Things You Must Know

Sugar up 20 sen

2010-01-01T12:17:00.000+08:00

Sugar will cost 20 sen more per kilogramme from today, with the new price being RM1.65 in the peninsula and RM1.75 in Sabah and Sarawak. Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom, who made the announcement yesterday, said the government would also withdraw its subsidy for white bread from today and remove the commodity from the price-control scheme.

Government Says

i) as the world price of raw sugar has risen sharply, especially since August, from US$0.14 (0.47 sen) to US$0.16 per pound to US$0.27, the government has to raise the price of sugar."

ii) an analysis by the ministry indicated that the impact of the price increase on sugar-based products was minimal, about one sen for canned drinks and a cup of tea.

iii) "For canned drinks of 325ml with an estimated sugar content of 39g and a cup of tea with an estimated sugar content of 40g, the impact on the price of the two drinks is 0.8 sen.

"The highest impact is on condensed milk.

"For the 505g can with an estimated sugar content of 228g, the impact on the price is 4.6 sen, which is less than five sen."

So much for the headlines in today's newspapers and braced ourselves for more "UPs" in the future.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T09:20:00.004+08:00

You sure cause a lot of miseries to my kind. One for you ..........

Frog Stone

2009-12-30T22:27:00.003+08:00

This is the famous "Frog Stone" which 4 digit punters claim to have magical powers of turning dreams of instant fortune into reality.

Australian describes tsunami aftermath

2009-09-30T13:38:00.004+09:00

An Australian woman living in American Samoa has described the terrifying scenes as the island was battered by a strong earthquake and a deadly tsunami.

Perth woman Sue Whitby and her husband David were woken up about 6.48am (local time) by a powerful 8.3-magnitude quake shaking their Pago Pago home.

"Our china cabinet was rattling so much that my husband was holding onto that and I was holding on to him," she told ABC News Online.

"It was terrifying and it seemed to last for two or three minutes; it was really frightening."

When the earthquake finally finished rocking her home, just when she thought she was safe, the tsunami warning bells began to ring throughout the town.

"We knew not to go out after we heard that," she said.

Ms Whitby, who has been living in Pago Pago for 12 months, says much of the power is still out, the airport is closed due to the debris, the roads are blocked and the hospital is flooded.

And even though the tsunami danger has passed, the death and destruction is all too clear.

Ms Whitby is still stuck in her home, which is luckily on higher ground, but she is hearing horrible stories from the outside about the deadly disaster.

She says her friend's brother was driving a bus when the earthquake struck.

"Water came in and his bus ended up being flooded," she said.

"He ended up in a mango tree and four of his passengers are missing from the bus."

Her neighbour's cousin was killed when the nearby village of Leone was destroyed.

"The village Leone, not far from us, had about six people die ... my neighbour's cousin was killed," she said.

Another friend's godmother was also killed.

Lucky escape

Ms Whitby lives in the higher part of Pago Pago - about 100 feet above ground - but she could see the rising seas from her neighbour's balcony.

"I do feel sorry for the people living low, just so many people have been affected," she said.

"A lot of houses have been flooded, businesses may not even open again. It's just a shock really."

She says many businesses in low-lying areas of Pago Pago have been destroyed.

Her husband works at the American Samoa ANZ bank and now that the tsunami warning has passed, he has ducked out to survey the damage.

"The branch at Pago Pago, which is still a distance from the harbour, got flooded," she said.

"The staff evacuated to the top of the hills behind the branch."

She says the government has called on people with machinery to come and help clear the roads.

Ms Whitby says even though the skies are clear and "beautiful" now, she fears the death toll is only going to rise.

"It really is a beautiful day now, I think the danger has now passed, " she said.

"But there's still so many people missing, it's going to be some time before we know the true figure."

MAFIA WARS

2009-09-28T23:41:00.003+09:00

I have been playing this game for the past 3 months and i found out that it is very addictive and has a vast followers worldwide.

Perodua D46T

2009-06-13T17:51:00.002+09:00

This is Perodua’s new 1.5-litre seven-seater MPV due for launch in November . The new car, Perodua D46T, was seen on a test drive in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. Perodua managing director Datuk Syed Abdull Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar had said that the car is expected to be priced between RM60,000 and RM65,000. The Perodua D46T is based on the Toyota Passo Sette.

IS HE REALLY WORTH £80 MILLION?

2009-06-11T20:56:00.002+09:00

Apparently, Real Madrid ardently thinks so and brandished the RM462 million offer to Manchester United, which found it hard to refuse. The English club permitted Real to talk terms with Ronaldo but a final decision won't be forthcoming until June 30.

Actor dies of cancer

2009-06-11T09:36:00.002+09:00

Well-known film and TV drama actor Shukery Hashim died of pancreatic cancer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre in Cheras at 1.45pm yesterday. He was 55.

Shukery was admitted to the hospital last Friday after complaining of stomach-ache.

His wife, Faridah Md Desa, 51, said he had undergone a six-hour operation to remove a growth on his pancreas at Selayang Hospital on April 22.

"He was supposed to start chemotherapy but he kept postponing it. When he complained about a stomach-ache, we sent him to UKMMC. While there, he complained about difficulty falling asleep because of the excruciating pain."

Shukery was buried at the Muslim cemetery in Keramat. He had five children.
Shukery began his acting career in RTM's radio dramas in 1975. He acted in hundreds of TV dramas including Cinta Gila, which is currently being aired over Astro Prima.

Losing the war against dengue

2009-06-11T09:15:00.001+09:00

“We declared war against dengue in February. It looks like we are losing.”

Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican painted this grim picture when he revealed that 57 people had died of dengue between January and June 6 and warned that more would die from the disease.

Dr Ismail did not mince his words, blaming doctors in private clinics and hospitals for the high death toll.

He said the majority of those who died could have been saved if doctors had known what to do.

Dr Ismail said 35 of those who died had sought treatment at private clinics or hospitals early, but doctors there did not carry out proper tests or follow-ups, leading to their deaths.

“In fact, 30 per cent of those who died only came to the government hospitals when they became very ill.”
Dr Ismail warned that action would be taken against private doctors, clinics and hospitals if they did not report suspected dengue cases.

He said of the 22,426 cases reported, only nine per cent were notified by private practitioners.

Dr Ismail said without notification, health authorities could not take action, such as fogging, to prevent more dengue cases.

He told a meeting of state health directors, representatives from relevant

agencies and bodies, the Malaysian Medical Association and Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia yesterday that everyone must do their part to ensure the disease was defeated.

The meeting also discussed ways to get the community involved in the fight against dengue

Taking the harvest festivals to KL

2009-06-09T01:02:00.001+09:00

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the government may host the National Tadau Kaamatan and Gawai Open House celebrations in Kuala Lumpur from next year.

"Having the event in Kuala Lumpur will enable Malay-sians in the peninsula to learn more about the culture and heritage of the Kadazandusun in Sabah and the Dayak and Iban in Sarawak.

"We want to enhance national integration by helping all communities to learn more about the people of Sabah and Sarawak," he told a meeting with media editors yesterday.

Rais also said the ministry would review the role of the Information Department in Sabah and Sarawak in view of the rapid development in information technology and the presence of satellite television provider Astro.

"In the 1980s, there was no Astro or handphones. The Information Department spread information by meeting the people.
"Things are different now. The department must evolve and improve its services, especially in getting information on government policies to the rural areas and interiors of Sabah and Sarawak."

Rais suggested that Radio Televisyen Malaysia form a smart partnership with Astro so that people in rural areas could enjoy watching TV programmes they would otherwise have no access to.

Aussie student is Malaysia's 7th influenza A victim

2009-06-07T00:23:00.001+09:00

Malaysia confirms its seventh positive Influenza A(H1N1) case, involving an Australian student who is in the country with her mother to visit their relatives.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, in a statement today, said the student and her mother arrived at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang on board Air Asia flight X D7 2723 from Melbourne at 7am yesterday.

"She was found to be having a high temperature during screening using the thermo-scanner at LCCT, and from further checks by the health team there found that she had been having fever, coughing and sore throat a day before arriving in Malaysia," he added.

He said the student was referred to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital at 8.15am and admitted to a special ward there, adding that she was confirmed a influenza A(H1N1) case at 10.34pm the same day.

She was given anti-viral treatment and was now in stable condition, he added.
Dr Mohd Ismail said the student's mother, who did not have symptoms of being infected by the virus, had been placed under house quarantine.

He urged those who were in the same flight with the student, especially those seated near her to contact the Health Ministry at 03-88810200 or 03-88810300 between 8am and 9pm.

There were 258 passengers on the flight and the student''s seat was 31A, he added.

He said currently, 143 contacts were being placed under house quarantine and all of them were in good health.

Malaysia reported its sixth positive Influenza A (H1N1) case yesterday - a Malaysian student in New York who returned to the country on June 3.

Dr Mohd Ismail said that according to the latest report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), two more countries -- Barbados and Saudi Arabia -- reported a confirmed Influenza A(H1N1) case in their respective countries.

So far, a total of 22,092 Influenza a (H1N1) cases, with 125 deaths, have been reported in 69 countries.

Man Utd in new shirt sponsor deal

2009-06-04T08:08:00.002+09:00

Manchester United has signed a four-year shirt sponsorship deal with the insurance giant Aon Corporation.

Aon will replace troubled US insurer AIG, which is restructuring itself having received a $150bn (£109bn) bail-out from the US government.

The new sponsor will appear on Manchester United's shirts from the start of the 2010/11 season.

Aon is based in Chicago and specialises in reinsurance, which is the selling of insurance to other insurers.

Neither Manchester United nor Aon has announced the terms of the deal or how much it is worth.

AIG paid £14m a year for its four-year deal, which ends in May 2010.

There have been reports that Aon's deal could be worth as much as £80m over four years.

Aon said it hoped that its relationship with Manchester United would help to improve its brand recognition.

It pointed out that after its first year sponsoring the team, AIG had become the 47th most recognised global brand and had jumped from number 84 to number 30 on Barron's list of most respected companies.

Actor flees Jais raid on fiancee’s home without his clothes

2009-06-03T16:12:00.001+09:00

A TV actor tried to make a quick escape – minus his clothes – when Selangor Religious Department (Jais) officers raided his fiancee’s apartment in Petaling Jaya, reported Harian Metro.

The 20-something actor, who appears in a mystic and horror TV series, managed to climb to the next unit’s balcony on the fifth floor at 3am recently.

Five Jais officers raided the apartment after receiving complaints from neighbours that the actor and his fiancee would meet up frequently at her home.

The woman, also in her 20s and an assistant producer in the TV series, told the officers that she lived alone.

The woman, who was dressed in a sleeveless top and skimpy shorts, allowed officers into her room where they found a pair of men’s trousers and shirt.

Jais Special Force Unit chief Shahrom Maarop said: “Further inspection found signs that a person had exited through the balcony.”

The officers then went next door and found a few male foreigners living in the apartment.

One of the officers spotted a man who had wrapped himself with the curtains near the balcony.

“Officers questioned the actor who tried to pose as one of the foreigners. But the ruse did not work as his accent and skin colour were different from the occupants.

“The actor finally admitted that he had been sleeping at the woman’s home and that they were engaged,” Shahrom said.

They were detained for questioning and released on bail.

Red Tide

2009-05-30T06:38:00.003+09:00

A kit for the detection of a harmful algae that causes the red tide won a gold medal at the recent International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products in Geneva.

Called "Pyroscreen", the kit was the result of comprehensive research by a team comprising Grace Joy Chin Wei Lie, Teoh Pek Lin, Professor Datin Dr Ann Anton and Associate Professor Vijay Kumar of Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

Red tides are a frequent phenomenon in the coastal waters of tropical regions.

The algae species produces a paralytic shellfish toxin, which has been linked to neurological symptoms and human fatalities.

Chin said Pyroscreen was an effective and practical DNA probe for the speedy identification and detection of the harmful algae.
UMS researchers submitted nine works in Geneva, winning a gold, a silver and seven bronze medals.

The medals were displayed at a media briefing by UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kamaruzaman Ampon at its campus here.

Kamaruzaman said UMS researchers also won two gold medals at the recent International Invention, Innovation and Technology in Kuala Lumpur.

The medals were for an innovation on a new technique for surface tension by Dr Chan Eng Seng, Lee Boon Beng and Pogaku Ravindra, and an efficient pre-cast floor panel for modern buildings by Associate Professor Dr Mohd Abdul Manan, N.S.V.K. Rao, Doh Shu Ing and Ng Chee Hiong.

'Glass hold' reveals personality

2009-05-29T20:25:00.002+09:00

Kuok, Ananda still the richest Malaysians

2009-05-28T19:57:00.002+09:00

Robert Kuok, the Kuok Group patriarch, remains Malaysia's richest with a net worth of US$9 billion, down from US$10 billion a year ago, according to the 2009 Forbes Asia Malaysia Rich List. In a statement here today, Forbes said Kuok has held the top spot every year since Forbes Asia began ranking the 40 richest Malaysians in 2006. Businessman Ananda Krishnan held on to his second place with a net worth of US$7 billion,just down from US$7.2 billion last year. He has also maintained the same ranking every year since 2006.

Together, Kouk and Ananda account for 44 percent of the top 40's wealth.
They are also the two richest people in Southeast Asia.

The third richest is Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng, head of IOI Group, one of the world's leading operators of palm oil plantations. He is worth US$3.2 billion, down from US$5.5 billion last year but keeps his position in the top three.

