Why You Should Consider Putting Your Finances Into Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is an alternative commodity that, if used properly, provides a solid source of long-term cash flow. Certainly, at present we use rubber in so many areas of our lives that many of us often forget about its value. You would probably be stunned at just how widely used it is!
Natural rubber, aka "India Rubber", is cultivated in countries around the world like Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. The weather in these nations is perfect for the growth of rubber. Rubber has grown to be more and more essential in recent times, which has led a number of people to compare this alternative commodity to gold.
The reasons to invest in India rubber as a commodity are extensive. If someone notifies you there's no cash whatsoever to be made from the natural rubber marketplace, they are 100% incorrect. This just isn't the case at all. The market for rubber has experienced a whole lot of growth over the past decade - particularly in the last few years. This superb growth is the reason a large number of people are starting to invest.
From a business viewpoint, you really don't have to spend too much money on creating your own private plantation of India rubber; though if you truly want the best you will need to pay a lot of money or capital for everything to operate properly.
There will always be a need for natural rubber. Don't believe me? Then you should have a look around your property and then determine simply how much natural rubber there is being employed. A number of household appliances demand natural rubber to operate and, obviously, so do vehicles. Ponder, just for a second, how many tyres are built world wide every single day.
Stemming from this massive requirement for natural rubber, there's a lot of capital to be made in meeting this high demand. There have been studies that declare that contrary to other natural resources like gas and fossil fuel, India rubber won't ever be depleted so long as the resources are preserved competently. Indeed, if the buyer helps to ensure that everything is farmed sustainably then they are virtually guaranteed a non-stop source of rubber, which, obviously, means a great long lasting pay off.
Also, making an investment in natural rubber a very good idea for individuals that want to know they're doing something which is honorable. What I mean is you will be assisting the local neighborhoods in East Asia. It is not just the workers who reap the natural rubber that you will be aiding with your investment decision. You can easily make use of local individuals to act as security for your property along with the trees themselves. By investing in the rubber market, consequently, you are essentially serving the local community. This is certainly something that a large amount of many people relish. So, to summarize, the rubber industry is an amazing area for investment. It's most likely especially financially rewarding and is morally sound. So what are you waiting around for? Be certain to make an investment promptly!

Islamic Banking - Key Differences of Components Within a Financial Statements of an Islamic Bank

Let us look at the key differences in presentation of financial statements between conventional an Islamic banking.
Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet)
In conventional accounting, the balance sheet has these few components, namely assets, liabilities and owners' equity. In Islamic banking, there is one additional component called "equity of unrestricted investment account holders".
In conventional banking, an asset is defined as an item with future economic benefit attached to it regardless whether there is legal control by the reporting bank. For Islamic banking, however, an item can be taken as an asset only when the Islamic bank has legal right to hold, use or dispose of the item.
The other unique feature is the "equity of unrestricted investment account holders". This additional component is to satisfy the set of customers who invest on the basis of mudarabah which calls for any losses to be borne by the investors (the customers themselves). It is therefore, important to disclose sufficient information to demonstrate the measures taken by the bank to ensure that the interests of this set of customers are considered as part of the strategy of the bank. In conventional banking, they will be treated as liabilities instead.
There are 2 forms of mudarabah contracts:-

1. Mudarabah Mutlaqah - This is the "unrestricted" mudarabah contract whereby the capital provider/owner allows total freedom to the bank to use the capital for its projects without conditions, specifications, restrictions or limits. The bank is free to enter into any trade agreements, whether normal or deferred or leasing basis, using the owners' capital. This form of mudarabah is typically used in replacement of the conventional fixed deposit product for retail customers.
2. Mudarabah Muqqayadah - This is the "restricted" mudarabah contract. The bank is given certain parameters (restrictions and conditions) on how to use the capital provided by the owners.

