The Malaysian Insider :: Malaysia

AirAsia becomes latest low-cost name to land in Beijing

Thu, 17 May 2012 00:38:36 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Asian low-cost pioneer AirAsia X is to commence service to Beijing. The carrier will begin flights on June 22, increasing the frequency to and from China’s booming capital in August. The news is likely to be welcomed by passengers as the new flights will replace its current service to Tianjin, which is around 100km from ...

DAP believes Malay appeal still sound without Tunku Aziz

Wed, 16 May 2012 22:59:20 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Despite their initial shock at Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s resignation, DAP leaders believe his sudden departure would not affect the party’s appeal to the Malay electorate. DAP Socialist Youth chief Anthony Loke told The Malaysian Insider that the DAP has been successful so far in its quest to encourage more Malay ...

Nazri: Bar Council has no right to reject law academy

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:41:58 GMT

JAKARTA, May 16 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz today said that the Bar Council had no right to reject the proposed setting up of a Law Academy. He (picture) said the establishment of the academy was proposed for the benefit of those with a legal background who did not belong to any association, like ...

DBKL, police keep watch over Ambiga’s residence

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:47:02 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 – Police and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) enforcement unit today patrolled the residence of Datuk S. Ambiga at Jalan Setiakasih 1, Bukit Damansara here. Two DBKL vans with 10 enforcement officers and a police patrol car were seen keeping watch over the area this afternoon and as of 7pm, there were no peddlers or groups at ...

EC: List of voters with shared addresses now online

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:21:51 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The Election Commission (EC) is displaying the electoral roll of voters who registered in groups using common addresses for verification by the voters concerned. Its public relations officer, Sabri Said, said the electoral roll will be available for viewing at the EC’s official website, www.spr.gov.my, for 30 days from ...

Suspect in toddler abuse case arrested

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:46:59 GMT

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 16 — The main suspect in the child abuse case of two-year-old Mohd Danish Aiman Abdullah was arrested today. State CID chief, ACP K. Manoharan said the suspect, 31, was nabbed at about 2pm at a food stall belonging to his family in Manir, here, by policemen from the Kuala Terengganu district headquarters while on patrol in ...

Association wants London hecklers brought to book

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:25:48 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The foreign and higher education ministries should single out those who heckled and showed disrespect to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during a meeting with Malaysians in London yesterday. Malaysian Ex-Policemen’s Association information chief Mohd Zainan Yunus said, such behaviour created a bad impression of ...

Ahmad Maslan urges all Malays in DAP to quit party

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:16:35 GMT

PONTIAN, May 16 — The resignation of DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim proves that the Malays have no place in that opposition party, says Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan. In this regard, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department is calling on the small group of Malays in DAP to quit the party as it “has no ...

Tunku Aziz a man of principle and integrity, says Kit Siang

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:15:35 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Lim Kit Siang has called Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim “a man of principle and integrity” despite the former DAP vice-chairman accusing Lim’s son of being untrustworthy and lacking decency. Kit Siang’s son Guan Eng, the party secretary general, had publicly rebuked the ex-Bank Negara advisor for not toeing the party line and ...

Don’t deride any race, says Taib

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:02:20 GMT

KUCHING, May 16 — Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud today advised non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals not to make negative remarks about any race in the country unless it was necessary for a special purpose. This followed a recent report in a Malay tabloid alleging the Penans in Tinjar, Ulu Baram were practising ...

PAS always ready to talk Islam with Umno, says Nik Aziz

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:49:12 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat said today PAS is ready to hold talks with political archrival Umno on issues concerning Muslims as national polls edge closer, two Malay-language dailies reported in their online editions. Both Sinar Harian Online and HarakahDaily.net reported the PAS spiritual advisor as saying his party had always ...

Muhyiddin: 28 recommendations to reduce teachers’ workload

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:36:12 GMT

KUALA KANGSAR, May 16 — A working committee established to see how teachers’ workload could be reduced is implementing 28 recommendations to address 14 issues that have been brought up, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said among measures being implemented include introducing a single data entry system in place of multiple ...

Muhyiddin: Over 24,000 teachers could be up for promotion

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:56:41 GMT

KUALA KANGSAR, May 16 — A total of 24,053 teachers who have completed the required duration of service will be considered for promotion between June 1 and December 31, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said. He said this would involve 8,222 teachers with Bachelor’s degrees, and 15,831 others with diplomas. “They can check their names ...

