July – September 2006
Quarterly
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Malaysian Tin Products
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
FOR YEAR 2005/2006
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PRESIDENT MR. MAMORU KAWASAKI(ALTERNATE – MR. LOH YOON SOON) SELAYANG SOLDER SDN BHD
VICE-PRESIDENT MR. TEOH LAY HOCK NIHON SUPERIOR (M) SDN BHD
HON. SECRETARY MR. C.S. LIM METAL RECLAMATION (IND) SDN BHD
TREASURER MR. JASON LEE HENKEL (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD |
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Letters to the Editor are
welcomed. We appreciate your feedback
to further improve our editorial content. Please address your letters to: The Editor The Malaysian Tin Products Newsletter P O Box 12560 50782 KUALA LUMPUR. |
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COMMITTEE MEMBERS MR. CHEN TIEN YUE ROYAL SELANGOR INTERNATIONAL SDN BHD EN. AB. PATAH MOHD PERUSAHAAN SADUR TIMAH MALAYSIA (PERSTIMA) BHD MR. KOJI TSUBONO SENJU (M) SDN BHD |
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SECRETARIAT ADDRESS The Malaysian Tin Products Manufacturers’ Association (MTPMA) 8th Floor, West Block Wisma Selangor Dredging 142-C, Jalan Ampang 50450 KUALA LUMPUR. |
EDITORIAL SUB-COMMITTEEMR. LOH YOON SOON
MR.
TEOH MR. C.S. LIM
MR.
JASON LEE MR. CHEN TIEN YUE
TN.
HAJI MUHAMAD NOR MUHAMAD MS. LYNETTE PICHOO |
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Tel: 03
– 21616171 Fax: 03
– 21616179 Email: mtpmasec@mtpma.org.my The Malaysian Tin Products Newsletter is published
quarterly by the Malaysian Tin Products Manufacturers’ Association (MTPMA).
The opinion and statements expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily
those of the MTPMA or the Editorial Sub-Committee and neither endorsement nor
confirmation are intended or implied. |
Dear Members,
First and foremost, I would like to thank all the members of the Association for their strong show of support in electing me to be the Association’s President for the ensuing term. I vouch to do my utmost best in continuing the good efforts made by my predecessors.
My tenure as President has indeed begun in a commendable setting, and within a positive outlook for the Malaysian economy. The country’s 3rd Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) covering the period 2006 to 2010, which was recently launched, has forecasted an annual average growth rate of 6.3 per cent during the Plan’s period. This is almost double the figure recorded during the 2nd Industrial Master Plan. Equally encouraging is that the Government has allocated RM82.4 billion towards the electrical and electronics industry for the 15-year IMP3 period in order to maintain its position as the nation’s largest exporter of manufactured goods.
As for the consumer electronics sector, the outlook remains positive this quarter due to events such as the recent World Cup that had boosted sales of electronic home consumer goods, such as the plasma and LCD (liquid crystal display) televisions where sales were reportedly to have increased tremendously before the event. Locally, events such as the recent 13th KL International Audio Video (AV) exhibition had also lent much support towards the positive in-flow of investment interest in the electronics sector. Indeed the healthy development of this important economic sector will doubtless create a good and healthy business climate not only for tin-based product manufacturers but also to tin producers, as well.
As my first clarion call to all members, may I seek their involvement, support and contribution towards this newsletter, which is the Association’s important mouthpiece. For those who have already done so, may I thank them for their loyal support. May I encourage all members to continuously submit news, views and information on their companies’ developments, and to also remind them that this publication is an excellent medium to promote their business and to create new opportunities.
It is with much eagerness that I look forward to work closely with all members in leading this Association to rise above the challenges, and to soar to greater heights in the success of our future together.
With best regards.
Mamoru Kawasaki
President
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS NEWS
Bright Outlook For Consumer Electronics Sector
The outlook for Malaysia’s consumer electronics sector remains positive, despite weaker consumer confidence in view of higher interest rates, electricity tariff and petrol price. Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Ng Lip Yong said sales of consumer electronics products are still strong, thanks to the just-ended World Cup Finals.
“We could see that the sales of plasma and LCD (liquid crystal display) televisions increased before the World Cup started. “Big event like this (World Cup) can boost sales (of home consumer electronics),” Ng told reporters after officiating at the 13th KL International Audio Video (AV) Show in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The show is organised by 3Dot Events Sdn Bhd and the New Straits Times is the official media for the three-day event. In her speech delivered by Ng, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said the show is timely to promote Malaysia as the leading producer of AV and consumer electronics products to the world. She said the country continues to witness the flow of investments into the electronics sector.
During the January to May 2006 period, 224 projects were approved with RM15.2 billion investment. Of the total, 83.6 per cent were foreign investments and the remaining 16.4 per cent were domestic investments.
“The consumer electronics sub-sector has evolved from the manufacture of products such as VCR, coloured TVs and speaker boxes, to higher value-added products such as digital audio video equipment, multimedia speakers, plasma TVs and home theatres,” Rafidah said.
Meanwhile, event organising chairman Dick Tan said the show, which features multitude of AV products, aims to boost consumer confidence. “The main highlight of this year’s event is the demonstration of high definition (HD) DVDs, which come in two formats; HD-DVD and Blue-Ray,” he said. The show runs until tomorrow at the JW Marriott hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
(Sources: Business Times, 22 July 2006)
RM82b For Electricals, Electronics
The Government will allocate RM82.4 billion to the electrical and electronics (E&E) industry for the 15-year IMP3 period to maintain its position as the largest exporter of manufactured goods. The allocation, which more than doubles that of IMP2, is expected to push exports to the RM738.9 billion mark in 2020.
To do that, the Government hopes to strengthen the semiconductor and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors, intensify research and development (R&D) and promote new and emerging technologies. The earmarked semiconductor areas comprise the North-Western Corridor, including Penang, Perak, Kulim High Technology Park and the neighbouring industrial areas in Kedah.
The Institute of Microelectronics will be enhanced to serve as the Centre of Excellence (CE) for semiconductors. CEs provide technology support, R&D facilities and incubators for new start-up firms. Specific public universities, namely Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Multimedia University, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaya will also be designated as CEs in semiconductor, ICT, micro-electromechanical systems and photonics.
Apart from focusing on these sub-segments, the Government wants to improve on nanotechnology, wireless and advanced display technologies. It hopes to see more ventures between multinationals and local small medium companies, especially in the ICT sector. Multimedia Super Corridor areas will enjoy more facilities, like broadband, wireless services, information kiosks and even wireless broadband.
The Government, in order to make local E&E firms regionally and globally-known, will promote outsourcing, offshoring, outward investments and even mergers and acquisitions. It will formulate a standardised quality control management system to ensure E&E firms comply with international standards. More courses will be added to the education system to produce a better-skilled workforce.
(Sources: Business Times, 19 August 2006)
Investment In E&E Industry Set To Hit RM82.4b By 2020
Total investments in the country’s electrical and electronics (E&E) industry during the 14-year period of the Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3) is expected to hit RM82.4 billion by 2020. International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said an annual investment growth average of 7.2 per cent for the sector has been targeted.
“The average growth rate of exports are expected to total 7.1 per cent per year while exports at the end of the IMP3 period are expected to reach RM738.9 billion,” she said at the opening of Infineon Technologies AG’s RM3.8 billion first Asian back-end power fabrication at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park in Kedah yesterday.
Under the IMP3 (2006-2020), Rafidah said the semiconductor industry will be strengthened further through the realisation of a fully-developed semiconductor cluster, which covers the north-western corridor including Perak, Penang, Kulim Hi-Tech Park and the neighbouring industrial areas in Kedah.
“Core activities include design centres for integrated circuits and fabless houses, water fabrication and assembly and packaging and testing. “Supporting industries, which are being promoted include integrated circuit production design, specialty gas, speciality chemical, photo mask, bonding wires, precision metal fabrication, precision moulded parts and surface treatment,” Rafidah said.
As one of the world’s largest exporters and leading location for semiconductor assembly and test operations, Malaysia’s E&E industry boasted investments totalling RM116.9 billion between 1980 and August this year.
“Investments continue to be received to the E&E sub-sectors during the January to August 2006 period, which comprised electronic components (RM4 billion), industrial electronics (RM716.9 million), consumer electronics (RM158 million) and electrical products (RM142.7 million),” she said.
Yesterday’s opening of the new Infineon facility was witnessed by the company’s president and chief executive officer Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, Kedah state executive councillor Datuk Chong Itt Chew, Kulim Technology Park Corp Bhd group chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Shukri Tajuddin and Infineon Technologies (Kulim) Sdn Bhd vice-president and managing director Tan Soo Hee.
At full capacity, the new facility is expected to employ 1,700 people and maximum capacity will be about 100,000 wafer stats per month, using wafer discs with a diameter of 200 mm.
