Malaysia Morning News For April 5

Axiata looking to expand tower assets in India
Malaysian telecommunications group Axiata Sdn Bhd is looking at buying a stake in Indian tower assets to grow its presence in the country, an Indian business newspaper reported.
— The Star Online

Rising inflation has risks but may help curb debt
INFLATION in Malaysia, which has risen to an eight-year high on fuel costs, may spiral into second-round price effects, but may also help control high levels of debt.
— The Star Online

M’sia most favoured Asean market of 2017: MIDF Research
Malaysia is now the darling of the region in terms of global money flow into Asian equities, not to mention the most favoured Southeast Asian Emerging market in 2017, based on foreign liquidity flow on Bursa Malaysia, which remains elevated for the third week running.
— New Straits Times

Matrade expects to generate at least RM400m from INSP at Mihas 2017
The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) expects to generate at least RM400 million in sales from the international sourcing programme (INSP), involving 172 foreign buyers at the four-day 14th Malaysia International Halal Showcase 2017 (Mihas)from tomorrow.
— New Straits Times

CM: Sarawak gets Bank Negara nod to form development bank for ‘strategic projects’
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has given its approval for the Sarawak government to establish its own development bank that will finance strategic projects only, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg told reporters today.
— Malay Mail Online

FT unit: Malaysians get best bang for buck on transport in Asean
Malaysians receive more or better transport services for the same outlay as neighbours in Southeast Asia, according to a report by research firm FT Confidential Research.
— Malay Mail Online

Indonesia, Malaysia cooperate to promote MSMEs
State-owned insurance company Perum Jamkrindo is cooperating with Malaysias Credit Guarantee Corporation, Malaysia Berhad, to expand the funding and market potentials of micro, small, and medium corporations.
— Antaranews.com

Swiss regulator still probing three banks over 1MDB role
Switzerland’s financial regulator said it’s still investigating three private banks in relation to alleged corruption and money laundering at the Malaysian government fund known as 1MDB. A probe of UBS Group AG in the matter was closed.
— Deal Street Asia

EDII to train Malaysian youth in entrepreneurship, joins hands with PSMB
Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, and Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB), an arm of Human Resource Development Fund under Ministry of Human Resources, Malaysia, have entered a partnership through a memorandum of understanding.
— The Economic Times

EDII to assist Malaysian govt in skilling workforce
EDII would be lending a hand in the initiative by the Malaysian Government to equip, develop and assist unemployed graduates and school dropouts with high end skills and competencies.
— The Indian Express

Higher GDP forecast for Malaysia on better trade prospects
Some economists are turning more positive on the economic outlook for Malaysia this year, thanks to improving global trade prospects.
— The Star Online

Pos Malaysia in focus as it gets ready to unleash Tigers Global strategic plan
Pos Malaysia Bhd continued to attract interest as investors chased up the national courier’s shares by six sen to close at RM4.76 yesterday.
— The Star Online

Sarawak gov’t to set up own development bank: CM
Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Abang Openg has announced the setting up of a state government-owned development bank to accelerate growth in Sarawak.
— New Straits Times

Peka sets eyes on Australia for Glulam market
The Association of Bumiputera Timber and Furniture Entrepreneurs (Peka) is set to export its brand of Glued Laminated Timber (Glulam) to Australia.
— New Straits Times

Swiss financial body FINMA discontinues 1MDB investigation into UBS
Swiss financial body FINMA said yesterday it had discontinued its investigation into UBS Group AG in connection with Malaysia’s scandal-tainted 1MDB fund.
— Malay Mail Online

Najib, Modi agree Malaysia-India relations at historic high
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi agree that relations between their two countries are at a “historic high”.
— Malay Mail Online

Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia join forces to take on pirates
The three Southeast Asian island nations of the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia are preparing for a joint naval operation to protect regional trade routes from piracy and terrorist threats.
— Asia Times

Malaysia rights panel disturbed over more than 600 deaths in prisons and detention centers
Malaysia’s national human rights panel on Tuesday said it was disturbed by more than 600 deaths at immigration detention centers and prisons over the last two years, and called for immediate reform.
— Reuters

Feature photo Shahnoor Habib Munmun
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