Malaysia's 40 richest people are worth a combined US$36 billion, down from US$46 billion a year ago.

It said the 22 percent loss in wealth is largely in line with the 21 percent drop in the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) and is not too bad, considering the fact that the Malaysian ringgit has lost 10 percent against the US dollar, the currency by which the net worths are measured. Malaysia has nine billionaires who are collectively worth US$30 billion or 84 percent of the total wealth amassed by the country's top 40.

This is the biggest wealth disparity among Forbes Asia's rich list.

Tan Sri Vincent Tan (ranked 10, US$750 million) of Berjaya Corporation Bhd is the only Malaysian to drop out of the billionaire ranks in the past 12 months as share prices in his companies have declined.

Three making their debut are IOI Board member Chan Fong Ann (ranked 18, US$209 million), gaming tycoon Tan Sri Chen Lip Keong (ranked 21, US$195 million) and software executive Goh Peng Ooi (ranked 34, US$112 million).

Four people have returned to the rankings after an absence of a year or more.Among them are Tan Sri Syed Mohd Yusof Tun Syed Nasir (ranked 37, US$100 million) and Tan Sri Tan Teong Hean (ranked 39, US$95 million), who cashed out of Southern Bank several years ago and is now making new investments.

The latest issue of Forbes Asia also features Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, head of conglomerate YTL (ranked seven,US$1.8 billion).

'War' on smoking stepped up June 1

2009-05-28T13:46:00.001+09:00

Starting Monday, all cigarette packs must display pictorial health warnings on illnesses caused by tobacco.

Those caught selling packs without the pictorial warning would be fined RM10,000 or two years' jail, or both under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations (Amended) 2008.

Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said cigarette packs must display pictorial health warnings prominently on the front and back.

The pictorial warning must cover 40 per cent of the front and 60 per cent of the back.

Cigarettes are drawing millions of Malaysians into spending more than RM15 million daily. This amounts to a staggering RM6 billion annually.
Despite an aggressive campaign by the government to say "no" to cigarettes, Malaysians smoke 30 million sticks a day.

According to the Malaysian Medical Association's Committee on Action on Smoking and Health, 50 per cent of the 3.5 million smokers nationwide smoked nearly 10 sticks a day.

In 2005 and 2006, more than 30,000 children, some as young as 10, started smoking.

More than 10,000 people a year die of smoking-related illnesses.

Telling your wife she's not pretty may soon be an offence

2009-05-28T01:08:00.001+09:00

A husband telling his wife that she is no longer pretty in an attempt to humiliate her can be classified as an emotional violence offence if amendments are made to the Domestic Violence Act (DVA)1994.

The plan is to amend the DVA for the inclusion of a clause on emotional violence against women.

Currently, they are only protected only against physical abuse, Women's Development Department director-general Datuk Dr Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur said.

She said on Wednesday that the aim for proposing the amendment was to safeguard women both physically and emotionally.

Dr Noorul said emotional violence was a form of abuse that would deeply scar a woman and lower their self-esteem, dignity and self-confidence.

“It could be a case where her husband tells his wife she is ugly or humiliates her until she feels emotionally pressured,” she told reporters at the end of a seminar on how to curb violence against women at Wisma Wanita here.

She added they were in the process of bringing the proposed amendments to Parliament.

State Community development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun closed the seminar organised by Sabah Women’s Affairs Department.

Azizah, in her speech, said that there was a need for the law to protect emotional violence against women.

Azizah said there were a total of 99 cases of violence against women in Sabah in the first quarter of 2009 compared to 220 cases during the same period last year which was reported to the police.

Related story:

Wife: Nasyid singer missing

2009-05-26T22:07:00.001+09:00

NASYID singer Akhil Hayy has not come home since media reports surfaced that he was “close” to fellow artiste Waheeda, his wife claimed.

Harian Metro reported his wife Maizawati Zainal as saying that she had heard gossip about her husband and Waheeda, which was reported widely in the media, but chose to ignore them.

However, her patience wore thin after Akhil did not return home and had refused to say where he was. Maizawati said it was then that she decided to file for divorce and build a new life.

Attempts by the tabloid to contact both Akhil and Waheeda for comments were unsuccessful. Waheeda had earlier repeatedly denied gossip linking her to Akhil, saying that they were merely good friends.

Utusan Malaysia reported veteran actor-director Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin as accusing the sensational reports in gossip columns and television shows for the reason behind the divorces among local entertainers.

He said the divorces occurred after the reports were published, many of which were about married actors having affairs with other women.

Jins, who has called for the banning on the publication of such gossip, noted that even a local television show had taken to airing details about the personal life of local entertainers, including their divorces.

In response, Malaysian Artistes Association (Karyawan) president Freddie Fernandez said he had not received any complaint from members that their marriages broke up due to gossip reports.

“Maybe the journalists have heard about the impending divorce from their sources,” he said.

However, Malaysian Singers, Musicians and Songwriters Association (Papita) president Datuk M. Daud Wahid agreed with Jins’ suggestion for gossip columns to be dropped from newspapers and television programmes.

“There’s no need to air such gossip, which will bring problems,” he added.

National Union of Journalists president Norila Daud said gossip columns were written based on factual events, which had been passed on by reliable witnesses to the media.

“Gossip is not slander. The artistes named in the gossip reports are asked to tell their side of the story because they have fans, who want to know their developments,” she added.

DNA way to check halal claims

2009-05-26T02:05:00.002+09:00

Are food and cosmetic products which claim to be halal really so? A Malaysian company may just have the solution for a quick answer.

Olipro Biotechnology's por-cine gene chip is said to be the first of its kind in the world that detects pork DNA or pork contamination in processed food and cosmetic products.

Olipro chief executive director Diong Sing Peng said the device could detect porcine elements in four to six hours.

"This is useful to manufacturers of halal products. Many are unaware that processed food and cosmetics could contain elements of porcine."

Diong said this may not be the manufacturer's fault as the ingredients to make products came from all over the world.
"The factory that does meat packing could be packing several types of meat as well, so chicken or beef could get contaminated."

He said the test kit could detect up to one billionth of a gm of porcine elements in any material.

He said the product, which was a result of 21/2 years of research, could raise the standards of halal certification.

It was recently launched at the Halal Industry's Development Corporation's World Halal Research Summit by the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Diong said: "Malaysia is the hub of halal food.

"It would be great if we could integrate a logo that says porcine-free or lab-tested to increase consumers' trust in products."

He said the company's next device could help detect what type of animal DNA was used in the production of a particular food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic product

S’wak to mass produce solar cells

2009-05-25T20:46:00.001+09:00

Sarawak is to venture into the mass-production of solar cells.

These solar cells will be the main component item in the tapping of solar energy. These cells will be used to convert heat energy - harnessed from the sun by solar panels - into electricity for use in industries and residential homes.

Sarawak's foray into this ''green technology'' industry will be a pioneering effort in this state, said Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan.

''This will be a very high-tech project. It will be the first of its kind in Sarawak. We (ministry) have already negotiated with a foreign consortium on the project.

''The consortium has agreed to set up a factory to produce these solar cells in Similajau (Bintulu Division in northern Sarawak).

''The solar cells to be produced from Sarawak will be used locally as well as for export.

“Most of them will be for overseas markets because we (Sarawak and Malaysia in general) are still very new in the solar energy sectors and we do not have the market yet for big local usage,'' he said during a recent interview.

Sagan, who is MP for Baram, said the venture into the solar-energy sector would be a major step forward for Sarawak in terms of green technology.

He said the project would fit in very well with the state government's plan for SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy).

SCORE will span the length between Mukah district in central Sarawak and Similajau in Bintulu. That belt will be for the setting up of industries that will utilise energy from hydro-dams from Bakun and other sites that are to be built in the years to come.

Sagan declined to reveal as yet which consortium from which country will be the one to handle the solar cell project.

The project will involve huge amount of investments and it will be a long-term industry, he said.

His ministry is aggressively promoting SCORE and the Sabah Regional Development Corridor as well as the other development corridors in peninsula Malaysia by marketing the unique advantages that each has for investors, he stressed.

As far as SCORE is concerned, the bountiful supply of energy that Sarawak has is a massive selling point because investors who want to venture into heavy industries and high-technology sectors will need a constant, uninterrupted supply of huge amount of electricity daily, he added.

Driving the KPI

2009-05-25T08:55:00.001+09:00

KEY performance indicators, which come in many forms, shapes and sizes, have been employed by the world's corporations and, for more than a decade, by government-linked companies in Malaysia. Most private sector managers are familiar with them. The measures are also no stranger to top civil servants, the directors-general, secretaries-general and department heads.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken the KPI one level higher, and adopted them for members of his cabinet and their deputies. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon has been busy the past six weeks working to come up with the indices for the ministers. Just as a stopwatch can't be used to compare a marathon runner with a gymnast, Koh has a different set of KPIs for each of his fellow ministers and their ministries. A more focused unit called Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery Unit) would be set up to support each minister and ministry, Koh said.

Sarawak tops FDI list in 2008

2009-05-24T23:55:00.001+09:00

Sarawak has attracted the highest level of foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the country over the past year.

Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan said Sarawak topped the list after it successfully secured investments worth RM12bil from multinational companies for the construction of aluminium smelter plants in the Bintulu division.

“Our ministry has gone to many countries to promote Malaysia as a destination for FDIs.

“We have found that the most important thing foreign investors look for when they want to venture into high technology sectors is abundant electricity and energy supply.

“Sarawak has become so attractive to the investors because the state has the capacity to generate a lot of electricity, especially with the power generation projects to be implemented for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE),” he said at a gathering with reporters yesterday.

The two aluminium smelter plants will be built in the Similajau Industrial Estate at the outskirts of Bintulu town, some 200km from here.

Several multinational companies from South America, the Middle East, China and Australia have indicated their interest in taking part in the project, which will be a joint venture with local companies.

The two giant smelters will be located within the SCORE belt and will source their energy from the Bakun hydro-electric dam and others to be built within the vicinity.

Sagan, who is also Baram MP, said Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad had already directed the departments and agencies under his purview to help Sabah and Sarawak catch up with Peninsula Malaysia in terms of development.

The ministry, he said, had also stepped up its promotion overseas and introduced schemes and incentives to lure more foreign manufacturers.

Sagan added that more Malaysian products, especially those from Sabah and Sarawak, would be marketed overseas.

Malayan communists go online

2009-05-24T13:44:00.002+09:00

Nearly 50 years after the end of the 12-year Emergency against armed communism, people still seem interested in the subject. Blogs that purportedly speak from the perspective of the communists garner good reception, particularly from the younger generation. Should we worry?

Public views sought over new art

2009-05-24T02:04:00.001+09:00

The public is being given the chance to have a say about a new piece of art for Leicester city centre.

One of two exhibitions has been held so residents and shoppers can discuss the five pieces being considered for a site on Sanvey Gate.

They include a textile fox, a glass panel featuring boots and leaves and decorated pavement.

Officials said reaction to the first open day had been positive and a decision was expected later this year.

Councillor Andy Connelly said: "This is a really great opportunity to brighten up a very well used area of the city with a great piece of new art.

"It is really important that people have their say on the project because it will be pride of place in Sanvey Gate for years to come."

A second public show will be held on 28 May at Leicester Market.

Orchid named after Najib and Rosmah

2009-05-23T16:42:00.001+09:00

A TALL and robust hybrid of the Dendrobium Ronald Imanuel and Dendrobium Jeffrey Tan orchids was named Dendrobium Najib Rosmah in conjunction with the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the National Orchid Garden at the Singapore Botanic Gardens yesterday.

Najib and Rosmah, who are on a two-day visit to Singapore, were shown around the orchid garden by the chief executive officer of the National Parks Board, Ng Lang.

They spent 20 minutes at the garden before leaving for the Istana for the welcoming ceremony by the Singapore government.

In a separate event later, Rosmah visited the National University of Singapore High School of Mathematics and Science.

She was accompanied by Ho Ching, the wife of Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Rosmah was given a briefing on the school by principal Dr Hang Kim Hoo and Director of the Education Programme, Sun Chee Wah.

US state's first assisted suicide

2009-05-23T06:01:00.001+09:00

A 66-year-old US woman with advanced cancer has become the first person to die under a new assisted suicide law in Washington State.

The woman, Linda Fleming, died on Thursday night after taking drugs prescribed by her doctor.

The "Death with Dignity" law was approved by 60% of Washington State voters in a referendum last year.

It is based on a law in neighbouring Oregon, where 400 people have chosen to die over the last 12 years.

The advocacy group, Compassion and Choices of Washington, said Ms Fleming died with her family, her dog and her physician at her side.

In a statement, Ms Fleming, who lived in the town of Sequim, said: "I had only recently learned to live in the world as I had always wanted to, and now I will no longer be here.

"The pain became unbearable, and it was only going to get worse. I am a very spiritual person, and it was very important to me to be conscious, clear-minded and alert at the time of my death."

She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month.

Under the "Death with Dignity" law, any patient seeking to die must be at least 18, terminally ill, and live in Washington State. In addition, the patient must be declared competent, make two spoken statements 15 days apart, and produce a written request witnessed by two people.

No 1M’sia without Sabah, S’wak

2009-05-22T21:29:00.001+09:00

The 1Malaysia concept may not be realised without the involvement of Sabah and Sarawak youths, Sabah Youth Council (MBS) president Mustapha Sakmud said.

