Malaysia Morning News For May 17

MIDA approves RM129b investments for Penang
Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) approved 4,084 manufacturing projects for Penang in 2018 with investments totaling RM129.1bil.
— The Star Online

Malaysia aims to become 100pc renewable energy nation
Malaysia is getting ready to make a transition towards 100 per cent renewable energy to make the environment more sustainable, competitive, efficient and greener.
— Borneo Bulletin

Malaysia’s Q1 GDP growth slows to 4.5%
Malaysia’s economic growth moderated to 4.5% in the first quarter of 2019 from 4.7% in the fourth quarter of 2018. The expansion on the economy was underpinned by private sector activity, which remained the key driver of growth.On the supply side, major sectors continued to expand.
— The Sun Daily

MACC gets remand extension for CEO in military vehicle project probe
The MACC has been granted four more days to hold a chief executive officer who is being questioned over allegations of accepting money in return for projects.
— The Star Online

Malaysia Announces Arrests of 3 Remaining IS Cell Suspects
Police in Malaysia said Thursday they had arrested three remaining members of an Islamic State (IS) cell, while a department source identified a Malaysian militant in Syria – an ex-rocker – as the one who ordered them to conduct terror attacks at home during Ramadan.
— Benar News

Franchising freshness: Malaysian organic and halal baby food brand sets sights on regional expansion
Malaysian baby food brand SquEEEze Me Baby has its eye on neighbouring countries and perhaps even the Middle East, banking on its halal organic products to succeed overseas.
— Food navigator-asia

Quick take: Hubline shares up 9% on aviation industry venture
Shares in Hubline Bhd gained 9% in early trade Thursday following its venture into aviation industry.
— The Star Online

Educational institutions should involve in IR4.0 research
Educational institutions should involve in more research relating to Industry 4.0 (IR 4.0), be it academic or applied research, said International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Dr Ong Kian Ming.
— The Borneo Post

BNM announces initiatives to further enhance market liquidity
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has announced further development initiatives to partly address concerns that Malaysia may be excluded from the global bond index. The initiatives include increasing flexibility for dynamic hedging programme participants to manage foreign exchange (FX).
— The Sun Daily

Ministry to attract 5 million tourists through business events
Business events are very big contributors to Sarawak’s socioeconomics, said Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Top 20 best funded startups in Malaysia
With one of the most developed digital economy in the region, Malaysia is a key country for startups in Southeast Asia. With a maturing startup eco-system, Malaysia is home to an ever-growing number of companies that aim at developing a solid base of operations there before expanding abroad.
— AseanUP

Malaysia sugar tax: Carlsberg promises no price hikes for beers and ‘minimal’ impact on other brands
Carlsberg has pledged not to increase the prices of any of its beers for the rest of this year, as the company prepares for the country’s impending sugar tax this July.
— Food navigator-asia

Two Malaysians involved in trafficking humans across Thai border, ex-cop tells Wang Kelian RCI
Police tracked down at least two Malaysians during its hunt for a cross border syndicate that was trafficking in humans and suspected to be operating illegal migrant camps near the country’s Perlis boundary with Thailand.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia to remain active on all platforms for disaster risk reduction
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail concluded her working visit to Geneva on Thursday with the message that Malaysia was determined to actively participate in all future disaster risk mitigation platforms.
— The Edge Markets

Minister says going after travel group for unauthorised use of his name, Tourism Malaysia logo in promos
Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said his Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry will take action against an organisation that used his name and the Tourism Malaysia logo without authorisation in its promotional activities.
— Malay Mail

Perak MB moots asset declaration to cover all state lawmakers, CEOs of GLCs too
The prime minister’s announcement to extend the Pakatan Harapan administration’s asset declaration drive to all MPs should also cover assemblymen nationwide, as well as CEOs in government-linked companies, Datuk Seri Ahmad.
— Malay Mail

KLCI slips amid low turnover, ringgit firms on oil prices
The FBM KLCI was slightly lower in morning trade amid headwinds in the external enivronment and despite Bank Negara’s better-than-expected 1Q GDP announcement.
— The Star Online

Penang water authority urges Kedah to ban logging in Ulu Muda forest to protect water supply
The Kedah government must protect the rainforest in the greater Ulu Muda Forest Complex by banning all logging works there, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said today.
— Malay Mail

Top 10 e-commerce sites in Malaysia 2019
With its dynamic economy and developed infrastructures for digital technologies, Malaysia is a very attractive market for e-commerce in Southeast Asia.
— AseanUP

Most Malaysians want to eat healthy but find it too costly
Most Malaysians want to maintain a healthy diet but they find that it is much more expensive to achieve a healthy diet.A survey conducted by Food Industry Asia (FIA) and research firm IGD finds that 99% of respondents are actively trying to improve their consumption habits.
— The Sun Daily

53 get incentive from Islamic Council
A total of 53 less fortunate children received incentive from Sarawak Islamic Council or Majlis Islam Sarawak (MIS) here yesterday.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Mahathir assures Raya bonus for civil servants
The government will give civil servants an Aidilfitri bonus, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.However, he did not say the amount that would be paid and if the bonus would be given to all civil servants.Mahathir said this will be announced later.
— The Sun Daily

