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 Asia Editorials |
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• We did not send out SMS
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National News Agency, Bernama, denied Friday to sending out a Short Messaging Service (SMS) text on seven Barisan Nasional component parties holding a news conference to an...
• Hundreds pay last respects to Pak Samad
PETALING JAYA: Hundreds of people paid their last respects to the late Tan Sri A. Samad Ismail who died on Thursday evening from lung infection and kidney failure. Fondly known as Pak Samad, the veter...
• Angolans face delays in first vote since 1992
LUANDA, Angola (AP): Hundreds of people waited in line Friday as technical problems at several polling stations in the capital delayed the start of voting in Angola's first election since 1992. Turnou...
• Hurricane Ike weakens to Category 3 storm
MIAMI (AP): The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Ike has weakened to a Category 3 storm in the Atlantic. Ike's maximum sustained winds have dropped to near 125 mph (200 kph) as of 5 a.m. ...
• Australia told to cut greenhouse gas emissions
CANBERRA, Australia (AP): A government pledge to slash Australia's greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by midcentury would not stop dangerous global warming and should be extended to an 80 percent ...
• New Zealand parrots wreak havoc at bird sanctuary
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP): A gang of unruly teenage bush parrots have wrought havoc at a bird sanctuary in New Zealand by using their powerful beaks to destroy nesting boxes. The native Kaka parrot...
• Son of MIC politician detained for murder
JOHOR BARU: A 36-year old son of a senior MIC politician has been arrested in connection with the murder of former Tenggaroh state assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy. The suspect, who was previously cal...
• No contest for Abdullah at Umno division elections
BUTTERWORTH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and two Umno division chiefs here have been returned unopposed in the ongoing Umno division elections in Penang. However, there is a fight ...
• Death sentence, is it our right
Ricky Gunawan and Answer C. Styannes, JakartaSetting out the pros and cons about the death penalty always creates hot debate. Many countries including Indonesia, as well as several U.S. states, still ...
• E-books via the internet
Hereby, I would like to request President SBY rethink his new policy on electronic books via the internet for students of primary to senior high schools. These books are very expensive and difficult t...
• Technology in our classrooms
Do not complicate things. The next move is totally free basic education for all children. My wife's family still cannot afford basic education for many of their children. MARKUS Jakarta I liked the ar...
• A Neglected Tourism Draw
By Nashir Mansor TAWAU, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Jalan Air Panas, Taman Air Panas, Hot Spring Park and Kampung Air Panas are the name of a road, a village and housing estates synonymous with the hot spr...
• Kim Piau withdraws from Perak Youth sec contest
IPOH: Ipoh Timur division secretary Low Kim Piau who was contesting the Perak Youth secretary post has withdrawn from the contest on Saturday because of financial reasons.
• US politician challenges LPGA English policy
SACRAMENTO, California (AP) - A California legislator is examining how to legally challenge the LPGA's new policy of requiring players to be able to speak English. Senator Leland Yee - a Chinese-born ...
• Jakim, Muslim bodies lodge report against RPK
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and several Muslim bodies lodged a police report here on Friday against Malaysia Today website editor Raja Petra Kamarudin for allegedly insult...
• Be alert on education budget hike
Wilmar Salim, JakartaThe Jakarta Post reported that the government has proposed to increase the 2009 education budget to Rp. 224.44 trillion, a 45 percent increase over the 2008 budget, in order to fu...
• China, Singapore conclude talks on free trade pact
SHANGHAI, China (AP) - China and Singapore have wrapped up negotiations on a free-trade accord, with the formal agreement due to be signed in October, the two governments say. The final round of talks...
• Oil steady in Asia ahead of OPEC meeting
SINGAPORE (AP) - Oil prices were steady Friday in Asia below US$108 a barrel as investors wait to see if OPEC moves to restrict output at its meeting next week amid a two-month plunge in prices. Light...
• BHP Billiton suspends Western Australia operations
SYDNEY (AP) - BHP Billiton Ltd., the world's largest mining company, suspended operations at its Western Australia iron ore mines following the second worker fatality in 10 days, the company said Frid...
