Malaysia Morning News For May 24

Budget hotels want taxes reviewed amid Airbnb competition
Local budget hotels called for a review of tax policies to help them cope with competition against Airbnb and low profit margins from online hotel booking sites. Kenneth Oh, head of the Malaysia Budget Hotel Association’s.
— Malay Mail

Najib expected to use debate to criticise govt, say analysts
The upcoming Lim-Najib debate, billed as a platform to address the issue of kleptocracy and integrity, may just serve as an opportunity to attack the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.Universiti Malaya socio-political analyst Prof Dr Awang Azman Pawi believes former prime minister .
— The Sun Daily

Hang on to your devices: Tech experts in Malaysia weigh in on Huawei, Google debacle
Malaysian Huawei owners should hold on to their devices despite the recent news that Google has cut off its Android services with the China-based company, said tech experts.
— Malay Mail

US, Malaysia in a 1MDB quid pro quo
When Malaysian authorities filed criminal charges in December against Goldman Sachs’ employees and subsidiaries for alleged misconduct in their dealings with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state investment fund, they sought from the outset to exact a high price.
— Asia Times

BIMB’s Q1 profit up 17.6% to RM202.52m
BIMB Holdings Bhd’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 rose 17.6% to RM202.52 million from RM172.14 million a year ago, thanks to higher contribution from both operating subsidiaries Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd and Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Keluarga Bhd (Takaful .
— The Sun Daily

Malaysian officials go undercover to spy on fasting Muslims
Malaysian officials are disguising themselves as cooks and waiters to catch Muslims who don’t fast during Ramadan, with a rights group Thursday (May 23) blasting the “disgraceful act of spying”.
— The Straits Times

Health Ministry: Mental health insurance a good idea, but it’s Bank Negara’s domain
Insurance companies in Malaysia are encouraged to provide coverage for mental healthcare, says Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, adding that such an initiative would come under the purview of Bank Negara rather than his ministry.
— The Star Online

Agriculture minister confirms in talks with potential buyer for NFCorp
Datuk Salahuddin Ayub confirmed today that a local corporation has expressed interest in buying over beleaguered National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp). The agriculture and agro-based industry minister declined to provide.
— Malay Mail

RHB Bank targets 10,000 SMEs with e-solutions platform
RHB Banking Group group is targeting 10,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with its newly launched RHB SME e-Solutions banking platform.
— The Star Online

10 operating theatres at Penang Hospital will be ready next month
All 10 operating theatres at the Penang Hospital are expected to run at full capacity from next month – after an 18-month delay.Work on the RM15 million upgrade was slated for completion and resumption of operations in February last year, but as a result of design and technical .
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia government defends offer of grants to Palestine
The government of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has averted a controversy over its bid to aid the Palestinian cause, Anadolu Agency reports.
— Middle east Monitor

Azmin: Let people be the judge of performance of ministers
The “rakyat” (people) can judge for themselves whether a minister, mentri besar or state executive councillor is performing or not, said Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
— Malay Mail

Law to introduce race quota proposed
The government should introduce a law that will ensure a racial balance in the job market in both the public and private sectors.Malaysian Trade Union Congress president Datuk Abdul Halim Mansor (pix) said introducing these ratios and quotas in the private sector, as well as in the .
— The Sun Daily

As tourism drives residents out, heritage city George Town turns to millennials
The faded white walls and wooden door of Fong Lai Kheng’s hair salon in the heart of Malaysia’s George Town stand out on a street lined with souvenir shops, cafes and colourful murals. But not for much longer.
— Malay Mail

Traders abiding ceiling prices, some selling cheaper – Saifuddin
Traders are not only abiding by the ceiling price of goods set for the festive season, some are even selling them at cheaper prices. Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry made this finding recently after observations .
— The Borneo Post

Liquid Group partners JETCO, facilitates cross-border QR payments
The cross-border QR payments would link Singapore and Hong Kong through apps Singapore’s Liquid Group has expanded its cross-border QR payment partnerships to Hong Kong through a collaboration with Joint Electronic Teller Services Limited (JETCO), which operates one of the largest bank .
— e27

MSM Malaysia posts second straight quarterly loss
MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd swung into the black registering a net loss of RM7.06 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 against a net loss of RM15.81 million in the previous corresponding period, due to lower average selling price and higher refining cost.
— The Sun Daily

Agriculture minister puts AP applications online to curb corruption
As part of measures against corruption, the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry has introduced online applications to obtain Approved Permits (APs) for the import of food.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia’s police raid Deloitte’s office over 1MDB case
Malaysian police on Thursday (May 23) have raided the office of accounting firm Deloitte Malaysia in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case.
— The Straits times

Lifestyle-friendly: Global survey shows KL has cheap cinema tickets, gym memberships, restaurants
KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — The next time you complain about how expensive Kuala Lumpur is, just remember that a global survey showed the city has some of the cheapest movie tickets, gym memberships and restaurants. In Deutsche Bank’s “Mapping the…
— Malay Mail

Pacific & Orient Q1 net losses narrows to nearly RM2m
KUALA LUMPUR: Insurer Pacific & Orient Bhd narrowed its losses in the second quarter ended March 31, 2019 to RM1.97mil compared with RM8.23mil a year ago and it expects the general insurance business to remain challenging due to intense competitive pressures and the progressive impact of tariff .
— The Star Online

