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HANGZHOU – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will fly into this city later Friday to begin a five-day official visit to China to open a new chapter to further enhance Kuala Lumpur-Beijing ties. Malaysian Ambassador to China Datuk Zainuddin Yahya said Chinese leaders were excited to welcome the Malaysian prime minister. This is said to be despite the strong statements coming out of Kuala Lumpur lately, particularly on the suspension of two China-backed projects – the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP). “They are waiting and excited to receive Tun Dr Mahathir … so far no official response from China on the matter,” he told Malaysian journalists here Friday. The two projects, especially the RM81-billion ECRL, had gained attention as the Malaysian government felt that the mega projects of the previous government, among others,  burdened the country and its people with mega debts and there have been hints that Kuala Lumpur may scrap the project. “We ...

KUALA LUMPUR – Despite delays in fulfilling its promises, economists remain confident with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration led by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who aims for a country which is corruption-free and economically vibrant. As August 18 marks the first 100 days of PH ruling after winning the 14th General Election (GE14), they said that the time frame was too short to fulfil its election pledges, see changes and bring about significant reforms. Hence, they felt that the PH government should take the opportunity to plan for the country’s future direction and not only focusing on their promises made during the election. According to Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, given the sheer size of economic uncertainties brought by external factors, it would be almost unrealistic to expect changes to happen immediately. “Malaysian economy is very open to global c...

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will have a minimal impact on the US-China trade war since the country is a small open economy, says Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM). However, if the trade war continues to escalate, the whole global economy will be affected and there could be a reduction in global growth by 0.5 per cent by 2020, said BNM Governor Datuk Noor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus. "But having said that, one of our economy’s strengths is that we have a diversified economic structure. "So, perhaps our exports will be affected by lower global growth but domestic activities will continue to sustain and this will provide a foundation for growth in that kind of scenario," she said in a press conference after announcing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2018 here today. Commenting on the large outflows by non-residents in the second quarter of 2018, Shamsiah said this was due mostly to external factors. "Primarily (it was) abo...

PUTRAJAYA -- Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, on the 100th day of the administration of the Pakatan Harapan (PH), conceded that his cabinet line-up still has the characteristics of the opposition and will take time to adept itself as the government. He said this happened due to the transition of power after 61 years that the opposition could not set up the government. “And as such, they have the traits of the opposition. "When it becomes the government, the old traits still appear and influence their thinking. But within the short period, they have made adjustments and now realise that they have now become the government,” he said, Bernama reported. Dr Mahathir, who leads the PH to form the new government following the victory in the 14th General Election on May 9, said this at the Handing Over of the Premier Fellow for the Year 2018 at Perdana Putra. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah ...

KUALA LUMPUR --  A Bill to repeal the controversial Anti-Fake News Act was passed at the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday. The bill was passed after the third reading before Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof and received the majority vote. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Hanipa Maidin in his winding-up speech said the existing laws were sufficient and they could be amended if they were unable to address the issue of fake news. “If we look at the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and other civil laws, it can be used as a remedy for fake news,” he said, Bernama reported. He added that by empowering the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM)’s investigation it could also help deal with fake news particularly in tracking fake accounts on social media. “Pengerang (Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) said it was hard to track down those who created fake accounts on social media, but actually we need to empower the police as...

BANGKOK – A drug dealer  known as "Mr T", or "Malaysian Iceman" among the Malaysian media, and his female Thai accomplice have been found guilty of drug smuggling by a Thai court on Thursday and were sentenced to death.   Tan Hun Seong, 64, from Johor, and Wilaipan Pettong, 66, were found guilty under Thailand's Measure for Suppression of Offenders in an Offence relating to Narcotics Act 1991 and the Narcotics Act 1979, for trying to smuggle 282kg  of  the "Ice" or Crystal Methaphetamine drug into Malaysia two years ago. The Criminal Court, which delivered its verdict today, also found two other accused – a Taiwanese man known as Cheng Mi Hsu, 69, or "Jimmy" , and Thai woman Wipharat Kandee, 50, – guilty of the same offence and were also sentenced to death. However, their death sentence were later reduced to life imprisonment as they had cooperated with the authorities during the invest...