Festive season price control period extended to 30 days
The duration of the Festive Season Price Control Scheme (FSPCS) for Aidilfitri this year has been extended to 30 days compared to 15 days before and includes the addition of 27 types of goods compared to 21 previously.
— The Borneo Post

11 more Awas cameras for North-South Expressway
There will be 11 more Automated Awareness Safety System (Awas) cameras installed at accident-prone locations to improve road safety.
— The Star Online

North-South highway to have 11 more safety cameras, focus on Ipoh tunnel stretch
Highway operator PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) will be funding the installation of 11 new Automated Awareness Safety System (AWAS) cameras at accident prone areas along the North-South Expressway (NSE).
— Malay Mail

Teen suicide brings social media usage and mental health into sharp focus
Malaysians and the rest of the world were shocked by the story of a teenage girl who is said to have taken her own life after a poll she ran on Instagram encouraged her to do so.
— The Star Online

Malaysia just below UAE, Albania in ‘Islamicity’ index, but New Zealand beat them all
Malaysia is ranked the third highest-ranking Muslim-majority country in this year’s global Islamicity Index which measures a society’s adherence to Quranic teachings and Prophet Muhammad’s practices.
— Malay Mail

Economy expands by 4.5% in Q1 of 2019, above forecast
The economy expanded by 4.5% at in the first quarter of March 31, 2019 (Q1 2019), which was slightly above economists’ forecast of 4.3%, underpinned by services and manufacturing.
— The Star Online

Supplement maker DXN said to weigh RM4.17b sale
DXN Holdings Bhd.’s owners are exploring a sale of the Malaysian health supplement producer, in a deal that could value the firm at as much as US$1bil (RM4.17bil) including debt, people with knowledge of the matter said.
— The Star Online

Malaysian Bar urges further review of prosecution representation after Penang boss freed of maid’s murder
The attorney-general who is also public prosecutor (PP) urgently needs to examine existing representation procedures in criminal cases, the Malaysian Bar said today after public uproar over the horrific death of a young.
— Malay Mail

Dialogue between China investors in Sabah and SCCC – Consul General
The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu will arrange China investors in Sabah to sit down for a dialogue session with the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) to address the investors’ concerns and challenges in order to create a more.
— The Borneo Post

MPs’ asset disclosure rule good, but pundits fear telling only MACC will make it too powerful
Political observers applaud Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent announcement for all federal lawmakers to declare their net worth, and that of their immediate family, without exception.
— Malay Mail

State to continue developing Islamic syiar: Abang Johari
The state government will continue to develop Islamic syiar to set an example for others as Islam is a religion that values brotherhood, peace and equality, said Chief Minister.
— New Sarawak Tribune

PricewaterhouseCoopers appointed so that audit on YaPEIM independent: Minister
The decision to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers to audit the accounts of Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia (YaPEIM) was made to ensure the process was independent, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa.
— The Sun Daily

Missing nurse found murdered in Cyberjaya condo
A nurse who was practicing at the Serdang Hospital and recently reported missing, has been found allegedly murdered with her body being discovered with slash wounds at a condominium in Cyberjaya yesterday.
— Malay Mail

Ringgit halts 12-day drop on Bank Negara plan to aid market liquidity
The ringgit rose for first time in almost three weeks after Malaysian economic data beat estimates and the central bank set out plans to boost market liquidity.
— The Star Online

Court extends mental observation for youth convicted of insulting Islam
The Kuching High Court today extended the mental observation on Alister Cogia, 22, for another month as the psychiatric report was not ready. Judge Azhahari Kamal Ramli set June 17 for the case remention, and also for the disclosure of the full psychiatric report.
— The Borneo Post

NGOs: M’sia must not regress on female genital mutilation after US setback
The US government’s reluctance to defend the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) is a “slippery slope” that Malaysia should avoid, say two women non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
— The Star Online

Umno must get ready for snap GE, says Ku Li
Chairman of the Umno Council of Advisors Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah called on party members to prepare themselves for an early 15th general election, even though the current government’s mandate only expires in 2023.
— Malay Mail

Ihsan Perdana account used for ‘transit’ funds: IPSB managing director
The High Court here was told today that the Ihsan Perdana Sdn Bhd (IPSB) account was used to deposit a certain sum of funds in transit before being transferred to another account.Managing director of Ihsan Perdana, Datuk Dr Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman, 58, said he was informed of the .
— The Sun Daily

Set safety and wellbeing SOP for teachers involved in out of school events: Association
May 16 is a very special date and closely synonymous with teachers in Malaysia. Each year, on this day, teachers will be celebrated for their services and sacrifices in educating the children of the nation.Hence, to ensure continuous wellbeing of 400,000 teachers whose roles.
— The Sun Daily

LED light can damage eyes, health authority warns
LED cellphone, tablet and laptop screens do not pose a risk of eye damage because their luminosity is very low compared to other types of lighting.
— FMT News

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.