Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday said that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) will establish controls to ensure that medical insurance premiums will not rise too steeply to the extent of burdening the people and leading to increase in inflation.

BNM, MOH to ensure increase in medical insurance premiums reasonable, not burdening — PM

Malaysia is looking at implementing the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system to contain skyrocketing private healthcare costs early next year, and the Ministry of Health is speeding up its study on the issue, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysia aims to implement system to standardise private healthcare costs early next year — Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd’s shareholders must play a key role in ensuring the utility’s long-term sustainability and its ability to meet obligations that enhance the reliability of Sabah's electricity supply.

Sabah Electricity shareholders urged to ensure long-term sustainability 

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): The classification of the top 15% income group, which will be excluded from the proposed targeted RON95 petrol subsidy, is expected to be announced by the first quarter of 2025, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said.

T15 income group classification for RON95 subsidy to be announced by 1Q 2025 — Rafizi

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): The Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities (Amla) Amendment Bill 2024 was tabled in Parliament for the first reading on Tuesday.

Amla Amendment Bill 2024 tabled in Parliament

The study on the Highway Network Development Plan 2040 (HNDP 2040) is nearly complete, with 95.11% progress achieved so far compared to the original schedule of 92.10%, and completion is expected by year end.

Study on Highway Network Development Plan 2040 almost complete, says Ahmad Maslan

The Dewan Rakyat has postponed a vote on a bill seeking to restructure the composition of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and expand its functions.

Dewan Rakyat defers MCMC amendment bill, refers to parliamentary committee for further review

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) secretary general Datuk Linggu @ Edward Bukut was sworn in as a member of the Dewan Negara on Tuesday.

Linggu, 65, took his oath of office during a ceremony before Senate President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah at the Dewan Negara sitting.

Sabah's STAR secretary general Linggu sworn in as senator

A total of one million Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members had made voluntary contributions amounting to RM11.16 billion as of October 2024, according to the Ministry of Finance.

EPF members' voluntary contributions hit RM11.16 bil as of October 2024, says Amir Hamzah

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will cancel commitments to “one or two” drugmakers, while shifting to generic drugs, as part of efforts to address medical inflation.

Anwar on Tuesday acknowledged that the country’s drug costs have been ...

Medical inflation: Govt to revoke commitments to ‘one or two’ drugmakers, shift to generic drugs, says PM

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Anwar on Tuesday declined to comment on a purported royal addendum decreeing house arrest for jailed Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Anwar skirts query on purported royal addendum for Najib, says fresh proposal forwarded to current Agong

The inflation of national medical costs as well as the purported royal addendum related to the 61st decision of the Federal Territories Pardons Board will be among the focus of Tuesday's Dewan Rakyat sitting.

Royal addendum, rising medical inflation rate in focus on Tuesday

Local suppliers can reduce risks and enhance their export competitiveness by leveraging business opportunities with Malaysia’s Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners in trade deals with the US, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (Miti).

Local suppliers can boost export competitiveness in US trade via other FTAs — Miti

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 9): The government should ensure the country’s household debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio at 65% or 70%, said a senator on Monday.

Govt needs to ensure household debt-to-GDP ratio at not more than 70% — senator

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): The Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday passed the Penal Code (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2024, to address all forms of bullying, including cyberbullying.

The Bill, tabled by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman ...

Dewan Rakyat passes Penal Code (Amendment) Bill to address all forms of bullying

(Dec 10): Gold miner Newmont let go of nearly a dozen managers, including a member of its executive team, as part of a corporate overhaul, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The report said that the company had initiated pla...

Newmont lays off nearly a dozen managers, plans to merger businesses, Bloomberg News reports

Sapura Energy Bhd (KL:SAPNRG) said it has completed the divestment of its 50% stake in SapuraOMV Upstream Sdn Bhd to TotalEnergies Holdings SAS for US$756.9 million (RM3.35 billion).  

The transaction, executed via its wholly-owned subsidiary Sapura Upstream Assets Sdn Bhd (SUA), includes US$581.9 million  in sale proceeds and US$175 million for the release of pledged SapuraOMV shares.

Sapura Energy completes RM3.3 billion SapuraOMV divestment  

US labour costs grew less than initially estimated in the third quarter (3Q) after a downwardly revised decline in the prior three months, adding to evidence the job market is no longer a source of inflationary pressure.

US labour costs revised down after 2Q decline

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has remanded another individual with the title of Datuk linked to a corruption case involving kickbacks from construction projects in Sarawak worth around RM250 million.

Another individual with Datuk title linked to RM250 mil construction project corruption case arrested

About one in six US job postings require at least a bachelor’s degree, a share that’s been declining since the pandemic in data from Indeed Hiring Lab.

The share of vacancies requiring a college education fell to 17.6% in October from about 20% in 2019.

Drop in US job postings requiring college degree

Discussions on implementing the Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) system are actively underway to enhance the transparency of patient treatment charges, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Discussions on DRG implementation underway — Dzulkefly

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): Salaries in Malaysia are projected to increase by 5% across all industries in 2025, and close to a quarter of companies plan to raise headcount next year, a survey showed.

