PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - June 16
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)
- The government may call for tenders for the Gemas-Johor Baru railway project by the year-end, a government source said.
- The financial economy may have decoupled from the real economy over the years, resulting in essential goods such as food and fuel being mispriced, Khazanah Nasional Bhd's Managing Director Azman Mokhtar said.
THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)
- The government is looking at adopting a system whereby motorists can buy a fixed amount of subsidised fuel each month and pay for the rest at market rate, Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop said.
- Brokers at brokerage houses have been reminded not to key in personal trades but channel them through houses brokers, traders and industry players said.
NEW STRAITS TIMES (www.nst.com.my)
- Bold and determined measures are needed to address the global economic crisis and its impact on hundreds of millions of vulnerable people, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
THE EDGE FINANCIAL DAILY (www.theedgedaily.com.my)
- The development council for the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) is mulling the setting up of a real-estate investment trust (REIT) for Malay reserve land in the development corridor, Chief Executive Officer of ECER development council, Jebasingam Issace John said.
- In the midst of a challenging environment, the World Bank remains positive on the outlook of growth for Malaysia, said World Bank Vice-President of East Asia and Pacific Region, James Adams.
THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserves.com)
- Agrobank, formerly known as Bank Pertanian Malaysia, is in no rush to get itself listed on Bursa Malaysia, said its President Martini Osman.
- Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS) (MASM.KL) says it will be tough to achieve even the lower end of its net profit target of 400 million ringgit for the financial year ending December 31, MAS CHairman, Mohamed Munir Abdul Majid said.
THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)
- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reiterated on Sunday he will defend his UMNO president post at the party's election scheduled in December this year.
- Close to 300,000 vehicle owners have claimed more than 144 million ringgit ($44 million) in fuel rebates from post offices throughout the country over the weekend.
** 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)