“Our new fabrication in Kulim is a strategic investment into our future and an opportunity to address the world’s growing demand for more efficient power controls in industrial, computing and household appliances by enabling variable speed-controlled electric motors with higher performance,” said Ziebart. “This new fabrication is an important step in continuing our successful business with chips for automotive and industrial power applications,” he added.
(Source: Business Times, 13 September 2006)
ECONOMIC NEWS
June Exports Beat Forecasts
Malaysia’s exports continued their upward momentum in June, reinforcing market confidence in external demand’s support for economic growth this year. Exports beat market expectations and grew by 11.4 per cent as compared with June last year and increased by 2.8 per cent from May.
Imports amounted to RM40.99 billion, growing by 11.4 per cent year-on-year and 1.9 per cent from May, while trade surplus widened to RM8.61 billion. Action Economics director of Asian economic forecasting David Cohen described the export numbers as supportive of the growth of the Malaysian economy in the second quarter and also reflective of the strength of the global demand.
“The nervousness (of a slowing exports growth against a backdrop of slowing US economy growth) is understandable, but we are confident that the momentum for Malaysian exports will be sustained even if the upward trajectory may come off during the second half of the year,” he said.
Singapore-based Action Economics is looking to exports to support the 5.5 per cent projected gross domestic product growth for Malaysia this year. June exports were above a Business Times poll which had expected it to grow at 10.72 per cent year-on-year, imports at 11.56 per cent year-on-year and the surplus at RM8.27 billion.
The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) attributed the increase to the expansion in exports of major product sectors such as transport equipment, optical and scientific equipment, manufactures of metal, electrical and electronic (E&E) products and refined petroleum products.
Export markets which recorded significant increases in June were New Zealand (168.5 per cent), Pakistan (83.5 per cent), United Arab Emirates (42.9 per cent), China (15 per cent), the US (8.8 per cent) and Japan (7 per cent). ASEAN, the US, the European Union, Japan, Hong Kong and China accounted for 78.2 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports in June.
Exports to the US reached a record high of RM10 billion or 20.2 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports, from May contributed mainly higher exports of E&E products, which constituted 78.6 per cent of Malaysia’s total exports to the US and crude petroleum.
In June, E&E products (RM24.48 billion or 49.3 per cent of total exports) led major exports, followed by crude petroleum (RM2.68 billion or 5.4 per cent of total exports) and chemicals and chemical products (RM2.31 billion or 4.6 per cent of total exports).
(Sources: Business Times, 5 August 2006)
Malaysia’s Growth Rate To Exceed World Average
The Malaysian economy is expected to grow at an average of 6.3 per cent a year during the Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3: 2006-2020) against an average of 3.5 per cent annual growth in the world’s gross domestic product (GDP) during the period.
The target growth is hinged on the country’s manufacturing sector sustaining its growth momentum, the services sector becoming a major source of growth, and greater focus given to developing the agriculture sector.
Other than that, the projection is also premised on the private sector and government-linked companies leading the economy in generating new investment and the public sector enhancing its delivery system during the 2006-2010 period. After registering moderate expansion at an average annual rate of 4.6 per cent during IMP2, Malaysia’s economy is expected to grow higher at 6 per cent during the first five years of the IMP3.
Subsequently, during the period 2011-2020, the economy is targeted to register an average annual growth of 6.5 per cent. For the IMP3, 12 industries in the manufacturing sector have been identified for further development and promotion.
Six are non resource-based industries. They are electrical and electronics, medical devices, textiles and apparel, machinery and equipment, metals, and transport equipment. The other six are resource-based industries, namely petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, wood-based, rubber-based, oil palm-based, and food processing.
These strategic industries must also contribute to the greater growth of the sector, in terms of higher value-added, technology, exports, knowledge content, multiplier and spin-off effects, and have the potential to be integrated regionally and globally.
The non-government services are also targeted to be the fastest growing sector, which is expected to reduce Malaysia’s dependence on imported services like insurance and information, communications and technology (ICT) services, while boosting the export services such as construction, education and training, and health.
In the services sector, eight sub-sectors have been targeted for greater development and promotion which include business and professional, logistics, ICT services, distributive trade, construction, education and training, healthcare services, and tourism services.
With the potential of becoming another source of growth, the agriculture sector will be transformed into a more commercialised and technology-intensive sector, with a focus on the application of technology, especially biotechnology.
