Corrected at 12.50pm on 20 March 2009 (highway pic © drouu / sxc.hu) WHEN toll concession agreements were declassified in January 2009, it was a milestone for the nation because for the first time ever, these contracts could be scrutinised. To the credit of the DAP, its politicians spent hours copying the agreement by hand [...]

PATTAYA, 26 Feb 2009: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he will ask the Cabinet to reconsider the toll increase for five expressways scheduled to be effective on 1 March, because it is presently inappropriate. He said the review would be discussed at the Cabinet’s weekly meeting tomorrow, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri [...]

PETALING JAYA, 19 Feb 2009: The Selangor government is crying foul over being by-passed in the restructuring of the state’s water supply services. Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has accused the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) of siding with private concessionaires by allowing direct negotiations between Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) and the four [...]

(© Roland Maier / sxc.hu) PETALING JAYA, 19 February 2009: A constitutional and corporate lawyer has called for the enactment of an Unfair Public Contracts Act that will allow for lopsided concession agreements to be reviewed. Tommy Thomas said having such a law would make it compulsory for contracts which are against the public’s interest [...]

FOR the week between 12 and 19 Jan 2009, the different vernacular presses highlighted both national and international issues. In this BFM 89.9 audio report of Found in Translation, toll discounts, the ongoing Sri Lankan civil war, and the use of English to teach Maths and Science are highlighted. BFM 89.9 is a 24-hour radio [...]