1st Draft (22.12.07)2ndDraft(30.12.07)3rdDraft(05.02.08) I view the illegal gathering of 25.11.07 as a wake-up call. It consisted mainly of young and disadvantaged Indians. Unless their grievances are addressed their unhappiness may only get worse. The detention on 13.12.07 of the gathering’s organizers and advisors under the ISA is likely to turn them into martyrs and aggravate … Read more
Rationalizing The Role of Government Prime Minister Abdullah and his civil servant accountants delude themselves into believing that the government could actually “save??? RM2 billion merely by reducing ministerial allowances. The only way to effectively and substantially reduce the cost of government is to first rationalize its function. As for any savings, Abdullah would achieve … Read more
RAJA AZIZ ADDRUSE AND HELEN TING, Columnists, New Straits TimesJune 22, 2008 THE electoral results in March have stirred up great hope among many that it signals the birth of a “new politics”, whereby race-based rhetoric seems to have faltered as the magic formula for a big win by the Barisan Nasional. Political observers are … Read more
Sunday June 22, 2008 PETALING JAYA: The consumer price index (CPI) for May rose to a 22-month high of 3.8% year-on-year and economists expect the CPI for June to almost double. JP Morgan Equity Research said core inflation, excluding food and transportation, had increased only slightly, while the main factor for the surge in the … Read more
By Sharanjit Singh, New Straits TimesJune 22, 2008 GEORGE TOWN: The government has directed agencies to intensify the search for poor and needy families who qualify for welfare assistance. Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop said the move was necessary as many people who qualified for assistance were not aware of it. He … Read more
By ELIZABETH JOHN, New Straits TimeJune 22, 2008 It looks good in the draft plan, what with the seemingly complete urban rail network and multi-coloured maps. But a city planner tells ELIZABETH JOHN that the transport blueprint for Kuala Lumpur has as many holes as a kitchen colander. A QUARTER century in the planning business … Read more
By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider June 21, 2008 PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is greeted on arrival at Shah Alam Stadium with Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for the rally. — Pictures by Choo Choy May By Debra Chong SHAH ALAM, June 21 — After 100 days in … Read more
Najib is not yet a murdererBy Yein Jee June 21, 2008 Raja Petra Kamarudin has made a statutory declaration on June 18 alleging that Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Najib’s wife, was at the murder scene of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. The news is not picked up by the main media yet, but … Read more
THE COLOUR OF POLITICS: It’s still a grey area when it comes to race-based politics in Malaysia By Nazry Bahrawi, Today OnlineJune 21, 2008 .IF MALAYSIA is ever going to adopt politics separate from prevailing race issues, most analysts agree it is far from a simplistic black or white. It is more likely we are all … Read more
June 21, 2008 MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is seeking to restore the original wording of Article 121(1) of the Federal Constitution.He said he suggested this to the cabinet last week but was unsure when it would happen. Article 121(1) originally read: “Subject to Clause (2), the judicial power of the … Read more