1. "MACC quizzes Fernandez for 90 minutes over Post report" [The Star, 2012-May-12]

"Tenanganita executive director Irene Fernandez was questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on her stand that Malaysia is not a safe place for migrant workers. Fernandez said she told MACC that migrant workers were regularly confronted by enforcement agencies and asked for documents.  'When the workers ask enforcement agents for identification, they are slapped and beaten for asking that question. They are searched and money is taken from them.' ... Public Complaints Bureau Chief Datuk KLMNOP said that if her claims were baseless, then police must investigate her for making seditious claims."

2. Segregation in salons  [New Straits Times, 2012-Nov-28]

[Background: The rule that a Muslim's hair can not be cut by a person of the opposite gender has been deemed in the state of Kelantan to apply also to non-Muslims]

"The gender segregation rule forced on hairdressers in Kelantan has caused great consternation in the Pas Supporters Congress (PSC). PSC yesterday met the Pas spiritual leader to find an amicable solution to the issue.  'We told him that modern salons are not like those 20 years ago' ... The issue would create negative feelings among the Chinese community. It would also drive away investors outside the state ... A barber .. said many Muslims who normally went to salons were forced to have their hair cut at barbers' instead.  'The number of customers at my shop has more than doubled' ... They did not want to end up getting caught in the event of raids."

The flip side: In Toronto recently a woman has advanced a human rights case in an attempt to force a male Muslim haircutter to cut her hair.

3. " Datuk Seri Abc is a Malay and a Muslim, which qualifies him as the natural choice for the prime minister's post ... says [a politician]"

4. Federal official:  " 'That letter was not meant to be secret or to hide anything from the public' ... [He] said disciplinary action would be taken against those who leaked the memo."

5. Campaign update

This is a complete survey of all political news headlines published in the Star, Malaysia's main English newspaper, on 2013-Jan-14.

BN = Barisan = national governing coalition, which includes MCA.

PKR, PAS, DAP are opposition parties.

Najib = Prime Minister

The next election is due in the first half of 2013.

"Barisan will only make pledges it can fulfill, says Najib"

"Call to set up BN operations room in every polling district"

"Klang traders happy to receive PM on his walkabout"

"Teach DAP a lesson ... Party has done enough damage ... says MCA chief"

"Kuantan constituency vital to serve Chinese ... said MCA [spokesperson]"

"BN: Penang [opposition] Govt has no plan, only reaction to BN"

"Shadow budget doesn't add up ... It's like cheating the people in broad daylight, says [minister]"

"Unity message in Ravi's dance potpourri ... performed before the Prime minister and his wife"

"[Businessman] postpones his honeymoon to campaign for BN"

"Opposition in a state of disunity"

"1235 flood victims receive aid from fund"

"Twitter sensation unfazed by brickbats in cyberspace ... Part-time model Pqr [pictured] became an overnight cyber sensation after her pro-government tweets [quoted] received brickbats from pro-opposition netizens"

"Only males and schoolgirls ... Female artistes have been barred from open entertainment shows in PAS-led Kedah [state] but secondary schoolgirls will be allowed to do so under its strict new policy ... Ban on live music bands ... only songs with religious themes and positive messages ... conservative attire ... only recorded music accompaniment ... Besides submitting lists of performers and songs, the organizers must ensure the artistes do not get carried away. ... [A spokesman for the BN] said the guidelines violated the rights and freedom of non-Muslims"

6. Later the same day ... Also from the Star on 2013-Jan-14, these two articles:

" Elbe back on his feet after manhood disaster"

"Mixed martial arts fighter Ray Elbe is back on his feet again after injuring his penis more than two months ago ... having a catheter strapped to his leg and being confined to a wheelchair ... injured his penis when he and his girlfriend were having a vigorous session of sexual intercourse ... 'I will try to sell the entire story to a magazine or TV show,' he said."

[... and later still ... The following brief article did not mention any police action]

"Korean callgirls a big hit -- 'Health spa' offer well-endowed prostitutes at premium prices"

"Prostitution rings and brothels are taking advantage of the craze for all things Korean ... a health spa operating in Bukit Bintang, which was a front for a brothel, offered the services of Korean prostitutes at RM 600 [$200] an hour. In comparison, sex workers from China are priced at RM 240 an hour while those from Indonesia charge RM 200 ... Korean sex workers ... are still new to the Malaysian market and are hard to come by ... The pimps at the health spa promoted the Korean sex workers as women with big breasts."