Malaysian Grand Prix (F1): Sebastian Vettel Wins

Malaysian Grand Prix (F1): Sebastian Vettel Wins

Malaysian Grand Prix (F1): Sebastian Vettel Wins

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March 29, 2015 | 0 comments

Malaysia Boeing 777 With 295 Passengers Crashes In Ukraine; Flying Amsterdam To Kuala Lumpur

Quotes-Unquotes:

US President Barack Obama - Crash a 'terrible tragedy.'

Malaysian Prime Minister Mohd Najib Tun Razak - Shocked by reports that an MH plane crashed. We are launching an immediate investigation.

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July 18, 2014 | 0 comments

November declared 1Malaysia National Family Month

By ONE Liners Agency
June 25, 2012

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared November to be 1Malaysia National Family Month every year starting this year.

The Prime Minister said the 1Malaysia National Family month would give priority to the family perspective in socio-economic development of Malaysia.

Najib added the move would strengthen family institution that is key to success of the nation.

Private companies who would organize the Family Day events in conjunction with the celebration on national level would get 100% tax rebate on all the expenses, said PM.

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Queenstown Winter Festival Kicks off
Kindergarten compulsory for 5-year-olds in New York City
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The ministry, according to Najib, earlier this year had launched Women Director Programme to train up and equip women to hold decision making positions in companies. The Government has a goal of getting 30% of its workforce to be women in key role designations.

Between January 2011 and April 30, 2012 a total of 80,597 people took part in 1Azam Programme and Najib expects the figure to reach 100,000 by this year-end.

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June 25, 2012 | 0 comments

Malaysia Introduces Free Education Policy In 2012 Budget

By STAFF Writer
December 29, 2011

MALAYSIA FREE EDUCATION POLICY - Year One students to enroll in schools next year in Malaysia without having to pay the school fees. This arrangement is made for the first time in the country. About 5.3 million primary and secondary students will be benefiting across the country through this free education policy recently announced. The students will also enjoy RM100 more as assistant in preparing themselves for the coming school session.

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the announcement of free education for the first time when 2012 Budget was tabled last October in the Dewan Rakyat. The policy was lauded by all in the nation.

PM said that the Malaysian children to have access to affordable and quality education irrespective of socio-economic backgrounds of each.

Before this policy, the school fees for primary and secondary students were RM 24.50 and RM33.50 respectively. The fees included co-curriculum activities, Malaysian Schools Sports Council fees, internal test papers and insurance premium.

RM50.2 billion is allocated by 2012 Budget for the education sector along with RM1.9 billion additional for development expenditure.

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December 29, 2011 | 0 comments

13 Controlled Items For Christmas Celebration In Malaysia

By CITIZEN Journalist
December 19, 2011

Malaysian government has placed thirteen items under the price control scheme in X'mas celebrations, which includes imported turkey.

The items are chicken, imported mutton, local mutton, imported turkey, tomatoes, eggs and green capsicum.

Traders in 146 areas have been directed to display the prices of the items on pink price tags, and selling above the controlled price would be penalized under Price Control And Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

According to Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, the sellers who violates the controlled pricing could be fined up to RM100,000 or three years of jail. The two could also be compounded with a fine up to RM50,000. For companies the fine amount is up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000.

13 controlled items in X'mas price control list in Malaysia

Editor's Note: If you are in Malaysia and find violation of the price ceiling by traders or companies, you can lodge complaints by calling on 1-800-886-800 (toll free) or any ministry office. You can also email to e-aduan@kpdnkk.gov.my.

Have any story from your area? Send it to us here.

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December 19, 2011 | 0 comments

LinkedIn Launched In Korean, Indonesian and Malaysian Languages

By BOB Goswami
December 01, 2011

World's largest professional network LinkedIn launched three local languages in Asia to boost usage of the social network. It introduced Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia and Korean languages in its continued expansion plans in the continent.

LinkedIn Managing Director and Vice President of APAC and Japan Arvind Rajan announced this today in a blog post.

He said the new three local languages will support better the growing number of professionals in the social network site. It will also precipitate a whole new generation of members locally in LinkedIn, enhancing experience of the community, added Rajan.

Currently there are more than 20 million members in LinkedIn from Asia-Pacific and Japan and the company aims of adding large numbers of members of the 55 million plus Facebook users in the three countries.

According to LinkedIn, there are more than 800,000 professionals in LinkedIn from Indonesia, about 300,000 from Korea and nearly 700,000 from Malaysia.

The three newly launched website for local languages are my.linkedin.com, in.linkedin.com and kr.linkedin.com. Members who are now using the website in English can switch to their own language settings from linkd.in/changelanguage.