• Samsung working to acquire SanDisk
SEOUL (AP) - Samsung Electronics Co. is pursuing an acquisition of U.S. computer memory card maker SanDisk Corp., a South Korean online business newspaper reported Friday. Samsung neither confirmed no...
• Fulfilling the expectations of residents
IT IS of paramount importance that policy-makers and officers change their mindset concerning how problems should be approached and resolved, in order to fulfil the mandate given by the people in the ...
• Japanese want elections Two more to join race to replace Fukuda
TOKYO: Two new candidates indicated yesterday that they would join the race to replace Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda after his abrupt resignation this week, but a new poll suggests voters want their say...
• Mum spared death for microwaving baby
DAYTON (Ohio): A woman convicted of murdering her infant daughter by microwaving her was spared the death penalty on Wednesday by a jury that could not reach a unanimous decision. China Arnold (pic), ...
• New LRT lines may save billions in fuel costs
KUALA LUMPUR: More than a million Klang Valley residents stand to benefit from the extension and new light rail transit lines announced in Budget 2009, a three-fold increase from current levels. Syari...
• Stench plagues Taman Pertama
WHEN flash floods plagued residents of Taman Pertama and its surrounding areas in Aulong, Taiping, they requested for a water retention pond to be built to solve the problem. But when the pond is buil...
• Land issue nothing political
THE alienation of land to independent Chinese schools and allocation for religious schools in Perak are not politically motivated, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said. In questionin...
• Websites for 50 mosques
A PLAN is now underway to set up websites for mosques in the northern region to promote closer rapport among Muslims and disseminate information on Islamic teachings. The Wakaf Laman Web project is be...
• Bracing for a bleak Raya
Recently, Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar visited the family and said he would try to help the family rebuild their house. Ahmad Shukri said he prayed that he would be able to spend Hari Raya in a new house...
• Path to true unity
unity in schools ' (The Star, Sept 4). While I agree with most of his views regarding the cultivation of a harmonious racial and religious integration from young, I strongly disagree with his suggesti...
• Waiving of power bill a wrong move
THE Government is ill-advised on its decision to waive the electricity bill for all whose monthly electricity bill is RM20 or below. There are many rich people whose house electricity bill is below RM...
• Affluent area marred by crime
IN two days we have had two major crimes in Bandar Sri Damansara. One was a shootout while the other was a robbery of RM25,000 from a bank customer. The woman who was shot in the robbery of a car is s...
• Change SPM timetable for non-Muslim students
I HAVE had a chance to look at the SPM timetable for 2008, which is available in schools although not distributed to students yet, and have the following concerns especially for non-Muslim students. T...
• Barisan reps asked to hand in passports for study trip
PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional MPs have been asked to submit their passports for an overseas study trip ahead of Sept 16, the date that is being bandied about for supposed defections to take place. Backb...
• Chile hikes interest rate
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - Chile's central bank has raised its key interest rate to 8.25 percent, its highest level in a decade. The bank said Thursday the half-point rate hike responded to consumer price...
• Shares drop to nearly 5-year low
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Yahoo Inc.'s stock sank to its lowest level in nearly five years Thursday, magnifying the challenge facing the Internet company as its management tries to justify their rebuff of ...
• Cost of living cheaper in Singapore
DURING my recent trip to Singapore, I was surprised to find that food prices are lower there compared to food prices in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur. I did a comparison on the basis that you work an...
• Sales assistant alleges identity theft
JOHOR BARU: A sales assistant was shocked to find herself a debtor of several government agencies. Lee Mee Lian, 32, said according to official letters sent to her, she owed about RM1,000 to three loc...
• Venezuela to takeover fuel distribution
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Lawmakers loyal to President Hugo Chavez gave final approval on Thursday to a bill allowing the Venezuelan government to seize total control of the nation's fuel distribution...
• Three navy vessels to protect Malaysian ships there
KUALA LUMPUR: Three Malaysian Navy ships are on their way to the Middle East to provide security cover for Malaysian ships sailing the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden. A Malaysian Navy frigate, KD Lekiu,...
• US vehicle prices falling at rapid pace
NEW YORK (AP) - New vehicle prices are falling at the fastest rate ever recorded, a team of analysts said Thursday, squeezing automakers' profit margins at a time of slumping sales but setting the sta...
