Confirmed: Shahrizat to go for top post - Malaysiakini

Wanita Umno deputy chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today announced that she will contest for the wing's top post next year.

The former cabinet minister - who was appointed as a special adviser to the prime minister after the March 8 elections following her defeat in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency - made the announcement in a two-paragraph statement this afternoon.

"I, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, hereby confirm that I accept the nominations and support to contest the position of chief of the Wanita Umno Movement Malaysia in March 2009.

"Wanita Umno must be united in strengthening the party as well as be bold in bringing about changes and renewal," read the statement.

The announcement ended speculations as to whether or not Shahrizat would accept the 73 nominations for her to contest against incumbent chief Rafidah Aziz, who received 117 nominations at the division level.

Previously, Rafidah had stated that she would defend her post and hand over the reins to Shahrizat in June.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93457]

Court frees ISA detainee Raja Petra - Malaysiakini

By Hafiz Yatim

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was released from his Internal Security Act (ISA) detention at 3.20pm.

The editor of the popular Malaysia Today website was brought to the Shah Alam High Court just five minutes earlier.

Expressing surprise with the decision, Raja Petra said: "Not many people have challenged the act (ISA) so much and I did not have much high hopes (of being released).

"This application allowed under Section 8 is a special prize. I am tired."

"This showed ISA cannot be used. I hope this is not a political decision. I don't want to be the prime minister. I want Anwar to be the PM," he said.

"We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished," he told reporters.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92620]