Malaysia Morning News For October 3

Malaysia to develop 30 new aerospace manufacturing SMEs by 2020
The government targets to develop 30 new manufacturing small and medium enterprise (SME) players in the aerospace sector by 2020, in addition to the current 20 companies.
— The Star Online

CIMB introduces QR payment acceptance at terminals
CIMB Bank Bhd has introduced quick response (QR) payment acceptance at CIMB terminals, a first-in-the market QR payment acceptance to accept Six major mobile wallets on one terminal.
— New Straits Times

Ministry to introduce comprehensive property database
The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is currently working on a comprehensive database to help first-time house buyers own a property.
— The Star Online

Rosmah Mansor to be questioned at Malaysia’s anti-graft agency a third time
Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak, has been asked to go for a third round of questioning by anti-graft officials on Wednesday (Oct 3), her lawyer confirmed to Channel NewsAsia on Tuesday.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia and China trade tops RM385 billion according to Matrade, particularly technology
Malaysia-China bilateral trade reached RM385 billion (US$96 billion) in 2017, an increase of 10.5 per cent and accounting for 18.7 per cent of the total trade between China and the ASEAN.
— OpenGovAsia

Halal food boom: Malaysia predicts rapid growth in exports and foreign demand for certifications
Malaysia is expecting an increase of 10% in halal exports and a significant increase in demand for halal certifications by foreign countries this year.
— Food Navigator

Malaysia Rice Bowl Startup Awards Fetes Nation’s Best
How to thrive in the age of constant digital disruption? How can young startups forge their own path?
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire (media release)

Malaysians sceptical of using technology for financial transactions
Malaysia’s financial technology ecosystem has grown tremendously over the past two years, but Malaysians continue to be sceptical over the use of technology to conduct their financial transactions.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s hyperspectral imaging might track lost Malaysian aircraft
According to a recent report, a professor at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas)’s Faculty of Resource Science and Technology has become the ‘go-to guy’ for locating missing aircraft in Malaysia. He is also the first person to develop the airborne hyperspectral imaging system and applications in the country.
— OpenGovAsia

Back to old habits, Malaysia’s Mahathir calls Jews ‘hook-nosed’
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad described Jews as “hook-nosed” on Tuesday (Oct 2) and blamed them for creating the troubles in the Middle East.
— Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia to investigate Australian rare earth miner Lynas
Malaysia is investigating a rare earths processing plant run by Australia’s Lynas Corp, which could threaten one of the only sources of supply of the critical elements outside of China.
— Financial Times

Malaysia and Singapore agree to share tech on waste management
Malaysia and Singapore vowed to partner on better waste management at the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment (MSJCE) held in Malaysia.
— OpenGovAsia

Don’t exempt govt-linked entities from governance process in their fundraising: Banker
Government and government-related entities should not be exempted from issuing a prospectus and disseminating proper information ahead of any securities issuance for fundraising activities, said Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd CEO Datuk Mohd Redza Shah Abdul Wahid.
— The Sun Daily

Syrian arrested after months trapped in Malaysia airport
A Syrian man has been arrested after almost seven months stranded in a Malaysian airport, an official said Tuesday (Oct 2), in a bizarre saga that drew comparisons with hit movie The Terminal.
— Channel NewsAsia

Special Report: The state of housing in Malaysia
THERE has been much discussion on the adequacy of current (affordable) housing supply and crucially, the lack of homeownership in Malaysia.
— The Edge Markets

Tax payers aged 40 and below on the rise since 2016
The number of registered tax payers aged 40 and below have increased to 3.61 million for the 2017 assessment year from 3.58 million in 2016, said Inland Revenue Board (IRB) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Sabin Samitah.
— The Star Online

Petronas, JV participants reach final investment decision on LNG Canada
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and its joint venture participants have taken a final investment decision on LNG Canada, a major liquefied natural gas project in Kitimat, British Colombia, in Canada.
— The Star Online

Long road ahead for Asian drivers revving up to go electric
When Benjamin Jacob stops his new scooter at traffic lights in Malaysia’s capital, fellow drivers sometimes flash their lights or honk their horns at him, though he has done nothing wrong.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysians prefer to work for socially responsible companies
At least eight in 10 employees and job seekers in Malaysia surveyed (84%) in the latest Randstad Workmonitor study only want to work for a company that has a strong corporate social responsibility programme.
— The Sun Daily

MGA seeks clarity over energy mix policy and market pricing to attract investments
More clarity is needed over the government’s energy mix policy as well as market pricing to attract more investments in the country, Malaysian Gas Association president Hazli Sham Kassim said.
— New Straits Times

Berjaya Sompo aims to be top 5 general insurer
Berjaya Sompo Insurance Bhd aims to become one of the top five general insurance providers in Malaysia by 2023 with RM1.5 billion in gross written premiums by focusing on customer centricity, innovative products, digitalisation as well as building a robust talent strategy.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Tang An Shi

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges World Habitat Day, October 1.

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.