Malaysia Morning News For May 3

Malaysia not under US visa waiver programme – Foreign Ministry
A news portal has wrongly stated that Malaysia is listed under the United States visa waiver programme, according to the Foreign Ministry. To date, it said, there had been no change in the status of the programme for Malaysians.
— The Borneo Post

Entrepreneur minister: Malaysia to unify worldwide halal certs for Muslim countries
Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof said Malaysia will soon spearhead a move to unify halal certification worldwide.
— Malay Mail

Businesses worry about economy slowing, uncertain govt policies
The possibility of an economic slowdown is the biggest concern among Malaysian businesses, as the government has not provided a clear direction in steering the economy forward, says an independent market research firm.
— The Star Online

Supply of fresh produce from Malaysia not disrupted, says Singapore agency after certification deadline
There has been no disruption to the supply of fruits and vegetables from Malaysia, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Thursday (May 2), a day after a deadline for Malaysian exporters to meet a certification requirement.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia Airlines seeks commercial tie-up with Japan Airlines on routes between both countries
Malaysia Airlines has applied to the country’s aviation regulator to set up a commercial joint venture with Japan Airlines (JAL) covering all routes between Malaysia and Japan.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia: ASEAN’s e-commerce gateway to China
As we enter the Fourth Industrial Revolution and practically everything is moving online, the importance of e-commerce is heightened now more than ever before. E-commerce, in fact, is quickly becoming the primary mode of business and trade around the world – ASEAN included.
— The Asean Post

AmCham: Credit rating downgrade won’t affect investor confidence in Malaysia
The potential downgrade of Malaysia’s credit rating has not affected the confidence of American investors in Malaysia and any possibility of foreign investment outflow arising from it is seen as a short-term impact.
— The Star Online

Maimun Tuan Mat becomes first woman to be appointed Malaysia’s Chief Justice
Federal Court judge Maimun Tuan Mat has become the first woman to be appointed Malaysia’s Chief Justice, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement on Thursday (May 2).
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysian MP and wife arrested on graft charges
Kinabatangan MP Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is facing three graft charges tomorrow involving almost RM3 million (S$987,000), has questioned the timing of his arrest with the Sandakan by-election taking place.
— Asia One

Govt to create 50,000 jobs with increased FDI: Guan Eng
The government will be able to create 50,000 job opportunities this year as the country’s total approved foreign direct investment has rose 48% to RM80.5 billion in 2018 from RM54.4 billion last year.
— The Sun Daily

The Future of New Malaysia’s Defense Policy in Focus with Countertrade Chatter
Earlier this month, Malaysia’s defense minister suggested that the country could, in some cases, move to a barter system to procure military equipment. Although such an approach is by no means novel for the Southeast Asian state, it has nonetheless put the focus on the future of Malaysia’s defense policy under the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government which took power following a shock election outcome last May.
— The Diplomat

Global social media giants now peered to Malaysia’s JBIX
Global social media giants Facebook, Google, Amazon, Yahoo, Akamai, Cloudflare and Valve Software have peered with Malaysia’s Johor Bahru Internet Exchange (JBIX).
— The Edge Markets

Malaysia still on global headlines, but now for the right reasons
After several years of bad publicity for Malaysia, no thanks to multinational corruption and financial mismanagements involving billions of ringgit by people connected with the former government, the country is back in the eyes of the world — for all the right reasons.
— The Malaysian Reserve

Malaysia manufacturing PMI rises in April
Malaysia’s manufacturing sector showed improvement in April with growth for export orders, according to a survey.
— Nikkei Asia Review

YTL proposes to buy Lafarge Malaysia for $394mn
Malaysian utilities-to-hotel conglomerate YTL Corporation said Thursday it plans to acquire a controlling stake in cement producer Lafarge Malaysia for 1.63 billion ringgit ($393.87 million).
— Nikkei Asian Review

AirAsia named top airline by passenger growth
AirAsia has been named the Top Airline by Absolute Passenger Growth (Southeast Asia) at Singapore’s Changi Airline Awards 2019 recently.This is in recognition of its 4.1% increase in passengers carried to and from Singapore to 4.5 million pax recorded in 2018, up from 4.3 million.
— The Sun Daily

Guan Eng: Property market has stabilised in 2018
Malaysia’s real estate market has stabilised since last year, with the ongoing Home Ownership Campaign helping to spur residential property transactions, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said
— New Straits Times

‘Too much information’: Half of businesses in survey unnerved by Pakatan’s verbosity on undecided policies
Business owners’ confidence were shaken by an excess of communication from Pakatan Harapan (PH) on economic policy matters, according to survey findings released today.
— Malay Mail

Continuing climb, Universiti Malaya debuts in Times Higher Education’s Asia Top 40
Universiti Malaya (UM) reached a new milestone by breaking into the top 40 of this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings.
— Malay Mail

Trader loses RM192,000 to bomoh scam syndicate
A trader suffered losses of RM192,000 after falling prey to bomoh scam syndicate members who claimed they could help her get rid of ghosts from her house.
— The Sun Daily

Five UK tech firms to invest in Malaysia
A total of five UK technology organisations are investing in Malaysia, according to a joint statement by the UK Department for International Trade and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

