Archive - 14 June 2004

The government rules out creating a large national oil stockpile to boost energy security amid volatility in the global market, saying it would be too costly.

A proposal to invite exiled leaders of the Burmese National League for Democracy to Malaysia has received positive feedback from members of the Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma.

Human rights lawyer P Uthayakumar, now back in Malaysia, has wasted no time in taking on the police over their allegation of criminal defamation against him.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia takes the authorities to task for allowing a plot of land cultivated by the farmers since 1940 to be used for development.

Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek says in the past when the government had asked private sector doctors to help out in public hospitals, 'only seven or eight' came forward.

Party secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye says that members of Barisan Nasional will adhere to and support any policy or decision the ruling coalition implements.

The Umno deputy president says members must safeguard the party's image and not make public any cases of aggression or hostility. Instead, he urges them to report the matter to the disciplinary board.

Iraq's ability to reach targets for increased oil exports to a world market hit by high prices depends on improved security, warns a former top British diplomat.

A Chinese man, allegedly involved in a syndicate forging travel documents, has been placed under detention without trial for two years.

The planned move to privatise the Sarawak's power supplier has come under fire from opposition parties which say the deal lacks transparency besides being unnecessary.

Experts are worried that Asia's soaring tiger could come in for a hard landing because of energy supply concerns.

After nearly three weeks in detention, a group of Burmese pro-democracy activists will be remanded for two more, pending a decision on whether or not to charge them.

The DAP, in a memorandum to the police chief, has called for attention to a number of issues affecting public safety as well as the state of the police force.

As an ex-lecturer at one of the medical schools in Malaysia for 13 years (1984-1997), I taught medical students during their first year at the medical faculty.

To ensure that the Islamic banking system operates according to the tenets of Islam, steps must be taken to transform Islamic banks 'from mere financial intermediaries to entrepreneurs'.

Anti-samsu calls are being raised again in the wake of the latest survey confirming the adverse impacts of addiction.

It appears that 'fanaticism' has become a major problem in Malaysia. So dangerous is it, says FARISH A NOOR, that the powers-that-be have seen fit to direct the state-controlled RTM services to run a week-long series of mini 'info-teries'.

A year after easing polygamy rules for Muslim men, Perlis is planning treatment centres for men suffering from sexual impotency as part efforts to boost tourism.

After years of squabbling over state allocations and awards, Penang-based Indian NGOs have agreed to pool their resources for the betterment of the community.