1st June every year. 

National Day and Malaysia Day 

August 31st 1957 was the day Malaysia 

became officially independent of British 

colonial rule. Another significant day in 

Malaysian history is September 16th, 

which marks the day Singapore, Sabah 

and Sarawak joined the federation back in 

1965 – hence, observed as Malaysia Day. 

Each year, various parades, cultural events 

and festivals are held nationwide on 

these two historic days to commemorate 

Malaysia’s hard-won freedom from foreign 

power, and unity as a nation. 


A PARADISE 

FOR SHOPPERS 

AND FOODIES 

It is commonly said among Malaysians that shopping 

is a national pastime, while food is a national 

obsession. After all, there are over 50 shopping malls 

across the country, over 20 in Greater Kuala Lumpur, 

mostly concentrated within the Golden Triangle nearby 

Bukit Bintang. Whether it is luxury goods, the latest 

tech gadgets or fashionable apparels, the retail havens 

in most cities have a store for it. In fact, countless 

international brands and designer labels have stores 

all over Malaysia. 

There are also bazaars and flea markets in most 

towns, where local businesses set up shop, offering 

unique made-in-Malaysia goods, from antiques to 

travel souvenirs to food products. These are places 

where one can haggle for a good price. Famous 

bazaars traveller would not want to miss are the 

Jonker Night Market in Malacca, Petaling Street, and 

Kasturi Walk in downtown Kuala Lumpur. A rule of 

thumb when shopping at a bazaar: always bargain, 

especially when there is no price tag in sight. 

There are also duty-free shops around tourist-centric 

areas, where tobacco products, alcohol, chocolate 

and perfumes are especially cheap. The entire islands 

of Langkawi, Tioman and Labuan are designated dutyfree 

zones. 

When it comes to food, eating out is not only common 

and cheaper than cooking in Malaysia, but is also part 

of the Malaysian lifestyle. Malaysians love catching up 

with friends and family over mealtime. Rice is a staple 

food, as most Malaysian cuisines are based on rice 

or noodles. Sharing is also part of the custom at the 

dining table, as it is common to order several dishes to 

be mixed with rice and shared among the dining party. 


Among the most well-known Malay cuisines are the Nasi Lemak, 

Satay and Rendang Chicken. Chinese cuisines not to be missed 

are Char Kuey Teow, Wanton Noodles, Kampung Fried Rice and 

Loh Bak – all of which are hawker favourites. Notable Indian 

foods are the Roti Canai, Murtabak and Tosai, which are available 

in different varieties. With the country being a melting pot of 

cultures, there are plenty of fusion dishes and desserts that are 

uniquely Malaysian. Examples of these are the Laksa, Mamak Fried 

Noodles, the Rojak, and desserts such as Ais Kacang and Cendol. 

The best of Malaysian food is often enjoyed at hawker centres, 

where a cluster of stalls can be found, each offering something 

different. Renowned hawker centres among tourists are Jalan Alor 

in Kuala Lumpur, Gurney Hawker Centre in Penang, and Mutiara 

Bay in Langkawi Island. Enjoying lunch or dinner by hawker stalls 

is so ingrained in Malaysian life that modern shopping complexes 

and megamalls tend to have food court areas, with the eclectic 

choices of food similar to a hawker centre. 

In big cities like Greater KL and Klang Valley, the fun does not end 

at night because at 10PM is when the nightlife scene comes to 

life. There is no shortage of bars, pubs and clubs for party goers 

around town. From Bangsar’s cocktail bars to the trendy nightclubs 

at Bukit Bintang, there is always somewhere exciting to be seen 

and heard when the sun goes down. 


NATIONAL ICONS 

As Head of the Government, the Prime Minister of Malaysia plays a crucial role in the transformation and development of the nation. 

Since its independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Malaysia has been under the capable leadership of six successive prime 

ministers, each leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape the course of the nation’s progress. 

Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al Haj 

(1957 - 1970) 

Known as Malaysia’s Father of 

Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman’s 

determination to end the rampant social 

injustice and racial segregation led him to 

initiate the quest for the nation’s freedom 

from foreign power. Tunku was the seventh 

prince of the Sultan of Kedah. After 

completing his law studies at Cambridge 

University, he became actively involved in 

politics upon returning to his homeland, 

and eventually assuming the chairmanship 

of the United Malays National Organisation 

(UMNO). In 1956, he led an alliance to 

London for an audience with the British 

government to negotiate for Malaysia’s 

independence. The meeting resulted in 

the signing of the Independent Treaty 

at Lancaster House in London on 8th 

February, 1956. Subsequently, Malaysia 

officially gained independence on 31st 

August of 1957, with Tunku as the first 

Prime Minister. 

Tun Abdul Razak Hussein 

(1970 - 1976) 

A lawyer by training who joined the 

civil service in 1950, Tun Abdul Razak 

had a talent for politics which led to his 

appointment as UMNO’s youth chief, and 

eventually as the state of Pahang’s Chief 

Minister at the young age of 33. During 

the tenure of Tunku Abdul Rahman as 

Prime Minster, he rose through the ranks 

to become the Deputy Prime Minister and 

Defense Minister (1957–70) and Minister 

of Rural Development (1959–69). With his 

sights set on gradually eradicating poverty 

and identification of economic function 

with race, Tun Abdul Razak introduced the 

New Economy Policy (NEP) in 1971, when 

he came into office. 

Tun Hussein Onn 

(1976 - 1981) 

Born into a family with solid patriotic and 

political roots, Tun Hussein Onn’s foray 

into politics was an inevitability. He was 

the son of Malayan freedom fighter and 

UMNO founder, Dato’ Onn Jaafar. Tun 

Hussein won the general elections in 1969, 

and was then appointed as the education 

minister. He would go on to become 

Deputy Prime Minister on August 13th, 

1973, and eventually succeeding Tun Abdul 

Razak as Prime Minister three years later. 

Throughout his tenure, Tun Hussein Onn 

was renowned for his attention and efforts 

in striving for unity through policies aimed 

at resolving economic inequalities between 

the communities. 

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad 

(1981 - 2003) 

As the longest-serving Prime Minister 

with a political career spanning almost 

40 years, Tun Mahathir is often credited 

as Malaysia’s Father of Modernisation. 

A medical doctor by profession, Tun 

Mahathir, was appointed a Senator 

in 1973, and was made the Deputy 

Prime Minister in addition to holding 

the portfolio of the Education Minister 

in 1976. Under his leadership, 

Malaysia underwent a period of rapid 

modernisation, innovation and economic 

growth. Bold and massive infrastructure 

projects including the PETRONAS Twin 

Towers, the construction of the North- 

South Expressway, Putrajaya and the 

establishment of car manufacturer Proton 

were among his brainchildren. Tun 

Mahathir also introduced Vision 2020, an 

ideal which aimed to transform Malaysia 

into a self-sufficient economy. 

Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi 

(2003 - 2009) 

Commonly known to Malaysians as 

Pak Lah, Tun Abdullah graduated from 

University of Malaya in Islamic Studies and 

joined the civil service thereafter. In 1978, 

he resigned from his position and joined 

politics, and eventually held the post of 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department 

from 1981 to 1984. Pak Lah went on to 

become Minister of Education from 1984 

to 1986, Minister of Defence from 1986 to 

1987, and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 

1991 to 1999. In January 1999, he was 

appointed the Deputy Prime Minister and 

Minister of Home Affairs, subsequently 

succeeding Tun Mahathir as Prime Minister 

in 2003. 

Dato’ Seri Najib Razak 

(2009 - Present) 

Malaysia’s sixth and current Prime 

Minister, Dato’ Sri Najib is an industrial 

economist who started his political career 

in 1976, at an early age of 23. He is the 

eldest son of Malaysia’s second Prime 

Minister, and the nephew of Malaysia’s 

third Prime Minister. Since his political 

participation, Datuk Seri Najib has held 

various posts in Malaysia’s Cabinet, 

including Deputy Minister of Energy, 

Telecommunications and Post, Minister 

of Culture, Youth and Sports, Minister of 

Defence, Minister of Education and Deputy 

Prime Minister. Dato’ Sri Najib took on the 

role of Prime Minister on 3rd of April 2009 

with the aim of transforming Malaysia into 

a high-income country through the New 

Economic Model (NEM). The plan will 

serve as a blueprint to boost productivity 

and increase foreign investments. 


Dato’ Seri Najib Razak 

Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi 

Tun Dr .Mahathir Mohamad 

Tun Hussein Onn 

Tunku Abdul Rahman 

Putra Al Haj 

Tun Abdul Razak Hussein 


Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza 

FAMOUS PERSONALITIES 

Malaysia has nurtured and given rise to notable high-achieving individuals in various 

fields, from artists and athletes, to scientists and entrepreneurs. Their achievements 

have spanned across international borders and broken barriers that many have not 

done before, thus making the nation proud for putting Malaysia before the eyes of the 

world, as a force to be reckoned with. 

Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor 

Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza 

Being a singer, songwriter, producer, 

television presenter and businesswoman, 

Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza is a woman of many 

talents. Dubbed Malaysia’s Pop Princess, 

she made her debut at the age of 16, and 

has received more than 200 local and 

international awards. Her most notable 

achievement was being crowned the 

Voice of Asia, after winning the Grand Prix 

Champion title at the Voice of Asia singing 

competition, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. 

In 2008, she was named one of Asia’s 

idols by Asia News Network. 

Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar 

Shukor 

On October 10th 2007, Datuk Dr. Sheikh 

Muszaphar created history by being 

the first Malaysian to explore outer 

space, where he blasted off with two 

other astronauts from the Baikonur 

Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to the 

International Space Station. During 

his nine days on the space station, 

the orthopaedic surgeon took the 

opportunity to perform various scientific 

tests and experiments. Upon returning 

to earth, he joined and contributed to 

space research programmess. Datuk 

Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar also organised 

various motivational talks to inspire and 

encourage others to follow their dreams. 

Datuk Nicol Ann David 

Currently the world number one women’s 

squash player and the first Asian woman 

to achieve the title, Datuk Nicol has won 

the World Open title a record 8 times in 

2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 

2012 and 2014. She is also a five-time 

British Open title holder, in 2005, 2006, 

2008, 2012 and 2014. In 2004, she was 

given the honour of carrying Malaysia’s 

Olympic torch during the build-up to 

the games in Athens, and was also 

appointed the UNDP National Goodwill 

Ambassador for Malaysia that same year. 


Dato’ Jimmy Choo, OBE 

A household name in the fashion 

world, particularly when it comes to 

glamorous luxury footwear, Dato’ 

Jimmy has a clientele that consists 

of Hollywood stars and royalties. One 

of his most faithful patrons was the 

late Princess Diana. The Penang-born 

designer made his first pair of shoes 

at the tender age of 11, picking up the 

craft from his shoemaker father. He 

went to London in 1983 to study at 

the London College of Fashion, and 

received his big break when his shoes 

made into an eight-page spread of 

British Vogue. For his achievements 

and contribution to the fashion world, 

Dato’ Jimmy was awarded the Order 

of the British Empire (OBE) in 2002. 

Dato’ Michelle Yeoh 

From humble beginnings in the small 

town of Ipoh, Dato’ Michelle Yeoh 

kicked her way into prominence 

as Malaysia’s most successful 

international movie star, known from 

Hong Kong to Hollywood. Her career 

blossomed when she acted along 

mega action star Jackie Chan in The 

Police Story 3, where she performed all 

of her own stunts. Her star continued 

to rise following her appearance in a 

highly acclaimed James Bond film, 

Tomorrow Never Dies, alongside Pierce 

Brosnan. Dato’ Michelle went on to star 

in a string of successful international 

blockbusters, such as The Mummy 3, 

Memoirs of Geisha, Babylon A.D., and 

the Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, 

Hidden Dragon, 

Dato’ Jimmy Choo 

Dato’ Michelle Yeoh 

Datuk Nicol Ann David 



THE HEART 

OF THE NATION 

Kuala Lumpur has its humble 

beginning as a tin mining town in 

the mid 19th century. Its economy 

has seen a lot of ups and downs 

after the nation’s independence 

from the British rule, but begin 

advancing by leaps and bounds 

since the 90s Asia’s Economic 

Boom. The city has since been 

transformed into a modern 

metropolis, boasting some iconic 

skyscrapers lining its landscape. 

What makes a city an ideal place 

to live and work in really depends 

on the vibrancy of its community, 

along with the progression and 

sustainability of city’s economy. 

As Malaysia moves towards its 

aspirations of becoming a higher 

gross national income nation, the 

Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang 

Valley (GKL/KV) – the area that 

extends beyond the boundaries 

of the capital city, covered by 

10 municipalities – is committed 

to making great strides towards 

becoming an even more 

liveable city. 

As Malaysia’s pillar for economic 

growth, the thriving metropolis 

continues to have a strong 

economic pull on people from 

various parts of the country and all 

over the world. With ever-improving 

modern amenities, plenty of job 

opportunities and inhabitants that 

are mostly English literate, GKL/ 

KV prove to be a viable place 

for business and career growth 

that also happens to be an easily 

adaptable living environment. It is 

no wonder that the population of 

GKL/KV has reached roughly seven 

million – a large chunk of them 

consisting of expatriates 

and immigrants. 

Connectivity and 

Convenience 

Kuala Lumpur’s inherent 

competitive advantage lies in 

the fact that it is located at the 

intersecting international air and sea 

travel routes, as well as European 

and Pacific time zones. This places 

the city within a three-hour flight 

radius to most ASEAN capitals 

and a six to eight-hour radius to 

other key business centres of 

the world, such as Tokyo, Hong 

Kong, Beijing, Bangalore, Dubai 

and Sydney. Hence, the capital 

city and its surrounding areas are 

often perceived as the gateway that 


connects the ASEAN, Asia and other global market places. It also 

helps that the increasing availability of budget air travel has made 

travelling to and from Kuala Lumpur more affordable. 

Within the GKL/KV, a reliable network of highways and train lines 

are available to make for hassle-free commute and smooth flow 

in the delivery of goods and services. As there is no doubt that 

well-developed infrastructures reduce the cumbersome effects 

of distance and staying connected, continuous improvements 

and upgrades are constantly being made to the metropolis’ 

transportation and digital infrastructure by governing bodies to 

supplement its already strategic location. 

Most notable of these projects is the construction of a High- 

Speed Rail System (HSR) that connects Kuala Lumpur to 


Singapore. Headed by the Land Public Transport 

Commission (SPAD), the rail is estimated to be built 

by 2020, further strengthening connectivity and 

business ties between the two nations. Furthermore, 

plans were already in place for the construction of a 

new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system within GKL/ 

KV to reduce traffic congestion, and accommodate 

the growing population’s need for efficient and 

reliable public transportation. 

Business Services 

The boom in IT-enabled services and technology 

in Asia has given rise to the trend of outsourcing 

for various business processes. Whether it is 

back-office operations, research, design and 

development and marketing activities, the GKL/KV 

has the well-developed infrastructures, accessible 

broadband internet services and fibre optic cabling 

to accommodate the rising demand for offshore 

business services outsourcing. Additionally, the 

availability of skilled talents and the fact that 

Malaysia has no major natural disasters makes 

the capital city an even more prominent choice for 

corporations looking for offshore outsourcing. 

Financial Services 

Malaysia’s financial sector consists of the 

conventional financial system and the Islamic 

financial practices; both coexist and operate 

in parallel. In fact, Malaysia is one of the core 

markets for Islamic banking outside of the Middle 

East. To ensure greater and more sustainable 

growth of the financial sector, the Central Bank 

of Malaysia introduced measures to liberalise the 

pursuit of opportunities that can contribute to the 

sectors development. 

Healthcare 

Although the healthcare sector is primarily driven 

by domestic demands for better healthcare 

services and products, based in the GKL/KV 

are some of the globally recognised healthcare 


facilities and service providers, manufacturers of 

medical devices, and pharmaceutical companies. 

