...more inside - Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute

Vol 1 2009: January - June PP 8307/12/2009 

www.asli.com.my 

The Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with ASLI’s Senior Vice-President Ms Jean Wong, 

CPPS Chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. Behind is SUHAKAM 

Commissioner Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria. 

Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at an ASLI Forum. 

Chairman ASLI Foundation Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah receiving the Order of Australia Award from visiting 

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Ruud. 

Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and ASLI 

Advisory Council Member Dato Dr. Shanmughalingam. 

The Hon. Bill Clinton, former President of USA at his Public Lecture co-organised by the Sekhar 

Foundation and ASLI 

ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh with Hon. Bill Clinton, former President of USA. 

...more inside

NATIONAL SUMMIT ON URBAN POOR & LOW 

INCOME GROUPS 

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting the Prime Minister on arrival. 

The Prime Minister greeting Selangor Exco Member Teresa Kok whilst ASLI’s Ms Jean Wong looks on. 

Datuk Eddy Chen, Tan Sri Razak Ramli, Mr Tan Koon Swan, Tan Sri Michael Chen, Tan Sri Lim Gait 

Tong, Datuk A P Yong. 

The National Summit on Urban Poor and Low Income Groups was held 

on Monday, 14 July 2008, at Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa. Organised by 

ASLI, the Centre for Public Policy Studies and SUHAKAM, the objective of 

the National Summit was to gather key policymakers, academia, civil society 

and think tankers in addressing one of the most urgent issues burdening 

the nation today: urban poverty. With the rapid increase in costs of living, 

exacerbated by rising food and commodity prices, it was appropriate that the 

urban poor and low-income groups were considered as some of Malaysia’s 

best minds brainstormed on a series of issues in charting out solutions. 

Recommendations were then submitted to the Economic Planning Unit 

and the Prime Minister’s Department for further deliberation. Some of the 

main topics covered during the day-long event were as follows: “Adopting 

a Human Rights Approach to Urban Poverty Reduction”, “Helping Low- 

Income Groups: A Private-Public Partnership”, “Housing, Healthcare & 

Social Services for Urban Poor & Low Income Groups”, “Creating Business 

& Employment Opportunities for Urban Poor & Low Income Groups”, and 

finally “Impacts of Poverty on National Unity”. 

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi graced the occasion with 

a keynote address. He emphasized poverty in urban areas, driven by trends 

such as rural-urban migration, industrialization, immigration of foreign workers, 

and so on. Some of the problems include coordination between different 

government agencies, but reorganization has improved the effectiveness of 

local and state efforts to combat poverty. He also reiterated the complication 

of urban poverty as brought upon by multiple factors, and the need to tackle 

it from different perspectives. The root of it is a lack of income, which is 

Datuk Pardip Kumar, The Belgian Ambassador, Tan Sri Prince Gunaratnam, Mr Raymond Yong. 

worsened in urban areas with their high cost of living. Social safety nets 

were also stressed, from public housing initiatives to reviewing the CPI and 

assistance for hardcore poor and disabled. Finally, he stressed the need for 

cooperation and collaboration between NGOs, academia and government in 

addressing specific urban poverty needs. The ultimate objective is to address 

inequitable distribution of economic opportunities. 

Key speakers at the Summit included Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria, 

SUHAKAM Commissioner, Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Women, 

Family and Community Development, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, Menteri Besar 

Selangor, Prof. Sr. P. Ramasamy S/O Palanisamy, Deputy Chief Minister 

II of Penang, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, President Parti GERAKAN/former 

Chief Minister of Penang, Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Deputy President, Parti 

Keadilan Rakyat, Prof. Dr. Sulochana Nair, from the UM Centre for Poverty 

and Development Studies, Ms.Teresa Kok, Selangor State Councilor, 

Dato’ Abdul Ghani Arifin, Deputy Director-General, Implementation and 

Coordination Unit Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk David Chua, Deputy 

Secretary General, Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry 

of Malaysia, and other prominent personalities. 

Dato’ Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI in his welcoming remarks proposed 

several measures to the government, specifically a transport voucher of 

RM50 per month to low income groups, reduction in EPF contributions, 

banks to decrease interest on housing loans, establish an independent 

monitoring system to track plans for low-income groups and to implement 

comprehensive social safety nets. Datuk Dr. Denison Jayasooria stated that 

Dr. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi of Khazanah Nasional, Datuk David Chua and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam. 

Puan Sri Susan Cheah, Dato Dr. Ng Yen Yen and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh.

NATIONAL SUMMIT ON URBAN POOR & LOW 

INCOME GROUPS 

Dato Dr. Micheal Yeoh presenting a memento to MIC President Dato Seri Samy Vellu. 

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, SUHAKAM Commissioner Dr. Mohammad Hirman Ritom; 

Women, Community and Family Development Minister Dato Dr. Ng Yen Yen. 

Datuk Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Dato Syed Amin AL-Jeffri, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Prof Dr. Ramasamy and 

Dato Mohamed Dahan of GABEM. 

a conceptual overview of the human rights approach to poverty eradication 

includes a human welfare approach based on a charity model, where the 

poor are passive recipients. Prof. Dr. Sulochana Nair agreed, saying that the 

Poverty Line is very inaccurate in successfully calculating poverty. There is 

a great need to track public expenditures and set benchmarks and create 

mechanisms to ensure they are successfully met. Ms Teresa Kok stressed 

that 38% have income lower than RM2000 per month. The government has 

set RM800 as the poverty line, but this is just not enough. There is a need 

for the government to look closer at the town planning to accommodate the 

poor so that they have access to the resources of urban centers without the 

overwhelming costs. 

Datuk David Chua said that rapid urbanization has resulted in high urban 

concentration which places pressure on employment, housing, social 

amenities, and rising costs for all of these, and that there is a need for the 

public authorities to provide for affordable public housing, public transportation 

and urban management. Dato’ Seri Samy Vellu, President, Malaysian Indian 

Congress, said that eradication of poverty must cut across ethnic, religious 

and geographical groups, through skills development, producing knowledge 

workers. Datuk Hj. Mohd. Amin Nordin bin Abd Aziz, Deputy Director General, 

Services, City Hall Kuala Lumpur, announced that City Hall targets a zero 

squatter population by the end of 2008. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim called on the 

Ministry of Housing & Local Government to review its definition of the poverty 

line. In Selangor, 90% of the population lives within city limits, leading to high 

demand for social services and other measures for ameliorating urban issues. 

SUHAKAM Vice Chairman Tan Sri Simon Sipaun chairing a session with Gerakan President Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu 

Koon and PKR Deputy President Dr. Syed Husin Ali. 

Pursuing privatization of real estate projects excessively contributes to greater 

income disparities, suggesting that this approach be reviewed. Datuk Dr. Ng 

Yen Yen stated that Malaysia has amongst the lowest infant and maternal 

mortality rates in the world. The federal government creates incentives for 

employers to provide the disabled and other disadvantaged groups with 

gainful employment opportunities. Dato’ Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Immediate 

Past President Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and 

Industry (MAICCI), stressed on the need to develop micro-enterprises. 

Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, President Parti GERAKAN/former Chief Minister 

of Penang, said there must be a strong commitment to equitable and fair 

eradication of poverty irrespective of race. Dr. Syed Husin Ali, Deputy 

President, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, agreed that basic needs should be 

provided to all irrespective of ethnicity. There is too much discrimination, 

which favors certain ethnicities and in-turn most often the rich. Dr. Denison 

Jayasooria summarized the findings and recommendations from the day’s 

Summit. This included the need for government to review the poverty line, 

have a focal point at every ministry on urban poor, making data available 

transparently, and to address intra-ethnic income disparities. In his closing 

speech, Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew, Deputy Minister of Housing and Local 

Government (representing Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of Housing 

and Local Government), said that the government is committed to halving its 

poverty rate to 2.8% by 2010. The Summit’s findings and recommendations 

are available online, at www.cpps.org.my, under the heading “Poverty 

Reduction”. 

Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim whilst Ms Jean Wong 

looks on. 

 

Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon and Ms Teresa Kok.

THE 13TH MALAYSIAN 

CAPITAL MARKET SUMMIT 2008 

Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak arriving at the Capital Market Summit with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael 

Yeoh. 

Dato Sri Najib receiving a memento from ASLI Director Dato Razman Hashim whilst Dato Dr. Michael 

Yeoh looks on. 

Dato Sri Najib presenting a memento to Bursa Malaysia Chairman Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah. 

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak officiated and delivered the Keynote 

Address at the 13th Malaysian Capital Market Summit organized by 

ASLI on 4th December 2008 at the Prince Hotel Kuala Lumpur. 

In his Keynote Address, Dato’ Sri Najib spoke about the need 

to attract more investors to the Malaysian market. He stressed 

the importance of restoring investor confidence and enhancing 

national competitiveness. Dato’ Sri Najib also spoke about the 

importance of making Malaysia as a hub for Islamic capital market. 

He also said Bursa Malaysia and Securities Commission should 

come out with a plan and strategy to attract more investments from 

China. Dato’ Sri Najib emphasized that we need to remain vigilant 

to new global and regional developments. He called on Investors 

to plan their investment strategy well. He assured the Malaysian 

Government will do everything possible to ensure that confidence in 

the Malaysian market remains high backed by our strong economic 

fundamentals with over USD99.7 billion in foreign reserves enough 

to finance over 8 months of retained imports. He also proposed the 

establishment of an Asia Monetary Fund. 

In her Special Address the Securities Commission Chairman Dato’ 

Sri Zarinah Anwar said she believed the timing of the Capital Market 

ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh having a word with Dato Sri Najib and Securities Commission Chairman 

Dato Sri Zarinah Anwar. 

Summit could not have been more prescient as the global financial 

turmoil has been ongoing for more than a year. Confidence in the 

financial markets has yet to return amid a continuing wariness over 

counter party risks. However, she asserted that the structure of the 

capital market today is more robust than it was during the previous 

crisis, with the market as a whole being more balanced. She said 

today Malaysia has a more diverse set of market participants with 

the strong growth of Malaysia’s investment management industry 

- assets under management have risen five fold during 2000 - 2008 

from RM46 billion to RM236 billion. She also spoke about the strong 

steps taken to enhance market resilience through measures that 

promote capital market stability and development, including putting 

in place safety nets that promote market transparency, facilitate 

proper oversight and encourage greater self and market discipline. 

She spoke of the need to deepen market liquidity and to enhance 

regulatory framework, processes and protocols to ensure that the 

capital market remains stable. 

The Capital Market Summit was sponsored by Maybank as Strategic 

Partner, Magnum as Corporate Partner and Bursa Malaysia as 

Sponsor. Over 200 participants attended the 2-day summit to 

discuss the impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the Malaysian 

Dato Sri Najib being greeted by Datuk Eddy Chen whilst Dato Johan 

Raslan and Dato Dr. Denison Jayasooria look on. 

Dato Dr. Thillainathan moderating the Bonds session. 

Dato Johan Raslan, Tan Sri Radzi Mansor, Dato Razman Hashim, Tun 

Dzaiddin Abdullah, Ambassador Masahiko Horie and Dato Dr. Michael 

Yeoh.

