Archive - 17 September 2002

Universiti Malaya's Prof Dr KS Jomo appeared in Parliament today to 'present' the Barisan Alternatif budget. Among other things, the budget promises goodies for the rakyat , civil servants and business community.

Suhakam today adds its voice to those clamouring for the release of the reformasi activists detained under the controversial Internal Security Act. It calls on Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to review their detention order in his capacity as the home minister.

Several Puteri Umno state leaders have expressed their undivided support for the wing's chief Azalina Othman Said. They say while the divisions can nominate anyone they deem fit, it is Azalina who possesses the mettle to lead the wing.

A Filipino colonel says that the three foreigners arrested in the southern city of General Santos are Indonesians and not Malaysians as originally reported. The house owner where the three were arrested had mistaken their nationalities.

At the Parliament lobby today, families of the ISA detainees give Deputy Home Minister Zainal Abidin Zin a hard time when they press for his views on the recent Federal Court findings.

While doubts and discrepancies hang over the construction of a RM1.5 billion giant incinerator in Kampung Bohol, Puchong, some squatters are crying foul at being left out of the ongoing relocation exercise by the government.

Abolish ISA Movement (AIM) and families of the ISA 5 detainees submitted a memorandum to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Parliament today demanding for their immediate release.

If there is no eleventh hour compromise from the feuding factions in Snap, the predominantly-Dayak-based party will be de-registered by the Registrar of Societies next month, thus marking an end to one of Sarawak's oldest political parties.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the United States' refusal to renew the student visas for 150 Malaysians is the price the country has to pay for being Islamic.

Conceived in the womb of reformasi, Keadilan was once thought to be the 'messiah' that will lead Malaysians to the promised land of a new politics. But its baby steps appear to be faltering, bringing to MAZENI ALWI's mind a Bob Dylan song.

Three Malaysians have been detained in an anti-terrorist sweep in Southern Philippines. The arrests resulted from a search of homes in the city of General Santos which police suspect is the base of terror group cell.

For the past 10 years, the ambition to reduce poverty levels around the globe has remained but on the ground there is little tangible difference. The language, the jargon and the faces have changed but the hypocrisy, double-speak, blatant dishonesty and style of breaking promises remain.