Malaysia Morning News For February 20, 2020

Malaysian workers ‘most dissatisfied’ with pay in Asia, new survey finds
Malaysian employees are the least satisfied with their wages among those polled in Asia, new findings have revealed. The survey by international recruiting agency Hays also found that one of the precipitating factors might.
— Malay Mail

Report: AirAsia board greenlit Fernandes’ multi-million sponsorship deal to boost brand’s image in 2010
A plan by AirAsia Group chief executive Tan Sri Tony Fernandes for the airline to sponsor a Formula 1 racing team to boost its brand globally was approved by the company’s directors back in 2010, reported The Star.
— Malay Mail

Plastic waste shame
Malaysia is among six countries that contribute 60% of an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic waste that enter the world’s oceans each year.
— The Sun Daily

ECRL not hit by Covid-19 as most workers stayed put during CNY break, says MRL CEO
Despite global panic and a slew of travel bans enforced in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, construction on the Malaysian-Chinese East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) joint venture here has been unaffected, said Malaysia Rail Link.
— Malay Mail

Queensland mulls inquest on MH370 after Abbott’s revelation on Putrajaya
The Australian state of Queensland said today it is looking into a potential inquest into the disappearance of Flight MH370.
— Malay Mail

From special loans to staycations, business associations on what Putrajaya can do to ease Covid-19’s economic impact
The head of a business association has proposed the government step in to help the sector reduce its operating costs in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia develops world’s first human-elephant conflict resolution mechanism
The world’s first publicly available human-elephant conflict (HEC) resolution mechanism is being developed with the partnership of the academia with the public and private sectors in the country.
— The Sun Daily

Penang spends RM240.3m on housing maintenance projects since 2008: Jagdeep
The Penang state government has spent RM240.3 million on public and private housing maintenance projects as well as housing maintenance projects under local authorities (PBT) since 2008, said State Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman, Jagdeep Singh Deo (pix).
— The Sun Daily

Health Ministry seizes 434,742 packets of Energy Candy nationwide
The Ministry of Health (MOH) seized 434,742 packets of Energy Candy containing RM131,340.70 of ‘tadalafil’ scheduled poison in operations nationwide yesterday.
— Malay Mail

WHO praises Malaysia’s preparedness, ability to deal with Covid-19: Dzulkefly
The World Health Organization (WHO) has, once again, commended Malaysia’s preparedness and ability to address the Covid-19 infection.
— The Sun Daily

Asking prices remain on downtrend, PropertyGuru index shows
PETALING JAYA: Developers and owners across the board are tempering their expectations as the industry adjusts to the closing of the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) and a lack of strong catalysts this year, according to the PropertyGuru Malaysia Property Market Index (MPMI) Q1 2020 report. The overall MPMI for the country dropped 1.04 index points from 89.94 …
— The Sun Daily

B20 implementation can improve air quality: Kok
Implementing the B20 biodiesel programme could improve air quality especially in areas facing traffic congestion like the Klang Valley with its 7.2 million inhabitants, says Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok.
— The Sun Daily

Court of Appeal grants stay in S’wak govt’s lawsuit against Petronas
The Court of Appeal has granted Petronas a stay of proceedings in the Sarawak government’s suit to recover unpaid state sales tax from the national oil corporation.
— The Star Online

Sabah says will lift China ban as soon as Covid-19 vaccine available
Sabah will lift its travel restrictions on Chinese nationals when the vaccine for the deadly Covid-19 virus becomes available, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said today.
— Malay Mail

New forms of work require changes in social security: Kula
New forms of work require changes in strategies, safety measures, occupational health and social security in accordance with the transformation of technological advances.
— The Sun Daily

Penang targets all public eateries to achieve grade A rating by end-2020
The Penang government has targeted all public eateries in the state to attain Grade A rating by the end of this year.
— Malay Mail

Apec meetings to discuss Covid-19 impact on member states
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) will have discussions on the Covid-19 outbreak in its upcoming meetings.Apec Communications and Public Affairs Director Michael Chapnick said Apec recognises the risk of Covid-19, which affects more than 20 countries around the globe.
— The Sun Daily

Free skills training for rural youths
Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) in collaboration with Ethos Academy of Skills Development will provide free skills training for rural youth.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Covid-19: Waste management company increases protection measures of field staff
SWM Environment Sdn Bhd, an integrated waste management and public cleansing service provider in the southern region, is taking steps to improve the level of protection and personal hygiene of its field staff to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection.
— The Sun Daily

In a local first, Sabah court gives out sentence assisted by AI
The Malaysian judiciary passed sentences for the first time today using artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the Kota Kinabalu magistrate court.
— Malay Mail

Former PAIP manager charged with corruption, involving RM273,650 in gratification
A former production manager of Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (PAIP) was charged in the sessions court here today with 11 counts of corruption, involving gratification amounting RM273,650, in connection with the implementation of a post-flood project in 2014.
— The Sun Daily

IGP: Whoever says Jho Low isn’t on Interpol’s Red Notice list can ‘come see me’
ីnspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador today confirmed that fugitive financier Low Taek Jho is on Interpol’s Red Notice list and rubbished news reports and certain quarters who have claimed otherwise.
— Malay Mail

E-hailing driver pleads not guilty to gang-robbery
A e-hailing driver pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two counts of gang-robbing a pair of lovebirds.
— The Sun Daily

Former Education Ministry sec-gen insists couldn’t inform Najib on solar hybrid project irregularities, since bound by public service ‘hierarchy’
Former Ministry of Education secretary-general Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad insisted today that she was not unable to inform then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak of irregularities on the Solar Hybrid project as she was.
— Malay Mail

Malakoff Q4 earnings rise 24.5% on disposal gain
Malakoff Corp Bhd posted a 24.5% increase in net profit for its fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2019 to RM106.4 million, from RM85.5 million in the previous corresponding quarter, due to a one-off gain from the disposal of its investment in Malakoff Australia Pty Ltd (MAPL), which was completed on Dec 18 last year.
— The Sun Daily

E-hailing driver pleads not guilty to gang-robbery in KL
A e-hailing driver pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to two counts of gang-robbing a pair of lovebirds. Nor Fikri Edli Mohd Nordin, 34, made the plea after the charges were read out to him before.
— Malay Mail

IGP confirms arrest of four Selangor CID cops for RM3m extortion to cover up Cheras drug lab
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador today confirmed the arrest of four police officers yesterday, after they allegedly extorted RM3 million as an inducement to cover up a drug processing laboratory in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur that has since been raided
— Malay Mail

Capital Dynamics sees lower GDP growth of 3.5%-4% this year
Malaysia is unlikely to achieve its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 4.8% this year but should be able to achieve 3.5-4.0%, said Capital Dynamics managing director Tan Teng Boo.
— The Sun Daily

Minister vents about panic buying of surgical masks and groceries in Singapore
A leaked audio recording – purportedly of a Singaporean cabinet minister commenting on Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam’s decision to wear a mask in a press conference – is gaining traction in social media.
— The Star Online

Penang bookshop takes to Facebook to seek public advice on handling an abusive customer
THEY say the customer is always right, but deep down inside we know that’s not always the case.
— The Sun Daily

Kit Siang urges previous govt to ‘speak up’ following Abbott’s MH370 claims
Lim Kit Siang wants the highest levels of the past administration who believed the MH370 tragedy was a murder-suicide plot to speak up.
— The Star Online

Destini expands port operations to Indonesia
Destini Bhd has entered into a conditional share sale agreement with Indonesia-based PT Berkah Sadaya Adikarya to acquire 99.9% of its holdings in port services provider PT Muara Badak Perkasa for S$4 million (RM12 million).
— The Sun Daily

Malaysians kept under surveillance treated well, says deputy health minister
Curious to know how the daily lives of the 107 Malaysians kept under surveillance at the Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) felt like?
— The Sun Daily

Smoking out an occupational hazard
The ‘No Smoking’ signs plastered on the walls of an office are conspicuous but nothing can stop a nicotine addict from lighting up even if it means having to do so in the storeroom or stairway.
— The Sun Daily

Four Selangor CID cops arrested after alleged extortion involving RM3m
Four policemen, including a senior officer, were arrested yesterday after they allegedly extorted RM3 million as an inducement to cover up a drug processing laboratory in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur that has since been raided.
— Malay Mail

Bursa Malaysia slightly higher at opening
Bursa Malaysia opened slightly higher on Wednesday, mainly supported by buying in plantation, small-cap and finance counters.
— The Sun Daily

SPBG operations halted to facilitate drug probe into former executive chairman
ATTA Global Group Bhd has ceased the operations of Syarikat Perkilangan Besi Gaya Sdn Bhd (SPBG) to facilitate the ongoing police investigations following the remand of its ex-executive chairman Ooi Chieng Sim.
— Malay Mail

Kenanga IB, Petronas ink MoU on scheme for oil & gas players keen on doing IPO
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd and Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the implementation of the Petronas Lestari: Road to Bursa Programme for the oil & gas services and equipment (OGSE) sector.
— The Sun Daily

Vell Paari to oppose intervening application by woman claiming to be Samy Vellu’s wife
Former MIC secretary-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari will oppose the application by a woman claiming to be the common-law-wife of his father Tun S. Samy Vellu (pix), 83, to intervene in his lawsuit to have his father’s mental health determined by the court.
— The Sun Daily

IOI Corp second-quarter earnings up 9%
IOI Corp Bhd’s net profit for the second quarter ended Dec 31 rose 9.2% to RM213.5 million, from RM195.5 million in the previous corresponding quarter due mainly to higher contribution from all segments.
— The Sun Daily

CTOS launches fraud protection service with dark web monitoring
CTOS has launched its fraud protection and credit monitoring service, SecureID to address the problem of identity theft, fraud and scams, as well to help monitor a consumer’s credit health, which includes a dark web monitoring service.
— The Sun Daily

HSL photo contest offers attractive prizes
Hock Seng Lee (HSL) will be organising a photography competition at its new Vista Industrial Park (VIP) here, with attractive prizes worth RM2,500 up for grabs.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Najib says MH370 probe never ruled out criminal plot or pilot’s political loyalty
This comes after former Australian premier Tony Abbott says that top Malaysian officials told him of a criminal plot to bring down the plane.
— FMT News

Bersatu declares polls for two divisions null and void
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s election committee has declared the meetings of two branches in the Kuala Terengganu and Teluk Intan divisions null and void following protests from party members.
— The Star Online

Zahid trial: Witness confirms handing over colleague’s RM6m cheques as political donation, but denies it’s bribery
The director of a company supplying chips for Malaysian passports to the government today confirmed he had in 2017 personally handed over his colleagues’ two cheques totalling RM6 million to Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
— Malay Mail

Berjaya Sports Toto posts RM61.9m profit for Q2, declares 4 sen dividend
Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd (BToto) posted a net profit of RM61.94 million for its second quarter ended Dec 31, 2019 mainly attributed to profit attained by Sports Toto Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Sahabat Alam Malaysia

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on World Day of Social Justice, February 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).

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