THE 13TH MALAYSIAN 

CAPITAL MARKET SUMMIT 2008 

Mr. P.K. Basu, Mr. David Carbon, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam and Mr. Joseph Tan. 

market. The first session is on the Global Financial Tsunami - What 

Next? How Will It End? Speakers include Mr. P.K. Basu of Daiwa 

Research, Mr. David Carbon, Managing Director, Economic and 

Currency, DBS Bank and Mr. Joseph Tan, Asia Chief Economist, 

Credit Suisse, Other sessions focused on Equity and Bond Market 

Outlook, Strategies to Benefit from Crashes, Outlook for the Capital 

Market, Islamic Capital Markets, Rejuvenating the Capital Market? 

How to Survive in Turbulent Times? 

The Chairman of the Securities Commission, Dato’ Sri Zarinah 

Anwar delivered the Special Address at the summit whilst Mr. 

Devanesan Evanson, Chief Market Operations Officer at Bursa 

Malaysia delivered the Luncheon Address. Other speakers include 

Tan Sri Mohd Ramli Kushairi, Dato’ Ali Abdul Kadir, Dato’ Seri 

Abdul Hamidy Hafiz, Dato’ Johan Raslan, Mr. Mohammed Rashdan 

Yusof, Dato’ Maznah Abdul Jalil, Dato’ Dr. Thillainathan, Mr. Gerald 

Ambrose and Dr. Tan Chong Koay. 

The conference also took stock of the Global Economic Turmoil 

and the impact on Asia. Small and open economies are more 

vulnerable to a global slowdown. Economies with big domestic 

Tan Sri Mohd Ramli Kushairi Chairman SMI Berhad, Datuk Ali Abdul Kadir Chairman Dubai Investment 

Group and Dato Seri Hamidy Hafidz, CEO Affin Bank at the CEO Roundtable. 

bases like China and India to outperform. Asian Central Banks 

have shifted their focus from inflation to growth. Asian currencies 

are weak in the short term but positive in the long term. Asia is 

facing slowing demand for its production reduced external funding 

and trade financing. 

Malaysia does not have the structural problems of the West but 

merely enter a cyclical slow down. As at end October, foreign 

ownership in Malaysian market is only about 22%. Malaysian market 

now looks attractive with dividend yield rebounding to record levels 

and price to book at attractive levels, it was suggested that this is 

a good time for Malaysia to create its own relevance by developing 

some national champions and executive a strategy well. It was 

also proposed that more needs to be done to promote Malaysia 

overseas. 

There was general agreement that Malaysia is well placed to 

withstand the economic turmoil. PDS and equity issuance will 

decline in 2009. Those companies with weaker balance sheets and 

highly geared will be more difficult to raise funds in 2009. 

Mr. Mohammed Rashdan CEO of ASEAMBANKERS, Mr. Badlisyah Abdul Ghani, CEO, CIMB Islamic, 

Dato Maznah Abdul Jalil of Hong Leong Group, Mr. Mohamad Razlan Mohamed, CEO Malaysian Rating 

Corporation. 

ASLI’s Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Dato Razman Hashim and Ms. Jean Wong having a light moment with 

Dato Sri Najib. 

Mr. Choong Khuat Hock Partner / Head of Research, Kumpulan 

Sentiasa Cemerlang, Dr. Harm Zebregs Resident Representative IMF 

and Mr. Raymond Tang Chief Investment Officer CIMB-Principal Asset 

Management. 

Dato Johan Raslan, Mr. Muhamad Ibrahim, Mr. Abdul Wahab Jaafar 

Sidek. 

Mr. Low Tuck Seng Managing Director Frey Capital Switzerland, Mr. 

Gerald Ambrose, Managing Director Aberdeen Asset Management and 

Mr. Soo Lik Keoy Managing Director Mizuho Securities Hong Kong.

WORLD SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL CONFERENCE 

Dialogue with the Ministers session with H.E. Dr. Anton Apriyantono, Minister of Agriculture of Indonesia, 

Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Yusof Basiron, Chief Executive Officer of MPOC and The Hon. Datuk Peter Chin, Minister 

of Plantation Industries & Commodities Malaysia. 

From left Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI, The Hon. Mr Bill Cash MP, Member of Parliament for 

Stone/Chairman of Malaysia All Party Parliamentary Group, H.E. Dr. Anton Apriyantono, Minister of 

Agriculture of Indonesia, Dato Sabri Ahmad, Chairman of MPOB, The Hon. Datuk Peter Chin, Minister 

of Plantation Industries & Commodities Malaysia and Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Yusof Basiron, Chief Executive 

Officer of MPOC. 

Both Ministers Hon. Datuk Peter Chin and H.E. Dr. Anton Apriyantono at the Malaysia and Indonesia 

Joint Press Conference. 

Palm oil has been used in food preparations and household consumption 

for many years. Today it is consumed worldwide in almost every product 

in our daily usage from cooking oil, margarine, soap, beauty products etc. 

Despite the prominent position of palm oil in world markets, palm oil has 

become the target of a massive negative campaign and publicity, which 

has occasionally let to calls to boycott of palm oil-based products in several 

European countries. The campaign against palm oil-based products was 

unprecedented. Even though palm oil is widely used throughout the world, 

no governmental body has ever labeled it as unhealthful. 

On September 15, 2008, at the Palace Suite of the Royal Garden Hotel 

London, ASLI together with Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Malaysian 

Palm Oil Council (MPOC) with the support of the Ministry of Plantation 

Industry and Commodities Malaysia and the Ministry of Agriculture of 

Indonesia organized the World Sustainable Palm Oil Conference with the 

theme “The Road Ahead for Sustainable Palm Oil”. 

The conference was organized in London to discuss the future of palm 

oil as a sustainable agricultural crop and at the same time provided an 

international platform for the interchange of views, debate and sharing 

of knowledge for the use of sustainable palm oil. It provided a window 

for the oil palm industry to address issues, answer questions and 

queries highlighted in the current progress of the industry in its quest 

towards achieving sustainable production of palm oil. The conference 

also encouraged dialogue between civil society groups, end-users and 

producers on the sustainability and has managed to foster debate on the 

H.E. Datuk Abd. Aziz Mohammed, High Commissioner of Malaysia to United Kingdom and The Hon. Mr 

Bill Cash MP, Member of Parliament for Stone/Chairman of Malaysia All Party Parliamentary Group 

during Q & A session. 

sustainability of palm oil and clarifies responsible practices carried out by 

the palm oil industry. 

The conference was officiated by Datuk Peter Chin, Minister of Plantations 

Industries & Commodities Malaysia. In his Opening Keynote Address, 

Datuk Peter Chin stressed that over the past few years, the oil palm 

industry has been confronted on issues concerning the environment, in 

particular deforestation, loss of biodiversity and threat to wildlife. These 

have been complemented lately with concerns on carbon emission from 

development of peatland. All these as he stated have projected a wrong 

image to consumers around the world on the industry. He also added that 

in order to guide the industry towards adherence to sustainable practices, 

MPOB has introduced the five Codes of Practices along the entire oil palm 

supply chain. In addition, the ‘Manual for Sustainable Production of Palm 

Oil’ identifies issues raised by regulators, the industry and stakeholders for 

sustainable use of natural resources; social equitability; and improvements 

in industry practices. Through a consultative process with the industry, the 

Manual will outline the best practices to be adopted throughout the whole 

supply chain. All these efforts show the commitment of the Malaysian 

government and the oil palm industry towards sustainably produced palm 

oil. 

At the Special Ministerial Address presented by Dr Anton Apriyantono, 

Minister of Agriculture on the issue of deforestation, he added that, 

Indonesia has maintained 31.6 million ha of protected forest where wild 

animal live freely and where high biodiversity are kept. Out of the 133 million 

Mr M R Chandran, Advisor to Executive Board of RSPO, Datuk Leslie Davidson, Former Chairman of 

Unilever Plantations International, Mr Cyril Pinso, CEO of Borneo Conservation Trust and Datuk Fong Joo 

Chung, Former Attorney General of the State Government of Sarawak. 

 

Dato Zarir J Cama, Dato Seri Lee Oi Hian, CEO KL Kepong Bhd, Dato Lee Yeow Chor, Executive Director 

of IOI Group, and Mr M R Chandran, Advisor to Executive Board of RSPO.

WORLD SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL CONFERENCE 

The CEO Roundtable Dialogue Session from left Mr Jan Kees Vis, President of RSPO, Dato Lee Yeow 

Chor, Executive Director of IOI Group, Dato Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman/Executive Director of United 

Plantations Bhd, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI, Dato Seri Lee Oi Hian, CEO KL Kepong Bhd, Mr 

Jeremy Goon, Head of CSR of Wilmar International Limited Singapore and Dato Yeo How, President of 

Asian Agri of Indonesia. 

Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI, Ms Jean Wong, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer of 

ASLI, Ms Putri Najib, Solicitor and daughter of Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak and the Hon. Datuk Peter Chin, 

Minister of Plantation Industries & Commodities Malaysia at the event. 

Lively discussion between Dr Rosediana Suharto, Executive Director of Indonesian Palm Oil Board Dato 

Seri Lee Oi Hian and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

The Minister of Plantation Industry and Commoditics Datuk Peter Chin arriving at the World Conference 

on Sustainable Palm Oil. 

ha of lands are forest and only 6.3 million ha which is about 5 percent are 

planted with oil palm, which is arguably a very small area as compared to 

what other countries have done to their natural forests. He also added that 

the issue of forest has been addressed at the EU proposed Directive on 

Renewable Energy which the Indonesian government appreciates as an 

effort to reduce green house gas emissions by use of renewable resources 

to include supplies from outside Europe. However as a concern he also 

added that many points within the regulations and directive includes 

calculations on land change should involve more parties with expertise as 

to provide scientific proof and transparent data, to avoid dispute at a later 

stage. He concluded that Indonesia are committed to supply palm oil to the 

world not only for food but also for any other uses and he urged that we 

should work together to balance its uses for food or energy. 

The Hon. Mr. Bill Cash British MP in his remarks also stated that there 

are undoubted controversies in respect of biodiversity and the natural 

environment in all countries, including Malaysia, but no one could argue 

that the Malaysian industry and Government agencies have not been 

prepared to put out arguments and analysis for public debate. He added 

that there may well be room for continuing improvement and law-making 

and compliance, but there can be no doubt that, despite criticism and 

continuing debate, there will continue to be a vigorous dialogue encouraged 

by the industry and government in the search for a proper and sustainable 

policy in the interests of the mutual necessity of a prosperous economy 

and a balanced environment. 

With the future optimistic picture for palm oil, continuous efforts were untaken 

to promote the health and nutritional benefits of palm oil worldwide and to 

curb these negative campaigns. In line with the campaign for sustainability 

Malaysia especially has continued to engage environmentalists and 

various stakeholders to assure them that their practices are sustainable 

and in ensuring that the oil palm industry grows in harmony with nature, 

several formulated initiatives, policies and practices to balance between 

“development need” and the need to “preserve the environment” have 

been carried out. 

Among the distinguished role-players who spoke at the conference were 

Dato’ Sabri Ahmad, Chairman of Malaysian Palm Oil Board; Dato’ Seri Lee 

Oi Hian, Chairman of Malaysian Palm Oil Council; H.E. Datuk Abd. Aziz 

Mohammed, High Commissioner of Malaysia to United Kingdom; Dr Ralph 

Timms, Consultant of Oils & Fats; Gavin Neath, Senior Vice President 

of Unilever PLC UK; Derom Bangun, Executive Chairman of Indonesian 

Palm Oil Association; Dr Antonio Trius, Chief Executive Officer of Cognis 

GmbH; Datuk Leslie Davidson, Former Chairman of Unilever Plantations 

International; M R Chandran, Advisor to Executive Board of the RSPO; 

Cyril Pinso, Chief Executive Officer of Borneo Conservation Trust; Datuk 

Fong Joo Chung, Former Attorney General of the State Government of 

Sarawak; Dato’ Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman/Executive Director 

of United Plantations Berhad; Jeremy Goon, Head of CSR of Wilmar 

International Limited Singapore; Dato’ Yeo How, President of Asian Agri of 

Indonesia and Jan Kees Vis, President of RSPO. 

