AirAsia Flight QZ8501 with 162 on board goes missing on way to Singapore

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Airline CEO: Unknown if weather was an issue, but pilot asked to fly higher
• Plane went missing over heavily traveled shipping channel, officials say
• 162 people are on board missing flight, including 18 children
• Search operation halted for the night, but big ships won't return to shore

(CNN) -- An AirAsia passenger jet carrying 162 people lost contact with Indonesian air traffic control early Sunday, gripping Southeast Asia with a second missing plane crisis in less than a year.

The search operation for the missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501 has been halted for the night, but big ships won't return to shore and will leave their searchlights on, according to the Indonesian Transportation Ministry.

Before communication was lost, one of the pilots asked to fly at a higher altitude because of bad weather, officials said.

Right to greet all on Christmas Day, says assistant minister

Daud (front row, fourth right) taking a photo with Wilfred (front row, second right) and his family during Christmas open house.

KUCHING: Sending Christmas greetings to the Christian community is not wrong as long as it is not in conflict with Islamic law.

“We can still visit each other to enhance relationship among the multi-races,” said Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman at the Christmas open house of PBB (Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu) Ranting Kampung Sagah secretary Wilfred Benjamin in Jalan Singai, Bau, on Thursday.

Non-Departing Foreigners Given ICs

Kota Kinabalu:    “Reading between the lines, the RCI Report infers that the 229,484 non-departing Indonesians between 1996 and 2000 were given ICs dubiously along with 11,741 Filipinos.   Although there were no figures given for Pakistanis, Indians and other nationalities, it would not be surprising if these non-departing foreigners were also issued ICs dubiously” said Datuk Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, STAR Sabah Chief, commenting on the missing Indonesians and Filipinos that came into Sabah officially but with no records of their departure.            

Pairin, stop procrastinating – Zainnal Ajamain

I made this statement in the recent talks held in Kota Kinabalu “during the recent PBS Congress, the Prime Minister already offered Tan Sri Joseph Pairin the means to get this done – but instead of start cracking to establish the necessary mechanism and getting the necessary powers and authority– PBS went to make a Police Report.  They are more interested to get cheap publicity, instead working to seek solutions – They are more interested to carry out a political event rather than making sure a solid process is established.  Tan Sri Pairin must remember, that offer was made NOT to the President of PBS – but to a Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah – because the problem of illegal immigrants is a Sabah problem NOT PBS problem.”

Johor Catholic priest detained, 30 hymn books with ‘Allah’ seized

Barely has the dust settled on the issue of the seized Bibles in Selangor, a Catholic priest in Muar, Johor, was detained for having 30 copies of a hymn book with the word Allah which were meant for his Orang Asli parishioners.

Father Cyril Mannayagam (pic), 44, said although the police later decided not to pursue the case against him, the hymn books, titled "Kepujian Kepada Tuhan Allah" (Praise be to God) were seized and had yet to be returned to him.