PRESS DIGEST - Malaysia - July 24

Following are the main stories in Malaysian newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

NEW STRAITS TIMES (www.nst.com.my)

- A proposal for a centralised government agency to handle distribution of price-controlled essential foods will be tabled before the cabinet in about two weeks, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad said.

BUSINESS TIMES

- Berjaya Land Bhd (BLAD.KL) has received offers to buy both its hotels in Seychelles for $62 million (201 million ringgit), its resort and hotel division head Foo Toon Kee said.

- The 500km gas pipeline project linking Sabah and Sarawak and 300-megawatt gas-driven power plant in Sabah are on track, the chief of national oil corporation Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) PETR.UL said.

THE STAR (www.thestar.com.my)

- The country's inflation hit a 27-year high of 7.7 percent in June, more than double May's figure of 3.8 percent, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs MInister Shahrir Abdul Samad said.

- The Malaysian Institute of Accountants does not believe that accounting firm Horwath should accept the appointment as auditors of Oilcorp Bhd (OILC.KL).