PUTRAJAYA, 22 Nov 2008: The National Fatwa Council has ruled that yoga is ‘haram” for Muslims. Its chairman, Datuk Dr Abdul Shukor Husin said only the physical aspect of yoga, without the mantras and elements of worshipping outwardly, was not wrong (in Islam). However, he said, yoga was not to be encouraged among Muslims for […]
Pak Lah wants orderly contest for Wanita Umno top post
PUTRAJAYA, 21 Nov 2008: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants the contest for Wanita Umno top post to take place in an orderly manner based on democratic practice and without causing a split within the movement. It would be better, however, if there was no contest for the post, he said. He acknowledged […]
Pension scheme for private sector workers in the pipeline
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Nov 2008: The Human Resource Ministry will initiate talks with the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to look into the proposal for the setting-up of a pension scheme for nearly 10 million private sector employees in the country. Its minister, Datuk Dr S Subramaniam said the ministry was ready for discussions with the […]
Intake of Indians into civil service to be increased to 7%
PUTRAJAYA, 21 Nov 2008: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked the Public Services Department (PSD) to increase the intake of Indians into the civil service to 7% from the current 3.5%, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S Subramaniam. He said Abdullah issued the instruction when the matter was raised during the […]
Ka Chuan lets Tee Keat decide on his fate in govt
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Nov 2008: Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, in clarifying media reports that he had resigned as Housing and Local Government Minister, said today that he would leave the decision on his status in the cabinet to party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat. In a one-page statement, Ka Chuan said that at […]
Anwar confident of uniting Sabah, S’wak opposition
KOTA KINABALU, 21 Nov 2008: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is confident of uniting the main opposition political parties in Sabah and Sarawak to field a single candidate against the Barisan Nasional (BN) in all constituencies in the next general election. The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor said such a formula, mooted by the PKR, DAP […]
Set up select committee on the poor, say Pakatan MPs
By Ng Boon Hooi5 Indian MPs attended the discussion PETALING JAYA, 21 Nov: Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians want a parliamentary select committee on poor and vulnerable groups to be set up. “The select committee is important as we need some oversight on (government) allocations for the poor. This is to ensure that the expenditure is properly utilised in view […]
Upko questions re-issuance of green MyKad
PENAMPANG, 21 Nov 2008: Upko Youth has questioned the move by the National Registration Department (NRD) to re-issue the green MyKad to stateless people in the country, particularly in Sabah. Upko Youth chief Arthur Sen said the move would create anxiety among the people and a new round of political pressure in the state. “There […]
Entrepreneurship programme for single mothers
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Nov 2008: Yayasan Salam, together with the Hong Leong Foundation, is pioneering an entrepreneurship programme for single mothers in Chow Kit in a bid to ease their financial burden as well as to educate them to be independent. Yayasan Salam Trustee, Datuk Ahmad A Talib said the programme would enable single mothers […]
Islamic religous councils to refer dispute to Federal Court
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Nov 2008: Several state Islamic religous councils want to refer the dispute over the usage of the word “Allah” to the Federal Court for determination on the constitutionality of law. Following this move, eight interveners requested the High Court here to issue a stay of the judicial review proceedings initiated by the […]
