Malaysia Morning News For March 30

Malaysian central bank says foiled attempted cyber-heist
Malaysia’s central bank said on Thursday it was the victim of a cyber attack in which hackers sought to steal money using fraudulent wire transfers, the latest in a series of electronic heists at financial institutions around the world.
— Business Standard

Kuala Lumpur living wage below median of RM9,073
Bank Negara is recommending that employers provide a living wage that better reflects the cost of living.
— The Star Online

Chinese Companies Invest RM22 Billion In 180 Manufacturing Projects
A total of 180 investment projects from China worth RM22 billion have been approved in the country’s manufacturing sector from 2010 to 2017.
— Malaysian Digest

Malaysia on track to achieve 50 per cent of approved investments
Malaysia is on track to achieve 50 per cent of its approved investment target of RM200 billion for 2018 by end-month, following Saudi Aramco’s RM28 billion investment.
— The Borneo Post

Top 10 e-commerce sites in Malaysia 2018
With its dynamic economy and developed infrastructures for digital technologies, Malaysia is a very attractive market for e-commerce in Southeast Asia.
— Asean Up

PNB distributes RM14.6b in dividends and bonus for FY17
Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) distributed dividends and bonus amounting to RM14.6bil for FY17, bringing the cumulative dividends paid out since its inception to RM172.1bil, says its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar.
— The Star Online

Malaysia cuts proposed penalty for fake news to 6 years
Malaysia’s government has cut the proposed punishment for fake news offenders from 10 to six years in prison following an outcry from rights groups and opposition lawmakers who say the bill aims to silence dissent ahead of a general election.
— Business Standard

Gaining FDI Is Not Equal To Selling Country’s Sovereignty – Najib
Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) does not mean the government is selling the country’s sovereignty, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
— Malaysian Digest

Sharp offers 33pc discounts for next 33 days
Sharp Malaysia launched today its 33rd anniversary campaign, offering 33 per cent discounts to Malaysian customers for the next 33 days.
— Malay Mail

Latest indices underpinned by increasingly broad-based business confidence
The second quarter (2Q)-3Q 2018 RAM Business Confidence Index (RAM BCI) – the second survey this year – remained positive, suggesting that Malaysia’s economic momentum remains on track.
— The Borneo Post

Register with SSM, online traders told
Entrepreneurs doing their business online are encouraged to register with Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
— The Borneo Post

Rising global demand set to propel Malaysia’s medical devices sector exports to reach RM21.37b
The rising global healthcare demand is set to propel the Malaysian medical devices sector’s exports to RM21.37 billion this year after hitting a record RM19.78 billion last year, says Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (MATRADE).
— Malay Mail

Recovery in O&G uplift Sapura Energy prospects: analysts
Analysts are upbeat on the prospects of Sapura Energy Bhd’s performance, believing that the oil and gas (O&G) service provider’s downside is over, underpinned by gradual recovery of oil prices.
— New Straits Times

Sarawak has gas distribution authority, says committee
The Steering Committee on the Implementation of the Devolution of Authority between the federal government and the governments of Sabah and Sarawak say the Sarawak state government has the authority to distribute gas in the state under the Gas Distribution Ordinance 2016.
— Free Malaysia Today

SD Plantation estates and mills fully-MSPO certified
Sime Darby Plantation Bhd’s (SD Plantation) estates are now fully Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certified, reflecting best practices of balancing the needs of People, Profits and Planet.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia Bourse May Snap Losing Streak
The Malaysia stock market has moved lower in back-to-back trading days, easing just 6 points or 0.3 percent along the way. The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index now rests just above the 1,855-point plateau although it figures to stop the bleeding on Friday.
— Markets Insider

EWI loss widens in Q1 from lower forex gains
Eco World International Bhd’s loss in the first quarter ended January 2018 widened to RM16.21 million from RM6.06 million a year ago, due to lower foreign exchange gains.
— New Straits Times

UMS RM20,000 business grants
A total of RM20,000 in entrepreneurship grants have been allocated by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to assist entrepreneurial activities at the faculty level.
— Daily Express

Bank Islam to issue 50,000 Visa-BAM debit cards by year-end
Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd targets to issue 50,000 new Visa Debit Card-i (Islamic) by year-end under its latest co-branding effort with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
— New Straits Times

Feature photo Jakub Michankow

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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.