Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad Archives

Bintai Kinden Pressures Melaka Government on Unimel Project Payments

Company appealing to Prime Minister to seek redress on issue as payments owed totalling RM49.8 million by Melaka government jeopardises upkeep of UNIMEL campus accommodation

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, which has been classified as an affected listed issuer pursuant to Para 2.1(f) of Practice Note 17 (PN17) of the listing requirements of the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Bursa Securities), is pressuring the Melaka government for not taking action to address payments owed the Company from the Universiti Melaka (UNIMEL) project resulting in the default of an RM109.0 million Islamic financing facility.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden

The PN17 classification came after MBSB Bank Berhad (MBSB) issued a notice of termination dated 29 March 2023 to Bintai Kinden as the corporate guarantor and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Optimal Property Management Sdn Bhd (OPM), as the borrower in respect of RM109.0 million in Islamic banking facilities in which the Company and/or OPM has defaulted on.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “We are being victimised into PN17 status because the Melaka government has not seen fit despite a series of meetings to take action to address the RM49.8 million owed to OPM by Kolej Teknologi Islam Melaka Berhad (KTIMB) for the construction of the UNIMEL student campus accommodation.”

KTIMB is the operator of UNIMEL, which had awarded a contract via a concession agreement to OPM in early 2016 valued at RM121.0 million to construct student accommodation for the campus. The 25-year concession agreement comprised three years of construction and 22 years of maintenance services in which KTIMB is obliged to pay OPM for the upkeep of the campus accommodation. OPM had taken a 17-year tenure Islamic financing facility of RM109.0 million with MBSB to part-finance the UNIMEL campus accommodation project, which was completed in 2019.

“We have also sent various reminders to KTIMB as well as Melaka Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI Melaka) on the matter. Let us be clear that despite non-payment or irregular payments by the parties, Bintai Kinden has been honouring its debt to MBSB and has paid RM18.6 million from March 2021 to December 2022 towards the financing facility despite collecting only RM3.7 million from KTIMB.”

“Bintai Kinden would like to appeal to the Prime Minister to seek redress on this issue for the sake of the UNIMEL students, as we have been trying our best to maintain the campus accommodation. CMI Melaka is obliged to top-up any shortfall in the payments as part of the financing facility agreement with MBSB but the top-ups have been inadequate while KTIMB, which was required as part of the concession agreement to pledge land or properties with a market value of not less than RM42.5 million to safeguard Bintai Kinden’s credit risk, has not done so.”

Pursuant to the PN17 classification, Bintai Kinden is required to announce within three months of today’s announcement on whether the regularisation plan will result in a significant change in its business direction or policy and, within 12 months of today’s announcement, to submit a regularisation plan to the Securities Commission (“SC”) if the plan will result in a significant change in the business direction or policy of the Company and to complete the implementation of the plan within such timeframe as prescribed by the SC or, submit a regularisation plan to Bursa Securities if the plan will not result in a significant change in the business direction or policy as well as complete the implementation of the plan within such timeframe as prescribed.

Bintai Kinden reassures stakeholders that its other businesses such as the Mechanical & Engineering and Oil & Gas are running as usual. The Company has total unbilled orderbook to RM142.95million.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Wins RM14.2 Million Project from TNB

Company to install two 132kV transformer bays in Negeri Sembilan

Bintai Kinden Corporation Bhd (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is pleased to announce that the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Kejuruteraan Bintai Kindenko Sdn Bhd (KBK), has been awarded a project worth RM14.2 million by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) for the installation of two 132kV transformer bays air insulated switchgear complete with the relevant primary, secondary, cables and all associated civil works located in Pasir Besar, Negeri Sembilan.

Executive Director of Bintai Kinden, En. Azri Azerai

The project’s scope of work also includes a 33kV building, two 300kVA 33/0.415kV local transformers, 33kV GIS single busbar (eight outgoing, two incomer, two local transformers and two bus-ties), 33kV CRP, 33kV RTU, 33kV SIP and 33kV MPE, neutral earthing system, earthing system extension, lightning protection system, associated secondary works (protection & telecontrol) and, associated underground cable works for power transformer, local transformer and bus-tie.

KBK, a specialist in M&E engineering services, was also awarded a project worth RM39.0 million by TNB for the installation of a 132kV underground cable double circuit in late November 2022.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “We are happy to work with TNB as both parties have a working relationship and track record going back some years. The award of the contract is also testament to our expertise and experience in M&E engineering services including design, installation and commissioning.

