My Miscellaneous Page

Sunday October 29, 2006

Week that was

Compiled by RASHVINJEET S. BEDI

NEVER ENDING (Oct 22): After months of criticising the Government, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad finally met with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. After the two-hour meeting, Dr Mahathir told members of the media that he had fulfilled his intention to pour out what was in his heart over issues he had raised against Abdullah in recent months. However, he would continue to criticise the current administration if he felt “anything done is not good for the country”.  

 

FIGHTING CRIME (Oct 23): Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili urged Malaysians to help create an “anti-crime culture” after releasing figures on the national crime index. Crime has shot up by 12.9% with 170,841 cases reported in the first nine months of this year. There were increases in violent, property and commercial crimes.  

 

PRAYERS ANSWERED (Oct 23): Student Ong Ho Way cheated death despite falling into a 2m-deep monsoon drain and being swept away for some 600m. Ho Way said she prayed throughout the 40-minute ordeal and was saved when her legs were entangled in a water pipe, causing her to stay afloat. Ho Way, who was rescued a passer-by, sustained minor injuries.  

 

ONLY TWO ALLOWED (Oct 26): Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said a maximum of two members from one family would be allowed to be councillors in the same local authority at any one time. The state exco division came to the decision after public outcry against Port Klang assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Md Deros, his son Zainuri and daughter-in-law Roselinda Abdul Kamil were set to be appointed as Klang municipal councillors for the 2006-2008 term.  

 

VAULT RAIDED (Oct 26): A safety deposit vault at a Public Bank branch in Seri Kembangan was drilled and broken into with more than RM500,000 worth of jewellery and valuables stolen. Police are investigating the case where 92 of the 708 safe deposit boxes were emptied out. The bank has appointed an independent adjuster to process and access claims by customers although it did not comment on compensation.  

 

RELA MEMBERS WARNED (Oct 26): Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad warned Rela members that action would be taken against them if they abused their power when arresting illegals. He was commenting on a recent protest by residents in Cheras who said that some Rela members had misused their power when making arrests.  

 

CHEAP IN KL (Oct 27): A survey of 71 cities worldwide by Swiss banking giant UBS found Kuala Lumpur to be the least expensive city for Western tourists when it came to food, electronic goods, clothes, public transport, hotel rates and entertainment. Kuala Lumpur, however, lost out in terms of car prices and wages.  

 

SCARED OFF (Oct 28): Retired policeman Randal Barnhart and his wife Carole, who had wanted to make Malaysia their second home, are now reconsidering that plan after an unpleasant encounter with religious officials. The American couple, who are Christians, said they were woken up in the middle of the night by religious enforcement officers who accused them of committing khalwat (close proximity) at their rented condominium in Langkawi. Government officials are investigating the matter.  

 

FOREIGN

NO STRONG EVIDENCE (Oct 22): India appeared to retreat from its charge that Pakistan’s spy agency planned the Mumbai train bombings in July. India’s national security adviser M.K. Narayanan told CNN-IBN television channel that he “would be hesitant to say that we have clinching evidence”. His statement came as India and Pakistan prepared to resume high-level official talks next month. 

 

POPE SALUTES MUSLIMS (Oct 22): Pope Benedict XVI sent his “cordial greetings” to the world’s Muslims on Aidilfitri, and voiced concern for the “innocent victims” of the violence in Iraq. The head of the Roman Catholic Church, who earlier this year offended many Muslims with his comments that appeared to link their religion to violence, offered his greetings during his weekly Angelus prayer at the Vatican.  

 

STAYING PUT (Oct 24): Deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has no plans of returning to Thailand in the near future, according to his legal adviser Noppadol Pattama. He also said that Thaksin would not be seeking political asylum in Britain.  

 

RESPONSIBLE (Oct 26): British mobile phone operator Vodafone topped Fortune magazine’s second annual ranking of the 2006 accountability rating. The rating takes into account the way global companies conformed to socially responsible business practices. It measured six criteria (stakeholder engagement, governance, strategy, performance management, public disclosure and assurance).  

