AAPICO SET TO RE-INVEST IN MALAYSIA

SUBANG JAYA, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- Having successfully grow its business in
Thailand, Aapico Hitech PLC is set to thrive in Malaysia by
further re-investing in the country, says President and Chief Executive Officer
S C Yeap.

Among plans for Malaysia is the acquisition of an auto parts and
auto-related
company in its move to build an auto parts plant in the country.

"I am further re-investing in my own country, Malaysia, after having spent
many years in Thailand and expanding into China five years ago.

"For Malaysia, we are not going to start from green field. We have spent
RM200 million (US$1=RM3.14) and RM180 million in acquiring companies in Thailand
and we don't have problems to invest the same amount in Malaysia," he told
reporters at the launch of the company's navigation map called "Powermap".

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed launched
the map.

Yeap also said the company was talking to a few parties in Malaysia and
hope to
finalise the acquisitions soon.

With more than RM1 billion sales a year, the auto parts supplier is among
the
top auto player in Thailand.

It also runs Ford and Mitsubishi showrooms in Thailand and manages two Honda
showrooms in Malaysia.

"We are building the largest Honda showroom in Malaysia which is expected
to be ready in April next year in Petaling Jaya with an investment of RM25
million," he said.

With the new showroom, Yeap said he expects sales in Malaysia to double in
the
next two years.

Currently, Malaysia contributed 15 per cent of the total RM1 billion sales,
he said.

In his speech, Mustapa said Aapico's move to re-invest in Malaysia was
timely in tandem with the national agenda to transform and elevate the nation to
a more advanced economy.

"We hope Aapico could invest more at home and bring in more jobs to the
country," he said.

Supplying parts and components to every car in Thailand, the company's
industrial land is about 125 acres and covers a factory area of about 50 acres,
with over 4,000 employees in Thailand.

-- BERNAMA