Malaysia Morning News For March 4, 2020

Seven new COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, all related to previous case with travel history to Shanghai
Seven new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Malaysia on Tuesday (Mar 3), bringing the national total to 36 cases.
— Channel NewsAsia

Dr M denies starting political crisis
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today attempted to deflect allegations that the country’s political crisis began when he resigned as prime minister on Feb 24.
— FMT

Malaysia has potential to be Asia-Pacific Cybersecurity hub
Malaysia has the potential to be a cybersecurity hub within the Asia-Pacific region, said Austrian Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Michael Postl.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Develop contingency strategies to help businesses deal with coronavirus
Developing contingency strategies and response are crucial for businesses amid the global economic slowdown due to Covid-19, according to Deloitte Malaysia’s life sciences and health care leader Cheryl Khor.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Malaysian PM Muhyiddin calls for prompt execution of 2020 budget and stimulus package
Malaysia’s newly-installed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has tasked the civil service to implement the annual budget put forth by the previous government, as well as an economic stimulus package launched last week to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19.
— CNA

SRB urged to help long boat owners obtain certificate of boat handling competency
Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) is urged to help all long boat owners in the state to obtain the certificate of boat handling competency to reduce the accident rate in the state rivers.
— The Borneo Post

Financial settlement network stamps mark across Southeast Asia
EMQ, a global financial settlement network is augmenting its footprint across Southeast Asia with direct connectivity to Singapore’s Fast and Secure Transfers (FAST) network and extensive bank coverage across Malaysia.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Malaysia’s central bank cuts key rate to 10-year low to mitigate virus impact
Malaysia’s central bank cut its key interest rate to the lowest in 10 years on Tuesday (Mar 3), as it aimed to soften the blow from the coronavirus oubreak on the country’s exports and tourism.
— CNA

PM calls for prudent spending, plug leakages to strengthen nation’s financial position
The Prime Minister has directed the government machinery to effectively implement initiatives of Budget 2020 and the recently-unveiled economic stimulus package to benefit the rakyat.
— The Star Online

SRC Trial: MACC accepted advance statement by Jho Low’s aide during ‘mysterious’ Saudi prince meet in 2015
A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer told the High Court today that MACC had allowed a statement prepared in advance by Eric Tan Kim Loong to be admissible as a recorded statement prior to interrogation.
— Malay Mail

After Malaysia’s political turmoil, questions over trials in 1MDB scandal
Hours after Malaysia’s change of leadership at the weekend, former prime minister Najib Razak posted a picture of himself smiling and giving a thumbs up on social media.
— CNA

MTUC tells PM next HR minister candidate must understand workers plight
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) today urged Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to carefully select the next human resources minister to ensure the rights of workers and unions in the country are upheld.
— Malay Mail

Malaysia and Australia cut rates to counter coronavirus threat
Malaysia’s central bank trimmed its key policy interest rate on Tuesday to 9-year low while Australia cut its to a record low, as the coronavirus outbreak begins to spook the two economies.
— Nikkei Asian Review

MIDF offers financial relief to clients
Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Bhd (MIDF) is offering financial relief to assist its existing clients in dealing with the expected slowdown in economic growth due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Pakatan had chance to repeal Sedition Act but failed, says ex-Bar Council president
Pakatan Harapan had the chance to repeal the Sedition Act but they failed to do so, says Ragunath Kesavan.
— The Star Online

BNM cuts interest rate to lowest since July 2010 to mitigate Covid-19 impact
The central bank reduces the overnight policy rate for a second time this year to 2.5%.
— FMT News

Muhyiddin expresses deepest gratitude to Mahathir
Newly-appointed Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pix) today expressed his deepest gratitude to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for his enormous service to Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

Almost half of 336 school upgrade projects in Sabah completed
Nearly half of the 336 projects approved to upgrade or rebuild dilapidated schools across Sabah have been completed to date, says Dr Mistirine Radin.
— The Star Online

Property sector not directly impacted by coronavirus
The residential property sector is not expected to be as badly impacted as tourism or foreign direct investments by the prolonged Covid-19 outbreak, says PropertyGuru.
— New Sarawak Tribune

CAP suggests two-hour limit for Penang public parking lots
The Consumers Association of Penang has suggested that Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) implement a time-limit regulation for public parking lots in Penang..
— The Sun Daily

New Honda BR-V full 7-seater crossover open for booking
The latest and more versatile version of the Honda BR-V is now open for booking.
— New Sarawak Tribune

Paramount Group targets RM1b sales this year
Paramount Corporation Bhd is optimistic of achieving its sales target of RM1 billion this year despite challenging market conditions with the current glut in the country’s property market, said the group’s chief executive officer Jeffrey Chew.
— The Sun Daily

GPS chairman explains why party went for Muhyiddin
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg today said Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) chose Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the new prime minister because there was no other option available.
— Malay Mail

Cabinet posts not a priority, M’sia comes first, says Abang Johari
Getting Cabinet posts was not a priority for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in supporting Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for Prime Minister, says Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
— The Star Online

Malacca fire dept receives 30-50 calls on fire everyday
The Malacca Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) receives between 30 and 50 distress calls on fire everyday, with 95% of the fire caused by open burning.
— The Sun Daily

PAS urges Sarawakians to unite and give chance to Muhyiddin to lead nation
Sarawak PAS today called for Sarawakians to unite and give chance to the new Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to lead the nation.
— The Borneo Post

Penang Hill funicular service to shut down for seven days from June 18
The Penang Hill funicular train service will be temporarily shut down for seven days from June 18 for the second bi-annual scheduled maintenance works.According to a statement issued by Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), the train operations will resume after the maintenance works on June 25.
— The Sun Daily

