Malaysia Morning News For May 2

Govt allocating significant resources to support SME growth, technological adoption
The Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is holding to its 14th General Election’s (GE14) pledges since its historic win nearly a year ago by allocating significant resources to supporting the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and encouraging their technological.
— The Sun Daily

Housing Ministry zooms in on affordable housing, plastic waste woes
Efforts to provide more affordable homes to the people and to take more firm action against operators of illegal plastic factories have been among the focus of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT).
— Malay Mail

Malaysia’s PPI down 1.5% in March 2019
The Producer Price Index (PPI) for local production fell 1.5% year-on-year in March 2019, according to the Department of Statistics.”The sectors which decreased during the month were agriculture, forestry and fishing (-14.2%), water supply (-1.7%) and manufacturing (-0.8%).
— The Sun Daily

PM says low wages of dirty jobs better than no wages
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad reminded the nation’s workforce that so-called 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) jobs may not pay well but were still honest work and vital to the nation’s development.
— Malay Mail

Israel root cause of world instability: Mahathir
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix) once again today described Israel as a terrorist nation and the root cause of instability in the world.
— The Sun Daily

Mavcom: Malaysia’s aviation industry losing out due to single airport operator system
The country’s aviation industry can progress to become comparable to either Singapore or Dubai, but it is hampered by the single airport operator system that makes Malaysia lose out in terms of attracting more airlines.
— Malay Mail

Survey: Malaysian employers favour hard skills over soft skills
The talent-short market in Malaysia is driving businesses to favour technical know-how over emotional aptitude in candidates, according to Hays Asia Salary Guide 2019.
— The Sun Daily

Police nab six individuals over sale of fake MC
Police arrested six people, including two civil servants suspected of selling fake Medical Certificates (MCs) in several raids in and around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
— The Borneo Post

Sarawak wants federation redefined in Constitution
Sarawak wants the Federal Constitution to state that Malaysia is a federation formed pursuant to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
— The Sun Daily

PAS assemblyman urges Penang govt to have law to curb spread of non-Muslim religions to Muslims
The sole PAS assemblyman in Penang today called on the state government to formulate a new legislation to prevent the spread of non-Muslim religions to Muslims.
— Malay Mail

Orientation towards transparency fortifies M’sia-France bilateral ties: Envoy
The orientation of the new Malaysian government which favours transparency, fighting against corruption and good economic environment has encouraged Malaysia-France bilateral relations to expand.
— The Sun Daily

Fewer critics if I had said ‘aeromobile’ instead of ‘flying car’, minister says
Critics have taken issue with Putrajaya’s planned flying vehicle technology mostly because of the term “flying car” used to describe the ambitious project, a minister has said.
— Malay Mail

Maszlee urges diesel supplier to fix rural school’s power generator
The company that supplies diesel to rural schools, Syarikat Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd, has been directed to expedite the process to provide electricity to SK Nanga Pelagus (SKNP).
— The Borneo Post

Caring Pharmacy plans expansion into second-tier cities
Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd will incorporate more local products in its pharmacies under the ‘Let’s Go Retail’ programme, paving the way for its expansion into second-tier cities in the country.
— The Sun Daily

High Court to hear Sisters in Islam’s challenge against ‘deviant’ fatwa again
The Kuala Lumpur High Court will today hear Sisters in Islam’s (SIS) challenge against a fatwa, or religious edict, declaring it “deviant” ― three years after it dismissed the Muslim women’s rights group’s initial.
— Malay Mail

Govt finalising details of National Entrepreneurship Policy
The government is finalising details of the National Entrepreneurship Policy which will be submitted to the National Entrepreneur Strategic Development Council (NESDC), said Deputy Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Hatta Md Ramli (pix).
— The Sun Daily

PM says chance for peace in Middle East if world commits to stop crimes against Palestine
The global community has to give its commitment to resolve the occupation in Palestine, if the Middle East region is to have a shot at becoming stable, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
— Malay Mail

Sarawak proposes six major amendments to Article 1(2)
The Sarawak government has proposed six major amendments to Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution, to be sought upon conclusion of the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) discussions with the federal government.
— The Borneo Post

PKR wants Sarawak govt to resolve Miri Port problems
The Sarawak government must solve the long-standing problems that caused the Miri Port not to be fully utilised until today as the waterways are too shallow for bigger vessels.
— Malay Mail

Go online, avoid services of middleman in RTD matters
The public has been urged to avoid using the services of the “middleman” when carrying out dealings at the Road Transport Department (RTD) counters and to instead use the RTD online service, an easier option, said Kuala Lumpur RTD director Datuk Ismail Mohd Nawawi.
— The Sun Daily

Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak: Several road alignments to be opened in July
Several road alignments at the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak which has been upgraded from a two-lane dual carriageway to a four-lane dual carriageway will be opened to.
— New Sarawak Tribune

People want substantive changes in New Malaysia era: Azmin
In the ‘New Malaysia’ era, what the people want are not patchy, overlapping changes but substantive ones that will impact their lives.
— The Sun Daily

Society eyes raising RM100,000 from annual charity food fair
The Sarawak Society for the Deaf (SSD) will host its annual ‘Charity Food Fair’ at the Association of Churches (ACS) premises along Jalan Stampin here this July 28, running from 8am to noon.
— The Borneo Post

PH govt to continue to combat corruption: Dr Mahathir
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government will continue with the agenda to combat corruption, despite the decline in public support for the government and himself.
— The Sun Daily

Azmin: Employees need to upgrade skills, knowledge to keep up with changes
Employees need to equip themselves with skills and improve their knowledge to keep up with current changes, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said.
— Malay Mail

Crude palm oil export duty deferred until Dec 31
Malaysia has deferred its export duty on crude palm oil until Dec 31 this year, Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok Suh Sim (pix) said.She said the deferment period from May 1 would enable the country to promote palm oil exports, as well as to seek new markets.
— The Sun Daily

Malaysia without the harimau Malaya? Not under my watch, says resources minister
With fewer than 200 Malayan tigers left in the wild, Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar is on a mission to stop their population from falling further.
— Malay Mail

Agong visits proposed armed forces affordable housing site
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today visited the proposed housing site of SaSar (One Member, One House) programme in Sungai Besi here.
— The Sun Daily

Single mum, civil servant among five couples held for khalwat in JB
A single mother and a civil servant were among five couples detained by Johor Islamic Religious Department personnel in an anti-vice operation last night (April 30).
— The Star Online

Address workers’ issues, MTUC Sabah urges govt
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), Sabah division, is celebrating the first ever Labour Day with the new government after Barisan National ruled Malaysia for 61 years since the independence.
— The Borneo Post

S’gor water industry revamp, tiger conservation among Ministry’s highlights: Xavier
The restructuring of the Selangor water industry and efforts to save the critically endangered Malayan Tiger count as among notable positive developments of the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry over the past year under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.
— The Sun Daily

Putrajaya can’t protect forests alone, resources minister admits despite federal laws
Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar is dissatisfied with certain land issues but admitted that his hands are tied without the support and help of state governments.
— Malay Mail

8 CPPCs to be built – Dr Abdul Rahman
There are eight collection, processing and packaging centres (CPPCs) to be implemented in Sarawak through the Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development.
— The Borneo Post

Sarawak Assembly rejects move to relocate High Court registry to Kota Kinabalu
The Sarawak State Assembly tonight called on the state government to stand firm against any move to relocate the principal registry of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak from here to Kota Kinabalu.
— Malay Mail

MCMC records statements of two Facebook account holders for insulting Islam
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has recorded statements from two people for allegedly posting insulting comments on Prophet Muhammad and his wife, as well as Islam.
— The Sun Daily

S’wak tables motion to protect rights under MA63
A motion has been tabled in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly asking for any amendments to Article 1(2) of Federal Constitution to have clear provisions in protecting the rights and safeguards that were accorded to Sarawak for its agreement to join Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

At May Day gathering, workers demand better pay and fairer treatment
Labour and civil society groups called for improved salaries for workers across the country and the end to workplace discrimination during a May Day gathering here today.
— Malay Mail

Ringgit ends almost flat against US dollar
The ringgit closed almost flat against the US dollar today as investors remained cautious over the mixed signals from the global economic outlook, a dealer said.At 6pm, the ringgit stood at 4.1320/1370 against the greenback compared with 4.1320/1350 at Monday’s close.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak records 682 stateless children from 2016 till March 2019
Sarawak recorded a total of 682 stateless children from 2016 until March this year, the State Legislative Assembly sitting was told today.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Malaysia destroys almost four tonnes of ivory
Malaysian authorities incinerated almost four tonnes of elephant tusks and ivory products worth about US$3.2 million on Tuesday, as they crack down on rampant wildlife-smuggling across the country’s borders.
— The Sun Daily

CM to let public decide on Dewan Sri Pinang upgrading
For nearly five decades, Dewan Sri Pinang has been synonymous with hosting awards ceremonies and cultural events in the state. Now, the venue is due to be upgraded.
— The Sun Daily

Two-week public display for new voters list
The Election Commission (EC) received 26,136 applications to register as new voters and 11,655 applications for change of voting constituencies in the first quarter of 2019 (1Q2019).
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Borneo Jazz

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Jazz Day, April 30.

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.