Jumaat, 4 November 2011

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Australian daily admits mistake

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 11:02 AM PDT


The correction that was published in The West Australian on Thursday.

The correction that was published in The West Australian on Thursday.

KUALA LUMPUR: An Australian newspaper admitted that it had wrongly reported that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's daughter had shopped excessively during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth recently.

The report titled "Corrections and clarifications" was printed in the Letters section of The West Australian on Thursday.


"In a report in The West Australian on Monday about shopping and sightseeing by CHOGM delegates, it was claimed that a daughter of Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak had spent A$60,000 in David Jones.


"The West Australian acknowledges that this was not the case and that Mr Najib's daughter was not in Perth at the time.

"It is the policy of The West Australian to correct significant errors as quickly as possible," it said.


A copy of the page was emailed to the New Straits Times by The West Australian reporter Neale Prior.


On Monday, The West Australian, reported that Najib's daughter spent a whopping RM198,000 (A$60,000) in David Jones, a high-end department store at a shopping centre in Perth, the city where this year's CHOGM was held.

The same report also stated that "one first lady" purchasedWest Australian pearls worth RM495,000 (A$150,000), but did not name the per son.


On Tuesday, the Malaysian consulgeneral in Perth, Hamidah Ashari, wrote to The West Australian's editor and said her officewas appalled with the article titled, "Delegates go shopping, sightseeing".


Hamidah denied Najib's daughter was part of the prime minister's delegation attending CHOGM, nor was she in Perth at the time.

The prime minister's political secretary, Datuk Fatmi Che Salleh, had also said the article was incorrect.


The report had been circulating online, particularly in opposition sites.


Hamidah yesterday said she was pleased with the clarification made by the newspaper.


"I am glad that The West Australian acknowledged their mistake promptly."

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English option until 2020

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 10:59 AM PDT

2011/11/05
By Farrah Naz Karim
farrah@nst.com.my

Decision made in best interests of 5 million students

PUTRAJAYA: Primary and secondary school students currently studying Science and Mathematics in English will be allowed to do so until they complete their schooling, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.


The decision to allow a gradual phasing out of English for the teaching of the two subjects was made in the best interests of the estimated five million students in the country and after taking into account the views of parents and various groups.


But at the same time, the Education Ministry will take steps to strengthen the teaching of English as a subject in schools.

"With this soft-landing approach, the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in primary schools will be carried out fully in Bahasa Malaysia in 2016 while at the secondary school level, the full use of BM for the two subjects will be in 2021.


"If PPSMI (the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English policy) is continued, the majority of pupils will fail to grasp Science and Mathematics well and will be left behind," Muhyiddin told a press conference following a cabinet meeting which discussed the matter yesterday.


Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said national school students would be allowed to study the subjects either fully in English, Bahasa Malaysia or both.

Like their peers at national primary schools, Year Three to Six pupils (next year) in vernacular schools can opt to learn Science and Mathematics in their mother tongue or English or both.


The last PPSMI group is the current Year Two pupils, as those in Year One this year had come under the upholding the Malay language and strengthening the command of English policy (MBMMBI).


Explaining the scrapping of PPSMI, Muhyiddin said despite the introduction of the policy, teachers and pupils at most schools had been teaching and learning both subjects in Bahasa Malaysia.

Studies conducted at all schools under the ministry's purview, he said, showed that less than five per cent of the number of classes at 7,495 primary schools fully used English for the teaching and learning of the subjects.


At the secondary level, less than nine per cent of classes at 2,192 schools fully adopted PPSMI.


"Based on these findings, most pupils were being taught and were learning Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Malaysia.


"The studies proved that PPSMI cannot be implemented as we had hoped.


"With this decision, the government has no plans to reintroduce PPSMI as demanded by certain quarters." Muhyiddin said based on studies on PPSMI, including through observation of classes as well as interviews with teachers and pupils, the ministry found that pupils had difficulties understanding the subjects when taught in English.


Pupils also found it difficult to master concepts in Science and Mathematics as they did not understand English.

Hence, Muhyiddin said, teachers were forced to teach in Bahasa Malaysia, adding that this problem was not only prevalent in rural schools but also urban ones.


On strengthening the English language, Muhyiddin said the government was in the midst of implementing various initiatives that would help pupils improve their command of the language.


