PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 6

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)

-- Thirteen Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees tasted freedom again yesterday, with most of them happily reunited with their families.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

-- A group of banks may have to wait a tad longer to recover their money as the auction of a prominent commercial property in Kuala Lumpur would likely be put off for the third time.

-- Financial services firm MAA Holdings Bhd (MAAS.KL) has dismissed as rubbish talk that the group or its insurance arm Malaysian Assurance Alliance Bhd has been placed under receivership over unpaid debts.

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

-- Jenson Button recorded his second consecutive victory for Brawn GP at the weather-affected Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday. The British driver was leading on the 33rd of 56 scheduled laps when the race was stopped after a thunderstorm broke at the Sepang International Circuit.

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

-- The Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) has plunged 27 percent over the one-year period to April 2, and 40 percent from its peak of 1,516 points in January last year. Prices of many stocks have been battered to levels not seen in recent years.

-- Global stock markets, including the Malaysian bourse soared to fresh highs last week, as investors cheered policymakers' commitment to recharge a lethargic world economic landscape marred by falling demand and exports.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserves.com)

-- The Ayer Molek Rubber Company Bhd has commenced legal proceedings against its former directors for illegally selling the company's assets and will be claiming 4.24 million ringgit ($1.19 million) owed by the directors and their related parties.

-- CIMB bank will close nearly 60 surplus branches this year as part of its ongoing network rationalisation programme which will lead to the banking group registering annual savings of up to 60 million ringgit.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

-- Thirteen Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees, including two Hindraf leaders, were freed at 1.20 pm yesterday, two days after Prime Minister Najib Razak announced their release in his inaugural address to the nation.

-- For several tense minutes, North Korea's rocket sped through the skies over Japan, but the Japanese did not try to shoot it down - a move Pyongyang had warned would amount to an act of war.

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($1=3.577 Malaysian Ringgit)

(Kuala Lumpur Newsroom; Tel: +603-2333 8046; Fax: +603-2072 6752; Bureau Email: areuters@gmail.com))