Almost 60pc lower-tier economic group prefers Perikatan Nasional, survey shows
Almost 60 per cent of those from the lower economic group supports Perikatan Nasional — the new alliance formed between Umno, PAS, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) as well as Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS),.
— Malay Mail

Malacca Exco members smoke during press conference
The Malacca state Exco may be changing hands soon from the current Pakatan Harapan coalition after certain members have chosen to defect. A press conference was held to announce the matter, but one particular thing stood out.
— The Sun Daily

Court postpones to March 19 decision on Perak exco’s application for stay of rape proceedings
The sessions court here today postponed to Mar 19 to decide on an application by Perak executive council (exco) member Paul Yong Choo Kiong (pix) for a stay of proceedings of his rape case.
— The Sun Daily

Perak MB thanks Dr M for contribution to country in emotional speech
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu today thanked Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in an emotional speech during the National Landscape Day celebration at the Royal Botanical Garden here.
— Malay Mail

Civil service can function without ministers: Experts
Staff at ministries can still function without their ministers, albeit within their roles as civil servants.
— The Sun Daily

Zahid apologises to court, explains why PMO letter for meeting unavailable
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today apologised to the High Court, ahead of the judge’s decision on whether to allow contempt of court proceedings against him. Z
— Malay Mail

Do not postpone efforts to address environmental issues: Sultan Nazrin
The Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah (pix) today expressed the need for adaptation and mitigation acts to be taken and implemented seriously to ensure environmental sustainability.
— The Sun Daily

Azmin asks police not to act against peaceful protesters, but wants the law respected
Datuk Seri Azmin Ali urged the authorities today not to subject those who engage in peaceful protests to police investigations, but stressed that any demonstration must not disrupt public order and security.
— Malay Mail

End the unscrupulous politics before pro-Malaysian policies are harmed — Nurul Izzah Anwar
Much political turmoil shook us all this past week. It is now quickly descending into an unscrupulous blame game. This has to stop. Granted, the shock and outrage has not fully subsided.
— Malay Mail

Ringgit higher at opening ahead MPC outcomes
The ringgit extended yesterday’s uptrend to open higher against the US dollar Tuesday, ahead of Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting today, with the market expecting a 25 basis point cut in interest rates today.
— The Sun Daily

Singapore foreign minister says Muhyiddin a ‘familiar’ face
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has expressed hope for the new Malaysian government to “hit the ground running” as there are unresolved bilateral issues between both countries.
— Malay Mail

Sabah Forestry Dept seizes 45 illegal timber logs
The Sabah Forestry Department has seized 45 timber logs during two raids at illegal logging areas on two government land in the state interior.
— The Borneo Post

Perak Umno nominates Opposition leader Saarani as new MB, as Bersatu, PAS bid for post
Perak Umno has reportedly nominated Kota Tampan assemblyman Datuk Saarani Mohamad to take over as mentri besar from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.
— Malay Mail

Galactic Advance Engineering wants to help manufacturers embrace IR4.0
Galactic Advance Engineering Sdn Bhd (GAE), an industrial automation solutions provider, aims to help manufacturers adopt IR4.0 solutions, in support of the national agenda to move towards automation and innovation.
— The Sun Daily

Sabah farmers to challenge Sarawak’s reign as top pepper producers
The King of spice – pepper – has always been associated with Sarawak with the state cultivating almost 98% of this crop in Malaysia.
— The Star Online

Pro-democracy lawyer under sedition probe tells public ‘not to be intimidated’
Lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said today Malaysians must “not be intimidated”, after the police opened a sedition investigation against her over demonstrations against the appointment of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime.
— Malay Mail

Prosecution fails to cite Zahid for contempt of court
The High Court here today dismissed an application by the prosecution to initiate contempt of court proceeding Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after the former prime minister issued an open apology.
— The Borneo Post

BNM issues updated exposure draft for digital banking framework
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) today issued an updated exposure draft on the licensing framework for digital banks, which incorporates the proposed simplified regulatory framework for digital banks.
— The Sun Daily

GPS could rethink support for new govt if expectations not met, opines analyst
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) could rethink its support for the new federal government if the latter is not what it is expected to be in relation to Sarawak’s interests, opined a political analyst Professor Dr Jayum Jawan Empaling.
— The Borneo Post

FBM KLCI down 4.2%, RM91 billion in market value wiped out after a week’s rollercoaster ride
A “rollercoaster ride” is most apt to describe what the local stock market went through in the past one week, with the FBM KLCI nosediving 64.26 points or 4.2% from the resignation of Tun Mahathir Mohamad as prime minister to the appointment of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Malaysia’s eighth premier.
— The Sun Daily

Jackpot! Sarawakian hawker strikes RM26.4 mln
A 67-year-old food hawker from Sarawak scooped RM26.4 million Toto 4D Jackpot on Feb 26 after dreaming about the winning numbers a few years ago.
— The Borneo Post

Calling for snap election should be seen as last option, says senior lecturer
The call for a snap or early election in the country, whether at federal or state level, should be seen as the last option due to the serious implications it can bring to the country, economy and people, said a senior lecturer of syariah and law.
— The Borneo Post

Maszlee felt extremely heavy-hearted when sitting down with Umno
In a Facebook post on Sunday, former Education Minister and current Member of Parliament for Simpang Renggam Dr Maszlee Malik, explained why he flip-flopped with his support for Mahathir during the recent political crisis.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo CITES

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on World Wildlife Day, March 3, here poached elephant tusks and pangolin scales.

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).

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