Making the transition from school to college
DECIDING on which route to take after Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia can be confusing.

Money politics will ruin Umno, says Dr Mahathir
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will be ruined if candidates involved in money politics make it into the leadership, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Conference on child care next month
PUTRAJAYA: Want to know more about early childhood care and education?

CrossTalk: 1-0, United, of course
Manchester United host Liverpool at Old Trafford in what is billed as the match of the EPL season. MARC LOURDES discovers that thousands of kilometres away in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Manchester United Supporters Club secretary Laurence How and Liverpool Supporters Club founding president Kahar Kassim are also playing mind games

MBs should not contest, says Ali
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the four menteris besar who were defeated in the contest for the party supreme council seats were under the impression that they would still be appointed to the council.

Lending a helping hand
THE New Straits Times Press chairman Mohamed Jawhar Hassan (second from right) presenting a mock cheque of RM4,147,385.45 to Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

Kayveas: No turning back for Murugiah
KUALA LUMPUR: The People's Progressive Party has closed the door permanently on Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Senator Datuk T. Murugiah.

'Mentor' champ in top 12
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Mentor champion Norafizah "Pija" Yasin has made it to the top 12 of 8TV reality talent show One In A Million Season 3 (OIAM3).

Sujatha Inquest: Eight expected to testify next month
KUALA LUMPUR: The long-awaited inquest into the death of local actress K. Sujatha will start next month.

Two killed in mob attack
KUALA LUMPUR: Two smallholders who went to harvest oil palm fruits in their plantation in Kampung Tingkayu, Kunak, Sabah, were hacked to death by a group of illegal immigrants yesterday.

Three robbers shot dead
DUNGUN: Three Indonesian robbers, wanted in connection with a spate of armed robberies in the state, were shot dead by police here early yesterday morning.

Measat satellites not in any danger
KUALA LUMPUR: The three Measat satellites -- that transmit, among others, Astro's programmes to thousands of Malaysian households -- are not in any immediate danger of colliding with space debris, the National Space Agency said today.

'Govt open to ideas on women, equality'
KUALA LUMPUR: Any proposals on women, equality and justice which are in accordance with the teachings of the Quran and Prophet Muhammad will be considered by the government.

English policy a success, say parents
KUALA LUMPUR: Using English to teach Mathematics and Science has been a success, said a parents' group.

Reel Time: Willie back in Breakfast
TV host William Quah returns to ntv7's Breakfast Show and he tells us that his life has never been better.

Reel Time: Raja Azmi's CONTROVERSIAL CUT
SHE is courting trouble.

CrossTalk: 'A minority govt never survives'
As the Perak crisis continues to fester, former menteri besar Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib and Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran hash out their opinions on the current conflict. KOH LAY CHIN listens in as the two Perak sons talk about rotten eggs, rudeness to royals and agreeing to disagree

Anwar told to share information
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has dismissed opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's allegation that it was not acting on a report made against former Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Kelantan Pas wants Ibrahim Ali to step down
KOTA BARU: Pasir Mas Independent MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali's verbal clash with a Pas MP in Parliament on Thursday has led to a call from Kelantan Pas for him to step down.

Anwar lodges second 'black eye' report
PETALING JAYA: Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday lodged a report against Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail for allegedly fabricating evidence in the "black eye" incident in 1998.

Pirates strike in the straits
KUALA LUMPUR: Two sailors aboard a Singapore-managed tug and barge have been kidnapped by pirates in the Straits of Malacca, sources said yesterday.

Talks to address food shortage
PUTRAJAYA: Eight developing Islamic nations (D8) will be joining forces to address food shortage at the 2009 Food Security Meeting which kicks off on Wednesday.

New bridge for villagers
KUANTAN: After a two-year wait, residents from Kampung Jawa and Kampung Tengah here will finally have a new bridge to replace a narrow structure with a single lane.

Karpal calls for inquiry into Kulim shooting
KULIM: DAP chairman Karpal Singh yesterday called for the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to ascertain whether there was misconduct by police in the shooting of six suspects in Kampung Kemunting in Kulim, Kedah on Tuesday.

Tun-ship for Abdullah, Jeanne
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah were yesterday conferred the title "Tun" by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara, here.

The final wave
PUTRAJAYA: Cabinet ministers and senior government officers joined hundreds of others to bid farewell to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who ended his five-year tenure as the country's fifth prime minister.

Sleepy guard causes scare
BUKIT MERTAJAM: A security guard who dozed off while on duty caused a major scare in a bank when his pump gun slipped from his hands and went off when it hit the floor.

Charged over counterfeit notes
KUALA LUMPUR: An insurance agency manager was yesterday charged with possessing counterfeit notes.

Car Thefts: RM673.4m claims incurred
ACCORDING to the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM), 15,727 private cars were reported stolen to insurers in 2007 and 2008.

Car Thefts: Architect still fearful 2 years on
WHEN architect Lim Take Bane opens the front door of his house in the mornings, he cannot help but feel afraid.

Influenza A: Virus spreads to two more countries
KUALA LUMPUR: Those with symptoms of "influenza-like illness" should immediately seek medical treatment as the A H1N1 virus has reached two more countries.

Influenza A: Drop in new cases in Mexico
MEXICO CITY: Mexico started a five-day shutdown of most offices and businesses yesterday to try to halt the spread of a deadly flu strain and officials said they were encouraged by signs the number of new cases was dropping.

Influenza A: 'Jabs won't give protection'
KUALA LUMPUR: The flu vaccine jabs to be given to some 200,000 of the country's frontliners will not protect them from the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus, but they can help in identifying potential cases.

Workers built our country, says Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak gave thanks to workers who have made the country what it is today.

Former senior cop arrested over car thefts
SHAH ALAM: A former senior police officer who was asked to resign from the force over "certain irregularities" is believed to have been the mastermind of a car theft ring that police crippled with the arrest of six men on Thursday.

Sabah deputy CM slams those asking him to resign
PAPAR: Beleaguered Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah took to task Sabah Barisan Nasional component party leaders who had asked him to step down.

Calling the shots on heritage site
IS it the end of the road for the four "offending" projects which are said to be threatening George Town's place on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco) World Heritage List?

DIPLOMATIC DEALINGS:
Reclaiming our image and esteem
WHEN I covered Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to the United Nations in 1993, I was surprised that New York taxi drivers knew his name or were aware that a country called Malaysia existed.

Influenza A: Strict Immigration checks at land entry points
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians abroad and foreigners who enter the country through land entry points will have to undergo more stringent checks by the Immigration Department.

Pat on the back for girl guides
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah is happy with the progress and achievements of the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia, now in its 92nd year.

CrossTalk: Living in fear of Mat Rempit gangs
For Prof Rozmi Ismail and Kattryn Eng, the Mat Rempit issue is more than just a cyclical news topic. Rozmi is a Mat Rempit researcher and Eng is the mother of a victim who was attacked by a Mat Rempit gang recently. KOH LAY CHIN listens in as they discuss the phenomenon and why, they insist, the authorities must take action

Promote religious harmony, says Koh
KUALA LUMPUR: This year's Wesak Day celebration that will be observed by Buddhists in the country today will carry the theme "Religious Tolerance for Peace".

Batang Ai lake hot spot for fishing enthusiasts
LUBOK ANTU: The Batang Ai lake is a haven for adventure seekers as it is blessed with beautiful scenery, cultural events, and, of course, a never-ending supply of fish.

Full backing for Najib as PM
KUALA LUMPUR: The country's leaders have backed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to navigate the country out of the economic crisis and live up to the aspirations of the people.

Khalid, Karpal express hope in PM
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has expressed hope that the new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration will be fair and professional.

Surprise email for blog visitors
KUALA LUMPUR: Those who registered with Datuk Seri Najib Razak's blog received a pleasant surprise on Thursday from Malaysia's sixth prime minister in the form of emails alerting them to keep tab of latest developments in his blog.

MCA course in cosmetology
KUALA LUMPUR: Due to the growth of the wellness and beauty industry, Wanita MCA, in co-operation with Beaubelle Academy of Cosmetologists & Management, has launched the Cosmetologist Career & Entrepreneur Opportunities (C-CEO).

Hefty fines for those who spit in public
KOTA KINABALU: It's a dirty, disgusting habit, and yet many still do it in the open.

'Install good quality rear seat belts'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Safety Department is concerned about car owners who install sub-standard rear seat belts just to comply with the requirement, and don't consider the safety element.

Perak speaker under probe
KUANTAN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating Perak state assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar's decision to suspend seven Barisan Nasional assemblymen last month.

Appeals court affirms ruling on Perak issue
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has unanimously decided in favour of referring some constitutional issues that arose in the suit by Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin to challenge the appointment of Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as Perak menteri mesar to the Federal Court.

Monday hearing on Nizar's challenge
KUALA LUMPUR: The constitutional issue of who is the rightful menteri besar of Perak will be heard in the Federal Court on Monday.

One ministry too many?
PUTRAJAYA: Only one ministry should be handling matters concerning migrant workers, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said yesterday.

My, what a productive python
KUALA LUMPUR: A reticulated python on display at the Cave of Reptiles at Batu Caves has laid more than 160 eggs over the past two days.

Treat this place like your home
PETALING JAYA: It was worth the effort, time and money.

My father would have been proud, says Dr Mahathir
PETALING JAYA: It's been over half a century, but Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad could never forget how he felt when he was finally allowed back to school.

Red card, snubs and a pillar or two show up
IT was the highlight of the week and, perhaps, the entire meeting -- the suspension of Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) from the house for 12 months, starting on Monday.

6 nabbed in 2 drug busts
KAJANG: Police on Wednesday arrested a 33-year-old man, who ran a mini-drug-processing laboratory from his Cheras flat, and seized RM150,000 worth of drugs.

Risks hold no fear for illegal miners
MARAN: There's a gold rush happening in Ulu Luit near here. Scores of people throng a former mining area to pan for the precious metal every day.

Jamal fails to have charge withdrawn
SHAH ALAM: Singer Jamal Abdillah's representation to the Attorney-General's Chambers to withdraw the charge against him for criminal intimidation against his wife has been rejected.

Man, 43, acquitted of killing wife
SHAH ALAM: A labourer was freed by the High Court yesterday of murdering his wife four years ago.

3 days set for teen's trial
SEREMBAN: The High Court yesterday fixed three days next month for a school dropout to enter his defence on charges of causing the death of Rahang MIC branch chief and his son five years ago.

Gang linked to factory heists busted
JOHOR BARU: Police yesterday busted a gang that robbed factories in Pasir Gudang, Johor Baru, Skudai, Senai and Kulai over the last eight months.

Former MB to sue Zambry
IPOH: Just hours after a new menteri besar was sworn in yesterday, embattled 10th Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said he would be suing his successor Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, calling the latter's appointment unconstitutional.

'Keep protests off streets'
JOHOR BARU: Those protesting against the change of government in Perak should stay off the streets and let Barisan Nasional rule the state, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said yesterday.

20 years' jail for killing drunk
JOHOR BARU: A drunken brawl, which led to a death five years ago, has landed a man in jail for 20 years.

End of random roadblocks
JOHOR BARU: The Road Transport Department is doing away with random roadblocks for commercial lorry drivers due to mounting complaints against enforcement officers.

Blossoming art
While other fields are taking knocks or tumbles during the economic downturn, the art scene in Malaysia is having a bit of a welcome breather. In fact, it could be sowing seeds for a more exciting bloom, say art enthusiasts tell KOH LAY CHIN.

Driver charged with reckless driving
SELAYANG: The driver of the double-decker executive bus of AB Express which crashed along the North-South Expressway, killing six people, was charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with reckless driving that caused death.

Policeman claims trial to gang robbery
KUALA LUMPUR: A policeman who was supposed to curb criminal activities was charged in the Sessions Court yesterday with gang robbery.

Charged with dangerous driving
BATU PAHAT: An express bus driver was yesterday charged with dangerous driving which resulted in an accident causing the deaths of a housewife and her two daughters on Thursday.

Citizenship approved 30 years on
PENAMPANG: Two Sabahans here believe there is a lot to be desired from the government delivery system that took more than 30 years to approve their citizenship applications.

Irate robber forces two women to perform oral sex
KLANG: A middle-aged man yesterday abducted two women, aged 55 and 68, to rob them but finding they had only a few ringgit, forced them to perform oral sex on him instead.

Chase ends in crash
Two suspected robbers fleeing police pursuit seriously injured.

Close call for couple as shell hits stall
KUANTAN: If Abdul Satar Abdul Latif and his wife had delayed leaving their food stall by 10 minutes on Thursday, one of them might not be alive today.

'Find kidnap victim's killers'
Call for cops to speed up probe as large crowd of mourners express anger over killing.

REEL TIME: No bling-bling, no wedding bells
ONE In A Million's beautiful host Marion Caunter takes a coffee break and says that when there's no bling, bling, there's no wedding.

Cabinet approves RM70m to repair collapsed slope
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will spend RM70 million to repair and reinforce the collapsed slope in Bukit Antarabangsa.

'PM must win back confidence'
KUALA LUMPUR: New Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will have to give his topmost priority in regaining the confidence of the rakyat towards the government, says an academician.

Following in his elders' footsteps
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak, 55, although regarded by many as a political blueblood considering his prestigious lineage with two highly regarded premiers in the family, was neither groomed nor raised as a politician.

Qing Ming may affect voter turnout
KUALA LUMPUR: Will the souls of the dead hold back out-of-town voters, especially the Chinese, in the three by-elections on Tuesday?

MACC nab two over RM1.2m graft
KUALA LUMPUR: The Johor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) has arrested two businessmen in separate raids on suspicion of corruption involving RM1.2 million.

No heavy losses, says Zambry
IPOH: The state government will not incur heavy losses by auctioning the 16 Toyota Camry cars as there will be ready buyers for the vehicles, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

Purported SMS sender remanded 3 more days
KUALA TERENGGANU: The 31-year-old clerk arrested in connection with the SMS death threats sent to three state Barisan Nasional assemblymen last week has been remanded for another three days.

Wee: Review on the cards
A REVIEW is on the cards. So is the establishment of a committee comprising experts of all races to sift through school history textbooks. Concerted efforts will be made to ensure the contents of the textbooks do not offend anyone, whether Malay, Chinese, or Indian, or sow misunderstanding.

Teen held over racial slur SMS
JOHOR BARU: Police arrested a 16-year-old girl yesterday for allegedly sending a text message containing racial slurs which caused about 500 people to gather outside a police station in Pontian on April 20.

2 days' jail and fine for assault on college head
PUTRAJAYA: A 21-year-old freelance scriptwriter was sentenced to two days' jail and fined RM6,000 by the Kajang magistrate's court for punching New Era college chairman and fracturing his nose three months ago.

Umno political bureau to decide on Penanti
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is leaving it to its political bureau to decide the party's stand on the impending by-election for the Penanti state seat in Penang.

A mix of old and new in Umno line-up
KUALA LUMPUR: Chairing the Umno supreme council meeting for the first time as party president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday announced the appointment of a mix of fresh faces and veterans as office bearers, supreme council members and state liaison chiefs.

Family's right to prime seafront land settled
KOTA KINABALU: The heir to a prime seafront land that was turned into a multi-million resort near here reaffirmed his family's ownership status yesterday.

Bid for judicial review allowed
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday granted Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin leave for judicial review to challenge the appointment of Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

'Put consumer affairs under PM'
KOTA KINABALU: Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations vice-president Datuk Patrick Sindu hopes that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will take charge of the consumer affairs portfolio to counter the current economic crisis.

MACC seeks evidence on Khir's trips
KLANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is looking into revelations that millions in state funds had been spent on overseas trips and functions by former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

Raja Petra to pay Azim RM1m
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi has won RM1 million in damages over two defamatory articles published against him.

Schools to list pupils' illnesses
GEORGE TOWN: The Education Ministry has directed school counsellors to make a list of illnesses suffered by pupils to prevent a repeat of the death of a Standard Three boy on Wednesday after being caned on the palm.

Do more for the for the kids, Rosmah tells varsities
Institutions of higher learning have been urged to expand their role by involving themselves in programmes for young children.

AsiaAsia gets top award
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia took Skytrax's "World's Best Low Cost Airline" award in a ceremony held at the Aircraft Interiors Expo 2009 in Hamburg, Germany, on Wednesday.

Search for 2 who drowned in separate incidents
TUMPAT: Two students who went missing in separate incidents here and in Bachok are believed to have drowned.

Jabu: BN will bring back stability
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu expressed confidence that political stability, racial harmony and private sector confidence would be maintained following the takeover of the Perak state administration by Bari- san Nasional yesterday.

Nizar has lost the vote, says professor
KUALA LUMPUR: Although former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin believes that a vote of no confidence is needed for his removal, circumstances may prove otherwise.

PR has no choice but to sue, says Karpal
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat will take legal action against the Sultan of Perak and Barisan Nasional over the appointment of a new BN menteri besar, DAP chairman Karpal Singh said.

Nizar 'still rightful menteri besar'
PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Rakyat does not recognise Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who is a Barisan Nasional assemblyman, as the new Perak menteri besar although he was sworn in yesterday.

Venture overseas, PM tells Bumis
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi urged Bumiputera entrepreneurs to be bold and venture overseas instead of staying in the country and wait for opportunities to drop in their lap.

Teacher bruised my son's back, alleges dad
SEREMBAN: The father of a Year Two pupil of SK Ampangan, near here, lodged a police report yesterday claiming a teacher at the school had injured his son by hitting him on the back.

Soldier escapes drug charges
SHAH ALAM: It has been two years since a former army sergeant was held in remand while being tried on two counts of drug possession.

CAP: Make glue sniffing an offence
GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang has called on the government to make glue sniffing an offence.

9 Malaysians hurt in India
NEW DELHI: Nine Malaysian tourists were injured when the mini-van they were travelling in was rammed by a speeding lorry from behind, en route to the holy city of Haridwar early yesterday.

Distributing aid to needy via MyKad
KUALA LUMPUR: MyKasih, the welfare programme, yesterday launched its electronic payment system to distribute cash aid to the needy via MyKad.

Conciliation the way to resolving worker disputes
PUTRAJAYA: From next year, employers and employees will have to go through a conciliatory process before taking matters to the Industrial Court.

Police defend tear gas use
IPOH: Police have defended the move by the Federal Reserve Unit which fired tear gas into a large crowd of Barisan Nasional and Pas supporters in Air Kuning during the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election on Tuesday.

Third time unlucky for salesman on cheating charge
KUALA LUMPUR: He was lucky twice when the Sessions Court acquitted him of a cheating charge.

Man admits to causing death
KUALA LUMPUR: An unemployed man pleaded guilty at the Sessions Court yesterday to committing culpable homicide.

Cupboards used as classroom partitions
TUMPAT: Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Tuk Tse here has 13 classrooms but they are not enough for its 371 pupils, most of whom are Thai nationals.

Healthcare hub plan
KOTA KINABALU: School-leavers in Sabah could fill the shortage in nursing and critical healthcare services by taking up courses at the newly-opened RM30 million Masterskill College of Nursing and Health in the city.

Offer to do more for south Thailand
HUA HIN: Malaysia has told Thailand that it would continue to assist its neighbour in finding lasting solution to the conflict in the restive southern Thai.

Speaker calls for emergency meeting
IPOH: Speaker V. Sivakumar is calling for an emergency meeting of the state legislative assembly on March 3.

MB's house keys returned to state
IPOH: The keys to the menteri besar's official residence were handed to the state secretariat yesterday but the Toyota Camry reserved for the menteri besar was nowhere in sight.

Boyfriend of PKR's Wong still out of country
KUALA LUMPUR: Police denied speculation that Hilmi Malek, who is sought by them in connection with the circulation of Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong's semi-nude pictures, has returned to the country.