Statement of Changes in Restricted Investments and Their Equivalent
This is the statement to report the use of mudarabah muqqayadah investments whereby the bank is to undertake to use the funds for specific investments. This pool of fund must be separated from other funds as the returns from this fund will be shared among this particular group of investors.
Apart from the returns or losses for the group of restricted investors, the statement should also report profits or losses before deducting the investment manager's share of investment profits/losses. The bank's share of compensation as the investment agent is also known as mudarib.
Statement of Sources and Uses of Zakat and Charity Fund
This is required only when the bank established a zakat and charity fund whereby the bank acts as a fiduciary of that fund. The bank is responsible for collection and distribution of all or part of zakat and charity funds.

Is Legislation in Malaysia Sufficient Post Enron & Worldcomm?

Abstract
Directors being pillars of corporate governance (Cowan, 2004) should at all times act honestly and use reasonable diligence in the discharge of their duties. This is more so in light of recent major corporate issues like ENRON & Worldcomm in the United States and the Transmile case in Malaysia. In essence directors are agents of the company and as agents, they owe a duty of trust to the company and shall do their utmost to put the interest of the company first before personal ones.
Cowen (2004) wrote that since directors are agents of the company, they are accountable to shareholders and to stakeholders in various guises. It is also clear that as a custodian of something that does not belong them, directors owe a fiduciary duty of care to safeguard the company's assets and maximize returns for shareholders and to ensure that the other stakeholders needs are met as well. The principle that a company is a legal entity by itself and separate from its shareholders, directors and managers also lent to the need for directors to act honestly and diligently in the position that they are entrusted to.
1. INTRODUCTION
The statement in Section 132(1A) of the Companies Act 1965 in Malaysia states that a director of a company shall exercise reasonable care skill and diligence. Section 132(1) of the same act further states that a director of a company shall at all times exercise his power for a proper purpose and in good faith in the best interest of the company. The statement is more obvious when seen in the context that a company is a legal entity and it exists independently from both shareholders and staff. Playing the role of the middleman, directors are the link between the providers of capital and the company together its operational management team.
However, it must be noted that a director can also be a shareholder because although physically one person, the director plays the role of two distinct legal identities. This principle of separate and legal entity between the company and shareholders was first established in the landmark case of Salomon vs Salomon & Co. Ltd.(1985) where the term "Veil of incorporation" was established.
Fok (1996), mentioned that a director is a person elected by the shareholders or appointed by the board to participate in management of the company. It goes without saying then that directors should safeguard the shareholders' investment in the company and at all times act honestly and use reasonable diligence in the discharge of his duties to shareholders. Cowen (2004) wrote that since directors are agents of the company, they are accountable to shareholders and to stakeholders in various guises. It is also clear that as a custodian of something that does not belong them, directors owe a fiduciary duty of care to safeguard the company's assets and maximize returns for shareholders and to ensure that the other stakeholders needs are met as well.
2. NEED FOR DIRECTORS
Directors are stewards of the company and who provide the company with leadership, guidance and directions. Directors of a company would include the following positions or designations;
• Managing Director
• Executive Director
• Chairman
• Independent non-executive Director
• Non-independent no-executive Director
All companies in Malaysia are required to have a board of directors and the minimum number is two. In essence the two originating directors of a company would most likely also be the shareholders as well. It is also common for shareholders to continue to hold office as directors and the board to be filled with trusted associates and relatives. Therefore we tend to take the issue of due diligence and honesty on the part of directors as a non-issue. Why would someone cheat themselves or their relatives?
However, when a company grow and it attracts capital apart from the original shareholders, the responsibilities of directors to act honestly and with proper diligence cannot be taken for granted any longer. They are now working for others rather than just themselves or family members and the need for them to act honestly and diligently is quite real. In most countries, specific laws relating to companies are enacted to govern the administration of such companies and the role of company directors is usually part of the enactment. In public listed companies this becomes even more pronounced as public's funds are involved.
3. FRAMEWORK GOVERNING DUTIES OF DIRECTORS
3.1 Legislation and Corporate Governance code.
The Finance committee on Corporate Governance in Malaysia wrote that every listed company should be headed by an effective board which should lead and control the company. Directors have a dual role of both leadership and control. Some of the duties of the directors include strategic planning, managing risk, ensuring internal control compliance, reporting to shareholders on the affairs of the company and guiding the company in achieving the objectives of the company. In smaller companies the directions and actions of the company usually mirrors that of the owner or major shareholders. In larger companies and public listed companies there are often no correlation between the values and personality of shareholders and the action that the company takes.
Shareholders are often passive investors and have little or no understanding at all about the operations of the company. In order for the company to get the public to invest in the company, the board of directors must act honestly and diligently as the shareholders rely on them run the company properly and provide shareholders with adequate returns on their investment. Directors must ensure that all shareholders are treated fairly and not just the significant or majority owner(s). Directors also do not need to report on a daily basis to shareholders so it is important that directors act professionally, with proper diligence and honesty.
