Indonesia said fiscal and monetary policies are in sync to cushion the economy from the rising dollar, demonstrating an all-hands-on-deck approach, with the central bank signalling they’re intervening more actively to aid the rupiah.

Indonesia takes steps to shield economy from strong dollar

PUTRAJAYA (April 19): Payment of fees for training or classes in esports, equestrian, swimming, motorsports and taekwondo is eligible for tax relief of up to RM1,000 from next year, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

Payment of fees for sports training eligible for tax relief from next year — Hannah

Maintaining Malaysia’s current account surplus and foreign investments over the long term hinges on the country’s ability to upgrade its goods and services production, said Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd (MARC).

Making valuable exports key to sustaining Malaysia’s current account surplus, foreign investments — MARC

Malaysia's economy grew by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024), as compared to 3.0% in the previous quarter, according to Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) advance gross domestic product (GDP) estimates.

Malaysia's economy grew 3.9% in 1Q2024, advance estimate shows

Malaysia’s exports contracted at a slower than expected pace in March mainly due to lower foreign demand for electronics while shipments to China fell, official data Friday showed.

Malaysia’s March exports down 0.8%, imports surge 12.5%

Japan’s consumer inflation eased more than expected while staying above the Bank of Japan’s target as board members get ready to revise their price forecasts next week.

Japan’s inflation cools ahead of BOJ policy board meeting

High-impact projects such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) and Special Financial Zone (SFZ) in Forest City can spur Johor’s economy to outpace that of other states in the next one to two years, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Special economic, financial zones can help Johor surpass other states economically, says Anwar

(April 18): Thailand will sign a permanent bilateral visa waiver agreement with Kazakhstan next week, as the Southeast Asian country looks to lift foreign tourist arrivals back to pre-Covid levels.

Thailand, Kazakhstan agree on visa waiver pact to boost tourism

Australia brought 23 companies seeking investment in maritime decarbonisation and renewable energy (RE) sectors to Malaysia as part of the Australia-Southeast Asia Business Exchange programme.

Australia brings 23 firms looking to invest in maritime decarbonisation, RE sectors in Malaysia

Japanese companies have agreed to raise pay by 5.20% on average this year, the biggest rise in 33 years, the country's largest union group Rengo said on Thursday, wrapping up its fourth tally of the 2024 labour talks.

Japan said to see biggest pay hikes in 33 years

(April 17): The Biden administration is expected to grant a request by South Korea’s Hanwha Qcells to reverse a two-year-old trade exemption that has allowed imports of a dominant solar panel technology from China and other countries to avoid tariffs, two sources familiar with the White House plans said on Wednesday.

US plans to restore tariffs on dominant solar technology, sources say

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): MIDF Research has maintained a positive outlook on the property sector, as it sees that the landscape for the sector is improving, underpinned by a stable house price index (HPI) outlook, an unchanged overnight policy rate at 3.0%, and a noticeable reduction in residential overhang.

MIDF Research maintains positive outlook on property sector

Australian employment unexpectedly fell in March and the jobless rate edged higher, unwinding some of the huge upside surprise of the prior month and reflecting restrictive settings of monetary policy.

Australian jobs surprisingly fall, giving RBA scope for patience

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised the outlook for Malaysia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) by a notch to 4.4% this year from its earlier prediction of 4.3%.

IMF raises Malaysia’s 2024 GDP growth forecast to 4.4% 

Iran’s foreign minister compared the drones used in an attack by Israel early Friday to “toys”, in comments that aimed at downplaying the significance of the strike on Iranian territory.

Iran downplays Israel’s latest attack as one done by ‘toys’

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has lodged police reports against three individuals, namely Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard, Mohamad Salim Iskandar (Salim Iskandar) and Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris (Papagomo), for making and spreading false accusations about its officers.

MCMC lodges police reports against Chegubard, Salim Iskandar, Papagomo over false accusations

A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

Bitcoin ‘halving’ cuts supply of new tokens in threat to miners

The Madani government will look into the hardship faced by the people in Sabah, especially in terms of socioeconomic poverty as well as improvements to infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

Madani govt committed to improving infrastucture in Sabah, says Anwar

Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching cautioned the public on the latest tactics of scammers impersonating ministry officials.

Teo cautions public on scammers impersonating Communications Ministry officials

A huge blast at a military base in Iraq early on Saturday killed a member of an Iraqi security force that includes Iran-backed groups. The force commander said it was an attack while the army said it was investigating and there were no warplanes in the sky at the time.

