My Miscellaneous Page

The week that was….

SMART SCHOOL AUDIT: (June 17) The Government has appointed a group of auditors to find out the results of the billions of ringgit spent to increase information and communication technology knowledge in students and teachers.  

 

UMNO BACKS PM: (June 19) Members of the Umno supreme council have unanimously declared their support for current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. It also dispelled any notion that the party had split into factions following former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s outburst and criticism of the Government.  

 

SUFFICIENT 9MP FUNDS: (June 18) The Government has sufficient funds to implement projects allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in response to a question on whether lack of funds might prompt the Government to cancel or postpone projects.  

 

FIGHTER JET CRASH LANDS: (June 23) A two-seater Hawk 108 fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing after training at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base when its front wheel failed to function. Its co-pilot Kapt Mahadhir Mohamad Saad ejected to safety but pilot Lt Kol Tan Hui Hock was trapped in his seat, which failed to eject during the mishap at 10.45am. He was rushed to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital and treated for third degree burns.  

 

CIVIL OR SYARIAH? (June 20) The Court of Appeal will decide whether the civil or Syariah courts have the jurisdiction to determine the religious status of an individual. Court of Appeal judges Justices Mokhtar Sidin, Denis Ong and Abdul Aziz Mohamad ordered parties involved in the appeal of Sjn M. Moorthy’s widow M. Kaliammal to hand in written submissions to the court on this issue for them to make a decision. 

 

FIREARMS TRAINING OPTIONAL: (June 21) All national service trainees can choose not to fire the M16 assault rifle if they are apprehensive about the use of live bullets. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak clarified that the firearms’ practical training, which involved target practice, would be on a voluntary basis. “Trainees or parents who have doubts about safety, or those who feel that their children are under pressure, can apply for exemption from practical training,” he said.  

 

RESTHOUSE PROJECT HALTED: (June 21) Sabah is ordering the cancellation of a RM4.35mil Federal Government-funded tourism project on Mount Kinabalu that has scarred an area near the peak of the 4,095m mountain. Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said the Federal Development Office here had been told to stop work completely and clean up the site at Layang Layang, which is at an altitude of 2,727m, and return it to its original condition. 

 

RUDE MALAYSIANS: (June 21) A Reader’s Digest survey rated Kuala Lumpur as the third-worst city in terms of courteousness. Three tests were conducted – whether shopkeepers said “thank you” after a small purchase, dropping papers to see if anyone helped to pick them up and holding a door open for others. Kuala Lumpur had an aggregate score of 37%, rating it the third-worst out of 35 cities, followed by Bucharest and Mumbai respectively.  

 

SMOOTH ENTRY: (June 23) Malaysia and Singapore have resolved the long-standing problem over the use of passports by Malaysians who commute daily to the republic. Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the Singaporean authorities had agreed that Malaysian workers only need to show their international passport with their work permit or green card issued by Singapore when passing through the immigration checkpoint, and passports will not be stamped by either Malaysian or Singaporean Immigration authorities. Singapore will continue to accept Malaysian restricted passports until Oct 31. 

 

MIC POLLS: (June 24) Today is the day of reckoning for the 60 candidates contesting for the deputy president, three vice-presidents and 23 seats in the central working committee in the MIC party polls, after 20 days of hectic campaigning across the country. All eyes will be on the contest for the deputy president’s post, where incumbent Datuk S. Subramaniam is being challenged by vice-president Datuk G. Palanivel, who is also Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister. 

 

MISSILE FUELED: (June 18) North Korea is believed to have completed fuelling a missile capable of reaching Alaska, raising the probability of an imminent test launch. The United States plans to join Japan in a sharp response if the test goes ahead. Washington has warned Pyongyang against the launch in a message passed to North Korean diplomats at the United Nations. North Korea later said it wanted to talk to the US to ease tensions over Pyongyang’s possible plans to test-launch a long-range missile.  

 

AID FOR PALESTINIANS: (June 17) International Middle East mediating powers agreed on an aid scheme for Palestinians that bypasses the Hamas-led government. A group known as the Quartet comprising the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia said in a statement they endorsed an EU proposal for a temporary mechanism that includes aid for the health sector and utilities.  

 

VATICAN-SINO TALKS: (June 18) Vatican officials have visited Beijing for closed-door talks on normalising ties despite strains over the installation of two bishops in China without Rome’s approval. According to the church’s top clergyman in Hong Kong, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, “The talks are about … the whole relationship between the Holy See and Chinese government, about the millions of faithful. It’s a big issue and should not be so narrowly connected to the few persecuted priests.”  

