Malaysia Morning News For December 25, 2019

Malaysian Well-Being Index up 0.8pc, says Statistics Dept
The Malaysian Well-Being Index (MyWI) rose 0.8 per cent to 122.4 index points in 2018 compared with 121.4 points in the preceding year, the Department of Statistics (DoSM) said.
— Malay Mail

What Does Malaysia’s New Islamic Summit Reveal About its Foreign Policy?
The engagement spotlighted the Malaysian government’s approach to Muslim issues within its wider global outlook.
— The Diplomat (paywall)

Halal food leaders: Malaysia, Australia and Pakistan retain top APAC spots in Global Islamic Economy report’s Top 10 list
Malaysia, Australia and Pakistan have retained their positions as the top-ranking APAC countries in the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report’s Top 10 Halal Food listing.
— Global Meat News

HR Ministry: Minimum wage hike not an issue, aims to raise it to RM1,500 within five years
The Human Resource Ministry today dismissed the complaints of several quarters over concerns that the minimum wage hike would only benefit low wage earners in selected cities and was unfair to their counterparts in rural areas.
— The Borneo Post

Operators working on reopening SMART Tunnel after Monday downpour
The operators of the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) in Kuala Lumpur are working to reopen the tunnel as soon as possible.
— The Star Online

KL sisters charged with pocketing RM3m wrongly credited to their account
Two women who are sisters pleaded not guilty at the Sessions Court here today on charges of dishonestly concealing more than RM3 million accidentally credited into their company bank account.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 needs a rethink: academic
MALAYSIA’S new draft economic blueprint needs a rethink to make a breakthrough, a Malaysian academic has suggested, as a lack of clarity of its objectives could reduce the impact of this statement.
— Business Times

Can Malaysia Solve Its Big Migrant Worker Challenge?
While the government has cited labor as being an area of priority for reform, it faces an uphill task.
— The Diplomat (paywall)

Abang Johari delivers Christmas message for Sarawakians, optimistic outlook in 2020
The Sarawak government will continue to take steps to ensure investment, consumption and domestic savings continue to be strong so that the state can sustain its growth and provide the right ecosystem to upgrade the living standards of its people.
— The Borneo Post

UK grants asylum to gay Malaysian man ‘fleeing persecution’
A Malaysian man accused of pretending to be gay to avoid deportation from the United Kingdom, has been granted asylum after the Home Office accepted that people could be gay and single, according to The Guardian.
— The Star Online

Water supply for 1.5m Selangorians resumed last night, full resumption anticipated in 72 hours
Water supply to the homes of 1.5 million residents in Selangor started restoration in stages from last night, and it is believed that the restoration will be completed within 72 hours.
— The Sun Daily

Penang Gerakan tells state govt to release list of places affected by highway project
Penang Gerakan today demanded that the state government release a full list of places, including schools, cemeteries and houses, directly affected by the construction of a highway linking Thean Teik Expressway to Tun Dr Lim.
— Malay Mail

Tourism Ministry to organise New Year’s countdown in Dataran Merdeka
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) is teaming up with the ministries of Federal Territories and Communication and Multimedia to organise 2020 New Year Eve’s Countdown @ Kuala Lumpur on Dec 31.
— The Sun Daily

Ramasamy: Reveal mechanism for dispersal of RM100m to Indian community
Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P. Ramasamy today questioned the mechanism used in dispersing an allocation of RM100 million to the Indian community through the government’s Malaysian Indian Transformation Agency (Mitra).
— Malay Mail

Social activist urges MACC to reopen undersea tunnel and Guan Eng’s bungalow case
The Malaysian Anti Corruption Foundation Penang Chairman Datuk Ong Chuan Jin has called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to reopen old cases especially the ones on Penang’s undersea tunnel project and.
— Malay Mail

Azmin urges Malaysians to reject bigotry, extremism and intolerance
Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (pix) has urged Malaysians to reject bigotry, extremism and intolerance.
— The Sun Daily

ARB calls off 2 MOUs to deploy IT solutions
ARB Bhd today terminated two memoranda of understanding (MOU) for potential collaboration in deploying IT solutions.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak CM: Petros to manage domestic gas business under Petronas soon
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg today said that Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) will soon be tasked with managing a domestic gas business that is now placed under the Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas).
— Malay Mail

MTUC to meet with RoS
The Registrar of Societies (RoS) is expected to step in to help resolve the crisis that has engulfed the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) over the past week.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak customs seize over 4,000 litres of illegal liquor
The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) Sarawak seized illegal liquor with unpaid duty worth about RM20,972.76 during a raid at a warehouse in Jalan Kuap, here last Saturday.
— The Sun Daily

Ex-IGP joins hundreds of ex-cops in KL protest against ‘communist revival’
1,000 veterans protest two separate gatherings held by former members and supporters of the Communist Party of Malaya.
— FMT News

