Malaysia Morning News For July 10

National cars overcome shortage of skilled manpower in automotive industry: Mahathir
The production of the national cars not only aimed to expand the manufacturing industry in the country, it was in fact a platform to train many skilled workers in the automotive industry, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— The Sun Daily

Najib’s tax suit case management on July 25
The government lawsuit against Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak seeking him to pay RM1.69 billion in income tax which he still owed the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) for.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Fish bomb: Police nab 10 men, inspect 95 fishing boats in Semporna
In an operation to combat fish bombing practices, police detained 10 people and conducted an inspection on 95 fishing boats in Semporna waters, up to yesterday.Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah said the operation was also aimed at searching for suspects involved in the fish bombing incident that killed two Chinese tourists.
— The Sun Daily

MMEA Sarawak doesn’t have fuel shortage problems, but lacks operational vessels says agency director
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak state director First Admiral (Maritime) Robert Teh Geok Chuan has rubbished the statement recently made by Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing in regards to the maritime agency’s alleged failure in securing the sovereignty of Malaysian waters.
— The Borneo Post

Transport minister: Klang Valley Double Track Phase 2 project to be revived, with over RM700m cost savings
The 110-kilometre Klang Valley Double Track (KVDT) Phase 2 project will be revived with a cost reduction of over RM700 million, said the Transport Ministry.
— Malay Mail

Business sentiment slightly better in Q3
Business sentiment among Malaysian companies rebounded slightly in the third quarter (Q3) after falling in Q2 this year, according to Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Malaysia’s Business Optimism Index (BOI) study. The BOI inched upwards from +5.61 percentage points (pp) in Q2 2019 to +7.22 percentage points in Q3 2019.
— The Sun Daily

Muhyiddin says sex video probe still ongoing despite PM believing clips are fake
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the police will keep investigating the sex clips implicating Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali notwithstanding the prime minister’s belief that these were likely.
— Malay Mail

Rubber gloves sector under pressure due to oversupply, says research house
Malaysian rubber glove manufacturers’ selling prices and operating profit margins will come under pressure in the short term due to oversupply, according to AmResearch.With that, the research house is downgrading the sector to “neutral” from “overweight”.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia: Deluge of US cherries marks new season
It is cherry season again, and Northwest Cherries are making a grand appearance. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agriculture specialist Abdul Ghani Wahab launched the “Cheers to Cherries” campaign at the Tesco store in Kuala Lumpur.
— Fresh Plaza

Govt sues Aeon Credit for unpaid taxes
Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd has received a writ of summons together with a statement of claim filed by the government in respect of taxes that are purportedly due for years of assessment 2010 till 2016.In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the company said that the matter has been fixed for case management at the High Court on July 23.
— The Sun Daily

Government to ensure e-hailing fares to stay reasonable
The government will ensure that the e-hailing fares will remain reasonable despite several e-hailing associations claiming that it is to go up once the July 12 deadline for all e-hailing drivers to apply for the PSV licence ends.
— The Sun Daily

Fitch Solutions sees loan growth slowing to 4.5%
Fitch Solutions Macro Research forecasts loan growth in Malaysia to slow to 4.5% in 2019 from 5.6% in 2018, weighed down by households.
— The Star Online

Sarawak CM: Rural communities won’t be sidelined in digital economy transformation
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg assured today that the rural communities will not be sidelined by the state government’s digital economy transformation programme.
— Malay Mail

Minister: Perak’s total trade this year at RM5b despite issues with illegal squatters
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking said today that Perak has recorded a total trade of RM5 billion from January to April this year, despite issues of illegal squatters affecting investments in the state.
— Malay Mail

60 SMEs picked to undergo Readiness Assessment programme: Ong
A total of 60 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been selected to undergo the Readiness Assessment (RA) programme to migrate to Industry 4.0 platform, said Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Dr Ong Kian Ming (pix).
— The Sun Daily

