Utusan Online, 19 october 2007
Oleh SHAIFUL BAHRI SAIDIN
KE manakah semangat rela mempertahankan negara daripada dicerobohi oleh warganegara jiran? Apakah kita rela membiar dan memerhatikan sahaja pegawai penguat kuasa dibelasah di dalam wilayah sendiri oleh samseng negara jiran?.
Apakah sifat kita terlampau hormatkan ‘segala benda dari luar negara’ sehingga kita boleh diperlakukan apa sahaja oleh warga asing di dalam negara kita sendiri?
Iktibar penguat kuasa Kerajaan Pusat dibelasah oleh warga asing di Kompleks Bukit Kayu Hitam pada Disember tahun lalu sesungguhnya memalukan rakyat negara kita. Itu yang nyata berlaku di depan mata tanpa berselindung dan perlakuan samseng negara jiran dilakukan secara terbuka di tempat awam di siang hari.
Sudah menjadi kebiasaan dan kelaziman setiap kali ada peristiwa buruk, bencana dan insiden yang tidak diingini, episod tuding menuding menyalahkan orang lain dan lagu Bangau oh Bangau pun berkumandang semula. Barulah mula mahu memperketatkan sempadan negara.
Agaknya jika tidak berlaku serangan tersebut, sempadan negara kita amat bebas untuk keluar masuk oleh warga asing.
Tidak terfikirkah kita bagaimana pengemis dan pelarian Myanmar boleh bolos sehingga ke Kuala Lumpur tanpa sebarang dokumen yang sah?
Begitu juga pendatang haram dari Bangladesh dan Kemboja. Masakan mereka masuk dari Singapura?
Selain contoh di Bukit Kayu Hitam yang dianggap ‘ringan’ oleh segelintir pihak, kita jangan sangkakan tiada anasir dari luar yang ingin membuat kacau di negara kita.
Mungkin keselesaan kita dan sejarah moden Malaysia yang tidak pernah sengsara selepas Perang Dunia Kedua, membuatkan kita leka dan lalai tentang peranan dan tanggungjawab kita dalam aspek pertahanan dan perisikan negara.
Jika kita seperti rakyat Palestin, Vietnam dan Afghanistan, setiap rakyat asing yang masuk ke negara mereka akan tetap disangsi dan dicurigai. Jangan harap rakyat negara berkenaan dengan mudah boleh berbaik- baik dengan kita sebagai orang asing di negara mereka.
Keadaan sebaliknya berlaku di negara kita. Mungkin sifat kita yang terlebih bersopan santun, berbudi bahasa dan lemah lembut telah mengakibatkan orang asing telah ‘membaca kelemahan’ kita sendiri.
Kita kadang kala terlupa atau sengaja tidak menghiraukan peranan ejen perisikan asing yang menjelma dalam kehidupan seharian kita dengan pelbagai wajah untuk menjalankan peranan risik mereka di sekeliling kita.
Kebanyakan daripada kita yang menikmati kehidupan yang baik dan selesa pada masa sekarang sering terlupa mengenai kemungkinan-kemungkinan yang boleh menghancurkan negara.
Mereka lupa bahawa perisikan mampu memainkan peranan besar dalam menumbangkan seseorang dan sekali gus meruntuhkan sesebuah negara.
Perisikan di Asia Tenggara bukanlah satu perkara yang mengejutkan. Kuasa-kuasa besar akan menjalankan aktiviti perisikan mereka di negara-negara tertentu bagi memastikan dasar-dasar tertentu memenuhi matlamat dan ideologi mereka.
Lebih hebat lagi perisikan juga akhirnya boleh membawa kepada kejatuhan sesebuah negara atau seseorang pemimpin. Sejarah telah memperlihatkan bagaimana ejen-ejen perisikan dapat memenuhi matlamat kuasa-kuasa besar ini walaupun kos yang diperlukan amat tinggi.
Sebelum Perang Dunia Kedua, Jepun telah meletakkan perisiknya di Tanah Melayu yang bekerja dan membuka klinik gigi. Amerika Syarikat telah menggunakan ejen- ejennya untuk melakukan provokasi sehingga tercetusnya perang saudara antara Vietnam Utara dan Vietnam Selatan.
Walaupun Amerika gagal dalam misi di Vietnam, namun kesannya berparut sehingga ke hari ini.
Kejatuhan pemimpin lantang Indonesia, Sukarno dalam tahun 1960-an merupakan satu kejayaan bagi perisikan asing. Ini diakui oleh ahli sejarah British, David Easter dalam jurnal Intelligence and National Security.
Sukarno ketika itu dianggap sebagai duri dalam daging kuasa-kuasa Barat.
Namun kelicikan perisikan dan ditambah peranan media Barat akhirnya berjaya membohongi rakyat Indonesia untuk menerima hakikat Sukarno akan tunduk kepada tekanan komunis.
Mereka yang memainkan peranan utama perisikan British ketika itu sehingga tersungkurnya Sukarno ialah Duta Britain ke Jakarta, Andrew Gilchrist dan pakar propaganda Pejabat Luar Britain, Norman Reddaway. Mereka inilah yang menggoncang kestabilan kerajaan Indonesia.
