PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - Nov 9

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)

- After a landslip on Saturday, residents of Taman Jasa Utama and Taman Jasa Perwira in Bandar Selayang woke up to a nightmare and those who live in apartment blocks atop the erosion-hit hill fear their building could collapse.

- In the wake of reports on card merchants who double up as Ah Longs, banks are on the alert for any signs of credit-card fraud and misuse, Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) senior executive vice-president Lim Hong Tat said.

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

- One Tee Keat has not lost sight of having a direct presidential election for Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a proposal he made after he was elected party president over a year ago but has had to take a back seat because of internal bickering.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- A clay model of a car that will lead Proton Holdings Bhd's (PROT.KL) entry into the global market is ready at renowned design house Italdesign-Giugiaro SpA in Turin, Italy, said Proton group managing director Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

- Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (MIB) is setting up an Islamic investment bank in Saudi Arabia as part of plans to expand its business in the Middle East, MIB's head of Islamic market, Ali Abbas Zaidi said.

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

- The market has already priced in the momentum of improving corporate earnings in the third quarter (Q3) of this year as recovery in the domestic economy takes shape, analysts said.

- The Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association (MRCA) expects consumers to loosen their purse strings as the year-end approaches, with people now ready to "reward themselves" after months of belt-tightening, MRCA president Lee Hwa Cheng said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVES (www.themalaysianreserve.com)

- CBS Technology Bhd (CBSC.KL) will be launching two online trading hubs by the end of the year to facilitate the trading of office supplies and electrical components in Malaysia, said CBS Technology chief executive officer Sun Chee Kong.

- The Selangor state government's water privatisation scheme is said to be facing problems and the main actors involved may be considering a new game plan for the privatisation scheme in the state, said the state's Chief Minister Khalid Ibrahim.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)