PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 21

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)

- It's inexcusable -- that is what senior parliamentarians have to say about 29 of their fellow Members of Parliament who failed to submit questions to Parliament in time for the much-awaited new session next week.

- PK Resources Bhd's (PELA.KL) three major shareholders and its top three management officials' bid to take over the cash-rich company suffered a setback after the independent adviser recommended minority shareholders to reject the offer, Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd said.

NEW STRAITS TIMES

- Responding to the urgency of an impending global food crisis, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on the private sector to venture into agriculture and food production.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- Auto-maker the Naza Group said it was in talks with Tata Motors Ltd (TAMO.BO), India's largest automaker, for its Malaysia franchise, Naza director SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin said.

- AmFirst Real Estate Investment Trust, the country's oldest property trust, wants to buy bigger assets of at least 50 million ringgit to expand, its manager said.

_ Dubai's Al Yousuf Group is buying 15 percent of ETI Tech Corp Bhd (ETIT.KL) for about 74 million ringgit, the second Middle East investor to buy a big block of the Mesdaq-listed battery maker, sources said.

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

- UEM Builders Bhd UEMU.KL announced that the agreement between contractors in the construction of the 24km Second Penang Bridge had been "extended" for nine months from April 13, 2008.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- Despite assurances of steady supply from the world's largest rice exporter, Thailand, the price of export white rice rose by more than 150 percent over the past 10 months.

- Singapore investors are closely following the current political scenario in Malaysia before making their next move in deciding where to park their money, fund managers said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)