'Scuffle an embarrassment'
KUALA LUMPUR: Thursday's incident where Karpal Singh was mobbed by Umno Youth members at the Parliament tower block has embarrassed the nation, said the Dewan Negara president yesterday.

Lawyer charged with money laundering
KUALA LUMPUR: A lawyer was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with two counts of money laundering amounting to RM428,101.91.

Herald case: Counsel wants time
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here was told yesterday that the use of the word "Allah" in publications relating to Christianity is no longer prohibited due to a new order gazetted by the Home Minister early this year.

Nizar files suit in High Court
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin filed a judicial review at the High Court registry here yesterday for a declaration that he is still chief executive of the state.

'Civil servants not biased'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian civil service is apolitical and highly professional, Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said yesterday. He said civil servants carried out their duties according to established rules and regulations and were loyal to the government of the day. His made the comments following insinuations by certain political parties that civil servants were biased, particularly in Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states. -- Bernama

Assemblyman calls for probe
IPOH: A Pakatan Rakyat state assemblyman wants the Committee of Privileges to ascertain the legality of the swearing in of Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six executive councillors. Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Woh said they should be probed for actions contrary to the Perak Constitution. Wong said he lodged acomplaint on Thursday with former state speaker V. Sivakumar, who was also the chairman of the Committee of Privileges.

Cops cut short gathering at Karpal's home
GEORGE TOWN: Police cut short an illegal gathering by former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and several Umno Youth leaders near DAP chairman Karpal Singh's house in Jalan Utama here yesterday.

Sarawak folk support BN, says Najib
MIRI: Although there are problems and issues, the multiethnic communities in Sarawak are supportive of Barisan Nasional, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Good news for school bus, van owners
KOTA BARU: All 13,000 school bus and van operators throughout the country will soon be able to charter their vehicles for public transport services during the school holiday season.

Ways to reduce foreign workers
SEGAMAT: The Human Resources Ministry is introducing several new employment concepts, the latest being the homeworking model, in a bid to reduce foreign workers, said its minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam yesterday.

Malaysian craft for display in Harrods
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian craft works will be on display in London's Harrods from Feb 23 until March 28 in conjunction with the Malaysian Craft Promotion there, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said yesterday.

Foreign varsities to train teachers
PUTRAJAYA: The cabinet has agreed that the Teaching Of English As The Second Language (TESL) programme should be conducted between the country's teachers' training institutes and foreign universities.

Hospital plan for Wisma Khidmat
KOTA KINABALU: Committed to overcoming the critical shortage of hospital beds here, the state government through the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) will turn the abandoned Wisma Khidmat here into a 250-bed private hospital.

Sarawak to develop country's first social data system
KUCHING: Sarawak will become the first state in the country to have its own comprehensive social data system by the first quarter of next year, providing an effective social delivery system at the click of a keyboard or mouse.

Welfare assistance process painfully slow
SOCIAL Development and Urbanisation Minister Datuk Seri William Mawan said the painfully slow process of verifying the thousands of applications for welfare assistance under the "Cari" programme is one reason many have yet to receive assistance.

Rep turns cautious when challenged
THE DAP Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chen Jien avoided another censure from the Sarawak legislative assembly yesterday. He made an "unequivocal and unconditional" withdrawal of a remark he made on Tuesday that SUPP had lied about engaging Chinese experts to conduct a flood mitigation study for Kuching city in 2004.

'No special account for vendor's RM1.6m'
SHAH ALAM: Perbadanan Komputer Nasional Bhd (Nascom) was given two cheques for RM1.61 million by a vendor as a security deposit under a vendor programme.

Four runaway teens reunited with parents
GEORGE TOWN: The four teenagers who were reported missing from their homes in Johor and found here on Thursday have been reunited with their parents.

CM wants public feedback on privatisation of PORR
PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng wants feedback from the people on the proposed privatisation of the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) project.

High Court upholds acquittal
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here yesterday upheld the Sessions Court's decision to acquit former Felcra director-general Datuk Mustapa Juman of criminal breach of trust.

'Let petrol kiosks in Perak sell gas'
IPOH: Petrol kiosks in Perak should be allowed to sell compressed natural gas (CNG) as this will encourage taxis to convert to use natural gas.

It's business as usual for local councils
IPOH: Local councils in Perak would function as usual despite the political uncertainties hanging over the state's administration, said state Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Public Transport and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

Acquitted cop eager to rejoin force
SHAH ALAM: The past four years have been difficult for constable Dzulham Zulkefli.

Confusion over identity saves day for twins
KUALA LUMPUR: Confusion over the identity of identical twins resulted in them escaping the hangman's noose for alleged dadah trafficking.

Four claim trial to graft charges
KUANTAN: Four officers from the state Land and Mines Department pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to separate charges of corruption.

Held for selling illegal liquor
MARAN: Police detained the owners of seven business premises here on Wednesday for selling liquor without a licence and seized 915 bottles of alcoholic drinks.

CROSS TALK 'English must be in the equation'
Both want different things when it comes to the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI), but for Datin Noor Azimah Ab Rahim and Ng Chai heng, their arguments lead to some surprising discoveries and agreements. KOH LAY CHIN listens in as they argue for and against the continuation of the controversial policy which began in 2003

Schoolgirl missing for a week
BATU PAHAT: The police here are appealing to the public for information regarding the whereabouts of a girl who has been missing for the last one week.

Postal voters cast their ballots
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Postal voters in Penanti cast their votes for the by-election yesterday morning, two days ahead of other voters in the state constituency.

'Kayveas is not eligible to hold president's post'
PUTRAJAYA: The People's Progressive Party's (PPP) saga has intensified with a new allegation levelled against its president Datuk M. Kayveas.

'Money politics ruining PPP'
KOTA BARU: Money politics is breeding an ugly power tussle, threatening to ruin the People's Progressive Party (PPP), said its president, Datuk M. Kayveas.

Make merry at Kaamatan festival
PENAMPANG: Traditional dances, songs, music performances, handicraft exhibitions, local food and drink tasting and traditional sports and games.

SPM Revamp: Minimum is 4 core subjects, 2 electives
KUALA LUMPUR: Starting next year, the number of core subjects for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia will be reduced from six to four to allow candidates to choose more electives.

Influenza A: Quarantine for 5 until Tuesday
KUALA LUMPUR: Health authorities have decided to "home quarantine" the five Malaysians who came in contact with the 22-year-old Singaporean woman who is infected with the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

SPM Revamp: 'It was a personal challenge'
KUALA LUMPUR: He may be the record holder for the most straight As in a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, but Azali Azlan insists the staggering 21 As do not define him.

Fourth body in Jaya mall disaster found
PETALING JAYA: Police yesterday recovered a fourth body from the collapsed portion of the former Jaya Supermarket, amid fading hopes of finding the three other victims still trapped inside alive.

Jaya Disaster: City council absolved of blame
PETALING JAYA: Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha yesterday absolved the city council of any blame in the collapse of the former Jaya Supermarket building on Thursday.

Worker flees 'hell estate'
JASIN: After stories of loan defaulters being chained and imprisoned by loan sharks, here is a story of Malaysians being treated as slaves in secluded estates in the hands of local contractors.

Illiterate Indians lured into slavery
MALACCA: They lure illiterate Indians by promising them a good life.

Dept takes custody of abused boy
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Welfare Department here yesterday took custody of a 9-year-old abuse victim after his case was highlighted to them by a village security and development committee member.

Child abuse cases on the increase
PETALING JAYA: Child abuse cases are increasing at an alarming rate.

Timely gesture saves terrapin
JOHOR BARU: A terrapin was saved from the pot, thanks to a man who went out of his way to convince those who were about to eat the animal about divine blessings and bad karma.

Ex-sailor jailed, fined for cheating
KUALA LUMPUR: An ex-navy man was sentenced to two years' jail and fined RM10,000 for cheating a logging company director of RM28,830. Ismail Che Abdullah, 62, was found guilty of cheating Regal Blue (M) Sdn Bhd director Rosmawati Mat Jusoh, 43, to pay RM28,830 for a contract to log in Sungai Balah forest reserve, Kelantan. He committed the offence at his office in Taman Danau Kota, Sentul between Nov 2003 and March 2004. Judge Rozana Ali Yusoff said Ismail had committed a serious offence.

JET CRASH: 'Amazing airmanship'
NEW YORK: The pilot of the US Airways jet that ditched on the Hudson was hailed as a hero on Thursday after coolly overseeing the miraculous escape of 155 passengers and crew.

Bukit Selambau By-Election: Result out after 10pm on Tuesday
SUNGAI PETANI: The result of the Bukit Selambau state by-election on Tuesday may be known only after 10pm due to the large number of candidates contesting the seat, Kedah Election Commission director Zainal Abidin Zakaria said yesterday.

Bukit Selambau By-Election: BN has upper hand, says Zam
SUNGAI PETANI: Former information minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin is confident that BN has the upper hand to capture Bukit Selambau in the by-election.

Bukit Selambau By-Election: Dr M's return to boost campaign
SUNGAI PETANI: The BN campaign in the Bukit Selambau by-election on Tuesday will be boosted with the return of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Umno on Monday, just 15 hours before the voters go to the polls.

Probe into forgery of CM's signature
LUBOK ANTU: An investigation into the forgery of the chief minister's signature allegedly used to solicit funds from timber tycoons has begun.

Reel Time: Sarimah... has the cake and eats it too
Talkative beauty and TV host Sarimah Ibrahim takes a coffee break and admits that she misses singing and wants to give it another try.

Pija fails to make the cut
SHAH ALAM: Winning Season 1 of Mentor proved no advantage for Norafizah "Pija" Yasin yesterday. She was voted off popular 8TV reality talent show One In A Million Season 3 (OIAM3).

11-year-old falls to his death from school roof
NIBONG TEBAL: An 11-year-old pupil of SK Keledang Jaya in Changkat here died after falling from the roof of a four-storey school building on Thursday. He was trying to reach for a pigeon's nest located in the ceiling of a restroom.

Smart supermarket shopping just a click away
PUTRAJAYA: During hard times, the smart thing for people to do before setting off for their grocery shopping would be to compare the prices of goods at different supermarkets or hypermarkets.

Kok sues govt over ISA detention
KUALA LUMPUR: Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok yesterday filed a suit against Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, the government and two others, claiming that she was unlawfully arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last year.

3 claim trial to car rebate fraud
KLANG: Three Pos Malaysia clerks were charged in the Sessions Court yesterday with criminal breach of trust by approving the payment of car rebates.

Azilah files appeal
SHAH ALAM: Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri filed a notice of appeal yesterday against his conviction in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

RM21 'Kyoto Box' wins climate prize
OSLO: A US$6 (RM21.70) cardboard box that uses solar power to cook food, sterilise water and could help three billion poor people cut greenhouse gases, has won a US$75,000 prize for ideas to fight global warming.

Dealers to be 'owners' of used cars soon
KUANTAN: From next year, used car dealers will be required to apply for interim ownership of the vehicles they buy.

Sabah, Sarawak 'likely to see more development'
KUCHING: The appointment of Datuk Seri Abdul Shafie Apdal as minister of rural and regional development is good news for Sabah and Sarawak.

Cops to question trader hurt in riot
KOTA BARU: Police will soon interview an 18-year-old trader who claimed he was blinded when a tear gas canister hit his right eye on Tuesday night after the Kelantan-Negri Sembilan FA Cup semi-final match turned into a riot.

KPI system 'good for people'
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional leaders yesterday commended the cabinet named by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, saying that the key performance index (KPI) system instituted to evaluate ministers and deputy ministers' performance augured well for the people.

MACC wraps up probe on Fairus
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has handed the investigation papers involving former Penang deputy chief minister I Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin to its prosecution division.

Hilmi: Guan Eng has no power
GEORGE TOWN: An Umno leader here has described Lim Guan Eng as a powerless chief minister for not being able to decide who should be his deputy.

Towboat on fire, 7 missing
HANOI: A Malaysian towboat caught fire on Wednesday off the coast of southern Tra Vinh province of Vietnam, with seven Malaysian crew still missing at press time, China's Xinhua news agency quoted the local newspaper Young People as reporting yesterday.

Gerakan happy with appointments
KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon into the cabinet showed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's trust and confidence in the former Penang chief minister, according to the party's central working committee (CWC).

Develop and nurture perseverance, says PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the significance of perseverance as a value that all Malaysians must develop and nurture was tremendous, particularly in the present time.

Asean leaders meet over financial crisis
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrived here yesterday for a key meeting between Asean leaders and their dialogue partners at a time when the region is challenged, both in the economic and political fronts.

They ditched RM1m boat for prime mover
HULU SELANGOR: Three men yesterday robbed a driver of his prime mover and a RM1 million boat in the trailer that it was hauling.

No decision yet on crooked bridge
SINGAPORE: The government has not made any decision whether to resume the construction of the crooked bridge over the Tebrau Straits, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Nazri has doubts on graft survey
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz is doubtful whether the results of the 2009 Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) accurately reflected the situation in the country.

Zambry keen to learn from S'pore
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the state government was interested in learning from Singapore’s experience and expertise in conserving old towns and heritage buildings.

H1N1 PANDEMIC: Quarantine is just a precaution, public told
Several tourists and locals have been quarantined at their hotel rooms and homes in several parts of the state as a precautionary measure due to the H1N1 virus.

THE GREAT RAPTOR MIGRATION: Nature's awesome free show
Starting today, thousands of people from around the country would be flocking to a little known, idyllic cape in Malacca to cheer on the arrival of some VIBs — Very Important Birds. CHAI MEI LING finds out what is so enrapturing about the raptor watch

'Hadi must clarify remark'
PENANG: DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng wants the Pas president to explain his suggestion on forming a coalition government in the country to the Pakatan Rakyat supreme council.

Sivakumar can engage lawyer
PUTRAJAYA: Perak Legislative Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar can engage a lawyer to represent him in two ongoing suits at the Ipoh High Court.

Ruler: I won't meddle in state govt affairs
KANGAR: Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail said yesterday that he does not plan to interfere in the state administration.

Spreading the unity message
KUALA LUMPUR: In an effort to promote unity through the media, the Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with The New Straits Times Press yesterday.

Ban on six firms in Jaya project
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has blacklisted six companies involved in redeveloping the former Jaya Supermarket building, which partly collapsed and claimed seven lives recently.

Reel Time: Ayu and Shila are 'best friends'
ONE In A Million Season 2 champion Norayu Damit takes a coffee break and denies any bad blood with the season's runner-up Shila.

Nationwide audit on needs of schools
KENINGAU: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has ordered officials in the Education Department, from the director-general right down to principals and management boards, to conduct a comprehensive audit on the needs of schools nationwide.

Licence may 'be revoked'
KUALA LUMPUR: Licensed moneylenders involved in loan sharking will lose their licence.

Mum, baby killed in crash
MACHANG: A woman and her 5-month-old son were killed and her husband and two other sons seriously injured when their car crashed into concrete barriers along the roadside at Km47.5 Jalan Kuala Krai-Kota Baru on Thursday.

Exhanging vows in hospital
ALOR STAR: It would be safe to say when Mohd Ikhbal Ramli and Che Nin Jamaludin planned their wedding, they never thought a hospital ward would figure in their plan.

'Don't sensationalise case'
PUTRAJAYA: The Manohara Adelia Pinot issue should not be sensationalised in the media as it could strain relations between Malaysia and Indonesia, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday.

I want to leave the past behind, says Manohara
MANOHARA Odelia Pinot has no bitter feelings towards Malaysians and does not want her countrymen to think badly of Malaysia.

Stadium roof collapse: Panel to probe: Shaziman
KUALA LUMPUR: A committee has been set up to investigate the collapse of the roof of Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Terengganu.

Stadium roof collapse: Local consultants 'not involved'
KUALA TERENGGANU: The three consultants of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium project - Protech Consultant, MA Consult and AZN Engineers - have denied involvement in the structural design or construction of the roof which collapsed on Tuesday morning.

Najib's hand in forging stronger ties with China
DATUK Seri Najib Razak rounded out his visit to China with a personal hand in reinforcing commercial and economic ties between the two countries.

'Islam requires followers to be loyal to leaders'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Friday sermon today called on Muslims to be loyal to their leaders or rulers to ensure peace and prosperity in the country as required by Islam.

Cops freeze loan sharks' accounts
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have frozen bank accounts belonging to the loan sharks wanted in connection with the confinement of three defaulters at a shoplot in Serdang last week.

RM141,000 damages for gunshot victims
KUALA LUMPUR: After 24 years, a contractor and a mechanic who were injured in a shooting incident at the Sungai Besi toll plaza in 1983, can heave a sigh of relief.

No meeting with police as speaker is on leave
IPOH: State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar could not meet police yesterday over the "suspension" of Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and six executive councilllors as he is on leave.

PM to launch Sabah Gabem
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is to launch the Sabah Chapter of the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Sabah Gabem) here on March 12.

RM500m to develop Kuala Terengganu
KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government has allocated RM500 million to develop the state capital.

Indian bodies to give input
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisations wants the teaching of Science and Mathematics to revert to the Tamil language in Tamil schools.

The Hollywood dream
"I'M MAKING a movie for the international market."

The Lavin way to looking good
FORMER Miss Malaysia runner- up Lavin Seow takes a coffee break and shares her view about today's career women.

Murdered agent had dealings with Ah Longs
SEREMBAN: The 40-year-old insurance agent who was shot 10 times at close range outside his house in Taman Desa Beringin, Sikamat, is believed to have had dealings with illegal moneylenders in the past.

Court delays deportation of 'illegal immigrant'
GEORGE TOWN: High Court judicial commissioner Yaakob Md Sam granted Mohd Dovi, 18, a stay of execution of his deportation after his lawyer, R.S.N. Rayer, produced his birth certificate to show that he was born in Bukit Mertajam. Dovi was supposed to be deported today. He had pleaded guilty in the Special Sessions Court in Juru to being in the country without a valid pass on Nov 9 last year. The court, which handles cases of illegal immigrants, had on Dec 16 last year sentenced Dovi to three months' jail and one stroke of rotan. Rayer told the court yesterday that Dovi was not represented in the lower court and did not understand the nature and consequences of his guilty plea. Yaacob fixed April 22 for verification of his birth certificate by the National Registration Department and decision on withdrawing the charge.

Reel Time: Starlets on the move
LET'S check out who are the young actresses who will make an impact in the local film industry.

Shouting match over toll move
PETALING JAYA: The ceremony to abolish toll at the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) turned into a circus when rival political groups turned up to claim credit.

Reel Time: Zaiton the movie
THE rise and fall of controversial Zaiton Sameon whose singing career was cut short by a road accident 19 years ago will be turned into a feature film.

Plans to hire contract teachers
PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry plans to employ 1,000 unemployed graduates as contract teachers.

RM1b spent on illegal betting
KUALA LUMPUR: Bets amounting to RM1 billion were placed with illegal 4D and horse-betting syndicates last year, Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said yesterday.

Members riled over PKR pick
SUNGAI PETANI: All is not well after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced car dealer S. Manikumar as Parti Keadilan Rakyat's candidate for the Bukit Selambau state seat yesterday.

Reel Time: Gorgeous Gals and my, can they act, too!acting is good too
THESE are the leading ladies of Malaysian cinema, but which one has the ability to turn a movie into a box office gold? The verdict is yours.

Reel Time: Emmet heads for Canada
BUTTERFINGERS frontman Emmet Roslan Ishak takes a coffee break to bid farewell to his fans.

Internet Influence On Consumer Choices: Truth, and more, on the net
More and more people are relying on the Internet to get views on products and services they need. They are listening to advice given by total strangers, instead of traditional influencers like newspapers, writes CHANDRA DEVI

Internet Influence On Consumer Choices: The choice is yours, but don't be fleeced
WHILE it makes good consumer sense to gather and share information online, it makes good sense for the consumer to be wary.

