Malaysia Morning News For March 9

Welcome to the Malaysia morning news roundup by AEC News Today, your one stop for Malaysia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.

Malaysia warns of long North Korea inquiry, China says no action yet
Malaysia has warned that an investigation into the murder of the North Korean leader’s half brother “may take longer than what we hope,” as Pyongyang ally China said on Wednesday that no international action should be considered until it is finished.
— Reuters

Malaysia reports highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu: OIE
Malaysia has reported an outbreak of a highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus in the northern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Wednesday, citing a report from the Malaysian agriculture ministry.
— Reuters

Ringgit to pick up in second half of this year
The ringgit is expected to see a moderate recovery in the second half of this year against the US dollar following the improvement of the local economy.
— The Star Online

Malaysia needs to talk to Pyongyang and negotiate, says Najib
All 11 Malaysians in North Korea are now within the diplomatic compound of the Malaysian embassy and are all safe.
— The Star Online

Proposed IWH, IWC merger signals rise of largest property developer on Bursa
Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd (IWH) has proposed to buy the remaining 61.7 per cent stake in IWC it does not already own.
— New Straits Times

GE: Malaysia remains attractive to global firms
MALAYSIA is an attractive investment destination for multinational companies (MNCs) because of its cost of running businesses, local talent and diversity, said General Electric (GE) general manager of Asia Pacific Global Operations, Yuichiro Yamaguchi.
— New Straits Times

Iflix open to raising additional capital from strategic investor: Patrick Grove
Malaysia headquartered video streaming service iflix is open to raising additional capital “if someone very strategic would be interested”, iflix co-founder and Catcha Group’s Patrick Grove has told this portal, a day after the company announced it had raised $90 million in a funding round by telecom firm Liberty Global Plc and Kuwaiti telecom operator Zain and other investors.
— Deal Street Asia

Malaysia’s Iskandar Waterfront Holdings to plan back-door listing
Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd, controlled by Malaysian property tycoon Lim Kang Hoo, has offered to buy Iskandar Waterfront City Berhad (IWC) in a “back door” listing of one of the country’s biggest property firms.
— Deal Street Asia

MH370 final report will be issued next year: Malaysian transport minister
The final report on the international investigation into the vanishing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 exactly three years ago on Wednesday (Mar 8) will be issued on Jan 17 next year.
— Channel News Asia

Malaysia-North Korea spat should be resolved without extreme measures: DPM Teo
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Wednesday (Mar 8) said differences of views between Malaysia and North Korea should be discussed and resolved without resorting to extreme measures.
— Channel News Asia

US backs Malaysia in NK diplomatic row, rep says
The Unites States has expressed support for Malaysia in the ongoing diplomatic row with North Korea, branding the latter’s actions as “reprehensible”.
— Malay Mail Online

MH370 ‘secret’ passenger: Missing Malaysian airlines flight had ‘ANOTHER person on board’
The jumbo-jet, which disappeared three years ago today, is believed to have gone down with all 239 passengers and crew. However, an investigator searching for wreckage has said there was another previously unknown person on the flight.
— Daily Star

Palm oil sector: ’11pc spike in global CPO Output’
GLOBAL palm oil production is expected to climb 11 per cent to 65 million tonnes this year as the near-perfect weather boosts yields.
— New Straits Times

iflix secures US$90 million in new funds to accelerate global expansion
Leading subscription Video on Demand (SVoD) service provider, iflix, has secured US$90 million to support its international expansion.
— New Straits Times

AlloyMtd eyes RM11bil Philippine ‘Putrajaya’ job
AlloyMtd Group has submitted a bid to build a new administrative centre for the Philippines Government at an estimated project development cost of RM11bil.
— The Star Online

Etiqa Insurance’s parent Maybank Ageas makes record profit
Maybank Ageas Holdings Bhd, the parent company of Etiqa Insurance Bhd, Etiqa Takaful Bhd and Etiqa Insurance Pte Ltd, made a record pre-tax profit of RM810.3mil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2016, a 34% increase from the RM604.4mil achieved in the previous corresponding year.
— The Star Online

Feature photo: Zashnain Zainal

The Malaysia morning news roundup is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.