Malaysia Morning News For October 17, 2019

Malaysia’s digital economy contributes 18.5% to GDP in 2018
Malaysia’s digital economy expanded RM267.7 billion in 2018, contributing 18.5% to the national economy, according to the Department of Statistics.
— The Sun Daily

S’wak timber exports dropped by 12 per cent, says Deputy Chief Minister
Facing global economic uncertainty and declining log production, Sarawak’s timber exports dropped by 12% in the first three quarters of this year.
— The Star Online

Boosting Indian imports not due to palm oil boycott campaign
Malaysia’s proposal to increase its sugar and buffalo meat imports from India is not solely due to a reported campaign to boycott Malaysian palm oil by the country.
— The Sun Daily

Maybank inks MoU with National Bank of Cambodia for cross-border payment, remittance
Maybank inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) to collaborate in the areas of cross-border payments and remittance between the two countries.
— The Sun Daily

Budget 2020 to fast track logistics industry
Industry players say the 2020 federal budget tabled last Friday clearly reflects the government’s commitment to developing the domestic logistics sector by addressing overdue key issues such as rail.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Deputy minister moots Malaysia-Indonesia caucus to tackle haze
A deputy minister today suggested for a joint caucus between the Malaysian and Indonesian parliaments to solve the transboundary haze problems.
— The Sun Daily

MAS launches Fly Malaysia campaign for Visit Malaysia 2020
Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has launched its Fly Malaysia brand campaign in support of Visit Malaysia 2020.
— The Star Online

Sarawakian bus companies sign on to receive subsidies from fed govt
Eleven bus companies in Sarawak have signed a two-year agreement with the federal government enabling them to receive subsidy payments through the Interim Stage Bus Support Fund (ISBSF)
— The Borneo Post

Foreigners committed over 42,000 crimes in Malaysia since 2016, says Home Ministry
Police have recorded a total of 42,451 criminal cases involving foreigners between 2016 and August this year, says the Home Ministry.
— The Star Online

Bersatu member alleges Perak govt handed out RM1.15bil contract without open tender
A Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia member has accused the Perak government of handing out an RM1.15bil road maintenance project without an open tender.
— The Star Online

Study: Malaysia the fifth-worst country for personal data protection
Malaysia has been ranked as the fifth-worst country in terms of protecting the personal data of its citizens, a tech study shows.
— The Star Online

CM: State govt to intensify works to upgrade rural water supply facilities
The state government will intensify works to upgrade facilities for rural water supply, said Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
— The Borneo Post

MACC receives 20 graft complaints involving judiciary: Latheefa
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has received 20 leads on corruption involving the Judiciary from early January to August this year.Without revealing further details, the MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya (pix) said the 20 tip-offs involved the sessions court and below.
— The Sun Daily

M’sian oil palm companies in Indonesia adhered to sustainable practices, says Ministry
Malaysian-owned palm oil companies in Indonesia have adopted sustainable cultivation and plantation practices, says Deputy Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
— The Star Online

586,700 illegals deported from Sabah since 1990
A total of 586,700 illegal immigrants were deported from Sabah from 1990 until Sept 30 this year, according to the Home Ministry.
— The Sun Daily

Mixed earnings outlook for transport & logistics sector
There appear to be no major catalysts for the transport and logistics sector from the Budget 2020 announcement, with the feasibility studies on infrastructure projects at Port Klang and the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign already anticipated.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysian Youth Council calls for UM student’s degree to be withheld until apology made
The Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) has strongly criticised the move by University of Malaya graduate (UM) Wong Yan Ke, to protest on stage after receiving his graduation scroll during the university’s recent convocation.
— Malay Mail

No plan for specific LCC terminal in states
The government has no plans as of now to build special low-cost carrier (LCC) terminals in every state, Dewan Rakyat was told today.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Close attention must be given to income, wealth distribution
Malaysia has made considerable strides in its poverty eradication efforts but problems relating to poverty persist and require policy attention, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Urban poverty connected to lack of training and skills: Tun M (Updated)
Urban poverty in the country is a reflection of rural poverty, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix).
— The Sun Daily