Govt pushing for 100% sustainably-produced palm oil by 2020, says minister
Primary industries minister is hoping Malaysia will achieve its goal of exporting 100% certified sustainable palm oil by January 2020.
— FMT News

MMEA sting rounds up 58 illegal fishermen, 4 Vietnamese vessels in Sarawak waters
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has seized four Vietnamese fishing vessels and detained 58 crew members for illegally fishing in Malaysian waters during an operation on July 7. According to MMEA Sarawak state director First Admiral (Maritime) Robert Teh Geok Chuan, the vessels were detained at about 126 nautical miles north-east of.
— The Borneo Post

Expertise in oncology puts Malaysia on medical tourism map
For three whole months, Ibu Ida had nosebleeds which worried her and her family members. Although it was not painful, the 54-year-old housewife from Medan, Indonesia, who only.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Pensonic to dispose of PJ land for RM19.5m
Pensonic Holdings Bhd is disposing of its land in Jalan 223, Section 20, Petaling Jaya, together with office building, for RM19.5 million cash. The one-off gain for the disposal is RM10.01 million. Its wholly owned subsidiary Pensonic Sales & Service Sdn Bhd (PSS) today entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Chua Trading Company.
— The Sun Daily

MCA: Clarify details of tolled highway takeover
The Finance Ministry should clarify the details of the tolled highway takeover in Parliament, says MCA deputy Youth chief Tan Chee Hiong.
— The Star Online

Public inquiry on allocation of spectrum bands
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has commenced a public inquiry (PI) on spectrum allocation matters in relation to 700, 2300 and 2600MHz spectrum bands on July 1.
— New Sarawak Tribune

IJM terminated as contractor for LRT3 package on project remodelling
IJM Corp Bhd has been terminated as the works contractor for the underground package of the Light Rail Transit Line 3 (LRT3) from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia.In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the group said that its wholly owned subsidiary IJM Construction Sdn Bhd received a notice of termination on Monday from MRCB George Kent Sdn Bhd.
— The Sun Daily

Perak Exco member under probe for alleged sexual assault (Updated)
A Perak state executive councillor is under investigation for allegedly raping his Indonesian domestic maid.Bukit Aman’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division principle assistant director Asst Comm Choo Lily, confirmed that investigations were under way.
— The Sun Daily

M’sia major cross-border capital recipient
Malaysia saw an 18% year-on-year increase in cross-border capital for commercial property investments in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019, placing it in the top 10 countries in Asia Pacific, according to independent global property consultancy Knight Frank’s 2019 edition of its flagship report, Active Capital.
— The Sun Daily

TVET institution-industry cooperation vital for matching demand
A strong cooperation between the industry and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions is significantly important to ensure that there will be a matching supply and demand.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Looking for a long and fruitful marriage? Putrajaya wants to help
Putrajaya is proposing an online compatibility quiz made accessible to singles as well as young couples before they decide to get married. This is part of the government’s efforts to tackle the divorce rate in the country.
— Malay Mail

Land transactions worth RM13 bil reported in Sabah last year
Land and Survey Department says it came to realise the huge amount involved only through the implementation of an online system last year.
— FMT News

Witness says Najib signed memo transferring SRC International ownership to MOF Inc on car bonnet
The High Court heard that Datuk Seri Najib Razak had signed the draft memo for the transfer of ownership of SRC International Sdn Bhd to Minister of Finance Inc (MOF Inc) on the bonnet of his car seven years ago.
— The Star Online

Bursa ends firmer following BNM’s OPR announcement
Bursa Malaysia closed firmer at its intra-day high, as investor confidence improved following Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to retain the overnight policy rate (OPR).At 5pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) finished 5.23 points higher at 1,682.87 compared with Monday’s close of 1,677.64.
— The Sun Daily

Civil servant found dead in Petra Jaya govt office stairwell
A civil servant was found dead in a stairwell in a government office building in Petra Jaya here today. According to sources, the deceased, in his 30s was last seen at around 11.30am. It is said that at about 1pm, the deceased’s body was found in an emergency stairwell by a cleaner, who immediately […]
— The Borneo Post

