9 October 2020: Mega projects rolled over into Budget 2021; Permit required for exiting CMCO areas

Mega projects worth RM143bil may be rolled over into Budget 2021

Six mega-projects worth RM143.06 billion, announced under Budget 2020, may potentially be rolled over into the upcoming budget given the delays and tender disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the movement control order, CGS-CIMB Research said. The research house said the projects included the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR), which is expected to cost RM68 billion, and the MRT3 (RM45 billion). Others are the Penang Transport Master Plan (RM18 billion), Serendah-Port Klang Rail Bypass (RM8.3 billion), Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) (RM3.16 billion) and Phase 1 of the Pan Borneo Highway (RM600 million). CGS-CIMB pointed out that these potential mega-projects were likely be part of the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) and the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP). (Malay Mail)

Permit required for those exiting CMCO areas

People residing in Klang mukim (sub-district) housing estates which have been placed under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) beginning today, must obtain a police permit to leave the area for work or other important matters. Selangor police chief Datuk Noor Azam Jamaludin said the permit form can be downloaded from the official Facebook Page of the South Klang District Police. Roadblocks have been mounted at Bayu Perdana, Sri Andalas and Bukit Tinggi in the Klang sub-district. “Those travelling for work, must produce a letter issued by their employer… We will look into every application whether it is under essential services or not, before granting an approval,” he said. (Bernama)

‘Charges soon on Mara’s property purchase in Australia’

The case of Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (Mara) property purchase in Melbourne will be taken to court soon, said anti-graft chief Datuk Seri Azam Baki, hinting that one of the individuals who may be charged is now residing in Sabah. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said the deputy public prosecutor had agreed in principle to charge those involved. However, Azam did not mention how many people would be taken to court over the scandal. Previous reports claimed that Mara had overpaid by A$4.75mil (RM14.14mil) for the Dudley International House. Australian authorities had recently seized properties and cash totalling A$1.6mil (RM4.8mil) from a man said to be a Malaysian living in Australia and who had been accused of bribing a Malaysian official to secure Mara’s purchase of the multimillion-dollar apartment complex in Melbourne in 2013. The Dudley property scandal was first highlighted by the Australian media, which led to the revelation of other properties said to have also been bought at inflated prices. (The Star Online)

US$1bil loan offer for AirAsia data

An American lender is willing to loan AirAsia Bhd US$1bil for the data of its customers it has accumulated from its business over the years. AirAsia Group Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes did not reveal the name of the potential US lender but spoke on how its data-driven new “super app” would become an equal contributor to group profit with its airline business in five years. He said there was a cash-raising potential to be done at the airasia.com and airline levels. “The first lot of financing will be announced by the end of this month, ” he said. Fernandes said AirAsia would not be taking delivery of new planes as there are a lot of excess aircraft within the industry, and would instead be returning 22 planes this year to its lessors. As for travel, Fernandes said leisure travel would likely bounce back ahead of business travel. (The Star Online)

Japan to remove travel ban to 12 countries including Malaysia

Japan is planning to remove a ban on overseas travel to China and 11 other countries next month, including Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia. The Japanese government, which currently bans travel to 159 countries and regions, will recommend that travellers refrain from unnecessary and non-urgent visits to those 12 countries. According to the Nikkei, Japan plans to permit Japanese and foreign national business travellers with residency status to re-enter the country without having to isolate for two weeks. The two-week self-quarantine measure will be waived for returning business travellers who submit an action plan. The travellers will also have to refrain from using public transit. Japan is easing the isolation restriction to make it easier for employees to travel and to encourage the resumption of economic activity. Before the new measure, an average of 2,000 foreign nationals were entering Japan each day. (The Star Online)