Malaysia Morning News For August 3

Khazanah’s investment playbook set for revamp under Mahathir’s Malaysia
Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional will likely cut stakes in some top state-linked firms as the government overhauls the sovereign wealth fund’s investment strategy, after revamping its board last week, to boost transparency and slash national debt.
— Channel NewsAsia

Proton records sales of 8,102 cars in July, highest in 30 months
National car manufacturer Proton Holdings Bhd recorded sales of 8,102 cars in July, the highest in the last 30 months, spurred by the zero-rated Good and Services Tax (GST) from June to August, with the Saga being the top seller.
— The Star Online

Primary Industries Ministry to enhance usage of biodiesel
The Primary Industries Ministry is currently conducting dialogues with industries including the automotive sector and petroleum-based companies on enhancing the usage of biodiesel in the country, said its Minister Teresa Kok.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia’s Petronas delivers first LNG cargo to Japan’s Hokkaido Electric
Malaysian state-owned oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) said on Thursday it had delivered its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to Japan’s Hokkaido Electric Power Co. Inc. on August 1.
— The Star Online

Minimum wage at RM1,500 receives mixed reactions
The minimum wage rate of RM1,500 expected to be gazetted this month has received mixed reactions from different organisations within the country.
— The Edge Markets

‘Angry Muslim’ father’s online petition inspires Thai activist
The online petition by a UK-based Malaysian Muslim father to ban child marriages has triggered an activist to begin a similar petition to ban them in Thailand too.
— The Nation

Putrajaya ready to break sugar monopoly
Allowing more import licences could reduce the retail price of sugar, says deputy domestic trade minister Chong Chieng Jen.
— FMT

Pompeo takes Indo-Pacific vision to Mahathir’s Malaysia
United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo began a four-day visit to Asia to promote a US vision of transparent, private sector-led investment with a stop in Malaysia, which has ordered a review of the sort of massive Chinese projects Washington questions.
— Channel NewsAsia

New Malaysian judge to preside in ex-PM Najib’s court case
Malaysia’s High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali will preside over the criminal cases of former prime minister Najib Razak, replacing another justice whose brother is an Umno leader in Pahang state.
— AsiaOne

Singapore, Malaysia Indexes Face Temporary FTSE Disruption
Real-time values of Singapore and Malaysia’s market benchmarks were temporarily disrupted on Thursday due to technical glitches at index provider FTSE Russell.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia’s anti-graft agency raids offices of Sabah logging companies
Malaysia’s anti-graft agency has raided offices of logging companies in Sabah as it probes logging deals awarded by the previous Barisan Nasional state government.
— The Straits Times

China-Malaysia Warship Deal in Focus with Construction Kickoff
A look at the progress of an old deal under new political realities.
— The Diplomat (paywall)

Malaysia: Drop Remaining Sedition Cases
The Malaysian attorney general’s office should withdraw all pending cases under the country’s abusive Sedition Act of 1948, Human Rights Watch said today.
— Human Right Watch

Malaysia’s Finance Ministry to sue ex-1MDB CEO Arul Kanda for S$838,000 salary advance
Malaysia’s Finance Ministry will take legal action against former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy to recover RM2.5 million (S$838,000) in salary that was paid to him in advance.
— The Straits Times

JPJ opens bidding war for ’Malaysia’ series
There will be special vehicle registration plates for all states once the “Malaysia 1” to “Malaysia 9999” series have been taken up, says Anthony Loke.
— The Star Online

Now, sports ministry sacks 9 board members
Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman says they were political appointees who held leadership positions in Umno Youth.
— FMT

PORAM: Review Malaysia’s CPO export duties to level playing field with Indonesia
Malaysia should quickly review the current crude palm oil (CPO) export duty structure to level the playing field with that of Indonesia’s, if the new government’s is committed to encouraging more value-added downstream businesses and raise the country’s exports.
— New Straits Times

Ringgit ends lower as US dollar strengthens
The ringgit remained lower against the US dollar for the third consecutive day today as renewed trade war worries between the United States and China bolstered appetite for the safe-haven currency, dealers said.
— The Sun Daily

F&N expects SST to impact prices
Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, the maker of F&N soft drinks and Teapot brand creamer, will review the selling prices of its products under the sales and services tax (SST) regime effective Sept 1.
— The Star Online

Malay Chamber of Commerce objects to split up of MARA
The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM) has joined the Opposition leaders chorus of objection against any plans to carve out Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (Mara) units under several ministries.
— The Sun Daily

Matrade, CICC collaborate to ease market accessibility
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) and China Certification and Inspection (CCIC) joined forces to organise a seminar to boost Malaysian exporters understanding on CCIC Traceability System that was introduced in Malaysia in April this year.
— The Borneo Post

Labuan IBFC aims to maintain positive trend in captive insurance
The Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC) hopes to sustain the positive trend in take-up of captive insurance in the midshore centre this year, after registering the highest growth in the region last year.
— The Borneo Post

Corruption in sports ministry? KJ says everything above board
The former youth and sports minister says he is ready to explain to his successor all decisions made during his tenure.
— FMT

Fewer drivers registering with GRAB following new regulations
Grab Malaysia has seen a reduction in the registration of new part-time drivers following the regulations imposed by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) on ride-hailing companies.
— The Borneo Post

OPPO Malaysia reveals first official F9 photos
If you are already following OPPO Malaysia Facebook page, chances are you have already seen their OPPO F9 teaser images about the Sunrise Red, Twilight Blue and Starry Purple with a unique flower petal pattern designed known as the diamond cut, which is the first for the F-series.
— TechNave

Sram launches Jupiter XII fund for Media in Malaysia
Sram has plans to invest a total of $120 million, primarily to create avenues in the video-on-demand, content streaming, hyper-targeted content and advertising verticals, of the media and advertising industry.
— Dhaka Tribune

Nepal ready to negotiate MOU on labour cooperation with Malaysia
Amidst the recent Nepali migrant worker scam, the Nepal government is ready to continue discussion on the recruitment, employment and repatriation of workers agreement with Malaysia, to safeguard the welfare and protect the rights of its workers here.
— New Straits Times

Feature photo Craig Morey

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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. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.