Malaysia Morning News For March 11

Malaysia slaps anti-dumping tax on steel imports
Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has announced anti-dumping tax on steel imports from Vietnam and China.
— New Straits Times

China and Islam: bright lights for Malaysia tourism revival
Malaysia’s tourism figures in 2018 bucked the regional trend and declined, slightly, but an analysis shows it wasn’t a bad thing; unless you focus only on quantity.
— AEC News Today

Malaysia is fifth safest country in Asia-Pacific for women, says study
MALAYSIA has been ranked the fifth safest country for women out of 14 countries in the Asia Pacific.
— The Star Online

Government balancing high debts with need to own a home
HOW far should the government go to boost house ownership? Not at the expense of the banking sector, say economists.
— The Star Online

Malaysia’s ¥200 billion bond priced at 0.63% coupon rate per annum
The Malaysian government has priced its ¥200 billion (RM7.3 billion) 10-year Samurai bond at a coupon rate of 0.63% per annum.
— The Sun Daily

What to enjoy in Malaysia this March
All eyes in Langkawi will be looking skyward at the end of the month when the annual Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition gets underway.
— AEC News Today

Support Bill to restore Sarawak’s status, Pakatan tells state govt
Sarawak Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen today expressed his confidence that a Bill to restore Sarawak’s status to its pre-1976 original position as an equal partner to Malaya will be passed in Parliament, only if 19 Members of Parliament from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) give their support.
— Malay Mail

AirAsia X starts KL-Lanzhou service, fares from as low as RM149
AirAsia X Bhd has announced the opening of a new direct route to Lanzhou, one of the largest cities in northeast China, beginning May 1.
— The Star Online

Malaysians living near Thai border should export products, says Radzi
MALAYSIANS living near the Malaysia-Thailand border should take the opportunity to export their products to Southeast Asia’s second largest economy following the ringgit’s recent decline against the baht.
— The Malaysian Insight

In Mahathir’s new Malaysia, a perfect storm for the Pakatan Harapan?
Ten months after a general election that overhauled Malaysia’s political landscape, its decimated opposition forces have begun rallying to win back voters by rebranding and repositioning themselves.
— South China Morning Post

Crying need for integrity in business, nation, says Malaysia Airports boss
By reinventing itself, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) hopes to be a catalyst for the redefined Malaysian economy, according to its group chief executive officer Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin.
— FMT

Econpile awarded RM68.8m subcontract for Putrajaya project
Econpile Holdings Bhd has clinched a RM68.8 million subcontract to undertake piling, pilecap and basement works for Terra mixed development in Precint 8, Putrajaya.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysian jailed for more than 10 years for insulting Islam
The sentence is believed to be the harshest such penalty on record in the Muslim-majority country.
— Aljazeera

Malaysia’s rail link project to proceed if China agrees to significantly reduce price : PM Mahathir
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the government would give the East Coast Rail Link project the green light if China contractors agree to significantly reduce the price.
— Eleven Myanmar

In the hot seat to drive Malaysia’s cultural economy
IT is barely two years old, but this agency is already making an economic impact through arts and culture.
— The Star Online

Nestle Malaysia raises the bar with six-month child adoption leave
Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd has intryduced a new maternity policy for adoptive parents and primary caregivers, providing a generous leave package of up to six months.
— New Straits Times

Vital for Malaysia to remain united, peaceful: Lee
It is vital for Malaysia to remain a united and peaceful nation with political stability despite the existence of divergent political ideologies and views.
— The Sun Daily

In Muslim Malaysia, uproar over LGBT groups at Women’s Day march
A Malaysian minister has decried the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) groups at a march celebrating International Women’s Day on Saturday (March 9), calling it “a misuse of democratic space”.
— The Straits Times

Sarawak-based contractors to benefit from upcoming devt
As Sarawak is set to accelerate its infrastructural development, analysts opined that Sarawak-based contractors and construction material suppliers are more likely beneficiaries to these projects.
— The Borneo Post

Foreign investors will continue to have confidence in Malaysia
Foreign investors will continue to have confidence in Malaysia
KEPALA BATAS: The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) hopes foreign investors will continue to have confidence in Malaysia’s economy.
— The Borneo Post

Bursa Malaysia closes lower on negative external factors
The slow progress of the US-China trade talks, coupled with the decline in the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock markets, dragged Bursa Malaysia to close lower on Friday.
— The Sun Daily

Analyst expect Sapura to narrow losses in Q4 2018
Integrated oil and gas player Sapura Energy Bhd which has been registering losses for the past few years, is expected to narrow its net loss in the coming fourth quarter earnings results, supported by its newly secured contracts and recovering crude oil prices.
— New Straits Times

Merchantrade multi-currency card tops stiff local e-wallet race
The growth of cashless payment options, including e-wallet, has grown exponentially in Malaysia and market observers believe it will continue to dominate the space in the coming years.
— New Straits Times

Ministry of Finance warns against scammers abusing its name
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has urged the public to be aware of any letter using its official letterheads or using minister Lim Guan Eng’s name as it could be a scam.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia must remain a united and peaceful nation, says Lee Lam Thye
IT is vital for Malaysia to remain a united and peaceful nation with political stability despite the existence of divergent political ideologies and views.
— The Malaysian Insight

Petronas net profit soars 22 pct to RM55.3 bln in FY2018
Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) net profit rose 22 per cent to RM55.3 billion in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2018 (FY18) from RM45.5 billion in 2017, on the back of higher revenue and supported by a net write-back of impairment on assets.
— The Borneo Post

Celcom looks to single-digit revenue growth in 2019
Celcom Axiata Bhd expects to achieve single-digit growth in total revenue in 2019 despite a flattish 2018 for the telecommunications industry.
— New Straits Times

Only 17 per cent Malaysian businesses have a woman CEO
Only 17 per cent of businesses in Malaysia have a woman in the role of chief executive officer or managing director, said global professional services network, Grant Thornton International Ltd.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia: 22-Year-Old Charged With Insulting Islam On Facebook; Awarded 10 Years In Prison
A Malaysian is sentenced to ten years imprisonment for insulting Islam and its founder Mohammed on his Facebook page, reports CNN.
— Swarajamag

Feature photo Dennis Sylvester Hurd

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.