PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - July 15

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

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

- Opposition members walked out of the parliament on Monday after the speaker threw out their motion of no-confidence against the prime minister and his cabinet.

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has welcomed Pas' willingness to meet Umno to discuss issues concerning the Malay community.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- Former deputy premier and opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim failed to turn out for his appointment at the city police headquarters, and police said they would now have to consider several legal options to get the PKR de factor leader to give his statement.

- The Ministry of Finance is expected to collect 2.3 billion ringgit ($712.5 million) in windfall profit levy from oil palm estate owners in the next 12 months.

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

- Malaysia remains one of the favoured investment destinations worldwide amid the gloom and doom of the United States and global economic outlook, even as daily trading volume on Bursa Malaysia (BMYS.KL) plunged to the lowest level in recent years and stocks continued to decline.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

-- A special purpose vehicle, partly owned by the Pahang state government, intends to present to the government a privately funded alternative to Telekom Malaysia's (TLMM.KL) 11.3 billion ringgit high-speed braoadband infrastructure project, sources said.

** 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=3.228 Malaysian Ringgit)