Archive - 4 November 2008

The following are the salient points in Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 2009 Budget winding up speech in parliament today.

MIC thanked the government and Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for approving the its request for a RM50 million allocation for Tamil schools.

DPM Najib uses the winding-up debate on the Budget 2009 Bill to repeatedly attack the credibility of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The 36 plaintiffs are to make a formal offer to the government to settle the RM83 million suit filed over alleged wrongful detention and police negligence in 1996.

The Anti-Corruption Agency is investigating nine cases of alleged money politics involving Umno politicians in Kedah.

'Although Malaysia is not as yet facing a financial crisis ... we are aware that it will not be exempt or be protected from global risks,' says Najib.

Despite the PAC clearing the government of any wrongdoing, PKR Youth says this must not deter the ACA from pursuing the matter.

updated 9.35pm The parliamentarians were unhappy because Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak refused to entertain questions during his speech.

Foreign Minister Rais Yatim backed US presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying a victory for the Democrat would improve America's relations with the world.

A video clip of the Umno-led mob storming into an international conference on East Timor held in 1996 was shown in court. [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INSIDE]

updated 6.47pm The government announces the stimulus package involving key sectors to bolster the economy in face of a global financial crisis.

updated 6.20pm A newly-formed Malay NGO is seeking a court injunction against the state government and MPPP against including other languages in the signage.

Popular educationalist Kua Kia Soong's contract as dean will not be renewed, so five department heads have quit the Chinese Malaysian private college - and more may resign soon.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi expresses shock and sadness over the sudden demise of the Gerakan vice-president.

Yong Lee Hua, 78, filed a suit against the Sabah NRD at the Kota Kinabalu High Court today for ‘stripping’ her of Malaysian citizenship.

Penang proposes a new idea to reduce red-tape and wait time in order to lure more investors, and create valuable jobs.

Former Sabah CM Salleh Said Keruak wants Umno to allow Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to continue to play a role in the party after he resigns as PM next March.

The movements calls on veteran politicians such as ex-Umno deputy leader Musa Hitam and former MCA chief Ong Ka Ting to speak up against the ban of Hindraf.

parliament snippets The defeated candidate was unwilling to comment other than being caustic about observations of his nomination numbers.

Rimbunan conceded that their logging rights were awarded illegally just before a three-member Supreme Court bench began hearing the case last Thursday.

An opposition leader sees red and turns on the heat for the PAC chairperson over his 'unilateral' rush to clear the government of any wrongdoing in the chopper deal.

The popular Mandarin talk-show has been taken off air for economic reasons pending a ‘restructuring exercise’, said the information minister.

The eggs, hauled in Sandakan, Sabah, were thought to have been smuggled from nearby islands in the Philippines.

The premise of the detractors' argument is that non-Malays cannot or will not implement government policies related to bumiputera ownership. Is this true?

Most newspapers led with the sudden demise of Gerakan vice-president S Vijayaratnam, and looked also at the impending US elections.

free 'I empathise with Altantuya's father and I believe he must have thousands of questions running through his mind. How cruel is the world to him and his family.'