Archive - 6 March 2003

Despite promising to step down, Zainal Rampak wants to continue leading MTUC and his deputy, after months of dispute, concedes for the sake of unity and solidarity.

Suhakam acknowledges current global situation but stresses o­n the crucial need for adequate safeguards to counter the extreme effects of preventive detention laws.

The Human Resources Ministry is appointing a chartered auditor to audit all the accounts of NUBE in order to ensure that the union's land and funds are not misappropriated.

In the long-awaited Suhakam report o­n ISA detentions, the police tell why the controversial 60-day initial detention period is vital and reveal how information is elicited from the detainees.

In the wake of complaints from students, the head of Unitar, a private university, says the campus management is looking into various ways to improve its facilities.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his first day as acting prime minister, gives a no-holds barred speech calling shy Malaysians to stop relying o­n government contracts and concessions, and to root out corruption.

Residents from Bukit Jelutong Rasak whose houses were demolished o­n Monday are turning to former Suhakam chief and current Guthrie chairperson Musa Hitam for help.

The Education Ministry churns out contradictory statements o­n the choice of language for Science and Maths exams, leaving Chinese school headmasters puzzled. But the MCA chief lays the confusion to rest; assuring them the questions will be in the Chinese language.

The country's sluggish commercial property market, which had RM9.9 billion worth of office space vacant late last year, has improved slightly, say international property consultants.

I read with great sadness recently over the controversy arising from the statement made by Umno Youth information chief Azimi Daim with regards to the concept of Malays as the 'masters of the land'.

Ketua Pemuda Umno Hishammuddin Hussein diingatkan supaya tidak terlalu berbangga dengan kejayaan penganjuran kempen Aman Malaysia baru-baru ini dan sebaliknya membuktikan keberanian beliau dengan melakukan sesuatu yang lebih disegani.

The International Movement For A Just World (Just) initiates an open letter to the United Nations Security Council members, urging them to reject war and choose life instead.

Three state-backed religious schools are teaching children a contemporary version of religion and other subjects but this has not been well received by the clergy who believe the government is succumbing to international pressure.

The US mainstream media has become the government's mouthpiece, grandly falling short of its responsibilities to reflect diversity. The media, says a journalist, should not confuse patriotism with obeisance and a rubber-stamp mentality.