4 GREEN Ideas for Malaysia

Last weekend, I went up to Genting for relaxing and escape from the warm weather in KL. Wondering how could Malaysians live in such condition in the next decades, if the temperature going up consistently?

 

Amazingly, when I turn-on the television, a GREEN programme was on-screen. Instead of sleeping, I watched the whole documentary about some great ideas or innovations being researched by scientists in US. The programme highlighting 4 green ideas:

1. Green Insulator

The insulator is made up with a special liquid gel, which could prevent heat transfer up to 350 degree Celsius. It can be applied in the glass (transparent) of any building, to bring the sun light in, without heating the interior. We can expect 20% energy saving from air-conditioner and lightnings.

2. Green Roof

We heard of the this idea long time ago, where people planting on the roof.
- it could absorb heat from entering the building.
- it could release fresher air back to environment just like jungle did.
- it is definitely better aura than concrete jungle.

In view of the decreasing food supply nowadays, planting vegetables or fruits above the roofs can be a good business.

3. Fiber Optic

I like this kind of technology which could bring the free flowing sun light from outside to inside of the building.

Fiber optic is flexible enough to bend and extend as long as you like. It is natural, no sound, and research show that student study under such light could let them concentrate more on studies.

Fantastic !!!

4. Nanotechnology Solar Panel

As we know, solar panel could turn sun light to generate electricity. But, it is heavy, thick and space consuming. With nanotechnology, scientists converted it into much much smaller solar panel which can be handle easily , and it can cat onto any surface of a building, making the whole building like a power plant. The only shortfall is this kind of green technology is the most expensive.

Malaysia could invite experts from other countries to design and construct using such green technology.

China's banking stocks... Your next destination?

While Malaysian market is hovering around 1,500 points, a ground survey shows that local investors are skeptical about the sustainability of our market. Bursa Malaysia's website shows that local retail participation is merely at 25% daily.

Maybe, we could look aboard to find some other investing options. And, China's banking stocks could suit investors appetite for the following reasons:-

1. China was an under-performer this year
2. China's banks should report better profits
3. Robust loan demand

Due to the higher interest rate being announced recently, banks of China should experienced expansion of net interest margin for the next few quarters. Although loan growth is moderating now, it was still high, and will continue as long as China's economy is growing. We can't deny that China is the world's engine of growth currently, in which we persist for the next few years, at least.

Will China raise rate again?

Depending how fast and big the housing bubble was, China would continue it's monetary tightening policy going forward. In contrast, Malaysia had raised interest rate 3 times this year, albeit small percentage, China is lagging us although with a more serious property bubble.

However, there are risks involved.

1. Banks could be facing liquidity problem
2. Potential of loan defaults
3. Huge loans allocated to local government's infrastructure projects

In order to minimized risks, investors should favor BIG lenders (pic) and avoid smaller banks, given their greater capital sufficiency.

The Preview of YTL Comms vs Astro

A lot of fighting happening on the business scene nowadays, with Proton-Fernandes and AirAsia-Tiger this year. In 2011, there will be a heat battle between YTL Comms and Astro, taking on the local broadcasting field by storm.

Proton vs Fernandes 
AirAsia vs Tiger Airways

Business Times reported that YTL Communications Sdn Bhd planning to launch a hybrid TV by end of 2011, with many industry observers wondered how it is going to break the exclusive screening rights that satellite TV giant Astro holds with various TV content providers.

"If you think you can do a monopolistic thing and control everything, I'm sorry, that era is gone. The game is over" said Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh, managing director of YTL Corp Bhd and executive chairman of its telecommunications arm, YTL Comms.

YTL Comms is going to collaborate with US-based Sezmi Corporation to deploy hybrid TV services in Malaysia and Asia Pacific, which will combine digital TV broadcast technology with YTL's fourth-generation (4G) wireless broadband services that would be rolled out soon.

What is hybrid TV?

With hybrid TV, consumers can view live or recorded local and cable TV stations, on-demand movies and TV shows and web videos on their mobile devices, their personal computers or their TV sets at home. It was like combining the services offered by Maxis, Astro, and Streamyx into 1 single platform.

Watch out for 18th November 2010 !!!

This is the date when YTL will launch its 4G mobile Internet with voice, which will cover 65% of the country's populated areas, right from day one. Let's wait and see. YTL said it will be monumental !!!

The battle with Astro...

As for my understanding, YTL Comms' new TV service will be based on pay-as-you-use basis.

• NO minimum fee
• NO strings attached
• World's 1st wireless quad play service, bringing broadband, voice, TV and video-on-demand together

Wow... Sounds interesting enough for all Malaysians, especially current Astro's subscibers. Let's seat back and watch the most interesting Battle of 2011 - YTL Comms vs Astro.

New Listing: Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MMHE)

MMHE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MISC, which is 65% owned by Petronas. It has two main divisions namely engineering and construction (E&C), and marine conversion and marine repair. Its two fabrication yards were in Pasir Gudang (Johor) and Kiyanly (Turkmenistan).

Being one of the 7 licensed offshore fabricators in Malaysia, MMHE tops both in terms of annual tonnage capacity and market share, mainly because backed by Petronas. Other fabricators were Sime Darby, Kencana, Boustead Heavy Industries, Brooke Dockyard, Ramunia and Oilfab.

Meanwhile, its marine conversion business could expect more demand on its floating production system, driven by increased developments in deepwater oil and gas fields. In comparison, installation of fixed structures is not economical in water depths over 300m, thus, giving floating production an advantage.

Key investment points:

1. Almost guaranteed jobs from Petronas.
2. International opportunities and technical know-how enhanced by strategic tie-up.
3. Exposure to Caspian Sea's oil and gas projects with Turkmenistan yard.

Is MMHE a good investment?
Target price set by RHB and OSK is RM4.00 and RM4.54 respectively...

Sick of TM's monopoly status...

In frustration and disappointment, I wrote this post about the connectivity problem of our beloved Malaysia. I am writing this at a cafe, where I have to bare all the petrol and beverages costs in order to arrived. Without further ado, I opened my laptop while waiting for my hot white coffee, to express what's the feeling inside me.

Deep down in me, I want to channel a very clear message to TM and Government that Rakyat like us are very very very frustrated with the Internet service provided by TM. I am bringing up the feeling of Malaysians as a whole that Streamyx is nowhere to transform our nation to high-income nation.

Please do not blame me first. Let me explain my point of view as below:

Dear TM:

- The Internet connection at my area (at least) was always down, even though I had highlighted to them a few times. Please note that I am just "highlighting" to TM. But, these seems not working without "complaining".

Dear Government:

- First we have to ask ourselves why such things happened?

- In fact, this is happening for so many years, although TM did make some improvements.

- It's very clear that the monopoly status conquer by TM on fixed dial-up Internet services (Streamyx) is suck.

- Why not open up the business? Just like the competitive broadband business?

Please do something fast, this is a very urgent issue hampering the efforts being made to attract foreigners to work here, transforming Greater KL, transforming Malaysia as a high-income nation...