Archive - 16 October 2003

The European Union expressed deep condemnation yesterday of comments by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's that "Jews rule this world" and that Muslims must use brains and not brawn to fight them.

Germany's foreign ministry summoned the Malaysian charge d'affaires in Berlin to protest against Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's "absolutely unacceptable" remark that Jews rule the world by proxy.

Malaysia today rejected Australia as America's "sheriff" in the Asia-Pacific region and described Canberra as a "puppet" of the United States in the region.

Aliran is horrified, Hakam is distressed and Suaram says 'something has gone wrong'. Meanwhile, Amnesty International vows that it will name Irene Fernandez as a prisoner of conscience if she is imprisoned.

Singapore today said it wants another of its many long-running disputes with neighbour Malaysia, this time over railway land, to be resolved through an international court.

In conjunction with the ongoing Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting, the Barisan Alternatif Youth movement prepares a declaration on humanitarian issues which will be presented to the people tomorrow.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's advice that political veterans should quit to make way for younger leaders gets mixed reactions from opposition parties and non-government organisations (NGOs).

The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) wants the secretariat to assume a mediator role, negotiating as representatives of the Muslim world.

The Police Commission report reveals that among those axed were three chief inspectors and that 48 personnel were nailed for corruption throughout 2002.

While others think that Dr Mahathir was also targetting Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud as one of the long-serving politicians who should make way for others, the state's No 2 feels otherwise.

The wife of top terror suspect Hambali has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for two years to assist police in their investigation of her husband.

Politically, the year 2003 is set to carve an important milestone in Malaysia's modern history - with its leadership transition from the dominant Dr Mahathir Mohamad to the mundane Abdullah Badawi.

In his speech delivered at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) today, Farish A Noor examines the state of Islam in the present climate, especially in the wake of renewed 'Islamophobia'.

An academic says while the Muslim world is quick to criticise the west for its hypocrisy and double standards, the former fails to realise that it is just as guilty.

The nation's longest-running trial came to a finale today when Irene Fernandez was found guilty of maliciously publishing false news and sentenced to do time for a year.

When the 1997 Asian financial crisis first hit Malaysia, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was calling the shots. It wasn't until after his policies failed that former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim stepped in with his IMF-type policies, which were backed by the cabinet, says Prof K S Jomo in this first of a two-part interview.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has often accused his protege-turned-nemesis Anwar Ibrahim for failing to handle the 1997-98 financial crisis. However, economist K S Jomo says the outgoing prime minister's initial measures to combat the crisis made things worse.

According to the Statistics Department, Malaysian manufacturing sales in August rose 3.6 percent from a year earlier to RM28.38 billion (US$7.47 billion) but fell 0.1 percent from July.

While stressing that there are no plans to curb Internet freedom, the government however warns malaysiakini and an opposition website to exercise caution over their content.

Recent global developments in state practice show that while states are conscious of the potential threat to their own security that a massive influx can pose, none claims an absolute right to return a refugee to persecution.

Hundreds of Singaporean motorists entering Malaysia this month have been stopped by police and forced to pay outstanding traffic fines, the Straits Times newspaper reports.