Malaysia Morning News For August 7

Govt loses RM6 billion to illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes
The government lost RM6 billion in tax revenue from the sale of illegal cigarettes and the e-cigarette market, according to Japan Tobacco International Bhd (JTI Malaysia).
— The Sun Daily

Air quality levels generally at moderate levels
Air quality in Kemaman, Terengganu was recorded as unhealthy at 8am this morning.
— The Sun Daily

Najib dubbed as ‘Optimus Prime’ by Jho Low: Witness
Infamous fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, has dubbed the former premier Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak as “Optimus Prime”, the main character and a chivalric sentient being in the Transformers movies, by using the abbreviation of OP.
— The Sun Daily

Loke: Airbus Helicopters boosts Malaysia’s position as aerospace hub
Airbus Helicopters has further bolstered Malaysia’s position as the regional aerospace and aviation hub with the opening of its regional helicopter completion and delivery centre (CDC) here.
— The Star Online

Sources: Malaysia plans to extend licence for Lynas
Malaysia plans to extend Lynas Corp’s licence to operate a rare earths processing plant, though it could be for a shorter duration than the usual three years, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.
— New Straits Times

S’wak third most desired investment destination
Sarawak consistently ranks as the third most preferred investment?destination in the country due to political stability and efficient government.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Nora Quoirin: Malaysian police hunt for missing London teenager
The family of a 15-year-old London girl missing in Malaysia say they believe she has been abducted as police in the country search for her.
— Sky News

RMAF CN235 aircraft makes emergency landing in Kuching, crew safe
A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) CN235 aircraft made an emergency landing at the RMAF Air Base here after it was believed to have suffered a technical problem.
— The Borneo Post

CM: S’wak’s strong financial position, new approach introduced enable state govt to fund many infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said he sought a different approach from his predecessor the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem in seeking funds to develop the state through ‘revenue engineering’ to steer the state towards greater financial independence from Putrajaya.
— The Borneo Post

Sabah passes Bill to outlaw Islamic deviancy
The Sabah assembly passed an amendment today to its Shariah laws that will outlaw Islamic teachings other than the Sunni denomination.
— Malay Mail

MySalam is non-profit insurance scheme: MOF
The Finance Ministry (MOF) today emphasised that the MySalam scheme is a non-profit health insurance scheme and will not benefit any private insurance company.
— The Sun Daily

Hong Kong folks are looking at property and private schools in Malaysia
There is a spike in interest in Malaysian property and private international school enquiries, according to property consultants and a couple of International Schools in Malaysia.
— The Independent

Ministry waits for Cabinet, AGC nod on Employment Act amendments
New provisions to address issues concerning discrimination at the workplace, paternity leave and working hours to be tabled at next parliament meeting.
— FMT News

US university sued over Malaysian PHD student’s suicide after months of racist abuse
Utah State University (USU) is being sued for alleged inaction over multiple reports of relentless racist bullying lodged by Malaysian PhD candidate Jerusha Sanjeevi, who was pushed to suicide in 2017, according to US media reports.
— The Star Online

FIMM reprimands 2 ex-unit trust consultants
The Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia (FIMM) has reprimanded former unit trust consultants (UTC) Tan Chee Num and Norhazlinda Mohd Basir for misconducts/breaches of FIMM’s Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct (Unit Trust Funds), Second Edition dated Jan 22, 2013.
— The Sun Daily

PSM sounds alarm over Putrajaya’s patent on ‘Tongkat Ali’ extract
Putrajaya must urgently relook Malaysia’s patent laws that allowed a ministry to jointly patent “Tongkat Ali” extract and prevent local manufacturers from using this without paying a royalty fee, PSM said today.
— Malay Mail

Socso urges employers to improve road safety of workers
Road accidents involving employees on their journeys going to and from their workplaces have increased by almost 80 per cent over the past 10 years.
— The Borneo Post

HK tourists stranded in Malaysia as flights rescheduled following fresh chaos
Tourists from Hong Kong were stranded in Kuala Lumpur after several return flights were either delayed or even cancelled following a mass strike that paralysed the east Asian financial hub yesterday.
— Malay Mail

Sabah Wildlife Dept launches Hotline, e-Complaints services
The Sabah Wildlife Department has launched its Hotline and e-Complaints (e-Aduan) service to handle inquiries, reports and complaints lodged with the department.
— The Borneo Post

Banks not investing enough on fraud risk management: KPMG survey
KPMG’s Global Banking Fraud Survey finds that banks are still reactive towards fraud and not investing enough on fraud risk management.
— The Sun Daily

Helicopter used to water-bomb forest, peat fires in Miri
Fire-fighting operations in the Kuala Baram area have intensified with the use of a helicopter to put out the blaze which engulfed forest and peat soil areas measuring 4.8 hectares today.
— Malay Mail

MACC: Gift-giving for government contracts, licences has to stop
The practice of gift-giving to secure contracts and licence has to be stopped, says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya.
— The Star Online

Việt Nam- Malaysia Centre of Halal opens in Cần Thơ
The Việt Nam – Malaysia Centre of Halal, which is responsible for Halal certification, opened in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Cần Thơ on Tuesday.
— Viet Nam News

