Conrad Mojuntin jailed six months (updated)

Datuk Conrad Mojuntin was jailed six months by the Kota Kinabalu High Court on Friday for criminal intimidation.

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JPJ starts enforcing rear seat-belt rule

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) cracked the whip at the stroke of midnight yesterday, enforcing the law on the usage of rear seat belt which came into force.

119 lose their jobs in schools

Some 119 support staff in several schools in the state became jobless when the Education Ministry privatised cleaning and security services in schools.

RMN helps Indian tanker

The Royal Malaysian Navy experienced its first combat in the new year when its Fennec helicopter drove off two pirate skiffs pursuing Indian crude oil tanker MT Abul Kalam Azad in the dangerous pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.

Abdul Wahid is PAS? choice

Five-term Wakaf Mempelam assemblyman Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut has been named PAS? candidate to face Barisan Nasional heavyweight Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh in the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election.

Cheaper chicken for CNY

Consumers can expect chicken to be sold at between RM6.50 to RM7.50 per kilo right up to the Chinese New Year celebration.

Newscaster and actress among 26 busted at sex party

A noted female newscaster and an actress were among 26 people caught in a sex party at a hotel in Jalan P. Ramlee here early yesterday morning.

56 detained in morning raid on budget hotels

A 17-year-old female and five males in a hotel room were among 56 people detained in an early morning raid conducted by officers from the Islamic Religious Department on several budget hotels in town.

Party cut short for 60 revellers in KL and Penang

Revellers had much fun during the New Year eve gatherings here and in Penang but some even got carried away, resulting in the arrest of 60 people. While eight were picked up in Penang, another 52 people were arrested here.

An urgent need to top up blood supply

The National Blood Centre needs more blood because there is an increase in usage of its supply.

Stop the wars and be a great leader, Dr M tells Obama

United States President-elect Barack Obama has the power to stop the killing of innocent people in wars and be remembered as a great leader, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Set the right example, leaders urged

Many agree with MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat?s call for national leaders to be more prudent in view of the present economic climate.

Zulhasnan: Improve service delivery

Make the Federal Territories Ministry and its agencies more people-friendly and strive to further improve its services this year.

Soldier sues his superiors

A soldier is suing three superior officers for alleged slander and abuse at the Tanjung Sepang military post two months ago which left him deformed. He is seeking RM250,000 as compensation.

Did Soi Lek resign, or did he not?

A controversy has broken out over the admission by MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek that he had technically not resigned as the Labis MP, des­pite announcing he had done so.

It?s a move to save face, says Syed Husin

The Indian PKR leaders who are planning to meet up with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over their community problems are doing this as a ?face-saving? move, PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali said.

Ahmad Kabit named Housing sec-gen

Health Ministry deputy secretary-general (Management) Datuk Ahmad Kabit has been appointed as the secretary-general of the Housing and Local Government Ministry, effective yesterday.

Councillor and five others freed

A city councillor detained in connection with a murder has been released unconditionally.

Mamma Mia! fan dances away on one leg

Despite having to walk on crutches due to a leg injury, Khairin Kamal held nothing back and danced away to the music of the smash hit musical Mamma Mia! last night.

Zoo eyes giant pandas

Zoo Negara may soon be home to two giant pandas if negotiations with China are successful.

Mentally disturbed man runs amok, shot dead

A welder from Sabak Bernam seeking treatment for his mental illness went amok and was shot dead when he tried to attack two policemen with a knife.

Reserve cop pleads innocent to bribery

A Police Volunteer Reserve member pleaded not guilty at a Sessions Court here to two counts of bribery.

Man stabbed and slashed to death

A 40-year-old lorry driver died a gruesome death after his wife?s jealous lover slit his throat following a heated argument on New Year?s Eve.

Thumbs-up for clean-up

While revellers were having a gala time ushering in the New Year at Gurney Drive and the Esplanade here, Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) workers were busy clearing litter in their midst.