Sabah Umno hoping for PBS support in Kimanis by-election
Sabah Umno is hoping that it will get the support of its one-time ally in the local opposition as they prepare to take on the ruling Parti Warisan Sabah in the Jan 18 Kimanis by-election.
— The Star Online

Gunung Capital awarded RM44.23m school bus service contract
Gunung Capital Bhd’s wholly owned subsidiary GPB Corporation Sdn Bhd has been awarded a service contract worth up to RM44.23 million by the Ministry of Defence.
— The Sun Daily

Taib: Fate of Sarawak depends on economic development of Kuching, Miri-Bintulu region
The growth of Sarawak will move more towards the North, signalling the advent of new economic developments, said Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
— The Borneo Post

In Christmas message, Sarawak DCM reminds religious bigotry will impede progress
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, in his Christmas message today, reminded the people of various faiths that unbridled religious bigotry will impede the state’s progress and stability.
— Malay Mail

Problems expected with Mavcom-CAAM merger
Difference in the work ethics between the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) is likely to cause problems when the two entities merge.
— The Sun Daily

Sabotage suspected over water odour pollution, Span lodges police report
The National Water Services Commission (Span) lodged a police report yesterday following an incident of odour pollution which resulted in the Sungai Semenyih and Bukit Tampoi Water Treatment Plants being forced to be closed, said its chairman Charles Santiago.
— The Sun Daily

Shell’s FuelSave 95 now fully Euro 4M compliant
Shell Malaysia is committed to working towards a cleaner energy future for all Malaysians in line with the government’s initiatives in this area.
— The Borneo Post

RM4.5m allocated for development and welfare in Simpang Renggam
An allocation of RM4.5 million had been distributed for the Simpang Renggam Parliamentary constituency in Johor for development and welfare projects from May 2018 until December this year.
— Malay Mail

DBKL: Info on attractions around Dataran Merdeka via QR code
Visitors to popular attractions around the Dataran Merdeka here can now find information about the places directly on their smartphones via QR code.
— Malay Mail

Database needed to address illegal waste dumping, say NGOs
A database on the production and use of chemicals as well as the disposal of industrial waste must be created to detect those responsible for illegally waste dumping.
— The Sun Daily

SPAN chairman: 50 cubic metres of toxic waste dumped into water supply system led to treatment plant shutdown
National Water Services Commission (SPAN) chairman Charles Santiago today said the recent water cuts faced by some 1.5 million residents in the Klang Valley could be attributed to “deliberate” attempts by irresponsible.
— Malay Mail

Fallen policeman’s widow in Lahad Datu intrusion receives contribution from special fund
Seven years have passed since the passing of her husband DSP Michael Padel, as 41-year-old Jabah Mingku celebrates Christmas alone once again in memory of Michael, who fell in battle during Ops Daulat in Lahad Datu in 2013.
— The Borneo Post

Fuziah: Forceful eviction of illegal farmers in Cameron Highlands regrettable
The Pahang government’s use of force against illegal vegetable farmers in Cameron Highlands was regrettable and should not have happened, especially during the festive season, says Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh.
— The Star Online

Processing tamarind paste as seasonal income
For the enterprising folks in the northern states of the peninsula, the hot dry season is an opportunity to reap benefits as this is the time when tamarind fruits will mature and are ready to be harvested while other fruit trees are just beginning to bloom.
— The Sun Daily

PTPTN expects competitive dividend for SSPN this year
National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) expects a competitive dividend distribution for National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) this year.
— The Sun Daily

Muslims in Perak urged to offer eclipse prayers this Thursday
Muslims in Perak are encouraged to perform the solar eclipse prayers in conjunction with the partial eclipse of the sun, expected to occur in the state this Thursday.
— The Sun Daily

PLUS highway closes all reload lanes until Jan 2
PLUS Malaysia Berhad will close all its reload lanes from today to Jan 2 next year to ensure smooth traffic at toll plazas during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
— The Sun Daily

Good governance needed to rid Sabah of illegals — Madius
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau has stressed the need to practise good governance if Sabah is serious in its quest to rid the State of the seemingly perennial foreign illegal immigrant issue.
— The Borneo Post

Nafas: Distribution of subsidised fertiliser to paddy farmers 75pc complete
Some 75 per cent of subsidised fertiliser for the second season of planting has been distributed to paddy farmers, said National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) chairman, Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi.
— Malay Mail

Scomi embarks on plan to revive its monorail business
Practice Note 17 company Scomi Group Bhd (SGB) is undertaking a business revival plan for its monorail segment.
— The Sun Daily

Karpal’s daughter appeals against refusal to probe judicial interference
Sangeet Kaur Deo says she will also be writing to newly appointed Court of Appeal president Rohana Yusuf to initiate an inquiry into a judge’s allegation of judicial interference.
— FMT News

Feature photo Eirien

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on Christmas Day, December 25.

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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