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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 14): The Ministry of Health (MoH) has predicted that daily Covid-19 cases could exceed 8,000 by June if standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus are not adhered to.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>This comes as the R0 (pronounced R-naught) figure rose to 1.14 yesterday, according to a tweet by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, after Malaysia reported its fourth-highest number of daily Covid-19 at 4,855.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The R0 figure denotes how many other people a Covid-19 patient will infect. A R0 figure of below 1.0 shows that a patient will infect fewer than one person, which means that the spread of the infection will decline over time.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The ministry calculated that the R0 could go up to 1.2 if SOPs are not followed; however, strict compliance with SOPs could bring the R0 down to 0.8, pushing new daily cases to far below 1,000 by the first week of June.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Perak has the highest infectivity rate with 1.32, followed by Terengganu with 1.29, Kedah (1.22), Penang (1.21), Melaka (1.18), Johor and Selangor (1.17), Negeri Sembilan (1.12), Pahang (1.11), and Kuala Lumpur (1.1).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The states with R0 below 1 are Sabah (0.89), Kelantan (0.94), Sarawak (0.98), and Putrajaya (0.99). Labuan does not have R0 as only four cases were reported yesterday, bringing active cases to 35.</p></div>


MoH predicts daily Covid-19 cases to exceed 8,000 by first week of June if SOPs not followed

US job growth slowed more than expected in April and annual wage gains cooled, but it is probably too early to expect that the Federal Reserve will start cutting interest rates before September as the labour market remains fairly tight.

US job growth slows in April; unemployment rate rises to 3.9%

In today’s edition of Evening 5: 0:06 Digital Nasional to meet next week to discuss due diligence on 5G network — Gobind1:22 Top US Treasury official to travel to Singapore, Malaysia to discuss sanctions2:43 Ajinomoto surges to near six-year high after announcing ex-date for special dividend4:02 F&N to focus on sweating off its assets after investing RM3b in capex and development5:27 Naza completes acquisition of waste management company from Berjaya for RM700m cash

EVENING 5: DNB board to discuss due diligence next week

Practice Note 17 (PN17) outfit Sarawak Cable Bhd announced that Datuk Seri Fong Joo Chung has stepped down as non-independent non-executive deputy chairman, effective immediately.

Fong, 75, resigned due to personal reasons, prevailing circumstances, and recent developments concerning the company, the cable manufacturer said in its filing.

Fong Joo Chung steps down as Sarawak Cable deputy chairman

HSBC has no current plans to sell more assets, its chairman Mark Tucker said on Friday at the annual shareholder meeting of the bank, which has scaled back its presence in Western markets in recent years as part of a sweeping overhaul.

HSBC has no plans to dispose of further businesses, chairman says

Ranhill Utilities Bhd will cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) throughout an investigation involving its employees, it said on Friday.

“We are alarmed and take serious note of the matter. We shall cooperate fully with MACC in its investigation if required,” Ranhill said in a bourse filing.

Ranhill to cooperate with MACC over bribery probe on employees

Pestech International Bhd has lost an appeal to stop the tampering of machineries used in the Gemas-Johor electrified double track project by main contractor Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn Bhd (SPYTL).

Pestech loses another appeal in Gemas-JB double track dispute

Penang-based automated test equipment (ATE) maker TT Vision Holdings Bhd is looking to raise RM25.27 million via a private placement of up to 23.4 million shares or 5% of its enlarged share base.

This is the group’s first fund-raising exercise since its listing on the Bursa Malaysia ACE Market in January last year.

TT Vision aims to raise RM25m via private placement to fund solar energy venture

Uzma Bhd has secured a contract from Sarawak Shell Bhd (SSB) and Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Ltd (SSPC) to provide integrated production and integrity chemical and associated services.

Uzma unit secures integrated production contract from Shell

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

The Energy Commission (EC) has raised the tariff to transport gas via Peninsular Malaysia’s gas pipeline, owned and operated by Petronas Gas Bhd (PetGas), to RM1.096 per gigajoule per day (GJ/day) for 2024, versus a base of RM1.063 GJ/day under Regulatory Period 2 (2023-2025).

