PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 16

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)

- The Health Ministry will review private hospitals' charges for room, equipment and medicine, which may have said are excessive, Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

- Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSS.KL) is in the news again, this time for the potential entry of a new substantial shareholder in the form of a consortium from the Middle East, a source said.

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

- The mosque should not just be a place for prayers but the focal point of the Muslim community's activities, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- The Securities Commission has charged two former directors of Welli Multi Corp Bhd WLLI.KL with falsifying company accounts, about 10 months after it first took action against the palm kernel crusher, the SC said in a statement.

- Bandar Raya Developments Bhd (BRDS.KL) will spend at least 250 million ringgit to upgrade Bangsar Shopping Centre and build an office tower next to the mall, Chairman Mohamed Moiz Ali Moiz said.

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

- Three Abu Dhabi-based government-linked companies (GLCs) are said to be eyeing a strategic tie-up that could possibly lead to them taking up an equity stake in Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSS.KL), sources said.

- Proton Holdings Bhd (PROT.KL) will not face any setback as a result of the imminent departure of key personnel and is on track to achieve good results this year on the back of its strategies so far, said its Managing Director Syed Zainal Abidin Mohamed Tahir.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- The Securities Commission (SC) on Tuesday charged Welli Multi Corp Bhd's WLLI.KL former directors with furnishing misleading statements to the SC and Bursa Malaysia (BMYS.KL).

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- Wanita (Women) United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Chief, Rafidah Aziz on Tuesday blasted members who are pushing party President Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to quickly hand over power to his deputy Najib Razak, saying such a practice is unprecedented.

- The Selangor government has assured the people that the 340 million ringgit modern pig farming facility in Ladang Tumbuk in Kuala Langat will not pose an environmental problem as it will have an 800-metre buffer from the nearest village, said State Executive Councillor, Yaakob Sapari.

- Although it was set up only four months ago, the Malaysian-Italian Chamber of Commerce & Industry has already set its sights on expanding Italian companies' presence in Malaysia, particularly in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, its President Carlo Allaria 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).