Malaysian Gen Y and Z job portal WOBB raises US$1.3M pre-Series A funding
CAC Capital, Accord Ventures, and Actcelerate International Group Ltd (AIG) co-invest in the round arranged by Cradle Fund WOBB, a job search portal targeting Generation Y and Z job seekers in Malaysia, announced that it has received US$1.3 million pre-Series A investment from CAC Capital, Accord Ventures, and Actcelerate International Group Ltd (AIG) in.
— e27

King’s role as constitutional monarch reduced to mere rubber stamp due to amendment, federal court told
The amendment made to a provision in the Federal Constitution had terminated the role of the Yang-di-Pertuan Agong from that of a constitutional monarch to that of a mere rubber stamp, the Federal Court heard today.
— Malay Mail

PRG’s Furniweb warns of RM4.2m loss in 1H19
Furniweb Holdings Ltd, a 54.19%-owned subsidiary of PRG Holdings Bhd, has warned of a RM4.2 million net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2019.
— The Sun Daily

Penan, Berawan community file suit to stop oil palm plantation near Mulu national park
The Penan and Berawan-Tering communities of Tutoh-Melinau region in Upper Baram have filed a suit here today to nullify the issuance of two provisional leases by the Sarawak government for an oil palm plantation adjoining Gunung Mulu National Park.
— The Borneo Post

Liew: Proposal to limit PM’s powers within IPCMC to be brought to Cabinet
The suggestion to limit the Prime Minister’s powers within the proposed Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) will be brought to Cabinet, says Datuk Liew Vui Keong.
— The Star Online

Minister: Digital TV broadcast boost for content diversification
The gradual transition from the analogue television broadcast to the myFreeview digital TV broadcast opens up opportunities to diversify the content to be delivered to consumers, Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind.
— Malay Mail

Labuan Marine Police seize vessels, diesel worth RM15m
A cargo ship and an offshore supporting vessel with 38,000 litres of diesel, all worth about RM15.2 million, were seized by Labuan marine police yesterday for illegally transferring fuel.
— The Sun Daily

State rep: Sodium cyanide barrels found in Pahang oil palm plantation moved for disposal
All 15 barrels containing solid sodium cyanide found at an oil palm plantation in Karak, Bentong here on Thursday, have been moved to a safe location before being disposed of properly.
— Malay Mail

Airbus Helicopter Malaysia eyes 2,100 hrs training simulation time yearly
Airbus Helicopters Simulation Centre Sdn Bhd aims to provide a total of 2,100 hours training simulation time per annum, following the addition of a Dauphin AS365 N3/N3+ full flight simulator at its centre at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport.
— The Sun Daily

Bursa Malaysia drops below 1,600 level at opening
Bursa Malaysia opened sharply lower as local equities continue to be gripped by the escalating trade war between the US and China.
— The Sun Daily

All Malaysians are part of Visit Malaysia Year 2020 vision
Malaysians are challenged to all do their part to make the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign a success, at the recent VM2020 logo launching ceremony.
— Star2.com

MGB to develop project in Cameron Highlands
MGB Bhd’s indirect wholly owned subsidiary Sinaran Kencana Sdn Bhd has entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with Aset AZG Sdn Bhd to jointly develop 1.884-acre leasehold land in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
— The Sun Daily

Mah Sing buys Wangsa Melawati land for RM62m
Mah Sing Group Bhd has inked its third land purchase for 2019, acquiring 4.52 acres prime land in Wangsa Melawati, Mukim Setapak for RM61.97 million.
— The Sun Daily

Supervisor falls to his death at MRT construction site
A construction supervisor fell to his death at an MRT construction site at Jalan Ipoh here.
— The Star Online

New travel portal for travellers who like customised holidays
Malaysia Airlines has launched MHholidays, an integrated online travel platform that allows all travellers to easily customise their holidays.
— Star2.com

Departure tax not going to stop travellers, says MATTA
People who want to travel will travel, and hence the departure levy on all passengers departing Malaysian airports effective Sept 1 is not expected to impact sales at the upcoming Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair 2019.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia first country in the world to recognise Muslim-friendly hotels
In a first-of-its-kind in the world, Malaysia has launched the Muslim Friendly Accommodation Recognition, which is backed by the government.
— Star2.com

Education Ministry, NGOs reach consensus on khat calligraphy
A discussion between 12 non-governmental organisations and Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching today reached a consensus that only the art of khat calligraphy would be introduced in primary schools next year.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysian wins international award for work with Parkinson’s patients
Malaysian Sara L.H. Lew, a former bank manager-turned-volunteer, wins the WPC Robin A. Elliott Award for Service to the Community for her work with Parkinson’s patients.
— Star2.com

Better accommodation for construction workers soon — CIDB
The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) is working closely with the Human Resources Ministry (MOHR) to develop the regulation for workers’ housing and amenities, particularly, the minimum standard for their accommodation in the construction industry.
— The Borneo Post

TNB loses RM3.2 mln in Kuantan to Bitcoin miners
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) raided 33 premises around Kuantan suspected of interfering with the electricity distribution board in a Bitcoin mining operation, resulting in a loss of RM3.2 million to the utility company.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysian novelist Hanna Alkaf among the highlights at Singapore Writers Festival 2019
Man Booker Prize-winner Marlon James and Korean-American novelist Min Jin Lee are among the literary stars headlining this year’s Singapore Writers Festival.
— Star2.com

Feature photo Izhamwong

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focus on Hari Raya Haji, August 11.

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).

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