Archive - 6 October 2002

Keadilan supreme council member N Gopala Krishnan was arrested under the Sedition Act in Penang last night and has been remanded for a week.

International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz says Asia should accelerate integration efforts to cushion the effects of a threatened US-Iraq war that would "wreak havoc" on the global economy, escalating oil prices and disrupting trade.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad warns that a new US law implicitly recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital will fuel terrorism. It is just like pouring oil on fire, he says

Gerakan concludes its delegates conference with two ambitious projects in mind. One is to begin a recruitment drive, targetting 500,000 members and the other is to set up Universiti Wawasan. Gerakan believes both can be achieved now that it has been awarded ISO 9001 and with donations in hand.

There is no doubt that Islam holds men and women in equal standing, but certain interpretations have led to skewed views about women's rights and capabilities. Furthermore, discriminatory laws only serve to perpetuate this notion.

Family matters in Islam has always been a touchy area, even among Muslim Malaysians. Here, an explanation is given as to how just the religion treats both sexes and the equal rights afforded to them.

Rhina Bhar's victory is a surprise, Kerk Choo Ting's is not. However, the duo's win can be seen as bolstering up Gerakan's image as a multi-ethnic and multicultural party. But will Kerk's ascendance means that the conservative forces in Gerakan continue to dominate the party?

The United States is seeking Malaysia's assistance to capture an American terrorist suspect after the arrest in the US of four people from an alleged terror cell linked to the al-Qaeda network. The suspect, Ahmed Ibrahim Bilal, is believed to be in Malaysia.

Malaysia is pushing for Asean approval to house a secretariat for the dialogue process between the 10-member Asean and China, Japan and South Korea. Deputy Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi says a KL-based centre can get a lot of projects done.

No-frills AirAsia has laid out a bold new expansion plan that will involve more than doubling its fleet, increasing flight frequency and launching international destinations.