He said special attention needed to be given to the youths from the two states because it was “sad to see that there are still Malaysians, especially youths, who are not on par with their counterparts from other parts of the country”.

He regretted that this happened although Malaysia is now about 46 years old.

Mustapha said physical development in Sabah and Sarawak, particularly in the rural areas lagged behind that in the peninsula, adding that basic amenities like water and electricity supplies were equally lacking and more funds needed to be made available.

“Basic educational facilities to educate Malaysians in Sabah and Sarawak, in particular in the rural areas, are still very poor.

“We feel sad when we see the condition of the uniforms these children wear to school.

“Many of them in their desire to acquire knowledge have to walk to school over mountainous terrains and muddy and dusty roads,” he said when speaking as a member of the panel at the 2009 National Youth Convention at MITC in Ayer Keroh, Melaka recently.

He said the socio-economic status, poor infrastructure and many other negative factors resulted in the dropout rate among students in the two states to be higher compared with other states in the country.

“If this situation persists, how can youths in Sabah and Sarawak compete with their counterparts in the peninsula who have all the infrastructure and facilities.

“This will widen the gap between them in terms of educational achievement and skills and eventually their way of thinking,” he said.

He feared that if the problem was not addressed, the youths from the two states would feel discriminated against and if that was the case, it would not be possible to achieve the objectives of the 1Malaysia concept.

He said in principle, MBS agreed and supported the concept, adding that the definition should be based on the country’s history and the formation of Malaysia.

He said Malaysian youths in the two states did not want any quarters to disregard history.

“We don’t want any concepts or ideas put forward by the leaders to be interpreted based on the present day understanding just to maintain power without referring to the conditions and basis for the formation of Malaysia,” he stressed.

He said important issues such as the social contract, especially the special rights of the Malays and Bumiputeras should not be questioned in the name of equal rights and social justice.

He said the special position of Sabah and Sarawak as enshrined in the constitution needed to be safeguarded and maintained.

Soccer's Million Dollar Babies

2009-05-22T14:10:00.001+09:00

$46 million

Team: AC Milan / Los Angeles Galaxy

Country: U.K.

Age: 33

With his heart set on making one more appearance at soccer's most coveted event, the 2010 World Cup, Beckham has to prove to a skeptical Fabio Capello, coach of England's national team, that he isn't washed up. So he pursued a loan transfer from the Los Angeles Galaxy to top-flight Italian club AC Milan and in a few short months in the Serie A this year he reminded everyone--himself included--of a critical aspect of his fame: He can actually play the game.

In March he made his 109th international appearance for England, becoming the country's most capped outfield player. Now it looks as if he will exercise his opt-out clause with the Galaxy at the end of its 2009 season and return to Italy permanently. This resurrection of the 33-year-old's playing career should help him pick up additional endorsements to replace his Pepsi contract that lapsed in December 2008.

Device to detect breast cancer

2009-05-22T08:48:00.002+09:00

A new device that can detect cancer cells at an early stage, in just five minutes, will spare women the agony of going through a mammogram.

It was developed by Dr M. Iqbal Saripan and his team at Universiti Putra Malaysia after seven years of research since 2002.

They have come up with a device, called the "Wire Mesh Collimator", which when installed in nuclear imaging machines is more sensitive to any changes in terms of activity in human cells.

It can detect breast cancer cells as small as 1mm.

Dr Iqbal filed for a patent in July last year and the device has won many awards, including the gold with special congratulations from the Jury of Geneva 2008; chairman award and gold by the Malaysian Nuclear Agency, and the silver award at the Malaysia Technology Expo.
The findings by the team have been published in more than 20 research papers and presented at international conferences.

Part of the project's development cost was funded by an international grant given in August 2007.

Medical companies in Britain and China are ready to conduct clinical trials once the device has been patented.

"The device can detect cancer cells at an early stage, with minimal modification needing to be done on the current nuclear imaging machine.

"Hospitals need not buy the whole new machine, only upgrade the collimator," said Dr Iqbal at a press conference at UPM's Faculty of Engineering yesterday.

Only four public hospitals in the country -- Kuala Lumpur Hospital, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre and Sarawak Hospital -- have nuclear imaging machines, costing about RM5.7 million each, to detect cancer cells.

Informer RM80,000 richer

2009-05-20T15:03:00.001+09:00

An informer who tipped off the state Customs to cigarette smuggling is now RM80,000 richer.

The informer, whose identity is confidential, led Customs to seizures of smuggled imitation cigarettes on which over RM430,000 in taxes should have been paid.

State Customs director Datuk Rusmani Abdul Sukur said the seizures involved more than 200 brands of cigarettes.

"The smuggling of imitation cigarettes not only contributes to the loss of tax revenue, but could be hazardous to health because the cigarettes contain uncontrolled amounts of nicotine and other harmful chemicals," he said yesterday.

And New Straits Times has learned that many of these cigarettes contain shredded newspaper and little tobacco.
Rusmani said the highest number of cigarettes seized was in Sibu last year with 9,902kg. This was followed by Kuching (5,189kg), Miri (3,145kg), Sarikei (491kg), Bintulu (310kg) and Limbang (29kg).

Toilet king of Malaysia calls it a day

2009-05-19T02:00:00.002+09:00

Malaysia’s “toilet king” is stepping down next month after a five-year reign.

Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew, who earned the nickname for his tireless effort in fighting for clean public toilets in the country, said: “It is an unfinished business but I have to move on.”

The 67-year-old accountant-turned-politician was inducted into the Housing and Local Government Ministry’s clean toilet campaign when he was the deputy minister in 2004.

His mission came to an end when he was appointed Deputy Transport Minister last month.

Lau is best remembered for setting up the first toilet association in Malaysia — Quality Restroom Assocation Malaysia (QRAM) — of which he has been chairman since its inception in 2005.

The Sibu MP said he is not seeking re-election at the QRAM annual general meeting to be held next month.

He said it is time for the Government to wield the stick on the country’s 148 local authorities so that they were serious in making sure that the 250,000 public toilets within their jurisdictions are clean.

“Only 60 local authorities took part in a star-rating programme for public toilets last year,” he lamented.

Land of lightning

2009-05-18T05:22:00.006+09:00

The anecdotal evidence is backed up by hard facts – according to our Meteorological Department places like Subang (Selangor), Bayan Lepas (Penang) and Kluang (Johor) have a whopping 180 to 200 “thunderstorm days” (TDs) per year (the number of days that thunder can be heard at the weather monitoring stations there. )

In contrast, figures from the National Lightning Safety Institute (NLSI) of the United States show far fewer TDs in Japan (35-40), Australia (10-70), most of Europe (15-40) and England (a paltry 5-10). Even Florida, considered the “lightning capital” of the USA, has “only” 90-110 TDs.

Another NLSI measurement is that of “lightning density” where Kuala Lumpur is ranked fifth in the world with 48.3 lightning strikes (to the ground) for every square km of real estate. (The other top four lightning density sites are in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.)

AF7 champ. :Hafiz

2009-05-17T08:25:00.003+09:00

Last night was the final episode of AF7 which was aired for the last 10 weeks. Initially there were 14 participants chosen from thousands of hopefuls throughout the nation.

This is a TV reality show, where the participants were judged by SMS. whereby the most popular participants will proceed to the next stage. 5 reached the final, where they have to sing 2 numbers.

The last 2 edition was won by the gals and this is the first time that a Sarawakian became a Champ.

Hafiz was from Kuching and was voted as the most popular contestant in the final. It was a dream come true for the lad as he has waited 12 years to achieve his ambition to become a champion one day.

Man U wins 3rd Premier League title in a row

2009-05-16T23:36:00.003+09:00

Manchester United sealed a third successive Premier League title by getting the point they needed against Arsenal - but the Old Trafford celebrations only started after an afternoon gripped by tension.

Manchester United has won the Premier League for the third season in a row after a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

United needed only a point to clinch the title on Saturday, and the result puts the club out of reach of second-place Liverpool, which is seven points behind and has two games to play.

United has now won 11 Premier League titles in the last 17 seasons under manager Alex Ferguson and is tied with Liverpool on 18 in the all-time list of English league champions.

Ferguson now has 25 major trophies since he arrived at the club in 1986 and hopes to make it 26 when United faces Barcelona in the Champions League final on May 27 in Rome.

Heavy security in major drug trafficking trial

2009-05-16T16:59:00.002+09:00

The magistrate's court here was heavily guarded when the main suspect for the country's biggest drug trafficking case was charged today. Lee Yong Toe, a 48-year-old lorry driver from Taman Iskandar, Johor Baru, was brought to court about 2.45pm with his eyes covered with a pair of dark goggles.

He was heavily escorted by dozens of policemen, some of whom were armed with submachine guns.

The situation was tense outside the court and reporters covering the case were not allowed to take their belongings inside the court, except a note book.

Even the pens for writing were supplied by the policemen after a thorough body check was made on each reporter and member of the public who wanted to follow the proceedings.

"This is a big case and we cannot allow any type of recording material, in whatever form, inside," said a policeman on duty.
Lee was later charged with trafficking in 978.015kg of syabu (methamphetamine) at Km3 Jalan Cenderawasih here about 6.45am on May 2.

He was alleged to have committed the offence with another person still at large.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Fadhli Mahmud appeared for the prosecution while Lee was represented by counsel Mashanida Mohamad Mazalan.

Magistrate Emma Shahriana Ali fixed July 15 for mention after Fadhli said he had to wait for a report from the Chemistry Department.

Meanwhile, in Kuantan another two suspects were taken to the magistrate's court in the afternoon.

The suspects, aged between 40 and 50-years-old, were also heavily guarded before the police obtained a 60-day remand order.

Another suspect, a Datuk in his 30s, is expected to be charged in Johor Baru soon.

On May 2, police busted the biggest syndicate in the country when they stopped a lorry and confiscated the RM254 million worth of syabu here.

Outbreak of leptospirosis

2009-05-16T09:20:00.002+09:00

A Myanmar illegal immigrant from the Juru detention centre here died of leptospirosis at Bukit Mertajam Hospital on Tuesday.

As of noon yesterday, 26 cases were reported -- 24 cases are being treated at Bukit Mertajam Hospital and two at Seberang Jaya Hospital.

All affected were detainees at the centre.

The 21-year-old Myanmar died after being treated at the hospital's intensive care unit for suspected leptospirosis since his admission on May 7.

He showed symptoms of pedal oedema (fluid accumulation in the leg), fever, decreased urine output, constipation and lethargy.
Three cases with similar symptoms were also reported on Tuesday and upon further investigations by the state health department and Seberang Perai Tengah district health office, more cases were identified and referred to Bukit Mertajam Hospital.

The department said samples from the camp's water supply had been taken for checks on contamination, and that its health teams were visiting the camp daily to monitor the inmates for similar symptoms.

Disinfection had also been carried out at the detention camp's blocks, toilets and bathrooms.

It is believed that the outbreak of the disease was caused by rat urine.

Sources said initial investigations revealed that bacteria similar to that found in rat urine was found in the fresh water sample taken from the camp.

The source, however, said the situation was under control.

Checks at the detention depot yesterday showed that the compound was placed on high security.

Rela personnel manning the entrance said they received instructions to bar visitors who did not have the immigration department's permission to enter the camp.

State immigration department officials could not be reached for comment.

Leptospirosis, which is also known as Weil's disease or syndrome, canicola fever or Fort Bragg fever, is a rare and severe contagious bacterial infection that affects humans and a wide range of animals.

The infection is commonly transmitted to humans by allowing animal urine-contaminated water to come in contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes or the mucous membranes.

Malaysia confirms first case of A(H1N1) flu

2009-05-15T17:43:00.002+09:00

Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of the A(H1N1) flu in a 21-year-old student who returned from the United States on Wednesday morning.

All passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark on Wednesday are urged to contact the Health Ministry by calling 03-88810200 or 03-88810300

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the case made Malaysia the 36th country to be affected by the virus.

“Malaysia is now on high alert,” said Liow, who is in London now, enroute to Geneva, for a World Health Organisation meeting. He added he would return earlier than his scheduled return next Friday.

We are ready for polls

2009-05-15T14:13:00.003+09:00

Barisan Nasional is ever ready to face the people in the event fresh state elections are called in Perak, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.

The BN chairman and Umno president said the ruling coalition was not afraid as "we have to face the rakyat and we will face them whenever the time comes".

Calling for state elections, he said, was one of the options under the Constitution.

"It is up to the sultan (of Perak). So, it is not something that has to happen, but something which depends on the ruler."
Earlier, Najib, who is prime minister, addressed about 5,000 government servants at the Public Sector Workers Day event at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.

Several quarters, including Gerakan, had urged Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to immediately request for a dissolution of the state assembly.

Najib was also asked if he was receptive to the idea of a dialogue with the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, on the Perak crisis.

"As I have said earlier, it depends. In the first place, there must be mutual respect for one another. Then, we have to follow the rules and regulations, even if it is inside or outside the state assembly, and thirdly, there should be no preconditions.

"It must be open to explore any possibilities."

On Pas spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's rejection of a unity government between Umno and Pas, Najib said the question did not arise.

"We have not come up with anything. So, the question of it being turned down does not arise. There have been no proposals. What is there to reject?"

Replying to a question on the date of a BN convention, he said: "What is important is the outcome of the convention.

"We need to iron out some matters first as I do not want the convention to be held but the inputs and outcome are not there."

Ferguson stays cool on title bid

2009-05-14T22:29:00.001+09:00

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Manchester United against complacency, even though they only need one more point to win the Premier League title.

