<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 14): Malaysia recorded a total of 16.45 million international tourist arrivals as of August 2024, achieving over 60% of its full-year target of 27.3 million international tourists.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a written parliamentary reply, Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing stated that the 16.45 million international arrivals represent a growth of 29.5% compared to 12.69 million during the same period last year.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Among the top contributors, Tiong noted that Singapore led with 5.77 million arrivals, accounting for 35.1% of total international tourists. This was followed by Indonesia with 2.4 million arrivals, or 14.6%.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Chinese tourists, who benefited from the government's removal of visa requirements until December 2024, accounted for 2.29 million arrivals.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Meanwhile, arrivals from Thailand and Brunei stood at 1.09 million and 785,548, respectively, according to Tiong.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has set a target of 27.3 million international tourists and an income of RM102.7 billion for 2024.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><em>For more&nbsp;Parliament&nbsp;stories, click&nbsp;<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theedgemalaysia.com/flash-categories/parliament&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728621165427000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2E0DK1tIZXAQCN3FulWCh2" href="https://theedgemalaysia.com/flash-categories/parliament" target="_blank">here</a>.</em></p></div>


Malaysia recorded a total of 16.45 million international tourist arrivals as of August 2024, achieving over 60% of its full-year target of 27.3 million international tourists.

Malaysia sees 16.45 mil foreign tourist arrivals as of August — Tiong

The government has reached 89% of the target for the construction of 500,000 affordable homes (RMM), with 443,259 units completed, under construction, or planned across the country as of September.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government said that the remaining 56,741 affordable housing units are expected to be completed by the end of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

Target of 500,000 affordable homes at 89% as of September, Parliament told

Bagan Member of Parliament Lim Guan Eng called for an increase in the corporate income tax threshold to alleviate the burden on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) following the implementation of the new minimum wage of RM1,700.

Guan Eng calls for higher corporate tax threshold following minimum wage hike

Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of the founder of modern Singapore Lee Kuan Yew and estranged brother of former premier Lee Hsien Loong, said on Tuesday he is now a political refugee from Singapore under the UN Refugee Convention.

Son of founder of modern Singapore says he is now a political refugee

CelcomDigi Bhd (KL:CDB) CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi plainly admits that the group prefers to lead the second 5G network rather than take over the existing 5G network under state-owned Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) when Malaysia transitions to a dual network model for 5G versus a single wholesale network ...

Why CelcomDigi prefers to lead second 5G network

The US is paying close attention to the ‘dark fleet’ of tankers carrying restricted oil and doing ship-to-ship transfers in Southeast Asian waters, the State Department’s top energy official said.

Countries in the region need to consider the risks these activities pose, Geoffrey Pyatt, an assistant secretary for energy resources, said on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week conference.

US watching 'dark fleet' ship-to-ship oil transfers in Asian waters

Notable filings

Over the week of Sept 30 to Oct 4, among the notable changes in shareholding in companies publicly traded on Bursa Malaysia were those at poultry product producer Lay Hong Bhd (KL:LAYHONG).

On Oct 2, Japan-based NH Foods Ltd ceased to be a su...

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COMING to two years since completing its merger that gave it the No 1 spot among Malaysian listed telecommunications companies and a wide market share lead versus rivals, CelcomDigi Bhd (KL:CDB) CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi says the group is reaping merger synergies and economies of scale, but admits m...

CelcomDigi says merger synergies target ‘on track’ despite revised 2024 guidance

The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities on Tuesday proposed investing in new technologies and infrastructure to more efficiently convert wastes from palm oil production into biomass energy.

Plantation Ministry proposes investing in new tech, infra for waste-to-energy production

Malaysia’s economy is experiencing a robust recovery, marked by significant growth in key sectors and improvements in labour market indicators. The first half of 2024 has seen substantial economic expansion, with GDP growth rates of 4.2% in the first quarter and 5.9% in the second quarter. The Wo...

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Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) and its joint-venture (JV) partners have been awarded a RM4.3 billion main design and build contract by the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, New Taipei City Government, to deliver the Xizhi Donghu Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Taiwan.

Gamuda and JV partners win RM4.3b MRT job in Taiwan

<p>Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas)&nbsp;is considering selling a minority stake in renewable energy firm Gentari Sdn Bhd&nbsp;to help expand the business, according to people with knowledge of the matter.</p>

<p>The state-owned energy company is working with an adviser, and has drawn interest from infrastructure funds and industry peers, the people said, asking not to be identified as the process is private.&nbsp;</p>


Petronas could sell minority stake in renewable energy unit Gentari to help expand business — Bloomberg

<p>The appointment of Datin Nooryana Najwa Najib, daughter of jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as a director of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) needs some explaining.</p>


Frankly Speaking: Has Nooryana done anything to deserve Matrade appointment?