“Bintai Kinden has in recent years been growing our range of expertise through investments and acquisitions that leverage on our strengths and market network. The Company has mid-to-long-term plans to transform to a multidisciplinary M&E engineering services specialist that also include strategic partnerships like the one we recently inked with Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad.”

Past TNB projects in which Bintai Kinden has been involved in include the 132kV Kuchai Lama switching station, 132kV MRT Bukit Serdang switching station, 132kV single-circuit underground cable from PMU Galloway to PMU KLCC2 and, 132kV bulk supply connection to KTMB Sentul feeder station. Total unbilled order book under M&E segment of Bintai Kinden is RM143.41 million.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Redesignates Ku as Group Managing Director

Company puts ex-Grant Thornton auditor to helm business

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is redesignating Mr. Ku Chong Hong to Group Managing Director from Executive Director effective 18 January 2023.

Group Managing Director of Bintai Kinden, Mr. Ku Chong Hong

Mr. Ku was appointed to the Board of Directors as an Executive Director on 24 February 2022. He joined Bintai Kinden as Group Accountant in June 2019 and was subsequently redesignated Head of Finance and Accounts on 17 September 2019 and then Chief Financial Officer on 12 October 2020. He is a member of the Executive Management Committee of the Company. Besides Bintai Kinden, he is also an Executive Director at Sarawak Consolidated Industries Berhad and an Independent Non-Executive Director of Malaysian Genomics Resources Berhad.

Mr. Ku worked for several audit firms before joining Grant Thornton Malaysia as an audit senior manager in 2017. He has over eight years as an auditor with exposure to audit and assurance as well as business advisory in a broad spectrum of industries such as property development, construction, manufacturing, trading, poultry, agriculture, aquaculture, service provider, trading of software and real estate. He is also a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

“I would like to thank the Board for this appointment. I am excited for Bintai and will do my best to bring the Company to the next level. The Company will continue to focus on our core business in mechanical & electrical engineering segment and endeavour to secure more opportunities and recurring projects in Malaysia which are able to contribute positively to the future earnings of the Group,” said Ku.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “The Board of Directors and I congratulate him and are looking forward to working even closer with him. His redesignation reflects a changing of the guard and a younger generation helming the business operations. On a more personal note, having a young and dynamic team enables the Company to adapt to trends in the corporate world and technology while coming out with solutions that are outside of the box.”

“As an ex-Grant Thornton auditor, we have every confidence that with his industry knowledge and experience, he will be able to guide Bintai Kinden to greater success. His familiarity with the business operations will also be of great help as the Company leverages on its strengths as a M&E engineering services specialist to expand in Malaysia and the region.”

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Ventures into Digital Assets

Company’s latest initiative part of treasury management and business expansion plans

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is venturing in digital assets through wholly-owned subsidiary Bintai Trading Sdn Bhd (BTSB) as part of the Company’s treasury management while taking into consideration longer-term needs in business expansion.

As part of this initiative and to take into consideration the longer-term needs, BTSB has an account with a digital currency exchange licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “This is an opportune time to venture into digital assets as values across the board has fallen, especially among the main ones such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. We will devote a portion of our free cashflow for digital assets and will take a dollar-cost averaging approach when buying into them.”

“This is also part of our treasury management as we need to ensure cashflow to manage our daily operations while taking into consideration our longer term needs and strategies involving the M&E business. We will continue to seek opportunities in Malaysia and neighbouring countries to expand.”

According to Coinbase Global Inc.’s 2023 Crypto Market Outlook published in December 2022, a flight to quality among institutional investors; creative destruction that will eventually lead to new opportunities and; foundational reforms that usher in the next cycle, are the key themes for the year.

The Coinbase report noted that the coefficients that led to the high, positive correlation between Bitcoin and Ethereum versus US stocks have trended lower since May 2022 and expects investors to select higher-quality cryptocurrencies based on factors such as sustainable tokenomics, maturity of ecosystems and relative market liquidity.

