Malaysia Morning News For April 15

Najib’s trial continues tomorrow with defence to cross-examine first witness
The trial of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s case involving RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds will continue tomorrow with his defence team to cross-examine the first witness.
— Malay Mail

Giving absolute power to royals is a big No-No for PM Mahathir
With the ongoing row between Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the Johor royal family, Mahathir is unwavering in his position that absolute power should not be awarded to royals.
— The Independent

Vietnam woman in Kim brother murder to be freed on May 3
A Vietnamese woman accused of killing the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will walk free on May 3, her lawyer said Saturday.
— The Independent

US urged to remove Malaysia from ‘K’ list
The Foreign Ministry is urging the United States to immediately remove Malaysia from the ‘K’ list and will summon the American envoy here for clarification.
— The Sun Daily

Uggah: All actions in tackling rabies virus epidemic complied with law, SOP
All actions taken by the State Disaster Management Committee in tacking rabies virus epidemic in the state complied with the Veterinary Public Health Ordinance 1999, National Security Order No. 20 (MKN 20) and the relevant agencies’ standard operating procedure (SOP), said State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.
— The Borneo Post

Almost 1,000 villagers benefit from Mercy Malaysia’s gravity water project
Almost 1,000 people from 119 families in Kampung Mengkulat, here, have been benefiting from the gravity water project initiated by Mercy Malaysia, Sabah Chapter.
— The Sun Daily

The media backstory behind Malaysia’s 1MDB corruption case
Last week, Malaysia’s former prime minister, Najib Razak, went on trial in one of the biggest corruption scandals the world has seen.
— Al Jazeera America

Malaysia’s eastern railway project back on track
Malaysia will resume work on the multi-billion dollar East Coast Rail Link after negotiations with the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and Beijing brought the cost down by a third.
— Investvine

Digi tests 5G network preparedness ahead of 5G Malaysia Showcase
Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (Digi) demonstrated its 5G network preparedness, which it will debut at the 5G Malaysia Showcase taking place from April 18 to 21, 2019.
— The Borneo Post

Blast at Rapid complex may dent Petronas Chemicals’ earnings
An extensive investigation into the causes of the explosion and fire incident at the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project in Pengerang is expected to be launched, which could delay the commencement of petrochemical production for Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd’s (PetChem).
— The Sun Daily

Kelantan hails Putrajaya’s decision to resume ECRL project
Rail link will have a major impact on the state and its people, says Menteri Besar Ahmad Yakob.
— FMT News

Illegal Malaysian workers in Australia reveal they shun wages at home, not type of jobs
SOUTHEAST Asian countries that once used the economic growth strategy to transform themselves into tiger economies are finding it hard to continue the same strategy without placing a severe burden on the people and environment.
— New Straits Times

Malaysian police working with Indonesian counterpart over postal ballot papers
The Malaysian police are working with their Indonesian counterparts as part of their probe into the discovery of stray postal voting papers in Selangor last week, just days ahead of Indonesia’s general election on Wednesday (April 17), police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun said.
— The Straits Times

Malaysia armed forces fund’s 2017 profit inflated almost 300 million ringgit, CEO says
Malaysia’s Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), the country’s armed forces fund, overstated its 2017 net profit by 291.61 million ringgit (US$70.64 million), according to the fund’s new chief executive officer, citing audit data.
— Asia Asset Management

GPS not based on institutional racism
The establishment of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) was not based on the spirit of institutional racism.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Anwar: Dr Sahruddin must be firm in discharging duties, ensuring people’s wellbeing
PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed hope that Dr Sahruddin Jamal will be able to discharge his new duties as the Mentri Besar of Johor firmly, especially in ensuring the wellbeing of the people.
— Malay Mail

Liew defends staff after Sarawak CM points finger at them for failed amendment Bill
De facto law minister Liew Vui Keong has hit back at Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg for blaming his staff for the failure of the amendment Bill which sought to restore the equal status of Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysia.
— Malay Mail

ECRL resumption will strengthen Malaysia-China relations — Tan
The resumption of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project will strengthen bilateral trades between Malaysia and China as well as deepen the existing economic ties, said special envoy to China, Tan Kok Wai.
— The Borneo Post

RM25.1 billion cost reduction – Forest reserves ‘spared the axe’
MALAYSIA would not have been able to trim RM25.1 billion off the East Coast Rail Link’s (ECRL) costs had it chosen to retain the former route which requires tunnelling through the Main Range, say experts.
— New Straits Times

Malaysian Government Urged To Review Wage Levels For Young Graduates
Malaysia’s Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) has urged the government to prioritize the review of wages among workers, especially those with lower skill portfolios and young graduates who do not have a lot of experience.
— Business Times

‘ECRL revival positive but not a game changer’
While the revival of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is positive to both the construction and building material sectors, it is no game-changer to these industries, AmInvestment Bank said.
— The Sun Daily

