KL arrests opposition activists

KL arrests opposition activists

MALAYSIA: Police arrested three leaders of the Islamic opposition party and 46 supporters during an unlawful gathering on Thursday night, the official Bernama news agency reported on Friday.

Among those arrested was Mohamad Sabu, deputy chief of Parti Islam se-Malaysia's (PAS) youth wing. All 49 were released on police bail on Friday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday accused teachers in some Islamic schools in Malaysia of encouraging violence to oust his government.

"Like in Pakistan, these religious schools do not teach religion but teach how to topple the government using violence," Mahathir told reporters before leaving Malaysia to attend the World Economic Forum in New York. --Agencies

;REUTERS;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Thailand-collapse Eight Thais killed in factory collapse JP/9/ASEAN

Eight killed in factory collapse

THAILAND: At least eight Thai workers were killed and more than 50 injured on Friday when part of the factory where they were working an overnight shift collapsed, police and rescue workers said.

Officials said the accident at the Delta Electronics Plc. factory caused estimated material damage of five million to 10 million baht (US$113,700-$227,500) and would put the plant out of action for at least a month.

Police said about 100 Delta employees were working in a section of the plant where the ceiling collapsed, raining heavy steel beams and concrete debris down on the workers below.

Delta Executive Director Anusorn Muttaraid said the cause of the collapse was being investigated. He said the accident had suspended Delta's export-oriented production of switching power supply (SPS) and monitors. --Reuters

;REUTERS;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Vietnam-crash Vietnam rescues foreign sailors, fears oil spill JP/9/ASEAN

Vietnam rescues foreign sailors

VIETNAM: Naval forces have rescued all 19 Indonesian crew of a Singapore-registered ship that sank off the country's central coast this week but a local official said on Friday he feared the prospect of an oil spill.

An official at the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province said the Uni Raya Glory sank on Tuesday one kilometer off the coast of the province. It was carrying timber from to Singapore from China and is now 20 meter under water.

Khanh Hoa is home to Nha Trang beach, a famous recreation spot for U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War.

Vo Thien Lang, head of the Khanh Hoa Seafood Department, said the ship sank near a seafood production area and there was the risk of an oil spill. --Reuters