In the news today

NST: Women warned of rape gang on the prowl:

SHAH ALAM: Women have been advised to be extra careful when travelling alone as police believe there is a gang preying on them.

This follows two recent incidents where the victims were abducted, gang-raped and robbed before they were released.

The victims were abducted early in the morning while travelling alone.

Be aware.

The Star: One number for distressed folk to call for help:

PUTRAJAYA: 15999 – this is the number to call if you are a victim of domestic violence, child abuse or a natural disaster.

This hotline, called Talian Nur, will be the lifeline providing early intervention for these victims.

This is actually a really good idea. Right up there with one emergency number (999). I cannot stress how stupid the previous system of different numbers was.

Apparently they've had TeleDera and Healthline for a while on separate numbers, and they've just consolidated them. And we all know who Talian Nur is named after.

The Star: Cinemas allowed 'with conditions':

KOTA BARU: After the last cinema was closed down in 1995, the state government is now willing to consider allowing them or cineplexes.

However, only movies with strong moral values could be screened.

And they're wondering why people are leaving the country. Pfft. Oh get this (from the same article):

State Education Committee chairman Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said that the state had not banned cinemas or cineplexes but that they died a “natural death” due to the advent of VCDs, DVDs and the Internet.

Not banned. Riiiiiiight.

The Star: PAS and UMNO offer to help woman:

KOTA BARU: The conviction of a 24-year-old woman in China has drawn the concern of both PAS and Umno, which said that they were ready to pay for the expenses for her parents to go to Guangzhou to see her.

PAS said it would also foot the legal expenses and engage a defence lawyer in China for Umi Azlim Mohamad Lazim (pic), who has been sentenced to death by a High Court there for trafficking in 2,983gm of heroin.

Malaysia's very own Schapelle Corby. Except this time, she's not allowed to leave the jail to go shopping.