BETWEEN 2004 and 2007, a total of 6,084 Malaysian students were offered full scholarships by the Public Service Department to pursue their studies abroad, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said 4,540 students were Bumiputeras and 1,544 students were non-Bumiputeras.

Abdullah said 23,038 students were offered scholarships by the department to pursue their studies locally.

Of this total, 20,096 were Bumiputeras and 2,942 students were non-Bumiputera.

Crackdown on bus drivers
THE Road Transport Department (RTD) issued 1,815 summonses to express bus drivers for various offences in the first three months of this year.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung told the House yesterday that the RTD and the police constantly held random checks at all the 33 bus terminals nationwide.

Chor said enforcement efforts include mounting road blocks by the RTD and the police, to ensure that commercial buses kept to the designated speed limit.

Prices stable in short term

PALM oil prices are expected to remain between RM3,500 and RM3,600 a tonne in the short term based on strong demand and the shortage of vegetable oils worldwide, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui.

In the long term, prices should hover above RM3,600 a tonne but this would also depend on the price level of crude oil.

He said the government continued to encourage the cultivation of oil palm in suitable areas.