19 August 2011

Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

PP423/01/2012(029578)

SPORTS

Don’t be a scrooge, Arsene Arsenal need to buy quality players and should the issue not be addressed, the Gunners are likely to come up short again this season >> pg31

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Raya maid ban lift

KUALA LUMPUR

LOCAL

Making a splash Nationwide manhunt for acid-throwers

An eye for an eye

Announcement soon to end freeze on Indonesian domestic help to Malaysia, says Labour Dept head >> pg3

Personal vendetta behind student scraps, say schools

>> pg3

Unfinished business Worries over half-completed temporary KL school sports centre

>> pg4

Bus blues Grouses on long wait for one bus passenger, misbehaving driver for another

>> pg8

By ANDREW SAGAYAM andrew@mmail.com.my THE two-year moratorium on Indonesians wishing to work in Malaysia as domestic help will finally be lifted by Hari Raya.

This was agreed upon following a meeting between both countries last week, Human Resources Ministry’s Labour Department director-general Datuk Sheikh Yahya Sheikh Mohamed told The Malay Mail.

He said a task force, comprising officials from the ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Home Ministry and the AttorneyGeneral’s Chambers, met with Indonesian officials.

Sheikh Yahya said both parties agreed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on May 30 in Bandung, Indonesia, would be implemented and enforced.

“In our meeting with officials from Indonesia’s Manpower and Transmigration Ministry, led by its secretary-general, Harry Heriawan Saleh, it was also agreed both parties had fulfilled the quotas based on the MoU.” • Continued on pg2

Bargain brands SPORTY and stylish shoes embossed with world-renowned brand names are being sold for a steal at a stall in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur. “RM30 (a pair)” read the signs to attract customers — and the technique has worked well. All things considered, the phrase caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) springs to mind, as some things sound too good to be true! — Pic: ASHRAF SHAMSUL AZLAN

2

news

A total of 2,040,709 foreign workers and illegal immigrants have been registered under the 6P programme as of 8am yesterday — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein

Wait-and-see

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THE Malaysian Association of Foreign Maid Agencies (PAPA) will take a "wait-andsee" approach on whether Indonesia will lift the ban on maids to Malaysia as promised.

PAPA president Jeffrey Foo told The Malay Mail: "Let's see if the Indonesian government

news Making headlines for wrong2 reasons

Buka Puasa/Imsak Times Imsak Ramadan 19, Maghrib 1432H (today) (tomorrow)

wilayah persekutuan 7.26pm

5.43am

Selangor Zone I: Daerah Gombak, Petaling Jaya/ Shah Alam, Hulu Selangor, Hulu Langat and Sepang Zone II: Daerah Klang, Kuala Langat, Kuala Selangor, and Sabak Bernam

7.26pm

5.43am

7.28pm

5.45am

Post Raya cards by Aug 24 POS Malaysia Bhd has assured the public that Hari Raya greeting cards will reach recipients before Aidilfitri if posted by Wednesday. Head of National Mail Centre, Othman Abdullah said Pos Malaysia would recruit 50 temporary workers and freeze employees' leave nationwide to process the cards for delivery to ensure they reach recipients in time.

Puspakom gives free vehicle check PUSPAKOM will be offering free voluntary inspection for private cars at all its branches from Aug 22 to 26 in conjunction with the Hari Raya holidays. Puspakom's qualified vehicle examiners will conduct inspections such as the Emission Test, Brake Test, Suspension Test, Side Slip Test and several others. The free inspection is part of the body's corporate social responsibility initiative. For inquiries, call the tollfree line 1-800-88-6927.

AMENDMENTS to the mem- than the minimum wage in the orandum of understanding republic.

(MoU) for the employment The maids will also be of Indonesian maids signed allowed to hold their passis going to comply. There is RM4,511 was ridiculous in May by the Malaysian and ports but can hand them no point speculating until the and that agents supplying Indonesian governments set over to their employers for ban is officially lifted."

Indonesian maids were paid the initial fee employers have safekeeping.

On June 1, Foo was quoted an all-in fee of RM8,000 to to pay at RM4,511.

Under MoU, employers had Human Resource Minister to be given replacement maids as saying he was not happy RM10,000. with the initial employers' fee "Employers will be happy Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam or refunds on the agency's fees determined under the MoU to hear about the new rate had said the amount included if the domestic help ran away between the Malaysian and but no agent will be willing to RM2,711 to be paid by the or were found to be incompeIndonesian governments. provide maids at that price," employer and RM1,800 as tent within six months from part of the maid's salary to be the date of employment.