Apart from English, LinkedIn is also available in French, Italian, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish, Spanish and Russian.

LinkedIn for mobiles

LinkedIn head Arvind Rajan

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December 01, 2011 | 0 comments

Think Global Echoed In Malaysia-Indonesia Business Seminar

By STAFF Reporter
November 28, 2011

Malaysia-Indonesia Business Seminar 2011 was attended by about 100 businessmen and representatives from both countries yesterday at the Indonesian Embassy building in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

The main areas of discussion in the seminar were challenges faced by the entrepreneurs and about franchise businesses in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The panel of the seminar was joined by Datuk Suhaimi Shahadan, chairman of Young Malaysian Malay Businessmen and Industrialists Association (Perdasama), and Afkhar Razi Mohamed, Ministry of Domestic Trade.

Datuk said the market in Malaysia is small as the population of the country is just 28 million. He added if any business wants to think big, it need to go out of Malaysia, and in Indonesian 245 million population more than 10 percent are super rich. Further Datuk mentioned that Sri Lanka is presently a good market and the economy of Philippines is also booming.

The Malaysia-Indonesia Business Seminar 2011 was organised by Indonesian Embassy, Indonesian Community Assembly (Permai), Vivadot Network and Media Services. The main aim of the seminar is to strengthen the relationship along with enhancing cooperation and understanding through trade relations.

Tengku Rizal Gading, chief adviser of Permai opened the seminar tagged as 'The Future of Indonesian-Malaysia Trade Relations and Challenges'.

Hotel Indonesia Square view

Johor-Singapore Causeway

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November 28, 2011 | 0 comments

SMEs To Have Major Role In Malaysian Economy: Report

By STAFF Writer
November 27, 2011

MALAYSIA ECONOMY NEWS - Economic Transformation Programme in Malaysia recognises the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the key driver of economic growth.

SMECorp Malaysia said today in a statement that the new role is poised to assume bringing new challenges that includes service sector liberalisation measures. It added that a new approach is required to SME development in accelerating the growth of SMEs.

Earlier research has shown that SMEs are able to stand by being innovative in stiff competition.

The statement further mentioned that SMECorp Malaysia would, under the SME Masterplan of the government, chart out policy direction through 2020 for the SMEs with the creation of conducive ecosystem for them and also by transforming the domestic SMEs into global competitor.

On November 23, at the National SME Development Council 12th meeting, the SMECorp released Small and Medium Enterprises Annual Report 2010/11. The report was released by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

SME Corp said the annual report is a significant initiative aiming to provide recent assessment on the SMEs performance during the year.

The report showed growth in the SMEs performance and gains in productivity as well. The growth was higher for the seventh year that Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth with a contribution of 28.1% in 2003 to 31.9% in 2010.

Malaysian currency Ringgit

Malaysia transport infrastructure

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November 27, 2011 | 0 comments

Malaysia To Form Law - Peaceful Gathering Without Police Permit

By STAFF Reporter
November 22, 2011

MALAYSIA NEWS - Malaysia to soon get the freedom of peaceful gatherings. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is to table a law in the parliament to allow peaceful gatherings without seeking permission of police.

The new bill proposal is a pre-election move in improving the civil liberties in the country after street protests, said a minister to local media.

Nazri Aziz, in charge of law in Malaysia, said the Prime Minister will propose the Peaceful Assembly Bill for replacing the draconian laws. The date when the law will be tabled is yet not confirmed.

According to Malaysia security laws, for a gathering of at least three people a police permit is required.

Najib introduced last month legislation to repeal two security laws. After it was introduced, 125 people were set free who were held under it. This was the first step by the Prime Minister to soften the authoritarian laws including Internal Security Act (ISA) that enables detention of anyone without trial, which were used against government opponents.

Protest against ISA in Malaysia

Protest against ISA in Malaysia

Malaysia riot

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November 22, 2011 | 0 comments

AirAsia Aims Growing High In Malaysia

By STAFF Writer
November 15, 2011

MALAYSIA NEWS - According to a report of The Star, the budget airline AirAsia has decided to raise its ancillary income by 20 to 30 percent in the comming years. The first quarterly income of the airline was about 439.5 million in Malayasian Ringates (RM).

AirAsia has already started a host of services which include counter-check-ins and flight transfers. It has also planned to launch a VIP service. The airline aims to raise its earnings from RM50 to about RM60 to RM65. The biggest contributor to AirAsia's ancillary income this quarter was baggage which amounted up to 36 percent. It was followed by cargo and convenience charges with 16 percent and 11 percent respectively, as reported by OSK. Ahmad Maghfur Usman, a research analyst at OSK said that their model was projected to rise to RM54, RM56, RM58 consecutively for this year and the coming two years.