A survey sponsored by Coinbase, the “2022 Institutional Investor Digital Assets Survey”, conducted between September 21 and October 27, 2022 among 140 institutional participants, revealed that 53.6% expect cryptocurrency prices to remain range-bound over the next 12 months versus 29.3% who expect prices to trend lower while 7.9% expect prices to trend higher and 9.3% expressed no opinion on where prices will move.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Expands Further into O&G

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is pleased to announce that the Company’s 51%-owned sub-subsidiary, Bintai Energy Sdn Bhd (“BESB”), has been awarded a series of subcontracts by Petro Flanges & Fittings Sdn Bhd (PFF) and various customers recommended by PFF, involving the supply of high-grade carbon steel/stainless steel piping, valves and piping accessories to various oil and gas (O&G) businesses valued at RM4.0 million.

The value of accumulated subcontracts secured through PFF in which BESB is the identified special purpose vehicle for the supply of materials to the O&G industry is now RM12.9 million. PFF is a supplier of pipes, flanges, fittings, valves and other O&G-related equipment.

In a separate announcement, the Company is also pleased to note that BESB has received approved licenses as dealers of instrumentation cables and general cables in relation to power and control from Petronas. The licenses are effective from 11 August 2022 to 10 August 2025.

Bintai Kinden also announced that BESB is partnering Puncak Logam Sdn Bhd (PLSB), whose principal business is the trading and marketing of goods, to ensure faster delivery time of products to clients through storing its products, which includes pipe, fittings, flanges, gaskets, stud bolts and structure materials and any other goods in PLSB’s facility while enabling PLSB to source for purchasers in Malaysia for these products.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “The latest award of subcontracts to BESB is part of the partnerships and tie-ups we are pursuing to grow our O&G-related business. This includes seeking opportunities and partnerships with companies that share the same vision as Bintai Kinden, in Southeast Asia. We are now expanding into Indonesia through a local partner in the country. We are also delighted with the award of the licenses by Petronas enabling us to supply products and services to O&G businesses in Malaysia. This will certainly be a boost to our O&G arm.”

En. Nuraiman bin Shaiful Annuar, Director of Bintai Energy said, “The partnership with PLSB is strategic to the growth of our O&G-related business because we believe logistics will be important in the supply-chain. It will ensure that products get to clients faster and also at the same time, PLSB will help us to market the products in Malaysia.”

En. Amli Mohamed Amin, Managing Director of PLSB said, “Our partnership with BESB ensures that there are always an inventory of O&G products on-hand that can be shipped out to clients. Given the uncertainties related to the global supply chain, our facility offers a stock of ready supply while at the same time, we can help market these products through our network of clients.”

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Awarded RM39 Million Project from TNB

Company to instal underground cable in Nusajaya, Johor

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is pleased to announce that the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Kejuruteraan Bintai Kindenko Sdn Bhd (KBK), has been awarded a project worth RM39.0 million for the installation of a 132kV underground cable double circuit from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden

The project’s scope of work involves installing a new 132kV XLPE cable system from the PMU Financial Centre to the GDS Data Centre Substation located in Nusajaya, Johor. The new XLPE cable comprises two circuits, and three phases, with one cable of 1600mm2 copper per phase.

KBK, a specialist in M&E engineering services, has 319 days from commencement to complete the project.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “The Company continues to make progress in seeking more projects leveraging on its expertise and experience in M&E engineering services including design, installation and commissioning. This latest project award from TNB reflects the opportunities stemming from the growth momentum in the economy.”

“We are also committed to growing our range of expertise and are constantly looking to diversify as we transform to become a conglomerate through investing in unique and niche businesses with huge earnings accretive potential.”

Past TNB projects in which Bintai Kinden has been involved in include the 132kV Kuchai Lama switching station, 132kV MRT Bukit Serdang switching station, 132kV single-circuit underground cable from PMU Galloway to PMU KLCC2 and, 132kV bulk supply connection to KTMB Sentul feeder station.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Revenue Increased 136% in 2Q FY2023

Company assessing risks and opportunities to grow as an investment conglomerate

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, today announced that the Company registered a 136.6% increase in revenue to RM40.56 million for the second quarter ended 30 September 2022 (2Q FY2023) compared with RM17.14 million in 2Q FY2022 mainly due to higher contribution from M&E projects recovering from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Director of Bintai Kinden, Azri Azerai

For the quarter under review, the Company’s profit before tax (PBT) recorded a decline to RM193,000 compared with RM244,000 in 2Q FY2022 mainly due to higher cost. Gross profit margin for 2Q FY2023 stood at 15.35% compared with 43.06% in 2Q FY2022 after taking into account contribution by variation order of completed projects of the M&E business.

