“[We] don’t want to appear as though we encourage gambling and gaming but it will arise, in any case. They (illegal bookies) will do it. So, the question is whether it’s a good idea to leave them on their own, unregulated, or if the government should try to regulate and do it in such a [...]

“Islam is a religion of compassion and mercy. It is not about corporal punishment. That is the last resort. “That’s how it should be practised. We must not go overboard.” Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak commenting on the sentencing of Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno in July 2009 to six cane strokes after she pleaded [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Oct 2009: The Home Ministry is considering setting up a special unit by pooling the resources of several ministries to find the best way to address cases of maid abuse in the country. Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today in Parliament that he would raise the matter at the cabinet meeting. [...]

PETALING JAYA, 11 May 2009: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waytha Moorthy will brave the possibility of arrest and return to Malaysia immediately following the release of all five Hindraf lawyers from detention without trial. In a press statement today, Waytha Moorthy, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the UK, said [...]

Updated 4.15pm on 6 May 2009 PETALING JAYA, 6 May 2009: Several groups, think tanks and political parties have condemned the arrest of political scientist Wong Chin Huat for alleged sedition. “The arrest of Wong does not augur well for (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak)’s promise of openness and respect for the people,” said [...]

SUNGAI PETANI, 7 Apr 2009: The Pakatan Rakyat (PR)’s novice candidate S Manikumar trounced the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s Datuk S Ganesan with a convincing 2,403-vote majority today in the Bukit Selambau by-election. It was an increased majority compared with the results of the March 2008 general election where, independent-candidate-turned-Parti-Keadilan-Rakyat-member V Arumugam won by a 2,362-vote [...]