Saturday, December 28, 2019

Cartoon Violence - 880 Words

Cartoons on a television are glue to children. Children will spend hours a day watching their favorite cartoons, such as â€Å"SpongeBob SquarePants† or â€Å"Adventure Time.† Unfortunately, the content on these shows, and several others, can harm children. Directly, cartoons can affect how children think and act; additionally, this leads to the indirect effect of children physically hurting one another. Children daily see hundreds of violent acts on television. Most parents notice the obvious acts of gore and try to avoid those types of shows; however, what parents do not realize is that cartoons contain just as much, if not more, violence per episode. When parents see shows such as â€Å"SpongeBob SquarePants,† for example, they seem more comical†¦show more content†¦Therefore, the children that do become used to the violence do not realize how much they are absorbing, and are thus more likely to keep watching and increase the damage already inflicted onto their minds. Additionally, younger children who watch violent cartoons tend to believe they can mimic what is on screen. A news story in China where children attempted to mimic their favorite cartoon with near fatal consequences reads: â€Å"The Li brothers’ tragedy began one fine April afternoon with a bit of play-acting. When 10-year-old Shun Shun ran into eight-year-old Li Haoran and his little brother Li Hao, four, just outside of their village of Mawang, near Lianyungang in Jiangsu province, the three friends decided to play a game. They would act out the big wolf roasting the lamb – an idea the boys later said they got from the popular children’s television series Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf. Taking the role of wolf, Shun Shun used some scrap cloth he found nearby to tie the two brothers to a tree. After piling some dried leaves around their feet, he set it alight. Within minutes, strong gusts of wind blew the fire out of control. The terrified Shun Shun ran away, leaving the Li boys screaming for help. A passing villager heard their cries and rushed to help. But by the time flames were put out, the brothers were severely burned. The boys were rushed to the county hospital and transfe rred on the same night to a city hospital, which had better facilities. For a month, itShow MoreRelatedHow Cartoon Violence Effect The Youth As An Audience?853 Words   |  4 PagesEric Marinello COMM 2500 12-4-15 Three-Part Research Project Part I: Research Question: How does cartoon violence effect the youth as an audience? Work Cited Coyne, Sarah M., and Emily Whitehead. Indirect Aggression In Animated Disney Films. Journal Of Communication 58.2 (2008): 382-395. Film Television Literature Index. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. Kirsh, Steven J., and Paul V. Olczak. Violent Comic Books And Perceptions Of Ambiguous Provocation Situations. Media Psychology 2.1 (2000): 47-62. FilmRead MoreA Rhetorical Analysis of Editorial, â€Å"the Effects of Violence in Children’s Cartoons†947 Words   |  4 PagesOctober 03, 2012 A Rhetorical Analysis of Editorial, â€Å"The Effects of Violence in Children’s Cartoons† Claim: That childrens cartoons today are too violent and that these cartoons are greatly affecting their behaviors growing up. That violence is a learned behavior and therefore children that view violence can become violent themselves. The purpose of the argument is to raise the awareness about cartoon violence and come up with some solutions to lessen its negative impact on the childrenRead More Cartoon Violence, Has it gone too Far Essay852 Words   |  4 PagesCartoon Violence, Has it gone too Far Aggression. Killing. Revenge. Sound like the latest Scream movie or Keanu Reeves thriller? You may be surprised to hear that this describes the average Saturday morning cartoon. One of the most surprising facts is that the level of violence during Saturday morning cartoons is higher than the level of violence during prime time. There are 3 to 5 violent acts per hour in prime time, versus 20 to 25 acts per hour on Saturday morning (Gerbner,1). ViolenceRead MoreViolence in Cartoons Essay724 Words   |  3 PagesViolence in Cartoons In my opinion, there is an extreme amount of violence portrayed in cartoons. As a result, cartoons have been transformed into a fast expanding epidemic that is damaging to the audience of cartoon viewers throughout the country, and possibly around the world. Not only are cartoons physically violent, they are emotionally, mentally, socially, legally, and culturally attacking at human society of the past, present and future. During my extensive research, things that wereRead MoreEssay on cartoon violence779 Words   |  4 Pages Animation Violence nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Children from the ages 6-11 spend more time watching television than they do in the classroom. The â€Å"renaissance of TV animation† has undoubtedly led to more violent cartoons then ever before. But to talk about cartoon violence, it must first be defined. Webster’s Dictionary defines violence â€Å"as the act (or threat) of injuring or killing someone.† (Webster) And although the violence is not real, a child does not know the difference. Throughout theRead MoreA Critical Research on the Themes of Violence and Drugs in Cartoons1150 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction: Historically, cartoons have always evolved along two different paths. Because the potential for silliness, absurdity and unreality are magnified by the possibilities of animation, cartoons are accurately thought of as being perfect for the elastic and growing mind of children. However, because of many of these same characteristics, cartoons have always been seen as an ideal medium for biting satire and ridiculous farce aimed at adults. Today, with the availability of information andRead MoreCartoons and Children693 Words   |  3 PagesAim- To understand the effect of cartoon viewing on children aged 6-11 years old- Introduction – When we are born we have the capacity for motivation, experience, and training and because of this our minds are very impressionable. Therefore our brain’s development is a dynamic mix of nature and nurture, so it is important to choose a healthy environment for all children. Children ranging from the age of six months to about twelve years of age go through various stages of emotional and physicalRead MoreBiography of Joan Cornellà  581 Words   |  2 Pagesdifferent path of art. Joan Cornellà   went through several achievements. He won the third edition of Josep Coll Prize with his album Abulio in 2009. Now since 2010 he has been drawing cartoons for the Spanish magazine El Jueves. In 2012, Fracasa Major was published, a selection of Joan Cornellà   black-and white cartoons which took him two years to make. And in 2013 Joan Cornellà   published this third album Mox Nox. Mox Nox I have to say is what really what caught people attention to this artist. NowRead MoreThe I rish Declaration Of Independence873 Words   |  4 PagesThe cartoon above is called â€Å"The Irish Declaration of Independence that We Are Familiar With† published in 1883 by Frederick Burr Opper. Opper is regarded as one of the pioneers of American newspaper comic strips, best known for his comic strip Happy Hooligan. His comic characters were featured in magazine gag cartoons, covers, political cartoons and comic strips for six decades. The magazine this cartoon is featured in was called Puck Magazine. Puck Magazine was America’s first successful humorRead MoreChildren Should Spend Watching Television2077 Words   |  9 PagesAnimated cartoons, or motion pictures using animated techniques to display sequential drawings, have been a popular form of entertainment since the early eighteenth century. From the 1920’s to the 1960’s was a time marked as the golden age of cartooning. Years after that would provide a special time slot that had kids waiting i n anticipation for the weekends, a term known as Saturday Morning Cartoons. Research conducted within the last decade has concluded that children spend significantly more time