SFL aims to build Malaysia’s first durian confectionary
Sunny Food Lab Sdn Bhd (SFL), the manufacturer of Forbidden brand delectable confections, aims to produce its product range in Malaysia.
— New Straits Times

Facebook Dating now available in Malaysia
Malaysians, you can swipe left for Tinder because Facebook is right here to connect you to your crush online!
— The Star Online

Empowering teachers main focus of education reforms
The nation’s education sector has seen the introduction of various reforms aimed at promoting excellence in human capital development in the past one.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Three issued compounds for failing to control their dogs in rabies infected areas – Uggah
Three people have been compounded for their failure to effectively control their dogs in rabies infected areas. Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas told The Borneo Post that the authorities would not hesitate to take action against those caught breaching the law.
— The Borneo Post

Ministry of Entrepreneur Development on track to achieve targets: Redzuan
The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development (MED), which was revived by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition after it took over the reins of the federal government nearly a year ago, is on track to achieve its targets.
— The Sun Daily

Less traffic congestion for Port Klang residents once ECRL completed
The decision to resume the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project is expected to provide comfort to the local residents who have been facing traffic congestion and damage to infrastructure due to container lorries plying the roads in the port town for so long.
— The Sun Daily

Muslim youths urged to use digital technology to boost mosque, surau economy
Muslim youths have been urged to be more aggressive in applying digital technology and e-commerce to boost the role of mosques and suraus as places which promote knowledge and the local economy.
— The Sun Daily

S’gor water industry revamp, tiger conservation among Ministry’s highlights: Xavier
The restructuring of the Selangor water industry and efforts to save the critically endangered Malayan Tiger count as among notable positive developments of the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry over the past year under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
— The Sun Daily

Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak: Several road alignments to be opened in July
Several road alignments at the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak which has been upgraded from a two-lane dual carriageway to a four-lane dual carriageway will be opened to.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Transport Ministry may unwind AP restrictions to position Malaysia as transshipment hub
The Transportation Ministry is looking to loosen restrictions on approved permits (APs) for the importation of some goods in an effort to turn Malaysia into a transshipment hub for the Asean region, said Anthony Loke.
— Malay Mail

Beyond meat IPO raises US$241 mln as veggie appetite grows
Startups like Beyond Meat are tapping into the surging demand in meat alternatives by offering beef-like versions of the veggie burger and other meat products.
— FMT News

Police nab six individuals over sale of fake MC
Police arrested six people, including two civil servants suspected of selling fake Medical Certificates (MCs) in several raids in and around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
— The Borneo Post

Caring Pharmacy plans expansion into second-tier cities
Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd will incorporate more local products in its pharmacies under the ‘Let’s Go Retail’ programme, paving the way for its expansion into second-tier cities in the country.
— The Sun Daily

Cuepacs hoping for major change to labour sector
The Congress of Unions of Employees in the Civil Service (Cuepacs) hopes the government can bring a major change to the labour sector, especially with regard to wages and cost of living of workers.
— The Sun Daily

Chong: GPS govt rejected federal govt’s offer of full autonomy for education, healthcare
Chong Chieng Jen (PH-Kota Sentosa) has claimed in the August House today that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government had turned down Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government’s offer of full autonomy for education and healthcare.
— The Borneo Post

IOI Properties unveils Stellar Suites in Puchong
IOI Properties has unveiled Stellar Suites, the first small office versatile office (Sovo) tower in Puchong, located within a well-established area with thriving business activities.
— The Sun Daily

HSBC Fusion to help small businesses better manage their finances
A new financial proposition that caters to small business owners to better manage their finances was unveiled recently.
— The Star Online

Social media users roast Najib for spoiling ‘Avengers: Endgame’
Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s attempts to connect with Malaysians on social media backfired yesterday after the former prime minister posted a spoiler to the highly-anticipated Marvel Studio movie Avengers: Endgame.
— Malay Mail

Malaysian factory worker assaulted at Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza
A Malaysian factory worker was injured on the forehead and lips, believed to have been assaulted by a group of 10 men following a misunderstanding with one of them at the Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza, Sultan Abu Bakar complex, Gelang Patah, yesterday.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak records 682 stateless children from 2016 till March 2019
Sarawak recorded a total of 682 stateless children from 2016 until March this year, the State Legislative Assembly sitting was told today. Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Residential property overhang up by 30.6% in 2018
The residential overhang worsened last year, rising 30.6% in volume to 32,313 units and 27% in value to RM19.86 billion, as revealed in the Property Market Report 2018.According to the report, which was launched by the Valuation and Property Services Department today, high rise residential.
— The Sun Daily

Vivian Wong brings youthful dynamism: Kit Siang
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang has described the party’s candidate for the Sandakan by-election Vivian Wong Shir Yee as “just what the doctor ordered”.
— The Sun Daily

AWC bags RM17.1m supply contract for MRT2 project
AWC Bhd has secured a RM17.1 million contract for the designing, manufacturing, supplying, assembling, testing and commissioning of Harsco Model RGH 10C Rail Grinding Vehicle works for the Mass Rapid Transit 2 (MRT2) project.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Borneo Jazz

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Jazz Day, April 30.

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.