Furthermore, the government is actively 

supporting more research and development 

work in the medical field, and also promoting 

Malaysia as an overall luxury tourist destination, 

which creates immense potential for growth 

opportunities in healthcare tourism. 

Quality Education 

As the nation’s economic transformation 

accelerates, the capital city is set on becoming 

a premier education hub. Malaysia’s cultural 

diversity, available pool of potential talents and 

modernisation has led to a growing number of 

foreign education institutes setting up operations 

around GKL/KV. Adding on to that, the decent 

cost of living in Kuala Lumpur, compared to 

other metropolises around the world, makes it an 

affordable city for higher education. 

Increasing Consumer Demands 

The GKL/KV populace is dominated by an 

emerging middle-class with an increasing 

spending power. It is no wonder that the number 

of shopping centres are on the rise around the 

metropolis. As the city’s population becomes 

more educated and sophisticated, there is a spike 

in demand and appreciation for quality goods 

and services. This offers business, entrepreneurs 

and investors – both local and foreign – plenty of 

valuable opportunities to penetrate new markets. 

Into the Future 

GKL/KV is the central focus of numerous 

development projects and initiatives under the 

Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), 


meant to boost economic growth. The aim 

is to make the GKL/KV a more attractive 

destination for the world’s most innovative 

and progressive firms within the 12 servicedriven 

and knowledge intensive industries, 

which are deemed priority sectors, as 

highlighted in the ETP. 

To further efforts in bringing in more 

investors and aid overall progress, many 

pro-business government policies and 

tax incentives were introduced to boost 

investor confidence in the GKL/KV. Policies 

were also made to ease doing business 

in the metropolis, such as minimising 

bureaucratic red tape with online onestop 

centres for business licensing, new 

company incorporation and simultaneous 

business registrations. 

Not only are measures taken to simplify 

business processes, there are also a wide 

range of policies made to cater to newer 

business trends. Notable examples include 

tax incentives for companies wishing 

to locate their operational headquarters 

with GKL/KV, and the setting up of 

agencies dedicated to overseeing and 

enforcing intellectual property laws. Such 

efforts serve to encourage more foreign 

investment through acquisition, licensing 

and franchising. 

It is projected that with an increase in 

investments and enhanced connectivity to 

the city, more jobs will be created, allowing 

for local talents to be optimised while also 

attracting more international talents and 

skilled workers. 


THE CENTRE OF GOVERNANCE 


Situated 25km south of Kuala 

Lumpur is a planned city that, 

upon first impression, may just 

bring to mind the kind of utopia 

normally depicted in science 

fiction. Spanning a total of 

49 sq km of land space and first 

unveiled to the public on 

June 4th, 1999, Putrajaya has 

been serving as Malaysia’s federal 

administration capital since 1999 

when the seat of government was 

relocated to reduce overcrowding 

in the central Kuala Lumpur area. 

Designed with the concept of 

an intelligent garden city and 

located within the Multimedia 

Super Corridor, Putrajaya was 

inaugurated as the third Federal 

Territory in 2001, after Kuala 

Lumpur and Labuan. 

The city was planned and built 

with the vision of creating an 

ideal place, not just to work in, 

but also for living and recreation. 

This is evident with the city’s 

futuristic architecture coexisting 

harmoniously with nature. While 

mainly the home to main offices 

of various federal government 

bodies, the landscape of Putrajaya 

is also lined with stylish residential 

areas, commercial buildings and 

shopping centres. 

Due to its unique cityscape that 

consists of 47% open space, 

mostly parks and a man-made 

lake, Putrajaya plays hosts to a 

number of annual sporting and 

recreational events. Given the city’s 

ever-growing hospitality industry 

and its increasing popularity as the 

location of choice for businesses, 

Putrajaya is also fast becoming a 

popular tourist destination. 

The city’s world class infrastructure 

was designed to meet the 

demands of state-of-the-art 

technological operations and also 

accommodate green technology. 

Putrajaya’s objective of a selfsufficient 

garden city is exemplified 

by its innovative neighbourhood 

concepts, and stunning 

commercial office spaces, mostly 

overlooking breathtaking water 

and landscape panoramas. 

Education is made accessible 

in the city with the availability 

of schools catering to all ranks 

of education, from kindergarten 

and pre-school to primary, 

secondary and even tertiary levels. 

Additionally, training and research 

centres for various corporate and 

government organisations are 

also located in Putrajaya. These 

institutes serve to attract and 

nurture talented professionals in all 

sorts of fields, while also creating 

employment opportunities. 

Like a large oasis amidst a bustling 

metropolitan, Putrajaya is wellconnected 

to the Kuala Lumpur 

International Airport (KLIA), as well 

as major towns within Greater KL 

and Klang Valley via a network of 

highways and railroads. Internally, 

all of Putrajaya’s precincts 

are linked by standard roads. 

Furthermore, going in and out or 

moving around the city is made 

easy and safe with inter-city buses. 

Keeping up with its vision as an 

intelligent city and commitment 

of continual progress, many 

healthcare, sports, leisure parks, 

recreational facilities and public 

amenities were built around the 

city to cater to residents, with more 

projects planned for the future. 


BUILT FOR BUSINESS 

AND PLEASURE 

With state-of-the-art facilities, 

infrastructures and convenient 

one-stop business centre designed 

to ensure efficient business 

transactions, the southern 

development corridor of Iskandar 

Malaysia is set on becoming the 

ideal metropolis for business, living 

and entertainment. 

Located in the state of Johor 

that is known to be the southern 

gateway to Peninsular Malaysia, 

the economic corridor is at the 

closest proximity to one of Asia’s 

economic powerhouse, Singapore. 

It is also situated within six to eight 

hours flight radius from a number 

of the continent’s burgeoning 

cities, including Dubai, Hong Kong, 

Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. Its 

strategic position means it is within 

the reach of an approximately 800 

million people global market. With 

a lucrative economy, and ever 

conducive business environment, 

Iskandar is also projected to 

become an attractive location full 

of promising job opportunities for 

local and foreign career seekers. 

Covering an area of 2,217 sq km 

that is conveniently accessible 

by air, land, rail and sea, Iskandar 

Malaysia is divided into five 

flagship zones as developmental 

focal points. 

Flagship A: Johor Bahru City 

As the central business district 

and capital city of the state, 

Johor Bahru is host to 60% of 

foreign tourists in the south of 

the peninsula. Its main economic 

activities are financial services, 

manufacturing, hospitality, urban 


tourism, commercial and retail. The city is 

connected to Singapore via the Causeway 

Link, and plans were already made for an 

Mass Rapid Transit and Light Rapid Transit 

(MRT/LRT) train system to connect Johor 

Bahru with other areas within Iskandar. 

Flagship B: Nusajaya 

With 24,000 acres of development-ready 

land available, Nusajaya is the flagship zone 

to focus on property development, state 

and federal administration, and logistics. 

Flagship B is also home to Malaysia’s first 

international theme parks, Legoland and 

Hello Kitty Town. With more development 

plans in the wing, Nusajaya is set to become 

the hub for creative arts, entertainment, 

modern medical facilities, educational 

institutes, tourism, biotechnology and 

high-tech manufacturing. 

Flagship C: Western Gate 

Development 

The southwestern region of Iskandar 

is where port and marine activities 

are concentrated. An area consisting 

mostly of fertile agricultural lands and 

mangrove forests, Flagship C has 

land banks available for development 

in various sectors. Key economic 

activities within this zone includes 

warehousing, logistics, engineering, 

hi-tech manufacturing, food production, 

petrochemicals and entreport trading. 

Flagship D: Eastern Gate 

Development 

As the industrial and manufacturing 

hub, the southeastern region boasts the 

largest concentration of palm oil refining 

industries and downstream activities in 

the world. 

Flagship E: Senai-Skudai 

Investors looking to set up large-scale 

commercial and airport related enterprises 

can look to the northern region of Iskandar. 

The region’s main shopping centre, the 

Johor Premium Outlets, is located in 

Flagship E. Senai-Skudai is the flagship 

zone for airport services, engineering, 

electronics and electrical industries and 

education, with enough land space still 

available for more development. 


MOVING TOWARDS 

GREATER INNOVATIONS 

AND PROGRESS 

Investors, entrepreneurs and career seekers with sights 

set on northern Peninsula Malaysia is looking to benefit 

from a mature business community of over 40 years 

in experience and evolution, with strong ties already 

forged between government and private sectors. 

The span of four decades had led to the creation 

of many engineering-based industries, enabling the 

expansion into new growth sectors such as machinery, 

automotive, aerospace, medical devices, biotechnology 

and engineering driven agriculture. 

With the ground work already set, the Northern 

Corridor Economic Region (NCER) initiative aims at 

accelerating economic growth and elevating income 

levels in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang 

and northern districts of Perak. The ambitious 

objective focuses on leveraging and increasing the 

value of existing industries in the region, namely in 

manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and logistics. 

Kedah is already considered the rice bowl of the 

nation, where more than half of the country’s total 

rice production comes from. The NCER is set 

on modernising current farming techniques and 

technology that can take agriculture to the next 

level. To boost efficiency, productivity and quality of 

produce, centres for research and development have 

been set up to encourage market driven innovations 

that are also in compliance with international 

standards of farming practices. The target is not only 

to revitalise the agricultural sector to fulfil domestic 

and exporting demands, but also for the economic 

boost to elevate poverty by improving living standards 

of the farming communities. 

The NCER also has the edge in the manufacturing 

sector, especially with large electronic, automotive 

and aerospace companies that have set up base 

in the region, setting the standards for production 


and service precision. The most notable 

achievement in this sector is the 

development of the car manufacturing 

township called Proton City in Tanjung 

Malim, Perak. With state-of-the-art 

facilities already established to further 

boost the local automotive sector, Proton 

City is expected to be fully developed by 

2020 as the nation’s centre for automotive 

industrial excellence. 

In addition to agricultural and 

manufacturing activities, the northern 

states have always played a leading role 

in making Malaysia a globally recognised 

travel destination. In Perlis is where the 

longest continuous range of limestone hills 

in Malaysia can be found. Off the coast of 

Kedah is the duty-free island of Langkawi, 

which is known to be rich in natural and 

culturally diverse tourist attractions. 

The tourism industry in the region is further 

boosted by the availability of modern 

healthcare facilities and luxury services, 

making for an ideal environment for 

business and leisure travels. In fact, the 

island state of Penang is fast becoming 

a popular medical tourist destination. 

Already famous for its rich history and 

heritage, Penang has a reliable network 

of internationally acclaimed hospital, 

continuously drawing in 

medical tourists from all 

over the continent. 

main contributors to the growth of key 

economic activities for almost half a 

century. The main infrastructures that links 

this region to the rest of the peninsular and 

the continent are an international airport, 

an international port, and an extensive 

network of roads and expressways. 

Furthermore, the availability of northbound 

train, flight and bus services make 

travelling up north fast and easy. 

Located strategically 

adjacent to the Eastern 

Corridor, the northern 

region already has 

a well-established 

logistics system which 

has been one of the 


A GOLDMINE OF 

NATURAL RESOURCES 

Almost 14% of Malaysia’s population resides in 

the east coast, and the number is set to grow. 

Given that this region has a lower cost of living 

compared to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia, 

it is no wonder that the East Coast Economic 

Region (ECER) is positioned to become a major 

tourist destination, an exporter of resourcebased 

and manufactured products, a trading 

centre, and a logistics hub. 

Spanning a 66,000 sq km area which consists 

of the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, 

and the district of Mersing in Johor, the region 

is rich in untapped resources for the tourism, 

farming and fishing industries. In fact, the 

basis for ECER’s economic transformation is 

the wealth of the region’s cultural heritage, 

natural resources and biodiversity. The regional 

geography, which covers 51% of land space 

in the peninsular, makes it ideal for real estate 

development and large-scale commercial 

agricultural activities, with vast potential for 

high-yielding farms and fisheries. 

The forests, coast lines, islands, lakes and 

highlands offer an abundance of opportunities 


for tourism to flourish. After all, 

Malaysian’s first national park, 

with an area that spans the state 

of Pahang, Terengganu and 

Kelantan, is one of the world’s 

oldest virgin rainforest and a 

favourite ecotourism destination. 

Off the coast of Terengganu are 

nine islands that are gazetted as a 

marine conservation area continues 

to draw visitors. Over in the state 

of Kelantan, the Kota Bahru City 

Centre (KBCC) project is slowly 

and steadily transforming the state 

capital into a cross-border business 

trading hub in the region. 

Additionally, the oil and gas industry 

centred in Terengganu that has long 

been another contributor to the 

region’s development has reached 

maturity, and expanded to include 

petrochemical-based manufacturing 

and other related industries. 

Another factor that makes ECER 

an attractive business destination 

is its already existing seaports, 

airports, railways, and network of 

roads that allow for accessibility 

from other parts of the peninsular 

and neighbouring countries. The 

region’s connectivity also puts it 

in an ideal position as a logistics 

and transportation focal point 

for various industries, making it 

even more viable to diversify its 

economic activities. 


THE CENTRE FOR 

ECOLOGICAL INTERESTS 

Home to 32 ethnic groups and well-conserved 

biodiversity, Sabah has plenty to capitalise on to 

spur its economic growth. Banking on the state’s 

natural endowment, human capital availability 

and advantageous location, the state-wide Sabah 

Development Corridor (SDC) initiative was introduced 

in 2008 to accelerate its economy and boost the 

quality of life of the people, while ensuring sustainable 

management of its resources. 

For starters, Sabah is at the centre of the rapidly 

progressing Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia- 

Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), 

with direct air accessibility to many capital cities and 

markets in North and Southeast Asia. 

The state’s fertile agricultural lands, rainforests and 

marine resources offer great potential for resourcebased 

manufacturing, food and biotechnological 

ventures. In fact, Sabah is responsible for at least 30% 

of Malaysia’s palm oil production. Its continuously 

flourishing oil, gas and energy sector also provides 

investors with ample opportunity for investment in the 

pretrochemical industry. 


Sabah also has a lot to offer ecologists 

and adventure-seeking travellers, from its 

national parks and conservation areas to 

the mountains, jungles and coral reefs. 

Mount Kinabalu – being the highest peak 

in Southeast Asia and listed as a UNESCO 

heritage site – is home to over 2,000 flora 

species, while Sipadan Island is where the 

world renowned Coral Triangle can be found. 

Besides opportunities for tourism activities, 

these natural attractions also provides plenty 

to explore for environmental and biotech 

industries in terms of studies and research. 

In regards to human capital development, 

Sabah’s culturally diverse environment is 

expected to inspire and cultivate creative 

minds that can contribute to the SDC’s plan 

for continuous progress. The human capital 

development in Sabah is intended to raise 

living standards and bridge the rural-urban 

divide in East Malaysia, which is in alignment 

with the national agenda to transform 

Malaysia into a high income nation by 2020. 

With Greater Kota Kinabalu as the growth 

pillar, the SDC had designated six other 

Strategic Development Areas to complement 

the initiative, which are the Kinabalu Gold 

Coast Enclave, Bio-Triangle, Agro Marine 

Belt, Interior Food Valley, the Oil and Gas 

Clusters, and the Brunei Bay Integrated 

Development Area. These designated areas 

provide unique tax incentive packages that 

are beneficial to investors. 


BUILDING A 

SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 

Known as ‘Land of the Hornbills’, the eastern state 

of Sarawak is home to a plethora of exotic flora 

and fauna. Much like the bordering state of Sabah, 

Sarawak is overflowing with natural resources. 

The long coastlines where aquaculture activities 

take place, the hectares of forests where logging 

is concentrated, and ample fertile lands available 

for agriculture activities are but a few of the natural 

resources that support the state’s economic 

development. Within the 70,000 sq km central 

region, where more than 600,000 of Sarawak’s 

population is concentrated is also saturated with 

energy resources and raw minerals. 