Penang Institute: Fellowship offer was not to compensate for senatorship

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:47:16 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The Penang Institute’s fellowship offer to Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim has been misconstrued as compensation for his senatorship, its CEO Zairil Khir Johari has said. The 78-year-old former DAP vice-chairman was recently dropped as senator following his criticism of the April 28 Bersih rally. “It was not meant to be ...

Former NS RTD director cleared of graft charge

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:01:42 GMT

SEREMBAN, May 16 — A former Negri Sembilan Road Transport Department (RTD) director was acquitted and discharged by the Sessions Court here today of accepting a return flight ticket and accommodation from a driving institute to attend a meeting in Sabah two years ago. Judge Datin Nusinah Adzmi made the decision after ruling that the prosecution ...

Guan Eng thanks Tunku Aziz, says will not trade barbs

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:26:46 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Lim Guan Eng has refused to “exchange personal attacks” with Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim despite the latter claiming the DAP secretary general had insulted him by “dangling” a job offer before he quit the party on Monday night. Lim had said in an immediate response yesterday that he would try to convince the former party ...

Proham: Stop ‘acts of intimidation’ towards Ambiga

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:23:07 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Human rights watchdog Proham today called for a halt to “acts of intimidation” against Bersih co-chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan. The group referred to two recent protests in front of Ambiga’s house: yesterday’s “bum exercise” by army veterans and last Thursday’s “burger protest” by traders seeking compensation for losses ...

MCA suspends Pahang youth leader over anti-Lynas stand

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:10:43 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The MCA disciplinary board has suspended Indera Mahkota Youth chief David Choi for three years over his open criticism of the Lynas rare earth refinery, Sin Chew Daily reported today. The disciplinary board hauled Choi up for his deviation from the official party stand on the Lynas rare earth plant issue. At the hearing, ...

Proham slams ‘unruly’ conduct during Najib’s UK speech

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:59:53 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Human rights group Proham today condemned the Malaysians who disrupted Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech in London on Tuesday night, adding that such behaviour was “unruly” and “disrespectful”. At the “Sepetang Bersama Perdana Menteri” (An Evening with the Prime Minister) event, attended by about 1,500 people, several ...

Najib arrives in NY for whirlwind visit

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:15:33 GMT

NEW YORK, May 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrived here today to begin a working visit to New York, aimed at strengthening and broadening Malaysia’s relations with the world’s largest economy, the United States. Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived at the Westchester County Airport here on a special flight at 1 am ...

Tunku Aziz never ‘suited’ to DAP, says Dr M

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:58:56 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 16 — Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s exit from DAP is not surprising as he had never belonged there, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed said today. “I thought from the start he [was] not suited to be in DAP; I don’t know why he joined,” the former prime minister told reporters when asked to comment on the ex-Bank Negara advisor’s exit from ...

Bar Council now a ‘political party’, says Dr M

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:52:07 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 16 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has backed calls to form a second Malaysian Bar as an alternative for lawyers who disagree with the present Bar Council’s alleged pro-opposition stand.The former prime minister questioned its impartiality, saying that "it is quite obvious" that the Bar Council has become more concerned with political ...

Umno’s rejuvenation process should also focus on young professionals

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:15:28 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Umno's three-day, 66th anniversary celebrations last week received tremendous response from the younger generation, which proved Umno's rejuvenation process is picking up. About 70 per cent of the 250,000 of those who attended were youths, refuting allegations made by the opposition who claim Umno has now 'wilted' due to ...

Bersih 2.0: 100 police violence victims to come forward on Saturday

Wed, 16 May 2012 05:09:43 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — One hundred alleged victims of police brutality from Bersih 3.0 will come forward this Saturday to tell their stories, Bersih 2.0 announced today, adding that the group may include those in the police wanted list. The polls watchdog told a press conference here that it was inappropriate for the police to launch a dragnet on ...

No plans for Bersih 4.0 yet, says polls watchdog

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:35:32 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Bersih 2.0 declared today that is has no current plans to organise a fourth rally for free and fair elections, despite calls from its supporters to do so. The election watchdog, which has just organised its third rally “Bersih 3.0” on April 28, told a press conference here that its focus now was to ensure the coming 13th ...