He said emphasis would also be given to strengthening the English language syllabus under the newlyintroduced Primary School Standard Curriculum, introduction of native speakers and training of teachers.


Also in the pipeline are programmes like the oral skill programme and a "set classroom system", where pupils would be divided according to their level of English proficiency so that the right focus could be given to them.


Muhyiddin said the abolishment of PPSMI was a unanimous cabinet decision that had the blessings of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.


Najib had also suggested that to improve pupils' command of English, English Literature should be introduced.

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Golf: Williams apologises for racial slur against Woods

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 08:38 PM PDT

SHANGHAI - Caddie Steve Williams has apologised for making a racist remark about former employer Tiger Woods that stunned guests at an awards ceremony in Shanghai.

"I apologise for the comments I made last night at the annual Caddie Awards dinner in Shanghai," Williams said in a statement on his website (www.kiwicaddie.co.nz).

"Players and caddies look forward to this evening all year and the spirit is always joking and fun. I now realise how my comments could be construed as racist.


"However I assure you that was not my intent. I sincerely apologise to Tiger and anyone else I have offended."

Williams had been a regular caddie for Woods since 1999 and helped the American to 13 majors before being fired in July.

The New Zealander hit out at the manner of the split and a month later was in the news again after his new employer, Adam Scott, won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, Ohio.


Williams had told reporters: "It's the most satisfying win I've ever had, there's no two ways about it. It's the greatest week of my life caddying and I sincerely mean that."

He later apologised for those comments, saying his emotions got the better of him. Williams had been called on stage at the private function late on Friday to receive the "Celebration of the Year" award and was asked to talk about his reaction following Scott's win so soon after being fired by Woods.

He left the function at a luxury Shanghai hotel without making further comment.


The 100 caddies, players and guests in attendance had accepted their invitations on condition they would not disclose what happened at the ceremony, which was held after the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament. - Reuters

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G20 puts Italy under watch, no new aid for eurozone

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 07:59 PM PDT

CANNES, France - Leaders of the world's top economic powers Friday pushed Europe into acting to stop Italy following Greece into a debt crisis, but failed to come up with new funds to boost the IMF war chest.

While the G20 summit agreed in principle to increase IMF funding, the leaders did not settle on any precise figure or timetable, kicking the issue down the road. Financial markets were unimpressed.

The risk premium on Italian bonds shot up to a new record and eurozone stock markets tumbled, with London's FTSE-100 index closing down 0.33 per cent, Paris' CAC-40 down by 2.25 per cent and the Frankfurt DAX by 2.72.


Nor was there any let-up in pressure on debt-laden Greece, whose ongoing political and economic crisis still hung heavily over Cannes' rain-lashed seafront summit venue, as an example of the threat facing Italy.

"Put simply, the world faces challenges that put our economic recovery at risk," said US President Barack Obama, reflecting concerns Europe has failed to get to grips with its sovereign debt debacle.

"With respect to Europe, we came to Cannes to discuss with our European friends how they will move forward and build upon the plan they agreed to last week to resolve this crisis."


Summit host President Nicolas Sarkozy of France put a determined face on to defend his year-long tenure as G20 chairman, and won warm words from Obama in an unprecedented joint television interview.

But critics were quick to point out that concrete progress on financial reform and costed promises of bail-out money were nowhere to be seen.

Amid pressure from the United States and major emerging nations, Italy accepted a humiliating deal to put its economy under international surveillance in a bid to restore market confidence.


Investors are jittery that Italy, also heavily indebted and with sluggish growth, could follow Greece and have sent Rome's borrowing costs to unsustainable levels in recent days.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi confirmed Italy had asked for the International Monetary Fund to monitor its economic reforms, but said that he had turned down an offer of financial aid as it "wasn't necessary".

Rome has recently adopted two austerity packages and has promised more measures, but markets have remained sceptical that they will succeed in eliminating the deficit by 2013 and boosting growth.

"The main problem we have, which has been clearly identified as much by the Italian authorities as by their partners, is a lack of credibility in the measures that have been announced," IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said.

European Commission chief Manuel Barroso hailed the move as "important, not only for the euro area but for global stability" and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "We are very happy with results here."

A team from the Commission, which will also step up its monitoring of Italy, will travel to Rome next week, Barroso added.

