PUTRAJAYA, 19 Dec 2008: Conglomerate Sime Darby Bhd’s deal to acquire a 51 % equity in Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has been postponed until an in-depth review has been undertaken by the relevant ministries, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced here today. Najib, who is also Finance Minister, told a press conference that […]
Archives for December 2008
Shirin Ebadi still uninvited
By Shanon ShahShirin Ebadi (all pics © Shahram Sharif / flickr) PETALING JAYA, 19 Dec 2008: Nobel Laureate Dr Shirin Ebadi has still not been re-invited to Malaysia despite Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim’s retraction of a ministry-recommended ban. “Absolutely nothing. We have not received any invitation, or oral or written, formal or informal apology […]
Mandatory testing flawed
By Shanon Shah1,000 crosses put up by World Concern, USA, in support of World AIDS Day (© Andrew Conn / sxc.hu) STARTING from 2009, Muslim couples intending to marry must undergo mandatory screening for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). We don’t know how this became official, but it now is, with the cabinet’s approval. Deputy Prime Minister […]
The power of Proton
By Jacqueline Ann SurinA Proton Perdana V6 (source: wikipedia.org) THE Perak state government has come under fire ever since it announced it was going to replace its fleet of Proton Perdana V6 Executives with the Toyota Camry 2.4. Apparently, this is unpatriotic. Perak is not the only Pakatan Rakyat-led government that has been criticised for wanting to switch […]
Teaching in English: Do or don’t
By Deborah Loh(© Dan O’Connell / sxc.hu) THE English for Teaching Mathematics and Science (ETeMS) policy has become more than just about its effectiveness. It has been politicised to the extent that all kinds of claims have been thrown into the mix. These include threats to national unity and the position of Bahasa Malaysia (BM), to the […]
Heading towards first class
By Elizabeth LooiBetween 28 April and 15 Dec 2008, four opposition MPs have been thrown out of the House SINCE the historic 8 March elections, expectations have understandably been high for interesting parliamentary sittings. With the Barisan Nasional (BN)’s two-thirds majority reduced in Parliament, the checks and balances needed in a robust democracy have been more imaginable. […]
Dewan Rakyat adjourns after 45-day sitting
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Dec 2008: The Dewan Rakyat adjourned sine die today after sitting for 45 days from 18 Aug, during which it passed 17 bills. Eleven other bills, which were scheduled for second and third reading, would be carried forward to the next meeting. Of the 17 bills passed, seven were new bills and […]
Two missing safes found buried in landslide rubble
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Dec 2008: Two safes reported missing from one of 14 bungalows buried in the landslide at Taman Bukit Mewah in Bukit Antarabangsa, have been recovered. Ampang Jaya police chief ACP Abdul Jalil Hassan said the safes were found about noon today, with the cooperation of the Special Malaysian Search and Rescue Team […]
Parliament passes four amendment bills on pensions
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Dec 2008: The Dewan Rakyat today passed four amendment bills involving new policies on pensions for public servants. They were the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2008, Statutory and Local Authorities Pensions (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2008, Pensions Adjustment (Amendment) Bill 2008 and Judges’ Remuneration (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2008. The Pensions (Amendment) (No. […]
Cabinet reshuffle still unclear: Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Dec 2008: Whether there will be a Cabinet reshuffle still remains hazy as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has admitted not having decided on the matter. Abdullah told a press conference at the Parliament building here today that he was not certain whether to make a cabinet reshuffle or not. […]