To accelerate Sarawak into a developed state 

and enhance the people’s quality of life, the 

Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) 

was launched in 2008, with the five major growth 

nodes – Samalaju, Tanjung Manis, Mukah, Baram 

and Tunoh – as focal points for development. 

The initiative prioritises growth of the energy 

sector, especially in the areas of hydropower, 

coal, biofuel and natural gas – all of which are 

available in abundance. The wealth of clean and 

safe renewable energy allows Sarawak to price 

its energy competitively and encourage foreign 

investments in power generation. 


To complement the growth plan, 

SCORE also singled out 10 high 

impact sectors in Sarawak’s economy 

for further development, including 

fishing, aquaculture, ship building, 

tourism, palm oil, aluminium, glass, 

metal, oil and forestry industries. 

The state’s rainforest is one of the 

largest the source of tropical hardwood 

timber, which is one of the major 

contributors to Malaysian exports. 

In spite of all the developments, 

the Sarawak government is also 

stepping up efforts to ensure the 

state’s natural wonders are protected. 

With its rainforests being the habitat 

of numerous endangered species, 

conservation programmes and 

sanctuaries were created to protect 

animals like the orangutan, dugong, 

dolphins and even the coral reefs. 

Additionally, being home to several of 

the most impressive national parks, 

Sarawak proves to be an attractive 

tourist destination for ecologists and 

adventure-seekers. 


VISION 2020: 

MALAYSIA’S AMBITION 

TO BECOME A FULLY 

DEVELOPED NATION 


“By the year 2020, Malaysia can be a united 

nation, with a confident Malaysian society, 

infused by strong moral and ethical values, 

living in a society that is democratic, liberal 

and tolerant, caring, economically just and 

equitable, progressive and prosperous, and 

in full possession of an economy that is 

competitive, dynamic, robust and resilient.” 

The Way Forward – Vision 2020 

by YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, 1991 



In 1999, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, 

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad introduced the 

nation to Vision 2020, a national ideal of 

Malaysia becoming a fully developed country 

in terms of economic prosperity, social wellbeing 

and political stability by the year 2020. 

To continue driving change towards the goal of 

Vision 2020, the government formulated the four 

key pillars of national transformation to unite the 

people for the challenges ahead, prepare the 

public sector to better serve the people, and 

transform the economy. 

Uniting the People 

Striving towards achieving a more inclusive and 

harmonious society, the 1Malaysia programme 

was launched in 2009. The fundamental 

principle of 1Malaysia is to continuously 

promote common values that emphasise ethnic 

harmony, national unity and efficient governance 

in all future development plans. This concept is 

exemplified by – among many things – the New 

Economic Policy (NEP), introduced as a means 

to remedy the great economic disparity between 

the people in Malaysia and to eradicate poverty 

regardless of race with affirmative action. 

Transforming the Government 

In line with the concept of 1Malaysia, the 

Government Transformation Programme 

(GTP) was launched in 2010 with the aim of 

strengthening public services. Under the GTP, 

the aim is to create a more efficient and peoplecentric 

government by addressing priority areas 

that are of great importance to the citizens. 

To deliver the fundamental changes, there are 

seven designated points of focus, known as the 

National Key Result Areas (NKRA). Among the 

agenda included within the NKRA are crime and 

corruption reduction, raising the living standards 


of low-income households, and improving 

the infrastructures and amenities in both 

rural and urban areas. 

Towards an Inclusive and 

Sustainable New Economy 

Given the need for bold economic reforms 

amidst the changing global economic 

climate, the Economic Transformation 

Programme (ETP) – in which the New 

Economic Model (NEM) will be achieved 

through – was unveiled in March of 2010 

as the third transformative pillar. 

As the framework for progress that will 

propel the nation towards its target of 

becoming an advanced high-income nation 

by year 2020, the main goals of the NEM is 

to create and promote a more sustainable 

economy in which the focus for growth 

will be on income brackets and small 

businesses. The initiative is inclusive of all 

citizens, regardless of ethnicity and creed. 


The ETP strives for a more market-led economy where 

investments and productions are driven by the private 

sector. Under the NEM, small-medium enterprises 

(SMEs) will be given more support and assistance in 

terms of access to business opportunities. Because 

there are over half a million of them nationwide, SMEs 

form the core of Malaysia’s economy, accounting for 

roughly 35% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product 

(GDP), over half of total employment and approximately 

20% of exports. 

The ETP will be driven by eight Strategic Reform 

Initiatives (SRI), each forming the basis for relevant 

policy measures to be implemented. Ultimately, the 

objective is to foster long-term growth by revitalising 

the private sector, develop a quality workforce, and 

continue to optimise growth in the 12 National Key 

Economic Areas (NKEAs). 

Essentially, the NKEA comprise selected sectors with 

enormous growth potential for the private sector that 

when enhanced, will drive Malaysia towards highincome 

status and global competitiveness: 


Oil, Gas and Energy 

Contributing to one-fifth of the national GDP over 

the past decade, the oil, gas and energy industry is 

critical to Malaysia’s economic growth. With the rise 

in regional and domestic demand for energy products 

and sustainable energy solutions, this sector is set to 

achieve an annual growth rate of 5% up to year 2020. 

Palm Oil and Rubber 

The palm oil sector remains one of the main 

contributors to the national economy, accounting for 

5% of Malaysia’s annual exports. Besides producing 

the raw resource, the sector has expanded into the 

production of quality palm products, especially in 

the food and health-based segments. This NKEA 

also hopes to improve and enhance activities in 

the rubber industry, and ensure the availability of 

domestic supplies for developing higher-valued 

rubber products. 


Financial Services 

Malaysia’s financial industry represents 

an important component of the economy. 

Government projects are already planned 

to address challenges faced by the 

industry, and also to boost the sector’s 

growth, particularly the industry’s niche in 

Islamic finance. 

Tourism 

The tourism industry is a significant 

contributor to the nation’s income, as 

reflected in an average GDP growth 

rate of 12% yearly since 2004. Through 

the Tourism NKEA initiatives, efforts 

are implemented to secure Malaysia’s 

position as a leading leisure and 

business destination. 

Business Services 

The Business Services NKEA aims to 

nurture innovation and to broaden the 

knowledge and skills base of the country’s 

workforce. It is expected that Malaysia can 

expand into new and untapped areas of 

specialisation, including maintenance and 

repair, outsourcing in business, knowledge 

processing and data centres, engineering 

design services, and shipbuilding. 

Electrical and Electronics (E&E) 

Already into its second phase of 

implementation, the of E&E NKEA 

target is to gradually move the industry 

from manufacturing activities towards 

higher-value activities such as design, 

assembly, packaging and the provision 

of total solutions. 

Education 

A nation cannot achieve global 

competitiveness without quality education 

at its core. Hence, initiatives are being 

undertaken to improve the quality of all 

levels of education in the country, from 

early childcare to tertiary education to 


professional skills 

training. The NKEA’s 

goal is to make great 

strides in attracting 

prestigious foreign 

universities to set up 

campus on Malaysian 

shores, and develop 

new education niches. 

Healthcare 

As Malaysia is becoming a more educated 

and health-conscious society, the nation’s 

healthcare industry is seeing consistent 

growth over the past decade. There has been 

tremendous growth of healthcare services in 

the industry, which was previously dominated 

by the public sector. As such, the government 

aims to further boost growth in this sector 

by encouraging more private investments in 

various areas, such as the manufacturing of 

pharmaceutical products, medical devices, 

clinical research and aged-care services. 

Communications Content and 

Infrastructure (CCI) 

An initiative that spans content, network 

applications, services and devices, the goal of 

the CCI NKEA is to make the interconnected 

lifestyle of the digital age a reality for all 

Malaysians. There are basically two parts 

to this NKEA; to improve communications 

infrastructure for greater availability of internet 

access, and to drive the production of creative 

high-quality multimedia content. 

Agriculture 

Agricultural activities have always been a staple 

in Malaysian economy. Projects and initiatives 

are being made to transform the small-scale 

and production-based agricultural sector into a 

large-scale agribusiness industry that not only 

contributes to national economic growth, but is 

also sustainable. 

Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley 

As the capital and commercial centre of the 

country, the progress and developments within 

Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley (GKL/KV) 

is a crucial component to Malaysia’s economic 

transformation. The NKEA’s goal is to transform 

the GKL/KV region into a world-class metropolis 

that upholds the highest standards in every 

area, from conducting business to livability. 


The Final Developmental Phase 

The fourth and final transformation pillar was 

unveiled in June of 2010, known as the 10th 

Malaysia Plan. This comprehensive blueprint 

for economic transformation, drafted by the 

Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime 

Minister’s Department and the Finance Ministry, 

targets a GDP growth of 6% per annum over the 

next five years. 

As the Plan reaches its conclusion in June of 

2015, the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020) is 

expected to carry forward and extend on the 

previous transformation initiates. This will be the 

last phase of the nation’s five-year development 

planning towards its high-income target that 

started in 1955. 

Focus of the 11th Malaysia Plan will be on further 

enhancing pro-business policies, strengthening 

economic sustainability by encouraging 

inclusiveness in participation, improve on 

efficiency and coverage of the transportation 

system, infrastructure, and ICT facilities. 

Finally, this last phase will also chart Malaysia’s 

aspirations beyond the year 2020. 


MALAYSIA AND ASEAN 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) is a 

political and economic organisation formed on August 8th, 

1967. The organisation consists of 10 Southeast Asian nations 

– Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, 

Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Since its 

establishment, ASEAN has been making efforts to develop 

and refine various policies to promote trade, and collaborative 

economic activities among its members. 

Additionally, ASEAN has forged cooperative ties with three 

major economies in Asia with the formation of ASEAN Plus 

Three (APT) since 1997, a forum which includes the 10 member 

nations, plus China, Japan and South Korea. The APT functions 

as a coordinator for government leaders and officials of the 

participating countries to deepen cooperation and address issues 

relating to various trades. 

As Malaysia assumes the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2015, the 

nation will be responsible for ensuring the successful founding 

of an ASEAN Community by the end of the year. The Community 

will be built on the premise of three pillars of cooperation, which 

are the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN 

Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural 

Community (ASCC). 


Of particular attention and interest to 

the global business community is the 

establishment of the AEC, which aims 

to unite ASEAN as an integrated, 

single economy and market that 

benefits investors, businesses 

and consumers alike. ASEAN’s 

potential lies in the varying economic 

developments, and diverse cultures of 

the region. As a combined unit, ASEAN 

has a total population of 600 million 

people of varying heritage, religious 

beliefs, economic background, 

language literacy, innovation, and 

technological sophistication. 

For instance, ASEAN’s more 

developed economies, such as 

Singapore which has a 100% 

urbanised population, lead the 

fields of technological development, 

research, and innovation. In contrast, 

nations like Cambodia and Myanmar 

is primarily rural and leverage on the 

abundance of their natural resources 

and competitive labour cost. This 

creates an extensively diverse market 

with a wide range of opportunities for 

enterprises of any size to tap into. 

The AEC will also see all members 

developing uniformity by 

implementing rules and procedures 

that will result in strengthening 

coordination, cooperation and 

connectivity throughout the region. 

The measure will allow for free 

movement of goods, services, 

investments, and also freer flow of 

capital and skills. Thus, the many 

different industries across the region 

can establish a stronger network that 

enhances ASEAN’s participation in 

the global supply chain. 



A TASTE OF 

MALAYSIA, 

TRULY ASIA 

A country of rich heritage, Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures 

offering a fascinating fusion of colourful festivals and gastronomic 

delights. With modern towering architecture and beautiful forests, 

mountains and beaches, Malaysia is truly a tourist’s paradise. 



THE 25 

WONDERS 

OF MALAYSIA 

As a country known for its ethnic diversity, 

Malaysia offers a lot to explore in terms of 

historic locations, delicious cuisines and 

exciting adventures. Being a melting pot 

of cultures also makes Malaysia host to a 

myriad of traditional and religious festivities 

throughout the calendar year. Geographically, 

Malaysia is as harmoniously diverse as 

its people. Futuristic structures, shopping 

havens and modern tourist hubs can be 

seen coexisting in harmony with historical 

landmarks, immaculate beaches, and virgin 

forests filled with exotic flora and fauna all 

over the land. To top it off, Malaysians are 

known for being warm and hospitable. After 

all, they are no strangers to welcoming and 

embracing cultural differences. Visiting 

Malaysia is bound to be an unforgettable 

experience, filled with excitement and 

unexpected surprises. 

PETRONAS Twin Towers – Kuala Lumpur 

With a distinct design that features elements 

of contemporary architecture, and traditional 

Islamic art motifs aptly incorporated together, 

the PETRONAS Twin Towers is the landmark that 

dominates the skyline of Kuala Lumpur’s Central 

Business District. Standing at a height of 451.9m, 

the majestic structure stands as a symbol of 

Malaysia’s modernisation, and its vision to become 

a global player. The 88-storey skyscraper was 

recognised as the tallest building in the world from 

1998 to 2004. The two towers are connected by a 

58.4m skybridge at the 41st and 42nd floors, where 

tourists can ascend to and enjoy a panoramic view 

of the city. 


Kinabalu Park – Sabah 

Located at 1,585m above sea level and covering a 

754 sq km area, Kinabalu Park is the entrance to 

the summit trail that leads up to Mount Kinabalu – 

Southeast Asia’s highest peak. Established in 1964, 

it became Malaysia’s first designated UNESCO 

World Heritage site in the year 2000. Known to be 

one of the most important biologically diverse sites 

in the world, the national park is home to over 4,500 

species of flora and fauna, including exotic birds 

and mammals, and even land snails. Among its most 

well-known natural wonders is the Rafflesia plant, the 

largest single flower in the world. 



Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine 

Park – Sabah 

Named after Malaysia’s first prime 

minister, the Marine Park is a cluster 

of five islands – Gaya, Manukan, 

Mamutik, Sapi and Sulug, each 

featuring a different collection of 

diverse flora and fauna. Gazetted 

as Sabah’s second national park 

in 1974, the Tunku Abdul Rahman 

Marine Park has since become a 

favourite destination among ecotourists. 

Its relatively shallow waters 

filled with aquatic life and corals 

make it ideal for novice snorkellers 

and divers to get their feet wet. 




Tioman Island – Pahang 

Located 56km off the coast of Pahang, 

Tioman Island is an enchanting paradise 

that will prove impossible to resist for 

snorkellers, divers and outdoor sports 

enthusiasts. The surrounding waters of 

the island decked with impressive coral 

reefs are a joy to explore, while the land’s 

granite formation makes it ideal for rockclimbing 

expeditions. The beaches of 

Tioman is also the place to be for catching 

waves on a surfboard or bask in the 

warm sun at a luxurious resort amidst a 

picturesque view. 

Sipadan Island – Sabah 

For an island that draws in numerous ecotourists 

and marine biology enthusiasts, 

Sipadan Island is a small island where one 

can easily circle the entire place on foot in 

approximately 25 minutes. Yet, the oceanic 

island boasts an impressive ecosystem, 

housing over 3,000 species of marine life 

and birds. Located amidst one of the richest 

marine habitats in the world and surrounded 

by crystal clear waters, it is no wonder that 

Sipadan is a diver’s paradise. Immersing 

in the surrounding waters, one can expect 

exciting encounters with sea turtles, schools 

of exotic fishes, and the occasional visit from 

manta rays and sharks. 

Redang Island – Terengganu 

The largest of the nine protected islands 

which form a marine park, Redang Island 

offers plenty of snorkelling and scuba 

diving sites with its clear waters. Other 

activities visitors can enjoy include jungle 

tracking, boating and canoeing. Besides 

being a dream destination for water and 

outdoor sporting activities, the pristine 

white sandy beaches and crystal waters of 

Redang is also an important conservation 

site for marine life, especially sea turtles. 