In Athens, Prime Minister George Papandreou, who was summoned to Cannes for a dressing down by host President Nicolas Sarkozy and Merkel, narrowly won a vote of confidence at the end of a parliamentary debate that began Friday.

Shortly before lawmakers began voting, Papandreou had announced he would see Greek President Carolos Papoulias later on Saturday to hand in his mandate and start talks on the formation of an emergency unity government.

Whatever the result, his eurozone partners had made it clear that either he or his successor would have to push through a bail-out deal tied to tight fiscal controls decided last week in Europe but now called into question.

EU leaders warned that Greece would not get the next planned eight-billion euro ($11 billion) aid installment from the IMF and EU unless the deal went through, and threatened to boot Athens out of the Union if it defaults.

Without the EU-IMF funds, Greece would run out of money within weeks, and the roller-coaster political situation and debt crisis in Athens have in turn boosted market pressure on the Italian budget.

The G20 leaders also pledged to ensure the International Monetary Fund, which has US$400 billion left at its disposal, has sufficient funds to respond to possible crisis and tasked finance ministers to come up with options.

But they failed to pledge any precise sums, with EU president Hermann van Rompuy saying the details would be worked out by finance ministers later.

Observers said this marked a failure.

"It is fair to say the G20 summit with accompanying theatrics from Greece and Italy and the failure of the IMF and China to come to Europe's rescue has worsened the euro crisis," said Sony Kapoor of think-tank Re-Define.

With the eurozone debt crisis threatening to slash growth worldwide, G20 leaders pledged to coordinate their economic policies in an action plan on growth on jobs.

The world's top exporters — led by China and Germany — pledged to boost their domestic demand in order to give a shot in the arm to the global economy.

China also pledged to increase domestic consumption and "promote greater exchange rate flexibility to better reflect underlying economic fundamentals, and gradually reduce the pace of accumulation of foreign reserves."

Obama hailed what he said was China's decision to increase the flexibility of the renminbi (yuan), which has been a thorn in relations as trading partners say Beijing is keeping its currency artificially low to boost its exports.

"We welcome China's determination to increase the flexibility of the RMB," Obama told reporters after the summit.

"This is something we've been calling for for some time. And it will be a critical step in boosting growth."

The leaders also approved measures to strengthen the international financial system by requiring the 29 banks judged too important to fail to increase their buffers to absorb potential losses. - AFP

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<b><small>ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR:</b></small><br>Pas goes 'under the radar'

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 03:57 AM PDT

2010/10/30
Zubaidah Abu Bakar
news@nst.com.my

Even the presence of Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat at a ceramah in Pas stronghold Sungai Terah on Thursday failed to draw the crowd.

Many blamed the heavy rain which started to pour earlier but the rain had stopped before the Tok Guru took the microphone.

There was an estimated crowd of about 200 people; its usually not the case

as Pas supporters would braved the rain, willing to be soaked to the skin
to listen to the party's spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar speak.

The Sungai Terah polling district has about 95 per cent of Malay voters; in the 2008 general election, Barisan Nasional only managed 78 votes compared to Pas' 215 votes.

That was how strong the Islamist party's influence there then.


But Umno leaders are anticipating that the situation could change, they believe the level of support to Pas may dip when some 300 registered voters there go to the ballot again on Nov 4 to pick their new representative in the state legislative assembly.

"Our candidate Abdul Aziz Yusoff had done a good job in the area, the people know him well because he had served the area as a manager in the South Kelantan Regional Development Authority (Kesedar).

"He could well be the reason behind the positive signs we are getting in the area," says Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan.


The "ceramah perdana" in Sungai Terah are among the few big public rallies that Pakatan Rakyat had outlined for its bigwigs to speak -- the other speakers at the ceramah that day were Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and DAP
secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Pas is adopting a "low profile, below the radar" campaign strategy for Galas and this had somewhat toned the otherwise heated campaigns like during the Manik Urai by-election, which is the first by-election in Kelantan, last year.

Pas leaders wanted more direct contacts with voters be carried out; opting for small group ceramah and door to door campaigning, which ironically the same strategy that Umno and BN has adopted.

