Oil falls to near $62 in Asia amid worries over slower-than-expected economic recovery
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Oil prices fell to near $62 a barrel Wednesday in Asia growing concerns over a slower-than-expected recovery in the global economy.
Indian detained in Malaysia, drugs seized
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian customs police detained a 25-year-old Indian man and seized 25 kg of the drug ketamine, a news report said Tuesday.
Dead man’s religion sparks row: Malaysian judge says law inadequate
KUALA LUMPUR - The row over Malaysian art director Mohan Singh’s religion following his death has led to a judge observing that there is “inadequacy” in the law over non-Muslims converting to Islam.
US admiral denounces NKorea’s missile launches; SKorean says NKorean missiles improved
SEOUL, South Korea — The chief of U.S. Naval operations denounced North Korea on Monday for a volley of weekend missile tests, as South Korea said the launches showed the communist regime has improved its missile accuracy.
Malay parents, teachers want probe into school principal’s karaoke sessions with girls
KUALA LUMPUR - The Parent-Teacher Association of a secondary school in Malaysia is seeking the help of authorities to investigate claims that the school principal held karaoke sessions with female students at the girls’ hostel.
Sikh family loses court battle against conversion of dead man in Muslim-majority Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Sikh family lost a court battle Monday in Muslim-majority Malaysia for the right to cremate one of their relatives after officials said the man had converted to Islam years before his death.
Malaysian party to rope in NGOs to woo Indians
KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) wants to rope in a network of NGOs to reach out to the Indian community that it hopes to win back after last year’s poll setback.
MIC to woo Indians with help from NGOs
KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Indian Congress has been moving silently on the ground, wooing disgruntled Indians who are angry with the handling of several issues by the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat.
Malay company raided for selling ‘Viagra coffee’
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian company in Gombak has been raided for marketing coffee mixture with a secret ingredient that guaranteed to “perk up” drinkers - later identified as Viagra.
Malaysia’s leader makes bold gambit by rolling back long-preserved affirmative action policies
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The economic downturn is allowing Malaysia’s leader to chip away at an affirmative action program for Malay Muslims that has been considered virtually untouchable in the past.
Seven Indian barbers claim Malaysian boss abused them for four years
PENANG/KUALA LUMPUR - Seven Indian nationals have lodged a complaint with the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, accusing their employer in Penang of abusing them and failing to pay their salaries regularly for the past four years.
Women using food court in Kuala Lumpur to solicit for sex
KUALA LUMPUR - A food court in Jalan Gelang, off Jalan Loke Yew, in Kuala Lumpur is said to have been turned into a place where women solicit for sex.
Malaysia unveils major liberalization in its economy to woo foreign investors
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia took a big step Tuesday to liberalize its economy, relaxing a host of restrictions on foreign investment, including a controversial rule requiring businesses to be partly owned by ethnic Malays.
Malay-Indian actress on fast-track to stardom
KUALA LUMPUR - Malay-Tamil actress Shantini Theva used to be a Tamil film fan, but today, she is part of the glitzy industry herself-she is playing one of the main female leads in big budget flick ‘Nadodigal’.
Sultan of Perak applauds Malay-Sikh community’s spirit
KUALA LUMPUR - The Sultan of the Malaysian state of Perak, Azlan Shah, has saluted the Malay-Sikh community for its contributions to the country’s economic, cultural and political fields.
Role reversal now woman circulates mans nude pictures
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian man is appealing to his former girlfriend to stop circulating his nude pictures and to destroy them.
Malaysian Indian woman seeks probe into husband’s custodial death
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian Indian woman having seven children has petitioned parliament to get the government to order an inquest into the death of her husband while in police custody.
Malay robber’s bail posting wife turns out to be sari-clad man!
KUALA LUMPUR - A woman, who appeared in the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur to post bail for her husband, caused a major stir when it was discovered that “she” was a “he”.
Lecturer who demanded sex, money to pass students nabbed in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a lecturer of a private international university who allegedly demanded sex and money from his students in return for better grades.
Car theft syndicates employing sexy girls to steal amorous men’s cars
KUALA LUMPUR - Sexy women are helping car theft syndicates steal amorous businessmen’s luxury vehicles, says a report.