PUTRAJAYA -- Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad today called for the resignation of all political appointees of the previous government in the ministry by next month at the latest. He said there had been an instruction for these people to quit but some were adamant about clinging on to their posts. “We want to make sure that the federal territories are governed as best as possible by truly professional individuals and not those appointed due to political support by the previous ruling party. “We hope for their immediate replacement, before the first week of September,” he said at a press conference at his office. Earlier, Khalid received a cheque for RM410,000 from the Federal Territories Foundation (YWP) for the purchase of 85 cows to be distributed to mosques and surau for the Aidiladha sacrificial slaughter. Khalid said eight political appointees on the Kuala Lumpur City Hall advisory board resigned after criticism. Political appointees at ...

PETALING JAYA -- Pakatan Harapan (PH) menamakan bekas Anggota Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, Halimey Abu Bakar sebagai sebagai calon parti itu bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Seri Setia pada 8 Sept ini. Timbalan Perdana Menteri yang juga  Presiden PH Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail ketika mengumumkan perkara itu berkata Halimey, 46, merupakan anak tempatan. "PRK DUN Seri Setia kali ini akan menggunakan buat pertama kali logo rasmi Pakatan Harapan. Saya minta pengundi DUN Seri Setia sekali lagi memberi peluang kepada calon kita dalam PRK ini," katanya ketika mengumumkan calon PH di sini. Turut hadir Menteri Besar Selangor Amirudin Shari. Dr Wan Azizah berkata terdapat 53,492 pengundi di DUN Seri Setia. Halimey yang sudah berumahtangga dan mempunyai tiga anak serta dibesarkan di Kampung Lindungan di bawah DUN Seri Setia itu merupakan Pengarah Jawatankuasa Pilihan R...

PUTRAJAYA -- The government has set up the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) to review the electoral system and regulations in the country. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement today that the committee is chaired by Tan Sri Ab Rashid  Ab Rahman who was a former civil servant with wide experience in managing elections. The statement said Ab Rashid would be assisted by several staff being identified to carry out the tasks specified by the committee. "The committee is given two years to complete its task including submitting the report and recommendations to the government for scrutiny and implementation,” it added, Bernama reported. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the committee needed to obtain numerous feedback and suggestions from various quarters especially those with vested interests such as political parties and politicians, voters and non-governmental organisations.  The statement said the committee also had to study the ...

KUALA LUMPUR — The Dewan Rakyat on Thursday passed a motion for the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee to reopen investigate on the embezzlement of monies and the scandal with regard to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and its related companies. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof made the announcement after Finance Minister  Lim Guan Eng wrapped-up the debate on the motion. In the motion, Lim, who is Bagan Member of Parliament, called for investigation on embezzlement and scandal with regards to 1MDB and the relevant companies to be re-opened to restore the integrity of the Parliament and all information regarding the matter to be made known to the public. He said reopening of the investigation was necessary as the investigation that was carried out before failed to identify the actual causes of the corruption scandal and because of the huge losses suffered by Malaysia, especially 1MDB. The motion...

PUTRAJAYA -- The Rural Development Ministry is in the process of gazetting Orang Asli customary land nationwide to secure the community’s land ownership rights, said its minister Rina Mohd Harun. She said among others this would involve amendment of existing laws before the land could be gazetted as Orang Asli customary land. "The definition customary land needs to be redefined by taking into consideration the legal aspect as not all states recognise the Orang Asli customary land, making it difficult to gazette the land. "The move will be hastened to ensure that the injustice happening to the Orang Asli groups in Gua Musang, Kelantan can be resolved in the best possible way," she told a press conference after the ministry’s monthly gathering and launch of the Merdeka Month Appreciation programme, Bernama reported. Rina was commenting on the steps to be taken by the ministry to help the Temiar Orang Asli group at 17 vill...

KUALA LUMPUR -- Ministers and deputy ministers in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government must avoid issuing statements that can give negative impact to the nation, government and people, said the special advisor on media and communication to the Prime Minister, Datuk A.Kadir Jasin.  Without referring to anyone, Kadir said they must think very deeply the effects of their statements and should issue them when necessary only. "Today it is a new government, only (prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and (Home Minister) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin have the experience of becoming a minister while the others may have the experience of being a chief minister or menteri besar only, but not as a federal minister. “So, if there are ministers who do not seem to be smart in giving statements or do not think deep enough before making a statement, getting scoldings and so on, they must learn from their mistakes, what they go through will only make t...