Internet Influence On Consumer Choices:
Click, click to holiday
WHILE the Web has enabled every user to contribute his or her opinions on products and services, the impact is not across all categories of information.

4 charged with drug trafficking
JOHOR BARU: Four Taiwanese chemists arrested during a RM61.3 million drug seizure recently were charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with drug trafficking.

Shot twice, lucky to survive
SHAH ALAM: A. Batumalai is lucky to be alive.

Part-time job syndicate busted
GEORGE TOWN: Police have uncovered a syndicate offering part-time jobs at the Immigration Department.

All eyes on Muhyiddin's role
PUTRAJAYA: As the country welcomed new Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday, focus will soon be on the appointment of his deputy.

Bukit Gantang By-Election: Chinese vote can make a difference
TAIPING: Kuala Sepetang, an idyllic fishing town in Bukit Gantang and famous for its fresh seafood, steamed pau and mee udang, has become the hottest place in the run-up to the April 7 by-election.

Bukit Gantang By-Election: Tide changing in favour of BN, says Muhyiddin
TAIPING: Chances of securing a win in the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election are bright for Barisan Nasional, Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Wednesday.

Bukit Gantang By-Election: Policemen exercise voting rights
TAIPING: By-election for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat started yesterday with 128 policemen casting their votes at the district police headquarters here. The process began at 8.30am and ended at 5pm.

Bukit Gantang By-Election: Mukhriz's common touch
TAIPING: Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir warmed his way into the hearts of the people living in their flood-prone village in Sungai Mati here yesterday, when he came a calling on a black bicycle.

Najib: Pakatan not accepting reality
PAKATAN Rakyat can keep on dreaming of a dissolution of the Perak state assembly.

PM: Embrace 1Youth 1Malaysia
MALACCA: Some 10,000 youths attending the National Youth Day gathering at the Malacca International Trade Centre were glued to their seats as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak called on them to embrace the concept of 1Youth 1Malaysia to ensure unity in the country is further strengthened by the future generation.

UM undergraduate robbed
KUALA LUMPUR: A Universiti Malaya undergraduate was robbed of her necklace and ring in her hostel early on Wednesday.

Jailed 2 years for cheating trainees
KUALA LUMPUR: A former hotel employee, who was charged with 22 counts of cheating, was sentenced to two years' jail for each of the charges yesterday.

Hospital sued over husband's death
KUALA LUMPUR: A housewife and her four children yesterday filed a suit against Hospital Pusrawi and two of its doctors for negligence.

Ex-state Welfare Services director charged for graft
KOTA KINABALU: A former State Welfare Services director was yesterday charged with two counts of corruption involving RM10,000 seven years ago.

Appeal to stop clearing work
JOHOR BARU: Nine environmental non-governmental organisations have urged the authorities to stop the clearing work at the 913-hectare environmentally-sensitive mangrove area in Sungai Pulai to make way for a petrochemical project.

Not a game for the faint-hearted
IT was a lesson they never recovered from and it made them turn away from football.

Paediatricians go missing
KUALA LUMPUR: Two paediatricians went missing from the Ampang Puteri Medical Centre, where they worked, on Wednesday.

Reforestation programme a hit
KUALA LUMPUR: More states will be joining in the reforestation programme mooted by the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah.

Lorry driver crushed by collapsing bridge
KLUANG: A lorry driver was killed in what is believed to be a freak accident yesterday.

Singaporean charged with RM17m securities fraud
KUALA LUMPUR: A Singaporean man was charged in the Sessions Court yesterday with committing securities fraud involving RM17.56 million.

Hulu Langat's worst flood in 18 years
KAJANG: Hundreds of homes in Hulu Langat, near here, were inundated when what was believed to be the worst floods in 18 years hit the area yesterday.

Dewan Rakyat Round-Up: It doesn't pay to be rude to the speaker
IT would have been an exceptional week in the house -- one without name-calling or fraught with shouting.

Lights off for Earth Hour
KUALA LUMPUR: The lights in several landmark buildings in the city centre will be switched off for an hour on the evening of March 28 to signify their commitment in the fight against climate change.

Royal gift for kidney patients
KUALA KRAI: The burden suffered by kidney patients especially in the district and the lack of haemodialysis machines at the government hospital has touched the heart of Tengku Mahkota of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra who donated a unit to the Kuala Krai hospital.

He made his parents cry
Social worker, playwright and management consultant Professor Dr G. Suresh Kumar is essentially a tropical medicine and parasitology professor from Universiti Malaya, with 11 awards to his name, writes SONIA RAMACHANDRAN.

Uthayakumar gets to attend court hearing
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday allowed Hindu Rights Action Force legal adviser P. Uthayakumar to be present in court to hear his appeal against a sedition charge.

Two die in mortar bomb blast
JOHOR BARU: Two people were killed and another injured when what is believed to be an old mortar bomb exploded behind the workers' quarters of a factory in Sungai Tiram, Ulu Tiram, yesterday.

Bar: Make a stand on privacy
KUALA LUMPUR: The public should stop viewing or forwarding pictures of Selangor state assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong if they want to make a stand on issues of privacy and morality.

Ayu bows out of talent show
SHAH ALAM: The second contestant to be eliminated from the talent show One In A Million Season Three (OIAM3) is 20-year-old Ayu Tekhary of Muar.

Details of errant welfare officer sought
KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen has denied welfare officers were sabotaging hardcore poverty eradication efforts in Penang.

'Consulate liaised with Hema's elder brother'
KUALA LUMPUR: Wisma Putra has denied the claim by the sister of the late Hemalatha Kasippillai that it had not been in communication with the deceased's family during the Mumbai terror attacks on Nov 26 last year.

CAP wants agency to probe voicemail charges
GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association of Penang has urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to probe into the hidden charges on voice mails.

Murugiah steps in to defuse row
IPOH: The parents of two pupils of a primary school in Tanjung Rambutan have lodged police reports claiming a teacher had used her mobile phone to snap inappropriate pictures of their sons.

Hindraf leaders among 13 freed
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders V. Ganabatirau, and R. Kengadharan, both 40, are among 13 Internal Security Act detainees to be released immediately.

Charged with cheating Telekom
KUALA LUMPUR: A jobless man was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with four counts of cheating Telekom Malaysia Bhd involving more than RM4 million.

Identity of 'Little India' in jeopardy
KLANG: One could ask why they bothered in the first place.

4 charged with drug trafficking
JOHOR BARU: Four Taiwanese chemists arrested during RM61.3 million drug seizure recently were charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with drug trafficking.

The choice is yours, but don't be fleeced
WHILE it makes good consumer sense to gather and share information online, it makes good sense for the consumer to be wary.

Johor, Negri and Malacca police enhance co-operation
JOHOR BARU: The state police contingents of Johor, Negri Sembilan and Malacca are enhancing their cooperation under the Southern Region Planning and Prevention Programme.

PD project may go to consortium
SEREMBAN: The state government may award the duty-free zone project in Port Dickson to a consortium comprising local and foreign companies.

Prosthetic limbs for two
KUALA LUMPUR: When Fitri Suriani Suhaidi was 14, she was told her left leg had to be amputated because of bone cancer.

Plans for safety fund
LABUAN: The Transport Ministry has proposed that the Marine Department set up a safety endowment fund to take the nation's sea transport services to a higher safety standard.

2 years' jail over abortion deaths
KUALA LUMPUR: A 63-year-old grandmother who escaped jail last year for performing an illegal abortion was shocked yesterday when the High Court ordered her to spend two years behind bars.

UEM deposits RM47m pending appeal
PUTRAJAYA: Government-linked company UEM (Group) Bhd, embroiled in a shareholder dispute with its Singapore partner, has agreed to deposit RM47.2 million in a stakeholder's account as a condition to obtain a stay of execution against a Court of Appeal ruling.

Five-star rating for air force system
KUALA LUMPUR: The government recently awarded the Royal Malaysian Air Force a five-star rating for its new management system.

Diners will remember Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: A popular restaurant in Brickfields, the little India of the federal capital, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak visited soon after taking office nearly two months ago, intends to name part of the eatery "Najib's Corner".

Carpenter escapes the gallows
GEORGE TOWN: A 47-year-old carpenter, who was charged with trafficking ganja six years ago, escaped the gallows after the High Court discharged him yesterday. Judge Datuk Abdul Halim Aman said he had to dismiss Yuszaidi Md Yusoff without calling for his defence because the prosecution proffered contradicting evidence. Yuszaidi, who was represented by R.S.N. Rayer, was accused of trafficking at the rest area of a Chinese temple near Jalan Mak Mandin on Jan 22, 2003.

Jailed, fined, for stealing sarong
BUTTERWORTH: The magistrate's court yesterday sentenced a 22-year-old lorry attendant to a month's jail and RM300 fine for stealing a batik sarong belonging to his neighbour. Abdul Rahim Rohani pleaded guilty to committing the offence at Kampung Kubang Menerong in Tasik Glugor on Tuesday.Chief Inspector N. Govindarajan, prosecuting, said Rahim was caught red-handed by his neighbour. In mitigation, Rahim, who was unrepresented, said he stole because he did not have any money.

Teenager claims he was attacked
KEPALA BATAS: A 15-year-old youth claimed that he was assaulted by 13 former schoolmates at a secondary school in Bukit Mertajam here on Wednesday. Muhammad I'rfan Taufiq claimed that he was attacked for failing to retrieve a cellphone belonging to his former schoolmate. The phone was confiscated by a teacher at the religious school earlier. Muhammad I'rfan claimed that he was punched, kicked, and attacked with a plastic container and shoes.

More flights between Sabah and Singapore in the making
KOTA KINABALU: AirAsia will likely be flying between two towns in Sabah and Singapore by mid-year.

REEL TIME: Malaysia's Super Twins
KIDS can help make a film. That explains the phenomenal success of Malaysia's first 3D film, Geng Pengembaraan Bermula.

PC fair takes on carnival atmosphere
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a festival of colours and sounds at the opening of the Pikom PC Fair 2009 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre yesterday.

Drugs brought in with statues
CHENNAI: Customs officials uncovered the unholy intentions of a syndicate when they seized ketamine concealed in a plywood box packed with statues of Hindu deities bound for Malaysia.

Longest LAN party in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The game is on since 12.01am today and the aim is to place Malaysia's name in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Charged with theft
JOHOR BARU: Two employees of a shipping company in Pasir Gudang were charged at a magistrate's court here yesterday with three counts of stealing electrical cable drums worth a total of RM1.2 million.

Engineer shot at by gunman outside home
NILAI: A factory engineer narrowly escaped being shot by a masked man in front of his house in Taman Desa Melati near here when the bullet went wide and hit the floor just outside his front door.

Songwriter Zubir Ali, 59, dies
PETALING JAYA: Singer-songwriter and the founding member of folk outfit Harmoni, Zubir Ali died after suffering from heart complications at the Damansara Specialist Centre yesterday. Zubir, 59, died at 10.30am.

Call to set up auxiliary police unit to tackle bullies
KUALA LUMPUR: A special auxiliary police unit should be set up to combat school bullies, said Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin, project director of the Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association (PPIM) yesterday.

Tracking chip helps nab three hijackers
SHAH ALAM: Three men thought they were home and dry after transferring a stolen consignment of cigarettes from a hijacked vehicle to their escape van.

'Foreigners taking away jobs from locals'
KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign workers and students are taking away business opportunities from locals by working longer hours for less.

Women of Courage award for Ambiga
KUALA LUMPUR: Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan will receive the prestigious International Women of Courage Award from United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday.

'Rocket' sales drive slammed
GEORGE TOWN: Selling the Rocket to help the hard core poor?

A non-Muslim, rules court
SEREMBAN: A 60-year-old man whose identity card carries a Malay name, but was raised as a Christian since he was 2-months-old, was yesterday declared a non-Muslim by the Syariah Court.

Muthu needs 500 forms but only gets 65
SEREMBAN: Former MIC vice-president Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan yesterday alleged that party headquarters had given him insufficient nomination forms to contest the party president's post.

Minister's aides quizzed over money politics
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has questioned a political secretary and a special officer to a minister over alleged money politics.

Kugan's mother lodges report
PETALING JAYA: Indra Nallathamby, the mother of A. Kugan, the detainee who died in police custody, has lodged a police report against Serdang Hospital and its pathologist Dr Abdul Karim Tajudin yesterday.

Council gets two weeks to resolve Klang Sentral issue
SHAH ALAM: Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has given the Klang Municipal Council two weeks to resolve the issue on the relocation of the old Klang bus station to the Klang Sentral bus terminal in Meru.

Better chance for students
KOTA KINABALU: Students in Sabah and Sarawak now stand a better chance at obtaining scholarships from the Public Service Department, thanks to a new system which specifically allocates 100 scholarships to each of the states.

Four killed in car-lorry crash
MALACCA: Four best friends shared the same first name, dormitory and a passion for rugby. Sadly, they also shared a tragic death.

Relative held over double murder
SEREMBAN: Police have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a father and daughter at Taman Tuanku Ampuan Najihah in Sungai Gadut, Senawang, near here about a week ago.

Call to drop use of Pakatan Rakyat
KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno Youth yesterday suggested that all quarters, including the media, cease to use the term "Pakatan Rakyat" to refer to the opposition pact because the loose coalition of opposition parties was not a legitimate entity.

KLIA taxis' new rules
PUTRAJAYA: Airport taxis can no longer wait at the kerbside for more than 10 minutes after picking up passengers.

Reel Time: Ashraf has no time for that gay role
ASHRAF Muslim, the TV actor/model, takes a coffee break and explains why he rejected the role of a homosexual in Raja Azmi's Anu Dalam Botol.

CrossTalk: Open sesame for scholarships
Parents Dr Ravigadevi Sambanthamurthi and Ahmad Ikmal Ismail, with KOH LAY CHIN sitting in, have an illuminating discussion over limiting the numbers of subjects that a student can sit for in the SPM

Reel Time: Farah takes five to pamper herself
SINGER Farah Asyikin takes a coffee break and shares her thoughts on fame and controversy.

Reel Time: From the pages to the silver screen
MANY Hollywood blockbusters have been adapted from best-selling novels.

Rosmah: Seek counselling for stress
BANGI: Parents or guardians who cannot control their anger or cope with stress should seek expert help or counselling.

Gerakan V-P Huan plans to quit party
GEORGE TOWN: Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan has announced his intention to resign from the party.

Miss Universe 2005 here to judge pageant
KUALA LUMPUR: Cameras clicked when Natalie Glebova walked out of the arrival hall at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday.

Diplomatic Dealings: Najib building on ties that began with his father
CHINA is a country that cannot be ignored by the global community of nations. Neither will it allow others, especially those in the region, to ignore it.

Mothers Day special for inmates
KUALA LUMPUR: Rose (not her real name) wore a stoic front on Thursday despite the obvious sadness over her husband and children's failure to attend the Kajang Prison's Mothers Day celebrations.

Stress factor in rising IBS cases
KUALA LUMPUR: About 430,000 Malaysians suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and the number is rising, thanks to increasing stress levels.

Perak moves to set up ICT centres with China, Vietnam
IPOH: As part of the effort to enhance and expand the information, communications and technology sector outside Perak, the state government will collaborate with China and Vietnam to set up the Shared Services and Outsourcing (SSO) centre, the first of its kind in the country.

Two Nigerian students killed in crash
SEREMBAN: Two Nigerian students were killed when their car collided with a lorry near the Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in Jalan Mantin-Beranang yesterday.

Maid brutally attacks woman
GEORGE TOWN: Lying bloodied and broken, Phang Kian Huang had to play dead to survive a brutal attack by her Indonesian maid which left her with multiple fractures and needing 100 stitches.

Eight in the dock over murder
KUALA LUMPUR: He was a 39-year-old in love with a 19-year-old woman.

2 Mat Rempit meet fiery end in collision
GUA MUSANG: Riding with a reckless display of daredevil motorcycling stunts, two teenage Mat Rempit met a fiery end when their machines collided with each another and burst into flames on Thursday.

Muslim convert goes missing
KOTA BARU: A man from China lodged a police report on Tuesday claiming his 17-year-old countryman, who was believed to have come to Kelantan to learn more about Islam, had gone missing.

IGP: Three men held under ISA
KUALA LUMPUR: Three men, including an Indonesian, were arrested under the Internal Security Act on March 5 and early this month.

MAS offers 1m seats at discount
DUBAI: Malaysia Airlines will offer more than one million seats at a discount.

Shahrizat replaces 10 of 13 state heads
KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-elected Wanita Umno head Senator Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has replaced 10 out of 13 state heads.

Duo grab gems worth RM70,000
KUALA LUMPUR: A gunman and his hammer-wielding accomplice robbed a goldsmith shop of jewellery worth about RM70,000 in Jalan Bangsar here yesterday. The two managed to take only four trays of jewellery as the goldsmith had triggered the burglar alarm in the 2pm incident. The robbers sped off in a car driven by an accomplice. Brickfields police chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said there was no closed-circuit television camera at the shop.-- Bernama

Senior DPP held after graft report
SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission apprehended a senior deputy public prosecutor on Wednesday, believed to be able to assist in a drug-related investigation. The officer, in his 30s, was arrested at 6.30pm and released after his statement was recorded. He is being investigated after a graft report was lodged against him. MACC chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan confirmed the report.

Furniture factory razed
RAWANG: Several million ringgit worth of wood products went up in flames yesterday when fire engulfed a furniture factory in Sungai Choh, here yesterday.

Budget airlines benefit as skies begin to open
KUALA LUMPUR: The decision by Malaysia and Singapore to further liberalise air travel between them is expected to benefit low-cost carriers -- Firefly and AirAsia -- when the new traffic rights take effect in June, sources said.

'PKR not respecting Guan Eng'
GEORGE TOWN: State Gerakan said yesterday it was disrespectful of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to force a by-election for the Penanti state constituency without the consent of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Police to increase patrols in plantations
KUALA SELANGOR: Police will increase their presence at plantations in the state, especially in the district, to prevent crimes.

'Cut red tape to help businesses'
GEORGE TOWN: State governments should cut down on the red tape associated with loan application schemes to help small and medium enterprises.

May 15 decision on Sivarasa's application
KUCHING: The High Court yesterday fixed May 15 to decide on Subang member of parliament Sivarasa Rasiah's leave application for a judicial review of his ban to enter Sarawak.

CrossTalk: POLES APART... maybe not
They may have explored the poles but it’s still about lipsticks and handbags for British explorer Hannah McKeand and Malaysian explorer Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina. AUDREY VIJAINDREN listens in as these two extraordinary women talk about reaching the ends of the world, cultural differences and the undying spirit of sisterhood.

Take charge, students told
KUALA LUMPUR: Studying at a college or university is very different from learning in school.

RHB/NST Spell-It-Right Challenge: It's compulsory to take part, rural schools told
KUALA LUMPUR: The RHB New Straits Times Spell-It-Right Challenge ran into a stroke of pure luck yesterday.

RHB/NST Spell-It-Right Challenge: Bigger, better prizes this year
KUALA LUMPUR: The RHB New Straits Times Spell-it-Right (SIR) Challenge is back for the second year running, bigger and better.

'Nizar's actions conflicted with public interest'
KUALA LUMPUR: Ousted Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin filed a judicial review application with an ulterior motive of preventing Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir from governing the state.

New panel to hear ex-coach's appeal
PUTRAJAYA: Former national coach Ramanathan Chelliah, who was charged with outraging the modesty of two female athletes almost 17 years ago, was freed yesterday.

Penning 'From Hero to Zero' kept Rama busy
PUTRAJAYA: The past nine months in jail was no easy ride for Ramanathan Chelliah.

