Malaysia - PM: Poverty no hindrance to success, as BN provides opportunities

DUNGUN: Poverty is no hindrance for a person to achieve success because the Barisan Nasional government provides opportunities for social mobility, mainly through education.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said it had been proven that education was the key weapon to combat poverty.

He said many successful personalities today came from poor family backgrounds, citing Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, whose parents were fruit collectors, as an example.

"The Mentri Besar has proven that despite difficulties and tribulations, he can attain success.

"So can everyone else because educational opportunity is meant for everyone, irrespective race or background," he said when launching "Changing Destiny" programme here Friday for UiTm students nationwide.

The Prime Minister is on a one-day visit to Terengganu.

MAZWIN NIK ANIS and FARIK ZOLKEPLI

http://thestar.com.my/

Business & Investment Opportunities 
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com

Vietnam - FIEs may have to stop operation because of procedures

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 800 foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) in HCM City are facing the risk of getting dissolved or having to stop operation because they cannot make the re-registration, as requested by the 2005 Investment Law and Enterprise Law.

A lot of foreign investors try to re-register their operation in accordance with the new laws, but they still have not completed the re-registration formalities due to the technical problems.

In the document sent to the Prime Minister, HCM City authorities informed that a lot of profitable FIEs may have to stop operation in 2012. Some FIEs have even one more month to operate as written down in the investment license.

According to the HCM City People’s Committee, since July 1, 2011, the deadline for re-registration, the city has not received any applications for re-registration any longer as stipulated in the relating laws.

However, three FIEs still have requested to help them fulfill the procedures for re-registration in order to be able to extend the operation duration. These include the Saigon Joubo Textile Company, SKF Vietnam and RMIT Vietnam, an international university.

These are three cases among the FIEs which need to make re-registration in order to continue their operation but have not fulfilled the procedures.

Also according to the city’s authorities, there are 784 FIEs, or 20 percent of the enterprises still allowed to operate, which have been operating under the investment licenses granted prior to July 1, 2006.

Of this amount, 27 enterprises would have to terminate their operation in 2012 since their investment licenses would expire this year. Meanwhile, 174 more FIEs would also have to stop operation in the period from 2013 to 2020, if they cannot fulfill necessary procedures by that time.

Making a re-registration is just an administrative formality. However, if the administrative formality is not followed, FIEs would have to stop operation, when their investment licenses expire.

The FIEs established prior to July 1, 2006, which want to register more business fields and extend the operation duration are mostly the profitable ones. Big enterprises have made heavy investment in machines, technologies, equipment and infrastructure items in their long term investment plans in Vietnam. They need more time to develop their business, take back the investment capital and make profits.

The HCM City’s authorities have warned that if the 800 FIEs have to dissolve, this would have big impacts on the socio-economic life of the city and Vietnam. A lot of workers would lose jobs, which would lead to the lower state budget collection. More importantly, this would create uncertainties to the national economy and worsen the investment environment.

This does not come in line with the Vietnamese consistent policy on encouraging and supporting enterprises’ operation, so that they can make great contribution to the socio-economic development.

In the immediate time, 27 enterprises would have to stop operation because they cannot extend the licenses. This spells that the city would see the foreign direct investment capital drop by 672 million dollars and the chartered capital drop by 634 million dollars. These are really significant figures, especially when the city tries to attract more investment and needs capital.

Two solutions have been suggested to settle the problem. In the first one, the Prime Minister would allow to extend the operation of FIEs by granting new licenses adjusting the operation duration.

In this case, FIEs can continue operating in the business fields stipulated in the investment licenses granted before. However, they would not be able to enjoy the investment incentives until new regulations come out.

With the second scenario, foreign investors would be granted investment certificates on setting up businesses with new names.

Source: TBKTSG

Business & Investment Opportunities 
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com

Philippines - 'Operation Smile' Brings Cheer, Hope

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning beauty queens and this year’s candidates of the Bb. Pilipinas 2012 brought smiles of hope in the lives of at least 50 children through a special medical mission of Operation Smile Philippines recently held at the Sta. Ana Hospital.

Led by Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) Chairperson Stella Marquez-Araneta and Smile Ambassador and Ms. Universe 2011 3rd runner up Shamcey Supsup, the ladies assisted in the medical mission as part of an advocacy recently embraced by BPCI. Operation Smile is a private, non-profit organization that conducts medical missions in partner-countries.

During the Ms. Universe 2011 pageant, Shamcey Supsup was one of the selected candidates that participated in the Operation Smile mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Bb. Pilipinas International 2011 Dianne Necio and Bb. Pilipinas Tourism 2011 Isabella Manjon, a registered nurse, were also on hand to assist in the mission.

