Malaysia Morning News For February 1

AirAsia claiming RM480m damages from MAHB due to “poor level of service” at klia2
The legal tussle between AirAsia Group Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) continues to intensify with AirAsia filing another suit claiming nearly RM480 million for losses incurred from operating at klia2.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia tops social media penetration in Southeast Asia, says report
In terms of mobile social media penetration, Malaysia is ranked among the top five in the world and the highest in Southeast Asia, according to the latest Digital 2019 report by Hootsuite and We Are Social.
— FMT

Malaysia’s exports grow 4.8% in December to RM83.3b
Malaysia’s exports expanded 4.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM83.27 billion in December on higher demand for its electrical and electric (E&E) products, chemicals and chemical products and machinery, equipment and parts.
— The Edge Markets

Malaysian government says it has remitted ‘abortive costs’ for HSR postponement: MOT
The Malaysian government said it has remitted to Singapore the “abortive costs” incurred for the postponement of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR), Singapore’s Ministry of Transport (MOT) said on Thursday (Jan 31).
— Channel NewsAsia

F&N Malaysia backtracks on price rises and focuses on NPD amidst sugar tax blow
Fraser and Neave Holdings Bhd (F&N) is hoping to speed up its healthy product innovations instead of resorting to increasing its product prices in order to alleviate the impact of Malaysia’s upcoming sugar tax, said its chief executive.
— Food Navigator

Malaysia’s high dependence on external demand could hamper economy: Economists
Malaysia may have posted record trade figures for 2018, especially exports which almost breached RM1 trillion, but economists caution that its dependency on external demand could result in slower trade.
— New Straits Times

Malaysia to take glovemaker to court for not paying workers
Malaysia said on Thursday (Jan 31) it would take a medical glove manufacturer to court after it failed to pay its workers for three months, sparking a protest.
— The Straits Times

Malaysian cosmetic entrepreneur’s assistant seen slapping beauty advisor at KL mall
A salesgirl in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia suffered injuries to her face, fingers and body after she was pulled out of a store at KLCC by a woman and slapped repeatedly.
— AsiaOne

Home Ownership campaign offers 3,384 houses below RM150,000
A total of 3,384 houses below RM150,000 will be offered to the public in conjunction with the six-months Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) 2019, which runs from January to June.
— The Star Online

Palm falls as surveyor data shows Malaysia exports grew slower than expected
Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Thursday, after a cargo surveyor data showed exports grew slower than expected in January.
— The Edge Markets

Malaysia’s reserves remain usable as at end-Dec 2018: BNM
Malaysia’s reserves remained usable as at end-Dec 2018, with official reserve assets at US$101.44 billion, in accordance with the International Monetary Fund’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (IMF SDDS) format.
— New Straits Times

Survey shows 60pct of Malays unhappy with Harapan gov’t
A survey conducted nationwide during the ending months of last year has found that nearly 60 percent of the Malays surveyed were not happy with the performance of the Pakatan Harapan government.
— Malaysiakini

CIMB Research retains Hold for Bursa Malaysia
CIMB Equities Research is retaining its Hold call for Bursa Malaysia and target price of RM7.84 due to concerns over the contraction in derivative income and the slowdown in the growth of equity income in 2019.
— The Star Online

Consumer sentiment, business condition indexes down in Q4
Business condition and consumer sentiment indexes fell below the optimism threshold of 100 points in the fourth quarter of last year, indicating a slowdown in economic growth for the quarter.
— New Straits Times

FMM lauds Malaysia’s National Anti-Corruption Plan
The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) said today it lauds Malaysia’s recently-launched National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP), which gives further assurance of the government’s strong political will and commitment to eradicate corruption and improve governance and integrity in the country.
— The Edge Markets

421 documents given to defence on Najib’s 1MDB case
The High Court here was told today that the prosecution had handed over to the defence 421 documents on Najib Razak’s case in the 1MDB scandal.
— FMT

Is Malaysia poised to become a wellness destination?
Wellness tourism is on an upward trend globally and today, is said to be a multi-trillion dollar industry.
— Star 2.com

Maybank IB is positive on car sector
The automotive sector received a ‘positive’ call following the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s (MITI) proactive measures to address issues and concerns related to duty/tax incentives approvals for locally assembled vehicles.
— New Straits Times

Pestech secures two jobs worth RM280.9m from TNB
Pestech International Bhd has bagged two contracts from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) with a total value of RM280.89 million.
— The Sun Daily

Sultan Abdullah takes Malaysia throne for five-year term
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has been crowned Malaysia’s 16th king under the country’s unique system of monarchy.
— Aljazeera

Ex-DAP ‘Superman’ Hew made chief of Malaysia-China Business Council
Former DAP member Hew Kuan Yew will be the new chief executive officer of the Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC) effective tomorrow.
— Malay Mail

Heineken Malaysia picks up award for best water management
Heineken Malaysia Bhd has picked up two awards at the recent Sustainable Business Awards (SBA) 2018.
— The Edge Markets

Smoking ban kicks in at all Sabah eateries today
The people of Sabah are ready for the smoking ban on food premises which begins today, said Assistant Minister of Health and People’s Wellbeing, Norazlinah Arif.
— Malay Mail

Where Is Malaysia’s Mahathir-Anwar Transition?
Given Malaysia’s history and the implications for its future, the dynamics of the so-called transition bear careful watching.
— The Diplomat

Defending Malaysia’s public health system
OUR public health system is perhaps the most underrated public institution in Malaysia. The reality is that not only does it ensure healthcare costs are some of the most affordable in the region, its services are not discriminatory and unconditional.
— The Malaysian Insight

Malaysian firm to be sued for not paying Bangladeshi workers
Malaysia has initiated legal action against WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, a glove manufacturer, for withholding salaries of its workers from Bangladesh and Nepal for three months.
— The Daily Star

Beam: Another Singapore-based e-scooter sharing service is now in Malaysia
Another electric scooter sharing service is now available in Malaysia. The company is called Beam and they are based in Singapore. Beam is the second Singapore-based e-scooter sharing service that has since expanded to Malaysia. The other e-scooter sharing service in Malaysia is Neuron.
— Soyacincau

Govt ditching GLCs could affect the poor, warns PSM
A former MP has voiced concern over the government’s plan to divest from government-linked companies (GLCs), saying some of them are well run and can be used for socially useful purposes.
— FMT

No stamp duties for residential units priced RM300,000 to RM1m at Mapex
The Malaysia Property Expo (Mapex), in conjunction with the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) 2019, will see residential units priced between RM300,000 and RM1mil being exempted from any stamp duties.
— The Star Online

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