PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 4

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)

- Parties involved in the construction of the second Penang bridge are close to finalising the cost of doing the project, with an agreement expected to be signed by the end of this month, sources said.

NEW STRAITS TIMES

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday advised Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to be careful in making statements as the latter was now leader of a state.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Bursa Malaysia Bhd (BMYS.KL) expects to wrap up talks this year for a partnership with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the world's largest futures trading institution, Bursa's Chief Executive Officer Yusli Mohamed Yusoff said.

- Conglomerate Boustead Holding Bhd (BOUS.KL) is aiming for another year of record net profit this year, helped by strong palm oil prices and growth in all its divisions, group Managing Director Lodin Wok Kamaruddin said.

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

- Ramunia Holdings Bhd (RAMU.KL) has now turned to foreign banks to finance its $685 million (2.2 billion ringgit) B-193 oil field project in India, after being shunned by local banks amid the reverse takeover of the company by MISC Bhd (MISC.KL), Ramunia Managing Director Daniel Chung-Sung Ahn said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- Gulf Petroleum Ltd's 16 billion ringgit integrated oil and gas complex in Manjung, Perak, is on track to begin the first phase of operations within 40 months, despite the change in the administration of the state following the 12th general elections, Director of Gulf Petroleum Malaysia, Nor Azmi Abdullah said.

- Affin Holdings Bhd (AFIN.KL) plans to expand its Islamic banking operations to China by leveraging on its partnership with stakeholder Bank of East Asia Ltd, now Hong Kong's largest independent local bank, group Managing Director Lodin Wok Kamaruddin said.

THE SUN

- The government is working on new initiatives to curb inflation and is expected to announce some of them soon, International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin aid.

- Denise The Wine Shop, Malaysia's very own wine chain and reputedly the largest in Southeast Asia, will soon expand its horizons to China and Thailand, said founder David Lim.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA (www.utusan.com.my)

- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak has called upon all United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) members to focus on strengthening the party and restoring the people's confidence in the government. ($1=3.282 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).