<p>Beverage manufacturer Life Water Bhd has launched its initial public offering (IPO) that would raise RM81.87 million for its listing on the Main Market.</p>

<p>Priced at 65 sen per share, the IPO would give the Sabah-based company a market capitalisation of RM307.57 million, nearly 11 times the net profit for the financial year ended June 30, 2024 (FY2024), according to the prospectus unveiled on Tuesday.</p>


Life Water starts accepting IPO applications from investors for RM82m Main Market listing

<p>Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) is expected to report a sequential decline in third-quarter earnings, amid lower trading volume and higher expenses, said CIMB Securities.</p>

<p>Net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024) may have declined as much as 11% to RM71.3 million, as average daily volume fell and the cost-to-income rose, CIMB said in an earnings preview note. The stock exchange operator will also book lower operating profit margins in the derivatives market, the house said.</p>


Bursa may report 11% sequential dip in 3Q earnings as volume slips, costs rise — CIMB

<p>Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said that the new proposal under the Urban Renewal Act (URA) to lower the threshold of consent from strata owners is intended to speed up the redevelopment of sites, while still safeguarding owners' rights.</p>


Lowered consent threshold to accelerate redevelopment while protecting owners' rights, says Nga

<p>Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) and its joint-venture (JV) partners have been awarded a&nbsp;RM4.3 billion main design and build contract by the Department of Rapid Transit Systems, New Taipei City Government, to deliver the Xizhi Donghu Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) in Taiwan.&nbsp;</p>


<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim defended&nbsp;the&nbsp;political appointees&nbsp;in government-linked companies (GLCs) and government-linked investment companies (GLICs) made under the unity government, saying they are all professionals.</p>


Appointees in GLICs and GLCs are professionals — PM

<p>Asian stocks turned lower and the dollar stood by multi-month peaks on Tuesday, as a sharp sell-off in bonds and a jump in gold suggested investors are hunkering down ahead of the US&nbsp;election.</p>

<p>Benchmark 10-year Treasury yields rose 11 basis points (bps) overnight and a further 1 bp in early Asian trade to 4.19%. Gold hit a record high just above US$2,740 (RM11,846) an ounce on Monday and traded at US$2,725 early on Tuesday.</p>


Bonds and Asian stocks slide, gold steady, as US election looms

<p>Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will stay on its toes against risks of faster than expected inflation in 2025 as the government embarks on subsidy rationalisation and raising taxes, said DBS Bank.</p>


BNM to stay on high alert for inflation risk in 2025 as subsidy retargeting looms, DBS warns

<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the merger of Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (PBMB), Exim Bank&nbsp;and SME Bank is still in progress, and&nbsp;the focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will continue.</p>


Merger of BPMB, Exim Bank and SME Bank still ongoing, says Anwar

<p>Great Eastern now has till Jan 24, 2025&nbsp;to comply with the free float rule. The extension was announced on Monday, two days before the company’s previous deadline of Oct 23.</p>


Great Eastern to have till January 2025 to comply with free float rule

<p>Stocks took a breather after notching their longest weekly rally this year, with traders gearing up for key earnings reports from Tesla Inc&nbsp;to Boeing Co&nbsp;and United Parcel Service Inc (UPS).</p>

<p>Following a relentless advance to all-time highs, equities dropped from nearly overbought levels. In another sign of how greed has trumped fear, the S&amp;P 500 hasn’t suffered back-to-back losses in about 30 sessions. While a month with no consecutive down days may not sound like much, the current streak ranks among the very best since 1928, according to data compiled by SentimenTrader.</p>


US stocks fall from record as earnings set to pick up

<p>A year after the latest escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has not stopped since 1948, Gaza is still burning. The images of tents outside the Al-Aqsa hospital, which were burnt with people dying in them, after yet another Israeli air raid in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, and a...

My Say: No ceasefire and de-escalation in sight, instead full-blown war in the Middle East looms

<p>The police have opened two investigation papers in connection with an altercation that went viral on social media&nbsp;involving several individuals, including a man believed to be an aide to the Kedah menteri besar.</p>


Police probing altercation on TikTok allegedly involving Kedah MB's aide

<p>Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of the founder of modern Singapore Lee Kuan Yew and estranged brother of former premier Lee Hsien Loong, said on Tuesday he is now a political refugee from Singapore under the UN Refugee Convention.</p>


<p>European natural gas prices surged to €40 (RM186) per megawatt-hour as tensions in the Middle East generated a fresh wave of market volatility.</p>

<p>Benchmark futures settled 2.1% higher on Monday, following gains for oil and offsetting last&nbsp;Friday’s losses. Markets are bracing for a possible escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran that could spark a wider regional conflict, potentially affecting supplies of the heating fuel.</p>


European natural gas prices jump as Israel prepares response following attacks

<p>HSBC Holdings named insider Pam Kaur as its first female finance chief on Tuesday, replacing Georges Elhedery who became chief executive officer earlier this year, and said it would streamline the bank into four business units.</p>


HSBC appoints Pam Kaur as first female CFO; announces restructuring

<p>Four US Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers on Monday expressed support for further interest-rate cuts, but appeared to differ on how fast or far they believe any cuts should go.</p>

<p>Three of them, citing the strength of the economy and an uncertain outlook, expressed a preference for going slow, using words like "modest" and "gradual" to describe their views on the right pace of rate cuts.</p>


Four Fed policymakers favour more rate cuts, but differ on pace

<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised that the government's approach to addressing hardcore poverty is inclusive and non-discriminatory, ensuring that all citizens in need, regardless of race, receive assistance.</p>


Approach to addressing hardcore poverty covers all races, says PM

<p>The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities on Tuesday proposed investing in new technologies and infrastructure to more efficiently convert wastes from palm oil production into biomass energy.</p>
