Ex-US Ambassador's Disclosures Show Up Malaysia's 'Dirty Politics'

by  Wong Choon Mei

Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor have a lot to answer to. Already overflowing in scandal over massive corruption and ordered by the court to testify in Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy trial, for which he has accused them of plotting, a former US ambassador has dropped a bombshell.

Oil Higher in Asia as Traders Eye Libya Crisis

Crude rose in Asia Tuesday as traders monitored the crisis in Libya, with rebels claiming victory but one of Moamer Kadhafi's sons insisting his father was still in control, analysts said.

Also supporting prices was expectations that it could take years before the North African country's oil output is back to pre-revolt levels.

Brent North Sea crude for October delivery rose 58 cents to $108.94 a barrel from Monday's close of $108.36.

AirAsia Profits Up, More Red Ink at Malaysia Air

Asia's biggest budget airline AirAsia said Tuesday it managed a second-quarter net profit despite high fuel costs, while the red ink kept flowing at its rival-turned-ally Malaysia Airlines.

AirAsia posted a 104 million ringgit ($35 million) net profit, down 47 percent from the same period in 2010, but the airline called it "commendable" amid fuel price volatility, rising costs and global economic uncertainty.

"The second quarter is traditionally one of our weaker quarters. But despite the challenging environment in the industry, the team has come through again," AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said in a statement.

Malaysia's Petronas in S. China Sea Gas Project

Malaysian state energy firm Petronas said Tuesday it will embark on a 15 billion ringgit ($5 billion) project to develop natural gas fields in the South China Sea off the country's eastern coast.

With the involvement of other "partners", the "North Malay Basin project" will extract gas with high carbon dioxide content from nine marginal fields to meet rising Malaysian demand, Petronas said in a statement.

It also will develop a new 200-kilometre (124-mile) pipeline to transport gas from the fields to Kerteh, in Terengganu state in peninsular Malaysia.

Petronas did not name its partners in the project.

S’pore Shuns Workers from Sabah, Sarawak

By Luke Rintod

Misbehaving Sabahans and Sarawakians irk strict Singapore government.

SINGAPORE: Employers in Singapore are shunning unskilled Sabahans and Sarawakians applying for work in the city-state mainly because they are causing problems in the republic.

Unrestrained drinking, frequent fightings in public places and other activities have been cited as the reason for the downturn in demand for workers from these two states.

Malott Drops a Bombshell : A Secret Pact Between Najib and Anwar

by  John Malott,

Today I read Anwar Ibrahim’s statement from the docket.

Anwar said that it all is a political conspiracy against him.

And I agree.

After all, I was the American Ambassador to Malaysia when all of these things happened the first time around.

As people know, the American Embassy has many sources of information.

Just ask Wikileaks.

U.S. Envoy Visits Syria Town, U.N. Launches Inquiry

By Khaled Yacoub Oweis

The U.S. ambassador made a surprise trip to a southern Syrian town on Tuesday, his second visit to an area rocked by protests against President Bashar al-Assad and a move likely to antagonize the authorities in Damascus.

As a U.N. humanitarian team toured the country, security forces raided the countryside near the city of Hama, killing at least five people in assaults to subdue pro-democracy demonstrations, local activists said.

Libyan Rebels Overrun Gaddafi HQ, Say He's "Finished"

By Peter Graff

Libyan rebels sacked Muammar Gaddafi's Tripoli bastion, seizing weapons and smashing symbols of a 42-year dictatorship whose demise will transform modern Libya and send a warning to other Arab autocrats under popular pressure, especially in Syria.

Crude Down On Anticipation Of New Libya Oil Output

Crude prices tumbled in Asian trade Monday on prospects of Libyan oil production getting fully back on stream, after a rebel advance deep into Tripoli left Moamer Kadhafi's fate in the balance.

Brent North Sea crude for October delivery plunged $2.74 to $105.88 a barrel from Friday's close.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for September delivery, slid 78 cents to $81.48 a barrel. It had risen to more than $83 in early morning trade, but was driven down partly by concerns about the US economy.

Malaysian Gay Pastor to Wed in NY Next Week

Malaysia's only openly gay pastor said he would go ahead with plans to wed his American partner on his country's national day despite criticism from leaders in the Muslim-majority nation.

