Archive - 17 June 2009

Anwar says the prime minister should consider admitting that there were excessive and extreme racist positions taken during an Umno Youth rally in Kampung Baru 22 years ago.

Is the PM's sudden warm reception towards the unity talks aimed at creating disunity in Pakatan? And so tingles Kit Siang's spider sense.

UPDATED 8.33PM The Selangor state executive council today agreed to conduct open balloting for the appointment of solid waste management contractors.

With the clock and the law apparently stacked against him, Nizar is preparing for a final legal battle against his ousting as Perak MB.

It is learnt that two representatives from Suhakam are now on their way back to Kuala Lumpur after spending several days in Geneva arguing its record on human rights.

Lim Guan Eng gets a whacking from the previous administration for concurring with Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew that infrastructure development has been snail-paced.

Parliament He questions Transparency International president Paul Low's integrity in investigating the PKFZ scandal due to his past links to MCA.

UPDATED 7.33PM Opposition leader fights tooth and nail against to get sodomy charge to be dropped and demands prosecution to handover material evidence to the defence

Although state elections are not due until 2011, it is arranging to pick its candidates as well as liaise with Pakatan allies over their choices.

A hearing in chambers, lasting 15 minutes, gives Ganesan one month reprieve to answer Sivakumar's suit for damages.

UPDATED 5.50PM Malaysia has recorded its first case of A(H1N1) involving a person who had caught the virus within the country, says the Health Ministry.

The necessary laws are there to curb human trafficking but proper enforcement and securing successful convictions are still wanting, says the US ambassador.

There is a lot of arrogance in the way Malaysia sees migrants and refugees, and this attitude is reflected in the way it manages issues, says activist Irene Fernandez.

"It is unfair to put us back on the list as we are doing our best," Deputy Home Minister Abu Seman Yusop told reporters.

UPDATED 5.38PM He told the party deputy president to join Umno over his open backing for unity talks. [VIDEO INSIDE]

PM Najib's receptiveness towards discussing the possibility of forming a unity government with PAS dominates the headlines in many dailies.

The following is the Malaysia section of the 'Trafficking in Persons Report 2009' released by the US State Department today.

comment The decision by the five members of the Federal Court who declared that the EC has the power to over-rule the speaker is nonsensical.

comment Daniel Tajem appears to be the chosen one to lead Sarawak PKR. Although he is not a party member, he is a much-respected crusader for Dayak rights.

free ‘Either you speak up or leave BN and stay independent. You can then support any side that works fairly for all Malaysians. Please do not behave like a mouse.'

Mentor Minister Lee's visit to Malaysia was meant to sooth frayed nerves and not upset the political apple cart in both countries.

UPDATED 3.45PM PAS sets a condition that Umno must agree to include its Pakatan partners PKR and DAP in the unity talks or the deal is off. [VIDEO INSIDE]

Andrew Missen is a charming, joyful 19-year-old Bidayuh. He lives with his parents and sister in a simple house with a low roof... The teenager has only a few years to live.

Foreign maids working in Malaysia will soon get one day off a week as part of a bid to improve working conditions for domestic helpers from overseas.

The opposition called for a new public rally in Tehran as pressure was building on the Islamic regime over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's fiercely-contested re-election.

US has put Malaysia back on the blacklist of countries trafficking in people after removing the country from the list last year. It's the one of five Asian nations on the list.

US State Department today added six African countries to a blacklist of countries trafficking in people, and put key trading partner Malaysia back on the list.