To safeguard shareholders various provisions were made in laws related to duties and responsibilities of directors and in particular of listed companies. For example; Companies Act 1965 of Malaysia including sections to prevent bankrupts from acting as directors (Sect (125(1), restraining certain persons from managing companies as directors (Sect 130(1) ) and the disqualifications of directors of insolvent companies (130A(1)). Similar provisions exist in company enactments in most countries. There are also adequate provisions in the Penal code to prosecute director for not acting honestly and such provision related to the agency relationship between the directors and the company. For example, Section 409 of the Penal code in Malaysia deals if criminal breach of trust which applies to directors as well as agents in general.
Some companies also have provisions in their memorandum or articles of association which provides for the appointment of directors who are required to hold a specified numbers of shares as prequalification for board membership. In Malaysia, Section 124 of the Companies Act 1965 states that if the articles of association of the company requires that a directors must hold a specific number of shares to 'qualify" as director. This is to ensure that the value of other shareholders are looked after since the director, as a shareholder himself, will have every reason to discharge of their fiduciary duties and maximize shareholders funds.
However, not all issues can rely on legislation to ensure that directors act in the best interest of shareholders. Some issues are caused by director's lack of dedication or capability and this brings us to the issue of accountability.
3.2 Sense of Accountability
Sometimes directors fail to achieve shareholders or company's object for reasons which may not come under any legal purview. Sometimes directors fail just because of attitude or ineptitude or both. Cowan (2004) commented that given that directors are acting on behalf of the company's owners and it is clear that the first level of accountability is to the shareholders. Just as other employees can be terminated by the company due to poor performance and directors too can be terminated by shareholders at shareholders meetings.. Removal of directors can be touchy affairs but the one can rely on provisions in various company laws and acts to do so. In Malaysia, removal of directors can be done under section 128(1) with the use of an ordinary resolution at the annual general meeting (AGM), Extraordinary General meetings (EGM) or any properly constituted shareholders meeting
However, it must be noted that it since reports to shareholders are not very frequent and not in full details, it might be sometimes too late for shareholders to take appropriate actions. It is therefore incumbent on directors to act diligently to ensure that they lead the company well thus achieving the company's objectives and ensuring a reasonable rate of return for the shareholders. Directors must dedicate themselves fully to the company's cause and to ensure disclosure and transparency to all shareholders.Cowan (2004) states that shareholders have contributed their funds to the company and, in return, have the right to expect reasonable treatment and protection in exchange for the risk exposure of their funds.
One of the remedy for wayward directors is to have independent non-executive directors providing alternative views and oversight capacity. In addition they might bring in additional skills and expertise to complement the executive directors in improving the board's performance and in doing so spurring the company to greater heights.
Paragraph 1.01 of the Listing requirements of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad and Practice note No 13/2002 noted that an independent director is one who is independent of management and free from any business or other relationship, which could interfere with the exercise of independent judgement or the ability to act in the best interest of a listed company.
However, we must also bear in mind that many independent non-executive directors have other positions in industry as well and may not be in position to understand the business let alone improve performance of the company. However, it must be noted that listing requirements nowadays requires the appointments of independent non-executive directors. Furthermore they are expected to form the majority of members in audit committees and other oversight board level committees.
4. SUMMARY
In summary, it is clear that directors should act honestly and diligently in discharging their duties especially in listed company or in instances where directors are not shareholders. Not doing so would mean that they are not fulfilling the professional and legal responsibilities that they are paid for. Various legislation and acts have been formulated in many countries to ensure that directors act honestly and diligently although in some cases it is just as simple as to terminate the directors or hope that they change their ways. Recent cases like the ENRON affairs and Worldcom's collapse illustrates to us how important it is for directors to act honestly and diligently in their duties towards shareholders. It can also be seen that there are many safeguards available to ensure that directors carry out their duties honestly and diligently and these measures carry both legal and moral bearing on the errand director.
Bibliography
1.Cowan, Neil 2004, Corporate Governance that Works!, Prentice Hall, Jurong, Singapore
2.Lee, Mei Pheng 2005, General Principles of Malaysian Law 5th Ed., Oxford Fajar, Selangor, Malaysia.
3.The Institute of Internal Auditors Malaysia, 2006, The Professional Practices Framework, The Institute of Internal Auditors, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
4.Fok, William, 1996, A Practical handbook on Company Secretarial Practice, Leeds Publications, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
5.Legal Review Board, 2008, Penal Code (Act 574) as at 15th January 2008, International Law Book Services, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
6.Finance Committee on Corporate Governance, 2000, Malaysian Code of Corporate Governance, Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
7.Ministry of Finance Malaysia, 2007, Companies Act and Regulations- Amendments up to September 2007 26th Edition, MDC Publishers Sdn. Bhd., Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

