Isnin, 23 Mei 2011

NST Online: Topnews

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Additional public holiday due to overlap of Aidilfitri, National Day

Posted: 23 May 2011 10:18 PM PDT

Date of the additional public holiday would be subject to the setting of the Aidilfitri dates by the Conference of Rulers

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has decided to declare an additional public holiday this year in view of a possible overlap of one of two Aidilfitri public holidays with the National Day public holiday on Aug 31.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan said today the date of the additional public holiday would be subject to the setting of the Aidilfitri dates by the Conference of Rulers.

If the first day of Aidilfitri fell on Tuesday Aug 30 and the second day coincided with National Day on Wednesday Aug 31, then Thursday Sept 1 would be declared as the additional public holiday, he said in a statement.

If the first day of Aidilfitri fell on Wednesday Aug 31 and coincided with National Day and the second day fell on Thursday Sept 1, then Friday Sept 2 would be declared as the additional public holiday, he added.

Mohd Sidek said the additional public holiday for peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan was gazetted under section 8 of the Holidays Act 1951.

"The state governments of Sabah and Sarawak are in the process of gazetting the additional public holiday under section 9 of the Holidays Ordinance of Sabah and section 5 of the Public Holidays Ordinance of Sarawak, respectively," he said.

Mohd Sidek said it was hoped that the announcement would avoid confusion among the people over those public holidays and facilitate early preparations to celebrate Aidilfitri and National Day. - Bernama

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PWD: Rain weakened soil, causing landslide

Posted: 23 May 2011 10:46 AM PDT

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah visiting one of the landslide survivors at the Ampang Hospital yesterday. — NST picture by Zulfadhli Zulkifli

KUALA LUMPUR: Unusually heavy rain over three days had weakened the soil structure resulting in the landslide which hit the Hidayah Madrasah Al-Taqwa orphanage in Hulu Langat, claiming 16 lives on Saturday.

This was the assessment of the Public Works Department's Hillslope Engineering senior director Datuk Ashaari Mohamad.

He said there were 29mm of rainfall in the area on Thursday, 41mm on Friday and 80mm on Saturday.

"The amount of rainfall on Saturday was extraordinary because the normal level in the area is around 20mm. With such a downpour, a lot of water seeped into the soil causing the structure to be weakened."

He said this when briefing the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, on the landslide. The sultan handed over contributions from the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MUIS), Selangor Zakat Board (SZB) and the state government for the victims and their families.

Ashaari said on inspecting the area, they found water channels on the hillslope in the direction of the landslide site. He said the cutting of trees in the area had also contributed to the problem.

"There is still some soil movements here and rainfall can cause another landslide, so we have categorised this area as unsafe."

He said based on information received, the orphanage was only about seven metres away from the hillslope, which was between 25 and 30 metres high.

"About 3,500 cubic metres, or 600 lorry-loads, of soil had hit the orphanage, leaving a mound of loose soil of about four metres high and 54 metres wide."

Ashaari said the hillslope near the orphanage had also been cut, causing further soil instability.

"We want to closely examine the soil condition in the area and see how we can improve the soil structure.

"We have asked the local authority to monitor the housing areas around here as they are exposed to the same risk," he added.

From the RM217,000 contributed by MUIS and SZB, each family, or beneficiary of the victims, received RM5,000, while the survivors received RM1,000 each and the orphanage RM100,000.

The Selangor government also gave RM5,000 to each beneficiary.

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NST Online: Latest

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Tun Mahathir's health continues to improve

Posted: 23 May 2011 10:49 PM PDT

He will continue to be treated at IJN to allow doctors to monitor his progress closely

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's health continues to improve, his special officer Sufi Yusoff said today.

Doctors at the National Heart Institute (IJN) had switched to oral

antibiotic tablets in place of intravenous treatment, he said in an e-mail to
Bernama.

Sufi said the treatment was also focused on rehabilitation exercise
involving walking around the ward, apart from chest physiotherapy.

"Doctors are happy that Dr Mahathir is eating well. He will continue to be
treated at IJN to allow doctors to monitor his progress closely," he said.

Dr Mahathir was admitted to IJN on May 18 for treatment of a chest infection
after having developed fever and cough.

Sufi also said that Dr Mahathir would not be attending the 17th Nikkei International Conference in Tokyo on Thursday as reported.

He said that although Dr Mahathir had agreed to attend, doctors had advised
him against travelling for the moment. - Bernama

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Poultry farm worker acquitted of murder

Posted: 23 May 2011 10:44 PM PDT

Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab said the prosecution had failed to make out a prima facie case against Mohd Nazri Harun

ALOR SETAR: The High Court today acquitted and discharged a poultry farm worker charged with murdering his employer last year.

Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab said the prosecution had failed to make out a prima facie case against Mohd Nazri Harun, 25.

Mohd Nazri was charged with the murder of Tan Ah Yee alias Tan Chong Chuan, 64, in Kampung SC, Mukim Hosba, in the Kubang Pasu district on April 20 last year.

According to the facts of the case, Tan's body was found in his house which was destroyed in a fire at about 11pm that day.