Malaysia juga sebenarnya tidak terlepas daripada intipan ejen perisikan. Pada awal 1980-an, seorang bekas Setiausaha Politik Perdana Menteri turut dilatih oleh kuasa luar untuk menjadi ejen perisikan Soviet Union.
Kewujudan Pejabat Kedutaan Israel di Singapura tidak harus dipandang ringan kerana negara di selatan Semenanjung ini adalah satu-satunya negara di Asia Tenggara yang mempunyai hubungan diplomatik secara langsung dengan negara Yahudi itu. Tidak mustahil ejen-ejen perisikan Israel menjalankan intipan terhadap negara kita.
Menyusup
Perisikan alaf baru kini lebih mirip kepada risikan dan rahsia kerajaan yang melibatkan propaganda dan gerak saraf ideologi. Ejen- ejen perisikan akan menyusup masuk ke sektor ekonomi, pentadbiran, sistem pertahanan negara, malah akan cuba berbaik- baik dengan pemimpin parti politik dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO).
Mereka akan mengeluarkan bantuan kewangan, peralatan komunikasi yang canggih, alat pengintipan yang serba moden, senjata dan latihan sama ada kepada individu atau kumpulan tertentu.
Bagi mereka, sesiapa sahaja yang dilihat boleh membantu mencapai matlamat risikan, akan menjadi sasaran.
Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (RMK-9) telah memperlihatkan begitu banyak pembinaan bangunan strategik dan berfungsi keselamatan negara akan dibina. Antaranya berpuluh balai polis, ibu pejabat polis daerah, kem tentera, pangkalan polis marin, bangunan pejabat kerajaan dan infrastruktur yang bertahap keselamatan tinggi seperti Jambatan Kedua Pulau Pinang.
Kenyataan Menteri Sumber Manusia bahawa negara kita akan dibanjiri oleh lima juta pekerja asing menjelang 2010 seharusnya dipandang serius dan dikaji semula. Sektor guna tenaga dan sumber manusia perlu memikirkan sesuatu agar tawaran pekerjaan kepada pekerja asing tidak mencecah sebegitu besar.
Kerajaan perlu berhati-hati dalam memilih kontraktor pembinaan dan perlu juga mencampuri urusan pengambilan buruh asing oleh kontraktor terbabit agar tidak terdapat ejen perisikan asing yang menyamar sebagai buruh binaan.
Mungkin kerajaan boleh mengambil modul dan prosedur saringan dan semakan seperti yang dilakukan oleh Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) semasa pembinaan Kem Tuanku Sirajuddin di Gemas.
Siasatan latar belakang pekerja dan tahap keselamatan dalaman yang tinggi semasa kerja-kerja pembinaan sedang dijalankan begitu terperinci dan teliti sekali semata-mata untuk mengelak dan memastikan selok-belok tempat strategik pertahanan negara tidak diceroboh oleh pihak asing.
Malah kerajaan sebelum ini pernah mengarahkan Jabatan Imigresen menyiasat latar belakang pekerja asing yang berkhidmat dengan pemimpin negara dan pegawai tinggi kerajaan bagi memastikan mereka bukan ejen-ejen perisik luar negara.
Walaupun arahan ini telah lama dikeluarkan, kita berharap Jabatan Imigresen dapat meneruskan peranan ini.
Kerajaan juga harus mengambil langkah berhati-hati dalam memberi visa dan permit kerja kepada warga asing dalam bidang-bidang tertentu.
Dalam era teknologi canggih ini, risikan boleh dilakukan dengan berbagai cara dan maklumat boleh disampaikan dengan begitu pantas sekali.
Komunikasi tanpa sempadan dan capaian Internet berkelajuan tinggi akan membolehkan maklumat risikan sampai ke kuasa luar dengan begitu cepat sekali.
Ini belum lagi penggunaan teknologi satelit dan sistem informasi geografi (GIS) yang semakin hari semakin canggih dan terkini teknologinya. Perlu diingat 80 peratus satelit di ruang angkasa bumi adalah satelit yang berfungsi pengintipan yang dimiliki oleh kuasa-kuasa besar.
Melumpuhkan
Sektor ekonomi juga tidak boleh lari daripada menjadi intipan ejen perisikan. Pengambilan tenaga profesional negara asing dalam syarikat-syarikat besar tempatan yang mempunyai kuasa penentu jatuh bangun ekonomi negara perlu juga dipantau. Tidak mustahil mereka berperanan sebagai pemberi maklumat yang berharga kepada musuh dengan tujuan untuk melumpuhkan ekonomi negara.
Kita harus berwaspada dengan peranan ejen perisikan ini kerana mereka bersedia melakukan apa sahaja untuk mengintip dan menyusup rahsia.
Mereka akan menyamar, mengupah ejen tempatan, membuat rakaman dan penyalinan dokumen rahsia sama ada menggunakan telefon, kamera, menceroboh sistem komputer kerajaan dan rakam bual pihak tertentu dengan tujuan untuk mengintip.
