KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s former prime minister, Mahathir Moha-mad, has been appointed advisor to national oil firm Petronas, a report said last Friday. “(Mahathir) has agreed to be a Petronas advisor for quite some time,” Petronas chairman Azizan Zainul Abidin was quoted as saying by the Malay-language Utusan Malaysia. [Fullstory]

THE leaders of Japan and ASEAN are to sign documents outlining the future relationship between the two sides at a commemorative summit to be held in Tokyo later this month, a Japanese news agency reported last week.[Fullstory]

THE Traffic Rules Enforcement Supervisory Committee has begun psychology tests for bus drivers and conductors as part of its campaign to reduce road accidents and improve the safety of commuters.[Fullstory]

THE first internet and e-mail directory in Myanmar will be published early next year in a joint effort by a website design company and one of the country’s two internet service providers, Bagan Cybertech Company.[Fullstory]

A DECLINE in exports has affected companies involved in inspecting and fumigating shipments destined for overseas markets, say industry sources.“Until August our business was doing well, but sales have dropped since September. November has been the worst month, with the number of clients down by 50 to 70 per cent,” said Daw Aye Aye Soe, the manager of GITE pest control and fumigation company.[Fullstory]

WORK is underway on a series of high-rise projects which will transform the skyline along Pyay road, one of Yangon’s major thoroughfares.Ten high-rise developments of nine-storeys or higher are due to be completed within the next three to five years:[Fullstory]

YANGON’S local printed media market is thriving, with journals available on a wide range of topics for competitive prices.The publishers of these magazines and newspapers have created healthy businesses by quickly finding their niches in the market, according to industry sources.[Fullstory]