Financing Your Property in Malaysia

Financing for your property assets is one of the best lesser known tools of leverage which can increase your networth. To own a house is no longer a dream or illusion and now everyone can have your own dream house easily. In Malaysia, the house owners only have to come up with a minimum of 10% or even less of the purchase price and the balance can be financed by the banks.
First of all, you may want to shop around to look at the different housing loan packages offered by banks. Different banks offer different mortgage packages. The borrowers have to choose the most suitable packages for themselves, according to their financial needs. Bankers would decide on the loan approvals based on 5 C's, which stands for Characteristic, Capacity, Capital, Condition and Collateral.
Characteristic refers to the repayment record of the borrower. This is given the heaviest weightage by the banks in deciding the loan approvals. The borrower's payment track record can easily be obtained from the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS). Bank Negara Malaysia has a Kiosk Counter to allow the public to check their CCRIS. This is a free service provided by the Malaysian Central bank.
Capacity refers to the Debt Income Ration (DIR) of a borrower. The total debts and new housing loan installment divided by the total borrower's income must not be more than 40% in ratio. Capital refers to the networth of the borrower. Condition refers to the economy and borrower's condition. Collateral refers to the property that the borrower going to finance. The fair market value, marketability factor, and the condition of the property are always taken into consideration while considering the loan approval.
After your housing loan has been approved, the next step is to check the conditions of the letter of offer issued by the bank, which includes the interest rate, the holding period starting from first drawdown or last drawdown, installment amount, and other details.
Choosing a responsible lawyer is another vital issue. An irresponsible lawyer might drag the processing of the Sale & Purchase Agreement and Loan Agreement. The Purchaser might end up having to pay the penalty to the Vendor if the housing loan has not paid before the expired date. Hence, choosing a good, reputable and responsible lawyer will expedite the whole process.
As a purchaser and borrower, is important to follow up closely with the bankers and lawyers in order to get things done on time.

What Are The Factors That Will Affect The Property Values In Malaysia?