 

JAPAN’S TROOPS WITHDRAW: (June 19) Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced on Tuesday that Japan will withdraw its troops from Iraq, ending the Japanese military’s riskiest and most ambitious overseas mission since World War Two.  

 

PRO-WHALING VOTE: (June 18) Japan and other whaling nations got the International Whaling Commission to criticise a global whaling ban for the first time in more than two decades, but the declaration does not immediately threaten the 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling.  

 

SADDAM’S HUNGER: (June 22) Saddam Hussein ended a brief hunger strike after missing just one meal in his US-run prison, a US military spokesman said. The former Iraqi leader had refused lunch on Thursday in protest at the killing of one of his lawyers by gunmen, but the spokesman said he ate his evening meal. 

 

TERROR PLOT HALTED: (June 22) The FBI arrested seven people in the past two days suspected of planning attacks on FBI offices and a federal building in Miami and the Sears Tower in Chicago, a law enforcement source said. The source, elaborating on a statement on the operation from Florida authorities, said the suspects had thought they were dealing with the international al-Qaeda group but had been infiltrated by a US government informant.  

Week that was Compiled by K.S. USHA DEVI

POINT FOR POINT: (June 12) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the Government, through the relevant ministries, would provide detailed replies to the four issues Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad queried.  

 

HELPING HAND: (June 15) People who find themselves defaulting on loans due to unexpected circumstances, or their debts spiralling out of control, can seek the services of Bank Negara’s Credit Counselling and Management Agency (CCDMA). Its chief executive officer Mohamed Akwal Sultan said the agency would provide counselling and advice on debt management. It was set up last November and officially launched in April. 

 

SUGAR PRICE DILEMMA: (June 15) Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk S. Veerasingam said the Government will do all it can to ensure that the price of sugar remains the same for now. But consumers will not mind a price rise because household consumption of sugar is relatively low, he said. He also pointed out that the price of sugar had not increased in the past 10 years.  

 

FUEL SURCHARGE UP: (June 12) Malaysia Airlines will again raise fuel surcharges by US$10 (RM37) from Friday but this time for flights to the Americas, Britain, Europe and South Africa. Travel agents were informed last week of the impending increase, with rising costs of aviation fuel given as the reason for the rise. The new surcharge for these routes is now US$60 (RM222) one way.  

 

LEARNING SOFT SKILLS: (June 12) Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Mohamed said undergraduates in public universities would be taught soft skills beginning early next month. He said he would meet vice-chancellors from the 18 public universities in a week’s time to discuss the details of the soft skill module, which are targeted at those who will be graduating soon. 

 

SUKMA RETRIAL: (June 15) Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja pleaded not guilty in a Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur when he was recharged with allowing his adopted brother Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to sodomise him eight years ago. Sukma, 45, was charged under Section 377 (d) of the Penal Code, which provides for a jail term of up to two years upon conviction. Sessions Court judge Nursinah Adzmi fixed bail at RM10,000 in one surety and Nov 6 to Nov 10 and Nov 13 to Nov 17 for trial. 

 

BLAIR APPEAL REJECTED: (June 15) The Federal Court rejected an appeal by Cherie Blair against a High Court’s refusal to allow her to appear as counsel for Fawziah Holdings Sdn Bhd in the Metramac case. Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, in an oral judgement, said the five-man Bench felt that while Blair had the special qualifications to appear as counsel for the construction firm, these credentials were also available among local lawyers. Blair was not present in court when the Federal Court gave its decision as she left the country on Wednesday.  

 

RUNNERS FIRM: (June 15) The Government has recognised a company that manages runners who help financial institutions and members of the public in their dealings with the Road Transport Department (JPJ). Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy officially introduced Konsortium Wawasan Klasik Sdn Bhd, which had been monitored by the JPJ for the past two years. Runners are individuals who offer services to the public and financial institutions to deal, on their behalf, with matters such as renewal of road tax and transfer of vehicle ownership.  

FOREIGN NEWS 

LONGEST REIGNING MONARCH: (June 13) Royals from across Asia, Europe and Africa joined Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej at a state banquet to celebrate his 60th year on the throne as the world’s longest reigning monarch. The 78-year-old monarch, who made his reputation by helping poor farmers rather than hosting extravagant parties, served his guests seafood and vegetables produced by projects he sponsors to help ease rural poverty.  

