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Women-only transport has been stepped up a gear in Malaysia, it was reported Thursday, after the launch of female-only buses to help counter sexual harassment. The buses follow ladies-only pink train carriages on the transport system to give the Muslim majority country's females the option of travelling separately from men. Bus company RapidKL, a state-owned firm, started the special service for its female passengers on Wednesday on seven routes in the Malaysian capital during peak hours, the New Straits Times newspaper reported. "This is based on feedback received from our customers, especially females, who shared with us their discomfort during peak-hour travels," the firm's chief operating officer Mohamed Hazland Mohamed Hussain said. The official did not say whether the firm has received any sexual harassment complaints. "I will feel safer, not because I do not trust men, but for someone my age, it's hard to fight for space during peak hours,&qu

Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said has expressed concern over irresponsible people passing off the low quality batik they produced as the genuine stuff from Terengganu. Their inferior products would undermine the image of the high quality batik produced by the state, he said. “This has a negative impact on the genuine batik industry of Terengganu,” he said at the Seri Iman Terengganu Darul Iman Trophy 2010 Gala Night here Wednesday night. Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah attended the event. Ahmad said the state government had launched a special logo to identify the genuine batik of Terengganu in an effort to stop the practice of the irresponsible people. This would enable buyers to differentiate between the genuine batik and imitation products, he said, adding it was hoped that the batik art would be appreciated not only in Malaysia but also around the world. At the event, held to reward new and modern batik creations, Mohamad Hafizi Mohd Radzi Woo of UiTM Shah

Nearly 8,000 civil servants working at state agencies had received RM800 as a surprise gift from the state government in recognition of their contributions. Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the reward is also a special form of financial assistant to those with school-going children. “We hope the money would come handy and help ease the burden of many parents who are busy preparing for their children returning to school,” he said. The money had been banked into the civil servants bank accounts on Tuesday. Lim said the state had set aside RM25mil for this purpose.

Suhakam has found that suspended Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) sergeant N. Tharmen­dran is safe in military remand and was not subjected to abuse. Suhakam commissioner Detta Samen told reporters that an investigation found no signs of abuse and that he was well cared for. “We have seen him and interviewed him. He told us he is ok,” Samen told reporters Wednesday at the military detention centre at the Batu Cantonment Camp in Jalan Ipoh where Tharmendran is currently held. Samen earlier met with RMAF provost marshal Lt. Col. Mohd Razif Ramli for a discussion. Tharmendran was charged with abetting in the theft of two RMAF F5 jet engines in Dec 2007 with Senior Airman Mohamad Shukri Mohamad Yusop at the Sungai Besi air base’s Material Processing Shed. He was released on a RM50,000 bail on Sept 6 but was re-arrested by military police on Nov 25 on grounds of absence of duty.

SULTAN SELANGOR (kiri) menyampaikan cenderahati kepada pembentang kertas kerja, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Shad Saleem Faruqi di Shah Alam semalam.   Sultan Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah bertitah baginda sedih dan dukacita kerana ada segelintir individu yang berhijrah ke negeri itu, terutama orang Melayu, sanggup mempersoalkan peranan institusi Raja Melayu serta kedudukan dan hak keistimewaan bangsa Melayu. Baginda bertitah, golongan itu turut mempersoalkan kerelevanan institusi Raja Melayu serta peranannya dalam sistem pemerintahan negara ketika ini. “Matlamat mereka agar sistem Raja Berperlembagaan ini disemak dan dikaji semula atas alasan negara telah menjalani arus pemodenan dan sistem yang diamalkan sekarang ini sudah tidak bersesuaian adalah amat tidak bertepatan,” titah baginda pada majlis pembukaan Wacana Raja Berperlembagaan - Perspektif Sejarah, Kini dan Masa Depan di sini semalam. Sultan Sharafuddin bertitah, terdapat juga suara lantang di kalangan orang Melayu sendiri y

Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk T. Murugiah menyuarakan kebimbangan terhadap peningkatan kes membabitkan penjawat awam berlaku biadab dan bersikap perkauman terhadap orang ramai. Beliau berkata, masalah salah laku penjawat awam terutama yang bertugas di barisan hadapan tersebut disedari meningkat berdasarkan peningkatan aduan yang diterima oleh Biro Pengaduan Awam (BPA). "BPA menerima lebih 60 aduan dari seluruh negara setiap bulan yang membabitkan penjawat awam bersikap kasar, biadab dan menyentuh isu perkauman sehingga menimbulkan rasa kemarahan pengadu dan rakyat," katanya pada sidang akhbar di pejabat BPA Perak di sini semalam.