Advance Your Own Business

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad has criticised the move by the United Nations (UN) to appoint Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, a known critic of the government of Malaysia and its policies, to a high-level task force to examine possible reforms of the global financial system.

# KFC HOLDINGS(MALAYSIA) BHD registered a higher pre-tax profit of RM44.12 million for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008 from RM38.3 million in the same quarter last year. It also posted a higher revenue of RM552.4 million from RM428.7 million previously. # EURO HOLDINGS BHD posted a lower pre-tax profit of RM1.05 million for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008 from RM3.6 million in the same quarter last year. Its revenue declined to RM28.5 million from RM35.8 million previously.# SYMPHONY HOUSE BHD recorded a lower pre-tax profit of RM3.3 million for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008 from RM4.8 million in the same period last year. Revenue was also lower at RM38.4 million from RM43.5 million previously. # MALPAC HOLDINGS BHD registered a lower pre-tax profit of RM2.03 million from RM2.9 million in the same quarter last year. However, its revenue went up to RM3.95 million from RM3.38 million previously. # TRADEWINDS PLANTATION BHD saw a higher pre-tax profit of RM71.37 million for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008 from RM67.98 million in the same period last year. Revenue was also stronger at RM263.5 million from RM194.6 million previously. # TANJUNG OFFSHORE BHD recorded a lower pre-tax profit of RM6.3 million for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008 from RM6.8 million in the same period last year. However, its revenue rose to RM196.9 million from RM123.9 million previously. # QSR BRANDS BHD said its pre-tax profit for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 fell to RM23.79 million from RM24.91 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Its revenue rose to RM131.81 million from RM125.53 million.# YTL POWER INTERNATIONAL BHD  announced its pre-tax profit for the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2008 fell to RM245.8 million from RM317.8 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. Its revenue rose to RM1.05 billion from RM1.04 billion.# TOMEI CONSOLIDATED BHD said its pre-tax profit for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 rose to RM5.36 million from RM4.05 million in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Its revenue rose to RM80.93 million from RM61.8 million.# ENCORP BHD announces its pre-tax profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2008 rose to RM21.65 million from RM10.56 million in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Its revenue rose to RM78.93 million from RM61.48 million. # KOSSAN RUBBER INDUSTRIES BHD said its pre-tax profit for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008 rose to RM19.27 million from RM15.46 million in the corresponding quarter in the previous year. Its revenue rose to RM237.24 million from RM188.31 million. - Bernama

THE world should not dismiss any idea, even that of adopting Islamic banking, in the process of trying to solve the systemic collapse of the global banking system, says former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

THE local franchise industry will still register sales growth this year, despite the economic slowdown, Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) chairman Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said.

CAGAMAS Bhd, Malaysia's biggest buyer of home loans, plans to increase sales of Islamic bonds as part of an effort to boost investor appetite for its debt after mortgage defaults triggered the global credit slump.

Group revenue rose about 10 per cent to RM1.74 billion for the first quarter ended September 20 2008, from a year ago. Net profit for the quarter was RM252.37 million.

MALAYSIA'S economy is insulated from the global economic slowdown due to strong exports to China and India, says Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

THE Malaysian stock market slumped yesterday along with regional bourses, spooked by a large overnight fall on Wall Street on concerns of an extended economic downturn in the US.

MESDAQ-LISTED Tamco Corporate Holdings Bhd (0048) is seeking more time from the relevant authorities to find itself a new core business to keep its listing status.

MUMBAI: Malaysia wants to attract more Indian bond issues, cross-border listings and fund management operations to the country, Securities Commission (SC) chairman Datuk Seri Zarinah Anwar says.

CAPE TOWN: South Africa's Engen petroleum company, majority owned by Petronas (Petroliam Nasional Bhd) has acquired Total's operations in Guinea Bissau, Rwanda and Burundi, a senior official said yesterday.

MISC Bhd's (3816) net profit eased to RM483.86 million for the second quarter ended September 30 this year from RM654.98 million in the same period in 2007.

AFTER comfortably beating its investment targets this year, Penang expects smaller investments as multinationals will be cautious about spending because of the global economic slowdown.

TM INTERNATIONAL Bhd (TMI)'s (6888) wholly-owned subsidiary, Indocel Holding Sdn Bhd, is participating in a consortium which is bidding for a third public mobile network licence in Iran.