United came from behind to beat Wigan 2-1 on Wednesday and a draw at home to Arsenal on Saturday will be enough.

But Ferguson warned: "We'll approach the game the way we always approach a game. We still have a job to do.

"It is against a very good Arsenal side - I don't take any notice of what is written, they are a very good side."

United had to come from behind to beat Wigan at the JJB Stadium, thanks to goals from Carlos Tevez and Michael Carrick.

Aglaia tree compound patented for cancer study

2009-05-14T11:12:00.001+09:00

THE state government has patented the Silvestrol/-CBL316, a compound extracted from a species of Aglaia mahogany trees, which is now in pre-clinical research stage for anti-cancer treatment.

The compound was discovered by the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC).

Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource Management Naroden Majais said SBC was identifying, isolating and purifying the compound to be used in pre-clinical research with the National Cancer Institute and the Ohio State University Medical Centre for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

It was doing this in collaboration with the State Forest Department and the State Agriculture Research Centre, he told Vincent Goh (BN-Pelawan).

Naroden said SBC was also collaborating with the National Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation to screen, isolate and develop photodynamic agents from plants such as entemu, kacangma, sembong and lengkuas, which could be activated by light to treat cancers. These plants could have the potential for the development of cancer therapy.
SBC, he said, had also discovered a compound from fungi which could be used to treat Alzheimer's disease.

It was working with the Nimura Genetic Solutions, a Japanese biotech company, on the potential of the compound.

Children sanitation alert issued

2009-05-12T21:21:00.003+09:00

Millions of children's lives are being put at risk each year because aid agencies and governments make wrong choices about health care priorities.

This is the conclusion of a new report from the charity WaterAid.

It says that diarrhoea caused by poor sanitation is killing many more children than HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

The report says the global spending on HIV/Aids hugely outweighs the amounts spent on providing better sanitation.

Judge with eye for detail

2009-05-12T12:48:00.002+09:00

Justice Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim, who made the ruling that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Perak Mentri Besar, is known to be a “fair judge” who does not care much for the political affiliations of the parties involved.

According to those who had worked with him in Sarawak, Justice Abdul Aziz dares to make decisions without fear or favour.

“He makes his rulings without considering the political background of the parties involved.

“His judgments are very detailed, and he looks at each case based on the merits of the case and not on the people involved,” sources said yesterday.

Justice Abdul Aziz is from Peninsular Malaysia but had served in Sarawak for the last seven years.

He was elevated to the position of a judge in the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in 2003.

Man Utd 2-0 Man City

2009-05-11T13:25:00.002+09:00

Tevez celebrates after scoring Man Utd's second against Man City

Meningitis outbreak: 434 under quarantine

2009-05-10T20:13:00.002+09:00

Happy Wesak Day

2009-05-09T12:57:00.003+09:00

Ohara Floral Art Society members decorated a Wesak Day float at the Malaysian Buddhist Association in Jalan Burma here yesterday. The float, with a giant statue of Lord Buddha, was decked with thousands of stalks of flowers.

Caught on camera

2009-05-08T23:01:00.004+09:00

Labour' s Charles Clark was Education Secretary when he visited a north London school , only for a student to sabotage the press call

Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona

2009-05-07T09:57:00.002+09:00

Andres Iniesta's spectacular strike deep into stoppage time wrecked Chelsea's dreams of a second successive Champions League final against Manchester United amid chaotic scenes at Stamford Bridge.

PRIZED CATCH

2009-05-05T21:45:00.003+09:00

Dahalan Ahmad's house is an added attraction in Langkawi. With a two-headed salamander as a pet, curious on-lookers have been making a beeline to his house in Kampung Perana in Mukim Melaka since Thursday to see the lizard which the Tenaga Nasional employee intends to keep.

Court grants teen breast removal

2009-05-05T04:52:00.001+09:00

An Australian teenage girl has been given permission by a court to have both breasts surgically removed to more closely resemble a boy.

The 17-year-old, known as Alex in court and referred to as a boy, has a psychological condition that makes him unhappy with his gender.

The Family Court in Melbourne said the removal of both breasts would help Alex to build a new life as a boy.

The decision has angered Catholic groups, who view it as irresponsible.

Alex has "gender identity dysphoria", a psychological condition where a person believes they are the opposite sex, the Age newspaper reported.

Alex has been on hormone treatment since he was 13 to prevent menstruation, it said.

Social development

He applied to the court for a double mastectomy before he turned 18 - the age at which he would not need the court's consent and which he would no longer receive social support services as a minor.

Family Court chief justice Diana Bryant said Alex, who lives life as a male, was socially constrained by the breasts, avoided being hugged and wore binding at the beach.

"So it was quite an impediment to his social development, which everyone thought was very important," Judge Bryant was quoted as saying by the Age.

"Overwhelmingly, the evidence was that it was in his interests. And I made that order.

"I wanted to make it quickly so that he could have the operation straight away.''

Critics say that such radical surgery on a 17-year-old is irresponsible and premature.

Campaigners have said that a man from Melbourne who had a sex-change operation in his early 20s was now suing his doctors because he regretted the decision.

Superb Barca destroy rivals Real

2009-05-03T08:30:00.002+09:00

Barcelona romped to a 6-2 victory at fierce rivals Real Madrid to move seven points clear at the top of La Liga.

Barcelona have now scored 100 goals in the league this season and stand on the verge of their first La Liga title since 2006

Flu death toll 'less than feared'

2009-05-02T20:13:00.002+09:00

Mexico has revised down the suspected death toll from swine flu from 176 to 101, indicating that the outbreak may not be as bad as was initially feared.

Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told the BBC that, based on samples tested, the mortality rate was comparable with that of seasonal flu.

The news came as Mexico continues a five-day shutdown in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.

Italy reported its first case, bringing the number of countries affected to 17.

Five countries outside Mexico have confirmed person-to-person transmission.

China is trying to stop the spread of the virus, after getting its first case on Friday.

It says it will quarantine all those who travelled on a flight from Mexico with a man suffering from swine flu.

Flights from Mexico have been suspended, and fellow guests and staff at the Hong Kong hotel where he was staying have been quarantined.

South Korea has also now confirmed a case of the virus.

CONFIRMED CASES

Mexico: 101 suspected deaths - 16 confirmed

US: One death, at least 141 confirmed cases

New Zealand: 4 confirmed, 12 probable cases

Canada: 35 confirmed cases

UK: 13 confirmed cases

Spain: 13 confirmed cases

Germany: 4 confirmed cases

France: 2 confirmed cases

Israel, Costa Rica: 2 confirmed cases

Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Korea, Italy: 1 confirmed case

Countries with confirmed cases of secondary transmission

Mexico

Canada

Spain

Germany

MayDay

2009-05-01T20:33:00.003+09:00

German riot police officers stamp out small fires during a Mayday demonstration in Berlin's Friedrichshain district late yesterday, as police fought May Day demonstrators who hurled bottles and stones overnight till today, making 49 arrests while about 30 police were injured.

Last respect

2009-05-01T07:46:00.001+09:00

Taib pours scented water over his wife’s grave. Also seen are Dato Sri Mahmud Abu Bekir (third left), Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Salahuddin (fifth left), Sultan of Brunei
Hassanal Bolkiah (centre) and Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman (second right).

Signs that show Malaysia on human trafficking route

2009-04-30T21:52:00.002+09:00

The drowning incident off Pengerang in Johor and the arrest of 33 foreigners off Port Klang have confirmed suspicions that Malaysia is a transit point for human trafficking syndicates.

On Tuesday, nine bodies, eight of them Pakistanis, were found floating in the South China Sea off Pengerang.

On Sunday, marine authorities nabbed 33 foreigners from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq on a boat off Kuala Langat, some 30km from here.

In both incidents, the foreigners had luggage with them and most were carrying huge amounts of money.

Police recovered US$8,800 (RM31,620) from the body of a Pakistani woman who had drowned off Pengerang.
Malaysian authorities are probing if both incidents are linked as intelligence reports indicated that the foreigners were on their way to Indonesia before continuing their journey to Australia where they hoped seek asylum.

Last week, Australia's national security adviser led a delegation to Kuala Lumpur seeking the help of their counterparts to intercept these boats before they reached the continent.

Batang Rajang :River Of Death

2009-04-30T16:35:00.002+09:00

The Sungai Rajang, which flows through Sarikei Division here, has been nicknamed the "river of death" by locals after 18 bodies were fished out in the past 16 months.

The victims were mostly fishermen from Thailand and Myanmar who were murdered after drunken fights and whose bodies were thrown into the river. On several occasions, bodies of foreign fishermen were also fished out from the South China Sea.

Police are now hoping to shed this "cowboy town" image of Sarikei with the setting up of a task force to handle the problem of unruly foreigners.

The unacceptable social behaviour of the fishermen had also given Sarikei and surrounding areas the image of a place of utter lawlessness.

State police Commissioner Datuk Mohmad Salleh said the task force was a result of a recent discussion held between the police, the state internal security and other relevant departments.
"These foreign fishermen usually get involved in drunken brawls and when one of them is killed, the body is simply dumped into the river or at sea," Mohmad told Bernama before chairing a three-day meeting with 27 district police chiefs from throughout the state.

"We have from January last year to April 28 this year fished out 18 bodies from Sungai Rajang and the South China Sea.

"While some of these cases had been classified as sudden death, most were classified as murder based on post- mortem findings. We had to consider them as unsolved murders as the victims carried no identification papers."

He said it was unfair for the public to single out police as not having done their job in policing the fast growing industrial and deep sea fishing town adequately every time crimes occurred there.

"What is most important is for all the relevant departments like the Immigration, Customs, Fisheries and the Health Departments to work closely together to tackle any problem with each concentrating on their specific responsibility.

"The police will provide the manpower should there be a need for a joint operation," Mohmad added.

FAREWELL

2009-04-29T22:31:00.003+09:00

Puan Sri Laila Taib, wife of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, passed away at 3.45pm today from lung cancer at their residence in Demak Jaya, Kuching. She was 68.

Baanhor Chungat Maach: Pansuh In Assam

2009-04-29T03:03:00.003+09:00

Ingredients:

# Boneless fish: 6 pieces
# Crushed garlic: ½ tbsp
# Slit green chillies: 2
# Mustard oil: 1 tbsp
# Sliced onions: 2 small sized
# Grated ginger: 1 level tsp
# Salt: to taste
# Tender bamboo hollow: 1 (this one is important, you must required this)
# Banana leaf: 1
# To garnish: coriander leaves, mustard oil – 1 ½ tbsps

Method:

# Clean, wash and drain the fish.
# Clean the banana leaf. Dry it and pass over low fire to make the leaf pliable.
# In a small bowl mix together crushed garlic, slit green chillies, mustard oil and salt.
# Add the mixture to the fish and mix well.
# Fill the bamboo hollow with the fish and seal with soften banana leaf.
# Place the hollows over charcoal fire.
# Rotate the bamboo hollows from time to time till it is evenly burnt.
# Leave it to cool. Slit open the bamboo hollows.
# Add sliced onions, grated ginger and mustard oil to the fish and mix well.
# Serve Baanhor Chungat Mach as a side dish.

Note: Assamese people prefer green chillies to the dry red chillies.

As i was surfing some blogs from the sub-continent, this post caught my eyes. I realised that, the "Baanhor Chungat Maach" or "fish in bamboo hollow" sounds just like our "pansuh". Only that the ingredients differs........local taste i guess.

MALAYSIA HAS VACCINE FOR SWINE FEVER

2009-04-29T02:41:00.001+09:00

Malaysia has the vaccine for swine flu which can be used to stop the spread of the disease to this country, says Veterinary Services Director-General Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin.

The H1N1 vaccine should be injected into pigs as a preventive measure following reports of more than 100 people having died from swine flu in Mexico.

Dr Abdul Aziz told Bernama here Monday that the department was only waiting for the directive from the Health Ministry to carry out vaccination of livestock.

He believed that the H1N1 vaccine was also used by pig farms in other countries as a preventive measure against swine flu.

He also disclosed that Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai had issued a directive to all state Veterinary Services directors to monitor pig farms in their respective states as a precaution and to report on any sign of swine flu infection.

"Stern action will be taken against them if they fail to do this. They must also ensure that all the pig breeders follow instructions like their workers must wear masks," he said.

Dr Abd Aziz said state livestock breeders' associations were required to co-operate with the Veterinary Services Department by reporting on any symptom of swine flu.

"If their workers have similar symptoms for influenza, high fever, sore throat and body aches, they must be given leave and undergo medical examination immediately."

Dr Abdul Aziz said so far the department had not received any report of swine flu symptoms in the country. The disease also had the potential of being spread to birds but the possibility was remote.

"While avian flu can spread through food like by eating chicken, swine flu cannot be spread by eating pork but through human contact," he said.

Malaysia free from swine flu: Health DG

2009-04-28T21:50:00.001+09:00

Malaysians need not worry about the deadly swine influenza as the country was free of the epidemic, said Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican. He said there were no cases based on observation for signs or ''influenza-like illness''.

Dr Mohd Ismail said to ensure that the situation remained as such the ministry had activated the disease control division yesterday to monitor the situation as well as check for signs of the virus at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and all other entry points.

"The ministry will also have a joint meeting with relevant agencies tomorrow to discuss steps that can be taken to prevent and control any epidemic.

"In that regard, the ministry will make press statements from time to time to inform people about developments and steps taken," he said in a statement here today.

