Malaysia Morning News For June 7

Malaysia set to become preferred location for semiconductor industry
Malaysia is poised to become the preferred location for international companies looking to expand their semiconductor businesses, especially in the wafer fabrication (fab) industry.
— The Star Online

Shrinking factory activity nothing to worry about, says economist
An economist has shrugged off news that factory activity in most Asian countries has contracted due to the escalating trade war between the US and China, saying it should not be cause for worry.
— FMT

With 500 drownings annually, Malaysian hotspots need more warning signs
More warning signs should be prominently placed at recreational swimming areas that pose a high risk of drowning.
— New Straits Times

FICO: 3 in 5 Apac banks do not have full digital account opening for new customers
Three in five (60%) banks in Asia Pacific have yet to offer a full digital account opening process for new customers, despite recent reports that nearly nine in 10 financial institutions in the region embarked on digital transformation, according to a survey by analytics software.
— The Star Online

Sabah govt leaves it to authorities to declassify reports on Double Six tragedy
The Sabah government will leave it to the discretion of “relevant authorities” to decide whether or not to declassify reports on the Double Six air crash.
— The Star Online

Malaysia set to become preferred location for semiconductor industry
Malaysia is poised to become the preferred location for international companies looking to expand their semiconductor businesses, especially in the wafer fabrication (fab) industry.
— The Star Online

140 fatalities in eight days of Ops Selamat 15
A total of 140 people were killed in road accidents just eight days into Ops Selamat 15. The traffic safety police operation launched on May 29 recorded 13,316 accidents, involving 27,326,459 vehicles.
— The Sun Daily

Booking Grab ride in Malaysia? Submit selfie first
June 07, 2019 5:00 AMAll Grab users in Malaysia will soon have to do a one-time selfie verification in order to use the app in the country. This is to fulfil regulatory requirements.
— Straits Times (annoying popups)

Axiata to tap on AI via own academy in third quarter 2019
Telecommunication conglomerate Axiata Group Bhd will officially launch Axiata Academy in the third quarter of this year in an effort to build up its own talent pool especially in new technologies such as artificial technology (AI) that has become a strategic priority for most.
— The Star Online

Maybank wants to link up Gulf Cooperation Council, Asean with Islamic banking
Maybank Islamic Bhd (MIB), the largest Islamic bank by asset in Asean, wants to be the bridge for the Islamic banking sector between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the region after its Dubai branch starts its operation by June this year.
— The Star Online

Kit Siang wants White Paper on 2015 sacking of top govt officials
The termination of several senior government officials in July 2015, dubbed the “week of long knives”, must be investigated fully to prevent a recurrence, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said today.
— Malay Mail

RTD denies only four Awas cameras working, says all 41 fully functioning
The Road Transport Department (RTD) has refuted a news report claiming that only four of 45 mobile Automated Enforcement System (Awas) cameras on highways are operational.The RTD said several awareness Awas cameras were pending repair works after accidents and wiring issues.
— The Sun Daily

Top Glove launches biogreen biodegradable nitrile gloves
Top Glove Corporation Bhd has officially launched its flagship green product, BioGreen Biodegradable Nitrile Gloves (Powder-Free), in conjunction with World Environment Day.
— The Star Online

Unconstitutional, discriminatory to bar kids from expressing themselves, says DAP MP
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh today said he is glad the government will not act on the groundless exploitation claims over the participation of 11 students of SJK(T) Sg Ara in a recent climate crisis protest in Penang.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia: Another Crisis Looming?
Love him or hate him, Mahathir Mohamed during his first stint as prime minister was able to instill a great sense of national pride and unity.
— Geopoliticalmonitor

Tough terrain for Malaysia’s tourism industry
This article first appeared as ‘Tough terrain for tourism’ in the May 27, 209, 2019 issue of The Edge Malaysia.
— The Edge Markets

Speak only for yourself on politics, Siti Kasim tells Malaysian Bar chief
Prominent lawyer and activist Siti Kasim today took the Malaysian Bar president to task for using his post to express his personal political views on the appointment of the newest head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption.
— Malay Mail

