ALL heads turn as Ismail Saffian, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Bukit Gantang by-election, walks into the ramshackle wan tan mee stall near the Simpang wet market on the morning of 30 March 2009. But is hard to tell who patrons are really looking at — the tall, broad-shouldered and moustached Mail Pian, as […]
Current Issues
Consult before accepting CIMB offer
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 March 2009: The National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE) today advised CIMB Bank employees to consult the union first before accepting the no-pay leave offered by their employer. NUBE secretary-general J Solomon said this was to ensure that they would not lose out on the other perks while on leave. He said […]
PKR wishes Kalaivanar luck
By Shanon ShahSUNGAI 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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
New village projects will be expedited
SUNGAI PETANI, 30 March 2009: The Housing and Local Government Ministry will expedite projects meant to upgrade infrastructure in 157 new villages nationwide, said its minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan. He said the under the Second Stimulus Package announced recently, the government had allocated RM30 million for the purpose. Ong told this to reporters […]
