Malaysia Morning News For December 18, 2019

Sabah’s manufacturing sector attracts RM890.7m investments in 9M 2019
Sabah’s approved investments in its manufacturing sector had expanded by more than 84% to RM890.7 million within the first nine months of 2019 (9M 2019) compared with RM140.9 million recorded in the same period last year.
— The Sun Daily

China objects to Malaysia’s UN submission on South China Sea
China has protested against Malaysia filing a submission with the United Nations last week seeking to establish the limits of Malaysia’s continental shelf in the northern part of the disputed South China Sea, the South China Morning Post reported.
— New Straits Times

Why Najib’s Threatened Legal Action Will Trouble AmBank and Australia’s ANZ
Najib’s defence is now clear over SRC. It is that he had no idea what was happening with the new bank accounts that he opened on the advice of his team or how much money was going in them.
— Sarawak Report

Malaysian ready meal manufacturer Thalia cashing in on foodservice boom
Malaysian ready meal firm Thalia, best known for its frozen lasagna and other Italian dishes, is now enjoying success in the nation’s rapidly expanding foodservice scene.
— Food Navigator

KL Summit eyes workable solutions to Muslim world issues
The Kuala Lumpur Summit (KL Summit) 2019 taking place this week seeks to revive the Muslim world and Islamic civilisation.
— The Borneo Post

Soldier on: Malaysian start-up turning to black soldier flies as sustainable protein for Asia
Malaysian start-up Life Origin believes the black soldier fly can be a sustainability warrior, both in terms of breaking down food waste, animal nutrition and as a protein-packed ingredient for burgers and snacks.
— Food Navigator

Issuance of Sabah temporary passes not a sudden decision: Azis
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman today denied that the decision by the new federal and state governments to issue the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) was a sudden one.
— The Sun Daily

Primary Industries Ministry optimistic about CPO windfall tax
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is optimistic that the Finance Ministry will approve its proposal for the three per cent windfall tax imposed on palm oil planters to be channelled back to the industry.
— The Borneo Post

KL Summit not intended to create a new bloc: PM’s office
The Prime Minister’s Office today clarified that the Kuala Lumpur Summit (KL Summit) 2019 taking place here from tomorrow to Saturday is not intended to create a new bloc as alluded to by some of its critics.
— The Sun Daily

Deputy minister: Decision to introduce Sabah temporary pass was not made in haste
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman today denied that the decision by the new federal and state governments to issue the Sabah Temporary Pass (PSS) was a sudden one.
— Malay Mail

LKIM to provide 165 tonnes of frozen fish stockpile for 2020-2023
The Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) will provide 165 tonnes of frozen fish as a stockpile to ensure sufficient supply for the domestic market.
— The Sun Daily

Najib seeks to intervene in killer’s review application
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak (pix) will file an application to intervene in former police officer Azilah Hadri’s review application to set aside his 2015 conviction for the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
— The Sun Daily

MACC: Nearly 3,000 young adults detained for graft since 2014
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detained 2,740 people under 40 years of age of the total 5,186 arrests made from 2014 until last month.
— Malay Mail

Of 600,000 jobs created, only 10% were for executive positions, says MEF
The employment outlook for skilled professions next year looks quite dim as jobs being created are mostly not in this sector, according to the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
— The Sun Daily

Defence Ministry ready to implement three core plans for Malaysian Armed Forces, Dewan Negara told
The Ministry of Defence is ready to implement three core plans to ensure that the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is well-developed through the Defence White Paper.
— Malay Mail

State CP Ramli Din pays last respects to late Narcotics Dept chief Supt Moses
Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Ramli Din paid his last respects to the late former Superintendent (Rtd) Moses Agat at the latter’s residence at Taman Linang, Jalan Wan Alwi here today.
— The Borneo Post

Altantuya murder: Apex Court sets April 20 to hear Azilah’s review bid
The Federal Court here today set April 20 next year to hear former Special Action Unit (UTK) personnel Azilah Hadri’s application to review his conviction and death sentence for murdering Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.
— The Borneo Post

Top Gloves post modest 1.2% rise in net profits for 1Q20
Top Glove Corp Bhd’s net profits rose by 1.2% to RM111.43 million for its first quarter ended Nov 30, 2019 against a net profit of RM110.06 million reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous year attributed to increased profitability from automation and digitalisation initiatives.
— The Sun Daily

Set realistic academic goals for children: Experts
Schooling should be an enjoyable, and not stressful experience for students.
— The Sun Daily

Smokers in Sabah beware: Starting Jan 1,2020, action will be taken on those who light up at eateries
After a year of educating the public on not smoking at eateries, the Health Ministry will no longer tolerate or compromise on those who refuse to abide by the law, starting Jan 1,2020.
— The Star Online