• Nip bigotry in the bud with honesty
shut out the racial instigators ' (The Star, Sept 3). I support his position with qualification. Bigotry must never be tolerated in any form or circumstance and the best way to ensure that bigotry is ...
• Molik, Athens Olympics medalist, retires at 27
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Australia's Alicia Molik has retired from international tennis after a long run of injuries, including a debilitating inner-ear virus. Molik peaked at a No. 8 ranking after...
• Abdul Kalam shows way to tolerance
OUR leaders ceaselessly proclaim that Malaysia is unique. Therefore, it deserves more than mere rhetoric. And the former President of India Abdul Kalam has come all the way to this tiny nation to remi...
• Throwing a sheep, strawberry or pillow
Making new friends or finding old ones through cyberspace is one great advance of the Internet but like everything else digital it comes with the burden of responsibility. ON the way back from Kota Ki...
• Italy begins World Cup qualifying vs. Cyprus
ROME (AP) - Coach Marcello Lippi and captain Fabio Cannavaro have both returned for Italy to start the defense of its World Cup title. Lippi was rehired after Italy was eliminated by eventual champion...
• Gold prices fall on stronger dollar
NEW YORK (AP) - Gold prices extended their losses for a fourth session Thursday as the dollar pushed higher against the euro, prompting traders to pull money out of precious metals and other commoditi...
• talks on a ruin
Mr Gandhi has taken upon himself the onerous and thankless task of locating such a middle ground. Apart from the unedifying prospect of a governor being embroiled in a political negotiation, Mr Gandhi...
• Highs and lows of the Indian economy after Independence
The first phase witnessed massive public investment in industry, infrastructure, agriculture and social sectors. This was made possible by running down the huge sterling balances inherited from World ...
• Revelations unravel hype and spin
The nuclear deal poses one of the most divisive challenges India has faced. The latest U.S. revelations on its conditions point to the manner the deal has been politically mismanaged at home by the In...
• For an action plan for Bihar
Action to revive livelihoods when thefloods recede is as important as savinglives. This will call for a proactive,“beyond-the-flood strategy.”
• Devastating blow to nuclear deal
The cat is finally out of the bag. It is now official that the Bush and Manmohan Singh administrations have no common or agreed understanding on vital aspects of the Indo-U.S. deal for civilian nuclea...
• Thai Cabinet agrees to hold referendum to end political crisis; PM refuses to resign
et campaign to oust the prime minister, which has paralyzed the government for the last 10 days and raised fears of violence and economic chaos. The decision came hours after a defiant Prime Minister ...
• Angola prepares for vote Friday
LUANDA, Angola (AP): The paradox of Angola is evident in its crowded capital, where the luxury cars of petro-millionaires lurch along dilapidated roads past piles of garbage and pools of stagnant wate...
• Japan temple burns down as monk attacked by bees
TOKYO (AP): A Japanese monk trying to rid his temple of a hornet's nest panicked when the hornets attacked him and dropped a torch, burning his temple to the ground, police said Thursday. The Buddhist...
• 35% of teachers lack good command of English
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Education Ministry revealed that about 35% of teachers teaching Science and Mathematics in schools nationwide have been found to lack a good command of the English language. Depu...
• Problem of Indian priests, musicians to be solved soon
PUTRAJAYA: The problem faced by Hindu and Buddhist temples and Sikh gurdwaras applying for priests, musicians and artisans from India is temporary and can be solved, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed...
• MP Zulkifli may face disciplinary committee on Saturday
PETALING JAYA: Kulim-Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Nordin may face PKR's disciplinary committee on Saturday for being involved in the disruption of Bar Council's forum on conversion to Islam. PKR vice-presi...
• State govts want more financial aid
PUTRAJAYA: State governments have requested more financial aid from the federal administration in the first National Finance Council meeting of the year. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw...
• Employment Act to be amended to reduce dependence on foreigners
PUTRAJAYA: The Employment Act and the Workers' Compensation Act will be amended to reduce the dependency on foreign workers. Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the amendments are ex...
• Armed forces and vets to get better benefits
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,860 armed forces personnel and veterans incapacitated while on duty will receive higher amounts of benefit payments from this month onwards, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Naji...
