Malaysia Morning News For March 31

Malaysia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Malaysia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities.

Honda Malaysia rolls out 600,000th unit
Honda Malaysia achieved a milestone when its Pegoh plant in Alor Gajah rolled out its 600,000th unit.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s palm oil and food stands to reap potential benefits from Brexit
Malaysia’s food exports, especially palm oil, stands to reap trade opportunities through the changes created by the UK’s departure (Brexit) from the European Union (EU).
— The Star Online

Maybank named M’sia’s most valuable, strongest bank brand
Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) has being crowned the most valuable Malaysian bank brand, and among the top five Asean bank brands in the global brand rankings of the “Top 500 Banking Brands 2017”, published by the Global Brand Valuation and Strategy Consulting firm, Brand Finance.
— New Straits Times

McDonald’s M’sia spending RM363 million for 3-year growth plan
McDonald’s Malaysia is investing RM363 million to build 33 new restaurants and refurbish 86 others in the country as part of its three-year growth plan.
— New Straits Times

Home Ministry bans 19 publications deemed detrimental to Malaysian society
The Home Ministry (KDN) has issued a prohibition order on 19 publications deemed detrimental to the Malaysian society.
— Malay Mail Online

Najib: 1MDB has cleared RM3b in debts
State fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has cleared over RM3 billion in debt over the past two years, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday, amid ongoing money-laundering probes linked to 1MDB in at least six countries.
— Malay Mail Online

Malaysia desperate for foreign financing, says DAP’s Pua
Opposition parliamentarian Tony Pua has claimed that Malaysia now appears to be so desperate for foreign financing towards its East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project that it is willing to subject itself a foreign power’s terms and conditions.
— The Edge Markets

Malaysia confident of keeping SEA Games 2017 cost 50% below Singapore
The Malaysian government is confident of keeping the cost of hosting the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and 2017 ASEAN Para Games 50% lower than Singapore did in 2015.
— The Edge Markets

Malaysia releases Kim Jong Nam’s body, citizens in North Korea return
Malaysian authorities returned the body of the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday, in a deal that secured the release of nine Malaysian citizens held in Pyongyang after a drawn out diplomatic spat.
— Reuters

Swelling supply weighs on Malaysian retail property trusts’ earnings
Earnings of Malaysian retail property trusts are likely to stay under pressure this year as a supply rush of mall spaces and weak consumer sentiment limit prospects of growth in rental income.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Indonesia to export rice to Malaysia
Indonesia will export 15 to 50 thousand tons of rice to Malaysia in an effort to meet the neighboring countrys demand and requirement for the commodity.
— Antaranews.com

Oldtown expands business in China
Oldtown Bhd is expanding its business in China by appointing a local partner, with the first outlet in Fujian targeted for opening in the third quarter of this year.
— The Star Online

Retirement fund KWAP buys into E&O project in RM877mil deal
Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) has taken up a stake in Eastern & Oriental Bhd’s (E&O) flagship property project in Penang and acquired a substantial equity interest in the listed developer in a deal worth a total of RM887.7mil.
— The Star Online

M’sia gears to ship out MSPO-certified palm oil to Europe by end-2017
Malaysia is gearing towards shipping out its first Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified consignment of palm oil to Europe by the end of this year.
— New Straits Times

RAM Ratings: M’sian banking system’s liquidity sound
RAM Ratings still sees the Malaysian banking system’s liquidity as sound, despite a decline in surplus liquidity placed with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) over the past few years.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia might face pensions crisis by 2050, Khairy warns
Malaysia might be facing a potential crisis with pensions by the year 2050 due to a higher population of retirees coupled with higher life expectancy rates, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin warned today.
— Malay Mail Online

Rent longer to avoid long-term property debt, Malaysians told
Malaysians should change their mindset when it comes to buying properties at a young age that results in a huge long-term debt, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said today.
— Malay Mail Online

Malaysia: Reject Security Bill Extension
The Malaysian government’s proposal to extend its authority to detain security suspects for 28 days violates the right to prompt judicial review, Human Rights Watch said today.
— Human Rights Watch

North Korea, Malaysia End Diplomatic Standoff
Malaysia sent the embalmed body of the slain estranged half brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un back to North Korea in exchange for nine Malaysians detained in Pyongyang, both countries said, breaking a weekslong diplomatic deadlock over a brazen killing.
— NETRALNEWS.COM

51 Indonesian Human Trafficking Victims Found at Malaysian Factory
At least 51 Indonesian citizens have been identified as victims of human trafficking at a bird’s nest factory in Selangor, Malaysia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday (30/03).
— Jakarta Globe

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