Archive - 18 August 2009

Gov't targets lower budget deficit in 2010

Gov't targets lower budget deficit in 2010

Malaysia pledged today to cut its budget deficit next year after years of poor fiscal control and a surge in spending in 2009 pushed it to its highest level in 22 years.
Cops quiz PKA chief over PKFZ scandal

Cops quiz PKA chief over PKFZ scandal

Lee said a team of policemen from the Commercial Crime Department visited PKA and interviewed him at length last Friday and yesterday.
Tiong made it our business, says sec-gen

Tiong made it our business, says sec-gen

MCA did not intend to intervene but when it was implicated in the PKFZ issue, the party had to make a stand and clarify the matter.
Karpal sedition trial: Decision on video recording tomorrow

Karpal sedition trial: Decision on video recording tomorrow

The defence argued that the admissibility of the 37-minute recording by an RTM cameraman should be decided at the end of the prosecution case.
Anwar's sodomy trial: Next date is on Sept 2

Anwar's sodomy trial: Next date is on Sept 2

Anwar Ibrahim's application for a judicial review to quash a written statement by the prosecution relating to his sodomy case will be mentioned on Sept 2.
Liu: MACC is lying about Wong

Liu: MACC is lying about Wong

Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu accused the MACC of lying over its denial of using ‘Gestapo' tactics during Wong Chuan How's attempted arrest early this week.
Murugiah's fate in PM's hands

Murugiah's fate in PM's hands

The prime minister is the one who determines the position of anyone in the cabinet, says DPM Muhyiddin Yassin.

Don't play caste politics, warns Samy

Don't play caste politics, warns Samy

Although the MIC president does not mention names, sources claim that the reprimand was directed at none other than his estranged former deputy S Subramaniam.
Flu kills three more, death toll raises to 67

Flu kills three more, death toll raises to 67

The death toll from H1N1 continues to mount today with three more victims - a 10-year-old child, a 33-year-old woman and 71-year-old man.
'Hindu temple relocation plan stays'

'Hindu temple relocation plan stays'

The temple will be moved to Section 23 in Shah Alam, says a PAS leader, but a meeting will be held to explain the situation to Malay residents who are resisting the move.
Arrest warrant issued for beer-drinking model

Arrest warrant issued for beer-drinking model

NONE The Syariah High Court in Kuantan however agreed to waive the arrest order should the six strokes of rotan be carried out within seven days.
RM1 rental: Tiong feels 'conned' by MCA

RM1 rental: Tiong feels 'conned' by MCA

NONE Bintulu MP Tiong King Sing rents out eight four-storey buildings to MCA-owned TAR College Sabah at RM1. [VIDEO INSIDE]
MB defends Selangor's circular on MACC

MB defends Selangor's circular on MACC

He said MACC's investigation process must be reasonable and civilised in such a manner that parties being investigated, especially witnesses, were well-protected.
Beng Hock was 'squatting in fear before falling'

Beng Hock was 'squatting in fear before falling'

Teoh Beng Hock was in fear while being held in a squatting position on the window ledge at the 14th floor of Plaza Masalam before he fell and died on the fifth floor.
Threats won't work, Sivanesan tells Hindraf supporters

Threats won't work, Sivanesan tells Hindraf supporters

Perak DAP vice-chairperson A Sivanesan has been getting threatening calls for questioning Hindraf chief Waythamoorthy's credibility.
Prepare for economic impact, warns medical expert

Prepare for economic impact, warns medical expert

‘We estimate that the world GDP would be cut by more than US$2.5 trillion, or 3.5 percent, of the 2009 GDP.’
A(H1N1) advice 'must be clear, consistent'

A(H1N1) advice 'must be clear, consistent'

Malaysians need to know exactly what to do, says a doctor with the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
Ministry promises sweet end to sugar shortages

Ministry promises sweet end to sugar shortages

sugar gula in bag Industry players have been asked to increase their sugar output while smugglers and racketeers are being nabbed. The public however should not get into panic-buying mode.
New price limit for face mask tomorrow

New price limit for face mask tomorrow

student school children wear mask flu swine The announcement will also cover the types of masks to be listed as price controlled items following the hike in the price of surgical masks in recent weeks.
Heaven-bound Nik Aziz 'stuck in the 60s'

Heaven-bound Nik Aziz 'stuck in the 60s'

An Umno leader lambasts the PAS spiritual leader over his alleged 'no room in heaven for Umno' remark. But Nik Aziz claims that it is the media which has sinned.



employed four decades ago, says an Umno leader.