He had said the fee of he had said. advanced to the agency supThe employers could also Inland Revenu plying them. e Boa rd reimbursed 531,537 demand a replacement or indrefund ividuals if — IRB deputy He whthe o paimaids hadr-ge also d surpludid directo s taxnot this nersaid al (Taemployers x Operations) Mohamma d Sairequirements could deduct the RM1,800 t pass health Ahm ad PETALING JAYA from the maid's salaries on within three months of their of the freeze. condition the deduction was employment.

"The agencies there wanted not more than 50 per cent Dr Subramaniam had also to know if they could send of the monthly salary of the said errant maid agencies more maids to Malaysia. maid. would be blacklisted.

They were keen to know what Football authorities step in Thetoamendments also stated The MoU, signed on May 30 was the decision made by hagiven lt saleoneofrest oldday pa sse s maids be in Bandung, the'sIndonesian both countries. I told them for this saw year matche

By HARESH DEOL hare sh@mmail.com.my each week or one-and-a-half government agreeing to lift thes everything would be resolved MALAYSIA'S football au- ry ticke ts at footb all venues. thorities have stepped in to day's wage if the maid opts to two-year-old freeze on sendsoon and they would be able stop MSL Sdn Bhd is as the the sale of old ticke marfixing. Several national keting arm of the natio givenalup the rest day and work ing Indonesian domestic hepls to send the maids to our for matches being played thists footb State players were all association. affecte year.

However, criticism leve “We have recalled instead. house to Malaysia. country.

The Malay Mail had reportall old at FAM ticke ts focu from sed the States. Th not onl ed on May 12 that “unmarke ey Subramaniam had also said Jakarta had the imposed the "I explained to them the ticke d have returned the ticke governing body 's lac ts” were ts to for the Se- the prin mea sures to curb brib standard employment con- freeze in JuneFoot 2009 followIndonesian president was the langor-Perak sold match at Shah plimentaters. As for theacom ball obse ry rver ticke s have ts, there are Stadium on April 16. would also be effected for ing numerous take complaints of o one who issued the morato- Alam n potshots at FAM efforts on the ground tract The tickets bore the to enits allegedly haphazard m sure those who are given such hiring Indonesian maids. maids allegedly being abused rium and he has the power mer title sponsor's nameforA s k e d — tickets put them to agement, citing examples su Telekom MalaysiaYAHYA: good use about the cam — as wellPast as certaemployers, paign,salary, instecases in committees hav Rama- low them maid's he ing by their Malaysian to lift the ban, which I am as theSHEIKH e a linga old Malaysian Super quic ad of trying to makOn declined to disclose a police repo only met once, and some k not a deciding factor buck .

We rt can lodg League (MSL) logo and ed by ad- said the details.it would be left Neg had to and lack of benefits, such as a confident he will do so. only vise them," Ramaling only all, since they ri stated "Sela am said.

Some observers had ex- 26. Sembilan FA on May last August. were appoin " with no It was forces butthethe employ- minimum monthly salary and "They will have to open mention of thengor that pres opposing team complim also reportedmarket sed alarm The Vetting, Monitori national As entary tickets were gam lt, the team's coach, of theSheikh match. had to reso the salary into a resuday-offs. the door they have locked. orItdate pay, Yahya said the ers must ecredit and was reported the tickets, put up for sale by unscrupu- campaign to ensu rt to such a Yusarman Yusof, was charged met Transparency committ re it was free with 21 counts of matc lous State FA officials. the maid's bank accounts, for Indonesia first time on M but d at RM1 Prior to However, maids are still enter- pricesum of0 each RM4,511 remained. h-fithe ban, the , were Meanwhile, The Malay Mail of corruption. ing in the Seremban Sess x- 13 after The Malay Mail r g flogged by State FA ofions ported The Integ rity learn cam Cou if the bank was located at a it was sending about 3,000 maids ing Malaysia, before, during fibein paig "We will follow the amount t had that rt on n neve MSL Sdn Bhd Monday. He r met. Th cials at the stadium for a initiated an Integrity cam had was believed to have been not guilty to giving pleaded came about after The Mala quickagreed RM24,900every month. The paig buck, minupon n sparked distance, cash payments were to Malaysia and after Isti's case." in the MoU and utes befo by the re Mala Mail to ysian as obta be bribes to 11 players between launched tomorrow. The Anined informatio the kickoff. ti-Co rruption Commission's April 19 and former jerse ys of both or FAM offi allowed. initial MoU ona the matter was When asked if there would Yestethere willSdnbeBhdno bear increase 22. teams wou cial wa rday, MSL ld (MACC) probe into corrupThe episode resurrected the linked to Singaporean match a logo encompassing chief executive officer Stua tion activities in Indonesia requested such inked between the two counbe amendments to the feesRam decrease." rt the word 'Integrity' fi loca xer Wils l footb ugly on all. scen Raj on their alingam said efforts had The MACC began investi- similar es of 1994, when a the confessio Perumal, an sleeves while the captains ns of President -up saw been taken to curb the sale wages couldnot be lower clean tries in 2006. employers had to will gatio more Cup play n into alleg of sign a pled ed match-fix- than 100 ers that