Bintai Kinden registered a 142.94% rise in revenue of RM71.44 million for the six months ended 30 September 2022 (1H FY2023) compared with RM29.41 million in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. PBT for 1H FY2023 declined to RM1.16 million compared with RM1.50 million reported in 1H FY2022.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “We consider the continuing growth in economic activities following two years of lockdowns as a positive sign for more opportunities in M&E engineering services in Malaysia and Southeast Asia where our focus remains. The growth in revenue in the quarter under review is proof of the continuing recovery which we do not take for granted as we assess the risks and opportunities to grow as an investment conglomerate by taking stakes in unique and niche businesses with huge potential.”

“We are actively looking for more earnings accretive acquisitions. We are diversifying into the provision of telecommunication services to healthcare centres through a strategic venture under our indirect subsidiary, Johnson Medical International Sdn Bhd (JMI) that we announced earlier in November. We are also leveraging on JMI’s healthcare solutions and medical support systems expertise to explore the Middle East, which is a growing market. Through our 51%-owned Bintai Energy Sdn. Bhd., we are in a partnership distributing flanges and other related piping products in Indonesia for oil and gas (O&G) projects.”

Bintai Kinden’s total orderbook is RM109.92 million, with RM102.43 million from M&E projects and RM7.49 million from O&G projects.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Ventures into Telco through Agreement with MN Permai Netcom

Company’s subsidiary JMI partners with Telco Specialist to install telco infrastructure in hospitals

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, today announced that the Company’s wholly-owned sub-subsidiary, Johnson Medical International Sdn. Bhd. (JMI), has formalised a strategic venture with MN Permai Netcom Sdn. Bhd. (MNP) for the sales, marketing and installation of telecommunication services to healthcare centres and other medical sites governed by the Ministry of Health of Malaysia (MOH) under JMI’s portfolio.

JMI is specialised in healthcare solutions and medical support systems while MNP is an end-to-end telecommunications solutions provider covering smart fiber-to-the-home, smart cloud solutions, broadband, 3G as well as 4G/5G offload, smart poles and business cloud solutions, among others.

Under the agreement, JMI will market telecommunication services to the MOH or any private hospital provided by MNP, which will be involved in sales as well as the installation of the services.

Services provided by MNP include managing the backhaul network; supplying and installing access network equipment; interconnection with third parties; designing the interconnection and backhaul network infrastructure; designing infrastructure access network; maintaining the access network; supplying and installing technical-based on-site requirements and; providing maintenance services.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden (Download) Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “This agreement leverages on the strengths of both parties. JMI has a network of hospital contacts with a solid presence in Malaysia and understand the needs of hospitals and people who work in them. We listen to our customers and want to provide them with services or products that solves their problems or fulfil their needs. The telecommunications services offered by MNP enables faster data transfer speed as well as application performance, faster streaming of videos, reduces buffering, increases data transfer capability and enables interactivity.”

Malik Faizal Bakar, Managing Director of MNP said, “We look forward to working with JMI to provide telecommunications infrastructure and services to hospitals. Ever since our establishment in 2014, we have expanded to become a provider of comprehensive services ranging from planning, building, operating and optimising networks including inside plant solutions, outside plant solutions and technical support. We also have the expertise in managing large telco infrastructure projects as we were awarded a 120-km fiber optic project in Penang.”

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Shareholders Approves All Resolutions at 28th AGM

Directors up for re-election were also re-elected

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998), a mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist, is pleased to announce that shareholders have approved all resolutions at the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company held today on a virtual platform.

Shareholders passed the resolution to receive the audited financial statements for the financial year ended 31 March 2022 (FY2022) as well as to re-elect Ooi Jit Huat and Mohd Shakir Shahimi, the directors who were retiring in accordance with Clause 8 of the Company’s constitution. Directors retiring in accordance with Clause 113 of the Company’s constitution, Mohd Idzwan Izuddin Datuk Ab Rahman and Ku Chong Hong, who, being eligible, had offered themselves for re-election, were also re-elected.

The resolution to allow the board of directors the authority to allot and issue shares that does not exceed 10% of the total issued shares of the Company at the time of the issue to be in force up to the conclusion of the next AGM was also approved by shareholders. In addition, shareholders also waived statutory pre-emptive rights to be offered Bintai Kinden shares ranking equally to existing issued shares in accordance with Section 85 of the Companies Act, 2016 and with Clause 52 of the Company’s constitution.