Hasil risikan pekerja asing di abad ke-21 ini bukan bermakna ada niat negara asing untuk menakluk negara kita dengan kuasa ketenteraan dan peperangan.
Serangan mereka adalah melalui serangan mentaliti, merubah sikap, gaya hidup dan menipiskan pegangan agama rakyat kita. Itulah bakal serangan alaf baru yang akan menimpa negara jika kita sendiri lalai dan tidak sensitif untuk mempertahankan negara dari diceroboh.
Mungkin kesan jangka pendek tidak kita rasai sekarang. Akan tetapi jika ini berlarutan, apa akan terjadi kepada anak cucu kita nanti?Adakah kita pernah fikirkan berapa lama kemerdekaan kita boleh bertahan? Kita jangan bongkak untuk memperkatakan mana mungkin kita yang sudah merdeka boleh dijajah semula?
Lihatlah negara-negara yang lebih awal merdeka daripada kita seperti Iraq, Afghanistan dan Lebanon, apa sudah jadi dengan negara mereka sekarang?
Hanya semangat cintakan negara mampu menghalang kemaraan ejen-ejen perisikan ini yang berada di sekeliling kita. Sikap kitalah yang akan menentukan sejauh mana kejayaan ejen-ejen perisik asing ini.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Time for a major overhaul
The Star News, Thursday June 11, 2009
Time for a major overhaul
DIPLOMATICALLY SPEAKING
By DENNIS IGNATIUS
It’s about time Wisma Putra took stock of the malaise inflicting the ministry in order to forge ahead in safeguarding and promoting our national interests abroad.
Wisma Putra has been getting some attention in the local press; unfortunately, it is mostly negative. Some of the comments have been petty while others raise important questions. Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman’s statement that he is open to criticism is a good beginning.
The trouble is we have been on autopilot for too long. We tend to nostalgically look back to the days of the great men of Wisma Putra like Tan Sri Zainal Sulong, Tan Sri Razali Ismail, Datuk Bertie Talalla, Tan Sri Lim Teik Choon and the likes, but do little to prepare the next generation of great ambassadors.
However, the unhappy state of affairs in Wisma Putra must not be seen in isolation. If anything, it is emblematic of a wider malaise.
Take the low level of English language proficiency in the ministry. It is indeed a serious problem but why blame Wisma Putra for the failure of our education system to turn out graduates with at least a decent standard of English? Wisma Putra also does not have complete control over the recruitment process. There is fierce competition among ministries for those who are considered good; the mediocre and the inept are distributed indifferently throughout the civil service. Again, don’t blame Wisma Putra if there are mediocre officers; it has to make do with what it gets.
And then there is the system of promotions, which is in shambles. Despite the emphasis on performance, seniority still rules, and riles. Unfortunately, we have not yet found a fair and equitable system of accurately assessing performance, so personalities come into play.
There is a reluctance too within Wisma Putra, and the entire civil service system for that matter, to penalise the non-performers or those who have been guilty of serious misconduct.
Worse still, good officers (and there are many) are often not given recognition and avenues for advancement. Many talented and capable officers end up frustrated and disillusioned. The bureaucracy has a way of smothering enthusiasm and stifling creativity.
As well, an emphasis on ethnic preferences also means we are not always able to put the best person forward. Good officers languish for years in inconsequential assignments as a result.
Our Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan, one of the best we have had so far, has taken some bold initiatives to overcome these problems but it is an uphill battle to change the culture of the civil service. I hope he stays long enough to effect the kind of change the civil service needs.
Over the years, there has also been a breakdown in consensus regarding the role of our ambassadors. It used to be that the ambassador was invested with the authority to manage the overall relationship in the country he was accredited to. He was not expected to be an expert in everything (there were specialists and advisors for that); his role was to provide leadership to our overall representation and speak authoritatively on behalf of the government.
This is no longer the case. In-fighting among ministries, often rooted in rivalry amongst ministers themselves, has seriously weakened our representation abroad.
At times, our ambassadors are deliberately kept out of the loop because of petty inter-agency rivalries. And some of these agencies are poor performers as well, even though they have much bigger operational allocations. It is really hurting our effectiveness.
So yes, we need more effective and well rounded ambassadors but we also need to overhaul the very way we do business at home and abroad.
Given the present malaise at Wisma Putra, it is tempting to appoint politicians and officers from other ministries to helm our diplomatic missions. While they undoubtedly bring certain strengths to the job, they lack the exposure, experience and training to be truly effective ambassadors.
For that reason, most countries have learned that there is no substitute for a professional foreign service.
If Wisma Putra is to continue as the premier agency entrusted with safeguarding and promoting our national interests abroad, there has to be a major overhaul, organisationally as well as conceptually. The creation of a separate foreign service, distinct from the rest of the civil service, might have to be considered. There is too much at stake for half-measures.
Hopefully, our Foreign Minister will provide the leadership that is urgently needed to overhaul the ministry and inspire our officers to greatness again. The fact that this task now falls to a politician is itself a reflection of how much the civil service has changed but that is another story.
The upcoming heads of mission conference this month might provide the occasion to spark real discussion and debate on how to make Wisma Putra synonymous with all that is best and great about Malaysia. It is an opportunity that must not be missed.
