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KUALA LUMPUR - Regulations governing part-time work for private-sector workers are expected to come into effect in March.
Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said his ministry was in the midst of finalising the regulations under the Employment Act 1955.
He said that with such regulations, employers and employees would have a clear idea of their rights and responsibilities towards each other.
 Overhauling beauty contest
KUALA LUMPUR: The Miss Universe Malaysia Organisation, in rebranding Miss Universe Malaysia 2010, is seeking a beauty queen that can sum up these qualities: Hip, urban, real and relevant.
Its chairman, Heah Sieu Lay, said “she must be smart, fresh and down-to-earth, have leadership skills, a great sense of humour and the basic foundation of being a beauty queen."
Heah said Andrea Fonseka, the former Miss Universe/ Malaysia 2004, and her team would also be included in the project to help his organisation find the most suitable candidates for the beauty pageant.
Ibrahim Hussein museum remains open
LANGKAWI - A museum in Pasir Tengkorak here which exhibits more than 100 works of the late Ibrahim Hussein remains open and has not closed, as rumoured, after the death of the famed artist last year.
The museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, except on Friday.
A spokesman of the museum said the number of visitors had decreased of late following the rumour. Ibrahim died in February last year.
Govt mulls extending compulsory public service for doctors
PUTRAJAYA - The government proposes to extend the compulsory public service for doctors to five or 10 years from the current three to overcome the annual shortage of doctors in its hospitals, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator T Murugiah said today.
Last year alone, the country faced a shortage of 5,000 doctors, he added.
"Every year, we face a shortage of doctors because they serve with the government for only five years - two years on housemanship and three years on compulsory service.
Anti-drug agency to have own lockups
KOTA BARU - The National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) will use its own lockups from next year to house drug suspects to reduce dependence on police lockups, AADK director-general Datuk Abd Bakar Zin said here.
He said two such lockups were being built in Kelantan and one each in Perak, Selangor and Kedah, with each able to accommodate 150 people.
"These projects cost RM35 million and are expected to be completed by the end of this year," he told reporters after launching a Kelantan AADK media night, Tuesday night.
Op against illegal workers may be deferred
PUTRAJAYA - The Home Ministry is willing to consider the request from the industry that they be given more time before a major operation against illegal workers is launched.
Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the ministry would do so if the industry could help address the issue by " getting your act together and coming forward and help us overcome this."
The Immigration Department said it would launch a major operation against illegal foreign workers on Feb 15 but several industry representatives requested that the operation be postponed as they barely had the time to register their workers.
Police investigate Sabah news portal
KOTA KINABALU - Police have begun investigations into a controversial news portal, sabahkini.net, over several articles that were allegedly false and baseless.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Noor Rashid said they are investigating the website for offences under the Penal Code as well as the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.
Speaking to reporters after launching the official Sabah police website here on Wednesday, he said that police had received two reports against the portal, which carries news and commentaries on Sabah issues.
Health Ministry receives 35 reports on Sibutramine
KUALA LUMPUR - The Health Ministry has to date received 35 reports on adverse effects of Sibutramine, use of which has been suspended by the European Medicine Agency.
Health director-general Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, in a statement here Tuesday, said four of the reports were related to heart palpitation and one on myocardial infarction (non-fatal).
Sibutramine has been found to induce contraindications in patients with a history of coronory illnesses, congestive heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, arrythmia, stroke and uncontrolled hypertension.
Umno Youth targets 50,000 new members
ALOR STAR - Umno Youth plans to recruit 50,000 new members in 2010, double the number signed up last year.
Its secretary, Megat Firdouz Megat Junid, said it would launch a national campaign in Simpang Empat, Kerpan in Kota Siputih state constituency, on Feb 5.
A new logo and tagline for Umno Youth would be introduced at the campaign to be launched by Kedah Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Court to hear Khairy's application on March 19
KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court will hear on March 19 an application by Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to set aside a judgment in default obtained by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in a defamation suit.
Senior Assistant Registrar A Kaveetha set the date in chambers after meeting Anwar's counsel Wan Anuar Shadat and Khairy's counsel K. Vasanthi.
Anwar, 63, filed the suit on Sept 7, 2007 claiming that Khairy, who was then the Umno Youth deputy chief, had defamed him in August 2007 at a political function in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
Universities asked not to tighten regulations at speaker's corner
KUALA LUMPUR - Deputy Higher Education Minister Saifuddin Abdullah on Tuesday called on all local universities to be more liberal and not impose too many regulations for the students who want to deliver a speech at their speaker's corner.
Instead, he said the universities should take advantage of the speaker's corner to bring positive changes for the students, especially in improving their public speaking skills.
"I'm worried that if too many regulations are imposed it will hamper their their interest in public speaking," he said after re-opening the speaker's corner at the Perdanasiswa Complex in Universiti Malaya, here Tuesday. - Bernama/The Star
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