<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (March 8): Safian Mohd Yunus has emerged as a substantial shareholder of Datasonic Group Bhd after acquiring 30 million shares in the technology group via Hallmark Epitome Sdn Bhd.&nbsp;</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The acquisition raised Safian’s shareholding in the group to 142.5 million shares or a 5.43% stake, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Safian is an alternate director of Datasonic.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Datasonic recently teamed up with a Vietnamese company to bid for various e-passport and other information and communications technology (ICT) projects in Vietnam.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>This came after it announced that it will be the ICT technology partner for the Vietnamese firm Pham Gia Ecocon Plus Vietnam Co Ltd in any technology projects.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Datasonic also recently bagged a contract worth RM4.33 million from the Ministry of Home Affairs for comprehensive maintenance services of equipment, software and application of the facial live capture image system at all issuing and receiving offices of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Shares of Datasonic closed unchanged today at 50 sen, valuing the group at RM1.36 billion.</p></div>


Safian Mohd Yunus has emerged as a substantial shareholder of Datasonic Group Bhd after acquiring 30 million shares in the technology group via Hallmark Epitome Sdn Bhd.

Alternate director Safian emerges as substantial shareholder in Datasonic

The Malaysian government is serious about resolving issues surrounding the palm oil industry in the country, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Govt serious about resolving palm oil industry issues, says Johari Ghani

Three new semiconductor companies are keen to invest in Penang with total investments of US$100 million (RM477 million), said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Three semiconductor firms keen to invest US$100m in Penang

Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and his brother Mirzan Mahathir, who have been asked to declare their assets by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), have both denied being investigated by the agency.

Mahathir's sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, deny being under MACC probe

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the government had no plans to temporarily suspend the service of Fennec and HOM helicopters.

Govt not suspending service of Fennec and HOM helicopters, says minister

It will be a four-way fight in the upcoming Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election between Pakatan Harapan’s pick Pang Sock Tao, Hulu Selangor Bersatu action division head Khairul Azhari, Parti Rakyat Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin and independent Nyau Ke Xin.

NEWS: Four-cornered fight in KKB by-election

Parti Rakyar Malaysia’s Hafizah Zainudin says that if elected, PRM will stand on a platform of increased transparency in government.

NEWS: Parti Rakyat Malaysia will run on more transparency

The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said there is an urgent need to accelerate replanting to address the issue of ageing oil palm trees, and urges the government to provide replanting tax incentives to support such efforts.

Ageing oil palm trees: MPOA calls for govt incentives to speed up replanting

Pakatan Harapan’s Pang Sock Tau, who will be representing her party in the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-elections, says that amid all the noise, her focus will be on the rakyat’s issues, especially those concerning the youth and women.

NEWS: PH campaign to focus on core issues

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was never confronted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on whether Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners — which received millions from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and transferred it to his private banking account — was controlled or owned by fugitive Eric Tan Kim Loong, an alleged associate of Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

Court told MACC never asked Najib if he knew who owned shell company that transferred US$30 mil to his account

PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is confident of the coalition’s odds in the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election, and says the experience of its candidate, Khairul Azhari Saut, gives him an edge over the others.

NEWS: PN confident of wresting KKB seat

<p>The creation of Flexible Account 3 for anytime withdrawals from May 11 means Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members can choose to take out up to a third of the balance in their existing Wellbeing Account 2.</p>


Who pays for anytime EPF withdrawals?

<p>The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election will see a four-cornered fight between the candidates of Pakatan Harapan (PH), Perikatan Nasional (PN), Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM), and an independent.</p>


A four-way bout in Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election

<p>Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) is investigating allegations of unethical recruitment practices made against the sub-agents of SOS Manpower Service, its appointed agent to recruit Nepalese foreign workers for its subsidiary&nbsp;KL-Kepong Rubber Products Sdn Bhd.</p>

<p>The allegations, according to KLK, were made by <em>Sajha Sabal Media</em>, a news portal in Nepal.</p>


KLK investigating allegations of unethical practice linked to its foreign worker recruitment agent