> Datuk Dennis Ignatius is a 36-year veteran of the Malaysian foreign service. He has served in Britain, China, the United States, Chile and Argentina. He retired as High Commissioner for Malaysia to Canada in June 2008.
Friday, 20 May 2011
Rizab antarabangsa Bank Negara berjumlah RM401 bilion pada 13 Mei
BERNAMA, 2011/05/20
KUALA LUMPUR: Rizab antarabangsa Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) berjumlah RM401 bilion (AS$132.6 bilion) pada 13 Mei, 2011 berbanding RM393.2 bilion pada 29 April, 2011."Kedudukan rizab mencukupi untuk membiayai 9.4 bulan import tertangguh dan 4.4 kali hutang luar jangka pendek," kata bank pusat dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.
Selain rizab antarabangsa, yang lain termasuk kertas kerajaan Malaysia (RM2.0 bilion), deposit dengan institusi kewangan (RM64.3 bilion), pinjaman dan pendahuluan (RM11.5 bilion) dan lain-lain aset (RM7.4 bilion).
Liabiliti pula meliputi modal berbayar (RM100 juta), dana rizab am (RM13.6 bilion), rizab lain (RM5.4 bilion), mata wang dalam edaran (RM56.3 bilion), deposit oleh institusi kewangan (RM217.5 bilion), deposit kerajaan persekutuan (RM25.8 bilion), deposit lain (RM9.0 bilion), kertas Bank Negara (RM123.2 bilion), peruntukan SDR (RM6.5 bilion) dan liabiliti lain (RM28.9 bilion). - BERNAMA
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Malaysia - Foreign investment
from: Foreign investment - Malaysia - tax, import, export, product, average, annual, infrastructure, policy http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Malaysia-FOREIGN-INVESTMENT.html#ixzz1Mfdbuvsw
The government encourages foreign investors with a tax holiday of up to 10 years for investments in new industries and assurance of convertibility and repatriation of capital and profits. In 1975, the Industrial Coordination Act established new equity participation guidelines that required a substantial majority of Malaysian ownership of new import-substitution industries catering to the domestic market and using local technology; 70% Malaysian ownership was stipulated for export industries. Export industries using imported raw materials could be 100% foreign owned. Some of these restrictions were eased under the fifth Malaysia plan (1986–90). The Promotion of Investment Act of 1986 allowed 100% foreign ownership if a company exported at least 50% of its product and did not compete with local industry, or if it exported at least 80% of its product regardless of competition. In 1998, 100% foreign ownership was granted to projects exporting at least 80% of output, 79% foreign ownership for exports of at least 51% of output, up to 50% foreign ownership for exporting at least 20% of output, and a maximum foreign ownership of 30% for projects exporting less than 20%, regardless of the origin of raw materials. Also, for new manufacturing projects, in a policy originally set to expire at the end of 2000, and now set to expire at the end of 2003, 100% foreign ownership is permitted in any project approved by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA). The MIDA screens all proposals for manufacturing projects to determine if they are compatible with the Second Industrial Master Plan (1996–2005), and government strategic and social policies.
In October 1990 the government established on the Federal Territory of Labuan as an International Offshore Financial Center (IOFC) to provide offshore banking and insurance, trust fund management, offshore investment holding and licensing companies, and other financial services for multinational companies. In the period following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Malaysia took the lead in seeking to institutionalize Islamic banking and attract Islamic investment. In November 2001 Malaysia was a founding member, along with Bahrain, Indonesia, Sudan and the Saudi-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB), of the International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM). Effective 1 April 2002, Malaysian banker Abdul Rais Abdul Majid became the IIFM's chief executive officer. In June 2002 the Malaysian government took the lead in putting together the world's first global Islamic bond issue, whose underlying assets were lease payments for five years by the Malaysian government on its Ministry of Finance building, two hospitals and a civil service accommodation. Trust certificates with amounts payable exactly equal to the government's lease payments were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in August 2002, and, in September 2002, as a second listing on Labuan International Financial Exchange (LFX), part of the Labuan IOFC. The Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (OFSA) takes credit for initiating the idea of the establishment of the IIFM, and the Islamic Financial Service Organzation (IFSO), which is taking the lead in formulating and developing standards for the regulation of Islamic financial institutions, is headquartered in Malaysia. More conventionally, as of 2002, eleven free-trade zones (FTZs) have been established in Bayan Lepas, Bukit Baru, Mukim Damansara, Mukim Pringgit, Mukim Plentong, Prai, Tanjong Kling, Telok Panglima Garang, Ulu Kinta, and Ulu Klang in the states of Johor, Melaka, Perak, Penang, and Selangor. (FTZs are specially designated geographic areas with regulations, including minimum customs controls and formalities when importing raw materials, parts, machinery, and equipment, specifically designed to serve export-oriented industries.) There are specially designated FTZs for businesses engaged in commercial activities including trading, breaking bulk, grading, repacking, relabeling, and transit. Within an FTZ, goods are allowed to be imported without being subject to customs procedures, provided the goods are ultimately exported after processing. Two FTZs have been established for trading purposes in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah and Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan. A third in Mukim of Plentong, Johor, has been established for commercial activities other than trading.
