Malaysia Economic Indicators - Leading, Coincident And Lagging Indices March 2009
Source:http://www.statistics.gov.my/eng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=382:malaysia-economic-indicators-leading-coincident-and-lagging-indices-march-2009-&catid=48:malaysias-economic-indicators-&Itemid=12
The Coincident Index (CI) decreased by 1.4% in March 2009 registering at 112.5 points. Negative change in the current month was due to decline of total employment in manufacturing sector (-0.7%), real salaries & wages in manufacturing sector (-0.4%), real gross imports (-0.3%), real sales in manufacturing sector (-0.3%) and Index of Industrial Production (-0.1%). The six-month smoothed growth rate of CI in March 2009 dropped to -10.0% from -8.6% recorded in the previous month.
The Leading Index (LI) rose 0.5% to 159.0 points in March 2009. The increase of the index was supported by real money supply, M1 (0.8%), inverted growth rate of CPI for services (0.3%) and number of housing permits approved (0.1%). The six-month smoothed growth rate of LI moved up to 0.2% in the current month compared to -0.7% in the previous month.
The six-month smoothed growth rate of Leading Index (LI) was gradually improved since January 2009. The lowest growth of LI was registered in December 2008. If the growth momentum of LI persists, the economic slowdown is expected to turn around in the third quarter of 2009.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
New economy model and entrepreneurship
New economy model and entrepreneurship
Written by Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff
Source:http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/commentary/16414-new-economy-model-and-entrepreneurship.html
THE discussion on the new economy model has grown in intensity lately. Although most discussions are still about the concept, the new model, it is said, would be based on innovation and creativity and is supposed to generate high income for Malaysians.
Given the rapid changes in the global economic landscape and growth of economies such as China, India, Brazil and Russia which suck away foreign investments from our region, the future success of this nation cannot be based on the proven formula of yesteryears. There are a number of drivers which require us, as a country, to do things differently, to improve and sustain our quality of life.
What are those factors?
Competition is certainly going to be more intense across all aspects of the economy. As trade becomes more borderless, more players would be participating in the fields where we are competing. The Asean Economic Community for example would create a greater market for Asean companies but this would also bring greater competition.
The competitiveness of an enterprise is determined by the quality and business acumen of the people running and managing the enterprise. This is the next battle, to get great people to lead and serve organisations and businesses. As people become more accustomed to mobile lifestyles, working away from native lands would be very natural. Our best brains need not necessarily remain here and we would be competing to retain them here. This is already happening and would be more challenging in the future as people, especially the smart and gifted, would be able to choose the kind of lifestyles that suit their preference. Nationalism would no longer be an appealing factor.
Continuous change and greater complexity would also be the feature of the future. Enterprises need to maintain competitiveness while ensuring their conduct is consistent with the well-being of the society and maintain environmental sustainability. Towards this end, standards and practices of a global nature would need to be complied with by enterprises if they want to participate in cross-border businesses.
The new economy model would need to address the above factors, among others, and create an environment where enterprises can innovate without much hurdles and drive creativity among our people.
Talking about creativity and innovation, these two features of the new economy model suggest that we would be comfortable doing things differently and move away from “time-tested” beliefs or culture. Unless this is achieved, moving away from doing what we are doing would not be easy.
We could start by sending a strong signal to our entrepreneurs that business success is about being competitive and serving the market needs. While the government would continue to be the largest customer, business is not just about doing deals with the government only.
Being the largest customer, government should also impose competitive practices so that it would get the best deals and promote the culture of competition among its suppliers. Another signal to budding entrepreneurs is that the government is not the buyer of last resort. If they fail to produce products or services acceptable to the market, they should not demand for the government or government-linked companies to bail them out.
Creative and innovative entrepreneurs would naturally develop business models which may not be tested in the market. This brings us to the next issue, how do we finance ideas that are "out of the world"? Traditional financing models such as banking and government-owned venture capitalist may not work when industry frontiers are being tested. When Google got its first financing from two venture capitalists, it had yet to develop ways to make money out of the technology that it developed at that time. Only private venture capitalists would be able to make such kind of risky venture. Perhaps we need to encourage more private funds to be created to support innovative and creative entrepreneurs under the new economy model.