Dr Mohd Ismail said a World Health Organisation (WHO) report dated yesterday said there were 40 cases related to the Swine Influenza A (H1N1) confirmed through laboratory tests in the United States and in Mexico 26 cases with seven deaths.
He said there were 1,840 suspected H1N1 cases in Mexico involving 104 deaths.

Six cases were detected in Canada, two in Scotland and one in Spain while there were 25 cases reported in New Zealand, he said.

Dr Mohd Ismail said based on the situation, WHO had raised the influenza pandemic warning from Phase 3 to Phase 4 and this showed a possibility of a pandemic.

"Phase 4 means the virus going from humans to humans and causing an epidemic among communities but WHO has not placed any restrictions in health, travel and trade that needed to be made.

"The increase in phase does not mean the pandemic could not be stopped but the phase could go down or go up based on the information and situation," he said.

He said given that WHO had raised the level to Phase 4, the Health Ministry advised people not to travel overseas especially to countries affected.

Dr Mohd Ismail also advised individuals who fall sick while travelling to get immediate treatment.

REMASTERED LAT

2009-04-28T04:03:00.002+09:00

Malaysia's beloved cartoonist, Lat, puts his signature on the mock cover of his latest compilation, a 206-page hardcover entitled ‘Lat: The Early Series’, which contains drawings chronicling his early 1970s works published in the New Straits Times. The compilation was launched at Balai Berita

How much is a trillion dollars?

2009-04-27T23:02:00.001+09:00

US senators battling a nearly one-trillion-dollar economic stimulus package are striving to find vivid ways to explain just how big that one with 12 zeroes after it really is.

On Tuesday, Republican Senator John Thune said you could ring the equator 38.9 times with 100-dollar bills stretched side-by-side -- and showed a picture of Earth encircled in greenbacks to underline his point.

"One trillion dollars is a terrible thing to waste," he said. "We shouldn't spend money we don't have on things we don't need."

A day earlier, Senate Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell also grappled with ways to illustrate how big the 888-billion-dollar stimulus plan -- which could easily expand before a final vote -- really is.

"Just to put a trillion dollars in context, if you started spending the day that Jesus was born and you spend a million dollars every single day, you still wouldn't have spent a trillion dollars. This is a lot of money," he said.

SWINE FLU SCARE

2009-04-27T19:43:00.003+09:00

The Health Department of Putrajaya and Serdang conducting examinations for swine flu on all passengers from Los Angeles at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport after the outbreak of the disease in Mexico.

Malaysians have been advised not to panic as the authorities have joined forces to keep the deadly swine flu away from our shores.

The Health Ministry and Immigration Department have tightened screening processes at all entry points while awaiting further information from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government was very concerned about the outbreak of the virus in Mexico and the United States and was taking steps to ensure Malaysians were not infected.

The swine flu virus is said to a combination of avian, human and swine viruses.

There is no vaccine for the flu. Experts say the best precaution to avoid being infected is to keep hands clean by washing them.
"We are concerned about what is happening in Mexico, Texas and California, and we are closely monitoring the situation.

"Anyone who had visited these places after April 17 should inform us so that we can conduct the checks on them. We have also raised the alerts at airports and ports where we will conduct extensive screening similar to what we did during the avian flu outbreak."

Liow added that his ministry was working closely with WHO.

"At this point, WHO has yet to raise the international alert level. And when they do so, we will be ready to implement the necessary measures."

Liow advised Malaysians not to panic as the government would take steps to stop the disease from spreading to Malaysia. "We will also keep the people informed of any developments."

The symptoms of the swine flu are similar to that of ordinary flu.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the Health Ministry's disease control division has activated its operations room to monitor the situation.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said in a statement medical practitioners who treated people with influenza who had visited Mexico, California or Texas after April 17, should inform the district health office immediately.

For more information, call 03-88810200/88810300 or visit www.moh.gov.my.

WALK THE TALK: Being a Malaysian without the fuss

2009-04-27T04:46:00.001+09:00

IS there a necessity to define, in no uncertain terms, the concepts of "Malaysian Malaysia" or "Bangsa Malaysia" or, the latest, "1Malaysia"?

Do we need to politicise it and get entangled in definitions that serve more to confuse than enlighten? There are in fact many ordinary folk who are living examples of what a Malaysian is. They have been doing it all the time wihout any fuss or fanfare.

We see them in the Malay teacher teaching Mandarin in a Chinese school; the Chinese or Indian teacher teaching Bahasa Malaysia in a national school; the Malay and Indian staff helping pupils light lanterns during a mooncake festival celebration in a Chinese school; Muslims breaking fast with halal mooncakes in a Chinese restaurant in Kuala Terengganu; residents of different races in a Rukun Tetangga sector bonded together by the common cause of fighting crime; Malaysians of all races in an international sports meet, standing at attention, singing the Negara Ku heartily, eyes focused on the Jalur Gemilang fluttering in the wind, hearts filled with pride when a fellow Malaysian stands on the winner's rostrum; the list goes on.

People are not machines to be steered and programmed to respond and function in a fixed way. People need love, compassion, respect, sensitivity and mutual sharing and caring to function meaningfully to continually improve on their quality of life.

If we choose to clamour to outgun and outdo one another, then let it be in an atmosphere of friendly and wholesome competition such that it will contribute to the progress, prosperity and pride of Malaysia, and not the reverse.

BARGAINS GALORE

2009-04-26T20:43:00.003+09:00

While many businesses are struggling to survive in a bleak economy, a leading shopping complex in Kuching is attracting thousands of shoppers of all ages with goods on discount prices. Almost all the shops in the shopping mall are offering 50 per cent discounts on all their items for 10 days, from April 24.

1Malaysia won’t go far if bloggers restricted

2009-04-25T20:52:00.001+09:00

KUCHING: The contribution of bloggers in Sarawak to promote the 1Malaysia concept will be limited should the government continue to restrict their writings.

Blogger Dr John Brian Anthony said he could not see how they can respond positively to the call by the government to promote the (1Malaysia) concept if their contribution were curtailed.

“I fear that many of our comments would be restricted by the authorities if they think we ‘go overboard’ on the matter,” he said yesterday.

Nevertheless, he did not mind promoting the concept as long as it kept to its main aim, said Brian who writes in the style of dayakbaru in the Internet.

“The concept must also encompass the democratic principle of check-and-balance,” he added.

Brian, who is Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) publicity chief, said the concept must take into account the interests of all ethnic groups and not just a few major races otherwise it (concept) would be interpreted as “one-sided”.

“I am struggling for social justice and equal opportunities in terms of economic and education in Sarawak,” he said.

“If we bloggers write with too much ‘passion’ — especially on issues deemed by the government as sen-sitive — I am sure they would not be happy with us. We might as well not write about the concept at all,” he said.

He said this when asked to respond on the call by Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to work hand-in-hand with the bloggers on the matter.

On Thursday, Rais had a meeting with bloggers where he told them to use facts rather than rhetoric and incitements in their writings through the Internet.

Brian also pointed out that should the concept deviated from its original intention, which include tolerance and respect, the government would fail in realising 1Malaysia.

“Development and progress should benefit the society at large. The government is entrusted to ensure this. They are not given the mandate to do all things based on what they (government) think,” he said.

“Peace, harmony and stability are all meant for the people. People put up the government which can provide all these,” he said.

The slogan ‘One Malaysia, People First, Performance Now’ is the main theme introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when he took the office on April 3.

Najib pointed out the concept demanded that people respect one another and also practise tolerance.

Another blogger Audie Chua said he agreed with Brian.

He said if the government wanted bloggers to help in promoting the 1Malaysia concept, then it must be practical.

“There are all sorts of opinions and comments as there are many bloggers. But if the government acts positively, I am sure the bloggers will be ready to assist them in any issue by writing positive views.

“What is important is that the concept must ensure that no ethnic group is lagging behind others in mainstream development,” he said.

On the other hand the people must appreciate the 1Malaysia concept to make its implementation a success, he said.

Father paid her RM1 every time they had sex

2009-04-25T12:51:00.001+09:00

A 13-year old girl who was allegedly turned into a sex slave by her father and molested by her brothers for the past five years finally plucked up the courage to lodge a report on Wednesday.

The Form One pupil confided in her teachers the trauma she had been subjected to at her home since she was 9 years old.

Following the report, police arrested her 47-year-old father and her older brothers aged 15 and 17.

The father, an odd job labourer allegedly raped her on several occasions, while her brothers took turns to molest her.

The girl told police that the first time her father raped her was when she was 9 years old.
She said she had gone with her father to collect banana leaves when he raped her.

After that incident, she was paid between RM1 and RM2 by her father each time he sexually abused her.

The girl did not disclose this to her mother, who is a housewife, as she was afraid.

But on Wednesday, she decided to reveal all to her teacher, as she was afraid that her younger sisters, aged 7 and 9, would suffer the same fate. The victim has seven siblings.

Her teacher then took her to the Bukit Mertajam police station where a report was lodged.

State Criminal Investigation Department chief SAC II Wan Abdullah Tuanku Said said the girl was also raped in her house and in a secondary forest in Berapit.

He said all three suspects were picked up from their homes on Wednesday, adding that the case was classified as rape and molest.

ABJECT MISERY

2009-04-24T00:20:00.002+09:00

In Kapung Siput, in Baling, Kedah, 22-month old Irshad Azizan stays home in pain and misery, all because of a rare skin disease he suffered since he was six-months old. His mother Salmiah Abd Rahman, 40, has appealed for skin specialists to help her youngest child. Irshad is especially vulnerable to hot weather, compelling him to cry incessantly in pain.

77 PCT OF MALAYSIAN WOMEN LOWLY PAID

2009-04-23T13:10:00.001+09:00

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (NNN-BERNAMA)-- Gender segregation has reared its ugly head in the Malaysian labour market, with about 77 per cent, or 2.7 million women, in under-valued and lowly paid occupations.

This was further reinforced as most men and a large population of women themselves support traditional division of labour and find differences in salaries justifiable. The National Seminar on Work, Income and Gender Equality which concluded here Wednesday, highlighted this.

The seminar also highlighted the issue of sexual harassment, which affected women in every workplace and at every level of employment, thus compromising women's safety and productivity.

The two-day seminar, organized by the Human Resources Ministry in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), was attended by participants from government, the private sector, trade unions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

In order to rectify the situation, the seminar recommended a change in the mindset of society on stereotyping, and encouraging more men to be involved in sharing responsibilities through education.

It also recommended that the government introduce laws and regulations that encourage flexible working arrangements to accommodate women's roles and also make provision for a longer period of paid maternity leave.

The seminar noted that although there was a significant increase in the enrolment of women in institutions of higher learning in the country, the labour market, however, rated graduate women low in terms of remuneration.

It also noted there was a sizeable talent pool among women that remained untapped because of inadequate maternity leave, rigid and non-conducive regulations, adverse stereotying of women's role by society and lack of support from men in shouldering the responsibilities of caring for children and elderly.

The seminar recommended that the Employment Act 1955, be extended to include all working women. Currently, it does not cover domestic workers and those earning more than 1,500 Ringgit (one USD = about RM3.6) per month.

As a social responsibility, the seminar also recommended that the government devise strategies to encourage employers to cater for the disabled. It also wanted existing guidelines and employment contract for contract workers to be made more effective with a proper enforcement mechanism.

It also emphasized that the government should draw up strict regulations for recruiters and employers to avoid exploitation and abuse of maids. -- NNN-BERNAMA

Sex, a quarrel, then death

2009-04-22T14:20:00.001+09:00

SHAH ALAM: A couple went to a temple in Sepang to pray.

After fulfilling their religious obligations, they had sex outside the compound and then fell asleep.

When they woke up several hours later, they got into a heated argument which turned deadly when the man went back into the temple, grabbed a parang and hacked the woman to death.

The High Court here yesterday heard how general worker S. Ganesan, 24, then hid P. Suganthy's body in some bushes behind the temple.

Ganesan then threw away the parang and fled.
Suganthy's body was later found by a passer-by.

The facts of the case were read out yesterday before judicial commissioner Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim. He sentenced Ganesan to 14 years' jail after he pleaded guilty to culpable homicide.

Ganesan admitted committing the offence at a temple in Kampung Lembah Paya Salak in Sepang between noon and 6.15pm on Aug 11, 2005.

He was initially charged with murder and had claimed trial after which nine prosecution witnesses had testified.

Ganesan subsequently changed his plea when the prosecution reduced the charge to manslaughter.

In sentencing him, Abang Iskandar said, based on the post-mortem report, Suganthy, a 22-year-old cleaner, had suffered 16 external body injuries and a cracked skull.

He said the only mitigating factor he could consider was that Ganesan was a young offender (he was 19 when the offence was committed) and that he had pleaded guilty.

He ordered him to serve the jail term from the date of his arrest on Aug 31, 2005.

In mitigation, counsel K. Viknesvaran pleaded for leniency as his client had repented.

He pointed out that Ganesan was from a poor family and had pleaded guilty to the offence.

Deputy public prosecutor Hana Hadinah S. Mohd Ghazali pressed for a heavy sentence to reflect the gravity of the offence.

Rose For Friend

2009-04-21T19:13:00.003+09:00

Well, i receive this note in my email and i wish to share it with all my friends out there. Even if we never meet before and it just happen that you just pass by........you all are my friemds.

New Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities

2009-04-20T00:37:00.003+09:00

Tan Sri Bernard Giluk Dompok has been appointed the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities in the new Federal Cabinet announced on 9 April 2009. He takes over from Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui who has been appointed as Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water.