First of all, the location itself is the main factor that will affect the property values in Malaysia. If a property is close to school, shopping mall, bank, transportation facility, hospital, restaurant, church, temple, airport or any other places that can provide convenience to the people staying at that area, that particular property will definitely has a high property value that will attract more people than any property.
When it comes to real estate, the principle of supply and demand refers to the ability of people to pay for real estate coupled with the relative scarcity of real estate. The property values will be driven up by the condition of high demand coupled with a certain purchasing power and a short supply due to the scarcity of land. In contrast, the property values will experience a drop when people demand less of it while more supply enters the market.
Let's take for example Penang, being the second smallest state in Malaysia just after Perlis in terms of geographical coverage yet is the eighth most populous with 1.56 million of residents according to the population and housing census, Malaysia 2010 which is conducted for every ten years. Penang which has an average of 1, 490 persons per square kilometer is the second most densely populated states after Kuala Lumpur. This high level of population density puts competing pressure on land use which results in the rise of property prices as developers will put more expensive price tags on their projects due to the high-land costs. Besides, the lure as a tourist destination and a second home for foreign retirees is also one of the factors that results in a greater demand of Penang property. As a result, the short supply due to scarcity of land and the high demand from both foreign and local buyers is the main reason why Penang properties price are high as compared to say, Kelantan.
Apart from supply and demand, the Feng Shui and Vasthu Sastra which is known as the "science of construction" also have to do with property values in Malaysia. Regardless of you believe or not, many recent studies have shown that the property price will still be affected by Feng Shui. A property placed near a body of water can fetch you a handsome price compared to a property which is not. A property faced with a road junction or built at a dead-end road can have a lower price as compared to another property in the same area which is not. Many people trust Feng Shui because they consider that keeping things related to Feng Shui will bring steady growth, prosperity, good luck, good health, happiness and positive energy to the house, office or to the being. In this way, people will consider carefully the position and placements of the property which in turn makes a well placed or well designed property more attention-getting and favorable.
Next, inflation also has an impact on property values in Malaysia. At its most basic level, inflation is simply a rise in prices and a fall in the purchasing value of money. Let's take an example; again using Penang where there is latest news announced that "the selling price of properties in Penang will soon surge by 5%-10% following the recent move by Lafarge Malayan Cement to raise cement prices by about 6%", according to the Penang house developers. A hike in cement price simply means the price of concrete roof tiles, cement sand bricks and all the other cement-related products will rise. On average, 50% of building materials used in property development comprises cement and cement related products. Therefore, such inflation will leads to an increase in construction costs and the buyers are the one who ultimately bears the cost. Besides, the inflation also has been caused by the transportation and labor costs that are increased nationwide. The rise in cost of labor is particularly due to the labor shortage as many Indonesian have gone back to Indonesia and are facing with stricter laws and standards when they wish to come back to Malaysia.
The government's introduction and revision of its property related policies also played a key role in determining the value of properties. The exemption revision of real property gains tax (RPGT) has increased the interest of a small group of people on the property market. Additionally, Malaysian government is pushing out a series of incentives to make its property market more attractive to foreign investors who will eventually bring in external cash flows. Both of these actions have enhanced the property values. In addition, the build then sell (BTS) concept has been revised. It has increased the confidence of buyers and created developers who are more conservative leading to higher value of property.
Furthermore, the existences of property agents and Internet such as auctions websites and real estate agent websites help ease the process of selling the properties nowadays. It has made the property investment more easy, convenient and favorable. In this way, there is an increase of interest in property investment thus further lifting the value of properties.
Moreover, the mortgage rate that also plays an important role in influencing the property value should never be forgotten. A mortgage rate is commonly known as Base Lending Rate in Malaysia (BLR). BLR is a term refers to the minimum interest rate used by banks. It is defined by the central bank of Malaysia. BLR will get lower when the global money market down turn and get higher when the money market is on uptrend. Whenever the housing demand is weak, lower mortgage rates will help to improve the access to property financing while reducing the monthly payment for housing loan. So, these circumstances will aid in strengthen the housing demand and then the property value will increase over time.
Last but not least, the vacancy levels will also have a significant contribution towards the property values in Malaysia. For illustration, when the unemployment rate is high, the buyers and investors will not have enough capital to invest in a property creating a situation of strong rental sales. In contrast, the low unemployment rate will motivates the buyers and investors to involve themselves in property investment activity eventually leading to a higher property values.
Above are some of the factors that will affect the property values in Malaysia. However, there are still some other relevant and important factors out there that are worth seeing.

