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New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Call for centralised oversight of Kelantan gold mining activities
KOTA BARU: Kelantan Pakatan Harapan (PH) has urged the state government to establish a centralised data collection centre to monitor gold mining activities, amid growing concerns over the increasing number of small-scale and illegal panners operating across the state. Its deputy women's chief, Dr Hafidzah Mustaqim, said such a centre is critical to ensure transparency, accountability and better management of the state's valuable mineral resources. Dr Hafidzah, who is also the Kota Lama assemblywoman, estimated that between 20 and 30 people engage in small-scale gold panning daily throughout Kelantan. "This is a matter of state interest. It's not about pointing fingers, but about seeking clarity and ensuring that the people are informed," she told the New Straits Times. She said the lack of a structured and regulated system has allowed illegal gold mining to flourish, depriving the state of potential revenue. "Let's break it down. "If 20 people pan 10gm of gold each day over 20 working days, that amounts to 4,000gm or 4kg a month. "At an estimated RM450 per gramme, this translates to RM1.8 million in value every month. "If this activity was regulated and monitored properly, that's revenue which could go back into the state's development. "Instead, it's lost — and this doesn't even include operations involving heavy machinery and modern mining tools," she said. Dr Hafidzah also cited industry estimates that mining operations in Sokor alone could yield up to 12kg of gold per month, worth about RM5.4 million. "These are huge figures, and yet the state only recorded RM13.797 million in gold royalties for the entire year of 2023," she said, referring to a written reply she received during the last Kelantan state assembly sitting. She said the disparity between reported royalties and estimated production figures raises questions about enforcement and resource tracking. "The state must take this seriously. "Illegal mining is not just a financial issue – it's an environmental one. "Rivers and nearby ecosystems are being damaged, fish populations are disappearing, and long-term environmental consequences are being ignored," she said. She emphasised that Kelantan's administration must be more proactive and transparent in managing its natural resources. "We don't even know whether some of these operations are producing gold or other minerals like iron ore. "There needs to be a centralised facility or collection point before these resources are transported or processed," she said. She said Kelantan is known to be rich in high-quality natural resources, including Rare Earth Elements (REE), yet the average person has yet to feel the benefits. "We cannot just wait for prosperity to trickle down. "The people have been patient, but now they deserve answers and action. "This is a wake-up call. A proper data management centre is no longer optional — it's essential," she said.
Focus Malaysia
09-06-2025
- Business
- Focus Malaysia
Foreign funds extends their Bursa retreat to a 3rd week with smaller net outflow of RM390m
FOREIGN investors extended their net selling streak on Bursa Malaysia to three weeks during the Agong's birthday-shortened trading week (June 3-6) with a net outflow of -RM387.4 mil which was smaller than the previous week's outflow of -RM1.02 bil. They were net sellers on every trading day with outflows ranging from -RM5.4 mil to -RM162.83 mil, according to MIDF Research. 'The largest outflow was recorded on Wednesday (June 4) at -RM162.8 mil followed by Tuesday (June 3) with -RM121.2 mil,' observed the research house in its weekly fund flow report. The top three sectors that recorded the highest net foreign inflows were telco & media (RM16.4 mil), technology (RM16.2 mil) and property (RM8.0 mil). On the contrary, the top three sectors that recorded the highest net foreign outflows were financial services (-RM193.1 mil), healthcare (-RM130.9 mil) and plantation (-RM40.4 mil). However, local institutions continued their buying activities by extending their buying streak to a third week with net inflows amounting to RM444.6 mil. Local retailers, meanwhile, reversed their two-week buying streak with an outflow of -RM57.3 mil. The average daily trading volume (ADTV) saw a broad-based decline last week. Local institutions and local retailers saw a decrease of -8.1% and -15.8% respectively while foreign investors posted a plunge of -29.1%. In comparison with another four Southeast Asian markets tracked by MIDF Research, only the Philippines recorded an inflow of US$9.8 mil to reverse its three consecutive weeks of foreign outflows. Elsewhere, Indonesia posted a net outflow of -US$288.4 mil to snap its three-week inflow streak while Vietnam posted a fourth straight week of foreign withdrawals with -US$80.4 mil in outflows. Thailand posted the smallest net outflow at -US$72.7 mil to extend its foreign selling streak to three weeks. The top three stocks with the highest net money inflow from foreign investors last week were Sunway Construction Group Bhd (RM76.4 mil), CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (RM55.8 mil) and My E.G. Services Bhd (RM55.4 mil), – June 9, 2025
