Malaysia News Archives

A Malaysian court Tuesday rejected Anwar Ibrahim's bid to stop his sodomy trial from going forward, dealing another blow to the opposition leader's fluctuating fortunes since he achieved spectacular election results last year.

PETALING JAYA, Nov 30 -- Selangor, the country's most developed state, is expected to achieve an economic growth of between six per cent and seven per cent next year, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Monday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia a ' Oil prices rebounded to near $77 a barrel Monday in Asia as panic about the global fallout from Dubai's debt problems abated.

A 72-year-old female passenger was killed while 11 others are still missing after a fishing boat, reportedly carrying 25 passengers, capsized near Karakit in Pulau Banggi off here, Thursday evening.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Sun: The flood in Terengganu subsided further this morning with the number of evacuees down to only 40 people.

KUALA LUMPUR: The crime rate at 13 crime hotspots in the city has dropped by 13 per cent, following crime-prevention operations from Aug 5 to Nov 15, this year.

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 29: Forty-nine Indian women were among thousands of foreign sex workers arrested in Malaysia this year for engaging in prostitution, says a report released Sunday that speaks of growing demand for prostitutes in this Southeast Asian nation.

The Sarawak Civil Defence Department hopes to recruit more non-Bumiputeras in its recruitment drive for 1,500 new members next year, its director Col Che Othman Hussin said.

A news report says a fishing boat has capsized in eastern Malaysia, leaving a 72-year-old female passenger dead and 11 other people missing.

BESUT :A former Terengganu boxer was found dead in his car parked along Jalan JertehKota Baharu at Kampung Padang Landak near here on Saturday night.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 -- The MCA special briefing on Saturday, unanimously passed a declaration to push for fresh polls at the Central Committee level.

KUALA LUMPUR,Fri: MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha is delighted that the extraordinary general meeting , slated for tomorrow, has been called off.

KUDAT : The number of victims reported missing in the boat capsize tragedy off here on Thursday rose to 12 from four.

GERIK : Three people, including a policeman and his wife, were killed when the car they were travelling in collided with another car at Km 35.6, Jalan Kuala Kangsar-Gerik on Friday.

Malaysia Sun Friday 27th November, 2009 Malaysia has mooted an insurance scheme and a welfare fund for its sportsmen, particularly for those who have retired, to ensure better health care, an official said.

KUALA LUMPUR,Fri: The MCA annual general meeting will be held as scheduled on December 4 and 5, MCA Information and Communication Bureau chairman Heng Seai Kie said today, dispelling claims that it would be postponed.

The organizers of the Hack In The Box security conferences in Malaysia are planning their first European show for Amsterdam next July.

KUALA LUMPUR : Muslims in the country celebrated the Aidiladha on Friday in the spirit of sacrifice and with much gratefulness.

KOTA KINABALU: A new 300MW gas-powered plant is set to give Sabah's critical energy sector a boost.

Auckland, 27 November 2009 – A second New Zealand company has been exposed for its role in Indonesian rainforest destruction.

Spicers Paper New Zealand has been linked with Sinar Mas which Greenpeace has labelled as one of the leading forest and climate destroyer in Indonesia.

Earlier this year Fonterra was implicated in the palm industry’s clearing and burning of rainforests in Indonesia and Malaysia to make way for palm plantations which provide products including palm-based animal feed used on New Zealand dairy farms.

Greenpeace New Zealand communications manager Suzette Jackson, who was working In Indonesia earlier this month to stop deforestation, said it was appalling that two New Zealand companies had been identified as aiding rainforest destruction within the last few months.

“Fonterra and Spicers represent themselves as being sustainable when obviously they are not.”

THE globe's hottest cartoon character, Ben Tennyson, has checked into Kuala Lumpur for some exhilarating action and is set to take families on an incredible adventure into the world of Ben 10 in Power Of The Omnitrix .

MANILA: Kebanyakan saksi difahamkan melihat sendiri ahli politik Filipina mengarahkan dan mengambil bahagian dalam kejadian pembunuhan beramai-ramai yang mempunyai kaitan satu pilihan raya sehingga meragut sekurang-kurangnya 57 nyawa, kata Setiausaha Keadilannya, Agnes Devanadera, hari ini.

"Seorang daripada saksi berkata beliau adalah orangnya yang memberikan arahan itu. Malah ada saksi melihat sendiri dia melepaskan tembakan daripada senjatanya," katanya kepada rangkaian televisyen GMA, ketika merujuk kepada Andal Ampatuan Jnr, Datuk Bandar di selatan Filipina yang menyerah diri semalam. - AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 -- It is a double celebration for Malaysia Airlines as it was awarded the "5-Star airline" for the 5th consecutive year and the "World's Best Cabin Staff" for the 7th time by Skytrax, a UK based organization, with 20 years experience in airline research.

Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson is calling for a review of travel expenses by Sacramento Airport Director Hardy Acree to make sure they adhere to the county's guidelines, based on details uncovered by KCRA 3 Investigates.

Domestic violence and rapes continue to rise in Malaysia despite several efforts made by the Government to curb the vices, said Malaysian Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Chew Mei Fun.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek says that unity is not an option for MCA, but a necessity.

Wednesday November 25th, 2009 Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has signed an agreement with Themed Attractions and Resorts Sdn Bhd , a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad - the investment holding arm of the Government of Malaysia - to open, and operate Traders Hotel, Puteri Harbour, Iskandar, Malaysia.

The Naza group, through Naza Kia Sdn Bhd, will launch four Kia models next year as it seeks to double sales volume to 26,000 units, its chief said.

The Pussycat Dolls arrive at the MTV Asia Awards 2008 at the First World Hotel in Genting Highlands on August 2, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won a civil suit against publisher New Straits Times Press Bhd and its former group editor-in-chief over a defamatory article published by its newspaper in 2002.

DETAINED: Nineteen foreign workers were detained at Jalan 223 food court and taken to Selangor Immigration Department in Shah Alam A FOOD court at Jalan 223 in Petaling Jaya was literally paralysed after officers from the Immigration Department raided the place and picked up 19 foreign workers yesterday.

MALAYSIA'S new Central Bank Act 2009 has come into force today and will "institutionalise" practices while providing a more robust governance framework.

THIS yeara s Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition is on course to break another record.

KUALA LUMPUR: The International Islamic University Malaysia is offering its expertise through the IIUM wind tunnel testing facility to all car manufacturing companies to test any new car designed and developed by them.

Kuala Lumpur, November 25 : A Malaysian man was detained after using his daughter as his sex slave for eight years.

PORT KLANG: The Selangor Royal Customs seized 367 luxury cars of various makes worth RM55.1 million including tax, for not having valid approved permits throughout this year.

ALOR SETAR: A husband and wife couple, both 20-years-old, were arrested by police for being involved in the making of counterfeit currency notes over the last few months.

THOUSANDS of Malaysian boys will begin the journey into adulthood at mass circumcision ceremonies that start this month throughout this mainly Muslim Southeast Asian nation.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 -- The Dewan Rakyat was told Tuesday that public perception that the use of the RON95 petrol could damage the car's engine is inaccurate.

Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd expects to approve over RM4.9 billion fund to locally-incorporated companies engaged in the information and communications technology , biotech and emerging technology sector by March next year.

Malaysia Sun Tuesday 24th November, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 24 : The Islamic Fashion Festival VIII has been launched in style in Kuala Lumpur, featuring designs from Royal Terengganu Songket and Muslim wear designers.

South East Asia News.Net Tuesday 24th November, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, November 24 : A group of Malaysian sex workers are reportedly using pornographic movies to distract clients before robbing them off their belongings.

23rd November, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) meraih kejayaan berganda apabila dianugerahkan “Syarikat Penerbangan Lima Bintang” untuk tahun kelima dan anugerah “Kakitangan Kabin Terbaik Dunia” untuk kali ketujuh oleh Skytrax, sebuah organisasi bebas di United Kingdom berpengalaman 20 tahun dalam penyelidikan syarikat penerbangan.

MAS diiktiraf sebagai syarikat penerbangan lima bintang oleh Skytrax sejak 2005 manakala anak kapalnya meraih anugerah untuk kakitangan kabin terbaik dunia sejak 2001-2004, 2007, 2009-2010—terbanyak bagi mana-mana syarikat penerbangan.

“Ini adalah berita yang sangat baik terutama ketika dalam situasi yang sangat sukar ini di mana semua petugas telah bekerja keras bagi menghasilkan produk dan perkhidmatan terbaik yang sangat diperlukan oleh pelanggan. Apa yang menjadi keutamaan mereka, adalah keutamaan kami,” kata Pengarah Urusan/Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) MAS Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin.

“Pengiktirafan ini akan mendorong kami untuk menggandakan usaha bagi menghasilkan produk dan perkhidmatan yang lebih berkualiti. Anak kapal kami memberikan perkhidmatan terbaik dan telah berterusan mengekalkan nama syarikat dan Malaysia berada di tempat tertinggi untuk bersaing dalam industri penerbangan. Mereka menjadi contoh terbaik untuk negara memberi layanan mesra,” katanya lagi.

MAS sebelum ini turut dipilih sebagai “Syarikat Penerbangan Terbaik di Asia” oleh 180,000 industri profesional melalui undian global yang dikendalikan oleh ‘World Travel Awards”.

