Biggest Heist Ever in Malaysia - 12.7mil USD
Adapted from TheStar - A Very Well-Planned Job:
"With the workers under guard, the rest of the robbers set to work on the microchips. In just an hour, they piled 585 cartons and 18 pallets of microchips and motherboards manufactured by a multi-national company in Bayan Lepas into the containers.
The loot estimated to be worth US$12.7mil (RM46.99mil) was said to be the country’s biggest ever heist. And arguably the most audacious, too.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was in Putrajaya, was livid when informed of the robbery. The Prime Minister was very angry over the lack of security. "
The impact:
Adapted from TheStar - Chips could be abroad by now
Pikom chairman, Lee Boon Kok, said the chips, especially the processors, were highly valued and could be transferred across the border fairly quickly.
Lee added that there was a large syndicate that distributed the stolen processors, which the computer industry regarded as a prized commodity. There was also a market for such items as they allowed computer makers to assemble computers at a lower cost.
Lee said although the chips were easily traceable through their serial numbers, the task was difficult as retailers did not report such incidents.
He added that the stolen chips would go through a distribution network where retailers could get them at 10% to 20% less than the market price.
“This actually cripples the IT industry,” he said, adding that manufacturers would find it difficult to compete with the sale of much cheaper machines.
Cases of hijacking of chips could also affect foreign direct investment, he noted.
“Foreign investors will be discouraged by the lack of basic security.”
Lee added that such incidents would also make it difficult for computer manufacturers to insure their goods.
“If this continues, computer manufacturing will be regarded as a high risk business,” he said.
I can't help but ponder, what will become of us? And by us, I mean:
1. My company - my site, will HQ continue to trust in us? Will further actions be taken? How will this affect the employees?
2. My country - our industry, has our credibility dropped to a new low in the eyes of foreign investors? What will become of MAS/ MASkargo? What will become of Malaysia, with our lack of risk-awareness...
"With the workers under guard, the rest of the robbers set to work on the microchips. In just an hour, they piled 585 cartons and 18 pallets of microchips and motherboards manufactured by a multi-national company in Bayan Lepas into the containers.
The loot estimated to be worth US$12.7mil (RM46.99mil) was said to be the country’s biggest ever heist. And arguably the most audacious, too.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was in Putrajaya, was livid when informed of the robbery. The Prime Minister was very angry over the lack of security. "
The impact:
Adapted from TheStar - Chips could be abroad by now
Pikom chairman, Lee Boon Kok, said the chips, especially the processors, were highly valued and could be transferred across the border fairly quickly.
Lee added that there was a large syndicate that distributed the stolen processors, which the computer industry regarded as a prized commodity. There was also a market for such items as they allowed computer makers to assemble computers at a lower cost.
Lee said although the chips were easily traceable through their serial numbers, the task was difficult as retailers did not report such incidents.
He added that the stolen chips would go through a distribution network where retailers could get them at 10% to 20% less than the market price.
“This actually cripples the IT industry,” he said, adding that manufacturers would find it difficult to compete with the sale of much cheaper machines.
Cases of hijacking of chips could also affect foreign direct investment, he noted.
“Foreign investors will be discouraged by the lack of basic security.”
Lee added that such incidents would also make it difficult for computer manufacturers to insure their goods.
“If this continues, computer manufacturing will be regarded as a high risk business,” he said.
I can't help but ponder, what will become of us? And by us, I mean:
1. My company - my site, will HQ continue to trust in us? Will further actions be taken? How will this affect the employees?
2. My country - our industry, has our credibility dropped to a new low in the eyes of foreign investors? What will become of MAS/ MASkargo? What will become of Malaysia, with our lack of risk-awareness...
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