PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - July 10

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 aim of making Malaysians more proficient in English has not changed with the decision to revert the teaching of Science and Mathematics to Bahasa Malaysia, Prime Minister Najib Razak said.

-- AirAsia Bhd (AIRA.KL) expects itw newly launched low-cost courier service, Redbox, to contribute 25 million ringgit to 30 million ringgit to revenue next year, said group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

-- Malaysia Pacific Corp Bhd (MPLB.KL) may partner a foreign investor to redevelop Wisma MPL, a property located in the Golden Triangle of Kuala Lumpur, sources said.

-- Robert Tan Hua Choon has defended his bid to control Goh Ban Huat Bhd (GBHK.KL), saying the move would protect shareholder value and enhance the ceramic maker's prospects, Tan said in a statement.

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

-- The additional hours to be allotted to the teaching and learning of English will not involve extra school hours, Education director-general Alimuddin Mohd Dom said.

-- The Health Ministry has recommended that Malaysians practise "social distancing" to stop the spread of the influenza A (H1N1) virus which has now infected 574 people, its Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (www.theedgemalaysia.com)

-- Reclusive corporate figure Robert Tan Hua Choon, who is not known for speaking out in the media but has been in the spotlight lately, on Thursday broke his silence over his apparent hostile takeover bid for Goh Ban Huat Bhd (GBHK.KL).

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

-- Industrial production fell the least in six months in May, boosting optimism that the worst of the manufacturing slowdown may be over for the country, the Statistics Department said.

-- In another major capital raising exercise by the IJM Group, IJM Corp Bhd (IJMS.KL) on Thursday proposed a debt issuance of up to 700 million ringgit in commercial papers and/or medium term notes (MTNs), and a renounceable rights issue of up to 134.93 million warrants, IJM Group said in a statement.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

-- The Penang government declassified state documents related to the controversial sale of the Kampung Buah Papa land on Thursday.

-- Sime Darby Plantation Sdn Bhd is set to invest an initial 100 million ringgit to develop oil palm plantations on Native Customary Rights (NCR) lands in Julau, about 25 kilometres from Sarikei, its Plantation Agency and Consultation head Mohd Helmy Othman Basha said.

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