Pengiktirafan lain yang diterima MAS tahun ini termasuk memenangi Syarikat Penerbangan Terbaik oleh Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd, menduduki tempat ketiga untuk kategori Syarikat Terbaik oleh Aviation Week, meraih tempat kelapan bagi kategori Syarikat Penerbangan Terbaik Dunia oleh Smart Travel Asia dan terpilih antara 10 syarikat penerbangan terbaik yang pertama kali dianjurkan menerusi talian laman web penerbangan “Global Local Monitor”.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Saudi Arabian government is doing its best to control accommodation and transportation costs during the haj season and is constantly improving facilities for pilgrims.

SUNGAI PETANI, Nov 22 -- Three in a family were killed in an accident when the van they were travelling in skidded and hit a tree at Km 108.8, North-South Expressway here this Sunday's morning.

KUALA LUMPUR: Adult Malaysians should get periodical dental checks once or twice a year while children should get them once every six months for early detection of any dental problem, said Kuala Lumpur Deputy Director of Health , Dr Ahmad Bujang.

KUALA LUMPUR: The second autopsy on political aide Teoh Beng Hock's remains has been completed but the results are only likely to be disclosed when the inquest into his death resumes on Dec 9. Teoh's sister Teoh Lee Lan said the family was given a short briefing after the autopsy at the Sungai Buloh Hospital by Thai forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip ...

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China , which received a banking license last week to operate in Malaysia, will establish banking operations in Kuala Lumpur with the setting up of a subsidiary bank in the country.

SOUTHEAST Asia's biggest budget carrier AirAsia plans to list on the Thai and Indonesian stock exchanges in a bid to tap the region's capital markets despite a turbulent year for airlines.

NEW YORK: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's visit to New York from Sunday will pave the way for a shift in relations between Malaysia and the United States , especially in the economic sphere, according to those in the diplomatic circle.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 -- Five lawyers were detained in May this year, when they refused to adhere to police warning to disperse from an illegal gathering, a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia public inquiry was told Sunday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 -- The flood situation in Terengganu and Kelantan has taken a turn for the worse with all districts in Terengganu affected except for Kuala Terengganu.

The body of a Malaysian opposition activist who died in police custody has been exhumed after a pathologist said there was an 80% chance he was killed.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 -- Cuepacs is asking the government to write off the housing loans taken by all civil servants who are medically boarded out during service.

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia is planning to make Bangkok a hub next year to expand connectivity to Indian cities, a senior company official said Friday.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 21 -- The use of contaminated fish to make crackers, a favourite snack in the state, has been identified as among the sources of cholera outbreak Terengganu, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

Malaysian police arrested two Iranian nationals on charges of possessing 4 kilograms of methamphetamines worth about 1 million ringgit , reports said Tuesday.

Two American Latin tourists were charged in the Sessions Court here with robbing a German diamond trader last month.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 -- In a random survey, the United Nations Children's Fund has found that three to four per cent of Malaysian children are not attending school, despite reaching school-going age.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 -- Tan Sri Ambrin Buang has been reappointed as the Auditor-General for two more years from Feb 23, 2010 to Feb 22, 2012, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan announced on Thursday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, not re-appointed into the presidential council , will be made an invited member instead, said party information and communication bureau chief Senator Heng Seai Kee.

KUALA LUMPUR: An influential figure in the building and construction industry died without regaining consciousness yesterday, two days after he jumped out of a window on the first floor of his home in a bid to escape armed robbers.

KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak regarding developments in the party.

Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian woman, in a bid to become a man by removing her breasts, lost both her nipples after botched sex-change surgery, reports said on Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay sian Anti-Corruption Commis sion cannot interrogate witnes ses beyond office hours, the High Court has declared in a landmark ruling.

National carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd will introduce a basic Exora multi-purpose vehicle tomorrow, two days before the launch of the new Perodua MPV.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Shares of Malaysia's top mobile phone company Maxis Berhad jumped 9.2 percent on their return to the bourse Thursday following the biggest share sale ever in Southeast Asia.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today he will meet warring factions in MCA to find a solution to the deepening crisis in the party.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 18 -- A total of 15,000 cows will be imported from Thailand for the Aidiladha sacrificial slaughter, said Veterinary Services Department deputy director-general Dr Ibrahim Embong.

THE Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry has maintained that Kuala Lumpur City Halla s controversial RM32.4 million flower deal is open and above board.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 -- Malaysia is ranked 21, as among countries sending students to the United States , with 5,942 having enrolled for the 2008/09 academic year.

The Malaysian economy can return to a potential growth rate of about 6 per cent by 2012 if structural reforms are carried out as planned and the global economy continues to improve, a World Bank economist said.

