PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Nov 16

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)

- Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) grassroots leaders from 155 of the party's 191 divisions turned up at a closed-door dialogue to endorse the greater unity plan as the top party leadership pledged to hold fresh polls for the central committee.

- Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, the developer of the six billion ringgit Bakun hydroelectric project, is awaiting state approval to start filling up the reservoir next month, managing director Zulkifli Othman said.

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

- Malaysia will study a regional free trade pact perferred by its biggest trading partner, the United States, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- TA Global Bhd, en route to a listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia (BMYS.KL), has lined up a series of plans for next year, including a possible dual listing abroad, a source said.

- French retailer Carrefour hopes to see revenue from its Malaysian hypermarkets increase by a fifth next year, similar to last year's performance, its chief executive officer Guillaume de Colonges said.

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

- Construction firm Gadang Holdings Bhd (GADA.KL) plans to bid for some four billion ringgit worth of government infrastructure jobs in Malaysia in the next six months and expand its building and water concession operations abroad, its nanaging director Kok Onn said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVES (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

- The rise of new manufacturing hubs in Asia in recent years has eroded Malaysia's low cost advantage and sparked the migration of multinational corporations (MNCs), said HIL Industries chief executive officer, Milton Ng Kwee Leong.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- Iskandar Malaysia special economic zone is on track to be a "strong and sustainable metropolis" by 2025 through capitalising on the service sector as its key economic driver, said Iskandar Regional Development Authority assistant vice-president, strategic communications, Ahmad Asri Khalbi.

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($1=3.400 Malaysian Ringgit)