THE recent announcement by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam that Muslim children in the state will be allowed to marry just boggles the mind. According to Ali Rustam, who is also Malacca Islamic Religious Council chairperson, allowing child marriages will help curb teenage pregnancy and baby dumping, and prevent pregnant teenagers from [...]

SOME government officials have recently come up with “creative” ways to solve the problems of teenage pregnancy and baby dumping in Malaysia. To curb teenage pregnancies, the Education Ministry said it was encouraging students to submit written pledges that they would not engage in premarital sex. To solve the problem of baby dumping, Malacca Chief [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, 28 March 2009: Former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has urged party members to give the undivided support to the new party line-up. He said Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin needed the support of party members to navigate the party through turbulence. [...]

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 March 2009: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s proposal that Umno set a maximum term for office-bearers could reduce the number of contenders, said vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam. He said this could lessen tension due to rivalry among aspiring candidates, thus hindering slander and allegations among them. “If there is a [...]

(Updated 7:23pm; 19 March 2009) PUTRAJAYA, 19 March 2009: There are no elements of sabotage in the Umno Disciplinary Board’s action on party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam for involvement in money politics, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today. The Umno deputy president said the board acted based on information and Mohd Ali was [...]

THE 2009 Umno general assembly (GA) is meant to be a grand occasion for all. After a problematic 2008 marked with defeats in three previously Umno-controlled states (Kedah, Perak and Selangor) and a significant loss of parliamentary and state seats, next week’s GA and party election was intended to be a time of renewal, rejuvenation [...]