Paper Buruk

BEIJING – Kuala Lumpur will go all out to forge better ties with Beijing as this would bring mutual benefits for both sides, said Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He said focusing on economic development rather than confrontation should be the way forward in terms of relations between Malaysia and China. In this regard, Chinese businessmen were welcome to invest in Malaysia, he said when addressing some 400 top Chinese entrepreneurs and business leaders here Sunday. Dr Mahathir is on a five-day official visit to China. Dr Mahathir also made it clear what was the new Malaysian government's stand with regard to inv. estments from China. "We're not against any Chinese company but against Malaysians who borrow huge sums of money to carry out unnecessary projects," he told the China Entrepreneur Leaders Forum, Bernama reported. There have been worries that touchy issues concerning some Chinese projects in Malaysia are standing ...

BANGI -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Balakong by-election Wong Siew Ki welcomed the unprecedented long campaigning period set by the Election Commission (EC), saying that it would give her more opportunity to get to the heart and soul of the constituents. Although she has been actively involved in the local political scene since the past few years, Wong, who is contesting for the first time in an election, reckoned that she needed more time to get herself and her agenda known to the people. "I see that it is an advantage for me as the long time frame will allow me to meet as many constituents in Balakong as possible. "We also hope to go door-to-door to meet the people and introduce myself to them," she told reporters after meet-and-greet with traders and members of the public at Sungai Chua wet market here, this morning.  Also present were Deputy International Trade and Industries Minister Ong Kian Ming and Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yon...

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) – Intensifying trade friction between China and the United States has left the local equity market sentiment cautious, creating an unstable environment for foreign fund inflows. Bank Islam Chief Economist, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said foreign funds were generally net sellers from Aug 13 to 17, and this had a significant impact on local equities. “Investors preferred to stay on the sidelines and hold more cash rather than establish a new position in equities,” he told Bernama. Meanwhile,  Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Thursday announced that the Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) would not be dissolved yet, saying its services were still needed. Commenting on this, Mohd Afzanizam said market players would likely react positively towards this news. “With the council's role being maintained, they will be in the best position to advise on policy...

KUALA LUMPUR – Proton Holdings Bhd and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group on Friday signed a Heads of Agreement to set up a joint venture that will pave the way for Proton to assemble and market their cars in China. Both companies will take up equal equity in the yet-to-be-named joint-venture (JV) company and target to incorporate the JV within the first half of 2019, subject to obtaining all regulatory approvals. In a statement today, DRB-HICOM Bhd (DRB-HICOM) said the venture includes the setting up of a production facility in China to assemble vehicles, and the development of a network of dealers to market the Proton range in China. The portfolio of cars for China would primarily come from existing Geely platforms, although the external design of the vehicles will be undertaken by Proton. The agreement also provides for existing Proton platforms to be developed into models for the Chinese market. DRB-HICOM Group Managing Director Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar s...

PETALING JAYA -- The Seri Setia by-election sees a straight fight between Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Halimey Abu Bakar and PAS’ Dr Halimah Ali, hence voters only need to choose between the two. However, it may not be as simple as it seems. Voters are increasingly discerning and have high expectations of their candidate, including that the candidate should serve all the communities and has to be close to their hearts. Having a candidate who can look into the needs of all races and someone who always ‘turun padang’ (goes to the ground) is what the voters in the Seri Setia state constituency are hoping for when they elect a new representative next month. President of Residents Association of Taman Sri Subang PJS 10, V. Pulevendren said the voters were looking for a candidate who could serve all races  and not focus on one particular segment of the society. "It is important to have a representative who will represent the voice of th...

SEREMBAN -- The decision to close the Rembau Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) was made by the Rural Development Ministry (KPLB), said Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun. He said this was due to, among others, lack of response from the local community and to reduce the costs borne by the ministry. “I was told by the (officials from) KPLB today that the ministry has planned to close down all RTCs nationwide (including the one in Rembau), while the Urban Transformation Centres (UTCs) will remain under the purview of the Finance Ministry. “This is the federal government's decision to ensure that the expenditure or facilities for the people will be utilised to the maximum… we cannot afford to continue with plans that would drain the government's coffers,” he said in a talk show with Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM). Aminuddin said, however, the state government is ready to retain the Rembau RTC if the community is ...

 KUALA LUMPUR – The nomination of candidates for two Selangor state by-elections will see straight fights between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and MCA in Balakong and PH contesting against PAS for the Seri Setia seat.  PH candidate Wong Siew Ki and Tan Chee Teong of MCA will be vying for the Balakong state seat following the death of its incumbent Eddie Ng Tien Chee in a car accident on July 20. The Seri Setia fight involved Harapan’s candidate, Halimey Abu Bakar, 46, a former Petaling Jaya City Council member and PAS candidate Dr Halimah Ali, 58 who was a former Selangor state executive councillor. The by-election was held following the demise of its incumbent Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin on Aug 2. Both by-elections in Selangor as well as the Sungai Kandis by-election recently would not change the government of the most developed state as Harapan...

PETALING JAYA -- Businesses should trust the government on the Sales and Services Tax (SST) implementation and they should not attempt to evade the tax, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. He said if businesses felt that they qualify for SST exemption, they must first apply to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department to determine their status. “For example, there are businesses who provide services and they are unsure if they are subject to SST. So, let’s trust them and allow them to apply for exemption. “After that, we will review their applications and if we find that they do not qualify for the exemption, then they will have to pay (the SST),” he told reporters after attending a briefing on the SST in Subang Jaya. The briefing was organised by the Customs Department and attended by more than 500 people comprising business people, entrepreneurs and members of trade and business associations. The finance minister said this is a...