No budget airports in pipeline, says transport minister
The government has no plans to build additional low-cost carrier terminals (LCCT), said Anthony Loke.
— Malay Mail

No plans to amend Employment Act, deputy minister says amid concerns of discrimination
Putrajaya will not include amendments in the Employment Act 1955 as a means to protect job seekers from discrimination, a deputy minister said today.
— Malay Mail

Tranglo minority shareholders sue TNG Fintech for oppression
Minority shareholders of Malaysian fintech company Tranglo Sdn Bhd have filed an oppression suit against TNG Fintech, which acquired a 60% stake in Tranglo from Ekuinas Nasional Bhd for RM114.9 million in October 2018.
— The Sun Daily

Bids for ‘BQB’ series vehicle number plates to start on Oct 25
The Road Transport Department (RTD) is aiming to raise of up to RM1 million worth of bids for vehicle registration number series of BQB 1 to BQB 9999 when the bidding session opens from Oct 25 to 29.
— The Sun Daily

SOSMA needs to be improved, not repealed: Malaysian defence minister
Malaysia needs to improve the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), not repeal it, said Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— CNA

Personal relationship between Najib, King Abdullah created 1MDB-PSI JV: Witness
The joint-venture (JV) project between 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and PetroSaudi International Ltd (PSI) was created by the personal relationship between Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak (pix) and the late King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Abdul Aziz al Saud, the High Court heard today.
— The Sun Daily

Dr M meets two victims of Christchurch terror attack
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad met with two victims of the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, in his office on Wednesday (Oct 16).
— The Star Online

No law preventing employment of pregnant women
There are no laws which prevent employers from employing pregnant women, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Analogue TV transmissions give way to digital broadcasts
Analogue television (TV) transmissions in seven Northern and Eastern states of the country were officially ceased at 12.30 am yesterday.
— New Sarawak Tribune

ACE Market-bound Spring Art to expand manufacturing capacity
Spring Art Holdings Bhd is targeting to raise RM24.42 million from its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak needs data centre for water pipe mapping
A data centre for water pipe mapping needs to be developed to better manage the utility in the state, especially in Kuching, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Protester fears UM deliberately withholding his academic transcript
The Universiti Malaya graduate who held an impromptu protest against the institution’s vice-chancellor on Monday has alleged that his academic transcript is being intentionally withheld.
— Malay Mail

PAS wants Putrajaya to pay up RM1b per year for oil royalty
PAS MPs from Kelantan today demanded Pakatan Harapan (PH) government keep their promise in according the state at least 5 per cent of oil royalty averaging approximately RM1 billion annually.
— Malay Mail

Turkey enhances cooperation with Malaysia to stamp out terrorism
Turkey will continue to cooperate with Malaysia in the latter’s fight against terrorism, including intensifying the sharing of intelligence on Malaysian Daesh operatives in Syria.
— The Sun Daily

Close attention must be given to income, wealth distribution to eradicate poverty – PM
Malaysia has made considerable strides in its poverty eradication efforts but problems relating to poverty persist and require policy attention, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— The Borneo Post

Dr M: Govt ready to provide training, job opportunities for rural folk who migrate to cities
The government is ready to provide training and job opportunities for rural migrants to the cities as part of its efforts to reduce poverty, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— Malay Mail

Customs arrests two women, seizes contraband worth over RM12,000 in Miri
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department seized contraband worth RM12,489.32 including tax and arrested two women during an ambush at a premises in Tudan, here, yesterday.
— The Borneo Post

PD mall money changer loses RM50,000 in armed robbery
A money changer at a mall here lost more than RM50,000 after being robbed by a group of five men Monday.
— The Sun Daily

