Evolution Of Regional Security Networks Should Be Guided, Says S'pore

SINGAPORE, June 3 - Singapore wants the evolution of security architecture in the region to be proactively guided rather than allowed to evolve carelessly.

Noting that changes in the region's strategic landscape would "fundamentally alter the regional security architecture", Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said that allowing it to evolve on its own might lead to structures that encouraged "adversarial and divisive instincts".

"If we proactively guide the evolution of the regional security architecture, embracing ideals of openness, inclusiveness, collective responsibility and mutual respect, we would lay the foundation for enduring peace and stability," he said at the Asia Security Summit dubbed the Shangri-La Dialogue, here.

Asia Pacific is home to a series of security frameworks that often overlap each other, with the United States playing a key role in some of the initiatives.

The largest is the 26-member Asean Regional Forum as well as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation which has expanded its agenda to include security issues such as terrorism and total supply chain security.

There is also the Five Power Defence Arrangements between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Teo said that the existing security networks would evolve over time to reflect changes in the region.

"This web of old and new constructs is far from perfect. Some fora reflect a past that may no longer be relevant while the others reflect a future that has not yet arrived," he said.

He said the evolution should be guided based on broad principles that the regional security was a collective responsibility; that the security architecture should be inclusive; and that the cooperation should be based on mutual respect and in accordance with international law.

"All countries, big or small, as well as international organisations such as the United Nations have a role to play.

"We should not let traditional notions of geography limit our framework of cooperation. We should create new opportunities for cooperation and collective security, not create new divides in the region," he added.

Altantuya Murder: Trial Begins Monday

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 - The trial for the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, expected to run for four weeks, begins tomorrow before Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Yassin at the Shah Alam High Court.

On the dock are two policemen from the Special Action Squad -- 31-year-old C/Insp Azilah Hadri and Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, -- and political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 47.

The policemen are alleged to have committed the murder at Lot 12843 and Lot 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, last year.

Abdul Razak is charged with abetting the policemen to commit the murder at Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18.

If convicted, all three will face the death penalty.

Representing the prosecution are head of the Classified Cases Unit Salehuddin Saidin and head of the General Crimes and Sexual Unit Noreen Badaruddin.

The defence team comprise counsel Hazman Ahmad and J. Kuldeep Kumar for Azilah; Kamarul Hisham Kamarudin, Hasnal Rezua Merican Habib Marican and Ahmad Zaidi Zainal for Sirul Azhar; Wong Kian Kheong for Abdul Razak.

Lawyer Karpal Singh, who holds a watching brief for Altantuya's family and the Mongolian government, meanwhile, has applied for the right to examine witnesses and make submissions in the trial.

Judge Mohd Zaki is expected to hear Karpal's application before the trial begins.

The case began on Nov 7 last year when bone fragments of a woman were found in a jungle in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam. Investigations showed that the bone fragments were of Altantuya, 28, who is believed to have been shot and her body blown up.

About a week later, Azilah and Sirul Azhar were charged in the Shah Alam Magistrate's Court with the woman's murder. The next day, Abdul Razak was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court with abetting the duo in the murder.

The magistrates denied the three accused bail and ordered the cases to be transferred to the High Court.

Justice Datuk Abdul Kadir Musa of the Kuala Lumpur High Court, however, released Abdul Razak on a RM1 million bail without the security being posted pending the case's transfer to the Shah Alam High Court.

At the Shah Alam High Court, the three accused had been expected to be tried jointly before Justice Datuk K. N. Segara but when the case was mentioned on Dec 14, it was presided over by Mohd Zaki, who was then judicial commissioner because Segara was on leave.

Mohd Zaki extended Abdul Razak's bail but ordered him to deposit the security pending the re-mention before Justice Segara.

On Jan 5, Justice Segara cancelled the bail and ordered Abdul Razak to be remanded. Abdul Razak sought to reverse the High Court decision at the Court of Appeal but failed.

The trial had initially been fixed for March 2008 but it was later brought forward to tomorrow by Mohd Zaki after the case was transferred to him.

Last month, Sirul Azhar sought to gain access to the prosecution witnesses' statements before the commencement of the trial but Mohd Zaki rejected his application.

AirAsia Agrees To Give Students Special Fares, Mustapa Says

"The ministry hopes the discussions with Air Asia and MAS can be concluded soon,"Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, Higher Education Minister

JELI, June 3 - Low-cost carrier AirAsia has agreed in principle to give special fares to students, Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said today.

He said the special fares would benefit students from the peninsular who were studying at higher learning institutions (IPTs) in Sabah and Sarawak and students from Sabah and Sarawak at the IPTs in the peninsular.

The final decision had yet to be announced, he told reporters after opening a promotional programme by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) here today.

Mustapa said the Cabinet had asked AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) to consider giving students special fares so that those from poor families would not feel the burden every time they return home during semester holidays and to celebrate festivals with their families.

