Digi business marketing and operations head Steven Soon (second from left) delivering his speech as (from left) Johor South SME Association advisor Teh Kee Sin, RHB Bank Bhd commercial banking head Azlina Safian and PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd chief operating officer P’ng Tean Hau look on duri...
One for the album: (From left) Teh, Soon, Azlina and P’ng posing for photograph after their panel discussion session at the SOBA LAB programme at Trove Hotel in Johor Baru.JOHOR BARU: Digitalisation is the way forward for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and they have to start planning now,...
Unofficial figures show that some 300,000 Malaysians commute daily from Johor to Singapore to work. — FilepicJOHOR BARU: The state government is looking at the positive angle when it comes to the high number of Malaysians, including Johoreans, working in Singapore.Johor education, human resour...
An SME expo showcasing the productsKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's small business sector experienced positive business conditions in 2018 and confidence in business and economic growth is at its highest point since 2012, according to new survey data released today by CPA Australia. The findings from CPA A...
KUALA LUMPUR: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should capitalise on the RM517mil funding made available by Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd’s (MIDF) and Malaysian Technology Development Corp (MTDC) under the Soft Loan Scheme for Automation and Modernisation (SLSAM).MIDF group ma...
PETALING JAYA: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng is tabling Budget 2019 in Parliament, the first federal budget by the Pakatan Harapan government.The tabling of the Supply Bill (Budget) 2019 will commence before Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, and will be debated by the Members of Par...
JOHOR BARU: Small- and medium-sized enterprises in Iskandar Malaysia have been assured that they will benefit from the expected influx of major foreign investors. Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said SMEs should not worry about being sidelined as they had an important supporting role to play.
The trickle effects of the projects will definitely go down to the local SMEs," he said after opening the Johor SME Exposition 2008 at the Angsana shopping complex here yesterday.
On claims that the local SMEs had yet to receive any benefit from Iskandar Malaysia, Abdul Ghani said all quarters should not jump to conclusions before the whole plan for the development corridor could take off.
He had previously promised that the first of a series of major projects in Iskandar Malaysia would start before the end of this year.
Iskandar Region Development Authority (Irda), the administrator of the development corridor, had from time to time been criticised for not being sensitive to the needs of the local business community.
The latest criticism came from Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, who was quoted on Aug 3 as saying that Iskandar Malaysia had yet to produce any direct benefit, especially for small local businesses.
Shahrir, who is also the Johor Baru MP, claimed that the needs of residents in this city were not given priority in Irda's plans.
"Even if this project turns out to be a success, it would not seem likely to be ours," he was quoted as saying.
Without referring to Shahrir's statement, Abdul Ghani said those expecting to benefit from the development needed to give it time to mature as proper planning and the drawing of huge investment had to be done in a comprehensive and structured manner.
"Please bear in mind that Iskandar Malaysia is just two years old. We have to be patient with it."
Earlier, Abdul Ghani told a group of SME operators that their resilience in weathering economic downturns over the years was proof that they had a role in ensuring the continuous growth of Johor.
"The SMEs have their own unique characteristics which make them important players in our economy.
"The state government will continue to support them and provide whatever assistance available."
Abdul Ghani said the state government's recent decision to acquire a 20 per cent stake in water concessionaire SAJ Holdings was meant to ensure better water tariffs, not only for households but also businesses and industries.
"I will not say that the tariffs will be reduced but it will be relatively better, considering the present circumstances."
Energy, Water and Communication Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor had announced the state government's acquisition last Tuesday, saying it would profit Johor as SAJ would from now on be required to pay for the water it took from the state.