Malaysia Morning News For June 20

MH17 suspects to be charged with murder as Bellingcat report reveals details of plane’s final moments
Investigators have named four suspects they will charge with murder over the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which killed 298 people, including 38 Australians.
— ABC

Group wants govt to ban liquor sold for less than RM50
The Malaysian Anti-Cheap Liquor Movement today called for a full ban on all liquor priced below RM50 following reports of deaths linked to the consumption of tainted alcoholic drinks.
— Malay Mail

As economy recovers, Putrajaya urges banks to make loans easier for homebuyers, SMEs
Banks should ease the process of providing loans to first-time homebuyers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help the economy grow, the Ministry of Finance urged today.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia proposes intel-sharing cooperation within Asean to curb paedophile activities
Malaysia has proposed intelligence-sharing cooperation among Asean member countries to enable the identity of convicted sex offenders to be identified in a bid to curb their activities, especially paedophiles.
— The Borneo Post

MAHB proposes transfer fee, revised passenger service charges
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has proposed a passenger service charge (PSC) of between RM35 and RM60 for international flights out of Malaysia, depending on the airport of departure.Currently, the PSC for flights to Asean destinations is RM35 and beyond RM73, while the domestic PSC is RM11.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia’s bond market sees continuous expansion in 1Q19
Malaysia is among the emerging East Asian economies that saw the local currency bond market continue to expand over the first quarter of 2019 (Q1 2019), despite trade conflicts and moderating global growth, said the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
— The Star Online

Give more access to financing for first-time homebuyers, govt tells banks
The finance ministry says consumers now have more room to borrow for saving schemes and acquisition of long-term assets.
— FMT News

Cancel permits of plastic recycling companies, CAP tells Putrajaya
The Penang Consumers Association (CAP) today urged the federal government to cancel approved permits issued to plastic recycling companies.
— Malay Mail

Buying greens more costly in Malaysia
As vegetables prices went up last month, these remain expensive – except for local red chillies that saw a small drop in price.
— Fresh Plaza

SRC trial: Witness says govt still servicing RM4bil KWAP loan
The Federal Government is still servicing the RM4bil loan taken by SRC International Sdn Bhd from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) due to the company’s failure to pay its debt.
— The Star Online

UM takes 70th spot, highest-ever position in world university rankings
University of Malaya (UM) has risen by 17 places to take the 70th position in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2020, its best showing to date.
— Malay Mail

Alam Maritim expects 30% from order book to be recognised this year
Alam Maritim Resources Bhd expects 30 per cent of its RM990 million order book to be recognised in the group’s current financial year ending Dec 31, 2019, group managing director Datuk Azmi Ahmad said.
— The Star Online

Drivers can now apply for hassle-free MACS clearance at Johor’s Second Link
The Johor Immigration Department today opened applications for the new Malaysia Automated Clearance System (MACS) — the scanning device that offers a hassle-free entry to Johor — for visitors entering Malaysia.
— Malay Mail

No cement price hike, minister assures
Saifuddin Nasution says cement manufacturers have agreed not to raise prices after he met them and told them why prices should remain as they are.
— FMT News

Banks should give first-time house buyers greater access to financing
First-time house buyers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should be given greater access to financing assistance to drive economic growth.This is because the financial health of Malaysian households is slowly recovering, with household debt to gross domestic product ratio falling to 83% in 2018 from 83.8%.
— The Sun Daily

Fuel subsidy scheme details to be finalised this June
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will meet with the Finance Ministry this month to finalise the targeted fuel subsidy scheme.
— The Star Online

Five sisters detained by Klang police over RM1.3m investment scam
Police have detained five sisters suspected of a RM1.3 million investment scam involving 18 victims. Southern Klang district police chief ACP Shamsul Amar Ramli said the suspects had been arrested in the Klang and Shah Alam.
— Malay Mail

Berjaya Sports Toto’s Q4 net profit doubles, 4.5 sen dividend proposed
Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd’s (BToto) net profit for the fourth quarter ended April 30, 2019 doubled to RM70.18 million from RM35.18 million a year ago, attributed to higher profits attained by Sports Toto Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
— The Sun Daily

Cabinet approved guarantee letter at lightning speed for SRC to get RM2 bil loan, court told
Finance ministry official Afidah Azwa Abdul Aziz says she had to merely rely on the information from SRC representatives in order to rush the application through for the Cabinet meeting.
— FMT News

Stick to adoption procedures to avoid stateless children, says S’wak minister
Adherence to adoption procedures, including proper registration of birth certificates, can help reduce the problem of stateless children, says a Sarawak minister.
— The Star Online

Strict traffic enforcement to continue after Raya with rising accidents
Although Hari Raya is now behind us, the police Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department will continue its total enforcement approach to try and bring down traffic accidents and road fatalities.
— The Star Online

Health Ministry WhatsApp hotline on public smoking out of order?
A WhatsApp number meant to enable people to report smokers who flout the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) ban against smoking in restaurants and other public areas appears to have stopped working.
— Malay Mail

Kim Hin Joo expects to raise RM32.68m from IPO, plans new outlet openings
Kim Hin Joo (Malaysia) Bhd, en route to a July 8 listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia, expects to raise proceeds of RM32.68mil from the issue of 76 million new shares at an issue price of 43 sen a share.
— The Star Online

Witness: SRC International owes KWAP RM4.15b, Putrajaya still paying for it
SRC International Sdn Bhd’s outstanding debt to the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) stands at RM4.15 billion as of May 2019 which the federal government has to pay in full, the High Court heard today.
— Malay Mail

Fatimah urges private sector to implement paternity leave
Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah has called on the private sector to accept the proposed three-day paternity leave. Fatimah urged employers to consider it a “win-win situation” for both employers and employees.
— The Borneo Post

500 affordable homes in S’gor for Felda settlers
The Selangor state government will build 500 units of affordable apartments for the specific purpose of purchase by Felda settlers.Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari said the first-of-its-kind initiative was part of the state government’s policy to assist settlers in owning homes at a cost of RM250,000 per unit.
— The Sun Daily

DBKL postpones demolition of illegal restaurant
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today agreed to stay the tearing down of an illegal restaurant in Lembah Pantai owned by Malaysia’s first Grand Slam explorer, Muhammad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin.In a statement, DBKL said the postponement would be effective until further orders from the office of Federal Territories.
— The Sun Daily

Authorities can easily prove you wrong, ex-defence minister tells US writer after attack over MH370 probe
Former defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has taken US writer and former pilot William Langewiesche to task for resurrecting an old and unproven theory that Malaysia Airlines (MAS) pilot Captain Zaharie Ahmad.
— Malay Mail

Fungi not only supplementary food source, says Len Talif
The fungi kingdom in Southeast Asia is one of the least studied field compared to the plant and animal kingdoms. “The contribution of the fungi kingdom, though one of key components in the ecosystem, is still poorly known and acknowledged,” said Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration.
— The Borneo Post

Creative content to pave way for RTM as top network: Gobind
New and creative content currently being churned out by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is part of the ongoing rebranding process to make the station the number one choice for all Malaysians.Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said a year on after helming the ministry, he has received positive.
— The Sun Daily

Authenticity of viral sex videos yet to be ascertained: Deputy IGP
Police are still waiting for the findings of investigations to determine whether the sex videos implicating a federal minister are authentic or not, according to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mazlan Mansor.He said no time frame had been set for police to wrap up the investigations as it would be
— The Sun Daily

Waytha: No plans for Orang Asli dept to relocate the Bateq
The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) denies it plans to move the Orang Asli in Kuala Koh to another location, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy.
— The Star Online

Witness in Najib trial says SRC International didn’t pay loan interest owed KWAP as Swiss account frozen
SRC International Sdn Bhd was unable to repay its outstanding RM4 billion loan to the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) beginning March 2015 because its overseas bank account in Switzerland had been frozen, the High Court.
— Malay Mail

Motorola expects local talent pool of 1,200 highly skilled engineers to grow
Motorola Solutions Malaysia expects its local talent pool to grow with its expansion plans here.Its deputy managing director and global supply director John Andersen said Motorola in Penang has a workforce of 1,200 highly skilled engineers of which 97% are young and tech-savvy Malaysians.
— The Sun Daily

DAP Youth veep calls for enforcement on booze sales after drunk driver mows down hawker in Penang
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government must enforce the amended laws regarding the sale of liquor if it is to end preventable deaths, DAP’s Muhammad Shakir Ameer said today.
— Malay Mail

Quick take: Yinson gains 2.33% on contract extension
Shares of Yinson Holdings Bhd rose in active trading on Wednesday morning, after the company announced that it had secured a four-year extension of its floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) charter contract worth US$137.5mil (RM574.1mil).
— The Star Online

Quick take: Pantech gains marginally in early trading
Shares in Pantech Group Holdings Bhd rose over 2.6% in early trade Wednesday following the resumption of its exports to the US.
— The Star Online

It’s a wrap, next action with prosecutors, police say of PKR assault case
The police have submitted their completed investigation papers on the alleged assault of a PKR research officer by a state party leader to the deputy public prosecutor for the next course of action. Selangor criminal.
— Malay Mail

Hard work is the prerequisite, says assemblyman
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh says hard work will be the prerequisite for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to retain the Bidayuh-majority seats. “We still need to work hard, to provide.
— New Sarawak Tribune

SEB uncovers more cases of power tampering
Sarawak Energy’s meter inspection team in Miri has recently discovered more cases of tampered electricity meters. The cases were similar to the ones found during an operation in March,
— New Sarawak Tribune

DNeX expects to secure more jobs this year
E-services provider, Dagang NeXchange Bhd (DNeX) expects to secure more projects especially in the oil and gas sector this year, said executive deputy chairman Datuk Samsul Husin.
— The Star Online

Police bust two drug syndicates in five-day city operation
Police here crippled two drug syndicates with the arrests of 13 individuals and the seizure of drugs worth RM146,000 in a five-day operation in the city that started last Thursday. Sentul district police chief ACP S. Shanmugamoorthy Chinniah said the suspects, aged between 30 and 56, and comprising 10 male and two.
— The Sun Daily

Fly to Penang just for a durian buffet
They fly in, stuff themselves full of durians and fly out after a night’s rest. Such a durian buffet by Tourism Malaysia costs a mere RM186, including a night’s stay in selected hotels.
— Eleven Myanmar

Feature photo Bank Negara Malaysia | Central Bank of Malaysia (Official)

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges United Nations Public Service Day, June 23.

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.