Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

NST Online: Topnews

Posted: 28 Aug 2011 10:38 AM PDT

2011/08/29
By Rozanna Latiff
news@nst.com.my

A taxi whizzes past Times Square in New York City as authorities ordered evacuations and transit shutdowns on Saturday. — Reuters picture

KUALA LUMPUR: As Hurricane Irene battered the east coast of the United States yesterday, Malaysians there were either evacuated or holed up in their homes or hotel rooms, bracing for the worst like the rest around them.

At press time, at least nine people were reported dead as Irene swept in from the Atlantic, in what meteorological agencies said was a "weakened" storm, with wind strength diminished substantially to 120kph, according to wire agencies.

That meant Irene was at the threshold of hurricane status but it still caused widespread damage as lightning, tornadoes and floods were reported all along

most parts of the coast.

Among the Malaysians stuck in New York City, where Irene is the first hurricane in a generation to have hit, were Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi and his family.

Some 370,000 people were ordered to evacuate flood-prone areas in New York, including near Wall Street. Even the underground subway system had been shut, prompting Puad to describe the city as a "ghost town".

He said he and his family were "bracing for the worst" in their hotel rooms while waiting for the storm to pass.

"We've been told to expect tornadoes and flooding. I don't know when my family and I will be able to leave our hotel or the city, as all the airports and road tunnels have been closed," he told the New Straits Times about 5.30am local time (5.30pm in Malaysia).

Puad, who was on a family holiday in the US, said the city's streets had emptied as torrential rain beat down and wind speeds rose.

Puad said he had originally planned to attend a buka puasa gathering with Malaysian students in New York and had just arrived in the city when news of the hurricane broke three days ago.

"Since then, we've been stranded here. Luckily, we have food and supplies."

The family, he said, was staying at the Radisson Hotel, in central New York, and was keeping in close contact with the Malaysian consular-general in the city.

The consulate, Puad said, had informed him that most Malaysian
students in the city had already been evacuated.

However, he was unsure of the situation with students in other affected areas such as New Jersey and Washington, DC.

"It's difficult to get information as communication lines are constantly interrupted. Even the local television stations and news channels have put their programming on hold."

Bernama reported that Malaysian students there and staff of the Malaysian permanent mission to the United Nations had evacuated their homes on Saturday evening.

Among the evacuees were Loh Teck Siong, counsellor and head
of chancery of the mission, and his family.

Loh said he, his wife and 13-year-old son had moved to the mission by 3pm on Saturday.

Joining him at the mission were the Defence Ministry's representative, Wan Nazarudin Wan Ngah, his wife and their three children, aged 6, 9 and 11.

Loh said his home at 10, Waterside Plaza, on 23rd Street in Manhattan, facing the East River, is in the Zone A (prime) evacuation area.

In New Jersey, 20 Malaysian students, who are in their final year of engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, were asked to evacuate on Friday.

Hoboken lies on the west bank of the Hudson River.

The students, who lived outside the institute, had moved in with their Malaysian friends staying within the campus area, said Farhan Hassan, 23, a chemical engineering student.

Police to question Mat Sabu

Posted: 28 Aug 2011 10:28 AM PDT

2011/08/29
By P. Chandra Sagaran and Hariz Mohd
news@nst.com.my

Start reading history books, deputy IGP tells him

KUALA LUMPUR: Pas deputy president Mohamad Sabu will soon be called to give his statement over his alleged remarks that communist terrorists who attacked the Bukit Kepong police station in 1950 were the country's true heroes.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar said police had received at least 43 reports against the opposition politician's speech and were investigating the case under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making a statement that could cause alarm to the public.

"Police are expecting to record his statement soon to facilitate investigations," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, had allegedly made the remarks at a political ceramah in Tasek Gelugor, Penang, on Aug 21.

Khalid said he would like to advise Mohamad to start reading history books before issuing such statements.

"It has not only angered members of the country's security forces but also hurt the feelings of the families of the 16 Bukit Kepong policemen who were
killed in the incident.

"Do not simply say things without understanding the real story
behind it."

It was reported in a Malay daily that Mohamad had allegedly said Muhammad Indera, who helped the communists in the attack, was the real hero and
not the 25 policemen and their family members who defended the station as they were "British officers".

Mohamad had also allegedly said Datuk Onn Jaafar and Tunku Abdul Rahman should not be hailed as icons of the nation's independence as they were officers
for the British administration then.

He had apparently vowed to rewrite the history of the country's independence if the opposition succeeded in taking over the government.

In Ipoh, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Mohamad's alleged remarks were an attempt to divert the people's attention from the opposition's internal issues and conflicts.

"Apart from the issues faced by Pas and Pakatan Rakyat, it is also to ensure that the ongoing sodomy trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is given less importance.

"Stating that Tunku and Onn were British officers is an insult, not only to them and their families, but also to all Malaysians.

"They are the founding fathers of the country who fought for independence.
"If we go by Mohamad's analysis, then we should welcome Chin Peng back into the country as he is a bigger hero."

Chin Peng, the former leader of the Communist Party of Malaya, is living in exile in Thailand. He lost his legal appeal to return to Malaysia.

"I do not know on what grounds the statement was made, but I am sure that the opposition will continue to make similar statements and stir up controversies to cover up their weaknesses," said Dr Chua, adding that leaders and the security forces who died defending the country were the real heroes.

Meanwhile, Pas vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said the party would review the video recordings of the Aug 21 ceramah by Mohamad before taking any action.
However, this would only be done after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, he added.

"We need to know the context of his speech first before deciding on the next course of action."

Salahuddin insisted that Pas was against any form of violence by communist insurgents.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Ahad, 28 Ogos 2011

NST Online: Topnews

NST Online: Topnews

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan