Week That Was: June 12 - June 18, 2006
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.
