My Indian Friend

By Debra Chong GEORGETOWN, Dec 7 — They were young Bumiputera entrepreneurs who dreamed of building a grand furniture empire. They grew hopeful when Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), a federal government agency charged with giving Bumiputera start-ups a leg up in business, mooted the idea for a joint-venture over ten years ago. The deal was simple; Mara would bui […]

KOTA MARUDU, Dec 7 — The Kota Marudu District Development and Action Committee has identified several development projects costing RM500 million for submission to the government for implementation under the 10th Malaysia Plan. Kota Marudu MP Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said today the projects to provide public amenities and basic infrastructure were necess […]

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — During the weeks of debate about the National Civics Bureau (BTN), Umno’s partners in Barisan Nasional (BN) have remained silent. But today MIC vice-president Datuk SK Devamany finally admitted that the programme should be reviewed. “As far as I’m concerned, BTN must play a role in building nationalism for th […]

By Clara Chooi IPOH, Dec 7 — A Perak assemblyman has described the Education Ministry's decision to increase the limit in number of SPM subjects from 10 to 12 as a mere “gimmick” as it still does not give proper recognition to vernacular subjects. Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar said today that although students were allowed to take an additional two su […]

By Adib Zalkapli KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar today urged Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to ask his son-in-law to leave the Kelantan Mentri Besar Corporation (PMBK) immediately so as not to prolong the issue of cronyism in the state administration. “Nik Aziz as the chairman and board member of PMBK must ask Ariffahmi to go on leav […]

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 —DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang condemned Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan’s statement that the Teoh Beng Hock case was “very small” compared to other cases investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The outgoing MACC chief had denied that he was retiring due to political pressure and […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Known as the “Iron Lady” for her no-nonsense approach in tackling multilateral trade negotiations, former International Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz has still the drive and passion to take on global trade issues. At 66, Rafidah has not called it quits, especially when it comes to playing the role of a Malaysia […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — East Asia may think the region safe from an economic meltdown but there can be no real progress unless each member country pours its energies into developing its people and public institutions, said the Raja Muda of Perak today. “Investments in industry and infrastructure are important but without similar commitments to human capital an […]

By Adib Zalkapli KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — The MCA special committee will sort out all technical issues on the holding of fresh party polls by the end of the week. Committee chairman Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said today the issues include the resignation of a sufficient number of elected central committee (CC) members to make elections necessary.

TOKYO, Dec 7 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arrived here today for a four-day specific investment mission to Japan. The mission aims to attract Japanese investments in areas such as advanced electronics, green automotive technologies, transport equipment and components, petrochemicals and chemical products as well as medical and food produc […]