ENTICING VOTERS (Oct 28): A ballot initiative in Arizona proposed to award US$1mil (RM3.7mil) by lottery to one person in a bid to entice people to vote in legislative elections on Nov 7. Sponsors of the initiative said the cash reward was an appropriately American-style solution to the perennial lacklustre turnout by the US electorate, which lags behind voter participation rates in Europe and elsewhere.  

 

RESTORED (Oct 27): The Lupanare, a brothel decorated with frescoes of erotic figures believed to be the most popular in ancient Pompeii and which derives its name from the Latin word lupa, or prostitute, was presented to the public again following a year-long, 200,000 euro (RM925,124) restoration to clean up its frescoes and fix the structure. It is open to the public as part of the regular tour of the ruins of this ancient Roman city. 

The Star, Sunday October 22, 2006

Week That Was

Compiled by ANTHONY LIM

PERSISTENT HAZE (Oct 20): It’s going to be a while before you see clear, sunny skies on a regular basis. The current haze is expected to continue for some time, due to more forest areas being burnt for oil palm cultivation in Indonesia, mainly Kalimantan. If it persists, current wind conditions, which were blowing from Kalimantan towards West Sarawak and the peninsula, would cause the haze to worsen. 

 

STIFFER PENALTIES (Oct 15): In an effort to overcome the Mat Rempit problem, the Government is planning stiffer penalties to stop the illegal racing menace. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government has decided to amend laws to include confiscating motorcycles, suspending licences, imposing a heavier penalty and taking action against organisers of illegal races.  

 

NO MORE POVERTY (Oct 18): Eliminating hardcore poverty by 2008 instead of the 2010 target, that’s what the Government hopes to achieve. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysia had been very successful in reducing the level of hardcore poor in the last 50 years, but is looking at having no more hardcore poor when the country is fully developed in 2020. 

 

SAYING SORRY (Oct 18): Stating it was his personal view and not Takaful Malaysia’s official stand, Takaful Malaysia’s Syariah head Mohd Fauzi Mustaffa apologised for his e-mail advising his colleagues against wishing Hindus Happy Deepavali, and retracted the contents of his e-mail sent early this month. Takaful Malaysia CEO Md Azmi Abu Bakar also apologised for any ill feeling the e-mail may have caused.  

 

NEW FLYING PARTNER (Oct 19): A code-sharing arrangement between Malaysia Airlines and China Southern Airlines is in its final stages of negotiation. The arrangement would include third-country code share by the airlines of both countries, with a set time-table towards the realisation of a reciprocal open sky policy by 2010, when the airlines of both countries will be able to operate unlimited frequency, capacity and aircraft type between the two countries. 

TECH SAVVY VEHICLES (Oct 21): The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has deployed two “hi-tech” vans, equipped with RM200,000 worth of hi-tech gadgets and systems each, in the Klang Valley to monitor road users for the festive season under Ops Sikap XI. Linked to the JPJ database, the vans will provide JPJ officers the means to issue summonses, accept payment (for summonses), monitor road offences and also check on vehicle legality.  

 

INVESTING IN A BIG WAY (Oct 19): The country will see more than RM40bil worth of investments from three companies over the next five years, with the Cabinet Committee on Investment approving the investments. The companies represent various fields of the economy; one, which plans to invest RM11bil in Malaysia over the five-year span, is foreign, while the two others are local companies with foreign participation.  

YOUNGER IS BETTER? (Oct 17): It’s not exactly a case of toy boys, but according to a Universiti Malaya associate professor’s working paper, educated women above 30 prefer to marry younger men even though they are financially unsound and are less educated. This is happening because women of this age find it hard to find men of the same education level, economic status or age, and most men who fit this criterion are already married. The joys of youth, indeed. 

 

MANDATORY CHECKS PROPOSED (Oct 16): In the future, it may be mandatory for all used cars to be inspected by the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) prior to transfer of ownership.  

