Malaysia Morning News For February 11

Malaysia’s Ex-PM Hit With More Charges In 1MDB Scandal – Trial Begins On Feb. 12
Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak has been charged with three more counts of money laundering amounting to $11.6 million. He pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to him before Sessions Court judge Azman Ahmad on February 8.
— Investvine

Tensions rise as Greek ship hits Malaysian vessel off Singapore
Tensions between Malaysia and Singapore rose after a Malaysian vessel and a Greek-registered bulk carrier collided off Tuas on Saturday, according to a statement on the website of Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
— Bangkok Post

MoF will intervene to strengthen people’s retirement savings
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) will make an intervention, if necessary, to ensure the people’s retirement savings are strengthened for the long-term, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ir Amiruddin Hamzah.
— The Borneo Post

IRB wants individuals with overseas bank accounts to declare income
The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has issued letters and emails to taxpayers who have overseas bank accounts and who have failed to file their tax returns .
— New Straits Times

International investors confident in Malaysia’s economic potential
International investors are confident in Malaysia’s economic potential as well as the government’s ability to drive the economy forward.
— The Borneo Post

China border crossings up over Lunar New Year; Malaysia 6th top destination
Border crossings into and out of China during the Lunar New Year holiday rose 11 per cent to 12.53 million this year from the same period in 2018, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday as the week-long holiday drew to a close.
— New Straits Times

MCA: Engage local contractors if ECRL back on track
While the government is renegotiating the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) contract, it would be good to include and consider more participation by local contractors if the project takes off again, said MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker.
— Malaysiakini

MOF: Govt provides inclusive allocation for all education institutions
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) Government today stressed that it provides inclusive assistance to all types of registered educational institutions, free of political influence, and based on the government’s financial capabilities.
— Malay Mail

Highlights of Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Malaysia
People visit the Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta in Penang, Malaysia, Feb. 10, 2019. Numerous hot air balloons by international and local balloonists are displayed over the 2-day festival which kicked off on Saturday.
— Xinhua

Malaysia’s strategic drift to Japan might provide a template for Asean to follow
From the capitals of Jakarta, Phnom Penh and Bangkok leaders of Asean countries are watching how Malaysia’s strategic drift towards Japan is likely to unfold.
— The Independent

Singapore repeats call for Malaysia to withdraw vessels following Pireas-Polaris collision
Singapore has reiterated its call for Malaysia to withdraw its vessels from Singapore’s territorial waters off Tuas, following a collision between Greek carrier Pireas and Malaysia government vessel Polaris on Saturday (Feb 9).
— The Straits Times

Khalid Samad: Let Dr M decide on fake degree row
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should decide the fate of ministers and their deputies with dubious degrees, said Khalid Samad.
— Malay Mail

Philippines to look into burning of Malaysian flag
The Philippine government said yesterday that it does not condone the burning of a Malaysian flag by lawyer Elly Pamatong.
— PhilStar

Asia’s top tower runner sour after Putrajaya’s lack of recognition
An athlete who is ranked Asia’s top in tower running has questioned a minister’s support for a woman’s quest for a RM4 million fund to “conquer” the world’s 30 tallest towers, saying he only needed 2% of that amount to represent Malaysia in the sports abroad.
— FMT

Evergrande in talks to buy HK office tower from Malaysian govt
China Evergrande Group is in talks to buy a building in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai area owned by Malaysian government, Ming Pao reports, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.
— The Star Online

Conducting prostitution using WeChat, police nab nine
Nine individuals comprising two locals and seven foreign nationals were detained in two separate raids in the district after they were believed to be involved in prostitution.
— Malay Mail

RM138 mil in foreign funds inflow in holiday-shortened week
Foreign investors were net buyers in the Malaysian equity market, pumping in RM138.6 million between Monday and Thursday, compared with RM146.8 million recorded the previous week.
— FMT