Put history back in expert hands
Following our package last week on what's being taught as history in the nation's schools, SHERIDAN MAHAVERA and SITI NURBAIYAH NADZMI listen to what historians and teachers have to say

Proper knowledge needed to build understanding
Excerpts from an interview with Tan Sri Professor Khoo Kay Kim, who explains how history is written, published and taught these days:

Centring teaching on the student
ALL is not well in the upper secondary history class. The good students are cramming to score As; the weaker ones count the minutes away. They have to at least sit for the compulsory subject, if not pass it, to get a Sijil Pelajaran Menengah certificate.

Looking for toll hike solution
KLANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has asked the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to seek a comprehensive solution to the prickly toll rates increase issue.

PKR: There's no conspiracy to topple Fairus
GEORGE TOWN: State Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) liaison committee chairman Datuk Zahrain Hashim denied yesterday there was conspiracy or malicious intent to bring down former deputy chief minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

EC labelled 'Umno creature'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Election Commission has been accused of deliberately fixing the nomination and polling dates for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary and Bukit Selambau state seats after the Umno elections next month, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said yesterday.

Nizar: We'll go to banquet
IPOH: Will state Pakatan Rakyat leaders be on the guest list for the royal banquet at Istana Iskandariah tonight to mark the 25th anniversary of Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah's ascension to the throne?

MTUC wants pay cut for ministers
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has proposed that all ministers take a pay cut if the economic situation in the country warrants it.

One FM set to create waves among Chinese listeners
PETALING JAYA: Media Prima Radio Network (MPRN) added another feather to its cap by offering a Chinese radio station to listeners.

CROSSTALK One role model, past and present

Cops want to talk to Arumugam
ALOR STAR: Police still want to talk to former state executive councillor V. Arumugam on the authenticity of the statutory declaration announcing his resignation, despite the Election Commission's acceptance of the document. State police chief Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said police needed to take his statement as it was part of the investigation process. Syed Ismail said Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Division was also involved in the investigations. He declined to elaborate.

Court allows family to intervene in fued
PUTRAJAYA: The family of the late Raja Nong Chik Raja Ishak's second wife, Jumaaton @ Zaiton Awang, was yesterday given the green light by the Court of Appeal to intervene in the appeal relating to the family feud over the estate of the businessman.

Aviation industry to encourage tourism
KUALA TERENGGANU: The tourism industry here is waiting for the aviation industry to take off in hopes it will boost tourism prospects in years to come, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahamd Said said Wednesday.

Parang-wielding man attacks policeman
TAMPIN: A policeman suffered slash wounds on the face and hands after he was attacked by a man with a parang in front of his house in Taman Bukit Tampin, here, on Thursday night.

Adventures, thrills at Xterra Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: To those who love extreme outdoor activities, get ready for the Xterra Malaysia Kuantan Offroad Triathlon 2009 next month.

House in heritage zone demolished
GEORGE TOWN: A century-old village within the Unesco heritage zone here was partially damaged yesterday when a vacant house there was demolished without the council's approval.

All decorated and ready for Wesak
GEORGE TOWN: Ohara Floral Art Society members decorated a Wesak Day float at the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Jalan Burma here yesterday.

Tourism budget is 'not enough'
MIRI: Stung by criticisms that "not enough was done" to market and promote the Mulu national park and Miri city in Singapore, the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has handed in a request to the state Tourism Ministry for an additional RM1 million to launch a "multi-pronged and stepped up" campaign in the island nation.

HEROES IN BLUE: Stench of death held no fear for these commandos
Corporal Rochus Laga was a well-trained commando, but nothing prepared the VAT 69 member for a night in the jungle in 2004 with seven bodies. FADHAL A. GHANI has the story.

Raja Petra fails in bid to transfer case
KUALA LUMPUR: Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin has failed in his bid to transfer his criminal defamation case from the Sessions Court to the magistrate's court.

Manoharan visits sick daughter
PETALING JAYA: Internal Security Act detainee and Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan was allowed leave to visit his daughter who had been hospitalised yesterday.

A record-breaking cupcake feat
KUANTAN: One group of women were busy topping icing on cupcakes outside the Mahkota Complex hall and another group took the cakes inside the building and arranged them on a platform to resemble the Jalur Gemilang.

Retrenchment figure in Malaysia drops
SEREMBAN: A total of 27,000 workers have been retrenched throughout the country as of February due to the world economic slowdown.

Gerakan: Do not politicise conversion issue
SUNGAI SIPUT: Gerakan has criticised Pas for not working with the government to solve problems caused by conversion of one partner in a marriage to Islam.

Protesters against directive on underage conversion
KUALA LUMPUR: Federal Territory Pas Youth members held a demonstration calling for a retraction to the cabinet's recent directive on underage conversion at Masjid Jamek in Kampung Baru yesterday.

Rahman takes oath for third term
PENANG: Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas yesterday took the oath of office for his third four-year term as Yang Dipertua Negeri.

Pas slammed over conversion issue
GEORGE TOWN: The reaction by Pas information chief Mahfuz Omar against the cabinet's decision that the religion of children born to non-Muslims must be the common religion of the parents when they were married is an unjustified attack on the decision.

Man feared drowned
KOTA TINGGI: A man is feared drowned after being swept away by a wave during an outing at the Tanjung Balau beach here yesterday afternoon.

Six expected to contest Penanti seat
PERMATANG PAUH: As many as six people are expected to submit their nominations for the Penanti by-election today.

Plan to fight rising prices using 1Malaysia concept
KOTA KINABALU: The 1Malaysia concept also entails the need to narrow the gap in the prices of goods between Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula.

Young robber gets a break
KUALA LUMPUR: It was a touching moment at the Sessions Court yesterday when a judge ordered a young offender to seek forgiveness from his father and sister before passing the sentence.

Territorial Army team to scale Mount Kinabalu
KUANTAN: A team of 59 officers and men from the 505 Regiment of the Territorial Army will attempt to climb to the summit of Mount Kinabalu tomorrow.

Study on dam, plant for Sabah
LOK KAWI: A feasibility study is being carried out on the proposed construction of a dam and water treatment plant here with sufficient capacity to cater to the needs of Kota Kinabalu city and its surrounding districts until 2050.

Bridging the gap on gender bias
What is equality of gender equality, and why do women want it so much? Why should men give up everything that they have now, merely to appease this strange notion? ANIZA DAMIS speaks to Lies Marcoes, a senior programme officer of Asia Foundation, trainer of gender and Islam in Indonesia and a mother of three

Paying tithes via kiosks
KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims can look forward to paying their tithes electronically using the "Maju Masjid (Mosque Development) eZakat/eDerma kiosks, which will be placed in mosques across the country.

Karpal gets death threat, bullets in mail
GEORGE TOWN: Outspoken DAP chairman Karpal Singh has received a death threat that he, along with his whole family, would be "annihilated".

2 claim trial to corruption
KLANG: Two land officers from the Rompin District Land and Mines Department were charged separately at the Sessions Court with two counts of corruption.

Spending must have impact on the ground, says Tee Keat
JOHOR BARU: Political stability, coupled with an effective delivery system and implementation of relevant policies, are crucial to boost the effectiveness of the government's economic stimulus package to be announced next month.

Kite festival leaves young spellbound
PASIR GUDANG: For the past 14 years, the Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival has been exposing the younger generation to traditional and modern forms of kite-making.

Siblings donate their savings
KOTA KINABALU: Moved by scenes of children killed in Gaza, a brother and sister gave up part of their savings to help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians.

Heritage status for Victoria Institution
KUALA LUMPUR: While city folk celebrate Valentine's Day today, another big event will also be taking place here.

Cops charged with taking drugs
BUTTERWORTH: Two police constables with the Seberang Prai Utara police headquarters were charged at separate magistrate's courts here yesterday with taking drugs.

Former deputy V-C held over forged documents
KUALA LUMPUR: A former deputy vice-chancellor was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday for allegedly forging documents to extend his tenure.

MACC has Umno polls date in mind
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is expected to wrap up all its investigations involving Umno members before party polls on March 28.

Najib to name BN candidate for Bukit Selambau today
PENDANG: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will announce the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election today.

8 years' jail for Malaysian drug mule
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian woman was sentenced to eight years' in jail by the Supreme Court in Brisbane, Australia, yesterday for smuggling almost two kilogrammes of cocaine worth A$2 million (RM4.7 million).

Khir: Secret plot to discredit me
SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, who is contesting the Umno Youth chief post, claims there is a secret plot aimed at tarnishing his reputation in the run-up to the party polls later this month.

Mukhriz refutes 'sabotage' accusation
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who is battling Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo for the top post in Umno Youth, has shot down his rival's accusation that he was attempting to sabotage the former Selangor menteri besar's campaign.

Training programme for unemployed grads launched
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday launched the Graduate Employability Management Scheme (Gems), aimed at reducing unemployment.

MPs enjoy immunity, but not if they touch on 2 issues
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of parliament do not have immunity and court action can be taken against them if they raise certain issues related to the Federal Constitution and Sedition Act.

Reps were underperformers, says Nizar
IPOH: Former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has accused Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi of underperforming in their duties when they were executive councillors.

Kedah Siamese want English policy to stay
PENDANG: The Kedah Siam-ese Association is all for the teaching of Science and Mathematics to be continued in English.

Kedah sultan to open Sahoca building
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan Abdul Hamid Old Collegians' Association (Sahoca) will soon have a home in Kelana Jaya, Selangor.

Signboard renaming Chetty Padang comes down
KLANG: One could ask why they bothered in the first place.

Charged with making threat
SHAH ALAM: A retired army personnel was charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with threatening to stab his girlfriend and causing her grievous hurt. Abu Bakar Abdullah, 41, was alleged to have pointed a knife at Nurul Syazwani Mohd, 23, and said "biar aku tusuk hati kamu (I will stab your heart)", and assaulted her. The alleged offences occurred in Jalan Persiaran Selangor, Section 15 here on Tuesday. Abu Bakar claimed trial to both charges. Magistrate Norkamilah Aziz granted RM4,500 bail in one surety and fixed May 7 for mention.

Give him a chance, PM's children urge Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR:One can only imagine what it is like to be the children of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

CrossTalk: Add value for F1 to flourish here
Former F1 driver Alex Yoong, who had a brief spell in the sport, and Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, the long-serving secretary- general of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, share their views on F1 and the Malaysian race with M.K. MEGAN

Cop jailed six months, fined over bribery
KUANTAN: Six years ago, a chief inspector asked for a RM500 bribe from a karaoke centre owner but got only RM400.

Raja Petra's case delayed to Feb 19
KUALA LUMPUR: Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin's criminal defamation case has been postponed to Feb 19 pending the High Court's decision on his application to have the case transferred back to the magistrate's court.

Ng: 22,600 to receive welfare aid
SEREMBAN: The government has approved 22,667 applicants to receive welfare aid since Project Cari was launched by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry last October.

Ong and Chua still 'remain good friends'
MUAR: Several bunting showing the MCA Bakri division Chinese New Year celebration and pictures of both MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and Bakri division chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng in their most cheerful smiles have kept Muar folk puzzled for weeks.

Muhyiddin: Do not take unity for granted
LANGKAWI: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the people can have differing political views but they should not let the differences cause a split among them.

Mercy Malaysia in Sri Lanka
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of internally-displaced people in Sri Lanka is increasing every day.

Teacher, policeman claim trial to molest charges
A teacher was charged at the magistrate’s court yesterday with molesting a student on three occasions over three years.

S'gor Turf Club members get to sue their management committee
The Federal Court has ruled that members of a registered society can sue their management committee for wrongdoing in the interest of their association.

CrossTalk: In KL, the car is king
With ARMAN AHMAD sitting in, consultant Goh Bok Yen and lecturer Moaz Yusuf Ahmad find common ground in their criticism of Kuala Lumpur’s woefully inadequate public transport system.

Reel Time: Box office wars
THE Hollywood summer season has started in Malaysia and its fever is spreading like H1N1.

Reel Time: Sherry is happily grounded
ACTRESS and TV host Sherry Ibrahim takes a coffee break and talks about the importance of positive thinking.

Aaron KOs state champion
KUALA TERENGGANU: Call it winner's intuition but Aaron Khor Gaik Neng had a feeling he would be clinching the top spot in the RHB New Straits Times Spell-It-Right Challenge shortly after the competition began yesterday.

Gawai Dayak national open house on June 13
SERIAN: The Gawai Dayak national-level open house 2009 will be held at the state indoor stadium on June 13.

Orchid named after Najib and Rosmah
A TALL and robust hybrid of the Dendrobium Ronald Imanuel and Dendrobium Jeffrey Tan orchids was named Dendrobium Najib Rosmah in conjunction with the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the National Orchid Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens yesterday.

Defaulters put Mara in a tight spot over loans
GEORGE TOWN: The state Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has been unable to process applications for loans, totalling RM3 million, because many borrowers had failed to repay their loans.

Najib: We'll contest Manik Urai
SINGAPORE: Barisan Nasional will contest the Manik Urai state seat in a by-election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.

Two killed, 9 injured in head-on collision
MUADZAM SHAH: Two motorists were killed and nine people injured in a head-on collision between two vehicles here on Thursday.

Irwan Amir's passion for batik
KUALA TERENGGANU: Just like his batik designs, Irwan Amir Rufianto Mohd Suhartono, 29, is one of a kind.

FT Umno drawing up strategies to win back Malay votes
KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories Umno will study the reasons why Malay voters rejected them in last year's elections.

Drug mule gets 15 years' jail and rotan
SHAH ALAM: Life was never a bed of roses for former entertainment outlet worker Tiang Wei Jiun.

SP Setia establishes academic chair in Utar
SHAH ALAM: SP Setia Bhd yesterday signed an RM1.25 million sponsorship deal to set up an academic chair in environmental engineering and green technology at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar).

Sixth victim of influenza A confirmed
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia yesterday confirmed its sixth victim of influenza A (H1N1) - a Malaysian student in New York who returned to the country on June 3.

Rizu fails to impress viewers
SHAH ALAM: Contestant Ridzuan Sharifuddin or Rizu was voted off popular 8TV reality talent show One In A Million Season 3 last night.

Man claims trial in incest case
KLANG: A 37-year-old factory worker claimed trial at the Sessions Court yesterday to committing incest against his 10-year-old daughter. He was alleged to have raped the girl in his home in Kapar between July 2007 and April last year. Judge Yong Zarida Sazali denied him bail and fixed May 15 for mention. Deputy public prosecutor Aimi Syazwani Sarmin prosecuted while the accused was not represented.

Govt urged to protect status of Bahasa Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The government was yesterday urged to redouble its efforts in empowering Bahasa Malaysia to ensure that it remained the country's main language while at the same time pushing for the importance of English as the second language.

Rais wants investigation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno disciplinary board should consider investigating all members of the Umno supreme council for money politics, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Teen raped by duo armed with parang
KUALA LUMPUR: An 18-year-old was robbed and taken on a terror ride before being repeatedly raped by two parang-wielding men yesterday.

Fify voted out of 8TV reality talent show
SHAH ALAM: Contestant Fify Ahmad was voted out of popular 8TV reality talent show One In A Million Season 3 (OIAM3) yesterday.

Two gangs linked to 170 break-ins busted
SHAH ALAM: Police believe they have solved more than 170 cases of house break-ins and robberies in the Klang Valley after busting two gangs in Pandan Indah and Damansara recently.

Reel Time: When the economy slows down... Malaysian film-makers feel the heat
IT'S the calm before the storm.

Reel Time: Iking can't get enough of motherhood
Hot mama, model, actress and TV host Daphne Iking takes a coffee break to tell us why Malaysians need to switch off the lights on March 28.

IBRAHIM HUSSEIN (1936-2009): The art of gratitude
The artist Ibrahim Hussein passed away on Feb 19, three weeks short of his 73rd birthday. REHMAN RASHID offers acknowledgements

Heroes In Blue: He kept his cool in the line of fire
Policemen working under the aegis of the United Nations are never armed. Superintendent Baharuddin Idris, posted to Angola to monitor a ceasefire between the government and rebel forces in 1997, speaks to FADHAL A. GHANI about one occasion of the times he wished he had been allowed to carry a weapon

A favour for friend lands foreigner in jail
KUALA LUMPUR: A man's willingness to do his friend a favour proved wrong as it landed him in jail.

Storm rips roofs off 16 homes
ARAU: A storm left a trail of damage in three villages in Jelempok near Guar Sanji, about 4pm on Wednesday.

Man claims trial to money laundering
KUALA LUMPUR: An investment company director claimed trial at the Sessions Court yesterday to two counts of money laundering amounting to RM428,101.91.

Influenza A: 'Virus will spread far and wide'
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation said yesterday research suggests the influenza A virus was so contagious, it would probably spread to new, unaffected regions.

Influenza A: Man quarantined after Hatyai trip
TEMERLOH: A man in his 20s from Kampung Padang Luas near Bera here has been placed under observation at Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital after he developed symptoms similar to those of influenza A (H1N1) following his return from Hatyai two days ago.

Influenza A: Steps taken to prevent outbreak
MALACCA: Malaysians have been assured that the Health Ministry has taken all the necessary precautions in accordance with the available protocol to prevent an influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in the country.

Trainee dies of meningitis
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry confirmed yesterday that a trainee at the Police Training Centre in Jempol had died of meningitis at the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban.

CrossTalk: Student activism, then and now
Some 35 years separate them. Hishamuddin Rais was president of the Universiti of Malaya in 1974 and Mohd Ridzuan Mohammad is the present president. With ARMAN AHMAD sitting in, the ex-president, often portrayed as a rabble-rouser, and the current president, a young man with ‘progressive ideas’, talk about the of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 and student activism in the country

Sivakumar files for injunction against Ganesan
IPOH: The Perak constitutional-cum-political crisis has deepened on another front.

No plans to move white Rajah's schooner wreck
THERE are no plans to remove the wreck of the last white Rajah's schooner Maimunah from her final resting place in Sungai Maong, Kuching, as it is not a navigational hazard, the assembly was told yesterday.

May 21 court date for Zambry and Nizar
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has fixed May 21 to hear both Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir's appeal and Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's application.

Zambry hopes for quick end to impasse
IPOH:A good business climate must be maintained in the face of the current uncertainty so that Perak and its people will not suffer.

S'pore hands over 30 stolen cars
SHAH ALAM: Singapore police have recovered 30 Malaysian stolen vehicles worth RM2.3 million.

Bar Council to submit memorandum to PM
PETALING JAYA: The Bar Council will submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the alleged "unlawful detention" of five lawyers and the abuse of power by the police 10 days ago.

Here's your chance to be a filmmaker
KUALA LUMPUR: The third annual BMW Shorties film competition was launched on Thursday, giving aspiring filmmakers a shot at realising their celluloid dreams professionally.

3 traffickers sentenced to death
JOHOR BARU: Three men have a date with the hangman as they were found guilty by the High Court yesterday, of trafficking in 45.49kg of ganja.

'Nik Aziz should discuss with Hadi'
ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat should have discussed with party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang on the proposal of setting up a unity government between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional.

Dos and don'ts to counter negative effects
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kedah Health Department has come out with a list of dos and don'ts during the haze.

Windfall for three lucky fathers
KUALA LUMPUR: Three fathers are truly blessed this Father's Day -- they struck a total of RM14.4 million in the Toto jackpot last weekend.

Awi is Johor's herbal tracker
MERSING: For Awi Mabot, 61, the jungle is his second home.

Adrift at sea for 20 hours
KUALA TERENGGANU: Drifting in the sea on a boat which had run out of fuel and blanketed by thick haze, all Abdul Halim Salam could do was to pray.

Tee Keat criticised over comment
GEORGE TOWN: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has been criticised for calling on Lim Kit Siang to apologise to the Chinese community over DAP's appeal to them to support Pas in the last general election.