Friday, December 20, 2019

Eastern and Western Philosophers Comparison - 1063 Words

Eastern and Western Philosophers Comparison PHI/105 May 1, 2011 Andrea Miles There are many great philosophers. Some of them had very compelling ideas especially for their time while others ideas may have sounded compelling but the concepts just did not work. Some philosophers has similar ideas and others ideas were different. Eastern and Western philosophy is one of the ways the ideas differed. Western philosophy is generally based on logic and reasoning while Eastern philosophy is more closely related to religion and personal growth and choices. Socrates was a great western philosopher who mastered humility and understood the importance of knowledge. Confucius was an Eastern philosopher who as well understood the†¦show more content†¦Today I see people thinking they know everything. There is greed and hatred. To realize your full potential you have to become humble, willing to learn and see your own ignorance, flaws, and errors. Recognizing is half the battle. Confucius believed in learning and knowledge, that they must be practical and transform life for the better. He believed that if one wanted to help someone that they must first establish one’s own human character. He believed that once a person had a character that contained nothing contrary to humanity, they could then rely on that in all their actions. He also believed that if a person lived through humanistic thinking and acting they would make the â€Å"way† (Tao) great. He had a great belief that I strongly agree with. He believed that humans are not always good but can become better, which he believed would come from learning and helping others. He thought that anyone can acquire wisdom as long as they were determined. He believed that once people worked together that things would flourish and nourish one another without conflict or injury. Confucius put together a principle that explains how reciprocity applies to humans by saying, â€Å"Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you† (Moore-Bruder, 2008). I agree with Confucius because learning and knowledge is important to getShow MoreRelatedEssay on Comparison of Eastern and Western Philosophers803 Words   |  4 Pages[Comparison of Eastern and Western Philosophers ] Comparison of Eastern and Western Philosophers I will compare the Western philosopher Socrates to the Eastern philosopher Lao Tzu. These two philosophers had some things in common with their ideas and philosophies that they pursued. Socrates was a western philosopher that lived in Athens Greece and Lao was thought to be from what is now known as the Hunan province of China. Socrates Socrates lived in Athens which was a city thatRead MoreMetaphors In The Works Of Laozi And Mencius1460 Words   |  6 Pagesliterary technique, are utilized frequently in literary texts as well as in everyday life. Comparisons are natural in life, and metaphors help individuals to explain and mediate the myriad differences that can arise in various situations. When used effectively, metaphors can be useful in providing both a simple and sensible point of view to an issue. Thus, it’s no surprise that notable ancient Chinese philosophers, namely Laozi and Mencius, frequently used metaphors of natural phenomena in order to explainRead MorePlatos Life Essay747 Words   |  3 Pagesthe Athenian democracy and he could not join wholeheartedly in its government. He was a devoted follower of Socrates, whose disciple he became in 409 B.C., and the execution of that philosopher by the democrats in 399 B.C. was a crushing blow. He left Athens, believing that until â€Å"kings we re philosophers or philosophers were kings† things would never go well with the world. ( He traced his decent from the early kings of Athens and perhaps he had himself in mind). For several years he visited theRead MoreComparison Essay - My Two Brothers732 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Comparison Essay MY TWO BROTHERS No two people are exactly alike, and my two older brothers, Thu Nguyen and Thang Nguyen, are no exceptions. When I think of them, I think of Rudyard Kipling’s words, â€Å"East is East. West is West. Never the twain shall meet.† Even though they have the same parents, their considerable differences in looks, personalities, and attitude toward life reflect the differences between Eastern and Western cultures. Like the majority of oriental men, Thu is shortRead MoreFigurative Language In The Third Book Of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels1579 Words   |  7 Pagespotentialities of human nature, and expecting that men can somehow transcend their limitations and become –shall we say- angels. So the theme Swift chose as the spoil of his satire is the divorce of man and good sense in the modern world. The philosophers of the Flying Island are completely lost in their abstractions. Gulliver can experience a great neglect of all practical reality including their own wives, or we can remember the tailor who made Gulliver’s clothes that fit him not at all. It isRead MoreHsà ¼n Tzu and Jean-Paul Sartre Comparison of two Philosophers1527 Words   |  7 Pagesnature? Does man act according to his divine plan, or is he taught how to act? In analyzing the works of Hsà ¼n Tzu and Jean-Paul Sartre, I will determine which of these two philosophers offers the strongest foundation for living an ethical life in the modern era. HSÃÅ"N TZU Hsà ¼n Tzu is one of the main founders of eastern philosophy and is considered one of the three great sages in China along with Mencius and Confucious. Tzu’s style of writing is poetic and easy to understand. In his writingsRead MoreSun Tzu and Carl von Clausewitz624 Words   |  2 Pagesis most notable for his collection of writings titled Vom Kriege, or On War, published in 1832 despite being unfinished due to his death on November 16, 1831. On War is classified as one of the most influential pieces of military philosophy in the Western world and has been translated into virtually every major language. Sun Tzu on the other hand, is responsible for writing The Art of War, an ancient, thirteen chapter long, Chinese military text that is regarded as the definitive work on military strategyRead MoreReligious Philosophies and the Meaning of Life1701 Words   |  7 PagesAll throughout history philosophers, politicians, and religious leaders have pondered the meaning of life. 20th century philosopher Albert Camus found that it Western society was far too focused on substance rather than understanding that it is the search for actualization or the process as opposed to the destination that provides the true meaning of life (Camus, 1942). Still others, Friedrich Nietzsche, for instance, found that it was suffering in its literal sense, or the process of undergoingRead MoreWhat is Philosophy? Essay1828 Words   |  8 PagesThe subject of Philosophy and its subcategories have been widely discussed in both the Western and non-Western world albeit with different focuses. Philosophy includes many different subfields involving investigation into our existence. These subfields include epistemology, ethics, logic, metaphysics, philosophy of science, social and political philosophy, and Metaphilosophy. Epistemology focuses on the study of Knowledge, also known as â€Å"Theory of Knowledge†. Ethics involves the study of moral valuesRead MoreCultural Meaning 1520 Words   |  7 Pagesinvolved in this same process, too. Western societies tend to value slim and fit bodies in terms of representation in popular culture. Whereas, body images of other cultures are very different in most cases. Some Pacific island people prefer fatness both as a sign of wealth and of esthetic superiority. But with the advent of globalization and the expansion of western cultural codes through TV and other media, these same people have come to question their body images. Western cultures meaning system expanded