However, as noted by The Star, the new services of the AirAsia airlines along with the planned BIG loyalty program, would not come without a cost.

As said by another analyst from the Maybank Investment Bank, the checks and balances in the new programs would severely cost the airlines, bringing its revenues down.

This Monday AirAsia will launch its BIG loyalty programme that would act as a prepaid paymet card. AirAsia is targeting about five million customers globally with this programme that is a total of RM15 million in transactions with BIG Cards.

This BIG Card loyalty programme is projected to earn a revenue of RM500 in the next five years.

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November 15, 2011 | 0 comments

Toshiba, IBM To Pump More Investments In Malaysia

By ETHAN Markoff
November 11, 2011

MALAYSIA NEWS - Toshiba and IBM, both Fortune 500 companies, will pump about RM1.2bil in Malaysia as the country estimates of reaching US$10bil (RM3.1bil) this year in foreign direct investment (FDI).

Japanese electronics Toshiba and computer giant IBM have plans of enhancing their presence and growth in Malaysia with new investments of RM268mil and RM1bil respectively.

US-based Akamai Technologies has also been learned of investing in the country.

Toshiba will be making Malaysia its global supply chain hub along with R&D and turnkey for the South-East Asian market for its transmission and distribution equipment. IBM on the other hand will be pouring fresh capital over the next five years to set up Global Technology Services Delivery Centre in Cyberjaya.

It is estimated by 2017 Toshiba will be creating 668 jobs and contributing about RM304.8mil in gross national income of Malaysia.

In last one year under Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) the country has created 389,263 potential new jobs, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He added, "These investments highlight increasingly positive investor sentiment, buoyed by the progress of the ETP which underlines our commitment to transform the economy."

IBM Tower, Malaysia

Toshiba laptop launching in Singapore

Petronas Towers, Malaysia

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November 11, 2011 | 0 comments

Malaysian Citizen Sentenced In US For Hacking Federal Reserve Computer

By STAFF Writer
November 05, 2011

A Malaysian hacker is sentenced to ten years of imprisonment by US District Judge yesterday who had earlier hacked the sites of US Federal Reserve along with that of some other banks.

The Malaysian national, Lin Mun Poo by name, admitted pleaded guilty on April 13 this year for the hacking of US central bank and several other financial institutions. He even admitted of stealing the bank card and credit card numbers from the banks and institutions.

Lin Mun Poo, 32, had hacked the server of US Federal Reserve and installed there a malicious software code.

In October 2010 the Malaysian citizen traveled to the US to sell off the stolen bank card and credit card numbers, said the prosecutors. The purchaser of the card numbers was an undercover United States agent that got him in trap and was arrested. He held more than 122,000 stolen card numbers with him.

According to the US Justice Department, Lin Mun Poo's "cybercrime activities also extended to the national security sector," which includes the hacking of a Pentagon contractor computer system that provides systems management services to military operations such as military transport.

In a statement the US Attorney Loretta Lynch said, "Today's sentence sends the message to hackers around the world that the United States is no place to conduct their business."

Malaysian hacker Lin Mun Poo

US Federal Reserve

US Federal Reserve Logo

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November 05, 2011 | 0 comments

Amendment In Malaysia Income Tax Act May Drive Away Investors

By STAFF Writer
October 24, 2011

MALAYSIA NEWS - Amendment in Income Tax Act in Malaysia may affect foreign investment along with some negative impact on the local business community as well as on taxpayers, said MCA Young Professionals Bureau on Saturday.

According to the MCA chairman, in the Section 81 amendment of Income Tax Act the Internal Revenue Board's director-general (DG) gets the power to disregard, partly or completely, the income tax claims proof after the end of notice period.

In a press conference in Kuala Lumpur chairman Datuk Chua Tee Yong said, "Previously, a person is entitled to appeal any additional assessment issued by the DG. "However, this new amendment does not allow for any room to appeal, as the DG may disregard proof of claims, such as receipts or documents."

He illustrated the amendment with an example: if any public listed company claims for travelling expenses of RM500,000 that were actually incurred four years ago, then DG may issue a notice for presenting receipts within thirty days. If the company is unable to find the receipts withing 30 days timeline, it pays the additional assessment. In any case if the company is able to find the receipts thereafter, it cannot appeal against the additional assessment as the receipts have been completely discarded by the DG.

