Archive - 11 January 2003

At today's DAP Socialist Youth national congress, secretary general Kerk Kim Hock warned that the party would wield the axe against party renegades who openly flout party discipline. We have been too tolerant for too long, he says.

Japanese Finance Minister Masajuro Shiokawa supported a proposed Asian bond market in his talks today with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, officials said.

A study of 600 businessmen executives reveals that racial stereotyping is somehow unavoidable in a country steeped in racial, religious and cultural differentiations.

Pirated copies of a new Hollywood action film starring Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat have hit the streets in Malaysia four months before its premiere, a report said today.

Rising complaints from Malaysian women of their husbands having affairs have prompted the government to form a committee to keep tabs on foreigners in the sex trade. Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung heads the panel.

Although the MTUC crisis has eased a little in recent days, a request for a vote of no-confidence motion against Zainal Rampak has been sent to the congress headquarters. However, the motion may be deferred.

Perlis' plan to impose a mandatory night curfew on teenagers under 18 have been shot down by the federal government. Minister Dr Rais Yatim says no state government could impose a curfew arbitrarily to curb a person's freedom.

Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat says rapists should be publicly stoned to death. Even if a convicted rapist is sentenced to 50 years' jail, the punishment is still not in accordance with Islam, he says.

While residents of Broga and Semenyih battle the authorities for full disclosure of the mega-incinerator project, a local politician blames his opposition counterparts for the current controversy.