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Website Report for Multi-Method Approach - myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theWebsite Report for Multi-Method Approach. Answer: Introduction The website is developed as an e-commerce platform that supports transactions. The admin can add a catalogue of products and insert their descriptions as well as set their prices. On the other hand, customers can view the products, create an account on the site, add items to cart, and purchase them. This ecommerce website is created in alignment with the topic proposed in the previous assignment. The products featured on the website are mainly trophies and promotional materials which were proposed as the key products of the business model. The brand identity of the website is reinforced by the name given. With the brand name Win Star and a catalogue of trophies, the website is a perfect fit for the business category assigned. In this report, well explore the structure and features of the website. The link to the website is: https://winstar.cloudaccess.host/ Website structure The website has a minimalist design as only key content is displayed. Instead of putting a lot of text on the homepage, only images and labels are included. This reduces information clutter on the homepage and enhances visibility of the content (Cyr, 2009). Product catalogue is organized into categories. There are four categories which include: academic trophies, entertainment trophies, promotional materials, and sports trophies. Each product category has several products. The categories used are key in organizing the information and making it easy for customers to find the products they need. For example, if a customer wants to find trophies for awarding students, he can click the academic category instead of searching the item. The website incorporates a large white space which assists in reducing information clutter and giving the illusion of spaced web elements. Content including images and text is visible and readable against the white background. The white space also enables the website to be appropriately organized which enhances the visual appeal of the site to the target audience. Typically, the website layout is made up of responsive grid columns which adapt to the screen width of any device accessing the website. When the website is viewed on the small devices, some of the columns are collapsed and the width of the site adjusted to fit the devices. The layout has three elements: header, content section, and footer. The header contains the brand logo, navigation menu, and search bar. The brand logo is prominently displayed on the header to reinforce brand identity of the website. A navigation menu is displayed below the logo. The menu includes links to all pages that a customer may want to visit. The navigation improves usability of the website as customers can easily find information with just a few clicks (Garrett, 2010). A search bar is displayed below the navigation which gives customers several search options. Customers can select a category to search from or use a keyword to search a specific item. Also, a cart icon is displayed on the header. It indica tes the number of items that a customer has added to the cart. The footer is displayed at the bottom of the website and contains a copyright statement. The content section is the key part of the website which displays most of the content. Key elements displayed on this section include a contact form, registration/login form, image galleries, and text. A contact form is leveraged to collect feedback from customers. Users can also send queries or complaints to the company via the contact form. Unregistered customers can use the registration form to create an account. This form requires customers to provide their email and password. On the other hand, registered customers access their accounts by submitting their details to the login form. Image galleries display the images of the products available. Text is heavily used on the website to describe the product, the company, and its policies. The website also have a cart and wish list feature. Registered customers can add items to the cart and check them out. They can also add items they want to buy in future to the wish list. The website also has a forum where registered customers can p ost topics and hold discussions. WordPress Components and features Various WordPress plugins are used to achieve the intended functionality of the site. Some of the plugins include WooCommerce, Contact form 7, and Forums wpForo. WooCommerce is the key plugin which provides the ecommerce functionality. This plugin provides essential e-commerce features including customer accounts, cart, wish list, customer registration and login form, product categories, product galleries, product price and descriptions, as well as product review. Through this plugin, the website developed has all the features necessary for any e-commerce website. Based on the features available, customers can create an account on the site, view products available and add them to the wish list or cart, review products, and check out products in the cart. Contact form 7 was instrumental in creating a contact form that customers can leverage to send feedback to the company. Forums wpForo was used to create a forum with all necessary features to support discussions. The forum features available include members section, profile creation, member subscription, private messaging, forum posts, comment and rating system, and blog spot section. Registered customers can create new topics and comment on topics created by other users. They can also subscribe to specific users to follow their posts and send private messages to any forum user. It is important to note that an e-commerce specific WordPress theme was used to develop the website. The theme is optimized for e-commerce websites and includes usable features that enhance the functionality of the site. This theme was configured to align with the brand identity of the website. The website is implemented based on the proposal in Assignment 1. It is built on the WordPress platform and incorporates all the features that were required in order to facilitate ecommerce transactions. Various resources were used during development of the website. The resources include WPbeginner (www.wpbeginner.com/) and documentation for WooCommerce (www.docs.woocommerce.com). These resources provide information on WordPress development and WooCommerce configuration respectively. References Cyr, D., Head, M., Larios, H. and Pan, B., 2009. Exploring human images in website design: a multi-method approach.MIS quarterly, pp.539-566. Garrett, J.J., 2010.Elements of user experience, the: user-centered design for the web and beyond. Pearson Education.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

High Speed Train in Malaysia free essay sample