Islamic authorities charged a popular Muslim scholar on Wednesday with delivering an illegal lecture in what critics considered an attempt by conservative clerics to silence one of Malaysia's most progressive preachers.

IPOH: The floods situation in Perak is still bad as the number of people evacuated in the Kerian district rose to 1,166 this morning from 545 yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism Ministry and Home Ministry will identify factors that draw Africans to Malaysia and who they are in an effort to curb social problems involving this group of visitors.

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA grassroots leaders from 155 of the party's 191 divisions turned up at a closed-door dialogue to endorse the greater unity plan as the top party leadership pledged to hold fresh polls for the central committee.

THE RM628 million Matrade Centre in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, is expected to place Malaysia as one of the fastest growing Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions destinations in the region.

SHARE prices on Bursa Malaysia ended the morning trade mixed as profit taking trimmed earlier gains, a dealer said.

Proton has announced the entry of the Saga in 1.6l form into the Australian market. The Proton S16 sedan, as it is called, will go on sale on Dec 1, in GX manual-transmission form, at a retail price of AUD$11,990.

It features the 1.6l Campro IAFM engine, with a full suite of standard equipment including AM/FM/CD audio system, power steering, air conditioning, remote central locking with immobiliser and alarm, drivers SRS airbag and seating for five, including 5 cup holders.

The auto S16 GX, with increased specifications, is slated to arrive in July next year, as well as a GXR variant, both in automatic and manual form, which will include additional features such as dual SRS airbags and ABS as standard on all variants. The high-spec GXR will also have alloy wheels, reverse sensors and fog lamps as standard.

Proton Australia originally forecast the S16 as potentially the country's lowest priced sedan. However, with favourable currency trends the S16 will now be the lowest price new car available in Australia at its point of entry.

Like all Proton passenger cars the S16 will be covered by a full three-year unlimited kilometre warranty, along with three years free roadside assistance and a seven-year anti-corrosion warranty. It will be available in five colours including solid white, solid red, mountain blue, tranquility black and genetic silver, along with a range of accessories including body kits, spoilers, alloy wheels, boot liners and reverse sensors.

LAHORE: A team of the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency has arrested Haris Steel Mill owner Sheikh M Afzal and his son Sheikh Haris from Malaysia with the help of Interpol and Malaysian police.

Malaysia Sun Monday 16th November, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, Nov 16 : While repairs for the Sultan Mizan Stadium in Malaysia has been put on hold, the sporting complex has been seeing games of another kind being played: young couples using the arena for romantic liaisons.

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, a Kuala Lumpur-based banking group, becomes the first foreign company to seek a dual listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Internal Security Act is undoubtedly an effective way to curb terrorism in Malaysia, Australian ambassador for Counter-Terrorism William Paterson said on Wednesday.

MALAYSIAN Nature Society Selangor welcomes hypermarket Carrefour's decision to implement a "no plastic bag" policy in three of its outlets in an effort to reduce use of the throwaway plastic bags, and to eventually stop their free distribution altogether.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 -- All authorities and every Malaysian must inculcate the culture of strong maintenance and make it a way of life, says National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Sunday, November 15th, 2009 13:36:00

THE Syariah High Court in Kota Baharu was told today that Manohara Odelia Pinot was never abused by her husband, the Tengku Temenggong of Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Sultan Ismail Petra.

Tengku Azwani Tengku Iskandar, 26, said the claims made by Manohara in a newspaper report that she was abused by her husband was not true.

"I was always with Manohara. If there was, she would have complained it to me," she said when questioned by Tengku Muhammad Fakhry's counsel, Zainul Rijal Abu Bakar, in the hearing of the prince's suit which sought Manohara to be loyal to him.

Tengku Azwani, who is the only witness in the case, said her house was only about 10 minutes walks from that of Tengku Muhammad Fakry's, who is her cousin.

She said she was close to the prince and Manohara and that the couple's relation could be regarded as good and affectionate.

At the hearing which was presided by judge Mohd Yusof Awang, the court also heard a written affidavit by Tengku Muhammad Fakhry on a suit for Manohara to return RM1,112,250 which she had borrowed from him.

Mohd. Yusof fixed Dec 13 for decision.Manohara was not at the court today nor was she represented in the court.

Last Friday, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry filed his affidavit to the Syariah High Court in Kuala Lumpur for validation and to be used as evidence in the hearing of his suits at the court here today.

