Byline 3rd Issue | December 2014 & January 2015
A Publication of Malaysia Australia Business Council
KDN: PP 5847/07/2013(032890)
Prime Minister Abbott delivered remarks at separate receptions with the business and education communities, and met with prominent CEOs from Malaysian and Australian companies – Chairman Leigh Howard and the MABC played an important role in the success of each of these events.
Byline A Publication of Malaysia Australian Business Council
3rd Issue | Dec 2014 / Jan 2015
in this issue >>
Leigh Howard A Message From the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia pg - 3 Message From the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner pg - 4
PM Tony Abbot visit Malaysia pg - 6 & 7 Annual Gala Dinner 2014 pg - 8 & 9
Australian International School Malaysia’s New Principal Comes On Board pg - 10 GST Talk - Malaysia Networking Evening pg - 12
MABC - Luncheon with HE Rod Smith - Australian High Commisioner pg - 14 MABC - Byline Published By: Malaysia Australia Business Council, C-26-3A, 3 Two Square, No 2, Jalan 19/1, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. Tel: +603 79609490 Fax: +603 79609489 E: mabc@mabc.org.my | www.mabc.org.my
Design & Layout: Prom-Ad Creative Communications Sdn Bhd, 28-2, Jalan Tun Sambanthan 3, 50470 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603 2273 4255 Fax: +603 2276 3736 Printed By: Percetakan Wanyee (M) Sdn Bhd (336231-P) No 11 Jalan Emas SD 5/1A, Bandar Sri Damansara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur. License No: 048118 Tel: +603 6275 7933
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MABC Byline
Chairman - MABC
Dear MABC Members & Friends,
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elcome to 2015. Before we look forward it is worth reflecting on 2014 as strong year for the MABC which included several notable highlights. These include a function for MABC members to meet with the Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott; the largest ever Trade Mission from Malaysia to Australia led by YB Mustapa Mohamed; and finally our Annual Gala Dinner which rounded out the year. Throughout 2014 our monthly business talks and networking functions were well attended. Unfortunately 2014 also saw tragedies involving flights MH370 and MH17 and it would be remiss not to acknowledge the impact they had on all of us in Malaysia. In some small way it was reassuring to see Malaysia and Australia stand together in such difficult times.
Looking ahead at what’s in store for 2015, we are moving forward positively. This year Malaysia takes on the Chair of ASEAN and the East Asia Summit (EAS). As a result we expect to see an increased number of high profile visitors to Malaysia and the MABC is planning an expanded events program with more opportunities for members to participate and to be involved. At the same time we are also arranging activities aimed at a domestic industry level intended to open up business opportunities locally.
On behalf of the Executive Committee I wish to express our thanks to all MABC Members for your continued support, especially in terms of your engagement with the Council’s activities. Similarly the support from our annual sponsors is invaluable and we look forward to revealing our line-up of Partners-In-Progress early in the new year. If you are interested in partnering with the MABC as a sponsor please do not hesitate to contact our Secretariat office. As we move into 2015 let us hope for a safe and prosperous year that allows Malaysia to reach its full business potential.
High Commissioner’s Message Rod Smith PSM
Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia
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s I approach the end of my first year as Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, it is apparent that we’ve had a very busy 2014! We have welcomed and supported visits by Prime Minister Abbott, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the second Victorian Super Trade Mission and numerous other trade and business delegations. We also held a successful 17th Joint Trade Committee meeting in Melbourne in August, attended by Ministers Robb and Mustapa, and significant business delegations. The MABC played an important role in each of these, and made valuable contributions to advancing the bilateral trade and investment relationship.
