KAPIT, 28 Oct 2008: Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is all for having open debates to elect party leaders, as suggested by several Umno leaders. He said the approach would enable party members to evaluate a candidate’s personality, intelligence, strength and most importantly, credibility. “It may not be in totality but people are anxious […]
Current Issues
Two Umno leaders reappointed as senators
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Oct 2008: Two Umno leaders have been reappointed as senators for another term. Datin Paduka Nor Hayati Onn who is an executive council member of the Wanita movement, and Kepong division chief Datuk Rizuan Abd Hamid took their oath of office before Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Abdul Hamid Pawanteh today. […]
Third quarter electoral roll on display
PUTRAJAYA, 28 Oct 2008: The supplementary electoral roll for the third quarter of 2008 will go on display from today until 3 Nov at 985 premises nationwide. Election Commisssion (EC) public relations officer Sabri Said said the premises are state EC offices, computerised post offices, government complexes, district and land offices, district and municipal councils, […]
Power-sharing models for the BN
By Deborah LohAS the Barisan Nasional (BN) struggles to reinvent itself in the current political climate, three ideas have been raised to remake it into a single multiracial entity. The coalition knows it has to respond to public perception that Umno is dominant over the other component parties. If it doesn’t, it risks losing more of the […]
The message of Deepavali for Malaysia
By Zedeck Siew[corrected] Tun VT Sambanthan and Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan visit Bukit Bintang Girls School (Original photos courtesy of Uma Sambanthan) UPON meeting her at her home in Petaling Jaya, one of the things that Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan inquired of me was my health. “Take care dear, it has been raining a lot lately,” she […]
Overnight policy rate unchanged at 3.5%
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Oct 2008: Bank Negara Malaysia has decided to leave the overnight policy rate (OPR) unchanged at 3.5%. The decision was made at its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting today, the central bank said in a statement. Since the last MPC meeting in August this year, the global economic situation has deteriorated considerably, […]
Suhakam to probe demolition in Johor
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Oct 2008: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) will investigate the demolition of houses in Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah in Johor Baru on 16 Oct. Suhakam commissioner, Datuk Khalid Ibrahim, said the commission will meet on 29 Oct to discuss in detail the allegation by the Johor Baru representative of Suaram, […]
Owners of illegal houses of worship fined
SHAH ALAM, 24 Oct 2008: The Selangor government in July instructed all local authorities in the state to fine owners of illegally-built houses of worship, said Dr Xavier Jayakumar. The state health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government committee chairperson said the fines would be continuously imposed until the owners received government recognition for the […]
Najib: NEP will gradually be liberalised
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Oct 2008: Datuk Seri Najib Razak is confident that elements in the National Economic Policy (NEP), which ended in 1990 and was replaced by the National Development Policy in 1991, will gradually be removed. “I’m working towards gradual liberalisation (of the NEP) as and when the bumiputeras feel they are confident. And […]
Perlis Mufti suggests interfaith relations subject
KANGAR, 24 Oct 2008: Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin has proposed that the Education Ministry introduce the subject of interfaith relations to forge harmony among different religious communities. He said the subject, specifically for Muslim students, would expose them to Islamic principles, culture and jurisprudence for better interaction with non-Muslims. “With a wide […]