Man on wanted list for luxury car thefts shot
SHAH ALAM: A man high on the wanted list for a string of luxury car thefts in the Klang Valley was injured yesterday after being shot by the police.

Give priority to Islamic banking, government told
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to make Islamic banking as one of the most important agendas in efforts to build energy capacity in future.

Starving girl accused of stealing food
MUAR: She has been stealing food from her classmates for quite some time.

No payments until isssue of MB and councillors settled
IPOH: The Perak Public Accounts Committee yesterday announced a freeze on the salaries, allowances and perks of Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and his six executive councillors until the political and constitutional crisis in the state is resolved.

CrossTalk: It's really change or be changed
The 59th Umno General Assembly was not only closely watched by party members, it was highly important to Barisan Nasional component parties and the rakyat. KOH LAY CHIN talks to MCA's Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong and PPP's Datuk M. Kayveas about just how vital this Umno polls are and what they hope from the Umno leadership helmed by new president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Banks ignoring credit card grouses
PETALING JAYA: Banks are closing an eye to the misdeeds of merchants at the expense of millions of credit card users nationwide.

Diplomatic Dealings: Prosper thy neighbour concept for prosperity
THE spat over the Spratly Islands is increasingly disturbing.

Heroes In Blue: Diplomatic skills won the day for him
SOLVING a case quickly sometimes is not enough. Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner Zakaria Pagan tells FADHAL A. GHANI that patience and public relations are part and parcel of police work.

PM's speech: New approaches for new times
Full text of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's speech on assuming office yesterday

MMA clears the air over occupational health cases
KUALA LUMPUR: Doctors are up in arms over allegations that ignorance among some in their ranks had led to thousands of workers being deprived of aid and pensions from the Social Security Organisation.

Congress on social contract
KUALA LUMPUR: A National Malay Congress will be held to re-educate the public on historical issues like the social contract and the Malay rulers' role in the society.

Umno General Assembly: Sabahans stamp their mark in style
KUALA LUMPUR: Mention tatap at the Putra World Trade Centre and Sabah Umno comes to mind.

Respect decision of ROS, says DPM
KENINGAU: The decision to allow the People's Progressive Party to proceed with its 56th annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled tomorrow should be respected.

Sugar subsidy may end
IPOH: The government is considering withdrawing subsidies for sugar in a move to encourage people to consume less sugar.

NS trainee assaulted
ROMPIN:A National Service trainee who tried to stop a fight between two groups of trainees ended up being assaulted at the Summerset training camp here, on Thursday.

Gaza varsity needs aid
KUALA LUMPUR: The board of trustees of the Islamic University of Gaza where two buildings were destroyed in an aerial attack by the Zionist regime last December has appealed for aid from Malaysians for reconstruction.

PAS Muktamar: Hadi reopens door for unity talks with BN
SHAH ALAM: Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has reopened the door for talks to set up a unity government between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional, after slamming it shut two months earlier.

PAS Muktamar: 'We can lead a Pakatan govt'
SHAH ALAM: Pas has offered to lead the country if Pakatan Rakyat wins the next general election.

PAS Muktamar: Polls went smoothly, results today
SHAH ALAM: Pas elections went smoothly yesterday, with 1,044 delegates casting their votes starting at 3.40pm for their choice of national party leaders for the next three years.

Boycott: Guan Eng blames PKR man
PENANG: The boycott by PKR councillors in the Seberang Prai Municipal Council of yesterday's swearing-in ceremony of council president Mokhtar Jait was over the dissatisfaction of chief whip, Johari Kassim, on Mokhtar's appointment.

PAS Muktamar: Unity proposal reveals rifts
SHAH ALAM: Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's statement yesterday favouring further discussions on a unity government between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional has been criticised by a senior party leader.

REEL TIME: A song and dance will do nicely for Jaclyn
JACLYN Victor, the first Malaysian Idol, takes a coffee break and confesses to being bitten by the acting bug.

REEL TIME: Recipe for box office success
JANGAN Pandang Belakang's box office record of RM6.7 million is expected to be shattered soon by its spoof, Jangan Pandang Belakang Congkak, that opened on June 4.

National Service dodgers just don't care
WHEN the previous penalty for dodging National Service was a six-month jail sentence plus a RM3,000 fine, which is the equivalent of a petty criminal's punishment, 6,800 dodgers -- all those pampered and overly-protected 17-18 year-olds -- skipped the programme with impunity, perhaps zealously abetted by their over-protective parents.

CrossTalk: Bringing consumerism into focus
Should consumer affairs be under the Prime Minister's Department? What happened to the Fair Trade Practices Bill and the amendments to the Consumer Protection Act? SONIA RAMACHANDRAN learns consumer issues from Fomca president Datuk N. Marimuthu and Domestic Trade , Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom

Lots of fun, entertainment in store
KUALA LUMPUR: Join in the fun at the BSRA-NST Streets Family Day '09 tomorrow and stand a chance to win fabulous prizes.

CrossTalk: REALITY TV - Are they for real?
The hype and hysteria of reality TV shows 'One in a Million' and 'Akademi Fantasia' have got to Malaysian hopefuls and audiences. MEOR SHARIMAN listens in as 8TV chief executive office Ahmad Izham Omar and Astro Ria channel manager Khairul Mizan Shagul talk about the reality of reality TV.

Reel Time: These gals have a reputation
IT'S so peppered with foul language and graphic violence, the movie Bohsia has been slapped with the 18PL rating by the Film Censorship Board.

Heroes in Blue: Experience stood him in good stead
He had been the scourge in the waters off the east coast of Sabah, the Philippines and Indonesia until he had a run-in with Sergeant Abdullah Ibrahim, writes FADHAL A. GHANI.

Court rejects appeal by eight
PUTRAJAYA: A Form Three student was outnumbered by eight Form Five students and was mercilessly attacked over his initial refusal to lend them his kettle.

Indians need help to buy ASM units
KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC is concerned that many Indians may not have the financial means to take up the 15 per cent quota of Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) units allocated to the community, party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said yesterday.

Selangor’s bid to curb contracts to brokers
The Selangor government will form a special audit committee to ensure that those awarded waste management contracts in the state are genuine operators.

Mindshare bags two top awards
Mindshare Malaysia Agency would walk away with the Agency of the Year award.

50,000 jobs in civil service going a-begging
PUTRAJAYA: The Public Service Commission is intensifying its efforts to fill the 50,000 vacancies in the civil service by year's end, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk T. Murugiah said yesterday.

PM to join Gawai do
KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor are scheduled to attend the Gawai Dayak 2009 Malaysian Open House at the Petra Jaya Stadium tonight.

Mah: Taiping's PR local councillors should resign
IPOH: What is going to happen to Taiping municipal councillors appointed by the Pakatan Rakyat state government now that the opposition coalition is no longer in power?

Two charged with abducting student
SHAH ALAM: Two men were charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with abducting a 21-year-old student and demanding a RM100,000 ransom. Unemployed Sukhwinder Singh, 26, and tourist guide Rashid Abdullah, 49, are alleged to have abducted Guramardev Singh from No 15, Jalan Anggerik Doritis 31/139 at 5.30pm on Jan 25. No plea was taken. Magistrate Hafizah Abdul Rajak fixed March 13 for mention to transfer the case to the High Court. Sukhwinder is a relative of the victim.

Rally over killing of civilians in Sri Lanka
KUALA LUMPUR: The throwing of shoes as a sign of protest has caught on here.

Myanmar's stand on refugees
HUA HIN: The Myanmar government has told Asean foreign ministers that it is willing to accept refugees from the country if they are identified as Bengali minorities.

He will do well, says Najib's mum
KUALA LUMPUR:It never occurred to Tun Rahah Mohd Noah, 75, that her son, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, would follow in his late father's footsteps and become the country's sixth prime minister.

Hindraf wives elated over spouses' release
KUALA LUMPUR: The wives of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders R. Kengadharan and V. Ganabatirau are on top of the world over the release of their husbands.

Businessmen urged to reduce prices
KUANTAN: Kuantan Municipal Council president Datuk Azizan Ahmad yesterday urged business operators here to help shed the town's negative image by reducing prices of goods and food items.

CM looks into lack of hospital beds
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is working closely with the Health Ministry to seek the best solution to the current shortage of hospital beds after the closure of the tower block of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital four months ago.

Marine police escape unhurt in attack
TUMPAT: Three marine police officers escaped injury when a boat belonging to suspected smugglers rammed into their patrol boat on the Golok river on Thursday evening.

Man to hang for drugs
SHAH ALAM: A former customer service technician was sent to the gallows by the High Court here yesterday for trafficking in drugs. Judge Datuk Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad found M. Saravanan Muthu, 35, guilty of trafficking in 1,800g of cannabis. The offence was committed at a petrol station in Jalan Utara, Petaling Jaya, at 9pm on March 9, 2006. Deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin prosecuted while counsel S. Sathiyaseelan represented Saravanan.

JONISTON BANGKUAI: Aircraft boost for MASwings
AIR links between towns in Sabah and Sarawak have been given a boost with the delivery of MASwings' second ATR 72-500 aircraft.

NSTP FUND FOR GAZA: RM9.6m raised for Palestinians
KUALA LUMPUR: The NSTP Fund for Gaza officially closed at 6pm today .

School bully says sorry to victim
PEKAN: A 16-year-old from a broken home cried as he kissed the hands of teachers after apologising to a 15-year-old for scalding him with a hot iron at his school hostel recently.

Cabinet members sworn in
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin led the newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers in taking their oath of office before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Negara here yesterday.

Rejected Vietnamese bride wants to go home
KUALA LUMPUR: Ngo Thi Kim Thoa came to Malaysia looking for love and thought she found it when she was introduced to a businessman through a licensed matchmaking agency.

Warning to traditional medicine companies
KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry yesterday issued a stern warning to manufacturers and importers of traditional medicine not to adulterate their registered products.

First Malaysian Aisec conference in August
KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time, Malaysia will host the prestigious Aiesec International Congress 2009.

David Archuleta still single and hot
PETALING JAYA: Italian American Idol (Season 7) runner-up David Archuleta is not ready to be in a serious relationship.

CEO among four held in graft investigations
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested the chief executive officer of a company for alleged irregularities relating to the appointment of a sub-contractor to supply defence equipment worth RM41.5 million.

Ex-Youth chief on graft charge
SEREMBAN: The Sessions Court yesterday ordered a former Umno Youth branch leader to enter his defence on a charge of allegedly accepting a RM1,800 bribe from Tusiman Kadir eight years ago.

Low-down on National Service
YOUNG millionaire Suki Low of One In A Million takes a coffee break and talks about her latest project, National Service.

The Slump...and it's not the name of a movie
IT'S not exactly tsunami intensity yet, but three recent Malaysian movies have been hit by the slumping economy.

Heroes In Blue: He came so close to losing his life
The fury he felt when his colleague was shot by rogue policemen made Lance Corporal Sehgaran Kunjimaran fight on, despite being wounded himself. FADHAL A. GHANI speaks of a key factor in the stopping of a notorious armed gang in Johor

'It's curtains for Liverpool if they fail to beat United'
IT will be curtains for Liverpool in the English Premier League title race if they fail to win at Manchester United today, say two former players of the clubs.

Muhyiddin: Najib and I complement each other
KUALA LUMPUR: International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he can work with Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who will take over the helm of Umno next week, without any problems.

'Umno has to go back to its roots'
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says Umno has reached the end of the road and must quickly institute change to restore its strength and influence.

Malcolm Mussen gets nod to contest Batang Ai election
KUCHING: Engineer Malcolm Mussen Lamoh's candidature for the Batang Ai state seat has been approved by the Barisan Nasional leadership. "Yes, I have received the approval and support of BN chairman (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), and Mussen (of Parti Rakyat Sarawak) is now officially the BN candidate for the Batang Ai by-election," Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said yesterday. "We have a very good person who can represent the people of Batang Ai effectively."

Maids can still work here
PUTRAJAYA: All is not lost for employers who still want to hire Indonesian maids despite the temporary ban by the Indonesian government beginning yesterday.

Prior applications for Indonesian maids unaffected
THE Indonesian government yesterday said it would honour all commitments made prior to yesterday's moratorium on sending domestic workers to Malaysia.

Decision puts association in a difficult situation
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (Papa) is furious that it has been placed in a spot following the ban on Indonesian maids.

Penang jewels 're-discovered'
They have always been there, the heritage houses with their unique architecture. MARINA EMMANUEL rediscovers or, rather, reads about the beauties that are so quintessentially Penang.

Five cops among 70 held in drug bust at KL disco
KUALA LUMPUR: Five policemen, including a chief inspector, were among 70 disco revellers arrested by police yesterday after they tested positive for drug abuse.

CrossTalk: Is nuclear energy the answer?
Fresh nuclear debate was stirred earlier this month when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced in South Korea that Malaysia would be developing a reactor. Dr Nahrul Khair Alang Mohd Rashid, president of the Malaysian Nuclear Society, and Dr Ronald McCoy, president of the Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility, pitch their views with ARMAN AHMAD sitting in.

REEL TIME: Nabila on cloud nine
Recently married and with a rising career, teen star Nabila Huda takes a coffee break where she denies reports she is pregnant.

REEL TIME: Chronicles of the KRU brothers
IF you enjoy a good read and the movie that follows, then The Chronicles of Merong Mahawangsa is just your cup of tea.

Archbishop drops appeal for judicial review
KUALA LUMPUR: The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur yesterday withdrew the application for a judicial review on the use of the word "Allah" in its weekly, Herald, which he filed last year.

Jelapang rep sued over pepper spray
IPOH: An assemblyman has filed a suit against Jelapang assemblywoman Hee Yit Foong in the High Court over the rowdy May 7 state assembly sitting.

Influenza A: Be alert, teachers told
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) has instructed all its 150,000 members to be on the alert and take precautions to prevent the spread of the influenza A (H1N1) in their respective schools.

Fans shocked over tragic news
KUALA LUMPUR: Thousands of Malaysians heading to work were shocked to hear news of Michael Jackson's death on the radio yesterday.

Chatty clerk 'bails' himself out
KUANTAN: Being chatty helped a man accused of three offences against his wife to convince a magistrate here to allow him bail.

Call for action on ads promoting 'libido boosters'
GEORGE TOWN: One product claims it can help men achieve erections on a regular basis, another claims it can turbo-boost men's sex drive, counter impotency, increase staying power, magnify orgasms and add some extra length and girth to their erection.

Felda to pay RM11m to 354 settlers
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday ordered Felda to pay RM11 million in damages to 354 Felda settlers over payments for oil palm fruits for six years after dismissing its appeal.

Appeals Court reinstates suit in conversion case
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday reinstated a suit filed by a storekeeper for several declaratory relief on his legal status as a Muslim.

Clarification
WE would like to clarify that in our story yesterday headlined "Veterans welcome idea of workshop" (page 8), historian Prof Dr Chandran Jeshurun was cited from his book, Malaysia: 50 Years of Diplomacy 1957-2007 (The Other Press; Kuala Lumpur 2007), as should have been made clear in the report.

Hilmi slams CM over blame game
BALIK PULAU: Former Penang deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya has slammed the DAP-led state government for constantly harping on the shortcomings of the previous administration.

State govt taken to task over park's status
GEORGE TOWN: The state government's inaction in gazetting Pulau Jerejak as a permanent forest reserve and state park has been questioned by Gerakan.

Cops nab 5, seize smuggled goods
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Seberang Prai Tengah district police foiled an attempt by five men to distribute smuggled cigarettes and liquor worth about RM75,000 when they were arrested in Perkampungan Machang Bubok here.

Policemen claim trial to graft
IPOH: Two policemen were charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with three counts of corruption each, including asking and accepting a bribe from a bouncer to stop an investigation against him for illegal drug possession.

Judge wants to cane offender
KUALA LUMPUR: In a rare case, a young offender was ordered to be caned 10 times for committing gang robbery.

Prince orders Manohara to return
KUALA LUMPUR: The Kelantan prince, who is embroiled in a marriage dispute with his Indonesian wife Manohara Odelia Pinot, has ordered her to return to him before July 2.

'Change for Kelantan starts in Manik Urai'
KUALA KRAI: Barisan Nasional will go all out to rally the people of Manik Urai to support Barisan Nasional's quest to improve their quality of life.

Averting clash over Ambalat
TASEK GELUGOR: Details of the proposed joint maritime border patrols between Malaysia and Indonesia in the disputed waters of Ambalat in the Sulawesi Sea will be discussed at the General Border Committee meeting next month.

CrossTalk: Staggering 40 per cent of private sectors workers are foreigners
The economy, stimulus fund, outsourcing labour agents...ARMAN AHMAD sits in as MTUC secretary-general G. Rajasekaran and Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan chew on these topics and more

Couple assaulted by armed men
KUALA LUMPUR: A young couple were assaulted by seven men armed with parang and sticks in a deserted road recently.

Paddy to tackle Penang pirates
GEORGE TOWN: The state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department has entrusted Paddy, a Labrador Retriever, with detecting pirated discs that are being smuggled out through the Penang International Airport.

A solemn day for many
GEORGE TOWN: Tens of thousands of Christians thronged churches yesterday to observe Good Friday.

From murderer to nationalist
CLAD in a dark shirt and white trousers, Rosli Dhobi held his head high in defiance as he was led to the gallows.

One nation shared among many people
YEARS ago, when lawyer G.A. David Dass taught at Universiti Institut Teknologi Mara, he would be approached by students who would evince surprise that he was genuinely interested in teaching them and had no motives other than ensuring they understood the material.

Interpreting the roles of non-Malay Malaysians
IN the 1930s, the British administration faced fierce opposition from the working class, largely made up of Chinese at the time, says Dr Kua Kia Soong, director of Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), a human rights organisation.

PWD wins legal reprieve
MALACCA: The High Court yesterday declared null and void the execution of the seizure and sale writ by a sub-contractor against the Public Works Department .

More can join 'Malaysian' list
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will assume a liberal interpretation of the term "Malaysian" in the "Buy Malaysian" campaign.

Special trains for Thaipusam
KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with Thaipusam this weekend, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) will provide 98 special train services to cater to passengers commuting between Sentul and Batu Caves from today to Monday. A KTMB statement said the trains would run at 50-minute intervals between the two locations. The first train from Sentul will depart at 9am today and the last train from Batu Caves at 2.50am on Monday. -- Bernama

Court throws out PKR MP's application
KUCHING: The High Court yesterday dismissed with cost an application by a Parti Keadilan Rakyat member of parliament for a judicial review of a ban on him from entering Sarawak.

Dayang goes global
Sexy singing sensation Dayang Nurfaizah Awang Dowty takes a coffee break and shares her plans for "global domination".

Duo freed of graft charges
KUALA LUMPUR:Two policemen were acquitted of corruption and extortion charges in the Sessions Court yesterday..

Treatment denied, claims wife
KUALA LUMPUR: The wife of Hindu Rights Action Force leader P. Uthayakumar yesterday lodged a police report claiming Kamunting detention centre authorities had refused him medical attention for a fractured finger. S. Indradevi lodged the report at the Brickfields police headquarters claiming she found this out when she visited her husband on Thursday. She said Uthayakumar had made a similar report at the Kamunting police station on the same day.

Ex-DAP rep charged with CBT
SEREMBAN: A lawyer, who was also a former DAP state assemblyman, was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with criminal breach of trust.

Hope for jobless at Labour Office
BUTTERWORTH: There may be hope yet for some of the 2,632 people in the manufacturing sector who were laid off between last year and January. The Labour Office here is organising two mini-job fairs at its office in Jalan Bagan Luar on Feb 11 and Feb 25 to help them find new jobs. A spokesman said, to date, six employers in the manufacturing sector had pledged to participate in the "Job-Matching Day" but the number of jobs up for grabs could not be immediately ascertained.