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
IHH Healthcare in transformation and expansion mode
KUALA LUMPUR: IHH Healthcare Bhd will continue to strengthen its presence across the healthcare continuum in key markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, expanding into the ambulatory care segment alongside its existing primary care clinics. On the inorganic growth front, the group is on the lookout for strategic acquisitions, including hospitals in Malaysia, India and Turkiye. Group CEO Dr Prem Kumar Nair said while underperforming assets in China represent only a small fraction of IHH's overall portfolio, they have recently shown signs of improvement. 'In fact, the group remains optimistic about its prospects in China and is set to invest in a major ambulatory care centre in Shanghai,' he told reporters after the company's annual general meeting today. Dr Prem said what is particularly significant at this stage is the recognition that IHH must undergo – a comprehensive transformation to achieve many of its strategic goals. 'As a well-established organisation, some of our hospitals have been serving communities for decades – Punggol East in Singapore, Gleneagles with a 65-year legacy, Mount Elizabeth approaching 50 years, as well as Gleneagles Penang and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, both with over half a century of service. 'Given this legacy, we are now shifting our focus towards key transformation areas. 'One of the most important is the introduction of a new care model, which we have already begun implementing in markets like Singapore and Hong Kong. We are also actively encouraging other countries within our network to adopt this forward-looking approach to healthcare delivery,' Dr Prem said. The group's revenue in FY24 increased 16% to RM24.4 billion, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) stood at RM5.4 billion, a 17% growth from FY23. Profit after tax and minority Interest (Patmi) declined 10% to RM2.7 billion, mainly due to the one-off gain from the disposal of the International Medical University in 2023. Excluding extraordinary items, Patmi grew 32% from a year ago to RM1.7 billion. Return-on-equity (ROE) growth remains a key focus, and on the back of the strong financial performance, IHH declared a total of 10 sen per share in ordinary dividends in FY24, an increase from 9 sen per share in FY23. 'Many have asked whether factors like tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty – including developments in Turkiye and the US presidency of Donald Trump – have had an impact on us. 'Despite these external challenges, we have demonstrated strong resilience, delivering double-digit revenue and profit growth and achieving an ROE of 9%, edging closer to our target of double-digit ROE,' Dr Prem said. He said IHH's success is defined by meeting or exceeding a comprehensive set of indicators for each value-driven care procedure. Currently, the group is tracking eight high-volume procedures under this framework – including total knee replacement, colonoscopy, and breast cancer – monitoring over 360 indicators every month. These procedures account for about 20% of all inpatient admissions across the network, representing a significant portion of patient care and clinical activity. 'By next year, we plan to expand this programme to include two additional procedures, such as Caesarean sections, allowing more patients to benefit from outcome-driven care. 'To achieve and elevate the level of quality we aim for, we are making strategic investments in cutting-edge medical equipment and improved infrastructure,' Dr Prem said. As a group, he pointed out, IHH reinvests its profits into clinical research, quality improvement programmes and innovations aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. The company has embraced technology-driven care, such as ProtonBeam therapy for cancer treatment, and is creating seamless digital experiences to elevate service quality, including through the MyHealth360 app, which gives patients direct access to their healthcare. Equally important, Dr Prem said, IHH is committed to empowering both patients and staff by investing in continuous learning, development and modern work tools to enable its people to deliver exceptional care and perform at their best.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
IHH Healhcare in transformation and expansion mode
KUALA LUMPUR: IHH Healthcare Bhd will continue to strengthen its presence across the healthcare continuum in key markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, expanding into the ambulatory care segment alongside its existing primary care clinics. On the inorganic growth front, the group is on the lookout for strategic acquisitions, including hospitals in Malaysia, India and Turkiye. Group CEO Dr Prem Kumar Nair said while underperforming assets in China represent only a small fraction of IHH's overall portfolio, they have recently shown signs of improvement. 'In fact, the group remains optimistic about its prospects in China and is set to invest in a major ambulatory care centre in Shanghai,' he told reporters after the company's annual general meeting yesterday. Prem said what is particularly significant at this stage is the recognition that IHH must undergo – a comprehensive transformation to achieve many of its strategic goals. 