Tuesday, December 25, 2012

More Investments To Flourish In Malaysia Next Year, Says Economist


By Farhana Poniman

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Economists here foresee further capital formation investments flourishing in the Malaysian economy next year, given the ongoing projects to be implemented over the next two years.

World Bank Senior Economist for Malaysia, Dr Frederico Gil Sander, said the bulk of these projects would come from the sectors of oil and gas (O&G), infrastructure as well as real estate.

"Notable projects in the O&G sector include the RM60 billion Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project in Pengerang, Johor, and the RM3.8 billion Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis," he told Bernama.

He said investors interest would also be spurred by the progress in the infrastructure and real estate sectors, such as the billion Ringgit Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project, the RM4.45 billion Second Penang Bridge and the RM26 billion Tun Razak Exchange.

"These investments are directly and indirectly linked to the structural increase in commodity prices over the past six or seven years. The challenge for Malaysia going forward is to ensure investments in non-commodity sectors, such as manufacturing and knowledge-intensive services, also pick up.

"With respect to portfolio investment, we expect these flows to remain volatile as they depend on the sentiment of foreign investors, which is likely to shift as countries approach and turn back from various 'policy cliffs'. For example, the United States fiscal cliff or the debt overhang issues in the Eurozone," he said.

Nevertheless, Gil Sander said, in the longer-term, Malaysia should remain an attractive destination for foreign portfolio investors, given the potential for higher-than-average growth, and provided that structural reforms are rapidly implemented.

Meanwhile, RAM Holdings Bhd Group Chief Economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the positive economic and investment climate outlook would support corporate merger and acquisition (M&A) activities as investor sentiments in the equity and debt capital markets were anticipated to remain buoyant.

The leading independent credit research provider noted that the vibrant M&A exercises anticipated for next year would be realised by cash-rich companies seeking for opportunities to expand their footprints and gain strategic advantages, locally and regionally.

"This is partly in response to the increased opportunities presented by the creation of the single market under the Asean Economic Community by 2015," he said.

Yeah said corporate M&A activities in Malaysia were sustained at a healthy level this year, despite an adverse external environment, stemming from the ongoing Eurozone sovereign debt crisis, as well as persisting weakness in the United States and Japanese economies.

"There was only a slight decline of 18 per cent in the total number of deals to 244 this year from 250 last year, remaining healthy at RM52.1 billion, while factors for the vibrant M&A activities have been the resilient domestic economy, healthy corporate balance sheets and a liquidity-flushed, low interest rate environment."

Notable M&As in 2012 were that of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), which announced its US$5.8 billion proposed acquisition of Canada's Progress Energy Resources Corp, while Genting Bhd turned heads by trying to launch a US$4 billion casino at the Aqueduct Racetrack in New York and another big project in Miami.

In the plantation sector, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd, which made one of the world's biggest initial public offerings this year, is expected to use some of the US$3.3 billion it raised to buy agricultural assets worldwide, while Sime Darby Bhd has teamed up with property developer SP Setia Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund to acquire Battersea Power Station.

Meanwhile, in the banking sector, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd this year purchased the Asian equities franchise of Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc for US$142 million after closing several other deals in its quest to become Asia's newest financial powerhouse.

-- BERNAMA

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