Also to discuss the possible property investment opportunities that may arise along the high-speed rail (HSR). Under The Economic Transformation Plan, there has been a realisation in recent years that the country is, for various reasons, caught in a â€Å"middle-income trap† and to continue at the current pace of socio-economic development, it would not be able to realise Malaysia’s Vision 2020 of becoming a developed nation by the year 2020. The Malaysian economy which grew between 8% and 9% annually prior to the Asian Financial Crisis, has since 1997, grown annually at only between 4 and 5%. With this in view, the present government has begun to chart an ambitious and new economic direction and framework for Malaysia, and whilst it still includes Vision 2020 as the target for reaching developed nation status by the year 2020, the new elements in the proposed acceleration of socio-economic development includes the New Economic Model or NEM, the 10th Malaysia Plan or 10MP (2011- 2015), the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Plan or GTP, and the 1Malaysia Economic Transformation Programme or ETP (A Roadmap for Malaysia). The NEM was a result of the establishment of an independent National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) to develop recommendation on the design of a new economic model. The Council’s report, released in April 2010, provided a diagnosis of the challenges and opportunities facing the Malaysian economy and recommends eight strategic reform initiatives. Much of this thinking has been built into the 10th Malaysia Plan and the Economic Transformation Programme. The 10MP outlines the Government’s development plan for the next five years. It focuses on unleashing economic growth, promoting socio-economic development, developing and retaining talent, building an environment that enhances the quality of life and transforming government. It identifies 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs). The GTP is a commitment by the Government to better delivery of goods and services to the Malaysian public. It involves National Key Results Areas (NKRA’s) such as reducing crime, fighting corruption, improving student outcomes, raising living standards of low-income households, improving rural basic infrastructure, improving urban public transport and addressing cost of living. The ETP is a comprehensive effort that will transform Malaysia into a high- income nation by 2020. It will lift Malaysia’s gross national income (GNI) per capita from USD6,700 or RM23,700 in 2009 to more than USD15,000 or RM48,000 in 2020, propelling the nation to the level of other high-income nations. This GNI growth of 6 per cent per annum will allow Malaysia to achieve the targets set under Vision 2020. The starting point of the ETP will be the implementation of concrete changes in specific sectors and areas of the economy. Labs were established for each of the 12 NKEAs to determine specific initiatives and projects that would drive economic transformation. The 12 labs consisted of the private sector and the civil service and were facilitated by Performance Management Delivery Unit (PEMANDU). An NKEA is defined as a driver of economic activity that has the potential to directly and materially contribute a quantifiable amount of economic growth to the Malaysian economy. Of the 12 NKEAs, namely Oil, Gas and Energy, Financial Services, Tourism, Business Services, Electronics and Electrical, Wholesale and Retail, Education, Healthcare, Communications Content and Infrastructure, Agriculture and Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley, three of these, as highlighted, are more directly related to property investment and development. It would be obvious from this that there is a heavy reliance on the property market for the ultimate success of Vision 2020, New Economic Model, the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). Greater KL was chosen out of many corridors because Greater KL produces one third of Malaysia’s wealth. Under the EPPs (Entry Point Projects) has listed nine components for Greater KL that is: i. Attract 100 world’s top multi national companies (MNC’s) ii. Attract high-skilled immigration iii. Connect to Singapore with high-speed rail iv. Build MRT: An integrated urban rail system v. Rejuvenate the river of life vi. Create greener KL vii. Establish iconic places viii. Pedestrian network ix. Solid waste management * Item no. 3 and no. is the major factor to boost and to make potential impact on property market as a whole. This will be discuss in the coming subject of this report to get better understanding of the potential impact and property investment which obviously will arise once the high-speed rail was determined to be built in Malaysia. 2. 0Definition of high-speed rail International Union of Railways (The UIC) define high-speed rail as generally equal to o r greater than 250km per hour. * Advantages of HSR 1)High capacity 2)Environmental respect 3)High safety * * The performance ) Commercial speed – travel with a high level of speed 2) Total time of travel – benefit a short travel time from door to door 3) Frequency – profit of a high level of available transports, that what signifies total travel time (in general, the half of the frequency is included in the total time of travel) 4) Reliability profit of a reliable system of transport, which works independent in nearly each case of weather. * 5)Accessibility you can enter a train spontaneous without long check in times, which supports you high level of flexibility. 6)Price * 7)Comfort there is a higher level of comfort (in terms of space, accelerations, noise, light, etc. ) than in the plane, bus, or a average car. * 8)Safety High speed trains are the safeties transport medium 9) â€Å"Freedom† during your trip, you can go everywhere and every time yo u want, else in the restaurant, to the lavatory, or only for promenade, seatbelts are not necessaries; electronic devices aren’t limited, etc. * HS advantages for Society 1)Offers high capacity of transport Up to 400,000 passengers per day Reduce traffic congestion. 2)Respects the environment Efficient use of land (1/3 motorway Energy efficiency (x 9 planes / x 4 cars). * 3)Helps economic development. * 4)High Speed Rail promotes logical territory structure and helps contain urban sprawl. HS Safety * Up today, no accident with injured passenger at more than 200 km/h. 3. 0HSR IN MALAYSIA The opening of a HSR station brings enhanced accessibility and fosters changes in the configuration of the land-use system of the urban area near the station and its immediate surroundings (Blum, Haynes, amp; Karlsson, 1997; Urena, Menerault, amp; Garmendia, 2009; van den Berg amp; Pol, 1998). The spatial organization changes to take advantage of the increased attractiveness of the newly-connected location, in a dynamic process where involving simultaneous and multilevel impacts in the economic, social and environmental spheres (Banister amp; Berechman, 2003; Vickerman amp; Ulied, 2009). The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR has been highly anticipated ever since the Malaysian Prime Minister announced in September 2010 the instigation of the HSR connecting the two neighbours. Initiated by YTL Corp Bhd way back in the late 90s, this RM8bil to RM14bil project has so far received mixed views from the public. HSR has been operating long ago in our Asian counterparts especially in Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea. For comparison, Chinas HSR network by the year 2013 will be at 6,000 km, exceeding Japans HSR network of 2,459 km. Year 2010, in the United States, Obama administration invested US$8bil in federal stimulus money to create 13 high-speed rail corridors and billions of dollars of new business and tens of thousands of jobs are expected to flow to four hub cities Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando and Albany, NY where plans for major high-speed rail networks are located. It was reported at the Conference of Mayors that the benefits of travelling between 110 mph and 220 mph will mean better connectivity, shorter travel times and new development around train stations. The changes will create 150,000 new jobs and some US$19bil in new businesses by 2035. The rail network