SUNGAI PETANI, 31 Mar 2009: The dramatic departure of B Kalaivanar from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is no loss to the party, supreme council member Dr A Xavier Jayakumar said. “Good luck to Kalaivanar, and good luck to Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) now that they have Kalaivanar on their side,” he said today […]
Archives for March 2009
Govt never promised free water, power
LUBOK ANTU, 31 March 2009: The government has never promised that it will give free electricity and treated water supplies to those relocated by the Batang Ai or the Bakun Hydro dam projects in the state. The settlers will still have to pay for their monthly bills, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Fadillah […]
Chinese Msians in Batang Ai not neglected
LUBOK ANTU, 31 March 2009: The minority Chinese Malaysians in Batang Ai have not been neglected in terms of development, the Barisan Nasional candidate for the seat, Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, said today. In fact, the community has constantly been given attention by the government to ensure that they enjoy the opportunities just like the other […]
Chaos and confidence in Bukit Selambau
By Shanon Shah(Corrected at 3.34pm on 1 April 2009) OF the three simultaneous and upcoming by-elections on 7 April, the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah appears to be the most fascinating. On 12 March 2009, The Star reported that the Kedah police force had identified three “hot spots” in Bukit Selambau. Then on 19 March 2009, […]
All about Umno
Translation by Zedeck SiewONE event above all others held the attention of the Malay-language press from 23 to 29 March 2009: the 59th Umno general assembly. Commentary dwelt on the need for new party leaders to secure public confidence, expressed unabashed confidence in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s impending rule, and looked forward to the challenges facing Umno in […]
Triumphant Samy Vellu
Translation by Sharmila Valli NarayananFOR the week between 23 and 29 March 2009, Tamil papers highlighted the victory of Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu as the MIC president for a record 11th term. The Tamil dailies also reported a case of police brutality in Perak, and gave an insight into the plight of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Malaysia. […]
Racism, Umno and media control
Translation by Leong Lai MingFOR the week of 23 to 29 March 2009, the Chinese media highlighted reactions towards Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticism of Chinese educationists, Umno’s direction after the party polls, the suspension of two political newsletters, and the barring of online media from the Umno general assembly. During a rally organised by the right-wing Malay group Perkasa […]
CIMB Group offers 36,000 staff extended unpaid leave
PETALING JAYA, 30 March 2009: CIMB Group is offering its 36,000 staff extended unpaid leave under the “Staff Rejuvenation Programme” from next month. Group chief executive, Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, emphasised that the programme was not to lay off workers but to give them an option to take extended unpaid leave of between one and […]
CLP case: No financial gain from moderation process
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 March 2009: The Sessions Court judge had erred in law when sentencing former Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) examination director Khalid Yusoff to three months’ jail for cheating and falsifying the results of the CLP July 2001 examination. Khalid’s counsel Akbardin Abdul Kader told the High Court that the trial judge had […]
M’sia, Bangladesh reach accord on workers
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 March 2009: Malaysia and Bangladesh today reached an understanding to tighten legislation to ensure that Bangladeshi workers for the Malaysian manufacturing and plantation sectors are not recruited without jobs being available for them. Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S Subramaniam said Bangladesh had given the assurance that it would enforce legislation strictly […]
