Archive - 27 August 2002

Indonesians are livid and Malaysians are displeased — but this does not overcome problems linked to penalties meted out to illegal immigrants in Malaysia, or the host country's alarm over the presence of large numbers of foreign workers without valid documents. The stand-off continues, and not too quietly at that.

Taxi operators and drivers have expressed shock over Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir's remark that errant cabbies be shot dead. They said the minister must be out of his mind for making such a caustic statement.

There does not seem to be a solution to their immediate plight — to fight an eviction order — but three people detained by police yesterday at least have their freedom now.

Former workers of Ipoh City Hall want the Housing and Local Government Ministry to mediate in their efforts to secure alternative housing. The conditions under which they now live are not fit for human habitation, they claim.

At least seven Filipino children had reportedly died under unhygienic conditions in holding areas crammed with hundreds of illegal immigrants awaiting deportation from Sabah. Manila has summoned the Malaysian ambassador to express concern.

Alarm bells started ringing when Indonesian demonstrators got rough at the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta yesterday. By today, the situation had cooled sufficiently for Malaysian authorities to take their time in considering a formal response.

The convoluted debate over the Islamic state has not been easy to explain to a multi-ethnic society. Terengganu Mentri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang clears the air over policy-making roles for non-Muslims.

Seorang wakil rakyat PAS mendakwa kegagalan Barisan Nasional (BN) mengembalikan majoriti dua pertiga di Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kedah telah menyelamatkan Pulau Langkawi daripada dijadikan sebagai sebuah lagi Wilayah Persekutuan.

Presiden parti komponen Barisan Alternatif (BA) tidak akan mengendahkan ancaman Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) untuk menjelaskan kepada rakyat kenapa mereka perlu menolak cadangan penggunaan bahasa Inggeris untuk matapelajaran Sains dan Matematik.

As the plantation industry shifts from rubber to the more lucrative oil palm, thousands of rubber tappers too old to be retrained are being abandoned and worse, facing eviction from the only homes they have known almost all their lives.

Opposition parties in Kelantan are moving to frame their protests against the Election Commission's proposals for a fresh redelineation exercise. The public will have until Sept 8 to register their objections or feedback.

Pembaca di daerah-daerah pedalaman tidak mungkin mengetahui kewujudan tabloid politik bebas, apatah lagi membaca isi kandungannya jika tidak berkat kedegilan pengedar kecil-kecilan yang bukan hanya menerima bayaran komisyen yang tidak berbaloi malah juga "jemputan" KDN ke mahkamah.

The widespread coverage concerning three-year-old Yeo Ming Hong and his parents can have a negative impact on the boy, and the media is urged to exercise restraint when dealing with issues involving children.