PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Feb 27

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)

-- Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed announced a toll increase for five highways effective from Sunday.

-- Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) will soon make an offer worth about five billion ringgit to buy all the water assets from the four water concessionaires in Selangor, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Abu Mansor said.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

-- Malaysia Airlines (MAS) (MASM.KL) said on Thursday that net profit plunged 81 percent to 46.2 million ringgit in the fourth quarter due to weaker passenger revenue as global demand fell, Managing Director Idris Jala said.

-- Lower crude palm oil prices dragged Sime Darby Bhd's (SIME.KL) second quarter net profit down 65.1 percent to 278.5 million ringgit from 800 million ringgit a year ago, its President Ahmad Zubir Murshid said.

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

-- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked the cabinet to put off the toll fare hike for five highways and expressways.

-- Anyone who lodges false complaints with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission faces the prospect of being prosecuted, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said.

THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (www.theedgedaily.com)

-- The government on Thursday approved toll rate hikes for five highways from Sunday, sending the share prices of the operators, including PLUS Expressways Bhd (PLUE.KL), higher despite the weaker market.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

-- A status paper on the availability of the country's liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to be presented at the next Cabinet Committee on High Impact Investment Meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, sources said.

-- TM International Bhd TMIT.KL, which registered a net profit decline of 72 percent in its fiscal 2008, will indertake a tights issue to raise 5.25 billion ringgit to reduce its overall debt levels, its President Jamaludin Ibrahim said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)