Mohd Nazri, who was at the scene then, said they were set upon by robbers and he had fainted after being hit. When he regained consciousness, he found the house on fire, he added.

"The post mortem report showed that Tan had died from a gunshot wound in the chest before the fire started. The prosecution had to prove that the accused shot him. Such evidence was not adduced," said the judge. - Bernama

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NST Online: Sports

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NST Online: Sports

Bowling: Performance will earn Syafiq ticket

Posted: 23 May 2011 05:05 PM PDT

2011/05/24
Ajitpal Singh
ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my

Former national champion Syafiq Ridhwan.

SYAFIQ Ridhwan will need a good result in the Canon Malaysian Open to earn a ticket to play in the current World Tour season.

The former national champion is 12th on the tour's rankings after an impressive show in the Brunswick Euro Challenge two months ago, where he finished third.

The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) is keen on sending him for the next two tour stops in Bangkok (Sept) and Australia (Oct).

Secretary Sidney Tung said MTBC will need to request for funding from the National Sports Council (NSC) to send Syafiq for both events.

"But we can only do that if Syafiq performs in the Malaysian Open.

"We did not request for funding to play in the tour as it was only officially announced after we had submitted our programme to NSC," said Tung.

Syafiq is targeting to, at least, qualify for the Malaysian Open stepladder finals.

Asian Games gold medallists Alex Liew leads the men's qualifying competition with a six-game total of 1,504 pinfalls, 70 pins ahead of former national back-up bowler Kang Bo Long while two-time champion Zulmazran Zulkifi is third on 1,421.

In the women's section, Zatil Iman Abdul Ghani set the early pace with a 1,487 total followed by second-placed Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi (1,349) and Sin Li Jane (1,339).

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Badminton / Sudirman Cup: Malaysia sail past Russia

Posted: 23 May 2011 05:03 PM PDT

2011/05/24
K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nstp.com.my

MALAYSIA suffered an early setback before recovering to beat Russia 4-1 and confirm their berth in the quarter-finals of the Sudirman Cup in Qingdao yesterday.

Russia surprised again in the Group B tie when mixed doubles Alexandr Nikolaenko-Valerie Sorkina toppled Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying 21-19, 21-18 in 36 minutes.

However, Lee Chong Wei helped Malaysia equalise when he defeated Ivan Sozonov 21-9, 21-10 in 26 minutes.

Tee Jing Yi stepped up to the big stage when she downed Anastasia Prokopenko 21-17, 21-13 in women's singles to put Malaysia ahead.

The men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong then overcame Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov 21-9, 21-17 in 26 minutes to give Malaysia an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Women's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui earned a 21-12, 19-21, 21-15 win over Valerie Sorokina-Nina Vislova to win the match comfortably in the end.

Chong Wei said he needs to adapt to the stadium and expects to play better in the next tie against Indonesia tomorrow.

"I need to adapt as I found it difficult see some of the shots as it was glaring. I will get better in the coming matches," said Chong Wei.

"Our women are bit weak as not all of them are 100 per cent fit. We don't want to push Pei Tty too much.

"We will give it our best shot (in the Sudirman Cup)."

Malaysia will play Indonesia to decide the winners of Group B tomorrow.

Results - Level 1 Group A: Japan 4 Germany 1; Group B: Malaysia 4 Russia 1 Mixed Doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying lost to Alexandr Nikolaenko-Velerie Sorokina 21-19, 21-18; Men's Singles: Lee Chong Wei bt Ivan Sozonov 21-9, 21-10; Women's Singles: Tee Jing Yi bt Anastasia Prokopenko 21-17, 21-13; Men's Doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bt Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov 21-9, 21-17; Women's Doubles: Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui bt Velerie Sorokina-Nina Vislova 21-12, 19-21, 21-15. Group D: South Korea 4 England 1.

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NST Online Business Times : latest

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Telekom Malaysia upgraded at CIMB

Posted: 23 May 2011 06:15 PM PDT

Telekom Malaysia Bhd was raised to "outperform" from "neutral" at CIMB Investment Bank Bhd, which cited strong demand for the company's high-speed broadband business.

The share price estimate was increased to RM5.10 from RM4.04, Kelvin Goh, a Kuala Lumpur-based analyst at CIMB, wrote in a report today. -- Bloomberg

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Puncak Niaga raised to 'trading buy'

Posted: 23 May 2011 06:16 PM PDT

Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd was raised to "trading buy" from "neutral" at CIMB Investment Bank Bhd after the Malaysian company announced plans to venture into the oil and gas industry and it won a water supply contract in Sarawak state.

The share estimate was increased to RM3.03 from RM2.72, Sharizan Rosely, an analyst at Kuala Lumpur-based CIMB, wrote in a report today. -- Bloomberg

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NST Online: StreetsJohor

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GREAT MUSIC

Posted: 22 May 2011 12:23 PM PDT

GREAT MUSIC

2011/05/22
By Syed Abdullah Syed Mohamed

126 students mesmerise the audience in a two-hour concert

AT first, Liyana Syafini Jumaah had stage fright but she overcame it to give a wonderful performance.