Innovation and creativity is driven by brain power. If we continue to limit our progress based solely on Malaysian-made brains, we may not have enough ingredients to beat the world. What more when the colour of skin which wraps the brain also matters!
Even global companies such as Proctor and Gamble which has thousands of experts working for it has to tap the ideas of people around the world to retain its competitiveness. The future is about inter-connectedness and networks — where the ideas come from do not really matter. This is the kind of paradigm shift that we need to make if the new economy model is going to work.
Ironically, the sophisticated world of the future would rely more and more on individual values and integrity. Given change would be the only constant, organisations and business entities need to be more flexible. Flexibility could only be achieved when important decisions are made quickly. This is where those trusted to make those decisions perform their roles with utmost sincerity and based on principles which lead to the greater good of the community.
So, while we need more innovative and creative people to drive the new economy model, the basic tenets of integrity and honesty remain critical for the well being of society at large to be continually enhanced.
Nik Hasyudeen is the president of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. He can be contacted at nik@inovastra.com
Written by Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff
Source:http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/commentary/16414-new-economy-model-and-entrepreneurship.html
THE discussion on the new economy model has grown in intensity lately. Although most discussions are still about the concept, the new model, it is said, would be based on innovation and creativity and is supposed to generate high income for Malaysians.
Given the rapid changes in the global economic landscape and growth of economies such as China, India, Brazil and Russia which suck away foreign investments from our region, the future success of this nation cannot be based on the proven formula of yesteryears. There are a number of drivers which require us, as a country, to do things differently, to improve and sustain our quality of life.
What are those factors?
Competition is certainly going to be more intense across all aspects of the economy. As trade becomes more borderless, more players would be participating in the fields where we are competing. The Asean Economic Community for example would create a greater market for Asean companies but this would also bring greater competition.
The competitiveness of an enterprise is determined by the quality and business acumen of the people running and managing the enterprise. This is the next battle, to get great people to lead and serve organisations and businesses. As people become more accustomed to mobile lifestyles, working away from native lands would be very natural. Our best brains need not necessarily remain here and we would be competing to retain them here. This is already happening and would be more challenging in the future as people, especially the smart and gifted, would be able to choose the kind of lifestyles that suit their preference. Nationalism would no longer be an appealing factor.
Continuous change and greater complexity would also be the feature of the future. Enterprises need to maintain competitiveness while ensuring their conduct is consistent with the well-being of the society and maintain environmental sustainability. Towards this end, standards and practices of a global nature would need to be complied with by enterprises if they want to participate in cross-border businesses.
The new economy model would need to address the above factors, among others, and create an environment where enterprises can innovate without much hurdles and drive creativity among our people.
Talking about creativity and innovation, these two features of the new economy model suggest that we would be comfortable doing things differently and move away from “time-tested” beliefs or culture. Unless this is achieved, moving away from doing what we are doing would not be easy.
We could start by sending a strong signal to our entrepreneurs that business success is about being competitive and serving the market needs. While the government would continue to be the largest customer, business is not just about doing deals with the government only.
Being the largest customer, government should also impose competitive practices so that it would get the best deals and promote the culture of competition among its suppliers. Another signal to budding entrepreneurs is that the government is not the buyer of last resort. If they fail to produce products or services acceptable to the market, they should not demand for the government or government-linked companies to bail them out.
Creative and innovative entrepreneurs would naturally develop business models which may not be tested in the market. This brings us to the next issue, how do we finance ideas that are "out of the world"? Traditional financing models such as banking and government-owned venture capitalist may not work when industry frontiers are being tested. When Google got its first financing from two venture capitalists, it had yet to develop ways to make money out of the technology that it developed at that time. Only private venture capitalists would be able to make such kind of risky venture. Perhaps we need to encourage more private funds to be created to support innovative and creative entrepreneurs under the new economy model.
