Isnin, 22 Ogos 2011

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Useful exposure for taekwondo's Chen at Universiade 2011

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 11:09 PM PDT

SHENZHEN: It was a useful exposure for taekwondo exponent Chen Hon Kit who took to the court at the Shenzen Convention and Exhibition Centre on the final day of the 26th World University Games(Universiade) today.


Chen, 21, lost to Sweden's Uno Sanli in the preliminary round of the men's 58-63kg category but said that it was a good exposure for him given that this was his first experience competing in an international arena.

"This experience taught me many new things and this will definitely help me improve my performance in the future," he told Bernama.

Chen believed that he would do better should he be selected to represent the country at the Asean University Games in Laos next year.


The Malaysian contingent ended their challenge at the games here in number 48 out of 152 teams, winning a silver and two bronze from the diving event.

Pandelela Rinong won the silver in the women's 10m platform while the bronze came from the synchronised diving pair of Pandelela and Leong Mun Yee, and from the women's team event. -- BERNAMA

Kunak school hostel razed in midnight fire

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 10:59 PM PDT

TAWAU: A hostel in Sekolah Menengah Agama Kunak, located about 98km from here was destroyed in a fire early today.


Kunak fire and rescue department chief Kamaruddin Sabanah said 12 firemen rushed to the hostel which housed 201 students after they were alerted about the incident at 12.49am.

"The firemen managed to put out the blaze in 20 minutes," he told Bernama.

Kamaruddin said there was no casualty and the cause of fire was being investigated.


Sekolah Menengah Agama Kunak, managed by the Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department, has 221 students, including the 201 who were staying at the hostel. -- BERNAMA

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Both sides display professionalism

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 08:21 AM PDT

2010/10/26
Patrick Sennyah and Aidi Amin
news@nst.com.my


GUA MUSANG: Leaders from both the Barisan Nasional and Pas demonstrated a high level of professionalism during nominations for the Galas state seat today, ensuring a smooth, fast and clean nomination process.

The BN delegation was led by Umno vice-president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Wanita Umno chief, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Wanita MCA chief, Datuk Ng Yen Yen and Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, while the Pas delegation was helmed by its party president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president Azmin Ali and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Both delegations arrived separately and though seated in different tents were seen chatting with each other in a very cordial and peaceful manner.


At one point, Shahrizat was seen leading a delegation of Wanita Umno members to visit the Opposition tent.

There, Shahrizat warmly greeted Hadi Awang, who stood up to greet her, along with Kit Siang and Azmin.

Hadi Awang asked Shahrizat how the recently concluded Umno general assembly had progressed and congratulated her on a smooth and successful assembly.


"It went well. There were no problems and everyone was happy," said Shahrizat, who also took time to ask Kit Siang about his health.

"I'm well ... how about you," asked the DAP stalwart.

The group then spent a few minutes chatting and later returned to their respective camps.


Overall, there was not a single untoward incident and supporters from both sides demonstrated a high level of professionalism.

"We are very happy with how the nominations progressed and hope this same kind of spirit will prevail throughout the campaign period and on polling day also," said Kelantan police chief, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi.

Abdul Rahim has assured both the Barisan Nasional, who will be fielding Abdul Aziz Yusoff, 49, for the seat and Pas' Dr Zulkefli Mohamed,44, that the police will not reject any permits for ceramahs, as long as it is submitted a day earlier.

There were more than 500 supporters on each side and police, who had anticipated large crowds had took steps to place the groups 180 metres apart as opposed to only 60 metres as in previous by-elections.

There was also very smooth traffic flow, with no major disturbances to the locals who were busy on their way to work.

"We did not close any major roads and did our best not to disturb the daily lives of the people here," said Abdul Rahim.

New faces expected in Sarawak election

Posted: 14 Mar 2011 03:12 PM PDT

2010/11/23
By Lian Cheng
news@nst.com.my

KUCHING: The coming state election may see the most number of new faces within the Sarawak Barisan Nasional in its history.