RAPID to boost Asia’s refining capacity growth in 2019
With the start-up of the Petronas’ Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Pengerang around the corner, Asia’s refining capacity growth will experience a boost in 2019, says S&P Global Platts.
— New Straits Times

MyEG’s penalty reaches RM9.46m
The financial penalty imposed on My EG Services Bhd for infringing the Competition Act 210 has accumulated to RM9.46 million to date, revealed the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC).
— The Sun Daily

Of housing policies and home ownership
After months of anticipation, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government has finally unveiled the National Housing Policy (DRN) 2018-2025 towards the end of last month.
— The Borneo Post

FT Ministry intensifies efforts to gazette public parks nationwide
The Federal Territories Ministry is intensifying efforts to gazette public parks across the country, covering at least 250 acres in each state.
— Sarawak Tribune

Myanmar govt agency cuts ties with Akamai university and Malaysia’s EDS Business School
Myanmar’s Union Civil Service Board (UCSB) severed ties with two universities in January this year after its credentials came into question, reported news portal The Irrawaddy.
— The Star Online

BPA Malaysia Weekly Bond Market Report
Despite the festive holiday-shortened week, the Malaysian ringgit bond market was bullish on the back of dovish US Federal Reserve stance with regards to its monetary policy.
— The Borneo Post

Child Marriage of Rohingya girl stopped in Malaysia
The wedding dinner was being prepared for about 100 guests. But the police knocked on the door as the bride was an 11-year-old girl who was about to be married off to a man 10 years older than her.
— The Daily Star

Solicitor General defends conveying government’s directive not to delay corruption cases
Solicitor General III Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria today defended his letter conveying the government’s directive that there should be no delays in the prosecution of corruption cases linked to the previous government.
— Malay Mail

Social and economic inequality in Malaysia
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Monday last week said Malaysia’s wealth must be distributed equally among all races.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Sabah, Sarawak’s status already in constitution, says Shafie
THERE is no need for Parliament to vote to equalise Sabah and Sarawak with peninsular Malaysia, said Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal said.
— The Malaysian Insight

Axiata parties yet to receive Nepal’s Supreme Court order
Axiata Group Bhd said the company and related parties have not received the judgement and order from the Supreme Court in Nepal relating to the capital gains tax (CGT) claim which arose from the completion of the sale of Reynolds Holdings Ltd to Axiata Investment (UK) Ltd in 2016.
— The Borneo Post

It Is PAS Who Now Have To Prove Their Finances, Like All Political Parties Must….
Nik Abduh might have been smarter to have downgraded his transportation when making his visit to the MACC, although his superior morality might rightfully have considered that to be deceptive.
— Sarawak Report

Set up convention bureau to tap MICE market
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) expressed concern that the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) would just be another ‘white elephant’ project, if not managed well.
— The Borneo Post

How did Guan Eng become an accountant before getting a degree, asks Wee
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong says he would like to know how Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng became a qualified accountant one year before obtaining a degree.
— The Star Online

Minister: Health ministry allows doctors 14-day leave to help in humanitarian missions
The Malaysian Health Ministry (KKM) has given relaxation to government medical doctors, especially surgeons, to take unrecorded leave to become volunteers in any humanitarian mission to countries facing unrest.
— Malay Mail

Gov’t provides inclusive allocation for all education institutions: Finance Ministry
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) Government today stressed that it provides inclusive assistance to all types of registered educational institutions, free of political influence, and based on the government’s financial capabilities.
— theSun

Sabah govt to request info on Sabahans detained in Cambodia
— The Sabah government will request for detailed information from the Foreign Ministry on the arrest on its people, who were among 47 Malaysians, in Poi Pet, Bantey Meanchey, Cambodia.
— Malay Mail

Finance Minister: Don’t be alarmed over Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme from IRB
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng today said that those who have received emails and letters sent out by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) regarding the Special Voluntary Declaration Programme (SVDP) have no reason to be alarmed.
— Malay Mail
Feature photo World Bank Photo Collection

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Women and Girls in Science, February 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).

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.