Malaysia Morning News For October 9

MoF approves 45 PPP projects (updated)
Some 45 out of the 67 public private partnership (PPP) projects under the Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) that are under review have been approved.
— The Star Online

Govt not selling affordable housing units in cities
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin called on state governments to submit their respective lists of land that will be used to build affordable housing by the end of October.
— The Star Online

GDP growth is not considered successful: Azmin
The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth alone cannot be considered successful unless it is translated into real benefits for the people, said Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
— New Straits Times

Private sector to still lead economic growth
Malaysia’s private sector will continue to lead the country towards becoming a high-income economy and achieve developed nation status, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
— New Straits Times

WHO praises Malaysia for stopping HIV, syphilis transmission from mothers
Malaysia today became the first country in the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Region to be certified as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
— FMT

Ambiga slams Mujahid over latest LGBT remarks
National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Ambiga Sreenevasan has condemned Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa over his remarks that any advocacy for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is “extreme” and should be curbed.
— FMT

Policies should have global perspectives: BNM governor
Monetary and fiscal policies should have global perspectives as any fallout often spread across the borders, says Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia’s transport minister plans to impose life bans against drivers in fatal accidents
The Road Transport Act should be amended to ensure drivers responsible for causing deaths are banned from driving for life, says Anthony Loke.
— Asia One

Eonmetall secures loans for phase one of FGV mills deal
Eonmetall Group Bhd has secured bank borrowings to finance the first phase of the project to build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) palm fibre oil extraction plants at six selected mills for FGV Holdings Bhd which would require RM8.8 million per project.
— The Sun Daily

Ringgit lower against US$ on higher US rate and stronger greenback
The ringgit opened easier against the US dollar early Monday amid the higher US rate and stronger greenback, a dealer said.
— The Star Online

Gamuda plunges 22%, MMC Corp fell 11% on MMC-Gamuda contract termination
Gamuda Bhd fell 22% in early trade Monday after the Government cancelled MMC-Gamuda’s contract for MRT2’s underground portion.
— The Star Online

‘No austerity drive, Malaysia just spending wisely’
Malaysia is not on an austerity drive but instead is adopting smart spending, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
— FMT

MREITs outlook clouded by oversupply of office, retail spaces in Klang Valley
Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts’ (MREITs) outlook is clouded by the oversupply of office and retail spaces in the Klang Valley, placing a dampener on the sector’s prospects, analysts observed in a sector update.
— The Borneo Post

MALAYSIA MUST WIN HEARTS AND MINDS TO CONFRONT REGIONAL TERRORISM
It is vital that we do not ignore the relevant political aspects involved when we consider measures to counter terrorism. The Malayan Emergency (1948-1960) offers us the lesson that defeating terrorism is about winning hearts and minds. We should of course use the military approach, but at the same time, we need to consider the political background to the situation.
— South China Morning News

Malaysia need not follow Indonesia reforms, says journalist
MALAYSIA’s historic government change on May 9 might have been inspired by the reform movement in Indonesia 20 years ago, but the country need not follow the republic’s reform agenda.
— The Malaysian Insight

Bursa suspend Gamuda and MMC as shares hit limit down
The short-selling of Gamuda Bhd and MMC Corp Bhd shares was suspended for the rest of today after their share prices fell more than 15 per cent in early trade.
— New Straits Times

MARC WOO APPOINTED COUNTRY HEAD OF GOOGLE MALAYSIA
GOOGLE announced the appointment of Marc Woo (pic) as the new country head of Google Malaysia. Marc replaces Sajith Sivanandan, who after nearly eight years here has moved into a new role as head of payments, access and next billion users, Google India.
— Digital NewsAsia

Malaysia’s current account to remain in surplus this year: Lim
The government expects Malaysia’s current account to remain in surplus this year and not suffer from twin deficit.
— New Straits Times

Singapore, Malaysia shares fall as Chinese markets weaken
Singapore shares fell Monday amid drop in banks and Malaysia too edged lower as slump in Chinese markets and concerns over rising U.S. interest rates weighed on investors sentiment across Asia.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

UNIMAS grand winner of #ShellSelamatSampai contest
University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) became the overall grand winner of the #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge which is part of Shell Malaysia’s #mydigitalmaker Fair 2018.
— The Borneo Post

Healthcare sector earnings growth expected to be dull
The healthcare sector’s earnings growth is expected to be unexciting and further capped by expensive valuations, analysts say.
— The Borneo Post

Construction stocks hit, Gamuda falls the most
Construction stocks took a hit on Monday with Gamuda taking the brunt of the selling pressure as the government revised the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 2 project.
— The Star Online

Foreign funds net sellers on Bursa
Foreign investors turned net sellers last week, albeit at a marginal pace, after three uninterrupted weeks of foreign net inflows, according to MIDF Research.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Pos Malaysia Berhad

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges World Post Day, October 9.

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.