Malaysia Morning News For August 6

ACCCIM: Malaysian businesses positive with higher capex spent in 1H19
Businesses’ cautiousness about their capital expenditure (capex) spending plans have turned positive in the first half of 2019 (1H19) with 58.8% of respondents having increased their capex, according to a survey by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM).
— The Sun Daily

Bombing suspects travelled to Malaysia several times, say Thai cops
The two suspects who were arrested for allegedly planting explosive devices at the sidewalk near the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Rama I Road here on Thursday (Aug 1) evening had travelled to Malaysia several times, according to Thai police.
— The Star Online

No new tax measures in 2020 Budget
There will be no new tax measures in the upcoming 2020 Budget, said Finance Minister, Lim Guan Eng.
— New Sarawak Tribune

No change, appellate court rules Najib’s 1MDB trial to begin Aug 19
The Court of Appeal affirmed today the High Court’s decision to start Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption trial in precisely 14 more days, whether or not his trial in the SRC.
— Malay Mail

Axiata, Telenor merger can trigger M&A in banking sector
A successful merger between Axiata Group Bhd and Telenor ASA’s Asian operation could trigger merger and acquisition interests among banking companies, an online equity broker said.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Questions remain on govt’s focus on aerospace industry
The government’s focus on elevating the aerospace industry has raised questions, with an economist doubting its sustainability in the long run.
— The Sun Daily

Chinese companies relocating operations to Malaysia amid trade war
Companies in China are relocating most of their operations to Malaysia amid the country’s trade war with the United States (US).
— The Star Online

UOB Malaysia collab with trade associations to help Sabah biz
United Overseas Bank Malaysia Bhd (UOB Malaysia) yesterday said it will collaborate with three trade associations in Sabah to help local businesses finance their operations both locally and overseas.
— The Borneo Post

Sabah passes First Supplementary Supply (2019) Bill
The State Legislative Assembly yesterday passed the First Supplementary Supply (2019) Bill 2019, approving an additional budget of RM337,423,659.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia voices trust in South China Sea pact
Malaysia is confident it can reach an agreement with China to settle tensions in the South China Sea after its neighbours warned that incidents in the disputed waters had “eroded trust.”
— The Straits Times

Govt urged to review regional allowance, housing allowance for civil servants
Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services Malaysia (Cuepacs) has urged the government to immediately review regional allowance and housing allowance for the civil servants, including those in Sarawak.
— The Borneo Post

Petronas says not buying India’s Bina oil refinery
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has refuted a news report that it may acquire India’s Bina oil refinery. “While India remains a key market for Petronas, we have no intention of acquiring any stake in the said refinery,” the oil major said in a statement.
— The Sun Daily

Govt to introduce bamboo community farming under 12MP
Bamboo community farming will be introduced by the government under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and include in-situ processing facilities to create more value-added activities along the supply chain of the industry.
— The Borneo Post

Logistics players do battle with start-ups
As traditional forwarding agents reach for a share in the booming e-commerce business, they are competing with rising technology-centric express logistics companies and start-ups to win the trust of e-commerce players across the region.
— The Sun Daily

Govt studying possibility of enacting a Domestic Workers Act
The government is studying the possibility of enacting a standalone Act that governs domestic workers, says M. Kulasegaran.
— The Star Online

In anti-rabies drive, Sarawak demands oil palm planters report all dogs they own
Oil palm plantation owners are now required to report the number of dogs on their estate to the Sarawak government — regardless of whether they are kept as pets or strays.
— Malay Mail

Rakuten Trade cuts KLCI year-end forecast to 1,720 points
Rakuten Trade has revised downward its KLCI year-end forecast to 1,720 points from 1,760 points.”This is due to the weaker corporate earnings in the bourse and external factors,” said its head of research Kenny Yee (pix) at Rakuten’s second half market outlook briefing today.
— The Sun Daily

Fish-bombing deaths have not affected tourist arrivals, says Sabah minister
The Semporna fish-bombing incident, which saw two Chinese tourists and a local dive instructor killed, appears to have had minimal impact on the tourism outlook there.
— The Star Online

561 individuals detained, drugs worth RM39,163 seized in Ops Ice Breaker
A total of 561 people were detained and drugs worth RM39,163 were seized in a week-long operation code-named “Op Ice Breaker” conducted by the Sarawak police since last July 29.
— The Sun Daily

Amid US trade tensions, Chinese firms looking to Malaysia among Asean bases
Companies in China are relocating most of their operations to Malaysia amid the country’s trade war with the United States (US).
— Malay Mail

Putrajaya sold RM5.7b worth of homes under ownership campaign, but far from cutting glut
The government’s home ownership drive saw over 8,000 units sold with developers clocking in transactions worth RM5.7 billion, making it a success as this is RM2 billion more than the target set at the start of the six-month.
— Malay Mail

