PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 21

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)

- It's inexcusable -- that is what senior parliamentarians have to say about 29 of their fellow Members of Parliament who failed to submit questions to Parliament in time for the much-awaited new session next week.

- PK Resources Bhd's PELA.KL three major shareholders and its top three management officials' bid to take over the cash-rich company suffered a setback after the independent adviser recommended minority shareholders to reject the offer, Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd said.

NEW STRAITS TIMES

- Responding to the urgency of an impending global food crisis, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on the private sector to venture into agriculture and food production.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Auto-maker the Naza Group said it was in talks with Tata Motors Ltd (TAMO.BO), India's largest automaker, for its Malaysia franchise, Naza director SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin said.

- AmFirst Real Estate Investment Trust, the country's oldest property trust, wants to buy bigger assets of at least 50 million ringgit to expand, its manager said.

_ Dubai's Al Yousuf Group is buying 15 percent of ETI Tech Corp Bhd (ETIT.KL) for about 74 million ringgit, the second Middle East investor to buy a big block of the Mesdaq-listed battery maker, sources said.

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

- UEM Builders Bhd UEMU.KL announced that the agreement between contractors in the construction of the 24km Second Penang Bridge had been "extended" for nine months from April 13, 2008.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- Despite assurances of steady supply from the world's largest rice exporter, Thailand, the price of export white rice rose by more than 150 percent over the past 10 months.

- Singapore investors are closely following the current political scenario in Malaysia before making their next move in deciding where to park their money, fund managers said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- Passengers using KL International Airport have been paying an additional 2-6 ringgit in airport tax for the last six years due to a lopsided deal between the government and Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd, which operates the Express Rail Link, sources said.

Malaysian conglomerate YTL Corp (YTLS.KL) owns 50 percent of Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd, the paper added.

- Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd, a unit of state fund manager Permodalan Nasional Bhd, is offering two free units for every 100 units of new investments in Amanah Saham Nasional 3 Imbang and Amanah Saham Gemilang, PNB said.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA (www.utusan.com.my)

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told conglomerates under Permodalan Nasional Bhd to undertake investments in the farm sector to increase food production.

- Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) plans to invest about 2 billion ringgit in the property sector in Saudi Arabia over five years to 2012, said Managing Director Ismee Ismail. ($1=3.187 ringgit) ** Looking for more information from local sources? Reuters Business Briefing has 13 Malaysian sources including Business Times Malaysia. For details of the product please call your local help desk (PHONE/HELP).