KVDT Phase 2 project to resume with savings of over RM700 million: Loke
The 110km Klang Valley Double Track (KVDT) Phase 2 project will be revived with a cost reduction of over RM700 million, said the Transport Ministry.Its minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook (pix) said the Cabinet on July 5 decided that the project will be carried out by Dhaya Maju LTAT Sdn Bhd with a new contract costing RM4.475 billion,
— The Sun Daily

Govt to provide more places to keep seized foreign vessels
The government plans to have more places to keep foreign vessels that are seized by Malaysian authorities for trespassing into the country’s territorial waters as the existing one at the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency’s (MMEA) jetty is almost full, said Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix).
— The Sun Daily

MCMC commences public inquiry on allocation of spectrum bands
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has commenced a public inquiry (PI) on spectrum allocation matters in relation to 700, 2300 and 2600MHz spectrum bands on July 1.
— Malay Mail

MACC: No more orange lock-up attire, handcuff only if necessary
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has stopped the practice of bringing in suspects to court in orange-coloured lock-up attire, MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya announced. In a statement, she said it was in line with the presumption of innocence and Clause 5(1) of the Federal Constitution.
— The Borneo Post

Government gets 4 offers for MAS
The government has received four offers from companies interested in taking over national carrier Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Sarawak school mergers to be discussed
The decision on merging schools with a small population of pupils in Sarawak will be based on discussions with the parents and local community, the Dewan Rakyat was.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Melaka Matriculation College promises to address water supply disruptions
The Melaka Matriculation College (KMM) at Londang in Alor Gajah here is looking into various measures to address frequent water supply disruptions.
— The Star Online

Asdion proposes RM30.76m share capital reduction
Asdion Bhd has proposed a share capital reduction of RM30.76 million to reduce and eliminate the accumulated losses of the company. As at March 31, 2019, its accumulated losses stood at RM31.05 million at the group level.
— The Sun Daily

Malay unity: PPBM is okay but DAP a no-no, says Umno
Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa says PPBM still depends on DAP.
— FMT News

Focus Point plans 1-for-3 bonus issue
Focus Point Holdings Bhd proposes a bonus issue of up to 55 million shares on the basis of one bonus share for every three existing shares held. The group told Bursa Malaysia that the exercise will provide shareholders with greater participation in the equity of the company in terms of number of shares held and maintaining percentage equity.
— The Sun Daily

Tan Sri Chai signed appeal letter to Ku Nan: Witness
The High Court here was today told that Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd director Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong had signed an appeal letter sent to then Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to consider the proposed development order of an apartment at Jalan Bakti, Bandar Tun Razak, Mukim Kuala Lumpur.
— The Sun Daily

Mujahid refutes claims Syiah widespread in Parliament
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa today refutes allegations on the proliferation of the Syiah sect in Parliament as viraled on the social media.He stressed that the visit of the Iranian delegation to Parliament on July 4 did not mean Malaysia accepted the belief.
— The Sun Daily

KLCI closes higher, thanks to some late buying
Blue chips closed higher on Tuesday, underpinned by late buying of selected stocks like Maxis and IHH and Sime Plantation, amid a mixed broader market.
— The Star Online

Ministry looking at retort food packaging technology: Saifuddin
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs is exploring use of the retort packaging technology to enable food to be kept for a longer time.Its minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pix) said the technology would enable surplus food to be kept before being distributed to the needy.
— The Sun Daily

Orang Asli demand to be left alone by Islamic preachers
The Orang Asli community from Gerik in Hulu Perak have asked to be left alone by religious preachers after claiming to being ‘Islamised’ without their consent.
— Malay Mail