On Nov 3, Syarie lawyers Mohd Faiz Adnan and Roshdan Sujak Rafie pulled out from representing Manohara in the two cases and two days after that a judgment in default was made against Manohara and her mother, Daisy Fajarina, in a RM10 million suit filed by the prince at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Sunday, 15 November 2009 | 7:52 AM

YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Agriculture Minister Suswono said here on Saturday the government would continue to strive to make Indonesia the world’s biggest palmoil producer. "Palmoil is one of the commodities the state is relying on for foreign exchange income. So far the commodity has contributed a lot in increasing the state’s foreign exchange reserves," he said.

He said the country’s palmoil exports in 2007 reached US$8.87 billion and they rose up 39.5 percent or US$12.38 billion in 2008. The minister made the remarks at the handing over of participants of a retooling program to oilpalm plantation companies.

He said the agriculture ministry had cooperated with the ministries of education, manpower and the association of palmoil producers to develop human resources to support the development of palmoil agribusiness. According to him, the government was aware that palmoil companies needed human resources who were ready to work for industrial development.

On the other hand, he said, many university graduates could not as yet meet the competency needed by the companies. In view of that he said the agriculture ministry since 2008 conducted a retooling program for university graduates to meet the need of palmoil companies.

After participating in the program for a month the university graduates were immediately absorbed by palmoil companies. "The result is satisfactory and in 2009 the agriculture ministry would continue the program for university graduates who are not yet employed," he said.

The minister that day handed over the program’s participants to 11 palmoil companies.

SINGAPORE: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government would make Malaysia a better place to live and work in to bring back its citizens who are residing overseas as well as attract global talents to the country.

Two Malay-Indian siblings have obtained their Malaysian citizenship after remaining state-less for more that 30 years.

The Sheraton Langkawi Beach Resort won the award in "Malaysia's Leading Resort" category at the World Travel Awards event in London last Saturday.

Tajikistan News.Net Friday 13th November, 2009 The government in Malaysia's Selangor state has allocated four million ringgits in next year's budget for the development of Tamil schools.

Friday, 13 November 2009 | 6:27 PM

PONTIANAK, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia is in need of around 35,000 tourist guides in light of the country’s target of attracting 7 million foreign tourists in 2010. "The Indonesian Tourist Guides Association (HPI) at present has 12,000 members, and for just 2 million tourists, we need around 10,000 guides," I Nyoman Kandia, chairman of the HPI’s central executive board, said here on Friday.

Of the existing 12,000 tourist guides, he said, only about 30 percent were categorized as professional ones. According to Nyoman Kandia, tourist guides played an important role in supporting the tourism industry in the country.

Garuda Indonesia is to return to Europe after an absence of five years with a daily flight to Amsterdam starting June 1, the national airline said Wednesday.

"We have set an aggressive five-year growth strategy for the airline that will allow Garuda to take its place alongside other leading international airlines in the Asia-Pacific region," Garuda President Emirsyah Satar said in the statement.

In July, the European Union removed Garuda and three other Indonesian airlines from a list of carriers banned from entering European airspace.

The blanket ban on Indonesian airlines was imposed in 2007 after a spate of deadly accidents that raised concerns about the country's safety standards.

Garuda's Jakarta-Amsterdam route is to be flown by Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which have the capacity to carry 222 passengers, the statement said.

Garuda said it has 10 Boeing 777-300ERs aircraft on order for delivery starting in 2011.

The new aircraft would allow the airline to operate non-stop from Jakarta into Europe, it said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 -- Cases of counterfeit money in the country is still low and under control, especially involving RM50 notes, with only 13 notes found per million Ringgit.

Sales executive Sulkarnain Alias, 32 and forklift driver, Noorman Ab Wahab, 31, were sentenced to death for the murder of UiTM lecturer Bakarudin Busu on Feb 12, 2002.

KUALA TERENGGANU, Nov 6 -- Flooding struck Terengganu during the rainy season and people in three districts were evacuated to safe ground Friday morning.

Beyonce is facing another backlash from Islamic groups - conservative Muslims in Egypt fear her upcoming concert will threaten the country's "social peace and stability". The Crazy In Love superstar is due to take her I Am... world tour to the mostly Muslim nation on Friday.

This is the view from the back of the Jungle Train. For hours, the scenery in this part of northern Malaysia is little more than mile after mile of thick green jungle with tiny villages sandwiched in between.

TEMERLOH: Wangsa Maju Umno Youth chief Mohd Taupik Hussain told the Sessions Court here on Wednesday that the harsh treatment by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers had traumatised him, forcing him to make false statement.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here heard testimony from both parties in the defamation suit filed in 2003 by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim against New Straits Times Press Bhd and its former group editor-in-chief Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 -- President Hu Jintao of China was accorded a state welcome at Parliament Square here Tuesday upon his arrival for a two-day visit to Malaysia.