is also expected to spur tourism, give businesses a wider pool of workers to choose from and help grow technology clusters in cities. Similar to experiences in other countries, in Malaysia, HSR will also generate substantial economic benefit for both countries, particularly Kuala Lumpur City Centre and the Iskandar region. The availability of HSR will shorten the distance between Malaysia and Singapore in terms of travelling time, hence attracting a larger pool of market catchment to stay in Malaysia and work in Singapore or vice versa. Straddling around 400 km, the proposed HSR will reduce travelling time to Singapore to 90 minutes compared to existing trains, which take about seven hours. The significant reduction in travelling time will attract foreign companies to operate in Kuala Lumpur or Iskandar region. URUSBUDI TRANSPLAN shows that 200,000 â€Å"person trips† on a daily basis both ways. This means around 100,000 people cross into Singapore everyday and on the same day, they return back to Johor Bahru to return to their home. Singapore and Malaysia have officially agreed to build a high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by 2020 at a meeting between Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak in Singapore on February 19, 2013. Upon completion, it will take only 90 minutes for travellers from Kuala Lumpur to reach Singapore and vice-versa. Both Prime Minister had said the high-speed train project was a strategic development to enhance bilateral relations between the two neighbours. Both sides were working closely to sort out the details, as the rail link was crucial to Malaysia and Singapore to further enhance their bilateral and trade relations. Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha had said five new railway stations would be built in Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Malaysia for the high-speed rail service. * The project will be a private-public one, with the link being built by private contractors with government infrastructural support. No details on the project costs were released. According to a feasibility study, the project costs would be between $ 2. 5 billion to $ 3. 7 billion, but rumours speak of a total cost of above $ 9 billion. Transport investment surely will be expensive but the impact from it will be much greater to boost our economy in year 2020 as a developed nation. (Source: Ho Chin Soon) From the above map, we can see the five railway stations will eventually boost greater potential impact along the way that is in Seremban, Ayer Keroh, Muar, Batu Pahat and Iskandar Malaysia. It will definitely change the way people live, work, doing business and save a lot of travel time and it’s also productivity for all to travel in a very convenience way without any hassle. It will also change the way socio-economy and cultural way of living. Transport investment for the people is a must nowadays since Malaysia will become one of the develop nation in 2020. This can be achieve by the strength of better transportation for the people to travel in a very quick time and making life more easier by having HSR. Average population in Greater KL is around 7 million (without illegal’s residents) and Singapore at 5 million, Iskandar Malaysia at 1. 4 million, Batu Pahat around 400,000, Muar around 250,000, Malacca State around 800,000 and Negeri Sembilan in 1 million people which means around 15. 8 million population and by 2020 the population will increase to 18 to 20 million. (Source : Ho Chin Soon book). Transport investment is needed to give better opportunity to property development along the corridor especially in suburban area to spread and making a stronger impact on Malaysian economy. 4. 0 POTENTIAL IMPACT IN PROPERTY MARKET * 5. 1 The Residential Sector Of The Property Market * From 2008 to the third quarter of 2012 the House Price Index recorded 30. 3% and CAGR was 6. 85%. The country wide All House Price according to the report from the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC)/JPPH was RM234,436 in the third quarter of 2012. If we match that against the average household income for the country as a whole at about RM4,000 a month, the number of times the price is, as compared with the annual household income, it is an acceptable 4. 89 times. * In 2012, Malaysia’s economy continued its steady growth in the order of 5% to 6% a year, a range that it has settled into since the Asian financial crisis of the mid-1990s. GDP reduced to 5. 3% in 3Q 2012 (2Q 2012: 5. 6%), and expect to growth 5% and 5. 5% in 2013. Growth trend in 4Q is projected to continue very much like 3Q and is expected to be domestically-driven, with the services sector expected to be the biggest contributor to the country’s GDP. * The Kuala Lumpur property market reported a total transaction value of RM17. 43 billion for 24,978 property units as of 3Q 2012, an increase of 1. 69% in terms of value against RM17. 14 billion (23,301 units) recorded as of 3Q 2011 whilst Selangor recorded RM75. 03 billion in value transactions and 35,097 property units. (Source: JPPH) * 4. 2The Industrial Sectors Of The Property Market Existing Supply The total existing supply of industrial properties in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor stands at about 5,160 and 34,751 units respectively. The total number of units has increased by 236 units in Selangor. The existing industrial properties are largely terraced factories comprising 73. 7% of the combined supply in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. State| Type of Property| Existing Supply| Future Supply| Kuala Lumpur| | 2007| 2008| 2009| 2010| 2011| Q32012| Incoming Supply| Planned| | Terraced| 2,975| 2,975| 2,975| 2,975| 2,989| 2,989| 35| 0| | Semi-Detached| 457| 457| 471| 471| 471| 487| 35| 0| | Detached| 553| 553| 554| 554| 554| 554| 0| 0| Flatted Factory| 1,116| 1,116| 1,116| 1,116| 1,116| 1,116| 0| 0| | Industrial Complex| 14| 14| 14| 14| 14| 14| 0| 0| | Total| 5,115| 5,115| 5,130| 5,130| 5,160| 5,160| 70| 0| Selangor| Terraced| 25,599| 26,277| 26,310| 26,310| 26,357| 26,416| 2,090| 626| | Semi-Detached| 3,227| 3,313| 3,323| 3,399| 3,531| 3,669| 753| 653| | Detached| 3,956| 4,199| 4,218| 4,236 | 4,250| 4,283| 93| 728| | Flatted Factory| 270| 270| 270| 270| 270| 271| 0| 6| | Industrial Complex| 101| 101| 105| 106| 106| 112| 3| 24| | Total| 33,153| 34,163| 34,226| 34,321| 34,515| 34,751| 2,939| 2,037| Source: JPPH) Future Supply The future supply of industrial properties in the Klang Valley is largely in Selangor, with terraced factories making up the bulk. 2,037 units have been approved but have yet to commence construction. Kuala Lumpur, by contrast, has limited future supply with only 70 industrial units currently under construction. 4. 3Purpose Built Offices Office building development in Kuala Lumpur has evolved greatly since the 1960s, when the first buildings were completed. Modern buildings offer more intensive site utilisation, larger floorplates, superior mechanical and electrical specifications, improved security, green features and MSC status. Patterns of development have changed, with more development being undertaken in suburban areas, as securing building sites in the Golden Triangle has become difficult. Despite the strong supply growth in city-centre areas since 2009, landlords of new buildings have remained steadfast and (for the most part) held rents firm. The oversupply situation in the city-centre will eventually make itself felt; rents at some newer buildings are vulnerable, while rents at older, less highly-specified buildings may also decline as landlords look to fill space or retain tenants. The large amount of supply completing at KL Sentral may also impact upon the city-centre market, as this decentralised location represents a real alternative for city-centre tenants looking for new space. In 2012, the average transaction price of purpose built office space in Kuala Lumpur increased 9. % from RM821 per sq ft in 2011 to RM898 per sq ft in 2012. Office development in Kuala Lumpur has been somewhat irregular over the preceeding three decades, and a number of factors have contributed to this. Typically, the market goes through longer periods (5+ years) of oversupply (15%+ vacancy), followed by shorter periods (2-2 years) of undersupply, during which time there is relatively moderate rental growth. Existing Supply The cumulative su pply of office space in the Klang Valley stood at 87. 