Kabili-Sepilok Nature Reserve – 

Sabah 

Named after two rivers that flow through 

it, the Kabili-Sepilok Nature Reserve is 

home to an interesting array of wildlife 

and vegetation. Its trails will lead explorers 

through tropical highland forests to 

lowland mangrove swamps, perhaps 

running into one of the wild animals 

along the way. The reserve is best known 

for containing the Sepilok Orang Utan 

Rehabilitation Centre. Attracting tourists 

and researchers alike, the centre allows 

visitors to get up close with the orangutan 

in the primates’ natural habitat. 

Kinabatangan River – Sabah 

As the longest river in the state of Sabah, 

the lower basin of the Kinabatangan River 

is a renowned wildlife sanctuary where a 

number of exotic species can be found. 

Among the sanctuary’s inhabitants are 

monkeys, rhinos and Asian elephants. The 

best way visitors can discover and explore 

Kinabatangan’s rich ecosystem and 

wildlife is through the river safari cruise, 

where one may just spot a saltwater 

crocodile or two along the way. For the 

truly adventurous, there are night safari 

tours for a chance of catching nocturnal 

wildlife in their natural habitat. 


Bukit Bintang – Kuala Lumpur 

Considered to be Kuala Lumpur’s 

trendiest shopping and entertainment 

district, Bukit Bintang is the place to be 

for all that is hip and happening. Stylish 

cafes, eateries, bars and even hawker 

stalls can be seen along the streets 

populated by retail cathedrals that tout 

the latest branded goods and designer 

labels. Furthermore, the district’s central 

location makes it conveniently accessible 

via public transportation from anywhere 

within Kuala Lumpur. Ever pulsing with life 

and activities, it is no wonder that Bukit 

Bintang is a popular night life venue. It is 

suffice to say that this is the section of the 

city that never sleeps. 

The Gastronomic Hunt at Jalan 

Alor – Kuala lumpur 

Malaysia is famed for its assortment of 

unique culinary delights, thanks to its 

multiethnic population. There is no better 

way to experience Malaysian food than 

at the famed Jalan Alor. Deemed Kuala 

Lumpur’s go-to food destination, one can 

forget overpriced restaurants when looking 

to grab a bite at Jalan Alor. The streets 

are lined with clusters of hawker stalls, 

selling local favourites that best represent 

Malaysia’s gastronomic diversity. 


Central Market, Chinatown and 

Little India – Kuala Lumpur 

If you are exploring Kuala Lumpur for good bargains, 

Petaling Street – more commonly known as Chinatown 

to foreigners – is a bargain hunting haven not to 

be missed. The area is bustling with vendor stalls, 

peddling a myriad of goods and services, from 

clothes, souvenirs, and street food to spa and tattoo 

services. A short walk from Chinatown is the complex 

known as Central Market (Pasar Seni). With a focus 

on the city’s artistic community, the Central Market 

houses handicraft boutiques, antique stores, souvenir 

shops and art galleries that showcase the arts and 

crafts from Malaysia’s various cultural heritages. 

Lastly, a bargain hunt does not end without stopping 

by Little India. The lively street is instantly identifiable 

with its colourful decorations, and vendors selling 

bales of dazzling sarees, jewellery and various 

traditional Indian paraphernalia. 


KL Tower – Kuala Lumpur 

Standing 421m tall, the KL Tower is just as 

iconic to the landscape of Kuala Lumpur, 

as the PETRONAS Twin Towers. Opened 

to public in 1996, the tower still boasts the 

highest viewing deck of the city at 276m. 

Besides a full breathtaking view of Kuala 

Lumpur, the tower is host to the revolving 

restaurant, Atmosphere 360. As the name 

suggests, one can enjoy a meal while 

basking in a bird’s eye view of the city. Atop 

KL Tower is also a theatre, an amphitheatre 

and beautiful cascading pools decorating 

the interior. 



Batu Caves – Selangor 

The first feature most visitors to Batu Caves 

may notice is the massive gold statue of the 

Hindu deity, Muruga at the foot of the hill. As 

a site of several Hindu temples and shrines, 

Batu Caves remains one of the most popular 

religious sites that attract thousands of tourists 

and devotees each year. The main temple is 

located inside a cave, atop the limestone hill, 

where visitors will have to climb a flight of 272 

steps to reach. Here is where the annual Hindu 

festival of Thaipusam takes place. In fact, 

Batu Caves plays host to one of the largest 

Thaipusam festivities outside of India. 

Genting Highlands – Pahang 

Perched at 2,000m altitude, Genting Highlands 

is known for its cool breezy whether for 

those craving a brief retreat from the tropics. 

The hilltop resort is dubbed the City of 

Entertainment, as visitors will not run short of 

things to see and do. In addition to being a 

popular venue for international entertainment 

events, from concerts to magic shows, Genting 

is home to a number of indoor and outdoor 

theme parks, shopping outlets, restaurants and 

Malaysia’s one and only casino. 


George Town – Penang 

Walking through the streets of Penang’s 

state capital is like taking a brief trip 

back in time for a glimpse of Malaysia’s 

colonial past. Listed as a World Heritage 

site by UNESCO in 2008, George Town 

is home to over 12,000 surviving pre-war 

buildings built by Chinese craftsmen in 

the olden days. Its status as a heritage 

site does not hinder modernisation, 

though. The Kompleks Tun Abdul 

Razak Tower (KOMTAR) can be seen 

gracing the Penang landscape as a 

multipurpose complex for retail outlets and 

administrative offices. With continuous 

development over the years, George Town 

has no shortage of modern amenities and 

shopping complexes. 


Sunway Lagoon – Selangor 

There is no theme park in Malaysia that can provide 

a whole day of enjoyment and exhilarating thrills like 

Sunway Lagoon. Reachable with just a 15-minute 

drive from Kuala Lumpur, Sunway Lagoon houses 80 

thrill rides and several theme parks within its grounds. 

Visitors can choose from the Water Park, Wildlife Park, 

Extreme Park, and Scream Park where all sorts of 

activities await. Sunway Lagoon is also home to three 

record-breaking attractions; one of the world’s largest 

man-made surf beach, world’s longest pedestrian 

suspension bridge, and Asia’s highest slingshot ride. 

Bako National Park – Sarawak 

Being the oldest and one of the smallest national parks 

in Sarawak, Bako National Park is by no means any 

less unique. In fact, within its 27.27 sq km area contain 

seven complete eco-systems; beach vegetation, cliff 

vegetation, heath forest, mangrove forest, mixed 

dipterocarp forest, grasslands vegetation and peat 

swamp forest. It is also home to almost every species 

of plant found in the Borneo isles, including a variety of 

unique carnivorous plant species. Bako National Park is 

also often considered the best place to catch a glimpse 

of the endangered proboscis monkeys. Though not far 

from Kuching, the national park is only reachable by a 

boat ride along the Santubong River. 


Malacca City – Malacca 

It impossible to fully appreciate Malaysia’s 

interesting past without a visit to the nation’s 

historical capital. Declared a UNESCO World 

Heritage Site in 2008, Malacca City has plenty 

to offer, including historical sites, unique 

cuisines and shopping hubs. Among the notable 

attractions are the museum complex, the 

many places of worship for various religions 

that are located side by side, and the famous 

Jonker Walk, where one can sample Malacca’s 

well-known Peranakan cuisine and shop for 

souvenirs. A tour of Malacca City is to get 

acquainted with Malaysia’s rich history and the 

nation’s many cultural heritages. 



Legoland and Hello Kitty Town – 

Johor 

As the first of its kind in Asia and the first 

international theme park in Malaysia, 

Legoland and Hello Kitty Town is a place 

of fun and adventure for the whole family. 

The innovative theme park offers thrilling 

rides, themed areas and interactive 

displays that will ignite the imagination 

of children and adults alike. Legoland’s 

main attraction is the MINILAND, a display 

where replicas of Asia’s landmarks were 

built from more than 30 million pieces of 

Lego bricks. Over at Hello Kitty Town, 

one should not miss stopping by the 

Kitty House, which is a house furnished 

from top to bottom with everything of the 

beloved Sanrio mascot. 


Johor Premium Outlets – Johor 

This retail haven located at Kulaijaya 

district is the main shopping centre of 

Iskandar Malaysia. Known as the first luxury 

premium brand outlet in Southeast Asia, the 

Johor Premium Outlets is a retail complex 

that houses 130 designer and brand name 

outlets from all over the world in one 

convenient hub. As if that is not enough 

to delight shoppers, the outlets feature 

factory-direct savings of 25% to 65% on all 

goods everyday! 


Cameron Highlands – Pahang 

Situated 1,500m above sea level, 

Cameron Highlands is Malaysia’s largest 

highland resort. Comprising a series of 

small townships, Cameron Highlands has 

several renowned insect and production 

farms as tourist attractions. Among these 

are the butterfly farm, the honey bee farm, 

the strawberry farm, and the sprawling 

picturesque tea plantation. Other popular 

activities include long nature walks, 

trekking and bird watching. Cameron 

Highlands is the ideal retreat from the 

lowland humid climate and hectic city life, 

where one can be surrounded by nature 

and rejuvenate the spirit. 

National Park (Taman Negara) – 

Pahang 

Owing to its natural endowments, 

Malaysia has a number of nature reserves 

throughout the country. The National Park 

(Taman Negara) in Pahang was the first 

and oldest official protected area in the 

country. Established at the Titiwangsa 

Mountains in 1938 and covering 4,343 sq 

km, the rainforest is estimated to be over 

130 million years old, thus making it one 

of the oldest virgin rainforests in the world. 

Malaysia’s premier national park continues 

to draw tourists and outdoor sports 

enthusiasts each year. Popular activities 

include jungle trekking, river cruise, cave 

exploration, wildlife observation, camping 

and canopy walks. 

Mulu National Park – Sarawak 

A UNESCO Heritage Site located amidst 

a mountainous rainforest occupying 

528.64 sq km land space, Sarawak’s Mulu 

National Parks proves to be a draw for 

explorers, researchers and geologists. 

Besides one of the world’s longest 

networks of caves to be found, Mulu 

National Park also boasts the largest 

known natural underground chamber 

– the Sarawak Chamber. Measuring 

an impressive 700m long, 396m wide 

and at least 70m in height, the Sarawak 

Chamber is believed to be large enough 

to accommodate about 40 Boeing 747 

airplanes, without their wings overlapping. 

With unique land formations to tread, 

enormous caverns to explore, and a 

chance of encountering exotic fauna, Mulu 

will provide the adventurous at heart with 

tough, but rewarding multi-day hikes. 




Langkawi – Kedah 

Known as the Jewel of the Kedah, Langkawi is the island 

where some of Malaysia’s most fascinating folktales, 

legends and history were born. The most notable of these 

was the legend of the white-blooded maiden whose 

curse condemned the island from ever prospering for 

seven generations. Located some 30km off the coast of 

Kedah, Langkawi is an archipelago of 104 islands known 

for beautiful beaches, natural retreats and historical 

sites, with modern developments and infrastructure 

superimposed. Visitors to the island can look forward to 

a multitude of fun activities such as sightseeing, water 

sports, nature trekking and hikes, island hopping, golfing, 

and of course, duty-free shopping. 

Sarawak Cultural Village – Sarawak 

Just 32km from the state capital of Kuching, at Pantai 

Damai, is the perfect place for tourists to be introduced 

to and get a firsthand experience of Sarawak’s lifestyles 

and customs. The Sarawak Cultural Village is a ‘Living 

Museum’ that occupies a 17-acres space, with replicas 

of traditional longhouses, and about 150 residents 

demonstrating conventional daily activities of Sarawak’s 

diverse tribes. Visitors will be treated to various dance 

and cultural performances, and will also be able to 

obtain information on the state’s native cultures from the 

Village’s residents. 


CHAPTER 1 

Property Development 


An artist’s impression of KL Eco City, set to be one of Malaysia’s largest integrated 

commercial and residential development that sits on 25 acres of prime land at 

Pantai Baru, Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur. 


S P SETIA 

Building “LiveLearnWorkPlay” communities 

Setia Eco Park located in Shah Alam is known as ‘The Valley of Dreams’ for its scenic 

landscape. 25% of land area has been allocated for the creation of waterways, lakes, 

creeks, landscape themed parks, lush walkways and forest park for the enjoyment of 

its residents. 

S P Setia, Malaysia’s leading property 

developer, backed by over 40 years of 

experience in the property and construction 

industry is a familiar name in the property 

industry. With a clear vision, bold plan and 

strong team, S P Setia, incorporated in 

the year 1974, refocused its core business 

to property development with supporting 

business in construction, infrastructure and 

wood-based manufacturing in 1996. 

MADE IN MALAYSIA 

Homegrown, S P Setia has established a 

strong presence in the state of Selangor, 

Penang, Johor and Sabah, the four key 

economic regions in Malaysia. 

Recognised as Malaysia’s leading listed real 

estate player with proven track record of 

innovation-driven and standard-setting eco 

developments, S P Setia has built a solid 

base in the country, offering an extensive 

product range which includes Townships, 

Eco Homes, Luxury Homes, High Rise 

Residences, Retail & Commercial Properties 

and Integrated Developments. 

In the state of Selangor, its flagship 

township, the 2,525-acre Setia Alam and 

791-acre Setia Eco Park continues to 

launch innovative products with high take 

up rate. Recently developed townships 

include Setia EcoHill in Semenyih and 

Setia Eco Glades in Cyberjaya, both 

developed with environmental friendly 

features and green design concepts 

across the masterplan. In the city of Kuala 

Lumpur, KL Eco City, an integrated mixed 

development, designed with sustainability 

at its core will function as a nexus of 

residential, commercial and recreational for 

its surrounding community. 

In Penang, Johor and Sabah, the Group 

continues to deliver quality products such 

as Setia Business Park I & II and Setia Eco 

Cascadia, S P Setia’s latest eco township 

in Johor, Setia Sky Vista and Setia V 

Residences in Penang and Aeropod, in Kota 

Kinabalu, Sabah. 

Driven by its vision – to be the best in all 

we do – S P Setia has earned numerous 

awards locally as well as internationally for 

its outstanding performance over the years. 

Its product and service quality is recognised 

by the industry and attested by its No.1 

ranking in The Edge Malaysia Top Property 

Developers Awards which it won for the 

8th time in 2013. No other developer has 

achieved this feat since the inception of 

the awards. Besides, S P Setia is also the 

only property developer in Malaysia to be 

bestowed eight FIABCI Malaysia Property 

Awards and was rewarded with six award 

recognition by the International Real Estate 

Federation (FIABCI). 

THE “LIVELEARNWORKPLAY” DNA 

S P Setia’s vision of excellence and 

commitment to product and service quality 

are the cornerstones of its success. It 

has grown beyond building to creating 

and nurturing vibrant communities in 

environments where all can live, learn, 

work and play. Via innovatively designed 

sustainable eco townships, a growing 

range of infrastructure and amenities on 

top of increased security services, the 

LIVELEARNWORKPLAY philosophy has 

been deeply embedded into each of S P 

Setia’s development. 

For example, Setia Eco Park earmarked 

some 25% of its land area for the creation 

of waterways, lakes, creeks, landscaped 

themed parks, lush walkways and forest park 

in this private estate for the enjoyment of its 

residents. Developed based on the same 

philosophy, Setia EcoHill made provisions 

for a commercial centre as well as farmer’s 

market to provide opportunities for the 

nearby organic farms and market gardens 

to sell their produce directly to its residents, 

truly ensuring a sustainable lifestyle. 

