
Sabah set for major industrial expansion
KOTA KINABALU: A new integrated industrial hub will soon rise in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), aimed at enhancing logistics, warehousing and distribution capacity in Sabah and the wider East Malaysian region.
The development, located on a newly acquired 15-acre site worth RM100mil, is expected to increase operational capacity by 40% and create at least 500 new jobs, with priority given to local hires from underprivileged backgrounds.
'This is part of our commitment to support government efforts in tackling poverty and promoting inclusive economic growth,' said Kim Teck Cheong Consolidated Bhd (KTC) executive director, Datuk Dexter Lau.
The upcoming facility, to be known as the KTC Industrial Park, will function as the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) distribution centre in the region, designed to serve markets in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Indonesia.
Lau said the strategic location in KKIP will strengthen logistics infrastructure and streamline the group's supply chain operations, enabling it to better meet growing market demand.
'Our focus is on long-term growth and operational excellence, and this development marks an important milestone in our five-year expansion plan,' he added.
As of June, the company had already recorded over RM1bil in revenue. With the expansion, annual earnings are projected to grow by 50%, reaching up to RM1.6bil.
An additional RM10mil investment has also been approved for operations in Sarawak, which Lau said is expected to contribute 10% to overall regional revenue growth, with Sabah expected to add 40% over the next two to three years.
Lau added that the company's total workforce is expected to reach 2,000 across Malaysia and Brunei within a year.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Sunway Healthcare: Give us more time to prepare for revised SST
CYBERJAYA: Sunway Healthcare is evaluating the potential effects of the impending implementation of the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) as the company believes the announced timeline is insufficient for private hospitals to adequately prepare for the new policy. 'Given the relatively short notice ahead of the July 1 implementation date, we require additional time to assess the situation fully. 'Our team is reviewing the matter, but we are unable to provide further comment at this stage as we do not yet have complete data,' Sunway Healthcare president Datuk Lau Beng Long told SunBiz on the sidelines of the signing of a memorandum of understanding involving Sunway Medical Centre, University of Cyberjaya and Cyberjaya College Kota Kinabalu to develop nursing talent in Malaysia today. To recap, on June 9, the government announced the implementation of revisions to the SST rates and an expansion of the Service Tax's scope, effective July 1. Lau said Sunway Healthcare is aligning with the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia's (APHM) call to delay the implementation of the expanded SST. 'APHM president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh is reviewing this matter. The association has appealed to the relevant ministry to either review or defer the implementation date. As the appeal is under consideration, we are awaiting the outcome to determine whether the policy will be implemented and, if so, when it will take effect,' Lau said. APHM has called for a delay in the implementation of the expanded SST on private healthcare services for foreigners. In a statement on June 11, APHM stated that while it supports the government's broader policy objectives of broadening the tax base and stimulating economic growth, private hospitals require more time to make the necessary operational adjustments to comply with the new tax rule. The short implementation time frame presents significant operational challenges as private hospitals would need sufficient lead time to adjust administrative systems, billing processes, and compliance procedures, it said. APHM has submitted a written request to the Ministry of Finance for a more practical timeline beyond the current July 1 start date to minimise disruption to patient services and ensure full compliance. APHM has also sought further clarification on several aspects of the new policy, including its application to professional fees charged by doctors, treatment of foreigners residing in Malaysia and other implementation matters. 'Private hospitals are an essential part of Malaysia's health care ecosystem, delivering quality care to both local and international patients,' APHM said.