Tan Sri Bernard, 60, holds a BSc. (Land Administration [UK] FISM) which he obtained from the University of East London in 1978. The same year after graduating, he started his career as a valuer at the Sabah Lands & Survey Department. In 1980, he pursued his career as a private valuer until 1985.

Married with five children, the Sabah-born Minister commenced his political career in 1986 and among the positions he has held include being the Minister in the Finance, Agriculture & Fisheries as well as Tourism ministries in Sabah. Besides which, he had also held the post of Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Minister of his home state. At Federal level, he was first appointed a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in 1994.

MTC congratulates Tan Sri Bernard on his appointment and looks forward to his guidance and leadership to further develop the downstream sector of the timber industry in Peninsular Malaysia. At the same time, MTC takes this opportunity to thank Datuk Peter Chin for the untiring efforts put in over the years to develop the timber industry, and wish him success in his new endeavour.

Landslide destroys half of road

2009-04-19T20:05:00.002+09:00

KAPIT: Continuous heavy rainfall over the last few days has caused a massive landslide which destroyed half of Jalan Melekun.

Motorists are advised to exercise extra care when approaching Km1.8 of the road.

The Borneo Post, which was tipped off about it, visited the site in a four-wheel drive, taking about 40 minutes to reach the scene from Kapit town.

The journey in the rain covered Jalan Selirik, Jalan Lepong Baleh and Jalan Melekun.

According to information, the road collapsed as early as Tuesday evening after heavy rainfall, and worsened as more rain fell. Half of the tar-sealed surface disappeared as the ground gave way.

Earlier Kapit District Officer Simon Japut Tiok, accompanied by Public Works Department staff, visited the site to investigate the extent of damage to the road.

The authority condoned off the danger zone to warn motorists of the road closure.

The reporter who was at the scene was informed by a passer-by that the road completed two years ago experienced a massive landslide just above the Lepong Baleh communal longhouse.

Coincidentally another massive landslide had occurred that cut off the access road from Jalan Melekun to Nanga Bawai, affecting a primary school, SK Nanga Bawai, which has 30 teachers and 180 pupils.

Also affected were some 600 rural folks living in two longhouses beside the Baleh River - Rumah Nabau and Rumah Ulau.

The access road provided a convenient route to Kapit which is about 40 minutes by four-wheel drive along Jalan Melekun-Jalan Lepong Baleh-Jalan Selirik.

The landslide occurred two nights ago after continuous heavy rainfall had fallen over a few evenings. The soil on the steep slope gave way to running water and began to flow down to cover the access road.

It was a recurrence of a previous landslide that took place late last year when the same stretch of road was submerged in mud after heavy rain.

The road user appealed for assistance from the government agency to clear the mud so they could pass through.

Police officer caught with his pants down

2009-04-19T08:35:00.001+09:00

BUTTERWORTH: The deputy chief of a police station who had his zipper down and a woman teacher were detained for indecent behaviour by religious department officers yesterday.

Penang Islamic Department officers detained them at the Bagan Ajam rest area on the Butterworth Outer Ring Road.

The police officer shouted abusive words at the religious department officers and refused to show his authority card after identifying himself as a policeman.

The department's operations unit chief, Khairul Azman Azizan, had to ask policemen who were accompanying them to help detain the police officer.
The police officer and his female companion, who is in her 40s, were taken to a police station.

They were released five hours later on bail.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak

2009-04-19T00:18:00.001+09:00

Datuk Seri Najib Razak feeding 'pulut kuning' to his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, at a ceremony celebrating his homecoming as the sixth Prime Minister in his Pekan parliamentary constituency.

Lottery winner dies while waiting to collect money

2009-04-18T09:51:00.000+09:00

A MAN who was waiting to collect a RM20,000 prize money at a 4-Digit outlet died before he could see the money, reported Nanyang Siang Pau.

It is learnt that Luo Zhi Liang, 47, was asked to wait while the operator at the outlet in Miri, Sarawak, prepared the cheque for him at about 10am on Wednesday.

While waiting, Luo had intended to buy another number, but before he could complete writing the number down, he collapsed and died leaving only three numbers on the paper.

A Place Called Home

2009-04-17T22:30:00.004+09:00

Iraqi children play next to their makeshift home in Baghdad's al-Dora slum today. One hundred and seventy homeless families live in al-Dora slum making their living with garbage recycling.

Dirty Old Man

2009-04-16T08:59:00.001+09:00

The 56-year-old, who is receiving monthly assistance from the Welfare Department, has been filming his sexual exploits and selling the recordings.

But his career as a porn star has been cut short by police, who arrested him at his Bandar Putra home on Saturday. They had been watching him for a while after receiving a tip-off.

In the 4pm raid police seized a pen drive which contained video recordings of the man having sex with a woman believed to be a foreigner in her 20s.

Segamat district police chief Superintendent Abdul Majid Mohd Ali said the police believe the recordings on the pen drive were meant to be downloaded onto video compact discs (VCD) for distribution.

Putting Sarawak on forest management world map

2009-04-12T13:27:00.003+09:00

The opening of Sarawak Rainforest and SFM (Sustainable Forest Management) Discovery Centre at Bukit Kana and SFM certification for Anap-Muput FMU (Forest Management Unit) on Thursday will put Sarawak on the world map for tropical forest management.

Malaysian Timber Certification Council chairman Datuk Dr Freezailah Che Yeom said the centre would become a special reference project in the state to be followed by others especially in Malaysia.

“About 370 million hectares of forests in the world are reported to be under sustainable management and certified, out of which tropical forests account for only about five per cent.

“And most of these areas are in Malaysia. About 56 per cent of Malaysia’s land area is forested compared with the global forest cover of only 30 per cent.

“Sarawak is therefore truly green with more than 60 per cent of its land under natural forests,” said Dr Freezailah during the official opening of the centre.

The centre is 20 kilometres from Sangan and accessible by road and river from Tatau.

Travelling between Bintulu Airport and Sangan is approximately one hour.

The centre has a built up area of 1,025 square metres including an exhibition area to showcase the local natural history, tree and timber products, wildlife and its management interpretation, community life and craft with classroom, library, conference room, surau, landscaped play area and facilities for full board and lodging for up to 50 people in a modern permanent building equipped with electricity and running water.

According to Dr Freezailah, the protected forests are under serious stage of being sustainably managed.

“Two FMUs in Sarawak, Selaan Linau and Anap-Muput have been certified for sustainability under the MTCS (Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme),” he added.

He said the statistics are most exemplary and should make Malaysians proud though much work still remains to be done.

“In Anap-Muput we can see all the positive elements that contribute to success in the implementation of SFM.

“Good community relations and meaningful involvement of members of the local community have been nurtured and developed by Zedtee management,” he said.

He congratulated Zedtee management for being able to improve the local people’s lives and their livelihood through their special efforts and activities.

“As somebody once said, forestry is not really about trees. Forestry is about people and how forests may be sustainably managed, utilised and developed to contribute to human welfare and human well-being.

“Equally here in Anap-Muput, we can see efforts on the ground to ensure biodiversity conservation and protection with the support of local communities,” he said.

The centre in Bukit Kana is beautifully situated in the green wonderland and Dr Freezailah believed that it could offer so much and symbolise the aspirations and the future of forestry in the state through SFM and certification.

The centre was previously known as Bukit Kana Field Station and represents the realisation of the key strategy of the Development Plan of the ITTO Project of Model Forest management Area in Sarawak to provide a permanent facility for training programmes for planning least damaging harvesting operations and skill training of forest operators.

NAJIB ADMINISTRATION 2009

2009-04-10T07:32:00.004+09:00

The unexpected Umno leaders appointed to the Najib Administration today is Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, made the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry while his rival, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, did not get a posting. Dropped from the Cabinet are stalwarts Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, Datuk Azalina Othman Said, Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique and Datuk Ong Ka Chuan and rookie minister Datuk Amirsham Aziz.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in unveiling his new 28-Minister, 40 Deputy Ministers administration, confirmed Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Deputy Prime Minister but he was unexpectedly moved to Education Ministry.

The three Umno vice-presidents were given key ministries - Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein as Home Minister, Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Defence) and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (Rural Development).

Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil made the expected return to the cabinet in her old Ministry, Women, Family and Community Development but the major surprise is Datuk Anifah Aman getting the Foreign Minister's post, a first for a Sabahan.

Najib retained the veteran Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, who went back to familiar territory as Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Communications.

Batang Ai

2009-04-07T10:40:00.002+09:00

Batang Ai by-election is seen as the fight between "the beginning of the end" and the "end of the beginning".

There are only 8,006 voters here, with the vast majority being Ibans (7,608), but this election is seen by BN as the end of the beginning of PKR's ambitions in Sarawak, which must call for a state election by next year.

However, PKR has told voters that a win for it would spell the beginning of the end for BN, and specifically Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud's reign.

With Ibans outnumbering the handful of Chinese voters (274), Malays (117) and others (seven), campaigners including those who are not Ibans used the "Rentap" language to woo the community.

Rentap was a feared Iban warrior who fought against James Brooke in the early days of Sarawak's history.

"The underlying cause is the same. In the old days, Rentap fought with spears and machetes against our enemy but now we have to use our brains to keep away the unwanted from ruining our future," said one BN campaigner.

Another from the opposing side said: "Our people have to start an uprising against tyranny and discrimination just like what Rentap did. If you don't fight, we will remain poor."

BN's Malcom Mussen Lamoh and PKR's Jawah Gerang are not only old friends but also share relatives in many of the longhouses.

Obviously, the candidates have not been trading insults but the parties they represent have been at each other's throat.

F1: Button wins abandoned Malaysian Grand Prix

2009-04-05T22:32:00.004+09:00

Jenson Button won a chaotic Malaysian Grand Prix today for a second straight victory after the race was abandoned when a ferocious storm lashed the Sepang circuit.

Nick Heidfeld in his BMW Sauber came second, benefiting from pitting only once to Button’s four times in a race that became a lottery. Timo Glock in a Toyota was third.

It was finally halted after 32 laps as rain pelted down, lightning flashed around the circuit and visibility deteriorated, the first time since Brazil in 2003 that a race has been called off due to weather.

Formula One supremos must take some of the blame after pushing for a 5:00 pm start instead of its regular 3:00 pm slot to satisfy European television audiences.

With tropical Malaysia routinely getting wild storms, it was clear that if one hit during the 56-lap race they would have trouble finishing with daylight disappearing.
Toyota’s Jarno Trulli came fourth, Rubens Barrichello in the other Brawn was fifth and Mark Webber in the Red Bull was sixth.

World champion Lewis Hamilton picked valuable points by coming seventh with Nico Rosberg filling out the top eight.

However, the drivers and constructors only get half the usual number of points with the race halted at less than three-quarter distance.

A VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION

2009-02-11T20:30:00.003+08:00

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has
with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.
But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent )

Professor : You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer)

Professor : Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ?

(Student had no answer)

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe

the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smelt your GOD?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor : Yes,Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No, sir. There isn't.

(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega

Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don't have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go

any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?
Student : You're wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the Absence of Something
You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called

Darkness, isn't it?
In reality, Darkness isn't.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD

and a Bad GOD.
You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something

we can measure.
Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.
It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully

understood either one.
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it
Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved

from a Monkey?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of

course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument was going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor,
Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?

(The Class was in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?

(The Class broke out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain,

Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable,

Demonstrable Protocol,
Science says that You have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?

(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)

Professor : I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly !
The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.

NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so .. .
You'll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won't you?
Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH.

That student was Albert Einstein.

Hey Entrecarders

2009-01-30T23:08:00.005+08:00

Happy dropping!

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80
81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90
91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	100
101	102	103	104	105	106	107	108	109	110
111	112	113	114	115	116	117	118	119	120
121	122	123	124	125	126	127	128	129	130
131	132	133	134	135	136	137	138	139	140
141	142	143	144	145	146	147	148	149	150
151	152	153	154	155	156	157	158	159	160
161	162	163	164	165	166	167	168	169	170
171	172	173	174	175	176	177	178	179	180
181	182	183	184	185	186	187	188	189	190
191	192	193	194	195	196	197	198	199	200
201	202	203	204	205	206	207	208	209	210
211	212	213	214	215	216	217	218	219	220
221	222	223	224	225	226	227	228	229	230
231	232	233	234	235	236	237	238	239	240
241	242	243	244	245	246	247	248	249	250
251	252	253	254	255	256	257	258	259	260
261	262	263	264	265	266	267	268	269	270
271	272	273	274	275	276	277	278	279	280
281	282	283	284	285	286	287	288	289	290
291	292	293	294	295	296	297	298	299	300

(Tip: Hold down the Ctrl key while you click as many numbers as your browser can handle. This will open up a new tab with each click. I normally open between 10 and 20 tabs at a time.)

Drop Zone

2009-01-13T11:19:00.003+08:00

Eye Spi.
Saphrym.