Innovation and creativity is driven by brain power. If we continue to limit our progress based solely on Malaysian-made brains, we may not have enough ingredients to beat the world. What more when the colour of skin which wraps the brain also matters!
Even global companies such as Proctor and Gamble which has thousands of experts working for it has to tap the ideas of people around the world to retain its competitiveness. The future is about inter-connectedness and networks — where the ideas come from do not really matter. This is the kind of paradigm shift that we need to make if the new economy model is going to work.
Ironically, the sophisticated world of the future would rely more and more on individual values and integrity. Given change would be the only constant, organisations and business entities need to be more flexible. Flexibility could only be achieved when important decisions are made quickly. This is where those trusted to make those decisions perform their roles with utmost sincerity and based on principles which lead to the greater good of the community.
So, while we need more innovative and creative people to drive the new economy model, the basic tenets of integrity and honesty remain critical for the well being of society at large to be continually enhanced.
Nik Hasyudeen is the president of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. He can be contacted at nik@inovastra.com
Saturday, June 13, 2009
G8 sees economies stabilising, recovery uncertain
Written by Reuters
Saturday, 13 June 2009 21:11
Source: http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/16293-g8-sees-economies-stabilising-recovery-uncertain.html
LECCE (Italy): The Group of Eight (G8) had on June 13 said they believed their economies were stabilising but recovery from the credit crisis remains shaky, according to Reuters
The G8 finance ministers said in an end of meeting statement there were "signs of stabilisation in our economies, including a recovery of stock markets, a decline in interest rate spreads, improved business and consumer confidence".
"But the situation remains uncertain and significant risks remain to economic and financial stability," the ministers said in the communique after the two-day meeting in southern Italy.
The ministers confirmed they had started to consider ways to unwind economic rescue measures once a recovery was certain. The International Monetary Fund was asked to analyse possible "exit strategies" from radical stimulus programmes.
The G8 wants to reassure nervous bond markets, which have been pushing yields up sharply because they fear heavy state spending and ultra-low interest rates could fuel inflation and cripple state finances.
But the ministers, noting that unemployment might continue to increase even after production picked up, made clear that countries were unlikely to tighten policies any time soon.
"We must remain vigilant to ensure that consumer and investor confidence is fully restored and that growth is underpinned by stable financial markets and strong fundamentals," they said, pledging more stimulus if needed. - Reuters
Saturday, 13 June 2009 21:11
Source: http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/16293-g8-sees-economies-stabilising-recovery-uncertain.html
LECCE (Italy): The Group of Eight (G8) had on June 13 said they believed their economies were stabilising but recovery from the credit crisis remains shaky, according to Reuters
The G8 finance ministers said in an end of meeting statement there were "signs of stabilisation in our economies, including a recovery of stock markets, a decline in interest rate spreads, improved business and consumer confidence".
"But the situation remains uncertain and significant risks remain to economic and financial stability," the ministers said in the communique after the two-day meeting in southern Italy.
The ministers confirmed they had started to consider ways to unwind economic rescue measures once a recovery was certain. The International Monetary Fund was asked to analyse possible "exit strategies" from radical stimulus programmes.
The G8 wants to reassure nervous bond markets, which have been pushing yields up sharply because they fear heavy state spending and ultra-low interest rates could fuel inflation and cripple state finances.
But the ministers, noting that unemployment might continue to increase even after production picked up, made clear that countries were unlikely to tighten policies any time soon.
"We must remain vigilant to ensure that consumer and investor confidence is fully restored and that growth is underpinned by stable financial markets and strong fundamentals," they said, pledging more stimulus if needed. - Reuters
Social justice is key to economic revival
Written by R B Bhattacharjee
Sunday, 31 May 2009 23:46
Source: http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/first/15350-social-justice-is-key-to-economic-revival.html
THE countdown has begun towards the re-invention of Malaysia’s economy from a middle-income nation to a high-income one.