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces says base was attacked, army investigates

Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties are required to help the candidate representing the unity government in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election, said BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election: BN component parties have to assist unity govt candidate, says Mohamad Hasan

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor emphasised that the positive economic achievements over the past three years underscore the Sabah government's steadfast commitment to both the administration and development of the state.

Positive economic achievements prove Sabah govt's commitment, says Hajiji

Property developer Scientex Bhd aims to provide a total of 50,000 units of quality housing units at affordable prices nationwide by 2028.

Scientex project general manager (property division) Tang Song Teik said that so far, the company has handed over 35,062 affordable housing units, with about 70% of them sold at prices below RM300,000.

Scientex aims to build 50,000 affordable housing units by 2028

The Madani government is committed to eradicating hardcore poverty in Sabah despite knowing the situation is quite complicated to resolve, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Madani govt committed to eradicating hardcore poverty in Sabah, says Anwar

Former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar died at 2.15am on Saturday. He was 85.

Former IGP Tun Hanif Omar passes away

A Philippine freight railway project may be built with the support of the US and Japan, an official in charge of it said, as Manila seeks alternative financing deals after dropping funding talks with China.

Philippines wants US, Japan to take over rail deal eyed by China

Approved road transport logistics companies will obtain “fleet cards” from select fuel retailers to purchase subsidised fuel under the diesel subsidy rationalisation programme, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.

Approved logistics players to get diesel fleet cards amid subsidy rationalisation

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the operator of Malaysia’s 5G telecommunications assets, said the process in relation to the subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators (MNOs) in this country is ongoing.

DNB says process relating to subscription of its shares by five mobile network operators ongoing

S P Setia Bhd has officially launched the LakePoint Complex commercial hub at the 1,235-acre freehold township of SetiaAlam Impian in Shah Alam on Saturday. The ceremony was officiated by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

Selangor Sultan officiates launch of S P Setia’s LakePoint Complex at Setia AlamImpian

A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

Attention this week will be on the March inflation rate, with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) slated to put out Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the key gauge for inflation — data on Thursday.

Inflation edged up by a higher-than-expected 1.8% i...

The Week Ahead: Eyes on March inflation, US 1Q GDP and tech earnings

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has extended condolences to the family of former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar, who died early on Saturday morning.

Selangor Sultan conveys condolences to Tun Hanif Omar’s family

Next week’s earnings reports from some of the market’s biggest technology and growth companies could prove an important test for the US stock rally, which has flagged as expectations for interest cuts fade.

'Crowded' megacap trade in US stocks awaits earnings test

Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties are required to help the candidate representing the unity government in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election, said BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Property developer Scientex Bhd aims to provide a total of 50,000 units of quality housing units at affordable prices nationwide by 2028.

Scientex project general manager (property division) Tang Song Teik said that so far, the company has handed over 35,062 affordable housing units, with about 70% of them sold at prices below RM300,000.

Elon Musk postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing obligations at his Tesla automaker and saying he aimed to reschedule the visit for later this year.

Tesla's Elon Musk postpones India trip, aims to visit this year

The ringgit is likely to trade in the same range of around 4.78 against the US dollar next week, as the situation in the Middle East will continue to be under scrutiny by investors, said an analyst.

Ringgit likely to trade around 4.78 versus greenback next week

A huge blast at a military base in Iraq early on Saturday killed a member of an Iraqi security force that includes Iran-backed groups. The force commander said it was an attack while the army said it was investigating and there were no warplanes in the sky at the time.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has lodged police reports against three individuals, namely Badrul Hisham Shaharin or Chegubard, Mohamad Salim Iskandar (Salim Iskandar) and Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris (Papagomo), for making and spreading false accusations about its officers.

Iran’s foreign minister compared the drones used in an attack by Israel early Friday to “toys”, in comments that aimed at downplaying the significance of the strike on Iranian territory. &nbsp;

Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.

IMF concerned about debt, fiscal challenges facing low-income countries

Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching cautioned the public on the latest tactics of scammers impersonating ministry officials.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) will hold a supreme council meeting on Monday (April 22) on the selection of candidate to contest in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election on May 11.

Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election: PN to hold supreme council meeting on Monday

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor emphasised that the positive economic achievements over the past three years underscore the Sabah government's steadfast commitment to both the administration and development of the state.

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