"The ministry hopes the discussions with Air Asia and MAS can be concluded soon," he added.

MTUC To Submit Memorandum On Minimum Wage To Abdullah On June 18

PETALING JAYA, June 3 - The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) expects to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on June 18.

Its secretary-general, G. Rajasekaran, said the memorandum was mainly about the demand for a MTUC'sminimum monthly salary of RM900 and cost of living allowance of RM300.

He said the demand was justified and in line with the pay hike announced for civil servants on May 21.

"The MTUC's demand for a RM900 minimum salary is in fact lower than the new RM1,000 benchmark set by the government for public sector employees," he told a press conference here today.

Rajasekaran said 50,000 workers would take part in a nationwide picket on June 25 to demand all companies to follow what the goverment had done.

Tuanku Mizan Hosts Tea Party At Istana Negara

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 - hosted a tea party on the occasion of The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin his official birthday at the Istana Negara here.

He was accompanied by the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.

Present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, royalties, cabinet ministers and their spouses, foreign and local dignitaries.

The King later cut a birthday cake at the event attended by an estimated 5,000 guests.

Singers Zainal Abidin and Dayang Nurfaizah as well as the Istana Budaya cultural troupe provided the entertainment.

8,000 Restaurants Offering M'sian Cuisines Abroad By 2015

"Exim Bank (Bank Eksport-Import Malaysia Berhad) should give out loans to anyone interested to set up Malaysian restauarants abroad to encourage more Malaysian entrepreneurs to venture in the food business overseas,"Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 - hopes that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak8,000 restaurants offering Malaysian cuisines can be opened worldwide by the year 2015.

He said that currently there were only 400 restaurants offering Malaysian dishes which were operating throughout the world.

"Exim Bank (Bank Eksport-Import Malaysia Berhad) should give out loans to anyone interested to set up Malaysian restauarants abroad to encourage more Malaysian entrepreneurs to venture in the food business overseas," he said in his speech at the `Pahang Nite', here.

He hoped that the low interest rate of three percent per annum would be one of the factors that would attract restaurant operators to take up the venture.

He said Malaysia restaurant operators should also change the environment to give the Malaysian look so that patrons could identify the restaurants from their interior designs.

Najib said the Malaysian menu offered delicious food with varieties compared to the restaurants of other countries.

"Foreigners are not familiar with the delicious Malaysian cuisines. I don't want to sound over-patriotic or biased but I know Thai cuisines are very popular but Malaysian cuisines are actually more diversified in their tastes rather than the Thai food," he said.

Najib said the lack of promotion on Malaysian cuisines made them less known compared to the food of other countries.

The `Pahang Nite' organised by the Pahang state government was held in conjunction with the Pahang Food, Cultural and Craft Fest held for a week from Monday.

Govt To Intensify Efforts To Surmount Globalisation Challenges - Abdullah

"The economy is expected to grow by six per cent this year on the back of expansion in all major economic sectors, including construction,"Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the government will continue with efforts to move the country's economy up the value chain to enable it to surmount challenges posed by globalisation.

The prime minister said this was at the core of the Ninth Malaysia Plan which also outlined programmes to add value to the economy, especially in the services and manufacturing sectors which formed the backbone of the country's economy.

"The government is also striving to enhance the country's involvement in high technology sectors, including information communication technology and biotechnology.

"And efforts to transform government-linked companies are also bearing results," he said in his speech at the investiture ceremony in conjunction with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin's birthday at the Istana Negara here today.

Abdullah said the country's economy was also doing well, recording a 5.9 per cent growth last year. The economic expansion, he said, was helmed by the private sector.

The government is also taking steps to enhance the country's fiscal position with the budget deficit already reduced to 3.5 per cent and international reserves standing at RM290.4 billion as at end-2006. Inflation and unemployment are also under control.

"The economy is expected to grow by six per cent this year on the back of expansion in all major economic sectors, including construction," he said.
Abdullah said programmes had been crafted to enhance knowledge and innovation and nurture a first-class mentality among the people.

The education development blueprint, aimed at enhancing the quality of the country's education system by 2010, would turn Malaysia into a regional hub of education excellence, he said.

In ensuring a fair distribution of the fruits of the country's development, the government would double efforts to deal with socio-economic imbalances in a constructive and productive manner.

The prime minister said that continuous efforts would be made to develop the Bumiputera community to narrow the gap in terms of income, assets and wealth.

On the move to create various development corridors like the Iskandar Development Region in southern Johor, he said that it would bring about greater development in the areas concerned for the benefit of the people.

He disclosed that similar development initiatives would be launched in northern and eastern Peninsular Malaysia before year-end.

Abdullah added that Malaysia would continue to work towards improving development efforts and the economic performance of Muslim countries grouped under the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.