PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 7

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

ALL NEWSPAPERS

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi went on the offensive against his critics on Sunday, signalling he would fight back to keep United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and the government together.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- An 18 million-litre per month diesel subsidy scheme for fishermen in Sabah is under probe by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), Sabah ACA Director, Latifah Md Yatim said.

- UMW Holdings Bhd (UMWS.KL) is exploring opportunities to expand its oil and gas business in the Middle East and North Africa, group Managing Director Abdul Halim Harun said.

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

- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak is the natural successor to the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) presidency, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS) may invest 3.5 billion ringgit in a memory chip plant in Penang, sources said.

- Johor Land Bhd JOLA.KL, the property arm of Johor Corp, is keen to develop properties in the Middle East and plans to start by offering its technical expertise, Managing Director Shafiqul Hafiz said.

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

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Sunday broke his "elegant silence" on his predecessor, Mahathir Mohamad, and blamed him for the judicial crisis facing Malaysia.

- Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd (HAPS.KL) is adopting a more measured approach to growth post-restructuring, as it wants to boost its position in the domestic market for each of its business divisions, group Managing Director Edward Lee Ming Foo said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- The country's fifth largest banking group, AMMB Holdings Bhd (AMMB.KL), is in talks with foreign parties interested in taking up a strategic stake in its life insurance arm, AmAssurance Bhd, its director for group corporate services, Amerjeet Kaur said.

- With many unsettling political developments unfolding after the March 8 general elections that saw five out of 13 states coming under Opposition rule, many local businessmen are taking steps to hedge their political risks by signing up as members of Opposition parties or supporting their proposed projects.

THE SUN

- Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd (Bank Rakyat) aims to increase its total assets by 20 percent this year from 34.9 billion ringgit on December 31, 2007, riding on higher profit and expansion in business, Managing Director Kamaruzaman Che Mat said. ($1=3.282 Malaysian 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).