• Petrol prices may drop in October
PUTRAJAYA: Petrol pump prices may see another drop when Oct 1 comes around. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said if world market prices for fuel remained stable at US$109 for the rest ...
• Sangam seeks ban on
GEORGE TOWN: The Home Ministry should ban the The Love Guru as it is offensive to the religious sentiments of Hindus, said the Malaysia Hindu Sangam. The sangam's Penang state council deputy chairman ...
• New medical centre opens in the heart of KL
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is now home to yet another private medical centre. The Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC), situated on Jalan Kia Peng off Jalan Tun Razak here officially opened its doors on Thu...
• China says flaws caused quake schools to collapse
BEIJING (AP): China said Thursday a rush to build schools in recent years could have led to construction flaws that caused so many of them to collapse during May's massive earthquake. Thousands of stu...
• Three more ships on the way to Gulf of Aden
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian navy frigate and a support ship have reached the Maldives while a third one would leave Malaysia very soon to be involved in security duties for Malaysian ships sailing the G...
• Ahmad finally gives statement to police
GEORGE TOWN: Former senator Datuk Ahmad Ismail finally turned up to give his statement to the police on Wednesday night over the alleged seditious remarks made on the eve of the Permatang Pauh by-elec...
• Quarterfinal venues announced for 2011 World Cup
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Wellington and Christchurch will host quarterfinals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, despite the stated preference of the International Rugby Board that at least one of the ...
• Off to Europe to counter oil palm smear campaign
KUCHING: A high-level Malaysian delegation would meet with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Europe next week in an effort to counter what it said was a smear campaign against the oil palm indu...
• Taman Negara Welcomes Tourists To Its Kelah Sanctuary
By Tuan Sharifah Shahaini Tuan Dagang JERANTUT, Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The mention of Taman Negara (National Park) in Pahang would conjure up images of lush, green and pristine jungles apart from the ...
• Pusrawi doctor confirms SD
KUALA LUMPUR: The doctor who examined Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan after the latter had lodged a police report alleging he had been sodomised by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has resurfaced ...
• Some flooded Indian villagers refuse evacuation
MURLIGANJ, India (AP) - Spotting a family stranded on the roof of a partly submerged house, two Indian navy commandos swept in over the muddy floodwaters in a black rubber dinghy to save them - only t...
• New HK Disneyland director sees aggressive growth
HONG KONG (AP) - Hong Kong Disneyland's new director said he was confident the park would boost attendance significantly in the years ahead after its initial shaky performance. The park, a joint ventu...
• Properties worth over RM2.8mil up for auction
PROPERTIES worth more than RM2.8mil will be up for auction on Saturday at The Star Property & Home Fair 2008. Henry Butcher Malaysia (Penang) Sdn Bhd International Business Development vice-president ...
• Security for home and work
LOOKING for security at home and at work? DSOP Office System and Supplies Sdn Bhd will be selling safes that are suitable for domestic use as well as for office use at The Star Property & Home Fair 20...
• The audacity of sanity
Al Makin, Heidelberg, GermanyDuring the weeks before Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month, we received good news and bad news. That Mahfud MD, the new head of the Constitutional Court, slammed sharia by...
• Lack of attention to sanitation
An article in The Jakarta Post (Aug. 20) mentioned a report from the World Bank that Indonesia suffered massive economic losses of $6.3 billions in 2006 due to poor sanitation. This figure is equal to...
• FPI initiated the attack
Of course Islam Defenders Front (FPI) started the attack. FPI's thirst for violence has been well documented from strings of thug-like, holier-than-thou attitudes -- seen when they force restaurants t...
• Ka Ting hopes no repeat of racist remark
NILAI: The MCA maintains that Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail must personally apologise for his racist remark as he was the one who made it. Nevertheless, MCA president Datuk Seri...
• Tarver set for October bout with Dawson
LOS ANGELES (AP) - IBF and IBO light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver will defend his title aganst fellow American Chad Dawson on Oct. 11 at the Palm Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Tarver (27-4) heads...
• PM to inspect progress of projects under Budget 2009
KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will personally inspect the progress of various development projects planned by the Government under Budget 2009. He said good plans woul...