Riding Your Bike: How to Stay Safe on the Road

Summer's warm, dry weather brings out bicyclists in droves. Not only is it good exercise, fun and eco-friendly, but with the price of gas, it is very economical, too. However, without good equipment, proper attire and a high level of alertness, it can be dangerous, especially when sharing the road with automobiles.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 630 deaths and 51,000 reported injuries from bicycle accidents in the United States in 2009. 

Bicycle Accident Statistics

• Collisions with vehicles account for a third of all bicycle accidents resulting in injuries and deaths.
• A bicyclist is killed every six hours in the United States.
• About one million children are injured in bicycle accidents annually.
• 75% of serious injuries and fatalities from bicycle accidents are due to head injuries.

Cars and bicycles have a tenuous relationship on the road. Drivers are focused on looking out for other cars and trucks on the road, and don't always see bicycles. In addition, bicyclists are slower than cars, and can be overtaken before the driver realizes they are there. This can result in accidents -- and the bicyclist almost always comes out the loser in this scenario.

While bicyclists enjoy the same privileges as drivers on non-freeway roadways, they also have the same responsibilities. Stopping at red lights, stop signs, and yielding; signaling all turns; not exceeding the posted speed limit; using the right side of the street and not the sidewalk; and paying attention to the traffic all around them.

In Washington state, bicyclists can ride side-by-side, but only two abreast.  If the road has a wide shoulder, use it, but if the curb lane has no shoulder it's best to stay to the left in the far right lane so drivers can more easily see you. Ride in the same direction as traffic and wear proper clothing (bright, flashy and reflective). If riding at night, have a white headlight and a red taillight that are functioning properly. These all help drivers see -- and avoid -- you.

Even though Washington state doesn't require bicyclists to wear approved helmets, the city of Seattle and King County require it. For a complete list of cities that require bike helmets to be worn, go to: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/helmets.htm.

What to Do After a Bike/Car Crash

 If you are unfortunate enough to be hit by a car, take these steps:

• Remain calm and non-confrontational.
• Call the police and insist that the officer files a police report. In the event that an officer does not respond, go to a police station and file an accident report within 72 hours of the incident.
• Get the driver’s insurance information, address, phone number and license plate number.
• Get the name, phone number and address of every witness.
• Have your bike thoroughly inspected by a reputable bike shop.
• If you have a cell phone camera, take photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, your bike and all other involved vehicles.

Sources: WSDOT.wa.gov/bike/laws.htm; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Malaysia Newspapers - The Evolution Continues

There are many local newspaper in Malaysia. Some are new and some have been around for at least 50 years. And like any newspaper publishers around the world, most of them has a beginning in politics. Malaysia is also one of them. The New Strait Times for example has been instrumental in instilling nationalism among the people during the pre-independent days. In other words, it was used as a propaganda tool to reach to the mass.
Today, from the politically-inclined newspapers, Malaysia has spawned many other newspapers of all genres such as Finance, Business News, Entertainment and many others. To cater for the multi-racial Malaysians, one can find newspapers in most of the major languages spoken in Malaysia such as Malay or Bahasa Melayu, English, Chinese, Tamil, Kadazan, Iban and many other local dialects especially in East Malaysia. Such variety makes Malaysia one of the most unique countries in the World.
When it comes to politics, newspaper in Malaysia can  be categorised into three categories: pro-government, pro-opposition or neutral. Most of the mainstream newspapers such as The Star or New Straits Times have long been perceived as pro-government but being a democratic country, Malaysia has never stopped pro-opposition newspapers to be in circulation though from time to time there are cases where publishers fail to renew their publication permit for being too 'vocal' in  expressing their opinion against the government.
Pro-opposition newspapers are normally backed by its proxy political party in terms of resources and funding. Even though there is no such thing as absolute freedom of speech in Malaysia yet, the existence of such newspaper proves otherwise. And one can be sure that such evolution will continue in Malaysia and hopefully for the better.

Is the Economy Resisting Malaysia or is Malaysia Resisting the Economy?

