Malaysia Morning News For January 19

Malaysia vows necessary actions to safeguard palm oil sector
Malaysia will take necessary actions to secure the future of palm oil sector, the plantation industries and commodities minister said Thursday after the European Union’s parliament voted to exclude palm oil in its bio-fuel mix.
— Nikkei Asian Review

Malaysia state investor Khazanah raises $320.8m in exchangeable sukuk
Malaysia’s state investor Khazanah Nasional Bhd said on Thursday it has raised $320.8 million through a sukuk that is exchangeable into CITIC Securities Co Ltd’s Hong-Kong listed H-shares.
— DealStreetAsia

Malaysia’s Digital Free Trade Zone
Malaysia’s Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) went live in November 2017 as a joint undertaking between the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and China’s Alibaba Group.
— Asean Briefing

ABM: Banks follow stringent procedures in approving loans
Loans approved by banks are assessed stringently and in accordance to their internal approving guidelines and procedures, according to the Association of Banks Malaysia (ABM).
— The Star Online

Govt losing RM8b a year in tax revenue from illicit trade : IDEAS
The Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) estimates the government is losing some RM8 billion in tax revenue annually due to the black market, which looks to be thriving particularly in the tobacco, food and beverage and motor vehicle industries.
— The Sun Daily

Chemical Company of Malaysia to reactivate Pasir Gudang plant
Chemical Company of Malaysia Bhd’s (CCM) wholly owned subsidiary CCM Chemical Sdn Bhd (CCMC) has approved the reactivation of its Pasir Gudang Works 1 plant, in a bid to grow its chlor-alkali business.
— The Sun Daily

Golden era for Malaysia-Singapore ties
The prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore convened this week for the eighth annual Leaders’ Retreat, where a range of cross-border projects, joint developments and bilateral initiatives underscored the high level of co-operation currently enjoyed between the two sides.
— Asia Times

PNB, EPF keen to take over phase two of Battersea Power Station project
Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and the Employees Provident Fund, (EPF) long-term investors in the Battersea Power Station project in London, have shown interest in taking over the commercial assets being developed by Battersea Phase 2 Holding Co Ltd for £1.61 billion (RM8.8 billion).
— The Sun Daily

Trump says solar tariff decision coming soon: M’sia a main exporter
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would announce a decision soon on whether to slap tariffs on imported solar panels, and quipped that when countries dump subsidized panels in the United States, “Everybody goes out of business.”
— The Star Online

Malaysia state fund Ekuinas sells Tenby Education to International Schools Partnership
Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas), Malaysia’s state-owned private equity fund management firm, has sold its 100 per cent equity interest in Tenby Education Group (Tenby) to International Schools Partnership (ISP) for an undisclosed amount.
— DealStreetAsia

Malaysia Airlines passengers terrified in flight diversion to Australian town
A Malaysia Airlines flight from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur made an emergency landing today in an Australian outback town, with passengers reportedly claiming the crew were “preparing to crash”.
— Malay Mail Online

NAP 2018 to focus on strategic partnerships with global players
A review of the National Automotive Policy (NAP) will be announced in mid-2018, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said, in a bid to update NAP 2014 and focus on areas which need further development.
— The Sun Daily

Media Prima Television Networks eyes 40pc market share
Media Prima Television Networks (MPTN) is eyeing 40 per cent audience market share with new content offerings to be delivered across all its media platforms in 2018.
— New Straits Times

Feature photo Bernard Spragg. NZ

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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. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.