 

THAI SOUTH BOMBED: (June 15) Suspected insurgents exploded more than 40 bombs in attacks on government offices across Thailand’s restive south as the deputy prime minister visited the region, killing at least two people, officials said. At least 20 people were injured in the blasts, most of which went off between 8.30am and 9am (9.30am and 10am Malaysian time), as people headed to work in the three Muslim-majority provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, said Yala Governor Boonyasit Suwanarat.  

 

LANDMINE KILLS 64: (June 15) A landmine ripped through a bus killing 64 passengers and injuring 39 in an ethnic Sinhalese district in Sri Lanka’s North Central province. The military launched long-range artillery retaliation after blaming the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the carnage. But the rebels denied involvement, saying it was aimed at discrediting them.  

 

FILM WITH MOBILE: (June 15) Italian directors have completed a 93-minute documentary they say is the first feature film to be entirely shot with a standard cellphone camera. Called New Love Meeting, it was filmed in an MPEG4 format with a Nokia N90, documentary co-director Marcello Mencarini said. 

Week That Was Compiled by ANTHONY LIM

GROW, GROW, GROW: (June 4) Malaysia’s economy is expected to grow by 6% this year compared with 5.3% last year, bolstered by commendable performances in various sectors, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. However, the inflation rate had also risen as a result of the increase in the prices of goods following the sharp fuel price increase, but it is projected to be moderate rate for the second half of 2006, with an average of 3.5% to 4% for the whole of 2006, he said. 

 

NEIGHBOURLY AID: (June 5) The Malaysian Government has disbursed aid worth RM1mil for Indonesian earthquake victims in Yogyakarta. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who led a 45-member Malaysian delegation for a one-day tour to affected areas in the city, said the aid was in the form of medication, blankets and food items. The 5.9 magnitude temblor that occurred on May 27 killed more than 6,000 people in the city and left many more homeless. 

 

RAPPED BY THE BOSS: (June 6) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told off government departments and agencies for being poor at monitoring, implementing and maintaining government projects, causing inconveniences and wasting public funds. He said government circulars had to be sent as reminders to staff of their roles and responsibilities to ensure projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan would not see any hitches, or be a waste of public funds. 

 

VELVET GLOVES OFF: (June 7) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad levelled his harshest criticism yet against Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, saying the Prime Minister had dismantled many of his initiatives and betrayed his trust. The former Prime Minister, who retired in 2003, said Abdullah had not been his first choice as successor but second after the current Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.  

 

FULL SUPPORT FOR PM: (June Cabinet Ministers rallied solidly behind Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after the Prime Minister came under lashing criticism from his predecessor. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not forget that when he (Dr Mahathir) was Prime Minister, the Cabinet had stood by him. This was especially so when previous premiers, such as Tunku Abdul Rahman or Tun Hussein Onn, had interfered with his administration.  

 

FREEDOM OF SPEECH: (June 9) Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has said that his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is free to say whatever he wants. The Prime Minister said that Tun was free to say anything because Malaysia was a democratic nation. Abdullah said his priority was on fulfilling the mandate given by Malaysians during the general election to the Barisan Nasional administration under his leadership. 

GO TO JAIL: (June 7) Developers and consultants who misrepresent facts in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report will in future face a mandatory jail term if convicted. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said the custodial sentence would be the ministry’s suggestion when its proposal to empower all consultants to undertake the EIA instead of the Department of Environment (DOE) is approved by the Cabinet.  

 

PJ AS A CITY: (June 9) Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah will officially declare Petaling Jaya a city on June 20. A statement from the state secretary’s office said Petaling Jaya had fulfilled all the criteria to become a city, including having a population of more than 700,000 (well above the required 300,000); financial independence, with an annual income of RM190mil (compared with the required RM80mil); as well as having historical and cultural significance.  

 

CONTINUING MENACE: (June 5) More than 10,000 cases of the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease have occurred in Sarawak since the major outbreak three months ago. There were 10,091 cumulative cases statewide, and so far, 10 children have died of the disease. The last victim was a six-year-old girl, who died in Miri on May 6. At the height of the previous outbreak, the Health Ministry ordered the closure of all 488 kindergartens on March 3 to stop the spread of the disease.  