In the past, it has been the practice of BN to maintain the incumbents to ensure political stability - the fewer changes made, the less risk would be at stake.

However, since the last state election in 2006, the general public's mentality seems to have shifted to opt for new blood and younger state representatives, especially after the op position made it a point to recruit young professionals with no historical baggage or even political background to stand as their candidates.


While BN had little time to react to this change in the last state election, this time around, however, one can expect to see BN putting forth new faces to replace some of the incumbents, especially those who did not secure impressive majorities in the last state elections.

Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), for instance, did not wait for the coming election to make known its intention to replace some of the incumbents.

As early as November 2008, its president Tan Sri Taib Mahmud replaced three PBB assistant ministers when reshuffling his Cabinet - Datuk Bolhassan Di (Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communica tion), Datuk Hamden Ahmad (Assistant Minister of Youth as well as Tourism) and Datuk Ambrose Blikau (Assistant Minister of Rural Development as well as Public Utilities).


With growing rumours that a state election would take place March 26 (which coincides with Taib's 30th an niversary as Chief Minister) next year, there are predictions that more than a handful of PBB incumbents would be dropped after Taib's declaration of 30 per cent new faces.

PBB was allocated 35 out of the 71 state seats in the last elections and 30 per cent new faces would mean 10 new candidates, which was also confirmed by party insiders.

Those on top of the list speculated to be dropped are the three dropped assistant minsiters Bolhassan (Beting Maro), Hamden (Belawai) and Blikau (Katibas).


Others included Dr Wahbi Junaidi (Saribas; 94-vote ma jority), Simoi Peri (Lingga; 1870-vote majority), Gramong Juna (Machan; 2,289-vote majority), Frederick Bayoi (Kedup; 1981-vote majority) and Wan Wahap (Sadong Jaya, 858-vote majority).

Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), meanwhile, has been going on its rounds to solve issues, reaching out to young voters and recruiting thousands of them. SUPP has also produced dramas to rekindle among the veteran party members their initial love and sacrifice for the party.

These efforts were taken note of by the Chinese, but initial grassroots feedback seems to indicate no significant impact as yet on Chinese voters.

"Every day, we make it a point to spend time with our voters. We are experiencing a total transformation especially with regards to our candidates," said its president Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam.

SUPP plans to put forth at least 30 per cent new faces and no "recycled candidates". These changes are expected in all the areas it had lost ground previously, such as Padungan, Pending, Batu Lintang, Kidurong, Merandong and Bukit Assek. SUPP has 19 allocated constituencies.

Only one recycled candidate would be expected, namely Datuk Alfred Yap, contesting in Kota Sentosa which he lost by 531 votes to Sarawak DAP secretary general Chong Chieng Jen.

For Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) which has been allocated nine seats, its president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing has stated that there would be at least two new faces, speculated to be at Ngemah and Pelagus.

Ngemah was lost to Gabriel Adit, a former BN member who is now Parti Cinta Malaysia Sarawak state chief.

Pelagus, a seat of dispute due to Larry Sng's expulsion from the party after challenging Masing's presidency, remains a problem that BN needs to solve before the state elections is called.

To Masing, the Pelagus seat is non-negotiable.

Sng, who has been a partyless assistant minister over the last three years, would have to be absorbed by other component parties and contest in another constituency besides Pelagus if he wished to stand under the BN banner.

Speculation is that he would either stand in Meradong, the birthplace of his tycoon father-in-law Tan Sri Ting Phek Kiing, if he is to be absorbed by SUPP; or Meluan, replacing Wong Judat, should he be accepted by Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).

Holding eight seats, SPDP's president Datuk Seri William has said that he would retain all the incumbents.

However, it has been reported that the four state as semblymen within "the disgruntled five" namely Datuk Peter Nansian (Tasik Biru), Rosey Yunus (Bekenu), Sylvester Entri (Marudi) and Paulus Palu Gumbang (Batu Danau) would be replaced with new faces.