Mr Max Say of ASLI and the Hon. Mr Bill Cash MP 

ASLI Palm Oil Conference team in London.

THE 4TH ASIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT 

ASLI President Mirzan Mahathir speaking at the Opening of the 4th Asia Economic Summit in Hong 

Kong. 

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang with Mr. Mirzan Mahathir & Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

Prof. Toyoo Gyohten, former Vice Minister of Finance Japan, Ambassador Wu Jianmin of China, Prof. 

Jeffrey Lehman, former President Cornell University, USA and Mr. Tadakatsu Sano, former Vice Minister, 

MITI, Japan. 

About 150 leading thinkers, business leaders and senior 

government officials met in Hong Kong on 8th and 

9th December 2008 at the 4th Asia Economic Summit 

organised by ASLI and Asia Society. 

The opening session focussed on enhancing 

competitiveness and the business environment and the 

role of governments. Indonesia’s Trade Minister Dr Mari 

Pangestu spoke about the need for policy, bureacratic 

and institutional reforms. She said the crisis could be an 

opportunity to re-prioritise and to push the envelope on 

reforms. She stressed that over the next few years there 

will be a greater role for governments but suggested this 

should be temporary and should have a sunset clause. 

Prof. William Miller of Stanford University and President 

Emeritus of Stanford Research Institute stressed the 

need to focus on the high tech economy and the need to 

have very good university-industry collaboration as well 

as to have good global linkages and to encourage risk 

taking. Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang 

spoke about what the Hong Kong government is doing to 

tackle the global financial crisis. 

Chairman Hang Lung Group and Asia Society Hong Kong Centre Mr. Ronnie Chan, Chairman Singapore 

Institute of International Affairs Simon Tay, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Dato Dr. Michael 

Yeoh. 

The session on Asia economic outlook saw presentations 

by Prof Eisuke Sakakibara, Japan’s former vice minister 

for Finance, Mr. Tony Tyler, CEO of Cathay Pacific and 

Mr Soo-lik Keoy, Managing Director of Mizuho Securities. 

Prof Sakakibara said the current crisis will be longer and 

deeper than people expect. He does not see a bottom 

and warn of the possible collapse of consumption. He 

suggested Asian countries earmark 10% of their foreign 

reserves for an Asian Monetary Fund. 

The former Managing Director of the World Economic 

Forum Claude Smadja felt this crisis is not the same 

as previous crisis and suggested we need to be more 

pessimistic about this crisis. He shared his analysis on 

how China will play a role in the world economy. China 

will seek a bigger role as rule setters in international 

bodies like WTO and IMF. He argued that US and China 

have common interests. Ambassador Wu Jianmin of 

China’s Foreign Affairs University stressed that China 

will never seek hegemony. He emphasised that the global 

crisis calls for global solutions and the right agenda. He 

felt the crisis is an opportunity to accelerate East Asia 

Indonesia’s Trade Minister Dr. Mari Pangestu speaking at the 

Summit. 

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary John Tsang speaking at the Summit. 

 

An exchange between China’s Ambassador Wu Jianmin and Mr. 

Claude Smadja former Managing Director World Economic Forum 

moderated by Mr. Ronnie Chan.

THE 4TH ASIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT 

Country Heights Founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, President Lippo Group Stephen Riady and Metro Kajang 

Group Managing Director Datuk Eddy Chen. 

CEO HSBC Asia Pacific Mr. Sandy Flockhart, Ms Sarah Liao Hong Kong’s former Secretary for Environment 

and Public Works and Ms. Christine Loh, CEO Civic Exchange, Hong Kong. 

CEO Cathay Pacific Mr. Tony Tyler, Ms. Soo Lik Keoy and Prof. Eisuke Sakakibara former Vice Minister 

of Finance Japan. 

Indonesia’s Trade Minister Dr. Mari Pangestu, Stanford University’s Prof. William Miller and Dato Dr. 

Michael Yeoh. 

community building. Mr Toyoo Gyohten, Japan’s former 

Vice Finance Minister suggested that Asia needs its own 

currency either like the Euro or a basket of currencies. 

Asia needs open, robust, competitive capital markets. 

He stressed Asia needs a new business model focussed 

on trust and modesty. 

Other sessions discussed were on private equity in 

China and Asia, climate change and the environment, 

Asia’s property market, corporate governance and CSR, 

meeting Asia’s infrastructure development, and how Asia 

can have a sustainable future. Other speakers included 

Sandy Flockhart; CEO HongKong and Shanghai Bank; 

Dr Sarah Liao, former Secretary of Environment and 

Public Works Hong Kong Government; Stephen Riady, 

President Lippo Group Indonesia; Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, 

Deputy Chairman and Founder, Country Heights Group 

Malaysia; Mr Lim Guan Eng, Chief Minister Penang; 

Ronald Arculli, Chairman Hong Kong Exchanges; Mr CY 

Leung, Member Hong Kong Executive Council; Andrew 

Brandler, CEO CLP Holdings; Dr Fu Yu Ning, President 

China Merchants Group; Mr Martin Craigs, President 

Pacific Basin Economic Council and Mr. Ian Buchanan 

Senior Executive Adviser, Booz & Co, Australia. 

The conference was sponsored by Hang Lung Group, 

Better Hong Kong Foundation, Petra Group and Cathay 

Pacific. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange 

Mr Ronald Arculli warned that the worst of the financial 

crisis is yet to come. “We are sitting right at the heart 

of the crisis, the volatile market and credit crunch may 

last for some time”. However, Ronnie Chan Chairman 

of Asia Society and Hang Lung Group said the winter 

will pass. 

In the concluding session Penang Chief Minister Lim 

Guan Eng said Penang will be turned from a sweatshop 

to smart shop. Mr CY Leung a member of Hong Kong’s 

Executive Council said Asia should not waste a good 

start and should focus on a new shared vision. Finally 

there was a consensus that Asia should take the lead 

in climate change and should focus on sustainable 

development initiatives including moving towards a low 

carbon economy. 

Mr. Stuart Dean, Mr. Martin Crawford, Dr. Fu Yu Ning, President 

China Merchants Group and Mr. Ramakrishnan of Bajaj Group India. 

Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Mr. Ian Buchanan, Mr. Mirzan Mahathir & Prof. 

William Miller. 

Hong Kong Stock Exchange Chairman Mr. Ronald Arculli speaking 

during lunch.

MALAYSIA-INDIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE 

Meeting at the Prime Minister’s office with the Malaysia-India Strategic Dialogue delegation. Flanking 

the Prime Minister are Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam. 

Group photograph with the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister’s office of members of the Malaysia- 

India Strategic Dialogue. 

The Prime Minister welcoming the Leader of the Indian delegation Ambassador Satinder Lambah. 

The Malaysia-India Strategic Dialogue was initiated by the Confederation 

of Indian Industry, New Delhi and ASLI. It was held over a two-day period 

in Kuala Lumpur and covered a wide range of bilateral issues. The Indian 

delegation was led by Ambassador Satinder Lambah, Special Envoy of the 

Prime Minister of India and included the Media Adviser to the Indian Prime 

Minister Dr. Sanjaya Baru and other business leaders. 

After a closed-door exchange of views, the delegation called on the Prime 

Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. A wide ranging discussion was 

held with the Prime Minister in the Prime Minister’s office. ASLI’s CEO Dato’ 

Dr. Michael Yeoh outlined the key issues discussed during the Strategic 

Dialogue to the Prime Minister. 

During the meeting with the Prime Minister, Ambassador Lambah conveyed 

the Indian Prime Minister’s personal regards to Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad 

Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with President of the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of 

Commerce Dato Kenneth Eswaran and ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

Badawi. He also strongly felt that we need to remove negative perceptions 

about Malaysia and India in both countries and he proposed a Malaysia-India 

Partnership Foundation to be established as a public private sector initiative. 

The Prime Minister replied that he is happy the Indian delegation has come 

with a mission and vision to improve relations between our two countries. 

He said that the historical ties between Malaysia and India is a long standing 

one and that the Malaysian Civil Service was modeled along the lines of 

the India Civil Service. He agrees in principle to the suggestion of setting 

up a Malaysia-India Foundation. The Prime Minister also said that Malaysia 

companies have been active in India and Indian companies have been active 

in Malaysia. 

At the Strategic Dialogue, several issues were discussed. There is a 

recognition to better manage perceptions on both sides to close the perception 

gap. It was also suggested that closer collaboration be established between 

Minister of International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin receiving a memento from the 

Indian delegation leader Ambassador Satinder Lambah. 

10 

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng with Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam Ms Jean Wong and Dato Dr. 

Michael Yeoh.

MALAYSIA-INDIA STRATEGIC DIALOGUE 

The Indian delegation at Lunch with the Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister 

Prof. Ramasamy. 

MIDA Director General Dato Jalilah Baba with Ambassador Satinder Lambah. 

Dato Seri Samy Vellu, Ambassador Satinder Lambah, Deputy Minister Datuk Devamany. 

centres of excellence. The tremendous potential in education was highlighted. 

Tourism is another key sector that has potential for further development. 

Greater collaboration in outsourcing opportunities was also raised. Another 

proposal put forward is to work together on research and development and 

development of small and medium industries. 

The Indian side felt there could be closer collaboration between the two 

countries on global issues such as energy security, food security, financial 

flows, climate change and combating terrorism. There was also a suggestion 

to make Malaysia a biotech hub for India and proposal for Malaysian 

entrepreneurs to plant onions in Kerala as most of Malaysian onions come 

from Kerala. 

The Malaysia-India CEO Forum was also held alongside the Strategic 

Dialogue. The Minister of International Trade & Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin 

Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha with Mr. Dilip Chenoy, Mr. P.D. Khedekar, Mr. David Wong 

and Prof. Lee Poh Ping. 

Yassin delivered the Opening Keynote Address at this forum attended by 

Malaysian and Indian CEO’s. The Indian delegation highlighted India’s 

economic re-integration into Asia and the evolving framework of India- 

East Asia relations including the conclusion of an India-ASEAN FTA on 

closer economic cooperation agreement. The forum discussed how to get 

a larger Indian business presence in Malaysia as there are over 200 Indian 

companies in Singapore compared to only 74 in Malaysia. 

Among other issues discussed were having exchange of scholars and 

visiting professors between the two countries and the establishment of a 

Chair of Malaysian Studies in India and a Chair of India Studies in Malaysia. 

Media collaboration was another area covered. It was agreed an exchange 

of editors and journalists would be beneficial. There was agreement that 

future strategic dialogues should include civil society organizations. The 

next Malaysia-India Strategic Dialogue will be held in New Delhi in 2009. 

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Ambassador Dato Choo Siew Kioh. 

11 

Indian High Commissioner Ashok Kantha, Ambassador Satinder Lambah and Dr. Sanjaya Baru former 

Press Secretary to Prime Minister India.

EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS 

ASLI Senior Vice President Ms Jean Wong greeting the Prime Minister whilst Kamala, Dato Dr. Michael 

Yeoh and Tan Sri Navaratnam look on. 

