PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Aug 18

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)

-- Campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election went into full swing a day after nomination.

-- IJM Land Bhd (IJML.KL), the new listed vehicle of the merged RB Land Bhd and IJM Properties Sdn Bhd, has big plans to build up its reputation as a leading property player of iconic projects in the country, IJM Land Managing Director Soam Heng Choon said.

-- Asia File Corp Bhd (AFCB.KL), a leading filing product manufacturer in Asia, is allocating over 20 million ringgit to expand its facilities in Germany and Bayan Lepas, Penang, this year to cater to the European market, group Managing Director Michael Lim Soon Huat said.

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

-- Local universities should step up their capacity-building to meet the growing demand for places of study, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

BUSINESS TIMES

-- Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd (StanChart) is making final preparations to open a full-fledged Islamic banking subsidiary, most likely within the next two months.

-- Senai Airport Terminal Services Sdn Bhd (SATS), which is being acquired by businessman, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary's MMC Corp Bhd (MMCB.KL) for 1.95 billion ringgit, may buy or manage airports in India and Indonesia, SATS General Manager for finance, retail and commercial development, Chan Kwai Yew said.

THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (www.theedgedaily.com)

-- Faber Group Bhd (FBMS.KL) is set to increase its footprint overseas, particularly in the provision of medical services, following a successful revamp four year ago, said its Managing Director Adnan Mohammad.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

-- A total of 8.92 billion ringgit worth of junior and subordinate independent power producer (IPP) bonds face the risk of default in the next five years based on the current windfall tax scenario, said RAM Rating Services Bhd head for infrastructure & utilities ratings Khoo Boo Hock.

-- Water engineering specialist Salcon Bhd's (SLCN.KL), which expects to be in the black this year, aims to swell its order book by nine percent to breach the one billion ringgit mark in the next four months from over 920 million ringgit now, Salcon Engineering Bhd's Director, How See Hock said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

-- In his first ceramah (speech) following his nomination for the Permatang Pauh by-election on Saturday, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People Justice Party) adviser Anwar Ibrahim criticised Barisan Nasional for using dirty tactics to bring him down.

-- Share prices on Bursa Malaysia are expected to be easier this week amid cautious trading, with investors worried over the volatility of global commodity prices as well as global credit issues, dealers 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).