Latest news with #RM39.4
Barnama
6 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Johor Undertaking 33 Beautification, Landscape Projects Worth RM152.44 Mln
JOHOR BAHRU, June 26 (Bernama) – The Johor government, in collaboration with all 16 local authorities (PBTs), is currently undertaking 33 beautification and landscaping projects across the state, valued at RM152.44 million. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the projects include upgrades to recreational parks, pedestrian walkways, heritage areas, public art murals, tourism infrastructure, urban lighting and strategic visual markers, all aimed at directly improving the quality of life for the people. He said the allocation includes RM2.92 million for upgrading Taman Bandar Bukit Layang-Layang in conjunction with the National Landscape Day 2025 programme, RM1.48 million for landscape and beautification works at TMIYC Pasir Gudang, and RM30 million for infrastructure and beautification in the Johor Bahru City Centre. 'Each of these projects brings direct benefits to the people in the form of more comfortable recreational spaces, a more attractive urban environment, job opportunities in the landscape and tourism sectors, and an enhanced city image that encourages investor interest,' he said. He was speaking at the launch of the National Landscape Day 2025 celebration at the national level, officiated by Che' Puan Mahkota Khaleeda, the wife of the Regent of Johor. Also present were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming and Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor. Onn Hafiz said Johor is the only state to have its own State Landscape Department, demonstrating its commitment to systematic and integrated landscape development. According to data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the landscape industry contributed RM39.4 billion to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, with Johor having the highest number of nurseries in Malaysia, accounting for 87 per cent of the national total. 'This development not only reflects the rapid growth of the landscape sector, but also strengthens its position as one of the country's promising new economic drivers,' he said.
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia targets RM60b GDP boost from landscape industry by 2030
PETALING JAYA : The landscape industry should no longer be viewed as purely cosmetic or decorative, but as a strategic national investment in climate resilience, public health and cultural identity, says the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia. Its president, Assoc Prof Dr Nor Atiah Ismail said landscape architecture has become a key pillar of sustainable development, contributing significantly to economic growth and environmental protection. 'It is not a distant ambition. It is a clear call to action for Malaysia to mobilise our national strengths – our design expertise, biodiversity and professional innovation – for both local and regional impact,' she told theSun. On June 19, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that under the newly updated National Landscape Policy, the government is targeting the landscape industry to contribute RM60 billion, or 3% to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030. He said the sector had already contributed RM39.4 billion, or 2%, to the GDP last year, an increase from RM35.68 billion in 2023. Nga added that the ministry would continue working to unlock the sector's full potential, aiming to transform it into a strategic economic force that not only enhances aesthetics and quality of life, but also creates jobs and income. Nor Atiah said the timing is right for Malaysia to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable landscape services, nature-based solutions and tropical floriculture exports. She cited industry estimates that placed the global landscaping services market at US$296 billion (RM1.39 trillion) in 2023, with projections rising to US$400 billion (RM1.88 trillion) by 2030. 'Growth in the Asia-Pacific region is especially strong, driven by rapid urbanisation, climate risks and the need for resilient green infrastructure.' Nor Atiah, who also serves on the executive committee of the International Federation of Landscape Architects Asia-Pacific, said Malaysian professionals are already playing a key role in high-value areas such as healthcare design, ESG-compliant (environment, social, governance) infrastructure, tourism planning and heritage revitalisation. 'They are not decorative works. They are part of a new green economy, where well-designed environments improve public health, attract investment and strengthen resilience to climate shocks. 'While the National Landscape Policy offers a solid foundation, it must now be fully operationalised across federal and state levels and aligned with national development frameworks such as the National Energy Transition roadmap and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.' Nor Atiah proposed several strategic actions, including improved policy enforcement, green tax incentives, education reform and support for local firms to compete globally. 'Tax rebates could be introduced for projects that go beyond the minimum landscaping requirements and successfully integrate nature-based solutions. 'Digital upskilling and analytical tools should be prioritised to ensure our professionals remain globally competitive.' She said landscape consultancies and nurseries should be better integrated into regional and global value chains, particularly in Asean and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, where demand for sustainable urban design is rising. 'Malaysia is well-placed to lead this platform, thanks to our tropical biodiversity, cultural richness and growing pool of design talent.' Nor Atiah also said the RM60 billion target reflects a larger shift in how landscape architecture is viewed in Malaysia. 'It's about giving value to beauty, dignity to green labour and strategic status to a profession that has long shaped our natural environments. 'With the right support, Malaysia's landscape industry can become a beacon in the region and a key player in the global green economy.'
