PFI projects: Lessons learned

Salam, The Economic Voice, 30th January 2011 published an article on PFI projects in the UK. Points discussed include the background to PFI, PFI contract agreement, unfair 'penalty', benefits to taxpayer, etc. Read the full article here. Many thanks to The Economic Voice. Wassalam.

Funding for PPP Projects

Salam and dear all,

• An article in The Star 14th January 2011 discusses effort by a Special Purpose Vehicle - SPV - to raise money in order to fund its projects under the concept of Public Private Partnership - PPP. In addition, an article in the Business Times 15th January 2011 provides further discussion on the subject of SPV and PPP.
• More importantly, both articles discusses the concept of Built-Lease-Transfer or BLT, 'off-balance sheet', an instrument under the shari'ah compliant mechanism referred to as sukuk and many more.
• Read the article here: Pembinaan BLT plans RM10b sukuk
• Read the article here: Pembinaan BLT to roll out jobs worth RM3b this year

Wassalam

Value management for projects in the public sector

Salam and dear all,

• The government has made it mandatory for projects worth RM50 mil and above to undergo value management or VE (EPU).
• The objectives of the VE exercise include to see if the projects fit into the government's overall development objectives and to assess the potential spin-off linkages for the economy (see The Star 11th January 2011) here: Govt management labs to assess big projects.

Wassalam

Malaysia: economic achievements in 2010

Salam and dear all, The Borneo Post 9th January 2011 has an article discussing the economic achievements of Malaysia in 2010. Read the article here:Malaysia: A Year in Review 2010. Wassalam.

Outlook for the property sector in 2011

Salam and dear all, The Star (2nd January 2011) carries an article on the outlook for the Malaysian property sector in 2011. Read here: Mixed prospects in property sector. Wassalam.

Positive outlook for the construction industry in 2011

Salam and dear all, Happy new year.

1. Government initiatives especially those under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that focuses on 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs), the RM36b MRT project due to start in July 2011 and projects to be implemented under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) suggest that 2011 is going to be a busy year for the Malaysian construction industry.
2. However, problems such as shortage of construction skilled workers and the near total reliance on labour intensive construction techniques continue to constraint the development of the construction industry.
3. The Star (2nd January 2011) carries an article on what to expect in 2011... read here: Excitement building up.
4. To know more about the ETP and the NKEAs read here: ETP.
5. To know more about the 10th Malaysia Plan read here: 10th Malaysia Plan.

Wassalam.