PAPA: Nothing definite until ban officially lifted

● Weekly: RM1.50, Monthly: RM5.00

Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya

Fee includes advanced wages

KUALA LUMPUR

News Alert

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

● From pg1

Tickets recalled

He s ai d he w a s tol d Indonesian president Susilo B a m b a n g Yu d h o y o n o or Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar would be making an announcement on the matter "soon". "We hope it would be made by Hari Raya."

Sheikh Yahya also denied "rumours" the Indonesian government was waiting for the outcome of the murder case of house maid Isti Komariyah before deciding to end the ban on its citizens from working in Malaysia as maids.

On June 5, the 26-yearold Indonesian, who worked for a middle-aged couple in Taman Sea, Petaling Jaya, ge they would not ing invo they play old tickets and complimenta lving Negri Sembilan pended, bann ers being sus- proached by book were ap - get invo died at University LOCAL lved in match-fixing. ies to also ed or banished President's Cup players fix the King’s Cup tournam from their State for matc y 9 JUNE, 2011 folrsda Thu or Po SOM en O: E majo h- last year.

NGre her Ma laya Me dica l r cases of abuse days befo involving Indonesian maid She leve.el PETALING JAYA shrescu gliand Ennds Centre after being bruises on brought before the cour s had wou ts variousno g sin partts sur of herpri body in Malaysia: . She allegedly abused never regained consciou>> pg3 sness and died in the intensive t o /JSNBMB #POBU by her employers LIFEST care unit sixYLEdays later. On ● From page 1 who hired her in July 19Su lastpe r ,kid year Munstik’s "She did display bruises and emp loyer, sugarcane seller A. to the Sea Park police stati WORLD several scratch mar December 2008. in on e rul Mur ugan , 36, was sentence>>d pg16 The source said although body. However, weks on her where they were arrested after Duck The there believe questioning. copy were physical marks on r 8the High the gallo She reportedly sufSu 40 sen for delivery perto wspe after thos e injuries did not contribFREE the body turns 77 Cou my , it rt was l.com.

100,000 copies daily foun It is learnt that police, who not likely they ute to her d him guilty of http://www.mmai death." fered fresh and old today @malaymail could have been the caus murdering her.

The Malay Mail e of The physical effects of star- went to the couple's house her death. in Taman Sea, recovered bruises and scratch >> pg13 SPORTS vation included loss of two lean balloon stick holders t o 4JUJ )BKBS 4BEMJ body mass as well as bon and other LOCAL marks on her back, e item is s ue said sq to have Bo l been loss De used to which, the source said Amanda bags could explain her emaciate , assault the maid. arms and forehead. A 100 calls Spain’s most d Isti had been working with condition. s ard aw ch two coa l to 56-year-old man and for help successfu >> pg29 Police sources told The the couple since December fest Malay Mail Isti was frequently 2008.

Talian Nur at music >> pg6 his 53-year-old wife Her death occurred bare lock pg4 >> ed up in a room and days after Malaysia signed ly had been charged on lashed whenever she com a mem orandum of understan This was one of the mos plained.

PETALING JAYA June 15 for the muring (MoU) with Indonesidpub licis ed mai d abu t Her employers — a 56-yearse on May 30, which lifted a cases in the country. Her der. old man and his 53-year-o the ld abuser, housewife Yim Pek wife — used a balloon stick two-year freeze on Indonesian Said Sheikh Yahya: maids into the country.