From Zulkefli Salleh VIENTIANE, Nov 6 -- Malaysia has received support from other Asean members countries to set up a news and information gateway to increase intra-Asean news and information flow, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim said Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 10 -- Police have categorically denied that they engage in "shoot-to-kill" practices, with Criminal Investigation Department Director Datuk Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin saying in all cases where criminals have been gunned down, the police were fired upon first.

MALAYSIA will oppose trade protectionist measures and work to ensure that the global trading environment remains as open as possible, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says.

Projects under the Tenth Malaysia Plan will be undertaken on a two-year basis to improve their efficiency of implementation, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Two people drowned and thousands evacuated their homes in Malaysia in flooding caused by heavy rains, news reports said Monday.

China's President Hu Jintao is due to arrive in Malaysia for talks ahead of an Asia-Pacific regional summit in neighbouring Singapore later this week.

PUTRAJAYA: The ministries must take pro-active action to maximise the use of information communication technology in the delivery of public services because it can improve the quality of life of the people and the image of the government, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today.

Tajikistan News.Net Saturday 7th November, 2009 Change of loyalty to the party may require lawmakers belonging to the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party to divorce their wives.

Khalid Samad, a member of the Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party , which is part of the opposition alliance, said he took the oath when he was selected to contest the 2008 general elections.

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has agreed to the setting up of a special Cabinet committee to address issues relating to the indigenous communities in Sabah and Sarawak.

Malaysia and Indonesia are set to enhance their bilateral ties when Indonesian President Susilo Bambang and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak meet next week.

LONDON: Malaysian Airlines is better poised to capture increased passenger traffic from London to Kuala Lumpur with its relocation to the newly-refurbished Terminal 4 at London's Heathrow International Airport and the opening up of its brand new Golden Lounge.

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he will not intervene in MCA's internal problems unless he receives a clear invitation from the party to do so.

Work to upgrade the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport here will begin early next year as soon as a contractor for the project is appointed by the Transport Ministry, said Finance Minister II, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

KUALA LUMPUR: Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha, who bids farewell to Malaysia on Monday, is signing off with a major accomplishment near the end of his stint.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Govern-ment has agreed to pull back the introduction of an end-of-life policy for vehicles, after taking into account the people's views and feedback.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 -- Malaysia Airlines is flying three daily flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bali from Wednesday, with the additional flight departing Kuala Lumpur everyday at 12.25pm and arriving in Bali at 3.20pm.

Its senior general manager, network and revenue management, Dr Amin Khan, said customers could now travel anytime at their convenience as the daily flights were timed every three hours, with departures at 8.45am, 12.25pm and 3.20pm.

He said in a statement today that demand had been picking up, especially with passengers from other countries flying to Kuala Lumpur and connecting onwards to Bali.

PUTRAJAYA, Fri: The discovery of a precious box belonging to Saudi Prince Saud Al-Saud in a cruise boat carrying the Malaysian prime minister and his family while on holiday in the south of France in August has brought good fortune to those in need in Malaysia.

STOCKHOLM: Malaysia is confident that it will continue to receive a steady flow of tourists from Sweden although the Malaysia Airlines no longer operate direct flights between Stockholm and Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: An Opposition Member of Parliament has suggested that the Government gazette Sept 16 as a compulsory holiday under the Employment Act 1955.

Malaysia Sun Monday 2nd November, 2009 Kuala Lumpur, November 2 : An electrical engineer in Malaysia has accomplished a fuel feat at 21 km per litre.

INILAH.COM, Padang - Kehadiran RUU Rahasia Negara yang dipaksakan dapat membuat Indonesia menjadi negara tanpa hukum. Apalagi RUU tersebut tumpang tindih dengan aturan hukum yang lainnya.

"Rumusan pasal-pasal RUU ini bertentangan dengan 3 UU sebelumnya. Ini menunjukkan RUU tersebut dirancang tanpa perhitungan. Akhirnya menjadikan negara menjadi kacau tanpa hukum akibat aturan hukum saling tumpang tindih," kata praktisi hukum Rahmat Wartira di Padang, Sabtu (5/9).

Salah satu pendiri LBH Padang ini menuturkan, RUU Rahasia Negara bertentangan dengan UU 14/2008 tentang Keterbukaan Informasi Publik (KIP), UU 40/1999 tentang Pers, dan UU 31/1999 tentang Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Korupsi.

Menurut dia, bila RUU Rahasia Negara menjadi UU, berarti menutup keterbukaan informasi yang sudah dibuka UU KIP. Akibatnya, RUU Rahasia Negara akan mensahkan hal-hal prinsip yang menganggu ketertiban negara. Begitu pula dengan keran kebebasan pers yang sudah terlaksana melalui UU Pers pada akhirnya bisa dibatalkan.

