Infineon invests RM180 million
During a financial crisis such as this, most companies would cut back on expenses or reduce the number of employees to sustain themselves. But world’s leader in semiconductor and system solutions Infineon Technologies has a different strategy altogether with its plans to expand through its RM180 million investment to meet the industry’s demands for energy efficient applications, create job opportunities and contribute to the country’s economy through its Melaka site.

The investment will see a development of new backend technologies, upgrading of manufacturing facilities and capacity expansion focusing on communications, security and energy efficiency for automotive, industrial and consumer markets. This move will bring about a positive change for the ICT industry as well as the employment market especially in the Batu Berendam Free Industrial Zone where thriving factories are aplenty.

Says Peter Bailey, Vice President and Managing Director of Infineon Technologies (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd: “Expanding our Melaka site is an important investment in the future, it also reaffirms Infineon’s commitment to manufacturing and engineering activities in Melaka.”

Known for its historical charm and tourism industry, Melaka will benefit from this investment as it accelerates its growth as a modern industrial state.

“Although the electronic business is not as good as before, it is getting better. We are looking forward to get more investors from Europe as Malaysia is the best place for investment,” adds Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd Ali bin Mohd Rustam.

Part of Infineon Technologies’ investment goes towards the physical expansion of its site. A new 6,700 square meter manufacturing facility expansion has been completed with equipment installation underway adding another 16% production capacity for power semiconductors in Melaka. Infineon hopes to increase up to 200 more employees to its existing 5,600 employees in its Melaka site by September 2010.

Approximately RM21 million of the RM180 million will be invested in building engineering competencies for packaging technologies as well as product and test development for Infineon Melaka. Established five years ago, the development centre saw the number of engineers grow three-folds to 154 qualified engineers currently.

Other plans for the investment include Infineon’s Innovation Fab and university collaboration programmes – both aimed at fast-tracking the company’s growth in engineering-based competencies.

The Innovation Fab initiative is based on two main focuses that are technology innovation and manufacturing innovation with dedication to Zero Defect in its processes. Infineon has partnered with Melaka’s Multimedia University (MMU) to accelerate technological innovation by providing job opportunities, research collaboration, and government funding among others. More higher education partnerships are in its early stages to further enhance the development of the ICT sector in the state through young minds.

“Our long term plan is to bring higher value added products and services to Infineon Melaka and support sustainable growth of the company,” Bailey shares.

Infineon is Germany’s largest semiconductor company with a No.1 ranking of the global market share in power, industrial and chip card segments and revenues of 3 Billion Euros in the 2009 fiscal year, boasting 22,900 patent and patent applications and 25,000 employees worldwide.

The semiconducor and system solutions conglomerate is one of the pioneer companies in the Batu Berendam Free Industrial Zone established in 1973 with an excellent reputation as an attractive and cost competitive Assembly and Test site for volume manufacturing of power semiconductors, discrete semiconductors, sensors and logic products.

The Melaka site employs one quarter of 25,000 employees globally with 6,654 employees and the Melaka and Kulim sites are the only Infineon branches outside of Germany with frontend and backend production. Infineon Melaka is the company’s largest manufacturing site with a total land area of 105, 000 square meters housing six main buildings.

Presently, Infineon is one of Melaka’s largest employers leveraging on human capital to create better incomes and promote growth for the development of the IT industry and country’s economy. With an annual export value of over RM3 billion through semiconductor devices produced in Infineon Melaka, the success of the company has earned 11 Malaysian awards including recognition from the Prime Minister’s office.

The Better Job Fair
This happens to be the promise JobsDB Malaysia is making to job seekers in the country. Asia’s leading online recruitment network and solutions provider recently had a soft launch of its Malaysia Career Expo 2010 come 7 to 9 May, where it divulges why it is the better job fair you want to be in.

It is simply better because of three important reasons: better location, better technology and better job candidates.

Says JobsDB Malaysia Sdn Bhd general manager, Timothy Hor: “Where else but KLCC can one find a better location? It’s right at the heart of the city, easily accessible and well, it is right in fron of our office. And I need not emphasise further on the world class facilities offered by KLCC.”

