Malaysia Morning News For August 15

Johor Port Authority, Smart Crest sign deal to develop RM2b Bunker Island
Johor Port Authority (JPA) has entered into an agreement with a private company, Smart Crest Sdn Bhd, to develop a RM2 billion Bunker Island, near Tanjung Bin in Johor.
— The Sun Daily

MCMC denies issuing approval for Sabah telco tower project
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) denies that it had issued a letter of approval for the construction of 25 telecommunication towers and related works in Semporna, Sabah.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia’s CPI up 1.4% in July
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.4% in July 2019 to 121.5 as against 119.8 in the same month of the preceding year.
— The Sun Daily

Air quality in Miri remains at hazardous level at on noon today
The air quality in Miri, Sarawak continues to be at hazardous level as of noon today.
— Malay Mail

‘Size of Malaysian public service ideal’
The size of the Malaysian public service is still ideal and not too big compared to other countries, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Md Farid Md Rafik.
— The Borneo Post

Suspend driving licences of road ragers, say analysts
Motorists involved in road rage incidents should be suspended from driving and be required to undergo anger management treatment and evaluation before they can put their hands on the steering wheels again.
— The Sun Daily

Lynas engineers urge Malaysians to put faith in science over misinformation
The engineering and technical team of the Lynas Malaysia plant in Gebeng, Pahang asked Malaysians today to trust scientific experts instead of listening to anti-Lynas activists’ claims.
— Malay Mail

US Coast Guard looks forward to strengthening ties with Malaysian counterparts
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is looking forward to bolstering and expanding the cooperation with its Malaysian counterparts, namely the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN),
— Malay Mail

MISC posts RM24.4% jump in Q2 net profit
MISC Bhd recorded a 24.5% increase in net profit to RM399.8 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 compared with RM321.2 million in the same quarter of the previous year, attributed to improvements from its liquefied natural gas (LNG) and petroleum segments.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia conducts autopsy to find cause of teen’s death
Malaysian doctors conducted a lengthy autopsy on Wednesday to determine the cause of death of a 15-year-old London teen whose naked body was found nine days after she mysteriously disappeared from a nature resort.
— Gulf Today

Malaysia Announces Intention to Require Listed Companies to Implement Anti-Corruption Measures
On 22 July 2019, the Securities Commission Malaysia (the “Securities Commission”) announced that it would implement an action plan to strengthen standards of corporate governance to prevent corruption, misconduct and fraud in Malaysia.
— jdsupra

Public Bank posts lower Q2 earnings on higher expenses
Public Bank Bhd’s net profit for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 fell 4.5% to RM1.33 billion from RM1.40 billion a year ago mainly due to higher interest and operating expenses.
— The Sun Daily

Social activist: Emulate Thailand’s toilet hygiene practices
Malaysia should emulate developing countries, such as its close neighbour, Thailand, in promoting good hygiene practices in public toilets, said social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
— Malay Mail

Malaysian jailed, fined in Singapore for filming unconscious woman being raped
He knew the woman had passed out, but did nothing to help when two of his friends began raping and sexually assaulting her in a room at a Downtown East chalet last year.
–Malay Mail

Entries still open for Malaysia’s Growth Champions
SMALL and medium-sized companies with high revenue growth in the period between 2015-2018 currently have the chance to apply for inclusion in the ranking Malaysia’s Growth Champions.
— The Star Online

PetChem reports 22% drop in Q2 earnings
Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PetChem) reported a 22.3% decline in net profit to RM1.12 billion for the second quarter ended June 30, 2019 against RM1.44 billion recorded in the same period last year due to lower sales revenue and higher tax expense.
— The Sun Daily

Minister says letting Zakir Naik stay after alleged incitement sets bad example for Malaysia
Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar joined others in pressing Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to immediately deport controversial Muslim preacher Dr Zakir Naik.
— Malay Mail

Outlook still lacklustre for planters as sector enters high production period
Outlook remains less-than-optimistic for plantation sector players with various factors in play suppressing the prices of crude palm oil (CPO).
— The Borneo Post

Police probe NGO leader on alleged remark over road rage incident
The police have opened an investigation against NGO leader Datuk Lokman Noor Adam on an alleged remark he made in a video clip uploaded onto social media over a recent road rage incident.
— The Borneo Post

