PENANG WELCOMES INVESTMENT FROM ST JUDE MEDICAL

PENANG (Malaysia), Jan 3 (Bernama) -- St Jude Medical, a medical device company plans to invest US$30 million (RM108 million) in northern state of Penang.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the investment will cover a 300,000
square-foot facility in Penang Island in the first phase of the company's
expansion.

The new facility in Penang will house both an administrative office and a
manufacturing plant.

Lim said work on the new facility was expected to start this year while
operations was expected to take off in 2011.

Once all regulatory approvals are received, St Jude Medical products are
expected to be rolled out from the Penang facility in the 2011 timeframe, he
told a press conference here Friday.

"The Penang facility is projected to provide employment opportunities to 300
residents of Penang in its first year of operation...the facility may continue
to expand to create more than 1,000 jobs for the people of Penang and Malaysia,"
he added.

Lim said St Jude Medical plans to initially expand the production of their
Cardiac Rhythm Management (CRM) products in the Penang facility.

St Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on
putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and
chronic pain patients worldwide.

The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing
risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcome for every
patient.
-- BERNAMA