Latest news with #Azmi
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Putra Heights inferno: SPNB to rebuild, repair 17 houses from next week
The site of the gas pipeline fire in Putra Heights, Subang Jaya. – Bernama KEPALA BATAS: Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) will rebuild and repair 17 houses affected by the April 1 gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, starting next week. SPNB chief executive officer Mohd Jamil Idris said this is an initial project involving 11 homes that were completely destroyed and six houses for renovation under the government allocation previously approved, namely a maximum of RM300,000 for rebuilding and RM150,000 for repairs. "We have entered the area, and our contractors issued appointment letters to the affected residents this week. So, starting next week, they (the contractors) will start work at the site (of the affected houses). If we look at the data we have, so far, there are 17 houses… and this data may change,' he said. He told reporters this when met at the Urban Community Sustainability Programme (PKKB) and SPNB Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme in Taman Desa Kuala Muda here on Saturday (May 31), which was officiated by SPNB chairman Datuk Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila. The gas pipeline fire on April 1 caused flames to rise more than 30 metres high, with temperatures reaching over 1,000 degrees Celsius, causing 81 homes to be completely destroyed, with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, 81 homes partially damaged, 57 homes affected but not burned, and 218 homes left unaffected. Meanwhile, Azmi said SPNB would build a total of 5,450 houses under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) project nationwide this year, with an allocation of RM504 million, to help B40 and low-income groups own homes. He said they have also implemented about half of the target as of May and aim to complete it all by the end of this year. "We build these houses quite fast, in three months, mostly using conventional methods as well as IBS (Industrialised Building System), but there may be issues in terms of slight delays (for certain applications) because (there are) necessary processes,' he said. Azmi said the eligibility criteria for owning an RMR home include a household income not exceeding RM5,000, not currently owning a house and having their own land. "The construction cost for each house is RM75,000, namely RM20,000 in the form of a government subsidy and the remaining RM55,000 as an interest-free loan. The monthly repayment is RM300 for about 16 years,' he said, adding that a total of 73,279 RMR units have been built nationwide since 2002. As for Saturday's programme, the Housing and Local Government Ministry contributed RM38,950 while SPNB chipped in with RM10,000. In addition, SPNB and Progressive Impact Technology Sdn Bhd also contributed a 4kWp solar panel system worth RM18,540 to educate the community about electricity savings, environmental friendliness, renewable energy, green technology adoption and promoting a healthier environment.- Bernama
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Putra Heights fire: SPNB to rebuild, repair 17 houses from next week
KEPALA BATAS: Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd will rebuild and repair 17 houses affected by the April 1 gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, starting next week. Its chief executive officer, Mohd Jamil Idris, said this is an initial project involving 11 homes that were completely destroyed and six houses for repair under the government allocation previously approved, namely a maximum of RM300,000 for rebuilding and RM150,000 for repairs. "We have entered the area, and our contractors issued appointment letters to the affected residents this week. So, starting next week, they (the contractors) will start work at the site (of the affected houses). "If we look at the data we have, so far, there are 17 houses… and this data may change," he said. He told reporters this when met at the Urban Community Sustainability Programme and SPNB corporate social responsibility programme in Taman Desa Kuala Muda. The programme was officiated by SPNB chairman Datuk Mohd Azmi Mohd Lila. The gas pipeline fire on April 1 caused flames to rise more than 30m, with temperatures reaching over 1,000 degrees Celsius, A total of 81 homes were completely destroyed, with structural damage exceeding 40 per cent, 81 homes partially damaged, 57 homes affected but not burned, and 218 homes left unaffected. On another matter, Azmi said SPNB will build a total of 5,450 houses under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR) project nationwide this year, with an allocation of RM504 million, to help B40 and low-income groups own homes. He said SPNB had implemented about half of the target as of May and aims to complete it all by the end of this year. "We build these houses quite fast, in three months, mostly using conventional methods as well as IBS (industrialised building system), but there may be issues in terms of slight delays (for certain applications) because (there are) necessary processes," he said. Azmi said the eligibility criteria for owning an RMR home include a household income not exceeding RM5,000, not currently owning a house and having their own land. "The construction cost for each house is RM75,000, namely RM20,000 in the form of a government subsidy and the remaining RM55,000 as an interest-free loan. "The monthly repayment is RM300 for about 16 years," he said, adding that a total of 73,279 RMR units have been built nationwide since 2002.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Azmi Hassan's 'Diplomasia' makes current affairs more accessible to youth
KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts to foster greater interest among youth in diplomacy and foreign policy have been given a fresh impetus with the publication of 'Diplomasia', the debut book by Malaysian geostrategist Prof Dr Azmi Hassan. Written in an accessible style and complemented by illustrations, the book is specifically crafted to engage younger readers, who often perceive geopolitics as overly technical and uninteresting. Speaking after the book's launch at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) here today, Azmi said the approach was chosen to make it easier for young people to understand current affairs. "I wrote this book in a simple language. Issues such as tensions in the South China Sea or the Asean Summit 2025 are presented in a narrative style with colour illustrations to capture readers' attention. "This book might also rekindle patriotic and nationalistic spirit among youth, as it includes explanations on historical names of the country such as Malaya and Federation of Malaya, which are becoming increasingly unfamiliar to the younger generation," he said. With more than a decade of experience in geostrategic analysis, Azmi is a well-known figure across various media platforms, frequently offering academic perspectives on both local and international geopolitical matters. According to the book's publisher, PTS Publishing House, Diplomasia is a compilation of current issues that explores Malaysia's soft power on the world stage, including behind-the-scenes insights into the current political landscape. "The book aims to open readers' eyes to Malaysia's wisdom in negotiation and its principled courage, even when dealing with competing global powers," it said in a statement. Among the topics covered in Diplomasia are the Sabah claim, tensions in the South China Sea, Malaysia-Singapore relations, and Malaysia's position in the MH17 tragedy. The book is available from PTS Publishing House starting today at a price of RM35. – Bernama
Barnama
4 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Azmi Hassan's ‘Diplomasia' Makes Current Affairs More Accessible To Youth
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Efforts to foster greater interest among youth in diplomacy and foreign policy have been given a fresh impetus with the publication of 'Diplomasia', the debut book by Malaysian geostrategist Prof Dr Azmi Hassan. Written in an accessible style and complemented by illustrations, the book is specifically crafted to engage younger readers, who often perceive geopolitics as overly technical and uninteresting. Speaking after the book's launch at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) here today, Azmi said the approach was chosen to make it easier for young people to understand current affairs. 'I wrote this book in a simple language. Issues such as tensions in the South China Sea or the ASEAN Summit 2025 are presented in a narrative style with colour illustrations to capture readers' attention. 'This book might also rekindle patriotic and nationalistic spirit among youth, as it includes explanations on historical names of the country such as Malaya and Federation of Malaya, which are becoming increasingly unfamiliar to the younger generation,' he said. With more than a decade of experience in geostrategic analysis, Azmi is a well-known figure across various media platforms, frequently offering academic perspectives on both local and international geopolitical matters. According to the book's publisher, PTS Publishing House, Diplomasia is a compilation of current issues that explores Malaysia's soft power on the world stage, including behind-the-scenes insights into the current political landscape. 'The book aims to open readers' eyes to Malaysia's wisdom in negotiation and its principled courage, even when dealing with competing global powers,' it said in a statement. Among the topics covered in Diplomasia are the Sabah claim, tensions in the South China Sea, Malaysia-Singapore relations, and Malaysia's position in the MH17 tragedy.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Fuelling global ambitions through high impact investments
DESPITE global uncertainties, Malaysia remains a resilient and competitive investment destination. As it advances towards becoming a high-income economy, global business hubs are central to this goal. At the forefront is InvestKL, which is leading strategic initiatives to elevate Greater Kuala Lumpur (Greater KL) as a top destination for global businesses. InvestKL chief executive officer Datuk Muhammad Azmi Zulkifli said multinational corporations' (MNCs) confidence in Greater KL reaffirms its position as a hub for modern services and cutting-edge activities. He said these investments go beyond capital. They drive knowledge transfer, strengthen local capabilities, create job opportunities and spark innovation. "Notably, InvestKL has successfully achieved its key performance indicator of securing RM35 billion in committed investments ahead of its initial target. "We are now entrusted with a new target of RM50 billion in committed investments by 2030, reinforcing our role in advancing Malaysia's economic ambitions. "With a clear strategy and a strong investor pipeline, we are confident of meeting this goal and creating wider economic spillovers