In The Mood For Some Classics

The start of the fasting month...the holy month of Ramadan... Muslims fast to practice restraint from temptations, all vices and desires; to appreciate the blessings of food, to feel the sufferings of those who are in hunger, to give the digestive system a break after 11 months of non-stop operation, to worship honesty (can't eat or smoke even when no one is looking).

  I got all of the above from the Internet. Yesterday, a visitor from Taiwan asked me why do Muslims have to fast on Ramadan. I was caught off-guard. I directed her to ask the tudung-clad lady sitting not too far from me. Yeah, took the easy way out.

  Selamat berpuasa to all Muslims. Happy fasting. Think pure thoughts, perform good deeds, speak kind words.

  I am going to enjoy my day off staying indoors.


 

Taking On The World

Pic sourced from NST online

Pix caption: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at Pengerang Independent Terminals Sdn Bhd’s Phase 1A in Pengerang, Johor, on June 26.. With him are Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (third from left), Dialog Group executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat (second from right), Pengerang member of parliament Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (left) and Royal Vopak executive board chairman Eelco Hoekstra. Pic by Shahril Badri Saali

I love Datuk Seri Azalina's radiant smile, and Datuk Seri Najib is beaming with pride. Nice shot.

"FROM a Felda-led initiative to produce world-class caviar that may one day rival Russia's finest, to a colossal fuel and oil-based products storage facility in Pengerang, Johor, that will challenge Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore's dominance, Malaysia is challenging the way it does things..."
The frontpage of the New Straits Times (June 27). Such a captivating summary.

On June 26, "The Rotterdam of Asia"  was given a newsy touch. Below  is the business angle of the Pengerang affair. And way below is another spin-off of that event. Great teamwork.

RM16 billion boost for Pengerang

CASCADING EFFECT: PIPC’s Phase 1 investment alone set to contribute RM18.3b to GNI by 2020, says PM

PENGERANG Independent Terminals Sdn Bhd (PITSB), an oil and oil-based products storage facility operator, plans to gradually invest a further RM16 billion over the next 15 years to boost capacity to challenge global hubs in Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the investment, which is within the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC), would see an expansion of the terminals from 1.3 million cubic metres to 10 million cubic metres.

“What is also very important is that with every RM1 billion investment, the multiplying effect will be RM20 billion,” he said at the opening of the PITSB’s Phase 1A, here, yesterday.

Najib said PIPC’s Phase 1 investment alone is expected to contribute RM18.3 billion to Malaysia’s gross national income (GNI) by 2020 and create more than 8,000 jobs.

“After 2020, PIPC will further contribute an additional RM48 billion to the country’s GNI with and create 15,000 more jobs,” he added.

PITSB is one of the catalytic projects under PIPC.

  Najib said the completion of PIPC, which is one of the key highlights of the government’s Economic Transformation Programme, will not only contribute to Malaysia’s development, but also transform Pengerang into a modern and vibrant industrial town.

  “There will be new roads, better supply of electricity and water, new schools, modern homes, banks, medical facilities, shopping malls and office complexes.

  “There will be new business opportunities for the locals as demand for goods and services increases,” he said.

  The living standard in the area will improve and the government will ensure the enhancements of social amenities.

  “I would like to stress that this project will bring benefits to the people of Pengerang,” Najib added.

The 60.7ha PITSB is part of the 8,094ha PIPC, which also houses Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s RM90 billion Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project.

 PITSB is a joint-venture between oil and gas services provider Dialog Group Bhd, Johor government and Royal Vopak, which is the world’s largest independent storage provider.

    Dialog Group executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat said the consortium plans to invest RM6 billion in the next five years and another RM10 billion in the following decade after investing RM2 billion in Phase 1A.

  “We expect to clinch more deals. As at April, a total of 29 ships have stopped over to use our facilities and we expect more to come in,” he said.

The facility allows oil majors and other oil and gas service providers to store oil and petroleum-based products.

  It is equipped with six berths, including a deepwater jetty with a draft of up to 24m to accommodate very large crude carriers.

  Ngau said a liquefied natural gas storage complex is also in the offing and the plan is undergoing a feasibility study.

Najib Praises Dialog Group

PENGERANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak praised Dialog Group Bhd for supporting the MyKasih Foundation, which helps the underprivileged nationwide.

“I applaud the group for their involvement as a donor and supporting partner to the foundation which is committed to helping less fortunate Malaysians,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Pengerang Independent Terminals Sdn Bhd (PITSB) Phase 1A on Thursday.

PITSB is a joint venture between oil and gas services provider Dialog Group Bhd, the Johor government and Royal Vopak, the world’s largest independent storage provider.

