PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - April 14

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)

- Port Dickson will have a duty-free zone and a new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complex after a multi-million ringgit land reclamation project is completed, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar (chief minister) Mohamad Hasan said.

- Malaysian energy services firm Tanjung Offshore Bhd (TJGO.KL) is venturing into the platform abandonment services business and hopes to clinch a significant contract in the second half of the year, managing Director Omar Khalid said.

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

- The healing and soul-searching continues for Malaysia's ruling coalition, the Barisan Nasional (National Front), five weeks after its worst setback in the elections.

BUSINESS TIMES (www.btimes.com.my)

- The government has given in-principle approval to investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd to set up an Islamic reinsurance unit in Malaysia, the company said.

- As many as four companies are believed to be interested in India's largest auto-mobile company Tata Motor Ltd's franchise in Malaysia, industry excutives said.

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

- The ringgit is expected to continue its rise against the US dollar this year, with the possibility of hitting the three ringgit to the dollar level by year-end, with beneficiaries in asset reflation play such as banking and property-related stocks, analysts said.

- Hiap Teck Venture Bhd (HTVE.KL), a downstream iron and steel products maker, expects its new American Petroleum Institute-graded steel pipes to boost its topline, contributing up to 30 percent of its total manufacturing sales in its fiscal year ending July 31, 2009, Managing Director Kua Hock Lai said.

THE MALAYSIAN RESERVE (news@themalaysianreserve.com)

- The proposed three billion ringgit Pahang-Selangor raw water transfer project has not been affected by the recent political and leadership changes in the Selangor government, and it will be finalised by the end of this year, Selanor Mnetri Besar (chief minister) Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said.

THE SUN (www.sun2surf.com)

- United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Vice-President Muhyiddin Yassin wants immediate changes made to the party leadership, otherwise the party will not survive.

- Suasana Bangsar, United Malayan Land Bhd's (UMLB.KL) latest luxury residence project in Kuala Lumpur, was unveiled at a soft launch on Saturday, group Chief Executive Officer Anthony Yap said. ($1=3.187 Malaysian 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).