PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - March 24

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 SCAN Associates Bhd (SCAO.KL) case has become more tangled, with former chief executive officer Aminuddin Baki Esa coming out strongly to counter allegations that he had been involved in manipulating the Mesdaq company's accounts.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

-- Magna Prime Bhd (MAGN.KL) appears to have struck gold as it is buying a piece of prime land in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, a stone's throw from the Petronas Twin Towers, Magna Prima said in a stetemnt.

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

-- UMNO president Abdullah Ahamd Badawi condemned the smear tactics used in the party elections and expressed confidence that delegates would ignore them.

-- Malaysia and Kuwait will pool resources to help develop human capital in less-developed Muslim nations.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)¦

-- The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) surged 21.48 points, or 2.5 percent, to 878.30 points on its fifth consecutive day of gains ahead of the UMNO general assembly, spurred by positive regional sentiment throughout Asia.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

-- Ten days after he was charged with corruption in a Temerloh court, Federal Territory UMNO Youth chief and Supreme Council member Norza Zakaria on Monday found himself barred from the party polls on Thursday.

-- Malaysian Assurance Alliance Bhd (MAAS.KL) is confident of achieving 100 million ringgit premium within a year for its newly launched Super Fortune Plan, its chief executive officer Muhammad Umar Swift said.

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