Chua adds that such amendment in the Income Tax Act will create apprehension among businesses and investors.

However, next Tuesday the issue will be brought to the MCA presidential council which may further reach to the Cabinet and the National Economic Council for deliberation, said Chua.




Malaysia Photo Gallery

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Skyline

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Petronas Twin Tower Night View

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Petronas Twin Tower Skybridge

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October 24, 2011 | 0 comments

2012, The 100th Year Of Nestle In Malaysia

By STAFF Reporter
October 21, 2011

MALAYSIA NEWS - Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd will be making a big milestone in the country in 2012 - celebrating its 100th anniversary. A big plan is learned from the company for this year-long celebration with the tag "good food and good life".

The theme of the celebration is '100 years with Nestle' that will show the existence of the company with its food products in Malaysia for one hundred years.

Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd Managing Director, Peter R.Vogt said the company plans to be available for another hundred years for its loyal customers. He added, this big milestone is a reflection of good journey for Nestle and the acceptance of its brand of products in the lives of Malaysians.

Nestle plans, in its continued efforts, to carry on the corporate social responsibility programmes that will make the company closer to the people and know more about their needs in order to offer essential products of high quality and national value.

The company also plans to launch a new logo for the anniversary celebration.

In 1912 Nestle started its journey in Malaysia as a producer of Anglo-Swiss condensed milk in Bishop Street, Georgetown.

In Malaysia, Nestle is the largest producer of halal products. It offers more than three hundred variety of food products. The company has got seven factories there.

In the 100 years anniversary celebration Nestle will charity distribute 100,000 packets of Nestle food products and will launch healthy lifestyle campaign.

Nestle App

Nestle Product

Nestle Daily Delight

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October 21, 2011 | 0 comments

Cambodia Bans Citizens From Working In Malaysia As Maids

By STAFF Writer
September 15, 2011

CAMBODIA/ MALAYSIA NEWS - Cambodians can no more work as maids in Malaysia. The country banned its citizens of this following several horrific reports of rapes and beatings by Malaysian employers. Prime Minister Hun Sen announced this surprise ban on Friday after expressing disappointment with the alleges. In few cases the passports of the maids were also withheld by the Malaysian employers.

The reports of maid abuse has been confirmed by the Community Legal Education Centre of Cambodia, which is working with the victims.

Datuk Raja Zulkepley Dahalan, president of Malaysia National Association of Employment Agencies (Pikap) said the bad was "very bad news". He added that employers should now be prepared of sourcing maids from Philippines.

According to Malaysian Maid Employers Association (Mama), the newly-imposed bad decision was "very harsh and drastic." President Engku Ahmad Fauzi Engku Muhsein said the country must not clampdown in total, but should focus on implementing better protection of its citizens working in Malaysia as maids.

A similar ban was imposed by Indonesia government in 2009 on its citizens from taking the job of domestic helpers in Malaysia after few cases of physical abuse that were highly publicised in the media and anti-Malaysia demonstrations were tirggered in capital Jakarta.

The two countries have reached an agreement earlier this year but Indonesia has not yet resumed permission of hiring which has worsened shortage of domestic helpers in Malaysia.

Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen 

Cambodian maid Malaysian employer

Malaysia Skyline

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October 15, 2011 | 7 comments

Australia, Malaysia Sign Refugee Swap Deal

By ONE Liners Agency
July 25, 2011

MALAYSIA NEWS - Malaysia and Australia signed Monday exchange asylum seekers for refugees. In the swap agreement representatives of both the nations agreed in Kuala Lumpur the regional solution to human trafficking. According to the deal, Australia will be sending eight hundred asylum seekers initially to Malaysia. There are 4000 refugees cases for resettlement which are approved by United Nations.

The 800 migrants to be sent to Malaysia will enjoy all the rights that had been denied to over 94,000 registered asylum seekers over years.

For years Australia has been a target country for people from war-ravaged and poor regions. Mostly people from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran uses Indonesia or Malaysia as a transit point to travel to Australia. In 2010 over 6,000 asylum seekers arrived to Australia by boat.


Each year Australia grants visas to about thirteen thousand refugees under various international programs.


The agreement is a "ground-breaking", says Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He added further to the reporters in Canberra that it would "smash the business model" of smugglers who smuggle people.

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July 25, 2011 | 0 comments

Facebook Being Used To Recruit Female Drug Mules

By BOB Goswami

MALAYSIA NEWS - Malaysian official said that the international drug syndicates were using popular social networking site Facebook to recruit Malaysian women as drug mules. The officials said the women were offered gifts and money and befriend with men on this social networking site, and afterward hired as drug mules.

