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Weekly news round-up: Anwar Ibrahim, falling student enrolments and King Tut

Karen Poh

Mon Apr 11 2011

Anwar-Ibrahim

IN OUR news wrap this week, we don’t just want to tell you about what’s been happening in events near and far. We want to hear your thoughts on the state of Malaysian politics, falling student enrolments in Melbourne and why, and whether the King Tut exhibition which has drawn millions of visitors overseas is worth your while.

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Malaysia politics

MALAYSIA’S opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is in the spotlight again.

Still on trial for sodomising a male aide (a story freakishly similar to another case in 1998, where he spent six years in jail until an appeal court overturned his conviction in 2004), a new sex scandal has broken involving Mr Ibrahim. This time, a sex video that was allegedly filmed on February 21 purporting to show Mr Ibrahim having sex with a prostitute.

Regardless of the veracity of the sex video, Mr Ibrahim has been left to squirm in a mire of allegations (see Malaysian newspaper The Star’s report, on A leader in distress).

And beyond the damage inflicted on Mr Ibrahim’s personal reputation, it has also cast a dark shadow over the country’s reputation as a whole.

The issue has invited criticism from media commentators including The Economist (Hitting below the belt, sordid politics in Malaysia) and Voice of America (Anwar Sodomy Trial Hurts Malaysia’s Reputation), and local action groups (Appalled by gutter politics in Malaysia, a letter published in Malaysia Kini).

Do you follow Malaysia politics? What are you perspectives?

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Falling student enrolments

We’re interested to know why you chose Melbourne as your study destination of choice. And if you could choose again, would you choose any differently?

The Age recently published a report on falling international student enrolments. Vocational institutions offering courses like cooking and hairdressing were the most affected. Indian student enrolments were also down.

Many reasons have been given for the decline, including changes to Australia’s migration policy; a strong Australian dollar and the associated high costs of living, making countries like the United States more price competitive; and the hit Australia had taken from controversies surrounding the attacks on Indian students in recent years.

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Now showing: King Tut

And finally, it may be worth your while to head down to the Melbourne Museum to find out why millions of visitors in the United States and Europe have flocked to see the Tutankhamun exhibition.

The exhibition comes to Australia for the first time and Melbourne Museum is the only Australian venue to host the exhibition.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMovf5MAtm4[/youtube]

You’ll get a chance to revel in the splendour of Ancient Egypt, peek inside the boy king’s tomb, see his golden canopic coffinette and the crown found on his head when the tomb was discovered, view results from the latest scientific testing conducted on Tutankhamun’s mummy and find out what it is telling researchers about his life and death.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is a timed-ticket exhibition, which means you will be asked to choose a date and time you would like to see the exhibition. Tickets to the exhibition are cheaper during off-peak hours, i.e. Monday to Friday before 6pm. Prices are $28.50 off-peak, and $32 during peak hour, if you are a full-time student.

Visit http://www.kingtutmelbourne.com.au/ for more information.

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