Malaysia Morning News For January 3, 2020

Malaysians expect a single app for all travel needs in the next decade
WITH the continued advancement in technology, 58% of Malaysians anticipate using their mobile phones as a normal practice for hotel checkins, according to the Travel Trend Expectations for 2020s research by Agoda.
— The Malaysian Reserve

5G roll out to drive telco sector in near term
Telecommunication sector is expected to continue its momentum backed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commissions’ (MCMC) latest announcement on the 5G services rollout.
— The Sun Daily

Yes, it’s 2020 and there are no flying cars—this Malaysian is doing something about it
The internet is awash with memes that poke a little fun at the fact that it’s 2020, and we still don’t have flying cars.
— Soyacincau

Malaysian palm oil overtakes CBOT soyaoil on India tax cut
Malaysian palm oil futures surged over 2% on the first trading session of 2020, surpassing rival soyabean oil on the Chicago Board of Trade on higher imports from India due to a tax cut amid expectations of lower December inventories.
— Brecorder

165,040 illegals repatriated under B4G programme, says Immigration D-G
About 165,040 illegal immigrants out of the 195,471 registered under the Back For Good (B4G) amnesty exercise which ended yesterday, have been deported to their respective countries.
— Malay Mail

Customs stems financial bleed, prevents RM8.5m in cigarette smuggling at Johor port
An attempt to sneak in 10,500 sticks of cigarettes from the country without paying tax was foiled at Johor’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas on Christmas Eve.
— Malay Mail

Najib applies to delay lawsuit until 1MDB case is over
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has applied for a stay of proceedings of the suit filed by Damansara MP Tony Pua Kiam Wee for alleged misfeasance in public office related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
— The Sun Daily

Sime Darby Industrial the exclusive Hyster dealer in Malaysia, Brunei
Sime Darby Industrial Sdn Bhd’s (SDISB) subsidiary Sime Darby Material Handling Sdn Bhd (SDMH) has entered into an agreement with lift truck manufacturer Hyster-Yale Group, Inc, as the exclusive Hyster dealer in Malaysia and Brunei.
— The Sun Daily

How the Kuala Lumpur Summit Complicates India’s Gulf Relations
The declaration of a special OIC meeting on Kashmir at the behest of Pakistan demonstrated that the platform has indirectly affected India-Gulf ties.
— The Diplomat

Multiple notices issued across Malaysia as smoking ban at eateries flouted
There are still people who refuse to abide by the smoking ban at all eateries on the first day of full enforcement of the ruling across the country today.
— Malay Mail

Looking East, Mahathir shares a cooperative idea
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has floated an idea about a successful cooperative village shop in Japan and said he wonders whether such an idea will work well in Malaysia.
— The Borneo Post

Dr Mahathir hands over letter of appointment to new Chief Secretary to Government
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today received a courtesy visit from the new Chief Secretary to the Government, Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali, and his predecessor Tan Sri Dr Ismail Bakar.
— The Borneo Post

Soo slams Chong’s statement on PH 2020 agenda, calls them ‘unrealistic’
Sarawak State Reform Party (Star) president Lina Soo has described Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) three priority agendas in 2020 as revealed by Sarawak PH chairman Chong Chieng Jen as “a bad New Year joke”.
— The Borneo Post

Malaysia’s Dec manufacturing PMI at 15-month high
Malaysia’s purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to a 15-month high in December, the fastest pace since September 2018 amid reports of stronger demand pressures, according to a release by IHS Markit.
— The Sun Daily

Bright job prospects for Malaysians at SMEs
As Malaysians usher in the new year, job prospects are looking better for fresh graduates, with ample openings in small and medium sized enterprises (SME) that are facing a shortage of manpower.
— The Sun Daily

Chief minister: Keystones of Penang’s infrastructure plans kick off in 2020
The Penang government regards 2020 as an important year for the state as several state infrastructure projects will take off in the next 12 months.
— Malay Mail

165,040 illegals repatriated under B4G programme
About 165,040 illegal immigrants out of the 195,471 registered under the Back For Good (B4G) amnesty exercise which ended yesterday, have been deported to their respective countries.
— The Sun Daily

Penang fishermen ring the alarm over high-rise hostel in Teluk Kumbar for 12,000 foreign workers
A plan to build a 29-storey hostel to house an estimated 12,000 foreign workers in Kampung Bagan has got the local fishing communities along Teluk Kumbar and Gertak Sanggul worried.
— Malay Mail

In Okinawa village co-op, Dr M sees idea for rural economic growth
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has floated an idea about a successful cooperative village shop in Japan and said he wonders whether such an idea will work well in Malaysia.
— Malay Mail

Mahathir wonders whether Okinawa’s cooperative shop would work in Malaysia
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pix) has floated an idea about a successful cooperative village shop in Japan and said he wonders whether such an idea will work well in Malaysia.
— The Sun Daily

CM: Sarawak will not be dragged into ‘petty issues’ concerning teaching of khat
Sarawak will not entertain “petty issues” such as the teaching and learning of Jawi calligraphy in schools, but will instead focus on tackling the ever increasing cost of living, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said today.
— The Borneo Post