The Regent of Negri Sembilan with Tan Sri Navaratnam, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and the Japanese 

Ambassador. 

Minister of Energy Water and Communications Dato Shaziman Abu Mansor with Japanese Ambassador 

Horie and ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

Minister of International Trade and Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Opening of the Malaysia- 

India CEO forum. 

Mr. Low Tuck Seng, Mr. Michael Chow, Ms. Jean Wong, Prof. William Miller, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew and Dato 

Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

Dato Seri Effendi Norwawi, Dato Razman Hashim and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

ASLI Trustee and Chairman Telekom Malaysia Tan Sri Radzi Mansor with Deputy Minister of Energy, 

Water and Communications Dato Joseph Salong, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and Ms Jean Wong. 

Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz with Dato Razman Hashim & Ms. Jean Wong. 

ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh greeting the ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan at the ASEAN 

Education Forum in Honoi. 

A delegation from the Royal College of Defence Studies UK calling on ASLI. 

12

EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS 

Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak arriving at ASLI’s Capital Market Summit accompanied by Dato Dr. 

Michael Yeoh, Dato Sri Zarinah Anwar and Ms. Jean Wong. 

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Ambassador Horie, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Dato Sri Zarinah Anwar, 

Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah, Dato Razman Hashim, Dato Johan Raslan, Ms. Jean Wong and Tan Sri Radzi 

Mansor. 

Lion Group Chairman Tan Sri William Cheng, MUI Group Chairman Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng, PPMC 

Chairman Dato Majid Khan, INTI Group CEO Tan Yew Sing and Tan Sri Lim Gait Tong. 

ASLI Director Dato Razman Hashim, Japanese Ambassador Horie, Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah and Tan Sri 

Navaratnam welcoming Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak. 

THE INAUGURAL GLOBAL EMERGING MARKETS SUMMIT 2008 

The Global Emerging Markets Summit 2008 was co-organized by ASLI and Perception 

Management International Sdn Bhd (PMI). The idea was mooted in October 2007 by 

PMI and crystallized with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between both 

organizations as founding partners and sponsors. It was agreed that should the project 

succeed, it would be institutionalized for the long term. Part of the agenda was to tap into 

the growing importance of the global emerging market in the context of the changing 

international economic order. GEMS made its debut in London from August 5-6 and 

the response was positive. 

At the Opening Ceremony, the Opening Address was delivered by Sir John Stuttard, 

Lord Mayor Locum Tenens, and followed by the Keynote Address on “The Role of 

Tourism in the Branding & Development of Emerging Markets” delivered by the 

Honourable Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia. 

Among the key topics in the programme were Global Economic Challenges & Emerging 

Markets: The Rise of China and East Asia, BRIC & Mortar - Real Estate Potential in 

Emerging Markets, Africa Beyond Aid -The Time Has Come, Relooking ASEAN - Has 

Southeast Asia Regained its Shine, Energy & Infrastructure in the Middle-East and 

Investing in Emerging Markets - Managing Risks, Maximising Returns. 

GEMS 08 featured 20 international speakers from 10 countries - Ghana, Malaysia, 

the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, China, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Brussels, 

South Africa. Among the distinguished speakers were Mr. Ronnie Chan, Chairman, 

Hang Lung Properties, Hong Kong; Mr. Stephen Perry, Chairman, The 48 Group Club, 

United Kingdom; Mr. David Fouquet, Former Secretary - General of Europe Institute 

for Asia Studies & Director of Asia Europe Project, Brussels; Dato’ Ikmal Hijaz Hashim, 

CEO, Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Malaysia; Mr. Edward Boateng, 

Chairman, Millennium Development Authority (MIDA), Ghana; Mr. John Battersby, 

Country Manager United Kingdom, International Marketing Council of South Africa; Mr. 

Roger Hayes, Senior Counselor, APCO Worldwide & Board of Trustees, Malaysia- 

Europe Forum; Mr. Asif Ahmad, Head of South East Asia Pacific Group, Foreign and 

Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom; Mr. Peter E Barker-Homek, Chief Executive 

Officer, TAQA (Abu Dhabi National Energy Company), UAE; Datuk Dr Mohd Ghazali 

Md Noor, Director, Strategic Planning Office, Islamic Development Bank Group, 

Saudi Arabia; Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, CEO, Commonwealth Telecommunications 

Organisation, United Kingdom; Mr. Nicholas Moy, Group Chairman, Gryphon Emerging 

Markets; Mr. Low Tuck Seng, Managing Director, Frey Capital AG, Switzerland; and 

Ms. Alayne Reesberg, Reesberg Partners, United Kingdom. 

The inaugural GEMS was rounded up with a Luncheon Talk by Her Excellency Madam 

Fu Ying, Ambassador, The People’s Republic of China to the UK. 

Lord Mayor of London Sir John Stuttard, Tourism Minister Dato Seri Azalina Othman Said and Dato Dr. 

Michael Yeoh. 

Hang Lung Group Chairman Mr. Ronnie Chan, Mr. Stephen Perry, Mr. David Fouquet. 

Datuk S.K. Lingham, Dato Ikmal Hijaz, Dato Dr. Mohamed Ghazali Noor, Ambassador Fu Ying and Dato 

Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

13 

The Organizers, Speakers and Asian Ambassadors in London at the Summit.

ASLI CO-ORGANIZE BILL CLINTON LECTURE 

ASLI Director Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam with The Hon. Bill Clinton. 

Datuk Vinod Sekhar and the Hon. Bill Clinton. 

The Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) co-organised the Public 

Lecture in Kuala Lumpur by the Hon Bill Clinton, former President of USA. The 

former President was invited by Dato’ Vinod Sekhar to deliver the Sekhar Memorial 

Lecture and to receive the BC Sekhar Medal for transformational leadership. 

Former President Clinton spoke on Building Common Humanity and answered 

several questions. It was the former President’s first visit to Malaysia. 

President Clinton stressed that we live today in a more interdependent world than 

at any time in history. He said we have to change the way we think. He also spoke 

about the importance of sustainability and energy and shared his perspectives on 

the Arab-Israeli conflict. 

Chairman ASLI Foundation & Sunway Group Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah and the US Ambassador James 

Keith. 

The former President emphasised that every country must put its own house in 

order. He stressed that we have no choice but to share the future. 

Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Chairman ASLI Foundation, Plantation Industry and Commodities Minister 

Datuk Peter Chin, Tun Hanif Omar & Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at the Bill Clinton VIP Reception. 

Dato Chew Chee Kin, Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Khas, Dato Seri Effendi 

Norwawi, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and US Ambassador James Keith at the Clinton VIP Reception. 

ASLI COO Ms. Jean Wong greeting Tourism Minister Dato Seri Azalina at the Clinton Lecture. 

Dato Seri Dr. Jamaluddin Jarjis having a word with Datuk Peter Chin at the Clinton Lecture. Behind are 

Tan Sri Tan Kay Hock and Khairy Jamaluddin. 

Central Bank Governor Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz having a word with Tan Sri Dr. Jeffrey Cheah, Tun Hanif 

Omar and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

UMNO Deputy Youth Leader Khairy Jamaluddin having a word with Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, Dato Dr. 

Michael Yeoh and Ms. Jean Wong. 

14

NATIONAL TOURISM FORUM 2008 

Dato Sri Azalina Dato Othman Said, Minister of Tourism with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at the official 

opening of National Tourism Forum. 

Distinguished panel of speakers at the forum: Dato Kee Phaik Cheen, Chairman of Penang Tourism 

Action Council, Dato Razali Hj Mohd Daud, Acting Director-General, Tourism Malaysia, Mr. Anthony 

Wong, Group Managing Director of Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel and Dr. Wong Kong Yew, 

Programme Director of Taylor’s College-School of Hospitality and Tourism. 

Dato Mokhzani Mahathir and the ASLI Team. 

The National Tourism Forum 2008 was held on 25 - 26 September 2008 at the Prince 

Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur, with the theme, “The Evolution and the Implications 

of Tourism Dynamics”. The forum had attracted the participation of key executives and 

decision & policy-makers from the government agencies, industry associations, NGOs, 

hotels & resorts, airlines & airports, travel & tour operators, retailers as well as public and 

private investors with vested interest in the Tourism and its downstream industries. 

As one of the world’s fastest growing industries and the second largest revenue 

earner in Malaysia, the Tourism industry is the backbone of enormous businesses and 

employment opportunities for thousands of Malaysians. In its dynamic evolution since 

the new millennium, we have seen the advent of many new tourism facets and the 

proliferation of the Internet which allowed greater price transparency and control for 

travelers. It had also weathered numerous economic cycles, endured terrorism threats 

& attacks, outbreaks of diseases and natural disasters, all of which have significantly 

impacted the industry. As organizations and individuals the world over are faced with 

volatile oil prices, inflation and increasing cost of operations/living, travel and tourism will 

inadvertently be impacted once again. 

In the Keynote Address, Dato’ Sri Azalina Dato’ Othman Said, Minister of Tourism, 

commended on the strong performance of the industry which has been growing steadily 

for the past 10 years and reached a new high of 20.9 million tourist arrivals in 2007. She 

was also confident that Malaysia is on track to achieve the targeted tourist arrival of 22.5 

million by the end of 2008. Responding to queries from the floor at the question and 

answer session afterwards, Dato’ Sri Azalina acknowledged that persistent problems 

such as the quality of taxi services were a nuisance to the industry. However, she added 

that this was likely to be the case of ‘one bad apple spoils the barrel’ and was sure 

that the ministry and relevant authorities had been monitoring the situation and would 

continue to do so to contain these problems. 

The forum then proceeded with presentations and panel discussions that covered a 

broad range of travel and tourism related issues over the course of the 2-day forum. 

They included topics such as Discovering New Tourism Facets and Strengthening 

Established Tourism Segments, Risks and Opportunities in Sports Tourism: Ploughing 

Deeper to Boost Yields, Going Green: Discussing the Expectations and Deliverance 

Key players of the Medical Tourism Industry: Mr. Suresh Ponnudurai, Managing Director of MalaysiaHealthCare. 

com, Dr. Chong Su-Lin, CEO of Sunway Medical Center, Dato’ Teddric Mohr, CEO/President of Penang Adventist 

Hospital and Mr. Stuart Pack, CEO of Hospitality, Leisure & Health Division, Country Heights Holdings Bhd. 

of Ecotourism, The Personnel Touch: Panel Discussion on Human Capital in Tourism 

Sector, Marching in the Medical Tourists: A Healthy Outlook, Malaysia Truly Asia: 

Selling Malaysia and the Malaysian Culture, When All Good Intentions Fail: The Cavity 

in the Tourism Sector and Panel Discussion: Malaysia vs. Asia: Regional Tourism for 

Increased Tourist Traffic. 

