TITLE : KLSE ANNUAL COMPANIES HANDBOOK VOL 24 BOOK 2 PART 1 (A-L), 2000.

The Exchange strongly advocates that investors practice informed investing by basing their investment decisions on information that is widely available. To this end, the Exchange plays a continuing role in ensuring that investors have ready access to accurate and timely investment information which is made widely available through various media including by electronic means, in print or on-line.

As an extension of this commitment, the KLSE Annual Companies Handbook provides an extensive compilation of financial and related information on the companies listed on the Exchange.

Profiling 399 KLSE listed companies; this edition marks the second book of Volume 24 of the Handbook. The presentation and content of the Handbook are continually being enhanced to ensure that it provides fast and easy access to the information published. Among the improvements is a more concise format of presentation allowing investors to access required information more easily. There is also more value-added information on each company including a separate section on products/services within the company's profile. For the added benefit of investors, five-year graphs on the price and volume traded for each company's shares are also provided. In addition, the bi-lingual format introduced last year is maintained to cater to all segments of society.

On behalf of the Exchange, I would like to thank the listed companies and advertisers for their unwavering support in the publishing of the Handbook. Our appreciation also goes to the staff of the Research and Publication Department and the Public Information Centre for their efforts in producing this publication.

Finally, we invite your feedback and comments on both the presentation and contents of the Handbook. Please feel free to submit these to Ms Quo Gek Kim of the Research and Publication Department.

DATO'MOHD AZLAN HASHIM Executive Chairman Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange