Malaysia Morning News For April 26

Kuala Lumpur set to become smart city next year
Kuala Lumpur is likely to become a smart city by next year as Alibaba Cloud’s “Malaysia City Brain” pilot project is completed.
— The Star Online

Malaysia to implement vehicle entry permit for foreign vehicles entering from Singapore from October
Malaysia will enforce mandatory registration for foreign vehicles entering from Singapore from October, the government announced on Thursday (April 25).
— The Strait Times

Minister targets RM1.8b from healthcare tourism this year
Malaysia aims to generate up to RM1.8 billion in hospital receipts from healthcare tourism this year, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia to export more palm oil to China after MoU
Malaysia will be exporting more palm oil to China in the next five years.
— The Star Online

Overcoming KL’s rapid population growth
Kuala Lumpur (KL) is growing fast, and its boundaries are extending by the day. What used to be suburban areas and satellite towns are now already part of the great city.
— The Malaysian Reserve

Foreign money leaves Malaysia as economy slows
International investors are fleeing Malaysia, which has been battered by multiple economic headwinds and, as a result, is home to Asia’s worst-performing major stock market.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Malaysian police step up security at places of worship, embassies after Sri Lanka blasts
Malaysian police have stepped up security at embassies, consulates and places of worship across the country, following the deadly attacks at multiple churches and hotels in Sri Lanka last Sunday (Apr 21).
— Channel NewsAsia

Deep Forces Preventing Reform In Malaysia – Analysis
The Pakatan Harapan coalition general election victory almost a year ago was supposed to herald a new reform era in a country spavined by corruption, cronyism and racism.
— Eurasia Review

Malaysian PM wants F1 return but circuit boss is in no hurry
Malaysia’s prime minister has said he wants Formula One to return to the country but there have been no talks with the sport’s owners, according to Sepang circuit boss Razlan Razali.
— Channel NewsAsia

Former Malaysia PM monitored local papers
Reports that former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak allegedly paid a private consulting firm to monitor Chinese language newspapers and social media in the country has raised several issues and questions.
— The Asean Post

Sabah and Sarawak’s New Malaysia hopes
ON April 20, Society Empowerment and Economic Development of Sabah held a seminar in Kota Kinabalu, where I had the privilege of noting that Sabah and Sarawak have a unique position in our Federation and many special rights not available to the 11 peninsula states.
— The Star Online

UBS admits negative assessment of Malaysian economy had errors
Swiss banking group UBS has admitted that the recent negative assessment of Malaysia’s economy by its regional chief investment officer Kelvin Tay, had contained errors.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia’s fundamentals still attractive — World Bank
Although Malaysia’s stock market has performed relatively poorly when compared with its regional peers, World Bank lead economist for Malaysia Richard Record says the country’s economic fundamentals remain resilient, which still make Malaysia an attractive investment choice.
— The Edge Markets

10 SUGGESTIONS TO REBOOT THE DIGITAL INITIATIVE IN MALAYSIA
IN MY previous article, I articulated why Digital is the key to growing the Malaysian economy and the people’s incomes. Here I provide 10 suggestions on how the Communications and Multimedia Ministry and MDEC can reboot the Digital initiative as part of a Grand Plan to lift the Malaysian economy and put Malaysia back on the growth path.
— Digital NewsAsia

Online gambling operations raided in Malaysia
A total of eight people were arrested in two police raids on Tuesday and Wednesday at separate premises set up as online gambling operations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
— Asia Times

Malaysia plans to send back plastic wastes to countries of origin
Its Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin has warned that countries which send plastic wastes to Malaysia will have the trash sent back.
— Mashable SEA

Redevelopment opportunities in PJ Section 13
SECTION 13 in Petaling Jaya, initially an industrial enclave, expanded in the 1960s to become a bustling area with commercial and residential development activities.
— New Straits Times

Parliament mulling 11 more select committees
Parliament is looking to set up another 11 special select committees on top of the existing six, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof said today.
— FMT

RHB aims to grant RM31b to SMEs
RHB Bank Bhd targets to grant RM31 billion in new and additional financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by 2021.
— The Malaysian Reserve

Malaysia Airlines dishes out student discounts with Maxis, Grab and Expedia tie-up
Malaysia Airlines (MAB) has tied up with Maxis, Grab and Expedia to bolster the benefits for MHexplorer, its fully digitalised student travel programme. The partnership offers students a range of discounts in the areas of telco, transportation and hotels when they travel.
— Marketing Interactive

Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad’s visit to Huawei in Beijing seen as sign of ‘endorsement’
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad visited Huawei Technologies’ Beijing office on Thursday morning in what was seen as a sign of Malaysian support for the Chinese telecommunications equipment supplier.
— The Star Online

Product innovation, healthy private consumption seen to drive Nestle’s revenue
Maintain neutral with a higher target price (TP) of RM149.50: Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd’s first quarter for the financial year 2019 (1QFY19) earnings of RM235.2 million (+1.7% year-on-year [y-o-y]) met our and consensus’ expectations, accounting for 33.7% and 33.5% of full-year earnings forecast respectively.
— The Edge Markets

Bumi Armada refinances debts, plans for vessels sale
Bumi Armada Bhd has refinanced US$660m of its short-term debts to improve its balance sheet and is looking to sell some vessels.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia’s economy to expand in June-Aug period despite slower growth
The Malaysian economy is expected to keep growing in June to August 2019 albeit at a slower pace, according to the Malaysian Economic Indicators: Leading, Coincident & Lagging Indices for the reference month of February 2019.
— The Sun Daily

Water supply resuming in stages to all areas, says utility firm Syabas
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) said Klang Valley water supply will resume in stages to all areas where this was disrupted for upgrades to the Sungai Selangor Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant (SSP2 WTP).
— Malay Mail

Bigger crowds at Malaysia-Dutch fair
The Malaysian Dutch Business Council (MDBC) Connects Fair is growing from strength to strength.
— The Asean Post

SRC trial: Najib declared responsibility for all transactions in personal AmBank accounts
Datuk Seri Najib Razak signed a declaration to assume responsibility and liability for all transactions in three accounts at AmBank that were opened under his name, the High Court heard today.
— Malay Mail

Time for laws on urban regeneration of old stratified buildings, Penang tells Putrajaya
Putrajaya has to decide on amending existing laws or enacting new ones on urban regeneration to allow the redevelopment of old stratified flats that are in dire need of rejuvenation, said a Penang executive councillor.
— Malay Mail

Govt urged to set up price control mechanism for property market
There should be a price control mechanism for residential properties to avoid the escalation of prices, suggested National House Buyers Association vice president Brig Gen (R) Datuk Goh Seng Toh (pix).
— The Sun Daily

5G pilot project a platform to address relevant issues: Gobind
The new 5G technology being tested at Cyberjaya and Putrajaya in a six-month pilot project will give the government the opportunity and the space to consider all relevant questions and issues before it is implemented in full.
— The Sun Daily

G3 jumps 21% to new trading high
By the wrap of Thursday’s morning session, G3 Global Bhd’s share price was up 23 sen or 21.5% to a record-breaking high of RM1.30.
— The Star Online

HBA proposes price control mechanism to curb rising property prices
KUALA LUMPUR: The National House Buyers Association (HBA) is proposing a housing price control mechanism to curb rising property prices and ease the country’s housing affordability issues.
— The Star Online

KLCI pauses on profit-taking, oil prices hover near 6-month highs
Investors took to profit-taking on the local market after two days of gains as the global environment took a negative turn.
— The Star Online

M’sian plastics industry supports government drive for environmental protection, development
The Malaysian plastics industry is supporting the government’s drive to ensure environmental protection is in sync with the country’s physical development.This was stated by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Taman Tugu World Earth Day celebrations recently.
— The Sun Daily

Putrajaya mulls private sector proposals to kickstart delayed Sungai Perak water transfer scheme
The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry has received proposals from the private sector to fund and implement the Sungai Perak Raw Water Transfer Scheme (SPRWTS) that has been delayed for seven years.
— Malay Mail

Etiqa Group insurance and takaful gross premium up 17% to RM7.2b
Etiqa Group Insurance & Takaful’s gross premium for FY ended Dec 31, 2018 increased by 17% to RM7.2bil and retained its position as the top online insurer in the country with more than 65% market share.
— The Star Online

Charity sale of tulips from Netherlands at KLIA
A charity sale of 4,800 tulips stalks specially flown from the Netherlands will be held at the KL International Airport (KLIA) next month.
— The Sun Daily

Police arrest another suspect at KIA in Cambodian job scam investigation
The Sarawak Commercial Crime Investigations Department (CCID) have arrested a male suspect at the Kuching International Airport (KIA) at 12.20pm today in connection to the Cambodian job scam.
— The Borneo Post

Housing Ministry praises Energy Ministry’s move to halt import of illegal waste
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government has praised the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change’s move to stop the import of illegal waste into the country.
— The Star Online

200-year old Penang Legislative Assembly building closed, to undergo RM3.6m facelift
GEORGE TOWN, April 25 — The 1820s Penang Legislative Assembly building will be given a RM3.673 million facelift so it will be closed for a year, Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang said. He said both legislative assembly sessions this year will be held…
— Malay Mail

M’sians should regroup, unite, and work together once elections are over: Waytha
Malaysians politicians should emulate their counterparts in Western democracies and unite for the people’s well-being after elections are over, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity and Social Wellbeing) Senator P. Waytha Moorthy (pix).
— The Sun Daily

Advancement in technology gives rise to cyber-attacks: Mat Sabu
The advancement in technology, in particular, the widespread use of internet has given rise to a new threat in the form of cyber-attacks, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu (pix) said today.
— The Sun Daily

KIng, Queen arrive in Kuching for two-day visit
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, arrived here today on a two-day official visit to Sarawak.
— The Borneo Post

Pro-English group says public education, especially for STEM subjects, needs more funding
Public education, especially on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), needs more funding, said the chairman of Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE) Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim.
— Malay Mail

15km Perak-Penang water supply project may be privately financed
Penang to continue negotiating with Perak on the supply of raw water, as the latter only wants to sell treated water.
— FMT News

Report: FGV eyeing 6,000 job cuts at headquarters, regional offices over three years
FGV Holdings Bhd (formerly Felda Global Ventures) may trim 6,000 positions from the estimated 20,000 workers at its head and regional offices due to its RM1.08 billion loss in the previous financial years.
— Malay Mail</em

GIACC to have discussions with state govts on NACP
The National Centre for Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption (GIACC) is working together with state governments on the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP).
— The Sun Daily

Minister Waytha Moorthy says education crucial in encouraging national unity
Education plays a vital role in fostering national unity and building a framework for social wellbeing, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator P. Waytha Moorthy today.
— Malay Mail

IGP: Sabah used as transit point by militants to enter conflict zones in Philippines, Myanmar
Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah are being used by militants to enter conflict zones at Southern Philippines and Rakhine Myanmar, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said.
— Malay Mail

Boustead Plantations to monetise up to RM1.2b of its estates
Boustead Plantations Bhd expects to monetise its selected oil palm estates with a valuation between RM1 billion and RM1.2 billion in the next three to four years.
— New Straits Times

Feature photo T. R. Shankar Raman

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Mother Earth Day, April 22.

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.