(June 5) More than 10,000 cases of the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease have occurred in Sarawak since the major outbreak three months ago. There were 10,091 cumulative cases statewide, and so far, 10 children have died of the disease. The last victim was a six-year-old girl, who died in Miri on May 6. At the height of the previous outbreak, the Health Ministry ordered the closure of all 488 kindergartens on March 3 to stop the spread of the disease.  

 

UMMI WINS LIBEL SUIT: (June 7) Businesswoman Ummi Hafilda Ali was awarded RM200,000 by a High Court in a libel suit against PAS and four others over an article published in the party’s newsletter Harakah seven years ago. The High Court awarded RM100,000 in general damages to Ummi Hafilda against PAS, Harakah’s permit holder Halim Arshat and its former editor-in-chief Mustapha Ali, while the printer, Syarikat Prema, was ordered to pay her another RM100,000 in general damages. 

 

NO RUSH, FOR SURE: (June PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said he was in no hurry to admit non-Muslims as members or allow them to contest under the party’s banner. He said these matters were still being discussed, and would also involve amending the party’s constitution.  PREPARING FOR ELECTION?: (June 9) Preparations for the next general election will top the agenda of the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting on June 19, fuelling speculation of early national polls. Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said reports of the Sarawak election and the issue of the sacking of some leaders in Parti Rakyat Sarawak would also be tabled for discussion.  

(June 9) Preparations for the next general election will top the agenda of the Barisan Nasional supreme council meeting on June 19, fuelling speculation of early national polls. Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said reports of the Sarawak election and the issue of the sacking of some leaders in Parti Rakyat Sarawak would also be tabled for discussion.  

 

FOREIGN 

ZARQAWI KILLED: (June Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda leader in Iraq blamed for bombings, beheadings and assassinations, was killed in a US air strike carried out by two F-16 planes with two 227kg bombs that took out Zarqawi’s “safe house”. Vowing to fight on, al-Qaeda in Iraq confirmed the death of Zarqawi, even as US forces displayed pictures to reporters of the corpse of the bearded Zarqawi with facial abrasions and his eyes closed.  

 

H5N1 CROPS UP AGAIN: (June China confirmed a fresh outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus among poultry in the western region of Xinjiang. Poultry on a farm in Hetian County had died from the bird flu virus, though it was not known how many birds were infected.  

 

THAIS CELEBRATE: (June 9) Yellow-clad Thais in their millions began jubilant celebrations to mark revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 60 years on the throne. Tens of thousands headed to Bangkok’s Royal Plaza to see their beloved monarch, the world’s longest reigning king, in person.  

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH: (June 9) An upbeat Germany kicked off its month-long World Cup party, buoyed by hopes that tight security and meticulous planning will ensure a tournament that mirrors the country’s brightening mood. Economists say the tournament may contribute 0.2 percentage points of the 1.8% growth for the country this year, with a million foreign visitors expected to spend a billion euros. The national squad provided a rousing start by kicking off the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, the highest-scoring opener in tournament history.  

PRESSURE ON: (June 10) Thousands of Taiwan opposition supporters rallied in the capital Taipei to increase pressure on President Chen Shui-bian to resign over allegations of insider trading against his relatives. Though Chen has not been personally implicated in any wrongdoing, opposition leaders say he has lost the dignity necessary to function as president, and called on him to resign to spare the island more unrest. 

 

FLOODS HIT CHINA: (June 10) Flooding from two weeks of heavy rain in southern China has killed 93 people, while a further 11 are missing and more than half a million people have been evacuated to higher ground. Nearly 12 million people in nine provinces, regions and municipalities have been affected by the weather, and at least 560,000 people have been evacuated. 

Week That Was Compiled by JOSEPH LOH

WIDER GAP: (May 27) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the income gap between rural and urban Malaysians has widened. The 2004 income ratio between rural and urban folk, which was 1: 2.11, is almost similar to that of 1970, which was 1: 2.14. Abdullah said statistics also showed that rural poverty in 2004 was six times the rate of urban poverty. 

POWER PRICE PROTEST: (May 28) Members of various opposition parties staged a protest against the 12% electricity tariff increase in front of KLCC. Parti Keadilan Rakyat information bureau chief Tian Chua led the protest, which began at 10am and more than 600 people, including PAS and DAP members, took part. The police detained 18 men and two women.  

MALAYSIAN PLAYBOY SEIZED: (May 28) Police seized several copies of a controversial Malaysian version of Playboy magazine in Kelantan. It is said that the magazine did not contain any erotic photographs or editorials but had a commentary on the publication of its Indonesian version. An investigation revealed the publishing permit was false. 

