FEATURE | Punk band Shh...Diam! is a rarity where gay and transgender issues are often seen as taboo.

He calls on homosexuals to 'keep coming out' to help battle homophobia, as he gets set to tie the knot with his American partner.

The number of Internet newspapers has mushroomed from one to eight over the past two years, with new titles appearing in Chinese, Malay and English.

'The worst-case scenario is to deny me bail and have a quick conviction,' Anwar paints a grim picture ahead of his sodomy trial due to start in two weeks.

Will the Jan 17 Kuala Terengganu by-election pit BN’s Wan Ahmad Farid against PAS’ Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi? All will be revealed this weekend.

The premier argued that the passage of his two ‘reform' Bills without having to amend the federal constitution showed that his government was not as weak as claimed by some people.

The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill was rubber-stamped by the MPs through voice voting despite various concerns over its constitutionality and independence.

MPs from Sabah are saying that the Judicial Appointments Commission has 'betrayed' the spirit of the federal constitution.

In dismissing the concerns of critics, the government is arguing that prosecutory powers in the new anti-corruption commission are not solely in the hands of the AG.

parliament snippets Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia denies claims that a group of BN MPs submitted a letter to him to protest over how two 'reform' Bills are being rushed through.

roundup While the opposition MPs were asking for more powers for the commission and pointing out several areas that needed to be refined, the backbenchers argued that the current proposal was good enough.

updated 4.45pm The Pakatan Rakyat leader has given conditional support to the proposed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Bill, expressing reservations to several provisions.

The amendments to the restrictive university law were passed this evening after opposition MPs failed in their final attempt to push for the rights of university students to join politics.

parliament snippets From May 2007 to July 2008, the electricity bill for the new court complex in Jalan Duta has exceeded RM5 million.

An opposition MP has lambasted the astronomical sum paid as rental and maintenance fee for the prime minister’s official residence, equivalent to more than RM16,000 a day.

What Dong Jiao Zong plans to do regarding the language-switch policy is 'meaningless', says Hishammuddin Hussein.

parliament The premier reveals that his official residence cost the government RM6 million a year in rental and maintenance.

The proposed MCMC will not have direct authority to initiate prosecution against those suspected of corrupt practice, putting paid to hopes that it will operate with a free hand.

The prime minister will have extensive powers over the proposed Judicial Appointments Council, from selection of commission members to judges.

The much-awaited Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption and the Judicial Appointments Commission bills were tabled for first reading in Parliament today.

updated 7.50pm Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said that PPP is free to leave BN since the government has no intentions of amending the ISA.

MPs will have little time to study two key bills that will create bodies to tackle corruption and judicial appointments respectively. These are expected to be passed next Thursday.

Influential Chinese education movement Dong Jiao Zong has given the government an ultimatum - discontinue the teaching of Science and Maths in English or face a massive nationwide protest.

Hanafi Hamat denies rumours of being slapped with a six-month suspension and insists that he is still president of the party.

Teratai state rep and DAP pretty face Jenice Lee Ying Ha became the party's first women deputy youth chief today after she beat a male challenger for the post.

Zaid Ibrahim states that his sacking underscores the fact that Umno leaders are not open to the ideas of change which he advocates.

updated 2.15pm The recently-sacked Umno member says he wants to concentrate on his foundation which he set up in October. [VIDEO INSIDE]

PKR Congress round-up While the thumbs went up for the logistics, observers and some delegates however appeared a little disappointed with the matters raised during the three-day event.

PKR Congress The opposition party appears to be unclear about its stand on the call to restore immunity for the Malay rulers.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng does not rule out the possibility that his deputy from PKR, Mohamad Fairus Khairuddin, may be replaced.