PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - May 13

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

ALL NEWSPAPERS

- The government announced measures to hold down the price of rice on Monday, including securing supplies of price-controlled 15-percent-broken rice and setting price caps for two other grades of the grain, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- Sabah Barisan Nasional politicians became the focus of attention on Monday as they continued to claim that the federal Government was not giving enough attention to the state.

- Steel stocks rallied after the government's move to liberalise the steel sector came into effect on Monday, with Southern Steel Bhd (STEE.KL: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Ann Joo Resources Bhd (ANNJ.KL: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) closing at 10-year highs as investors expected the liberalisation to enhance the players' earnings visibility.

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

- The Malaysian government and Thai rice exporters are deadlocked over the "price tag" for new purchases, with the world's biggest rice exporter insisting on the current market level of about $1,000 (3,197 ringgit) a tonne.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)