Last week, Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz was appointed as head of the National Economic Advisory Council, in which he is tasked with advising the government on creating a new economic model based on innovation, creativity and a high value-add.
That will take some doing, particularly in the light of the backward slide of the economy in the last several years.
The reasons for this decline include rising production costs due to a tightening labour market, cheaper exports from lower-cost markets such as Vietnam and China, and the failure of the manufacturing sector to move on to higher-value activities, as the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research, among others, has pointed out in its analyses.
Nevertheless, the determination to transcend one’s limitations is an important prerequisite for success. So, we must not be in the least daunted by the challenge that is before us.
However, it is equally essential that we harbour no illusions about our shortcomings as an economy, and are prepared to learn from the mis-steps that have been taken along the way to fulfilling our aspiration to become a developed nation.
Indeed, much energy and resources can be saved if we begin by taking stock of stumbling blocks that have prevented the nation from achieving the lofty goals of the Vision 2020 blueprint. Resource constraints that have kept groundbreaking projects like the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) from generating the much-heralded momentum to push the nation towards a knowledge-economy need to be addressed. It is good, as industry analysts have noted, that the MSC has provided the real estate for a K-economy to thrive, but it still remains to be populated with a critical mass of IT-based knowledge workers.
A further issue to be addressed is the culture of political patronage that has become an intrinsic element of the nation’s economic development, encompassing infrastructure projects to national industries to allocations for human capital development.
At this critical juncture in the nation’s economic rejuvenation, there needs to be an honest acknowledgement of those policies and practices that have turned out into handicaps for our competitiveness and that prevent a quick reworking of our economic model.
In this regard, the liberalisation of 27 service sub-sectors that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak soon after he assumed office signals the government’s seriousness in addressing the systemic weaknesses that are keeping investors on the sidelines.
Among other encouraging initiatives is the revival of a decades-old practice to expose the civil service to entrepreneurial approaches to problem-solving. Seen in a positive light, this synergy can bring the dynamism of business solutions to bear on the more regimented approaches that public administrators are prone to adopt.
Yet, even more crucial is a sense of community among everyone who has an economic stake in the country’s success, based on a fair reward system.
In that sense, it will be just as important for the new economic framework to address social cohesion as it needs to stimulate innovation and engender excellence.
Sunday, 31 May 2009 23:46
Source: http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/first/15350-social-justice-is-key-to-economic-revival.html
THE countdown has begun towards the re-invention of Malaysia’s economy from a middle-income nation to a high-income one.
Last week, Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz was appointed as head of the National Economic Advisory Council, in which he is tasked with advising the government on creating a new economic model based on innovation, creativity and a high value-add.
That will take some doing, particularly in the light of the backward slide of the economy in the last several years.
The reasons for this decline include rising production costs due to a tightening labour market, cheaper exports from lower-cost markets such as Vietnam and China, and the failure of the manufacturing sector to move on to higher-value activities, as the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research, among others, has pointed out in its analyses.
Nevertheless, the determination to transcend one’s limitations is an important prerequisite for success. So, we must not be in the least daunted by the challenge that is before us.
However, it is equally essential that we harbour no illusions about our shortcomings as an economy, and are prepared to learn from the mis-steps that have been taken along the way to fulfilling our aspiration to become a developed nation.
Indeed, much energy and resources can be saved if we begin by taking stock of stumbling blocks that have prevented the nation from achieving the lofty goals of the Vision 2020 blueprint. Resource constraints that have kept groundbreaking projects like the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) from generating the much-heralded momentum to push the nation towards a knowledge-economy need to be addressed. It is good, as industry analysts have noted, that the MSC has provided the real estate for a K-economy to thrive, but it still remains to be populated with a critical mass of IT-based knowledge workers.
A further issue to be addressed is the culture of political patronage that has become an intrinsic element of the nation’s economic development, encompassing infrastructure projects to national industries to allocations for human capital development.
At this critical juncture in the nation’s economic rejuvenation, there needs to be an honest acknowledgement of those policies and practices that have turned out into handicaps for our competitiveness and that prevent a quick reworking of our economic model.
