KUALA LUMPUR: The perception of the people towards the National Service (NS) training programme has improved since parents are allowed to meet trainees weekly from this year, said NS Training Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil.

KUALA LUMPUR:Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said today he planned to sue the The Sun newspaper for allegedly reporting that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor had advised him tone down his ultra-Malay stance.

"I feel this newspaper (The Sun) has its own agenda (in publishing such a story) because before this we (Perkasa) have never been given any space in the paper," he told reporters at Parliament's lobby, today.

He said he was resorting to the action to defend his image and credibility.He added that he had instructed his lawyers to pursue the matter.

IPOH:Perak Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman Datuk Nadzri Ismail has lodged a police report against fake State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar.

He said this was because Tronoh State Assemblyman Sivakumar had used the official letterhead of the Perak State Assembly to issue a notice on the assembly session on March 30.

Manjoi State Assemblyman Nadzri said Sivakumar was relieved of the Speaker's post on May 7, 2009 and that it was verified by the Ipoh High Court.

PUTRAJAYA: The Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) will not bow to strong-arm tactics used on its enforcement officers conducting checks at premises.

PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry is satisfied with the explanation given by the China Press and will not take action against the newspaper for its report on the purported resignation of the Inspector-General of Police.

SHAH ALAM: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has changed his mind about opening the inaugural general meeting of the Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) scheduled for March 27 in Kuala Lumpur in a move to avert manipulation of the matter by irresponsible people.

He said the scheme would also help channel useful information to the police such as the number of people in a housing area, as well as the social problems and crime situation in the area from time to time.

Seeking leave not to be associated to Zahrain's remarks, Anwar left the House as Zahrain cast aspersion on his (Anwar's) leadership.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court hearing the corruption case involving former Immigration director general Datuk Wahid Md Don was told on Wednesday that the approval for 4,337 calling visas for Bangladeshi workers involved payments totalling RM1.2 million.

KUALA LUMPUR: Influenza Like Illness (ILI) cases in the country saw a sharp rise as 363 new cases were referred to hospitals from March 7-13, said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

This was a 22.2 per cent increase when compared with 297 cases recorded the previous week, but there were no deaths, he said.

KUALA LUMPUR: The New Economic Model (NEM) to be introduced will not abolish bumiputera rights but will focus on cooperation with non-bumiputeras, parliament was told on Wednesday.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said the form of cooperation would be in politics and business promotions.

PUTRAJAYA: Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said its stand on local government elections will be announced next week.

He said the proposal by the Penang and Selangor state governments need to be studied from the constitutional and legal aspects so that a correct and acceptable decision could be made.

"The Penang Chief Minister had on March 8 written to the EC chairman urging him to call local government elections.

Sex gadgets worth RM20,000 were confiscated.

MPSJ secretary Slamat Hamzah said the outlet was raided at about 1.30pm, following complaints from the public.

"The outlet had just applied for a licence to sell health equipment and when the licence was approved by MPSJ, they had made alterations to the outlet which started operations in February," he told reporters here today.

KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims have been urged to boycott Swedish products over the depiction of cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad in several newspapers.

Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said (BN-Kuala Krau) said Sweden should apologise to Muslims over blasphemous caricatures of Muhammad by artist Lars Vilks.

KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has denied claims that the China Press chief editor has been asked to resign following the newspaper's report about the Inspector-General of Police.

Hishammuddin said the claims by the opposition were baseless as he had yet to receive the reply to a show-cause letter issued to the newspaper.

KUALA SELANGOR: Three Gondol gang robbery members including the leader were killed in a shootout with police at a water retention pond at Tasik Kota Puteri, Ijok on Tuesday's morning.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said with this, police believed that it had solved 19 armed robberies in the Klang Valley.

KUALA LUMPUR: A six-year-old boy was reported missing and believed to have been kidnapped three days ago.

Muhammad Adam Haikal is said to have gone missing at about 4.30pm while playing at the playground of Perumahan Awam Pangsapuri Sri Kota, Cheras here on March 13.

The last time he was seen was by his aunt was when he returned to his grandmother's third floor flat to take a top before going back to the playground.

When he did not return his parents made a police report at the Pudu police station about 11pm.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will incorporate new provisions into the Consumer Protection Act 1999 to provide additional protection to consumers who entered into a transaction, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Orang Asli Affairs Department's request for an RM800 million allocation for development projects for the indigenous community under the Tenth Malaysia Plan will be considered.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said the Orang Asli's interests were always given attention but the matter should be seen as a whole.