Oleh 		: 	DATO SERI DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD 
Tempat		: 	BANTING, SELANGOR
Tarikh		: 	23-10-2000 
Tajuk 		: 	MAJLIS PERASMIAN KILANG MEGASTEEL 
			DI BANTING,SELANGOR 
Penyampai	: 	PM


Saya ucapkan terima kasih kepada Yang
Berbahagia Tan Sri William Cheng kerana menjemput saya untuk merasmikan
pembukaan kilang Megasteel di Banting hari ini. Pembukaan kilang berharga
2.5 bilion Ringgit ini adalah penting kerana ia melambangkan keyakinan dan
kepercayaan para pelabur tempatan dalam pembangunan perindustrian
negara. Tahniah diucapkan kepada para pelabur tempatan yang memegang 88
peratus ekuiti syarikat ini kerana berpandangan jauh untuk melabur dalam
sebuah projek yang berintensifkan modal. Ia juga sekali lagi membuktikan
semangat "Malaysia Boleh" di kalangan pelabur negara ini. 2. The opening
of this plant is taking place at an opportune time, when the Malaysian
economy is showing signs of better times ahead, with a Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth rate of 10.3 per cent in the first half of 2000. With
the exception of the agriculture sector, all other sectors of the economy
recorded a positive growth rate. The manufacturing sector was once again
the main engine of growth, recording a 24.7 per cent growth rate. Based on
the encouraging performance of the economy so far this year, we are on
track to achieve our target of 5.8 per cent GDP growth this year. In fact,
there are even indications that our growth rate may exceed this
figure. 3. Malaysia has emerged from the crisis far better than most other
countries that were affected. We also learnt a valuable lesson from the
crisis. Prior to the imposition of selective exchange controls, our
businessmen were adversely affected as a result of the volatility of the
Ringgit. It is because of the policies we instituted, that we were able to
stabilise our currency and salvage our banks, businesses and many
distressed companies. It is now widely recognised that our selective
exchange controls has brought about the necessary stability in the
Malaysian economy and enabled economic recovery to take place. 4. It was
gratifying to note that even during the crisis period, investor confidence
in the country remained strong. The Government, on its part, continued
with vigour to pursue pro-business policies, in order to ensure that the
investment climate in the country remained conducive for businessmen to
conduct their normal business activities, without any anxiety. We had
assured them that our measures were merely aimed at containing speculation
on the Ringgit and the short- term capital flows on the domestic economy,
and that the Government would not infringe upon investors' rights. 5. It
is because of these assurances, investors felt confident about investing
in Malaysia even during the crisis period. Between 1997 and July 2000, we
had approved 81.3 billion Ringgit worth of investments in the
manufacturing sector. For the period January-July 2000, we have received
applications for investments totaling 17.5 billion Ringgit which has
surpassed the 1999 level. Of the investments received, 8.8 billion Ringgit
was domestic investments and 8.7 billion Ringgit was foreign direct
investments. Investors, both local and foreign, continue to invest in the
manufacturing sector not only through new projects, but also by expanding
and diversifying their existing operations in the country. 6. Investments
today go beyond basic manufacturing operations and include related support
services such as R&D, software development, product design and
engineering, marketing, distribution, as well as the procurement of
parts. Malaysia has also received commitments from several multinational
corporations or MNCs to invest considerable amounts in the set up of
integrated manufacturing centres or IMCs. 7. Malaysia clearly continues to
be an attractive location for investors in the manufacturing sector. The
country's success in attracting investments is attributed to a variety of
factors which include the promotional measures undertaken by the
Government, and the prevailing stable political and socio-economic
environment. The Malaysian manufacturing sector today continues to attract
a diverse range of investments including the iron and steel
industry. 8. The iron and steel industry continues to attract a
substantial amount of investments. In 1999, 21 projects were approved in
this sector involving a total capital investment of 1.26 billion
Ringgit. Domestic investment accounted for 1.04 billion Ringgit or 82.4
per cent of the total investment. From January-July this year, 11 projects
with investments totalling 300 million Ringgit were approved, of which