1 million sq ft as of 2012, up from 83. 34 million sq ft in 2011, an increase of 5. 48% y-o-y. Completions during the quarter include, the Grade A Integra Tower, which forms part of the Intermark development along with the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, the recently-refurbished Vista Tower office building and a retail podium. The largest office development in the city which completed in 2012 is 840,000 sq ft net lettable area (NLA) Menara 3 Petronas followed by 777,000 sq ft (NLA) Integra Tower, located along Jalan Tun Razak. Although take-up in newly-completed buildings remains slow as a whole, a trend of MNCs relocating from older city-centre buildings to newer buildings has contributed to the improved occupancy rates in buildings such as GTower, Hampshire Tower and The Icon. Future Supply The supply of office space within Kuala Lumpur is set to grow sharply over the coming four years. While the bulk of this stock is to be located in suburban areas, the supply increases projected for the city centre will also impact the market significantly. Of the office space currently under development in the Klang Valley, around 73. % is to be located within Kuala Lumpur, with the remaining 26. 6% in other Klang Valley aeras. In total, over 24. 87 million sq ft of office space is under development in the Klang Valley. A factor to keep an eye on is the 2. 3 million sq ft of office space due for completion in KL Sentral over the next year, roughly one-third of which has been committed. For many tenants, KL Sentral rep resents a real alternative to the KLCC area, and any major movements out of the city centre and into KL Sentral could drive up city centre vacancy rates further. In the meantime, however, completion of three of the four major office buildings in KL Sentral has been delayed, suggesting that tenants would be hard pressed to move in. This should ease some pressure on the overall market, with landlords of existing buildings benefitting from the short-term lease extensions as well. Other upcoming offices in Kuala Lumpur are The Crest, Menara LGB, Menara Tun Razak (Tower 1) and CIMB Headquarters with expected completion this year. * 5. POLICY SET BY SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT BENEFITS MALAYSIA * * On Jan 11 2013, the Singapore government announced the revised rates under the additional buyers stamp duty (ABSD), applicable to purchases or residential property acquisitions. The ABSD had previously applied to Singaporeans buying their third residential property and permanent residents getting their second. The latest measure will affect its citizens, permanent residents (PR) and foreigners who buy property in the island republic. * A check with the Inland R evenue Authority of Singapore revealed that foreigners who buy residential property in Singapore will now be subject to pay the ABSD of 15 per cent of the purchase price, up from the previous 10 per cent. Singaporeans buying their second homes will be hit with an ABSD of seven per cent, while those with permanent residency status will pay an additional stamp duty of five per cent on their first home purchase. * * The Singapore government also announced a Seller’s Stamp Duty on industrial properties for the first time, to discourage speculative activity in the industrial market. These measures are calibrated to be tighter on property ownership for investment, as well as on foreign buyers† (source: the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore). To discourage over-borrowing, financing conditions for housing have also been tightened. In addition, structural measures have been implemented to strengthen the policy intent of public housing and executive condominiums. * * Malaysia will become a preferred country for foreign property investors and is now the main focus after Hong Kong and Singapore imposed 15 per cent evies to slow down foreign investments that had overheated their property markets. These measures will very likely benefit Malaysia in general and specifically properties in the Iskandar region, as well as properties in KLCC. * * A survey carried out by iProperty revealed that Malaysia is fast becoming a preferred investment destination for Singaporeans. In the survey conducted among 2,099 Singaporeans, 42 per cent chose Malaysia as the number one destination for overseas investment, with Australia and the United Kingdom following close behind. Property chief executive officer Shaun Di Gregorio seemed to have the same view by stating investments from Singaporeans will only have a marginal impact on property prices here. Foreign investors will only form the 10 to 15 per cent of the buyers. (source: iProperty) According to CEO iProperty, this is a good sign for Malaysia’s property industry with external money coming in especially at a time when our domestic market is experiencing a credit crunch and liquidity. * Malaysia Property Incorporated (MPI) said only up to three per cent of property investors in Malaysia are foreigners. MPI agreed that the tightening of property investment regulations in Singapore and Hong Kong will like draw more foreign buyers to Malaysian shores. â€Å"Internally, Malaysia has also improved in the Doing Business 2013 report which would boost investors’ confidence in the country’s growth so this could help in attracting more foreign direct investment into the country and possibly translate into some property purchases,† (source: MPI). MPI also said a large portion of foreign property owners in Malaysia are Singaporeans. Many property developers from Malaysia, Singapore and others, Fiabci Asia Pacific and Fiabci Malaysia saying the same thing that are property development will rise and boost along the railway catchment area especially in Iskandar Malaysia. This will generate demand for services of various types and will eventually create more jobs, which subsequently will generate further demand and jobs. Population will surely increase and in regional income which eventually will affect local expenditures. While the occupation cost (gross rental rate) for prime office space in KL City Centre range between RM6 per sq ft (psf) and RM8 psf, the cost in Singapore range between RM25 psf and RM30 psf. Meanwhile, the current rental rate in Johor Baru, where most of the buildings are more than ten years old, range from RM1. 40 psf to RM3 psf. The low rental market in Johor Baru is hardly surprising as it is mainly domestic-demand driven. With ambitious Iskandar Malaysia initiatives coupled with various inve stment friendly policies, the HSR will further augur the Johor Baru office market, hence attracting more MNCs to operate in Johor Baru. Upon completion of the HSR, gross rental rate for new Grade A office towers in Iskandar Malaysia is expected to hover between RM4. 50 psf and RM4. 