Isnin, 5 September 2011

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Malaysian exhibitors showcase garden furniture at Cologne Fair

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:10 PM PDT

Frankfurt: The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), is showcasing their products at the prestigious Cologne garden furniture trade fair called SPOGA which runs from September 4 to 6.


The Malaysian products on display at the Cologne show include garden, terrace and balcony furniture, garden decorations, cushions for camping and garden furniture and others.

Although the Malaysian exhibitors are participating on their own, the Frankfurt-based Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said that it would be providing any support they may need.

"This is an important event for the garden furniture trade and, if I am not mistaken, it is the biggest show of its kind worldwide," Matrade Commissioner in Germany, Mohd Sabri Abd Rahman, told Bernama during a recent interview.


Export statistics provided by Sabri revealed that Malaysia's worldwide exports of furniture, wooden and other non-specific products during the first five months of the year amounted to 201.653 million euros, a 5.77 per cent decline compared with the same period a year ago.

The United States of America continued to be Malaysia's biggest market for this product category, absorbing some 50.458 million euros worth of products in the first five months of the current year, down 24.41 per cent from the same period last year.

Other important markets in the top 10 importing nations in the sequence of order were Japan, Singapore, the U.K., Australia, Canada, UAE, Saudi Arabia, France and Germany.

Sabri attributed the decline in Malaysia's exports of garden furniture and accessories to the slow economic recovery in many traditional markets.

"Expectations of continuing strong economic growth in Germany, for example, were dashed when the second quarter growth came in at a disappointing 0.1 percent.

"Indeed, forecast from all the major economic institutes had predicted growth rates ranging from 0.2 per cent to 0.8 per cent. Nevertheless, Gross Domestic Product growth for 2011 as a whole is still expected to exceed 3 percent," Sabri said.

Malaysian businessmen visiting German trade fairs have expressed concern over the economic uncertainties in many European countries, including Germany, plagued by the ongoing Euro crisis.

"We have been seeing both positive and negative business and economic news about Germany in recent weeks, some of which may affect trade levels with Malaysia.

"Local developments are, however, overshadowed by the ongoing Euro crisis arising from very high indebtedness in several Euro-zone member countries," said Sabri.

According to Ifo, a German economic research institute, business confidence in Germany had dropped sharply in August amid fears that an overall slowdown in the global economy would negatively impact German exports.

Despite the macro-economic uncertainties that characterise the present business mood in Germany, Malaysia's exports to Germany surged 29 per cent in the January-May period of this year.

German imports from around the world grewat a slower rate of 19 per cent.

Sabri predicted that based on the current slowdown in Germany's economic activity, Malaysia's export growth rate will not attain the record growth of 40 per cent of 2010, though Malaysia's exports will grow at "an above-average level".

Sabri also believed that the present troubles faced by high-tech companies such as Infineon and Q-Cells will probably lead to an even greater transfer of production from Germany to Malaysia. -- BERNAMA

Djokovic in all-Serb clash, Federer, Tsonga through

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 11:04 PM PDT

NEW YORK: World number one Novak Djokovic set up an all-Serbian quarter-final at the US Open on Monday, while Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga advanced to a Grand Slam rematch.


Djokovic, who has lost just two matches in a spectacular season that has seen him win the Australian Open and Wimbledon as he surged to number one, defeated Alexandr Dolgopolov 7-6 (16/14), 6-4, 6-2 to advance to a last-eight meeting with friend and Davis Cup teammate Janko Tipsarevic.

Third-seeded Federer dismantled unseeded Argentinian Juan Monaco 6-1, 6-2, 6-0 to line up a clash with France's Tsonga, the man who rallied from two sets down to beat him in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Tsonga, the 11th seed, doused the hopes of eighth-seeded American Mardy Fish 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.


Their three-hour, 43-minute tussle on the Arthur Ashe court helped ensure that Federer didn't take the court until shortly before midnight.

