Malaysia Morning News For May 14

Global investors are losing patience with Malaysia
A year after Malaysia’s historic election, public euphoria surrounding the new government has evaporated. And investors are losing patience too.
— The Star Online

Penang to trim state civil service by 5pc in three years
Penang will downsize its civil service by five per cent in the next three years in line with the federal government’s rationalisation exercise, state secretary Datuk Seri Farizan Darus announced today.
— Malay Mail

Malaysian police foil terror attacks with arrests of four suspects
Four men have been arrested by Malaysian police for plotting assassinations and big-scale terror attacks in the Klang Valley.
— Channel NewsAsia

MMEA seizes two foreign fishing vessels, arrests 29 crews
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized two foreign fishing vessels believed to be from Vietnam and 29 crew members for illegally fishing in Malaysian waters during an operation on May 11.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia: Thai Asylum Seeker Forcibly Returned
Malaysian authorities forcibly returned a Thai asylum seeker to Thailand where she faces likely persecution for her peaceful political activities, Human Rights Watch said today. Praphan Pipithnamporn, who was registered as an asylum seeker by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was repatriated to Bangkok on May 10, 2019, in violation of Malaysia’s international legal obligations, and detained by Thai authorities.
— Human Right Watch

Malaysia’s March natural rubber production falls 16.2 pct month-on-month
Malaysia’s natural rubber production slumped 16.2 percent month-on-month to 49,465 tonnes in March, official data showed Monday.
— Brinkwire

Malaysia’s IPI gains pace but 1Q GDP likely to weakened
Malaysia’s industrial production index (IPI) growth picked in March, exceeding consensus’ expectations, but analysts say this gain is not enough to lift the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2019 (1Q19).
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia’s volume index of services up 6.5% in Q1 2019
Malaysia’s volume index of services rose 6.5% to 167.4 points in the first quarter of 2019, compared with 157.3 points in the same period last year.
— The Edge Markets

Malaysia first in Asean region to offer Cyberdyne HAL treatment
Malaysia is the first country in the Asean region and fourth in the world to offer Cyberdyne Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) treatment, an innovative medical technology to treat patients with paralysis or weakened limbs.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia wants to resolve South China Sea dispute together as Asean, minister says
Malaysia is seeking to address the issue of the South China Sea in an Asean-centric way instead of via bilateral methods, said Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
— Malay Mail

Scrap material from electronic appliances being dumped in Penang
An environmental nightmare is unfolding in Penang – one that may pose an immediate health risk.The state has become a dumping ground for electronic waste, or e-waste.State executive councillor Phee Boon Poh said that just like plastic waste, e-waste is imported.
— The Sun Daily

Saifuddin: Other countries eager to learn how Malaysia renegotiated ECRL deal with China
Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said today Malaysia will hold steadfast to its international agreements with China or any other countries, so long as it is principled and based on the rule of law.
— Malay Mail

MCMC, state govts to cooperate on setting up of national fiberisation plan
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will work with state governments across the country to facilitate the implementation of digital infrastructure that will support the National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP).
— The Sun Daily

Penang civil servants to get Aidilfitri bonus of half-month salary or minimum RM1,000
The Penang government today announced a special Aidilfitri bonus of half-month salary or a minimum of RM1,000 to all state civil servants.
— The Borneo Post

Sandakan result a lesson to opposition to respect Sabah, S’wak rights: Guan Eng
DAP’s landslide victory in Sandakan should serve as a lesson to the opposition not to hamper the government’s efforts to restore Sabah and Sarawak’s rights and not to propagate racism.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia takes top spot in global sukuk issuance in Q1
Malaysia was the top sukuk issuer with US$13.9bil or 35.1% of the US$39.5bil issued in the first quarter ended March 31, 2019, RAM Ratings said.
— The Star Online

Water supply in Klang 99% restored
About 99% of the areas affected by water supply disruption in Klang after three main pipes burst near the West Coast Expressway (WCE) last Saturday have been fully restored this morning.Pengurusan Air Selangor customer relations and communications department head.
— The Sun Daily

KLCI approaches 1,600 as downtrend continues
The FBM KLCI slid closer to the psychologically important 1,600 level in Monday morning trade as the setback in US-China trade negotiations continued to weigh on investor sentiment.
— The Star Online

Sime Darby unit cries ‘conspiracy’ as gears keep turning in alleged Melaka land-grab despite lawsuit
Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) has alleged of a “conspiracy” in which a land authority in Melaka is aiding the forced acquisition of the government-linked company’s (GLC) land for the benefit of an ultimately.
— Malay Mail

Seacera inks MOU with Korean firm for LED biz in Malaysia
PN17 company Seacera Group Bhd today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea’s KR EMS Co Ltd (KR Global) for manufacturing, production and sales of Light Emitting Diode (LED) products in Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

