Archive - 2 June 2003

The commander of US military forces in the Asia-Pacific region is visiting Sabah amid talks that the superpower is seeking to build new bases in the region.

The central bank today said it plans to speed up the opening of the Islamic banking sector under a financial blueprint to make the country a regional Islamic financial hub.

Malaysia is considering the purchase of "Airborne Warning and Control System" (Awacs) aircraft but faces financial constraints at the moment, Defence Minister Najib Razak said today.

The country's 's trade surplus in April fell, hit by weaker oil exports but shipments to Asean held up well, according to the international trade ministry.

But they also reiterate their demand that the controversial security law, which allows detention without trial, be repealed.

A five-nation grouping dedicated to the defence of Malaysia and Singapore is to shift its focus from conventional threats to terrorism, says Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak.

A day after their release from two years of ISA detention, Tian Chua and Hishamuddin Rais have to sit out for another two days before they can walk free.

I read with great interest the report on the initiative of the Asean MuslimYouth Secretariat (Amsec) to facilitate a non-military, long-term solution to the conflict in Aceh.

Seorang bekas pemimpin PAS mendakwa tindak-tanduk pemimpin-pemimpin parti itu yang begitu mudah mengeluarkan fatwa kini memakan diri sendiri, sepertimana yang berlaku kepada naib presiden PAS, Datuk Mustafa Ali.

The company appointed to conduct a detailed EIA study on the proposed incinerator project in Broga fends off allegations levelled by residents.

The mighty invaders raided Iraq to free its people of its mad dictator, or so they claimed. But the 'oil-greedy hawks' left death and destruction in their wake, prompting a lawyer to pen a poem.

Its chief Lim Kit Siang wants the government to reveal more information on the programme - which according to a Singaporean daily - will commence next year.

Kebebasan akhbar bukan soal menuntut ruang sahaja, hujah FATHI ARIS OMAR. Tetapi ia melibatkan penghayatan ruang, melalui kegiatan menulis dan menerbit, walau menghadapi risiko. Sayangnya, aktivis sendiri tidak menghayatinya.

Human rights groups want the US to answer for the death of civilians during the recent military invasion of Iraq.

National carmaker Proton is gearing up for greater foreign competition as motoring-crazy Malaysia prepares to slash tariffs on car imports by 2005 under a regional free trade area.

Australia reignites the regional debate over pre-emptive military strikes, warning it was prepared to carry out attacks o­n foreign soil against terrorist and nuclear threats.

Malaysiakini catches up with o­ne of the ISA detainees, Saari Sungib, who was released from the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak last night.