Selangor Sultan calls for indepth discussion on conversion

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has ordered that the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and other relevant parties discuss in depth the proposed amendments to three Acts in relation to conversion.

Penang CM moves out of official residence

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng moved out of his official residence Seri Teratai on Friday due to termite infestation and to allow treatment and repair works to start.

Gerakan leaders plan boycott over Huan sacking

Several Gerakan division leaders, who attended a gathering in support of suspended vice-president Huan Cheng Guan, want to boycott party activities if Huan’s three-year suspension is not revoked.

Electronics sector wired up again

The electronics and electrical (E&E) sector in Malaysia, affected by the global economic downturn late last year, is rehiring its workforce again as fresh orders in the Asia Pacific region especially from China started to pick up.

Khalwat case: Norman and Memey not in same building

The Gombak Timur Syariah Lower Court heard that the ‘khalwat’ (close proximity) charge against actor Norman Hakim and young actress Memey last year was wrong and not based on facts.

Stop work order on Penang super condo

The Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) has issued a stop-work order to Hunza Properties Bhd, developer of a super condominium project, after a 10m stretch of Kelewai Road sank by 1.2m Thursday night.

Court rules Rajasekaran as valid MTUC sec-gen

The High Court has ruled that G. Rajasaharan, or better known as G. Rajasekaran, is the valid Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general for the 2008-2010 term.

SNAP predicts October polls for Sarawak

Sarawak National Party (SNAP) has predicted that the state assembly would be dissolved three months from now to pave the way for an early state election.

Bar Council: 80pc of court cases handled in Bahasa Malaysia

Almost 80 per cent of the 13,000 lawyers in the country use Bahasa Malaysia in handling cases in court, said the Bar Council.

No consultation within Pakatan, claims DAP, CWC to meet next week

There has been no consultation between PAS and Pakatan Rakyat parties in Kedah the last 15 months, claims Kedah DAP chairman Thomas Su Keong Siong.

DAP’s sole rep in Kedah now an independent

The DAP’s sole representative in Kedah, Lee Guan Aik, Friday declared himself as an “independent and nonaligned” state assemblyman and no longer a government supporter.

A(H1N1): Don’t get frisky, Rainforest fans told

Don’t hug or get too close to each other -- the advice has gone out to the thousands of fans expected at next week’s Rainforest World Music Festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village near here.

You go, girl: Plan for women to get 30pc of top posts

An action plan will be introduced soon in which women will hold at least 30% of the decision-making positions in both the public and private sectors.

Kedah DAP threat undermines state assembly: Zul Nordin

Kedah DAP should have not threatened to quit Pakatan Rakyat as it will have a big impact on the state assembly, said Kulim Bandar Baru Member of Parliament Zulkifli Noordin.

Syariah ruling: Singer Jamal Abdillah divorces third wife

Pop singer Jamal Abdillah has divorced his third wife Fatimatu Zahra Samad after a Lower Syariah Court declared his “talak” (divorce utterance) in 2007 as valid.

High Chaparral: Penang warns developer over compensation

The Penang government is prepared to cancel Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd’s project in Kampung Buah Pala if the developer fails to compensate the residents.

Accounts clerk pleads not guilty to CBT

A former accounts clerk pleaded not guilty to committing criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM25,000.

Deputy Minister shocked to see 11yr-old mothers

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk T. Murugiah had a shock when he visited the Cameron Highlands Hospital maternity ward recently and found Orang Asli mothers as young as 11 and 12 years old.

Sodomy II: Hearing delayed to July 8, lawyer unwell (Update)

The High Court fixed next Wednesday to hear Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s application to be provided documents pertaining to his sodomy case, after standing down the court as his lawyer was feeling unwell.

T'gganu to get Brit consultant to probe stadium roof collapse

The Terengganu government will appoint a consultant from Britain to determine the actual cause of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium roof collapse in Gong Badak here on June 6.

16yr-old arrested in major syabu bust

Police dealt a major blow to a drug trafficking ring when they seized over 2kg of syabu worth RM500,000 and arrested two foreigners -- one them a mere teenager.

Govt to explain Ekuinas to MPs in due course

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will explain to Parliament in due course the setting up of Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas), said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

Mum under probe over kidnap of baby girl

GEORGE TOWN: A woman is being investigated with six others for allegedly faking the kidnapping of her two-month-old baby girl in Seberang Prai here.

Unfavourable conditions halt Zahra's English Channel attempt

DOVER (England): A visibly upset Zahra Masoumah Abdul Halim burst into tears when she was forced to abandon her attempt to conquer the English Channel due to unfavourable tide and wind conditions.

Pupils in trouble for storing MJ’s hits

KUALA TERENGGANU: In death, Michael Jackson can still spell trouble. In Terengganu, Year Five pupils are set to face the music for downloading the King of Pop’s hits into their state-sponsored digital notebooks or e-books. And in Penang, pirates who tried to hawk his songs have been hit hard by the cops.

Oh is Najib’s new pol-sec

KUALA LUMPUR: Academician Oh Ei Sun, who is also a sought after international speaker, trainer, motivator, consultant and entrepreneur, has been appointed political secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

PAS Youth invites Umno Youth for a debate

KUALA LUMPUR: The invitation from PAS Youth to Umno Youth for an intellectual discourse must not be seen as mere discussion but rather a platform for debate.

Ministries told to keep a maintenance kitty

KUALA LUMPUR: All ministries should set aside funds to maintain their infrastructure, including government buildings, said Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

Face masks for all Rainforest fest visitors

KUCHING: Face masks will be distributed to all those who attend the World Rainforest Music Festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village near here next week.

