Archive - 31 October 2002

updated version Months of debate on the language switch culminated today with Barisan Nasional's final consensus on its implementation in primary schools, with 'modifications' in Chinese schools.

All MPs — BN and opposition — agree that women should be included in the compulsory national service in the name of equal opportunity and fair treatment. The gov't says it will consider the suggestion.

A police report has been lodged against Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said regarding her alleged homosexuality. The report claims an audio cassette, that vindicates the charge, is now in the possession of a top Umno leader. Meanwhile, the two-year-old wing will hold its inaugural assembly tomorrow.

The Keadilan-PRM merger is forcing radical changes in both parties, but for Keadilan, one of the most challenging is the inclusion of young women in its men-only Youth wing.

The goverment wants to make national service compulsory for youths and will set up a special cabinet committee to draw up implementation plans, says Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia has launched a signature campaign as part of its effort to be registered as a legal political party. Its leaders, who have been waiting for years, say they want to campaign under their own party logo in the coming elections.

PAS claims that BN is closing two MRSM colleges in Terengganu to punish the people for voting the opposition. BN says the decision was made in 1999 so that students have a chance to attend out-of-state colleges.

The public is uneasy over the regional anti-terror centre to be set up in Malaysia and the government should patiently convince them, with facts and figures, that it will not disrupt their day-to-day activities.

Government threats to use laws against dissenting voices is hardly news. However, the latest threat from the de facto law minister takes the cake, given that to him, to silence dissent would be to put the "essence of democratic processes" to work.

Abu Bakar Bashir, the alleged leader of terror organisation Jemaah Islamiah, claims to be nothing more than a simple preacher who wants an Islamic state to be set up in Indonesia.

Since the US announced the setting up of an anti-terror centre in Malaysia, local resistance is slowly gaining momentum. Experts, however, say the idea is not new and does not warrant too drastic a response.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who have announced that he will step down as Malaysia's leader next year, will be attending his last Asean summit in Cambodia next week.