Assets attracting foreign investors to Malaysia are location, cultural ties with Singapore and Taiwan, its economic and political stability, an increasingly competent labor force, and good infrastructure. The main barriers have been restrictions put on foreign investment and ownership as a part of the government's bumiputura policy, which sought particularly to insure Malay dominance of domestic markets. Nevertheless, before the sharp reduction in 2001, Malaysia was regularly listed among the top 25 best destinations for foreign investments.
According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2002, annual average foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia 1985–1995 was close to $3 billion, amounting to an average 14.5% of the country's annual gross fixed capital formation. In 1996, annual FDI rose above $7 billion to a record high. A strong first half in 1997 brought the year's total to $6.3 billion before falling over 57% to $2.7 billion in 1998 reflecting the rapid disinvestments that precipitated the Asian Financial Crisis. Recovery was sharp, if incomplete, however, and FDI reached $3.89 billion in 1999, 22.2% of the gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), and $3.8 billion, 16.5% of GFCF, in 2000. However, in 2001, in the context of a worldwide contraction in foreign investment of almost 50%, FDI to Malaysia fell a precipitous 85.4% to $554 million. Total stocks of FDI in Malaysia grew 83.6% in period 1995 to 2000, from $28.7 billion to $52.7 billion, and from 32.3% to 58.8% as a percent of GDP. In 2001, the total FDI stock increased only 1% as the total reached $53.3 billion. The largest investment sources are the United States, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, and Korea.
In 1996 the government announced a list of 31 major infrastructure projects to be built between 1995 and 2020 at a cost of M $163 billion. The Second Industrial Master Plan (1996 to 2005) outlined investment opportunities. These have drawn a huge influx of foreign investment. They include the Bukun hydroelectric dam in Sarawak, Southeast Asia's largest; and the projects involved in the development of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC): the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest; one of the region's most modern airports; and Putrajaya, the new capital city and administrative center for electronic government, and Cyberjaya, Malaysia's center for computer technology. The United States emerged as an important investment source in recent years, with manufacturing investments in 1998 totaling $1.7 billion. Most foreign investment is concentrated in the production of electronic components, consumer electronics, and electrical goods (dominated by US and Japanese firms), petroleum production and distribution, textiles, vehicle assembly, steel, cement, rubber products, and electrical machinery.
Malaysian outward investments 1985 to 1995 amounted to less than a quarter of inward investments, with an annual average of $677 million. However, in 2001 and 2002, this ratio had more than doubled to about 50%. A significant source of outward investments is Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), the state oil company incorporated in 1974 during the first oil shock. In 2002, domestic petroleum reserves had fallen to about 3 billion barrels of oil and 2.34 trillion cu m (82.5 trillion cu ft) of gas. Overseas investments in the upstream sectors (exploration, development and production) of the petroleum industries in 20 countries have, as of 2002, yielded an additional 3.25 billion barrels of oil equivalent. In international investments involving downstream operations (refining, distribution, marketing), PETRONAS's acquisition of the entire share holding of Engen Ltd., a South African oil company, increased its net refining capacity by almost 40%, to 361,500 bpd. The state company's other downstream activities include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminalizing, bottling, and distribution in China, Vietnam and the Philippines, and refining and retailing in the Cambodia and Thailand.
The government encourages foreign investors with a tax holiday of up to 10 years for investments in new industries and assurance of convertibility and repatriation of capital and profits. In 1975, the Industrial Coordination Act established new equity participation guidelines that required a substantial majority of Malaysian ownership of new import-substitution industries catering to the domestic market and using local technology; 70% Malaysian ownership was stipulated for export industries. Export industries using imported raw materials could be 100% foreign owned. Some of these restrictions were eased under the fifth Malaysia plan (1986–90). The Promotion of Investment Act of 1986 allowed 100% foreign ownership if a company exported at least 50% of its product and did not compete with local industry, or if it exported at least 80% of its product regardless of competition. In 1998, 100% foreign ownership was granted to projects exporting at least 80% of output, 79% foreign ownership for exports of at least 51% of output, up to 50% foreign ownership for exporting at least 20% of output, and a maximum foreign ownership of 30% for projects exporting less than 20%, regardless of the origin of raw materials. Also, for new manufacturing projects, in a policy originally set to expire at the end of 2000, and now set to expire at the end of 2003, 100% foreign ownership is permitted in any project approved by the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA). The MIDA screens all proposals for manufacturing projects to determine if they are compatible with the Second Industrial Master Plan (1996–2005), and government strategic and social policies.
