<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 15): The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) will not protect any party found to be involved in rice and paddy cartel activities in the country, said its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>He clarified the matter in a post on his Facebook page on Monday following inquiries from some quarters regarding the issue.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In this regard, he said the ministry is prepared to provide any information to the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) if there is indeed a rice cartel and will not interfere in any investigation conducted by MyCC.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>He said among the scopes of duty of the MyCC is to investigate the existence of cartels in the country's economy.<br />
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The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) will not protect any party found to be involved in rice and paddy cartel activities in the country, said its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

Ministry will not protect quarters involved in rice, paddy cartel — Mohamad Sabu

US parcel delivery giant UPS has enlisted the asset management arm of Wall Street titan Goldman Sachs to manage its US$43.4 billion (RM203.3 billion) pension fund assets in the US and Canada, the investment bank said on Thursday.

UPS taps Goldman Sachs to manage its US$43.4b pension funds 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average breached the 40,000-point level for the first time ever on Thursday, its fastest 10,000-point climb, powered by strong quarterly results and rising bets of interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Dow sprints past 40,000-mark on earnings boost, rate-cut bets

The number of Americans filing new claims for jobless benefits fell last week, unwinding nearly half of the jump at the start of the month, consistent with a gradually cooling labour market.

US labour market rebalancing, economy slowing further

Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:SUNREIT), which manages a diversified portfolio ranging from malls, hypermarkets to offices, said its net property income (NPI) fell 5.6% year-on-year to RM130.54 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024).

Sunway REIT's NPI drops 5.6% after sale of medical centre  

Pertama Digital Bhd (KL:PERTAMA), which runs the digital court bail payment system e-Jamin, said it is in discussions with the relevant authorities to allow the company to continue operating the system.

Pertama in talks to continue operating online bail system e-Jamin

AirAsia MOVE, the travel super-app by Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA), has inked a memorandum of understanding with The Commune Mall to offer exclusive discounts spanning flights, hotels and rides deals to patrons of the mall.

AirAsia MOVE partners with The Commune Mall to offer exclusive deals to mall patrons

Singapore's first prime minister in 20 years held an initial cabinet meeting on Thursday after taking office with a pledge to sustain what he called the miracle of the wealthy city state amid an uncertain global environment.

Singapore's first new PM in 20 years holds inaugural cabinet meeting 

US industrial production stagnated in April, restrained by a drop in factory output that highlights a manufacturing sector struggling for traction.

US industrial production stagnates as factory output declines

Nine people have been charged in Britain for promoting unauthorised foreign exchange trading schemes on Instagram in the first crackdown on "finfluencers", the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said on Thursday.

UK charges nine in crackdown on 'finfluencers'

Iconic Medicare Sdn Bhd (IMED), a wholly-owned unit of Iconic Worldwide Bhd (KL:ICONIC), is suing Jovian Apparel Sdn Bhd over an alleged outstanding sum of RM4.96 million in unpaid face masks supplied by the company to the fashion retailer.

Iconic Worldwide unit sues Jovian Apparel over unpaid face masks totalling RM4.96m

<p>A three-member Court of Appeal bench on Thursday upheld a High Court decision given two years ago, which had dismissed an Inland Revenue Board (IRB) claim of taxes amounting to RM1.8 billion against Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA).</p>


TNB need not pay RM1.8b additional taxes as appellate court upholds High Court's decision

<p>Shares in Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (KL:AIRPORT), or MAHB, did not fare well on Thursday, folllowing news of a privatisation offer at RM11 per share led by a consortium of its major shareholder Khazanah Nasional Bhd and the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).&nbsp;</p>


MAHB shares fall as investors are cautious about privatisation deal

<p>(May 16):&nbsp;Singapore Airlines Ltd&nbsp;will reward staff with a bonus payout worth almost eight months of salary, according to a person familiar with the matter, after delivering a second consecutive record annual profit.</p>


Singapore Air staff get eight months' salary bonus after record profits

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 16): IJM Land Bhd, the property arm of construction giant IJM Corporation Bhd (IJM Corp)(KL:IJM), said on Thursday that it has secured eight central London sites for development with its partner Network Rail Property.</p>


IJM, partner secure eight central London sites for development

<p>Sarawak Cable Bhd (KL:SCABLE) on Thursday said that the High Court has allowed the winding-up petition by OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd on its subsidiaries Universal Cable (M) Bhd and Leader Cable Industry Bhd.</p>


