MALAYSIA SEEKS RESUMPTION IN FTA TALKS WITH US, AUSTRALIA

KUALA LUMPUR, June 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes to resume talks on free
trade agreements (FTAs) with the United States and Australia soon, International
Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said.

Mustapa said a meeting on the FTA has been scheduled with Australia in
August this year.

"We have touched base with the US authorities and established contacts with
Australia as well," he said at a media briefing after attending the Malaysian
International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) luncheon here.

According to Mustapa, various issues needed to be looked into at the FTA
talks with the US.

He said that some progress was made with the US on the issues concerned
during the recent Cairns Group ministerial meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

Mustapa said that Malaysia hoped to sign an FTA with New Zealand by this
year as only a few technical issues needed to be resolved.

"Malaysia will continue to pursue FTAs, both regionally together with Asean
partners and bilaterally," he said.

With all these efforts, Malaysia aimed to project itself as an attractive
investment destination regionally and globally, he added.

Mustapa also said that this year is expected to be a tough one for small and
medium enterprises (SMEs).

Last year, a total of 859 SMEs became suppliers to multinationals,
government-linked companies (GLCs) and large companies, generating cumulative
sales totalling RM893.79 million, he said.

"This year we will be lucky if we can achieve higher sales," he added.

At the MICCI luncheon today, newly-elected president Irene Dorner said the
MICCI SME mentoring programme was underway with an initial eight multinational
companies participating.

"For 2009, our objective is to expand and have not less than 20
multinational companies offering SME mentoring under this programme within 12
months," she said.

MICCI announced the appointment of Dorner, who is deputy chairman and chief
executive officer of HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd, as president following its 36th
annual general meeting which was also held today.

Other appointments included Southern Steel Bhd's advisor and group financial
controller Knut Herzer, Nestle Malaysia Bhd's managing director Sullivan O'
Carroll and Guinness Anchor Bhd's managing director Charles Ireland as the three
vice-presidents.

Founded in 1837, the MICCI is the oldest private sector business
organisation in Malaysia. It is represented on more than 70 private and public
sector committees and consultaive panels, both at federal and state levels.

MICCI has a membership of nearly 1,000 international and local companies.

-- BERNAMA