Malaysian kung fu master punctures coconut with index finger
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian Kung Fu expert has entered record books after puncturing four young unhusked coconuts with his index finger in 30.81 seconds.
When a suspicious wife found hubby’s lover was a man
KUALA LUMPUR - A woman who suspected her husband of having an affair was left gob-smacked when she found out that her rival to be a man.
Malay women queuing for refreshing spa and salon services in jail
KUALA LUMPUR - Women are increasingly queuing up to go to the Kajang Prison (women’s wing) in Malaysia, which has opened spa and salon services.
Malay women warned of voyeur with “shoe-pinhole cameras”
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian cops have urged women to be more vigilant and be wary of strangers standing near them after e-mail messages showing at least nine pictures allegedly taken up the skirts of women in the country were widely circulated via the Internet recently.
Tamil mooted as subject for Malaysian Indian students
KUALA LUMPUR - The oldest party of ethnic Indians, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has proposed that Tamil language be included as the 11th subject in the country’s high school education.
‘India is a good study destination for Malaysian students’
KUALA LUMPUR - Deputy Minister in the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department, S.K. Devamany, has said that India can be a good option for Malaysian students who want to study abroad, and vice-versa.
Study in India, Malaysian minister tells students
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian students looking to study abroad have been urged by a minister to consider India as an option.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam wants religious studies to be made mandatory
KUALA LUMPUR - Kedah Hindu Sangam chief R.N. Mohan Shan has called for the religious studies to be made compulsory in Tamil schools in a bid to instill moral values in Malay-Indian students.
MIC to fight for inclusion of Tamil language and literature subjects in curriculum
KUALA LUMPUR - In a bid to enable Malay Tamil students to take Tamil language and literature subjects, the Malaysian Indian Congress has said it wants to extend the 10-subject limit for SPM students to 11 subjects by 2010.
4 men gang-raped teen for 12 days after she accepted lift
KUALA LUMPUR - A teenager, who accepted a lift from four strangers on her way home, was gang-raped and held captive by them for 12 days in a house in Kuantan.
Study in India, Malaysian minister tells students
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian students looking to study abroad have been urged by a minister to consider India as an option.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam wants religious studies to be made mandatory
KUALA LUMPUR - Kedah Hindu Sangam chief R.N. Mohan Shan has called for the religious studies to be made compulsory in Tamil schools in a bid to instill moral values in Malay-Indian students.
MIC to fight for inclusion of Tamil language and literature subjects in curriculum
KUALA LUMPUR - In a bid to enable Malay Tamil students to take Tamil language and literature subjects, the Malaysian Indian Congress has said it wants to extend the 10-subject limit for SPM students to 11 subjects by 2010.
4 men gang-raped teen for 12 days after she accepted lift
KUALA LUMPUR - A teenager, who accepted a lift from four strangers on her way home, was gang-raped and held captive by them for 12 days in a house in Kuantan.
Pathetic state of religious school in Malaysia upsets parents
KUALA LUMPUR - The plight of students of a religious school complex in Malaysia’s Jinjang Utara can be highlighted from the fact that they are forced to study in a cabin-like environment, the Sinar Harian reported.
Malaysian banks are refusing to accept Tamil written cheques, says MP
KUALA LUMPUR - An opposition MP has expressed surprise that local banks are still refusing to honour cheques written in Tamil, the Malaysia Nanban reports.
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar seeks to block sodomy trial, calls it ‘complete farce’
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has asked a Malaysian court to throw out a sodomy charge against him, two weeks before the start of a trial that he maintains is politically motivated, his lawyer said Thursday.
Malay transvestites turn to the Pill to become more curvy, girly
KUALA LUMPUR - Transvestites in Malaysia have turned to contraceptive pills to become more of a woman.
Singaporean family includes ‘devoted’ maids’ names in mother’s obituary
KUALA LUMPUR - A Singaporean family has included the names of their mother’s three maids together with other close family members in her obituary published by a newspaper.
Four Malay pupils forced to perform oral sex on teacher
KUALA LUMPUR - A primary school teacher reportedly forced four pupils aged between eight and 10 to perform oral sex on him and made them pose for pictures.
