WHILE the 12th general election had opened up some democratic space in the realms of media and freedom of expression, we are now watching it quickly disappear. The government’s censorship of the name of a certain murdered Mongolian looks absurd, as does the seizure of DVDs produced by the opposition. The fact that politicians choose […]
Archives for April 2009
Fomca hopes PM takes consumer affairs portfolio
KOTA KINABALU, 3 April 2009: Newly-appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should take charge of the consumer affairs portfolio to counter the current economic crisis. This is the hope of Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) vice-president Datuk Patrick Sindu. Patrick said Najib, who is also Finance Minister, had the executive power to decide […]
Sermon extols peaceful power transition
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2009: The peaceful power transition from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Malaysia’s sixth prime minister, is the most precious gift from a big-hearted leader to the people. In the Friday sermon read in mosques throughout the country today, Malaysians were urged to appreciate the sacrifices of the […]
Four Taiwanese charged with drug trafficking
JOHOR BARU, 3 April 2009: Four Taiwanese men were charged in the Magistrate’s Court here today with trafficking in 1,439kg of Eramin 5 drug last month. Chung Sheng Wen, 36, Chang Yen Ming, 34, Chang Yung Hseng, 30, and Wu Sheng Yuan, 30, were alleged to have committed the offence at a factory in Jalan […]
BN components congratulate Najib (Updated)
(Updated 6:32pm, 3 April) KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2009: The Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties today congratulated Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his appointment as the new prime minister. MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu in his message said Najib had proven to be an able and charismatic leader and had the vision of […]
Najib is PM (Updated 12.10pm)
Updated 12.10pm on 3 April 2009 Najib (pic courtesy of theSun) KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2009: Datuk Seri Najib Razak was sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth prime minister today, taking over from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who stepped down after leading the country for over five years. Najib, 55, took his oath of office […]
Opportunity for BN in Bkt Selambau?
By Datuk Dr Denison JayasooriaTHE Hindraf movement captured the imagination of not only the Indian Malaysian community but all communities in Malaysia in their ability to mobilise mass protests against the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led government. This was reflected by a major swing against the BN and the MIC during the 12th general elections. At the heart of the matter […]
The last Rajah’s battlefield
By Wong Chin HuatPolice on guard during the Ijok by-election (pic by Danny Lim) THE 7 April Batang Ai by-election actually has more similarities with the 2007 by-election for the Selangor state seat of Ijok than to the other two by-elections in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Serambau that will happen on the same day. Batang Ai is certainly […]
Manikumar’s baptism by fire
By Shanon ShahS Manikumar S MANIKUMAR, 35, has many fires to fight. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election has to firstly compete against 14 other candidates for this state assembly seat. Secondly, there are the criticisms that he is too young, inexperienced and not media savvy. On top of this, despite strenuous […]
Dr M to rejoin Umno in a day or two
SUNGAI PETANI, 2 April 2009: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will rejoin Umno in a day or two, Dr Mahathir’s son, Datuk Mukhriz said today. Mukhriz, the Jerlun member of Parliament, said his father would campaign in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections and by then he would have already rejoined Umno. He […]