External News

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today cancelled the warrant of arrest for former intelligence chief Hasanah Abdul Hamid over her failure to turn up in court last week.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah made the order after hearing her lawyers’ explanation of her absence from the case mention for her RM50 million criminal breach of trust case on Friday.

“The warrant is cancelled in light of her unreserved apology to the court,” he said.

He also ordered the former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation chief and one of her bailors to attend court on the upcoming court dates.

Hasanah’s lawyer Shahrudin Ali earlier told the court that her absence was unintentional.

“She was at home at the time, and as her counsels, we overlooked the date and forgot to inform her,” he said.

He also maintained that Hasanah’s presence is not needed at case managements as they are not considered part of the trial, adding that there was no legal basis to issue an arrest warrant.

Hasanah’s other lawyer, K Balaguru, said there is no offence of “non-attendance to court” under the law.

However, deputy public prosecutor Iskandar Ahmad said the law requires an accused person to be present in court.

“Section 172 B of the Criminal Procedure Code makes it mandatory for an accused to be present in court for case management,” he said.

“I leave it to the court to decide on the warrant.”

Hasanah is accused of misappropriating RM50 million in government funds. If found guilty, she faces a fine and a jail term of between two and 20 years.

She previously posted bail of RM500,000 ahead of her trial which begins on Feb 3 next year.

BANGKOK: Thailand still doesn’t have a new government in place following March’s divisive election, and the delay is pushing out the timeline for big infrastructure projects just as the economy slows.

The outgoing military administration, whose proxy party is trying to assemble a successor ruling coalition, set a target of signing contracts for US$20 billion of major projects by May but the deals haven’t been completed yet.

“It’s impossible,” said Pakpoom Srichamni, president of Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Pcl, which bid for one of the projects. “We haven’t seen much progress in the first five months of this year mainly because of political uncertainties.”

A party carved out of the junta is set to assemble a ruling alliance, but its stability is already in doubt as the bloc will have a slim majority and face fierce criticism from parliamentarians opposed to military control. Even so, Pakpoom believes construction initiatives will pick up speed in the second half of the year once an administration is formed.

“We’ve had coalition governments before,” he said. “Infrastructure investment is necessary for the nation’s future. Any government will need to continue these projects. They may make some changes, but they should move those projects ahead.”

The SET Construction Services Index of builders has slumped 9% in the past year, exceeding the 6% slide in the overall Thai market.

“We believe delays in the roll out of large projects are likely and this will cause negative sentiment in the construction sector,” said Maria Lapiz, managing director at Maybank Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) Pcl in Bangkok.

Thailand said Tuesday the start date of the fiscal 2020 budget will be delayed three months to Jan. 1 so the next administration can review the plan, a step that may temporarily curb outlays on some investment projects.

Slower budget disbursements add to the challenges facing Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy, which expanded at the weakest pace in the first quarter since 2014 as exports, tourism and public investment moderated.

KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 29 — Parti Putra Perkasa Negara (Putra) president Datuk Ibrahim Ali today said that the real reason for Malay disunity is divide and conquer tactics and not the formation of other parties.

He said no party that has contributed to Malay unity would ever continue cheering on the party after losing, and certainly not the newly-formed Putra.

“It is the practice of divide and conquer which is the true cause of disunity, not the formation of new parties,” Ibrahim said in a statement.

He sarcastically accepted Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comments disapproving of Putra as breaking up Malay unity, but added the party had been formed based on the “spirit and example” set by Bersatu’s leaders.

“Bersatu successfully crushed Umno during the 14th general election because that was so desired by the Malays. Whatever excuses may be given, some will behave as though only others are in the wrong but never themselves.

“Before Bersatu, Parti Amanah Negara and PKR took the smart step in establishing parties to safeguard Malay unity. So, after us, there are still 96 more parties to establish,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim was referring to Dr Mahathir’s quip that it would be better to establish 100 parties as it means no single Malay party has the biggest majority.

The prime minister “welcomed” Putra’s establishment, saying that despite making up 60 per cent of the country’s population, the Malays are divided into four parties but that it is fine if this is what they want.

TOKYO, May 29 — The ever-changing dynamics of the international order and how the new technologies shape the future outlook will be the gist of Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s keynote address at the opening of the 25th International Conference on The Future of Asia (Nikkei Conference) tomorrow.

The conference is anticipating some intense discussions as the world is beset by uncertainties, including the US-China trade war, the struggle for high-tech military supremacy, and the rise of protectionism.

Dr Mahathir will be the first leader to deliver a keynote address at the conference which aptly themed ‘Seeking a New Global Order – Overcoming the Chaos’.

Other Asian leaders scheduled to deliver keynote address at the event are Prime Minister Sheik Hasina of Bangladesh, Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen and Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.

Hosted by Nikkei Inc annually since 1995, Nikkei Conference gathers government and business leaders to share their visions for the future of Asia and is considered one of the most important global conferences in Asia.

