Archive - 20 September 2002

The controversial new policy on English will cost the government RM5 billion over seven years while the amount appropriated for the Higher Education Loan Fund is insufficient. To aid such students, financial institutions will have a new portfolio.

Umno deputy president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given the green light for the three potential candidates, including pro tem chief Azalina Othman Said, to contest for the top post in Puteri Umno. Abdullah says as long as you are a woman, an Umno member and below the age of 40, you can contest.

It will be business as usual for the corporate world as their taxes will remain at the existing rate, according to the 2003 Budget. However, Finance Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is optimistic that it is still competitive compared with those in neighbouring countries.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad devotes the first few pages of the 79-page thick budget to justifying the Internal Security Act, saying it spared the country of chaos and turmoil which could have hurt the economy.

Dewan Muslimat PAS pusat berpendapat langkah kerajaan negeri Kelantan melarang wanita mengambil bahagian dalam konsert atau acara hiburan terbuka, akan menaikkan martabat kaum wanita daripada diperalatkan oleh pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab.

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang today called on members of Parliament to declare Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister M Kayveas persona non grata in the Dewan Rakyat for his "obnoxious locker-room language" unless he makes "a full apology and unqualified contrition" for his remarks.

A UKM history professor was warned not to speak at a Merdeka Day event in England causing the cancellation of the Sept 7 function. "Security concerns" was the reason given but the organisers and the UKM don remain baffled by the turn of events.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the country is launching a fundamental change in its approach to managing the economy in a bid to reduce dependence on foreign investment and trade.

This strategy was presented on Sept 17 at the Parliament meeting room. Part I was published here yesterday without attributing it to the author. We apologise for the error.

Following the complaints of ill-treatment, the government has agreed to implement several proposals from the Philippines for the orderly deportation of Filipino illegal immigrants.

A self-exiled Muslim activist now living in Australia claims that the arrest of 21 Muslims is unsettling the republic's Muslim community who see the latest episode as another erosion of their right to practise their faith.

A group of suspected terrorists linked to the 21 alleged extremists arrested in Singapore is still at large in Malaysia, said the police today.