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Thu, May 17, 2012

Local News

Public holiday in Sarawak on June 4

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 11:43am
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 01:31pm

KUCHING (May 17, 2012): The Sarawak government has declared June 4 this year as a public holiday in the state, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said today.

He said it was in substitution for the second day of Gawai Dayak, which falls on the same day as the birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Tunku Abdul Aziz's action shows DAP ruled with iron fist - Rais

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 10:00am
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 01:24pm

KUALA LUMPUR (May 16, 2012): Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the decision by DAP Vice Chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim to relinquish his post showed that the party ruled with an 'iron fist' by not allowing its members to speak out.

IGP heads Perlis honours list

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 09:20am
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 12:58pm

KANGAR (May 16, 2012): Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar heads a list of 316 recipients of awards, medals and honours in conjunction with the 69th birthday of the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.

Grad reports beaten by cops at Bersih rally

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 05:28am
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 11:47am

Bernard Cheah
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN (May 16, 2012): A university graduate yesterday lodged a police report alleging police brutality against him during the Bersih 3.0 rally in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Mohd Saufi Othman, 26, said in his report he was assaulted by a group of between 10 and 15 police officers when he was in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka at about 3pm.

“They punched and kicked me.

Political power still impedes freedom of expression, says CIJ

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 05:28am
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 10:07am

Michelle Chun and Pauline Wong
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR (May 16, 2012): Political parties from both sides of the divide continue to exert influence on the media and impose restrictions on freedom of expression, a report by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) revealed yesterday.

In its Freedom of Expression Report 2011, the centre noted that many reforms were announced by the government but there were cont

No Bersih 4.0 for now

Posted on 16 May 2012 - 09:09pm
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 09:54am

Alyaa Alhadjri
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR (May 16, 2012): Electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 has quashed rumours of a fourth rally to demand for clean and fair elections, and will focus instead on two major initiatives to increase voters turnout and eliminate fraud within the system.

The first is a campaign dubbed “Come out and vote, fight the fraud” – using the power of numbers to minimise alleged attempts at ma

Say sorry, errant teacher told

Posted on 16 May 2012 - 08:51pm
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 09:21am

Himanshu Bhatt, Edmund Lee and Oon Xin Jia
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN (May 16, 2012): A group of community activists today submitted a memorandum to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the racial slurs allegedlly made by a teacher against students.

The memorandum delivered to the State Education Department called on the teacher from SMK Georgetown to tender an open apology to the Hindu students and their parents.

Over 24,000 teachers to be considered for promotion, says Muhyiddin

Posted on 16 May 2012 - 06:06pm
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 08:29am

KUALA KANGSAR (May 16, 2012): A total of 24,053 teachers who have completed the required duration of service will be considered for promotion between June 1 and Dec 31, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said this would involve 8,222 teachers with Bachelor's degree, and 15,831 others with diploma.

June 22 for mention of witness giving false statement in Banting murder case

Posted on 16 May 2012 - 07:16pm
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 08:29am

SHAH ALAM (May 16, 2012): The Sessions Court here today fixed June 22 for mention of a case involving farm worker U.Suresh for allegedly giving false statement in the murder trial of cosmetic millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others at the High Court here.

Judge Mohamed Mokhzani Mokhtar set the date following a request from the prosecution.

Tun M: Bar Council has become political party

Posted on 16 May 2012 - 08:05pm
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 08:29am

PUTRAJAYA (May 16, 2012): As the Bar Council's concern seems to border on the politics of the country, it appears to have become a political party, noted Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Thus, the former prime minister said, it should let other organisations take over the professional side (of the Bar Council) to avoid confusion.

DAP thanks Tunku for his service

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 08:15am
Last updated on 17 May 2012 - 08:23am

Aaron Ngui
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN (May 16, 2012): The DAP has given up trying to convince its former national vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim to change his mind about quitting the party.

In a brief statement yesterday, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said he had tried to contact the former senator since Monday but “without any success”.

“I have no wish to exchange personal attacks a

Lawyer wants Bar EGM declared null and void

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 05:28am

KUALA LUMPUR (May 16, 2012): A lawyer has filed a suit against the Bar Council, Malaysian Bar and the council’s president Lim Chee Wee and secretary Tony Woon Yeow Thong, seeking a declaration that an extraordinary general meeting held last Friday is null, void and against the Legal Profession Act 1976.

Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz, who is a member of the Malaysian Bar, filed the

Civil servants should be creative: Anifah

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 05:28am

Hemananthani Sivanandam
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PUTRAJAYA (May 16, 2012): Civil servants should nurture the culture of innovation and establish a creative atmosphere to be more productive.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said a creative atmosphere in an organisation would spark ideas and help create an environment for innovation.

Customary land motion rejected

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 05:28am

Sulok Tawie
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

THE state assembly rejected a motion to adjourn the sitting to debate the issue of landowners camped outside the Lands and Survey Department headquarters to protest over alienation of native customary rights (NCR) land.

Speaker Datuk Amar Asfia Awang Nasar said the motion tabled by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Kota Sentosa) was not specific and urgent although the issue on NCR land was

RM87.8m approved under supplementary bill

Posted on 17 May 2012 - 05:28am

Sulok Tawie
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

THE state assembly approved the Supplementary Supply (2011) Bill 2012, which authorised expenditure of RM87,791,655 from the Consolidated Fund.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh, in tabling the bill, said the expenditure is to pay for the various services not provided for or not fully provided for by the 2011 State Budget.