Reenashwina.
Aerten Art.
Endangered Spaces (CyberCelt).
Unpredictable Life.
Technically Easy.
Superficial Gallery.
Modern Glam.
Trip the Lady.
Daisy The Curly Cat.
Chica & Pumuckl - Funny Cats in Egypt.
Sexy Old Broad.
MTMD. (Meltward Torrents Meanderings Delt)
Lapidary Queen Wannabees.
Dolly’s Daily Diary.
-
Mummy Diaries - Mom Knows Everything.*
Black Tie and Sneakers.
Travelin’ Show.
Nocturnal Blogger’s Introspect.
Margie & Edna’s Basement.
Mindblogger.
Aging Disco Diva.
Patsy Words of Wisdom.
Zental Floss.
Mature Not Senile.
Shainakins.
My Life At 90 Looking Back and Moving On.
Maria Boscardin.
First Door On The Left.
My Absent Mind.
Random Ramblings.
On The Bricks.
EJ Cooksey.
Dynamics AX Associate.
Mobile eBook Etc.
Table for Five.
Alan Bamboo.
-
Blogging MoRe.
My Thoughts, Ideas and Ramblings.
Make Every Day Your Lucky Day.
Mixed Metaphor. U/I
Virtual Millenium.
Odd Vantage.
Bald Eagle.
Famous Quotes.
The Junk Drawer.
Is A Man’s World .
Fragile Heart.
Edge of Sanity.
Midlife Misfit.
Canucklehead.
Read My Mind.
Lee Doyle Contains Nuts.
Velvet Rose.
Angelika The Life Experiences of an Insomnac.
Be A Fly On My Wall.
Glitch Line.
Cheaper By The Half Dozen. U/I
Majik’s World.
Cromely.
Art Constellation.
Powered by Creativity.
-
Inspiring Quotes.
My Big World Of Crap.
Life’s Litte Wonders.
60 Were Enough.
It’s A Wonderful Life.
All The World’s A Stage.
Get Some.
A Changing Life.
Visit NYC.
Karlonia.
Ups and Downs and All Arounds.
Environmentastic.
Found __it.
Paperkraft.
On the horizon. U/I
You Should Own.
Momma Muse.
Herbs N Oil.
A Quest for Happiness.
Postcards From Myself.
Your Best Life.
Living Well.
Crayon Writer.
Black Tennis Pros.
-
Urban Swirl.
Simple PC Talk.
Prove Me Wrong.
Young Urban Professionals.
One Quart Low.
The Buzz. U/I
Sweet Resistance.
Random Musings Of A Deranged Soul.
Treasure Nature.
Foolsville 2.0. U/I
Live Life Live Your Dreams.
Article Blog.
My Thermos.
World Wide Travel. U/I
Article Specialist.
Pink Lemondade of Life.
Technology Blog.
Up the Hill Gang.
Beautiful and Happy.
Journey Towards A Better Me.
Wisdom Begins in Wonder.
English Turkey.
-
Internet Business Guide (Hochstadt)
Eleanor’s Blog.
Women’s Ink.
Olga the Traveling Bra.
Mrs Sparrow.
Jenn Cooks.
My Corner Stone Trio. U/I
Cat On My Head.
Beetle Blog.
Dead Rooster.
Gorilla Sushi.
Herb Urban.
The Astonishing Adventures of Lord Likely.
Dirty Shanks.
Phone Girl. (adult site)

Blue Ribbon Bloggers.
No DiretOn.
Santa’s Mailbox.
It’s a Blog Eat Blog World.
Little Piece of Me.
Ben Spark.
Polliwogs Pond.
Coffee 2 Go.
Life With Heathens.
Purple Frog Cat.
My View of It. U/I

Fiteness Life Club.
My Journey To Thin (Lap Band Progress)
Fit & 40.
Kudos for Balanced Fitness & Lifestyle.
Dutsji.
Be the Weight You Want To Be.
Health Nut Wanna Be Mom.
Say Goodbye To Pounds.
Buddy’s Fitness News.
Steve v4.6.
Cardio Girl.
John Is Fit.
Gina’s WW Recipes.
Life of an Everyday BBW.
Losing It.
Healthy Lifestyle.
Embracing Health For Life.
Almost Fit.
The Health Blog.
Scale Hoppers.
Health, Fitness, Science & More.
Health Wellness Post.
Health and Nutrition.

Tinkerbell.
Modern Witchcraft School.
Pandora’s Casket. U/I
The Simple Witch.
The Sacred Oak (Medieval, Renaissance, Occult Metaphysical shop).
Willow’s World.
Thyme 2 Dream (Also see Etsy for circlets and tiarras)
That Grrl.
Valley of the Subconscious.
Open Your Heart to Love.
The Goddess Diary.
Frontiers Of Wonder.
Enchanted Kingdom (tarot and myth).
Amaranth Moon Tarot.
Toltec Insights.
Got Wicca.
Island Wench.
Evil Woobie .
Fabuluously Jinxed.
Angels on Your Shoulder (author - Dance of Power).
The Esoterical Journey.
The Paranormal Society.
Wise Women of the West.
Ocean of Perspectives.
The 3rd Eye.
Witchy Mama.
Pagan Witch.
Nettle and Rose.
Forest Green Witch (Terrah Dawn).
Learn To Channel.
Living with Samsara
Spiritual Zone.
Nostradamus.
A State Of Mind - Psi Happens.
The Spirit Moved Me.
Spirituality.
Gifts of the Soul.
Indigo Skies (coaching for the soul)
Woo Woo Wisdom.
N*Tranced.
Healing With Reiki.
Magical Connections (Modern Day Magic).
Wicca Warrior.
My Paranormal Life.
Infinite Possibilies: Living and Working with Spirits.
Paisley Goddess.
Vamp Amber.
Dreams, Astral Projection, and Astral Travel.
Liberal Occult Weirdo.
Outing the Goddess Within.
Grey Yogi.
Love, Mysticism and Tantric Wisdom.
I Spy With My Third Eye.
Wind Whispers - pagan
Tarot Princess - tarot cards, palmistry, crystals and the occult.

Modern Historian.
Sustainable Democracy.
History’s Mysteries.
Obscure History.
Unknown Headlines.
Crazy Off Beat News & Videos.
U.S. Common Sense.
Good & Bad News U/I

Get 300 Entrecard Drops in 15 Minutes!
Turnip of Power’s bookmark List of 300.
Neoco 300 drops database (includes direction for Firefox Browser, two addons and configuring)
Sitehoppin (Drop like a drunken dog.)

Web Directories

2008-12-24T23:09:00.001+08:00

A directory of useful information to the common person who wants to find helpful resources. A collection of all kind of information.

Web directories don't exactly have the reputation of being helpful resources for finding information. Most have become endless pits of links, and wading through them to find anything useful is next to impossible.Then there are the human-edited ones that tend to be more useful, but are aimed more at the submitter promoting their business than they really are towards the user who is there to find information.

One might say why one should go for web directories when we have google,yahoo,msn and many other search engines.No matter how much emphasis search engines put on relevancy, if you want to find a collection of useful resources on a particular topic, you will be left wading through pages and pages to come up with them. Still most of the people use search engines to find information they are looking for.

Some of the directories are still usefull.dont expect that your link is indexed in the directories, but one can submit it in some of free directories.Old yahoo directory is one of the useful directory,but now its bombarded with submissions, ut that is the beauty of keeping this one related to a niche.

Try them instead of search engines you will get more relevant informations what you are looking for.

FTP Error Codes Explained

2008-12-24T22:36:00.001+08:00

The FTP errors suck. Not knowing the meaning of the error code can avoid a user from troubleshooting the issue. Here is a useful reference list that i found dumped inside the deepest region of my HD:

Code Description

100 Codes The requested action is being taken. Expect a reply before proceeding with a new command.
110 Restart marker reply.
120 Service ready in (n) minutes.
125 Data connection already open, transfer starting.
150 File status okay, about to open data connection.

200 Codes The requested action has been successfully completed.
200 Command okay.
202 Command not implemented
211 System status, or system help reply.
212 Directory status.
213 File status.
214 Help message.
215 NAME system type. (NAME is an official system name from the list in the Assigned Numbers document.)
220 Service ready for new user.
221 Service closing control connection. (Logged out if appropriate.)
225 Data connection open, no transfer in progress.
226 Closing data connection. Requested file action successful (file transfer, abort, etc.).
227 Entering Passive Mode
230 User logged in, proceed.
250 Requested file action okay, completed.
257 “PATHNAME” created.

300 Codes The command has been accepted, but the requested action is being held pending receipt of further information.
331 User name okay, need password.
332 Need account for login.
350 Requested file action pending further information.

400 Codes The command was not accepted and the requested action did not take place.
421 Service not available, closing control connection. (May be a reply to any command if the service knows it must shut down.)`
425 Can’t open data connection.
426 Connection closed, transfer aborted.
450 Requested file action not taken. File unavailable (e.g., file busy).
451 Requested action aborted, local error in processing.
452 Requested action not taken. Insufficient storage space in system.

500 Codes The command was not accepted and the requested action did not take place.
500 Syntax error, command unrecognized. This may include errors such as command line too long.
501 Syntax error in parameters or arguments.
502 Command not implemented.
503 Bad sequence of commands.
504 Command not implemented for that parameter.
530 User not logged in.
532 Need account for storing files.
550 Requested action not taken. File unavailable (e.g., file not found, no access).
552 Requested file action aborted, storage allocation exceeded
553 Requested action not taken. Illegal file name.

The real scenario

2008-12-24T19:25:00.004+08:00

This view was taken from another angle. This cock was chased by a bigger cock. When it sees that there was no other way to escape, it just flew to the electric cable. The act of balancing itself was quite interesting to see.

Why I am here

2008-11-18T23:21:00.002+08:00

My primary site is Discomfort Zone. At the moment, i am having problems acessing it. All the time when i try to acces the site, i will be redirected to adxtn.com. I am still trying to rectifythis problem. I am very gratefull if any one out there can lend a helping hand.

Love Letters :The Marriage

2008-10-15T14:35:00.001+09:00

To my dear wife

"During the past year I have tried to make love to you 365 times. I succeeded 36 times, which is an average of once every ten days. The following is a list of why I did not succeed more often.

- We will wake the children 17 times
- It's too late 15 times
- I'm too tired 5 times
- It's too early 52 times
- It's too hot 15 times
- Pretending to be asleep 49 times
- Window open the neighbours will hear 9 times
- Backache 2 times
- Headache 16 times
- Sunburnt 10 times
- Your mother will hear us 6 times
- Not in the mood 21 times
- Will wake the baby 17 times
- Watching the late TV show 7 times
- Too sore 9 times
- New hairdo 4 times
- Wrong time of the month 4 times
- You had to go to the toilet 9 times

On the 36 occasions that I did succeed, the activity was not entirely satisfactory because 6 times you just lay there, 8 times you reminded me there was a crack in the ceiling, 14 times you told me to hurry up and get it over with, 7 times I had to wake you to tell you I had finished and once I was afraid I had hurt you because I felt you move.

Your loving husband".

.................................................

To my dear husband

"I think you have things a little confused. Here are the real reasons you did not get more than you did.

- Came home drunk and tried to screw the cat 7 times
- Didn't come home 29 times
- Didn't come 14 times
- Came too soon 26 times
- Went soft before you got in 18 times
- Toes in cramp 9 times
- Working late 49 times
- Said you had a rash, probably from a loo seat 21 times
- In a fight, someone kicked you in the balls 4 times
- Caught it in your zip 6 times
- Got a cold, your nose keeps running 14 times
- Brewer's droop 95 times
- Tea was too hot, you burnt your tongue 9 times
- Had a splinter in your finger 4 times
- Lost the notion after thinking about it all day 13 times
- Came in your pyjamas while reading a dirty book 8 times

Of the times we did get together, the reason I lay still was because you had missed and was stuffing the sheets. I wasn't talking about a crack in the ceiling, what I said was "Would you prefer it on you back or with me kneeling?" The times you felt me move were because you had
farted and I was trying to breathe. However, 6 months ago I phoned Alcoholics Anonymous for help and their representative has been calling most afternoons.

Your loving wife".

Why do men take second wives?

2008-10-09T11:34:00.002+09:00

Polygamy has nothing to do with culture or religion. Men, and women too, cheat because they can.

WHEN a male friend told me he planned on taking a second wife, all I could do was try not to choke on dinner. Are you serious, I asked. He said yes, he had fallen in love with a single mother, but it was not his fate to marry her.

Thinking it was perhaps due her compassion, her earnest desire to bring up her sprogs in a Godly way and that life was indeed a struggle, I choked on my dessert when my friend told me the first thing he noticed about her was that she owned a great set of jugs.

Now, my friend takes his religious obligations very seriously. His first wife wears the hijab. So to hear him admit that it was his paramour’s cleavage that caught his heart was quite shocking.

It was due to women like me, whose so-called Western, secular and feminist ideas of polygamy that pushed it underground. I then asked him, whether his equally-pious wife agreed to him taking on another wife, and he said no. She gave him an earful.

But our friend was on a roll. Now that his journey into polygamy was thwarted, it was all our fault. We modern Malay women, be they religious or not, were forcing men like him to marry in Thailand or Iran, where they practised nikah Muta’ah.

He was emulating the steps of our good Prophet Mohamed, he argued.

“You have got your Islamic history upside down! Nabi married war widows, and his first wife was older than he. Aishah was the youngest. And I don’t think our Prophet married any woman because she had great breasts!”

“You don’t understand.”

“Okay then. Why don’t you sell your car and take a camel to work then?”

I’m realistic. I know men who adore their wives and love them to bits, but they can still love their mistresses and other wives. Am I condoning affairs and polygamy? No. But this happens. It has nothing to do with Islam or being Malay, though polygamy is part of the culture.

We’re Asians. We have a long history of concubinage. There are good men who are faithful, and there are good men who have other wives. There are also bad men who are faithful and also bad men who are unfaithful.