domestic investment amounted to 58.5 million Ringgit or 19.5 per
cent. 9. The industry today assumes a pivotal role in the overall economic
development of the country. It is directly linked to the growth and
development in the building and construction sector, and it is also an
essential supporting industry for a variety of industries in the
manufacturing sector. As Malaysia continues to move up the industrial
ladder, the consumption of steel is anticipated to increase in
tandem. 10. Advancements in technology and the changing global patterns of
utilisation present many opportunities for the steel industry. It is
expected that steel will remain the basic raw material in the field of
construction, transportation, power generation and mechanical
engineering. Steel offers a good potential for new combinations of alloys,
shaping, heat and surface treatment as well as new compounds for new
components. Despite the advancements in electronics and the use of new
materials, steel would remain an important material in the 21st
Century. 11. The Megasteel plant here is the first steel mill in Malaysia
to produce "Hot Rolled Coils" which are a vital material for the
manufacturing sector. Cold- rolled millers and downstream end users in the
manufacture of a wide range of items including steel pipes, steel drums,
gas cylinders, household appliances and other steel fabricated products
will consume the Hot Rolled Coils produced by Megasteel. The Megasteel
project signals a shift from the industry's traditional use of long steel
products such as steel bars and steel billets towards integrated steel
production of flat products such as Hot Rolled Coils. 12. Malaysia still
imports a substantial amount of our requirements for Hot Rolled Coils. In
1999, Malaysia imported 1.7 billion Ringgit worth of Hot Rolled
Coils. Therefore, the establishment of such a project will enable us to
save on foreign exchange through a reduction in imports of Hot Rolled
Coils, in addition to contributing towards further downstream processing
in the iron and steel industry in Malaysia. The linkages from this project
with the other sectors in the economy will provide an avenue for new areas
of growth within the Malaysian economy. In the long-term, projects such as
this will help to ensure that the basic materials required for end-users
is readily available in Malaysia at competitive prices. 13. I am glad to
note that the plant here, which is fully automated and using the Electric
Arc Furnace-Compact Strip Production process, incorporates thin
slab-casting technology from Germany. This technology is recognised
worldwide as the most up-to- date technology in the production of high
quality flat steel coils, with higher production yields and energy
savings. 14. Malaysia will continue to emphasise the importance of such
high value added and high technology projects in her current and future
industrial development. We realise that technology today is imperative,
and an important factor for a country to maintain its competitive
edge. Malaysian companies should continue to focus on upgrading their
existing operations through the introduction of new technologies,
innovations and modernisation. 15. This high technology investment by
Megasteel is welcomed, as it exemplifies the dynamic character of
Malaysian entrepreneurs. They are prepared to embark on capital-intensive
ventures with long gestation periods. Now that the economic recovery is in
place, Malaysian companies should be in a better position to invest in new
projects or expand their existing projects to cater for both the Malaysian
and the regional markets. 16. There may be many sceptics who may question
the potential value of such a large investment in the steel industry
undertaken by a Malaysian company. However, we must note that the
availability of this type of steel will ensure that this basic raw
material is available in Malaysia and will allow end users access to this
product. In the long term, Malaysian companies who will be the principal
end users will stand to benefit from such ventures. 17. Like any other
business enterprise, the steel company of the future will continually have
to ensure that international quality products are produced at competitive
prices, in order that the end users, which are mainly medium sized
companies, can benefit from sourcing the materials locally. The producers
of steel- based raw material must also make sure that their products are
competitively priced so that Malaysian products remain
competitive. 18. Dengan kata-kata ini, saya dengan sukacitanya merasmikan
pembukaan kilang Megasteel di Banting ini dengan harapan ia akan mencapai
kejayaan di masa akan datang. Sumber : Pejabat Perdana Menteri Download
Teks Ucapan