"The disgruntled five", which also includes Mas Gading Member of Parliament Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, was given the nickname when they teamed up to call on party president Mawan to resign.

They claimed that Mawan, who is also the State Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation, was influenced by an invisible hand when he did not re-appoint Entri as the party secretary-general.

The five walked out from a SPDP supreme council meeting when Mawan replaced Entri.

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Sunway falls on debut after property merger

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 06:13 PM PDT

Sunway Bhd fell on its debut on the Kuala Lumpur stock exchange after acquiring and merging two property and construction companies.

The stock slid to RM2.64 at 9:05 a.m. local time, lower than the reference price of RM2.80.

Sunway bought Sunway Holdings Bhd and Sunway City Bhd by offering cash and new shares at RM2.80 each.

The share slump on its debut is due mainly to the "global situation," executive chairman Jeffrey Cheah told reporters in Kuala Lumpur today.

"We are quite happy with our share price given the circumstances," he said.

"Markets go up and down. We are not worried too much." -- Bloomberg

KNM drops to 29-month low

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 07:05 PM PDT

KNM Group Bhd, a Malaysian oil and gas services provider, slid to a 29-month low in Kuala Lumpur trading after second-quarter net income fell 23 per cent to RM10.9 million.

The stock dropped 1.4 per cent to RM1.46 at 9:40 a.m. local time, bound for its lowest close since March 20, 2009. -- Bloomberg

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World University Games: Duo secure bronze

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 05:09 PM PDT


 Divers  Leong Mun Yee (left) and Ng Yanyee in action in the women’s 3m synchronised event at the World University Games yesterday.

Divers Leong Mun Yee (left) and Ng Yanyee in action in the women's 3m synchronised event at the World University Games yesterday.

A FIFTH place finish by national divers Leong Mun Yee and Ng Yanyee in the women's 3m synchronised event yesterday helped Malaysia clinch the bronze medal in the women's team event at the World University Games (Universiade), Shenzhen.

Mun Yee-Yanyee, who managed scores of 46.80, 38.40, 62.10, 63.90 and 61.20 for a 272.10 total at the Shenzhen Natatorium, failed to win a medal in their event.

Their mid-table performance, however, helped Malaysia secure third place in the women's team event with 2,336.23 points as a major slip-up could have seen them overtaken by fourth placed Ukraine (2,231.81).


China (2,674) took gold while the United States (2,373.03) finished in second place.

"It was a decent rather than superb performance from us today (yesterday) but we are happy to help the team win the bronze," said Mun Yee.

"Considering the lack of preparation we had for this event and the pressure of competing last, it was also a relief to be able to do it," added Mun Yee.


National diving coach Yang Zhulian said he was pleased with his charges performances at the Games which comes to a close today.

"Actually, we were not aware there was going to be a team event here but I am happy everyone did well and contributed to winning the bronze," said Zhulian.

"With a little more luck in some of the events, we could maybe have got ahead of the United States and won the silver, but unfortunately they (United States) were in good form today (yesterday)."


The men's team, who were at a disadvantage as they did not have a pair competing in the 10m synchronised event, finished sixth with 2,553.38 points.

China were again winners with 3,718.46 points while Ukraine (3,239.83) and Russia (3,239.69) took silver and bronze respectively.

The national diving team contributed all three of the medals won by Malaysia at the Games.

Besides the women's team bronze medal, they also took silver in the women's 10m platform event through Pandelela Rinong and the women's 10m platform synchronised event through Pandelela-Mun Yee.

Football: Yunus: Sime Darby a threat

Posted: 22 Aug 2011 05:07 PM PDT

2011/08/23
Zainuddin Muhammad
nstsport@nstp.com.my


Muar Municipal Council’s Mohd Fitri Omar has joined  T-Team for the Malaysia Cup.

Muar Municipal Council's Mohd Fitri Omar has joined T-Team for the Malaysia Cup.