Malay Indian group calls for trade boycott of Colombo
KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Indian Business Association has called for a trade boycott of Sri Lanka in an effort to pressure its government to address humanitarian concerns in the war-torn state.
MIC Youth to help Malay Indian traders get loans
KUALA LUMPUR - The youth wing of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has decided to intensify efforts to aid Malay Indian small and medium entrepreneurs get easy loans.
Driver’s ’sexploits’ on bus come to an end after rape claims
KUALA LUMPUR - A bus driver, who has been duping women into having sex with him on board his vehicle at the last stop, has been arrested after a woman lodged a complain that he had raped her.
Malaysian Indian minister to sue party chief for defamation
KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian Indian minister who was ‘elected’ by his supporters last month as president of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) has threatened to sue the incumbent chief for defamation.
AP Interview: Emirates chief confident of staying profitable, no plans to cancel big jet order
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The head of Emirates said Tuesday the airline has no plans to cancel the 160 new planes it has ordered — including 58 Airbus A380 superjumbos — despite the global travel slump.
Malaysian Indian Congress leaders make peace
KUALA LUMPUR - A major dissident leader has ended an unsuccessful bitter battle with Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu saying it would help make the party relevant again for the Indian community.
‘Too many political parties dividing Malay Indian community’
KUALA LUMPUR - Malay-Indian community leaders have expressed concern over the presence of too many political parties claiming representation of the eight percent Indian population in Malaysia.
Airline chiefs dismiss safety fears over Airbus A330 planes after Air France crash
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Several airline chiefs dismissed safety fears over the Airbus A330 on Tuesday, saying they were confident of the plane’s reliability despite last week’s Air France jet crash.
Singapore children hiring private detectives to snoop on dads’ affairs
KUALA LUMPUR - A large number of Singaporean children are hiring private detectives to find out about their dads’ ’secret affairs’.
Royal Dutch Shell chief warns of future oil price spikes if investment continues to slacken
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Oil prices will spike in the future without investment in the sector to meet demand once the global economy recovers, said Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer on Monday.
Three Indian banks form joint venture in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR - Three Indian banks have put up an initial investment of 86 million dollars into a joint venture to set up a subsidiary in Malaysia.
Airlines to lose $9 billion in global crisis
KUALA LUMPUR - The world’s airlines are expected to lose $9 billion this year due to the deepening crisis in global air travel, a major industry group said Monday.
World airlines seen losing $9 billion in 2009, double previous forecast, IATA says
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The world’s airlines will collectively lose $9 billion this year — nearly double the previous projections — and face a slow recovery as the economic crisis saps air travel and cargo demand, an industry body warned Monday.
American Airlines, British Airways hope to begin cooperation on trans-Atlantic flights by 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — American Airlines and British Airways voiced confidence Monday of winning approval from U.S. and European authorities to allow them to cooperate on trans-Atlantic flights by 2010.
Airline chiefs meet amid worsening global aviation crisis
KUALA LUMPUR - Airline chiefs gathered in Malaysia Monday for an international aviation meeting to focus on strategies to fight off a deepening crisis in global air travel.
Malaysian PM hopes Indian community will work harder to boost their children’s education
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has appreciated the achievement of the Malay Indian students, and hoped that community would work harder to boost the performance of their children.
Malay ‘grandpa of all devils’ raped 5yr-old granddaughter with three others for 3 weeks
KUALA LUMPUR - A sexagenarian man in Malaysia has been pronounced “grandfather of all devils” after he allegedly raped his five-year-old granddaughter with three others for almost three weeks.
Malay Indian widows told to be brave in facing challenges
KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s Women Development Bureau chief, Vimala Nair, has urged widowed Malay-Indian women to be bold and brave in facing challenges that lie ahead.
‘Salam’ diplomacy: Obama’s words and references win favor with Muslims
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The tone of respect was set from the opening lines of President Barack Obama’s address to the Muslim world.
IATA calls for more open skies as it sees airlines losing more than $4.7 billion this year
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — The International Air Transport Association called for more liberalization to bolster the global airline industry, which is expected to lose more than $4.7 billion this year because of falling cargo and passenger traffic.
