BYE !

Good

• The MIC is studying a proposal for the party to withdraw its one minister and two deputy ministers from the government as a protest over the lack of importance accorded to the Indian community.

• Syed Hamid dropped from the new cabinet.

• A comprehensive integrity plan to clean up the JPJ is to be introduced this month.

• Sri Lanka security forces began a two-day ceasefire, as the Government called for the Tamil Tiger rebels to allow trapped civilians to flee the conflict zone.

• China has promised its citizen stronger legal protection.

• Obama directed his administration to allow unlimited travel and money transfers by Cuban American to family in Cuba.

Bad

• Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd has not received from the government the official list of tsunami victims for the remaining 64 units of house.

• The Federal Court held the EC and not the Perak state assembly speaker who has the power to declare the Behrang, Changkat Jering and Jelapang seats vacant.

• The High Court dismissed an application by Ronnie Liu to review and set aside a warrant of arrest issued against him.

• Fiji’s military regime expelled two foreign reporters after banning all media criticism under emergency regulations.

Ugly

• Anti-Abhisit protesters force cancellation of Asian summit.

Stupid

• Stupid new Cabinet line up: 28 Ministers and 40 Deputy Ministers

• Syed Hamid: There is no need for a public hearing before carrying out a review of the ISA. 

Good

• PR WINS in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau.

• Selangor will appoint the legal firm to handle the issue of the Balkis.

• The father of A.Kugan says he does not accept the findings of the independent committee.

• The RM100 million defamation suit filed against the IGP, AG and the Government by Uthayakumar will continue.

• A division will be set up within the National Service Department to enhance efforts to tackle health issues in camps such as food poisoning.

• Malaysia which had been blacklisted by the OECD, are now off the list.

• Obama said that the US was not at war with Islam and that it wanted to reinvigorate efforts towards creating a Palestinian state.

• Afghanistan’s Justice Ministry said that a law for the country’s Shi’a minority, which has caused an international uproar because of controversial provisions on women’s right, is on hold and under review.  
 
Bad

• The Klang Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital is in critical condition as overcrowding has caused unhappiness among patients, some of whom have been forced to sleep in corridors.

• Despite the various initiatives by the Government to ease the burden on bank loan borrowers, many are not getting the full benefits.

Ugly

• A teacher with illegal firecrackers in his pockets and two students were arrested for allegedly rioting after Kelantan’s defeat by NS in a Malaysia FA Cup at Stadium Sultan Mohamad IV. 

Good

• Najib ordered the released of 13 ISA detainees, review ISA and ban on Harakah and Suara Keadilan lifted.

• Penang is taking the necessary action to ensure that all Tamil schools have their own buildings and that the land is registered under their name.

• The police and the Immigration Department have set up a task force to investigate allegations of enforcement officers being involved in human trafficking along the Malaysian-Thai border.

• The Health Ministry will implement a system this year to ensure that private hospitals give their patients safe treatment.

• Minster in the PM Department Dompak: The MACC should be seen to be acting professionally and not be “needled” into making statements.

• The Gaza Humanitarian Fund has received RM13.63mil in donations as of March 16.

• Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Malaysia 3 Pakistan 2

Bad

• The number of dengue cases rose by 49% in the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year.

• The High Court has dismissed an application to strike out a suit brought by three Independent assemblymen against Perak speaker.

• The High Court allowed the application by AG to be an intervener in the suit brought by Perak MB.

Ugly

• The EC decide not to count the ballouts at 14 of the 26 polling stations in the Batang Ai constituency.

• PNSB spent almost RM1 million for a trip to France and Morocco taken by Khir toyo.

Good

• The Penang Government has ensured that each of the 728 hardcore poor families has an income of at least RM500 per month.

• The public can surf the Net at 26 hotspots in Penang for free under the state’s Wireless@Penang initiative.

• The RM4.5bil econd Penang bridge project and RM2bil Penang Sentral transportation and logistics hub will proceed as planned.

• Goldman Sachs Group Inc chief executive’s compensation fell 98.4% in 2008. 

• A judge has given the CIA a month to begin releasing document related to the destruction of videotapes of detainee interrogations.

• Azizul: Malaysia’s first silver medal in the men’s sprint final of the World Track Cycling Championship.

