PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 24

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)

- Ninety lawyers have been roped in as Assistant Public Prosecutors to assist Deputy Public Prosecutors to expedite the handling of cases in the lower courts, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail said.

- The de-merged Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TLMM.KL) led market gainers on Wednesday, climbing 49 cents, or an adjusted 16.07 percent, to 3.45 ringgit.

NEW STRAITS TIMES

- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants political secretaries of ministers to work as a team and be people-friendly, especially with the scrapping of the posts of parliamentary secretary.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Budget carrier AirAsia Bhd (AIRA.KL), the world's largest buyer of the A320s, will not be affected by Airbus' decision to raise prices of its aircraft, Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said.

- Swiss cement maker Holcim Ltd is rumoured to be buying over rival Tasek Corp Bhd (TKCS.KL) to prepare itself for stiffer competition as the government may open up the steel bar and cement market, an industry source said.

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

- Terengganu Chief Minister Ahmad Said wants the goodwill money, estimated at one billion ringgit a year, to be channelled back to the state government for investment to boost its coffers.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- Perwaja Steel Bhd, heading for listing on the Main Board, has embarked on its five-year plan to pay off loans of 250 million ringgit owed to the government after having cleared its other debts and loans totalling 540 million ringgit in the last three years, Kinsteel Bhd's (KSTE.KL) Chairman Pheng Yin Huah said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- The Works Ministry will review and re-prioritise projects under the 9th Malaysia Plan, including downsizing some, to heed the prime minister's call to stabilise oil and food prices, Works Minister Mohd Zin Mohamed said.

- A 150 million ringgit dairy farm set up by First Dairy Farm (M) Sdn Bhd is expected to produce over eight million litres of milk this year, the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) secretariat said in a statement. ($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).