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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p class="thumb-cap">EVENING 5: Sime Darby Plantation slapped with RM1.7bil suit</p></div>
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<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Dirty dealings. Corporate battles. Consumer woes. Here are five things you need to know today.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>1. Sime Darby Plantation and five of its subsidiaries are being <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/sime-darby-plantation-slapped-rm1-7b-suit-disposals-subsidiaries" target="_blank">sued for approximately RM1.72 billion</a>.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>2. CGS-CIMB Research expects withdrawals under the special EPF scheme to <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cgscimb-projects-special-epf-withdrawals-be-between-rm15b-and-rm20b" target="_blank">total RM15 billion - RM20 billion</a>.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>3. Gamuda <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/gamuda-revises-upwards-minimum-wage-foreign-workers-and-graduate-entry-effective-may-1" target="_blank">revises its minimum wage policy</a> and announces a 44% improvement in 2QFY22 earnings.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>4. MRT Corp clarifies it has <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/mrt-corp-clarifies-it-has-nothing-do-ongoing-macc-probe" target="_blank">nothing to do with the ongoing MACC probe</a> into alleged corruption by two engineering firms.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>5. The late founder of Ewein is said to have labelled <a href="https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/late-ewein-founder-said-guan-eng-no-longer-untouchable-after-collapse-ph-govt" target="_blank">Lim Guan Eng as no longer “untouchable”</a> after the PH government fell.</p></div>


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

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

MANILA (April 18): Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon agreed on Thursday to deepen defence cooperation and expressed serious concern over the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have had maritime run-ins.

Philippines, New Zealand eye forces deal, share concern over South China Sea

While most flights continued to be impacted following the volcanic eruption at Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, low-cost carrier AirAsia reinstated several flights on Thursday.

AirAsia reinstates several flights on Thursday after Indonesia's volcanic eruption

UBS is shutting down some of its China private funds business and will lay off one-third of the staff as the Swiss bank cuts operating costs in the country, said three sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

UBS shuts some China private funds, will lay off staff, sources say

After spending over two years in court due to a suit from Empire Holdings Ltd, MAA Group Bhd, its major shareholder Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra and Turiya Bhd have been dropped as parties in the suit over MAA’s purchase of Turiya shares from a Bahrain-based bank.

MAA Group exits legal bout over 2021 Turiya share acquisition under settlement deal

The developer of the Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) expressway will receive an official letter soon, notifying it of the cancellation of the construction project.

PJD Link developer to get official letter soon on cancellation, says Nanta

A former technician was brought before the Sessions Court again here on Thursday on a charge of posting offensive messages insulting Islam on his Facebook account in March, regarding the sale of stockings bearing the word 'Allah'.

'Allah' socks insults: Former technician brought before Sessions Court again

More than a year after it diversified into the sand dredging business, timber products manufacturer Auro Holdings Bhd (formerly known as NWP Holdings Bhd) is proposing to venture into the food and beverage (F&B) business.

The proposed diversification is aimed at expanding its revenue stream and reducing its reliance on the wood-based and sand mining industries, said the loss-making company in a bourse filing on Thursday.

Auro forays into F&B business to cut dependence on wood-based and sand mining industries

The Penang government will wait for recommendations from the undersea tunnel project steering committee before making any decision regarding the implementation of the project, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Undersea tunnel: Penang to wait for steering committee's recommendations, says Chow

The allocations that the government has agreed to consider extending to elected representatives from the opposition are subject to terms and conditions, said DAP Parliament chief whip Nga Kor Ming.

Nga: Proposed allocations for opposition reps conditional

KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd, known for its extensive network of convenience stores, declared on Thursday an interim dividend of 2.7 sen per share for its financial year ended Dec 31, 2023 (FY2023), after posting a record high net profit.

7-Eleven declares 2.7 sen dividend for FY2023

<p>The Malaysian aviation industry may be badly impacted on passenger traffic and spikes in jet fuel prices if a full-blown war results from escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, according to Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB).</p>


Malaysia's aviation industry at risk amid full-blown crisis in Middle East — Maybank IB

<p>Shares of PIE Industrial Bhd extended its rally to a new all-time high on Thursday, after Kenanga Investment Bank flagged that the electronic services firm has secured a new client that will take up the entirety of its largest facility.</p>


PIE Industrial extends rally to new all-time high as Kenanga flags new client

<p>Several Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia flights between Sabah, Sarawak, and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) were cancelled on Thursday due to volcanic eruption at Mount Ruang, Indonesia.</p>


Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Batik Air cancel flights to Sabah, Sarawak after volcano eruption in Indonesia