• Phelps pledges support for Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) - Olympic champion Michael Phelps says he'll do "anything'' to help Chicago win the 2016 Summer Games. Chicago Olympic organizers are banking on the international attention Phelps brings ...
• DC United wins US Open Cup
WASHINGTON (AP) - Fred led D.C. United to the U.S. Open Cup title and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League by scoring in the 50th minute to beat the Charleston Battery 2-1 on Wednesday. United als...
• A nation without sense of urgency
Anand Krishna, JakartaIt was not pleasing to hear prof. Jeffrey Winters of Northwestern University, U.S., criticizing us on local television here that we, Indonesians, lacked a sense of urgency. Many ...
• Lee confirms he will be ready for India
DARWIN, Australia (AP) - Fast bowler Brett Lee is committed to returning for Australia's four-test tour of India next month after skipping the limited-overs series against Bangladesh because of a marr...
• Obama is young and untested, says Lieberman
ST PAUL (Minnesota): Sen Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice presidential pick eight years ago, on Tuesday criticised his former party's nominee as an untested candidate unwilling to challenge powerful...
• Major road destroyed by quake reopened
BEIJING: Workers reopened a major highway in southwestern China that was destroyed by a massive earthquake in May, speeding up rebuilding efforts, state media said yesterday. The 90km road in Sichuan ...
• Gershwin Prize for Stevie Wonder
WASHINGTON: The Library of Congress will honour singer-pianist Stevie Wonder with its second Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Librarian of Congress James Billington, announcing the prize on Tuesday, n...
• It was a win for us, the people
He laughed along with me but he was far too polite (a nice, polite American, hard to believe but true) to say that a similar thing could happen here. Could we possibly have a new ruling party in power...
• Major clean-up needed to woo back investors
I READ with interest the article 'Salleh is innocent' (The Star, Aug 30) highlighting the findings by a special panel to review the sacking of former Lord President Tun Salleh Abas. The Malaysian Gove...
• People are sick and tired of political antics
OVER the last few months, we Malaysians have been bombarded with various issues, from political, racial and religious ones. Why, even the actual date of independence of this great country has become a...
• Gory crime scene shown over RTM news
HAS RTM completely and utterly lost its common sense in pursuit of hot news? On Sept 2, I was watching the 8pm prime time news when the report about the Mamak Gang came on. To my shock, the RTM footag...
• Promote unity in schools
The gathering of some 300 religious leaders and representatives of various faith groups was indeed a historic moment and a positive development for inter-faith understanding in the country. Such joint...
• Chen mounts offensive on graft probe
ui-bian was summoned by prosecutors for the fourth questioning session yesterday morning regarding the former first family's alleged corruption and money laundering operations and Chen himself held a ...
• Condo residents in a bind
ILLEGAL food peddlers hawking on pedestrian walkways, road kerbs and public parking bays in front of the Vista Komanwel B Condo-minium at Bukit Jalil National Stadium are making life miserable for the...
• Terminal 2 remains a poser
NO ONE in Seremban seems to have a clue when the multi-million ringgit Terminal 2 express bus cum shopping centre at Era Square will begin operations. The delay has left businessmen and traders, who p...
• Barisan may be reaching point of no return, says Koh
GEORGE TOWN: Barisan Nasional may be reaching a point of no return if instances of racist remarks and anti-social behaviour continue to tarnish the image of Umno and Barisan Nasional. Gera...
• US to help resolve hijack crisis
KUALA LUMPUR: The United States has agreed to share information and to actively mobilise Coalition Navy vessels in the rescue of hostages of two hijacked Malaysian MISC cargo vessels. Malaysia h...
• No bus from KLIA to Malacca
I AM perplexed as to why there is no direct bus service from either Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or its Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to Malacca. While there are frequent services to K...
• Enjoy less and work more
I SINCERELY hope that Pakatan Rakyat will not go ahead with its proposed idea to declare Sept 16 a holiday 'Penang to make Sept 16 a public holiday' (The Star Sept 2). Malaysia already has too many ho...
• Assessment rates too high
SEVERAL property owners of Taman Bintang Mas, a new residential area in Dengkil are crying foul over the steep annual assessment rate they have to pay on their properties beginning next year. The buye...
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