KL wants top OIC job, but not for PM<\/p>\n
MALAYSIA: Malaysia said on Thursday it would propose a candidate
\nto become secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic
\nConference (OIC), but it would not be Prime Minister Mahathir
\nMohamad, who retires on Oct. 31.<\/p>\n
The OIC post falls vacant next year when Abdelouahed Belkeziz
\nsteps down, and speculation has rumbled on -- despite Mahathir's
\nown denial of any interest in the role -- that the government
\nwould push him for the job.<\/p>\n
Foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said the Malaysian candidate
\nwould be an \"experienced and qualified\" person, but added firmly
\nthat there was no chance of it being a former prime minister,
\nBernama news agency reported.<\/p>\n
Malaysia takes over the chair of the 57-member grouping of
\nMuslim nations this month, when it hosts the OIC summit at the
\nnew administrative capital of Putrajaya, some 35 kilometers from
\nKuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
Iraq, Syria and the Palestinian problem loom over the OIC
\nagenda, in what will be the organization's first summit since the
\nSept. 11 attacks on the United States in 2001.<\/p>\n
The summit begins with senior officials on Saturday, with
\nleaders to meet from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18. United Nations
\nSecretary-General Kofi Annan is scheduled to attend, along with
\nup to 30 heads of state. -- Reuters<\/p>\n
;AP;ANJ;
\nANPAu..r..
\nAglance-Thailand-APEC
\nCabbies, street vendors learn English
\nJP\/11\/ASEAN<\/p>\n
Cabbies, street vendors learn English<\/p>\n
THAILAND: A campaign to clean up Bangkok ahead of a summit of
\ninternational leaders speaks volumes about Thailand's famed
\nhospitality. Now city officials want taxi drivers and street
\nvendors to speak just a few words -- in English.<\/p>\n
Bangkok officials are teaching street workers simple English
\nphrases to use with dignitaries and other guests visiting the
\nThai capital for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
\nmeeting from Oct. 20 to Oct. 21.<\/p>\n
\"Today 40 vendors are taking English lessons in a joyful
\nmood,\" Wimol Jamongbutr, chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan
\nAuthority's Informal Education Division, told The Associated
\nPress.<\/p>\n
\"I am confident they will learn some simple English in time to
\ngreet the APEC delegates,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Taxi drivers and vendors will attend classes for a week
\nstarting on Thursday.<\/p>\n
About 145 taxi drivers have already been trained.<\/p>\n
Wimol said the \"taxi drivers would be able to talk to
\nforeigners after one week's training\" and would \"make passengers
\nfeel impressed\". -- AP<\/p>\n
;REUTERS;ANJ;
\nANPAu..r..
\nAglance-Thailand-Singapore
\nMan held on possible plan to harm Goh
\nJP\/11\/ASEAN<\/p>\n
Man held on possible plan to harm Goh<\/p>\n
THAILAND: Thai police said on Thursday they have arrested a
\nSingaporean on suspicion he may have been planning to harm
\nSingapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in Bangkok during this
\nmonth's Asia-Pacific summit.<\/p>\n
National police chief Sant Sarutanont told reporters a
\npreliminary investigation showed the man had sent e-mails from an
\nInternet cafe at his Bangkok apartment building in which he
\nthreatened to harm the Singapore leader.<\/p>\n
Sant said the man denied any intention to attack Goh who,
\nalong with U.S. President George Bush, will be in Bangkok for the
\nOct. 20 and Oct. 21 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.<\/p>\n
\"We have sufficient evidence to press many charges related to
\nthe sending of messages threatening a government leader,\" Sant
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He said it was possible the detained man was mentally
\ndisturbed.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh told reporters he
\ndid not believe the man was connected with any terrorist group.<\/p>\n
\"This was apparently motivated by a desire to disrupt events
\nand he may have some mental problems,\" Chavalit said. --Reuters<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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