The company is also continuously looking 

for new ways to incorporate sustainability in 

all of its developments. In recent years, the 

company endeavoured to meet international 

benchmarks for green architecture as 

well as sustainable developments, and its 

efforts are gaining recognition from industry 

authorities such as the Green Building Index 

(GBI) and BCA Green Mark. 


An artist’s impression of 

Fulton Lane, S P Setia’s 

first foray into Australia. 

Fulton Lane is located right 

in the heart of Melbourne’s 

cosmopolitan city 

surrounded by shopping 

and dining outlets. 

An artist’s impression of the Battersea Power Station, London. Once 

a barren place, Battersea Power Station is on its way to become one 

of London’s iconic landmark, integrated with S P Setia’s DNA as a 

Live, Learn, Work and Play hub. 

S P SETIA’S PRIME PROJECTS 

MALAYSIA 

• Central Region 

(Klang Valley): Setia 

Alam, Setia Eco Park, 

Setia Sky Residences, 

SetiaWalk, KL Eco 

City, Setia Eco Glades, 

Setia EcoHill and Setia 

Putrajaya 

• Southern Region (Johor): 

Bukit Indah, Setia Indah, 

Setia Tropika, Setia Eco 

Gardens, Setia Eco 

Cascadia, Setia Business 

Park I & II and Setia 

Sky 88 

• Northern Region 

(Penang): Setia Pearl 

Island, Setia Greens, 11 

Brook Residences, Setia 

V Residences and Setia 

Sky Vista 

• Eastern Region (Sabah): 

Aeropod 

UK 

• Battersea Power 

Station 

AUSTRALIA 

• Fulton Lane 

• Parque 

SINGAPORE 

• 18 Woodsville 

• Eco Sanctuary 

VIETNAM 

• EcoLakes at My Phuoc 

• EcoXuan at Lai Thieu 

CUSTOMER-CENTRIC VISION 

S P Setia’s commitment to its customers 

extends beyond building quality homes. 

The company make every effort to reward 

its loyal customers via the creation of 

vibrant communities to safeguarding its 

communities, ensuring the highest value 

creation to customers. 

S P Setia ensures that every Setia home 

is built to meet the highest standards and 

handed over to customers on schedule. 

Security at every development is also the 

developer’s greatest priorities. Every aspect 

from planning strategic entry and exit points 

to designing pedestrian-friendly road systems 

to installing top-of-the-line home security 

system and providing child-safe playgrounds, 

S P Setia is constantly meticulous about 

customers’ needs at all times. 

Setia Eco Gardens is a multiple award-winning 

eco township in the development region 

of Iskandar Malaysia in Johor, which offers 

the perfect canvas for eco living with hilly 

surroundings, natural rivers and lush forests. 

The developer is also mindful to provide 

customer service beyond the call of duties, 

going out of the way to provide excellent 

customer service. 

THRIVING GLOBALLY 

S P Setia has also spread its wings to 

Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, China and 

more recently the United Kingdom as 

part of its strategy to achieve accelerated 

growth to boost its international profile and 

enhance forward earnings. 

One of the most outstanding and iconic 

developments under its international 

portfolio is the Battersea Power Station 

in London, which is fast becoming one of 

the capital city’s most exclusive residential 

and commercial addresses. S P Setia’s 

achievement in London has elevated its 

brand recognition globally. 

S P Setia has two projects in Vietnam 

known as EcoLakes at My Phuoc, located 

30km outside Ho Chi Minh City and Eco 

Xuan at Lai Thieu in Tuan An District, 

Binh Doung Province. EcoLakes was 

named First Runner-up in the FIABCI Prix 

d’Excellence Award for Best Development 

Master Plan in 2010. 

In 2009, S P Setia established an office 

in Singapore and two years later, the 

Group acquired a 29,440 sq ft site to 

develop a high-rise condominium called 18 

Woodsville. The successful launch of this 

project spurred the developer to acquire 

another parcel of land for the luxury highrise 

project of Eco Sanctuary. 

S P Setia previewed its first project in 

Melbourne called Fulton Lane in 2011 and a 

year later it acquired another piece of land 

on the upmarket St Kilda Road, also in the 

City of Melbourne for its Parque project. 

In April 2012, S P Setia was invited by 

the Malaysian Government to lead the 

Malaysian consortium formed to jointly 

develop the China-Malaysia Qinzhou 

Industrial Park (QIP). 

S P SETIA BERHAD (19698-X) 

S P Setia Bhd Corporate HQ 

No.12, Persiaran Setia Dagang 

Setia Alam, Seksyen U13 

40170 Shah Alam 

Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia 

Tel: +603 3348 2255 

Fax: +603 3344 3232 

Email: corp@spsetia.com 

www.spsetia.com.my 


CHAPTER 2 

Construction 


PJ8, Petaling Jaya 


IJM Corporation Berhad 

Delivering exceptional results. Exceeding expectations. 

THE LIGHT Waterfront, Penang 

In 1983, three medium-sized local 

construction companies agreed to merge 

in order to be a stronger player against 

foreign rivals in the construction industry. 

Thus IJM was formed from the strategic 

alliance of IGB Construction Sdn Bhd, 

Jurutama Sdn Bhd and Mudajaya Sdn 

Bhd. The formation proved to be fruitful as 

the new company established itself as a 

solid, professionally-run construction outfit 

and quickly gained significant market 

acceptance. IJM kept building its portfolio 

and brand over the years, winning projects 

that demand strict execution capabilities 

and thus cementing its reputation as a 

prominent builder. 

Due to its consistent and exponential 

growth, the company was able to go 

public in 1986 with a market capitalisation 

of RM66 million and total assets worth 

RM172 million. Today, IJM is a RM20 

billion conglomerate with a group market 

capitalisation in excess of RM10 billion. 

CREST ABOVE THE REST 

From the construction business, it was 

only natural for IJM to progress into 

property development. Today, the group’s 

property development arm, IJM Land is 

one of the largest, most 

well-known and trusted 

property developers in 

the country. Over the 

years, IJM have helped 

shaped Malaysia’s 

township landscape 

and built thriving 

communities that are 

well sustainable into 

the future. IJM Land’s 

vast portfolio includes 

integrated townships, 

iconic waterfront 

community, luxury 

homes, landed and 

high-rise residences, 

offices and commercial 

properties in prime 

areas of Penang, the Greater Kuala 

Lumpur, Seremban, Johor, Sabah and 

Sarawak. IJM has also built a reputation 

as a township developer in India and has 

further extended its global footprint in 

Singapore, USA and Australia. Currently, 

IJM Land has development projects in 

Vietnam, China and London. 

IJM continues to grow organically with 

the group’s Industry Division expanding 

Besraya Eastern Extension Expressway 

from originally supporting the company’s 

in-house projects to catering to the 

demands and needs of external parties, 

thus strengthening IJM’s foothold as a 

key supplier of essential materials to the 

construction industry. Industrial Concrete 

Products Sdn Bhd (ICP) is the industry 

arm of IJM with its main business activities 

encompassing the manufacturing of 

pretensioned spun high strength concrete 

piles, quarry operations, ready-mixed 

concrete, PC bar and scaffolding. IJM’s 


Kuantan Port, Pahang 

ICP Piles Stockyard in Jiangmen, China 

Desa Talisai Estate, Sandakan 

Kuantan Quarry, Pahang 

commitment to quality and delivery has 

enabled the company to establish itself 

as the market leader in the manufacturing 

and supply of pretensioned spun high 

strength concrete piles not only for heavy 

engineering solutions but also high rise 

buildings. ICP piles are exported to many 

countries across the world including 

USA, Canada, Middle East, Singapore, 

Myanmar, Vietnam, Maldives and China. 

In order to broaden earning base in 

challenging business environment, 

IJM diversified into the construction 

of infrastructure to help generate new 

revenue streams. From Malaysia to 

China, India, Vietnam and Latin America, 

IJM’s expertise in building transportation 

systems, power plants and water 

treatment facilities has helped enrich 

communities in the cities and countries 

where it operates. IJM now owns an 

impressive portfolio of infrastructure 

concessions such as the Western Access 

Tollway in Argentina, five tolled highways 

and the Gautami power plant in India 

including the Binh An water treatment 

plant in Vietnam. Back home in Malaysia, 

IJM owns and operates the New Pantai 

Expressway (NPE), Besraya Expressway 

and the Kajang-Seremban Highway 

(LEKAS) as well as the Kuantan Port. It 

also owns a stake in the West Coast 

Expressway concession project which is 

currently undergoing construction. 

A division of the company that may seem 

unrelated but has proven to be an asset 

to the group against the cyclical nature 

of other businesses is nonetheless their 

venture into oil palm plantation in 1985. 

IJM Plantations Berhad, listed on the 

Main Market of Bursa Malaysia has 

significantly contributed to the group’s 

earnings over time, especially during IJM’s 

early years as a construction company 

subjected to the cyclical nature of the 

construction industry. The growth of 

IJM Plantations has been rapid and the 

division is now expanding its plantation 

operations to Indonesia. IJM Plantations 

has been recognised as a well–managed 

company while setting benchmarks in the 

plantations industry. 

REMARKABLE SUCCESS 

IJM’s regional aspirations pave the 

path for a global future, replete with 

growth opportunities and to become 

the leading Malaysian conglomerate 

in its chosen fields of construction, 

property, industry, plantation and 

infrastructure. Today, the IJM Group 

has over 4,500 employees to whom the 

company acknowledges as having been 

instrumental in ensuring its continued 

success. With an eye towards good 

corporate citizenship and sustainable 

growth and development, IJM remains 

dedicated towards conducting business 

in an ethical manner and delivering 

quality products and services in a timely 

manner, true to its tagline “We Deliver”. 

Wisma IJM, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, 

46050 Petaling Jaya, 


Tel: +603 7985 8288 

Fax: +603 7952 9388 

www.ijm.com 


CHAPTER 3 

Infrastructure 


An aerial view of the underground Cochrane MRT Station with two Variable Density Tunnel 

Boring Machines in position, with the scenic Kuala Lumpur city skyline seen in a distance. 




CHAPTER 4 

Logistics 



WESTPORTS MALAYSIA 

Staying on the go with Westports 

Westports Malaysia, which has positioned 

itself as a “pit stop” for container vessels 

plying one of the busiest waterways in the 

world: The Straits of Malacca, has been 

growing from strength to strength since it 

started operations 20 years ago. Today, it 

is a transhipment mega hub which helps 

to propel Port Klang into the 12th busiest 

in the world. 

Westports’ strategic location definitely 

plays an important role. Situated along 

the Straits of Malacca, this location has 

allowed Westports to enjoy a steady 

growth throughout the years. In 2002, the 

port handled 2 million TEUS and by 2014, 

this has increased to 8.4 million TEUs. 

This is considerably higher than the global 

average of 8.3%. To date, the port is 

capable of handling 11 million TEUs, with 

the current 4,600 metres of quay length 

and 52 ship-to-shore cranes. 

WORLD-CLASS STANDARDS 

Westports, headed by its Executive 

Chairman, Tan Sri Datuk G Gnanalingam, 

and its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ruben 

Emir Gnanalingam, currently provides 

a wide range of port facilities, including 

marine services, rental and other related 

services, while maintaining world-class 

standards in handling container and 

conventional cargo. It commands a 76% 

market share of the container volume in 

Port Klang. 

Given that a fast turnaround for vessels 

and high productivity are critical 

ingredients for success for a port, 

Westports has been able to sustain 

these by achieving an average container 

productivity of 35 gross moves per 

hour (MPH) per crane compared to the 

industry standard of 27mph. This makes 

it one of the top ports in the world in 

terms of productivity. 

The port also continues to ensure 

health and safety environments through 

professional certifications of ISO 27001, 

ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001. The 

Silver Award for Safety by International 

Association of Ports and Harbours 

(IAPH) attests to Westports’ commitment 

towards safety: 

SUCCESS STORIES 

Westports’ success has not gone 

unrecognised. In the last 20 years, the 

company has won over 40 accolades 

and awards and these are centred in six 

key areas – productivity, IT, customer 

service, best employer, best terminal and 

corporate social responsibility. 

Some of its notable awards include: 

Brand Laureate Award for Top 10 Master’s 

Award in Logistics by Asia Pacific Brands 

Foundation, Brand Laureate Award for 

Best Brands in Logistics – Ports by Asia 

Pacific Brands Foundation, Excellence 

in Logistics Award at the Technology 

Business Review Association of Southeast 

Asian Nations Awards, Best Emerging 

Terminal Award by Lloyd’s List Maritime 

Asia, Top 10 Container Ports awards 

at the Asian Freight Industry Awards, 

Technology Business Review Award for 

Excellence in Logistics – Port Services by 

Brand Laureate and Brand Laureate Award 


for Best Brands Awards – Ports/Terminals 

by Asia Pacific Brands Foundation. 

COMMITMENT TO THE BEST 

Westports’ dedication to building its brand 

is reflected in its innovative approach to 

expanding new automation and services 

via its new Information Technology (IT) 

service portal: E-Terminal Plus. Currently, 

Westports has invested over RM70 million 

in IT, demonstrating its commitment to 

provide the best for its customers. 

Another key component in Westports’ 

success is the company’s strong 

corporate culture attributed to its uniquely 

unified workforce of Malaysians. True to 

its tag line “Proven Trusted Friendly” this 

mantra is deeply ingrained in its culture 

among the Westports’ workforce via three 

key areas: 

• Focusing on performance, with 

emphasis on productivity irrespective of 

which area employees contribute to; 

• Innovation where employees are 

encouraged to come up with innovative 

ideas irrespective of their level or rank 

within the organization; 

• And finally, a sense of family amongst 

employees 

The awards won by the company serve 

as a testament to Westports’ strong 

corporate culture; these include Best 

Employer Award by Ministry of Human 

Resources, Asia HRD Congress Award 

by HRD Congress and Human Resource 

Development Award by Human 

Resource Minister. 

Westports also believes that charity 

starts at home and has focused much 

of its CSR programs on the community 

around Pulau Indah in Port Klang. These 

initiatives have three main objectives 

– poverty eradication through financial 

assistance and job opportunities, 

improvement in the quality of life and 

living standards as well as enhancement 

of education and health standards. 

Westports has been recognized for its aid 

to the needy. It has won, among others, 

the Corporate Social Responsibility of 

the Year award given by Containerisation 

International and Corporate Social 

Responsibility Award at the Asia Pacific 

Young Business Conference. 

FUTURE FORWARD 

Holding true to key traditions and values, 

Westports stays on the go by using 

social media to reach out to the public. 

Westports uses this as a tool to bring 

in repeat businesses, facilitate open 

communication and provide enhanced 

information for discovery and delivery. 

Current and past employees are now 

able to use the logistics community 

as an avenue to discuss ideas, news 

and views. Adopting this platform has 

allowed Westports to widen its business 

contacts and enabled it to have a wider 

target audience. 

Westports contributions are not only limited 

to those that are mentioned above; they 

also expand to others areas involving 

communities, environment and sector 

development of which they have received 

acknowledgement for including Century 

International Quality Era (CQE) Award 2013 

by Business Initiative Directions, Sahabat 

Negara SME Award 2013 by SMI Malaysia, 

Platinum Award for Community, Silver 

Award for Environment, National Landscape 

Award by Ministry of Housing and Local 

Development. , Super Brand Award by 

the Malaysian Super Brands Council and 

FIABCI Award for Best Sector Development 

www.westportsmalaysia.com 


CHAPTER 5 

Healthcare 



INSTITUT JANTUNG NEGARA 

Malaysia’s premier heart specialist centre that cares beyond your heart 

with the treatment, kindness, care and 

comfort that they require. 

SPECIALISED SERVICES 

Offering a comprehensive range of 

services for cardiovascular medicine 

IJN specialises in both diagnostic and 

therapeutic procedures, including 

cardiac surgery for open heart, closed 

heart, thoracic and transplants. Within 

the institute, there are a wide variety of 

treatment options for heart conditions 

ranging from the simplest hole in the 

heart surgery to the most complex 

heart transplants. In addition to surgical 

procedures there are also a range 

of services from diet advice to heart 

screening to cardiac rehabilitation. 

