Archive - 12 August 2002

Tamil primary schools in S Samy Vellu's Sungai Siput constituency in Sungai Siput have defied the MIC chief's warning not to oppose the controversial language switch.

There is more to employing local workers for the construction industry than many people realise. An industry spokesperson debunks popular misconceptions in commenting on the local-vs-foreign workers issue.

A high-powered meeting within Keadilan has debated several issues, none more heatedly than the party's stand on the Terengganu government's hudud law. No information is being divulged until Aug 22, however, when the supreme council is scheduled to meet.

An education activist remembers Operasi Lalang in October 1987 when more than 100 people were detained without trial for objecting to government policies. Following official warnings over the weekend, Dr Kua Kia Soong protests the misuse of the ISA.

Umno supreme council member Shahrir Abdul Samad makes a case for vernacular schools to retain teaching of Science and Mathematics in the mother tongue. And as the controversy refuses to die down, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang sees troublemakers on the horizon.

Is there more than one way to improve English among students? A Chinese educationist gives the idea some thought and comes up with several suggestions. Colleagues in the profession have given these the thumbs-up.

Confusion reigns among pro-establishment groups which are trying to come to grips with a proposal to teach Science and Mathematics in English at different levels of schooling from next year. In contrast, opposition parties appear to have serenely united on the issue.

The White House looks set to make a major effort to improve its international image by creating a new office to coordinate the US foreign-policy "message" and to help shape its image overseas. But can a superpower improve its standing in world opinion without significantly changing its policies, the source of much of the ill will?