PENANG received another boost to its already impressive foreign direct investment (FDI) figures when a Japanese manufacturer announced plans to expand its operations in Penang.

Ibiden Co Ltd, also the largest printed circuit board maker in the world, will set up a new RM1bil facility in the Penang science park in Bukit Minyak. RM1.2bil had already been invested by the company in 2008 on its first plant.

“As a long-term plan, we decided to expand our operations here in Penang based on our resources and initial investment," said Inigo president and chief executive officer Hiroki Takenaka. Also present was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Read here.

Ibiden's first facility began operations last week; construction of the second facility will begin in May. This facility will be producing printed wiring boards (PWB) for mobile phones. "By the end of next year, Ibiden Electronics Malaysia will be the PWB factory with the most advanced technology and largest production capacity in the world," Takenaka added. Read here.

Once both facilities are fully operational, they are expected to employ around to 2,000 people. Read here.

Man comes back to life

Ng Swee Hock was pronounced dead by doctors in Hospital Seberang Jaya. Two and a half hours later, he came back to life in what is believed to be a rare incident of Lazarus Syndrome.

Doctors performed CPR on Ng for an hour before finally declaring him dead. But when his 26-year-old son Wei went to the police station to file a report, doctors informed him that his father is alive again.

"We kept monitoring him and noticed that he suddenly began breathing after two-and-a-half hours," said a hospital spokesperson. "We then put him on a respirator." Read here.

As of Sunday, Ng is still unconscious but stable. The Lazarus Syndrome is rare and still not fully understood by medical professionals. As of June 2009 there have only been 38 such reported cases. Read here.

Other news

• The China effect: In the midst of a steaming-hot Malaysian jungle, sweat-stained factory workers bend over their looms, threading copper into bales of cable wire that gets so hot, it must snake through culverts of water before it can be touched. Read here.
• Sharing a passion for antiques: Antique collector Yong Kein Sun is sharing his interest with the public by opening up his private mini gallery in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, to display his collections, including a nearly 100-year-old typewriter. Read here.
• A ghost town in the making in Penang: There is no denying that Penang is one of the most liveable cities in Malaysia. Read here.
• Construction, renovation industries to gain RM3bil: The RM2.94bil in gross sales value (GSV) of housing projects to be launched this year is expected to generate about RM3bil worth of jobs for the construction and renovation industries in Penang. Read here.
• Police bust Ah Long syndicate in Penang: A loan-sharking syndicate believed to have loaned out sums of up to RM1 million was smashed following a police raid on a house in Taman Bayu Mutiara, Bukit Mertajam, on Friday which resulted in the arrest of four men and seizure of 491 cheques worth more than RM13 million. Read here.

For more news on Penang, please click through to iGT NetBuzz April 11 to 17, 2011 here. For daily updates, "like" iGeorgeTown on Facebook or join us on Twitter.     

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