Malaysia Hot Stocks - Factors to watch

KUALA LUMPUR Feb 18 (Reuters) - Here are news stories that may affect the Malaysian stock market on Monday.

MALAYSIA'S ASTRO BIDS FOR UK'S VIRGIN RADIO - PAPER

- Malaysian pay-TV operator Astro All Asia Networks AAAN.KL has joined the bidding to buy radio broadcaster Virgin Radio from British media group SMG Plc SCSMG.L, the Telegraph newspaper reported on Sunday.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR9159]

MALAYSIA SAYS RGT STRENGTH REFLECTS ECONOMY - REPORT

- Malaysia's appreciating ringgit reflects the economy's strength, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted as saying on Saturday.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR14545]

MALAYSIA'S UEM WORLD TO SELL OFF UNITS, FOCUS ON JOHOR

- Malaysian builder UEM World UEMW.KL plans to sell its stakes in four of its subsidiaries to its shareholders and will focus on property development in the booming southern region of Johor.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR36621]

MALAYSIA SEES '08 BUDGET DEFICIT AT 3.1 PCT OF GDP

- Malaysia is confident of meeting its target of shrinking its budget deficit to 3.1 percent of GDP in 2008, the country's second finance minister said in an interview on state television on Friday.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR301378]

SIME DARBY IN TALKS TO TAKE OVER MALAYSIAN PORTS - REPORT

- Plantation-to-energy group Sime Darby (SIME.KL) is in talks to take over ports in Malaysia's northern state of Penang and Sandakan in the eastern state of Sabah on Borneo island, the Edge business weekly said, citing unnamed shipping industry sources.

KUMPULAN PERANGSANG'S PARENT TO LEAD WATER CONSOLIDATION

- Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd, parent of infrastructure firm Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor (KPSB.KL), has been picked by the government to lead the consolidation of water assets in central Selangor state, capital Kuala Lumpur and administrative capital Putrajaya, the Edge said, quoting Kumpulan Darul Ehsan president Abd Karim Munisar.

INDONESIAN POLICE TO QUESTION KOBA TIN EXECUTIVE

- Indonesia will help Malaysian police and Interpol to arrest a PT Koba Tin executive who may have fled the country after failing to respond to a summons over alleged illegal mining, a police spokesman said on Friday.

Koba Tin, Indonesia's second-biggest tin miner, is 75 percent owned by Malaysian Smelting Corp. Bhd (MSCB.KL).

For full story, please double click on [ID:nJAK284826]

MALAYSIAN PALM SETS RECORD ON CHINESE DEMAND

- Malaysian crude palm oil futures rose 2.7 percent to a new high on Friday as China rushed to lock in supplies, while the global appetite for vegetable oils was underlined by a surge in Malaysia's palm exports.

For full story, please double click on [ID:nKLR270729]

'SUGAR KING' ROBERT KUOK REMAINS MALAYSIA'S RICHEST - PAPER

- Sugar tycoon Robert Kuok Hock Nien remains the richest Malaysian, ahead by a wide margin from telecoms-to-media billionaire Ananda Krishnan, the Malaysian Reserve said on Monday, citing a recent survey by Malaysian Business magazine.

(Reporting by Mark Bendeich)