Malaysia Morning News For September 3

Langkawi International Airport expansion completed and opened for operations
Langkawi International Airport (LGK) can now handle four million passengers a year following the completion of its expansion by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.
— New Straits Times

Petronas, Petros give courts a miss, sit down to discuss Sarawak oil & gas activities
After initially opting for a resolution at the courts, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and the Sarawak state government have now taken to the negotiation table as the national oil company holds active discussions with Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) to come up with a working arrangement that is acceptable for all parties in relation to oil and gas (O&G) activities in Sarawak.
— The Sun Daily

Rocky times feared for China investments in Malaysia
Investments and mega contracts linked to China will face rocky times ahead if Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad continues unchecked with his incessant tirade against Chinese endeavours in Malaysia, according to a report in the Sunday edition of The Star newspaper.
— The Straits Times

Malaysia-Singapore reach compromise over HSR postponement
Malaysia and Singapore appear to have reached a compromise over the implementation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.
— New Straits Times

Johor government moots 30pc quota for Malaysians in Forest City
The Johor state government has proposed to reserve 30 per cent of properties in the Forest City project for Malaysians, amid concerns of mainland Chinese immigrating to the state.
— Malay Mail

CIMB Research keeps RHB Bank an Add, top pick
CIMB Equities Research is retaining RHB Bank as as Add and its top pick for the banking sector with a target price unchanged at RM6.23. Its last traded price was RM5.40.
— The Star Online

ECRL project offerings as low as RM10bil raise eyebrows
The RM10 billion supposedly quoted to Putrajaya to undertake the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project has raised the eyebrows of some economists and market observers.
— New Straits Times

WATER WAR BREWS AS MALAYSIA’S MAHATHIR WANTS SINGAPORE TO COUGH UP MORE
All is well with our friendship with Malaysia, Singapore’s establishment cooed this week as they hosted a top lieutenant of Mahathir Mohamad, the second-time prime minister of their closest neighbour, who made the Lion City his chief whipping boy during his first stint in power.
— South China Morning Post

Does new Malaysia mean all of us without exception?
Corruption in government had become endemic, ethnic and religious tensions overbearing, laws increasingly repressive.
— Malaysia Insight

Public Mutual declares RM138m distributions for 11 funds
Public Mutual has declared distributions amounting to more than RM138mil for 11 funds.
— The Star Online

Regulatory, competitive pressures impact TM
Regulatory and competitive pressures have negatively impacted Telekom Malaysia Bhd’s (TM) outlook, with some analysts believing that these pressure will persist in the immediate term.
— The Borneo Post

Moody’s see greater ringgit stability under new Bank Negara measures
Moody’s Investors Service expects Bank Negara Malaysia’s new measures to its foreign exchange administration could foster greater currency stability in the near term by reducing the steps involved in retaining earnings within the country.
— The Star Online

TRX Lifestyle Quarter to be fully occupied by 2020
Lendlease, a joint-venture partner of the 6.88ha TRX Lifestyle Quarter development, aims for the centre to be fully occupied in 2020, says managing director and country head (Malaysia) Stuart Mendel.
— The Sun Daily

iPay Academy in line with eCommerce Roadmap
iPay88 Holding Sdn Bhd (iPay88), an NTT Data company and a leading Malaysian-based provider of online payment solutions in Asean, has launched its first ever ‘iPay88 Academy’ for the public, in Malaysia.
— The Borneo Post

Equities markets still marred by external uncertainties
The extent of the trade war and how it may evolve further will certainly be the main focal point that will plague regional equity markets including Malaysia as fund managers remain on the sidelines and adopt a wait-and-see approach.
— The Borneo Post

Support needed from govt to bring Borneo products overseas
More support is needed from the East Malaysian states and federal governments to bring Borneo products to markets overseas, a local entrepreneur of Cassandra Havelock Creations Sdn Bhd (Cassandra Havelock Creations) says.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia seeks pair to testify in Kim murder trial
Malaysian police are seeking two Indonesian women to appear as witnesses in the trial of the murder of Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of the North Korean supreme leader.
— The Gulf Today

There’s more to ‘new Malaysia’ than Mahathir and Anwar
I would like to invite my fellow Malaysians to very seriously ponder over the question of who should lead Malaysia in the future. Most Malaysians will obviously think of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, but I have a different candidate in mind.
— FMT

Asian Games target met as Malaysia wins seventh gold
The Malaysian contingent met their seven-gold target in the Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games after the national men’s squash team squad edged Hong Kong 2-1 at the Gelora Bung Karno squash stadium today.
— Malaysia Kini

Was MH370 report DOCTORED? Independent experts claim data logs on missing Malaysia Airlines plane may have been modified
Investigators have made a bombshell claim regarding the official report into missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, suggesting parts of it may have been doctored and the airline is withholding information.
— Daily Mail

Cops bust Malaysia’s biggest drug ring, seize syabu worth RM54 million
Police have crippled a drug smuggling syndicate that is believed to be the biggest in the country, and seized syabu worth some RM54 million last Friday.
— FMT

Feature photo Jason Thien

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

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.