"Jadi akan tidak terelakkan apabila ada 2 UU yang saling bertentangan. Yang satu membolehkan kebebasan pers, sedangkan yang lain melarang," ujar Rahmat.

Pengacara senior Sumbar ini menegaskan, RUU Rahasia Negara apabila disahkan akan menghambat pemberantasan korupsi di Indonesia yang sudah diwadahi UU Pemberantasan Tipikor. Dalam pemberantasan korupsi sesuai amanat UU tersebut, ada partisipasi publik dalam memberikan informasi tentang korupsi. Dalam UU ini, masyarakat yang memberikan informasi tersebut justru dilindungi. Namun pada RUU Rahasia Negara justru sebaliknya, masyarakat bisa dianggap membocorkan rahasia negara.

"Menjadi aneh apabila 1 UU membatalkan 3 UU sekaligus. Kalau itu terjadi, negara menjadi kacau dan negara tanpa hukum," cetusnya.

RUU Rahasia Negara saat ini masih dalam pembahasan di DPR. RUU ini rencananya akan disahkan pada September-Oktober mendatang. Keberadaan RUU ini mendapat penolakan dari kalangan pers. RUU Rahasia Negara terdiri atas 11 bab dan 52 pasal dan sebagian besar dianggap menghambat kebebasan pers.

JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- The Johor Immigration Department detained 306 illegal immigrants working as labourers at the construction site for the Seri Alam District Police Headquarters, at Jalan Rimba near Masai, here during an operation codenamed 'Ops Kutip' today.

Johor Immigration Assistant Director (Enforcement Division), Masri Adul said the two-hour operation, which began at about 10.30 am, was conducted by 128 personnel from the department following a tip-off.

"The immigrants comprised Indonesian, Myanmar, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals who had committed various offences under the Immigration Act including not following the procedures stipulated, overstaying, using fake travel documents, not having travel documents and abusing their visit pass," he said when contacted today.

Masri said the raid on the construction site was the first carried out by the Immigration Department since the construction project for the police station started a year ago.

He said the immigrants were sent to the Pekan Nenas Detention Centre, Pontian for further investigation.

A MALAYSIAN prince won a defamation suit on Thursday against his teenage wife who accused him of sexual and physical abuse after she fled back home to Indonesia.

The decision was made in a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Industry Dato Mustapa Bin Mohamed in Kuala Lumpur.

05/11/2009 - 11:01

INILAH.COM, Jakarta- Menteri Komunikasi dan Informatika (Menkominfo), Tifatul Sembiring mengatakan Indonesia menjadi negara dengan pengakses situs porno terbesar di dunia.

"Indonesia sampai saat ini paling besar mengakses situs porno," kata Tifatul Sembiring di Jakarta.

Ia mengatakan, pihaknya prihatin bila selama ini internet hanya dipergunakan untuk mengakses situs yang tidak bermanfaat.

Kenyataan itu menjadi fakta pahit yang harus dihadapinya yang mendorong Tifatul menyosialisasikan cara memanfaatkan informasi yang benar dan baik.

"Kita akan kembangkan program INSAN yakni internet sehat dan aman," katanya.

Menurut dia, internet adalah giant library atau perpustakaan raksasa yang menyediakan segala macam bentuk informasi.

Hal ini membutuhkan kesadaran, katanya, untuk membentuk Indonesia informatif yang bermanfaat.

Oleh karena itu, ia menghimbau masyarakat untuk menggunakan produk teknologi dan informasi termasuk internet untuk keperluan yang lebih produktif.

Menteri menyatakan tekadnya untuk membentuk visi Indonesia informatif yang berarti masyarakat yang aware terhadap informasi.

"Ini artinya masyarakat yang rasional, underbase of information knowledge yang tidak berdasar pada provokasi dan isu-isu," katanya.

Pihaknya juga mengaku sangat memahami perkembangan kebutuhan masyarakat yang informatif, murah, dan terjangkau.

"Kita masih memiliki indikator yang rendah mulai dari penetrasi komputer yang masih 8 persen, internet 12,2 persen, pengembangan software 80 ribu, dan pengembangan hardware 5.800. Kami harap angka ini bisa dilipatgandakan melalui pameran ini," katanya.[ito]

KUALA LUMPUR: The civil suit brought by the father of murder victim Nurin Jazlin Jazimin over the circulation of pictures of her post-mortem on the Internet must be decided by way of a full trial, the High Court here ruled.

Malaysiaa s economy may emerge from its recession earlier than the government predicted previously as stimulus measures help boost local demand, Prime Minister Najib Razak said today.

