PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - July 1

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

ALL NEWSPAPERS

- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People Justice Party) de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim left the Turkish ambassador's residence on Monday evening, about 36 hours after he arrived pleading that his life was in danger.

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

- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said he was not connected in any way to the sodomy allegations against Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People Justice Party) de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

- Malaysia and Bosnia-Herzegovina will collaborate in developing the agro-based industry to increase production as a way out of the global food crisis, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Hoteliers have estimated that they lost almost 100 million ringgit in revenue, barely a month since the government limited the number of events in hotels to cut cost, said Malaysian Association of Hotel Executive Director, Sarjit Singh.

- UEM Group Bhd plans to sell stakes in units that include the Touch 'n Go smart card provider to PLUS Expressways Bhd (PLUE.KL) for 150 million ringgit to streamline its business, sources said.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- The Chinese will not be left out in strategies to eradicate socio-economic inequalities in the Mid-Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said. - The board of debt-laden Northern Utility Resources Sdn Bhd wants a full forensic auditors investigation, its Director M. Chandran said.

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

- Pakatan Rakyat de facto Anwar Ibrahim, who came out of refugee from the Turkish Embassy on Monday evening, is still fearful for his personal safety, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People Justice Party) Deputy President Syed Husin Ali.

- DRB-Hicom Bhd's (DRBM.KL) plan to take Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EONK.KL) private came unstuck when shareholders rejected the proposal at its EGM on Monday, mainly due to disagreements on valuation.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserves.com)

- Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) (MASM.KL) expects to bag 80 percent of any potential gains arising from the disposal of 17 B737-400 aircraft by its parent company Penerbangan Malaysia Bhd, Executive Director Tengku Azmil Zahruddin said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- The man who accuses Parti Keadilam Rakyat (People Justice Party) de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomising him had visited Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak's office in Putrajaya three months ago - to apply for a government scholarship.

- U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Malaysia's newest third-generation (3G) service provider, has introduced the 018 Prepaid - its first prepaid package, the company said in a statement.

** 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=3.275 Malaysian Ringgit)