Teen commended for bravery
KANGAR: When Mohd Azli Mahamud was approached by a woman whose purse was snatched by two thieves on a motorcycle, in Kampung Teluk Jambu on Monday, he reacted instantly.

Online site for matriculation
KUALA LUMPUR: Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia holders who applied for the Education Ministry's Matriculation Studies Programme for 2009/2010 can check the status of their application online between Feb 9 and 20. The ministry's public relations officer, Emily Clarice Joannes, in a statement yesterday, said the checking period would also enable the candidates to make amendments to their applications. This can be done at the ministry's website at www.moe.gov.my -- Bernama

Lorry co-driver dies of post-hijack heart attack
PETALING JAYA: A lorry hijacking on the Karak Highway yesterday ended tragically for assistant driver Mohd Sobri@ Mohd Gandar Adam who died of a heart attack.

Fuel subsidies for interior boatmen
KUCHING: The burden of the people in the interior of Sarawak should be alleviated soon.

62 snatch thefts in Terengganu
KUALA TERENGGANU: Sixty-two snatch-theft cases were reported in the state for the first four months of this year.

11 years for causing death
KUALA LUMPUR: A labourer, who lost his cool and fatally hit his brother-in-law because he was displeased over the latter's gambling habit and laziness, was yesterday sentenced to 11 years' jail for causing his death.

Farmer sent to prison
IPOH: A 48-year-old farmer is to be transferred from a mental hospital to the Tapah jail although there is no medical report as he has exhausted the three months allowed for observation at the hospital.

Polling facts for Penanti voters
PENANG: Penanti registered voters can now check polling details for the state by-election slated for May 31.

Chin Peng grateful despite failure
GEORGE TOWN: Former communist leader Chin Peng has expressed regret over the Federal Court's decision to reject his last bid effort to live the remaining years of his life in Malaysia.

Kudat to have Mazu statue after 2-year wait
KOTA KINABALU: The state government has approved a piece of land for a Mazu temple and statue in Kudat, after another similar project was stopped, just as it was aboutto be completed two years ago.

Trainee dies, 94 quarantined for suspected meningitis
MALACCA: A Road Transport Department Academy student died while 94 others are being quarantined for suspected bacterial meningitis at Malacca Hospital and the academy's quarters.

Nascom CEO's trial postponed
SHAH ALAM: The Sessions Court yesterday postponed the trial of Perbadanan Komputer Nasional Bhd (Nascom) chief executive officer Zulkifli Amin Mamat, who is charged with criminal breach of trust.

Death row drug pusher escapes the gallows
PUTRAJAYA: He was on the death row for eight years for alleged drug trafficking but the scales of justice yesterday tilted in Tan Yew Choy's favour, resulting in him escaping the hangman's noose.

'Ministry owes local workers an explanation'
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Human Resources Ministry has been taken to task for failing to respond to queries about why a factory in Prai was allowed to recruit foreign workers soon after laying off 94 local workers via a Voluntarily Separation Scheme (VSS).

Sand operator on bribery charge
AMPANG: A 47-year-old sand operator was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with bribing a Hulu Langat district office enforcement officer last month. Lee Kui Sun claimed trial to bribing Nor Zaidi Ratiman RM5,000 as an inducement not to take action against him for taking, transporting and selling sand without a permit on April 3. Judge Azwanida Affandi granted him RM10,000 bail in one surety and fixed June 23 for mention.

5 to be charged with kidnapping
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The case of five youths charged with kidnapping a 14-year-old student will be mentioned in the magistrate's court here on June 3. Arunn Ramalingam, 20, Salve Thomas John @ Thomas, 20, David Michael @ David, 20, Larry Corderro Lee @ Ah Kai, 20, and Soo Pin Yuh @ Ahli, 20, are jointly charged with kidnapping Form Two student Lau Teik Chuan outside his home at Taman Gemilang Jaya 4, Taman Gemilang Jaya near Bukit Tengah here about 6.20am on March 25.

Thalassaemia cases double
KANGAR: The government is intensifying efforts to check the rising trend in thalassaemia cases following the near doubling of cases in the last five years, says Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin. She said, according to the National Thalassaemia Register, 4,385 thalassaemia patients were recorded to date as compared with about 2,500 people in 2004. She believed many more cases remained unreported and said the ministry was stepping up efforts to track them down.

INFLUENZA A(H1N1): 'Virus exists in pigs but not same as current strain'
There has been evidence of the presence of the H1N1 virus among the pig population in Malaysia, and Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin tells ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ how it was discovered

INFLUENZA A(H1N1): Fears of a second wave
BANGKOK: While Asean, particularly Malaysia, is fully prepared to deal with the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, it wants people to be more alert and take necessary precautions as it is still concerned about a possible second wave that could be more deadly.

INFLUENZA A(H1N1): Malaysia still free of infections
KUALA LUMPUR: All four cases reported to the Health Ministry's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) regarding patients admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor, were tested negative of influenza A (H1N1) virus, Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

DEWAN RAKYAT ROUND-UP: A first week of 'firsts' unlike any other
MONDAY could have been different for former Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin: he could have used the floor of the house during question time to ask questions about the goings-on in his state -- politely.

Making sense of the PKFZ issue
PROPERTY developer Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, wholly-owned by Wijaya Baru Holdings Sdn Bhd, has recently made headlines, but for all the wrong reasons.

Drug inmates go on rampage
BUTTERWORTH: Inmates at a drug rehabilitation centre in Tasek Gelugor went on a rampage and set ablaze three blocks of buildings and several vehicles yesterday.

Najib nod for Islamic channel
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants a government-owned Islamic television channel to be set up so that information on religious-related issues could be explained to the masses more effectively.

DPM: Those who vote for BN can go to heaven, too
KUALA KRAI: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday Muslims who voted for either Barisan Nasional or Pas had an equal chance of going to heaven.

Police: We're doing all we can on human trafficking
KUALA LUMPUR: The deputy inspector-general of police yesterday rejected allegations that the force was not doing enough to investigate human trafficking cases.

'Human rights is for all parties'
KUALA LUMPUR: The issue of human rights should cover not only the rights of a suspect in a crime, but also those of the victim.

Minister: We will wait for official notice
from the Malaysian government on the protection of Indonesian migrant workers there."

At a loss over violated women who forgive
NILAI: Many women report domestic violence, but police are puzzled as to why they often end up withdrawing the report.

Curbing maid abuse cases
KUALA LUMPUR: The government and the relevant agencies in Malaysia have been urged to ensure that Indonesian maids are placed with Muslim employers.

Charged with cheating Telekom
KUALA LUMPUR: A jobless man was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with four counts of cheating Telekom Malaysia Bhd involving more than RM4 million.

PNB to pay dividends for three trust funds
KUALA LUMPUR: Permo- dalan Nasional Bhd, a state-run fund manager, yesterday announced lower payouts for three unit trust funds under its Amanah Saham Gemilang umbrella.

'Smokers more despicable than cows'
KOTA BARU: Muslims who portray their Islamic image by wearing robes and skullcaps, but smoke, are more despicable than cows, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said yesterday.

Body of boy who died after trek exhumed
KLANG: The family of a Year Six boy who died of a snake bite during a school holiday camp last Saturday had his body exhumed for a post-mortem yesterday.

Canny Ong's killer loses appeal
PUTRAJAYA: He was in remand for two years and on Death Row for the next four years for the rape and murder of Canny Ong six years ago.

Taib: Donation letters are to sabotage BN
KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud suspects a letter purportedly signed by him to solicit funds from timber tycoons could be aimed at sabotaging Barisan Nasional in the Batang Ai by-election on April 7.

Cops save senior citizen from conmen
PONTIAN: Quick action by the police prevented a senior citizen from being fleeced of his hard-earned savings by a group of conmen here yesterday.

Putrajaya to join 5 million buildings, homes in campaign
PUTRAJAYA: Some of the lights in the federal administrative capital will be switched off for an hour tonight from 8.30 for Earth Hour, joining over five million buildings and homes around the country.

Muhyiddin to lead BN by-election campaigns
KUALA LUMPUR: The huge task of heading the by-election machinery awaits newly minted Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for the three by-elections on April 7.

Porsche theft suspect nabbed
SHAH ALAM: He stole two Porsches but could not outrun the police in a car chase on March 17 as he was only driving a Perodua Myvi.

Three killed in shootout
TAIPING: Three wanted men were killed in a shootout with police near some apartments at the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort near here yesterday.

'Review how GLCs' performance is determined'
KUALA LUMPUR: The key performance index of government-linked companies should be pegged to the number of Bumiputera entrepreneurs they produce and not solely on the profits the make.

Maestro Talent to cease from March 31
KUALA LUMPUR: Maestro Talent & Management Sdn Bhd, the talent management, recording and publishing arm of Astro, will cease operation on March 31

May 28 for Sivakumar's hearing
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday fixed May 28 to hear the leave application for a judicial review by Perak speaker V. Sivakumar against three Barisan Nasional-friendly independents and the Election Commission.

Sultan praises organisers of healthcare meet
IPOH: Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah commended the organisers of the sixth Asean Conference in Primary Healthcare for holding the event here despite the difficult economic times.

'Nizar should return official car'
IPOH: Former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin's refusal to return his official car until his summons case against Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is ruled on by the court is a misunderstanding on the former's part.

Ban on open-air ceramah in Bkt Selambau
SUNGAI PETANI: No open-air ceramah will be allowed in Bukit Selambau, state police chief Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said yesterday.

Thai, 14 Myanmars in car held
BUKIT KAYU HITAM: A Thai man was arrested for trying to smuggle 14 Myanmar nationals, packed like sardines in a sedan car, into Thailand at the border checkpoint yesterday.

Police nab couple, seize 2kg heroin
KAMPAR: The police have detained a man and his Indonesian companion in connection with the seizure of two kilogrammes of heroin, early today.

Rais wants investigation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno disciplinary board should consider investigating all the members of the Umno supreme council for money politics, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

Dr M slams Umno Youth
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad took a swipe at Umno's Youth wing and their new chief Khairy Jamaluddin, accusing them of openly condoning money politics in the party.

When politics takes a back seat
KUALA LUMPUR: In the hustle and bustle of the Umno general assembly, some 30 women in a room on the third floor of the Putra World Trade Centre have only one goal in mind -- to create health awareness.

Ismail shows debates need not be dreary
KUALA LUMPUR: Debates are more often than not a bore but Ismail Yaacob brought down Dewan Merdeka of Putra World Trade Centre yesterday with his pantun, laced with cynicism and criticism.

Govt told to forge ties with ulama
KUALA LUMPUR: The government was today urged to forge closer ties with the ulama and get their views and advice so that its efforts to explain Islamic issues to the people will be more convincing.

Reel Time: THE CURSE... of Akademi Fantasia
NUBHAN of Akademi Fantasia (AF) Season Six is the latest graduate to be offered a role in a movie.

'Don't blame Barisan for this'
PUTRAJAYA: The opposition had been going around predicting a change in the Federal Government since the last general election, Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said yesterday.

Bodies of 3 women found in house
KAJANG: An old woman and her two daughters were found dead in their home at Tasik Kesuma, Beranang, yesterday.

SPM limit of 10 subjects may start next year
PUTRAJAYA: Students sitting the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination next year may not be allowed to take more than 10 subjects.

Disabled buddies find their niche at hypermart
KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty- five-year-old Mat Jamil Ramli spends his day at Carrefour creating press advertisements and leaflets on his computer.

She's game for another try
KUALA TERENGGANU: At 0.9 metres and tipping the scale at a mere 15kg, Wan Nur Farha Afina Wan Fauzi was an unlikely contestant at the state RHB New Straits Times Spell-It-Right Challenge at the Terengganu Trade Centre.

Witness tells court of cop's 'threat'
SHAH ALAM: The trial of a former chief executive officer of Perbadanan Komputer Nasional Bhd (Nascom) at a Sessions Court took a twist yesterday when a prosecution witness accused the case investigating officer of intimidation.

Robber gunned down, two others detained
BERA: Faced with arrest yesterday, an Indonesian robber attacked policemen with a parang but was shot dead before he could do any harm.

2 wanted men shot dead
JOHOR BARU: Two men in a car were shot dead yesterday when one of them trained a revolver at policemen who had ordered them to stop their vehicle in Taman Daya yesterday.

Petronas offers to make amends in gas-leak case
SHAH ALAM: Pupils, teachers and other staff of SJK (T) Ladang Emerald who were affected by a chemical leak last Tuesday will receive free medical check-up from Petronas.

DIPLOMATIC DEALINGS: Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade
WHEN I heard last month that Malaysia had a special envoy to Sudan tasked with looking into the Darfur crisis, probably the worst international catastrophe today, I was truly surprised.

Mum's prowess wows 'em
KUALA LUMPUR: The son of a pioneer policewoman was among 18 people who won digital photo frames worth RM500 each in a photo contest yesterday.

Shila to take a break... from studies
One In A Million Season 2 first runner-up Shahila N.D. Lalam or better known as Shila, takes a coffee break and talks about tonight's AIM awards

Influenza A: Outbreak won't affect tourist arrivals
KUALA TERENGGANU: The tourism industry here is confident that the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak will not affect tourist arrivals.

Aid for students from DRB-Hicom Group
DRB-Hicom Berhad Group chief financial officer Lukman Ibrahim (second from right) handing a mock cheque for RM3,280 for the NSTP School Sponsorship Programme to NSTP chief financial officer Mohammad Ariff Ibrahim at Balai Berita, yesterday.

Cash for NS top scorers
MALACCA: The National Service Training Department will give out cash rewards to trainees who excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination.

Carjack ring busted, 5 held
JOHOR BARU: Police believe they have busted a carjacking syndicate with the arrest of a workshop owner and his four Indonesian workers on Wednesday.

Snatch thieves to face emergency law
JOHOR BARU: The state police will use the Emergency Ordinance against snatch thieves as they step up the war against crime.

Explosion at home leaves boy and aunt injured
IPOH: An explosion at a single-storey terrace house in Laluan 7, Taman Bukit Merah on Thursday brought down the roof, causing serious injuries to a 3-year-old boy. Glass splinters were lodged in the eyes, face and body of P. Vickneswaran. Ninety per cent of his body is pierced and he may end up with vision impairment, said Ipoh Specialist Hospital medical director Datuk Dr Fadzli Cheah. He added that the boy might require a cornea transplant. In the 7pm incident, Vickneswaran's aunt, A. Barathi, 25, was injured by glass splinters on the head, right arm and right foot. Her mother, S. Letchumi, 58, was unharmed. Ipoh district police chief Assistant Commissioner of Police Azisman Alias confirmed the incident, saying that samples had been sent to the Chemistry Department to determine the cause of the explosion.

Two who target gamblers in Genting Highlands arrested
KUALA LIPIS: Two men suspected of robbing gamblers at Genting Highlands casinos were nabbed by police on Tuesday. District police chief Superintendent Abdul Razak Hassan said the duo were nabbed after the robbery of a businessman from Gua Musang when he stopped at a petrol station to use the toilet. He said the 55-year-old victim was driving from Genting Highlands to Gua Musang when he stopped at the petrol station in Batu 4, Jalan Penjong at 4pm on Tuesday. He said the duo, armed with a parang and a knife robbed him of RM14,000 and a wristwatch worth RM5,000 before escaping in a car driven by an accomplice. Razak said the victim went with a police team to the casino to look at the closed-circuit television camera recording and identified the duo at the hotel lobby. "The team arrested the men and recovered RM5,000."

Housewife gets the better of snatch thieves
GEORGE TOWN: A gutsy 34-year-old housewife fended off two snatch thieves, causing them to fall off their motorcycle and suffer injuries before they were caught by passers-by.

Ex-boyfriends to shed light on murder
SEREMBAN: Two former boyfriends of murdered bride-to-be Kasturi Doraisamy are expected to be questioned over the double murder of the 26-year-old and her father.

MCA's interactive approach
ALOR STAR: MCA has made it compulsory for its ministers and deputy ministers to go to the ground nationwide as part of an ongoing effort to listen to and help solve the problems faced by the Chinese community.

Settlers in Labis sue Felda for RM72m
JOHOR BARU: The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) was sued for RM71.84 million yesterday by 645 smallholders of Felda Maokil in Labis.

Posthumous promotion for army commando
TASEK GELUGOR: Army commando Lance Corporal Amin Che Ros who was killed in a parachuting mishap during a training exercise in Kulim on Thursday has posthumously been promoted to the rank of a full corporal.

Expert on race relations here to share experience
KUALA LUMPUR: Prof Aneez Esmail, an expert on race relations, whose family was expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin in 1972, will give a lecture here next week to share his experiences.

A tearful reunion for Siti Hajar
KUALA LUMPUR: The tears flowed freely when abused Indonesian maid Siti Hajar met her older sister for the first time in three years yesterday.

The weaving queens
To preserve the fast-vanishing art of pandanus weaving, a group of Mah Meri women founded a successful enterprise. In conjunction with International Women's Day, EVANGELINE MAJAWAT finds out how the weavers from Carey Island have empowered themselves.

Dewan Rakyat Round-up: Chitrakala visit leads to security poser
THE Dewan Rakyat began business this week with tighter security arrangements and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz pleading with members to respect the rules and sanctity of the house.

Rehana knocked out of 'Million'
SHAH ALAM: The second contestant eliminated from the talent show One In A Million Season Three (OIAM3) is Rehana "Han" Yunus, 22, of Labuan.

Pregnant woman raped
Two forced themselves on her while boyfriend watched.

Heroes in Blue: Outwitting one-man fake credit card ops
Sometimes, a little thinking out of the box gets you places without a pair of menacing dogs at your heels, writes FADHAL A. GHANI.

New RTM channel on Astro
KUALA LUMPUR: Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) is introducing a brand new channel which will be featuring 24 hours of entertainment programmes called Muzik Aktif on channel 180 of pay TV station Astro starting from Thursday.

Brother of dead robber nabbed
KUALA KRAI: Police have arrested a man linked to one of the four robbers killed in a shooting incident at Kampung Sungai Sam, near here, on Thursday.

Police find nine WW2 bombs
GELANG PATAH: Police recovered nine World War 2-era bombs in a coastal village here on Thursday.

Key role for Gemas as southern gateway
SEREMBAN: The state government will develop Gemas, where the east and west coast railway lines link up, into the southern gateway.

Arrest warrant for cop who failed to show up in graft trial
KUCHING: A police inspector failed to turn up for his appeal against conviction and sentence on two charges of corruption yesterday.

All eyes on Bukit Gantang
GETTING to Bukit Gantang, where a by-election is to be held amid a prevalent political crisis in Perak, is easy -- thanks to the North-South Highway.

Speaker files suit against legal adviser
KUALA LUMPUR: Perak Speaker V. Sivakumar filed a suit at the High Court yesterday against the state legal adviser for representing him at the Ipoh High Court last Tuesday without his authority.

Call to restore Malay rulers' immunity
ALOR STAR: The Kedah Royal House Association is calling for the immunity of Malay rulers to be restored.

Jigging hobby now a tourney
KUALA TERENGGANU: What started as a hobby for the local population has now turned into a RM140,000 tournament. The fifth series of the Squid Jigging Challenge is scheduled to be held in the state from May to July.

State BN to carry on with land title plan
IPOH: The Barisan Nasional state government has decided to continue the former Pakatan Rakyat government's policy of allowing residents in new and planned villages to apply for permanent land titles.