BEWARE of Sime Darby FC!

That is the advice T-Team coach Yunus Alif has for his Terengganu counterpart Irfan Bakti, who must deal with the Premiership side along with Selangor PKNS and Negri Sembilan in Group B of the Malaysia Cup.

Yunus, who recently saw his side lose to Sime Darby by a solitary goal in a friendly match in Kuala Lumpur, said he would not rule out the club side who routed Pahang 6-0 on aggregate to qualify for the Malaysia Cup, going far in the competition.


"Perhaps we did underestimate them a little in the warm-up match but we certainly did not think that a team who finished fifth in the Premier League could put up a fight like that," said Yunus.

"We were not all bad on our trip to Kuala Lumpur last week as we managed to beat Premier League champions Selangor PKNS 2-0 before winning 1-0 over Felda United FC."

Yunus said new on-loan signings -- Pos Malaysia goalkeeper Mohd Jibrail Kamaron Baharin and Muar Municipal Council striker Mohd Fitri Omar -- had little trouble fitting in with their new teammates.


"They may have plied their trade in the FAM League this season but both players do not look out of place in a Super League team.

"Jibrail stood between the posts when we lost to Sime Darby but he managed to save enough shots to impress me and the rest of the coaching staff.

"Similarly, Fitri, top scorer in the FAM League this year, looked comfortable upfront and was involved in all the goals scored against Selangor PKNS and Felda United FC," said the coach, who thought Fitri made a potent combination with Indra Putra Mahayuddin.


Fitri's convincing performance comes at the right moment as Norfarhan Mohamad has a slight ankle injury.

"We also need to see Fitri playing alongside Haris Safwan Mohd Kamal and we hope to do that when we take on Kelantan in a friendly match in Kota Baru tomorrow (today) or when we play Terengganu on Friday.

"By then, we should be ready to challenge for Malaysia Cup honours and we should be able to steer our way past Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Police in Group D to make the next round."

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CALL TO ARMS

Posted: 21 Aug 2011 05:19 PM PDT

2011/08/21
By Chuah Bee Kim


Engineers urged to join efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding sites

IT is inconceivable that a tiny mosquito can bring a human down, but do not be shocked when you find yourself needing intravenous fluid because of dangerously low blood platelet count, a symptom of dengue fever.

People have also died from the dreaded disease after being bitten by an Aedes aegypti mosquito carrying the dengue virus.


Last year, Johor recorded 3,275 dengue cases, with 446 patients suffering from haemorrhagic fever, and 10 deaths in as many months, compared with only three deaths in 2009.

This year, up till this month, the number of reported dengue patients have gone down substantially with only four deaths in Johor Baru since the beginning of the year, according to the Johor Baru district health office.

The Health Ministry, under its Communication for Behavioural Impact (Combi) programme, in collaboration with the Rotary Steering Committee (RSC), Rotary Club Johor Baru and Rotary Club of Johor Centennial, is creating awareness of the dengue threat and fighting to eradicate the Aedes mosquito.


At a recent seminar co-organised by The Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Southern branch, the Health Ministry and 64 District 3310 Rotary Clubs in Johor, Malacca, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Brunei, 150 participants converged at the Johor Baru City Council auditorium on Level Five of the Johor Tourist Information Centre in Jalan Air Molek in a bid to do their part for the community.

Stulang state assemblyman Mok Chek Hou opened the event with the theme "The Roles of Engineers in Preventing the Spread of Dengue". Also present were Rotary Steering Committee chairman Dr S. Sivamoorthy and IEM branch chairman Mohd Khir Muhammad.

Among the seminar participants were consultants, engineers, scientists, researchers, professors, lecturers, engineering students and regulatory officers in the engineering field.


Among the highlights of the event was a talk by consulting engineer and former public health engineer John Cheah who gave a talk on "Issues Relating to Eradication of the Disease".