The institute also houses a number of 

associated cardiac treatment clinics. 

Staffed by an experienced and committed 

team of specialist cardiologist, surgeons, 

anaesthesiologists, paramedics and clinical 

support staff, IJN is dedicated to serve 

the needs of heart patients, whether old or 

young via world-class heart related services. 

For the comfort and optimal rejuvenation 

of their patients, IJN provides top-notch 

facilities to complement their medical 

services. IJN’s in-patient facilities combine 

the most advanced treatment facilities 

with family-friendly wards that encompass 

Emerging as a centre of excellence, 

Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) takes the 

spotlight as a premier heart specialist 

institution in Malaysia committed to 

delivering exceptional standards in 

cardiovascular and thoracic medicine 

for adult and paediatric heart patients. 

Located in Kuala Lumpur, this institution 

was established on 1st August 1992. 

Since the foundation of the institute, IJN 

has treated over two million patients and 

gained recognition as one of the leading 

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Health 

Centre in the region. 

Today, IJN takes pride in their state-of-theart 

facilities and services as well as their 

highly competent medical team who have 

full expertise in handling emergencies and 

even the most complicated cases. Along 

with keeping abreast of medical advances 

and modern technologies, IJN ensures 

that every single patient will be provided 


a selection of beautifully-appointed suites 

and a choice of comfortable 2 bedded 

and 4 bedded rooms. All suites and rooms 

are air-conditioned and equipped with 

television, telephone, attached bathroom 

and nurse-call system. 

Whilst being a specialist cardiovascular 

and thoracic centre, IJN also offers 

services that cater to the general wellbeing 

of patients. These include specialist 

clinics such as the Renal Denervation 

Screen Clinic, Respiratory Clinic, 

Respiratory Clinic, Diabetes Clinic and 

Quit Smoking Clinic, making the institute 

a one-stop centre for all heart care 

requirements. 

Additionally, an International Patient 

Centre (IPC) has also been set up to 

cater to an ever increasing number 

of international patients that arrive 

at IJN. To facilitate overseas patient 

preparations, services at IPC include: 

Visa and immigration assistance, medical 

co-ordination, hospital admissions and 

discharges as well as travel-related 

assistance and more. 

ABOVE THE REST 

To ensure IJN continues to be the leading 

heart institution in the region there are 

a number of on-going support training 

schemes and a series of research and 

development activities. There are also 

collaborations with leading international 

medical establishments such as the UK’s 

Papworth Hospital and the Herz-und 

in Germany, allowing IJN to introduce 

modern clinical techniques. IJN is also 

responsible for training surgeons and 

cardiologists who go on to serve in 

hospitals across Malaysia and is the most 

preferred centre for trainee cardiovascular 

and thoracic specialists and surgeons 

from countries like Japan, Brunei, 

Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Vietnam 

and Yemen. 

Being a centre of excellence, IJN has 

pioneered several firsts in cardiovascular 

and thoracic healthcare and training 

programmes, making it the premier go-to 

centre in the ASEAN region and the world. 

It continues to provide even more top-ofthe-line 

heartcare services to Malaysian 

and international patients. IJN is also 

the only institution in the country wholly 

dedicated to cardiac treatment for both 

adult and paediatric patients. 

Since IJN was established in 1992, more 

than 2.2 million patients have come 

to the Institute for care, out of which 

over 238,453 have been treated in their 

wards. During the same period, 59,674 

surgeries have been performed, 146,031 

of their patients have also undergone 

interventional cardiology procedures 

since they have begun operations. Within 

the Paediatric Cardiology Heart Centre, 

16,767 paediatric cardiothoracic surgeries 

and 15,262 paediatric cardiology invasive 

procedures have been performed. 

Maintaining its position as the centre of 

excellence in cardiovascular and thoracic 

care remains the core driver of IJN, while 

at the same time promoting Malaysia’s 

dynamic medical service industry within 

Asia and beyond. With its combination of 

world-class equipment and the absolute 

best in human resources, service delivery 

and innovation, IJN is truly a trusted and 

respected institute both locally 

and globally. 

145 Jalan Tun Razak, 

50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Tel: +603 2617 8200 

www.ijn.com.my 


CHAPTER 6 

Education & Learning 


STANDING TALL: UCSI University is one of Malaysia’s first private 

universities. It impacts thousands of students each year at its four campuses 

in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak and Terengganu. 


UCSI UNIVERSITY 

Knowledge for Global Action 

MELTING POT: International students from over 80 countries 

make up around 30% of UCSI University’s student population, 

making it a dynamic hub of culture and diversity. 

UCSI University is a vibrant community 

of learning and scholarship. It offers an 

education others don’t, provides experiences 

others can’t, and delivers life-defining 

outcomes for young people, everywhere. 

With 30 years of academic excellence 

behind it, UCSI stands out as one of 

Malaysia’s foremost private universities. 

It’s also a cultural melting pot. The 

University hosts around 9,000 students 

from over 80 countries at its campuses 

in Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, and Kuala 

Terengganu. Students come from nations 

as far as Canada, Denmark, Russia, and 

Germany, among others, and the diversity 

on campus caters to an exhilarating 

learning environment that promotes the 

cross-fertilisation of ideas. 

The University’s academic offerings are 

as eclectic as its student cohort. Around 

100 leading programmes are offered 

in the fields of medicine, engineering, 

biotechnology, information technology, 

business, hospitality, music, the social 

sciences, design, and many more. 

As the Praxis® University, UCSI 

emphasises the practical application of 

knowledge. Each programme is designed 

in consultation with an industry panel and 

curricula is constantly updated to address 

the current – and future – needs of the 

industry. The results are self-evident: 

Tracer studies conducted by the Ministry 

of Education place UCSI in pole position 

in the area of graduate employability. 

Much of this is down to the efficacy 

of UCSI’s extensive industry network. 

The University partners with more than 

2,100 of the world’s leading companies 

and this opens doors for students in the 

areas of internship programmes, research 

opportunities, technology transfers, 

and of course, future employment. 

Increasingly, UCSI students have secured 

overseas internships in Japan, Hong 

Kong, Singapore, Ireland and Britain, to 

name a few. 

Excellence personified 

Not resting on its laurels, UCSI embarked 

on a strategic thrust to meet the higherorder 

needs of industry and academia. 

The pursuit and expansion of knowledge 

was prioritised and much effort was spent 

to attract the right academics who would 

put the University on the global map. This 

decade-long endeavour has paid off and 

today, UCSI is synonymous with pathbreaking 

research and enhanced avenues 

for postgraduate study. 

The University’s Vice-Chancellor and 

President, Senior Professor Dato’ Dr 

Khalid Yusoff – one of Malaysia’s leading 

cardiologists – is instrumental in 


OPENING DOORS: 

Cherish Chong Chiu Wern – 

UCSI University’s top medical student 

– was selected in 2014 to spend a 

research year at Harvard University 

under the Global Clinical Scholars 

Research Training Programme. 

BRIGHT FUTURES: 

UCSI University is synonymous 

with graduate employability 

and students regularly receive 

job offers before they even 

graduate. The University 

partners with leading industry 

players to ensure its curriculum 

is up to date. 

this endeavour. As one of Malaysia’s 

leading researchers, Prof Khalid sets 

the example by driving world-class 

research with fellow researchers from 

the world’s best universities like Harvard, 

Duke, Melbourne, Sydney, McMaster 

and the London School of Hygiene and 

Tropical Medicine. Under his leadership, 

UCSI has forged collaborative links with 

renowned universities, opening a world of 

possibilities for students and staff. 

To illustrate, UCSI’s top medical student, 

Cherish Chong Chiu Wern, was recently 

hand-picked to spend a research year 

at Harvard University under its Global 

Clinical Scholars Research Training 

Programme – a first for a private 

university in Malaysia. At least one UCSI 

medical student will enjoy the same 

privilege each year in what has become 

a recurring arrangement. Similar tieups 

with other renowned universities 

are in the pipeline as UCSI adds to its 

existing partnerships with universities in 

the Russell Group, Universitas 21 and 

Australia’s Group of Eight. 

UCSI students have also recorded 

personal milestones over the years. Its 

Engineering students have won top prizes 

in international competitions organised by 

Schlumberger. From developing plug-ins 

to test oil wells to enhancing the rate of 

oil recovery, UCSI students constantly 

get recognised for their endeavours. 

The Pharmacy faculty also stands out 

in this regard. Undergraduate students 

have published their research findings in 

high-impact international journals. And by 

working with Doctors Without Borders, 

UCSI Pharmacy graduates are making 

a difference in some of the world’s most 

challenging and endemic-hit regions in 

South Sudan, Syria, Pakistan and Ukraine. 

The success stories are not limited to 

the fields of science. UCSI houses the 

Institute of Music – Malaysia’s premier 

music school in both classical and 

contemporary fields – and the University 

has launched careers for some of the 

biggest names in Malaysia’s music 

industry. Performing artists Dr Joanne 

Yeoh and Dennis Lau, jazz pianist Liu Wei 

Zhong, and acclaimed music director San 


GLOBAL NURSES: Evidence-based learning and 

client-centred care make UCSI’s nursing students 

highly in demand by employers. Many have 

pursued careers in Australia, the United States 

and Singapore. 

Weng Onn are some of the many who 

count themselves as proud alumni. 

The University continues to realise 

potential and music students have enjoyed 

the invaluable opportunity of performing 

with the Malaysian Philharmonic 

Orchestra. Some go even further by 

winning international competitions and 

performing at the grandest stages like 

Carnegie Hall – all while they are still 

studying. Essentially, the who’s who 

of Malaysian music have studied, are 

teaching or once taught at UCSI and this 

trend looks set to continue indefinitely. 

Making a difference 

Societal impact is another core focus at 

UCSI. The University recognises its role 

in driving innovation and leading change, 

not just for students, but for communities, 

industries and ultimately, the nation. UCSI 

is the only university to champion two 

Entry Point Projects (EPPs) in Malaysia’s 

Economic Transformation Programme 

that seeks to elevate the nation to high 

income status. 

The first, EPP8, will see UCSI establishing 

a healthcare cluster in the education 

township of Bandar Springhill in 

Negeri Sembilan. Moving in tandem 

with Malaysia’s 

emphasis on medical 

advancement, UCSI 

will build a 1,000-bed 

teaching hospital that 

will offer a wide range 

of specialist services, 

providing holistic 

state-of-the-art 

healthcare to patients 

at home and abroad. 

The hospital will be 

built in stages and it 

will complement an 

international school 

and a hotel that are 

designed to turn the township into a hub 

of learning and medical tourism. 

The next endeavour, code named EPP10, 

is more ambitious as the Government is 

entrusting UCSI to energise and revamp 

Malaysia’s tourism and hospitality 

sector through education. To match the 

industry’s estimated threefold growth by 

2020, around 50,000 industry personnel 

must be trained each year by 2020. More 

pertinently, it was decided that at least 

50% of the workforce – up from the 

current 16% – must possess diplomalevel 

qualifications to ensure the provision 

of quality service. 

PRIZE WINNERS: UCSI’s interior architecture students swept 13 prizes at 

the 17th MIID Interior Design Competition 2013. UCSI vice-chancellor and 

president, Senior Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Yusoff (centre) shows his support. 

These developments, and more, put UCSI 

in good stead to discover knowledge, 

nurture innovation, and prepare students 

for future-proof careers in today’s everchanging 

world. The University recognises 

that the true measure of success is written 

by that of its students. And it will not rest 

until they get to where they’re supposed to 

be: the best in the business. 

UCSI University Kuala Lumpur Campus 

No. 1, Jalan Menara Gading, 

UCSI Heights 

(Taman Connaught), Cheras 

56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Tel: (+603) 9101 8880 

Fax: (+603) 9102 2614 

www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my 


UCSI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS 

Changing ideas. Changing destinies. 

WORLD CLASS: UCSI International School in Bandar 

Springhill, Port Dickson is built on a 20-acre stretch of 

land and is equipped with tennis courts, a football field 

and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. It is one of the few 

International Baccalaureate World Schools in Malaysia to 

offer a full boarding experience. 

BRITISH EDUCATION: Located in the urban hub of the 

Klang Valley, the UCSI International School in Subang 

Jaya offers a world-class British education through the 

International General Certificate of Secondary School 

Education (IGCSE) curriculum. 

UCSI International Schools are established 

to make a difference. The mission of 

each school is to provide a challenging 

international education that will nurture 

students to become knowledgeable 

and responsible global citizens. 

Holistic education is promoted at every 

opportunity and personalised attention is 

given to fulfill the potential of each and 

every student. 

The first UCSI International School was 

established in the education township of 

Bandar Springhill, Negeri Sembilan. An 

International Baccalaureate (IB) World 

School that offers students the option to 

board, the school is staffed by expatriate 

teachers and offers a wide range of IB 

programmes from the Primary Years 

Programme to the IB Diploma – widely 

regarded as the world’s best pre-university 

qualification. Boasting state-of-theart 

recreational and boarding facilities, 

the school is run by an expert team of 

expatriate teachers who hail from Britain, 

Canada and the United States, among 

other nations. 

The second UCSI International School 

in Subang Jaya was launched with 

Klang Valley learners in mind. Running 

the International General Certificate of 

Secondary Education (IGCSE) curriculum, 

the school is a strong draw for learners 

who prefer a British curriculum that 

open doors for them as they mature. 

Also staffed by an international team 

of teachers, the school has quickly 

established itself as a school of choice for 

Selangor residents. 

Due to popular demand, a third 

international school will soon be 

established in Bandar Seri Iskandar, 

Perak. Like its sister schools, the third 

school seeks to impact its surrounding 

community as it develops the human 

capital that will shape the future. 

AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE: Through a holistic 

education approach, students of UCSI International 

Schools in Bandar Springhill and Subang Jaya are 

guided to excel both in and outside the classroom. 

As a result, our students achieve – and remain happy, 

confident and enthusiastic. 

UCSI International School - Springhill 

No. 1, Persiaran UCSI, 

Bandar Springhill, 

71010 Port Dickson, 

Negeri Sembilan,Malaysia 

Tel: (+606) 653 6888 

Fax: (+606) 653 6999 

UCSI International School - Subang Jaya 

Lot 4891, Jalan SS13/4, 

47500 Subang Jaya, 


Tel: (+603) 5637 7108 

Fax: (+603) 5637 7110 

www.ucsiinternationalschool.edu.my 


CHAPTER 7 

Conference & Exhibition 



PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE 

Your One Stop Centre For All Events 

Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) 

is located in the heart of Kuala 

Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. 

The Centre plays host to over 1,000 

major events per year. Sprawling 

over 160,000 sq.m and with 24,000 

sq.m of exhibition space. 

PWTC has 1 Plenary hall (Dewan 

Merdeka), 2 multi-purpose halls, 

4 exhibition halls and a large 

foyer area for exhibitions, 17 

small meeting rooms, 1 Press 

Conference room and VIP suites. 

Other facilities include organiser’s 

office, registration counters, a 

Muslim prayer hall (Surau), a Café, 

Restaurant and Lounge. 

In addition to the 4 exhibition halls, 

there is also a large outdoor space 

to handle tented exhibitions and 

foyer area, Legar Putra. Periphery 

amenities include a World Trade 

Centre Club, Art Gallery, bank, post 

office, bookstore, money changer 

and boutique. Adjoining PWTC and 

within the vicinity are two 5-star 

hotels and a major shopping mall. 

The Centre is fully equipped with 

state-of-the-art facilities that make 

it the ideal, world class venue 

for conventions, conferences, 

exhibitions, trade show, meetings, 

banquets and concerts. 