'Tainted candidate should not contest'

'Tainted candidate should not contest'

UPDATED 6.35PM Pakatan wants the Umno candidate to quit the by-election following today’s disclosure that the lawyer was struck off the rolls for professional misconduct.
Adopt the Mexican method to swat the bug

Adopt the Mexican method to swat the bug

Irate Liu ticks off 'disrespectful' cops

Irate Liu ticks off 'disrespectful' cops

NONE Selangor exco Ronnie Liu fumes over their lack of courtesy in mounting an unannounced visit to his office yesterday, without explaining the basis of their probe.
S'gor CPO has no business defying MB's directive

S'gor CPO has no business defying MB's directive

Man held for 'extorting' political party

Man held for 'extorting' political party

The police detained a man suspected of attempting to extort 'protection money' from a political party contesting in the upcoming Permatang Pasir by-election.
Gutless ministers passing the buck

Gutless ministers passing the buck

Health ministry is a miserable failure

Health ministry is a miserable failure

How the MACC can redeem itself

How the MACC can redeem itself

H1N1: Somebody is sleeping on the job

H1N1: Somebody is sleeping on the job

Former SKorea president Kim Dae-Jung dies

Former SKorea president Kim Dae-Jung dies

NONE Kim Dae-Jung, who survived assassination attempts and a death sentence to win South Korea's presidency and the Nobel peace prize, died at aged 85.
Politics will soil all the green

Politics will soil all the green

Taliban hardliners spread out to undermine Afghanistan election

Taliban hardliners spread out to undermine Afghanistan election

A rocket has struck the presidential palace in Kabul as Taliban leadership steps up attempts to foil ceasefires with local insurgents ahead of Thursday election
Bar: It was Rohaizat's misconduct

Bar: It was Rohaizat's misconduct

Contrary to an Umno vice-president's claim, the Bar has clarified that action taken against the party's Permatang Pasir candidate had nothing to do with his former partner in the firm.
US helicopters join Taiwan typhoon rescue efforts

US helicopters join Taiwan typhoon rescue efforts

US military helicopters joined Taiwan's massive typhoon rescue operation Tuesday, lifting excavation equipment into areas that have been cut off for 10 days by floods and mudslides.
Fraud fears over Afghan poll: rights group

Fraud fears over Afghan poll: rights group

A US-based rights group raised concern Tuesday that elections in Afghanistan this week could be compromised by low turnout, violence, fraud and intimidation.
Medvedev, Peres to meet on Mideast tensions

Medvedev, Peres to meet on Mideast tensions

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev holds talks Tuesday with Israeli President Shimon Peres on efforts to check Iran's nuclear program, stalled Mideast peace talks and other issues, the Kremlin said.
Former South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung dies

Former South Korean president Kim Dae-Jung dies

Kim Dae-Jung, who spearheaded South Korea's struggle for democracy and went on to win the presidency and the Nobel peace prize, died on Tuesday aged 83.
Teoh not assaulted before death, says doc

Teoh not assaulted before death, says doc

NONE UPDATED 4.47PM UMMC forensic pathologist Dr Prashant Samberkar told the inquest that Teoh was still alive at the time he hit the fifth floor landing from the 14th floor.
Decomposed fish, not ammonia, killed six

Decomposed fish, not ammonia, killed six

UPDATED 7.47PM The six who died in Tanjung Karang last week did not inhale ammonia but other poisonous gases released by decomposing fish.
M'sia relying too much on Petronas, new taxes needed

M'sia relying too much on Petronas, new taxes needed

Petronas provides half of government revenues. Excluding revenues from oil, the deficit was 11 percent of GDP in 2008, laments IMF.
Manufacturing sinks 25.5% in June

Manufacturing sinks 25.5% in June

The number of people employed in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for about a third of Malaysia's GDP, dropped 7.8 percent from the same period a year ago.
Russia power plant accident kills 12, dozens missing

Russia power plant accident kills 12, dozens missing

A sudden flood at Russia's largest hydroelectric plant killed at least 12 people and left dozens missing after a surge in water pressure ruptured pipes, officials said Tuesday.
Expert: Unidentified fingerprints on window

Expert: Unidentified fingerprints on window

UPDATED 1.02PM Chief Inspector Mazli Jusoh told the inquest on the death of political aide Teoh that all the fingerprints appeared to be incomplete.
Poor form MACC, poor form indeed

Poor form MACC, poor form indeed

US helicopters join Taiwan typhoon rescue efforts

US helicopters join Taiwan typhoon rescue efforts

US military helicopters joined Taiwan's massive typhoon rescue operation Tuesday, lifting excavation equipment into areas that have been cut off for 10 days by floods and mudslides.
Rethinking the Malay problem

Rethinking the Malay problem

"…the scholar is not he who gives the right answers, but he who asks the right questions…" Claude Levi-Strauss, French structural anthropologist.

No one given special treatment, says MACC chief

No one given special treatment, says MACC chief

'Even if he is a menteri besar, he has no power to stop our investigation,' he says.
Gobala charged with obstructing police

Gobala charged with obstructing police

NONE UPDATED 1.25PM PKR's Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan was charged with obstructing the police during the Permatang Pasir by-election nominations yesterday.
Have we forgotten Malaysia?