While the job fair will be using state-of-the-art technology making it the first and perhaps the only job fair that is 100% paperless, it  will also be running workshops on building quality resume and have sessions on personal development courtesy of Leadership Resources (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, representing FranklinCover Co. USA, and Billy Kueek International – marking its two other promises.

On the technology front, the fair is powered by a proven and world class software solution, which allows seamless process from registration to job application. Job candidates will be given bar-coded registration card and all they need to do t0 apply for a position is to get scanned. As all the job candidates’ resumes are already pre-loaded into its portal, the scanning process will automatically upload the candidates’ resume into the exhibitors’ database.

Additionally, JobsDB partners with TuneTalk for this job fair. TuneTalk utilizes its SMS services for application of jobs via mobile phones. It will be made available immediately during the event to its current service users, while on-users can obtain one at the show at a special price.

Speaking on improving the quality of job seekers, M Prakash Dass, Director of Operations of Leadership Resources says: “The JobsDB Career Expo will provide a platform for individuals to establish a long term career with progressive organisations as opposed to merely getting a job, while for the prospective employers it brings forth the avenue to be linked with candidates who have truly ‘found their voice’ to develop themselves personally and professionally.”

In its fifth year of running, the career expo is endorsed by Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU), and partners with International Association of Software Architects (IASA), as well as VitalSmarts, under Leadership Resources.

Luxury Living in Bandar Enstek
The development of Bandak Enstek’s fourth residential phase, also known as timur@enstek, will be a collaboration between TH Properties Sdn Bhd and Naza Properties Sdn Bhd. The two companies enter a strategic partnership to develop the high-end residential enclave featuring bungalows.

“We are very pleased to be collaborating with Naza Properties on this high-end project located within timur@enstek, which comprises single and double storey luxury bungalows, designed with an Italian concept. Discerning property owners will be living in a unique and distinct enclave that fuses together the most advanced technology and natural greenery, and enjoy tranquil living space within a meticulous planned community,” says Tuan Haji Zaharuddin, CEO of TH Properties.

Naza Group of Companies Joint Group Executive Chairman, Dato’ Haji SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin describes the signing to be an anchor for long term cooperation between the two companies.

Faisal shares: “The synergy between our two companies promises endless possibilities. There are many aspects that we could share with each other, especially with each of these companies having varying experience and capabilities.”

The housing development will cover 1,499 acres of land and is scheduled for completion in 2015.

Enabling SMEs
Last year, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) saw to Google’s successful SME Business Stimulus Package being a benefit for their businesses. As a follow-up, the corporation launches its first local payment service for new and existing AdWords customers, especially for those in the SME segment, in order to boost the digital economy in Malaysia.

AdWords customers can now pay for its search engine marketing campaigns through an online banking system operated by Malaysian Electronic Payment System Sdn Bhd, called MEPS FPX. The payment portal is a real time online interbank payment gateway with six participating local banks: Bank Islam, CIMB Bank, Hong Leong Bank, Maybank, Public Bank and RHB Bank.

“We are pleased to provide AdWords customers with our first local payment option in Malaysia through MEPS FPX. Many of our customers are SMEs who may not have a credit card or may not be comfortable using a credit card for online transactions,” says Derek Callow, Head of Marketing of Google South East Asia.

He continues: “They will definitely appreciate the flexibility and ease-of-use of this streamlined, secure online banking solution anytime and anywhere, as well as faster payment by cutting down the processing time from ten days to one day. SMEs are an important part of the local economy, so we are happy to support them with another useful service to leverage the Internet to find new customers and grow their businesses.”

Eyes Wide Open Comfortably
Contact lenses wearers can now rejoice as Johnson & Johnson launches its new 1-Day Acuvue TruEye. Its newest product offers contact wearers more effective lenses that reduce the three most common eye health symptoms users experience: tiredness, dryness and redness.

Made with the silicone hydrogel material, the lenses allow 98% oxygen flux to ensure breathability. It is also equipped with a patented technology that combats eye dryness.

Lee Jui Siang, Country Manager for Johnson &Johnson Vision Care Malaysia shares: “In every contact lens, factors that appeal to wearers are actually intertwined. The most comfortable lens is also the healthiest lens, as a healthy lens lets your eye breath well and neither irritates nor dries your eyes even after long hours of wear. With this long lasting comfort, contact lenses can stay on for even longer hours than before.”