Archive - 5 November 2003

Parliament will decide tomorrow whether the cabinet headed by new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is valid or not.

The premier says he needs more time before making a decision. He is equally cryptic on when the next general election will be called.

It will be have to be a case of quid pro quo if opposition party PAS wants a more conciliatory approach from the Barisan Nasional-led government, if the prime minister's remarks are anything to go by.

Two NGOs are continuing to press for revisions to a new bill which could provide for capital punishment for lawyers and accountants found to be involved in terrorism-related activities.

Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced measures to deal with corruption - these will first target units within district offices and local governments that are involved in approving applications.

DAP presents a document to the education ministry expressing concern that some 700 pupils in the Puchong area will be denied their mother tongue education next year.

A court today orders 11 Vietnamese fishermen to serve jail sentences of one to two months after they failed to settle a fine for illegal fishing.

The transport ministry today revealed the cost of the railway project between Rawang and Ipoh, but would not give details about the stretch from Ipoh to Padang Besar.

Senior lawyer Zaid Ibrahim wins the first step in a battle to challenge the legality of Terengganu's Syariah Criminal Offence (Hudud and Qisas) 2002.

Kini giliran Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi mengemudi negara. Bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengucapkan tahniah dan berharapkan Pak Lah mempunyai kekuatan untuk meluruskan kepincangan dan menghapuskan rasuah yang berleluasa.

Pre-emptive measure or self-inflicted injury? The court of public opinion is taking stock of a decision to keep convicted labour activist Irene Fernandez from attending two conferences abroad.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi calls for a comprehensive study into the causes behind the formation of militant groups and why they commit terrorist acts, a cabinet member has revealed.

Malaysian authorities have broken up a syndicate smuggling luxury cars into the country from the United Kingdom and arrested a Briton described as the "mastermind", local media reported today.

Kini Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad telah berundur sebagai seorang "pahlawan" dan segala sumbangannya disanjung dan dibesar-besarkan, manakala semua kelemahan dan kesalahannya dilupa dan dilenyapkan.

In an unprecedented move that left Sri Lankans stunned, President Chandrika Kumaratunga fires three ministers. However, analysts say this will not have an impact on the ongoing peace process to end a protracted conflict with separatist rebels.

'Walk the talk, Pak Lah' is the immediate reaction to the new premier's tough stance against corruption in both the public and private sectors. It's results, not rhetoric that will count.