High Court gives nod for OCBC to wind up Sarawak Cable’s subsidiaries

<p>Property developer UEM Sunrise Bhd (KL:UEMS) and its partners plan to develop a 40-acre renewable energy industrial park in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.</p>


UEM Sunrise, partners to develop renewable energy park in Johor

<p>National oil firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) subsidiary Suriname E&amp;P BV&nbsp;(Petronas Suriname E&amp;P) has made a third hydrocarbon discovery in Suriname’s Block 52 at the Fusaea-1 exploration well, located about 170km offshore and 9km east from Roystonea-1.</p>


Petronas makes oil and gas discovery at Suriname's offshore Block 52

<p>The government should encourage more graduates to work abroad for better salaries to service their student debt, as Malaysia is experiencing wage stagnation and an erosion of living standards, according to the Khazanah Research Institute (KRI).</p>


Encourage graduates to work abroad for better salaries to service student debt, Khazanah Research tells Putrajaya

<p>Gold and jewellery brand Tomei Consolidated Bhd (KL:TOMEI) anticipates that the newly introduced Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) Account 3 will enhance consumers' spending power, potentially boosting its retail sales.</p>


Tomei anticipates retail boost from new EPF Account 3

<p>Industrial paint and coating manufacturer Smart Asia Chemical Bhd (KL:SMART), which is set to be listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 28, said its initial public offering (IPO), priced at 40 sen apiece, has been oversubscribed by 33.8 times.</p>


Smart Asia Chemical oversubscribed by 33.8 times ahead of ACE Market listing

<p>theedgemalaysia.com&nbsp;<wbr />highlighted three stocks with positive momentum and 12 stocks with negative momentum at Bursa Malaysia's afternoon close on Thursday. &nbsp;</p>


Straits Energy, Revenue, AEON Co, Notion VTec, L&P Global, MBSB, Hume Cement, VSTECS, ELK-Desa, Icon Offshore, Dancomech, WMG, SCGM, Jiankun International, Mitrajaya

<p>Meta Platforms has restored Facebook posts by Malaysian media covering Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's meeting this week with a Hamas leader, saying they were removed in error.</p>


Meta restores Facebook posts by Malaysian media on Anwar's meeting with Hamas

<p>Norway’s US$1.7 trillion (RM7.96 trillion) sovereign wealth fund has decided to exclude Adani Ports &amp; Special Economic Zone Ltd&nbsp;from its portfolio, citing 'unacceptable'&nbsp;risks that the company is tied to human rights violations in war and conflict zones.</p>


Norway's wealth fund blacklists Adani Ports citing ties to war

<p>The Ministry of Human Resources has announced that the progressive wage pilot project, scheduled to commence in June, will encompass five key sectors.</p>


Human Resources Ministry unveils progressive wage pilot project for five key sectors

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 16): Malaysia is taking steps to strengthen its regime on anti-money laundering, and the countering of financing terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (AML/CFT/CPF), the central bank said.</p>


BNM: Malaysia taking steps to strengthen anti-money laundering, counter-terror laws

<p>COME May 11, the Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) flexible account (or Account 3) will go “live”, giving pre-retirement account holders the liberty to withdraw up to 10% of their balances for any purpose — a scenario that will be closely monitored for its potential impact on consumption.&nbsp;</p...

Cover Story: EPF Account 3 withdrawals expected to have muted impact on consumption

<p>The construction of the Tanjong Karang-Assam Jawa section of Section 7 of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) has reached 71%, and is expected to be completed in March 2026.</p>


Tanjong Karang-Assam Jawa section of West Coast Expressway ready in March 2026, says Nanta

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 16): Hup Seng Industries Bhd (KL:HUPSENG) said its first quarter net profit rose 44.6% RM13.97 million, from RM9.65 million a year earlier, thanks to higher sales and lower material input costs.</p>


Hup Seng’s 1Q net profit rises 45%; best quarterly earnings in six years

<p>Exposure to buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) risks should be integrated into household debt metrics to keep a lid on consumer borrowings, according to Khazanah Research Institute.</p>


Buy-now-pay-later exposure must be captured, industry regulated further — Khazanah think tank

<p>Asset management company Eastspring Investment Bhd (EIMY) has appointed Yap Siok Hoon as its chief executive officer (CEO), effective May 15.</p>