Puspakom has approached the Road Transport Department and recommended to them that used cars be screened to determine whether they are fitted with genuine parts and components before the transfer of ownership is done. 

 

MORE REWARDING (Oct 20): In recognition of outstanding educators and to provide a higher regard for the profession, the Government has created a total of 7,187 additional posts for super teachers and principals. Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said this was a 257% increase over the previous number, adding that selection for promotion would be tight, so that those chosen would perform and live up to expectations.  

 

HELP, IF NEEDED (Oct 16): If there is such a request from the new Thai government, Malaysia will be happy to help its neighbour tackle a Muslim insurgency in its restive south. Malaysian authorities have previously expressed hopes that Thailand’s new military government, which took power in a bloodless coup last month, will take steps to bring peace to the Muslim-majority southern provinces bordering Malaysia. More than 1,700 people have been killed since separatist violence erupted in Jan 2004.  

 

NO CHEAPER PETROL (Oct 16): The global price of crude oil may have dropped to US$57.24 (RM210) a barrel, but the Government will not reduce the price of petrol because it still has to subsidise petrol to maintain the present price, according to Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk S. Veerasingam. In March, the Government decided to increase the petrol price by 30 sen a litre after crude oil prices soared to US$62.91 (RM232) a barrel.  

 

FOREIGN 

NO MORE TESTS (Oct 21): North Korea’s nuclear test on Oct 9 sparked international condemnation and led to last week’s UN Security Council vote to impose economic and weapons sanctions. Now, according to media reports, North Korea has told a Chinese envoy it plans no further nuclear tests, raising hopes China’s diplomacy might draw its unpredictable neighbour back to six-party talks, though US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was on an Asian tour to rally support for UN sanctions, stated she was uncertain the talks would resume. 

 

ROMAN MISHAP (Oct 17): One person was killed and 236 others injured, five of them seriously, when a train on Rome’s underground metro system rammed into the back of another. The accident happened when one train, arriving at the Piazza Vittorio metro station near the main overground rail terminal in the city centre, crashed into the back of another that was still discharging passengers. Officials were looking into whether it was a human mistake or if something went wrong with the signalling. 

 

STANDING FIRM (Oct 19): Renewing his country’s call for talks to resolve a nuclear standoff with the West, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would not retreat from its right to develop the nuclear fuel cycle. Iran’s file has been sent back to the UN Security Council and it now faces possible sanctions after failing to meet a demand to halt uranium enrichment, a process the West believes Teheran is developing to build bombs despite Teheran’s denials.  

 

CONCERN MOUNTS (Oct 20): The US military said it was reviewing strategy in Baghdad, where US reinforcements have failed to halt spiralling violence in the battle for control of the city. It expressed grave concern about mounting troop deaths – the number of attacks targeting security forces in Baghdad has risen since US troops launched a crackdown designed to end sectarian violence. More than 2,780 US troops have been killed since the March 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein. 

The week that was….

Compiled by K.S.USHA DEVI

The Star, Sunday October 15, 2006

PAY UP FIRST: (Oct Pay up your traffic summons or be barred from renewing your vehicle insurance. This is the new proposal of the Internal Security Ministry who is working with Bank Negara, the police and Road Transport Department (JPJ), insurance companies and the relevant agencies to get the system in place. Meanwhile, the ministry is also in the process of formulating a system in which motorists with many summonses would have to pay increasingly higher insurance premiums. 

 

SOCIAL OFFICERS NEEDED: (Oct Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil said the Social Welfare Department is in need of 2,000 more officials to provide more welfare assistance to the needy. She also said there was a need to implement better and effective outreach programmes to help the poor, the elderly, abandoned children and single mothers. 

 

MORALS STILL THERE: (Oct 9) The Malaysian Youth Index (MYI) 2006 survey found that misbehaviour among youths is not at a worrying stage despite the issue grabbing media headlines. According to the survey, data collected showed that most youths were not involved in unhealthy activities like drug abuse, gambling, liquor, loitering, illegal racing, premarital sex or vandalism. 