The panel of speakers, panelists and moderators was made up of experienced and 

prominent players from various sectors of the industry. They were Dato’ Razali Hj Mohd 

Daud - Acting Director-General, Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Kee Phaik Cheen - Chairman, 

Penang Tourism Action Council, Ms Elizabeth Wong - Chairman, Selangor Tourism, 

Consumer Affairs and Environment Committee, Ms Gracie Geikie - Chief Executive 

Officer, Sarawak Tourism Board, Dato’ Mokhzani Mahathir - Chairman, Sepang 

International Circuit Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Pardip Kumar Kukreja - Executive Chairman, 

Grand Paradise Holdings Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Teddric Mohr - CEO/President, Penang 

Adventist Hospital, Datuk Ismail Adam - Council Member, Badan Warisan Malaysia, 

Datuk Hj Mhd Amin Nordin bin Abd Aziz - Deputy Director General of Services, DBKL, 

Mr. Ahmad Kamil Mohamed - President, Malaysia Sports Tourism Council, SAC II Ku 

Chin Wah - Ketua Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Kuala Lumpur, Polis Diraja Malaysia, 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Badaruddin Mohamed - Tourism Research Circle, Universiti Sains 

Malaysia, Dr Asma Abdullah - Intercultural Consultant & Facilitator, Dr Chong Su-Lin - 

Chief Executive Officer, Sunway Medical Centre, Dr Loh Chi Leong - Executive Director, 

Malaysian Nature Society, Dr Shamsudin Ibrahim - Director of Forestry Division, FRIM, 

Dr Wong Kong Yew - Programme Director, Bachelor & Master Degree Programmes, 

Taylor’s College - School of Hospitality and Tourism, Mr. Rohizam Md Yusoff - Chief 

Executive Officer, VirtualMalaysia.com, Mr. Anthony Wong - Group Managing Director, 

Asian Overland Services Tours &Travel, Mr. Jimmy Leong - President, Malaysia Tourist 

Guides Council (MTGC), Mr. Kenneth Kassem – Marine Coordinator, WWF Malaysia, 

Mr. Mark Lankester - Chief Executive Officer, Tune Hotels Sdn Bhd, Mr. Phua Tai 

Neng - Chief Operating Officer, Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Mr. 

Reginald T Pereira - Chief Operating Officer, Malaysia Association of Hotels Training 

and Education Centre (MAHTEC), Mr. Stuart Pack - CEO of Hospitality, Leisure & 

Health Tourism Division, Country Heights Holdings Berhad, Mr. Suresh Ponnudurai - 

Managing Director, MalaysiaHealthCare.com and Ms Joyce Yap - President, Malaysian 

Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management. 

Chairman of Selangor Tourism, Consumer affairs and Environment Committee Ms Elizabeth Wong, 

President of Tourism Educators Association of Malaysia Assoc. Prof. Dr. Badaruddin Mohamed and CEO 

of Sarawak Tourism Board Ms Gracie Geikie at a panel discussion. 

15 

Mr. Phua Tai Neng, Chief Operating Officer of MATTA, Ms Joyce Yap, President of PPK Malaysia, Dato 

Pardip Kumar Kukreja, Executive Chairman of Grand Paradise Holdings Sdn Bhd, Mr. Reginald Pereira, 

Chief Operating Officer of MAHTEC and Mr. Mark Lankester, CEO of Tune Hotels Sdn Bhd.

NATIONAL PROPERTY & HOUSING SUMMIT 2008 

Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam having a word with Dato Seri Ong Ka Chuan, whilst Dato Razman Hashim 

looks on. 

A group photo with the Summit Sponsors with Dato Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of Housing and Local 

Government officiating the event. 

Dato Razman Hashim, ASLI’s Director presenting a memento to Dato Seri Ong Ka Chuan, Minister of 

Housing and Local Government. 

The National Property & Housing Summit 2008, which was held over 

a course of two days from 13th to 14th November 2008 at Sunway 

Resort Hotel & Spa, Bandar Sunway, has again turned out to be 

another success. This year’s summit was co-organized with REHDA 

and FIABCI Malaysia and supported by the National House Buyers 

Association. 

This year’s theme on “Coping with Current Economic Challenges - 

Towards Sustainable Property Development” was meant to reflect the 

current economic backdrop of the property and housing sector and how 

property players could work together towards sustainability in property 

businesses in times of economic challenges. 

At the Opening Ceremony, the Minister of Housing & Local Government, 

Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Chuan officiated the ceremony and delivered the 

Opening Keynote Address. The CEO Roundtable discussion followed 

immediately after the morning break. Among the key panelists present 

were Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, Deputy Chairman of Country Heights 

Holdings Berhad; Datuk Eddy Chen, President of ASEAN Association 

for Planning & Housing and Managing Director of Metro Kajang; and 

Mr. Lai Voon Hon, Executive Director, Ireka Corporation Bhd and 

President/CEO, Ireka Development Management. The roundtable 

From L to R: Mr. George Stewart LaBrooy CEO/Executive Director, AXIS REIT Managers Bhd, Datuk Ng 

Seing Liong, JP, President of Rehda, Dato F.D. Iskandar, Group Managing Director, Glomac Bhd and Sr 

Elvin Fernandez, Managing Director, Khong & Jaafar. 

discussion was moderated by Datuk Jeffrey Ng, Executive Director of 

Sunway City Bhd and Immediate Past President of REHDA. 

In the roundtable discussion, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew shared with 

participants some tips on his marketing plans in times of economic 

downturn. He reckoned that local players should go overseas and bring 

back investors rather than depending entirely on domestic demand and 

in order to survive, being innovative and creative does not only apply 

to product development, but also to proper implementation (of property 

development) and marketing strategies in property businesses. On 

the other hand, Datuk Eddy reasoned that despite the fact that the 

economy might be facing a recession soon, and the outcome also 

depends on the global economic outlook. He added that companies 

needed to re-look at their financial management and balance sheet as 

property might face asset devaluation. He did not foresee a crash in the 

property sector, but expected a downturn instead. He suggested that 

the public should not be panic, and should instead believe in a property 

cycle where what go up must come down and vice versa for what come 

down must go up. Mr. Lai Voon Hon also shared similar thought that 

property players should go out and explore, sell products that meet the 

market needs in economic downturn and avoid low-cost marketing trap. 

Datuk Jeffrey rounded up the discussion and added that the promotion 

Tan Sri Ramon V. Navaratnam highlighting a point whilst Datuk Eddy Chen and Dato Chew Chee Kin 

look on. 

Dato Voon Tin Yow, Executive Director & COO SP Setia Bhd addressing the audience with him is BG (Rtd) 

Datuk Goh Seng Toh, Honorary Vice-President, National House Buyers Association. 

16

NATIONAL PROPERTY & HOUSING SUMMIT 2008 

ASLI’s Director, Dato Razman Hashim presenting a memento to the Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri 

Dato Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. 

on Malaysia My Second Home should be in the agenda of the Ministry 

of Tourism. 

On the first day, the Luncheon Keynote Address on “Property 

Development in the Selangor State” was delivered by the Chief Minister 

of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. The second day’s Luncheon 

Address on “Incorporating Feng Shui in Property Development” was 

delivered by Mr. Joey Yap, CEO of Yap Global Consulting. 

Among the key issues and new developments discussed in the summit 

were globalization and liberalization of the property sector and its 

impact on Malaysian developers, islamic mortgages and potential of 

islamic finance in housing & property development, innovation and 

branding in property development - key success factors, towards 

sustainable development - best practices in sustainability and green 

development, where are the new property hot spots and how will the 

economic climate impact on real estate investment and success stories 

in Malaysia Real Estate. 

Among those who presented ideas and spoke at the summit were 

Datuk Ng Seing Liong, JP, President, REHDA; Datuk Richard Fong, 

Dato Lee Yeow Chor, Executive Director of IOI Properties, Tan Sri Dato Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Chief 

Minister of Selangor and Dato Razman Hashim, ASLI’s Director at the Luncheon Address. IOI Properties 

is the Luncheon Host Sponsor for the Summit. 

President, FIABCI Malaysia; Sr Elvin Fernandez, MD, Khong & Jaafar 

Sdn Bhd; Mr. George Stewart LaBrooy, CEO/ Executive Director, Axis 

REIT Managers Bhd; Dato’ F.D. Iskandar, Group Managing Director, 

Glomac Bhd; Dato’ Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, Executive Chairman, 

Rahim & Co. Chartered Surveyors; Dato’ Voon Tin Yow, Executive 

Director & COO, SP Setia Bhd; Brigadier General (R) Datuk Goh Seng 

Toh , Honorary Vice-president, National House Buyers Association; 

Mr. Ngian Siew Siong, MD, Sunway City; Mr. David Mizan Hashim, 

Founding Principal, Veritas Design Group; Mr. Colin Ng Cho Leng, 

Head of Corporate Investment, Goldis Bhd, YM Tengku Abdul Aziz 

Tengku Mahmud, Head, Property Development, Sime Darby Property 

Berhad; Mr. Hamzah Saari, Head of Consumer Banking, CIMB Islamic 

Bank; Pn Rajashahridatul, Head, Product Planning & Development, 

RHB Islamic Bank; Mr. Azizi Ali, Senior VP/Head of Islamic Business 

& Securitization, Cagamas; Mr. Ho Chin Soon, Director, Ho Chin Soon 

Research; Mr. Ismail B. Ibrahim, Federal Commissioner, Iskandar 

Regional Development Authority; Dato’ Alan Tong Kok Mau, Executive 

Chairman, Bukit Kiara Properties; Mr. Yusof Abu Othman, Senior 

General Manager, EMKAY Group; and Dato’ Dr Lian Chin-Boon, 

Professor Emeritus & Director, Pulai Springs Resort. 

Distinguished Panelists of the CEO Roundtable Discussion. L to R: Mr. Lai Voon Hon, Executive Director, Ireka 

Corporation Bhd, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, Deputy Chairman, Country Heights Holdings Bhd and Datuk Jeffrey Ng, 

Executive Director, Sunway City Bhd. 

From L to R: YM Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mahmud, Head-Property Development, Sime Darby Property 

Bhd, Mr. Ismail Ibrahim, Federal Commissioner, Iskandar Regional Development Authority and Mr. Ho 

Chin Soon, Director, Ho Chin Soon Research. 

A panel of distinguished speakers: Mr. David Mizan Hashim, Founding Principal, Veritas Design Group, Mr. 

Ngian Siew Siong, Managing Director, Sunway City and Mr. Colin Ng, Head of Corporate Investment, Goldis. 

Dato Alan Tong, Executive Chairman, Bukit Kiara Properties addressing the Summit. 

17

THE 2 ND ASEAN EDUCATION FORUM 

Vietnam’s Vice-Minister of Education and Training Prof Banh Tien Long with ASLI CEO Dato Dr. Michael 

Yeoh. 

The ASEAN Secretary General Dr. Surin Pitsuwan with the Joint Organisers of the Forum. 

Speakers at the Forum with the ASEAN Secretary General. 

In 2007, following ASEAN’s adoption of ASEAN Charter on its 40th Anniversary, 

the 1st ASEAN Education Forum was held and had gallantly taken the first step in 

a journey towards the development of ASEAN education space. 

Following the success of the inaugural forum, the ASEAN Education Forum was 

held for the second time on 19 November 2008 at the Vietnam National University, 

Hanoi (VNU). This year’s forum took place amidst a challenging time in the global 

economic landscape - a time when the need for ASEAN to retain its economic 

resilience cannot be further emphasized. 

With education being seen as key to continuous progress, development and 

competitiveness of ASEAN, the education community had decided to take on a 

more proactive role in furthering regional cooperation and alliance in education 

development. As such, ASLI had the opportunity to jointly co-organise this forum 

with 2 key stakeholders from the industry - VNU and the Vietnam University 

Network. The forum also enjoyed the support of the Vietnamese government 

via Vietnam National Council of Education (VNCE) which acted as one of the 

supporting organisations, alongside the Hanns Seidel Foundation. 

