Archive - 28 August 2002

Transparency International is suggesting that the Anti-Corruption Agency be made a commission in order to regain public trust and prove that it is free of executive interference.

Education Minister Musa Mohamed reveals that only English consultants will be paid RM100-an-hour. These consultants, which include foreigners, will sit in classes and provide guidance to the teachers.

Responding to speculation that MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek may be dropped from heading the party's disciplinary committee, president Dr Ling Liong Sik says it is a matter entirely up to the central committee, peace plan or not.

Recently under fire for allegedly calling God a thug, Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat says it all boils down to a simple matter of translation as well as his words being taken out of context.

The government summons the Indonesian ambassador to register its concern over security for its citizens in Indonesia following protest in Jakarta. Meanwhile, Manila summons the Malaysian envoy over the death of seven Filipino children during deportation.

A diplomatic storm is brewing as the Philippines government takes issue with the death of at least seven Filipino children in Sabah over the past few days. This has been attributed to poor conditions at detention centres, where illegal immigrants had been held pending deportation.

Former workers of a Chinese daily who were upset with the National Union of Newspaper Workers (NUNW) for taking a portion of their unemployment compensation have lodged a police report regarding the matter.

Being a migrant worker, whether of the legal or illegal variety, comes at great personal cost. People are stripped of their dignity, their voice and rights by both governments and multinational corporations. Aiding and abetting the process are the unstoppable forces of globalisation. It is time to be afraid, very afraid.

Pressing issues of the day are not making it to the news as the government is curbing public debate in preparation of the impending general election. The losers, as always, are the Malaysian public who are left in the dark.

Philippines has joined Indonesia to express their concern over the treatment of those illegal migrants being deported by Malaysia. TV footage of a women weeping over her dead children has fueled anger in Manila.

Cross-border investigations may be in the works over an allegation of bribery in YTL Power's purchase of British utilities Wessex Water. But there appears to be an information gap on the Malaysian side over a visit reportedly scheduled by London's Fraud Squad.

Non-Muslims who attended a luncheon with Opposition Leader and Terengganu Menteri Besar Abdul Hadi Awang in Penang were troubled by some of his views regarding the Islamic state. Despite these meet-the-people sessions, Abdul Hadi is still very much the feared 'firebrand'.

Ketua pemuda Keadilan, Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor telah dihukum dua tahun penjara di bawah Akta Rahsia Rasmi (OSA) kerana memiliki dokumen rahsia berhubung dakwaan rasuah terhadap dua pemimpin kanan Umno. Apakah ada mahkamah bebas yang berani mengadili, menghukum dan membetulkan segala penyelewengan yang didakwa oleh Ezam itu?