 

ASLI DIRECTOR QUITS: (Oct 11) Dr Lim Teck Ghee, who headed the Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (Asli)’s Centre for Public Policy Studies, resigned his post over the controversial studies on bumiputra equity ownership in Malaysian companies. Dr Lim said he could not agree with Asli president Mirzan Mahathir’s statement that a report on bumiputra corporate equity did not fairly reflect the true picture of the equity ownership by bumiputras in Malaysia.  

 

SNAP THEM: (Oct 12) JPJ called on the public to report motorists who are breaking traffic rules. The department said people should take pictures of errant motorists and e-mail the images to JPJ. Reports could also be made via the JPJ website or at any JPJ office. 

MAT REMPITS OUT: (Oct 13) Police are making concentrated efforts to stop the activities of Mat Rempits. Federal police traffic chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Nooryah Md Anvar said she had gone to the ground herself to get a first-hand look and was not pleased with what she saw. The police will soon conduct operations around the country to squash them once and for all, she said. 

 

INTERACT VIRTUALLY: (Oct 13) A programme called e-integrasi, which is muhibbah themed and aimed at extending multi-cultural and multi-racial interaction from inside to outside the classroom, may be introduced in all schools next year. A brainchild of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it involves interaction of pupils from different school through virtual education games. The software, designed by Yayasan Kemajuan Sosial Malaysia (YKS), features 50 Malaysian culture and unity-themed games. 

 

FAREWELL, ILLEGALS: (Oct 13) Illegal immigrants were told to return home during this upcoming Deepavali and Hari Raya festivals. The authorities will launch a nationwide crackdown next year, and Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said Rela members would also be roped in for the operation because they arrested about 19,000 foreigners last year. 

 

MORNING TRAVEL BEST: (Oct 13) The police advised motorists to leave in the morning for the balik kampung exodus this coming festive season. According to Federal police Traffic Chief Senior Asst Comm (II) Nooryah Md Anvar, this could help reduce road deaths. Statistics from previous Ops Sikap showed that most road accidents occurred between noon and 6pm. She also reminded people to keep to the reduced speed limits along the federal and state roads. 

 

TUTU TURNS 75: (Oct Desmond Tutu, the former archbishop of Cape Town who became the conscience of South Africa during apartheid, celebrated his 75th birthday on Saturday surrounded by the country’s new elite. In his speech, the Nobel peace prize-winner warned that South African poverty could lead to social unrest because of the new moral crisis in the shape of violent crime.  

 

NUCLEAR SHOCKWAVE: (Oct 9) North Korea conducted its first underground nuclear test on Monday, defying warnings from the United Nations Security Council and opening its crippled economy to take the risks of fresh sanctions. Asian stocks also tumbled following the nuclear test. Pyongyang, however, stated that there was no leak or danger from its test. 

 

HAZE BATTLE: (Oct 10) Indonesia said it was winning the battle of the haze by dousing out land-clearing fires on Borneo and Sumatra islands. But smoke from the blazes will continue to linger until heavy winds or rain, which are not expected for another three weeks, help to clear the air. The dry season haze is a recurrent problem for the South East Asian region, caused largely by slash-and-burn fires in Indonesia.  

 

PLANE CRASH: (Oct 12) Baseball player Cory Lidle, of the New York Yankees, and his flight instructor were killed when their single engine plane slammed into a luxury 40-storey apartment building in Manhattan’s Upper East-Side. The accident scattered aircraft parts, headsets, engine propellers and debris all over the ground while the two bodies fell to the street. The incident brought back memories of the terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001. 

 

 

Week That Was

Compiled by K.S. USHA DEVI

PIRATES HIT VESSELS: (July 4) Pirates attacked three vessels in three days, all of them in the same area off the Aceh coast of the Malacca Strait. The first attack occurred last Sunday. The first two vessels were United Nations ships delivering goods to the Aceh tsunami victims under the World Food Programme, and the third a Japanese bulk carrier.  

