FROM 20 to 26 April 2009, the Chinese media highlighted the Pekan Nanas school-fight-turned-mob incident. The media also rejoiced at the Higher Education Ministry’s announcement to allow New Era College to conduct its media studies courses in Mandarin. Nanyang Siang Pau and Merdeka Review also reported on Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob’s intention […]
Najib Tun Razak
Serving the BN
“I will be looking at the role of television and radio stations in nation building. There are 34 radio stations under the government.” INFORMATION, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who blamed the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s recent poor elections performance on private television and radio stations that did not “carry messages good […]
Najib consolidates and compromises
Corrected on 11:56pm, 24 April 2009 KUALA LUMPUR, 24 April 2009: Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak appeared to strike compromises in his appointments of additional party supreme council (also known as Majlis Tertinggi, or MT) members today, striking a balance of old and some controversial faces with newcomers. In choosing the new Umno state […]
What media freedom, prime minister?
ON 6 April 2009, three days after he was made prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak spoke about a new way forward in policy, politics and the media. To many in the media, his rhetoric about a “vibrant, free and informed media” was welcome, especially in an environment where government control of the traditional media […]
Confidence booster for Pakatan Rakyat
FOR the week of 6 to 12 April, the Chinese media spotlighted the impact of the three by-elections on the Pakatan Rakyat, the announcement of the new cabinet line-up, and the barring of online news site Merdeka Review from covering the event at the Prime Minister’s Department. On 10 April, an article titled Pakatan Rakyat […]
13 Oct for further management of Raja Petra suit
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 April 2009: The High Court here today fixed 13 Oct for further case management in a RM2 million civil suit brought against blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin by two senior military officers over his statutory declaration implicating them in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Deputy Registrar Hilmiah Yusof fixed the date […]
Protesters break through security cordon at Asean Summit
PATTAYA, 10 April 2009: Eight demonstrators broke through the security cordon at the venue of the 14th Asean Summit in an attempt to hand over a petition to demand the ouster of Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. They demanded to see a representative from a foreign delegation to hand over the petition. Initial indications are […]
Najib arrives in Pattaya for Asean Summit
PATTAYA, 10 April 2009: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak arrived here today to attend the 14th Asean Summit and related summits, his first overseas official visit since taking over the helm of the government a week ago. The government jet carrying the premier and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, took off from […]
Khairy not disappointed
PETALING JAYA, 9 April 2009: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin was left out of the new cabinet line-up because he has been asked to focus on party work. Khairy said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak spoke with him last night to ask him to concentrate on drawing up strategies to reclaim the support of […]
Najib needs to do more
I WELCOME the decision by Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to release 13 prisoners who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). I also laud his move to lift the ban on two [Pakatan Rakyat party] newspapers. But Najib’s announcements come at the time of three crucial by-elections that would gauge […]