Newsmen’s detention further strains ties with Indonesia

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:19:27 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Three Indonesian journalists detained in Negri Sembilan last week have accused Malaysian police of shouting derogatory remarks about their home country and impeding their work, the Jakarta Globe has reported. The incident, on top of the fatal shooting of three Indonesian migrant workers here in March, have drawn flak from ...

Pak Samad sees government plot to ‘demonise’ Bersih 2.0

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:08:35 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Datuk A. Samad Said alleged today the existence of a planned conspiracy to demonise Bersih 2.0 as a movement to topple the government, as claimed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak shortly after the group held its April 28 sit-in. The national literary icon and Bersih 2.0 co-chairman denied the allegation and added: ...

Tunku Aziz was offered fellowship before he quit, DAP sources say

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:03:34 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim was offered a senior fellowship in Penang Institute, the state government’s think-tank, days before he announced his resignation from DAP, party sources have told The Malaysian Insider. It is understood that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will issue an official response to clear the air ...

After London, PM heads to NY for four-day visit

Wed, 16 May 2012 03:48:12 GMT

LONDON, May 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak departed for New York from the Farnborogh Airport last night for a four-day working visit. He was in the United Kingdom for a two-day working visit. About three hours before he left, Najib (picture) attended a reception hosted by Prince Charles in conjunction with the granting of the Royal ...

Bersih seeks more eyes to watch for vote fraud

Wed, 16 May 2012 03:23:56 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Bersih 2.0 today launched a fresh campaign against electoral fraud as a follow-up to its April 28 sit-in, this time inviting Malaysians to participate in an “election monitoring initiative” to ensure the 13th general election is free and fair. The election watchdog, disappointed that the crowd it amassed on April 28 had ...

Autistic Aussie on trial for Malaysia-born stepmom’s murder

Wed, 16 May 2012 03:12:51 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The unusual case of an autistic man charged with murdering his Malaysia-born stepmother two years ago after she was reported missing is causing a stir in Australia, in a case that has stumped police investigators. The absence of the victim’s body, however, has baffled police investigators and is hampering the prosecutors’ ...

Tunku Aziz: I don’t trust Guan Eng

Wed, 16 May 2012 03:03:02 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Tunku Aziz Tunku Ibrahim has openly attacked Lim Guan Eng, saying he does not trust the DAP secretary-general and ending any hopes of bringing the former party vice-chairman back into the fold after his resignation on Monday. Tunku Aziz, who was the party’s most senior Malay leader, said Guan Eng “had no sense of decency and ...

Nazri says will study forming second Malaysian Bar

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:07:54 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz has agreed to look into forming a second Malaysian Bar as an alternative for lawyers who disagree with the present Bar Council’s alleged pro-opposition stand. Calling the council an “opposition party”, the de facto law minister told The Malaysian Insider that many lawyers have expressed ...

480,995 illegal immigrants legalised under 6P

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:22:20 GMT

PUTRAJAYA, May 15 — The Home Ministry has legalised 480,995 illegal foreign workers (PATI) to work with 91,064 employers under the Comprehensive Legalisation Programme for Illegal Immigrants or the 6P programme. The ministry’s secretary-general, Tan Sri Mahmood Adam, said the employers were from various sectors, including manufacturing, service, ...

Police: We never said tear gas was UN-approved

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:54:55 GMT

NILAI, May 15 — Police have moved to clarify news reports in which they are said to have stated that the tear gas used during the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28 was approved by the United Nations (UN). Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar told The Star the tear gas was imported based on UN-approved rules, and that the ...

Video will prove London event went smoothly, says Najib

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:29:28 GMT

LONDON, May 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the attempt by two or three individuals to create a ruckus at his meeting with Malaysians here yesterday did not spoil the function. “It did not disturb me and the situation could be controlled after two or three minutes. We will be showing the overall video recording of the function,” he ...

Abducted man home after 378 days in captivity

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:18:41 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — A Malaysian national, Mohd Nazarrudin Saidin, returned home safely today, 378 days after being abducted by a group of armed men on Sulu Island, the Philippines, on May 8 last year. Mohd Nazarrudin, 39, arrived at the KL International Airport from Sandakan, Sabah, this morning accompanied by members of the Putera 1 Malaysia ...

