Malaysia Morning News For June 1

Malaysia to set up task force to improve ranking in World Competitiveness Yearbook
Malaysia will establish a task force, comprising representatives from the public and private sector, to improve its ranking in the World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY), said the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
— New Straits Times

Malaysia Stays Among Top 25 Most Competitive Economies
Despite the external and domestic headwinds, Malaysia retained its position among the top 25 competitive nations, coming in 24th out of 63 countries in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2017 (WCY) published by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development (IMD).
— Malaysian Digest

Malaysia slips 5 spots in global competitiveness rankings
Malaysia was among the Asian economies which dropped in its competitiveness rankings due to the challenging external environment last year.
— New Straits Times

Shippers upset by Customs change requiring permits for transiting goods
A new Customs ruling now requires shipping firms to apply for approved permits (APs) for 74 product types, even if Malaysia is only an intermediate destination.
— The Malay Mail Online

GrabCar drivers to benefit from MoU with Perodua
GrabCar drivers will benefit from the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Perodua and Grab Malaysia via value-added services.
— Free Malaysia Today

M’alaysian F&B Products Gaining Popularity In Thailand
Malaysian food and beverage (F&B) products have gained popularity in Thailand, accounting for 28.2 per cent of the nation’s total exports to the country, said Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation’s (MATRADE) Trade Commissioner in Thailand, Norman Dzulkarnain Nasri.
— Malaysian Digest

Malaysian rain causes veg prices to rise 20% in Singapore
Inclement weather has reduced the vegetable yield from farms in Malaysia, causing vegetable prices to rise by as much as 20%. The reduced yield has also caused a corresponding fall in the import volume of Malaysian vegetables, Shin Min Daily News reported on Monday (May 29).
— Fresh Plaza

International Reserves Remain Usable, Says BNM
The detailed breakdown of international reserves under the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (IMF SDDS) format indicates that as of end-April, the country’s reserves remain usable, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).
— Malaysian Digest

ANZ Banking Group closer to Malaysia sell-down, AmBank in merger talks
ANZ Banking Group will keep close tabs on a merger situation unfolding in Malaysia.
— Financial Review

Malaysia’s PMI returns to contraction in May
The Nikkei Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, dropped to 48.7 in May from 50.7 in April.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Eat healthily to avoid food poisoning, says Health Ministry
The Ministry of Health advises the public to choose food that are healthy and safe from food poisoning during the month of Ramadan.
— New Straits Times

MRCB ropes in EPF to develop Bukit Jalil land
Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) is partnering with its largest shareholder, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), to jointly develop three parcels of leasehold land in Bukit Jalil into an integrated development, which will have a potential gross development value (GDV) of RM21 billion over a 20-year period.
— The Edge Markets

Prostitution tops crime list
Indulging in sex work while masquerading as spa therapists and reflexologists is one of the most frequent “crimes” committed by foreigners here.
— The Star Online

RM10,000 for smoking in parks
Those caught smoking in parks in Selangor will be hauled up under the Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017 beginning today.
— The Star Online

Malaysia Airlines plane forced to turn back to Melbourne after passenger ‘claimed to have bomb’: Official
A Kuala Lumpur-bound Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight was forced to turn back to Melbourne on Wednesday (May 31) after a “disruptive passenger” claimed he was carrying a bomb, Malaysia’s Deputy Transport Minister said.
— Channel NewsAsia

Feature photo Trinn Suwannapha / World Bank
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Malaysia Morning News For June 1 added by Leakhena Khat on June 1, 2017
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Leakhena Khat

Leakhena is a junior journalist at AEC News Today who is also currently studying International Relations, which she finds adds perspective to her work reporting on the Asean Community.

“I love what I am doing so much as it gives me a lot of great experience and provides challenges to my mind.