PetGas gets nod for gas transportation tariff hike; regas sees mixed adjustment

<p>Malaysia’s planned increase in civil servant salaries will boost earnings of RCE Capital Bhd, which mainly provides consumer financing to government employees, Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) said and upgraded the stock to ‘buy’.</p>


Higher civil servant salaries will boost RCE Capital's earnings, says Maybank IB

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will hold a meeting next week to review due diligence findings on the 5G network rollout, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said on Friday.</p>


Digital Nasional to meet next week to discuss due diligence on 5G network — minister

<p>Shares of Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Bhd surged to their highest in nearly six years after the food and seasoning company announced the ex-date for its special dividend.</p>


Ajinomoto Malaysia surges to highest in nearly six years

<p>Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Berjaya Enviro Holdings Sdn Bhd (BEnviro) from Berjaya Corp Bhd for RM700 million in cash, marking its entry into the green economy with a focus on municipal and scheduled waste, as well as the waste-to-energy sector.</p>


Naza completes acquisition of waste management company from Berjaya for RM700m cash 

<p>Malaysia’s commitment to building its 5G network has given the country a world-class digital infrastructure, according to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson president and chief executive officer Börje Ekholm.</p>


Ericsson CEO hails Malaysia’s ‘world-class’ digital infrastructure

<p>Ranhill Utilities Bhd has declared a share dividend distribution on a basis of 0.5 share for every 100 shares held in the utility group.</p>


Ranhill declares share dividend distribution

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Fraser &amp; Neave Holding Bhd (F&amp;N) said on Friday that the company will focus on fixed asset optimisation over the next three years, after having allocated more than RM3 billion in capital expenditure (capex) and development of its integrated farm in Gemas.</p>


F&N to focus on sweating off its assets after investing RM3b in capex and development

<p>The country faces higher imports of gas energy for electricity use in the coming years if it continues to depend on the commodity without efforts to accelerate the transition to more sustainable energy.</p>


Rafizi warns of hike in gas imports for electricity without switch to sustainable energy

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Engineering firm UUE Holdings Bhd said on Friday that it has signed an agreement with M&amp;A Securities to underwrite its initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.</p>


UUE signs underwriting deal with M&A Securities for ACE Market IPO

<p>Individuals who have fallen victim to fraudulent investment schemes risk losing the right to recover their money even after going through the legal avenue.</p>


Bukit Aman: Victims of investment scams won’t be able to recoup losses

<p>Malayan Cement Bhd will likely report strong third quarter earnings when the company reports its results by this month-end, as volume and average selling prices stay high, CGS International said.</p>


Malayan Cement likely to report strong 3Q results, says CGS International

<p>Hong Kong stocks are on their longest-winning streak since 2018, adding to signs that a recovery in one of the worst-performing markets last year is well underway.</p>


Hong Kong stocks are on their longest winning streak since 2018

<p>In a majority decision, the Federal Court has dismissed a woman's final challenge to change her religious status as a Muslim.</p>


Top court dismisses woman's attempt to change religious status

<p>The US Treasury Department's top sanctions official will travel to Singapore and Malaysia next week, a source familiar with the matter told <i>Reuters</i>, as Washington seeks to combat funding for Iran and its proxy groups as well as evasion of its sanctions on Russia.</p>


Top US Treasury official to travel to Singapore, Malaysia to discuss sanctions

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): There will be no water supply cut for multiple areas in Selangor, as the&nbsp;Sungai Selangor Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Phase 1 (SSP1) maintenance works originally slated to be carried out from May 14 to 16 have been postponed.</p>


Air Selangor: Phase 1 of river water treatment plant’s maintenance works postponed, no supply cut

<p>Ocean Fresh Bhd has signed an agreement with KAF Investment Bank (KAF IB) to underwrite the frozen seafood company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market.</p>


Ocean Fresh inks underwriting agreement with KAF IB for ACE Market IPO

<p>The Penang High Court on Friday dismissed former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty Chew Gek Cheng, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon’s attempt to strike out their graft and money-laundering charges.</p>


Double jeopardy does not apply, Penang court rules in dismissing Guan Eng, wife and Phang's challenge on graft charge

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd, through KL International Hospital Sdn Bhd, has launched KL International Tertiary Hospital as part of the first phase of the KL Wellness City township in Bukit Jalil here on Thursday (May 2).</p>


KL Wellness City launches tertiary hospital as part of the township’s first phase

<p>Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (LC Titan) is expected to face widening core losses in the second quarter ending June 30, 2024 (2QFY2024) from lower sales volume and weak product spread, according to TA Securities.</p>


Lotte Chemical Titan to face widening losses in 2QFY2024 on lower volume, weak product spread, says TA Securities

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): Fresh vegetables wholesaler and distributor Farm Price Holdings Bhd, which is set for listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 14, said on Friday that its initial public offering (IPO) had been oversubscribed by 91.35 times.</p>