• Rizal: Pedalled a bronze medal.

Bad

• The Suhakam 2008 report was not tabled in the Dewan Rakyat although it had been submitted.

• At least 22 people were killed in a stadium crush in Abidjan.

Ugly

• ISA detainee and Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar wants action against the home minister and Kamunting authorities for serving him beef in violation of his religious beliefs.

Stupid

• Muhyiddin has called on the people not to turn the upcoming by-elections into a referendum on the leadership of the incoming premier.

• Education Minister suggested that teachers should be allowed to join and hold posts in political parties.

• A record number of 15 candidates contesting for the Bukit Selambau state seat. 

Good

• The Works Ministry has launched an e-tender management system to check bureaucracy and to promote transparency. 

• Bosses at AIG have agreed to pay back RM181.2 million in bonuses.

• Lawmakers and human rights activists called for wife of Zimbabwe’s President to be banned from Hong Kong after she was granted diplomatic immunity over an alleged assault.

Bad, Ugly & Stupid

• Six online media organizations have been barred from covering the Umno General Assembly meeting.
 
Bad

• An Opposition MPs attempt to raise objections over the suspension of Gobind Singh failed.

• Lim Kit Siang was ejected from the House after apologise for calling Umno politicians “power crazy”.

Ugly

• A total of 2,571 detainees died of various diseases while being held in prisons.

Stupid

• Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd spent about RM1 million in 2007 to sponsor a three-day sports event organized by Balkis.

• Mahathir: Chinese educationists were against the government’s policy of racial integration among students by opposing the concept of Vision Schools.

?

Deputy Home minister Chor Chee Heung: The suspension of Harakah and Suara Keadilan is not a crackdown on opposition political parties.

Good

• Five broken pieces of the original “Democracy Tree” marble plaque fetched a total of RM42,900 at a public auction by the Perak PR.

• The EPU has allocated RM12 million to improve the livelihood of the Indian community.

• All 157 planned Chinese and Indian community villages can now receive regular grants and allocations from the Government.

• US House approved legislation to recoup most of the US$165 million in bonuses paid to AIG employees.

• Obama told Iran’s people and leaders that the US wants to engage with their country.

• Israel’s military ordered a criminal inquiry into its own soldiers’ reports that some troops killed Palestinian civilians, including children during the Gaza war. 

• Michelle Obama broke ground on a new White House vegetable garden.

Bad, Ugly & Stupid

• The Home Ministry has slapped a three-month suspension on Harakah and Suara Keadilan.

• The MACC will not start a probe into Mohd Ali’s case. 

Bad

• Nizar failed in his appeal against hi s suit against Zambry to the Federal court.

• Khir Toyo and his wife not attend the Selangor Government’s Special Select Committee inquiry.

• The illegal gambling is worth RM1 billion a year through 4D and gorse betting, resulting in the government forgoing some RM 100 million in taxes.

Stupid

• Police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse a large crowd that had gathered at a PKR ceramah at Sungai Petani.

                              
Good

• Khir Toyo and wife have been called to answer in a public inquiry.

• Anwar said he would re-submit to the MACC a complete file of materials and documents in relation to allegations that the IGP and the AG had cover up his “black-eye” case.

• MCA: The Sedition Act that was used to charge Karpal Singh is an “archaic law unbefitting to modern society. As such, there is a pressing need for the government to review and make necessary amendments to review and make necessary amendments to it.

• The Bar Council has criticized the use of the Sedition Act 1948 against Karpal Singh.   

• Handphones confiscated from pupils in schools will only be returned to the parents.

• Muthu has secured enough nominations to challenge Samy Vellu.

• Nik Aziz criticized the idea of BN PAS unity government.

• Tesco Stores is permanently cutting prices on 200 essential grocery and fresh market products.

Good & Bad

• More people came forward to report sexual assaults in the US military.

Bad

• A  Wall Street Journal senior editor was fined RM24,000 for contempt of court over three articles that allegedly insulted the city-state’s judiciary.

• Palestinian officials say talks between Hamas and Fatah have broken up without a deal on a national unity government.

Stupid

• Members of Perak state assembly Rights and Privilege Committee have given statements to the MACC.