<p>The Federal Court on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) over the Court of Appeal’s decision last year that decided that non-paying members in a residential area (RA) could raise the boom gates at the entrance to the housing area themselves without the security guards' assistance.</p>


Federal Court dismisses MBPJ’s appeal on residents' boom gate operation

<p>Alphabet Inc’s Google has put more than two dozen employees on immediate administrative leave after they were involved in protests against Project Nimbus, a US$1.2 billion (RM5.7 billion) joint contract with Amazon.com Inc to provide the Israeli government with AI and cloud services.</p>


Google fires workers protesting US$1.2b Israeli contract

<p>The race for the “world’s best airport” crown has been a two-horse affair in recent years, with Doha’s Hamad International and Singapore Changi leading the pack.</p>


Singapore loses ‘world’s best airport’ crown to Qatar

<p>Gold prices may correct amid potential delay in the anticipated rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve, Philip Capital warned on Thursday and advised investors to stop buying Malaysia’s sole gold exchange-traded fund (ETF).</p>


Stop buying gold ETF as prices may correct — Philip Capital

<p>Sin-Kung Logistics Bhd has started taking orders from investors for its initial public offering (IPO) that may raise up to RM39.5 million ahead of its listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market.</p>


Sin-Kung Logistics launches ACE Market IPO to raise RM39.5 mil

<p>Feytech Holdings Berhad (Feytech) has entered into an underwriting agreement with TA Securities Holdings Berhad and AmInvestment Bank Berhad (joint underwriters) for the company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.</p>


Feytech inks underwriting agreement with TA Securities, AmInvestment en route to Main Market IPO  

<p>Apple Inc chief executive officer Tim Cook will meet Singapore’s leader at the tail end of his most extensive Southeast Asia tour in years, searching for new growth markets and manufacturing locations to offset headwinds in China.</p>


Apple CEO to meet Singapore leader to wrap whirlwind Asia tour

<p>Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador, former political aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has ceased to be a substantial shareholder of HeiTech Padu Bhd, just one month after acquiring a 15.9% stake via a private vehicle in the company.</p>


Amid controversy over govt contracts, Farhash ceases to be HeiTech Padu substantial shareholder after one month

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Smart Asia Chemical Bhd has signed an underwriting agreement with Mercury Securities Sdn Bhd for the company’s initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.</p>


Smart Asia Chemical inks underwriting agreement with Mercury Securities en route to ACE Market IPO

<p>Elon Musk said some of the severance packages sent to former Tesla Inc employees as part of its biggest-ever workforce reduction were too low.</p>


Musk apologises for ‘incorrectly low’ Tesla severance packages

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 18): Food and supplement company OB Holdings Bhd said on Thursday that it has secured approval from Bursa Malaysia for an initial public offering (IPO) on the bourse’s ACE Market, to raise funds for expansion.</p>


OB Holdings gets approval for ACE Market IPO, targets listing in 4Q

<p>Research analysts covering IGB Real Estate Investment Trust (IGB REIT) remained sanguine on the stock’s prospects after it reported a 4.79% jump in its net property income (NPI) for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) to RM124.24 million, from RM118.55 million a year earlier, thanks largely to higher rental income.</p>


Analysts remain sanguine on IGB REIT’s prospects going forward

<p>Axiata Group Bhd, Malaysia’s largest telecommunications company by revenue, and India’s Bharti Airtel Ltd signed a definitive agreement on Thursday to combine their Sri Lankan operations.</p>


Malaysia’s Axiata, Bharti Airtel of India to combine Sri Lankan ops

<p>Bursa Malaysia turned mixed at the midday break on Thursday with the key index ending the morning session in positive territory, in tandem with regional markets, said a dealer.&nbsp;</p>


Bursa mixed at midday break, key index up

<p>When Iraq fired dozens of Scud missiles on Israel in early 1991, the US implored then prime minister Yitzhak Shamir not to respond. Shamir said he had to act. After days of late-night calls, high-level visits and long Cabinet meetings, Israel stood down and the US led a 42-nation alliance that defeated Iraq in what became the Gulf War.</p>


Israel caught between hitting Iran and heeding allies

<p>The Malaysian Bar argued in court that its challenge against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's conditional discharge is not academic as it may determine the fate of the Yayasan Akalbudi graft case.</p>


Malaysian Bar: Legal challenge against AG's decision to drop charges against Zahid is not academic

<p>Bursa Malaysia Bhd’s wholly-owned Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) will hold its inaugural auction of renewable energy certificates (RECs) on June 25 to support Malaysia’s energy transition plans and corporates’ net-zero aspirations.</p>
