Fake RM1 coins seized - The public assumption was correct all along....

THis news of Fake RM1 coins seized confirmed the public's assumption all these whiles.

BNM has made a blunder in allowing the RM1 coin to be able to be counterfeit so easy. What's next?

How about the losses of those companies who has vending machines exposed to the recall of the denomination? Or the amount lost due to fake monies all these whiles?

Bodoh punya kerja! Kerajaan bodoh, dan rakyat penuh dengan penyangak! Inilah malaysia dewasa ini..... :(

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The Star Online > North

Wednesday October 19, 2005

Fake RM1 coins seized

BY BERNARD SEE

PENANG: Counterfeit RM1 coins totalling more than RM29,000 were seized with the arrest of four men at three locations here.

One of the men was arrested when he tried to exchange RM5,000 worth of the counterfeit coins at the Bank Negara branch on Light Street at about 11am on Thursday.

A staff member became suspicious as the coins looked a bit shinier and he quickly conducted a thorough check. He called the security guard to apprehend the man when the coins were found to be counterfeit.

The man was subsequently handed over to the George Town commercial crime de-partment.

He then led the police to a car on Jalan Burma where two of his accomplices were nab-bed. Another 4,000 counter-feit coins were found in the vehicle.

After questioning, the three men took the police to a house in Telok Bahang where 20 sacks of such coins totalling RM20,000 were recovered. A fourth man was arrested at the house.

A two-week remand order for the four men had since been obtained from the magistrate's court pending investigations into the case.

The case had been classified as possession of counterfeit coins under Section 243 of the Penal Code which carries a jail term of up to seven years with a possible fine upon conviction.

Bank Negara and the police, which have described the seizure as one of the largest in the country, are presently trying to determine where the counterfeit coins were “minted”.

The suspects are believed to be the runners for a syndicate making such coins.

It is learnt that these syndicates are “running” out of time to cash in the RM1 coins which would be pulled out of circulation by the central bank on Dec 6.

The syndicates' runners are getting careless because of the impending deadline. They are taking their chances by trying to exchange these coins in large quantities.

Previously, syndicate members sold RM1,000 worth of these coins for only RM700.

Those who buy the coins would then mix them with genuine ones to purchase cigarettes or exchange them for ringgit notes in coffee shops.


© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Newborn found dead in drain - about time a baby deposit be installed at hospitals maybe?

Another case of a newborn found dead in drain!

This could go on and on and on and on!

You know what is the best solution for the time being?

PROVIDE anonymous unwanted BABY DEPOSITS, at hospitals maybe? MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS ABOUT IT!!

The parents might have made a mistake in delivering an un-wanted child into the worls, but the child is in itself innocent, might even be a genius to save Malaysia in future?

We should help to keep these uneanted babies alive, providing these unwanted BABY DEPOSITS might be a very good step in the right direction!
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The Star Online > Nation

Thursday October 13, 2005

Newborn found dead in drain

KOTA KINABALU: A newborn boy was found dead in a drain near a construction site in the south-eastern district of Tawau on Monday.

Tawau district police chief Supt Muhamed Deraman said the baby, with its umbilical cord intact, had suffocated to death in the plastic bag he was wrapped in.

He said a labourer had noticed the blood-stained plastic bag in the drain along Jalan Sinn Onn in Taman Lily.

“We believe the baby had just died because the body was still soft,” said Supt Muhamed.

On Sunday, a baby boy was found abandoned in a box in Papar district in south-western Sabah.

A 48-year-old civil servant found the infant, who had insect bites all over.

The baby is now being treated at the Papar district hospital and will eventually be handed over to the state Welfare Department.


© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Who really needs to be helped?

I noted with despair the argument in Parliament about the Lack of stats on Sabah and Sarawak bumis (which) upsets MPs!

It does not really matter about who owns what or which! What really matters to all is that anyone who is in need of help should be helped, irrespective of race, religion, gender or creed!

There's no point shouting about the un-equality in equity etc.

Bottom line is, everyone should be made to be able to live within an aceptable living condition, and nobody should be made to suffer to live within it.

