THE late Datuk Dr S Vijayaratnam was a man who touched many hearts. The Gerakan vice-president was known to be a down-to-earth leader who provided guidance to the grassroots. (Pic courtesy of Gerakan)To his friends outside the party, the 58-year-old will be remembered as someone who was always helpful and reliable. But to reporters, Vijayaratnam […]
Archives for November 2008
Ethnic outsiders vs bumiputera-ism
By Wong Chin Huat(© Konrad Mostert/sxc.hu) THERE are two issues around the appointment of Low Siew Moi as general manager of the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS). The first, as raised by laywer-cum-blogger Haris Ibrahim, is whether this state agency should act like an ethnic institution that serves only Malays or bumiputera. The second is, if indeed PKNS’s […]
Creative common ground
By Ooi Ying Nee(Source: randomalphabets.com) THE afternoon of 24 Aug 2008 was like any other bustling Saturday at KL Sentral station. Save for one anomaly: in the midst of hundreds of shuttling commuters, about 120 people had congregated in two locations at the terminal. They were there to read. Among those who sat cross-legged on the floor, or […]
Govt to guarantee EPF’s RM5 billion loan to Valuecap
By Deborah LohKUALA LUMPUR, 4 NOV 2008: The government will guarantee the RM5 billion loan from the Employees’ Provident Fund to state investment company Valuecap Sdn Bhd. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak defended the loan and rebuffed speculation that the loan would only prop up government-linked companies (GLCs) on the stock market. “Valuecap has the […]
Rehda welcomes govt boost for housing industry
By Elizabeth LooiPETALING JAYA, 4 Nov 2008: The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) welcomes the government’s latest announcements on the construction and housing industry. Its president Datuk Ng Seing Liong said in a statement that Rehda is pleased that the government has increased its role in providing more low cost and medium cost homes […]
Govt announces RM7 billion stimulus package
By Deborah Loh and Ng Boon HooiKUALA LUMPUR, 4 NOV 2008: The government today announced RM7 billion worth of measures to stimulate economic activity as a crisis response to the global credit crunch. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Finance Minister I, said the funds were drawn from the government’s fuel subsidy savings and not from Budget […]
After UK, other countries may impose visa requirement
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Nov 2008: With the move by the United Kingdom to impose visa requirement next year, Malaysians may be further inconvenienced if the other European Union countries decide to follow suit. Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the UK government was studying to impose the visa requirement on 11 countries, including […]
Govt suggests 3% cut on employee’s EPF contribution
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Nov 2008: In a move to put more disposable income in workers’ pockets, the government will allow workers to reduce their Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution by three percent for two years beginning 1 Jan 1 2009. Currently, employers contribute 12% to EPF while the employees contribute 11% of their salary to […]
Three RTM talk shows stopped due to restructuring
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Nov 2008: Three talk show programmes aired by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) have been temporarily stopped due to restructuring of RTM programmes. In explaining this, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said they had not been stopped due to participation by opposition leaders and bloggers whose views are critical of the government. […]
Dompok raises objection to gas pipeline project again
PUTRAJAYA, 4 Nov 2008: United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Organisation (Upko) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said he would again raise his objection to the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline Project at the Cabinet meeting on 7 Nov. He said the objection was to express Upko’s dissatisfaction with the project which brought no benefits to the people of Sabah. […]
