ASEAN Markets Will Miss Out On US$400 Bln GDP Growth In 2020 & 2021

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (NNN-Bernama) — ASEAN markets will miss out on gross domestic product (GDP) growth of roughly US$400 billion (US$1=RM4.05) in 2020 and 2021 as compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19 impact, according to latest publication by Malaysian Reinsurance Bhd (Malaysian Re). The ASEAN Insurance Pulse 2020,…

India Imports 333,383 Tonnes Of CPO From Malaysia In November

NEW DELHI, Dec 16 (NNN-Bernama) — India imported 333,383 tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) from Malaysia in November, representing about 56 per cent of its total CPO imports, according to latest industry data. The country’s overall palm oil imports from Malaysia last month included 9,000 tonnes of refined, bleached…

Malaysia Parliament Passes Perikatan Nasional’s First National Budget

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (NNN-Bernama) — The first Malaysia’s national budget under the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) government was passed at the Dewan Rakyat (lower house of Parliament) Tuesday after it received the majority support of the MPs through bloc voting. The budget or the Supply Bill 2021, tabled for…

Ringgit Slips At Open As US Dollar Strengthens

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (NNN-Bernama) — The ringgit opened marginally lower against the US dollar Tuesday as the greenback continued to strengthen following the official victory announcement of Joe Biden as the new president of the United States. At 9 am, the ringgit opened at 4.0580/0620 compared with 4.0540/0580 at…

Malaysia Prepares Asean Digital Master Plan For ADGMIN1 Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has been given the responsibility of preparing the ASEAN Digital Master Plan for the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN1) via teleconference from Jan 21 to 22. Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary-general, Mohammad Mentek said the plan would be the guideline for ASEAN countries in facing the digital economy.…

FMM Urges Govt To Review Proposed Condition For Hiring Foreign Workers

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (NNN-Bernama) — The government should review the proposed new condition whereby companies are allowed to hire foreign workers by paying for the repatriation of undocumented migrants in the immigration depot, said the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM). The federation called on the government to engage with relevant stakeholders to come…

Govt To Further Discuss With Khazanah To Resolve Malaysia Airlines’ Problems

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (NNN-Bernama) — The government will discuss further with Khazanah Nasional Bhd to resolve the financial problems faced by Malaysia Aviation Group Bhd (MAGB) and its unit, Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB). Deputy Finance Minister I Abd Rahim Bakri said this was to identify the group’s direction, especially for strengthening its…

Japan Optimistic On Prospects Of Stronger Economic Relations With Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (NNN-Bernama) — Japan and Malaysia are poised for a stronger economic relations in the future, said Ambassador of Japan to Malaysia, Hiroshi Oka. He said Japan was the fourth largest trading partner of Malaysia last year and was the largest source of foreign direct investment to Malaysia, accounting…

Malaysia Catches Trend Sparked By The Queen’s Gambit Miniseries

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia has caught on to the effects of Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit miniseries that sparked an increased interest in chess around the world. Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) committee member Muhammad Firdaus Ismail said many individuals, who previously had no interest in the strategic game…

No Third Parties Come To Claim Luxury Items Seized From Former PM Najib, Rosmah And 17 Others

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 14 (NNN-Bernama) — No third parties come to the High Court here Monday to claim the luxury items including designer handbags, shoes, watches, cash and 27 cars seized from former Prime Minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor and 16 others. Deputy public prosecutor Faten Hadni Khairuddin…