In this regard, the liberalisation of 27 service sub-sectors that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak soon after he assumed office signals the government’s seriousness in addressing the systemic weaknesses that are keeping investors on the sidelines.
Among other encouraging initiatives is the revival of a decades-old practice to expose the civil service to entrepreneurial approaches to problem-solving. Seen in a positive light, this synergy can bring the dynamism of business solutions to bear on the more regimented approaches that public administrators are prone to adopt.
Yet, even more crucial is a sense of community among everyone who has an economic stake in the country’s success, based on a fair reward system.
In that sense, it will be just as important for the new economic framework to address social cohesion as it needs to stimulate innovation and engender excellence.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Kerja Lapangan di Wilayah KETENGAH #3
31 Mei 2009 merupakan hari terakhir kerja-kerja mengumpul. Kawasan terakhir ini ialah Ladang Gajah Mati di Bukit Besi. Pembanci-pembanci kelihatan gembira kerana besoknya semua akan pulang ke rumah masing-masing. Namun, barangkali terselit juga rasa pilu mengenangkan pelbagai keadaan dan "cerita" daripada responden di kawasan kajian. Kepada semua yang terlibat dalam kerja lapangan ini diucapkan jutaan terima kasih.
A.H. Roslan Harahap bersama pekerja ladang dari Lombok, Indonesia
A.H.Roslan Harahap, NMM Siregar dan pekerja-pekerja ladang dari Lombok, Indonesia
NMM Siregar, Dr. Yani dan Sakinah
Dr. Yani sedang meneliti kertas soal selidik.....
Rumah pekerja ladang......
Yang berbaju "pink" ni pelajar UTeM, Melaka
Kanan sekali.....pegawai Ladang Gajah Mati
Anak-anak pekerja ladang......
Anak-anak pekerja ladang.......
Yang bersandar kat dinding rumah ni......tengah "makan" lollipop....
A.H.Roslan Harahap dan NMM Siregar sempat bergambar "gaya bebas".......
A.H.Roslan Harahap dan NMM Siregar (RA tak berbayar......)
Rumah pekerja ladang.......
NMM Siregar (empat dari kanan) bergambar bersama "anak-anak" dari UUM.....
Bas UNIC yang membawa pembanci meninggalkan Ladang Gajah Mati......
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Kerja Lapangan di Wilayah KETENGAH #2..... Bandar Bukit Besi
Pada 21hb. Mei 2009, kerja lapangan dijalankan di kawasan Bandar Bukit Besi. Ini meliputi Bandar Bukit Besi, Kampong Wa, dan Ladang Pinang Emas. Bagaimanapun, kerja pengumpulan data di Ladang Pinang Emas ditangguhkan kerana kesukaran untuk memasuki kawasan tersebut.
Setelah selesai kerja-kerja pada hari tersebut, kami melawat bekas tinggalan Lombong Bijih Besi, Bukit Besi. Lawatan kami ke tempat tersebut di temani oleh En. Samsudin, pegawai KETENGAH di Pejabat KETENGAH, Bukit Besi.
Dr. Yani bersama pegawai KETENGAH Bukit Besi.....di pintu masuk Ladang Pinang Emas...
Sejarah Lombong Bijih Besi di Bukit Besi.......
Bekas rumah "Bos" Lombong Bijih Besi.......berhampiran Pejabat KETENGAH Bukit Besi....
Dr. Yani dan Sakinah
A.H. Roslan Harahap......
A.H.Roslan Harahap, Ustaz Raja Azril (pegawai KETENGAH Bukit Besi), dan Dr. Yani
Dr. Yani, En. Samsuddin, Kak "Sal" dan Sakinah
Dr. Yani, En. Samsuddin, Kak "Sal", dan A.H.Roslan Harahap
Syazwan jatuh kat lubang ni.........
En. Samsuddin dan A.H.Roslan Harahap
Hujan.......
Lubang.......mencari emas......
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