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.

KPJ excellent choice for portfolio balancing

OSK Investment Research expects KPJ Healthcare to maintain its impressive nancial form as well as strengthen its position as the market leader in the private healthcare sector.

Market starts on firmer note, KLK, IOI Corp up

Blue chips started the New Year on a firmer note on Friday, lifted by gains in IOI Corp and KL Kepong while oil prices stayed above US$40.

Glove makers still have upper hand

At a time when most industries are predicting gloomy days ahead, the country?s rubber glove manufacturers see a bright 2009 as global demand is expected to remain strong, especially for medical gloves.

Crane rental rates lowered to give construction industry a lift

Mobile crane owners have reduced the rental rates of their vehicles by 5% effective yesterday in an effort to help the construction industry.

Tougher times ahead for Ramunia

Ramunia Holdings Bhd will have to brace for tougher times ahead this year after it reported higher-than-expected losses of RM280mil for its financial year ended Oct 31, 2008 (FY08), mainly due to additional provisions, analysts said.

SHH Resources seeking alternative markets

SHH Resources Holdings Bhd (SHH Resources) is looking at alternative markets on falling furniture shipments to the US amid the global economic crisis, said managing director Datuk Teo Wee Cheng.

Oil and gas business poised to become Changhuat mainstay

Changhuat Corp Bhd says oil and gas (O&G) related activities will overtake its core business of making plastic injection parts and components.

Local funds should diversify portfolio

Malaysian institutional funds should take the opportunity to diversify their portfolios now as they are insulated to a certain extent from events in global markets, according to global financial consulting firm Watson Wyatt.

Parkson Haiphong to buy Viet property for US$24.15mil

Parkson Haiphong Co Ltd has signed a sale and purchase agreement with Thuy Duong Investment Joint Stock Co to acquire a property in Vietnam for US$24.15mil. Parkson Haiphong is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parkson Holdings Bhd.

Proper use of telecom service fund needed

The Malaysian Communications & Multimedia Commission?s (MCMC) move to post on its website an invite to mobile operators to provide mobile connectivity in rural areas should be lauded. That was its resolution in 2008 and it came two days before 2009 was ushered in.

A closer look at the proposed KLIA East@Labu

There are some reservations over the proposed new terminal at KLIA East@Labu. After all, there is already the KLIA and the LCCT. But let?s look at the bigger picture.

Reflection in the workplace

Psychology at work: DR GOH CHEE LEONG

Commodities may lag recovery

Commodities, until six months ago the darling of investors and an outperforming asset class, sealed their worst year on record with accelerating losses in the fourth quarter of the year.

Mutiara Goodyear seeks to expand landbank

Mutiara Goodyear Development Bhd is consolidating itself and realigning its focus and resources so it can seize opportunities when the property market recovers, says chief executive officer Kee Cheng Teik.

Citigroup top execs forego 2008 bonuses

Citigroup Inc chief executive Vikram Pandit, chairman Win Bischoff and senior adviser Robert Rubin will forego 2008 bonuses, after a year of heavy losses and a plunge in the share price of the second largest US bank.

LyondellBasell considers bankruptcy option

LyondellBasell Industries, the world?s third-largest independent chemical company, said on Wednesday that it is considering bankruptcy protection as a broadening recession eats away at consumer demand.

Paulson puts faith in successor Geithner

Outgoing US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said replacement Tim Geithner and his incoming team needed no lessons from him in tackling the financial crisis, in an interview published on Wednesday.

Trump buys time for debt restructure

Casino operator Trump Entertainment Resorts said on Wednesday it won more time from its lenders to negotiate or make interest payments on its debt.

Indonesia plans further fiscal stimulus

Indonesia?s president promised further fiscal stimulus to help South-East Asia?s biggest economy withstand the global economic slump, and which may be funded in part by a return to the international bond market next year.

Football: Aces up their sleeves

New-look Selangor hope to kick off their Super League campaign with a bang against treble winners Kedah in a match that will also decide the Charity Shield winners at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Star tomorrow.

Doubles pairs need to get good results at Malaysian Open

Doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky have reminded Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Latif of the need to get good results in the Malaysian Open at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil next week.

Hockey: Players? fitness is Beng Hai priority

The national hockey team will resume training on Monday and the first order of business will be a fitness test on the players.

MHF scrap plan for friendly meet in Johor Baru

The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have discarded the plan to stage a four-nation hockey tournament in Johor Baru to test facilities for the Junior World Cup Finals, which they will co-host with Singapore in June.

Zhuliang wants divers to perform more difficult routines

The national divers, especially the seniors, will have to start raising their degree of difficulties from this year or they can forget about going for competitions.

Dilemma for Harry: FA Cup or Premier League survival

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says he is on the horns of a dilemma as the FA Cup third round match against Wigan approaches at a time when his thoughts are on Premiership survival.