Salaries in Malaysia to rise 5% across all industries in 2025, survey shows

Southeast Asia's second-largest bank&nbsp;Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC) and fifth-largest CIMB&nbsp;Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) are vying for a controlling stake in Bank Pan Indonesia (Panin Bank), three people with knowledge of the matter said.

CIMB and OCBC vying for controlling stake in Indonesia's Panin Bank, Maybank working on potential bid — Reuters

SkyWorld Development Bhd (KL:SKYWLD) said on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with the Penang state agencies to jointly develop the country's largest affordable housing project that is valued at RM13 billion. &nbsp;

SkyWorld signs agreement to develop Malaysia's largest affordable housing project in Penang

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) is acquiring a 20% stake in Cloud Space Sdn Bhd, a Google Cloud premier partner, for RM18 million. It is also teaming up with Dagang NeXchange Bhd (KL:DNEX) to provide on-premises Google Cloud services to Malaysian businesses and government agencies.

Gamuda takes up 20% stake in Google Cloud partner, teams up with DNeX to provide Google Cloud services

ALTHOUGH MBI — the multimillion-ringgit pyramid scheme that attracted hundreds of investors from as far as China — collapsed in 2018, it continues to cast a pall over several prime property projects in Penang.

One of them is Penang Times Square, which was developed by Ivory Properties G...

MBI thwarts Ivory Properties’ plan to revive Penang Times Square project 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Anwar on Tuesday declined to comment on a purported royal addendum decreeing house arrest for jailed Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

NEWLY backed by Sarawak as its largest shareholder, Affin Bank Bhd (KL:AFFIN) — the second smallest of the country’s eight banking groups by assets — is seeking opportunities to grow bigger via acquisitions.

Sources say the bank is already on the hunt for opportunities to acquire comple...

Affin Bank said to be on the hunt for M&A opportunities

Automotive lighting product manufacturer JHM Consolidation Bhd (KL:JHM) said its 52%-owned subsidiary JHM Dekai Auto Lighting Sdn Bhd has bagged contracts worth RM300 million from Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (Proton) to supply parts for specific Proton car models.

JHM bags contracts worth RM300m from Proton

Malaysia's palm oil stockpiles slipped in November for a second consecutive month, as production dropped more than expected to its lowest level for the month in four years, according to the country's industry regulator on Tuesday.

MPOB: Malaysian palm oil inventories drop as November output hits four-year low

IJM Land Bhd announced a 60% take-up for its ViO Banj’ran bungalow homes in its Seremban 2 township in Negeri Sembilan. The RM183 million bungalows are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

IJM Land announces 60% take-up for ViO Banj’ran bungalows in Seremban 2

MN Holdings Bhd (KL:MNHLDG) said on Tuesday it was awarded a contract worth RM162.59 million to build a high-voltage main switching station for a data centre project in Malaysia.

MN Holdings gets RM162.6m contract to build switching station

PUTRAJAYA (Dec 10): The Court of Appeal (COA) was informed on Tuesday over possible settlement talks between 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), the 1MDB task force, and JPMorgan (Switzerland) Ltd over 1MDB’s US$800 million suit against the financial institution.

Appellate court informed of settlement talks between JPMorgan and 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will cancel commitments to “one or two” drugmakers, while shifting to generic drugs, as part of efforts to address medical inflation.

Anwar on Tuesday acknowledged that the country’s drug costs have been ...

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): The classification of the top 15% income group, which will be excluded from the proposed targeted RON95 petrol subsidy, is expected to be announced by the first quarter of 2025, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said.

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 10): China-based telecoms equipment giant ZTE Corporation is set to invest RM200 million in Malaysia to establish two innovation centres and introduce the latest 5G technology through collaborations with local operators.&nbsp;

China-based ZTE to invest RM200m in Malaysia for development of innovation centres

Malaysia’s industrial activity decelerated and expanded at a slower-than-expected pace in October this year, as factory production and electricity generation grew, while mining output contracted, official data on Tuesday showed.

Malaysia’s industrial activity decelerates, grows slower than expected in October 2024 — DOSM

Feytech Holdings Bhd (KL:FEYTECH) on Tuesday said it is partnering a Chinese state-owned firm to design and manufacture automotive seats catering to Chery vehicles in Malaysia and abroad.

Feytech partners Chinese firm to make car seats for Chery cars

KUANTAN (Dec 10): The Pahang Palace will not make any statement regarding the existence of the royal addendum purportedly issued by&nbsp;the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as submitted in the appeal application by&nbsp;former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the affidavit of his son Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib.

Pahang Palace will not issue any statement on royal addendum

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Batu Puteh was politically motivated, and welcomed a criminal investigation against him as an opportunity to clear his name.

Tun M says Batu Puteh royal inquiry politically motivated, welcomes criminal probe to clear his name

Property developer Tropicana Corp Bhd (KL:TROP) on Tuesday signed an agreement with Singapore-based Banyan Group to develop the first branded residential development in Johor named Skypark Kepler. The development has a gross development value of RM2.1 billion.

Parliament

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