PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 15

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)

- Talks on the transition of power from United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) President Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to his deputy Najib Razak will start after the party's annual assembly in December.

- Public Bank Bhd (PUBM.KL) posted net profit of 717.39 million ringgit for the first quarter ended March 31, up 50.6 percent from 476.22 million ringgit a year earlier, on strong growth in its operating profit, Chairman Teh Hong Piow said.

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

- Additional allocations requested by ministries, departments or agencies for projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan must be approved without any delay, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Power utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TENA.KL) said its second quarter profit fell by a third due to higher costs and warned that future profits would be crimped by rising fuel charges, Chief Executive Officer Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said.

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

- There could be a slew of resignations from the top management echelons of national automaker Proton Holdings Bhd (PROT.KL), industry sources said.

- Global and Asian markets were battered on Monday as weak corporate results in the United States and Europe fuelled even more concerns among an already jittery investing community over the extent of the impact from the subprime mortgage crisis in the US.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- Malaysia is concerned by the negative campaigns targeted at the palm oil industry, especially with regard to the distoring views on carbon debt, Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Peter Chin Fah Kui said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) President Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on Monday he will work out the leadership succession plan with his deputy Najib Razak after party elections scheduled for December.

- Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should complement each other and forge more smart partnerships to tap investment and trade opportunities in each other's economies as well as in the wider Asean and Gulf Cooperation Council regions, Deputy Bank Negara Malaysia Governor, Mohamad Razif Abdul Kadir said.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA (www.utusan.com.my)

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would defend the post of UMNO president in party elections in December.

BERITA HARIAN (www.bharian.com.my)

- Foreign direct investments (FDIs) from Japan into Malaysia are expected to double in the next two to three years with the signing of the Asean-Japan Comprehensive Partnership Agreement, International Trade and Industry Miniter Muhyiddin Yassin said. ($1=3.187 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).