The ladies were warmly welcomed by Operation Smile Philippines trustees Robbie Antonio of Century Properties and Ann Gonzales of Havaianas and Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Mario Lato. John Joseph Javier, PAGCOR’s, Assistant Manager, Community Relations and Services Department and Manila Bulletin’s Badette Cunanan and Barbie Atienza also graced the occasion.

One of the highlights of the activity was the R600,000 pledge of BPCI intended to fund a future medical mission to benefit at least 40 children. Mrs. Araneta says that “the Binibining Pilipinas is not only concerned about the external beauty of face and figure. Beyond this kind of beauty, we espouse compassion for those who are underprivileged, those who have less in life. The effort becomes more meaningful because through this partnership with Operation Smile, we can actually help bring radiant smiles of hope in the lives of these children.”

Stella Marquez Araneta, BPCI Executive Board Member Conchitina Bernardo, together with three reigning beauty queens Shamcey Supsup, Dianne Necio and Isabella Manjon assisted in the operation of eight-month-old Armhea Lucas, whose cleft problem was so bad it pushed to her nose. After less than an hour, Armhea was brought out of the operating room to her tearful mom, with a brand new countenance. Mrs. Lucas, Armhea’s mom said, “Hindi ko po akalain na may ganitong mangyayari para sa anak ko. Mabuti na lang ang nagpursige ang asawa ko na hanapin ang Operation Smile. Ngayon, walang kasing tamis ang magiging ngiti at buhay ng anak ko. Salamat sa Operation Smile, Binibining Pilipinas at Pagcor.”

Roberto Manzano of Operation Smile welcomed the Bb. Pilipinas queens and candidates into the mission. “We see this as an important highlight in our 30th anniversary celebration of Operation Smile in the Philippines. In Operation Smile, we believe that when you create smiles, you change lives and you heal humanity. It is a touching scene when you see a beautiful girl lifting up the spirit of a child whose cleft deformities and face will be changed forever. It gives an altogether tangible dimension to beauties promoting hope and world peace.”

The Operation Smile mission is just one of many activities of the Bb. Pilipinas 2012. On March 25, there will be a grand Parade of Beauties around the Araneta Center starting at 4 p.m. On April 8, a pre-pageant Primer will be aired on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best. Coronation night will be on April 15 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and will be aired on ABS-CBN.

ROBERT R. REQUINTINA

mb.com.ph

Business & Investment Opportunities 
YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Healthcare and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programmes. Many thanks for visiting www.yourvietnamexpert.com and/or contacting us at contact@yourvietnamexpert.com

Indonesia - Bali launches operation targeting foreigners

Since early this week, the Denpasar administration has launched an operation targeting foreigners living in the city, checking their visas and permits, in an effort to prevent transnational crimes.

"We know where the foreigners live from regular reports from the district heads. We are targeting these locations,... said Denpasar public protection agency's senior ranking official Anak Agung Made Sumarjaya.

He said the operation was conducted to ensure the foreigners had proper documents, as well as to anticipate crime committed by international syndicates.

According to Sumarjaya, many foreigners in Bali were involved in various crimes, such as drug trafficking and pedophilia.

"As one of the foreigners' main entrances to Indonesia, Bali should be more aware. Therefore, we are conducting this operation....

This operation is also being carried out in connection with the upcoming ASEAN Summit in November, as well as many other international events, such as the APEC conference.

"We check whether their documents are genuine and up-to-date. They should also report to the district head in their neighborhood, especially those who have been living in one place for a long time,... Sumarjaya said.

Based on the recent operation, his office had only found two foreigners misusing their visas.

Haerun from the Denpasar Immigration Office said that the monitoring operation was more difficult as there were many foreigners who chose to live in mixed housing complexes where local people resided.

"The Denpasar administration has actively and regularly carried out operations to monitor foreigners. We hope other regency administrations will actively conduct similar monitoring operations. We also need the public, especially district heads, to help us in completing the data about foreigners in their neighborhoods....

He said foreigners misusing their visas would be questioned intensively, and if they were found to be misusing the documents, they would be deported.

Wasti Atmodjo in Denpasar/The Jakarta Post | ANN

Business & Investment Opportunities

YourVietnamExpert is a division of Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd, Incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Consulting, Investment and Management, focusing three main economic sectors: International PR; Healthcare & Wellness;and Tourism & Hospitality. We also propose Higher Education, as a bridge between educational structures and industries, by supporting international programs. Sign up with twitter to get news updates with @SaigonBusinessC. Thanks.