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Friday, October 31, 2008

Petrol prices cut by 15 sen per litre - The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Petrol and diesel prices will go down 15 sen a litre from 12.01am on Saturday - the fourth reduction since August.

The new price of a litre of RON97 will be RM2.15 from RM2.30; RON92 will be RM2.05 from RM2.20; and diesel will be RM2.05 from RM2.20.

The prices will be reduced so that the people could enjoy the benefit of the recent drastic drop in global fuel prices, said Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a statement on Friday.

The Star reported on Friday that petrol price will go down by 15sen and that petrol dealers expect another round of price cuts on Nov 15.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said that if the world crude oil price continued to drop at the present rate, local pump prices would likely revert to the pre-June price of RM1.92 per litre.

Shahrir, who said the average world crude oil price for October was US$76.40 (RM267.40) per barrel, said the average for November might go below US$70.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/31/nation/20081031175020&sec=nation]

Abdul Razak Baginda acquitted - Malaysiakini

By S Pathmawathy

The Shah Alam High Court today acquitted political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda of abetting the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin ruled that the prosecution has failed to prove a case against Abdul Razak.

"I find there is no prima facie case for him to answer his charge. He is therefore acquitted and discharged," said Mohd Zaki.

Abdul Razak, a close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak had faced the death penalty by hanging if found guilty of abetting the 2006 murder of his former lover Altantuya, whose body was blown up with explosives in a jungle clearing.

In one of the longest hearings in Malaysia's history, the court spent 151 days hearing testimony from 84 witnesses on whether Abdul Razak and two police officers accused of carrying out the murder should face trial.

The court however ordered chief inspector Azilah Hadri, 32 and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 37 - from the elite Special Action Force (UTK) which guards the prime minister and deputy prime minister - to enter their defence to the charge of murder.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92191]

Sunday, October 19, 2008

MCA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Victory for Tee Keat, Soi Lek - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek scored an upset in a tightly-contested four-cornered race to clinch the party's deputy presidency yesterday.

Dr Chua beat his nearest rival, secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, by a slim 114-majority.

The former health minister received 1,115 votes against Ka Chuan's 1,001. Vice-president Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai could only manage 209 votes, while Tanjung division vice-chief Lee Hack Teik had 10.

There were 33 spoilt votes.

Datuk Ong Tee Keat, as expected, staved off a challenge from former health minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng to be elected the party's new president.

The transport minister garnered 1,429 votes against Chua's 917. There were 22 spoilt votes.

In a day of widespread rumours of upsets and super-charged tension, delegates awaited with bated breath while MCA elections steering committee chairman Tan Sri Wong See Wah announced the results at 9.45pm.

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/2379614/Article/index_html]

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Petrol prices reduced - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Petrol prices will be reduced by a further 10sen to 20sen from Wednesday.

RON 97 petrol is reduced by 15sen to RM2.30; RON 92 petrol is reduced by 10sen to RM2.20; and diesel is reduced by 20sen to RM2.20.

A post on the Prime Minister's Office website (www.pmo.gov.my) said the decision was made following the marked drop in the global oil price of late.

"The lowering of the fuel prices is also made to speed up the reduction of retail prices so that the people will be able to enjoy the benefits sooner," the post added.

The statement was signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The previous two reductions were on Aug 23 and Sept 24.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/10/14/nation/20081014175211&sec=nation]