Malaysia Hot Stocks - Factors to watch

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Here are news stories that may affect the Malaysian stock market on Tuesday.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES OPEN TO MERGERS

- Flag carrier Malaysian Airline Systems Bhd (MASM.KL: Quote, Profile, Research) has expressed interest in mergers and acquisitions with other airlines, especially Asia-Pacific carriers, to grow the company within five years, the Business Times said on Tuesday.

"We are open to all M&A opportunities. It is still early and we are now occupied with our second business transformation plan. However if the opportunity arises, we are ready for it," it quoted Managing Director Idris Jala as saying in Singapore.

He said Malaysian state investment Khazanah was open to allowing its 69 percent stake in the airline to be diluted.

BERJAYA SPORTS TOTO SAYS NO BUY-OUT PLAN

- Malaysian gaming firm Berjaya Sports Toto (BSTB.KL: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Monday none of its major shareholders was planning to buy out the company.

Berjaya was replying to a stock exchange query over a newspaper report that said its shares had risen on market talk that a major shareholder might buy out the company.

PROTASCO SAYS UNIT WINS $76 MLN ROADWORKS CONTRACT