DIAL 999: (July 4) The nationwide police emergency number will be “999” once negotiations between relevant authorities are completed, said Internal Security and Public Order Commissioner Datuk Mustafa Abdullah. The public could access 999 using a fixed line or mobile phone once the number becomes operational, he said. 

YOUNG MUMS WAIVER: (July 4) The National Service Training Department decided to exempt young mothers from NS training. They, however, have to apply to the department to get the waiver. NS director-general Abdul Halim said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who chaired a meeting with the department recently, had endorsed the move. 

SUICIDE SCENES OUT: (July 5) Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk G. Palanivel called on the Censorship Board to cut out suicide scenes in Indian films. Palanivel said the scenes were of no benefit to the audience and might influence those facing serious problems to mimic such actions. 

COUNCILS CALL SHOTS: (July 5) Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting set out to correct the public’s misconception of local authorities as being directly under the jurisdiction of his ministry. Local authorities have autonomous powers, except for matters – including land and the appointment of presidents – that came under the respective state governments, he said. The National Council on Local Authority, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, had been set up to coordinate policies of the local authority, he said. 

CARRY MYKAD: (July 6) Malaysians were reminded to not leave home without their MyKad unless they are prepared to pay a fine of between RM3,000 and RM20,000 or face up to three years in jail. National Registration Department director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Mohamed said they had, since last month, conducted checks at shopping complexes, roads and highways together with Rela, the Road Transport Department and Immigration Department officials. 

TAKE THEM BACK: (July 7) AirAsia CEO Datuk Tony Fernandes said his budget airline is willing to give up interlining routes Johor-Baru-Kuching and Kota Kinabalu-Miri if Malaysia Airlines (MAS) wants them back. He said he had written a letter to MAS managing director Idris Jala to this effect. It is crucial that MAS maintained the low fares because they were getting a government subsidy of about RM1bil, he said.  

DISCLOSURE SYSTEM: (July 7) An information disclosure system would help avert problems in environmentally-sensitive areas in Sabah such as Pulau Sipadan and Mount Kinabalu, Japanese scientist Dr Toshinori Tsubouchi said. Japan adopted such a disclosure system more than 10 years ago, under which official documents and decisions, apart from those pertaining to matters related to the military, national security and private affairs, had to be divulged, said Dr Tsubouchi, who is adviser to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) – Bornean Biodiversity Ecosystems Conservation programme.  FOREIGN 

MISSILE OUTRAGE: (July 5) North Korea test-fired another missile on Wednesday, intensifying the furore ignited when it launched at least six missiles, including a long-range Taepodong, earlier in the day. The missiles apparently fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan, and US officials said the long-range Taepodong-2 failed shortly after take-off. The political reaction was swift. The White House called the tests a “provocation”, while the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting and Tokyo warned of economic sanctions against North Korea. Pyongyang last fired a long-range missile in 1998. 

CALDERON VICTORY: (July 6) Mexico’s conservative presidential candidate, Felipe Calderon, snatched a razor-thin victory in an ugly and fiercely contested election that plunged the country into a political crisis. His leftist rival, former Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, vowed to fight the result in the courts and on the street.  

TERROR ATTACK FOILED: (July 7) The FBI said it had foiled a terror plot to attack mass transit targets in New York, including tunnels, and arrested a key suspect in the alleged conspiracy in Lebanon. News of the plot was broken by the New York Daily News newspaper, which cited counter-terrorism officials in identifying the chief target as the Holland Tunnel, the main road link between Manhattan and New Jersey. 

SILK ROAD REVIVED: (July 5) Asian giants India and China opened a Himalayan pass to border trade on Thursday, 44 years after a brutal frontier war shut down the ancient route. Senior officials from Tibet and the tiny north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim cut a ribbon marking the border at the Nathu La pass as freezing rain poured down. Scores of businessmen queued to complete formalities before crossing into each other’s territory through the border post at Nathu La pass, which means the pass of the listening ear, to visit newly-built markets on either side. 