Federer and Monaco also had to wait out the protracted battle between women's world number one Caroline Wozniacki and former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Once they had, a focused Federer appeared determined not to stay up any later than he had to.

He won the first set in 18 minutes and by the time it was all over he had blasted 42 winners — including 14 aces — past the hapless Monaco.

After breaking Monaco in the opening game of the second set, Federer won the next game with four straight aces.

"It's only a game, only a few points, but it's nice to win it that way," Federer said.

"It's tough for Juan," Federer said. "I've been in his position before. I thought he fought bravely. Sometimes it's not your time — tonight it was mine."

Tsonga and Fish, in contrast, battled for almost four hours, both finding the going tough in the swirling afternoon winds.

"Today was just really difficult because of Mardy, of course, because of the wind, because of all the conditions," said Tsonga, who also beat Federer in Montreal in August.

For Fish, playing his first Grand Slam as America's top-ranked man, it was a bitter pill to swallow after a hardcourt victory and two finals appearances in the build-up to the US Open.

Djokovic, playing out on the smaller Louis Armstrong Stadium, also struggled with the wind and with the unpredictable Dolgopolov in the early going, needing six set points — and saving four — to claim the marathon first-set tiebreaker.

"I was confused on the court the first set," admitted Djokovic, who nevertheless notched his 61st match victory of the year with relative ease.

"I think it was exciting for the crowd to watch because it was very close," he said. "But I think it was game-wise an ugly first set because I wasn't happy with the way I played."

Ugly or not, the packed house loved it, and Djokovic said he was happy to play a match on the more intimate Armstrong court.

"Sometimes it's really nice to be on the smaller court where the crowd is closer to the court where you can feel them."

Two straight forehand errors from Djokovic gave Dolgopolov a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker.

A favorable net cord helped Djokovic take the next point to launch a run of five straight, and he finally finished it off when Dolgopolov sent a forehand long.

From there Djokovic was in control, opening each of the next two sets with service breaks and rolling home from there.

Djokovic said it would be difficult to play Tipsarevic in the quarter-finals, but the match-up has an upside.

"There's going to be a Serbian in the semi-finals, which is great for our country," he said.

Tipsarevic, 27, reached the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time, his 20 aces helping him prevail in a baseline battle against former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), 6-5, 6-2.

The quarter-final lineup will be completed on Tuesday, when defending champion and second seed Rafael Nadal takes on unseeded Gilles Muller of Luxembourg and world number four Andy Murray tackles young American Donald Young.

Fifth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain faces America's former world number one Andy Roddick, and French 12th seed Gilles Simon meets big-serving American John Isner. -- AFP

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Back to Somalia

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 10:37 AM PDT

Back to Somalia

2011/09/06
By Elvina Fernandez
news@nst.com.my

Putera 1Malaysia Club to set up camp dedicated to Noramfaizul

KUALA LUMPUR: The Putera 1Malaysia Club will return to Somalia next month to continue its humanitarian efforts there.


Club president Datuk Azeez Abdul Rahim said the details were being finalised.


"We learn from every mission and the club will improve safety measures. We want to set up a 1Malaysia camp dedicated to Noramfaizul (Mohd Nor, the BernamaTV cameraman who was shot dead in Mogadishu)," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Azeez said, so far, about half of the recent mission team members were prepared to return to Somalia.


"They are prepared emotionally, mentally and physically to go back there." He dismissed the need for counselling to help participants cope with emotional instability or trauma from the incident.


"They are coping fine with the incident." Azeez said there was a medical team, headed by Dr Alwi Abdul Rahman, providing emotional support to participants.

He said comments and suggestions from various quarters would be taken into account as there was room for improvement before the next mission departed.


"We have an open mind to criticisms but the public has to also recognise our sacrifices.


"We did not carry out the mission for money or fame, but to bring humanitarian aid there.

"It was on a voluntary basis and purely a humanitarian effort."

