M’sia to impose anti-dumping duties on steel wire rods

PETALING JAYA: The Government has proposed to impose anti-dumping duties on steel wire rods from selected companies in China, Taiwan, South Korea and Indonesia, following the completion of a detailed investigation into the import of the commodity.

“The Royal Malaysian Customs will enforce the collection of the anti-dumping duties, and this measure will be effective for five years from Feb 20, 2013,” according to a statement from the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) said yesterday.

Imports of steel wire rods from Turkey, on the other hand, would not be slapped with any anti-dumping duties due to the dumping margin being below 2%, the ministry said.

The Government began an anti-dumping investigation on June 25, 2012, based on a petition filed by Amsteel Mills Sdn Bhd on behalf of the domestic steel wire rod industry.

The petitioner alleged that the imports of steel wire rods originating in or exported from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia and Turkey were being imported into Malaysia at a much lower price than in the domestic markets of those countries.

This, the petitioner claimed, was causing material injury to the domestic industry producing the same product in Malaysia.

According to Miti, anti-dumping duties on imports of steel wire rods from Taiwanese companies would be as follows: China Steel Corp 10.98%; Feng Hsin Iron and Steel Co Ltd 9.04%; and others 25.20%. Imports of steel wire rods from China-based companies Jiangsu Shagang International Trade Co Ltd and Jiangsu Yonggang Group Co Ltd would not be slapped with any anti-dumping duties, while imports of steel wire rods from other Chinese companies would be slapped with an anti-dumping duty of 25.20%.

Imports of steel wire rods from companies in Indonesia would also be subject to an anti-dumping duty of 25.20%, except for those sourced from PT Ispat Indo, which would not be imposed with such a levy.

Imports of steel wire rods from companies in South Korea would also be subject to an anti-dumping duty of 25.20%, except for those sourced from Posco, which would be imposed with an anti-dumping duty of 3.03%. - the star online

Price boom in Iskandar Malaysia

WHEN we first heard about Iskandar Malaysia back in 2006, there was a fair bit of skepticism. Many of us wondered, "Where is this Iskandar Malaysia?"

Today, the skepticism and doubts about Iskandar Malaysia have turned into confidence, to judge by the visible changes in the southern development corridor, the result of a feasibility study conducted by Khazanah Nasional, the government's investment arm, in 2005.
Formerly called the Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region, Iskandar Malaysia covers 2,217 sq km. It is three times bigger than Singapore and twice the size of Hong Kong.
According to KGV International Property Consultants executive director Samuel Tan, prices of residential properties have risen by an average 40 percent since 2006, in a city that used to suffer from a real estate overhang.
Tan said the prices, which had been sluggish after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, started to see a rising trend due to a combination of factors.
Johor, he said is starting to play catch-up with places like Kuala Lumpur and Penang, with the gaps in its prices of properties narrowing.
While this is certainly sweet music to the ears of developers and those to the property development sector, local folk will find it daunting to own property in Iskandar Malaysia.
The upward trend started in 2009, with the "quantum leap" occurring in 2011, when prices of upscale service apartments broke the ceiling of RM500 per sq ft and climbed into RM700 per sq ft.
Many Singaporeans saw property in Iskandar Malaysia as a good investment for a holiday home and for capital appreciation, and not so much for rental yield.
On Jan 11, the Singapore government announced the revised rates under the additional buyer's stamp duty (ABSD), applicable to purchases or residential property acquisitions. The ABSD had previously applied to Singaporeans buying their third residential property and permanent residents getting their second.
The latest measure will affect its citizens, permanent residents (PR) and foreigners who buy property in the island republic.
A check with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore revealed that foreigners who buy residential property in Singapore will now be subject to pay the ABSD of 15 per cent of the purchase price, up from the previous 10 per cent. Singaporeans buying their second homes will be hit with an ABSD of seven per cent, while those with permanent residency status will pay an additional stamp duty of five per cent on their first home purchase.
This development has also boosted interest in properties in Iskandar Malaysia.
Residential enclaves in Bukit Indah, Setia Eco Gardens and Setia Tropika, all developed by the SP Setia Bhd Group, for instance, have foreign owners who buy the properties to live in, and not on speculation, according the group divisional general manager M.L. Hoe.
Some are asking if the booming property market in Iskandar Malaysia is the result of hype.
I do not think as the changes and developments there can be seen by the eye. It's not all frivolous talk followed by nothing!
Look at the Western Coastal Highway that leads to Nusajaya, the Southern Link to Masai and the Eastern Dispersal Link from the Pandan Interchange to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in the heart of Johor Baru.
Given its well-planned infrastructures, amenities, catchment and accessibility, Iskandar Malaysia is a mine of low-risk investment opportunities. Of course, Investing in projects by a reputable developer is a vital factor.
Places of interest such as Legoland and the Puteri Harbour theme park, and the education hub Educity, are added draws for foreign investors.
Iskandar Malaysia is a 20-year-plan, and changes are slowly but surely taking place. It is up to the local authorities to monitor the property sector to ensure that there will not be an over-supply in the future.
- News strait Time

Larangan Penggunaan Kenderaan Semasa Tahun Baru Cina 2013

JADUAL PERTAMA [KAEDAH 3] LARANGAN PENGGUNAAN KENDERAAN BARANGAN SEMASA ‘PENGUATKUASAAN TAHUN BARU CINA 2013 PADA 08, 09, 16 DAN 17 FEBRUARI 2013

KATEGORI	JENIS KENDERAAN BERAT	MASA LARANGAN MENGGUNA JALAN  RAYA
Kategori 1	1.1         Lori balak, lori pengangkutan bahan binaan seperti simen, besi, keluli, batu, pasir dan tanah. 1.2     Jentera berat.	Sepanjang masa (at all times).
Kategori 2	2.1         Lori kontena / kargo membawa barang-barang elektronik / elektrik. 2.2         Lori kontena / kargo yang berulang-alik di antara Pelabuhan dengan Lapangan Terbang yang tidak berada di tempat yang sama.	Dari jam 12.00 tengah malam hingga 6  pagi.
Kategori 3	3.1         Lori pembancuh simen (Concrete Mixer Truck). 3.2         Kren bergerak (Mobile Cranes) 3.3         Lori tipper pengangkut batu dan pasir	i) Sepanjang masa (at all times); atau    ii) Dari jam 6.00 petang hingga jam 6.00  pagi, kawasan Lembah Klang (70 km  dari pusat bandar) dan di kawasan  Johor Bahru, Ipoh dan Kuantan (50 km  dari pusat bandar) tertakluk kepada had  masa operasi yang
Kategori 4	4.1         Lori gas dan kimia untuk bekalan perubatan dan industri kimia. 4.2         Lori kontena/kargo dari dan ke lapangan terbang 4.3         Lori kontena/kargo dari pelabuhan ke lapangan terbang setempat. 4.4         Lori kargo membawa bahan keperluan harian (makanan dan minuman dari kilang, buah-buahan, sayuran, bahan-bahan mentah, barang runcit, akhbar dan ternakan) atau lori tiada muatan dalam perjalanan pulang. 4.5         Lori mengangkut sampah dan bahan kumbahan (sewerage). 4.6         Kenderaan barangan BDM 5,000 kg dan ke bawah. 4.7         Lori kontena/kargo antara terminal di pelabuhan  setempat (ITT). 4.8         Lori kontena/kargo dari pelabuhan ke gudang dan sebaliknya serta sekitar kawasan industri yang berhampiran dengan pelabuhan. 4.9         Lori tanker pengangkut bahan bakar (petroleum/diesel, gas dan LPG) 4.10      Lori dan jentera yang terlibat dalam kerja-kerja kecemasan dan menyelamat (rescue operation).	Tidak dikenakan sekatan

Muat Turun Jadual Larangan

- Portal Rasmi Jabatan pengankutan Jalan Malaysia

Global Logistic Properties expands Japanese JV to US$2.2b

SINGAPORE : Global Logistic Properties (GLP) announced on Monday the expansion of GLP Japan Development Venture to US$2.2 billion.

It will commit an additional 29 billion yen (US$316 million) to the joint venture to develop modern logistics properties in Japan.

GLP has a 50 percent stake in the JV with Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.

Singapore-listed GLP is one of the world's leading providers of modern logistics facilities, with a market-leading position in China, Japan and Brazil.

"Our investment pipeline is considerably ahead of schedule and we are seeing strong demand for our developments, reflecting attractive fundamentals for modern logistics facilities in Japan," the group's co-founder, Jeffrey Schwartz, said.

"Today's announcement is also an important milestone in the continued growth of GLP's best-in-class fund management platform, as we continue to leverage our strong relationships with the world's leading institutional investors. Assets under fund management now stand at US$8.4 billion," he added.

GLP Japan Development Venture was formed in August 2011 with an equity commitment of US$500 million and a target loan-to-value of 50 percent.

To-date, the Venture has invested in four development projects totalling 43 billion yen (US$469 million) - ChannelNewsAsia

Malaysian State Energy Company Proposes MISC Takeover

Malaysian state-owned energy company Petroliam Nasional Bhd. (Petronas) has offered to take full ownership of MISC Bhd. (MISC), buying the 37 percent of the shipping company that it doesn't already own for 8.7 billion ringgit ($2.8 billion), Bloomberg reports.

The offer comes after MISC's share price fell 46 percent over the past two years.

Last year the shipping company left the container shipping business, which had lost $789 million over three years, and shifted its focus to liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers.

"The offer represents a significant step by Petronas to take MISC private and obtain full control of the company," the energy company said.

"That will provide Petronas with greater flexibility in deciding MISC's strategic direction."

MISC runs the second largest fleet of LNG ships in the world, following Qatar Gas Transport Co.

Industry-watchers predict mixed results for LNG carriers over the next few years, with the market suffering in the near term due to limited supply but picking up as more natural gas projects come online over the following few years. - ship and bunker .com