The discovery of mysterious items under Pak Lah’s table at the party headquareters.

       
Good

• The Penang Syariah Appeal Court has upheld an earlier order made by the High Court to allow a Muslim convert Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah to revert to Buddihism.

• The Selangor Government has allocated RM5.47 million to upgrade public amenities at Chinese new villages.

• The Selangor Government has allocated RM4 million for Tamil schools.

• The Selangor Government has allocated RM10 billion for the redevelopment of Klang, PJ and Kajang over the next seven years.

• Brunei has officially dropped its long-standing claim over Sarawak’s Limbang district.

• A certain towkay may throw his fibancial weight behind the opposition candidate in the Batang Ai by-election.

• Three foreign aid workers released by the gunmen who kidnapped in Darfur.

• Pakistan pledged to restore top judge and end a crackdown.

• Lee Chong Wei upstaged Lin Dan to regain the Swiss Open title, and Kien Keat-Boon Heong made it a sweet double.

Bad, Ugly & Stupid

• Karpal Singh faces a sedition charge.

• Gobind Singh was suspended from Parliament for a year.

Bad

• The Penang government intends to build an ambitious tiger park.

Stupid

• Mara plans to buy space suit worn by Sheikh from the Russians for RM185,000.

        
Good

• Selangor police will cone down hard on Mat Rempit, and police personnel who fail to act on public complaints against the menace will face disciplinary action.

• The Malaysian Bar will hold more discussions with various religious and activist groups to demonstrate that it is not against any particular religion.

• The Chief Justice has invited senior members of the Bar to step up for “national servive” and become judicial commissioners for two years to help clear the backlog in commercial cases.

• Mahathir has advised Najib to choose his Cabinet line-up carefully as corrupt leaders could lead to the demise of Umno.

• Lim Guan Eng called on PKR Youth executive council member to lodged a report with the MACC over allegations that two senior state party leaders are working hand in glove with several quarries to cover up illegal activities.

• More students scored A1 and A2 in Chinese language in SPM last year.

• Obama’s administration dropped the “enemy combatant” designation for terror suspects and vowed to draw on international law for its detention policy at Guantanamo Bay
• prison.

• The US Roman Catholic church paid out RM1.6bil last year for sex cases involving clergy members.

Bad, Ugly & Stupid

• The Ipoh City Council demolished a marble plaque erected by PR.

Bad

• An oil spill polluting popular tourist beaches on Australia’s northeast coast is 10 times worse than originally reported.

• Former Pakistani PM and opposition leader Sharif was placed under house arrest.

Good

• Kugan’s mother lodged a complaint with the Malaysian Medical Council in her efforts to uncover the truth.

• Lim Guan Eng said he would present a proposal on the declaration of assets of state executive councillors (exco) at an exco meeting.

• Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (Mafrel), an independent elections watchdog, will monitor the Batang Ai, Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau by-elections.

• A total of 125 flash-flood victims have filed for damages totaling RM2.79 million against a construction company, a municipal council and the government.

• The Selangor state Government will direct local authorities not to award government contracts to just a handful of contractors.

• Samy has given a statement in connection with the alleged discrepancies in the MIED accounts.

• Consumers can now compare prices at hypermarkets by clicking on the SmartPengguna.my portal.

Bad

• Pakistani police prevented one of the country’s top lawyers from travrlling to join a major anti-government protest.
 
Ugly

• Barely five days after being erected, the plaque commemorating the Perak ‘democracy tree’ has been defaced by vandals.

Stupid

• Mahathir has hit out at those who oppose the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, saying that they were holding the nation back.

?

• Rosmah: It is her husband’s destiny to lead the country.

                               
Good

• The government will spend RM12.6 million a year to provide 2,700 patients with free erythropoietin injections.

• Teresa Kok, filed a suit against Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, the inspector-general of police and two other persons for unlawfully arresting and falsely imprisoning her last year.

• The Court of Appeal allowed Sivakumar to be represented by his own lawyers in two pending suits related to the Perak crisis.

• The family of A Kugan today lodged a complaint with the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) against Serdang Hospital and pathologist Dr Abdul Karim Tajudin for possible misconduct.

• Umno supreme council member Norza Zakaria was charged for alleged involvement in money politics.