In October 1990 the government established on the Federal Territory of Labuan as an International Offshore Financial Center (IOFC) to provide offshore banking and insurance, trust fund management, offshore investment holding and licensing companies, and other financial services for multinational companies. In the period following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Malaysia took the lead in seeking to institutionalize Islamic banking and attract Islamic investment. In November 2001 Malaysia was a founding member, along with Bahrain, Indonesia, Sudan and the Saudi-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB), of the International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM). Effective 1 April 2002, Malaysian banker Abdul Rais Abdul Majid became the IIFM's chief executive officer. In June 2002 the Malaysian government took the lead in putting together the world's first global Islamic bond issue, whose underlying assets were lease payments for five years by the Malaysian government on its Ministry of Finance building, two hospitals and a civil service accommodation. Trust certificates with amounts payable exactly equal to the government's lease payments were listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange in August 2002, and, in September 2002, as a second listing on Labuan International Financial Exchange (LFX), part of the Labuan IOFC. The Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (OFSA) takes credit for initiating the idea of the establishment of the IIFM, and the Islamic Financial Service Organzation (IFSO), which is taking the lead in formulating and developing standards for the regulation of Islamic financial institutions, is headquartered in Malaysia. More conventionally, as of 2002, eleven free-trade zones (FTZs) have been established in Bayan Lepas, Bukit Baru, Mukim Damansara, Mukim Pringgit, Mukim Plentong, Prai, Tanjong Kling, Telok Panglima Garang, Ulu Kinta, and Ulu Klang in the states of Johor, Melaka, Perak, Penang, and Selangor. (FTZs are specially designated geographic areas with regulations, including minimum customs controls and formalities when importing raw materials, parts, machinery, and equipment, specifically designed to serve export-oriented industries.) There are specially designated FTZs for businesses engaged in commercial activities including trading, breaking bulk, grading, repacking, relabeling, and transit. Within an FTZ, goods are allowed to be imported without being subject to customs procedures, provided the goods are ultimately exported after processing. Two FTZs have been established for trading purposes in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah and Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan. A third in Mukim of Plentong, Johor, has been established for commercial activities other than trading.
Assets attracting foreign investors to Malaysia are location, cultural ties with Singapore and Taiwan, its economic and political stability, an increasingly competent labor force, and good infrastructure. The main barriers have been restrictions put on foreign investment and ownership as a part of the government's bumiputura policy, which sought particularly to insure Malay dominance of domestic markets. Nevertheless, before the sharp reduction in 2001, Malaysia was regularly listed among the top 25 best destinations for foreign investments.
According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2002, annual average foreign direct investment (FDI) in Malaysia 1985–1995 was close to $3 billion, amounting to an average 14.5% of the country's annual gross fixed capital formation. In 1996, annual FDI rose above $7 billion to a record high. A strong first half in 1997 brought the year's total to $6.3 billion before falling over 57% to $2.7 billion in 1998 reflecting the rapid disinvestments that precipitated the Asian Financial Crisis. Recovery was sharp, if incomplete, however, and FDI reached $3.89 billion in 1999, 22.2% of the gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), and $3.8 billion, 16.5% of GFCF, in 2000. However, in 2001, in the context of a worldwide contraction in foreign investment of almost 50%, FDI to Malaysia fell a precipitous 85.4% to $554 million. Total stocks of FDI in Malaysia grew 83.6% in period 1995 to 2000, from $28.7 billion to $52.7 billion, and from 32.3% to 58.8% as a percent of GDP. In 2001, the total FDI stock increased only 1% as the total reached $53.3 billion. The largest investment sources are the United States, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, Singapore, and Korea.
In 1996 the government announced a list of 31 major infrastructure projects to be built between 1995 and 2020 at a cost of M $163 billion. The Second Industrial Master Plan (1996 to 2005) outlined investment opportunities. These have drawn a huge influx of foreign investment. They include the Bukun hydroelectric dam in Sarawak, Southeast Asia's largest; and the projects involved in the development of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC): the Petronas Twin Towers, the world's tallest; one of the region's most modern airports; and Putrajaya, the new capital city and administrative center for electronic government, and Cyberjaya, Malaysia's center for computer technology. The United States emerged as an important investment source in recent years, with manufacturing investments in 1998 totaling $1.7 billion. Most foreign investment is concentrated in the production of electronic components, consumer electronics, and electrical goods (dominated by US and Japanese firms), petroleum production and distribution, textiles, vehicle assembly, steel, cement, rubber products, and electrical machinery.