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More want to sign up for club's next mission

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 10:36 AM PDT


KUALA LUMPUR: No one was more fearful of something untoward happening in Somalia than Putera 1Malaysia Club president Datuk Abdul Azeez Rahim.

"The night before the flight, during a briefing, I kept telling the media personnel that if anyone wanted to step down, they could do so. Nobody did.

"I even gave blank cheques, credit cards, ATM cards with pin numbers to my wife before I left. I, too, have young children at home, and I made the necessary preparations in the event that I would die, because I was certain that if anyone was going to be shot in Somalia, it would be me," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.


Despite the immense backlash he had faced, the allure of signing up for humanitarian missions in conflict areas was still very much alive.

Azeez said he received more than 50 text messages from the public, including media, asking if they could join him and the club on its next mission.

He also hit out at his detractors, who were calling for Umno Youth to be held responsible for the death of BernamaTV cameraman Noramfaizul Mohd Nor.


"This has nothing to do with Umno Youth. Putera 1Malaysia Club is purely a non-governmental organisation with a membership comprising various races.

"People are trying to draw parallels between the club and Umno just because I am a supreme council member of the party."

Azeez said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had come to the Subang air force base on Sunday not because of his affiliation with the party.


"They were there because they were proud of their fellow citizens who contributed to needy countries, representing Malaysia and bearing the Malaysian flag."

On an online news portal report quoting Noramfaizul's uncle, Abu Bakar Md Yasin, demanding that the club take responsibility for his nephew's death, Azeez said he had spoken to the uncle last night and he was satisfied with his explanation.

"Noramfaizul's parents also told me that they accepted their son's death and thanked me and Datuk Seri Najib Razak for our concern," he said.

Earlier in the morning, Azeez, who appeared on RTM's Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia programme alongside Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, said he was informed by the insurance company that RM200,000 would be paid out to Noramfaizul's family.

He slammed critics who labelled him "unpatriotic" for not focusing on helping those in need at home first, adding that the club had placed 11 ambulances with 11 volunteer doctors and 66 paramedics on highways to assist balik kampung motorists involved in accidents.

He also criticised DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang for calling the mission a publicity stunt.

"Lim's statement is wrong. Ask DAP to do one dangerous mission and see if they'll do it or not."

Azeez also shared his account of what transpired during the incident.

Rais said the club had done everything according to procedures, but the current standard operating procedures should be fine-tuned to prevent mishaps in the future.

He said among the things that need to be looked at were the preparations for a particular mission, depending on whether it was related to natural disasters or an area of conflict.

He said it was also important for the organisers to take out special insurance policies for its participants.

Azeez said a team, comprising Malaysian ambassador to Libya Datuk Zulkifli Yaacob and a military intelligence officer holding the rank of colonel, had done reconnaissance of the area prior to the mission, adding that the club had gone a step further to insure everyone although they had signed indemnity forms.

Rais said volunteers and media personnel who had participated in humanitarian missions overseas could share their experiences with future mission participants and assist the Tun Abdul Razak Broadcasting and Information Institute (IPPTAR) in coming up with a syllabus on covering conflict zones.

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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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CIMB cut to 'hold', stock slides

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 06:18 PM PDT

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Malaysia's second-largest bank, fell the most in more than a week in Kuala Lumpur trading after BNP Paribas SA downgraded the stock to "hold" from "buy."

The stock slid 1.6 percent to RM7.28 at 9:05 a.m. local time, set for its steepest decline since Aug. 26. -- Bloomberg

DXN jumps on buyout offer

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 06:16 PM PDT

DXN Holdings Bhd, a Malaysian manufacturer of health-food supplements and products, rose to a record in Kuala Lumpur trading after receiving a buyout offer from its controlling shareholders at RM1.75 per share.