During the first five years of IMP3, employment in the economy is set to increase by an average annual growth of 1.9 per cent from 10.9 million in 2005 to 12 million in 2010, with the services sector continuing to be the largest source of employment, accounting for 52.2 per cent of the total employment by 2010.
(Source: Business Times, 19 August 2006)
Malaysia Ranks 25th On Ease Of Doing Business
Malaysia emerged as the 25th most business-friendly nation from among 175 countries in the world, a new World Bank report says. Malaysia scored better than some Asian powerhouses like Taiwan, which dropped to 47th from 43rd, and China which occupies the 93rd spot in the latest report.
However, the report also warned that Malaysia’s competitiveness may soon prove inadequate if it failed to keep pace with speedy reforms being introduced in other economies worldwide. Singapore topped the list, beating 2006’s top-ranked New Zealand into second place, while Thailand’s ranking improved to 18th from 19th. The US and Canada remained at third and fourth spots respectively.
The World Bank report titled: “Doing Business 2007”, ranked countries by tracking indicators of the time and cost for businesses to meet government requirements; to start and close a business; obtain licenses; get credit; pay taxes and other essential areas.
Other Asian economies ranked in the list are Japan (11th), Hong Kong (5th), South Korea (23rd), India (134th) and Indonesia (135th). An official with the Washington-based institution’s Investment Climate Department, Svetlana Bagaudinova, said Malaysia needed to further reform its business environment to attract more foreign direct investments (FDI).
“More reforms in areas such as cutting bureaucracy and taxes will help Malaysia pull in more foreign investments and at the same time create new employment opportunities,” she said in a phone interview. Malaysia’s ranking in the report followed an aggregated score from 10 sub-categories. The report indicates that Malaysia’s competitiveness suffered in several categories such as dealing with licences, employing workers, trading cross borders, enforcing contracts and closing businesses.
The World Bank states that in the past year, less than half of the East Asian economies introduced at least one reform that conformed to the report’s indicators. However, every Eastern European country except Slovenia instituted reforms. East Asian countries are said to be the slowest in terms of business reforms compared to other regions in the world except for South Asia.
Malaysia has made some changes over the past year as part of efforts to attract more foreign investors and is working hard to cut red tape in government agencies, improve the public delivery system and provide more tax incentives. The country is also improving its technology levels and is striving to provide more sophisticated infrastructure to foreign investors.
A surprise two per cent cut in corporate taxes announced in Budget 2007 recently is one step on the tax incentive front to attract more FDIs into the country. Other countries with no reforms during the past year include Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan. The World Bank praised China’s efforts in reforming its business environment.
The country reduced the time to register a business from 48 to 35 days, and cut the minimum capital required from 947 per cent to 213 per cent of income per capita, making it easier for entrepreneurs to start businesses. It also made amendments to company law by strengthening investor protection against insider dealings, and started online Customs procedures that reduced the time to import and export by two days, improving international competitiveness. Globally, China is ranked fourth in terms of speed of reforms, after Georgia, Romania and Mexico.
(Source: New Straits Times, 7 September 2006)
No Pain, Some Gain Budget
The 2007 Budget was drafted against the background of an increasingly uncertain macro-economic environment. Acknowledging that, the Government has revised its 2006 estimates for real gross domestic product (GDP) growth down a tad to 5.8% from 6.0% previously.
But even the lower figure may prove too optimistic. The tech industry, which accounts for half of Malaysia’s reports, is stuck in a lull period and that will be reflected in weaker export growth that could extend well into the first half of 2007. The US, Malaysia’s biggest trading partner, is also slowing down under the weight of past interest rate hikes. Although more resilient than before, Malaysia still remain vulnerable to any US economic slowdown. And the runaway Chinese economy is poised for a slowdown next year, whether government induced or not. Taken together, these factors are threatening to slow the economy to a walk.
Against this backdrop and to ensure that the National Mission is on track, the Government, targeting a deficit of 3.4%, has unveiled a pro-business expansionary budget within prudential limits for next year. Armed with new allocation for a new planning cycle and made possible by higher oil revenue, the Government will be spending again after a few years of belt tightening.
Gross development expenditure is projected to increase substantially by 24.3% in 2007 after a 17.3% projected increase in 2006. That will provide a lifeline for the ailing construction sector. The budget cuts across many sectors of the economy, focussing on new high growth areas such as bio-technology, the halal food industry, agriculture, information communication technology, tourism and Islamic banking to generate growth and to strengthen economic resilience.