Themed “Bridging the Gap within the ASEAN Community: Education for All”, the 

forum called for more result-orientated efforts to develop new education partnerships 

in ASEAN with the objective to promote closer collaboration in Education, Human 

Capital Development and Training among both the Public and Private education 

sectors in ASEAN countries. 

In his Opening Address, Professor Dr Mai Trong Nhuan, President of VNU stressed 

on the importance of enhanced cooperation, exchange and integration for improved 

education quality and coming together to overcome poverty and backwardness to 

advance together towards common prosperity of the ASEAN region. An educationfor-all 

system can help to diminish and eradicate the disadvantages in education 

From Left: Prof. Dato Hassan Said, Mr. Thai of Hanns Siedel Foundation, Dr. Nantana of the Asean 

University Network, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Mr. Andrew Crow of Oracle and Prof. Robin Pollard of Monash 

University. 

opportunities, in order to shorten the knowledge gap that currently persists within 

various groups and communities of each nation. 

At the Closing Keynote Address, Dr Surin Pitsuwan, ASEAN Secretary-General, 

reiterated the importance of the education space development for ASEAN as 

reflected the in ASEAN Social-Cultural Community - one of the three main pillars 

of ASEAN community. He also remarked that it is only through education that pride 

and spirit of ASEAN-ness can be effectively inculcated in its citizens. 

Other distinguished speakers and moderators who participated at the forum 

were Prof. Dr Banh Tien Long - Vice Minister, Ministry of Education and Training, 

Vietnam (MOET), Mr. Karl-Peter Schoenfisch - Director, Hanns Seidel Foundation, 

Prof. Dr Nguyen Hoa - Rector, College of Foreign Languages, VNU, Prof. Dato’ Dr 

Hassan Said, Vice Chancellor & President, Taylor’s University College, Malaysia, 

Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Nga - Director, Center of Quality Assurance 

and Education Development, VNU, Assoc. Prof. Nantana Gajaseni - Deputy 

Executive Director, ASEAN University Network, Prof. Alan K. L. Chan - Associate 

Provost, National University Singapore, Prof. Nguyen An Ninh - Director General, 

Department of Examination & Accreditation, MOET, Assoc. Prof. Pham Hong Tung, 

Vice Director, R&D Department, VNU, Mr. Peter Ng - President & Vice Chancellor, 

UCSI University, Malaysia, Prof. Robin Pollard - Pro Vice Chancellor & President 

- Malaysia, Monash University, Prof. Dr Vu Minh Giang - Vice President, VNU, 

Prof. Dr Cao Van Sam, Vice Director-General, Department of Vocation Training, 

Ministry of Labor, Dr William Wan - Managing Director, Talent Plus Asia Pacific, 

Prof. Dato’ Dr Ansary Ahmed, President/CEO, Asia e-University, Prof. Dr Srisakdi 

Charmonman - Chairman and CEO, College of Internet Distance Education, 

Assumption University of Thailand, Mr. Andrew Crow - Education Industry Director 

- ASEAN, Oracle Corporation, Asia-Pacific, Prof. Dang Ung Van - Rector, Hoa Binh 

University, Hanoi and Mr. Thai Quang Trung - Regional Programme Coordinator, 

Hanns Siedel Foundation. 

UCSI University President and Vice Chancellor Dato Peter Ng with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

Prof Ian Pashby, CEO/Vice President Nottingham University Malaysia Campus addressing the Forum. 

18

CSR & SUSTAINABILITY BUSINESS CONFERENCE 

Datuk Shahrir Samad presenting a memento to Siemens Malaysia CEO Tan Sri Rainer Althoff for 

sponsoring the conference. 

Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Shahrir Samad with ASLI Director Puan Sri Susan 

Cheah and Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh. 

Puan Sri Susan Cheah presenting a memento to Datuk Peter Chin Minister of Plantation Industry and 

Commodities. 

Businesses today around the world, as well as their stakeholders, are becoming 

increasingly aware of the need for socially responsible behaviour especially in addressing 

the greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Business community’s adoption of 

CSR practices is in step with the global trend towards more responsible and responsive 

corporate behaviour. Companies now clearly have come to view that climate change 

mitigation as the most important social and environmental issue confronting our global 

community. A sustainable environment is essential for achieving and sustaining economic 

growth, poverty eradication, and human development. 

Equipped with the apt and timely theme “Accelerating CSR Practices beyond Boundaries”, 

ASLI was privileged to organize the CSR & Sustainability Business Conference on 

October 23, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur. The conference was 

officiated by Dato’ Shahrir Abdul Samad, Minister of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs 

and Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui delivered the Special Luncheon Address. 

In his Opening Keynote Address, - Dato’ Shahrir Samad stated that as we are faced 

with the increased pressure from internal and external stakeholders, more organizations 

are measuring and reporting on their social and environmental performance as well as 

the usual financial reporting measures. He added that the worldwide growth of socially 

responsible investment funds, investment rating systems such as the Dow Jones 

Sustainability Index and investment policy disclosure requirements have put pressures 

on companies to make these non-financial disclosures. Dato’ Shahrir also added that it 

has become increasingly clear that businesses, governments and citizens all have an 

interconnected stake in the health and well-being of the planet as well as its people. 

Sustainability necessarily involves many interconnected issues, from the acquisition and 

use of energy to fuel productive economies, to the impact of economic growth on local 

and regional environments and living conditions, to access to clean and abundant water 

and other natural resources. These issues, together with questions about how best to 

build healthy economies that can equally support burgeoning populations in high-growth 

regions, as well as aging populations in others, are all part of the dialogue on sustainability. 

Thus, as he concluded, CSR and sustainability have become increasingly intertwined. 

Datuk Shahrir Samad with sponsors of the Conference. 

In his Special Luncheon Address on “Sustainable Business for Sustainable Development”, 

Datuk Peter Chin stressed that corporate social responsibility is part of the wider 

sustainable development strategy, which emphasises the long-term economic growth, 

social cohesion and environmental protection. Sustainable development is becoming 

ever more important for companies, both in their business activities and in their activities 

as corporate citizens. Acting sustainably ensures a competitive advantage. He added that 

due to the increased importance of this fact, CSR or CR (corporate responsibility) should 

be a core part of a company’s business culture and feature in planning, implementation, 

staff policy and day-to-day decisions. He concluded that we need to ensure that in times 

of global financial crisis, we do not sway from the commitment we have pledged in social 

accountability. Globalization in itself has created new opportunities for enterprises. It has 

also increased their organizational complexity and the increasing extension of business 

activities has led to new responsibilities. In order for us to remain competitive, it would be 

in good faith to abide by both internationally and locally accepted standards of CSR. 

Among the distinguished role-players who spoke at the conference were Tan Sri 

Rainer Althoff, President / CEO of Siemens Malaysia Sdn. Bhd; Y.A. Dato’ Ranita 

Hussein, President of Advisory Council of Jurists, Asia Pacific Forum; Julian Wynter, 

Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia 

Berhad; Rasila Hamzah, Managing Director of Russ Consulting Sdn. Bhd; Gurmit Singh 

K.S., Chairman, Centre for Environment of Technology & Development (CETDEM); 

Ralph Dixon, Director of Environmental Investments of YTL Corporation Bhd; Surin 

Suksuwan, Technical Officer - Peninsular Malaysia of the WWF-Malaysia; Rajan 

Moses, Managing Director, of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide Kuala Lumpur; Datuk 

Vinod B. Sekhar, Founder / President & Group Chief Executive of The Petra Group; 

Dato’ Ghazali Dato’ Yusoff, Executive Chairman of Nusantara Technologies Sdn Bhd; 

Adelina Iskandar, General Manager - Customer Services Division of SYABAS; Prof Dr 

Adeeba Kamarulzaman, President, Malaysian AIDS Council & Head, Infectious Disease 

Unit of UM Medical Centre (UMMC); Dr Geoffrey Williams, Managing Director of OWW 

Consulting Sdn. Bhd; Jeff Zweig, Chief Guru - Southeast Asia of the Web Guru Asia and 

Gaurav Rai, Hotel Manager of the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur. 

The CEO Roundtable with Mr. Julian Wynter CEO Standard Chartered Bank, Tan Sri Rainer Althoff CEO 

Siemens, Dato Ranita Hussein President Asia Pacific Advisory Council of Jurists and Mr. Andrew Chan 

Executive Director PricewaterhouseCoopers 

19 

Dato Shahrir Samad having a word with Mr. Thai of Hans Siedel Foundation and Mr. Julian Wynter CEO 

Standard Chartered Bank.

NATIONAL SUMMIT ON 

URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORT 

Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Minister of Transport with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh at the National Summit on Urban 

Public Transport. 

Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Munir Abdul Majid, Chairman of Malaysia Airlines with Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and 

Ms Jean Wong. 

Dato Hj Markiman Kobiran, Chairman of CVLB speaking at a panel discussion. Fellow panelists are Dr 

Aizi Razman Ismail, Undersecretary, Technical & Geospatial Division, Ministry of Federal Territories and 

Mr. Moaz Yusuf Ahmad, Advisor for TRANSIT-Klang Valley. 

The National Summit on Urban Public Transport, which was recently held on 18 

September 2008, at Gardens Hotel & Residences, saw participation of key industry 

players from the Government, Private Sectors, Civil Societies and Consumer Bodies to 

discuss the challenges of enhancing public transport and the way forward. 

Themed “Improving the Public Transport Delivery System”, the Summit recognised the 

absolute importance of a comprehensive public transport system to the development 

of a modern city. A good public transport system would be essential to a strong 

economy, an improvement in the quality of life and would lead to better environment 

for the urban community. An efficient system would also be able to link businesses 

with employees and customers and provide a realistic and cost-effective alternative 

to private vehicles. 

In the Keynote Address, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Minister of Transport, identified rising 

oil prices as one of the imperative factors of improving the public transport system 

as the public have become even more reliant on a more efficient system. The need 

to improve public transport system had been an ongoing issue and unfortunately, 

according to Datuk Ong, we are still grappling with the identified concerns. Datuk Ong 

also highlighted the misconception that public transportation is within the jurisdiction of 

Ministry of Transport when there are 13 different agencies jointly responsible in 

regulating public transport systems. This has lead to a number of complications and 

he vouched for the need of a single body that is recognized by the Government to be 

in charge of public transport. The single commission would be able to speed up the 

progress in resolving problems surrounding public transport and would be entitled in 

the enforcement, licensing, monitoring and transport fees, among others. 

Following that, a panel discussion on “Enhancing Public Transport in the Klang Valley” 

saw the participation of 3 distinguished panelists: Dato’ Hj. Markiman bin Kobiran 

- Chairman of Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, Dr Aizi Razman bin Ismail - 

Undersecretary, Technical & Geospatial Division, Ministry of Federal Territories and 

Mr. Moaz Yusuf Ahmad - Advisor, Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit 

Mr. Nithiyananthan Nesadurai, President of EPSM, Mr. Gurmit Singh, Chairman of CETDEM, Prof Dr. 

Abd Rahim Md Nor, Public Transport Expert & Professor of UKM, Datuk Eddy Chen, President of ASEAN 

Association for Planning & Housing, Ir. Dr. Gue See Sew, Managing Director of G&P Geotechnics, Mr. R. 

Nadeswaran, Editor of The Sun and Mr. Paul Selvaraj, CEO of Consumer Research & Resources Centre, 

FOMCA. 

(TRANSIT - Klang Valley). Issues such as issuance of license of public and commercial 

transport, sustainable development to encourage sustainable transportation and poor 

planning of public transportation were discussed with the participation from the floor. 