Have we forgotten Malaysia?

NONE COMMENT Many feel Merdeka has less meaning than the politicians would like us to believe. They may exhort us to be '1Malaysia' but...

Japan election campaign kicks off

Japan election campaign kicks off

Japan's election campaign kicked off Tuesday, less than two weeks before polls in which the centre-left opposition party is widely tipped to take power for the first time.
Headlines online: Aug 18, 2009

Headlines online: Aug 18, 2009

The New Straits Times headlined Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai's statement that a health curfew would only be implemented if the mortality rate goes above 0.4 percent.
Faith rites boost brains, even for atheists

Faith rites boost brains, even for atheists

Buddhist monks and Catholic nuns boost their brain power through meditation and prayer, but even atheists can enjoy the mental benefits that believers derive from faith, according to a popular neuroscience author.
Real IRA arms suspect poised for trial in Lithuania

Real IRA arms suspect poised for trial in Lithuania

A man suspected of trying to buy arms in Lithuania for an Irish Republican Army splinter group that has returned violently to the spotlight will finally face trial in the Baltic state Tuesday.
Butt out of SPDP business, MCA boss told

Butt out of SPDP business, MCA boss told

Sarawak People’s Democratic Party treasurer Tiong King Sing goes on the offensive, accusing MCA president Ong Tee Keat of scare-mongering to secure his own position in the party and cabinet.
Lockerbie bomber to drop appeal in British court

Lockerbie bomber to drop appeal in British court

The Lockerbie bomber was set Tuesday to formally apply to drop his appeal, a move which could open the way for his transfer back to Libya 21 years after the atrocity.
US weighs bolstering combat troops in Afghanistan

US weighs bolstering combat troops in Afghanistan

The US military was looking at freeing up more troops for combat in Afghanistan as President Barack Obama warned there would be no "quick" victory in the war.
33 die in drug violence in Mexico border state

33 die in drug violence in Mexico border state

A wave of drug-related killings claimed the lives of 33 people in Mexico's violence-torn northern border states, authorities said.
'Hindraf needs support from non-Indians too'

'Hindraf needs support from non-Indians too'

free ‘Hindraf cannot become a third force through Paham based on Indian votes only, this is P Uthayakumar's biggest illusion.’
Suu Kyi's US 'guest' receives medical treatment

Suu Kyi's US 'guest' receives medical treatment

A US man deported by Burma for swimming to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi had medical tests in Thailand on Monday.
Suu Kyi's US 'guest' receives medical treatment

Suu Kyi's US 'guest' receives medical treatment

A US man deported by Myanmar for swimming to the home of Aung San Suu Kyi had medical tests in Thailand Monday, as a senator who won his release said the democracy icon might ease her stance on sanctions.
Mass rallies on last campaign day for Afghan poll

Mass rallies on last campaign day for Afghan poll

Top candidates in the Afghan presidential race addressed rallies attended by thousands of cheering supporters on Monday, the last day of campaigning for key elections overshadowed by Taliban threats.
Easter Island flights resume after protest: officials

Easter Island flights resume after protest: officials

A protest by Easter Island locals against excessive hordes of tourists and residence-seekers eased Monday when officials negotiated the re-opening of the Pacific Island's only airport after two days of disturbances.
Russia power plant accident kills 11, dozens missing

Russia power plant accident kills 11, dozens missing

A sudden flood at Russia's largest hydroelectric plant Monday killed at least 11 people and left dozens missing after a surge in water pressure ruptured pipes, officials said.
20 dead in Russia truck bomb attack: officials

20 dead in Russia truck bomb attack: officials

A truck packed with explosives rammed through the gates of a police compound in southern Russia on Monday and exploded in a suicide attack that killed at least 20 people and wounded around 130, officials said.
Gaza clashes reveal Hamas's complex struggle with radicals

Gaza clashes reveal Hamas's complex struggle with radicals

Hamas may have buried the radical Islamist group that brazenly challenged its control over the Gaza Strip, but its rule of the Palestinian territory is indirectly encouraging extremism, experts say.
Obama warns Afghan victory not 'quick' nor 'easy'

Obama warns Afghan victory not 'quick' nor 'easy'

US President Barack Obama warned Monday that victory in Afghanistan would be neither "quick" nor "easy," days before an election there marred by rising Taliban violence.
India: Pakistan militants planning fresh attacks

India: Pakistan militants planning fresh attacks

NONE Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that militants in Pakistan were plotting new attacks on India as he urged security forces to stay on high alert.
New hearing ordered in high-profile US death row case

New hearing ordered in high-profile US death row case

The US Supreme Court on Monday ordered that Troy Davis, a high-profile death row inmate, should receive a new hearing to determine whether evidence not available at his trial could prove him innocent.