Full banqueting services are 

provided and supervised by 

experienced and award-winning 

Chefs from the Malay, Western, 

Chinese and Indian kitchens. 

The PWTC is well located with easy 

access by major roads, Light Rail 

Transit (LRT), Commuter trains, 

Monorail trains, taxies and public 

buses. It is about 45 minutes drive 

from Kuala Lumpur International 

Airport (KLIA) and 20 minutes by 

Express Rail Link (ERL). 

The PWTC has ample parking space 

with 750 bays within the Centre 

itself. Within the vicinity are 1,500 

parking bays in the Shopping Mall 


and 1,200 parking bays in the Hentian 

Putra located just across the road from 

the Centre. 

Accessibility, superb facilities and 

experienced staff have made Putra 

World Trade centre the preferred venue 

for some of the worlds most important 

and elaborate exhibitions, conventions, 

concerts, product launches, banquets 

and many other events. 

PWTC was named the 2009 – 2010 

Iconic Landmark for Country Branding 

at The BrandLaureate Award by the 

Asia Pacific Brands Foundation in 

March 2010, for the next award, 

PWTC was named as the Best 

Destinations 2012 Travel Award 

for Best Meetings and Conference 

Centre – Asia. This Travel Award, 

into its fifth year, is organised by 

Business Destinations magazine 

based in London. Another award 

for PWTC when named Malaysia’s 

Prominent Brand in conjunction 

with Malaysia Independence Award 

1957 @ ‘Anugerah Merdeka’ and The 

International Corporate Award (ICA) – 

International Client Choice award 2014. 

Level 3, 41 Jalan Tun Ismail 

50480 Kuala Lumpur 

Wilayah Persekutuan 

Malaysia 

Tel: 603-2614 6999 

Fax: 603-4043 3777 

pwtc@pwtc.com.my 

www.pwtc.com.my 


CHAPTER 8 

Retail & Trading 







CHAPTER 9 

Oil & Gas 



Enhanced Sustainability 

The oil and gas industry has 

played a prominent role in the 

Malaysian economy since oil was 

first drilled in 1910 in Sarawak. 

The sector contributes to one-fifth 

of the national Gross Domestic 

Product (GDP) over the past 

decade. Malaysian-based oil and 

gas companies has proved to be 

competent in providing services 

in the areas of exploration and 

production (E&P), and many other 

multi-disciplinary services such as 

process design, instrumentation, 

engineering, piping and 

environmental management. 

Despite rising domestic demand, 

Malaysia is also a leading exporter 

of oil and gas. 

With Malaysia being Southeast 

Asia’s second-largest oil producer 

and having the fifth-largest 

reserves in the Asia-Pacific region, 

less expensive fuel can be made 

available for the domestic market, 

while substantial benefits can be 

had from international sales of 

oil and gas. Given the sector’s 

immense potential, government 

developmental projects and 

initiatives have been drafted 

to enhance the services and 

manufacturing sub-sectors in the 

industry, and also ensure constant 

production levels. Plans are also 

in the works for moving into 

alternative forms of sustainable 

energy, ranging from solar power 

to electric vehicles. 

Segments in the oil and gas 

industry are generally categorised 

as upstream, midstream and 

downstream activities. Upstream 

activities consist of exploration, 

development and production of 

oil and gas resources. Meanwhile, 

midstream and downstream 

activities range from refining, 

processing, and transportation 

of oil and gas, to marketing and 

trading of end products. Being a 

crude oil producer and exporter, 

Malaysia has a mature upstream 

oil and gas segment, leading to 

a well-established ecosystem 

of service and manufacturing 

companies that have set up 

base. However, to serve the 

rapidly growing domestic market, 


more attention has been given to the 

development of downstream activities, 

such as refining and petrochemicals 

engineering. 

Being a designated key industry in the 

Economic Transformation Programme 

(ETP), the main aim is for the oil, gas 

and energy industry to achieve 5% in 

growth annually, from 2010 up until 2020. 

The sector is also expected to generate 

RM131.4 billion for Malaysia’s gross 

national income, and to create 52,300 

new jobs by that time. 

To generate the needed investment for 

achieving those targets, the government 

had devised various tax incentive 

programmes for industry players. 

Furthermore, the ETP will be paying 

attention to several growth areas, 

including the development of sustainable 

oil and gas production, providing better 

supply of oil and gas to end users, and 

gradually making Malaysia the number 

one hub for oil and gas storage and 

trading in Asia. As more oil fields mature 

amidst rising domestic consumption 

and export market demands, a key part 

of Malaysia’s energy plans involves 

maximising the value of existing 

maturing oil fields through implementing 

techniques of enhanced oil recovery 

(EOR), improved oil recovery (IOR), and 

improved gas recovery (IGR). 

Additionally, with Malaysia having 

achieved status as the world’s secondlargest 

liquefied natural gas (LNG) 

exporter in 2013, strides were also made 

to capitalise on the nation’s strategic 

geographical location to increase 

its value as an oil and gas logistics 

centre. LNG infrastructures will also 

be expanded to accommodate the 

increasing supplies of natural gas. 

The developments outlined in the ETP 

will be headed by Malaysia’s national 

oil company, Petroleum National 

(PETRONAS), supported by several 

major industry players, and also in 

cooperation with government ministries 

involved in the sector. 

With combined efforts from the 

government bodies and private 

companies involved, Malaysia’s oil 

and gas sector is predicted to remain 

healthy for the foreseeable future, with 

new discoveries tapped, expansion 

projects underway, and new exploration 

opportunities to be seized. The generous 

financial incentives and strategic efforts 

by PETRONAS should ensure continued 

investment flows into the sector. 


CHAPTER 10 

Timber & Wood 



An Increasingly Valuable 

Commodity 

The Malaysian timber industry had come 

a long way from its humble beginnings in 

the early 20th century, where trees were 

manually pit-sawn to produce planks. 

At present, Malaysia is one of the global 

leaders in the production and export of 

timber products. 

With over 61% of Malaysia’s land covered 

by stretches of forest, Malaysia is home 

to more than 2,650 species of trees. From 

this natural bounty, an assortment of wood 

products has been made for the domestic 

market and export. The different types of 

Malaysian hardwood are highly sought 

after and utilised in various manufacturing 

industries for their multitude of grains and 

colours, which proved to be both durable 

and aesthetically pleasing. Among the 

main timber products made and exported 

are logs, sawntimber, mouldings, veneer, 

plywood, particleboard, fibreboard, 

carpentry items, and furniture. 

Japan, USA and India are the main export 

destinations for Malaysian timber. Of 

the numerous timber products, wooden 

furniture tops the list as the biggest 

export item. This is due to the booming 

local furniture industry which produces 

premium, value-for-money furniture that 

caters to more than 160 countries annually. 

Malaysia ranked as the 10th largest 

furniture exporter in the world, with around 

80% of furniture produced are meant for 

foreign markets. The largest market for 

Malaysian wooden furniture is the USA, 

which accounts for over 30% of total 

exports, followed by Japan and Australia. 

As the country’s position in the global 

furniture industry grows stronger, Malaysia 

is targeting countries like UAE, Saudi 

Arabia, the Philippines, Russia, Algeria, 

Greece, Puerto Rico and Libya as lucrative 

export destinations. 


Malaysian wooden furniture gained 

popularity in the world of high fashion 

design for the discerning market, due 

largely to the availability of high quality 

tropical hardwoods such as Meranti, 

Nyatoh and Ramin, and the skilled labour 

necessary in making such products. 

Recognising the furniture industry’s role 

in the economy, the government has set 

an annual growth target of 6.5% for wood 

based furniture, and the industry’s revenue 

is estimated to reach up to RM53 billion by 

year 2020. 

and some 375,000 hectors of new timber 

plantation is expected to be created by 

2020. Furthermore, the Malaysia Timber 

Certification Scheme has been carried out 

to ensure sustainable logging practices in 

forest plantations. 

In addition to being high-grade and 

abundant in supply, Malaysian timber 

products are sourced and manufactured 

from sustainably managed forests. In fact, 

to meet rising demands, the government 

had taken measures to expand timber 

plantation areas since 2005 in an effort 

to reduce the need for sourcing from 

natural forests. Timber is currently the 

third-largest plantation crop in Malaysia, 


CHAPTER 11 

Plantation & Agriculture 



Becoming a 

Bigger Economic Contributor 

The agriculture and plantation sectors 

is responsible for 7% of Malaysia’s 

Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 

looks set to continue being a vital 

economic growth component. Making 

up two National Key Economic Areas 

(NKEAs) in the Economic Transformation 

Programme (ETP), activities in this 

sector are significant contributors to 

export revenues, and play a major role 

in helping eradicate rural poverty. These 

sectors are also known to draw in both 

foreign and domestic investors. 

As Malaysia seeks to ensure greater 

food security and increase value-added 

production, the agriculture and plantation 

sector is receiving more attention and 

encouragement from the government. 

Investment and incentives are being 

poured into Research and Development 

(R&D) to aid companies and industry 

players. Projects that are set to boost both 

sectors’ productivity through expanding 

cultivation areas, planting and replanting 

projects, and use of machineries are also 

well underway. 

Plantations in Malaysia are dominated by 

oil palm and white rubber, which produce 

the main industrial commodities. Other 

important crops include timber, cocoa 

and pepper, most of which are grown in 

East Malaysia. In fact, Malaysia is the 

world leader in the production of crude 

palm oil, from which food products 

and alternative energy sources were 

developed from. Malaysia is also the 

sixth-largest producer of natural rubber 

in the world. As such, the palm oil and 

rubber NKEA targets a RM230.9 billion 

contribution to gross national income by 

the two sectors by 2020. 

A series of projects connected to paddy 

farming are also being carries out with 

aims of enhancing the quality and quantity 

of rice production. The NKEA also includes 

investments in R&D for developing seeds 

for higher-yielding and more diseaseresistant 

paddy, and implementing 

new production systems which are 

more sustainable and eco-friendly than 

traditional methods. 


There are smallholders in the agriculture 

sector which include vegetables, fruits, 

livestock and fisheries. Under the ETP, the 

government has embarked on reshaping the 

sector where smallholders are concerned by 

tackling the challenges in raising their incomes, 

and enabling them to compete with larger 

multinational agribusiness chains. The main 

goal of the Agriculture NKEA is to transform 

the sector from a small-scale production 

industry into an agribusiness-based sector that 

produces more value-added products. 

For developments to happen, strategies 

have been outlined to focus on expanding 

several niche areas such as aquaculture, 

herbal products, bird’s nest swiftlet farming, 

seaweed production and livestock. The overall 

objectives are not only to improve production 

quality and marketing efforts, but also increase 

the traceability of these small segments while 

enforcing good manufacturing practices. 

Meanwhile, plans are also made for the fruits 

and vegetables segment to increase production 

of non-seasonal tropical fruits, and boost 

exports to the Middle East and Europe. 

With sustained investment from both the 

government and private companies, the 

agriculture and plantation sectors are expected 

to undergo larger expansion in the years 

leading up to 2020. Both sectors’ contributions 

to the economy are projected to continue 

growing, along with enhancing the quality of life 

for rural populations. 


CHAPTER 12 

Automotive 



The Market Centre & Gateway 

Numerous factors have proved Malaysia to be an 

attractive investment destination and centre for 

automotive and component manufacturing activities. 

Firstly, Malaysia’s central location in the ASEAN region 

means that companies based in the country will be 

able to reach a market of more than 600 million people. 

Global automotive manufacturers also benefit from probusiness 

policies, well-developed infrastructure, and an 

educated and skilled labour force. 

Additionally, the steady economic growth in Malaysia 

has resulted in a population with high purchasing 

power. In fact, Malaysia ranks among countries with 

high car ownership in Southeast Asia. Many leading 

automotive companies from Asia and Europe have 

set up base in Malaysia to take advantage of the 

burgeoning consumer demand, and also to launch 

their products to the region. At the same time, the 

domestic automotive industry has transformed from 

a vehicle assembler into a car manufacturer with the 

establishment of national automotive projects such as 

Proton and Perodua. 

To accelerate growth in the sector, the industrial 

township known as Proton City was built in the state 

of Perak. With developments expected to be fully 

completed by 2020, the town was meant to be the 

centre of Malaysia’s automotive industry. It is home to 

the Proton car assembly plant equipped with cuttingedge 

technology, and operated by a workforce of 

more than 2,000. Future development phases also 

include the construction of more factory lots for 

national car vendors. 

In 2006, the government introduced the National 

Automotive Policy (NAP) to help regulate the local 

automotive industry, and spur its development. 

Recently, in 2014, the NAP was revised to reflect the 

changes in the industry and marketplace. The goal 

is to promote a more competitive and sustainable 

domestic automotive industry, while also making 

Malaysia the centre for energy-efficient vehicles. 


Malaysia has also become the production hub for a lot 

of major automotive component manufacturers, with 

more than 800 companies producing a wide range of 

car parts, from body panels and brakes to rubber and 

engine parts. An increasing number of component 

manufacturers not only cater to the Malaysian market, 

but are also exporting their products to other ASEAN 

and Asian countries. 

To encourage competitiveness in the automotive 

industry, Malaysia is committed to the 

intergovernmental ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) 

agreement, which provides for plenty of export 

opportunities for manufacturing companies. Under 

the AFTA, carmakers will benefit from lower customs 

duties on imports and exports, and also be able to 

source cost-competitive components from ASEAN 

countries. Furthermore, Malaysia’s automotive sector 

is set for greater growth under the Malaysia-Japan 

Automotive Industrial Cooperation (MAJAICO), where 

10 cooperative projects with one of the leading nations 

in automotive manufacturing have been launched and 

are well underway. 


CHAPTER 13 

Courier & Delivery 



Keeping the Nation 

Connected 

An efficient functioning postal and courier 

service is essential to the economy and 

society as a whole. Even with the advent 

of technology that made various online 

transactions and correspondences faster and 

more convenient, the network of post offices 

across Malaysia remains an indispensible and 

important national infrastructure. 

can securely reach their destinations 

within the country, and other parts of the 

world. In fact, reliable international courier 

service is a crucial logistics solution for 

manufacturing industries such as the 

Electrical and Electronic (E&E) sector, which 

is the leading contributor to Malaysia’s 

industrial development. 

Delivering more than three million items 

each day, ranging from letters to parcels 

of varying sizes, Malaysia’s postal and 

courier sector is responsible for maintaining 

physical connectivity of over six million 

addresses nationwide. It is through the 

postal and courier sector that manufactured 

goods, important packages and documents 

As more enterprises are turning to 

e-commerce to expand their market reach, 

and online shopping trend picks up, the 

postal and courier sector is set to play an 

even more important role in the economy. 

Since the sector continues to be labourintensive, 

its growth is expected to create 

more jobs. 


There are more than 100 registered 

courier service operators in Malaysia, 

comprising a mix of international 

industrial players and domestic 

operators. With the increase in volume 

of mail, higher levels of collaboration 

between the various segments in the 

postal and courier sectors are even 

more essential. 

(NPS) launched in late 2010, which sets 

out a development plan for the period 

of 2010 until 2014. The NPS was 

formulated to lay the foundation for 

an efficient and accessible post office 

network that is conducive to better 

work sharing between the national 

postal service, Post Malaysia Berhad, 

and other industry players. 

In an effort to ensure the national 

postal and courier service retains its 

relevance, the Malaysian government is 

committed to promote greater access 

and efficiency in the sector. A notable 

example is the National Postal Strategy 


CHAPTER 14 

Electrical & Electronics 



Leading the Nation’s 

Industrialisation 

The electrical and electronics (E&E) 

industry is the leader in Malaysia’s 

manufacturing sector, contributing 

significantly to the country’s export 

revenue and employment rate. 