The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Asian currencies, stock slip on risk off after Israel strikes Iran
Asian stock markets and currencies fell on Friday as investors rushed to safe havens after Israel struck Iran's nuclear and military sites, deepening market jitters already stoked by global trade tensions. Israel said it was declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of a missile and drone strike by Tehran, after what it called a "preemptive strike" over Iran's nuclear programme. Crude prices surged over 9% on worries about disrupted oil supplies. Rising oil prices typically pressure emerging Asian currencies by widening current account deficits in net oil-importing countries. The South Korean won and the Philippine peso fell 0.8% each. The Indian rupee fell 0.6% while the Indonesian rupiah dropped 0.5%. An index measuring the dollar against six other currencies rose 0.5%, rebounding from a multi-year low hit earlier this week. Israel-Iran tensions are leading to a more cautious tone in markets and in turn weighing on regional currencies, said Alan Lau, FX strategist at Maybank. The development comes ahead of multiple central bank meetings next week such as the Bank of Japan, the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve "of which the outcomes on net could support a USD rebound," Lau said. The Thai baht weakened 0.2%. Maybank analysts said in a note that while higher oil prices are weighing on the currency, the uptick in gold prices was providing some support. The Malaysian ringgit lost 0.5%, in line with the broader movement, even as Malaysia stands out as the only net oil and gas exporter among the major emerging Asian economies. Bucking the trend, the Taiwan dollar rose as much as 0.5% to its highest level in three years. A Taiwan-based forex trader told Reuters that while foreign investors continued to enter Taiwan, a rebound in the U.S. dollar as well as a weakening of the South Korean won had reduced the magnitude of the currency's appreciation. The central bank had also acted to keep the Taiwan dollar from strengthening more, keeping the currency close to the 29.5 mark, the trader said. Stock markets across the region also fell. MSCI's gauge of Asian emerging market equities dropped 1.1%. South Korean shares fell up to 1.5%. Equities in Taiwan were down 1%, while those in Singapore and Malaysia lost 0.4% and 0.6%, respectively. HIGHLIGHTS: ** Thai central bank chief sees need for greater inflation target flexibility ** Indonesia, Singapore sign deals on power trade, carbon capture - Reuters

The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Binastra's order book continues to strengthen
PETALING JAYA: A recent contract win by construction group Binastra Corp Bhd could contribute about RM16.1mil in net profit over the building period for the project, analysts say. This is based on an assumption of a net margin of 6%, said TA Research and Phillip Capital Research. The group secured a RM268mil contract from TNJ Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of CPI Land, for the main building work for the Tuan Heritag3 Residency condominium development in Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, with a gross development value (GDV) of RM670mil. However, Phillip Capital Research said this is lower than the historical average of between 9% and 10%, reflecting a greater reliance on subcontracting as Binastra preserves internal capacity for its expanding pipeline of projects in Johor. The research house remained positive about the prospects for the group's order book replenishment, supported by up toRM7bil of committed project launches from major clients in Johor, scheduled from 2026 to 2027. The research house said it was encouraged by this latest contract win, which not only strengthened the group's order book but also brings in a new client that intends to launch projects with GDVs of RM1bil in this year and exploring expansion opportunities into Johor. The research house believes this could pave the way for future project wins. The award brings year-to-date job wins to RM976.9mil, representing 28% of its RM3.5bil order book replenishment assumption for 2026. This raises Binastra's order book to RM4.3bil, implying a 4.5 times cover of its revenue for this year. TA Research said it believes the group is well-positioned to secure additional contracts from CPI Land's RM1bil GDV pipeline. RHB Research said the group's order book is worth RM4.3bil and provides earnings visibility for the next four years. The research house said it believes Binastra's likely job wins will come from the southern region. For instance, one of Binastra's clients, Exsim Development Sdn Bhd, has a few other land parcels in Johor Baru near the New York Hotel and along Jalan Lumba Kuda, and projects there could have a cumulative GDV of over RM3bil or a potential construction value that may exceed RM1.5bil. Maxim Global Bhd , another key client, has acquired a 6.5 acre plot of land in Taman Pelangi for future development. TA Research, Phillip Capital Research and RHB Research maintained their 'buy' calls on the stock with target prices of RM2.39, RM2.30 and RM2.21, respectively. Both Phillip Cpital Research and RHB Research made no changes to their earnings estimates with the latest job win.