KUALA TERENGGANU, 9 Jan 2009: The incentive for over 4,000 medical specialists in government service nationwide will be raised between RM300 and RM700 from this month, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said today. “Hopefully, this package will be able to retain more doctors and medical and health workers to continue to serve with the […]
Malaysia
US$1 million humanitarian aid from Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA, 5 Jan 2009: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has authorised the immediate disbursement of US$1 million as humanitarian aid from the government to the Palestinian people. He said the money had been channelled through and would be used by Mercy Malaysia, a non-profit medical relief organisation, to deliver relief supplies. The […]
Judicial reforms afoot
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Dec 2008: Despite the controversies surrounding the Malaysian judiciary this year, some attempts are being made to restore the institution’s image. Events signalling a revamp kicked off with lawyer-cum-politician Datuk Zaid Ibrahim being made a senator and appointed de facto law minister after the 8 March general election. The move by Prime […]
140,000 NS trainees in 2009
PUTRAJAYA, 27 Dec 2008: A total of 140,000 youths have been selected to undergo the National Service training programme (PLKN) for 2009. Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop said for the first session, 37,000 trainees would start gathering at 106 centres before heading to their respective camps, starting today and tomorrow. He said […]
2008: A year of political drama
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Dec 2008: Undoubtedly, this year’s political dramas have kept Malaysians and interested parties on the edge, as unexpected plots unfolded one after another. People were left breathless right after the curtains were raised on 8 March as Malaysian voters cast their ballots in the 12th general election. Only four days earlier the […]
Fatwas 101
By Shanon ShahIMAM Feisal Abdul Rauf is the imam of Masjid Al-Farah in New York City, barely 12 blocks from the site of the 11 Sept 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre. He is also CEO of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (Asma). Established in 1997, Asma is a Muslim organisation committed to bringing Muslims […]
Gerakan hits out at Perak MB’s view on people with HIV
IPOH, 22 Dec 2008: Gerakan Deputy President Datuk Chang Ko Youn today hit out at the suggestion by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin yesterday that people with HIV must never be allowed to marry and should instead be quarantined for treatment. Describing the idea as primitive, Chang said such an idea had […]
Umno div head suspended for sabotaging party (Updated)
Updated 22 Dec 2008, 5.45pm KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Dec 2008: The Umno disciplinary board suspended the membership of Pokok Sena Umno division head Datuk Ahmad Lebai Sudin for two years effective 17 Dec, after finding him guilty of sabotaging the party in the 8 March general election. Disciplinary board chairperson Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen […]
Testing HIV positive doesn’t stop couples getting married
KOTA BARU, 19 Dec 2008: Despite the risks involved, the majority of those testing positive for HIV in Kelantan this year are getting hitched. State health department director Dr Lila P Mohamed Meeran said 38 people intending to get married had tested positive after undergoing HIV tests. “Of this number, 30 have decided to proceed […]
IJN consultants deny their demands led to privatisation
KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Dec 2008: National Heart Institute (IJN) medical consultants have refuted the perception that its privatisation proposal was in response to demands by medical staff for higher remuneration. The 34 medical consultants said they were not in a position to dictate the outcome of Sime Darby’s privatisation proposal to IJN’s stakeholders. “However, the […]
