No special treatment for Zakir Naik

DESPITE having granted permanent resident (PR) status to preacher Dr Zakir Naik, the Government has never given him “special treatment”.

In a written answer to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), the Home Ministry said there was no reason for Dr Zakir to be arrested over terrorism allegations as he has not violated any laws here.

“Besides, the Government has not received any official request from the Indian government in relation to allegations that he is involved in terrorism,” said the ministry.

Dr Zakir was granted PR status five years ago in accordance with the procedures set by the Immigra­tion Department.

 

More Chinese-speaking tour guides licensed 

MORE than 1,000 temporary passes have been issued to supplement the demand for Chinese-speaking tour guides in Malaysia.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said 1,256 temporary passes for tour guides had been issued for Chinese-speaking applicants since 2010, especially during the holiday seasons.

“So far, we have issued 17,340 language licences to 14,270 tour guides.

“Of the total, 7,222 of them are licensed to operate Chinese-speaking tours,” he said.

 

Pakatan begins anti-graft move 

PAKATAN Harapan has launched a five-point anti-corruption manifesto amid a looming general election, vowing to make Malaysia among the 10 cleanest countries in the world by 2030.

In the manifesto read out by Pakatan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Opposition also announced several measures to curb corruption.

Among the measures were to revamp the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com­mis­sion so that the anti-graft body could have the power to prosecute and is answerable to Parliament.

 

Shafie turns up at Parliament 

PARTI Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal showed up in Parliament for the first time yesterday since his release from remand.

He is under probe over the alleged skimming of RM1.5bil in federal project allocations in Sabah through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.

The Semporna MP was greeted by other Warisan leaders, including deputy president and Penampang MP Darell Leiking.