Measures were introduced to address investors’ concerns over the unavailability of skilled workers, the lack of business opportunities, the rising costs of doing business and time-consuming approval procedures. Besides cushioning short-term external shocks, the 2007 Budget, the first under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, seeks to implement measures that support the medium-term national objectives of moving the economy up the value chain, tackling socio-economic inequalities, raising the nation’s capacity for knowledge and innovation, and strengthening the institutional and implementation capacity of the Government machinery.
Other notable measures include the development of human capital, the key element to Malaysia’s competitiveness; the simplification and approvals of visas and work permit procedures to attract foreign skilled workers; and efforts to tackle regional growth imbalances through the setting up of three corridors.
The key highlight of the 2007 Budget is the pleasant but long overdue surprise of a reduction in corporate income tax from the current 28% to 27% for 2007 and to 26% for 2008. Malaysia has been slowing down in the pursuit of foreign investments. China has not only diverted foreign investments away, its electrical and electronics (E&E) exports have also overtaken those of Asean put together. Also, India is slowly opening up to foreign participation. And Singapore attempting to get closer to Hong Kong’s 17.5%, has been aggressively cutting its corporate income tax down to only 20%, the lowest in Asean.
However, foreign investment is not all about taxation and incentives. Policy consistency and predictability are equally important. The Pantai incident and the controversies surrounding the purposed distributive trade guidelines are problems that Malaysia could do without.
Consumers, excluding those in the civil service, must be disappointed with the budget, with little being put into their pockets to offset the high costs of living. There was no reduction in personal income tax, no increase in personal relief and no reduction in employees’ contribution to the Employees Provident Fund. Spending has been slowing, weighed down by higher cost conditions, poorer employment prospects and rising macro-economic uncertainty. With the lack of the ‘feel good’ factor, consumers will likely remain cautious spenders.
Another sector that received little from the budget is the motor sector, currently mired in a massive overhang of unsold units. The overhang basically reflects the gross mismatch between supply and demand on the back of downward adjustments in prices following the announcement of the National Automotive Policy. Inflation in Malaysia this year has almost entirely been policy-induced, with little pressure coming from the demand side. And the Government appears hesitant to place additional pressure on inflation.
By capping next year’s fuel subsidy bill at RM19bil, the same amount as this year’s, the Government appears unlikely to reduce the subsidy further next year, provided that oil prices do not rise significantly above the US$70 per barrel. In addition, the increase in sin taxes, another big push factor on current headline inflation, is also insignificant, ensuring a gradual improvement in the inflation trend for the rest of this year. The Government appears to be caught in two minds, wanting to deter smoking and drinking but wary of the inflationary implications.
Against the backdrop of a slowing global economy and with little budgetary cheer for consumers, the 2007 forecast of 6% appears bullish with the economy likely firing with only two cylinders (Government spending and private investment). Government spending may mitigate some of the pain but is unlikely to fully compensate for the slowdown in export demand and its consequent drag on consumer and investor sentiment.
Also, the multiplier effect from fiscal expenditure tends to be lower during a business downcycle as businesses and consumers (excluding civil servants) are unlikely to spend in the face of weak sentiment due to weak employment, earnings and income prospects. In this context, the need to ensure that funds are spent prudently in order to ensure an effective allocation of resources becomes even more critical.
In the past, cronyism and the layers of middlemen have contributed to gross inefficiency, shoddy work and the wastage of public funds. Instead of a system based on political connections, the country now needs a more transparent system that entirely promotes competitive bidding and meritocracy. That way, fiscal policy could be a more effective counter-cyclical tool in helping the economy to better withstand externally induced economic turbulence.
(Sources: The Star, 11 September 2006)
MEMBERS' NEWS
Perstima To Double Exports
Tinplate producer Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd is targeting to double its exports in the current financial year on the back of higher overseas demand and escalating steel prices.
Speaking after the company AGM yesterday, chairman Tan Sri Ab Rahman Omar said: “We are expecting exports to go up this year to 20% (of production) from the current 20,000-25,000 tonnes to 40,000-45,000 tonnes.” With an annual production of between 200,000 and 240,000 tonnes, the company currently exports to countries such as Iran, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Ab Rahman said its customers were expected to increase orders now, in view of their depleting stock and anticipation of rising steel prices. “This would translate into higher earnings for the company this financial year,” he said. The company was expected to perform better in the year ending March 31, 2007 compared with last year when it recorded a net profit of RM30.7mil.