This is what the ruling BN-led governance have failed to deliver since independence! They need to be booted-out!
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The Star Online > Parliament

Thursday October 13, 2005

Lack of stats on Sabah and Sarawak bumis upsets MPs

HARDLY half an hour had gone by during question time, but it was enough for a yelling match to take place in the Dewan – the first of several yesterday.

The trigger for the raised tempers in the morning was a question by Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau (BN – Tuaran) asking if there were statistics on equity ownership involving Sabah and Sarawak bumiputras.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Joseph Entulu Belaun’s reply that the Government had only begun compiling such statistics last year and they could only be revealed next year irked many MPs, including Wilfred.

The MP said: “Efforts to increase involvement in the corporate sector and raise equity ownership of Sabah and Sarawak bumiputras were contained in the Eighth Malaysia Plan.

“The Plan ends this year. How is it that the Deputy Minister is saying that mechanisms to raise the equity ownership levels of Sabah and Sarawak bumiputras are only going to be implemented now?

“What has happened over the past five years?”

When Belaun admitted that he could not give details on the equity ownership breakdown for the ethnic groups and that Wilfred could be correct about the lack of mechanisms, M. Kulasegaran (DAP - Ipoh Barat) stood up and shouted: “All talk and no action.”

Amid shouts from Barisan MPs like Datuk Ronald Kiandee (BN – Beluran) to not politicise the issue, Chong Eng (DAP – Bukit Mertajam) stood up to ask when the Barisan government would start to look after the minority groups of Sabah and Sarawak and when the 30% equity ownership target would be met.

“Bumiputras do not comprise only of Malays in Peninsular Malaysia,” she said.

To this, Belaun said there might be many things which could be disputed with statistics.

“But no one can dispute the fact that the equity ownership levels had gone up,” he said.

When he challenged the opposition to name a group whose welfare today was in a worse shape than before independence, Kulasegaran immediately said: “The Indians.”

The war of words between MPs from both sides of the House continued later over the issue of education.

Datuk Liow Tiong Lai (BN – Bentong) said that in a multi-cultural country, certain issues should not be politicised.

This prompted the DAP MPs to raise their voice in protest, with Chong Eng asking if Liow wanted to debate the matter.

But Liow continued his speech, adding that Chinese education should not be politicised, irking the Opposition who started protesting over the remark.

There was also heated exchange between Kulasegaran and Devamany Krishnasamy (BN – Cameron Highlands) over the DAP man's remark that the MIC was play-acting when it said it would “close shop” if the Government did not attend to its request for Indian equity to be raised.


© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Toddler home alone!! New kind of phenomena of this age.....

As much as I sympathies reading about this Toddler (being) home alone after family maid ran away, I can't help recalling the times of the old, when mothers, or at least other family members are still at home for their children, not child-minders, REAL close blood-relatives.

You'll have no problems of these kinds, but then again, the modernist would claim that there are other problems associated during those olden times. Yet, there's more problem as a result of both family leaders having had to earn their monies to continue supporting a basic form of living expenses. Problems such as kids not being under a good watchful eyes, turning into tyrant under peer pressure, adopting a perverted sense of justice and perspective and the lots.

Parents, at least one of them should be at home. If the mother feels like going out to earn monies, being liberalised and all, then why don't the husbands mind their homes and children. Even though that is not normally prescribed, at least there'll be a decent watchfull and loving figure at home, all the times.

As a muslim, I rather have mothers doing their best, that is raising their children to be the best individual, in future! Not to slog and to earn a living to aid the meagre sum taken home by the husbands. They have to live within their means, and this is where GOOD Government could help in ensuring basic neccessities for all could be made as affordable as possible, including housing and food-bills for all!

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The Star Online > Nation

Thursday October 13, 2005

Toddler home alone after family maid ran away

By WANI MUTHIAH

KLANG: A one-year-old toddler was left crawling about in the garden under the blistering sun for almost two hours on Tuesday after the family's Indonesian maid ran away.

A neighbour spotted Ammar Yazid Zafri about 3.40pm in the compound of the double-storey terrace house in Taman Sungai Kapar Indah and took the dehydrated boy indoors.

Azwin feeding her son Ammar Yazid Zafri, who appears shaken after the experience, while Yuhairie looks on Wednesday.