The Sun
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Landscape industry to power GDP and global reach
PETALING JAYA: The landscape industry should no longer be viewed as purely cosmetic or decorative, but as a strategic national investment in climate resilience, public health and cultural identity, says the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia. Its president, Assoc Prof Dr Nor Atiah Ismail said landscape architecture has become a key pillar of sustainable development, contributing significantly to economic growth and environmental protection. 'It is not a distant ambition. It is a clear call to action for Malaysia to mobilise our national strengths – our design expertise, biodiversity and professional innovation – for both local and regional impact,' she told theSun. On June 19, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that under the newly updated National Landscape Policy, the government is targeting the landscape industry to contribute RM60 billion, or 3% to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030. He said the sector had already contributed RM39.4 billion, or 2%, to the GDP last year, an increase from RM35.68 billion in 2023. Nga added that the ministry would continue working to unlock the sector's full potential, aiming to transform it into a strategic economic force that not only enhances aesthetics and quality of life, but also creates jobs and income. Nor Atiah said the timing is right for Malaysia to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable landscape services, nature-based solutions and tropical floriculture exports. She cited industry estimates that placed the global landscaping services market at US$296 billion (RM1.39 trillion) in 2023, with projections rising to US$400 billion (RM1.88 trillion) by 2030. 'Growth in the Asia-Pacific region is especially strong, driven by rapid urbanisation, climate risks and the need for resilient green infrastructure.' Nor Atiah, who also serves on the executive committee of the International Federation of Landscape Architects Asia-Pacific, said Malaysian professionals are already playing a key role in high-value areas such as healthcare design, ESG-compliant (environment, social, governance) infrastructure, tourism planning and heritage revitalisation. 'They are not decorative works. They are part of a new green economy, where well-designed environments improve public health, attract investment and strengthen resilience to climate shocks. 'While the National Landscape Policy offers a solid foundation, it must now be fully operationalised across federal and state levels and aligned with national development frameworks such as the National Energy Transition roadmap and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.' Nor Atiah proposed several strategic actions, including improved policy enforcement, green tax incentives, education reform and support for local firms to compete globally. 'Tax rebates could be introduced for projects that go beyond the minimum landscaping requirements and successfully integrate nature-based solutions. 'Digital upskilling and analytical tools should be prioritised to ensure our professionals remain globally competitive.' She said landscape consultancies and nurseries should be better integrated into regional and global value chains, particularly in Asean and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, where demand for sustainable urban design is rising. 'Malaysia is well-placed to lead this platform, thanks to our tropical biodiversity, cultural richness and growing pool of design talent.' Nor Atiah also said the RM60 billion target reflects a larger shift in how landscape architecture is viewed in Malaysia. 'It's about giving value to beauty, dignity to green labour and strategic status to a profession that has long shaped our natural environments. 'With the right support, Malaysia's landscape industry can become a beacon in the region and a key player in the global green economy.'
