PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Nov 13

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 bilateral Free Trade Agreement between Malaysia and the United States may not materialise after all as the economic giant is more keen on having a regional FTA, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said.

- Malaysia will not turn its back on Asean by holding separate talks with the European Union with regards to any free trade agreement, Prime Minister Najib Razak said.

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

- As Malaysia reiterated on Thursday its commitment to ensure foreign workers, including Indonesians, were protected under the country's laws, Indonesia sanctioned the punishment meted out of it errant citizens, Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.

- Embattled Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) vice-president Liow Tiong Lai said the party's deputy president post is not for anyone to give away.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Mobile operator DiGi.Com Bhd (DSOM.KL) will spend up to 400 million ringgit a year over the next three years to beef up its third generation (3G) networks, as it aims to cover more than 70 percent of Malaysia's population by 2013, said chief executive officer Johan Dennelind.

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

- Maxis Communications Bhd, the leading telco player in the country, has upped the ante on the broadband face-off among wireless broadband providers by launching the country's first made-for-mobile movie.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVES (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

- National WaterServices Commission or SPAN (Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara) is set to give its authorisation to four private concessionaires to continue operating and see out their concession periods, SPAN chief executive officer Teo Yen Hua said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- Nestle is aiming to increase its share of the speciality beverages market to 50 percent by the end of next year with the introduction of its latest range of premix coffee drinks, New Nascafe Menu, said Nestle Malaysia and Singapore Coffee and beverage executive director Don Howat.

** 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).

($1=3.400 Malaysian Ringgit)