that benefit Malaysia as a whole," said Azmi. INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE In 2024, InvestKL secured RM4.08 billion in foreign direct investments from 12 leading global companies, further strengthening Greater KL's position as a strategic gateway to the region. To date, InvestKL has attracted over 150 global companies, contributing a cumulative RM33.8 billion in investments and generating 31,849 executive jobs. "With 80 per cent of hires being Malaysians, InvestKL is committed to connecting MNCs with the country's talent pool. "Through partnerships with universities and upskilling initiatives, we are ensuring professionals are equipped to thrive in high-demand industries, strengthening Malaysia's position as a hub for skilled talent in the region. "Our role goes beyond investment attraction. We support MNCs in regulatory compliance, talent acquisition, business expansion and connections to key stakeholders across the ecosystem," said Azmi. A MAGNET FOR GLOBAL INVESTORS At InvestKL's 2024 Performance Highlights event, investors cited Greater KL's rich business ecosystem, access to skilled talent and supportive regulatory frameworks as key drivers in their decision to establish regional hubs there. Malaysia's pro-investment and pro-trade stance further reinforces Greater KL's position as a gateway to Asean and beyond. One of the investors is MODEC, a global provider of floating production solutions. Its vice-president, project execution and Malaysia country manager, Masataka Utsumi, said: "Greater KL stood out due to its strong pool of industry-ready talent, robust business environment, and well-established oil and gas ecosystem. Driven by a mature and integrated energy industry and a steady pipeline of graduates, Malaysia provides a natural fit for our operations." He highlighted InvestKL as a vital partner throughout MODEC's investment journey. The agency provided end-to-end support in navigating Malaysia's regulatory landscape, enabling a smoother and more efficient setup process. Leading software provider Access Group Malaysia managing director Lim Chee Gay said InvestKL was instrumental in its office launch. "They helped us connect with key agencies and supported us in accessing tax incentives and grants. Greater KL's talent pool and innovative ecosystem impressed our leadership and will support the Access Group's expansion." Meanwhile, Vale in Malaysia chief administrative officer Afzal Mohsin said Malaysia offers strategic connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region. "In 2023, we realigned our corporate presence by moving key functions to Malaysia, bringing our operations and corporate leadership closer together. Asia-Pacific is critical for us—it's the region that consumes the most iron ore globally." "Greater KL's strategic location within the region made it the ideal choice," Afzal said. He said InvestKL played a key role in supporting Vale's transition and has facilitated Vale's connections with institutional and regulatory bodies, making it easier for the company to navigate the setup process. "They also helped us address niche talent needs through mobility support and local upskilling efforts. For a company like ours, with very specific technical requirements, this partnership has been essential," he said. Global customer experience leader Foundever chose Greater KL as its first multilingual hub in Southeast Asia, citing the area's diverse and multilingual talent pool as a key factor. "The average Malaysian speaks multiple languages, and that makes Greater KL an ideal location for us to serve our global clients," said Foundever Malaysia finance director Ronald Portula. Portula said InvestKL was key to Foundever's expansion, offering early advisory, valuable market insights, and connections to local partners and ecosystem players, ensuring a seamless setup and effective talent acquisition process. PageGroup shared service centre director Azlinda Ab Kassim highlighted Greater KL's multicultural environment and strong government support as key factors in its market decision. "Greater KL has a robust ability to nurture talent, enabling the development of a skilled workforce that can support both local and international markets," she said. Azlinda commended InvestKL for enabling the group's smooth and efficient market entry into the region. CATALYSING ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH TALENT AND INNOVATION Foreign investments are no longer just about capital inflows. They enable national ambitions such as job creation, talent development and innovation-led growth. This emphasis on nurturing local talent is reinforced through strong public-private collaborations, which Azmi describes as a cornerstone of InvestKL's growth. By working closely with ecosystem partners, InvestKL drives knowledge transfer and capability building. A key initiative is the Greater KL Live Lab (GKL Live Lab), now in its fifth year, that brings together MNCs, startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and academia to pilot innovation and commercialised solutions. "Thirteen companies have come onboard, strengthening Greater KL's position as a regional innovation hub," Azmi said. COMMITMENT TO FUTURE GROWTH Guided by the goals of the Madani Economy framework, the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and the New Investment Incentive Framework, InvestKL continues to play a pivotal role in shaping Greater KL into a thriving hub for global businesses, contributing to Malaysia's progress and transformation.