Malaysian outward investments 1985 to 1995 amounted to less than a quarter of inward investments, with an annual average of $677 million. However, in 2001 and 2002, this ratio had more than doubled to about 50%. A significant source of outward investments is Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), the state oil company incorporated in 1974 during the first oil shock. In 2002, domestic petroleum reserves had fallen to about 3 billion barrels of oil and 2.34 trillion cu m (82.5 trillion cu ft) of gas. Overseas investments in the upstream sectors (exploration, development and production) of the petroleum industries in 20 countries have, as of 2002, yielded an additional 3.25 billion barrels of oil equivalent. In international investments involving downstream operations (refining, distribution, marketing), PETRONAS's acquisition of the entire share holding of Engen Ltd., a South African oil company, increased its net refining capacity by almost 40%, to 361,500 bpd. The state company's other downstream activities include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) terminalizing, bottling, and distribution in China, Vietnam and the Philippines, and refining and retailing in the Cambodia and Thailand.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Prime Minister's Department
Prime Minister's Department
- Minister's Office in Prime Minister's Department
- Office of Y.B. Dato' Seri Mohamad Nazri Bin Abdul Aziz
- Office of Y.B. Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon
- Office of Y.B. Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Bin Yakcop
- Office of Y.B. Senator Dato' Mejar Jeneral (B) Jamil Khir Bin Baharom
- Office of Y.B. Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala
- Deputy Minister's Office in Prime Minister's Department
- Office of the Chief Secretary to the Government (KSN)
- Administration of the PM's Dept
- Attorney General Chambers
- Cabinet, Constitution And Inter-Government Relation Division
- Ceremonial and International Conference Secretariat Division
- Chief Government Security Office (CGSO)
- Chief Registrar's Office
- Department of Awqaf, Zakat and Hajj
- Department of National Unity
- Department of Statistic
- Economic Planning Unit
- Education Service Commission
- Election Commission of Malaysia
- Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission
- Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA)
- Federal Teritory Islamic Affairs Department
- Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
- Implementation and Coordination Unit
- Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia
- Judicial Appointments Commission
- Judicial and Legal Training Institute
- Keeper of the Ruler's Seal
- Land Public Transport Commission
- Legal Affairs Division
- Legal Aid Department
- Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit
- Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision
- Malaysia Department of Insolvency
- Malaysia Department of Syariah Court
- Malaysia Department of Islamic Development
- Malaysian Institute of Integrity
- Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
- Maritime Enforcement Affairs Division
- Muslims Religious Division
- National Audit Department
- National Civics Bureau
- National Institute for Public Administration
- National Palace Administration
- National Security Council
- Office of Federal Secretary, Sabah
- Office of Federal Secretary, Sarawak
- Parliament of Malaysia
- Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA)
- Perdana Leadership Foundation
- Pilgrims Fund Board Malaysia
- Property and Land Management Division
- Public Complaints Bureau
- Public Private Partnership Unit
- Public Service Commission
- Public Service Department of Malaysia
- Research Division
- Syariah Court of Federal Teritory
Sunday, 8 May 2011
List of Ministers and Deputy Ministers by ministries
List of Ministers and Deputy Ministers by ministries
This content will be updated from time to time
This content will be updated from time to time  PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT (http://www.jpm.gov.my) |
| MINISTERS | |
 | Y.A.B. DATO' SRI MOHD. NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK PRIME MINISTER Prime Minister's Office, Main Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. |
 | Y.A.B. TAN SRI DATO' HAJI MUHYIDDIN BIN MOHD. YASSIN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Deputy Prime Minister's Office, Level 4 West Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA  |
 | Y.B. SENATOR TAN SRI DR. KOH TSU KOON MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. |
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI MOHAMED NAZRI BIN ABDUL AZIZ MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Level 15, Menara Parlimen, Jalan Parlimen, 50680 KUALA LUMPUR. |
 | Y.B. TAN SRI NOR MOHAMED BIN YAKCOP MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department, Block B5 & Block B6, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA |
 | Y.B. SENATOR MEJAR JENERAL DATO' SERI JAMIL KHIR BIN BAHAROM (B) MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Level 9, Block D7, Parcel D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62519 PUTRAJAYA. |
 | Y.B. SENATOR DATO' SRI IDRIS JALA MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Level 3, West Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. |
| DEPUTY MINISTERS | |
 | Y.B. DATUK LIEW VUI KEONG DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Deputy Minister in The Prime Minister's Department Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. |
 | Y.B. SENATOR DATO' DR. MASHITAH BINTI IBRAHIM DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Level 3, West Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre 62502 PUTRAJAYA. |
 | Y.B. DATO' DEVAMANY A/L S.KRISHNASAMY DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Level 3, West Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. |
 | Y.B. DATUK HAJI AHMAD BIN HAJI MASLAN DEPUTY MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Deputy Minister in The Prime Minister's Department Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administration Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. |
list of Ministers and Deputy Ministers
list of Ministers and Deputy Ministers by seniority
| MEMBERS OF CABINET - MINISTERS | |||
| Y.A.B. DATO' SRI MOHD. NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER OF FINANCE Prime Minister's Office, Main Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. | http://www.pmo.gov.my/, http://www.treasury.gov.my | ||
| Y.A.B. TAN SRI DATO' HAJI MUHYIDDIN BIN MOHD. YASSIN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER OF EDUCATION Deputy Prime Minister's Office, Level 4 West Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 Putrajaya, MALAYSIA http://www.pmo.gov.my/tpm, http://www.moe.gov.my | ||
| Y.B. SENATOR TAN SRI DR. KOH TSU KOON MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.pmo.gov.my/kohtsukoon | ||
 | Y.B. TAN SRI BERNARD GILUK DOMPOK MINISTER OF PLANTATION INDUSTRIES AND COMMODITIES Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Level 13, Lot 2G4,Presint 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502, PUTRAJAYA. http://www.kppk.gov.my/ | ||
