Malaysia Morning News For January 1, 2020

Visa exemption will make Malaysia more attractive holiday destination for 2020
The 15-day visa-free stay in Malaysia next year that has been extended by the government for tourists from China and India will make the country more competitive in attracting them to come for their holiday.
— The Borneo Post

Year 2019 sees Malaysia working consistently to solve bilateral issues with Singapore
An encapsulation of several events in the year 2019 has shown that bilateral relations between Malaysia and Singapore, under the Pakatan Harapan administration, is dynamic and strong amidst outstanding bilateral issues that.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia receives first littoral mission ship from China
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) officially received ownership of its first littoral mission ship (LMS) from China today.
— FMT

New Malaysian Armed Forces chief to be known on Jan 2, 2020
The year 2020 will see the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) under a new chief with its current commander, General Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin going on retirement soon.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia’s Mahathir hits foreign policy speed bump after controversial Kuala Lumpur Summit
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad may have spent much of 2019 trying to keep a lid on domestic political battles, but as the year comes to an end his ruling coalition is finding itself caught up in diplomatic skirmishes as well.
— South China Morning Post

Malaysia’s 2019 achievements, and how the 2020 bar got set higher
The year 2019 has been a good year with Malaysians making the country proud yet again including with many firsts, setting the standard even higher as we enter 2020.
— Malay Mail

PPI for local production up 1.2% in November 2019
The Producer Price Index (PPI) for local production, which went up for the first time in 12 consecutive months, increased 1.2% in November 2019 to 106.5 from 105.2 in the same month of the preceding year.
— The Sun Daily

Singapore employers take advantage of Malaysians in the dark about entitlement
Back in 2013, as the value of the ringgit weakened further against the Singapore dollar, M. Syukri accepted a job across the Causeway, knowing that it would give him greater spending power compared with his counterparts working in Johor.
— The Sun Daily

Malay, Islamic characteristics of Kampung Baru will be preserved, says Khalid
Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abd Samad gave the assurance that the identity of Kampung Baru would be maintained, preserving its Malay and Islamic characteristics that have existed for more than 100 years.
— The Sun Daily

Kuching is ‘city of unity’
The Sarawak government will never suppress the rights of its multicultural communities and instead, encourages them to stand united.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Bring garbage bags, leave ribbon sprays at home, DBKL tells 2020 countdown revellers
Ringing in the New Year of 2020 and also ushering the new decade in tonight? Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has a tip for you.
— Malay Mail

Pos Malaysia offers luggage service to pilgrims
Pos Malaysia Bhd is offering a luggage shipping service to Malaysians performing the umrah pilgrimage from Jan 1, 2020 to facilitate their return to Malaysia.
— New Sarawak Tribune

‘Proportional representation’ election system may allow better lawmaking
A “proportional representation” (PR) election system might generate better lawmaking, says Ilham Centre, a think-tank and pollster.
— The Sun Daily

PTPTN collects RM2.07 bln in repayments for 2019
The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) collected an encouraging RM2.07 billion in repayments for 2019, exceeding its RM2 billion target.
— New Sarawak Tribune

‘Shared Prosperity’ framework as the compass for Malaysia’s national planning
As we approach the dawn of a new decade, Malaysia will rely on its next big picture of foresight to be an important guide and compass for the country’s national planning over the next 10 years.
— The Sun Daily

Support for petition to ban vernacular schools spikes after Perlis mufti’s nod
A petition urging the government to prohibit vernacular schools in Malaysia has surged to its 150,000 target after Perlis Mufti Datuk Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin called for his supporters to back this.
— Malay Mail

MACC gets new investigation director, Ahmad Khusairi
Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya has been appointed the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation director.
— The Star Online

Time-restricted parking in PJ only as last resort, says expert
Time-restricted parking should be introduced as a last resort if all else fails, town planning expert Derek Fernandez said.
— The Sun Daily

Visit Xinjiang ourselves? Stop playing propaganda with Uighurs, Malaysian Muslim youth group tells Beijing
The Muslim Youth Movement Malaysia (Abim) today called on the Chinese government to stop “playing with political propaganda” concerning the treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang by inviting Malaysians to visit the province.
— Malay Mail

Wisma Putra seeking more info on ship, Malaysians detained in Iran
The Foreign Ministry is working to identify a ship and its 16 Malaysian crew who were arrested by the Iranian authorities at the Strait of Hormuz yesterday for allegedly carrying illegal fuel.
— The Borneo Post

Saifuddin Abdullah: Wisma Putra seeking more info on ship, Malaysians detained in Iran
The Foreign Ministry is working to identify a ship and its 16 Malaysian crew who were arrested by the Iranian authorities at the Strait of Hormuz yesterday for allegedly carrying illegal fuel.
— Malay Mail

Bursa Malaysia opens lower on wall street weakness
Bursa Malaysia reversed yesterday’s gains to open lower while entering the final trading day of the year, taking the cue from the overnight weakness on Wall Street.
— The Sun Daily

Call to stop sale of ‘headphones’ that allegedly reduce blood sugar levels
The Health Ministry today ordered a company distributing ‘headphones’ that allegedly reduce and control blood sugar levels to stop sales of the device immediately.
— The Sun Daily

PTPTN completes 2019 with encouraging RM2.07b in repayments, exceeding target
The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) collected an encouraging RM2.07 billion in repayments for 2019, exceeding its RM2 billion target.
— The Sun Daily

Police report lodged against slander involving Penang CM
A police report has been made by the information officer in the Penang Chief Minister’s Office on a slanderous statement linking Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow with the administration of the Islamic religious affairs and mosque administration in the state, that has been viral for the past few days.
— The Sun Daily

