PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 18

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

ALL NEWSPAPERS

- A Judicial Appointments Commission to help the prime minister choose judges is to be set up as part of reforms announced on Thursday by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to renew the people's trust in the judiciary.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- The government has agreed to five of the six demands by Cuepacs, including extending the retirement age for civil servants from 56 years to 60, and the scrapping of the efficiency level assessment examination, Cuepaca President Omar Osman said.

- OSK Holdings Bhd (OSKH.KL) sees double-digit revenue and earnings growth in the current financial year despite the weak global and domestic stock market, group Managing Director Ong Leong Huat said.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Tune Group, famous for popularising the budget business model, is going into properties, said one of the founders of Tune Group, Kamarudin Meranun.

- Proton Holdings Bhd (PROT.KL) is thinking of hiring former DaimlerChrysler Malaysia Sdn Bhd President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Steinleitner as its consultant or head of international market, sources said.

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

- Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) (TLMM.KL) will not undertake a book building exercise to place out up to 10 percent of TM International Bhd shares prior to its debut on the Main Board on April 28 and the reference price will be announced six days earlier, TM President Jamaluddin Ibrahim said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- The government is expected to spend some 40 billion ringgit in total subsidies this year, Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd (MSCB.KL) has entered into an agreement with Philco Resources Ltd, LG International Corp and Korea Resources Corp for a proposed 30 percent interest worth $18.9 million in a mining project in the Philippines, the company said. ($1=3.187 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).