Continuously striving for higher valueadded 

production, focus is given to 

strengthen the market for semiconductors, 

solar and LED technologies – areas which 

Malaysia’s manufacturers have benefitted 

considerably due to rising global demand. 

Consumer Electronics 

Rapid growth of this sub-sector, which 

includes the manufacture of LED 

television receivers, and various audiovisual 

products, was spearheaded by 

many renowned Japanese and Korean 

companies. At present, a number 

of leading consumer electronics 

manufacturers in Asia are basing their 

research and development activities in 

Malaysia to support their global markets. 

The nation’s E&E industry can be 

categorised into four sub-sectors: 

consumer electronics, industrial 

electronics, electrical products and 

electronic components. 

Industrial Electronics 

The second largest sub-sector 

consists of multimedia and information 

technology products, such as computers, 

telecommunication products and office 

equipment. This sub-sector comprises 

close to 30% of total investments 

approved in the nation’s E&E sector. 


Electrical Products 

The largest sub-sector of the industry produces 

lightings, household appliances and solar 

related products. Malaysia’s E&E industry is 

at an advantageous position due to the many 

leading corporations in the LED and solar industry 

being based in the country. The presence of 

these industrial key players will contribute to the 

development of various solar products, which will 

further spur the growth of the industry. Because 

there is an increase in global awareness of the 

need for green technology and to encourage 

the usage of renewable energy, the government 

introduced the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) in 2011 that 

allows electricity produced from indigenous 

renewable energy resources to be sold at a fixed 

premium price for a specific duration. 

Electronic Components 

This sub-sector includes semiconductor devices, 

passive components, printed circuits, substrates 

and connectors. The leading contributor in the 

performance of exports for this sub-sector is the 

manufacturing of semiconductor devices, largely 

due to the presence of numerous major private 

manufacturers based in Malaysia. 


CHAPTER 15 

Media & Entertainment 



Into the Digital Age 

As mediums for entertainment and 

information are becoming increasingly 

digitalised around the world, certain markets 

that accommodate the changes in consumer 

spending habits are expected to flourish. 

Malaysia’s entertainment and media (E&M) 

industry is anticipated to grow at an above 

average rate up to 2017. The bulk of growth 

in the E&M spending is due to Malaysian 

population’s rising internet access. 

providers offering 4G networks steadily 

growing since 2013. 

In addition, transformative projects under 

the Economic Transformation Programme 

(ETP) initiative by the government are set to 

ensure the expansion of internet coverage 

nationwide, especially in rural areas. Under the 

ETP, approximately 1,000 telecommunication 

towers are to be built by 2016. 

In effect, internet service providers are leading 

the E&M market, with revenues projected 

to double within the period of 2013 to 2017 

because of the growing demand for reliable 

internet access. Malaysia has one of the 

fastest developing wireless broadband 

internet markets in the Asia Pacific region, 

with near-nationwide coverage for 3G 

networks and about 60% coverage for WiMAX 

networks, with the number of mobile service 

Despite digital media becoming seemingly 

ubiquitous, conventional mediums such as 

newspaper publishing, TV subscriptions 

and physical home videos still account for 

majority of consumer spending. Print media 

subscription is the second highest consumer 

spending in Malaysia’s E&M sector, and is 

expected to continue market dominance in 

the near future for at least the next five years. 

Meanwhile, with younger consumers favouring 


online news, digital newspaper and 

magazine subscription are estimated 

to double every two years alongside 

the increase in internet access. 

Besides the consumer market, the 

business-to-business market is also 

a fast growing segment of Malaysia’s 

E&M industry. This segment is aided 

by government initiatives as part of 

ETP to encourage the development of 

creative media content creation for the 

TV, film, communication and mobile 

industries. As part of the initiative, the 

Creative Content Association Malaysia 

(CCAM) was formed to nurture 

talents within the Malaysian creative 

industry to world-class standard, and 

to help content creators break into 

international markets. 


CHAPTER 16 

Banking & Finance 



The Economic Backbone 

Banking and financial services is the overall 

enabler of the nation’s economy, as the 

sector functions to provide various forms of 

capital that allows for all other industries to 

grow. Because of the emerging international 

financial services centres worldwide due 

to the increasingly globalised economy, 

Malaysia’s banking and financial services 

sector is also an important economic 

contributor in its own right. Hence, it is listed 

as one of the 12 National Key Economic 

Area (NKEA) in the nation’s Economic 

Transformation Programme (ETP). 

Focus has always been given to developing 

domestic financial institutions, while 

gradually opening up the financial services 

sector to greater competition. Additionally, 

continuous efforts are also given to solidify 

Malaysia’s position as a global leader in 

Islamic finance. Much of the growth in 

Islamic finance has been attributed to the 

strong legal and regulatory framework that 

has been established. Malaysia has the 

largest Islamic fund management industry in 

the world, in terms of number of funds, and 

is recognised as a centre for innovation in 

the area of Islamic finance. 

Indeed, with over 40 licensed commercial 

banks in the country, Malaysia is known for 

having one of the most regulated banking 

systems in the world and supervisions are 

still being increased and improved. The 

Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara) 

has the authority to intervene in any bank 

operations, if good governance is question. 

Additionally, policies that call for stricter 

liability and more transparency among 

corporate officers are in effect. 


To benefit businesses, the Financial 

Services NKEA seeks to enhance the 

liquidity of Malaysia’s capital market 

to attract quality stock market listings 

and investors. This will in turn mobilise 

capital to fund more business growth and 

encourage new investments. Malaysia’s 

capital market has grown to RM2.76 

trillion in 2014, which is equivalent to 2.6 

times the size of the nation’s economy, 

and continues to be an important source 

of financing for the economy. Other 

significant measures under the ETP 

include increase liberalisation of the 

stockbrokerage industry, and integrating 

the exchange holding company, Bursa 

Malaysia, with leading exchanges. 

Product innovation and developments 

in the banking and financial sector has 

significantly benefited both businesses 

and consumers in the recent years. 

Furthermore, Malaysia’s overall economic 

expansion has contributed considerably 

to the steady growth of the insurance 

sector in recent years. The long-term 

transformative goals of the ETP call for 

75% of Malaysians to be insured by 

2020. This growth is projected to boost 

the insurance sector’s contributions to 

Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 

from 2.8% to 4%. 

Access to financial services has also 

greatly expanded due to the sector taking 

advantage of technological developments, 

such as mobile and online banking. 


CHAPTER 17 

Charity 



NATIONAL CANCER COUNCIL (MAKNA) 

Delivering services and support for the cancer cause with passion 

and commitment 

MAKNA Mobile Mammogram Unit 

The National Cancer Council or MAKNA 

is a leading Malaysian cancer non-profit 

organization that has been a pillar to the 

cancer community and the wider public for 

over two decades. MAKNA prides itself as 

a home grown organisation that continues 

to play an important part helping cancer 

patients, regardless of background, race, 

creed, colour and station in financial need, 

with treatment, financial support and posttreatment 

issues, besides providing public 

education and information on cancer. 

Dato’ Mohd Farid Ariffin is the founder 

of MAKNA — he who started it all from 

nothing but only with a burning passion to 

help financially-challenged cancer patients. 

He left his Deputy Health Minister post 

in 1994 to set up MAKNA, after realising 

through his own personal experience with 

his son’s struggles with Leukemia, that 

poor cancer patients would actually find it 

difficult to afford treatment. 

20 years on, MAKNA is still going 

strong, providing cancer-related services 

and assistance in various aspects to 

communities all over the country, without 

regards to race, gender age and religious 

beliefs. More than 450,000 patients have 

received help since MAKNA’s journey 

started and today, it continues to expand 

its reaches to many who are still afflicted 

by cancer. 

MAKNA has been able to sustain its 

operations and services mainly because 

of our donors, volunteers and supporters. 

We will do what’s expected of us to 

serve the society passionately and invite 

you to continue playing your part in this 

endeavour till cancer is no longer a threat 

and menace to the world. 

BURSARY ASSISTANCE 

Under the Bursary Assistance Scheme, 

cancer patients in the lower income 

groups who are undergoing treatment 

with a government hospital can apply to 

MAKNA for financial aid. As long as the 

patient is undergoing treatment at any 

government hospital, he or she can keep 

applying for assistance once their current 

assistance ends. 

AWARENESS AND EDUCATION 

Spreading the knowledge and 

understanding of cancer is a priority for 

MAKNA. Over the years, the education 

part has grown in importance with the 

number of cancer patients increasing 

every year. An average of more than 

200 events are held yearly, either on our 

own or in partnerships with companies, 

government agencies, universities, schools 

and others. 

MAKNA Founder 

& President, Dato’ 

Mohd Farid Ariffin 

TREATMENT AT 

MAKNA CANCER INSTITUTE– 

UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA 

MEDICAL CENTRE (IKM-PPUKM) 

IKM-PPUKM is located in Bandar Tun 

Razak, Kuala Lumpur and the working 

relationship between MAKNA and the 

university hospital was established in 1999 

after a memorandum of understanding 

was signed between the two parties. 

Today, the cancer institute comprising 

an oncology ward, a sub-basement 

radiotherapy unit and stem cell transplant 

unit has treated more than 160,000 

patients and continues to be operated by 

both parties, with funding from MAKNA. 

RESEARCH 

Since 2000, MAKNA has been 

collaborating with established researchers 


Dato’ Farid granting cancer patients 

‘wishlist’ at ‘ Wira Kanser’ 

gathering dinner 2014 

MAKNA Cancer Survivours at 

‘Wira Kanser’ gathering 2014. 

who are mostly based in the local 

universities and research institutes. 

These researches are in various stages of 

completion with some already undergoing 

the necessary clinical trials. 

Besides this, another programme that 

started in 2001, the Cancer Research 

Award, annually allocates funding for 

young researchers with proposals 

on cancer research that are the most 

promising. These recipients are selected 

through a process by a panel of prominent 

scientists assisted by the Academy of 

Science, Malaysia. 

MAKNA MOBILE MAMMOGRAM UNIT 

In 2011, MAKNA’s initiative to provide 

mobile mammogram services to local 

communities everywhere in the country 

became a reality when a customised 40- 

foot trailer complete with a mammogram 

machine and all necessary supporting 

equipment was approved and licensed by 

the Ministry of Health. 

The objective of this particular service 

is to reach out to women who may not 

have access to mammograms due to their 

locations and affordability reasons. Today, 

the MAKNA Mobile Mammogram trailer 

has traversed to various locations and 

have been well-received by women folks 

both in urban and rural areas. 

VOLUNTEERS 

Volunteers have been a crucial part of 

MAKNA’s operations which have enabled 

the organisation to cast a net wide enough 

to reach out to cancer patients and 

communities in all parts of the country. 

MAKNA’s volunteers are a special breed; 

their commitment towards the cancer 

cause is acknowledged by the slogan 

“A Work of Heart”. There are also current 

volunteers who are cancer survivours 

themselves and this group helps other 

cancer patients by sharing their own 

experiences struggling with and surviving 

cancer. If you are interested in becoming a 

volunteer, please visit www.makna.org.my. 

HOME VISITS 

Cancer patients that are receiving 

assistance under the Bursary Assistance 

Scheme are visited at their homes by 

MAKNA Home Visit personnel. Besides 

checking in on them, these visits serve as 

an opportunity to evaluate if any further 

assistance is required by the patients. 

MAKNA CANCER SUPPORT GROUP 

It is common for cancer patients to 

struggle through a host of difficult issues 

aside from trying to cope with treatments. 

If there is no proper social and emotional 

support given to them from family 

members and friends, they may languish 

psychologically and physically, and end up 

being depressed or even worse. MAKNA 

has a cancer support group on its own 

and has also established several others in 

partnership with government hospitals. 

MAKNA CANCER HELPLINE (MCH) 

MCH is managed and handled by 

oncology-trained personnel who receive 

calls for information on cancer and also 

accepts queries by email. The service 

is aimed at helping callers have a better 

picture of cancer in general, the types of 

cancer, their risks, treatments, and other 

related issues. The helpline’s number is 

1-800-88-62562 (MAKNA) and operates 

from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am 

to 5.00 pm. 

HALF WAY HOME 

Our current half way home is located 

in Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru. It 

receives cancer patients from afar who are 

waiting to go for treatment but are unable 

to travel back and forth easily from their 

homes to the hospital. 

YOUR CONTRIBUTION 

CAN CHANGE LIVES 

On our part, we will strive to do as much 

as we can but without your generosity and 

support, the overall mission in helping poor 

cancer patients will not have gathered the 

momentum it has today. A sincere show of 

kind-heartedness towards fellow human 

beings in their times of desperation brings 

such relief and hopefully will spur them on 

to keep fighting with every ounce of their 

being. Thank you very much, from MAKNA 

to you! 

To make a donation please visit 

www.makna.org.my 

or call us 03-21629178. 


WORLD VISION MALAYSIA 

For Children. For Change. For Life. 

Joyce surrounded by children during her visit 

to Kangayam, India 

First steps 

“When I first decided to become a child 

sponsor in 2008, it was because I wanted 

to help children and was looking for ways to 

do so.” 

Joyce Lai, CEO of Educ8 Group Sdn Bhd, 

the holding company of Epsom College in 

Malaysia, currently sponsors two children 

through World Vision Malaysia. Her first 

sponsored child was Shalini, 14, from 

Kangayam, India, whom she sponsored 

from 2008 to 2014. She remembers how 

she felt on her first trip to visit Shalini: 

“The entire visit was overwhelming and 

emotional for me… I was really quite 

amazed at how my contribution was 

making such a big difference.” 

For thousands of Malaysians, Joyce’s 

experience rings true. A nagging feeling 

that they should help others becomes 

the start of a rewarding journey, as they 

build a relationship with a child and 

lift them out of poverty. World Vision 

Malaysia helps them take that first step. 

Making a life-changing difference 

For many child sponsors, the appeal of 

sponsorship lies in how RM65 (for an 

Asian child) or RM80 (for a non-Asian 

child) a month can make such a big 

difference. Says Joyce: 

“If you look at the value of money today, 

RM65 is not much. What I like about 

World Vision’s model is that it’s all about 

sustainability: developing skills and 

investing in permanent solutions.” 

Indeed, sustainable community 

development through child sponsorship 

is the core of World Vision’s work. This is 


ooted in the experience of World 

Vision founder Dr. Bob Pierce, who 

was so moved by the plight of a 

little girl during a visit to China in 

1947 that he pledged a monthly 

amount to a local missionary to 

support her growth and education. 

Established in 1997, World Vision 

Malaysia (WVM) is currently led by 

Dato’ Ir. K J Abraham as Acting 

CEO and a Board of Trustees. 

Together with its corporate partners 

and child sponsors, it continues 

to transform the lives of children, 

families and their communities, 

helping them break free from the 

cycle of poverty. 

While its outlook is on serving the 

poorest of the poor around the 

world, WVM is also active at home. 

After the devastating 2014 monsoon 

floods in Malaysia, WVM was, and 

continues to be, a key player in 

relief and rehabilitation for affected 

communities in the east coast. 

Since 2010 WVM has implemented 

a community development 

programme in Mukim Tulid, Sabah. 

A future filled with hope 

“I believe we as child sponsors 

can be the ‘satellite’ that opens 

up their world to the possibilities 

beyond their circumstances. We 

plant hope and dreams in them so 

they can be inspired to do well in 

life,” says Joyce. 

As long as Malaysians are willing 

to open up their hearts like she 

has, more children can dream of a 

bright future. 

World Vision Malaysia Berhad 

(394690‐U) 

106 & 108 Ground Floor, Block A, 

Kelana Centre Point, 

Jalan SS7/19, Kelana Jaya, 

47301 Petaling Jaya, 

Selangor, Malaysia 

Phone: +603 7880 6414 

(please ask for Ms. Yong Ching Sze) 

Email : admin@worldvision.com.my 

www.worldvision.com.my 


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