Najib said since the non-profit organisation’s inception in 2009, the MyKasih Foundation has aided more than 190,000 underprivileged families in 130 locations nationwide, including in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The foundation provides long-term commitment via food aid, health awareness, financial literacy programmes, children’s education and skills training programmes.”

Dialog Group Bhd was the first corporate sponsor to adopt and provide funding for the MyKasih “Love My Neighbourhood” programme for communities in Selayang, Selangor and an Orang Asli community in Janda Baik, Pahang.

The programme will be extended to communities where Dialog Group Bhd operates, namely Terengganu, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Johor and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

ALL STORIES SOURCED FROM NST ONLINE.

"The Rotterdam of Asia"

Pengerang Independent Terminals Launched Today

sourced from NST online

PENGERANG: The mammoth oil and gas facilities being constructed here will have a multiplier effect to propel the country's growth to be fully developed by 2020.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the economic spin-off from the project will be enormous as its first phase alone is expected to contribute 18.3 billion to Malaysia's gross national income (GNI) by 2020 and create more than 8,000 jobs.

Najib said the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) will further contribute the country's GNI after 2020 with an additional RM48 billion and 15,000 more job creations.

Najib, who today launched the Pengerang Independent Terminals (PIT), said RM35 billion has been spent on building the oil and gas facilities here and RM6 billion more will be spent in five years  while another RM 10 billion will be invested further over the preceding 10 years.

The facilities which currently can store 1.3 million cubic meter (cbm) of petroleum products will be expanded to a capacity of 10 million cbm when the project has been fully completed.

"The projection is that for every RM1 billion we invest in this project will have a multiplier effect of generating a return of RM20 billion," he said.

On the opening of the PIT, Najib said the completion of the project which is one of the key highlights of the Government's Economic Transformation Programme will not only contribute to further Malaysia's development but also transform Pengerang into a modern and vibrant industrial town.

"There will be new roads, better supply of electricity and water, new schools, modern homes, banks, medical facilities, shopping malls and office complexes.

"There will be new business opportunities for the locals as demands for goods and services increases," he said.

Najib said the living standard in the area will improve and the government will ensure the enhancements of social amenities.

"I would like to stress that this project will bring benefits to the people of Pengerang.

The PIT project is a joint venture between Dialog Group Berhad, Royal Vopak and the Johor state government.

The PIT is an independent oil storage terminal located within the PIPC and built on 60 hectares of reclaimed sea-bed land, has officially begun operations following the successful start-up and commissioning of Phase 1A (432 cubic meters) in April.

Najib said Malaysia is bestowed with great riches including major oil and gas deposits and therefore it is only logical for the country to develop downstream processing storage and logistics to further accelerate the growth of the oil and gas industry which is its major revenue earner.

"One notable downstream project is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) the global consumption of which is rising, in part because it is environmentally-friendly compared to fossil fuels such as coal," he said.

Najib pointed out that a LNG terminal has been planned to be added in Pengerang next year.

Najib said the success of the project is a testament of the government being responsive and visionary to the needs for the development of the country.

"It proves that the current government is able to translate its vision into policies and execute it," he said.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Dialog Group executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Ngau Boon Keat and Royal Vopak chairman (executive board) and chief executive officer Eelco Hoekstra.

Ngau in his speech said the realisation of a vision to the project first came about in 2009.

"Our vision was to develop and build a world-class crude oil and petroleum products storage terminal facilities in Pengerang.

"Our deepwater terminals can then play a vital role as a catalyst for the development of a Refining and Petrochemical manufacturing hub here.

"Both developments will then transform Pengerang into a world class oil and gas hub in the region," he said

Meanwhile, Hoekstra said that the commissioning of PIT project will further strengthen Vopak's position in South East Asia.

"Fundamental to the success of PIT project is the partnership and support from the federal and state government," he said.

PIT is equipped with six berths including a deepwater jetty with a draft of up to 24 meters to accommodate Very Large Crude Carriers.

The facility will provide storage, blending and distribution services, triggered by growing crude oil and petroleum products import flows into Asia and Australia.

The completion of PIT is in three phases. Phase 1B, upon completion by the end of the second quarter of the year will bring on stream an additional 432,000 cbm of storage for clean petroleum products while Phase 1C will consists of 420,000 cbm of storage for crude oil with expected completion in the last quarter of the year.

When fully completed and upon expected commissioning early next year, the terminal will have a capacity of about 1.3 million cbm.

The terminal, earmarked as one of the country's key economic transformation projects, is designed to develop and reposition Southeast Johor into an oil storage and trading hub in the region.

MBJB Five-Star Rating

Was on my way to the International Conference - Johor Bahru World City 2020 in the Persada Convention Centre when I encountered a flash flood.  There was a massive traffic jam.  It rained only for a little while early in the morning.  The reclamation works issue immediately sprang to mind.