Family and friends bid farewell to landslide victims with a heavy heart

Goodbye, you will forever be in our hearts. That was the sentiment of families, friends, neighbours and victims of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide who gathered at a memorial service held on New Year?s eve at the disaster site in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

MB: Oil royalty for noble causes, not needless projects

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said has refuted allegations by the state Opposition that oil royalty payments from the Federal Government had gone into unnecessary development projects.

PKR branch chairman elected new village chief

Perak?s first ever and controversial new village chief polls went ahead with a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) branch chairman elected as the Gunung Rapat new village chief.

Tense dialogue with Guan Eng

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng?s dialogue session with residents in Bayan Baru here became tensed when a few vocally hit out at the state government for constantly criticising the previous administration. Among them was Bayan Baru Rukun Tetangga chairman Chai Tsing Boo, who said Pakatan leaders were elected to help improve the community?s living conditions.

Project to make Penang smoke-free

The Clearinghouse for Tobacco Control (CTob) plans to undertake a pilot project to monitor the air quality in public areas here.

Ex-principal launches education campaign

Former New Era College principal Dr Kua Kia Soong (pic) has launched a ?Save the Chinese Education? movement in the latest development of the leadership tussle there, reported China Press.

Student loses belongings to con men

A college student lost RM3,200 worth of belongings when two con men ran away with his laptop, watch and handphone, reported Harian Metro.

Car park attendant claims brutality

All Tamil newspapers, including Malaysia Nanban, reported that a 27-year-old car park attendant claims he was beaten with a hose and splashed with boiling water during interrogation by police.

BURSA MALAYSIA UPDATE - 10.30am: KLCI at 886.86

At 10.30am today, there were 198 gainers, 77 losers and 92 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. The KLCI was at 886.86 up 10.11 points, the FBM2BRD was at 4,019.18 up 11.87 points, and the FBMEmas was at 5,797.02 up 70.56 points. Turnover was at 108.964 million shares valued at RM105.684 million. — BERNAMA

Bernama’s new GM starts work

Bernama’s new general manager, Hasnul Hassan, started work at the national news agency today.

KL shares higher in early trade

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were higher in early trading today, supported by gains on index-linked counters, led by Kuala Lumpur Kepong and IOI Corporation, dealers said.

BURSA MALAYSIA UPDATE - 9.30am: KLCI at 882.30

At 9.30am today, there were 84 gainers, 42 losers and 53 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. The KLCI was at 882.30 up 5.55 points, the FBM2BRD was at 4,014.30 up 6.99 points, and the FBMEmas was at 5,762.89 up 36.43 points. Turnover was at 31.048 million shares valued at RM36.852 million. — BERNAMA

Actress, newsreader nabbed at New Year 'sex party'

It said that the sex and drug party was organised through the social networking website Friendster.

Headlines online: Jan 2, 2009

Drugs, sex parties and raids in various parts of Malaysia are the common theme of almost all the newspapers today.

Open letter to Indian leaders in Pakatan

comment What is the solution to the Indian predicament? Would it help by giving a few more government posts or contracts to Indians by Pakatan-led state governments?

PAS fields surprise candidate

PAS tonight named Wakaf Mempelam state assemblyperson Abdul Wahid Endut to contest the crucial Kuala Terengganu by-election.

M'sian warship scares off Somali pirates

It was the second time the Malaysian navy has fought off pirates in the Gulf of Aden, after it successfully repelled a group who boarded a Chinese commercial vessel on Dec 18.

Malay-language edition of Catholic paper banned: editor

Herald newspaper editor Father Lawrence Andrew said the move was part of a series of restrictions put in place by the government when it renewed the paper's licence on Tuesday.

59 dead in Bangkok nightclub fire

The blaze broke out at the Santika club in the city's Ekkamai district, a thronging entertainment area frequented by locals and tourists.

Happy New Year from Malaysiakini

The Malaysiakini team wishes all our readers Happy New Year. Let's hope that 2009 will see more progress in our struggle for press freedom, advances in the protection of human rights, and greater transparency in governance. We will be back at work tomorrow to continue in our mission in bringing our readers all the news, and views, that matter.