Malaysia Morning News For February 7

Chinese hunger for ‘world’s smelliest fruit’ threatens Malaysian forests
Soaring demand for durians in China is being blamed for a new wave of deforestation in Malaysia with environmentalists warning vast amounts of jungle is being cleared to make way for massive plantations of the spiky, pungent fruit.
— FMT

MAHB rejects AirAsia’s offer to settle RM400 million dispute
MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) today rejected AirAsia’s offer to mediate over an RM400 million counter-claim linked to passenger service charges (PSC) at klia2, said the budget airline.
— The Malaysian Insight

Malaysia ranks 1st in world’s best healthcare category
Malaysia, with a score of 95 out of 100, ranked first in the Best Healthcare in the World category of the 2019 International Living Annual Global Retirement Index.
— New Straits Times

Govt subsidises cancer treatment for poor by 95%, says health ministry
Deputy Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye says the government welcomes any funds initiated by the private sector to help defray cancer treatment costs.
— FMT News

PH fuel subsidy for 4WDs in rural Sarawak?
The federal government through the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs will consider a proposal to provide fuel subsidies to 2,400cc-powered vehicle owners.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Malaysia dismisses environmental concerns caused by the palm oil industry
Malaysia’s palm oil industry has been under fire for a few months. It has been blamed, particularly in Western countries, for the alleged damage to rainforests. Now the government is making huge efforts to dismiss their criticism.
— CGTN

No Cabinet reshuffle, says Dr M
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad has quashed talks that there will be a Cabinet reshuffle.
— The Star Online

Sarawak wants uniform anti-smoking laws
SARAWAK will discuss with Putrajaya the need to have uniform anti-smoking laws at the federal and state levels.
— The Malaysian Insight

‘Golden crop’ loses lustre, smallholders’ incomes drop by 50%
DESPITE the industrialisation boom of the 1990s, Malaysia continued to invest in palm oil as its popularity as an edible oil continued to grow worldwide.
— The Malaysian Insight

Seven nabbed by Malaysia police after ransom paid for release of kidnapped Singaporean: Report
Malaysian police have arrested seven men believed to be involved in the kidnapping of a Singapore vegetable trader in Gelang Patah in southern Johor.
— The Straits Times

Malaysia must leverage on its diversity to become top-class
Yesterday, I said the many national holidays in Malaysia afford Malaysians the opportunities for reflection and review as to why the country failed to achieve greater goals such as pondering how Malaysia could transform from a global kleptocracy to a leading nation of integrity in the world.
— Malaysiakini

Despite Dr M’s claims, Sabah Bersatu to become reality, says former state Umno leader
Former Sabah Umno chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor, who was part of the party’s Dec 12, 2018 exodus, remains upbeat over the possibility of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) spreading its wings to the state.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s trial of the century
Toh Yen Kee was filled with optimism when Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was swept into power last May.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Drawn by Hokkaido’s Slopes, a Malaysian Businessman Returns Every Year
There isn’t much snow in Malaysia, where Francis Yeoh runs a family conglomerate with interests in power, cement and property.
— Wall Street Journal

Hengyuan Refining approves unit for Malaysian refinery
Hengyuan Refining Co. Bhd. (HRC)—a subsidiary of Shandong Hengyuan Petrochemical Co. Ltd.—has approved a $66.4-million investment to develop and build a hydrogen manufacturing unit as part of a hydrogen generation (H2Gen) project for production of cleaner fuels at its 156,000-b/d refining complex in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
— OGJ

Can Malaysia break away from suspicion, distrust? Kit Siang asks
Malaysians must trust and have faith in each other and not fall prey to toxic politics of fear, hate and distrust, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today.
— Malay Mail

PLUS reports slow traffic at some places on North-South Expressway at noon
Traffic movement at several stretches of the North-South Expressway (NSE) was reported to be slow moving as at noon today.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia: top ten tech predictions for 2019
According to a recent report, a provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology, telecommunications, and consumer technology markets recently revealed its top predictions for the Malaysian IT industry for the year and beyond.
— OpenGovAsia

Malaysia to lose S$ 1.6 million after IPC removed hosting rights for Para-Swimming Championships
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) stripped Malaysia’s hosting rights for the World Para-Swimming Championships late last month. The IPC came to this decision after the country banned athletes from Israel.
— The Independent

The Malaysian company aiming to resurrect doomed Scots private school
IN a poignant final message on the day Beaconhurst School locked its doors for the last time, departing deputy head Iain Morrison spoke of his deep sadness.
— HeraldScotland

MACC opens probe into claim Umno paid Pas RM90 million to secure backing
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened an investigation into an allegation that Umno paid RM90 million to Pas leaders to secure their backing, a source revealed.
— New Straits Times

Sapura Energy is Austria-based OMV’s partner in Asia-Pacific
Malaysia-based oil and gas (O&G) services provider Sapura Energy Bhd is Austria-listed industrial company OMV Aktiengesellschaft’s partner of choice.
— FMT

PH’s seat allocation formula in next state election not set in stone yet, says Baru
The seat allocation formula for Pakatan Harapan in the next state election has not been finalised yet.
— The Borneo Post

Businessman says ‘sorry’ to Syed Saddiq over Facebook rant
A LOCAL entrepreneur, Azri Zahier Azmi, has apologised to Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman for allegedly not promoting the HausBoom beverage.
— The Malaysian Insight

Johor hospital’s canteen closed 2 weeks due to hygiene concerns
THE canteen of Sultan Ismail Hospital (SIH) in Johor Baru has been closed for two weeks, starting Monday, after the operators were found to have failed to comply with standards under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983.
— The Malaysian Insight

Malaysian students in flooded Queensland safe: Maszlee
The Ministry of Education (MOE) has revealed that no Malaysian student in northern Queensland has been injured or badly affected by devastating floods in the Australian state.
— New Straits Times

Finance ministry: No restriction on umrah travel packages
The finance ministry has rubbished a claim that the ministry and its minister, Lim Guan Eng, had instructed Muslims going on umrah to do so only through pilgrims fund Tabung Haji and not through private agents.
— FMT

Hardly ‘shabby’ chic: Rosmah Mansor’s trial looms
It is “embarrassing for Malaysians when other countries tease the prime minister’s wife for being shabby,” Rosmah Mansor, Malaysia’s former first lady, wrote in her 2013 authorized biography. “As a woman and as the wife of a leader, I have to look presentable, neat and take care of my appearance.”
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Tourists attracted by state’s harmony and peace, says Lee
Tourists are attracted by Sarawak’s uniqueness which is rich in culture and diversity. Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said Sarawak’s peaceful and harmonious.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Mahathir, Wan Azizah attend CNY ‘open house’
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and several other Cabinet ministers today attended the Chinese New Year ‘open house’ hosted by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) here.
— The Borneo Post

Feature photo Shahir Ramlan

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges Chinese New Year, 2019.

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.