Pas refuses to recognise new BN govt
KOTA BARU: Pas will not recognise the new Perak government helmed by Barisan Nasional, said Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

Dr Mahathir invited to attend Umno assembly as observer
PETALING JAYA: Former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday said he had received an invitation to attend the Umno general assembly next week as an observer but has yet to make up his mind. "Yes, I was invited to the assembly, not as a member but as an observer. But I have not made up my mind whether to attend or not," he told reporters. He quit Umno on May 19 last year, citing lack of confidence in the current Umno leadership. He also said that the Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia gathering scheduled to be held tomorrow was because the Malays were worried about their future.

Nik Aziz against Hadi's proposal of unity government
KOTA BARU: Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat yesterday stood by his statement in not agreeing with Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's idea of a Barisan Nasional-Pas unity government. Nik Aziz said he decided to reject Hadi's proposal as it was against the party decision which was made in August last year. "I still maintain my stand and have no intention of changing it. As far as I know, any decision besides those made by the muktamar, must be discussed first at another meeting."

Malaysian group tables RM456m bid for Newcastle
KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Malaysian businessmen is believed to have begun discussions over the purchase of English Championship side Newcastle United from its owner Mike Ashley.

CROSSTALK: To cane or not to cane?

No plans for e-book computers
KUALA LUMPUR: There are no plans by the Education Ministry to emulate the Terengganu government's move of providing e-book computers for students.

Guidelines for discipline teachers
KUALA LUMPUR: Director-general of Education Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said a teacher should not touch the student except for caning in private where the power has been delegated to him.

JOHOR ASSEMBLY: Bio-Desaru draws RM236m investments
THE Bio-Desaru bio-agricultural project in Tanjung Balau, Kota Tinggi is set to move forward with RM236 million in investments from seven companies.

Najib's Independence Day greetings to Obama
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, on behalf of the government and the people of Malaysia, extended his congratulations and best wishes to President Barack Obama and the people of the United States on the occasion of its 233rd independence anniversary today.

INFLUENZA A (H1N1) WHO: Focus on mitigation
KUALA LUMPUR: The World Health Organisation wants Malaysia to move from containment mode to mitigation mode in its battle against influenza A (H1N1).

Condo developer slapped with stop-work order
GEORGE TOWN: The developers of a super condominium project along Gurney Drive have been slapped with a stop-work order after an adjacent road near some condominiums caved in.

State PKR chief wants CM to meet residents
GEORGE TOWN: Parti Keadilan Rakyat has stepped up pressure on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to meet residents over the Kampung Lorong Buah Pala issue.

Judge grants Jamal divorce from third wife
SHAH ALAM: The marriage between Malaysian king of pop Jamal Abdillah and his third wife came to an end yesterday after the lower Syariah Court declared his talak (divorce utterance) as valid.

Call to preserve High Chaparral as 'heritage site'
GEORGE TOWN: Penang's High Chaparral or Kampung Lorong Buah Pala should be treated with the same standard as the heritage status of George Town's inner city which is listed as a Unesco World Heritage site, Penang Heritage Trust (PHT) president Dr Choong Sim Poey said.

Report lodged against MP Nurul
KUALA LUMPUR: Two police reports were made yesterday against Lembah Pantai member of parliament Nurul Izzah Anwar of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), in relation to her allegations that the fire at squatter area Bukit B, Kerinchi here recently was planned by certain quarters.

Student, housewife die of dengue
KUALA LUMPUR: A 19-year-old student and a 47-year-old housewife are the latest to succumb to dengue.

Monkey strategy to attract tourists
MALACCA: The state has come up with another tourism product to draw in the visitors.

'Safe to travel in Malaysia'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is a safe destination for local and foreign tourists, despite the recent concerns about influenza A (H1N1) spread. This was the outcome of a meeting between Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on Wednesday to address the adverse effects of the virus scare on the tourism industry.

Snorkelling park a crowd-puller
KUALA LUMPUR: Snorkell- ing, a recreational activity at tropical resorts and scuba-diving locations here, is gaining popularity among local and foreign tourists alike.

Rebranding the spa profession
KUALA LUMPUR: A job that once raised eyebrows with just a mention is now turning into a potential cash cow for the country's tourism industry.

Organic food farm rakes in RM236m investments
THE Bio-Desaru bio-agricultural project in Tanjung Balau, Kota Tinggi is set to move forward with RM236 million in investments from seven companies.

Johor prince all set to start his journey
JOHOR BARU: The Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail will embark on a four-day journey, spanning more than 1,000km beginning today to meet people living in Johor interiors.

Muslim divorce rate highest
DIVORCES among the Muslims in Johor are almost 10 times more than those among other religious groups.

Health drive at the Zon
JOHOR BARU: The Zon Johor Baru duty free mall is organising a "Health Awareness and Blood Donation Campaign" at its atrium from 11am to 10pm today and tomorrow.

Discounts on service charges and fines
IN light of the economic slowdown, the Johor government has reduced service charges and rent payable to local authorities by 10 per cent.

It's so easy to set up these gambling dens
KOTA KINABALU: The right software, second-hand computers and a secluded shoplot are all that it takes to set up an illegal gambling joint here.

All that glitters is gold... they hope
ALOR STAR: There is a mad rush for "gold" in Kampung Jelutong in Pendang.

Orang Asli mums at 11 years old
PETALING JAYA: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk T. Murugiah had a shock when he visited the Cameron Highlands Hospital maternity ward recently and found Orang Asli mothers as young as 11 and 12 years old.

8-year-old abused by babysitter for a year
JOHOR BARU: An 8-year-old boy told police a story yesterday of how his babysitter and her husband had caned him for the past year for the flimsiest of reasons.

Hearing of Anwar's application put off as counsel is ill
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday postponed the hearing of an application by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim relating to his sodomy case to Wednesday to allow his lawyer to obtain medical treatment.

Nik Aziz all for a healthy discussion
KOTA BARU: Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who has recently rejected the unity government concept, is in favour of the intellectual discussion proposed between the youth wings of Pas and Umno.

'Councillor meddled in stop-work order'
GEORGE TOWN: A DAP member of parliament yesterday accused a Parti Keadilan Rakyat Penang Island Municipal Councillor (MPPP) of abusing his power by trying to retract a stop-work order issued against a developer.

Show to go on, but with health checks
KUCHING: There will be stringent health checks during this year's Rainforest World Music Festival which begins on July 10, said Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam.

Caning can still be carried out, says Wee
KUALA LUMPUR: Is caning still allowed in schools?

An acrimonious start and end to proceedings
AFTER 12 days of meeting, the Dewan Rakyat concluded the way it began -- acrimoniously.

'Norman and Memey charge wrong'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Gombak Timur Syariah Lower Court was yesterday told that the khalwat (being in close proximity) charge against actor Norman Hakim and actress Memey last year was wrong and not based on facts.

Bukit Aman to help Australian police
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police are working closely with their Australian counterparts in investigations into the discovery of a RM17 million international credit card fraud using stolen personal information.

Gerakan veep to file appeal
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Embattled Gerakan vice-president Huan Cheng Guan has made an about-turn and decided to appeal against his three-year suspension order.

28 vying for Miss Malaysia Model crown
IPOH: Twenty-eight contestants will be vying for the title of Miss Malaysia Model of the World 2009 organised by Marigold HL Low Fat Milk and produced by Star Avenue Production at a hotel here on July 12.

Zambry: I do not object to leave to appeal by Nizar
PUTRAJAYA: Former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is likely to be spared the agony of knowing whether the Federal Court will grant him leave to appeal against a decision on who is the rightful chief executive of Perak.

Be open to changes to laws, says sultan
SHAH ALAM: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor has advised the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) to be open to the proposed amendment to three laws related to Islamic matters.

3 siblings killed in m-cycle crash
KUALA PILAH: Three siblings, including a pair of twins, were killed when their motorcycle grazed the side of their friend's motorcycle and sent them crashing into an electric pole in Jalan Kampung Talang-Purun, near here, on Thursday.

Malay language class for lawyers
KUALA LUMPUR: Some 80 per cent of court cases in Malaysia are conducted in Malay, with more seniors lawyers opting to speak in the national language. But young lawyers are struggling to do the same.

Obstructing police never a smart move
KUALA TERENGGANU: Was he being selfless or just plain silly?

Indian students to get aid
IPOH: Poor Indian students who applied to study in three private colleges will now receive educational aid as the state government has included the three institutions of higher learning in their list of colleges and universities which are eligible for aid.

Tamil school breathes easier
KUANTAN: The construction work near Sekolah Jenis kebangsaan (Tamil) Bandar Indera Mahkota has stopped but the school administration will wait for a few days before deciding on its next course of action.

Teng: Failure shows state's weakness
GEORGE TOWN: The state government's failure to gazette Pulau Jerejak as a state park shows that it has no sense of urgency about protecting the environment, Penang Gerakan vice-chairman Teng Chang Yeow said.

KK mayor welcomes feedback from all
KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu City Hall (KKCH) is open to suggestions from all sides in the formulation of policies and the implementation of projects for the city.

RM10,000 reward for landing Kenyir dragon
KUALA TERENGGANU: A big reward for a big fish.

Authorities to be on high alert
KOTA KINABALU: The cat-and-mouse game never ends between the authorities and illegal computerised slot machine operators.

Few takers for new helmets
KUANTAN: Even with an offer of a free new crash helmet, some motorcyclists are reluctant to part ways with their old and worn-out ones.

Double life of pisang goreng seller
TELUK INTAN: By day, he was a well-liked person, generally perceived as a good role-model for the young, as he worked hard and sold pisang goreng (banana fritters) in Taman Seri Intan.

Speaker rejects motion
SPEAKER Datuk Mohd Ali Hassan yesterday rejected a move to table an emergency motion to discuss ways to combat the spread of influenza A (H1N1) in Johor.

RM900m budget for highway and housing projects
MORE than RM900 million worth of projects related to infrastructure, housing and river improvement will be carried out in Johor until 2011.

Sri Ram: Learn from criticisms
IPOH: Retired judges, no longer bound by the vow of silence, should respond and defend themselves in the electronic media if they feel their judgments have been unfairly criticised by former Court of Appeal judge Datuk N.H. Chan, said Federal Court judge Datuk Gopal Sri Ram.

Baffled over attack by hospital guards
KUANTAN: Two brothers are seeking an explanation from the security guards at Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here after a misunderstanding between them resulted in one of the brothers suffering a gash on his right eyebrow.

Millers cry foul over mixed rice being sold as imported type
ALOR STAR: Don't take the labelling on the packaging of "imported" rice at face value, warns Malay Ricemillers' Association president Marzuki Othman on imported rice.

Call to Muslim countries to unite for stronger voice
KUALA LUMPUR: US President Barack Obama's calls to improve ties with the Muslim world has left many scholars here asking: "How will it be done?".

Stop politicking, SAPP men told
KOTA KINABALU: Stop politicking and wait until the next general election in four years to contest for seats.

Green light from chiefs

Police rescue abused maid
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have yet to record a statement from an Indonesian domestic maid who is alleged to have been beaten and abused by her employer, as she is still in a state of trauma.

'Sultan right in not giving nod to dissolve house'
PUTRAJAYA: The sultan of Perak was right in withholding consent to dissolve the state assembly in early February because a general election was held barely a year ago, the Court of Appeal said.

'No' to prison transfer request
BUTTERWORTH: An inmate accused of setting fire to a drug rehabilitation centre shocked everyone in court yesterday when he requested not to be locked up at the Penang Prison.

Influenza A: Quarantine a must for students going abroad
KUALA LUMPUR: Students can attend overseas events if they want to, but they will be subjected to seven-day quarantine to prevent the spread of influenza A (H1N1).

Influenza A: 7-day paid medical leave

Influenza A: Two undetected due to medication
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry may have just discovered a loophole in the system to screen for the influenza A (H1N1) virus at entry points.

Strive for world standards, UKM Medical Centre told
KUALA LUMPUR: The Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) has been urged to chart its growth to become a renowned academic medical centre by providing services on a par with that of developed countries.

PKFZ Report: '300 copies sent to Parliament on June 15'
PUTRAJAYA: Port Klang Authority chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng has dismissed claims by opposition leader Lim Kit Siang that the transport minister and PKA did not submit 300 copies of the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) report to Parliament.

Dewan Rakyat Round-Up: No laying PKFZ ghost to rest
THE controversial Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue dominated house proceedings most of this week with the opposition determined to bring it up whenever it had floor time.

Exposed after striptease
KUALA LUMPUR: A tryst on the Internet caused him his job as a design engineer.

Murugiah denies challenging Kayveas
SEREMBAN: Former People's Progressive Party Youth leader Datuk T. Murugiah yesterday strongly denied any intention to contest the party's top post and refuted allegations of vote-buying.

Sujatha Inquest: 'Actress was not pregnant'
KUALA LUMPUR: A physical examination conducted on actress K. Sujatha revealed that she was not pregnant but such examination is not conclusive.

Avoid sunblocks for healthy bones
PETALING JAYA: Women who shield the sun from their skin with creams and lotions will probably be more likely to develop osteopherosis later in life.

Wear high heels at your peril
GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association of Penang has warned women of the dangers associated with the wearing of high-heeled shoes.

Halal status must be scientifically proven, says Rosmah
KUALA LUMPUR: Halal products need to be scientifically proven to be halal.

Reel Time: Remptism and the movies
THE movie about illegal motor racing, Bohsia: Jangan Pilih Jalan Hitam, is making a killing at the box office, raking in more than RM3.5 million in ticket sales so far.

Reel Time: Cheryl, ghosts, a monk and a Ferrari
TV host, actress and singer Cheryl Samad takes a coffee break to talk about ghosts.

Sivakumar maintains he is the rightful speaker
IPOH: Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar, maintaining that he is the rightful speaker of the state assembly, is asking the police to investigate their own kind for trespassing into the assembly and assaulting him on Thursday.

'Pakatan men a disgrace'
KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen responsible for the fracas at the Perak assembly should be ashamed of themselves as their behaviour was disgraceful and disrespectful to the people, the monarchy and the country.

Hee defends role in assembly
IPOH: Perak state assembly Deputy Speaker Hee Yit Foong said she had the power to take over the running of the assembly session as specified under Article 36A (1) (b) of the Perak Constitution.

Look for common ground, urges Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday called on Malaysians not to focus on differences between one another, but to look for similarities and common ground.

MIC submits report on ambulance staff
MALACCA: The state MIC has submitted its findings on the incident in which ambulance staff allegedly refused to treat a disabled teenager, to the state Health Department.

IGP: We'll arrest any offender
KUALA LUMPUR: The nation's top cop defended his men's action in arresting five lawyers outside Brickfields police station on Thursday night.

Teen fights back for phone
PASIR GUDANG: A 15-year-old girl's gutsy fight to catch a pair of snatch thieves led to the arrest of one of them by the public.

12 attack student over 'misunderstanding'
BATU PAHAT: A Form One student was hospitalised after being beaten up by 12 of his school mates at SMK Tunku Putera, Tongkang Pecah, here on Thursday.

Datuk detained as syabu probe widens
KUANTAN: Police have detained a businessman, who is a Datuk, to assist them with investigations over last week's drug haul in Rompin, the largest seizure made by police.

Drugs worth RM272,000 seized
TAIPING: Anti narcotics police officers seized syabu and ecstasy pills with an estimated street value of RM272,000 from two double-storey houses in Simpang near here on Wednesday.

S'pore suspends sale of pills
SINGAPORE: The health authority here has suspended the sale of a Tongkat Ali herbal supplement product from the local market after the capsule shells were found to contain an undeclared potent substance.

Ramzi has 3 days to report to police
KUALA TERENGGANU: Datuk Dr Ahmad Ramzi Mohammad Zubir, the political secretary to former Terengganu menteri besar, Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, has just three days to come out of hiding or face arrest, police said yesterday.

PM hopes Malaysians will win GP2 Asia Series
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has expressed the hope for the country's local team, Meritus Racing, to win in next month's GP2 Asia Series.

'Anwar guilty of same thing'
KOTA KINABALU: A Parti Bersatu Sabah Youth leader has lambasted Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for insinuating that Barisan Nasional had wrested power in Perak by buying over assemblymen and issuing threats.

Sivakumar's desperate move
IPOH: State Speaker V. Sivakumar made a last-ditch attempt yesterday to prevent the formation of the new government by appealing to the Sultan of Perak to convene an emergency state assembly sitting.

'Shipbuilders must weather rough times'
KUALA LANGAT: Shipbuilders must work smart to reduce operational costs to counter the challenges brought by the economic turmoil.

Malaysian soccer not having a ball
The Football Association of Malaysia's knives came out swiftly and coach S. Sathianathan and assistant team manager Datuk Soh Chin Aun were sacked after the Malaysian team's 5-0 loss to the United Arab Emirates in the 2011 Asian Cup qualifiers last month. It was the latest chapter in the sorry saga of football in the country. Former Malaysian stalwart Santokh Singh and forward Mohd Ivan Mohd Yussoff, who plays for PKNS in the M-League, talk shop as M.K. MEGAN prods them along

Focus switches to new exco line-up
IPOH: The new Perak government led by Barisan Nasional has been put in place with the swearing-in of Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zamry Abdul Kadir yesterday.

Demo against Hee's defection
IPOH: Residents of Kanthan new village, where Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong grew up, took to the streets yesterday to protest her defection from DAP.

Move to block Ulu Muda logging plan
ALOR STAR: A nationwide signature campaign against Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak's plan to log timber in the Ulu Muda forest reserve was launched yesterday.

FAUZIAH ISMAIL: Abdullah proud of Asean's success
THIS may be his last outing at Asean summits and meetings but Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was neither unhappy nor sad to leave it. He described it as part of his work.

Muhyiddin: Stick to undertakings
HUA HIN: Asean member countries should adhere to commitments made if the regional grouping is to realise its Asean Economic Community's goal of creating a single production base and market by 2015.

DEWAN RAKYAT ROUND-UP: Security lapse, lack of action surprising
NOBODY thought a group of people could walk into Parliament and intimidate a member over his speech in the chamber, the only place in the country where free speech is practised without fear or retribution.

High Court grants leave to residents
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here yesterday granted leave to 108 Bukit Gasing residents for a judicial review to quash the development order by the Kuala Lumpur mayor pertaining to a hillslope development project in the area.

Five Indonesians, including baby, die in accident
KOTA KINABALU: Five Indonesians, including a baby, died when a lorry they were in flipped over in Jalan Sapi-Nangoh near Beluran early yesterday.

Hoh: Health Dept's efforts to curb dengue showing good results
THE efforts of the state Health Department has helped reduced the number of dengue and Chikungunya cases last year.

Help police fight rape, public urged
ALL parties should play their role to reduce the number of rape cases involving young victims.

Gerak lodges report against Rafidah over abuse of power
SHAH ALAM: The Civil Movement Against Corruption Malaysia (Gerak) yesterday lodged a report against former International Trade and Industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office here for alleged abuse of power. It alleged that Rafidah had in 1993 abused her power in the distribution of 1.5 million units of special Bumiputera shares in a company under the ministry. Gerak women's wing chairman Siti Faridah Abdul Samad said the movement had received evidence detailing the former minister's involvement.

Reel Time: For Tomok, it's more than a million
TOMOK, as Shah Indrawan is better known, is the man of the moment following his triumph in season three of One In A Million. Tomok takes a coffee break to talk about his "return" to fame.

Blackmailed over lewd pictures
KUALA LUMPUR: A casual intimate encounter on Tuesday became a nightmare for a bank officer when his date stole his mobile phone and threatened to post the lewd pictures on the Internet.

No interference, says Zaki
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Azmi has vowed to erase the negative perception the public has of the judiciary.

3,170 Malaysian crafts in limelight at Harrods
IT was the moment everybody was waiting for. Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, dressed in a pink outfit, walked the short distance to the podium at Georgian Restaurant to declare open the month-long Malaysian craft promotion at the prestigious Harrods department store.