Reverend Ouyang Wen Feng said the government would not be able to disrupt his plans to marry on August 31 in New York, where same-sex marriages were recently legalised, nor to have a Chinese wedding banquet in his home country next year.

"Don't I have the right to invite my friends to have meals with me in (a) restaurant in Malaysia?" Ouyang said in an email to AFP over the weekend.

An Ignoramus or An Idiot ?

By Lim Teck Ghee

Since his appointment in 2009 as the Home Minister, Hishammuddin has been lurching from one self-inflicted debacle to another.

The statement by the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein that the presence of more illegal workers compared to the legal ones is a cause of concern and could undermine national unity reveals either an ignoramus or an idiot.

Court Orders Najib, Rosmah to Testify : Anwar Slams Cops for Harassing His Alibi

by  Melissa Lee

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has successfully subpoenaed 7 witnesses, including Prime Minister Najib Razak, wife Rosmah Mansor and ex-Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan and Malacca police chief Rodhwan Ismail to testify at the sodomy trial pressed against him by the Najib administration.

The group had refused to speak during a closed-door interview last week, forcing Anwar's lawyers to seek a court order on Friday for them to co-operate in the trial. If found guilty, Anwar stands to be jailed for up to 20 years.

Analysis : After Libya, Eyes Turn To Syrian Revolt

By Mariam Karouny

The downfall of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is likely to pave the way for increased Western attention to Syria and embolden protests against President Bashar al-Assad.

The implosion of Gaddafi's rule after six months of civil war in which the rebels benefited from sanctions on Gaddafi, a no-fly zone and NATO air strikes may have implications for Syri's six-month-old revolt and Assad's efforts to crush it.

After The Fall, U.S. Concerned About Libyan Weapons

By Tabassum Zakaria and Phil Stewart

The United States has pressed for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down, but a leadership vacuum raises concerns about the security of Libya's weapons stockpiles and the danger of them falling into the hands of adversaries, officials said on Monday.

Libyan rebels have taken over most of Tripoli, Gaddafi's location is unknown, and great uncertainty exists about who will eventually end up in charge of the country.

Gaddafi On The Run As Rebels Fight in Tripoli

By Ulf Laessing and Missy Ryan

Remnants of forces still loyal to Muammar Gaddafi staged a desperate stand in Tripoli on Tuesday as rebels fought their way into the capital, but the whereabouts of the veteran leader was a mystery.

Rebels Enter Tripoli, Crowds Celebrate in Streets

By Ulf Laessing and Missy Ryan

Rebel fighters streamed into Tripoli as Muammar Gaddafi's forces collapsed and crowds took to the streets to celebrate, tearing down posters of the Libyan leader.

A convoy of rebels entered a western neighborhood of the city, firing their weapons into the air. 

Assad Warns Action Against Syria will Backfire

By Mariam Karouny

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday unrest sweeping the country had become more militant but he was confident it could be controlled and warned that any military action against his nation would backfire.

Who Can Unite Libya if Gaddafi Falls ?

By Michael Georgy

Libyan rebel Husam Najjair seems more concerned about the possibility of rebels turning on each other when they try to take control of the capital Tripoli than the threat posed by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

"The first thing my brigade will do is set up checkpoints to disarm everyone, including other rebel groups, because otherwise it will be a bloodbath," said Najjair. 

Anyone Who Disgrees with BN is a Criminal or a Traitor

by  J. D. Lovrenciear

Indeed the PM’s not so long ago war cry that UMNO will fight at all cost – even over crushed bodies and broken bones - to remain in power, is increasingly being observed to the letter. Today, Malaysians are being inundated with all kinds of threats, intimidation and strong-arm tactics to a point where we cannot anymore differentiate truth from lies.

And when truth and lies become clouded with political party priorities and ambitions, a society collapses into the trenches of socio-political and economic failures. 

The Destitute Flock to the Church Not to be Converted

by  Moaz Nair

Among those non-Christians who visit the church throughout the world are the impoverished women and children. Many of them are so desperate that they would approach any organisation in sight that could help them. One noble principle of Christianity is that they are charity oriented. Anecdotal evidence and social research have revealed that most enlightened Christians of today are not the judgemental or prejudicial type when it comes to people of other faiths.