Low cost carriers and poverty among focus of Dewan Rakyat today
The government’s move to encourage low cost carriers either locally or internationally so that more Malaysians can enjoy cheaper air fares, is expected to steal the show at the Dewan Rakyat today.
— The Sun Daily

‘Budget 2020 uneventful for MAHB’s investors’
Analysts were of the opinion that Budget 2020 was uneventful for Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s (MAHB) investors, but note that Visit Malaysia 2020 (VMY2020) should lift the group’s passenger traffic.
— The Borneo Post

Escalating US-China trade a chance for Malaysia’s EMS sector
With the escalating US-China trade tension and rising cost of manufacturing in China, most of the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) players have received increased enquiries from multinational corporations (MNCs) looking to shift or diversify their manufacturing base away from China, analysts observe in a sector initiation report.
— The Borneo Post

Find formula to tackle increase in prices of goods: Anwar
The government must find a formula to tackle the increase in the prices of goods which has burdened the people, said Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pix).
— The Sun Daily

BSH recipients from B40 group can check eligibility for PSP from today
A total 2.9 million of Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) recipients from the B40 group who qualify for the Petrol Subsidy Programme (PSP) can check their eligibility through the psp.kpdnhep.gov.my. portal starting today.
— The Sun Daily

RM2,000 tax relief for children sent to JKM-registered kindergarten and pre-school
Instead of RM1,000 as previously implemented, parents can now claim a tax relief of RM2,000 if they have a six-year-old child sent to a kindergarten or pre-school registered with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM).
— Malay Mail

Education Ministry mulls action against debate jury, panellists
The Education Ministry is looking into the possibility of taking action against the jury head and adjudicators in the Piala Tun Razak debate tournament following the issue of its topic which went viral for allegedly discussing sensitive religious issues.
— The Sun Daily

Bursa reprimands, fines five Industronics directors
Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has publicly reprimanded and/or fined five directors of Industronics Bhd for breaching the Main Market listing requirements.
— The Sun Daily

Tadmax accepts RM29.5m financing for KL land purchase
Tadmax Resources Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary Mizumi Development Sdn Bhd has accepted a RM29.5 million banking facility from United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd to partly finance the purchase of 3.24-acre leasehold land in Kuala Lumpur.
— The Sun Daily

Advancecon bags RM50.5m worth of jobs
Advancecon Holdings Bhd has secured two jobs worth RM50.5 million comprising a RM38.7 million contract for Upper Rajang Development Agency (URDA) in Sarawak and a RM11.8 million works contract for Sime Darby in Negri Sembilan.
— The Sun Daily

Yinson awarded US$5.4b Petrobras FPSO contracts
Yinson Holdings Bhd’s indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Yinson Production Pte Ltd, has been awarded two letters of intent (LOI) by Petróleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) for the charter, operations and maintenance of FPSO Marlim 2, a floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Marlim revitalisation project from Petrobras.
— The Sun Daily

EC has to adopt most recent redelineation: Chairman
The Election Commission (EC) has to adopt the most recent redelineation of the electoral boundaries that was approved by the Dewan Rakyat before the 14th General Election (GE14) last year.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia studying ways to decriminalise suicide attempts: Minister
The Malaysian government, through the Attorney-General’s Chambers, is studying possible amendments to laws related to suicide to address the increasing number of such attempts nationwide, a minister said on Tuesday (Oct 15).
— CNA

Feature photo Malaysian Association of Applied Linguistics – MAAL

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on World Statistics Day, October 20.

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).

—

About Malaysia morning news.

Malaysia morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Malaysia English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the most recent Malaysia English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Malaysia daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Malaysia news headlines and first paragraphs before 8.15am Malaysia time.

We clearly identify the source of all the Malaysia news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Malaysia news article, or keep on reading the remaining Malaysia daily news headlines.

Click here to get your Malaysia English language news today by email before 9am Malaysia time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.

For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.

#Independentmedia

Governance, not government; policies not politics.