Malaysia: Malaysia moves closer to self-sufficiency

Expansion and development planning in the Malaysian pulp and paper industries were reported. Malaysian Newsprint industries (MNI) dropped its plan for a second papermaking machinery for its plant due to economic slowdowns in Southeast Asia. MNI boasted 57% shares of the Malasiyan market in 2000 compared to 40% in 1999. Muda Holdings, Pascorp Industries and Genting Sanyen planned to invest in waste-based containerboard machines, waste-based corrugating materials machine, testliner and fluting machines respectively. Country's Sarawak state government planned to boost the state shares in the comapany from 40% to 51% by diluting the financially troubled Asia Pulp and Paper's (APP) stake of 60%.