Fed govt has responsibility to safeguard Sarawak waters – Wan Junaidi
It is the federal government’s absolute responsibility to safeguard Malaysia’s waters, even in Sarawak. This is notwithstanding the state’s assertion of rights over waters and subsoil of Sarawak Continental Shelf of Sarawak waters, said Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today.
— The Borneo Post

Najib signed draft memo of SRC ownership transfer from 1MDB to MoF Inc at Subang Airbase in 2012, says witness
Datuk Seri Najib Razak had signed a draft memo prepared to place SRC International Sdn Bhd under the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc) at a military airbase in February 2012. Datuk Mat Noor Nawi, former Treasury.
— Malay Mail

Anwar: Parliamentary caucus for reform to meet with head of select committees next week
The parliamentary caucus for reform and governance will meet with the chairman of the six Parliament Select Committees (PSC) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) next week to discuss the challenges faced by the.
— Malay Mail

In U-turn, exco says Johor now following Putrajaya’s definition of youth as 15-30 year-olds
The Johor government today withdrew its earlier decision to cap the youth age at 40. State Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative committee chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali said Johor will now follow the.
— Malay Mail

More than RM79m to be distributed to Armed Forces veterans: Mat Sabu
The government has allocated RM79.68 million to be distributed as one-off contribution to 159,368 pensionable and non-pensionable Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans under the National Hope Aid (NHA) (Bantuan Harapan Negara) (BHN) initiative.Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu (pix) said the application for BHN was opened on April 14 and the first.
— The Sun Daily

Ex-Treasury official clarifies no malice meant when ‘pressured’ to expedite govt guarantees for SRC International
A former Finance Ministry official told the High Court today that the pressure he received was not “malicious” in nature when he was told to expedite a federal guarantee of SRC International’s Sdn Bhd’s first RM2.
— Malay Mail

BNM keeps OPR unchanged at 3%
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has decided to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 3% at its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting today. This comes after a 0.25% cut last May on risk to economic growth.
— The Sun Daily

PM: Proposed takeover of four highways not yet final
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the government has not settled on whether it will proceed with the proposed buy-out of four toll concessions.
— Malay Mail

Perak exco swearing-in ceremony postponed amid sexual assault claim
Hours after an allegation of sexual assault involving a Perak executive council member from DAP with his Indonesian maid surfaced, the swearing-in ceremony for the state executive councillors has been postponed.
— Malay Mail

Roselindawati is Information Dept’s first woman DG
Roselindawati Abdul Rahman has been appointed the new Information director-general effective yesterday.Roselindawati, 58, is the first woman to hold the position since the establishment of the department in 1945. She has extensive experience in public relations and strategic communications, said the department in a statement here today.
— The Sun Daily

Roselindawati is Information Dept’s first woman director-general
Roselindawati Abdul Rahman has been appointed the new Information director-general effective yesterday. Roselindawati, 58, is the first woman to hold the position since the establishment of the department in.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Transwoman Raina’s appointment as CCM member based on procedure, says deputy minister
Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said that the appointment of transwoman Raina Zara Medina as a member of Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Malaysia for the 2019-2021 session was based on existing procedure.
— Malay Mail

Perak MB: Action against rep over alleged sexual abuse to be taken after police probe ends
The Perak government will make a decision on any action to be taken against a state executive council member accused of sexually abusing a domestic worker after the completion of police investigation, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
— The Star Online

Sarawak govt’s ‘unlawful demands’ delayed school repairs, says state DAP
Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen urges swift compliance with the finance ministry’s rules so that the RM1 billion fund can be allocated.
— FMT News

Ex-DBKL officer agrees didn’t blindly follow Ku Nan’s handwritten note, says just proposal
A retired Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) officer today said he had not blindly followed a handwritten note by then Federal Territorities Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor for the sale of DBKL land to a property.
— Malay Mail

Case management of Ahmad Saiful’s drug case set for Aug 8
The magistrate’s court here today set Aug 8 for case management of a drug case involving Ahmad Saiful Islam Mohamad, 31, son of Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu.Magistrate Mohamad Aizat Abdul Rahim set the date after Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Joseindra Abu Senin informed him that he had handed over several documents to the defence.
— The Sun Daily