However, Johor State secretary Datuk Ismail Karim said the reclamation works was not the cause of the flash flood.  Datuk Ismail, the former city mayor, said it could be due to the floodgates and the sudden morning downpour.

If Johor Bahru aspires to be a future world city like Tokyo, Singapore, London and New York, this flash flood issue must be looked into immediately.

"Policies and frameworks structured by city governors and councils must address future imbalances of land use, physical infrastructures, facilities and social issues of urbanisation.  Addressing these future issues and challenges today will allow a more diligent approach towards a world city management in the future," says Urban, Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government deputy minister Datuk Halimah Sadique at the launch of the inaugural conference which saw the presence of 500 delegates from around the region.

"The success of Johor Bahru as a world city by 2020 also hinges on the efficiency and prolific implementation of policies and strategies and how it is being translated at grassroot levels," she added.

The Johor Bahru City Council is a local authority that is given the supremacy under the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) to provide the township services to all residents of Johor Bahru city. It is an organisation under the purview of the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government that is responsible for the planning and development of the city which covers 220km sq ft.

The current mayor is Abdul Rahman Dewam.

The Enchanting Inhabitants Of Sungai Pulai

Updated with corrections.  Iskandar Regional Development Authority just confirmed it has nothing to do with this development.  Sorry, wrong department.

Feeding trails exposed at low tide at the Merambong Sea Grass Meadow (pic source: MNS Johor)

Seahorse feed on the sea grass. Other inhabitants of the area.

So, what is all the fuss about?

Bilateral relations is very important.  Economic development.  Foreign investment.  All are positive aspects of economic growth. Thumbs up to that.

But what about environmental protection?  

The Straits of Johor experiences an abundance of fishes and shrimps during seasons when there are marine "visitors" from the Malacca Straits. In the months of October to January, for instance, there will be large numbers of penaeid prawns caught.

It is also the foraging grounds of the sea-cow or dugong, the Hawksbill Sea Turtle and the Common Bottle-nosed Dolphin.  Also found here are the seahorse, chocolate chip starfish and carpet anemone.

Not only is the reclamation works posing a threat to the seahorse and all other enchanting marine life here, there will repercussions in years to come as the water quality in the Straits is affected when all the pollutants pile up due to impeded water flow rate and inadequate flushing.  With a big chunk of land blocking the water flow, there could be flash floods wreaking untold damages in the sea and land.

Is Country Gardens to be blamed for this? I don't think so. They were given the green light, so they proceeded with their mega investment plan. I don't think the Chinese-based developer was aware about the sea grass being an Environmentally Sensitive Area.

Now what? Will the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) please say or do something about this?

Please. Please. Please. Before it is too late.

Johor Reclamation Works Stopped

By Ben Tan and Chuah Bee Kim - 24 June 2014 
sourced from NST online

JOHOR BARU: The Department of Environment has issued a temporary stop-work order against all coastal land reclamation works for the development of the massive Forest City off Tanjung Kupang here pending a detailed study.

  State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said any negotiation on lifting the suspension would be between the department and the project’s jointdevelopers, China’s Country Garden Holdings Co Ltd and state-owned Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor.

  “The order came about a week ago and all land reclamation work in the area have been suspended pending further studies on the environmental effects of the project,” hetold the New Straits Times yesterday.

  The reclamation works for the proposed 49-hectare Forest City tourist hub project began in early March and was expected to be completed by year’s end.

  The project hit a snag after the Singaporean government raised concerns over the state’s coastal land reclamation projects, citing that it might cause trans-boundary issues.

  It also sent several diplomatic notes and a formal request to the Federal Government for more information on the state’s coastal projects, specifically in the Straits of Johor.

  In a statement, its Foreign Affairs Ministry had said there were international obligations for both countries to work closely on such matters.

  Environmental activists have also voiced their worries on Johor’s shoreline reclamation works.

  Ayub said the state government would monitor the progress of discussions between developers and the Department of Environment.

  “We will wait for the department to complete their studies on the project, after which we will also ensure that all guidelines are met.”

  On the concerns raised by the Singaporean government, Ayub said the state government valued the bilateral ties with its neighbour.

  “We will look into the issue of other trans-boundary effects because of the land reclamation works.”
Ayub clarified that there was a preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the proposed Forest City project.

  “Normally, shoreline reclamation projects below 50ha in size, such as the proposed Forest City project, does not need a EIA report under the Environmental Quality (prescribed activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987.

  “However, as the project will have a 80-room hotel, increasing the area’s density, a preliminary EIA report was conducted and its findings submitted to the relevant authorities.”

  Country Garden Holdings, which has its international office in Johor Baru, did not reply to queries.

  On Monday, the New Straits Times reported that the Johor government confirmed it had received a request by Putrajaya to furnish details on land reclamation projects in the state.