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Malay Mail
09-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Dr Mahathir turns 100: A look back at a few defining moments that shaped Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Today marks the 100th birthday of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a pivotal figure in Malaysian politics whose two terms as prime minister spanned a total of 24 years. Born on July 10, 1925, in Alor Setar, Kedah, Dr Mahathir trained as a medical doctor, graduating from King Edward VII College of Medicine in Singapore in 1953. His early forays into politics were not without setbacks. He lost his parliamentary seat in 1969 but eventually returned to national prominence, later becoming a key architect of Malaysia's modernisation. As he turns 100, Malay Mail looks back at a few notable moments in his long political career. 1. Driving modernisation and economic growth Look East Policy Dr Mahathir launched the Look East Policy in the 1980s, urging Malaysians to emulate the work ethic and business practices of Japan and South Korea. The policy reflected his broader vision of industrialising Malaysia and reducing reliance on Western models. The construction of the Petronas Twin Towers was one of the major projects during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's first stint as the prime minister. — Picture by Firdaus Latif Infrastructure boom His first 22-year stint as prime minister, from 1981 to 2003, saw the rollout of major infrastructure projects, including the North-South Expressway, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and the development of Putrajaya as Malaysia's administrative capital. Petronas Twin Towers Completed in 1998, the iconic Petronas Twin Towers became a symbol of Malaysia's aspirations and rapid development under Dr Mahathir's leadership. 2. Tackling the 1997 Asian financial crisis At the height of the 1997 financial crisis, Dr Mahathir defied conventional economic advice by rejecting an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout. Instead, he imposed capital controls and fixed the ringgit's exchange rate to stem the outflow of funds and stabilise the economy. His decision, controversial at the time, was later credited with helping Malaysia recover faster than many of its regional peers. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claims victory in the 14th general election under the Pakatan Harapan coalition flag. — Reuters pic 3. A political comeback at 92 In an extraordinary turn of events, Dr Mahathir returned to active politics in 2018, forming an alliance with former rival Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP to challenge then-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the 1MDB scandal. Under the Pakatan Harapan coalition, Dr Mahathir led the Opposition to a historic victory, ending Barisan Nasional's decades-long grip on power. He became the world's oldest-serving prime minister at 92. However, his second term lasted just 22 months, ending in early 2020 following defections and shifting political alliances that caused his government to collapse. 4. Championing privatisation In the 1980s and 1990s, Dr Mahathir pushed for the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, arguing it would improve efficiency and drive growth. While critics said the policies disproportionately benefited politically connected individuals, the initiative led to the privatisation of key sectors such as telecommunications, electricity, and airlines. Companies like Telekom Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines were among those corporatised and later listed. Proton was the result of the National Car Project initiative in the 1980s under the leadership of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. — SoyaCincau pic 5. Industrialisation and the birth of Proton A key pillar of Dr Mahathir's industrialisation drive was the creation of a national car. First mooted in 1979, the National Car Project received Cabinet approval in 1982. Proton — short for Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional — was established in 1983 in partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation. The move was part of a broader strategy to shift Malaysia's economy from agriculture to manufacturing.
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Australian royal prank DJs claim their bosses MADE them phone the Princess of Wales's hospital and impersonate the late Queen before nurse's suicide
The Australian 'shock jock' behind a prank call to the hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated, which led to the suicide of a nurse, claims he was pressurized into making the call by bosses. Michael Christian and 2Day FM radio co-host Mel Greig made headlines around the world on December 4, 2012 when they duped staff at King Edward VII's Hospital in London, The Telegraph reported. The duo convinved nurse Jacintha Saldanha that they were the late Queen and the then-Prince Charles checking in on the Princess of Wales, who at the time was being treated for severe morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George. Falling for their deception, Ms Saldanha disclosed some of the Princess' private medical information before transferring the call through to the ward. Humiliated by the telephone prank, the nurse - a mother to two children - later took her own life. In one of three apparent suicide notes, Ms Saldanha wrote a short letter in which she expressed her deep anger at the Australian radio presenters and blamed them for her tragic death. The nurse's death led to a huge backlash against the show and brodcaster, with its two presenters forced into hiding after receiving death threats. In a lawsuit against the station's broadcaster, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), Mr Christian alleges that he was ordered to make the call by the production team only days after starting in the role. He said that the hoax call breached the Australian Communications and Media Authority code of practice and he should never have been asked to do it. Mr Christian also said that he was given insufficient support in the wake of Ms Saldanha's suicide. He claims that the company promised to provide support in the event that any of the antics on the show overstepped the boundaries. Mr Christian, who lost his job in February, accuses the organisation of turning him and Ms Greig into 'convenient fall guys and scapegoats'. Mr Christian's lawyers wrote: 'SCA did not immediately take public accountability for the incident, but rather allowed Mr Christian and Ms Greig to be left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and non-compliance.' Mr Christian claims that the incident severely damaged his reputation and earnings potential. He also claims that he was discouraged from pursing legal action against SCA at the time because they promised that they would help him rebuilding his reputation and career. Among Mr Christian's greivences are that SCA filed to provide sufficient mental health support or start a PR campaign to clear his name. He also claims that he was not offered promotions or pay rises to reward his loyalty for sticking with the company, and instead was slowly phased-out. 'When we thought about making a call it was going to go for 30 seconds, we were going to be hung up on, and that was it. As innocent as that,' Mr Christian told Channel Nine's A Current Affair programme less than a week after the prank broke. Describing him and his co-host as 'shattered, gutted, heartbroken', he said 'no-one could've imagined this to happen.' 'The accents were terrible. You know it was designed to be stupid. We were never meant to get that far from the little corgis barking in the background - we obviously wanted it to be a joke,' Ms Greig added. 'There's nothing that can make me feel worse than what I feel right now. And for what I feel for the family. We're so sorry that this has happened to them.' Speaking in 2014, Ms Greig revealed that her mother had received death threats, while the 2DayFM presenter herself battled depression. 'I felt like a failure as a human being,' Ms Greig said in a tearful interview with Channel Seven's Sunday Night. 'I am ashamed of myself. I should have tried harder to not let that prank call air.' At the time of Ms Saldanha's death, the Prince and Princess of Wales said they were 'deeply saddened' by her passing. For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit for details
