'Scrap billboard, bird's nest business monopoly'
Published: May 14, 2012 7:33 AM | Updated: May 14, 2012 8:18 AM
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) urged the government to jettison its monopoly policies, including the privatisation of Negeri Sembilan billboard business to a single company, and the regulation of bird’s nest exports.
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) urged the government to jettison its monopoly policies, including the privatisation of Negeri Sembilan billboard business to a single company, and the regulation of bird’s nest exports.
Both the policies are against the spirit of free market and principle of fair competition, said William Cheng (left), president of the umbrella body of local Chinese business community.
According to Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily, Cheng made the request during the installation of Terengganu Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s new committee at Kuala Terengganu on Saturday night.
“We must follow closely the development of these two cases,” he was quoted as saying.
The Negeri Sembilan government has decided to appoint Yayasan Negeri Sembilan (YNS), a state foundation chaired by Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan, as the sole agency to take over the management of all the billboards in the state - which had always been owned and managed by some 12 outdoor advertising companies or media agencies.
YNS has in turn appointed a private company, Semarak Media Sdn Bhd, to manage the multi-million ringgit business, sparking a strong protest from the outdoor advertising industry.
Outdoor advertising companies have decried that the new policy will allow Semarak Media, a company which allegedly has no track record in the advertising industry, to monopolise the multi-million ringgit business.
However, Mohamad Hasan argued that the move for YNS to handle the outdoor advertising billboards sector would eventually make it cheaper for advertisers and boost the fees paid to local authorities.
A similar policy has also been introduced in the bird’s nest export business.
An agency appointed by the Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Ministry will establish seven centres throughout the country to collect bird’e nest from the producers and sell them to certain companies which have signed contracts with the agency.
These companies will process the bird’s nest and export them to China.
The exclusive rights given by the ministry to these companies will lead to monopoly in the bird’s nest export industry, significantly affecting the fair competition among existing bird’s nest producers, said Cheng.
Both the policies are against the spirit of free market and principle of fair competition, said William Cheng (left), president of the umbrella body of local Chinese business community.According to Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily, Cheng made the request during the installation of Terengganu Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s new committee at Kuala Terengganu on Saturday night.
“We must follow closely the development of these two cases,” he was quoted as saying.
The Negeri Sembilan government has decided to appoint Yayasan Negeri Sembilan (YNS), a state foundation chaired by Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan, as the sole agency to take over the management of all the billboards in the state - which had always been owned and managed by some 12 outdoor advertising companies or media agencies.YNS has in turn appointed a private company, Semarak Media Sdn Bhd, to manage the multi-million ringgit business, sparking a strong protest from the outdoor advertising industry.
Outdoor advertising companies have decried that the new policy will allow Semarak Media, a company which allegedly has no track record in the advertising industry, to monopolise the multi-million ringgit business.
However, Mohamad Hasan argued that the move for YNS to handle the outdoor advertising billboards sector would eventually make it cheaper for advertisers and boost the fees paid to local authorities.
A similar policy has also been introduced in the bird’s nest export business.An agency appointed by the Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Ministry will establish seven centres throughout the country to collect bird’e nest from the producers and sell them to certain companies which have signed contracts with the agency.
These companies will process the bird’s nest and export them to China.
The exclusive rights given by the ministry to these companies will lead to monopoly in the bird’s nest export industry, significantly affecting the fair competition among existing bird’s nest producers, said Cheng.
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