Our economic relationship has indeed gone from strength to strength during 2014. We are now each other’s eighth-largest trading partners, with twoway trade in goods and services valued at almost A$20 billion and combined two-way investment at over A$26 billion. Over 3,500 Australian companies export to Malaysia each year. The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community on 31 December 2015 will provide further impetus: moving towards a more open, outward-looking, inclusive and market-driven regional economy can only result in increased opportunities for our businesses, including in the growing services sector. We hope our work together in the Trans-Pacific Partnership
Agreement and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will add further momentum to this process. But the relationship is about more than just statistics. I am particularly pleased that Malaysia will be joining the New Colombo Plan from 2015, an initiative aiming to lift knowledge of the Indo-Pacific in Australia by supporting Australian undergraduates to study and undertake internships in the region. I know that many MABC members are interested in becoming directly involved by hosting students under the internship or mentorship programs. I hope that many of you will take up this opportunity to connect with talented young Australians, and contribute to increased understanding of our respective countries in both Australia and Malaysia. As 2014 draws to a close, on behalf of my Australian High Commission colleagues, I wish all MABC members a happy and safe Christmas and New Year period, and look forward to continuing our valuable work together in 2015.
MABC Byline
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Celebrating Another Successful Year In The AustraliaMalaysia Relationship Susan Kahwati
Australian Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Malaysia & Brunei
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y all accounts this was another great year for Australia-Malaysia business relations, with two-way trade growing a healthy 17 per cent to reach almost $20 billion in 2013/14. This is consistent with trends over the last five years where exports to Malaysia grew faster than with any of our other top 10 trading partners, apart from China. Here are some of the drivers contributing to this growth.
Strong ties create great foundations for strong commercial relations between nations. In the past year we saw more evidence that the MalaysiaAustralia relationship is going from strengthto-strength. Both Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited Kuala Lumpur and were warmly welcomed by the people of Malaysia. During the Joint Trade Committee Meeting in Melbourne, Ministers Mustapa Mohamed and Andrew Robb held very fruitful discussions about ways to further grow two-way trade and investments. The business seminars held in Sydney in Melbourne as part of this visit attracted capacity crowds, demonstrating the increasing interest and awareness of Malaysia in Australia.
Australia has also recently been making inroads into new industries in Malaysia. In the past two years, at least 10 companies from the seniors living sector have entered the market, sharing our decades of experience providing solutions to care for the elderly. These firms are helping design and operate facilities across Malaysia, as well as deliver training to caregivers. And in the oil and 4
MABC Byline
gas sector, a number of Australian players have newly established themselves in Malaysia to take advantage of growing opportunities in the region. Our traditional industries are also doing well. Food and beverage exports are on the rise, including a 20% increase in wine exports. Tertiary education is doing well with a 9% rise in the number of enrolments. Tourist numbers from Malaysia grew an amazing 23% in September compared to the same period last year. And Malaysian investments in Australia are diversifying from the traditional property sector, including two new agribusiness projects announced by Brahim’s and Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) announced last month.
Perhaps the most exciting stories however are around the industry partnerships that are being created between our two countries. One of the best examples is the Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI) and AutoCRC initiative aimed at promoting technical collaboration between component suppliers. At least 18 partnerships have been formed to date, each delivering solutions to help meet the future needs of the global automotive sector. One example is the $170 million collaboration involving Bustech and Swinburne University to manufacture electric buses for local and export markets. I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the great contribution made by the MABC towards forging closer business ties between Australia and Malaysia in 2014. On behalf of the Austrade team, I’d like to wish you and your families a safe, happy and prosperous new year.
MABC Byline
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O
n 6 September, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott undertook his first official visit to Malaysia, consolidating a warm rapport between leaders, and confirming the positive state of the relationship between our countries as we prepare to mark the 60th anniversary in 2015 of Australia’s diplomatic presence in Malaysia. Prime Minister Abbott was accorded a ceremonial welcome and held wide ranging discussions with Prime Minister Najib, as well as participating in a joint press conference, and a lunch at Prime Minister Najib’s official residence.
PM Tony Abbott visit Malaysia TONY ABBOTT
Prime Minister Of Australia
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The visit highlighted the historic breadth and depth of bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, defence, education, and transnational crime. Prime Minister Abbott delivered remarks at separate receptions with the business and education communities, and met with prominent CEOs from Malaysian and Australian companies– Chairman Leigh Howard and the MABC played an important role in the success of each of these events. Over 100 guests attended the education reception, as well as the business event co-hosted by the MABC, with the Prime Minister’s “Australia – open for business” message being warmly received by participants.
