PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - June 23

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

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- UEM Land Bhd will acquire about 40 hectares from Setia Haruman Sdn Bhd and launch its first housing project worth some one billion ringgit by year-end, a company source said.

- Mobile operator Maxis Communications Bhd aims to extend its pole position market share this year by doing the necessary groundwork for mobile number portability and focusing on the underserved market, Chief Operating Officer Jon Eddy Abdullah said.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- Barisan Nasional (National Front) members of parliament attended a three-hour briefing on the restructuring of fuel subsidies where they were asked to support a motion on price increases which the government will table in Parliament today (Monday).

- Hicom Holdings Bhd's move to de-list its 70 percent-controlled Edaran Otomobil Nasional Bhd (EONK.KL) has been opposed by the latter's non-independent non-executive director Keizo Ono.

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

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced more measures to fight inflation, including liberalising the issuance of small business permits and improving incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises.

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

- The Malaysian government has secured extra landing rights on two secondary airports in France following the conclusion of talks between the governments recently, sources said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserves.com)

- The Selangor government, which has just started negotiations with water supplier Puncak Niaga Bhd (PNHB.KL) and three other companies on the acquisition of their water assets, may have to fork out some nine billion ringgit to complete the entire exercise, a senior government source said.

- The government rejected the proposed 100 percent salary increase for top officials in government-linked companies (GLCs) including Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TENA.KL).

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- Malaysian developer Berjaya Land Bhd's (BLAD.KL) group revenue for the fourth quarter ended April 30, 2008 increased significantly to 1.01 billion ringgit from 126.7 million ringgit a year ago, 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)