Malaysian Ambassador to Japan, Datuk Kennedy Jawan said the event would be a platform for Dr Mahathir to put forth Malaysian policies and stand, as well as attracting more trade and investment into the country.

Dr Mahathir, who is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo later today for a three-day working visit, is a regular attendee at the prestigious event, skipping it only four times.

This will be his fourth visit to Japan after his return to helm the country for the second time since winning the general election in May 2018.

During his last visit in November last year, Dr Mahathir was conferred the “Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers” by the then Emperor Akihito of Japan.

Another highlight of the working visit is the bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scheduled on May 31.

“Both leaders will discuss matters of mutual concerns and interest to strengthen bilateral ties and collaboration in many fields encompassing trade, education, defence and others,” Kennedy told reporters at a press conference here.

Meanwhile, Kyodo reported that Malaysia is in talks with Japan on sending blue-collar workers to the country under a new visa programme that was launched in April, quoting official sources.

According to the report, both countries are aiming to strike a deal as early as July this year and would discuss the details during Dr Mahathir’s visit.

Also on Dr Mahathir radar during this visit is attracting more Japanese investment to Malaysia.

The prime minister will also attend the Malaysia-Japan Business Dialogue jointly organised by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) and Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) to meet more than 20 top Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Sankyu, Mitsui & Co, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and NEC.

Dr Mahathir will also deliver a keynote address on Malaysia-Japan future relation and policy direction to about 300 attendees at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan (FCCJ).

His itinerary also includes receiving courtesy calls from other leaders attending the conference as well as representatives from the Japan-Malaysia Parliamentarians Friendship Association and Toyo University.

A statement from the Foreign Ministry said this visit was expected to further enhance the existing multi-layered strong ties and bonds between Japan and Malaysia under the Look East Policy.

Dr Mahathir will be accompanied by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Marzuki Yahya, as well as officials from the Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office. — Bernama

PARIS: Serena Williams says Nike has learned from its mistake after the sportswear giant changed its policy having faced criticism for freezing sponsorship payments to several pregnant athletes.

Nike said on Friday that it would waive performance-pay reductions for 12 months for athletes who have a baby and said it could do more.

Sponsorship agreements with athletes typically include clauses that reduce payments if they do not reach performance-based targets.

“I understand that Nike has been really lately supporting women a lot, and it started with making a statement with me, and they said they want to make a change,” Williams told reporters after she overcame a wobbly start to beat Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko 2-6 6-1 6-0 in the French Open first round.

“They want to support women that want to have families and that want to be moms. I’m glad that statement was made, and I know that therefore and going forward, they’re doing better.

“That’s what it’s about. It’s about learning from mistakes and doing better,” added Williams, one of Nike’s leading athletes.

The New York Times reported that Williams’s sponsorship deal was kept intact during her pregnancy which, according to the 23-times Grand Slam singles champion, was already proof of their support of pregnant women.

“I feel like as time goes on, as technology changes and as, you know, the world changes, people realise that we have to change our policies,” the American added.

“We have to look at old policies and change them. And I think that Nike wanted to do that, and they started doing that.

“And so I think they made a really bold statement by doing that with me, and I think they’re going to — I know, actually, that they’re going to continue to make that statement.”

Shaky start

Williams is no stranger to making statements and on Monday she entered Court Philippe Chatrier wearing an outfit marked with four French words: Mere, Championne, Reine, Deesse (Mother, Champion, Queen, Goddess).

It was her arm that did the talking, however, after a shaky start.

The 10th-seeded American peppered the court with unforced errors in an ugly opening set before finding her range to set up a meeting with Japan’s Kurumi Nara or Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic.

“I’m just happy to win today,” the American said after her 800th tour-level victory.

The three-times Roland Garros champion is looking to emulate Margaret Court, who claimed 24 majors spread across the amateur and professional eras.

Williams’s haul started at the US Open 20 years ago but she has not won a major since she beat her older sister Venus in the Australian Open final in 2017.

She produced a see-saw display in an half-empty stadium on Monday, struggling to adapt to windy conditions in chilly weather.

Diatchenko broke in the fifth game with a crosscourt backhand winner to open a 3-2 lead, and won on her opponent’s serve again in the seventh game to secure the opening set.

Then Williams fired up the engine and raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set, losing only one more game as Diatchenko faded away.

KUALA LUMPUR: Polis sedang menyiasat seorang bekas ketua pegawai eksekutif sebuah syarikat telekomunikasi, selepas menerima 17 laporan sejak 2013 membabitkan dakwaan mencabul, menceroboh dan memberi ugutan maut.

Ketua Polis Negara, Abdul Hamid Bador berkata, dakwaan lelaki itu mencabul anaknya sudah diteliti semula sejak minggu lalu.

Katanya, siasatan terbaru dan masih berjalan setakat ini hanya membabitkan dakwaan menceroboh dan memberi ugutan maut kepada bekas isterinya.

Berita lanjut menyusul.