Yap Mun Ching

Former ISA detainee and terror suspect Mohamad Iqbal A Rahman has won the first round of a legal battle to fight the revocation of his permanent resident's status.

At the habeas corpus hearing for two terror suspects, lawyers told the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday that fundamental liberties enshrined in the Federal Constitution take precedence over laws enacted by Parliament.

In an unprecedented move, Judge Heliliah Mohd Yusof says the court may call on the Home Ministry to submit the evidence which was the basis for the ISA detention of two suspected terrorists.

The prime minister's views appear to hint at quieter and more sober times for Malaysian foreign policy.

The premier says he needs more time before making a decision. He is equally cryptic on when the next general election will be called.

Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has announced measures to deal with corruption - these will first target units within district offices and local governments that are involved in approving applications.

'Walk the talk, Pak Lah' is the immediate reaction to the new premier's tough stance against corruption in both the public and private sectors. It's results, not rhetoric that will count.

The court has denied the labour activist from attending two key meetings abroad fearing that she would smear the country's image.

Concluding a Q&A forum with malaysiakini readers, Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye fields questions on the party's views on the 'Islamisation' of Malaysia, expansion of civil liberties and post-Mahathir politics.

In the final part of a Q&A with malaysiakini readers, Gerakan leader Chia Kwang Chye elaborates on his party's reasons for supporting the contentious assertion that Malaysia is "already an Islamic country".

Malaysian ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's ambitious plans to bring Burma back into fashion have been cut short by his retirement. Will his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi continue in the same vein or will interest peter out?

In the first of a two-part interview with malaysiakini , Gerakan secretary-general Chia Kwang Chye answers questions from readers, most of whom want to know more about the party's feud with its Barisan Nasional compatriot MCA.

Despite a far-from-cordial relationship over the years, Gerakan and MCA could avoid worsening the situation by 'being satisfied' with their respective roles in Barisan Nasional.

They want the police to investigate some 70 unresolved cases involving alleged wrongdoings by the ex-premier, who retired today.

An event that would have marred Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's retirement has been averted, after the national railway company gave in to workers' demands for a bonus.

The High Court says attempts by the two feuding factions in the National Union of Bank Employees - one led by Muhammad Fauzi Shamsuddin and the other by Abdul Jalil Hamid - to claim legitimate leadership of the bank union are illegal.

A stall owner, plying her trade at the Masjid Jamek area in Kuala Lumpur, also says officers were aggressive and accused her of being an illegal.

Media organisations in the centre of the storm involving a claim that former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim is linked to terrorist financing have denied having an ulterior motive in making public the allegations.

'Mark tampering' and 'abuse of power' were among the allegations raised by a group of lecturers who attempt to set the record straight on the poor quality of local graduates and high unemployment rate among them.

The integration of maternal and child care strategies in the national health care system has effectively reduced the number of deaths, particularly among rural communities.

Despite this, the UN agency complains that attempts to work on policy arrangements with government has only yielded sparse results.

Delegates from over 50 countries are in Kuala Lumpur to discuss ways to address the biggest killer of women of reproductive age.

Supporters of the jailed ex-premier say the country's top judicial officer should take steps to regain public confidence by disposing Anwar's high profile appeals.

The brother of a youth killed during a shootout with police last week has lodged another police report, claiming foul play by the authorities.