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Southern Score posts best-ever 9M earnings, eyes Bursa main market transfer
KUALA LUMPUR: Southern Score Builders Bhd, a construction management specialist for high-rise residential buildings and civil infrastructure, posted a revenue of RM59.8 million for the third quarter (Q3) ended March 31, 2025 (FY25), surging 52.1% from RM39.4 million posted in Q3 FY24. Net profit also grew by 39.4% year-on-year (YoY) to RM10.0 million, up from RM7.2 million in Q3 FY24. For the nine-month (9M) of FY25, Southern Score recorded a revenue of RM140.0 million, representing a YoY increase of RM32.9 million or 30.7% from RM107.1 million in the 9M FY24. The double-digit growth was driven mainly by the group's mechanical and electrical (M&E) arm, SJEE Engineering Sdn Bhd's (SJEE) maiden contribution as well as higher revenue from turnkey construction services following the commencement of the Platinum Melati Residences project. At the bottom line, net profit jumped 53.8% YoY to RM28.6 million, up from RM18.6 million in 9M FY24. The growth was attributed to cost savings from the main building work projects of Vista Harmoni Sentul Residences and PV 22 Residences. Notably, this marks Southern Score's highest-ever net profit for a nine-month period. Executive director and CEO Gan Yee Hin said the company delivered its best-ever nine-month bottom-line performance. 'This was partly driven by the maiden contribution from our M&E arm — a clear indication that our investment is already yielding results. 'Looking ahead, we continue to be upbeat on the prospects as we see vast opportunities for both our construction and M&E divisions,' he said. Gan also noted that the Department of Statistics Malaysia reported that the value of work done in the construction sector continued its upward trend, recording a moderate increase of 16.6% to RM42.9 billion in the first quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the Malaysian data centre market is projected by Arizton Advisory & Intelligence to reach US$13.6 billion by 2030 from US$4.0 billion in 2024. On top of that, the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) opens up new opportunities for us as it is attracting interest from multinational corporations, particularly in the medical, pharmaceutical, and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, which are exploring potential investments in the area. 'These positive developments bode well for the group, and with our technical expertise and proven track record, we are well-positioned to seize the opportunities ahead,' Gan said. To recap, SJEE had in April 2025 secured a RM51.4 million M&E contract for a data centre project at Elmina Business Park, Selangor. 'This boosted the order book of our M&E arm to RM105.7 million, while the order book for the construction segment stands at RM1.3 billion as of end-April 2025. 'This gives us clear earnings visibility in the coming years,' said Gan. On the corporate front, Gan said the group had proposed in March 2025 to undertake the transfer of the listing and quotation for Southern Score's entire issued share capital from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. 'The transfer represents another major milestone for everyone at SSBB. We believe this exercise will enhance the group's corporate profile, credibility, and reputation, while according Southern Score a greater recognition and following amongst institutional investors. 'Besides, the transfer would boost the confidence of all our stakeholders and better reflect our group's current scale of operations,' said Gan. Southern Score board expects the transfer to be completed within the second half of 2025, barring any unforeseen circumstances and subject to all required approvals being obtained. Gan said the group had proposed in March 2025 to undertake the transfer of the listing and quotation for Southern Score's entire issued share capital from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Perhilitan expects elephant sanctuary in Gerik to be operational by 2030
IPOH: The Perak Elephant Sanctuary at Jalan Raya Timur-Barat (JRTB) is expected to be completed by 2030, said Perak Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director Yusoff Shariff. He said the RM40 million project had been submitted to the Economy Ministry on May 6 and the decision on its construction falls entirely under the jurisdiction of the Federal government. 'If everything goes smoothly, I think this sanctuary can operate as early as in 2028, but for (the infrastructure facility) to be fully completed, perhaps 2030 is a more realistic target. 'With the availability of such a facility, it will reduce human-elephant conflicts at JRTB by about 50 to 50 per cent,' he said when contacted by Bernama. Bernama reported on July 18, 2020, that the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources announced the development of the Perak Elephant Sanctuary (PES) at Batu 11, JRTB in Gerik. Based on Perhilitan's records, 4,919 complaints of human-elephant conflicts were reported between 2020 and 2024, with property loss estimated at RM39.4 million. On the effectiveness of a wildlife crossing at the JRTB, Yusoff said the 200-metre crossing, also known as a viaduct that was built for RM26 million in 2015, proved helpful but does not guarantee the safety of elephants that inhabited the area along the route. He added that this was because the crossing was built at Kilometre 157 of the JRTB and only used by the elephants that inhabit that specific area. 'The viaduct only helps on a small scale and is only used by animals inhabiting that area. So, we feel that the setting up of a sanctuary will provide greater safety assurance for both road users and elephants at the JRTB,' he said. He also did not rule out the possibility of building more wildlife crossings along the JRTB if there is a specific allocation for it.