Penans also benefit from inclusive policies
The Sarawak government’s inclusive policies have bridged the rural-urban divide which includes bringing development to the minority community like the Penans.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Moderate air quality nationwide today
The air quality nationwide was moderate today, according to the Department of Environment.The DoE portal recorded that the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading has dropped below 100 nationwide since this morning.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia robbers ram lorry into car, steal RM1 million worth of jewellery in armed heist
Four masked men armed with machetes made off with about RM1 million (US$239,500) worth of jewellery in Malaysia on Monday (Aug 5) after they rammed a lorry into a car that was transporting the valuables.
— CNA

Rabies threat: Plantation owners must report total number of dogs on their premises
Plantation owners in Sarawak are now required to report the total number of dogs on their premises, including those belonging to their workers and strays.
— The Star Online

Protests won’t affect HK tourist arrivals to Malaysia
The protests in Hong Kong will not affect tourists from the city coming to Malaysia and vice versa, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.
— The Star Online

We’ll decide on education, Sabah tells Putrajaya as khat controversy rages on
Deputy chief minister says nothing wrong in learning calligraphy as an option.
— FMT News

Sabah still popular with Chinese tourists despite scuba divers’ death, says DCM
Chinese tourists are still visiting Sabah uninterrupted, state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said today.
— Malay Mail

RISE: An economic empowerment programme for persons with disabilities
Maybank Foundation’s RISE programme is an economic empowerment programme that gives a boost to disadvantaged communities, especially persons with disabilities.
— Star2.com

Home Ministry continues focus on anti-trafficking efforts
The Home Ministry has vowed to put more focus on enforcement, prosecution, prevention and protection of trafficked victims, despite the reduction of human trafficking victims in Malaysia over the years.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak association: Health Ministry should enlighten on Taiwanese Bachelor’s degrees issue
The Sarawak Taiwan Graduates Association (STGA) is urging the Ministry of Health (MOH) to clear the air over the issue of not recognising the Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry from eight Taiwanese institutions of learning.
— Malay Mail

All Malaysians are part of Visit Malaysia Year 2020 vision
Malaysians are challenged to all do their part to make the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign a success, at the recent VM2020 logo launching ceremony.
— Star2.com

Projects costing RM735 mln to be done soon
The implementation of various local projects costing a total of RM735 million will take place soon.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Hartalega’s 1QFY20 earnings to remain flat
The normalised earnings of Hartalega Holdings Bhd’s (Hartalega) first quarter of financial year 2020 (1QFY20) will likely remain flattish as the group’s average selling price (ASP) is set to remain depressed in the near-term.
— The Borneo Post

Forest Dept confiscates lorry transporting unmarked sawn timber
The Forest Department of Sarawak seized a lorry, laden with 149 pieces of sawn timber, during an operation at Simpang Tondong in Bau on Sunday.
— The Borneo Post

Regulate all sellers of health or regulate none
Physiotherapists, chiropractors, beauticians and those who sell supplements should also be regulated.
— FMT News

Klang Valley water disruption: Why does it happen so often?
The Klang Valley just suffered a week-long disruption in water supply, the latest episode in what almost feels like the norm these past few years.
— Malay Mail

Curb subsidised fertilisers’ abuse early, says minister
The issue of leakage in the distribution of subsidised fertilisers to farmers does not begin at the National Farmers’ Organisation (NAFAS) level, however, it is often traced to much lower levels.
— Malay Mail

Pasir Gudang factories directed to install emission data monitoring equipment
All factories in Pasir Gudang have been ordered to install special equipment to enable direct data monitoring of emissions from its chimneys over a 24-hour period, the Johor Environment Department (DOE) announced on Sunday (Aug 4).
— CNA

Traditional freight forwarders keen to ride the e-commerce wave
Traditional freight forwarders and logistics players are keen to go into e-commerce logistics given the strong demand and popularity of online business activity.
— The Sun Daily

Commercial solid waste separation to be done in stages
It’s all systems go for waste separation. A total of 485 enforcement officers will be inspecting industrial commercial and institutional (ICI) premises from this month to ensure compliance with proper waste management requirements.
— The Sun Daily

Ni Hsin is exclusive distributor of Wonder chef products in Asean
Ni Hsin Resources Bhd has entered into an exclusive distributorship agreement with Japanese kitchen cookware manufacturer Wonder chef Co Ltd for the marketing of Wonder chef products in the Asean market.
— The Sun Daily

CM and wife among 20,000 participants of Fit Malaysia
The Sabah edition of sporting programme Fit Malaysia has been the most festive, with the participation of about 20,000 people from all walks of life and serving as an example to other states on how sports can unite people.
— The Borneo Post

Feature photo Izhamwong

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focus on Hari Raya Haji, August 11.

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).

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