PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Oct 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)
- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a director of a government department, who is said to be a millionaire, an officer and two rangers for allegedly accepting a bribe of more than 100,000 ringgit.
- Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd's financial woes are not worrying its bondholders as the bonds are fully guaranteed by the government
- The ringgit market remains orderly and there is no need for intervention, according to Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.
NEW STRAITS TIMES (www.nst.com.my)
- All new government buildings to be built under the 10th Malaysia Plan must have at least one green feature like dual-flush toilets or energy-saving light bulbs, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Peter Chin said.
BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)
- Supermax Corp Bhd (SUPM.KL), the world's second largest rubber glovemaker, plans to pay its first-ever special dividend this year and set a higher dividend policy next year, group managing director Stanley Thai said.
- TA Global Bhd, set to become Malaysia's fifth biggest listed property group, plans to double the number of hotels it owns in five years, adding to a portfolio that includes the radisson Plaza in Sydney and the Western Melbourne, managing director Alicia Tiah said.
THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (www.theedgedaily.com.my)
- Asian markets on Tuesday continued their relentless rally, with the MSCI Asia Pacific Index reaching a 13-month high, after key indices advanced by as much as 1.52 percent, as investor sentiment perked up on expectations of a stronger economic recovery.
- Media Prima Bhd (MPRM.KL) has finally found a buyer, MediaQuest Holdings Inc, for its entire 70 percent stake in its loss-making Philippines unit MPB Primedia Inc.
THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)
- Retail market prices for copper based cables, have jumped 25 percent-40 percent in the past two months indicating further improvement in the operating environment for market leaders such as Leader Universal Holdings Bhd (LUNS.KL) and sector related players like Metrod (M) Bhd (MROD.KL), TA Win Holdings Bhd (TWHB.KL) and PIE Industrial Bhd (PIEN.KL).
- Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Bhd's (Perodua) managing director Syed Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar has confirmed he will leave the carmaker at the end of this year, a Bernama report said.
THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)
- Pempena Sdn Bhd, the controversy-stricken subsidiary of Tourism Malaysia, has filed nine reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on irregularities in investments and ventures that it had undertaken with various companies.
- The fiscal stimulus is still necessary for both this year and next year to support the Malaysian economy, Bank negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said.
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