<p>Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was never confronted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on whether Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners — which received millions from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and transferred it to his private banking account — was controlled or owned by fugitive Eric Tan Kim Loong, an alleged associate of Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.</p>


<p>Global&nbsp;stocks were higher on Friday, as Big Tech gains lifted Wall Street shares, while Japan's yen&nbsp;sank to a&nbsp;34-year low after the Bank of Japan (BOJ)&nbsp;kept&nbsp;monetary policy loose.</p>


Global stocks gain on Big Tech lift; yen slides to 34-year low

<p>Alphabet Inc&nbsp;closed decisively above a US$2 trillion (RM9.54 trillion) market capitalisation for the first time on Friday, as a powerhouse earnings report reassured investors that the Google parent would be a major player in artificial intelligence (AI).</p>


Alphabet joins US$2 trillion club as results show AI strength

<p>Bank of Singapore Ltd, the private-banking arm of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (OCBC), has fired up to 40 employees over the misuse of medical benefits, according to a <em>CNA </em>report.</p>


Singapore bank fires workers over misuse of medical claims — CNA

<p>The Perak government is expected to establish cooperation with Star Group Industries (SGI), a leading South Korean company with experience in the production of downstream products of rare earth elements (REE).</p>


Perak to collaborate with rare earth elements company from South Korea, says MB

<p>Richly valued US&nbsp;stocks are leaving investors with little tolerance for disappointment, raising the stakes ahead of a week in which two more technology and growth giants are set to report.</p>


Lofty US stocks leave investors punishing earnings disappointments

<p>Candidates contesting the upcoming Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election, a semi-urban seat located in the Hulu Selangor district, have started executing their campaign strategies over the weekend. The by-election is being held following the demise of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong from DAP, on March 21 due to cancer.</p>


The Week Ahead: Attention on KKB by-election, FOMC decision, trade data in Asia

<p>The nomination centre&nbsp;for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election closed at 10am on Saturday.</p>

<p>The announcement was made by returning officer Yuhanas Auree Kamaruddin&nbsp;at the Hulu Selangor Multipurpose Hall and District Sports Complex here.</p>


Nomination centre for Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election closes at 10am

<p>The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) said&nbsp;there is an urgent need to accelerate replanting to address the issue of ageing oil palm trees, and urges the government to provide replanting tax incentives to support such efforts.</p>


<p>Singapore will introduce a new law this year that will help so-called gig-economy workers plan for their retirement needs and get work injury protection, Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng said.</p>


Singapore plans law to support gig workers’ retirement needs

<p>The Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) state by-election&nbsp;is the time for Barisan Nasional (BN) to return Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) favour in assisting Umno candidates in the previous elections, said&nbsp;Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.</p>


Time for BN to return PH's favour in Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, says Zahid

<p>US&nbsp;regulators have seized Republic First Bancorp and agreed to sell it to Fulton Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) said on Friday, underscoring the challenges facing regional banks a year after the collapse of three peers.</p>


US regulators seize troubled lender Republic First, sell it to Fulton Bank

<p>Two earthquakes, the largest a 6.1 magnitude, struck Taiwan's eastern county of Hualien on Saturday, the island's weather administration said, with no immediate reports of damage.</p>

<p>The quakes, within half an hour of each other in the early hours of the morning, shook buildings in the capital, Taipei.</p>


Taiwan rattled by quakes again, no immediate reports of damage

<p>Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and his brother Mirzan Mahathir, who have been asked to declare their assets by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), have both denied being investigated by the agency.</p>


<p>China's industrial profits posted smaller gains for the first quarter compared to the first two months, official data showed on Saturday, adding to evidence of an uneven recovery for the world's second-biggest economy.</p>


China's first-quarter industrial profits rise at slower pace

<p>Apple Inc&nbsp;has renewed discussions with OpenAI about using the start-up’s technology to power some new features coming to the iPhone later this year, according to people familiar with the matter.&nbsp;</p>


Apple intensifies talks with OpenAI for iPhone generative AI features

<p>Nomination&nbsp;for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election opened at 9am on Saturday at&nbsp;the Hulu Selangor Multipurpose Hall and District Sports Complex here.</p>
