Malaysia Morning News For March 20

Malaysia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Malaysia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.

IOSCO launches Asia-Pacific hub in Malaysia
The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the world’s leading body of capital market regulators that oversees markets worth over US$140tril, launched its first-ever Asia-Pacific hub in Malaysia.
— The Star Online

Banks’ asset quality likely to drop
After years of improvement, the asset quality of Malaysian banks could see some deterioration with the banking system’s gross impaired-loan (GIL) ratio expected to touch 1.8% this year, although this figure is still favourable compared with their Asean peers.
— The Star Online

SME Bank sees loan growth at 7pct
SME Bank Bhd expects to see its total financing portfolio grow at seven per cent this year, versus the 12.5 per cent recorded last year.
— New Straits Times

MAS upbeat on China market, set to add 8 new routes there by Oct
Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) is opening up eight new routes to China, adding to the existing 17, says chief executive officer Peter Bellew.
— New Straits Times

Perak pays price for ‘excessive tourism’
Pulau Sembilan, a cluster of nine islands off Perak, has been declared off-limits because of public apathy and environment degradation.
— Malay Mail Online

Malaysia off to a flying start in 2017, says Najib
Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia recorded many achievements to be proud of in the first three months of this year (Q1) and had received positive reports in local and international media.
— Malay Mail Online

Malaysia expects more arrests in Kim Jong Nam murder probe: report
Malaysian police are expected to make a few more arrests, including an “important person”, in connection with the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, state media reported on Sunday.
— Reuters

Malaysia hunting for more N. Korean suspects in Kim’s death
Malaysia says it is hunting for more North Korean suspects over the killing of the half brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
— ABC News

Good Q1 For Malaysia – Najib
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysia recorded many achievements to be proud of in the first three months of this year (Q1) and had received positive reports in local and international media.
— Malaysian Digest

Najib denies ‘M’sia among 10 most corrupt countries’, decries enemies’ lies
Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has reminded the people regarding crucial matters which could destroy the country including being the country’s covert enemies or conspiring with the country’s enemies.
— Malaysia Kini

What lies ahead for a stateless child in Malaysia?
Children who are born in Malaysia but fail to get citizenship are thrown into a complex bureaucratic and legal mess, leaving them with an uncertain future that can appear hopeless.
— Yahoo News

Partner search: Why 2 foreign bidders regard Proton as valuable?
Two huge car companies with global operations are now running neck-and-neck bidding for a majority stake of Proton, with both offering many sweeteners to win over the Malaysian car maker.
— New Straits Times

Inclusion into The Montreal Group testament to hard work: SME Bank’s Mohd Radzif
The inclusion of SME Bank Bhd into the The Montreal Group (TMG) is a testament to the hard work the bank had achieved in spurring the local small and medium enterprises (SME) landscape for the past six years.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia seen retaining property cooling measures
COUNTRIES in the region that imposed property cooling measures at around the same time are not likely to be relaxing them almost simultaneously due to differing economic conditions.
— The Star Online

Boon for contractors, foreign funds buy construction, property stocks
Construction and property stocks rallied in a market that saw foreign funds becoming net buyers. Companies deemed to be beneficiaries of large construction projects saw some action.
— The Star Online

Explain why KL draft plan dropped, say civil society groups
People’s representatives should press the authorities to explain why the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 is being replaced, said former Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam.
— Malay Mail Online

Feature photo: John Walker

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