No big rally had been planned on BN's side either, including the "Pentas Pemuda" that usually make its appearance in past by-elections. Only eight mini ceramahs involving between 30-40 people and similar number of 'salam sayang" programmes (chit chat sessions) by wanita Umno are being organised daily.

Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and his troops have been knocking on doors of those identified as fence-sitters in several areas daily. They even bumped into their opponents during their campaign trails, like the on in Kampung Mentara where Pas had won by 11 votes in the area in 2008.

A source also revealed there is a list of do's and dont's for Pas campaigners and that include not touching the Kelantan oil royalty issue and on Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is also the BN by-election director.

Canvassing for votes in whatever forms will continue until the eve of polling. For Abdul Aziz and his opponent from Pas, Dr Zulkefli Mohamad, the days ahead will be long and tiring.

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BN aims for smaller, but effective meetings

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 12:34 AM PDT

BN aims for smaller, but effective meetings

2010/10/30
By NST team in Gua Musang, Kelantan
news@nst.com.my

GUA MUSANG: Barisan Nasional candidate Abdul Aziz Yusoff said he would continue with his plan to personally meet as many voters as he could although such an approach could slow down his campaign trail.

"I want to know them apart from introducing myself as BN candidate. I also want to know the problems faced by the voters here," he told a press conference at BN operations centre in Bukit Cekati here.

Aziz, who is Gua Musang Umno division secretary, also refuted claims that the BN election machinery for Galas by-election was too slow. He said the party machinery was actually giving more focus on small gatherings which would enable them to understand the people's problems and needs.


"From the feedback that I personally gathered from voters, they are frustrated with the Pas state government's failure to issue land titles and provide affordable homes for them," he said.

Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan who was present said BN would continue with its present approach, which was to hold dozens of small gatherings at different polling districts daily.

"We will use these gatherings to explain on BN government's development plan and counter all the allegations made by the opposition.


"It's more effective compared to big ceramahs," he said.

However, he said no gatherings would be held tonight as to allow BN campaigners and voters here to watch the Malaysia Cup final match between Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan. He said BN would put giant projector screens at 14 locations as to allow the people here to watch the final match live.

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BN aims for smaller, but effective meetings

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US stocks decline amid Greek woes

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 05:29 PM PDT

NEW YORK: US equity markets fell Friday as investors braced for a Greek confidence vote that could oust the prime minister and trigger fresh eurozone debt turmoil.

A mixed US jobs report offered some small signs of improvement, but reminded that high unemployment was well-entrenched in the slowly growing economy.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 61.23 points (0.51 per cent) to close at 11,983.24.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite shed 11.82 points (0.44 per cent) to 2,686.15, while the S&P 500-stock index, a broader measure of the markets, lost 7.92 points (0.63 per cent) to 1,253.23.

After two straight sessions of solid gains, Wall Street stocks were under pressure from worries about the fast-changing developments in the European debt crisis.

"Traders today seemed particularly disappointed by the G20's unwillingness to throw its financial support behind Europe," said Elizabeth Harrow at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

"The group's two-day meeting failed to produce any major progress toward bolstering the European Financial Stability Facility," the eurozone rescue fund, the analyst said.

The Europe woes overshadowed a mixed October jobs report from the Labor Department.

The US unemployment rate unexpectedly slipped to 9.0 per cent from 9.1 per cent the prior month. The number of net new jobs added -- 80,000 -- disappointed, though improvement was seen in upward revisions to prior months' numbers.

"The synopsis of the October report is that it matches a low-growth environment. It also reveals, as have past reports, that there is still much work to be done to improve the labour market," said Patrick O'Hare at Briefing.com.

Big US bank stocks dropped. Bank of America slid 6.1 per cent, Morgan Stanley lost 1.4 per cent, Goldman Sachs fell 2.5 per cent and JPMorgan Chase shed 1.2 per cent.

The long-awaited Wall Street debut of online daily deals firm Groupon was a runaway success.

Groupon raised US$700 million with the largest IPO by an Internet company since Google, which reaped US$1.7 billion when it went public in August 2004.

Groupon offered 35 million shares priced at US$20. Its shares, trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol GRPN, soared 30.1 per cent to US$26.11.

Computer chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices slipped 1.1 per cent to US$5.67 after announcing late Thursday it would slash 10 per cent of its workforce, or about 1,400 jobs, to cut costs.

Embattled insurance giant American International Group dropped 2.9 per cent to US$23.91 after reporting a bigger-than-expected US$4.1 billion quarterly loss.

Coffee firm Starbucks soared 6.7 per cent to US$44.19 after beating quarterly earnings forecasts. -- AFP

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Badminton / World Junior Championships: Zulfadli outfoxes Wisnu

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 11:53 AM PDT

2011/11/05
By K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nst.com.my

ZULFADLI Zulkifli survived a stern test by Indonesian Wisnu Yuli Pratsetyo to reach the semi-finals of the World Junior Championships while Nelson Heg stayed on course for a double in Taipei yesterday.

Dangerman Wisnu started agressively but Zulfadli had enough experience to turn the quarter-final around as he notched a 10-21, 21-10, 21-16 win in the quarter-finals.

This is the first time Zulfadli has reached the semi-finals in the World Juniors after having lost in the ast eight in Alor Star in 2009.


The Asian Junior champion will meet Kento Momota of Japan, who defeated another Indonesian Shesar Hiren Rustavito 16-21 21-15 21-15, in the last four today.

Defending champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark also progressed to the last after beating Thailand's Khosit Phetpradab 21-7, 21-18 and plays India's Sameer Verma, who defeated Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong 21-15, 21-16, today.

Nelson was on a roll as he made the semi-finals of the boys' doubles with Teo Ee Yi and the mixed doubles with Chow Mei Kuan.


Nelson-Ee Yi defeated Lukhi Apri Nugroho-Kevin Sanjaya Sakamuljo of Indonesia 21-17, 21-19 to set up a semi-final showdown against Taiwan's Tien Tzu Chieh-Wang Chih Hao today.

In the mixed doubles, Nelson-Mei Kuan overcame Denmark's Kasper Antonsen-Line Kjaersfeldt 21-18, 21-17 and will play Indonesians Ronald Alexander-Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia in the last four.

Chan Chong Ming was the only Malaysian to have bagged a double in the World Juniors which he achived in 1998. Chong Ming partnered Teo Kok Seng to defend the boys' double title he won with Jeremy Gan in 1996 and clinched the mixed doubles crown with Joanne Quay.


Sonia Cheah suffered a doube disappointment as she was bundled out in the girls' singles and women's doubles quarter-finals.

Sonia was unable to improve on her quarter-final showing in the singles when she fell 21-19, 24-22 by Japan's Nozomi Okuhara.

South Korean pair Lee So Hee-Shin Seung Chang were to good for Sonia and Yang Li Lian who lost 21-14, 21-12 in the last eight.

Selected Q-final results -- (Malaysia unless stated)

Boys' Singles: Viktor Axelson (Den) bt Ng Ka Long (HK) 21-15, 21-16; Zulfadli Zulkifli bt Wisnu Yuli Pratsetyo (Ina) 10-21, 21-10, 21-16.

Doubles: Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi Lukhi Apri Nugroho-Kevin Sanjaya Sakamuljo (Ina) 21-17, 21-19; Tien Tzu Chieh-Wang Chih Hao (Tai) bt Lucas Corvee-Joris Grosjean (Fra) 21-15, 21-16.

Women's Singles: Ratchanok Inthanon (Tha) bt Christin Tsai (Can) 21-10, 21-15; Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) bt Sonia Cheah 21-19, 24-22.

Doubles: Lee So Hee-Shin Seung Chang (Kor) bt Sonia Cheah-Yang Li Lian 21-14, 21-12.

Mixed Doubles: Nelson Heg-Chow Mei Kuan bt Kasper Antonsen-Line Kjaersfeldt (Den) 21-18, 21-17.

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Badminton / World Junior Championships: Nelson steals Zulfadli&#8217;s thunder

Posted: 04 Nov 2011 11:51 AM PDT


Zulfadli Zulkifli

Zulfadli Zulkifli

ZULFADLI Zulkifli stayed on course but it was Nelson Heg who stole the show at the World Junior Championships in Taipei yesterday.

Zulfadli beat Indonesia's Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo to advance to a semi-final meeting with Japan's Kento Momota today, but Nelson is in a position to emulate double-winner Chan Chong Ming.

Nelson, partnering Teo Ee Yi, made the boys' doubles semi-finals and then, with

Chow Mei Kuan, qualified for the mixed doubles last four.

Chong Ming achieved the double in the 1998 edition, and if all goes to plan, Nelson could emulate him.

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GARDEN OF LIFE

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 10:30 AM PDT

2011/11/03
By Chuah Bee Kim


Award-winning Eco Greens Community Park strikes a fine balance between modern living and caring for the environment

BEFORE the arrival of Eco Greens Community Park, the area was an oil palm estate without modern infrastructure, with a population of less than 1,000.

Today, the park, which is part of Setia Eco Gardens, a nature-inspired development with an eco-living theme by SP Setia Bhd Group, is a boon to the residents as well as those living in the surrounding neighbourhoods of Gelang Patah, Ulu Choh and Pontian.


The RM40 million road-widening project, funded and built by SP Setia, has enabled better accessibility to the area and created new economic activities that have also benefited the neighbouring communities.

The park complex is open to the public. It features the Eco Shelter, Bird Island, Butterfly Trail, Eco Interactive Fountain, Eco Gallery and Green Wall.

The first of its kind in Iskandar Malaysia, the Green Wall serves as extra insulation to absorb carbon dioxide, reduce noise as well as the heat island effect. It is also a habitat for insects such as butterflies, and birds.


Other attractions in the park are the Eco Playground, maze garden, tree house, bird viewing deck and meditation garden.

SP Setia Bhd Group general manager Hoe Mee Ling said the idea was to develop a park complex that challenged the concept of a community park.

"It is a delicate balance of environmental and socio-cultural factors to benefit the community without impairing the ability of resident species to thrive.


"The park enhances the ecological system and creates wider public awareness of green living.

"For instance, Bird Island is a man-made island of trees in the middle of the lake designed to provide protection to the birds. It is also there to educate the public on the role played by migratory birds and resident species in the eco-system.

"It is hoped that this will help the public to understand the importance of protecting, restoring and enhancing biological diversity," she said

Hoe said the site's undulating terrain, natural river (Sungai Pulai) and surrounding forests was the perfect canvas for the eco-living concept.

"In-depth studies on eco theme parks and green buildings were made to maintain and enhance bio-diversity, with emphasis on the right species of plants to create butterfly trails and water plants to propagate fish species in the pond and the preservation of flora and fauna," she said.

Eco Greens recently won the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Malaysian Chapter award in the category "Purpose-built or specialised project".

Eco Greens was also awarded the National Landscape Award 2010 and the Malaysia Landscape Architecture Award 2009.

Its green building, Eco Gallery, was awarded the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green mark Gold Award by BCA Singapore in 2010, and named Cityscape Best Office or Commercial (built category) in the Cityscape Real Estate competition in April 2008.

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Chinese Muslims forge ties with villagers

Posted: 03 Nov 2011 09:54 AM PDT


Association members with Kampung Belukar Juling villagers in Endau pose for a photo. &#8212; Picture by Ikhwan Muhammad

Association members with Kampung Belukar Juling villagers in Endau pose for a photo. — Picture by Ikhwan Muhammad

MORE than 100 members of the Johor branch of the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association made a two-day visit to Kampung Belukar Juling in Endau with the state Religious Department to forge closer ties with the villagers.

The event, which was held with the cooperation of non-governmental organisation Sahabat Dakwah included activities such as gotong-royong, ceramah, halal slaughtering courses, forums and games.

Association chairman Mohd Shaiful Bahri Choo Abdullah, 46, said he hoped the visit would help members, who consist of Muslim converts, ease their transition to Muslims.


"We want our members' children to get used to life as converts, and let them know that it is fine to mix with people of various races such as those in this village.

"We also want Muslims to conduct welfare programmes at orphanages, hospitals and villages," said Shaiful .

He said the association has been active in programmes such as korban and aqiqah (slaughtering and donation of meat) in Cambodia and Indonesia.


The state Religious Department and the association has also helped members who are not fluent in Bahasa Malaysia.

Shaiful said the association has been conducting religious classes in Mandarin at its state branch in Taman Desa Cemerlang in Johor Baru.

One of the main activities at the visit was sprucing up a Muslim cemetery together with firemen.


Meanwhile, village head Md Lazim Awang Chik, 50, hoped the programme would continue in the future to forge further ties with the association.

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