Next, the summit heard 2 special presentations by Mr. Uwe Ahrens - Chief Executive 

Officer, Melewar Integrated Engineering Sdn Bhd and Ir Dr Leong Siew Mun - Director 

of Urban Transport, DBKL. The presentations were titled “Success factors of Public 

Transportation Systems” and “Challenges in Public Transport Integration in Kuala 

Lumpur City” respectively. 

At the session entitled “Towards an Efficient Urban Public Transport”, panelists included 

Dato’ Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh - Chairman & Managing Director, Konsortium 

Transnasional Berhad, Dato’ Dr Thillainathan Ramasamy - Past President, Malaysia 

Economic Association, Mr. Shaipudin Shah Harun - Executive Director, Syarikat 

Prasarana Negara Berhad, Mr. Suffian Baharuddin - CEO, RapidKL, Prof. Sulik 

Suleiman Salleh - Public Transport Expert and Mr. V Kanesan, Senior Vice President, 

Special Projects, Scomi Group Berhad. The session was moderated by Tan Sri Dato’ 

(Dr) Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman - Past Chairman of Chartered Institute of Logistics and 

Transport Malaysia, who in summary of the session, commented that for the past the 

industry has been facing similar problems for the past 30 years - regulatory issues, lack 

of masterplan, lack of integrated public transport system and lack of quality in delivery. 

He stressed on the urgency of taking correction actions or continue to grapple with the 

same problems that in time, would grow in magnitude. 

In the final session, an open forum on “Consumers’ & Users’ Perspectives on Urban 

Public Transport”, moderator Datuk Eddy Chen - President, ASEAN Association for 

Planning & Housing and Past President of REHDA, commented that there seemed 

to be conflicting priorities at various government departments and bodies involved 

In transportation. Integration remained as one of the important needs lacking in the 

system, along with accessibility to transport for both the abled and OKUs. He also 

noted that sustainable public transport needed to be looked at seriously, especially with 

impending climate change issues. 

Dato Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, Chairman & Managing Director of Konsortium Transnasional, Tan Sri 

Dato (Dr) Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Past President of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport 

Malaysia, Dato Dr. R. Thillainathan, Past President of Malaysia Economic Association and Mr. Suffian 

Baharuddin, CEO of RapidKL. 

Tan Sri Dr. Mohd Munir, Chairman of MAS, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, Minister of 

Transport, Dato Ng Cheng Kuai, Dato Alan Tong Kok Mau, Group Chairman of Bukit Kiara Properties and 

Mr. James Beltran, Deputy Chairman of Melewar Holdings. 

20

Strategic Issues Forum (SIF)/Corporate Malaysia 

Roundtable (CMR) Royal Luncheon ADDRESS 

ASLI Director Dato Chew Chee Kin greeting the Regent of Negri Sembilan. 

ASLI Director and Chairman Strategic Issues Forum Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam presenting a memento 

to HRH The Regent. 

HRH The Regent of Negri Sembilan delivering his Royal Address. 

On November 26, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur, SIF/ 

CMR organised a Special Royal Luncheon Address on “The Role of the 

Constitutional Monarchy in 21st Century Malaysia” with D.Y.M.M Tunku 

Naquiyuddin bin Tuanku Ja’afar, The Regent of Negeri Sembilan. The 

luncheon was well attended by corporate figures, Ambassadors, High 

Commissioners and NGOs and several civil societies. 

The Royal Address was apt and timely as recently the Conference of 

Rulers issued a Statement calling on Malaysians to abide by the Social 

Contract, which provides protection for all Malaysians. The Institution of 

the Malay Royalty is another key pillar in the Constitution of Malaysia - the 

other key pillars being Parliament (the Legislature), the Government (the 

Executive), and the Judiciary. Recently, HRH The Sultan of Selangor and 

HRH Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah, the Raja Muda of Perak have come to the 

forefront with their public pronouncements. The Malay Rulers constitute 

a key Institution in the Malaysian Constitution. 

HRH Tunku Naquiyuddin has called on royal immunity to be reinstated 

so that the constitutional monarchy can be restored to its full sovereignty. 

He added that if the Ruler were to exercise his duties in a fair, just and 

impartial manner to protect the Federal Constitution, his sovereignty 

needed to be protected too. The restoration would enable the 

constitutional monarchy to play a more fitting role in the 21st century 

as guardian of the Federal Constitution. He added that this was so the 

Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam. 

endeavor to safeguard the interests of all communities, promote peace, 

prosperity, economic security and good governance could be fulfilled. 

Tunku Naquiyuddin also stated that the full immunity from civil and 

criminal proceedings should be reconsidered so that they are on par with 

other constitutional monarchs around the world but there should also be 

guidelines where immunity should not be given to rulers who physically 

abused the people. He added that it was ironic that judges were immune 

in the performance of their judicial functions but Rulers were not. He 

urged that we bring back the immunity, debate it and define it. 

HRH also added that the loss of immunity was perhaps the single biggest 

setback to the institution of the Ruler as there are a lot of people that 

were grateful where the country had Rulers to intervene in matters of 

interest because they did not want them messed up by politicians. He 

said a Ruler was a personage who had the keen sense of what the rakyat 

wanted. 

Politicians, as he added on, have a lot of self-interest and self-motivation, 

greed and corruption. Rulers become some sort of referee to instinctively 

come in to safeguard the constitution. HRH Tunku concluded that, 

sovereignty and immunity have always been symbiotic. It really becomes 

nonsensical that a sovereign Ruler can be taken to court for trying to 

protect the best interests of the nation and the people. 

Corporate Malaysia Roundtable Advisory Council Member Tan Sri Kishu Tirathrai with the Ambassadors 

of Ireland, Namibia, Norway and Russia. 

Dato Chew Chee Kin, Tengku Panglima Besar Negri Sembilan, Singapore High Commissioner Jesudasan, 

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Datuk Joseph Adaikalam. 

21

MALAYSIA-CHINA BUSINESS COUNCIL 

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin flanked by MCBC Joint Chairmen Tun Musa Hitam and Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew. 

Tun Musa Hitam and Vice Mayor of Dalian officiating the Malaysia China Business and Investment Forum 

in Dalian, China. 

Tun Musa Hitam and CCPIT Vice Chairman Zhang Wei at the Joint 

Meeting of the Malaysia China Business Council in Dalian, China. 

Tun Musa Hitam, Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh and Tun Dzaiddin Abdullah. 

Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, Tun Musa Hitam and Mayor of Dalian Dr. Xia 

Deren. 

Tun Musa Hitam, Malaysian Joint Co-Chairman of the Malaysia-China Business 

Council (MCBC), led the Malaysian Delegation to Dalian, China in November 2008 

for the 5th Annual Joint Council Meeting and Malaysia-China Business Forum hosted 

by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). 

Approximately 60 members of the council from both Malaysia and China attended 

the 5th Annual Joint Council Meeting on 3rd November 2008 at Shangri-La Hotel, 

Dalian. Among the Malaysian delegation who attended the meeting were Dato Dr. 

Michael Yeoh - the Malaysian Joint Secretary-General of the MCBC and CEO of 

Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), Datuk David Chua - Malaysian Joint 

Secretary-General of the MCBC, Dato’ Abdul Majid Khan - Executive Chairman, 

INS Bioscience Bhd, Datuk Yong Ah Pwi - President, Malaysia-China Chamber of 

Commerce, Tan Sri Law Hiew Ding - Executive Chairman, Timber World Agencies 

Sdn Bhd, Dato’ Abdul Halim Harun - Group MD / CEO, UMW Corporation Sdn 

Bhd, Mr. Tan Koon Swan - Advisor, MCB Industries Sdn Bhd, Mr. Tan Yew Sing - 

President, INTI International Education Group, Mr. Tan Kai Hee - Managing Director, 

Hai-0 Enterprise Berhad, Mr. Zulkifly Zakaria - Executive Director, UMW Oil & Gas, 

Mr. Adlan Ahmad - Executive Director, Iskandar Investment, Mr. Lee Yong Ming - 

Director, MIDA, Shanghai, Ms Tan Mee-Wah - Executive Director, EPC Consulting 

Ltd, Ms Tham Choy Lin - China Bureau Chief, Bernama (Malaysian National News 

Agency), Ms Lau Mei San - Assistant Vice President - Communications, Iskandar 

Investment, Mr. Too Kia Hong - Trade Commissioner, MATRADE Beijing, Ms Chong 

Fei Shan - Head of the Malaysian MCBC Secretariat and Programme Director of 

ASLI. 

The Meeting was moderated by Datuk David Chua and co-chaired by the Hon. 

Tun Musa and H.E. Mr. Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of the CCPIT in a closed door 

conference hall at Shangri-La Hotel, Dalian. 

Tun Musa said in his welcome speech that this meeting was important as it 

presented an opportunity for council members to discuss about the future direction 

and further collaboration in the council. In the meeting, H.E. Mr. Zhang Wei also 

delivered welcome remarks and he hoped that this meeting could bring Malaysians 

to experience and see the development in Dalian. Subsequently, work and activities 

carried out by the council were reviewed and presented by Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh 

and Mr. Chen Zhengrong respectively. Both parties agreed to organize more future 

activities to further promote closer bilateral relationship between China and Malaysia 

especially in times of economic uncertainties and slowing global economies. There 

was also an engaging discourse and exchanges of views on government policies and 

strategic solutions that both countries would adopt in light of the rising pressure from 

the global economic meltdown. 

The Malaysia-China Business Forum 2008 with the theme “Business and Investment 

Opportunities in Malaysia and China” was held in conjunction with the 5th Annual 

Joint Council Meeting on the same day and was jointly organized by the China 

Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Malaysia-China Business 

Council. More than 130 delegates in the business community from Malaysia and 

China attended the forum. Tun Musa Hitam, Joint Co-Chairman of the MCBC, Mr. 

Zhang Wei, Vice Chairman of the CCPIT, Mr. Dai Yulin, Vice Mayor of the People’s 

Government of Dalian and Member of the Standing Committee of the Dalian CPC 

Committee, Mr. Li Bozhou, Chairman of the CCPIT Dalian Sub-council, Ms Yu Tao, 

Vice Chairman of the CCPIT Dalian Sub-Council, Dato’ Dr. Michael Yeoh and Datuk 

David Chua - Malaysian Joint Secretaries-General of the MCBC, were among the 

eminent members and guests present at the forum. 

At his opening speech, Tun Musa mentioned that greater synergy could be forged 

through business partnership between business counterparts in both countries as 

conducting business or investing in a foreign country could be a daunting experience 

due to lack of knowledge and experience. Having a local partner in a foreign country 

could help ease off the pain and headaches of conducting businesses in a foreign 

country. Also, given the strong Chinese currency, Tun Musa urged Chinese Enterprises 

to invest in Malaysia and likewise, Malaysian companies to take advantage of the 

business opportunity presented in this forum. 

Mr. Zhang Wei said in his speech that as a result of the growing bilateral relationship 

between both countries, the bilateral trade between China and Malaysia had 

increased by 25.8% to US$36.1bil from January to August 2008. Consequently, 

China has become Malaysia’s 4th largest trade partner and exporter, and second 

largest importer. In particular, palm oil, rubber and electronics industries have huge 

markets in China. On the other hand, China’s machinery, light industry and textiles 

are popular in Malaysia. By the end of 2007, Malaysia’s business investment in China 

had amounted to US$390mil and it was the second largest in ASEAN countries. He 

believed that the bilateral trade could be boosted further with the China-ASEAN FTA’s 

final negotiation falling into place. 