Barakah Offshore down 28.57% after slipping into PN17
Barakah Offshore Petroleum Bhd’s share price fell 28.57% this morning after it became a Practice Note 17 (PN17) company for failing to make instalment payments to Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (Exim Bank) and was unable to provide a solvency declaration to Bursa Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

Mental illness should be covered by insurance, says deputy minister
The Health Ministry said it encouraged insurance companies to provide coverage for mental illness, even as almost two out of 10 teenagers reported depression. Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said mental illness was a major.
— Malay Mail

DBKL warns it will take action against skateboarders for vandalising glass wall at Medan Pasar
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today warned to take strict action against several unidentified skateboarders who were spotted using a pedestrian walkway near Medan Pasar Besar as their arena here.
— Malay Mail

Minister suggests vocational training classes for workers after office hours
Human Resources Minister M Kula Segaran says opening technical and vocational training centres after office hours will enable more workers to take up courses in these areas.
— FMT News

Education Ministry says using European benchmark for English-language option teachers
The Education Ministry will benchmark the English language proficiency of Malaysian students and that of certain teachers eligible to each the subject against the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
— Malay Mail

Musa Aman graft, money laundering trial to start in June 2020
The trial of former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, involving 35 counts of bribery and 16 counts of money laundering, will commence in June next year.
— The Star Online

SC revokes remisier’s licence over improper practices
The Securities Commission (SC) has revoked the Capital Markets Services Representative’s Licence (CMSRL) of Chu Li Choon for various improper business practices when transacting for her client.
— The Star Online

SC revokes dealer’s licence, fines RM100,000
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has revoked the Capital Markets Services Representative’s Licence (CMSRL) of Chu Li Choon, effective May 10, 2019, for various improper business practices when transacting for her client.
— The Sun Daily

Police focused on identifying suspect in pregnant teen case
The Sarawak Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is currently investigating the case involving a 17-year-old girl with an intellectual disability who was impregnated by an unknown man in Sibu. CID chief SAC Denis Leong Soon Kuai said investigations are focused towards who the suspect .
— The Borneo Post

Three construction workers escape death after building collapses
Three construction workers escaped death after they were saved when a building still under construction at the Gombak Terminal LRT Putra station here collapsed early Thursday (May 23) morning.
— The Star Online

Sultan Ahmad Shah was all the more noble because of his humility, says Johor Permaisuri
The former Sultan of Pahang, Paduka Ayahanda Sultan Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah ibni Al Marhum Sultan Abu Bakar Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mu’adzam Shah, was a man who was humble and cared for the people, says Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah.
— The Star Online

UMW plans RM607mil capex for 2019
UMW Holdings Bhd has allocated RM607mil as capital expenditure (capex) mainly to upgrade its manufacturing plants and buy new equipment for its heavy industry division.
— The Star Online

MOE urged to end deal with company making millions ‘out of thin air’ from student visas
Parti Negara says the company made a profit of RM49 million last year from its contract with the education ministry.
— FMT News

Putrajaya mulls expanding Port Dickson jetty to lure tourists (VIDEO)
Port Dickson’s tourism industry will benefit if the existing jetty there is upgraded to accommodate more ship passengers, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said today.
— Malay Mail

Mestron to raise RM25.28bil via IPO on Bursa’s ACE Market
KUALA LUMPUR: Steel pole maker, Mestron Holdings Bhd aims to raise RM25.28 million from its initial public offering (IPO) at 16 sen per share on Bursa Malaysia Securities’ ACE Market come June 18, 2019.
— The Star Online

Perak exco debunks viral message of migrant worker with contagious TB fled to Penang
A recent WhatsApp message purporting that a Bangladeshi worker diagnosed with chronic tuberculosis (TB) who fled Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB) here is fake news, Perak state executive councillor A. Sivanesan said today.
— Malay Mail

KLCI retraces earlier fall below 1,600
The FBM KLCI fell below its 1,600-point support in early trade before retracing its losses as the morning progressed.
— The Star Online

Judge chides federal counsel for 11th hour submission in Shafee contempt case
A judge reprimanded a senior federal counsel today for handing in his submissions late in a contempt of court case against lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
— Malay Mail

Start inter-faith class in primary schools, govt urged
Children should be introduced to religions apart from their own so they will have a better understanding of those who subscribe to other faiths, according to an interfaith council.
— The Sun Daily

Gombak LRT car park under construction collapses, 3 workers injured
Three construction workers were injured after a multi-storey car park under construction at the Gombak LRT station in Taman Melati collapsed early this morning.Fire and Rescue Department commander M. Murugiah said in the 1.13am incident, the three victims were trapped when.
— The Sun Daily

Segamat council officers go undercover as cooks, secretly photograph non-fasting Muslims
Segamat Municipal Council (MPS) officers are disguising themselves as food stall operators, cooks and waiters in a bid to catch Muslims who do not fast during Ramadan.
— Malay Mail

Cops detain man to facilitate probe into event planner’s murder
A 25-year-old man has been arrested at Sri Raya Apartment, Ukay Perdana, Ampang, Selangor, yesterday to facilitate investigations into the murder of an event planner on May 12.
— Malay Mail

Reveal full details on NT cattle property investment, Yong urges SEDC
Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong is demanding the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) to publish the full details on its investment in Northern Territory (NT) cattle property Carmor Plains on the floodplains east of Darwin, Australia.
— The Borneo Post

Feature photo naim fadil

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for Biological Diversity, May 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.