In their joint press conference, Prime Minister Najib expressed the view that “Australia has proven to be a valuable ally and friend”, with Prime Minister Abbott responding that “the story between Australia and Malaysia (is) a good story getting better”. These are apt sentiments to recall as our two countries advance together into a future that abounds with potential.
MABC Byline
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The MABC held a highly successful 28th Annual Gala Dinner on the 31st of October 2014 at the Doubletree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur. The event was sold-out with a total of 500 guests attending; including guest of honour YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade & Industry Malaysia, HE Rod Smith, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, MABC Exco Members and other senior government officers. The night was a huge success with positive feedback from many attendees. The dinner was professionally emceed by model and actress Jojo Struys, with highly entertaining performances by Ning Baizura, Australian International School Malaysia students and comedians Dr. Jason Leong & Rizal Van Geyzel. A big thank you to our highly supportive Platinum Sponsors AmBank & Trading Post; and Gold Sponsors, Blackmores, Monash University, Bumi Armada, Perlabuhan Tanjung Perlepas (PTP), Lend Lease Projects & Rescom Australia.
MABC Byline
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Australian International School Malaysia’s New Principal Comes On Board
Dr Deborah Priest AISM Principal
Dr Deborah Priest, who hails from Brisbane, Australia is excited to join the Australian International School
Malaysia (AISM) at a time when it is maturing, growing and moving to the next level of its service to the Australian and international student community. AISM has grown from strength to strength since 2000 and is the only international school providing the Australian curriculum for pre-school (age 3) to pre-university (age 18) students. Dr Priest has been in the education industry for 33 years and most recently was the Head of Moreton Bay College. She also held the position of Head of Senior School in Somerville House and Head of Education Studies in Bond University. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Education Degree majoring in Leadership and Management from the Queensland University of Technology.
Dr Priest is a strategic yet pragmatic, warm hearted yet disciplined and directional leader of successful teams of educational professionals. She is noted for her high level of energy, credibility and capacity that comes from a depth and breadth of professional experience managing schools with multi-million dollar budgets over many years. She approaches her leadership roles through a focus on and understanding of financial, human resource, risk and facilities management ensuring the commercial
sustainability and good standing of schools which she leads. At AISM, she will be focused on developing strong working relationships within and outside of the school community to enhance learning opportunities for students, reviewing the current teaching and learning practices and how they meet the needs of 21st century learners as well as developing a Master Plan for the school to ensure that the best facilities are available for current and future students.
Australian International School Malaysia’s Student Ranked Amongst Top 2% Across Australia
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shwen Parthiban from the Australian International School Malaysia (AISM) was ranked as the top 2% of all students in Australia and around the world, who recently completed their Higher School Certificate (HSC). The Higher School Certificate is offered by the AISM as a preuniversity matriculation course for its students. Students who sit for the HSC are also awarded an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) score which is an internationally recognised qualification for entrance into top universities all around the world.
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Ashwen scored greater than 90% in all of his five subjects (English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Economics) placing him in the highest Brand 6 in the examinations. These excellent grades resulted in Ashwen’s final ATAR score of 98.35%, an outstanding achievement. Ashwen was not alone in achieving high ATAR’s scores in the Higher School Certificate. Other Year 12 students who achieved excellent ATAR scores as well were Kevin Kam (93.35%) and Jasmine Chow (91.15%). Overall, 62% of AISM students were placed in the top 40%, giving them wide tertiary education and scholarship options. AISM students were also highlighted on the Board of Studies Teaching and Education Standards (BOSTES) New South Wales Top Achievers List (Ashwen Partiban) and Distinguished Achievers List (Kevin Kam, Jasmine Chow and Georgina Thorp) which was reported in The Daily Telegraph, Australia. MABC Byline
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Are You Ready?
Malaysia Networking Evening By Deloitte
27 November 2014 | Ramada Plaza Dua Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Speakers: Bruce Hamilton & Ang Weina
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MABC Byline
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Luncheon with
HE Rod Smith - Australian High Commissioner 18 November 2014 | JW Marriott , Kuala Lumpur
Partners in Progress 2014
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Malaysia Australia Business Council’s
NETWORKING
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