PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Aug 12

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)

-- In view of falling crude palm oil prices, planters are asking for a higher threshold price that is used to calculate windfall tax on oil palm companies, said Malaysian Estate Owners' Association President Boon Weng Siew.

-- The Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre global communications campaign will strengthen the nation's position as an international Islamic financial hub in all segments of the Islamic financial system, Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said.

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

-- Junior officers in government departments and agencies have been empowered to make decisions to overcome delays and bureaucracy, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

BUSINESS TIMES

-- Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) (MASM.KL) is finalising plans to pay $91.5 million (304 million ringgit) for five turboprop aircraft it will receive this year, said MAS Executive Director, Tengku Azmil Zahruddin.

-- Malaysia's slowing economic growth and recent falls in the prices of commodities will help cool inflation, especially in the second half of 2009, Bank Negara Malaysia Governor, Zeti Akhtar Aziz said.

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

-- Uncertainty now surrounds the 15.2 billion ringgit high-speed broadband project that only a month ago was thought to be safely in the hands of Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) (TLMM.KL), sources said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

-- Something could be brewing e-government service providers My E G Services Bhd (MYEG.KL) and Paxelent Corporation Bhd, if developments at the latter's EGM on Monday are any indication.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

-- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Monday it is better not to have open discussions on sensitive matters relating to religion and race and expressed the hope that Saturday's incident will not to be repeated.

-- Two associations representing car vendors have proposed that there should be no difference in the excise duty for vehicles classified as passenger car, multi-purpose vehicle and sport utility vehicle, the Proton Vendors Association and Kelab Vendor Perodua said.