Archive - 31 December 2016

Najib’s son Norashman shares pictures of his Aussie trip on Instagram.

We are entering 2017 and the one wish that ranks higher than anything else in our hearts and souls for the New Year is that Malaysia will remain a peaceful country with all races living in harmony and respecting our diversity in culture and religion, confident that the rule of law will prevail to protect the rights of all citizens, in accordance with the guarantees under the Federal Constitution.

Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) has attracted lots of attention and controversy lately. The scheme has been labelled with many names - a stimulus package, an economic aid, a welfare payment and a bribe. To me, it is probably a little of everything, but nothing definite.

In view of the continuing accidents and mounting fatalities involving express buses, it is time to consider something new. The authorities have over the years implemented everything reasonably possible to reduce the accidents but to no avail as the Genting and Pagoh accidents that killed 37 and 14 passengers respectively indicate. Daily, hundreds of express buses ply the trunk roads and highways but are not involved in crashes.

Some 750 people have been evacuated in Kelantan and Terengganu due to floods.

Last year one of the company's four directors withdrew from the company and the bus involved in the accident was given to the director.

I do not understand why home bakers, both Muslim and non-Muslim, are aghast over McDonald’s Malaysia’s policy barring cakes without halal certification from its premises. Most questioned the necessity for such restrictions, with one claiming that even Muslim countries in the Middle East did not impose such rules.

Love and grief are intangibles yet they command a power our physical beings cannot control. To many, death is an end in itself, but to others it is merely a beginning to eternity. We are aware of double tragedies that have taken place in the past especially when couples are so deeply in love and attached to each other. When one partner departs the other follows almost immediately or soon after. Their spirits live on, beyond the grave.

UPDATED 4.13PM | 'Because given the financial position of Felda, no board member would have agreed to the acquisition.'

UPDATED 1.47PM | They are warned of stern action if they do so without the necessary training.

The recent changes in the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) rules have once again stirred up the movement for Malaysia to adopt a Common Bar Exam (CBE) with respect to standardising admission into the legal profession.

UPDATED 1.41PM | One Umno member said the mistakes of leaders had led to the increased cost of living.

Visitors paddle illuminated vehicles during the Light and Motion festival Putrajaya 2016.

The Malaysian currency depreciated by 4.53 percent to end the year at 4.4845/4875 against the US dollar.

'Some say that Malaysia is going bankrupt. Then they say Tabung Haji is going bankrupt.'

The six in the crack investigation team included the division's deputy, Tan Kang Sai.

No, I did not ignore or forget
Christmas. I know that I have not yet
expressed my greetings of festive cheer.
It’s havoc in my schedule this year -
with wife away due to transport woes,
I have been burning fingers and toes
cleaning and shopping and, yes, cooking
too; besides working till late evening
for a month or two. My brain is fried,
Go sleep! my limbs and eyes often cried.

COMMENT | The key groups are Felda settlers, young Malays and Sabah and Sarawak natives.

Khairuddin's explanation comes after his presence at an Umno function set tongues wagging.

Umno leader Puad Zarkashi says bribery need not be in the form of cold hard cash.

Two brothers and their parents sleep rough every night and depend on charity for their day's meal.

It’s anybody’s guess how 2017 will turn out.

UPDATED 2.27PM | This comes less than five years after the division was formed to investigate high-profile cases.