Regional broadcaster, Channel NewsAsia, today announced
plans to expand its Kuala Lumpur bureau to operate a High Definition (HD) satellite studio. This will
boost the channel’s production capability in Malaysia and its 24-hour rolling news coverage of Asia.
The studio will be directly connected to the channel’s headquarters in Singapore and take “live”
interviews with guests in a studio environment.
Ms Debra Soon, Managing Director of Channel NewsAsia noted that when the channel was
launched 15 years ago, one of its first bureaus was established in Kuala Lumpur. She said,
“Singapore and Malaysia are strongly linked by history, kinship and friendship. The channel has
made it a priority to report on developments in Malaysia first-hand, not just political and economic
news, but also on its people, society and culture. Malaysia will play a significant role in the world’s
fastest growing region, and we will play a role in helping the rest of the world understand Malaysia”.
Ms Soon made the announcement at Channel NewsAsia’s Malaysia Business Insights in Kuala
Lumpur today.
The channel’s premier regional business forum gathered government and corporate leaders to
discuss Malaysia’s role in the global economy, and the challenges facing companies as they head
towards the vision of making Malaysia a developed economy. Delegates shared insights on its
theme, “Sustaining Growth and Development in Malaysia”, and the structural reforms being
introduced to drive growth.
Senator Dato’ Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who presented
the keynote address, said “Malaysia is restructuring to evolve towards a high-income nation and
create an economy that is more resilient, globally competitive and sustainable. Within this
framework, the coming together of key policy makers and corporate leaders at Channel NewsAsia’s
Malaysia Business Insights allows for keen dialogue and facilitates greater understanding by the
private sector. This will enable closer and greater collaboration between the public and private
sectors.”
Malaysia Business Insights was moderated by Channel NewsAsia’s Malaysia
Bureau Chief, Melissa Goh, and featured speakers on two panels:
Datuk Dr Rebecca Fatima Sta. Maria, Secretary General, Ministry of International Trade and
Industry
Datin Roslina Zainal, Vice President, Regulatory Economics & Planning Division, Tenaga
Nasional Berhad
Mr Philip Rao, Senior Partner, EY Malaysia
Mr Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah, Group President/CEO, Felda Global Ventures Holdings
Berhad
Mr. Teh Kee Sin, National President, SMI Association of Malaysia
Mr. Christopher Ong – Managing Director, DHL Express Malaysia & Brunei
Mr. Heng Huck Lee – President, FREPENCA / Chief Executive Director, Globetronics
Technology Berhad
Mr. Manoj Menon – Senior Partner & Asia Pacific Managing Director, Frost & Sullivan Asia
Pacific
Malaysia Business Insights is the latest in the leadership series hosted by Channel NewsAsia
across Asia. The forums have travelled to Jakarta, Bangkok, Yangon, Singapore and Ho Chi Minh
City, with the aim of establishing stronger linkages across Asia and promoting deeper
understanding of the business climate and practices in the host countries.