Mr. Adlan Ahmad, Executive Director of Iskandar Investment, and Mr. Lee Ming Yong, 

Director of MIDA in Shanghai, were two invited Malaysian speakers at the forum. 

While Mr. Adlan spoke about the investment opportunities in Iskandar Investment, the 

Southern Development Corridor in the Johor State of Malaysia, Mr. Lee presented the 

investment opportunities in Malaysia. 

Earlier the MCBC held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Mines Resort City. 

This was preceded by a Golf Tournament. The Minister of International Trade and 

Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin opened the AGM. 

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin presenting a Golf prize to Tun Dzaiddin 

Abdullah whilst ASLI’s Ms Chong Fei Shan looks on. 

Chinese Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Gu, Datuk David Chua, Dato 

Dr. Michael Yeoh, Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng and Tan Sri Law Hieng Ding. 

22 

MCBC Members visiting the Dalian Development Area.

THE 5TH NATIONAL UTILITIES SUMMIT 

Dato Dr. Michael Yeoh, CEO of ASLI accompanying Dato Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Energy, 

Water and Communications to the 5th National Utilities Summit. 

Mr. Gurmit Singh, Centre for Environment, Technology & Development Malaysia, Tan Sri Md Radzi Bin 

Mansor, Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Mr. Abdul Wahab Bin Jaafar Sidek, Ministry Shareholders WatchDog 

Group, Mr. Michael Oh, Mr. Rosman Hamzah, Alstom Asia Pacific and Dato Teo Yen Hua, National Water 

Services Commission. 

German Ambassador, HE Dr. Guenter Georg Gruber having a discussion with ASLI’s CEO, Dato Dr. 

Michael Yeoh. Looking on is Dato Ghazali Dato Yusof, Board Member, MIDA. 

The 5th National Utilities Summit was held on 14th and 15th October 2008 

at Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur with a theme this year on “Plowing Through 

the New World Order - Towards Greener Developments, Greater Efficiency 

& Synergy”. Dato Shaziman Abu Mansor, Minister of Water, Energy and 

Communications, officiated the Opening Ceremony and delivered the Opening 

Keynote Address at this National Summit. 

This unique annual summit was categorized into three main sectors of the 

national utilities industries: namely, water industry, energy industry and 

telecommunication and ICT sector. The summit started off with the first 

session: CEO Roundtable on ‘Overcoming Challenges & Moving Towards 

Efficiency’ that focused its discussion on industry update and recent changes 

in the national utilities industry, impact of recent political changes on the 

national policy & its implementation, key challenges in the national utilities 

industry moving forward, growth opportunities and sustainability in the utilities 

industry and overseas expansion opportunities. Key panelists who spoke 

at the roundtable discussion were Dato’ Pian Bin Sukro, Chairman, Energy 

Commission; Dato’ Teo Yen Hua, CEO, National Water Services Industry 

(SPAN); Dato’ Sri Che Khalib bin Mohamad Noh, President/Chief Executive 

Officer, Tenaga Nasional Bhd; and Datuk (Dr) Ir. Mohd Annas Mohd Nor, 

Special Advisor - International Business, Genting Sanyen Sdn Bhd & Former 

Chairman, Energy Commission. 

For the water industry, the key topics of discussion were integrated water 

resource management, sewerage sector under SPAN and greenhouse 

effects and sewage management - zero waste management. For the energy 

Dato Sri Che Khalib Bin Mohamad Noh, President/CEO, Tenaga Nasional Bhd addressing the Summit at 

the CEO Roundtable discussion. 

industry, key issues were deliberated at the roundtable discussion on ‘New 

World Energy Order - An Inevitable Change?’ For telecommunication 

sectors, the discussion took on an open forum style on ‘Pricing and Quality 

in Telecommunication Services’ and followed by respective presentation of 

thoughts on ‘Rolling Out Broadband in Malaysia’. 

Invited role-players and distinguished speakers present were Ir. Haji Mohmad 

Asari bin Daud, Executive Director, Malaysian Water Association Mr. Hong 

Chern Wern , who represented Professor Dr Chan Ngai Weng, President, 

Water Watch Penang; Mr. Ridhuan bin Ismail. Executive Director, Sewerage 

Regulatory Department, SPAN; Mr. Gurmit Singh K.S., Chairman, Centre 

for Environment, Technology & Development, Malaysia (CETDEM); Dato’ Ir. 

Syed Muhammad Shahabudin, Immediate Past President, Malaysian Water 

Association; Prof Ir Dr Hj. Wan Ramli Wan Daud, Founder Director, Fuel Cell 

Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; Mr. Ahmad Zairin Ismail, Acting 

CEO, Pusat Tenaga Malaysia; Mr. Shanthan Selvakumar, Regional Manager, 

Sindicatum Clean Energy; Mr. Muhammad Sha’ani bin Abdullah, Secretary- 

General, FOMCA; Mr. Amarjit Singh, Senior Director of Content, Consumer, 

Security and Postal Division, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia 

Commission; Ms Tricia Yeoh, Director, Centre for Public Policy Studies, Asian 

Strategy and Leadership Institute; Dr Guenter Georg Gruber, Ambassador, 

Embassy of the Federal Republic of German, Malaysia; Mr. Peter Chew Lye 

Hock, Chief Technical Officer, Sacofa-Danawa Resources Sdn Bhd; Mr. 

Michael Lai, Chief Executive Officer, Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd; and 

Mr. Zamani Zakariah, Senior Director, MylCMS, Technology and Standards 

Division, Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission. 

Dato Ir. Syed Muhammad Shahaludin Immediate Past President, Malaysian Water Association 

moderating a session with him is Mr. Gurmit Singh, Chairman, Center for Environment, Technology & 

Development Malaysia. 

23 

The ASLI Team at the Conference.

UPDATE ON CENTRE FOR PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES 

The Centre for Public Policy Studies has been involved in a range 

of projects and activities throughout the year. It has focused on two 

overarching themes in 2008, specifically Enhancing Socioeconomic 

Policy, and Enhancing Governance. It has continued to play an 

important role in encouraging policy dialogue on key issues, 

educating the public, and engaging various stakeholders ranging 

from policymakers to civil society and academia in the process. 

This is done in various forms, including public forums, policy 

factsheets, policy papers submitted to Government, involvement 

in closed-door consultations and roundtable discussions, research 

and analysis. In its efforts at expanding the work on public policy, it 

has also recently hired two additional full-time staff, Noel Dass as 

Senior Research Analyst and Khairiah Mokhtaruddin as Programme 

and Research Associate. 

In the first half of the year, it launched its “Minda Muda Research 

Study: Young Malaysians and National Unity” on 18th April, which 

was conducted jointly with the National Young Lawyers’ Committee 

of the Bar Council. Funded mainly by the Jabatan Perpaduan 

Negara & Integrasi Nasional (JPNIN), the study explored young 

Malaysians’ attitudes to national unity. 

The CPPS has continued to encourage public policy dialogue, the 

first of which in 2008 was the Mid-Term Review of the 9th Malaysia 

Plan Open Forum, jointly organized with Wawasan Open University 

on 24th April. The six strategic thrusts of the 9th Malaysia Plan 

were discussed against actual achievements at national level, 

from key policymakers and experts on economic competitiveness 

and socioeconomic inequalities. A significant “National Summit on 

Urban Poor and Low-Income Groups”, which was graced by the 

Prime Minister, was also jointly conducted with SUHAKAM and 

ASLI in July. Its findings and recommendations were subsequently 

forwarded on to the relevant government agencies. Urban poverty 

was addressed, as it is becoming a major challenge in the 

country. 

As a result of the March 8th General Election, local issues have 

emerged as an important feature of everyday politics. New state 

governments have had to deal with problems at local level, and 

hence the CPPS took the opportunity to conduct a seminar on 

Local Council Reforms together with Malaysia Think Tank, held 

on 27th July. Academics and practitioners addressed the issues, 

including local council elections, in this informative and interactive 

discussion. Recommendations were also compiled from the seminar 

and are available online. 

months to a year is possible. The objective was to brief the 

public on what to expect. Linked to this are its effects on the food 

situation. The CPPS jointly organized with the Joint Action Forum 

on Food, Aliran, and the United Nations Country Team, a Food 

Forum on 15th November, exploring ground problems, realities and 

issues faced by local farmers and fishermen. That food prices and 

increased costs of living have had an adverse impact on their lives 

was the starting point of the discussion, from which experts then 

drew up recommendations which were presented to Members of 

Parliament thereafter for further follow-up. 

Aside from public seminars, the CPPS has engaged itself in 

researching on specific policy issues, and sending them out as 

public information through its very well-received Policy Factsheets. 

Started during the campaign period of the Election, this has 

continued through the year, selecting poignant issues to focus 

upon, including crime, public transportation, health, corruption, the 

economy, human rights, and the elections. Response has been 

positive and the factsheets will continue to be disseminated widely 

online. 

As part of its engagements with the public, the CPPS has continually 

written Press Statements on issues of public policy it has taken a 

strong stance towards. These include statements on the Internal 

Security Act, the social contract, the Race Relations Act and the 

2009 Budget, amongst others. The CPPS has also made public 

presentations and speeches at various locations, including the 

following: Vistage Malaysia (CEOs group), Sisters in Islam, Harvard 

University Project for Asian and International Relations, churches, 

ISO 9001 event and universities, amongst others. 

Upcoming events include the launch of the Open Budget Index, 

which is part of the International Budget Project. Conducted 

internationally, but only for the first time in Malaysia this year, the 

CPPS engaged in the rigorous process of evaluating Malaysia’s 

National Budget on how publicly accessible and transparent it 

is, in light of international budgetary standards. The Index ranks 

all researched countries to compare and contrast. The launch is 

expected to be in February 2009. 

The CPPS’ most recent research paper involves the services sector, 

which the CPPS conducted together with Prof. Sieh Mei Ling, a 

member of the CPPS Advisory Panel. The paper was consequently 

presented at an annual Malaysian Institute of Economic Research 

(MIER) conference on the Economy in December 2008. 

The Financial Crisis, rooted in the subprime and housing sector 

crisis of the United States, has been foremost on Malaysians’ 

minds. The CPPS organized a public seminar on the Financial 

Crisis, and its impending impacts on Malaysia on 12th November. 

Primarily to educate the public on the economic situation, all 

panelists were pessimistic and a predicted recession in the next 

The CPPS continues to engage on issues of public policy 

pertinence, and sends its updates regularly to its subscribers of its 

newsletters, and keeps in touch with the public through its website 

that it regularly updates. (Interested parties can connect with the 

CPPS on www.cpps.org.my or send an email to cpps@cpps.org. 

my) 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

ASIAN STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE 

(a subsidiary of the non-profit ASLI Foundation) 

“Khazanah ASLI” 1718, Jalan Ledang, Off Jalan Duta, 50480 Kuala Lumpur. 

Tel: (603) 2093 5393 Fax: (603) 2093 3078 

http://www.asli.com.my Email: dmyeoh@asli.com.my 

Printed by: Percetakan Yin Mun Sdn Bhd (81384-A) 

No. 18 & 28, Jalan 12/118B, Desa Tun Razak, Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: 603-9171 0300 / 603-9171 1628 Fax: 603-9171 0351 / 603-9171 1328 

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