Services

Construction
There are two categories of construction services 1) the general construction works comprising building and civil engineering construction 2) specialist trade or works consisting among others, mechanical works, electrical and air-conditioning works, and other specialist trade or works such as plumbing, sewerage and sanitary works, painting works, carpentry, tiling and flooring works, and glass works. After three years of decline, the construction sector turned around to register a positive growth of 4.6%, driven mainly by the civil engineering sub-sector which benefited from implementation of projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and in the oil and gas sector.

Education
Raising the capacity for knowledge and innovationhas always been the utmost priority in strengthening the education system. Public funded institutions for education and training services include universities, teacher training colleges, polytechnics and colleges, and vocational institutions, while the private sector is involved in universities and colleges, and commercial and other technical institutions. Constant review and realignment of the education system has resulted in the launching of The Education Blueprint 2006-2010, the Strategic Plan for Higher Education: Laying the Foundation Beyond 2020 and the Higher Education Action Plan 2007-2010.

Healthcare
Health services cover the provision of healthcare services (such as hospital, medical and dental services), social work services (e.g. nursing homes), human health activities and veterinary services. The health services sub-sector also include the manufacture, provision and distribution of pharmaceutical products, medical equipment and devices, health insurance, R&D, and education and training of medical personnel. Malaysia is currently ranked as one of the world’s top three medical tourism destinations which presents the most attractive opportunities for medical tourists and foreign investors alike. Over recent years, Malaysia’s medical tourism industry had seen staggering growth at about 30% p.a.

Hospitality & Leisure
This sector includes tourism, leisure and recreation industry segments, namely, hotels, recreational clubs, travel agencies, restaurant and catering services and cruise lines. The scope of tourism services has progressed from supplying services on mass products and markets to more innovative tourism packages. These include eco-tourism, agro-tourism, edu-tourism, health tourism, sports tourism and event organisation (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions).

Real Estate
This sector include real estate operators/developers, real estate management/services, property trusts, housing authorities and property/casualty insurers. The global recession has sparked market caution with private Malaysian developers scaling back projects. Meanwhile, the Government continues to progress property development and infrastructure works in the planned economic growth corridors across the country, such as Iskandar Malaysia, North Corridor Economic Region (NCER), East Corridor Economic Region (ECER), Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Shared Services & Outsourcing
Malaysia is positioning itself as an outsourcing destination that offers high-value competencies. In 2007, it has been rated as the third ideal outsourcing destination by A.T. Kearney and among the top five locations for SSO by Frost & Sullivan. Total outsourcing revenue is estimated to reach US$3.6 billion in 2007 growing at 30% per annum. The country has a broad experience in outsourcing with competencies around banking, financial services and insurance, energy, retail, technology, logistics, supply chain management and has attracted MNCs like Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC, Royal Dutch Shell Group and DHL to its shores.

Transport & Logistics
This sector includes ports, airports, roads, railways, inland haulage services and also various related services such as warehousing, forwarding, postal/courier and other value-added services. Although transport comprises several modes, more than 90% of international trade is seaborne, with ports providing the important interface between shipping and land transport. Ports are linked to the hinterland and marketplace largely by roads, railways, haulage services and airports. An increasing trend towards outsourcing logistics activities amongst the MNCs to international logistics providers encourages logistic service providers to engage in supply chain management directly with their customers on a global basis. An effective logistics system integrates both the supply chain within the country and the networks at the international level.