Putrajaya wants to learn more from Japan, UK food banks, says minister
Putrajaya will take as inspiration food bank programmes in Japan and the United Kingdom, Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said today.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia will continue to work with Indonesia to defend palm oil — Minister
The Malaysian Government will continue to work with Indonesia to defend palm oil which is under sabotage by lobbyists in Europe, said International Trade and Industry (MITI) minister, Datuk Darell Leiking.
— The Borneo Post

Plantation firms face earnings pressure in 1Q — Maybank IB Research
Maybank IB Research expects the plantation sector to see continued earnings pressure in the first quarter of 2019 (1Q 2019), mainly on weak spot crude palm oil (CPO) average selling price (ASP).
— The Borneo Post

Development in Perak: State government facing resistance from NGOs, says MB
The Perak state government is facing resistance from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) when it comes to developing the state. Without naming the NGOs, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu blamed them for disrupting.
— Malay Mail

VIISA names 4 startups into the fifth batch of its accelerator programme
The startups have been selected out of 80 applicants to join the VIISA accelerator programme Vietnam-based accelerator programme VIISA announced the four startups that have made it to the fifth batch of its programme.
— e27

Report: Global funds bypassing Malaysia as investors lose patience with Pakatan
Global investors are putting their money someplace else but Malaysia as they lose patience with the pace of reforms promised Pakatan Harapan following the pact’s historic election victory last year, Bloomberg reported.
— Malay Mail

Better media freedom after GE14, hard work remains to improve further: Analysts
After a year of Pakatan Harapan (PH) rule, the media in Malaysia is going through some positive developments as the new government repealed or set aside many of the archaic laws seen stifling press freedom in the country.
— The Sun Daily

Education D-G: We don’t have a shortage of English teachers
There is no shortage of English teachers in the country, the Education Ministry said today. Education Director-General Datuk Amin Senin denied claims by the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) that there were.
— Malay Mail

Perak MB’s official residence available for development in exchange for 14 new houses
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the state welcomes any proposals from developers keen to develop the land where the mentri besar’s current official residence stands.
— Malay Mail

Why no more affordable homes set aside just for civil servants? Zuraida explains
Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has explained why civil servants will no longer have a special allocation of affordable homes built under government initiatives, but will have to apply for such housing just like the rest of the.
— Malay Mail

EDOTCO MALAYSIA LAUNCHES SMART BUS SHELTER IN PENANG
EDOTCO Malaysia Sdn Bhd on May 13 launched a Smart Bus Shelter equipped with telecommunication solutions in line with Malaysia’s digital goals.
— Digital NewsAsia

What’s brewing: Malaysia bubble tea chain plans $98.5m IPO next year
Loob Holding, which owns the Tealive bubble tea brand, is planning a Malaysian initial public offering (IPO) that could raise as much as RM300 million (S$98.5 million), according to people with knowledge of the matter.
— The Straits Times

Has the ball started rolling for press freedom in Malaysia?
After a year of Pakatan Harapan (PH) rule, the media in Malaysia is going through some positive developments as the new government repealed or set aside many of the archaic laws seen stifling press freedom in the country.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysian Bar urges government expedite proposed IPCMC
The Malaysian Bar has urged the government to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) without any further delay.Its president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor (pix) said IPCMC would undoubtedly enhance the stature and the standing of the Royal Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

Drug mules taking ‘Plane to Busan’ nabbed with RM8mil worth of drugs strapped to bodies
Two local women who strapped drugs worth about RM8.16mil to their bodies were nabbed before they got on a flight to Busan, South Korea.
— The Star Online

Public can lodge complaints about TNB’s smart metre issues with energy commission
The public can lodge reports with the Energy Commission if the customer service division of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) fails to manage complaints on smart metre issues. Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Yeo Bee Yin said she would announce the procedure.
— The Sun Daily

All documents in Isa Samad’s case handed over to defence
The prosecution has handed over all documents, including the remaining three, in the corruption and CBT case involving former Felda chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad to the defence, the High Court here has been told.
— The Star Online

Greatech to raise RM73m from IPO
Greatech Technology Bhd, an industrial automation solutions provider, aims to raise RM73.05mil from its initial public offering (IPO), said chief executive officer Tan Eng Kee.
— The Star Online

Cosmetics mogul Nur Sajat charged over 19 unregistered beauty products
Cosmetic mogul Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman has pleaded not guilty to possession of 19 types of beauty products not registered with the Health Ministry at the Magistrates Court in Johor Baru yesterday.
— Malay Mail

Guan Eng: Opposing Dr M’s bid to restore Sabah, Sarawak status one of the reasons PBS lost Sandakan
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the Opposition’s decision to oppose the prime minister’s bid in Parliament to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak to their 1963 position as equal partners that formed Malaysia was.
— Malay Mail

Senior official remanded for four more days for allegedly accepting RM200k bribe
It’s another four days of remand for a Kuala Lumpur City Hall senior official who allegedly received RM200,000.
— The Star Online

Feature photo udeyismail

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges Vesak Day, May 18.

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.