• Najib favours a return to the original NEP vision of improving conditions for the poor of all ethnic groups and not only Malays.

• Nearly 85,000 people have signed an online petition calling for part of the White House lawn to be turned to a vegetable patch.

Bad

• Zambry will not attend the second inquiry by the Perak Public Accounts Committee.

Ugly

• Two Mercedes Benz cars purchased by Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd were not delivered, and a Range Rover bought for site visits by the company ‘s subsidiary was used by the KDEB chairman – Khir Toyo’s wife.

Stupid

• A parliamentary motion has been filed by a minister to suspend Gobind for his unparliamentary conduct in linking the deputy prime minister to a murder case.

• An Iraq court jailed for three years the journalist who throwing his shoes at Bush.

                               
Good

• Selangor exco members declare their assets online.

• The MACC officers interviewed two senior officials from Tourism Minister.

• Sivakumar has filed a suit against three independent assemblymen and the EC.

• Obama and Ban Ki-moon issued a joint call for global coordination to help the world’s poorest nations.

• Obama pledged to work more closely with the UN to bring peace to Sudan.

• Bad, Ugly & Stupid

• Panel has cleared AG and IGP of any wrongdoing against Anwar.

Bad

• Emergency motion for the House to debate and condemn the abuse of power by the executive in preventing the Perak state legislative assembling from convening has been rejected.  

Ugly

• Balkis had used state money top pay for holidays abroad – Disneyland in Japan. 

• The overseas air travel costs for Khir Toyo for 21 trips from September 2001 to January 2008 amounted to RM349,134

• Despite being told by the High Court twice earlier that the Sivakumar could not represented by counsel but only by the state legal adviser, Sivakumar tried to represent himself again, but the decision was the same.

Stupid

• Only 193 out of the 4,000 odd police personnel were involved in active crime duties.

                           
Good

• Terasa Kok has donated RM10,000 to a Puchong mosque to buy new speakers and make some renovations to the mosque.

• The group opposing the teaching of science and mathematics in English has denied it is being masterminded by others, including opposition parties.

• The controversy over the fish container ruling ends after Agriculture and Agro-Based industry Minister steeped in to settle the dispute.

• The Selangor State Government launched a retrenchment helpline to reach out to workers laid off by companies forced to downsize or shut down operations.

• The Selangor Government has decided to rent out vacant flats to NGOs and other organizations so that they will be put to good use. 

• North Korea agreed to allow South Koreans working in a joint industrial zone in North Korea to cross the border.

Bad

• Anwar’s sodomy trial: at the High Court.

• Indiscriminate land clearing along the banks of the Sungai Selangor is threatening the fireflies in Kampung Kuantan.

Ugly

• Human trafficking especially of women and children is a spreading phenomenon although there are no official figures available in Malaysia.

Stupid

• The Perak state government has criticized the naming of a raintree as the Tree of Democracy.

• Lee Lam Thye has defended the use of English in the teaching of Mathematics and Science. 

                              
Good

• Defying police orders, some 5,000 people marched from the National Mosque to Istana Negara to submit memorandum to the king to protest against the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English.

• In the interest of justice and fair play, the Health Ministry will initiate an independent inquiry into the two-post-mortem reports of A.Kugan.

• Five members of the Perak assembly’s Committee of Privilege defied police, saying police had no right to question them.
• A PKR assemblyman ha slammed the police for summoning his mother to give a statement for being the owner of the four-wheel drive vehicle he had used when giving a ceramah. 

• Bar Council president Ambiga’s courage and leadership have been recognized by the US.

• Anwar has filed an appealed against the court ruling that ordered that he will be tried for sodomy at High Court.

• The MACC has picked up a minister’s political secretary and more Umno politicians suspected of being involved in money politics.

• M.Muthupalani has been given 65 nomination forms, 15 more than the number of nominations he need to contest for the post of MIC president.

• Gandhi’s meager possessions are to return home after a flamboyant Indian tycoon paid RM6.7mil at a New York auction.

Bad

• Men’s doubles have turned their campaign into a nightmare.

Stupid

• Hishammuddin: Why after six years is the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English being demonized?

• Malay Busiinessmen and Industrialists Association of Malaysia: RPK should be an MP if he wants to critise the Government.