80 psf, 50% to 60% higher than the highest rate achieved in Johor Baru city centre. Formerly called the Iskandar Development Region and South Johor Economic Region, Iskandar Malaysia covers 2,217 sq km. It is three times bigger than Singapore and twice the size of Hong Kong. It will definitely bring more investors with a lower rental rate than KL City Centre and it’s a well-planned city concept to encourage more investment into it. * Meanwhile, average selling price for existing condominiums in Johor Baru range from RM230 psf to RM370 psf. Capital value for existing condominiums in Johor Baru registered mixed performance from as high as 23% growth while some even noted depreciated values by -19%. [emailprotected] Harbour registered the highest selling price at RM400 psf. These finding was done by Senator Datuk Abdul Rahim Rahman Exe cutive Chairman Rahim amp; Co. group of companies which strongly believe that HSR will add vibrancy to the high rise properties in Johor Baru. Current average rental rate at RM2 psf in Johor Baru is estimated to increase by 50% to 60% arriving at RM3 psf, which is still below Kuala Lumpur rental rates, averaging at RM4. 50 psf. Therefore, it is timely for the HSR to be in place as it will help improve demand from locals and Singaporeans for high-rise residential properties. 6. 0TOURISM FACTORS * The tourism industry has grown favourably, with tourist arrivals increasing from 5. 2 million in 1997 to 24. 6 million in 2010 in Malaysia and 10. 2 million to 11. 6 million in Singapore during the same period. The proposed HSR is also expected to create positive impacts to the tourism industry of both nations. With combined tourist arrival of about 35 million coupled with 90 minutes commuting time, Kuala Lumpur-Iskandar-Singapore will be able to position themselves as the transportation hub of South-East Asia as it will provide tourists a wider airline selection to choose from either in KLIA, LCCT or in Changi Airport hence, improving international access to the region. * * In year 2012, tourist arrivals were 25,032,708 and we received RM60. billion from it (source: Tourism Malaysia) and it will keep increasing with the new trend of transportation, with highest tourist from Singapore that is 13,014,268. * * * 7. 0MANUFACTURING IN MALAYSIA * * Manufacturing will remain as one of the sources of income to both nations. As land in Singapore is becoming scarce with limited land for expansion, coupled with escalating business costs, the HSR would enable some companies to expand or relocate to Ma laysia, particularly in the Iskandar region. Moving manufacturing activities to Iskandar Malaysia would allow the land to be used for even higher value activities. Malaysias relatively liberal immigration policies and substantially cheaper labour costs in Iskandar Malaysia compared to Singapore will reduce the operating costs. The relocation of manufacturing activities to Iskandar Malaysia via the availability of HSR is expected to raise the contribution of the manufacturing sector to the nations GDP by 6. 5%. * * The closer cross-border link between Malaysia and Singapore will eventually position the region as the first South-East Asian â€Å"mega region† similar to Tokyo-Osaka via the Shinkansen Bullet Train, and Shanghai-Hangzhou via the Huhang High Speed Rail among others. While it is noted that existing mega regions are within the same country under the same political driver, with strong political determination, deeper mutual understanding and putting aside all long-standing aggravation, Malaysia and Singapore can also materialise the idea. We should learn from the European experience; the Eurostar train link has helped to strengthen economic activities in both London and Paris. * * In essence, the HSR will economically benefit both nations and strengthen economic ties between the two nations. A larger joint economy will result in larger land area, larger population and larger market, offering greater economies of scale. In addition, larger joint economy with a more diverse mix of skills, types of companies, types of business activities and greater variety of business locations, could accommodate the diversity of talents, business activities, consumer preferences and skill sets. All this will be made possible via improved connectivity by the HSR, which has been proven to stimulate local economies and act as a driver of growth and thus help spur property prices. * * * 8. PROPERTY INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES * * According to KGV International Property Consultants executive director Samuel Tan, prices of residential properties have risen by an average 40 percent since 2006, in a city that used to suffer from a real estate overhang. He mentioned that the prices, which had been sluggish after the 1997 Asian financial crisis, started to see a rising trend due to a combination of fa ctors. The upward trend started in 2009, with the quantum leap occurring in 2011, when prices of upscale service apartments broke the ceiling of RM500 per sq ft and climbed into RM700 per sq ft. Many Singaporeans saw property in Iskandar Malaysia as a good investment for a holiday home and for capital appreciation, and not so much for rental yield. * * This development definitely has boosted interest in properties in Iskandar Malaysia. Residential enclaves in Bukit Indah, Setia Eco Gardens and Setia Tropika, all developed by the SP Setia Bhd Group, for instance, have foreign owners who buy the properties to live in, and not on speculation, according the group divisional general manager M. L. Hoe. * Looking at the Western Coastal Highway that leads to Nusajaya, the Southern Link to Masai and the Eastern Dispersal Link from the Pandan Interchange to the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex in the heart of Johor Baru. Given its well-planned infrastructures, amenities, catchment and accessibility, Iskandar Malaysia is a mine of low-risk investment opportunities. Of course, investing in projects by a reputable developer is a vital factor too. * * Places of interest such as Legoland, the Puteri Harbour theme park, and the education hub Educity, are added draws for foreign investors. * Iskandar Malaysia is a 20-year-plan, and changes are slowly but surely taking place. It is up to the local authorities to monitor the property sector to ensure that there will not be an over-supply in the future. * * Based from the several property developers and projects in Iskandar Malaysia shows one thing in common for both locals and Singaporeans are buying properties such as on-going launches project that is Teega, Medini Signature from Johor township which already achieved 80%-90% take-ups within weeks of launch. It shows no matter what is the result of GE13, buyers still keen to buy properties in Malaysia. * * A few finding from Kenanga Research shows that new launches of terrace/cluster homes in gated/guarded communities are being priced at RM700-850k/unit in prime areas of Johor while semi-D/bungalows are easily clearing RM1m level; this is almost a 40%-70% up from 12-18 months ago. Current pricing is narrowing towards average Klang Valley pricings compared to the past where Johor used to command steeper discounts of 25%-35% over the last six years. * According to the investment research house, the non-Nusajaya market is mostly driven by locals working in Johor (70%-80% of buyers), largely due to the quota of foreign buyers on landed properties (up to 30%). Additionally, Johorians prefer to stay closer to JB City to access commercial content and amenities. It describes this market as driven by sustainable â€Å"organic† population growth which is typically owner occupiers rather tha n investors. * * On the other hand, Nusajaya market (e. g. Puteri Harbour, Medini) enjoys ‘international lot’ status where there are no foreign buyers’ restrictions or Bumi quotas; foreign buyers comprises of up to 60%- 70% of buyers. Foreign buyers are currently heavily weighted on Singaporeans. In the next few years, we believe Nusajaya will see greater price speculation given the number of foreign buyers who typically treat their properties as investments or weekend homes. This will result in a greater push of capital values as seen with recent launches (e. g. Teega, Puteri Harbour @ ASP of RM750psf; Somerset, Puteri Harbour @ ASP RM900psf) while we understand high-end launches in the near future could be averaging between RM900-1200psf. This will totally boost the surrounding area with higher investment for any type of property and will give more stability in pricing. * * Research done by Kenanga also believes that good rentals will be achieved from a projected increase in professionals and consultants coming for short stays given the Pengerang oil and gas development and Motor City, as well as the exodus of Singaporean SMEs relocating to Johor’s Ascendas Industrial Park. * * 9. 