The week that was……

Compiled by ANTHONY LIM

DOING HIS JOB: (June 27) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he would not be distracted by the criticism against him, and he would focus on “rolling out projects” to be implemented under the 9th Malaysia Plan. He said he had a job to do, and the people wanted him to deliver on the Barisan Nasional’s electoral promises, and the problems of the rakyat would not be resolved if the projects were not implemented.  

 

ENOUGH, PLEASE: (June 28) Cabinet ministers and Mentris Besar expressed regret over Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s association with the Opposition and urged the former prime minister to cease his attacks on the Government. In expressing their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, they said the former prime minister’s remarks were callous and could be used by the Opposition to weaken the Government and confuse the people.  

NO GENETIC MODS: (June 26) The use of genetic testing to choose a baby’s sex and features will be banned under a new law that is being drafted, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said. The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) condemned the use of pre-implantation genetic testing techniques for trivial reasons such as to choose a baby’s sex and looks. The procedure should only be used to diagnose serious medical conditions in high-risk patients, it said. 

CHEAP CARS?: (June 29) Jasin MP Datuk Mohd Said Yusof took his quarrel with the Customs Department a step further, alleging that certain top Customs officials had sold confiscated luxury cars cheaply to their “friends” in the palaces and other government departments. He claimed that the officials had abused their power by selling the cars meant for open auction to their royalty friends in return for Datukships – a charge denied by Customs director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdul Hamid. 

LOSING GROUND: (June 28) Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said non-profit hospitals are struggling to survive as the number of patients seeking treatment at such institutions is dropping drastically. He said patients were now turning away from such hospitals because people seeking treatment in these places were perceived to be of a lower social status. This development is worrying those who have been relying on these hospitals.  

MSC AUDIT: (June 26) The Multimedia Development Corporation was directed to audit every company requesting for the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) status. This would ensure that the status and the good name of the MSC would not be tarnished, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, adding that even a single bad incident could taint the image of the MSC and affect the country’s competitiveness in drawing foreign investors.  

NO BAD BLOOD: (June 30) Blood donors who are HIV positive were warned that they would be committing a crime if they do not report their condition under an upcoming revised law, and liable to a jail term when the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988 is amended. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Government wants to make it a crime because their act could result in other people’s deaths. 

PROFITABLE PETRONAS: (June 29) Petronas said its full-year net profit surged 22.6% to a record high, thanks to higher oil prices and increased output. For the year through March, its net profit rose to a record RM43.59bil compared with RM35.6bil a year earlier. The company is Malaysia’s most profitable firm and only Fortune 500 company.  

NEW BLOOD: (June 25) After 25 years as the MIC deputy president, Datuk S. Subramaniam was dislodged by challenger Datuk G. Palanivel, who rode home with a thumping victory at the party elections on Saturday. Delegates at the MIC assembly gave Palanivel, the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister 933 votes, while Subramaniam managed only 495 votes.  

MORE TEMBLORS: (June 25) A powerful undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8 struck off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, but the state meteorology and geophysics agency said there were no reports of casualties or damage. The quake’s epicentre was 72km beneath the seabed, about 110km from the city of Gorontalo in northern Sulawesi. It did not generate a tsunami.  

A MATTER OF PERSUASION: (June 29) Foreign ministers from the G8 leading industrialised countries discussed how to persuade Iran to respond quickly to proposals aimed at defusing a crisis over its nuclear programme. Iran has still not said whether it will accept a package of incentives handed to it on June 6 by the five permanent, veto-wielding UN Security Council members. The United States has accused Iran of having a secret programme to build nuclear weapons. Teheran denies the charge, saying its nuclear programme is solely for power generation. 

NEW HEAD: (June 27) Nguyen Minh Triet, 63, a Vietnamese politician with a reputation for fighting corruption, became the communist-run country’s new president, as part of a changing of the guard to a group of younger leaders. The National Assembly, or parliament, confirmed his appointment. The job is the third most important in the system after Party general secretary and prime minister. 

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.