Sarawak party announces its candidates for state polls due next year
Seeking to steal a march against bigger rivals in the Sarawak state election due in 2021, the State Reform Party (STAR) today announced the names of six candidates, with its president Lina Soo heading the list.
— Malay Mail

Asean PMI continues decline for seventh straight month
Asean manufacturing conditions continued to deteriorate in December, albeit at the softest rate in the current seven-month sequence of decline, according to the latest IHS Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index data.
— The Sun Daily

Let’s create social media platform premised on facts, verified info – Gobind
Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called on the people to create a social media platform that is premised on facts and verified information in 2020.
— The Borneo Post

Positive reaction from parents on use of CRS
Parents responded positively to the use of Child Restraint System (CRS) which the government has made compulsory in private vehicles effective today, because of safety factor.
— The Sun Daily

Sarawak Baitulmal Fund allocates RM80m for asnaf in 2020
The Sarawak Baitulmal Fund (TBS) has allocated RM80 million to assist asnaf or tithe recipients in the state this year.
— Malay Mail

Immigration Dept nabs 87 Chinese nationals in Puchong over illegal online activities
The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) detains 87 Chinese citizens on suspicion of being involved in illegal online investment and gambling activities in raids at several units of condominiums around Setiawalk, Puchong.
— Malay Mail

Malacca to rebrand planetarium building after upgrade
The Planetarium Building at the Malacca International Trade Centre (MITC), Ayer Keroh will be upgraded into a Malacca Tourism One Stop Centre starting from the middle of this month.
— The Sun Daily

TNB closes Sultan Ismail Power Station after 33 years of operation
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) said Southeast Asia’s first combined-cycle power station, the Sultan Ismail Power Station (SIPS) in Paka, Terengganu has been decommissioned on Dec 31, 2019 after 33 years of operation.
— The Sun Daily

MP’s ‘report card’: RM3.3m allocated for welfare, prosperity in Pulai
An allocation amounting to RM3.3 million had been distributed for the Pulai parliamentary constituency in Johor, for various welfare and prosperity programmes from May 2018 to December last year.
— Malay Mail

Home minister: Malaysia does not take terrorism threat lightly
Malaysia does not take issues of terrorism lightly and has been intensifying efforts to curb the threat of terrorist groups even though the authorities had to face various challenges, said Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
— Malay Mail

Sources: Maszlee to resign as education minister
Maszlee Malik is expected to announce his resignation from Cabinet later today, three separate sources close to the education minister told Malay Mail.
— Malay Mail

Pollution in Muar River disrupts water supply to 35,000 people
Water supply to 35,000 people in the Muar district has been disrupted after a high level of ammonia was detected in the Muar River.
— The Sun Daily

Song Swee Guan gives Padungan cat statue lunar new year makeover
Kuching City South Council’s first mayor Datuk Song Swee Guan was this morning given the honour to dress up the famous white cat statue facing the roundabout at Jalan Padungan for the coming Chinese New Year celebration.
— The Borneo Post

Cops to call in Muslim student group soon for unsanctioned anti-Dong Zong rally
The Malaysian Muslim Students Coalition (Gamis) which organised a street march against Dong Zong in the city here yesterday can expect to be questioned by the police soon.
— Malay Mail

Almost 500 including minors nabbed for illegal racing in Penang
Police arrested 339 motorcyclists and 146 pillion riders, including minors, during Ops Samseng Jalanan at Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in Bayan Lepas near here yesterday.
— The Borneo Post

YTL REIT’s target price upgraded on higher earnings forecasts
Affin Hwang Capital is maintaining a “buy” call on YTL Hospitality REIT with a higher target price of RM1.46 after lifting its earnings forecasts and incorporating a lower cost of equity.
— The Sun Daily

Hachoo! Got the flu? Health official urges vaccination, says virus nastier than people think
Most Malaysians won’t run to their doctors for a jab when they have sore throats and runny noses, thinking it’s just a common cold. But they should reconsider as they could be infected with influenza, which can have dire.
— Malay Mail

Developers with overseas exposure to see better prospects
Despite the challenging property outlook in the next 12 months, developers with overseas exposure are expected to do better in the medium term especially in China and Singapore, according to AmInvestment Bank Research (AmResearch).
— The Sun Daily

Traders closing at midnight will enjoy one-year licence payment exemption
Food outlet, stall and restaurant operators in the state who comply with the state government’s recommendation to limit their operation to 12 midnight will be exempted from business license payment for one year.
— The Sun Daily

Firecrackers, fireworks worth RM1.6 million seized in Johor Bahru
Malaysian authorities seized firecrackers and fireworks worth more than RM1.6 million (S$529,000) during two separate raids in Johor Bahru on Tuesday (Dec 31).
— CNA

36,341 children registered for Primary 1 in govt schools throughout S’wak
Some 36,341 children have registered for Primary 1 in government schools throughout Sarawak today, said state education director Dr Azhar Ahmad. He said that they were part of the total 238,183 pupils registered in 1,265 primary schools this year.
— The Borneo Post

Ringgit ends 2019 on a high note
The ringgit hit an eight-month high on the final day of 2019 at 4.0930 against the US dollar.
— The Sun Daily

Feature photo Save the Rhino

This week’s Malaysia morning news feature photo focuses on environmental concerns throughout Asean — death of Malaysia’s last Sumatran rhinoceros.

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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