Speak, blog, testify, judge and publish all you want about corporate finance and setting up competitive sectors to improve an economy. Let an economy be resilient, low-income or highly dependable - If financiers or politicians can walk their logic talk in a timely fashion, padded with some ingenious combination of ideas and concepts, we wouldn't be in so much trouble. Malaysia probably wouldn't be in this state of economy.
It could be better; it could be worse. That all depends on how you look at things, how you balance a huge variety of factors involved and use them for forecasting. In many poorer countries, some would say "Leaders should look into dominating small manufacturing, production (farming) or private/public services in their region,"; while some would argue, "Leaders should use available resources to develop their stock markets, get into the international finance arena and start playing the game."
Have we not learned our lesson? Take Seoul and Tokyo for example. Both have placed a lot of emphasis on developing "LOCAL" banking focus - Simple administration and banking systems should provide financial services to the local market - forthrightly supporting those greatly in demand and with great potential. Provide local 'dominance' to small to big enterprises. Let banking and financial institutions have financial sustainability, and be less dependent towards international banks and equity markets.
These are the economies that sustain hits and survived whatever waves that come along their way. Like China, local dominance towards natural resources and potential paved way for its citizens to spruce up the economy; to circulate funds in a fashion where international dependence is minimal. For low-income countries, they should focus on what internal resources they can leverage and spruce things up locally before joining dances of gigantic banks - In which most of the time serve relatively wealthy communities, groups or individuals only.
If Central Asia, for example, were to juggle stock markets in the international arena, knowing that they're only at the early stages of development, what ball would they bring to the game?

KL Management Services has been restructured into a Chartered Accountant company in Malaysia, now servicing corporate clients from small to large for corporations. KLM is one of three professional accounting firms in Malaysia licensed, experienced and capable to provide financial advisory services

How To Finance An Apartment Purchase In Malaysia

If there was a contest to determine the most popular business in Malaysia, mortgage lending could certainly compete. Just about any institution with cash i.e. banks, or access to someone else's cash i.e. insurance companies, wants to be in the residential lending game. It is a fact one can easily confirm with a quick glance at the local newspapers. You will see pages after pages of mortgage lending offers.
There are many lenders in the market, and the first time apartment buyer should talk to as many people as possible. The reason for this is to find the best mortgage lending offers available. In additional to the newspaper, good mortgage lending offers can also be found in the yellow pages, real estate directory and by asking real estate lawyers, real estate brokers and agents, and people who have bought apartments recently.
For many years the best known mortgage lenders were Malaysian local banks such as Maybank, Public Bank and Hong Leong Bank. In the recent years, the insurance companies have jumped on the mortgage lending business bandwagon. Even tough the insurance companies are not primarily in the mortgage business, they have managed to packaged mortgage plan bundled with their insurance product. In some cases, first time apartment buyers can obtain access to insurance funds only through mortgage bankers and mortgage brokers.
Mortgage bankers are individual and organizations who loan their own funds and the funds of others to real estate purchasers. Once a mortgage is made, the mortgage banker typically sells the loan to an investor. A mortgage broker, unlike a mortgage banker, does not have capital to lend but instead loans money that belongs to others. He makes his money on fees, charges and points. In addition, a mortgage broker may also service loans.
Just like in any country, to finance an apartment purchase in Malaysia can be a daunting task. A typical mortgage payment term for the average Malaysian is from 15 to 30 years. The best thing for a new apartment purchaser to do is to get advice from the right people before signing on the dotted line of a mortgage agreement.