State rep's brother drowns in bid to save daughter, girl
KUALA TERENGGANU: Che Mohd Abdul Rashid Nuh, the elder brother of Tepoh assemblyman Muhammad Ramli Nuh, drowned at a waterfall here yesterday while trying to save his daughter and her friend.

Police seize fake guns, nine held
PETALING JAYA: They manufactured fake guns that used nails as "bullets" with buyers allowed to test the "weapons" at a mini shooting range in Sungai Buloh.

Part-time job syndicate busted
GEORGE TOWN: Police have uncovered a syndicate offering part-time jobs at the Immigration Department.

Girl who scored nine 1As thanks Zambry for help
IPOH: Tzai Siew Kein, 18, the SPM student who scored nine 1As last year thanked the Barisan Nasional state government led by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir for assisting in her future studies and family.

Storm rips roofs off 16 homes
ARAU: A storm left a trail of damage in three villages in Jelempok near Guar Sanji on Wednesday, about 4pm.

Najib set to steer nation to greater heights
KUALA LUMPUR: The going may be tough for Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who takes over Malaysia's top job, but despite the challenges, the path is all set for the son of Malaysia's second prime minister to navigate the nation to greater heights.

Hopes that Najib will rejuvenate sports
KUALA LUMPUR: Sports administrators in the country believe the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's extensive knowledge and vast experience in sports would help rejuvenate sports in the country.

Sabah and Sarawak leaders laud new era
KOTA KINABALU: Political leaders from Sabah and Sarawak have described the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Malaysia's new prime minister as the dawn of a new era.

Najib gets right back to work
PUTRAJAYA: Newly appointed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak wasted no time in busying himself with his new-found responsibilities.

Police nab three robbery suspects
JOHOR BARU: Three more people have been picked up in connection with the robbery at a top police officer's house here on Thursday, bringing the total number to six.

Fire razes 11 buildings, 30 made homeless
JELI: Some 30 people were made homeless when fire destroyed six houses and five shophouses in Kampung Air Lanas, here, yesterday.

Think 1Malaysia, Sabah folk told
KUDAT: Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri wants Sabahans toappreciate the slogan '1Malaysia' mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and strive to preserve racial solidarity and harmony in the country.

Thai cops warn pushers
SUNGAI GOLOK: Ten Malaysians have been detained by Thai police for involvement in drugs this year.

Brothers cry foul over MPPP action
GEORGE TOWN: Two traders near the Kek Lok Si temple here got the shock of their lives when 33 of the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) enforcement officers seized their goods on Wednesday morning.

Case of the exploding copter
PETALING JAYA: Flying model helicopters was a hobby that Datuk Ananth S. Nathan shared with his best friend.

Protections for consumers: Don't be fooled by disclaimers
PETALING JAYA: Who says that "goods sold are not returnable", "deposits are non-refundable", or "once broken considered sold"?

No price is too high for love
KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the gloomy global economic outlook, Malaysians have not been stingy on their love offerings for their beloved this Valentine's Day.

Selangor reps plan retreat
SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Rakyat state assemblymen and members of parliament met on Thursday night to discuss current issues in the state and foster comradeship.

HEROES IN BLUE Ending gang's reign of terror
In 1996, five members of a notorious rob-and-rape gang active in four states met and ignominious end. FADHAL A. GHANI speaks to one of the policemen responsible for putting an end to the gang's spree

RapidPenang: No depot site, no 200 extra buses
GEORGE TOWN: RapidPenang is pushing the state government to provide a suitable site for a depot to accommodate some 200 additional buses the company will get by the year-end.

Federal Court to hear MB issue
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday decided that the constitutional issue on who is the rightful menteri besar of Perak is best decided by the Federal Court.

Help to empower Malay language, urges Najib
PUTRAJAYA: The empowerment of the Malay language must be made a responsibility of all Malaysians, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

Change in One In A Million show's format
SHAH ALAM: Popular reality talent show One In A Million (OIAM), now in its third season, has a change in format.

Culprit 'known to Wong'
KUALA LUMPUR: Police believe the semi-nude pictures of Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong were posted online by someone she knows.

More expensive RON97 to offset new RON95 petrol
PUTRAJAYA: RON92 petrol will be discontinued in July when RON95 is introduced to the domestic market.

Zambry leaves fate to the law
IPOH: Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said he and the six state executive councillors do not want to act hastily like the opposition.

Poser over state footballer's death
KUCHING: The death of an 18-year-old Sarawak Under-19 football player in Penang last year is still a mystery, with no conclusive proof of how he died.

Man's acquittal upheld
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday upheld a lower court's decision acquitting a businessman of perjury.

Minister's appeal may not be heard on Monday
PUTRAJAYA: The Home Minister's appeal against the release of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who was detained under the Internal Security Act is unlikely to be heard on Monday.

Liow: Graphic pictures have made many smokers quit
KUALA LUMPUR: Graphic pictures showing the devastating health effects of smoking has had an impact on smokers, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Mahdzir denies crossover charge
ALOR STAR: State Umno chief Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said he had met with many opposition leaders but denied the meetings were to induce them to defect.

False claims top corruption reports
SIBU: About 90 per cent of corruption cases reported to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office here last year centred on false claims.

Nizar to vacate official residence
IPOH: Former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin will vacate the menteri besar's official residence in Jalan Raja DiHilir tomorrow.

Man charged with cheating
GEORGE TOWN: A site supervisor was charged yesterday with cheating a man of RM600.

Lock-up escapee recaptured
PADANG BESAR: The 21-year-old detainee who escaped from the Padang Besar police station after going to the toilet on Wednesday, was nabbed at the Butterworth bus terminal on Thursday.

Najib confirms candidacy for top Umno post
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday confirmed his candidacy for the post of Umno president during party elections to be held next month.

'More firemen needed'
PUTRAJAYA: More firefighters are needed to meet international standards.

Cops bust gang behind factory heists, 11 held
JOHOR BARU: Police yesterday busted a gang that robbed factories in Pasir Gudang, Johor Baru, Skudai, Senai and Kulai over the last eight months.

Kamilia vows to give her best
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who won the Wanita Umno vice-chief post uncontested, promised to discharge her responsibilities in the best manner possible.

Risks hold no fear for illegal goldminers
MARAN: There's a gold rush happening in Ulu Luit near here. Scores of people throng a former mining area to pan for the precious metal every day.

New Recoda chief likely to be a foreigner
KUCHING: The chief executive officer for the state's Regional Economic Development Authority (Recoda), to be appointed by mid-year, will probably be a foreigner.

Sultan's birthday plans in bloom
KOTA BARU: The highlight of the 12-day celebration of the Sultan of Kelantan's 59th birthday will be a flora festival at Taman Orkid Tengku Anis at Pengkalan Chepa.

Show skills, local sailors urged
KUALA TERENGGANU: After four editions of the Monsoon Cup, Malaysian sailors have yet to prove their mettle except for an annual cameo appearance in the final leg of the World Match Racing Tour.

Turkish group robs petrol stations
KUANTAN: While other foreign tourists come to Pahang to spend money on shopping and sightseeing, a few Middle Eastern people have been making money by stealing and robbing petrol stations.

Lorry hijacking foiled
SHAH ALAM: A lorry driver thought he had executed the perfect cargo theft, until police picked him up 48 hours after a lorry carrying RM200,000 worth of dried cocoa was stolen.

Ministry finalising purchase of Sabah Medical Centre
KOTA KINABALU: The Federal Government, through the health ministry, is finalising the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) for the private hospital, Sabah Medical Centre (SMC).

Girl admits abandoning newborn
KUANTAN: The mystery surrounding the body of a newborn baby boy which was found wrapped in a sheet of cloth at Taman Balok Makmur here on Thursday was solved when a 16-year-old girl was identified as the mother of the baby.

Ex-education adviser is state Tokoh Guru
KEMAMAN: Awards and rewards were aplenty for teachers and students at the state-level Teachers Day celebration at Dewan Berlian near here on Thursday.

Acid attack victim longs for a child with wife
KOTA BARU: Acid victim Tuan Azman Tuan Ludin lives happily with his new wife Noraini Ghazali but their life is incomplete without a child of their own.

Vehicle sales may take a dive
SIBU: The sale of vehicles in the country is expected to dip up to 12.4 per cent this year.

Action against illegals
KOTA KINABALU: A total of 389,129 illegal immigrants had been arrested in Sabah between 1990 and 2008, the State Secretary Datuk Sukarti Wakiman said yesterday.

EIA for proposed port
LABUAN: The Transport Ministry has confirmed that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is being carried out for the proposed Labuan Integrated Port (LIP).

Too poor to send children to school
PEKAN: Poverty has forced Rosli Latif, 48, an Orang Asli from the Sena Orang Asli settlement here, to stop sending six of his children to school as he could not afford to do so.

PPP faces new crisis
PENANG: The political crisis in the People's Progressive Party (PPP) continues to deteriorate after its former Penang vice-chairman V. Nanda Kumar yesterday claimed to be the party's state chairman even while Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan is still holding the post.

Telcos urged to share transmission towers
IPOH: The Ipoh City Council has asked the Perak Integrated Network to discuss with telecommunication companies to put up transmission towers that can be shared among them to reduce the number of such structures.

24 food outlets shut down
SEREMBAN: A total of 24 food outlets in Port Dickson were forced to shut down for 14 days after the state Health Department found them to be unhygienic.

Five held for beating up traffic cop
GEORGE TOWN: Five suspects, including a woman, have been arrested to help investigations into the case of an off-duty traffic policeman who was beaten and robbed here on Wednesday morning.

Sports school for the disabled
MUAR: A sports school and a pre-Olympic sports council for the disabled will be set up to prepare and augment the skills of handicapped athletes for local and international sporting events.

Port Klang Free Zone Scandal: 'Police fail to act on reports'
MACC for its alleged failure to act on his four police reports since 2004 on the PKFZ project.

Umno special general meeting on Oct 12
KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno special general meeting will be held one day before its four-day annual general meeting (AGM), which will begin on Oct 13.

Port Klang Free Zone Scandal: It is now all up to MACC
PUTRAJAYA: It's now over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on the Port Klang Free Zone debacle.

Port Klang Free Zone Scandal: Najib tells Ong to provide the answers
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has directed Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat to respond to queries involving the audit report on the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ).

Port Klang Free Zone Scandal: Chor denies any conflict of interest
PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung has denied any conflict of interest involving his role in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project.

Showcasing progress in education
PUTRAJAYA: The 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) next month has provided Malaysia the best platform to showcase its success and progress in education.

Set aside differences, Yamtuan tells state reps
SEREMBAN: The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir yesterday urged members of the state assembly to set aside their differences and to stand united to overcome adversities and challenges.

Police seize fake guns, nine held
PETALING JAYA: They manufactured fake guns that used nails as "bullets" and the buyers would first test their "weapons" at a mini shooting range in Sungai Buloh.

Abdullah: It's over to you Najib
PUTRAJAYA: Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi officially handed over the duties of prime minister to Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday at the Prime Minister's Department in the Perdana Putra building here.

It's good, pole and all
Men are getting into harem pants, draping women with five metres of exotic, fancy material and jumping on vertical poles, all for different reasons, writes SHANTI GUNARATNAM.

Cabinet decision on marriage and conversion: The Subashini case
BUSINESSMAN T. Saravanan and clerk R. Subashini were married on July 26, 2001 and registered their union under the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976.

Cabinet decision on marriage and conversion: Look at both syariah, civil law
PUTRAJAYA: To determine the religious status of a child when a parent converts to Islam, one has to look at the syariah as well as the existing Malaysian laws, said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) yesterday.

Cabinet decision on marriage and conversion: There are still grey areas
KUALA LUMPUR: The MCA hailed the cabinet's decision in resolving the dispute on the religion of minors should one parent convert to Islam.

'Lion of Jelutong' takes a tumble in court building
KUANTAN: The man dubbed the "Lion of Jelutong", Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament and celebrated lawyer Karpal Singh, slipped off his wheelchair and fell face-down on the floor of the two-storey Kuantan High Court building yesterday.

Pupils reach out to Gaza friends
KUALA LUMPUR: Fifteen-year-old Kanendra Kumar has more on his mind than just his exams and friends.

Bumi lots up for grabs at expo
KUALA LUMPUR: Close to 1,000 units of unsold properties are up for sale until tomorrow at the Klang Valley Bumiputera Property Expo 2009 at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Ministry strategises its direction
KUNDASANG: Eighty-five senior officials of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) have been on a three-day retreat at the Kinabalu Park here since Thursday.

Probe into Deva gang's link to RM8m heist
KUALA LUMPUR: Police investigation has indicated that the Deva Gang was responsible for the RM8.24 million cash-in-transit van robbery at a shopping centre in Cheras here earlier this week.

Man to hang for drug trafficking
KUALA LUMPUR: An electrician was sentenced to death by the High Court yesterday after he was found guilty of trafficking drugs six years ago.

Forced into sex with uncle
SEREMBAN: A 14-year-old school dropout from Nilai has accused her mother of making her a sex slave to her uncle for four years.

Eatery fined RM526,000 for hiring Malaysians
KUALA LUMPUR: Owners of a restaurant in Colchester, England, were fined STG96,000 (RM526,000) last week for employing illegal workers, including Malaysians, the United Kingdom's Border Agency said yesterday.

REEL TIME: 'Blockbusters' of a different kind
THE gleam of a box office hit is always in their eyes when they start out but some movies have burned the fingers of their backers.

When sorry is just not enough
KANGAR: "We are sorry."

'CM confused over ferry operations'
GEORGE TOWN: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is confused, says Penang Port Commission chairman Tan Cheng Liang, as he does not understand the difference between PPC and Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).

Ex-council head nabbed
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a former president of a district council in Malacca for allegedly receiving a RM10,000 bribe in November 2003.

Cops nab 3 linked to robbery spree in Puchong
SUBANG JAYA: Police believe they have solved the pre-dawn multiple robberies in Puchong with the arrest of three men last night.

Call to take symptoms seriously
KUALA LUMPUR: Schizo-phrenics make up the majority of patients admitted to hospitals for mental treatment.

Recalcitrant cop back in dock with fresh charges
KLANG: A constable who in February was charged with impersonating an inspector and committing robbery, was back in court again yesterday, this time at the magistrate's court here to face charges of impersonation, trespassing and extorting a man, last week.

Charged with making false statement
KUALA LUMPUR: A company director was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with making a false statement to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

Two sue for wrongful arrest in Nurin case
KUALA LUMPUR: A textile shop owner and his brother-in-law yesterday filed a suit against the police and the government for wrongful arrest and trespass.

Hearing of Nizar's application fixed for July 9
PUTRAJAYA: Former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has filed his application for leave to appeal against a Court of Appeal decision -- three days before the 30-day deadline.

SITI NURBAIYAH NADZMI: Sudanese want to be left alone
THE street demonstrators here are rather press-savvy when it comes to getting their message across. Perhaps they have been conditioned by the foreign press to pose for the cameras.

Department chief wants them in jail
SERIAN: Things still look gloomy for more than 6,800 National Service dodgers, even though the National Service Training Act was amended on Tuesday.

Private hospitals urged to get JCI certification
KUALA LUMPUR: Private hospitals and medical centres catering to international clients should get the Joint Commission International accreditation.

RPK's son changes plea, claims trial
SHAH ALAM: The 32-year-old son of blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin who had pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and possession of a stolen motorcycle on May 19, yesterday changed his plea.

Bankable heroes - guys with good looks and acting skills
THE script is important, so too the man behind the camera, and throw in a song and dance. In addition to all these ingredients, a movie needs a leading man with the charm, good looks and acting talent to pull in the fans.

Sivakumar wants answer on new rules
IPOH: Perak assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar will issue a show cause letter to state secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim demanding he explain the imposition of new media rules for the May 7 state assembly sitting.

Rules on part-time work in the offing
MALACCA: Regulations governing part-time work for public and private sector workers after normal working hours are expected to come into effect next month.

MTUC seeks talks on crucial issues
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) wants the workers' demands to be seriously looked into and solutions implemented.

Pas will not contest in Penanti
PENANG: Pas will not be fielding a candidate in the Penanti by-election.

UTM’s fuel cell vehicle sets a first

Actress discharged
PETALING JAYA: Singer-actress Noor Shereen Mohamad Hadzim has been facing a bleak future after she was charged with consuming and possessing drugs in 2005.

Hybrid coaches to improve services
KUALA LUMPUR: There will be relief for thousands of commuters by the end of this month when Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) adopts new strategies to increase its capacity.

Man charged with money laundering
KUALA LUMPUR: A former consultant was charged at the Sessions Court yesterday with 11 counts of money laundering involving more than RM3.5 million.

RM270,000 contraband seized
GELANG PATAH: The state Customs Department has seized more than RM270,000 (including tax) worth of undeclared cigarettes and beer in two separate raids here since Wednesday.

'More Muslims should enter halal industry'
JOHOR BARU: More Muslim Bumiputera entrepreneurs are urged to enter the halal food industry as they understand the halal concept better.

Customs officer charged
SEREMBAN: A Customs officer was charged at the Sessions Court on Thursday with making a false claim amounting to RM39,847.80 five years ago.

DiGi expands broadband service
KOTA KINABALU: DiGi Telecommunications launch-ed its broadband service in Sabah and Penang yesterday, marking the start of its plan to expand its service.

Anifah slams Anwar for not telling the truth about Malaysia
WASHINGTON: Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman on Thursday blasted opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for not telling the truth about Malaysia and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Heavy security for RM254m drug case
ROMPIN: The magistrate's court here was heavily guarded when the main suspect in the country's biggest drug trafficking case was charged yesterday.

Reel Time: Beauty not brainless
MULTI-TALENTED beauty Stephanie Chai (pictured) takes a coffee break and discusses why inner beauty is important, and that not all beauties are brainless.

Reel Time: The successful backroom boys
WHO would you consider as the successful players in the Malaysian movie scene?

CrossTalk: A dirty word
Activists Manohara Subramaniam and Jac Kee reflect on what it means to be a feminist. CHAI MEI LING listens in as they talk about negative labels, invisible young activists and getting the taboo out of sexuality.

Japanese honours for 2 from Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians, Dr Stephen Leong Mun Yoon and Dr Lau Poh Yok, are to be honoured by Japan for their outstanding contribution to bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan.

Kedah to replace some Perdanas
ALOR STAR: The Pas-led state government will replace some of its Proton Perdana V6 Executive official cars with the same model soon.

Harvest festival brings groups together
PAPAR: The month-long state-level Pesta Kaamatan or harvest festival was launched here yesterday in an impressive ceremony.

Spell-It-Right: Malay students from Chinese school become 'celebrities'
KOTA BARU: The spotlight was on the team from SJK (C) Kai Chih in Pasir Putih at the RHB New Straits Times Spell-It-Right challenge yesterday despite not winning any of the top prizes in the competition.

You don't just have to be an artist, says Yusof
THE Malaysian art scene has made giant steps in recent years with the country's artists making waves abroad, fetching six-figure prices for their works.

National gallery takes on added role
THE National Art Gallery is expanding its role to position itself as the nucleus of the rapidly growing art industry in the country.

Kasitah to know fate on June 30
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has set June 30 for decision in the corruption trial of former Land and Cooperative Development Minister Tan Sri Kasitah Gaddam.

Credit card fraud on the rise
PETALING JAYA: The number of consumer complaints against banks and other financial institutions has been steadily increasing in the past three years, said National Consumer Complaints Centre chief executive officer Muhammad Shaani Abdullah.

Mat Rempit gets jail term, fine
KUANTAN: A Mat Rempit who pleaded guilty to riding his motorcycle recklessly was yesterday sentenced to two years' jail and RM9,000 fine by the magistrate's court.

Major marine scientific expedition off Sabah
THE countdown for the first-ever scientific expedition to the Sulu and Sulawesi seas off Sabah has begun.