KL restaurants boycott Coca-Cola
KL restaurants boycott Coca-Cola
MALAYSIA: About 1,200 Malaysian restaurants have stopped selling
Coca-Cola to protest what they consider a symbol of Western
oppression of Muslims, a coalition of Islamic non-governmental
organizations said on Tuesday.
The boycott is meant to "send a signal that Muslims will not
tolerate Western efforts ... to trample on the rights of Muslims
in Palestine, Iraq and anywhere else in the world", said Ma'amor
Osman, secretary-general of the Muslim Consumers Association of
Malaysia.
The campaign against the soft drink giant is expected to last
three months. The consumer body and at least 30 other non-
governmental groups that have banded together in the campaign
will then select another Western business to boycott, Ma'amor
told a news conference.
A spokesman for Coca-Cola Malaysia said he could not
immediately comment on the claim that the restaurants had ceased
selling its soft drinks. --AP
;DPA;KOD;
ANPAu..r..
Aglance-Philippines-Dinner
Town mayor suffers fatal heart attack during dinner with Arroyo
JP/12/ASEAN
Mayor collapses at dinner with Arroyo
PHILIPPINES: The mayor of a southern Philippine town suffered a
fatal heart attack during a pre-Christmas dinner with President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the presidential palace, a spokesman
said on Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said Narcisita Moran,
mayor of Jabonga town in Agusan del Norte province, 654
kilometers south of Manila, collapsed during the dinner at the
Malacanang Palace late on Monday.
A presidential security guard officer said Moran, who was in
her late 50s, was immediately given first aid by in-house doctors
before she was rushed to the nearby Manila Medical Center.
Tiglao said the pre-Christmas gathering was organized as part
of efforts by Arroyo to keep in touch with local leaders,
especially from communities that are remote, and discuss the
problems of their communities. --DPA
;AFP;KOD;
ANPAu..r..
Aglance-Thailand-S'pore
Thailand to hold joint cabinet meeting with Singapore
JP/12/THAILAND
Bangkok, S'pore to hold joint meeting
THAILAND: Thailand and Singapore will hold a joint Cabinet
meeting in January, in the second of a series of planned meetings
with ministers from regional nations, Thai premier Thaksin
Shinawatra said on Tuesday.
"The joint Cabinet meeting will focus on economic issues,"
Thaksin said, adding that the venue for the Jan. 10 to Jan. 12
event had not yet been finalized.
Thailand will hold its first joint Cabinet meeting with
Malaysia on Dec. 22 in the Muslim-majority southern province of
Songkhla.
Thaksin said several Asian countries including Bangladesh had
expressed interest in teaming up with Thailand's Cabinet, but
that neighbors Laos and Cambodia were next on the list.
The meeting with Malaysian ministers is expected to focus on
cooperation in the fishery and tourist industries, and expanding
checkpoints between the two countries. --AFP