LANGKAWI, 3 Feb 2009: Companies with foreign workers and are facing the economic crunch can now apply to let go these workers even if their service contracts have yet to expire, said Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S Subramaniam. “I have discussed this with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and it is to […]
Current Issues
Cash vouchers for low income group suggested
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Feb 2009: The government should introduce retail purchase vouchers as cash assistance for low income group of Malaysians under its second economic stimulus plan, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) suggested. Its secretary-general, Muhammad Shaani Abdullah said that the vouchers could be exchanged for daily basic necessities like milk, sugar, oil […]
RM16mil needed to repair disaster-hit roads in Miri
MIRI, 3 Feb 2009: At least RM16 million is needed to immediately repair state and Federal roads affected by floods and landslides which hit Miri Division the last few weeks, Sarawak Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Development and Communications Lee Kim Shin said here today. He said the money was also required to raise the level […]
Zainal Abidin refutes RM50mil defection allegation
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Feb 2009: Former deputy defence minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin has refuted allegations that Datuk Seri Najib Razak offered an opposition grassroots leader RM50 million to entice Pakatan Rakyat representatives in Perak to party hop after the 8 March 2008 general election. “I was there at the discussion and Najib (who is […]
Samy Vellu issues show cause notice to MIED CEO
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Feb 2009: MIC’s Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) chief executive officer P Chitrakala Vasu has been issued a show cause notice by party president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu. The notice, which she has 14 days to reply to, is for Chitrakala to explain on some discrepancies in the accounts of […]
Budget deficit may exceed 5% in 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Feb 2009: The budget deficit this year is likely to exceed five percent due to increased government spending, resulting from pump priming, to spur the economy, according to analysts. The government announced a RM7 billion stimulus package on 4 Nov last year to face the global economic slowdown and is expected to […]
Uthayakumar sent to hospital, sedition trial postponed
KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Feb 2009: A Sessions Court judge today ordered Internal Security Act detainee P Uthayakumar to be sent immediately to a government hospital for diabetes treatment. Judge Sabariah Othman also postponed his sedition trial to 28 April. Uthayakumar, 48, was alleged to have posted a seditious letter by Hindu Rights Action Force, now […]
EC: No by-elections in Perak (updated 3:03pm)
(Updated 3:03pm, 3 Feb 2009) PUTRAJAYA, 3 Feb 2009: The Election Commission has ruled that Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang) and Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) are still Perak state assemblypersons, its chairperson Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said today. Abdul Aziz said this was because the EC found that there were doubts over […]
Immediate implementation of economic stimulus
PUTRAJAYA, 3 Feb 2009: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wants all plans for the economic stimulus packages to be implemented immediately. The prime minister said the first stimulus package and the yet-to-be announced second package were efforts to stimulate the country’s economy to cushion the effects of the global economic meltdown. They were also preparations […]
Nazrin: Ruler must be neutral
KUALA KANGSAR, 3 Feb 2009: The Ruler, as the head of state and the country needs to be neutral, non-partisan and free of personal interest to ensure justice for the people, said the Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah. He said: “As the Head of State at the state level and Head of […]