Maszlee: Reconstruction, repair works of four dilapidated schools in Sarawak ahead of schedule
The reconstruction and repair works of four dilapidated schools in Sarawak namely SK Bandar Bintangor, SK Ulu Entabai, SK Nanga Antaroh and SK Ulu Yong are ahead of schedule, said Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.
— The Borneo Post

SEC permanently bars ex-Goldman banker Leissner over 1MDB bribery
US regulators said yesterday they had permanently barred a former Goldman Sachs executive from the securities industry over bribery in Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal.
— Malay Mail

Ministry has SOP if floods continue to affect schools: Maszlee
The Education Ministry has a standard operating procedure (SOP) with regard to schools that have been turned into relief centres, if the flood season continues into the new school session.
— The Sun Daily

MIDF targets KLCI to return to 1,680 at end-2020
MIDF Research forecasted Bursa Malaysia’s KLCI to return to 1,680 at the end of 2020 underpinned by the recovery in mining output and strong growth of domestic-oriented industries.
— The Sun Daily

Killer brought out of prison to meet VVIP, says Shafee
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s principal lawyer, Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah (pix), claimed that former police officer Azilah Hadri had been brought out from death row at the Kajang Prison in February this year to meet with a VVIP.
— The Sun Daily

Kula Segaran confident of senators’ support for IRA 1967 amendment
The Ministry of Human Resources is confident that the amendment to the Industrial Relations Act (IRA) 1967, to be tabled in the Dewan Negara this week, will get the support from its members.
— The Sun Daily

Yeo: IGEM 2019 raked in RM3bil more business leads than targeted
A roaring success, the 10th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM 2019) gained almost RM6bil in business leads, far surpassing all targets, says the Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
— The Star Online

Speak directly to poor to fight poverty, Oxford don advises govt
Governments should get information directly from the horse’s mouth before forming policies to end poverty, Oxford University’s Poverty and Human Development Initiative director Sabina Alkire said today.
— Malay Mail

Time for the Muslim world to listen and engage with young people: Syed Saddiq
The Muslim world should listen to the voices of its young people and engage them actively in decision-making process as they are the ones who will inherit the future, said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
— The Sun Daily

Vaccine-preventable diseases can be controlled if carried out diligently, says paediatrician
Vaccine-preventable diseases can be controlled if vaccinations are done proactively regardless of a child’s nationality, a paediatrician pointed out yesterday.
— The Sun Daily

Ringgit opens almost flat against US dollar
The ringgit opened almost flat against the US dollar today with demand yet to pick up, said a dealer.
— The Sun Daily

Expand development of ‘digital homes’, says Malacca CM
Housing developers in the state should expand the ‘digital home’ concept to affordable homes.
— The Sun Daily

Muslim Lawyers Association president gives statement to Bukit Aman over article on communism
Malaysian Muslim Lawyers Association president Datuk Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar presented himself at Bukit Aman to give a statement in connection with his article on communism published in a news portal on Dec 8.
— The Sun Daily

No mention of temporary documents for migrants in RCI – Bumburing
The recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the presence of illegal immigrants in Sabah did not mention anything about issuing a temporary document for the transient migrants.
— The Borneo Post

Samsung Electronics board chairman jailed on union-busting charge
Last week, the same court gave a 16-month jail term to a Samsung Electronics vice-president.
— FMT News

OldTown White Coffee Café China franchiser under criminal investigation
OldTown Bhd’s indirect wholly-owned unit Shenzhen Kopitiam Asia Pacific Ltd (SZKAP) is currently under criminal investigation by the Chinese Public Security Bureau for suspected contract fraud.
— The Sun Daily

MetMalaysia: Heavy rains to persist in Terengganu, Pahang, Sabah
The Meteorological Department today issued a yellow-level warning of heavy rain in several districts of Terengganu and Pahang today while similar warning in Sabah until tomorrow.
— Malay Mail

Turkey keen to work with Malaysia on youth volunteerism
Turkey is keen to establish more partnership programmes with Malaysia, particularly involving youth volunteerism. Deputy Director-General for Turkey Youth Services of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Serdao Eravci said creating a voluntarism hub that involves participation from both countries could be a way to help Muslims around the world.
— The Sun Daily

RM40mil to TAA not the same as a matching grant to TAR UC, says Dr Wee
The RM40mil channelled to the TARCian Alumni Association (TAA) is not the same as giving a matching grant to Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), said Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
— The Star Online

Feature photo Akademi Bahasa Arab di Kuantan

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on Arabic Language Day, December 18.

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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