Telegraph
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Bosses ordered prank call to Princess of Wales's hospital, claims radio DJ
The Australian radio DJ who made a hoax call to a hospital caring for the Princess of Wales, leading to the suicide of a nurse, has blamed his bosses for the prank. Michael Christian and Mel Greig were presenting on 2Day FM in December 2012 when they called the private King Edward VII hospital in London, pretending to be Elizabeth II and the then Prince Charles. Catherine, who was pregnant with Prince George at the time, was being treated for severe morning sickness. Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who answered the phone and disclosed private medical information to the prank callers, later took her own life, prompting a backlash against the radio hosts and the broadcaster. Mr Christian has now alleged he was ordered by 2Day FM's production team to make the prank call and impersonate the late Queen and then Prince to gain access to the Duchess. He has sued the station's broadcaster, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), in the Australian federal court, claiming that the company had promised to provide support if the content put out by its 'shock jocks' ever went too far. The broadcaster, who was made redundant in February, said he had been let down by the organisation, which had failed to 'step in' and instead let its presenters take the blame, impacting their careers. In court documents seen by the Australian media, Mr Christian's lawyers wrote: 'SCA did not immediately take public accountability for the incident, but rather allowed Mr Christian and Ms Greig to be left exposed to relentless public vitriol, harassment and abuse, including death threats. 'The radio presenters were left by SCA as the convenient fall guys and scapegoats for SCA management decisions and non-compliance.' Presenter 'gradually marginalised' at work Mr Christian reportedly alleged that his reputation had been severely damaged, leading to the loss of future earning capacity. He said he had started as a 2Day FM presenter two days before the prank call, which he alleges breached the Australian Communications and Media Authority code of practice. He added that he was told in early 2013 that SCA would help restore his reputation and rebuild his career, a promise which meant that he opted against pursuing legal action at that time. However, the court documents allege that the firm failed to provide meaningful health support, did not start a public relations campaign to rebuild his brand and failed to offer meaningful opportunities or pay rises to reward his loyalty. Instead, he claims he was 'gradually marginalised' within the organisation. Rhys Holleran, SCA's chief executive at the time of the incident, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 2024 that he still suffered anxiety about the incident. 'I have always felt completely and utterly responsible for this,' he said. Ms Greig broke down at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Saldanha, a mother-of-two, in 2014. She said: 'I really just wanted to say I am truly sorry, I've wanted to say that for so long. 'This tragedy will always stay with me and serve as a constant reminder. I was always concerned for the well-being of both nurses and I wish I had tried harder to stop the prank call from airing.' The Prince and Princess of Wales said at the time that they were 'deeply saddened' by the news.
The Citizen
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Highland glory on display at Pretoria high school
Pretoria Boys High School was transformed into a scene from the Scottish Highlands this weekend, as it played host to the annual Pretoria Highland Gathering – a day bursting with tradition, music, and festive flair. Pipe bands from across South Africa descended on the school's historic grounds, dressed in full regalia, to compete in stirring performances that echoed across the lawns. Residents were treated to a colourful craft market and a smorgasbord of food stalls that satisfied every craving, while kids enjoyed dedicated activities and Highland dancing displays. The rhythm of bagpipes was matched only by the buzz of excitement from the crowd. Attendee Belinda Ormiston, who travelled from Johannesburg, said she came to cheer on her son, a member of the King Edward VII (KES) pipe band. 'I did want this special moment for both of us, and I hope they will win,' she said at the time. Reabetswe Taele from Ekurhuleni, a proud member of another competing band, praised the warm hospitality. 'Pretorians are so welcoming, and I would come to compete again. All the pipe bands here are the best, and I wish them all the best of luck,' she said. In addition to the musical spectacle, attendees explored a dazzling car display by the Pretoria Old Motor Club, an art and photography exhibition, and relaxed in the beer and tea gardens. The day reached its emotional peak with the Massed Pipes and Drums, a breathtaking finale that united all bands in a stirring show of unity and sound. ALSO READ: Pretoria residents share mixed views on the meaning of Youth Day Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Care provider to lead part of former Guernsey hospital revamp
A private care company has been selected to lead part of a proposed redevelopment of a former hospital in and Resources Committee (P&R) said CI Healthcare would play a key role in the £5m project at King Edward VII hospital site, which would see the addition of 33 "much-needed" care home committee said it was "acutely aware of the pressures on the industry" and acknowledged there was "limited availability of care home beds in the island".CI Healthcare said it was expecting the facility to be ready for use in late 2027. Managing director Nick Trott said: "This redevelopment will make a meaningful contribution to meeting the forecast 132 additional care home places required by 2030."We are excited to be making this substantial investment which showcases our commitment to Guernsey and will deliver a world class care facility on this site."The King Edward VII hospital closed in 2014 after being in operation for 112 Bob Murray, from P&R, said: "The King Edward VII site is a prime location and it makes total sense to use it to help meet the demand for long-term care."We think this is an excellent example of the States working with a private provider to facilitate the kind of investment needed, utilising vacant taxpayer-owned land without requiring any additional financial commitment by the public."
