Archive - 1 November 2002

Umno 'princesses' get a rap on their knuckles from party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad at their first general assembly. He voices his disappointment at the quick study they've made of the party culture of smearing candidates prior to elections.

The feuding factions in the Sarawak National Party (Snap) will have to wait another week to know the fate of their party. For the first time, ROS Ismail Dolah Harun says he is not ruling our the possibility of de-registering Snap.

Political leaders may have lauded the government's move to begin compulsory national service — including the call to include women — but one opposition leader says a more objective look is needed before youngsters are packed off to camp.

It's the 'best compromise' the ruling front could come up with, says the PM, of the modifications to the language switch where Chinese schools are concerned. The grassroots think otherwise, pointing out the redundancies and illogic — not least of all, the unfair impositions on the children.

The government might have to go to courts to resolve the water dispute with Singapore if the republic shows lack of interest in an amicable settlement, says Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Has a sniper prowling the streets of Washington brought about changes that great armies, suicide bombers and explosives, have failed to? HARUN RASHID looks at the sniper and compares him with Saddam and Osama.

Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail vows to get to the bottom of the crisis involving the party's Indian Malaysian members. And the man who sparked it off, S Manikavasagam, warns that any disciplinary action against him will lead to a mass exodus.

Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff says he is willing to risk anything to ensure that Muslims in Singapore are treated justly. The activist, who is now living abroad, plans to start an international network to highlight the wrongs in the republic.

The Limbe Wildlife Centre in Cameroon has been recommended as a suitable home for the four illegally imported gorillas which are now in Taiping Zoo. Scientist Jane Goodall says she has written to minister Law Hieng Ding on the matter.

The on-going conflict between native customary rights land (NCR) owners and plantation companies and other land developers has continued to deteriorate over the last year, claims Chiew Chin Sing (photo), DAP's sole rep in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.

A 'Memorandum on a Trigger Happy Royal Malaysian Police Force' was submitted to the government by Prim leaders yesterday. Among other things, it asks the Home Minister to call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the "alarmingly high incidence" of police shootings.