'As a well-established organisation, some of our hospitals have been serving communities for decades – Punggol East in Singapore, Gleneagles with a 65-year legacy, Mount Elizabeth approaching 50 years, as well as Gleneagles Penang and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, both with over half a century of service. 'Given this legacy, we are now shifting our focus towards key transformation areas. 'One of the most important is the introduction of a new care model, which we have already begun implementing in markets like Singapore and Hong Kong. We are also actively encouraging other countries within our network to adopt this forward-looking approach to healthcare delivery,' Prem said. The group's revenue in FY24 increased 16% to RM24.4 billion, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) stood at RM5.4 billion, a 17% growth from FY23. Profit after tax and minority Interest (Patmi) declined 10% to RM2.7 billion, mainly due to the one-off gain from the disposal of the International Medical University in 2023. Excluding extraordinary items, Patmi grew 32% from a year ago to RM1.7 billion. Return-on-equity (ROE) growth remains a key focus, and on the back of the strong financial performance, IHH declared a total of 10 sen per share in ordinary dividends in FY24, an increase from 9 sen per share in FY23. 'Many have asked whether factors like tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty – including developments in Turkiye and the US presidency of Donald Trump – have had an impact on us. 'Despite these external challenges, we have demonstrated strong resilience, delivering double-digit revenue and profit growth and achieving an ROE of 9%, edging closer to our target of double-digit ROE,' Prem said. He said IHH's success is defined by meeting or exceeding a comprehensive set of indicators for each value-driven care procedure. Currently, the group is tracking eight high-volume procedures under this framework – including total knee replacement, colonoscopy, and breast cancer – monitoring over 360 indicators every month. These procedures account for about 20% of all inpatient admissions across the network, representing a significant portion of patient care and clinical activity. 'By next year, we plan to expand this programme to include two additional procedures, such as Caesarean sections, allowing more patients to benefit from outcome-driven care. 'To achieve and elevate the level of quality we aim for, we are making strategic investments in cutting-edge medical equipment and improved infrastructure,' Prem said. As a group, he pointed out, IHH reinvests its profits into clinical research, quality improvement programmes and innovations aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. The company has embraced technology-driven care, such as ProtonBeam therapy for cancer treatment, and is creating seamless digital experiences to elevate service quality, including through the MyHealth360 app, which gives patients direct access to their healthcare. Equally important, Prem said, IHH is committed to empowering both patients and staff by investing in continuous learning, development and modern work tools to enable its people to deliver exceptional care and perform at their best.
New Straits Times
19-05-2025
- New Straits Times
RM5.4 million worth of protected wildlife rescued at KLIA between 2023 and 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Between January 2023 and March 2025, an estimated RM5.4 million worth of protected wildlife species were rescued from being smuggled out through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim said the animals targeted for trafficking and smuggling include turtles, snakes, birds and primates, comprising local and exotic species. "To date, Perhilitan has opened 10 investigation papers related to wildlife smuggling cases through KLIA during the same period. "Most of these wild animals were being smuggled to South Asia, Indonesia and Vietnam," he told 'Harian Metro'. Kadir added that baby siamangs, iguanas, various bird species, snakes, and turtles were among the most frequently smuggled animals, either in or out of the country. The authorities were able to foil attempts to smuggle 4,200 exotic animals through KLIA, marking a 42 per cent increase compared with 2023. India recorded 56 foreign wildlife seizures in 2022, nearly half of which arrived via Kuala Lumpur. "Typically, these animals are placed in plastic containers, wrapped in boxes or adhesive material, and checked in as luggage. "However, such tactics have been thwarted in the cargo zone, thanks to intelligence work and cooperation between Perhilitan and other enforcement agencies," he said. Kadir said that illegal wildlife trade and smuggling activities could have long-term impacts, particularly on endangered species in Malaysia. In June 2024, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) donated two Belgian Malinois K9 detection dogs to Perhilitan to help combat wildlife smuggling activities at KLIA. The dogs, named Van and Perry, were imported from the Netherlands and underwent intensive training with professional handlers to detect endangered species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, such as elephant ivory, rhinoceros horns, pangolin scales, snakes and turtles.