AELB says will wait on minister, signals more delays for Lynas

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:03:08 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Lynas Corp’s license remains suspended as regulators await the science minister’s decision on an appeal, signalling further delays for the Australian miner that could push back the projected start date for its controversial rare earth plant. The Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) said tonight it had been ordered by Datuk ...

4 held for throwing grenade into loan defaulter’s compound

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:46:13 GMT

IPOH, May 15 — Police have arrested four men, believed to be involved in an incident in which a hand grenade was thrown into the compound of a house in Taman Bemban Jaya, Batu Gajah, near here today. State CID chief Datuk Dzuraidi Ibrahim said a group of men had resorted to such action to threaten another man into repaying his loan. “In the ...

New access road from Country Heights Damansara to LDP opens tomorrow

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:37:16 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — A new access road from Country Heights Damansara to the Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) will be opened to motorists tomorrow. Country Heights Holdings Berhad in a statement here today said the new road allows residents of Country Heights Damansara to access the LDP highway towards Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya directly, ...

EC may extend campaign period for GE13

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:30:32 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The Election Commission (EC) has not ruled out the possibility of extending the campaigning period for the 13th general election to beyond 10 days. Its deputy chairman Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said this was based on the commitment of the EC to provide a minimum campaign period of 10 days, for a general election, which ...

26 surrender, hunt for rest of Bersih wanted begins tomorrow

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:16:05 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Only 26 of the 141 people wanted by the police for suspected involvement in the chaos that erupted during the Bersih 3.0 demonstration held here on April 28 have surrendered to the police as of 7pm today, which was the deadline given. Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department Deputy Head (Operations and Intelligence), ...

We can reduce foreign labour numbers by 10-20pc, says Mustapa

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:45:46 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The number of foreign workers can be reduced by between 10 and 20 per cent in the near future, says International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed. He said there are plans to substitute a substantial portion of foreign labour with local manpower through the introduction of the minimum wage. “Currently ...

Anifah: Irene Fernandez’s statement born out of ignorance

Tue, 15 May 2012 12:04:17 GMT

BONGAWAN (Sabah), May 15 — The Foreign Ministry regards the damaging and dangerous statement by Tenaganita executive director Irene Fernandez on the safety of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia to be born out of ignorance. Its minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Fernandez’s statement could jeopardise the good relations between Malaysia and ...

Court rejects Bersih 2.0’s application to question Hisham over ban

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:23:05 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The High Court here today rejected an application by the committee members of Bersih 2.0 and its chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan to question Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s decision to declare Bersih 2.0 illegal. Justice Datuk Rohana Yusuf, who made the ruling in chambers, further rejected Ambiga’s ...

Court orders Nallakaruppan to file statement of defence by May 22

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:07:43 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The High Court here today gave Malaysian United Indian Party president Senator Datuk S. Nallakaruppan until May 22 to file his statement of defence in the defamation suit against him by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera also set the same date for case management. Anwar (picture) filed ...

Goverment’s law academy move to silence lawyers, says Bar

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:36:45 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The Malaysian Bar accused Putrajaya today of feeling “threatened by an independent Bar” after Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz proposed a law academy to be “an alternative” to the statutory body of lawyers and called on the Bar Council to dissolve itself. The de facto law minister had said this in response to the Bar’s resolution ...

More than 2 million to attend national youth fest, says Muhyiddin

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:14:12 GMT

PETALING JAYA, May 15 — More than two million youth are expected to attend next week’s National Youth Day celebrations in Putrajaya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today. He said the event, scheduled for May 23-27, will be a “peaceful” one which will showcase the government’s commitment to the country’s young Malaysians. “Last year, it was one ...

88pc of urban Sabahans want RCI on illegal immigrants, survey finds

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:03:43 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Seven out of every eight urban Sabahans want a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the illegal immigrant problem in the state, which Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders there insist must be held before upcoming elections, according to a recent poll. Independent pollsters Merdeka Center found that 88 per cent of voters in the ...

DAP not a democratic party, says Shafie Apdal

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:33:09 GMT

KUALA LIPIS, May 15 — DAP is not a democratic party as it does not allow its members to express opinions different from that of its top leaders, says Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. He said the bad attitude of the opposition party was proven when its vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim’s term as senator was not extended ...