Eileen Ng

The government plans to build a low-fare air terminal to make the country a regional low-cost hub and to support budget carrier AirAsia, which has just tied-up with Lufthansa Cargo as part of its rapid expansion.

Burma's Prime Minister Khin Nyunt was given a red-carpet welcome on his first official visit to Malaysia today, despite criticism of Rangoon's approach to democratic reform.

Prime Minister's wife Endon Mahmood wants to prod local designers to move away from conventionalism and reinvent batik through modern designs that exude chic charm and contemporary appeal.

The government allows the media for the first time into the Kamunting detention centre which houses the ISA detainees in a bid to dispel allegations that detainees were tortured like those in Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

Malaysia will not allow US investigators to question a top agent in the international nuclear black market scandal in detention here, a minister said today.

The deputy internal security minister says that Libyans involved in that country's nuclear programme had been secretly trained in Malaysia under an arrangement by a top agent in the international nuclear black market scandal.

The United Nations should intervene in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as it is sliding dangerously towards fully-fledged war, says NAM chairperson and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Malaysia is searching for a white knight for struggling carmaker Proton but analysts say it will be a long hunt unless the government is willing to trade in its dream of a national car industry for a pragmatic foreign tie-up to reverse its fortunes.

Asian central banks unveil the initial structure of a planned second Asian Bond Fund (ABF) to invest in debt securities denominated in local currencies as part of efforts to boost regional financial cooperation.

The government is seeking a foreign partner for national carmaker Proton to boost its competitiveness, improve exports and tap new commercial opportunities.

Malaysia pledges full support for Thailand's crackdown on Islamic separatists along their border at a meeting between the leaders of the two countries today.

Malaysian manufacturers called today for the easing of a rule requiring 30 percent equity in bumiputera hands as part of proposed measures to boost competitiveness and woo foreign investors.

Malaysia is gearing up for a positive 2004, with the economy seen as growing at its fastest pace in four years to become one of Asia's top stars amid rising optimism after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's landslide election victory.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi won a huge mandate for his five-month leadership and a victory over Islamic fundamentalists in Sunday's elections, analysts said.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad predicts a '50-50 chance' of wresting back Terengganu but rules out winning neighbouring Kelantan. He also dismisses PAS' aims of capturing his home state of Kedah.

The single most important issue in the coming elections is the attitude of Muslims towards religion in government, says Barisan Nasional chairperson Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The government has moved to draw all Muslims into the mainstream education system as it fights off an election challenge by fundamentalists accused of creating hotbeds of militancy in some religious schools.

Six years after Anwar Ibrahim was transformed from deputy prime minister to prisoner, his wife-turned-politician wages a lonely battle to keep his cause alive.

The country's economic revival is a trump card for new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi among the powerful ethnic Chinese, whose votes are pivotal in March 21 elections, analysts say.

Nik Aziz Nik Mat recites verses from the Quran as he reminds the Muslim crowd to fear Allah and follow the true Islamic path so they can enter heaven because "hell is the most terrifying place."

Suhakam threw its support behind 16 detained alleged Islamic militants who have been on hunger strike for 11 days to press the government to charge or release them.

Mobile phones have become the latest battleground in forthcoming general election, with IT-savvy political parties sending tens of thousands of short messages daily to woo voters ahead of March 21 polling.

It will be seen as a benchmark for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's election victory.