The stock jumped 36.4 per cent to RM1.63 at 9:06 a.m. local time. -- Bloomberg

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Badminton: Round 2 for peace talks

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 05:15 PM PDT

2011/09/06
Ajitpal Singh
ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my


IT turned out be an anti-climax at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) yesterday regarding the dispute between the BA of Malaysia (BAM) and professional pair Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen.

The OCM Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) committee, through its mediators Seumas Tan and Wong Lu Peen, met with both parties for nearly four hours before deciding to have a second session on Sept 13.

ADR committee chairman Datuk Roy Rajasingham said both parties had asked for an extension as they wanted to discuss and deliberate on their own, two outstanding issues.


"Both parties want to be prepared to see whether all requests and options that one party has given is acceptable to the other," said Roy at the OCM office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"However, I am confident this issue will be resolved as both parties want to carry on with other matters."

It is believed that four issues -- selection criteria, public apology, compensation (tournaments) and sparring sessions -- were discussed yesterday.


Roy, bound by an oath of secrecy, declined to reveal details on the issues discussed.

Teik Chai-Bin Shen, who were dropped by BAM for last month's World Championships despite qualifying on merit, had sent a letter to OCM claiming that they had been unfairly treated and victimised by the national body.

BAM selected third ranked Zakry Latif-Hoon Thien How, who were eliminated in the second round in London, ahead of Teik Chai-Bin Shen.


The World No 26 pair had also sent a letter to BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh regarding the matter.

BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai had suggested in a letter to the Kedah BA and Selangor BA on July 27 calling for an inquiry regarding the two players.

The inquiry was to be followed by disciplinary action but both the Kedah and Selangor BAs were against taking any action.

BAM had offered to sponsor Teik Chai-Bin Shen for one tournament as compensation but the pair turned it down.

They had played in 16 tournaments to earn ranking points to qualify for the world meet.

When asked about selection criteria, Roy said associations had prerogative powers as stipulated in its constitution in regard to internal matters.

"However, if one party feels injustice has been done, then they can take action in accordance to the law," Roy added.

Football / Malaysia Cup: Kelantan desperate to sign another goalkeeper

Posted: 05 Sep 2011 05:10 PM PDT

2011/09/06
Zainuddin Muhammad
nstsport@nstp.com.my


Shahrizan Ismail  will keep goal for Kelantan today.

Shahrizan Ismail will keep goal for Kelantan today.

KELANTAN are back in the hunt for a goalkeeper after their request to have Khairul Fahmi Che Mat for the Malaysia Cup group matches was turned down by the FA of Malaysia.

Team manager Azman Ibrahim, who received confirmation on the matter from FAM secretary general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad on Sunday, said the team had no choice but to look for a replacement goalkeeper.

"At the moment, only Shahrizan Ismail is fit enough to play as Halim Napi and Norhadi Ubaidillah are still recovering from injuries," Azman said at a Hari Raya reception at his residence in Kota Baru on Sunday.


"Khairul Fahmi will not be available for at least four matches and it is too big a risk to play without a good reserve keeper on the bench."

Azman said one of the reserve Olympic squad goalkeepers could be available to play for Kelantan in Khairul Fahmi's absence.

"But we have not decided on any particular goalkeeper just yet as we are still looking for the best on-loan goalkeeper.


"Chances are, we should be able to survive without Khairul Fahmi for at least first four matches but that is only if nothing happen to Shahrizans early in the tournament."

Kelantan, who are Malaysia Cup defending champions, are drawn in Group C with Johor FC, Felda United and Sarawak.

"We are not in any hurry to bring in a replacement goalkeeper as we do not have a deadline to meet. We will probably decide after our match against Sarawak on Tuesday (today).


"What we have here is a special case and we have permission from FAM to sign up a goalkeeper of choice any time before or during the Malaysia Cup competition," he said.

Meanwhile, captain Badri Radzi said even without Khairul Fahmi, Kelantan are ready to defend the Malaysia Cup they won for the first time last season.

"I am not trying to be cocky and with due respect to the other teams, I just feel that Kelantan are good enough to go all the way again," he said.

