Archive - 17 August 2003

A visit by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Syria has included the signing of several cooperation accords.

While the Finance Ministry indicates that ACA investigations are underway on the allegation of payment for logging rights in Kedah, Menteri Besar Syed Razak Syed Zain says he is not the subject of a probe.

The opposition party expects the general election to be held in the first quarter of 2004 as this will ensure that the ruling Barisan Nasional comes out with a new 'image card' before the polls.

In conjunction with the Merdeka celebrations, the authorities seem to have gone overboard in flying the national flag. Worse still, hoisting the flag is equated with patriotism.

The Malaysian wife of top terror suspect Hambali has been handed over to police here by Thai authorities for questioning.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) must retain the seat - formerly held by ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim - or the repercussions would be severe, warns the party leader.

Keadilan wants to field candidates in PJ Utara and Ipoh Timur - two parliamentary seats previously contested by DAP. The latter is fuming and vows not to back-off.

The captain and two crew-members of a Malaysian-owned ship who were kidnapped by armed pirates in Indonesian waters, are released unharmed.