Scholarships for Students in Malaysia

You can stop eating corn and bread every week now for Shell is offering scholarships again in order to help students who are studying in universities locally and abroad. Shell Scholarship 2010 is offering several scholarships for students who are pursuing their full-time undergraduate studies in these fields; Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Geosciences, Chemistry, Physics, Business Administration or Economics, Finance and Accounting, Information Technology and Masters of Science in Geosciences.
If you have completed your SPM/O-Level or equivalent-STPM/A-Level/Foundation Year/Diploma or is currently in your final semester of Matriculation or private or public University and you have strong academic record (realistic expectation of CGPA or its equivalent), you are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Other requirements are:
- Good command of English
- Demonstration of leadership skills through active participation in extra-curricular activities such as clubs, societies, sports and et cetera.
- For Masters of Sciences in Geosciences, candidate must have good Honours Degree or equivalent in relevant field from recognized university.
Malaysian applicants must at least possess a credit in Bahasa Melayu at SPM level or its equivalent qualification whereas foreign students and local student are required to be proficient in both written and spoken English. Applicants must be able to fulfill these requirements:
- Minimum TOEFL score of 550 or
- Minimum IELTS score of 6.0 or
- Minimum ELTS score of Band 6 or
- Minimum MUET score of Band 4.
Native English speakers and holder of degree with English as medium of instruction may be exempted from the above requirement.
Application form is to be submitted online. You may base your application on the latest semester results (Matriculation) or trial examination results (SPM and STPM). Also, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be notified to undergo an interview. Also, Shell Malaysia will reject any incomplete application form and late submission.
A Shell scholar, Karen Wong shares her experiences working with Shell as a Management Accountant. "To me, Shell is a not only a company that generates robust profitability but also cares for its people. Needless to say I am overjoyed and grateful for the opportunity to be a Shell Scholar and eventually an employee of this MNC that is fully committed to sustainable development."
So, act fast and submit your application before the 31th of Jul 2011.
With Shell Scholarship, money will no longer be the barrier to your goals, ambitions and success.

Finding a Virtual or a Serviced Office: Malaysia As a Top Choice for an Office Address in Asia

Company owners, and also other executives, will always have diverse business office needs. Quite a few may choose to have a fully serviced office, which has equipment and amenities. Still, other folks may require a modest-sized office space with a desk and a chair. Business owners have a common need, nevertheless, and that is to have a renowned office address right in the core Malaysian business districts.
A company or individual's office address can often be indication of the state of a business. A famous address may mean that this company is well-established in their market. A small office along at the borders of the city may signify a business is still a start-up company.
Usually, start-up businesses have a problem with their finances and investing in a great business office in the central business district may be impractical or suicidal. Due to this concern, many company owners believe that it is best to get a virtual office or a serviced office.
Malaysia is one of the best countries in Southeast Asia and in the whole continent. Regarded as an alpha world city, numerous banking institutions and also other sectors have set up offices in the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur. Because this city is Malaysia's key business district, the cost of an office here is costly, too.
That's the reason it is more sensible to get a serviced office and a virtual office. Malaysia properties are some of the very best in Asia because of tight building security regulations and the beauty of the designs. On the other hand, small- and medium-scale businesses are discovering it tough to build a business office here because of the price. Controlling the cost is one of many main considerations in getting a virtual or serviced office. Malaysia, without a doubt, is among the cities that could provide these facilities.
Nevertheless, what exactly are serviced offices and virtual offices? Just how can they assist, small-scale organizations and foreign-owned ones? Serviced offices offer an individual or a company with a fully serviced office or executive suite with flexible and easy leasing terms and conditions. In a serviced office, Malaysia company owners can share equipment, communication, and facilities to many other tenants.
Another highlight is no requirement for the business to employ a front desk staff because this person is already included in the contract. For most businesses, that is a very cost-effective answer, as they no longer need to buy the essential office equipment and furniture.
In the mean time, a virtual office allows someone or a firm to show professionalism using a famous office address, nevertheless without its expensive cost. The reason being small business owners only use the address, but not the physical office itself.
Countless small-scale businesses worldwide have benefited from a virtual office. Malaysia based foreign business owners know that they can benefit from one as well. Virtual office providers in Malaysia will provide a receptionist to respond to the calls for their customers. Important communication services are also included, and also access to other facilities.
Countless small-scale and foreign-owned businesses benefit from having a serviced office. Malaysia based businessmen and firms also save a lot of if they get a virtual office. Malaysia is one of the best countries in Southeast Asia to work in because of its surging economy. However, there is no need to pay for extra for an exclusive and fully serviced office when you can get these useful office solutions.