Deloitte yet to confirm 1MDB’s FY15 assets
Deloitte & Co, the audit firm for 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), has yet to verify its accounts for the year end March 2015. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were informed when the firm’s partners were at PAC’s proceedings in parliament. Deloitte was not instructed to do another audit on this year’s accounts, as it was up to the prerogative of the Finance Ministry to do so. (The Sun Daily)
DBKL housing merit system needs revamping
A Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) advisory board member is calling for a revamp in the merit system for assigning low-cost housing units to poor residents. A point system is currently being used, with 100 being the highest, and those with 70 points and above given priority. Datuk P. Gunaseelan said it was time for change, saying it should be more transparent, fair, and a committee set up to review the currrent system. He cited cases of low income single mothers with several children and people with disabilities who had low points (42-54) and thus unable to obtain low-cost houses. (The Star Online)
Guocoland’s RM2.5bil Damansara City to open next year
The RM2.5 billion Damansara City flagship development of Guocoland (M) Bhd is set to be fully operational by Q2 next year. The development consists of two 28-storey high-rise residences, two Grade A offices, a lifestyle mall and a 5-star hotel on 3.44ha of land. Residents can move in by end of this year, while corporate and retail tenants can do so by Q2 of 2016. (The Star Online)
Bina Puri targets LRT3, MRT2 infrastructure work packages
Construction company Bina Puri Holdings Bhd is hoping to win the bid for the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3) and Mass Rapid Transit Line 2 (MRT2) infrastructure works projects. The group will be submitting their papers for the tender process next year, and had tendered for similar works on the MRT project but was not shortlisted due to other ongoing projects at the time like KLIA2. (The Edge Markets)
Matrix Concepts to attract more investors into industrial parks
Property developer Matrix Concepts Holdings Bhd is aiming to attract more investors into its Sendayan TechValley (STV) and Sendayan TechPark (STP) high-tech industrial parks in Seremban. The anticipated influx of skilled professionals setting up manufacturing facilities at the industrial parks would boost demand for properties in its Bandar Sri Sendayan township as well. STV has attracted 18 investors from around the world, including Japan, UK, France, Germany, Denmark and China, and 6 have commenced operations there. (The Star Online)
Malaysian university in QS Asia top 30 but fails to join THE top 100
Universiti Malaya (UM) managed to climb to the 29th spot on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia’s 2015 top 30 rankings, while Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) jumped into the top 50 at 49th place. Three other Malaysian universities managed to gain places in the top 100. UM had improved significantly in the faculty-student ratio indicator, ranking 11th in Asia, and 19th in the international faculty indicator.
However, in a separate report, local varsities failed to make the cut in Times Higher Education’s (THE) 2015 ranking of 100 Asian universities released today. Topping the list is University of Tokyo, followed by the National University of Singapore, and University of Hong Kong. Thailand has two universities in this year’s top 100, along with Turkey, Isreal, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Malaysia’s only claim to fame was Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) which placed 87th in the 2013 rankings. (The Malaysian Insider [1] [2])
Source: The Malaysian Insider
Five tourists arrested after Mount Kinabalu nudist stunt
A British woman, 3 Canadians and a Dutch man have been arrested for posing naked and taking photos on Mount Kinabalu, Sabah. 10 western tourists climbed the mountain on 30 May, stripped and took a group photo, which was then posted online, which earned the anger of Malaysian citizens for disrespecting local culture and sacred places. The issue was further acerbated after the June 5 earthquake in Sabah, where 18 people died and many others were injured at Mount Kinabalu. The five are expected to appear at court on Monday to find out if they are to face charges, and the remaining five are being sought by Malaysian police. (The Telegraph UK)