Cheah, a Rotarian since 1975, was a Johor Baru City Council city councilor, and is the chairman of Johor Baru Local Goodwill and Relations Comittee as well as chairman of the Board of Visitors to Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru.

He said the dengue problem had to be attacked at its source, which is the moquitoes' breeding grounds.

"The emphasis for dengue prevention is on sustainable, community-based integrated mosquito control.

As mosquitoes tend to reproduce in artificial water containers in and around homes, mosquito control depends a great deal on the participation of the community in reducing the mosquitoes' habitat," Cheah said.

"Preventing an epidemic requires a concerted community effort. We need to educate the public and increase awareness of dengue, recognise it, and control the mosquito that transmits it. Residents are responsible for keeping their yards and gardens free of places where mosquitoes can breed," he said.

Johor Baru district health officer Dr Roslinda Rahman spoke on the "Impact of Dengue in Johor Statistics on Localities and Deaths" in the second session of the seminar.

Dengue fever is a viral infection spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, a species frequently found in or near human habitation and feeds in the daytime.

Sell creativity, not copycat products

Posted: 21 Aug 2011 08:22 AM PDT

2011/08/21
SIM BAK HENG
news@nst.com.my


DOWNTOWN and uptown markets are quite the thing these days.

It began with the uptown market at Bandar Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur, and soon, almost every state copied the concept.

Be it uptown or downtown, these market give small traders an opportunity to carry out their businesses at night.


Some treat their business as their second job to generate additional income, while for others, it is a full-time job.

Unlike night markets, popularly known as pasar malam, no vegetables and meat is allowed to be sold in these markets. Only food and drinks are sold. Perhaps, it keeps the place clean and offers a different outdoor shopping ambience to visitors.

In Johor Baru, the downtown market in Jalan Segget is officially known as JB Bazaar.


The Pandan uptown market is in the outskirts of the city.

In neighbouring Malacca, there is a downtown market called Pahlawan Walk.

All these markets share one common feature -- selling a wide variety of imitation goods ranging from apparel to belts, perfumes and mobile phone accessories.


If visitors were to tour these markets, I am not sure they would be able to buy anything worthy as souvenirs.

Recently, I found my way to Chana Road in Songkhla, Thailand, and was delighted to spot something unique at its weekly Saturday downtown market, adjacent to the ruined city wall.

I visited the market with one purpose in mind -- to search for traders selling handmade souvenir items.

Two years ago, there was a group of traders who sold such items at the foyer of a shopping centre in Hatyai every weekend.

But they had stopped doing so for quite sometime.

Even the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Hatyai office did not know where the traders had gone to.

The shopping centre is called the Idea Market.

This is quite apt as the goods sold there are unique and made by the traders themselves.

In other words, you would not be able to find another item like it anywhere else in the world.

The products, though simple, are appealing and reasonably priced.

But the traders have injected aesthetic value into them in the process of making them.

I found such items at the Chana Road weekend market, although the traders were not as many as the shopping centre in Hatyai.

From mobile phone pouches to decorative lamps, letter boxes, toys, bags and clothes, these so-called "idea products" augur well for the younger generation.

These "idea traders" are always full of surprises when it comes to their products.

They take pride in their creations as every piece is a work of art. This explains why a visit to such a market is such a fascinating experience.

Back in Johor Baru, I can't find such "idea products" in any market. Either the traders have no idea at all, or are not willing to seek ideas.

The JB Bazaar has made the city lively at night, and the Johor Baru City Council deserves credit for that.

Perhaps the council should collaborate with Kraftangan Malaysia to introduce handicrafts to the downtown market for a start.

Sooner or later, the "idea traders" will invade our markets.

When tourists or locals buy the products and proudly show them off to their friends, saying they are from the JB Bazaar, I think it will be a win-win situation for the council, traders and tourism authorities.

Until that day dawns, our traders who sell pirated goods had better hide their stock from the public's view because any raid by the authorities will be a big embarrassment for the traders and those of us who buy their products.

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