Wellington - New Zealand and Malaysia are to resume negotiations on a free trade pact, which were suspended in deadlock two and a half years ago, Prime Minister Helen Clark said Monday.

She told a press conference that her cabinet approved the resumption of talks after a boom in trade between the countries.

The latest New Zealand figures showed that Malaysia was New Zealand's ninth-biggest market in the 12 months through July with exports increasing by 50 per cent on the previous year to 876 million New Zealand dollars (596 million US dollars).

New Zealand's imports from Malaysia doubled in the previous 12 months to 1.83 billion New Zealand dollars.

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's navy has deployed three ships to the Gulf of Aden in Yemen to protect the country's merchant ships following an increase in the frequency of pirate attacks in the area, officials said Friday.

Several "military and logistics aid" belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force has also been deployed to monitor Malaysian ships in the Gulf of Aden, said air force operations commander Rodzali Daud.

"Yes, we do deploy our assets there, including to assist in the operations by the Royal Malaysian Navy," Rodzali was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

"Perhaps, more (military elements) will follow," he said.

Kuala Lumpur, Sept. 4 : The Malaysian Cabinet has said that its decision that the visas and permits for priests, musicians and artisans from India among fresh applicants would be valid for a maximum of three years and based on a set of strict guidelines stands.

The Star quoted Human Resources Minister Dr. S. Subramaniam as saying that there is no move to consider fresh applications from Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras for priests, musicians and artisans from India.

Kuala Lumpur, Sept. 3 : The Human Resources and Home Ministries in Malaysia are reportedly at odds over the hiring of Hindu temple workers, including priests.

The New Strait Times quoted Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A. Vaithi-lingam as saying that while the Human Resources Ministry is in favour of their hiring, the Home Ministry seemed to be blocking the process.

This, he claimed, has spread fear among worshippers in over 200 Hindu temples nationwide that they may not have the services of priests in the near future.

Singapore - Singapore and Malaysia have set up a joint technical committee to sort out the issues surrounding sovereignty over the disputed territories of Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge, a media report said Tuesday.

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Rais Yatim and Singapore's Foreign Minister George Teo announced the panel and emphasized both countries' commitment to "honour and abide by the International Court of Justice(ICJ) judgement and fully implement its decision."

Kuala Lumpur, Sep. 1 : At least 200 Malay Indians have been denied loans by a financial institution here, an Indian-based business association has claimed.

Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P. Sivakumar said that the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia has not given loans to any of the 200 people it had recommended this year.

"We sent the list to AIM but to date none of the candidates had received loans," The New Strait Times quoted him, as saying.

Sivakumar said AIM, which was set up to help all Malaysians, should reveal how much it had disbursed to poor Indians over the last six months.