PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Dec 29

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

_ The Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association and the Transport Workers Union say the average pay for a bus driver with five years' experience is between 2,000 ringgit ($583.6) and 3,000 ringgit including allowances.

- Many banks in Malaysia are strategising to help customers pay the government service tax on credit cards effective January 1, 2010. A random survey by StarBiz found that the banks are willing to allow customers to utilise their points collected to help pay the tax charges.

NEW STRAITS TIMES (www.nst.com.my)

- Asean and four regional partners have signed a plan to set up a $120 billion (408 billion ringgit) emergency fund known as the "Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation" - Asia's first move to devise a safety net to shield itself from a financial crisis.

- Prime Minister Najib Razak has called on the people to join him in ushering the new year by making 1Malaysia a reality.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- General insurer Tahan Insurance Malaysia Bhd, currently under Bank Negara Malaysia's control, will call for bids through an open tender for its entire business in the fist week of January next year, said Phoon Soon Keong, a Bank Negara appointee now heading the insurer.

THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (www.theedgedaily.com.my)

-Tycoon Khoo Kay Peng's hopes of owning an investment bank seem to have been dashed, at least for now, after three years of waiting. Pan Malaysia Capital Bhd (PENG.KL), a member of MUI Group controlled by Khoo, announced on Monday that the Minister of Finance had refused to grant its 99.99 percent-owned unit PM Securities a merchant banking license.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- A non-governmental organisation has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Felda Holdings Berhad, a government-linked company (GLC), for alleged misuse of power.

- No-smoking may be made a condition for youth and students to receive aid from the government, Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek saud.

- The soon-to-open Burj Dubai is entering the record book as the world's tallest building and sharing this honour is Malaysian structural steel construction firm Eversendai Corporation, group managing director A.K. Nathan said.

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($1=3395.0 Malaysian Ringgit)