For its first quarter ended June 30, Perstima posted a net profit of RM7.9mil on revenue of RM144.2mil. On its Vietnam operations, Ab Rahman said: “It was doing well. We have a market share of about 70% there and we expect to maintain this.”
(Sources: The Star, 15 July 2006)
Animals In Pewter
Royal Selangor has a new children’s gift range called The Ark. Designed by acclaimed British designer Nick Munro, The Ark features some of the world’s endangered and threatened species. The gift items include a musical panda carousel, polar bear coin box, turtle toothbrush box, elephant baby mug, whale bowl and tiger photo frame.
The range pays homage to the animal kingdom and aims to educate children about these precious creatures. It is a collaboration between Royal Selangor and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) to save the Malayan Tiger (Panthera tigris jacksonii). Part of the proceeds of the sale of The Ark collection will be channelled to MNS.
(Source: The Star, 17 July 2006)
Pewterware Maker Introduces New Collection
Royal Selangor International recently introduced Rimba, a collection of pewter animal figurines to commemorate Visit Malaysia Year 2007. The new range also aims to promote the company’s new product philosophy
“The whole idea is to drive the relevance, the usability and functionality of pewter in today’s lifestyle,” said Royal Selangor general manager Yong Yoon Li. The Rimba range comprises stylised, high-shine pewter figures of nine endangered animals native to the region: gaur, tapir, pangolin, elephant, tiger, orang utan, hornbill and sun bear.
“The little figurines are very bold, very modern and stylised,” said Yong at the launch of Rimba on Sept 4. Rimba is one of the seven ranges from Royal Selangor’s Autumn Collection which was launched a day after the Rimba collection. The Autumn Collection features tableware, desk accessories, personal accessories and other items which combine both function and art.
From the Rimba animal figurines to the sleek contemporary curves of the Gelati range of pewter and acrylic produced in partnership with British designer Nick Munro, from the Islamic-art inspired Alif range to the Winnie the Pooh range, the collection draws attention to the flexibility of pewter. The Autumn Collection offers 73 distinct products in total and is expected to contribute to the growth of the company’s local and overseas sales by 20% this year. The company will have 160 new items in the market by the end of the year.
“We try to drive growth by releasing new products. Half of our sales are from overseas. Normally we’ll launch about 50 to 80 items, but we felt that the store needed more products and our customers needed a new taste of what pewter should be,” he said.
The other ranges in the Autumn collection are Himalaya – tableware and photoframes which features alternating bands of polished pewter with channels of subtle texturing; Kra-desk accessories featuring Southeast Asian sculpted craft motifs and Malaysiana – fridge magnets and letter openers featuring the wau and local landmarks.
(Source: The Edge, Financial Daily, 15 September 2006)
Best Booth Award For Royal Selangor
Royal Selangor has won the best booth award at Malbex 2006. Royal Selangor is exhibiting for the first time at this year’s Malbex, the premier building and construction event for architects, builders, interior decorators, engineers and developers.
What has pewter got to do with the building industry? Interior architecture is now a new segment for Royal Selangor. Using a new technique called Metalesce, a seamless coating of metal can be fused on to a substrate material to produce large surfaces such as walls, panels, doors, tiles and others which looks and behaves like solid metal.
For Malbex, Royal Selangor has constructed a rather unusual exhibition booth. The modern Metalesce structure is made from different metals including brass, copper, pewter and graphite. The exhibition is being held at the KL Convention Centre from Sept 13 to 16.
(Source: The Edge, Financial Daily, 15 September 2006)
Royal Treatment
Royal Selangor recently launched its Autumn Collection, bringing pewter into homes. Entertaining guests? Dress up your dining table with Nick Munro’s acrylic and pewter spice mills in contemporary fudge or mint green; or Himalaya bowls and napkin rings, patterned simply with concentric circles.
Busy in your office-away-from-the-office? Accessorise your desk with paperweights inspired by Arabic calligraphy from the Alif range; South-East Asian wood carving inspired Kra stationary holders; or letter openers topped with local trademarks like the National Mosque, Sultan Abdul Samad Building and the KL Tower.
Enjoying quality time with the family? Start fostering good habits in the kids early with a Winnie the Pooh honey pot coin box or bookmark, or commemorate special events with an engraved musical box or picture frame. The Autumn Collection is available at all Royal Selangor outlets and authorised dealers, as well as the Royal Selangor Visitor Centre in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.
(Sources: The Star, 25 September 2006)