Why the increased jail sentence for Wan Ji? Lawyer asks amid renewed calls for Sedition Act repeal
The public prosecutor must explain why preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin was handed a heavier jail sentence despite Putrajaya’s stated intention to repeal the Sedition Act, a lawyer said today. .
— Malay Mail

Ringgit continues downtrend against US dollar
The ringgit continued its downtrend today against the US dollar on lack of buying interest for the local currency, said a dealer.At 6pm, the local note stood at 4.1410/1440 versus the greenback compared with yesterday’s close of 4.1390/1420.FXTM market analyst Han Tan said the US dollar index was holding steady around the 97.37 mark,
— The Sun Daily

Police nab jobless man for molesting female toddler
Police detained an unemployed man on suspicion of molesting a three-year-female toddler at her house in Gombak near here on Saturday.Gombak district police chief ACP Samsor Maarof said that the 38-year-old suspect had allegedly perpetrated the molest on the child who was looked after by his wife.
— The Sun Daily

Application to transfer SRC International ownership was sent directly to Najib, court told
The application to transfer the ownership of SRC International Sdn Bhd from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) to the Minister of Finance Inc was sent directly to the prime minister for approval, the High Court here heard.
— The Star Online

MPOB collects up to RM6m royalties annually from technology transfer
The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has received between RM5 million and RM6 million in royalties per annum for 651 transfer of technologies (TOT) that are applicable for palm oil commercialisation.Its deputy director-general (R&D) Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said the TOT commercialisation rate of 30% was higher than the palm oil industry’s
— The Sun Daily

More than RM79m to be distributed to Malaysian Armed Forces veterans, says defence minister
The government has allocated RM79.68 million to be distributed as one-off contribution to 159,368 pensionable and non-pensionable Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans under the National Hope Aid (NHA) (Bantuan Harapan.
— Malay Mail

Petronas suspends Barakah unit’s licence
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has suspended the licence of Barakah Offshore Petroleum Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary PBJV Group Sdn Bhd.Barakah, a Practice Note 17 (PN 17) company, told Bursa Malaysia that PBJV had received a notification dated 8 July 2019 of the licence suspension.
— The Sun Daily

Oil prices ease as trade disputes outweigh supply concerns
Oil prices dipped on Tuesday on demand concerns following the latest signs the U.S.-China trade war is dragging on the global economy, although the potential for conflicts in the Middle East offered support.Brent crude futures were down 14 cents, or 0.2%, at $63.97 a barrel by 0524 GMT.
— The Sun Daily

Report: Murder not ruled out in police probe into death of divers’ off Semporna
Sabah police have not ruled out murder in their investigations into the deaths of three divers including two Chinese tourists off Semporna allegedly due to fish bomb blasts. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah said this was only a possible scenario that investigators will explore as part of their probe.
— The Borneo Post

Couple fined RM4,500 for cheating nurse
A Nigerian national and his Malaysian wife were fined RM4,500 by the Magistrate’s Court here today on a joint charge of cheating a nurse into handing over RM1,550 in cash earlier this month.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak bodybuilding community mourns loss of champ Wilfred Harding Jiee
Members of Sarawak’s bodybuilding fraternity mourn the loss of one of their brothers, Wilfred Harding Jiee. The former Mr Sarawak champion was found unconscious by a family member in his room at their residence in Stakan Jaya near here late Monday.
— The Borneo Post

TFP Solutions signs product co-branding agreement with Tune Talk
TFP Solutions Bhd has entered into a product co-branding agreement with Tune Talk Sdn Bhd to promote and market Tune Talk’s product and services.This will be done through its co-branded mobile fintech product – OneCALL targeting the “unbanked” population (people without bank accounts) in Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Borneo Rhino Alliance

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on Asean’s endangered species, here, the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

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).

Malaysia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Malaysia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.