The audience, at the recent Konsert Alunan Gempita 1 Malaysia, was clearly impressed by her renditions of Sani (Malay version of the Bobby Hebb's classic number Sunny) and That Thing You Do, a song from a popular 1996 movie of the same title.

"I was nervous during the first few minutes on stage but felt more confident as the audience began to appreciate my performance," said the 16-year-old student of Sekolah Seni in Johor Baru.

"I salute the musicians. Their performance was fantastic and the back-up music was well-balanced and melodious," said the Form Four student from Selangor.

Liyana was one of 126 students nationwide who took part in the two-hour concert. The other participants consisted of 33 string players, 20 brass and woodwind instrumentalists, 42 percussionists (traditional and modern instruments), 15 vocalists and 16 dancers.

Edward Dave Daniel, a Form Four student of SMK Kota Marudu, Sabah, played the sompoton which is a traditional musical instrument from his state.

He said: "I think the excellent performance of the group was due to the dedication of our trainers and our commitment during training," he said.

The audience which numbered more than 2,000 was treated to performances by an orchestra of contemporary and traditional instrumentalists, a six-member caklempong ensemble, dancers and songs from the 1960s to the 1980s.

These included songs made popular by the late Sudirman Arshad, Sharifah Aini, Ahmad Jais, Ramli Sarip, and Royston Sta Maria and Francesca Peters, who are more popularly known as Roy and Fran.

Some of the vocalists, especially the upper secondary students, were mistaken by the appreciative audience to be professional singers.

One of the more memorable performances was Retro, which featured visual and musical effects resembling that of the television programme Black and White Minstrel Show.

The audience showed their appreciation by clapping and waving their hands, and dancing to the catchy tunes.

Johor-born 60s pop singer A. Rahman Onn was the guest artiste. To the delight of the crowd, he crooned his evergreen hit Cincin Emas.

The concert, opened by Education Ministry deputy director-general (general policy and educational development) Dr Khair Mohamed Yusof, was the climax of the one-week Kem Muzik Sekolah-Sekolah Malaysia National at Selesa Hotel in Johor Baru.

Khair was greeted by the rhythmic beats of the rebana, and Chinese and Indian drums as he walked into the stadium.

Also present were the ministry's co-curriculum and arts division led by its director Muhamat Roli Hassan, Johor Education Department director Mohd Nor A. Ghani, education directors from other states and camp commander Mohd Long Hussin.

The musical camp, organised annually since 2005 is held in a different state every year. The first camp was held in Kuala Lumpur. It is under the patronage of the Education Ministry and administered by the ministry's co-curriculum and arts division.

The organising committee's assistant secretary Mohd Azhar Mohtar said the participants were selected by representatives of the various state education departments and priority was given to students with a formal musical background and experience performing at private or public functions.

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It's a joy to serve my Pontian people

Posted: 22 May 2011 09:57 AM PDT

It's a joy to serve my Pontian people

MY family used to live a tough life, a life without water and electricity.

My father, a rubber tapper, built a concrete well above the ground to store rainwater for drinking and domestic use. Our only source of light at night was from oil lamps.

That was life at Kampung Cina, Batu 33 Jalan Johor Baru-Pontian in Pontian in the 1970s.

After enduring such hardship, I vowed to make the most of my ability one day to help those in need.

I realised my aspiration.

I completed my primary education at SRJK(C) Chiaw Min and Form Five at SMK Dato Penggawa Barat before I enrolled for an accounting course in Johor Baru, and later in Kuala Lumpur.

As I came from a poor family, I had no choice but to work and study at the same time.

This was the only way for me to continue pursuing my studies in accountancy.

I remember having to travel to Kuala Lumpur every weekend for classes. I completed my ACCA qualification in 2004.

After my studies, I continued working in the accountancy firm where I had been working part-time while studying.

My boss treated me well. He was also Pontian district councillor and I used to follow him to see how he solved problems and assisted members of the community.

He told me the only way to help the community is to join a Barisan Nasional component party as it is the ruling party and in control of the administration.

I joined the MCA and worked my way up.

In 2006, I set up my own accountancy firm and in 2009, I became a district councillor.

I left the office work of my firm to my staff and concentrated on my work as a councillor. My base was my office.

I feel a sense of satisfaction whenever I help people.

It is common to handle simple tasks like clogged drains and potholes. Anything which involves my area is considered my concern.

Be it a fire which destroys a house or a flash flood which damages property, I have to be present at the scene to show my concern and render my help.

The area under my care was formerly forested.

Now it is probably the most developed zone in Pontian, with eight modern neighbourhoods, one big and two small industrial estates.

Mitsumi Technology (M) Sdn Bhd, which is half a century old, is in my area.

I hope thereis more development and investment in Pontian.

Otherwise, there will be few job opportunities, which explains why most of the locals are working in Singapore and only come back here on weekends.

I hope to serve people as long as I have the energy, as this gives me satisfaction like nothing else.

Ng Koh Lon, 34, is staying at Taman Sri Maju in Pontian

Interview by Sim Bak Heng

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Isnin, 23 Mei 2011