"With new on-loan signings Azammuddin Mohd Akil and R. Surendran adapting well, we ought to be stronger than before."

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UNITY IN CELEBRATION

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 06:51 AM PDT

2011/09/04
By Chuah Bee Kim


Malaysians from all walks of life throng Menteri Besar's Hari Raya open house

THOUSANDS thronged the official residence of Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman on the first day of Hari Raya last week.

Ghani and his wife Prof Datin Dr Jamilah Ariffin warmly greeted the guests who started arriving at 10am.


In the spirit of 1Malaysia, many non-Muslim guests comprising dignitaries and the public were in good cheer even though some had to park their vehicles quite a distance away.

Melinda Soh, 27, arrived at the open house only to find that she could not find a parking spot near the residence.

However, Soh was far from disappointed.


"I don't mind the walk. In fact, I have anticipated the crowd.

"It's not every day that one gets to meet the Menteri Besar and take pictures inside his residence," said Soh from Skudai.

A photography buff, Soh who was clad in a baju kurung, came armed with a camera.


"I will probably upload the photos on Facebook to let my friends know that I spent my Hari Raya holidays at the Menteri Besar's house," she said.

Another guest, Y. S. Tan, 39, said he and his family usually spent the first day of Hari Raya at the Sultan of Johor's open house.

However, since the sultan was not having an open house at the palace due to refurbishment works this year, Tan was prompted to come to the Menteri Besar's residence.

"I am glad I read the newspaper early this morning, otherwise I would have gone to the Istana Pasir Pelangi and Istana Besar. It has been my Hari Raya routine for as long as I can remember."

"But this year, since there was no Hari Raya do at both the palaces, I am here at the Saujana for the first time," he said.

Tan, of Taman Century, added that his family, particularly his 10-year-old son, seemed to be enjoying the food which comprised a host of local delights ranging from lemang to mee goreng and satay.

There was also a vast variety of beverages, desserts and snacks which left guests spoilt for choice.

Another guest R. Suresh, 40, of Taman Perling, was at the Raya open house with his wife and two children.

"I am meeting my brother and my parents at the Menteri Besar's open house.

"This is what we normally do. We will come here to have a reunion, of sorts," he said.

Suresh, who works in Singapore, said he hardly had the time to meet his parents when he was working, so the Hari Raya do provided an opportunity for the family to meet and enjoy a sumptuous treat at the same time.

Many guests were seen leaving the gathering beaming with delight and some guests were spotted carrying takeaways.

Company aims to meet needs of the less fortunate more regularly

Posted: 04 Sep 2011 06:32 AM PDT

2011/09/04
By Shenton Thomas De Silva


Century Total Logistics staff, while visiting a family in Kluang, are seen here helping wheelchair-bound stroke victim Robia Kiwon put on a new sarong. — Picture by Shenton Thomas De Silva

Century Total Logistics staff, while visiting a family in Kluang, are seen here helping wheelchair-bound stroke victim Robia Kiwon put on a new sarong. — Picture by Shenton Thomas De Silva

LOGISTICS company Century Total Logistics Sdn Bhd in Johor Baru recently visited 60 hardcore poor families living in Kluang, Machap, Renggam and Ulu Benut, among other areas in the state, as part of its annual Ramadan charity programme.

The company presented cash and kind to the families during the visits.

Century Total Logistics executive director, Datuk Jaafar Mohamad, said the company intends to reach out to underprivileged people more regularly.


"After this visit, we will follow up with individuals or groups with other special needs.

"We would also conduct repair work on homes and help the residents with finding employment, for example," he said.

Jaafar added he was proud to see his staff go out of their way to help those who are less fortunate.


"Several years ago, I had a staff member who spent Hari Raya Aidilfitri with a couple who were abandoned by their own flesh and blood. I'm proud of this person," he said.

The annual programme by Century Total Logistics has always uncovered many sad stories, and this year's programme was no exception.

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