Suspect nabbed soon after murder

KUANTAN: Police have arrested a murder suspect less than 24 hours after the body of the victim was found in Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.

Monday talks on maid issues

SEPANG: Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to resolve outstanding issues pertaining to Indonesia’s sending of housemaids to Malaysia at a meeting between Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam and Indonesian Labour Minister Erman Suparno in Putrajaya on Monday.

Biggest jump in number of flu cases

KUALA LUMPUR: Forty-eight new cases of influenza A (H1N1) cases were reported yesterday — 40 imported cases and eight local transmissions.

Three JI suspects held under ISA

KUALA LUMPUR: Three men, who are believed to be attempting to revive the outlawed terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiah (JI), have been arrested under the Internal Security Act.

Residents threaten to sabotage heritage status if state fails to stop demolition

GEORGE TOWN: Angry residents of Kampung Buah Pala have threatened to send a letter to Unesco to revoke George Town’s World Heritage Site status should the state fail to stop their village from being demolished.

Siblings claim grandparents abused them

MIRI: Beaten up and bruised, two siblings ran away from home clutching only an umbrella and a plastic bag of clothes.

Stop harping on PKFZ issue, Lim told

PETALING JAYA: DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang should stop complicating investigations by the authorities into the Port Klang Free Zone issue with his ceaseless barrage of irresponsible public statements, the MCA said.

MCA slams PAS chief

PETALING JAYA: PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has come under fire for objecting to the Government’s latest move to ease investment requirements in Malaysia.

Opposition pact not genuine, say BN leaders

ALOR SETAR: The crisis faced by the PAS-led Kedah government showed that the opposition pact was not genuine, said Barisan Nasional leaders. They also cautioned that the “drama” could be a camouflage for the pact’s failure to look after the interest of the people in the state.

‘DAP not getting due respect from the Kedah govt’

PETALING JAYA: The Kedah DAP pulled out from Pakatan Rakyat because it is not getting any respect from the PAS-led state government, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said.

Kedah DAP still part of coalition, says MB

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said Kedah DAP’s sole assemblyman was still part of the state Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Kit Siang slams Hindraf for blaming Penang govt

KUALA LUMPUR: The DAP has told off Hindraf for accusing the Penang government of not doing anything to help the Indians in Kampung Buah Pala.

Pakatan ‘facing acid test’

GEORGE TOWN: The cracks appearing in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition are an acid test and it cannot continue to hide the truth from the people, said MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat.

MCA man: Kit Siang and son not walking the talk

PETALING JAYA: The father-and-son team of Lim Kit Siang and Guan Eng has not walked the talk in their criticisms of MCA, said MCA Special Task Force Bureau chief Simon Lim.

Honeymoon over for Kedah MB

The dramatic DAP pullout in Kedah not only signals the end of Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak’s political honeymoon but also means that he will start to lose ground among the non-Malays.

Winds of change at Wisma Putra

Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman has a heavy task to bring about change, but he believes his officers will deliver given the chance and funding from the Government.

Headed for a split

Riding to power on the momentum created by the Hindu Rights Action Force, the DAP has suddenly found itself on the receiving end of the group’s wrath.

Arrest warrant on RPK extended

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here has granted an extension to Oct 9 for the execution of a warrant of arrest against Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin for failing to turn up for his criminal defamation trial.

SMEs invited to take part in trade fair

PETALING JAYA: All small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been invited to participate in the Malaysia International Trade and Consumer Fair in December.

Incentives for quarries to relocate

IPOH: Certain quarries operating near residential areas in Perak will be given concessions to carry out their activities elsewhere.

New centre to tap the MICE market

KUCHING: Sarawak is set to tap the lucrative meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) market with its soon-to-be opened Borneo Convention Centre.

Two shops damaged in fire

KOTA KINABALU: One of Sabah’s largest furniture stores and an aluminium window frame manufacturer were damaged in a fire yesterday.

Woman who helped old man molested

MARANG: A disabled and elderly man took advantage of a young woman’s pity to outrage her modesty at a textile shop in Bukit Payong here.

Govt training centre grads able to find jobs

JOHOR BARU: Most students from government training centres are able to find jobs within six months after graduation, state Unity, Human Resources, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan told the State Assembly yesterday.

Jorak sanitary landfill will be environs-friendly

JOHOR BARU: The proposed sanitary landfill in Jorak, Muar, will be equipped with environment-friendly modern technology, said Local Government, Housing, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Zahri Jamil.

An average of eight babies born out of wedlock every day

JOHOR BARU: An average of eight babies are born out of wedlock every day in the state, says Johor Women, Family, Community Development and Health committee chairman Dr Robiah Kosai.

It will be a party or NGO, says Uthayakumar

KLANG: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser P. Uthayakumar will form a political party or a non-governmental organisation soon.

US Embassy closed for holiday

KUALA LUMPUR: The US Embassy will be closed today for the country’s Independence Day which falls tomorrow.

Terengganu lifts fishing ban in bid to rid Lake Kenyir of imported giant fish

SETIU: Wanted! – Kenyir Monsters. And the bounty is RM10,000 for each Arapaima gigas anglers catch.

Kedah govt in turmoil, Penang faces villagers’ revolt

100 motorists suffer tyre punctures on NSE

NAILS scattered along the Tapah-Ipoh stretch of the North-South Expressway caused tyre punctures for more than 100 motorists, including a deputy minister, on Wednesday.

Transvestites assault woman for handbag

THREE demure-looking transvestites gave a woman a shock when they punched her and grabbed her handbag.

Govt urged to step into Kg Buah Pala issue

MALAYSIA Nanban reported MIC Youth chief T. Mohan’s call to the federal government to intervene and solve the problems faced by the residents in Kampung Buah Pala.