Archive - 21 October 2003

Opposition members of parliament were furious with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien because he shook hands with his Malaysian counterpart, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, at the Asia-Pacific summit in Bangkok.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said today he would pardon his jailed ex-deputy Anwar Ibrahim if he had the powers of the king in Malaysia.

Malaysian banks have emerged stronger and more resilient, the national recapitalisation agency said today as it announced it has fully redeemed its RM11 billion bonds issued five years ago to prop up ailing banks.

A twin-tower structure built from books as a tribute to outgoing Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has been vandalised with more than 2,000 books stolen.

The opposition party says its allegation that the politician had committed statutory rape - having sex with a minor - is 'wholly unfounded' leading the former chief minister to withdraw his case.

The opposition parliamentarian accuses the Penang Customs Department of granting Shahidan Kassim duty exemptions for the purchase of 'personal' goods.

The trouble-ridden PBDS has sent in an application to form a new entity, proposing several names for it.

Timbalan pengerusi Umno Kelantan kemukakan permohonan mahkamah untuk isytiharkan Enakmen Kesalahan Jenayah (Hudud an Qisas) Terengganu 2002 adalah tidak sah.

Dr Rais Yatim says there will be no amendments to reduce the required quorum for the Bar to hold general meetings. He also defends the recent judicial promotions and raps those who question it.

Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has come under fire from a social activist group for appearing to be concerned about displaced estate workers.

Malaysia's auto sector remained gloomy in the September quarter as consumers delayed purchases amid uncertainties over car prices when the market is liberalised under a regional free trade pact, a private think-tank said today.

The pace of migration is set to hasten and this is a reality which governments in this region must face. Ignoring it, could lead to peril, warns an international organisation.

Business confidence in Malaysia's manufacturing sector has improved in the September quarter despite shrinking exports and weak manufacturing output, says a private think-tank.

The separatist movement warns that negotiations to end the protracted armed struggle will only head towards an impasse unless the Philippine government proves its commitment to the peace process.

The "rubber city", to be build in Sungai Buloh, near Kuala Lumpur, is for research and development in an effort to ensure the survival of the rubber industry.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will visit Indonesia this week to receive an award from a Southeast Asian federation of engineering organisations.

Delegates from over 50 countries are in Kuala Lumpur to discuss ways to address the biggest killer of women of reproductive age.

Orang politik jenis pelepah pisang memang ramai di negara kita, makin tua makin liat untuk gugur, walaupun di atasnya sudah penuh dengan pelepah yang lebih segar dan muda.

The grim reactions to Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks on the Jewish people signal political and diplomatic isolation for his administration in the international arena.

George W Bush's trip to Asia has helped ease concerns that Washington is shifting its gaze away from the region in the wake of its conquest of Iraq but critics are questioning if the attention is genuine.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad tells the United States today that it must learn conflicts will never by won by using brute force.

A German scientist has warned Malaysia against following in Japan's footsteps in pushing for a large-scale incinerator project proposed in Broga without first putting in place adequate laws.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the world's reaction to his controversial recent comments confirms that "they do control the world".