22 November 2001 Media Statement

Death of King of Malaysia

“The death of the King of Malaysia the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong XI, on Wednesday 21 November marks a sad day for our close neighbour Malaysia and for New Zealand,” Acting Prime Minister Jim Anderton said today.

The King, the former Sultan of the State of Selangor, was elected by the Malaysian Conference of Rulers on April 26 1999 and had held office since 23 September 1999.

“It had been hoped that the King and Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong would make a State visit to New Zealand in January next year and I am saddened that we will be unable to welcome their Majesties here. It had been the King’s personal wish to visit New Zealand.

“We extend our greatest sympathy to the Royal Family, in particular to Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong, and also to the Government and people of Malaysia at this time of national mourning.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>