Getting affordable homes plan moving
EPF, in its latest findings, reported that most of its members in the low-and middle-income groups are likely to live in poverty in old age unless mitigation measures are taken. It suggested that land be provided on lease by the government or be subsidised, with an assurance that the lowered cost be translated to the lower house prices for the B40. Several conditions have to be in place, including the government support to charge lower land premiums and nominal development charges for affordable housing projects.
Study suggests Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine may only partially protect against Omicron
The Omicron variant of the coronavirus can partially evade the protection from Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, the research head of a laboratory at Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa said on Tuesday. The lab tested blood from 12 people who had been vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, according to a manuscript posted on the website for his lab. The preliminary data in the manuscript has not yet been peer reviewed.
Chin Hin to acquire 60% stake in Makna Setia for RM9mil cash
In a statement Friday, Chin Hin said the acquisition would be done by its 65%-owned subsidiary, Kayangan Kemas Sdn Bhd. Chin Hin executive director Chiau Haw Choon said the proposed acquisition would enable the group to diversify and tap into the infrastructure construction industry, complementing its existing property development business and Kayangan Kemas' construction business. He added that moving forward, the company would be able to strengthen its own in-house construction team and aim for infrastructure projects in the country, which shall expand its expertise beyond building houses.
PNB’s subsidiary selects six projects for Merdeka 118 community grants programme
PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bha (PMVSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), has successfully selected six projects for the Merdeka 118 Community Grants Programme. In a statement today, PNB said the programme, in collaboration with Think City Sdn Bhd with the objective to foster greater synergies between the community and the Merdeka 118 mixed-used development, received a total of 138 submissions from applicants across the nation along the eight-week period.
Shahril Ridza to succeed Ghazzali as Axiata chairman, effective Jan 1, 2022
In a statement, Axiata said the transition will take place on Jan 1, 2022, when Shahril will begin his tenure as the new chairman of the telecommunications group. Shahril was appointed to the Axiata Board as an independent non-executive director on Nov 29, 2021. Presently, he is a non-executive director of Malaysia Airlines Bhd and Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd, where he chairs the board nomination and remuneration committee.
Citi picks Standard Charterd bank in Malaysia as frontrunner for Asia retail sales
The US lender picked Bank of Ayudhya Pcl as the leading suitor to buy its retail assets in Thailand, the sources said. A transaction could value the assets at about US$2bil (RM8.46bil), they said. In Indonesia, Citigroup has selected the Singaporean lender United Overseas Bank Ltd as its preferred bidder, the sources said.
Cooperation between Bank Negara, MAS on linking DuitNow and PayNow among topics discussed - Tengku Zafrul
Cooperation between both Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to commence a phased linkage of Malaysia's DuitNow and Singapore's PayNow real-time payment systems were among the topics discussed with Singapore, said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. The first phase of the linkage, which will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2022, allows customers of participating financial institutions to make real-time fund transfers between Malaysia and Singapore using a mobile number. During the working visit, Tengku Zafrul discussed topics ranging from trade, economy and investments with various Singapore ministers including Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies
Gamuda aims high
Gamuda Bhd is targeting a RM10bil order book for its financial year ending July 31, 2022 (FY22), about half of which will come from the Penang South Islands reclamation project and the rest from Australia, according to Gamuda Engineering Sdn Bhd managing director Justin Chin. He said the group was not able to disclose details about its projects in Australia due to strict requirements in the property market. As for the prosperity tax, he said a few companies within the group would be subjected to the one-off tax next year.