Report: Telekom’s CEO saga raises concerns over Putrajaya’s meddling in GLCs
The confusion over the appointment of Telekom Malaysia (TM) Berhad’s chief executive officer (CEO) has raised concerns over Putrajaya’s meddling in the affairs of government-linked companies (GLC),
— Malay Mail

Western Australia rejects Lynas waste, says meeting up to Malaysia
The Western Australian (WA) state government has refused to take back 450,000 tonnes of radioactive waste stockpiled at Lynas Corp’s rare earths processing plant in Kuantan, Pahang.
— Malay Mail

IOI founder Lee Shin Cheng’s funeral cortege leaves for final resting place
The grand patriarch and founder of local conglomerate IOI Group, Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng’s funeral cortege has left the family residence to his final resting place.
— The Borneo Post

Prosecutors insist Pell child sex conviction ‘unimpeachable’
Prosecutors insist the conviction of Australian Cardinal George Pell for child sexual abuse was unimpeachable as his appeal against the guilty verdict went into a second day.
— FMT News

Nancy takes neutral stance on Latheefa’s appointment as MACC chief
Former Law Minister Dato Sri Nancy Shukri says she neither agrees nor disagrees with the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Latheefa Koya as the new Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.
— The Borneo Post

Kit Siang calls for probe into “Black Tuesday” and “Week of Long Knives”
DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang today called for a full investigation into the “Black Tuesday” episode and the “Week of Long Knives Operation” in July 2015 to learn the lessons from this dark chapter in the six decades of democracy in Malaysia to ensure that these.
— The Borneo Post

Bar concerned with manner of Latheefa’s appointment
Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) selection of ex-PKR member Latheefa Koya to head the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) could jeopardise the perception of the agency’s independence, the Malaysian Bar said.
— The Sun Daily

Siti Kasim: Malaysian Bar president should not make political statements
The Malaysian Bar should not be making political statements regarding Latheefa Koya’s appointment as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief, says activist lawyer, Siti Kasim.
— The Star Online

Bersih 2.0: Latheefa’s appointment highlights structural weaknesses in govt
The appointment of Latheefa Koya as the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) highlights a structural weakness in our governance that makes abuses of power inevitable, says Bersih 2.0.
— The Star Online

5km snarl from Tapah to Gopeng, smooth traffic in other areas
Traffic this morning was reported to be generally smooth on all highways in the peninsula except for a 5km crawl between Tapah and Gopeng on the North-South Expressway.It is due to an accident involving a container lorry.
— The Sun Daily

Children have the right to protest, says lawyer
The constitutional guarantee of free speech, assembly and association extends to all Malaysians, including minors, a lawyer contended after school children joined a protest against climate change.
— Malay Mail

Prasarana upgrades Penang channel ferry services
Prasarana Malaysia Bhd Group — which manages Penang’s public bus and cross — channel ferry services have incorporated high tech into their operations to make it easier for passengers to determine the routes and the arrivals timetable.
— The Sun Daily

RCI on judicial misconduct is what people want: Dr Mahathir
The government agreed to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on judicial misconduct because this is what the people want, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.He said this when responding to news reports that former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram had proposed .
— The Sun Daily

Gobind proud of unity among Malaysians
Malaysians should appreciate and cherish the prevailing prosperity and unity in the country, says Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo. “For more than 60 years, we have worked together to build.
— Malay Mail

Study: Malaysia is the slowest marathon nation
Malaysia has the slowest marathon runners worldwide, according to a study.
— Viet Nam News

Bleak outlook for Malaysia’s youth
The 2018 euphoria of the #MalaysiaBaru movement that followed the historic win of the new Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) coalition in the 14th general election (GE14) in Malaysia, have since died down. The now one-year-old government was recently given a “Fail” grade for its overall performance, according to a recent poll by the Merdeka Centre.
— The Asean Post

H&M’s LGBT collection will not be sold in Malaysia
Swedish-owned H&M confirmed on June 2, that its LGBT collection titled “Love For All” will not be available for sale in Malaysia.
— Scandasia

Feature photo Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia/ Wazari Wazir

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges Eid al-Fit, June 4-5.

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.