Deputy Foreign Minister Richard Riot said most of these men were nationals of Nigeria and South Africa. He further cautioned women to be aware of these luring offers.

Last month a Malaysian girl was arrested in China for drugs possession in the country and revealed that she was hired after befriend in Facebook. Mr. Riot said men in international drug syndicates up clean women on Facebook and lured them into drug business.

He said the men chatted with girls in Facebook and gained trust and lured them with expensive gifts and eventually used these unsuspecting victims as drug mules to smuggle narcotics. Even in far cases they offered them holiday packages Japan, China and South America, asking girls to carry packages, bags or gifts that contain drugs.

He urged internet savvy university aged girls to not accept such holiday packages and gifts as some ulterior strings always attached to those.

785 out of 1,560 Malaysians arrested overseas since 1991 were drug mules, including 149 women.

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December 02, 2010 | 0 comments

School For Pregnant Teens In Malaysia

By MALILA Harris

MALAYSIA NEWS – Muslim dominated Malaysia has opened a first ever school for pregnant teenagers, trying to curb the increasing number of forsaken babies.

The school has opened in the southern state of Malacca and will help teenage pregnant girls to cope up with the so called shame of giving birth outside marriage.

The school will give religious counseling as well as medical check-ups.

In recent times, teenage pregnancy is quite prevalent in the country, and young mothers abandon their babies out of shame. About 70 babies have been left on doorsteps, in trash cans and even at public toilets.

The problem has caused much uproar in social workers as well as general citizens. The newly developed school assures privacy and protection to pregnant teenagers as well giving education.

Islam is the largest and official religion of the nation. Although the country is quite liberal in its approach still police believe that unmarried couples abandon their babies because they don’t want to disclose the fact that they have pre-marital sex. Muslims are generally expected to abstain till marriage according to their religion.

Due to the problem of pre-marriage pregnancy, religious officials came to a consensus to approve marriages of more girls under the age of 16.

The school, however, is facing antagonism from Malaysian women’s minister. They say the mainstream school for teenage pregnant women further worsens the situation and aloof girls from the society. They argued that problem lied in lack of sex education in schools and colleges.

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September 17, 2010 | 0 comments

The Trial Of Anwar Ibrahim Postpones

Malaysia – The trial of Malaysian opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim who was accused for sodomy, has been adjourned to next week.

The judgment came from a Kuala Lumpur high court judge when defense lawyers raised questions of an affair between Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the prime witness, and a prosecutor.

Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah after hearing the plea of defense lawyers, delayed the case until August 9.

"It cannot be denied that there was an allegation of an affair... therefore I am of the view it is better for me to hear the application of strike-out first," the judge said.

Mr. Anwar had faced a trial when Saiful 25, alleged that the minister had sodomized him 2008. If the minister would convict, he could jailed for 20 years.

The case got a different angle when Mr. Anwar’s lawyers filed an application, alleging that Farah Azlina Latif, a junior prosecutor romantically involved with Saiful.

In defense, lawyers said that the affair was a mere proof that Mr. Anwar became a victim of a conspiracy. Mr. Anwar also told reporters that it was a plan to end his political career.
"It just supports our contention right from the beginning that this is all a farce, a politically motivated trial, trumped-up charges," he told reporters.

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August 02, 2010 | 0 comments

Malaysian Court Sentences Jail To A Muslim In Hindu Temple Protest

Malaysia - A Malaysian court has ordered a week imprisonment to a Muslim on Tuesday and fined 11 others for a gesturing a cow's head when they were protesting against a construction of Hindu temple.

However, many people thinks these light sentences might further provoke the tension between two races. The Muslims are the majority in the country with 28 million population, and Hindus and Christians often complain against race discrimination.

"Going ahead, this will become a political issue for the country's minorities and further reinforce their unhappiness," said James Chin, a politics professor at Monash University in Kuala Lumpur.

The people who have been sentenced, were a group of Muslims who marched last year with a cow head to protest against a temple construction in Muslim neighborhood. Cow is a sacred animal for Hindus and naturally it provoked anger amongst minority.

The political arena is also affected by the discrimination factor as the minority who are constituted 40 percent of the population, put down the country's ruling coalition its worst defeat in the polls in 2008. The major issue raised was discrimination against minority and their growing alienation in the country.

Prime Minister Najib Najib Razak tried to penetrate into minority population through some innovative policies like "1Malaysia", but not much effective as it seems.

In the recent years, Malaysia has witnessed religious tension and disputes and ongoing attack on the houses of worship become a major problem for the government.

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July 27, 2010 | 1 comments