Kuala, Lumpur, Jan. 26: Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Ashok K. Kantha has that Indian nationals arriving here for work under a new bilateral labour accord will not be entitled to a minimum wage, but their interests will not be overlooked.

The Star quoted Ambassador Kantha as saying that New Delhi has accepted that Malaysia preferred to let demand and supply dictate wages, but Indian workers would still be "protected" as Indian immigration authorities could bar the departure of those considered underpaid.

Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 26 : Malaysia's Human Resource Minister S. Subramaniam has said that he will ask the Cabinet to look into employing more Indians in the police force at all levels to combat the increasing crime rate among Indian youths.

He said this was necessary in the wake of the controversy surrounding the death of detainee A. Kugan while in police custody.

Subramaniam, who is also the secretary-general of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), said Kugan's death had raised concerns among all Malaysians.

Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 23 : Veteran Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) politician Tan Sri S. O. K. Ubaidulla Kadir Basha died at his Bukit Pantai home in Petalin Jaya on Thursday.

Ubaidulla, who was in his 90s, was the former chairman of the Ubadi Foundation and was a founder member of the MIC in 1946. He was the former permanent chairman of MIC, a senator and also Dewan Negara deputy president, The Star reports.

Kuala Lumpur  - An opposition lawmaker and a priest were among 21 people charged in a Malaysian court Friday for allegedly taking part in an illegal gathering last year to protest a draconian security law.

Tony Pua, a well-known member of parliament, Reverend Father Paulino Francesco Miranda and several other opposition members were part of the group who pleaded not guilty to the charge at a magistrate court in the central city of Petaling Jaya.

Kuala Lumpur - Airlines in the Asia-Pacific were warned Thursday to prepare for an "extremely difficult" year ahead for air travel, as figures for last year's air passenger and cargo volume recorded a dip in numbers.

Members of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), which include 17 international carriers, recorded a total of 141.5 million international passengers in 2008, 1.8 per cent lower than the the year before, the association said in a statement.

Kuala Lumpur, Jan. 20 : Astrologers have said that America''s President-elect Barack Hussein Obama will be ''America''s luckiest president''.

Born on August 4, 1961, Obama, whose star sign is Leo, will be the 44th US president when he is inaugurated today.

According to reputed Indian astrologer Bejan Daruwala, Obama''s basic numbers are 2 (from Jan 20), 4 (from his birthday) and 8 (from 4+4 of the 44th president), which signify leadership, happiness and success.

Daruwala predicts that Obama would be a better person for world peace and prosperity as compared with American presidents of the last four decades.