Pan Borneo Highway project continues under Pakatan government
The mega Sarawak Pan Borneo Highway project stretching over a distance of almost 800 kilometres from Telok Melano — Sematan to Lawas, has continued to be implemented in 2019 in line with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
— Malay Mail

Fitch: CPO price rise unlikely to sustain
Fitch Ratings said while the uptrend in crude palm oil (CPO) prices will continue into early 2020, it could moderate later due to higher supply on the back of better weather conditions and fertiliser input.
— The Sun Daily

China’s Hainan Airlines to start scheduled direct flights to Kuching next March, says Sarawak Tourism Minister
Hainan Airlines Holding Company Limited will launch its scheduled Haikou-Kuching-Haikou direct flight beginning in March next year, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the company and the Sarawak.
— Malay Mail

Govt to ease digital tax burden
The government is implementing several measures to ensure service providers and local consumers do not face double taxation following the introduction.
— New Sarawak Tribune

‘Shared prosperity’ framework as compass for national planning
As we approach the dawn of a new decade, Malaysia will rely on its next big picture of foresight to be an important guide and compass for the country’s national planning over the next 10 years.
— New Sarawak Tribune

On eve of 2020, DAP calls for focus on economy instead of religious and racial division
Malaysians should give their utmost to reviving the economy in the new year so that everyone can prosper rather than harp on racial and religious differences that create strife, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said today.
— Malay Mail

Mr DIY offers seven-day 10% discount storewide
Home improvement retailer Mr DIY Group (M) Bhd is kicking off 2020 with a seven-day 10% discount storewide at all its Mr DIY and Mr TOY outlets from Jan 1 to 7,2020, in celebration of its 1,000 stores across Asia.
— The Star Online

Kimanis by-election: EC sends cards to 29,663 registered voters
The Election Commission (EC) continues with its initiative to send the voter’s card to 29,663 registered voters in the Kimanis parliamentary constituency ahead of the by-election slated on Jan 18.
— The Sun Daily

Dr Yii: 10 Sarawak primary schools expected to implement free breakfast programme
Ten primary schools in Sarawak are expected to be part of the first batch of 100 schools nationwide to implement free breakfast programme (PSP) on Jan 20, next year, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
— The Borneo Post

Sarawak minister says looking to get youths into farming
In his New Year’s message today, Sarawak Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said his ministry will recruit youths to take up modern farming as a career.
— Malay Mail

Academic group urges stricter vetting for compulsory varsity exams after Zakir Naik storm
Universities should review their examination vetting processes to ensure test questions do not strain Malaysia’s interracial ties, especially compulsory papers aimed to promote ethnic harmony, the Malaysian Academic.
— Malay Mail

Ops Bau: One factory sealed, 106 inspected in Selangor, N. Sembilan
A factory was sealed during an ‘Ops Bau’ inspection conducted on 106 factories in Selangor and Negri Sembilan from Dec 23 to today (Dec 30), following two incidents of odour pollution affecting water quality recently.
— The Sun Daily

Khalid: Review of dubious land transactions secured RM481m for DBKL in 2019
The Federal Territories Ministry secured RM481 million for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) this year, as a result of a review of 97 dubious land transactions.
— The Sun Daily

Offshore investors continue to enter Malaysia for second week
Offshore investors continued to enter Malaysia’s market for the second week, analysts observed in the latest fund flow report.
— The Borneo Post

KPDNHEP to review CPA, TDA to regulate sales of CRS
The powers of the Minister provided under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 (CPA) and the Trade Description Act 2011 (TDA) can be considered to be used to regulate sales of child restraint seats (CRS).
— The Borneo Post

Stop sale of ‘headphones’ reducing blood sugar levels, urges Health Ministry
The Health Ministry today ordered a company distributing ‘headphones’ that allegedly reduce and control blood sugar levels to stop sales of the device immediately.
— Malay Mail

Wisma Putra in close contact with relevant authorities to bring home body of teenager
The High Commission of Malaysia in Canberra, Australia is in close contact with local authorities and relevant agencies to expedite the documentation and related processes to bring home the body of a Malaysian teenager who died in a skateboarding accident in Townsville, Queensland.
— The Sun Daily

Khalid: Review of dubious land transactions secures RM481 million for DBKL in 2019
The Federal Territories Ministry secured RM481 million for Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) this year, as a result of a review of 97 dubious land transactions.
— Malay Mail

Cypark Q4 profit higher at RM39m
Cypark Resources Bhd’s net profit soared 23.3% to RM38.87 million for the fourth quarter ended Oct 31, 2019 against RM31.53 million in the previous corresponding period, mainly due to the effect of adoption of MFRS 15 and the higher margin yielded from environmental engineering and greentech & renewable energy divisions.
— The Sun Daily

FSBM slips into PN17 on disclaimer of opinion
FSBM Holdings Bhd has triggered the Practice Note 17 (PN 17) criteria, following a report issued by its auditors expressing a disclaimer of opinion on the group’s audited financial statements for the financial year ended June 30, 2018.
— The Sun Daily

Wisma Putra in contact with Australian authorities to bring home body of Malaysian teen who died in skateboarding accident
The High Commission of Malaysia in Canberra, Australia is in close contact with local authorities and relevant agencies to expedite the documentation and related processes to bring home the body of a Malaysian teenager who died.
— Malay Mail

No branches rule a hurdle for digital bank venture
The requirement that digital banks are not allowed to establish any physical branch under the Licensing Framework for Digital Banks might disincentivise existing traditional banks to acquire the digital bank licence, according to MIDF Research.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Save the Rhino

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on environmental concerns throughout Asean — death of Malaysia’s last Sumatran rhinoceros.

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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