Just like our politics, love in Malaysia is a circus. Weeee!

I’m not going to bore you with what polygamy in Islam is about, as it has been written before and talked about to death. Women’s rights activists have long fought for this “crime” to be illegal, but we face a tough fight. Sometimes it’s not the men who are itching for it, but yes, our gender, too.

In the 80s, when I was young and clueless, meeting mistresses and second or third wives would be sinful and against my principles.

These days? “Oh, you’re a mistress?” “Oh, you’re a hidden wife?” Yawn. Wear tudung or mini skirt, got. Educated or stupid, got. Some of our mothers are The Other Women, and are good mothers. So how?

Is this phenomenon particular to our culture? Oh no. Read the British newspapers. Mistressing is talked about to death in feminist columns.

But I thought after that dinner with my friend, I’d revisit the issue again. Some of the findings from my five-sen survey:

> Theoretically ... polygamy is OK. But must ikut hukum Allah lah. There are conditions.

> Ya, but… actually, kan, for career women like us, it does work. Nak jaga laki 24 jam … gue tak larat la. Biar bini nombor satu jaga. After all, in Islam, polygamous wives are taken care of legally. Better a Muslim second wife than a common law wife.

> But really. Think about it. Convenient, what. You see him once a week, makan once a week, have sex once a week...

> Sex once a week?! Baik tak yah jadi bini nombor dua macam tu! Chit. Once a week mana cukup?!

Why do men cheat? Again, just an observation dwelled upon by friends and myself. For a lot of polygamous men, they marry good women who fit their criteria of holiness, wifeliness and motherhood.

Intimacy between the men and their wives are perfunctory. It’s make-the-baby-cover-the-face sex. With their girlfriends and second wives, it’s Penthouse all the way, baby. It’s the soul thing.

At least this is what I got from talking to quite a number of married men. It’s not because of the first wives’ lack of trying; they want to have healthy intimate lives, but the bees in their husbands’s bonnets keep reminding the men of the Madonna-Whore syndrome.

Malaysia is not a place for single women desiring Hollywood-movie type of marriages and love. KL especially is a city for marriages and affairs. And it has nothing to do with money. There are rich men who cheat, and I know of a despatch boy who has two wives!

There are many single-again women like my friends and I, who still believe in marriage and love. But I can tell you, should we walk down that path again one day, we’re going down it with our eyes open and keep a part of our hearts to ourselves. Because you never know.

Perhaps my friend, an activist who makes a living entering and staying in war zones, is right.

“We have women like you, me, your mother, your aunt and friend who fight so hard for women and children and yet face a brick wall, simply because we ‘understand’ so much, and forgive all the time, which is why cheating, affairs and polygamy are rampant, to the detriment or contribution (depends how you look at it) of our well-being,” says my friend.

Another friend, Sharizal Sharaani, put it succinctly: “Men (and, yes, women too) cheat because they can. Full stop.”

A WRITER'S LIFE By DINA ZAMAN

Impetigo

2008-09-15T23:23:00.003+09:00

What is impetigo?

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection. It causes red sores that can break open, ooze fluid, and develop a yellow-brown crust. These sores can occur anywhere on the body but most often appear around the mouth and nose.

Impetigo is one of the most common skin infections in children. It can occur in adults but is seen far more often in children. Impetigo is contagious and can be spread to others through close contact or by sharing towels, sheets, clothing, toys, or other items. Scratching can also spread the sores to other parts of the body.

Antibiotic ointment that is applied directly to the infected areas of skin usually cures impetigo. Sometimes antibiotic pills are needed.

What causes impetigo?

Impetigo is caused by one of two kinds of bacteria-strep (streptococcus) or staph (staphylococcus). Often these bacteria enter the body when the skin has already been irritated or injured because of other skin problems such as eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, chickenpox, burns, or cuts. Children may get impetigo after they have had a cold or allergies that have made the skin under the nose raw. However, impetigo can also develop in completely healthy skin.

How can impetigo be prevented?

If you know someone who has impetigo, try to avoid close contact with that person until his or her infection has gone away. You should also avoid sharing towels, pillows, sheets, clothes, toys, or other items with an infected person. If possible, wash any items that may have been shared in hot water before you use them again.

If you or your child has impetigo, scratching the sores can spread the infection to other areas of your body and to other people. Keeping the sores covered can help you or your child resist scratching them. Washing your or your child's hands with antibacterial soap can also prevent spreading the infection.

If your child has a cut or insect bite, covering it with antibiotic ointment can help prevent impetigo.

What are the symptoms of impetigo?

You may have impetigo if you have sores:

On your skin, especially around the nose or mouth. The sores begin as small red spots, then change to blisters that eventually break open. The sores are generally not painful, but they may be itchy.
That ooze fluid and look crusty. Sores often look like they have been coated with honey or brown sugar.
That increase in size and number. Sores may be as small as a pimple or as large as a coin.

How is impetigo diagnosed?

Your doctor can usually diagnose impetigo just by looking at your or your child’s skin. Sometimes your doctor will gently remove a small piece of a sore to send to a lab in order to identify the bacteria. If you or your child have other signs of illness, your doctor may order blood or urine tests.

How is impetigo treated?

Impetigo is treated with antibiotics. For cases of mild impetigo, a doctor will prescribe an antibiotic ointment to put on the sores. For cases of more serious impetigo, a doctor may also prescribe antibiotic pills.

After 3 days of treatment, you or your child should begin to get better. A child can usually return to school or daycare after 48 hours of treatment. If you apply the ointment or take the pills exactly as prescribed, most sores will be completely healed in 1 week.

At home, you should gently wash the sores with water 3 times a day before you apply the antibiotic ointment. If the sores are crusty, soak them in warm water for 15 minutes, scrub the crusts with a washcloth to remove them, and pat the sores dry. Do not share washcloths, towels, pillows, sheets, or clothes with others and be sure to wash these items in hot water before you use them again.

Try not to scratch the sores because scratching can spread the infection to other parts of the body. You can help prevent scratching by keeping your child’s fingernails short and covering sores with gauze or bandages.

Call your doctor if an impetigo infection does not improve after 3 or 4 days or if you notice any signs that the infection is getting worse such as fever, increased pain, swelling, warmth, redness, or pus.

The 6 Most Terrifying Foods in the World

2008-08-27T23:43:00.001+09:00

We've found six dishes that seemed to have sprung from Satan's own cookbook.

read more | digg story

The 5 Scientific Experiments Most Likely to End the World

2008-08-27T23:02:00.001+09:00

Surely in their insatiable curiosity and desire to put knowledge above all things, science would never, say, inadvertently set off a chain of events that lead to the end of the world. Right?

read more | digg story

The Effects of Massage on the Human Body

2008-08-27T23:00:00.001+09:00

Most of us cannot deny that there is nothing better than taking timeout from our stressful day to day lives and having some "me" time. A perfect way to unwind and give you that very much needed "me" time, is to book an appointment with a well trusted and qualified massage

read more | digg story

The 6 Raunchiest, Most Depraved Sex Acts (From the Bible)

2008-08-27T15:00:00.001+09:00

What happens when you take a really skanky sex story and dress it up in a lot of flowery words? You get the Bible. Or large chunks of it, anyway.

read more | digg story

10 Most Pirated TV-Shows on BitTorrent

2008-08-27T14:41:00.001+09:00

There’s only one week to go before the new TV season starts, but here is one of the latest summer charts. Stargate Atlantis is leading the chart this week.

read more | digg story

The Girl's Guide to Making a Man Happy

2008-08-27T14:09:00.001+09:00

A guide to being the girl that he always dreamed of. This should be required reading for all girlfriends.

read more | digg story

9 amazingly unique bridges you may not have seen

2008-08-27T12:53:00.001+09:00

It’s time for a list about brilliant bridges, but not the bridges you normally see in these kinds of lists. i wanted to avoid the usual suspects as they seem to get pounded to death on the intertubes and there’s only so many photos of the golden gate bridge you can look at without becoming just slightly bored.

read more | digg story

Amnesty International

2008-08-19T02:48:00.004+09:00

60 years of human rights failure - Governments must apologize and act now

Amnesty International today challenged world leaders to apologize for six decades of human rights failure and re-commit themselves to deliver concrete improvements.

"The human rights flashpoints in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Gaza, Iraq and Myanmar demand immediate action," said Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, launching AI Report 2008: State of the World's Human Rights.

"Injustice, inequality and impunity are the hallmarks of our world today. Governments must act now to close the yawning gap between promise and performance."

Amnesty International's Report 2008, shows that sixty years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations, people are still tortured or ill-treated in at least 81 countries, face unfair trials in at least 54 countries and are not allowed to speak freely in at least 77 countries.

"2007 was characterised by the impotence of Western governments and the ambivalence or reluctance of emerging powers to tackle some of the world's worst human rights crises, ranging from entrenched conflicts to growing inequalities which are leaving millions of people behind," said Ms Khan.

Amnesty International cautioned that the biggest threat to the future of human rights is the absence of a shared vision and collective leadership.

"2008 presents an unprecedented opportunity for new leaders coming to power and countries emerging on the world stage to set a new direction and reject the myopic policies and practices that in recent years have made the world a more dangerous and divided place," said Ms Khan.

Amnesty International challenged governments to set a new paradigm for collective leadership based on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

"The most powerful must lead by example," said Ms Khan.

China must live up to the human rights promises it made around the Olympic Games and allow free speech and freedom of the press and end "re-education through labour".
The USA must close Guantánamo detention camp and secret detention centres, prosecute the detainees under fair trial standards or release them, and unequivocally reject the use of torture and ill-treatment.
Russia must show greater tolerance for political dissent, and none for impunity on human rights abuses in Chechnya.
The EU must investigate the complicity of its member states in "renditions" of terrorist suspects and set the same bar on human rights for its own members as it does for other countries.

Ms Khan warned: "World leaders are in a state of denial but their failure to act has a high cost. As Iraq and Afghanistan show, human rights problems are not isolated tragedies, but are like viruses that can infect and spread rapidly, endangering all of us."

"Governments today must show the same degree of vision, courage and commitment that led the United Nations to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sixty years ago."

"There is a growing demand from people for justice, freedom and equality."

Some of the most striking images of 2007 were of monks in Myanmar, lawyers in Pakistan, and women activists in Iran.

"Restless and angry, people will not be silenced, and leaders ignore them at their own peril," said Ms Khan.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80
81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90
91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	100
101	102	103	104	105	106	107	108	109	110
111	112	113	114	115	116	117	118	119	120
121	122	123	124	125	126	127	128	129	130
131	132	133	134	135	136	137	138	139	140
141	142	143	144	145	146	147	148	149	150
151	152	153	154	155	156	157	158	159	160
161	162	163	164	165	166	167	168	169	170
171	172	173	174	175	176	177	178	179	180
181	182	183	184	185	186	187	188	189	190
191	192	193	194	195	196	197	198	199	200
201	202	203	204	205	206	207	208	209	210
211	212	213	214	215	216	217	218	219	220
221	222	223	224	225	226	227	228	229	230
231	232	233	234	235	236	237	238	239	240
241	242	243	244	245	246	247	248	249	250
251	252	253	254	255	256	257	258	259	260
261	262	263	264	265	266	267	268	269	270
271	272	273	274	275	276	277	278	279	280
281	282	283	284	285	286	287	288	289	290
291	292	293	294	295	296	297	298	299	300

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80
81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90
91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	100
101	102	103	104	105	106	107	108	109	110
111	112	113	114	115	116	117	118	119	120
121	122	123	124	125	126	127	128	129	130
131	132	133	134	135	136	137	138	139	140
141	142	143	144	145	146	147	148	149	150
151	152	153	154	155	156	157	158	159	160
161	162	163	164	165	166	167	168	169	170
171	172	173	174	175	176	177	178	179	180
181	182	183	184	185	186	187	188	189	190
191	192	193	194	195	196	197	198	199	200
201	202	203	204	205	206	207	208	209	210
211	212	213	214	215	216	217	218	219	220
221	222	223	224	225	226	227	228	229	230
231	232	233	234	235	236	237	238	239	240
241	242	243	244	245	246	247	248	249	250
251	252	253	254	255	256	257	258	259	260
261	262	263	264	265	266	267	268	269	270
271	272	273	274	275	276	277	278	279	280
281	282	283	284	285	286	287	288	289	290
291	292	293	294	295	296	297	298	299	300

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40
41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50
51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70
71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80
81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90
91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	100
101	102	103	104	105	106	107	108	109	110
111	112	113	114	115	116	117	118	119	120
121	122	123	124	125	126	127	128	129	130
131	132	133	134	135	136	137	138	139	140
141	142	143	144	145	146	147	148	149	150
151	152	153	154	155	156	157	158	159	160
161	162	163	164	165	166	167	168	169	170
171	172	173	174	175	176	177	178	179	180
181	182	183	184	185	186	187	188	189	190
191	192	193	194	195	196	197	198	199	200
201	202	203	204	205	206	207	208	209	210
211	212	213	214	215	216	217	218	219	220
221	222	223	224	225	226	227	228	229	230
231	232	233	234	235	236	237	238	239	240
241	242	243	244	245	246	247	248	249	250
251	252	253	254	255	256	257	258	259	260
261	262	263	264	265	266	267	268	269	270
271	272	273	274	275	276	277	278	279	280
281	282	283	284	285	286	287	288	289	290
291	292	293	294	295	296	297	298	299	300