Najib trial to resume with questioning of registry official
The hearing from April 15 to May 10 involves charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money-laundering.
— FMT News

Kuching IKM boasts 99 pct employment of its graduates
Mara Skills Institute (IKM) Kuching recorded a graduate employability rate of 99 percent while IKM Bintulu obtained an employability rate of 94 per cent in 2018.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Dr M: Foreigners will become fourth force in Malaysia if locals shun certain jobs
Foreign workers will be a fourth force in the country if Malaysians continue to refuse jobs in sectors dominated by them, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— The Star Online

Public to channel concerns on bauxite mining via online complaint site
The Bauxite Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Executive Review Committee will create a special online complaint site for the public to voice any concern arising from bauxite mining activities here, soon.
— The Sun Daily

Terengganu not bypassed, to have six ECRL stations: Daim
KUALA TERENGGANU: Six East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) stations will be built in Terengganu, hence proving that the state is not being bypassed in implementing the project as alleged by some quarters.
— The Sun Daily

Settlers involved in bauxite mining still in a quandary
The fate of 323 settlers at three land schemes involved in bauxite mining activities three years ago, became the main topic of discussion during the public hearing on mining and bauxite standard operating procedures (SOP) held here today.
— The Sun Daily

Tips on a stressless tax season
Tax season may be one of the most stressful times for taxpayers, especially when there are changes to the tax system, but planning ahead and equipping oneself with knowledge is key to avoiding mistakes when the time comes to file income tax.
— The Sun Daily

Share seismic data on oil and gas resources, Sarawak CM urges Petronas
Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Abang Johari Openg today asked Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to share its seismic data on oil and gas reserves in the state’s territorial boundary with Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros).
— Malay Mail

Education the best investment but can turn destructive, says Dr M
The prime minister says there have been many instances where much destruction has been done by ‘very smart individuals’.
— FMT News

CM: S’wak govt working with established industry players to manage O&G resources effectively
The Sarawak government, through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) is taking a more holistic approach by working with established industry players such as Petronas and Shell, in an effort to manage the Sarawak’s oil and gas resources effectively so that it could benefit its people and state’s economy.
— The Borneo Post

Peka B40 health screening starts tomorrow, says minister
The Peka B40 health screening programme for the poor will start nationwide tomorrow, Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad announced today.
— Malay Mail

Police receive 209 reports against Facebook account holder over insult of Agong
The police have received 209 reports against the ‘Sabah-Sarawak Merdeka’ Facebook account holder who allegedly uploaded an offensive superimposed image of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
— The Borneo Post

Masing warns against One M’sia concept
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Masing has cautioned Sarawakians on the danger of accepting Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad’s version of One Malaysia.
— The Borneo Post

Minister: Law against racist housing practices to be tabled by year end
KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — A new Bill to combat racial discrimination in housing is expected to undergo its first reading in Parliament by year end, Zuraida Kamaruddin said.
— Malay Mail

Preach in non-Arabic languages too, Muslims advised
Languages play a crucial role in developing understanding of Islam, said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Dr Sahruddin promises to do his best for Johor (Updated)
Dr Sahruddin Jamal pledged to carry out his responsibilities “to the best of my abilities” on his appointment as the new mentri besar of Johor today.
— The Sun Daily

Kadir Jasin withholds applause for Johor new MB until people’s aspirations met
Datuk A. Kadir Jasin today said he had no congratulatory words for Johor’s new mentri besar, Dr Sahruddin Jamal, but a reminder of the Johor Palace’s support for Umno and Barisan Nasional in the last general election.
— Malay Mail

Only 35 out of 200,000 e-hailing vehicles sent for inspection
The government will enforce stricter rules for e-hailing services from July.
— FMT News

Explosion at Rapid could dampen PetChem’s earnings growth
The massive explosion at Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project could put a dent in Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd’s (PetChem) earnings growth, analysts observed.
— The Borneo Post

Defeat in Rantau proves people running out of patience with PH — SUPP Youth chief
Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) defeat in the Rantau by-election should serve as a wake-up call to the federal government of the day that the people are running out of patience.
— The Borneo Post

Pujut 5 Surau set to be another landmark for Miri
The Pujut 5 Surau here to be built with Chinese temple design also houses an Islamic Information Centre for Muslims and non-Muslims besides providing a prayer hall and a place for religious activities.
— The Borneo Post

CMS Roads to continue bidding for more projects
CMS Roads Sdn Bhd (CMS Roads) will continue bidding for road related projects and promoting the benefits of the ‘Performance Based Contract’ platform.
— The Borneo Post

Netizens taken with speech-impaired Grab driver’s wit
A Grab driver from Miri has captured the attention of netizens with his witty and honest description of himself and his speech impediment.
— The Borneo Post

Feature photo Tourism Malaysia Wilayah Selatan – Melaka

This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges the Declaration of Malacca as Historical City (Malacca), April 15.

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