Day: September 23, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, The ringgit closed marginally higher against the US dollar on Monday as a lower domestic inflation rate helped to extend its recent gains, an analyst said. At 6 pm, the local currency climbed to 4.2000/2060 against the greenback, compared to last week’s close of 4.2005/2070. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid noted that Malaysia’s latest consumer price index (CPI) print for August 2024 came in at 1.9 per cent, lower than the 2.0 per cent rate for three consecutive months before August. He said this indicated strong economic growth in Malaysia, with inflation

TANAH MERAH, The dreams and desire of Nur Fatihah Mohammad, 20, from Kampung Pelain, Batu Gajah here to pursue her studies to the highest level finally came true when Universiti Malaya (UM) came forward to fund her tuition fees and accommodation costs at the university. UM’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs) Prof Dr Zamri Radzi said the eldest of four siblings had to reject an earlier offer to pursue her studies due to financial problems since she was living with her adopted mother, Nik Siti Rohaizan Nik Hashim, 44, after the death of both her parents. ‘She (Nur Fatihah) will continue

KUALA LUMPUR, The gold futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives closed higher on Monday, supported by the ongoing impact of the United States Federal Reserve’s (Fed) rate cut. The September 2024 gold futures contract rose to US$2,624.50 per troy ounce, up from US$2,614.20 last Friday. Meanwhile, the October, November, December 2024, February 2025 and April 2025 contracts all settled higher at US$2,637.30 per troy ounce, compared with US$2,627.00 per troy ounce previously. Trading volume rose to 13 lots from 12 lots last week, while open interest rose to 45 contracts from 44 contracts. According to the London Bullion Market Association’s

JOHOR BAHRU, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) has produced more than 500 copies of braille books to expand access to knowledge for the visually impaired (OKU) since 1998. UTM Library Chief Librarian Nor Asikin Mohamad said all the copies produced by the university through the Braille-Baca Celik Hati(mind literacy) Transliteration Project have been distributed to schools in Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang. “This project is one of UTM’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to the community and so far we have produced more than 500 braille books covering various scientific topics. “Recently, we have received many requests to produce braille books

PUTRAJAYA, The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a Bangladeshi company director on suspicions of being involved in a syndicate smuggling in foreigners using the ‘Counter Setting’ modus operandi. An MACC source said that the man, in his 50s, was arrested in an operation around the Klang Valley at 8 pm yesterday, and is believed to be a syndicate agent tasked with bribing enforcement officials to allow foreigners into the country illegally. ‘The man is believed to have offered bribes between RM200 and RM25,000 to enforcement officials in return of protecting, aiding and not taking enforcement action against foreigners who