A 30-year-old Japanese woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 4.7 kilograms of methylamphetamine into the country through Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the official news agency Bernama reported Monday.

"ORANG Amerika sangat teruja apabila mendengar nama Malaysia. Sebut sahaja Malaysia, mereka akan membayangkan Menara Berkembar Petronas dan Menara Kuala Lumpur sambil memuji seni bina kedua-dua bangunan tersebut.

"Itupun selepas mereka diberitahu mengenai kecanggihan dan kepesatan Malaysia menerusi buku yang dibawa dari sini. Jika tidak, hampir 80 peratus daripada mereka tidak tahu kewujudan negara kita di dalam peta,"luah pelajar yang mengikuti program AFS (American Field Service) Antarabudaya Malaysia, Deanna Anuar, 17, mengenai pandangan golongan remaja Amerika Syarikat (AS) terhadap negara ini.

Bukan itu sahaja, segelintir daripada rakan-rakannya di sana tidak mengetahui bahawa Malaysia mempunyai penduduk pelbagai bangsa. Mereka sebaliknya menganggap Malaysia adalah sebuah negara Islam.

Menyedari itu, Deanna mengambil pendekatan serius dengan membawa sebuah buku mengenai Malaysia pada setiap masa. Sama ada di sekolahnya, Logan High School, Ohio mahupun di rumah, dia menjadikan buku sebagai medium penyebaran maklumat.

Diberi masa enam bulan untuk tinggal bersama keluarga angkat di Logan, Ohio, Deanna, berkata, dia sentiasa mengamalkan konsep saling bertukar pendapat dengan mereka.

Selain memperkenalkan kemakmuran dan kecanggihan Malaysia, cara lain yang digunakan Deanna untuk mempromosikan negaranya adalah dengan bertukar-tukar bahasa.

SEOUL: Sime Darby Bhd's energy and utilities division, Sime Darby Energy Sdn Bhd, expects to supply 500 million litres per day of groundwater for public consumption by Dec 31, 2012.

Pakistan said Sunday it wants to be consulted over the United States' new strategy on Afghanistan, saying that its expertise and coordination are vital to success.

KUALA LUMPUR, Mon: Former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was today released on bond without surety by the Gombak East syariah lower court, near here, following his arrest last night.

By P. Vijian CHENNAI, Nov 2 -- Officials from a leading bank in Malaysia have met top sleuths from the city's central crime branch to cull information on fake credit cards, sourced from the bank by a syndicate masterminded by a Sri Lankan.

CHENNAI: Proton Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh was admitted to the Apollo Hospital here today after complaining of chest pains.

Iran said Monday it has not rejected a U.N.-backed plan aimed at limiting the country's ability to make nuclear weapons as it called for a technical panel to review its terms.

One of the biggest Turkish financial institutions has indicated its interest in forging cooperation with Islamic banks in Malaysia.

BRISBANE, KOMPAS.com - Dendam sejarah keluarga lima wartawan Australia yang tewas saat tentara Indonesia masuk ke Balibo, Timor Timur (Timtim), tahun 1975 kembali menjadi komoditas media Australia. Kali ini Stasiun TV "Channel Nine" mengangkat apa yang disebutnya kisah "pencarian keadilan" Greig dan Ann, dua saudara Gary Cunningham yang bersama empat rekannya terbunuh di Balibo 34 tahun lalu itu, dalam program acara "60 Minutes"-nya Minggu malam.

Seperti umumnya banyak tayangan terdahulu, bingkai pemberitaan Stasiun TV "Channel Nine" Minggu malam yang diisi dengan cuplikan gambar film layar lebar "Balibo" (2009) itu menempatkan Indonesia sebagai pembunuh. Dua orang saudara Gary Cunningham itu datang bersama reporter dan juru kamera stasiun TV ini ke Timtim, termasuk ke sebuah rongsokan rumah yang mereka yakini sebagai tempat kelima wartawan itu tewas.

Tayangan di acara "60 Minutes" itu, "Channel Nine" menghadirkan seorang pria Timtim yang mengaku menyaksikan langsung apa yang disebutnya "aksi pembantaian" oleh pasukan TNI atas kelima wartawan yang kemudian kasus kematian mereka dikenal dengan sebutan "Balibo Five" ini. Selain itu, diwawancarai pula Presiden Timtim Ramos Horta dan Juru bicara Departemen Luar Negeri RI, Teuku Faizasyah.

JAKARTA: Three passengers on a small speedboat carrying 11 people, believed to be Malaysians, died as the vessel drifted in the Sulawesi Sea for eight days after running out.

KOTA KINABALU: Five environmental groups here have united to push for the use of green energy in the state.

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Precautions will be stepped up to ensure that no deaths occur at future camping activities, said Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.