| Y.B. DATO' SERI MOHAMED NAZRI BIN ABDUL AZIZ MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Level 15, Menara Parlimen, Jalan Parlimen, 50680 KUALA LUMPUR. http://www.parlimen.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI HISHAMMUDDIN BIN TUN HUSSEIN MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS Ministry of Home Affairs, Level 12, Block D1, Parcel D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502, PUTRAJAYA. http://www.moha.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI UTAMA DR. RAIS YATIM MINISTER OF INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, Level 1, Minister's Office, Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Jalan Raja, 50506 KUALA LUMPUR http://www.kpkk.gov.my | ||
| Y.B. TAN SRI NOR MOHAMED BIN YAKCOP MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister's Department, Block B5 & Block B6, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA http://www.epu.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATUK PETER CHIN FAH KUI MINISTER OF ENERGY, GREEN TECHNOLOGY AND WATER Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Level 6, Block E4/5, Parcel E, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62668, PUTRAJAYA. http://www.kettha.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI HJ. MOHD SHAFIE BIN HAJI APDAL MINISTER OF RURAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Ministry of Rural And Regional Development, Level 9, Block D9, Parcel D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62606 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.rurallink.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI MOHAMED KHALED BIN NORDIN MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION Ministry of Higher Education, Level 7, Block E3, Parcel E, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62505 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.mohe.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SRI MUSTAPA BIN MOHAMED MINISTER OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Level 15, Block 10, Government Office Complex, Jalan Duta, 50622 KUALA LUMPUR. http://www.miti.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. DATUK SERI DR. MAXIMUS JOHNITY ONGKILI MINISTER OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Ministry of Science, Technology And Innovation, Level 7, Block C5, Parcel C, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62662 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.mosti.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO SRI DOUGLAS UGGAH EMBAS MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Level 17, lot 4G3, Precint 4, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62514 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.nre.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SRI DR NG YEN YEN MINISTER OF TOURISM Ministry of Tourism, Level 36, Menara Dato' Onn, Putra World Trade Centre, 45, Jalan Tun Ismail, 50695 KUALA LUMPUR. http://www.motour.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATUK SERI HAJI NOH BIN OMAR MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY Ministry of Agriculture And Agro-Based Industry, Level 17, Wisma Tani, No.28, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4, 62624 PUTRAJAYA http://www.moa.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI DR. AHMAD ZAHID BIN HAMIDI MINISTER OF DEFENCE Ministry of Defence, Wisma Pertahanan, Jalan Padang Tembak, 50634 KUALA LUMPUR. http://www.mod.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SHAZIMAN BIN ABU MANSOR MINISTER OF WORKS Ministry of Works, Level 5, Block A, Kompleks Kerja Raya, Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, 50580 KUALA LUMPUR http://www.kkr.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SRI LIOW TIONG LAI MINISTER OF HEALTH Ministry of Health, Level 13, Block E7, Parcel E, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62590 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.moh.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' AHMAD SHABERY CHEEK MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS Ministry of Youth And Sports, Level 17, Menara KBS, No 27 Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4 62570 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.kbs.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATUK DR. S. SUBRAMANIAM MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES Ministry of Human Resources, Level 9, Block D3, Parcel D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.mohr.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SRI ISMAIL SABRI BIN YAAKOB MINISTER OF DOMESTIC TRADE, COOPERATIVE AND CONSUMERISME Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerisme, Level 13 (tower), No. 13, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 2, 62623 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.kpdnkk.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI HAJI AHMAD HUSNI BIN MOHAMAD HANADZLAH MINISTER OF FINANCE (II) Ministry of Finance, Level 11, Centre Block, Precint 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62592 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.treasury.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SERI KONG CHO HA MINISTER OF TRANSPORT Ministry of Transport, Level 7, Blok D5, Parcel D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.mot.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. SENATOR DATO' SERI SHAHRIZAT ABDUL JALIL MINISTER OF WOMEN, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Ministry of Women, Family And Community Development, Level 3, Block E, Bukit Perdana Government Office Complex, Jalan Dato' Onn, 50515 KUALA LUMPUR http://www.kpwkm.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' SRI ANIFAH BIN HJ. AMAN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Level 3, Wisma Putra, Presint 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62602 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.kln.gov.my/ | ||
 | Y.B. SENATOR DATO' RAJA NONG CHIK BIN DATO' RAJA ZAINAL ABIDIN MINISTER OF FEDERAL TERRITORIES AND URBAN WELLBEING Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing, Level 4, Block B2, Menara PJH, Presint 2, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62100 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.kwp.gov.my | ||
| Y.B. SENATOR MEJAR JENERAL DATO' SERI JAMIL KHIR BIN BAHAROM (B) MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Level 9, Block D7, Parcel D, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62519 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.islam.gov.my | ||
| Y.B. SENATOR DATO' SRI IDRIS JALA MINISTER IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE Minister in The Prime Minister's Department, Level 3, West Block, Perdana Putra Building, Federal Government Administrative Centre, 62502 PUTRAJAYA. http://www.pemandu.gov.my | ||
 | Y.B. DATO' WIRA CHOR CHEE HEUNG MINISTER OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Ministry of Housing and Local Government, Level 5 North, Block K, Pusat Bandar Damansara, 50644 KUALA LUMPUR. http://www.kpkt.gov.my | ||
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