Minister calls curb on labor drain KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A Malaysian minister has urged authorities to check a large labor drain to neighboring Singapore, saying some 200,000 locals travel there daily to work. International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz as quoted in Monday's newspapers, called on the state government of southern Johor, bordering Singapore, to set up a task force to reverse the labor drain.

Rotterdam to help work on museums JAKARTA (JP): Following up an earlier agreement, the visiting mayor of Rotterdam Ivo W. Opstelten said he planned to support the preservation of Jakarta's historical sites, especially its museums. "Some experts, including the directors of historical and maritime museums of Rotterdam, will come to Jakarta and give advice (on this matter)," Opstelten said Saturday during a visit to historical buildings here. Rotterdam is one of Jakarta's several sister cities.

Madurese agrees one never enough JAKARTA (JP): 20-year-old Muslim cleric on the East Java island of Madura has won admiration and envy after he married four teenagers in a same-day wedding party. The lucky man, Syamsudin of Bangkalan town, held a lavish party for four consecutive days where relatives and friends were treated with traditional dances, dangdut, an out-door film (layar tancap) and mass prayers.