DOUBLE STANDARDS: (May 28) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi accused the West of double standards for trying to squash Iran’s nuclear programme and imposing sanctions on the Hamas-led Palestinian government. He also said that instability in Iraq, the Palestinian territories and Afghanistan was spawning global terrorism.  

NAM PLAN REJECTED: (May 28) Iran’s foreign minister played down a proposal to offer Iran incentives if it suspends uranium enrichment, saying it is his country’s right to pursue nuclear technology. “The main incentive for Iran is to recognise the essential right of Iran to have nuclear technology,” said Foreign Minster Manouchehr Mottaki, commenting on a plan by the five Security Council members and Germany to offer Iran a package of rewards or sanctions. 

TERROR GROUP BUSTED: (May 29) A new terrorist group suspected of planning attacks on several neighbouring countries was uncovered following the arrest of 12 men. The capture of members of the Indonesian radical group Darul Islam was the police’s biggest success against terrorism since their crackdown five years ago on Kumpulan Militan Malaysia, which had links with the Jemaah Islamiah terror network.  

NO DISNEYLAND: (May 30) Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi denied saying the Government was bringing Disneyland to Malaysia. He was responding to enquiries on his comments on the economic and development benefits Malaysia could reap from the setting up of a major theme park in Johor. He said a theme park would be a feature in the Southern Corridor development, and all options are being explored, including Disneyland. 

NO “KIDDIE PACK” CIGARETTES: (May 31) Packets containing less than 14 cigarettes – dubbed “kiddie packs” – disappeared from store shelves across Malaysia when the ban on the sale of the packs, which was supposed to take effect on September 2004, took effect. The ban was postponed several times after tobacco manufacturers and shop owners appealed for government extensions in order to clear unsold stocks.  

EARTHQUAKE RUMBLES TONGA: (May 27) A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck near the Pacific island of Tonga, the US Geological survey said. The quake hit at 4.36pm (0336 GMT) around 143km northeast of Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries nor was there a risk of a Pacific-wide tsunami associated with the earthquake, said Barry Hirshorn, a geophysicist at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre at Ewa Beach, Hawaii. 

NEW WEAPON WANTED: (May 28) The International Herald Tribune reported that the Pentagon is seeking congressional approval for development of a new weapon able to strike distant targets an hour after they are detected. The report said the weapon would be a non-nuclear version of the submarine-launched Trident-2 missile and be part of a president’s arsenal when considering a pre-emptive attack.  

TAMIL TIGERS BLACKLISTED: (May 29) European Union governments agreed to put Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels on their terrorist blacklist, diplomats said on Tuesday, a move that could affect Sri Lanka’s shaky peace process. Diplomats said the decision was passed without debate at a meeting of EU ministers late Monday and the move will clear the way for the 25-nation bloc to freeze the group’s assets within the EU. 

NEW DIANA CRASH EVIDENCE: (May 30) The detective leading a British investigation into the death of Princess Diana said he has found new witnesses and fresh forensic evidence about the fatal car crash in a Paris road tunnel in 1997. Sir John Stevens, a former chief of London’s Metropolitan police who is heading a crash inquiry, refused to give details, and his report is expected to be published later this year. 

MORE TREMORS SHAKE JAVA: (June 2) Tens of thousands of people who survived Indonesia’s killer earthquake ran out of their makeshift homes as fresh tremors overnight spread fear across the region. Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said it had recorded several aftershocks of magnitude 4, each lasting about 30 seconds. A 6.3 magnitude quake struck Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces last Saturday, killing over 6,200 people and flattening over 100,000 houses. 

YAHOO BOYCOTTED: (June 2) The union representing journalists in the UK and Ireland called on its 40,000 members to boycott all Yahoo Inc. products and services to protest the Internet company’s reported actions in China. The National Union of Journalists said it sent a letter on Friday to Dominique Vidal, Yahoo Europe’s vice-president, denouncing the company for allegedly providing information to Chinese authorities about journalists. 

OPPOSITION WINS: (May 31) South Korea’s opposition won a crushing victory over President Roh Moo-hyun’s ruling party in local elections on Wednesday, according to the official election commission and television exit polls. Riding a wave of sympathy for its leader, Park Geun-hye, who was slashed in the face during the campaign, and public disenchantment over the ruling party, the opposition Grand National Party won 11 of 16 major races to pick mayors and provincial governors.