PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Nov 17

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

ALL NEWSPAPERS

- The High Court on Monday declared Kedah's Kota Siputeh state seat vacant and ordered the Election Commission (EC) to call a by-election.

- CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (CIMB.KL) shares rose to a new record on Monday after it announced plans for a dual listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) next year that will boost its regional profile.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) leadership needs to set aside their differences and soldier on with a focused mission, the party was told by top Chinese community and business leaders.

- The Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida) is currently reviewing the country's investment policy to make it more promotive of the development of high-technology, knowledge-based and capital-intensive industries, and less supportive of low value-added ones, said the agency's director-general Jalilah Baba.

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

- Thousands of flood victims were evacuated in Kedah and Perak on Monday as intermittent but occasionally heavy rain caused water to rise in the low-lying areas, a state flood evacuation spokesman said.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Affin Holdings Bhd (AFIN.KL), owner of the country's second smallest lender Affin Bank Bhd, said in a statement that it is not in talks to merge with Hong Leong Bank Bhd (HLBB.KL).

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

- OSK Investment Bank Bhd (OSK IB) has rejected the entire allocation of 1.5 million initial public offering (IPO) shares in the soon-to-be listed telecommunications company Maxis Bhd given that it was too small and "simply not meaningful", said OSK IB.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVES (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

- BIMB Holdings Bhd (BIMB.KL) has ended talks to sell a strategic stake in Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd (TAKA.KL) to Abu Dhabi-Kuwait-Malaysia Strategic Investment Corporation (ADKM Investment), BIMB said in a statement.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)