Umno suing former MPs ‘unprecedented, but novel’, say lawyers
A report that Umno had reportedly sued three of its MPs who had defected to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has raised the question of whether a political party can sue former members for breach of trust because they had jumped ship.
— The Borneo Post

DPM: Bombardier aircraft for firefighting in Miri today
The fire in the peat soil shrub area in Kuala Baram, Miri, Sarawak, which has dragged on from Aug 3, has resulted in haze enveloping the area to a dangerous level (hazardous).
— The Borneo Post

Len Talif: State govt doing everything it can to tackle haze situation
The Sarawak government is doing everything in its power to tackle the haze situation currently affecting numerous areas in the state, says Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh.
— The Borneo Post

MRC Kapit to organise refresher course for electricicians
The Malaysian Red Crescent Kapit Chapter (MRC Kapit) held its committee meeting on Monday evening at the conference room of Kapit Red Crescent Headquarters along Jalan Penghulu Nyanggau here.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Sarawak had 2.2 mln visitors last Jan to June
A total of 2,230,206 visitors arrived in Sarawak from Jan to June 2019. Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the number had.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Raw water supply at Selangau Water Treatment Plant beginning to dry up as heat wave continues
Prolonged hot weather in the state is beginning to affect the raw water supply that provides water to the Selangau Water Treatment Plant.
— The Borneo Post

PM Mahathir accuses Chinese schools association of racism over khat controversy
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has hit out again at the Chinese schools association over its opposition to the teaching of khat calligraphy, saying that legal action could be taken if the association instigates negative racial sentiment.
— CNA

Stay calm after traffic accident, public told
Road users need to be calm and sensible when dealing with traffic accidents, Selangor police CID chief SAC Fadzil Ahmat said yesterday.
— The Sun Daily

State assemblymen: Don’t politicise dilapidated schools issue, issue directive to begin repairs now
Two state assemblymen have expressed their disappointment with the delay of repairs of dilapidated schools in Sarawak.
— The Borneo Post

Military personnel are not cheap labour, says Patriot
The National Patriots Association (Patriot) has lashed out at businessman Koon Yew Yin for his views on the military.
— The Star Online

Property consultant living in fear after friend turns foe over lost investment in Australia
Teng Hwa Lin rues the day he agreed to help a friend invest in an online foreign exchange currency scheme based in Australia.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia, BARMM keen on pursuing business pacts
The Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has expressed interest in bringing in big manufacturing enterprises in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) by tapping the region’s vast work force to make processed halal food and rubber products, among others.
— Business Mirror

Property consultant fears for family’s safety after investment deal goes sour
A property consultant fears for the safety of his family after a friend allegedly sent gangsters to his house over an online foreign exchange investment scheme that had gone awry.
— The Star Online

PSM demands IJM, Gamuda founder apologise for belittling military
Tycoon Koon Yew Yin must apologise publicly for disparaging Malaysia’s armed forces in his blog post, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) said today.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia cabinet to discuss residency of controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik
Malaysia’s cabinet will discuss the permanent residency of controversial Indian Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on Wednesday, said a minister who believed Naik should return to India to face charges of money laundering and hate speech.
— CNA

Ringgit opens higher on better 2Q19 GDP forecast
The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar today on the expectation of a better second-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) to be announced by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) this Friday, a dealer said.
— The Sun Daily

Analysts cautious on auto sector
Analysts are cautious on the automotive sector following the appointment of DreamEdge as the Malaysian anchor company for the New National Car Project (NNCP) which was announced last Friday.
— The Sun Daily

Ajinomoto to invest RM355m in new Seremban plant
Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd will construct a new plant on its acquired land in Techpark @ Enstek, Seremban, at a total capital investment of RM355 million.
— The Sun Daily

RM1.04b net selling by foreign funds on Bursa last week
Foreign investors sold RM1.04 billion net of equities on Bursa Malaysia last week, the largest weekly foreign net outflow in 12 weeks.
— The Sun Daily

Facebook paid contractors to transcribe user audio files
Big tech companies have come under fire for collecting audio snippets from consumer computing devices and subjecting those clips to human review, a practice that critics say invades privacy.
— FMT News

Employers keen on hiring overseas returnees
A clear majority of employers in Malaysia are eager to employ an overseas returnee in the coming year, citing “different perspectives on business” to be the top benefit that returnee talent can bring to the table.
— The Sun Daily

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