Messrs. HLB Ler Lum Chew PLT was also appointed as the auditors of Bintai Kinden and shareholders authorised the directors to fix their remuneration. Other resolutions passed included the payment of directors’ fee amounting to RM108,000 for FY2022 and approving directors’ other benefits payable up to an amount of RM10,000 from 16 September 2022 to the next AGM of the Company.

Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “We would like to thank shareholders for their continued support and confidence in us. We will endeavour to ensure that their interests as well as the interest of other stakeholders are safeguarded as we work to grow the business.”

“While the global economic outlook is increasingly challenging, we will continue to leverage on our core M&E engineering expertise to seek opportunities in Malaysia and around the region. We have in recent months also explored the Middle East market, a region with a lot of potential given the growing population and expanding economic activities.”

At the AGM, shareholders also voiced their concerns over arrears totalling RM42.0 million owed by Kolej Teknologi Islam Melaka Berhad (KTIMB) to Bintai Kinden’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Optimal Property Management Sdn Bhd (OPM) for the construction and operation of the student accommodation at Kolej Universiti Islam Melaka (KUIM), now known as Universiti Melaka (UNIMEL).

OPM completed the construction of the UNIMEL student accommodation in 2019. KTIMB had awarded a 25-year concession in 2016 to OPM to construct and operate the student accommodation at the then KUIM but to-date, OPM has received only a portion of the concession fees for operating the student accommodation and has been forced to use its own funds.

Bintai Kinden’s orderbook covering M&E and oil and gas (O&G) projects currently total RM120.43 million. The Company was recently granted approval for a license by Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) under the Standardised Work and Equipment Categories Code, to bid for O&G projects that come under Petronas.

About Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad
Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad is a multidisciplinary building and industrial service engineering outfit founded in 1973. The Company has designed, installed and commissioned systems that include the full range of engineering services for commercial buildings to industrial complexes. Headquartered in Malaysia, Bintai Kinden has worked on projects in Southeast Asia, China and the Gulf region of the Middle East. For more information, visit bintai.com.my.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/

Bintai Kinden Posts 152% Rise in Revenue for 1Q

Company also receives license from Petronas enabling it to bid directly for projects

Mechanical and electrical (M&E) engineering services specialist Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad (Bursa: BINTAI, 6998) today announced that the Company registered a 152.0% increase in revenue to RM30.88 million for the first quarter ended 30 June 2022 (1Q FY2023) compared with RM12.26 million in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year (1Q FY2022) mainly due to higher contribution from M&E engineering business.

Bintai Kinden reported a profit after tax (PAT) of RM968,000 for the quarter under review, which is 23.0% lower than the PAT of RM1.25 million recorded in 1Q FY2022 as gross profit margin decreased to 16.45% from 30.0% after taking into account variation orders from completed M&E projects.

The Company’s M&E engineering business contributed RM26.43 million for 1Q FY2023, which is an increase of 203.72% compared with RM8.7 million in 1Q FY2022. The concession business brought in RM3.6 million, a marginal increase compared with RM3.55 million. Bintai Kinden operates the entire in-campus accommodation for Universiti Melaka as part of a 25-year concession from Kolej Teknologi Islam Melaka Berhad (KTIMB). As of 31 March 2022, KTIMB owes Bintai Kinden an outstanding sum of RM30.18 million from the concession.

En. Azri Azerai, Executive Director of Bintai Kinden said, “We will continue to leverage on our core M&E engineering specialisation to seek opportunities in Malaysia and around the region. The surge in economic activities following the previous two years of intermittent lockdowns due to COVID-19 will definitely have positive spillover effects.”

“Through our indirect subsidiary, Johnson Medical International Sdn Bhd, we have a niche as a turnkey solutions provider of mobile, modular and offsite engineered healthcare infrastructure that we intend to expand and in which our M&E engineering services can also benefit. Through our 51%-owned subsidiary, Bintai Energy Sdn Bhd, we have been busy exploring opportunities to distribute flanges and other related piping products, the latest of which is a business collaboration agreement with PT Raintech Indo Energi.”

Bintai Energy has also recently been granted approval for a license by Petroliam Nasional Berhad under the Standardised Work and Equipment Categories Code, to bid for oil and gas (O&G) projects that come under Petronas. Bintai Kinden’s orderbook covering M&E as well as O&G projects total RM120.43 million.

Bintai Kinden Corporation Berhad: 6998 [BURSA: BKC], http://bintai.com.my/