Malaysia Morning News For March 2

Malaysia auto sales among worst in Asean in 2017
The sale of vehicles increased in all Asean countries except Malaysia and Brunei last year.
— Free Malaysia Today

Big oil and gas players seen back on assets acquisition this year
Assets acquisition in the oil and gas industry may continue this year as big players seek to increase their capital expenditure while oil prices are rebounding.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia’s AirAsia sells aircraft leasing unit for $1.2b
AirAsia Bhd, Malaysia’s flagship budget airline, said on Thursday it has agreed to sell its aircraft leasing operations for $1.2 billion to firms managed by BBAM Limited Partnership.
— DealStreetAsia

Malaysia to press EU on planned palm oil ban in biofuels
Malaysia will press the European Union not to ban palm oil in biofuels during talks this week, the country’s trade minister said today, warning the move would hit the rural poor.
— Business Standard

Big firms, the rich, enjoy lion’s share of economic growth
MOST Malaysian households and companies saw little of the stellar economic growth of 2017, said economists, even as the government played up these numbers as proof the country is doing well.
— The Malaysian Insight

Seven in 10 firms expect Malaysian business to pick up in 2018
Business confidence in Malaysia is growing with 73 per cent of firms expecting business activity to increase in 2018, according to the 2018 Hays Asia Salary Guide released today.
— Malay Mail

AirAsia sells 182 Airbus jets in USD1.2 billion leasing deal
AirAsia has struck a deal to sell up to 182 Airbus jets in one of the largest aircraft financing transactions ever.
— TravelMole

Malaysia’s Maxis Communications set to lose $7b in Aircel bankruptcy
Malaysian tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan’s company is poised to lose a total of about $7 billion from a failed 12-year foray in the Indian wireless market, marking his biggest-ever hit on a soured investment, people with knowledge of the matter said.
— DealStreetAsia

Pasukhas to acquire 60% of Indonesian coal trader
Pasukhas Group Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary Pasukhas Products Sdn Bhd is acquiring 60% equity interest in Indonesia-based coal trader PT Berkah Bumi Leluhur for 3.3 billion rupiah or RM1 million.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia awaits OECD on new industries taxation
Malaysia is looking forward to the introduction of a new tax system for new industries in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, which is applicable to the country, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
— New Straits Times

Maybankers get early bonus after record profit
Employees of Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) are getting an early reward following the bank’s record performance for 2017.
— The Star Online

RHB also refute Sarawak Report’s baseless allegations
RHB Banking Group has today refuted allegations made by a portal Sarawak Report implicating its involvement in an alleged financial scandal involving the Employees Provident Fund and various other parties.
— New Straits Times

M101 brings world’s first Monopoly-themed hotel to Malaysia
Property developer M101 Holdings Sdn Bhd is partnering with the US toy company Hasbro Inc for the world’s first Monopoly-themed hotel, which will be located at its existing mixed development project called M101 Bukit Bintang.
— The Sun Daily

Water cuts in KL, Selangor starting Tuesday
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor residents will face water supply disruptions starting next Tuesday for up to three days because of emergency repair works at a water treatment plant.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia Pulp and Paper Industry Business Report 2017 – ResearchAndMarkets.com
This report is a comprehensive research of pulp-and-paper industry in Malaysia.
— Business Wire

Datasonic Q3 profits leapt 84pc to RM14.7m on new passport booklets project
Datasonic Group Bhd’s third quarter profits ended December 2017 jumped 84 per cent to RM14.65 million from RM7.97 million a year ago, thanks to income from a new passport booklets project and effective cost control.
— New Straits Times

Feature photo Jakub Michankow

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).

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.