Archive - 25 September 2002

As women's and human rights groups rip apart a Sessions Court judgment on a rape case involving a policeman and two illegal immigrants under custody, lawyers recommend the elimination of any cause for confusion from the start.

The KL Stock Exchange is standing firm in monitoring certain companies that are unable to fulfill their financial requirements. They have until the end of the year to buck up.

Public Bank Bhd, voted the best local bank for four years now, is involved in a face-off with employees who claim that they are being 'terrorised' by the management.

US immigration inspectors will subject travellers who have made but are not able to give credible reasons for their previous visits to Malaysia to "special registration services" from October.

Puteri Umno was set up to draw young Malay women into politics. However, this objective may not be achieved if its inaugural election is marred by dirty tactics.

There is uproar over the acquittal of a police officer accused of raping two illegal immigrants, one of whom is from the Philippines. Meanwhile, the probe on another alleged rape case continues.

Anwar Ibrahim, jailed ex-deputy prime minister, is prepared for a legal battle with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after refusing to pay the costs of a failed defamation suit against the premier.

The Malaysian manufacturing sector, which accounted for one-third of Gross Domestic Product last year, is being stress-tested by external forces. Question is, can it continue being the primary engine of economic growth in its present state?

"I took the final decision and that's it," said Denis Coderre, minister of Canadian citizenship and immigration, on the requirement for Malaysians to obtain a visa.

The persecution of PAS leader Nik Aziz Nik Mat by Umno and the hounding of independent academics and writers by PAS show that neither side is able and willing to allow a crucial third space that would free the discourse of political Islam in Malaysia, says FARISH A NOOR.

Malaysian journalists may find out this weekend if they have the will to exert stronger influence over issues that affect their working conditions. Beyond "bread and butter" concerns, the National Union of Journalists hopes to lobby against oppressive laws when it meets on Sunday.

The acquittal of a police constable accused of raping two illegal immigrants at a police lock-up asks questions of both the judgment and police procedures for handling women detainees. A migrant-labour NGO holds nothing back.

The government said it may cast the Official Secrets Act to net 'rogue' civil servants who allegedly leaked classified information to the opposition. But some groups feel this is just a clever diversion from addressing the real issue.