0CONCLUSION * * Forward-looking planning has enabled the Government to capitalise on the country’s unique offering, including a rich heritage and scenic landscapes, to support a thriving tourism sector. Home to more than 15% of the world’s species, Malaysia is one of the world’s most bio-diverse areas. The current emphasis is on climbin g the economic ladder, and this is done via Government-led initiatives such as the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), and a conscious effort to slowly liberalise sub-sectors of our economy. * Also crucial are a focus on building on the country’s vast natural resources, a commitment to economic openness, and a concerted effort to drive investments in infrastructure and research and development. These are complemented by the encouragement of innovation in business and amongst the workforce, and the development of regional alliances. * * Malaysia’s economy has been resilient amid the challenging global economic conditions; with real gross domestic (GDP) product growth was estimated at 5. 1% last year and 5% in 2013, according to the World Bank. * Its third-quarter performance 2012 surprised on the upside with GDP expansion beating economists’ median expectations of 4. 8%; year-on-year growth in the quarter was 5. 2%, with domestic demand fuelling economic activity and compensating for the slower export demand from major trading partners affected by the ongoing economic woes. Domestic demand in the third quarter 2012 continued to experience double-digit growth, increasing 11. 4% from a year ago. The impetus for this was supplied by strong public and private sector investment. Private investments were primarily driven by capital spending in the services sector, particularly in transportation, real estate and utilities, while public investments were mainly capital spending by public enterprises in transportation, oil and gas, education and utilities. * * The planning process for HSR extensions must include – as crucial elements of the decision-making process – consideration of both network efficiency and spatial equity issues (Brocker et al. , 2010; Puga, 2002). If HSR extensions are prioritized solely accord- ing to network efficiency objectives, their design will strongly de- pend on the extent to which HSR efficiently links major urban agglomerations. This approach implies a serious risk of creating the effect of spatial polarization, i. e. a negative impact on spatial equity (Lopez et al. , 2008). The spatial equity approach involves adopting a more strategic view, which addresses both the possible benefits and their spatial distribution. This requires an assessment of the effects not only on the cities in the HSR corridors with a HSR station, but lso on other cities outside the corridor, regardless of whether or not they have a HSR station. * * Economically, this southern state scores high for being able to attract investors, both local and foreign. This once dull economy is being transformed into a vibrant zone with the development taking shape in Iskandar Malaysia ensuring growth continuity for many years to come. From 2008 till the e nd of 2012, a total of 500,000 new jobs were created just in the Iskandar Malaysia development region, with the figure set to more than triple over the next five years, say experts. * Investments into the state totaled RM106bil from 2008 to last year. The country’s smallest economic corridor is targeting RM383bil in investments by 2025. The development that is taking shape in the south of Johor has impacted the economy positively, and the effect would be greater over the next five years. The spillover effects of the development would be felt in the entire state over the next 10 to 20 years, mentioned by Pulai MP candidate Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed in an interview with StarBiz recently. * The gross domestic product of the state is projected to be between 7% and 8% over the next 30 years, with all the developments planned to turn it into the metropolis of the south. Johor has been at the forefront of the country’s development via the Iskandar Malaysia economic projects. L ocated in the southern part of Johor, Iskandar, which spans 2,217 sq km and is three times bigger than Singapore and two times the size of Hong Kong, was mooted six years ago. It is divided into five flagship development zones – the JB City Centre, Nusajaya, the Eastern Gate Development Zone, the Western Gate Development Zone and Senai-Kulai. Several local and foreign investors have committed to developing different parcels and projects at Iskandar, whilst new ones are in various stages of negotiations to participate in the massive development. * * Datuk Jazlan also said several labour-intensive companies from Singapore had also relocated to Johor, even moving their employees to the state so as to reduce their overall cost as opposed to staying back in Singapore. According to data obtained from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Johor managed to secure RM35bil worth of investments in the manufacturing sector from 2008 to 2012, of which RM22bil were foreign direct investments and RM13bil local investments. During the period, a total of 92,106 jobs were created in the manufacturing sector. * * Instant demand for Johor properties will be achieve tremendously once the proposed HSR is functioning as planned. Even before HSR started to operate we can see a very good impact on property development, which will bring good fortune in Malaysia. This is also due to the two existing highways linking Malaysia to the island state already faced heavy congestion and it’s a perfect timing to built HSR to ease the heavy congestion faced by locals and Singaporean. * * Another crucial factor was for the authorities to craft a long-term asset policy that would not dampen interest from foreigners, yet prevent the kind of artificial inflation of prices caused by speculative buying. Our government is to set new policy to prevent all sort of unhealthy activities by speculators. * The recent Country Brand Index (CBI) 2012-13, ranks Malaysia as third among the Future 15 – tomorrow’s leading country brands that have â€Å"great potential across a variety of areas†. Constructed annually by global brand consultancy FutureBrand, the CBI measures and ranks global perceptions around the world’s nations based on elements such as their cultures, industries, economic vitality and public policy initiatives. Last yea r was the first time that the index report incorporate the Future 15, which reflects six future drivers: governance, investment, human capital, growth, sustainability and influence. It was published last October 2012, in the CBI 2012-13 report that: â€Å"Malaysia’s workforce, tourism and vast resources may just be the secret to its success. † * * A key component of the Malaysian success story has been the sound implementation of economic reforms since the nation’s independence that has transformed an exporter of raw materials into an emerging, multi-sector economy driven by exports and supported by a well-developed regulatory system. * * *