Archive - 18 December 2008

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi quashes rumours that he is not stepping down in March next year, saying the handover will go on as planned.

The party will recommend to the cabinet that the teaching of these two subjects be reverted to Tamil in line with the wishes and aspirations of Tamil school headmasters and parents.

updated 7.10pm Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is disappointed and puzzled by the department’s decision not to hand over the report.

The bank officer who used an insensitive term during a recent seminar attended by Indian Malaysian traders has apologised for his action.

The migrant workers parliamentary caucus wants the government to set up a RM1 billion retrenchment fund to protect workers facing the sack.

Najib expressed concern over hike in HIV infections among women, saying their numbers jumped threefold in 10 years.

updated 6.45pm M Tamilselvan had gone to the Parliament building this morning to express his support for the cyclists participating in the 'Ride for Change' campaign.

The ruling component party reiterates its stand that the ministry discards the use of English in the teaching of Science and Maths for primary schools.

Sabah JPs argue the two new bills have contravened the federal constitution concerning the appointment of judges to the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak.

updated 3.15pm DPM Najib however stressed that Sime Darby must not ignore the poor if it is to take over the National Heart Institute.

For the second time, Interpol National Bureau assistant director Gan Tack Guan was not present in the courtroom. This time, he is in Taiwan although having been informed of the trial.

If space was the final frontier for the ‘Star Trek’ crew, then easing racial and religious tensions has become the ‘final mission’ of outgoing premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

updated 1.55pm The report on the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal will be disclosed to the public by the Transport Ministry either tomorrow or Saturday.

The LTTE however said it repelled the multi-pronged offensive by government forces, killing 170 soldiers and wounding 420 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The teaching of Science and Mathematics in English should only begin in secondary school, says the teachers’ union, as this will give students in rural areas more time to adapt.

There are things besides tear gas which drive Malaysians to watery despair, the poor standards of goods and services being among them.

updated 7.25pm There will be an urgent debate on the nationwide strike by fishermen to demand the subsidised diesel price to be cut from RM1.30 to RM1.

Police action against the 'Ride for Change' cyclists has drawn flak from various quarters in Penang, with some even suggesting that it was politically motivated.

Two cycling teams - four dozen from the north and three dozen from the south - each accompanied by a dozen or so activists, have been pedaling their way to KL.

updated 5.50pm A group of activists escorted by opposition MPs defied a police ban to cycle to Parliament today and present a list of demands including the repeal of ISA. [PHOTO GALLERY & VIDEO]

The Indian parliament on Wednesday agreed tougher anti-terrorism laws in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, including the setting up of an FBI-style agency to plug gaping holes exposed by the atrocity.