Articles Appeared in the following dailies :- i) The Starbiz "Protasco Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with Syrian government to undertake the upgrading of Damascus Ring Highway in Syria valued at 283.8 million euros (RM1.37 billion)." ii) B

## fields Reply to Bursa Malaysia's Query Letter - Reference ID :: RS-090109-36993 Subject :: Articles Appeared in the following dailies :- i) The Starbiz “Protasco Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with Syrian government to undertake the upgrading of Damascus Ring Highway in Syria valued at 283.8 million euros (RM1.37 billion).” ii) Business Times “Protasco Bhd’s wholly owned unit HCM Engineering Sdn Bhd has a good chance of winning the 284 million (RM1.4 billion job to upgrade the Damascus Ring Highway.” Contents :: We refer to Bursa Malaysia’s query dated 9 January 2009 bearing reference RS-090109-36993 and in reply thereto, Protasco Berhad (“Protasco”) wishes to inform that Protasco is negotiating for the following infrastructure projects in Syria : 1. The implementation of the Damascus Ring Highway Project which is expected to cost about 283.8 million euros (RM1,391 million) on a Built, Operate and Transfer Basis (BOT), for a proposed concession period of approximately 33 years. This Project is to be jointly undertaken by Public Establishment for Road Communications (“PERC”) of Syrian Government together with Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia. It is to be novated to the wholly owned subsidiary of Protasco, HCM Engineering Sdn Bhd for implementation. 2. The construction of multi-storey car parks and commercial building in Damascus, costing about 210 million euros (RM1,029 million) on a Built, Operate and Transfer Basis (BOT), for a concession period of approximately 49 years. Feasibility study of the project has been completed and the letter of exclusivity has been issued by the Syrian Government for Protasco to carry out a detail design which should lead to final award of the contract. As of to date, the Group has not finalized any agreement towards securing the above-mentioned projects. Detail announcement to Bursa Malaysia will be made in due course upon conclusion of the negotiation for the above projects. Query Letter Contents :: We refer to the above articles appearing in the aforesaid dailies, copies of which are enclosed for your reference. In particular, we would like to draw your attention to the underlined sentences which are reproduced as follows:- (i) Starbiz “Protasco Bhd is in the final stages of discussion with the Syrian government to undertake the upgrading of the Damascus Ring Highway in Syria valued at 283.8 mil euros (RM1.37 bil)." (ii) Business Times "....Protasco Bhd's wholly-owned unit HCM Engineering Sdn Bhd has a good chance of winning the 284 million (RM1.4 billion) job to upgrade the Damascus Ring Highway." In accordance with Bursa Securities' Corporate Disclosure Policy, kindly furnish Bursa Securities with an announcement for public release confirming or denying the above reported articles in particular the underlined sentences after due and diligent enquiry with all the directors, major shareholders and all such other persons reasonably familiar with the matters about which the disclosure is to be made in this respect. In the event you deny the above reported sentences or any other part of the article, you are required to set forth facts sufficient to clarify any misleading aspects of the same. In the event you confirm the above reported sentences or any other part of the article, you are required to set forth facts sufficient to support the same, including the relevant basis and assumptions in arriving at the above forecasts. Please furnish Bursa Securities with your reply within one (1) market day from the date hereof. Yours faithfully KHOO KAY KWAN Head, Issuers Listing Division Regulation KKK/RSA cc: Securities Commission (via fax)