The boy’s father lawyer Yuhairie Pandak Yusof said the 30-year-old maid Kusnaini had locked the front door but left the gate open.

“I shudder to imagine what would have happened if my boy had fallen into the big drain in front of my house, or wandered onto the main road,” said Yuhairie.

He said a couple of the neighbours’ maids told his wife Azwin Fairuz Aji Dan that they had seen Kusnaini leaving the house about 2pm. Yuhairie and Azwin, a teacher, were at work then.

Yuhairie said the boy appeared traumatised by the experience and clung on to his mother tightly from the time she picked him up from the neighbour’s house that day.

“My son is still in shock. It pains my wife and me to see him like this,” he added.

Yuhairie has lodged a police report at the Kapar police station and cancelled the maid’s work permit.

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Why scrap efficiency exams only for specialists, say me!

Why stoppp PTK exams for specialist only? By asking toScrap efficiency exams for specialists, say MPs, it shows that she was only talking on behalf of a select group of people. Typical UMNO-clan!

Anyways, the whole PTK exercise was a sham created by stupid administrators at JPA. Why don't most of the intellect question the administrators at JPA who most of the times were those who are not among the top-performers during their schooling period. I have always been assuming them to be the 2nd or 3rd echelon of people in schools who failed to do the premium courses and ended up getting themselves graduated through mediocre courses and fortunately ended up rulling their former excellent school-mates when they are in JPA!

Most of them are jokers! Hence the monkey governing of the Malaysian civil service!

While I'm at it, this Dr Rozaidah, while discussing the 2006 budget, shouldn't she be talking about requesting more money to improve her constituency in Ampang instead?


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The Star Online > Parliament

Wednesday October 12, 2005

Scrap efficiency exams for specialists, say MPs

THE efficiency level assessment (PTK) for specialist doctors should be abolished as it has no relevance to their expertise, MPs said.

Dr Rozaidah Talib (BN – Ampang), debating Budget 2006, said specialist doctors left public hospitals for private ones mainly because they were frustrated with low salaries.

She said many doctors who had “slogged” to become specialists had to pass two general examinations – PTK1 and PTK2 – to reach the higher U48 grade.

“What is assessed has nothing to do with their expertise. They have already attained their qualifications after passing examinations in their respective fields,” she said.

Mohamad Shahrum Osman (BN – Lipis), in seeking clarification, said that if the doctors were already specialists they should be given “specialist salaries” and be exempted from the examinations.

Dr Rozaidah added that the problem arose because the examinations were formulated by the Public Examination Department and not doctors.

“Both examinations are general examinations which do not help in enhancing a doctor's quality of service,” she said.

Earlier, she complained that the Government gave better treatment to foreign doctors, who were given attractive incentives and salaries.

“Some of these foreign doctors are from developing countries such as Myanmar, India and Pakistan,” she said, adding that most of them could not find jobs in their own countries.

“Some even had to be retrained by local specialists before they could serve at our hospitals.

“Local doctors feel disappointed and insulted because it looks as though the Government does not appreciate their specialist qualifications,” she said.


© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

This is what Malaysia should be aiming to emulate instead of paying for a passenger astronaut!

Marvellous! Sums up my feeling reading about China countdown to space launch II!. Remember their first one in 2003?

What step do Malaysia government take? Yeah, the greedy corporate players route! As long as one is reaping good returns, why bother about milking a country dry!

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China countdown to space launch -

China plans to launch its second manned spacecraft on Wednesday morning, space officials have told the official Xinhua news agency.

Officials also told Xinhua that two astronauts had been chosen for the Shenzhou VI mission, though they have not yet been publicly named.

Earlier reports indicated the craft is set to orbit the earth for five days.

China sees its space programme as an important symbol of its emergence as a world power.

The launch comes almost exactly two years after China's first manned space flight, which made astronaut Yang Liwei a national hero.

Unlike the last mission, Xinhua said a live broadcast of the launch would be provided to foreign media.

Analysts say the fact the authorities are being more open about this launch may indicate that they are more confident of its success.

Ambitious plans

Shenzhou VI will blast off from the Jiuquan launch site in the Gobi Desert, Xinhua said.

Other official media said the launch was expected between 0800 and 0900 local time (0100 and 0200 GMT).

It will return to a landing site in the remote northern region of Inner Mongolia.

"Preparations for the launch are going well," an official on the space programme told Xinhua.

The two pilots chosen for the mission were selected after a rigorous screening process that started with 14 former fighter pilots, Xinhua said.

The identities of the men are still being kept secret, but the Chinese press have speculated that one of them is Nie Haisheng, who narrowly missed out on the 2003 flight.

On that mission, Yang Liwei took just over 21 hours to orbit the Earth 14 times.

This mission will be longer and more complicated, according to state media.

The astronauts are due to travel back and forth between the two halves of the spacecraft - the re-entry capsule and the orbiter. They will also conduct experiments.

Technical improvements

Shenzhou VI, like Shenzhou V, is based on Russia's Soyuz spacecraft, a model developed in the late 1960s.

Liu Yu, commander in chief of the rocket system, said the rocket for Shenzhou VI was an improvement on the one used two years ago.

"We have confidence in the quality of this rocket. We have the conditions and capability to fulfil this mission," Mr Liu told Xinhua.

Mr Yang's flight in 2003 made China only the third nation to put a human into space, after Russia and the United States.

China has had a rocketry program since the 1950s, and Beijing fired its first satellite into orbit in 1970.

China's space programme, which is closely linked to the military, is a matter of enormous national pride for the government.

Chinese officials say they want to land an unmanned probe on the moon by 2010, and also build a space station.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/4329556.stm

Published: 2005/10/11 09:07:34 GMT

© BBC MMV

China successfully launched Shenzhou V into space in 2003

Mongolian launching station Map

The 2003 trip made pilot Yang Liwei a national hero

Convince us intelligently, not forcibly! -Palm biofuel to replace diesel

As much as the way to go green is to support the drive for Palm biofuel to replace diesel, I am really mad of those in power who wants to force everything just because they thought it is the right thing to do.

Well, convince us of the benefits and pros of converting, you'll have ready and willing converts. Force us, and we will forever hate you!

Gomen ofiser zaman pemerintahan BN macam nie lah! Gila babi punya orang!

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The Star Online > Nation

Thursday October 6, 2005

Palm biofuel to replace diesel

BY TEOH TEIK HOONG

PETALING JAYA: The sale and use of biofuel – a mixture of 5% processed palm oil and 95% diesel – will be made mandatory in 2008.

It will be implemented after the Biofuel Bill is tabled and passed by Parliament next year.

“Once the Bill is passed, industries, motorists and petrol stations will be given a year to voluntarily switch to biofuel.

“We want the public to test the fuel and give us feedback,” Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui told The Star.

He said once the trial period was over, the Government would make it mandatory for diesel to be replaced with biofuel.

“There will no longer be unadulterated diesel on sale. We will enforce it and make everyone comply,” he added.

Records from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry showed that last year, industry demand for diesel was 2.8 billion litres while diesel sold at subsidised prices for other uses totalled 5.56 billion litres.

Having a 5% mix would mean cutting down the reliance on diesel for industrial use by 140,000 litres and for other uses by 278,000 litres annually.

The use of biofuel will also help cut down carbon monoxide emissions from vehicles and machines, as the combustion of biofuel produces carbon dioxide.

Chin said the Government’s target was to export 180,000 tonnes of biofuel by 2007.

“We have the capacity to produce enough for domestic use,” he said.

Former Malaysian Palm Oil Association chief executive M.R. Chandran said it was important the Government ensure that petroleum companies complied with the National Biofuel Policy and Biofuel Act.

“We need strong political will to compel petrol kiosks to make biofuel available,” he said.

He said it was important for biofuel producers and petroleum companies to work together to make biofuel available to the public at petrol stations.

Chandran said Malaysia could convert 500,000 tonnes of its total production of 15 million tonnes of crude palm oil into biofuel.

“The 5% mix of processed palm oil with diesel will not affect the performance of vehicles,” he added.

On concerns that the push to use biofuel meant clearing more land for planting oil palm, Chandran said any expansion in the future would be done in a sustainable manner.

“The country is the top producer of palm oil in the world with almost four million hectares in plantations.

“Our maximum capacity is to plant another 600,000ha and produce a maximum of 20 million tonnes of palm oil annually,” he said.

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Do all doctor suspect their patients?

It was interesting to note when this particular doctor (being) grilled over (her) diagnosis in a court case, admitted that she treats her patient with suspect, and not trust!

Quote,
' When judge Akhtar Tahir asked Dr Salina if she would view a patient with suspicion or trust, she said: “With suspicion.” '

Do all of them doctors have this mind-set as well? Arhhhh, isn't there any trust in this world anymore?
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The Star Online > Courts

Thursday October 6, 2005

Doctor grilled over diagnosis

BY M. MAGESWARI

KUALA LUMPUR: A consultant psychiatrist admitted in a maid abuse trial that she had produced a medical report on Indonesian Nirmala Bonat based on the four lines she had written in her clinical notes.

Dr Salina Abdul Aziz told the Sessions Court yesterday she had only written Nirmala's age, that she came from Kupang, Jogjakarta, that she came to Malaysia via an agency, and that she was seen by senior consultant and head of Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s Psychiatric and Mental Health department Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Abdullah.

She said her medical officer Dr Phang Chee Kar had written most of the clinical notes.

Dr Salina, 42, was testifying at the trial of housewife Yim Pek Ha, 37, who is charged with three counts of causing grievous hurt to Nirmala.

Yim is accused of using a hot iron and splashing hot water on Nirmala, 20, at a condominium here between January and April last year.

She faces another charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Nirmala with a steel mug at the same place on May 17 last year.

If convicted, Yim could be jailed up to 67 years and fined.

Dr Salina said she first saw Nirmala at Dr Aziz’s clinic on May 26 last year.

She said Dr Aziz and Dr Phang were present when Nirmala was interviewed for about two and a half hours.

Dr Salina said she interviewed Nirmala for the “second and last time” two days later, the session lasting about an hour.

She agreed to a suggestion by Yim’s counsel Jagjit Singh that she had intended to convince the court that “seeing the patient only twice and writing only four lines” she could come up with the diagnosis that Nirmala was depressed.

Asked if she expected the court to accept her diagnosis that Nirmala suffered from “major depression” although she only stated “depression” in her report, she said: “Yes.”

On whether Nirmala was “discharged well” on May 28 as mentioned in her report, she said Nirmala was not fully recovered and was asked to come for a follow-up session.

When judge Akhtar Tahir asked Dr Salina if she would view a patient with suspicion or trust, she said: “With suspicion.”

Hearing continues on Oct 19.


© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Alamak! The opposition has been talking about this for ages, and yet, you only realised it now?

By finally having the guts to have this call (to government agencies) to cut costs on events, I guess this chap was trying to show that he is people-friendly.

Little does he realised that the opposition has been talking about all the wasteful spending of all government agencies, especially, while trying to enrich the connected fews!

That Jerai MP has just realised this? Or, he is sad that he was not among those who benefitted!
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The Star Online > Parliament

Thursday October 6, 2005

Call to cut costs on events

THE Government should cut down the number of conferences and other similar events as a way to save costs, a backbencher said.

Debating the Budget, Datuk Badruddin Amiruddin (BN – Jerai) said many of these events, which were held in five-star hotels, cost billions of ringgit and ate into the budgets of agencies.

“The money could have been better utilised. What is worse is that a lot of the costs are spent just on the opening ceremony,” he said.

Many of the effects used during launches, such as smoke and confetti cannons, were “a pure waste of money.”

Badruddin: Suggests holding events at government facilities instead of at top hotels

He also suggested that events should be held at government facilities, which would cost less than what was charged by five-star hotels.

“All this money should be spent on giving rural areas infrastructure. The people in rural areas want roads and bridges, not conferences,” he said.

Interjecting, Hamim Samuri (BN – Ledang) said the Finance Ministry and the Internal Security Ministry should be commended for not holding briefing sessions at hotels.

He said the Finance Ministry held its functions within the ministry while the Internal Security Ministry held its in Bukit Aman.

Badruddin welcomed the establishment of the Bumiputra Property Trust Fund announced in the Budget but noted that its establishment meant that the Urban Development Agency was a failure.

He said the agency had not been successful in helping Malays establish businesses in urban areas.

“This is what happens when you privatise a government agency. This happens because profits become the priority, not overcoming social issues,” he said.

He said the Government should ensure that any privatisation of a government agency would benefit everyone.

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Local govts DO NOT serve the people!

As opposed to what this chap, Datuk Md Aris said, "Local govts set up to serve the people", I find the local authorities in Malaysia are not really serving people, but enriching some friends of theirs, in the pretex of making the locality clean, beuatiful and manageable.

A local authority election will help to address the rot that has been there the past 40 years or so!

For a simple example, collecting money through parking tickets in town, where does the money really go to? Quit rent? Is it really of any benefits to the payer? Is the amount appropriate and suitable for all house-owners?

You know what I mean, don't you all?
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The Star Online > North

Thursday October 6, 2005

Local govts set up to serve the people

PENANG: Local authorities are set up to provide services to the people and not to make profits, said the Malaysian Association of Local Authorities.

Its president Datuk Md Aris Ariffin said local authorities mainly spent on cleanliness, beautification activities and traffic management.

“All the expenditures are shown in the local authorities’ annual accounts which are audited by the Auditor-General and discussed at state assembly sittings,” he said in a press statement yesterday.

He was responding to news reports quoting Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk M. Kayveas as saying that local authorities were being run like secret societies, lacking transparency and accountability.

Md Aris said the local authori-ties’ sources of income were restricted under the Local Govern-ment Act.

“Local authorities in developing states will have good revenues but those in less developed states with limited earnings may have to rely on the state government,” he said.

Md Aris said it was unfair to criticise local authorities without pro-perly understanding their local setting.

Md Aris, who is also Seberang Prai Municipal Council president, said foreign investors could misconstrue Kayveas’ statement and this might influence their investments in Malaysia.

He added that anyone could attend a full council meeting to follow its proceedings.

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Enforcers are not doing their part to ensure this irresponsible, but well paid act is stopped, forever!

Boleh blah, malaysian enforcing agencies! You are stooges to the ruling government! That's what you are!

Irresponsible act, but well paid to do it

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The Star Online > Central

Wednesday October 5, 2005

Irresponsible act, but well paid to do it

By STUART MICHAEL
Photos by SAM THAM and DARRAN TAN

MANHOLE covers fetch big bucks! Those who steal manhole covers and sell them as scrap metal are paid about RM1 a kilo. They get paid RM3.20 per kilo of aluminium, RM3 for copper and 20sen for zinc.

It is no wonder than that manhole covers disappear as soon as they have been fitted into place.

One of about 100 manhole covers that have gone missing from Prima Damansara.

Things are getting even better for the thieves. Steel scrap prices have risen about 50%, from US$200 (RM760) per ton in early 2003 to more than US$300 (RM1,140) now.

Those who steal the covers and scrap metal dealers who buy them do not care about the dangers their actions have caused to the public, especially motorcyclists.

A number of them have been injured. Some have even died.

But, nothing serious has been done to stop the thefts nor bring the culprits to book. The irresponsible individuals are getting away with murder.

Worse, the authorities turn a blind eye to the activities and take too long to rectify the situation.

In Section 16, Petaling Jaya, for instance, a manhole cover in the centre of the main road broke recently.

Fo days, motorists have been spared from danger as someone has stuck a tree branch into it. In Prima Damansara, about 100 manhole covers have gone missing from the sides of some shop lots.

No one in the area knew when the covers disappeared or who stole them.

A resident from Prima Damansara, who did not want to be named, said residents merely turned a blind eye to people removing manhole covers.

“They are scared that if they reported it, they would be threatened or abused,” he said. “Most of the thieves look like drug addicts or thugs.”

Another resident, Lai Kwai Peng, from Bandar Sri Permaisuri, said there was an uncovered manhole on a road near SMK Bandar Sri Permaisuri.

Someone has placed a tree branch to warn motorists of danger ahead.

“There are school children who cross the road frequently and it would be fatal if a driver were to lose control of his vehicle at the manhole and crash into the children,” said Lai.

Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying said missing manholes covers was a major problem , not just in Petaling Jaya, but all over Klang Valley.

“The authorities, including the councils, the Police and enforcement officers must work together and do regular checks on scrap metal shops to find and charge the culprits behind the irresponsible acts.

“Only thorough such checks can we catch the thieves,” said Yong at a recent meeting with residents in Prima Damansara.

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN – Sri Gading) surely have too much free time, as is the other parlimentarian!

Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN – Sri Gading) while having a singer’s version of Negaraku slammed in parliament, reveals a lot about himself.

Firstly, he's an idiot who have nothing else better to be said in parliament!
Secondly, he has too much free things to do, rather than figuring other better ideas to move the country into a better nation.
But the most revealing fact is, BN-component parties are represented by none-too-bright member of parliament!

Come on, we have better things to discuss in parliament!

Last but indeed definitely not the least, if creativity and self-expression in singing the national anthem is also not recommended, how could the rest of the citizen be tempted to include innovations and creativity in their works to help develop Malaysia further. Malaysian seems to be contained to conform to the norm in all things that they do, and diversions to the norm is not welcomed!

Wonder how would progress be made by anyone in this world if everyone were to remain stout to the idea that the world is indeed 'flat'!
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The Star Online > Parliament

Tuesday October 4, 2005

Singer’s version of Negaraku slammed

Reports by LEONG SHEN-LI, JANE RITIKOS AND IZATUN SHARI

SINGER Hattan, who apparently jazzed up the Negaraku when he sang at the Malaysia Cup final last Saturday, was slammed by an MP who said his version of the national anthem was insulting.

To prove his point, Datuk Mohamed Aziz (BN – Sri Gading) sang aloud the last line of what he claimed to be Hattan's version of the Negaraku and the official version for comparison.

He noted that Hattan’s version, which among other variations ended with ascending notes, was insulting, and had trivialised the national symbol.

The situation was further aggravated by the fact that it was sung in the presence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he said.

Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said action would be taken against Hattan if his version of Negaraku was found to be insulting.

Rais said he would obtain the television footage of the event and determine whether the version sung, which was not according to the official version, was inappropriate.

“If it is found to be insulting, action under the National Anthem Act will be taken,” he said in reply to a supplementary question by Mohamed.

At press time, Hattan could not be reached for comment.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said four cosmetics and beauty salons were brought to court for offering Vitamin C injections.

The salons were among 161 cosmetics and beauty salons raided by the ministry's enforcement division this year, he said.

“It's puzzling why women are still attracted to such injections. It's better for them to eat food containing Vitamin C, as there is no clinical evidence that the injection can improve skin condition,'' he told Dr Rozaidah Talib (BN – Ampang).

Dr Abdul Latiff said that with the approval of the Medical Equipment Bill and Cosmetics Bill, the ministry could control the abuse of cosmetic products and the use of beauty equipment by specialists.

Related Stories:
Hattan: I did not jazz up national anthem

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Very 'safe' country yet, this dentist has to plead so that she did not die in a robbery?

I am sadden to note this plea by a Dentist: I did not want to die, when she was robbed during the daylight in Malaysia.

Malaysia is a 'Safe' country, my foot!

Perompak Duit Rakyat Malaysia, PDRM, the 'so-called' protector of the Malaysian citizen is too busy protecting the tryranic rulers intead of safe-guarding the nation!

The recent recommendation to change the PDRM into the better has not been put in place and with the curent administration of the country, I couldn't foresee any change for the better soon. It's high time to say 'goodbye' to the BN-led governance!

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The Star Online > Nation

Tuesday October 4, 2005

Dentist: I did not want to die

BY OLIVIA LEE

JOHOR BARU: “It is traumatising when a person puts a knife to your neck demanding money. All I could say was ambil, ambil, ambil (take) because I didn’t want to die.”

This was what dentist Dr Chan Eng Ding said as she recounted the ordeal when three men armed with machetes approached the driver’s side window of her car before breaking it.

Dr Chan explained that she and her sister, also a dentist, had just changed RM700 into small denominations at a bank in Permas Jaya for their clinic before going to a stationery store at 4pm.

She was waiting in her car when the men approached her, she added.

“They smashed the window and one of them pressed his knife against my neck.

PAINFUL EXPERIENCE: Low (right) and Dr Chan (third from right) holding up the police report lodged by her. On the far left is Dr Chan’s sister Dr Ai Ding.

“I told them to take my pouch, which they did, and also the pearl necklace I was wearing.

“My sister, who heard the commotion from inside the shop, came running out and started hitting the robbers. They got back into their cars and took off,” the 39-year-old dentist told reporters during a press conference arranged by Johor MCA complaints bureau chief Low Teh Hian yesterday.

Dr Chan said she was still traumatised by the incident that took place on Sept 27.

“I’m not upset about (losing) the money or how much it’ll cost to repair my car. That they were bold enough to do this in broad daylight was what shocked me. These are things you see in movies.

“JB is no longer a safe place. I can’t believe robbers are getting so bold,” she added, urging the police to increase their workforce to make the city a safer place.

Low said he empathised with Dr Chan because he received a death threat recently.

A police spokesman from Johor Baru (South) district police headquarters said the station received about four to five such reports daily.

“This kind of crime happens more in areas close to banks. Robbers are braver now so the public must be more observant and not take things for granted.

“If you are robbed, report it immediately. Don’t wait for an hour or two,” he added.

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

Ruling governement fail again - Dengue outbreak imminent

Haiyak! Dengue outbreak imminent is a sure sign of a failed governance!

Basic cleanliness could eleminate the breeding grounds of these troublesome-disease-bearing mosquitoes.

City councils or local government authorities should have a system in place to avoid this. Residents should also be made to adhere to basic hygiene as such.

Failure of implementation, another F in the current administration of this BN-component party governance!

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The Star Online > Nation

Wednesday September 28, 2005

Dengue outbreak imminent

Stories by SIM LEOI LEOI, LEONG MENG YEE, AUDREY EDWARDS AND JONATHAN CHEW

PUTRAJAYA: A dengue outbreak is imminent.

And this time, the Government fears that the death toll and number of cases may be higher than last year’s nationwide outbreak.

The warning comes less than a day after The Star reported that authorities were getting worried over the increasing number of dengue cases and related deaths.

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said that although the number of cases recorded thus far was still lower than the 1,200 cases recorded last year, the authorities were worried this could signal a new outbreak.

“We are warning the public that an outbreak is imminent. And they must take all precautions to keep their compounds clean and free of mosquito breeding grounds.

A state health department officer carrying out fogging exercise.

“They should also seek medical treatment if they suffer continuous fever,” he said.

Dr Chua revealed that several dengue hotspots had been identified – Johor Baru; the southwestern part of Penang island; various parts in Selangor and the Federal Territory, including Shah Alam, Kajang, Kuala Lumpur, Cheras, Setapak, Ampang Jaya and Gombak; and Negri Sembilan.

So far, 70 people have died from dengue, compared with 68 in the corresponding period last year.

The number of dengue cases has shot up from 507 three weeks ago to 752.

Dr Chua said the Government had started to use larvicidal biological control Bti (bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis) in the fogging of dengue-prone areas since last month.

“The biological control agent will kill off mosquito larvae in any breeding area.

“But unlike an insecticide, this agent will not have the side effect of causing mosquitoes to be more resistant or kill any other insect or animal that fed on mosquitoes.

“We will now use this on a larger scale,” he said.

He added that the larvicidal agent was also being used by Singapore's health authorities to control the dengue outbreak in the island.

“We will enhance enforcement on construction sites, which have been identified as having 20% of places prone to the breeding of mosquitoes, and will not hesitate to issue a two-week stop work order under the Destruction of Disease Bearing Insects Act.

“In addition, we will be sending six teams to Johor, Penang, the Federal Territory and Selangor to help contain the spread of dengue. The teams will be working on a two-week cycle,” he said.

He added that prevention and control activities would also be intensified in hotels and holiday resorts.

Related Stories:
I have never experienced such pain, says sufferer
Idol’s mum had no choice but be superwoman
Many factors aggravate situation
Selangor started fight early this year
Changing tactics to check spread

More Stories:
Selayang council puts more bite into its fight
Do not pay, residents told
Allow workers inside homes, folk urged
1,491 cases of dengue in Shah Alam
Fogging alone not enough

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© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)