Ha, threw boiling water hold er to whip her whenon Indonesian embassy infor her and pressed a hot iron ever she protested against "In fact, during the mation, social and cultu against her breast. In 2008 being confined. ral , affa irs counsellor Suryana meeting, Isti's case was Yim was sentenced to It is learnt the couple 18 Siti Hajar, 35, was scaldyears in jail. used to operate a printing Sastradiredja was quoted as not brought up at all. ed with boiling water, business and, later, ran a saying his government was tortured with scissors and t o .VOUJL )BOJ Both parties earlier a stall at a night market in awaiting action and decision e hammer and starved by her hav y on the case before consideri ma l, leta ske Mun ost tik, Tam alm 36, was foun an Sea. They have two ng employer, Hau Yuan Tyng agreed the case was Alleged abuse victim a review of the MoU. lock ksed up in the toilet ofd 45, children in their 20s. , d and water for weeher foo a single mother of two. ied The Indonesian government den n bee emp Isti was declared dead loyer’s house by The already solved and that .my il.com maid has not ruled out imposin , a Muslim, was andrew@mma the police on Oct 20, 2009 upon arrival at the UMMC

By ANDREW SAGAYAM g . even did not have any bearuntil the for burial. The 7.50am on Sunday. She at another ban on its citizens source d , from Surabaya hala occasionally fed nonthe reveal any details hospital mai A results ISTI KOMARIYAH, had coming to work as l food. The High Court 26-yearly post-mortem and test said the alleged hile, was maid meanw belie brui sian maid sity ved ses Indone Univer s in and scratch marks on to have been this year ing on the MoU." mere “skin and ers, were received from and old’s body was abused by her employ enceng erto SUSPECT: The man arres d Hau lock to edbrough her back, arms and forehead, Malaysia and has called on in tthe to Malaya Medical Centrement, bones” when Da it was toilet for two 11 years sent might not have been beaten the authorities to charge thos the Chemistry Depart in jail. the hospital. ted in He said the task both new and old. death, as initially suspected. e respectively. ng as she may shocki conn she was d ectio on “It believe n with are It is now the maid's death knocks l. It “The relevant parties Her employers were called responsible for the maid's THEskeleta have been confined, denied still working on the evidence appeared almost MAL force also met sevAY MAIL IS PUBLISHED been death as soon as possible. slow, seemed as if she had food, and suffered a BY water exhibits,” he said. and and or food ion. of do ed EDI starvat by depriv ck TOR>>IALpg5 Mala ba agonising death Sdn Bhd, Lot 2A, Jalan 13/2 Adnan confirmed that Isti’s and was weeksy Mail ADVERTISING SALES eral Indonesian maid Police, however, remain remains had been handed for several4620 , .”

Tel : 03-79472288 Fax urished le 0, Peta ling Jaya : 03-7 tight-lipped over the probab Indonesian severely malno TO CONTACT Tel : 03-79472333 (Classifi CID over to the Email : mmnews@mmail.com9605096 cause of death. Selangor the body sent employment agencies and pg2 sy on embas ued .my ah Contin • 03-79472311 (Display) Faxeds) / Newsdesk : 03-79472237 Tuesday chief SAC Adnan Abdull Temple’s landslide fear to back to Indonesia on & 79472236 Cla :reports 03-79605097on Isti's FLASHBACK: Our death One-year wait for Socso said they were unable pg9 >> Emai 03-7 9472 l : ad@m 221 mail.

General line : 03-79472288 eager to know the status >> pg8 com.my payment ends Hotline Fax : 03-2 PP423/01/2012(029578)

.BJE MPDLFE VQ JO SPPN

Maid starved to death

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AZLAN Pic: ASHRAF SHAMSUL

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The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

Heavy vehicles are prohibited from using expressways on Aug 27 and 28, as well as Sept 3 and 4 in view of the Aidilfitri festive period — Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha

PETALING JAYA

Acid attacks spread

TWIN TERROR

Manhunt widens as police fear copycats

By AIZAT SHARIF aizat@mmail.com.my

IT SEEMS acid-splashing has now become a dangerous “trend” among criminals especially when another incident occurred yesterday in Sabah where a 22-year-old woman was splashed with corrosive liquid.

Bukit Aman, meanwhile, has launched a nationwide manhunt to nail the culprits following a series of acid splashing-cumrobberies in the Klang Valley recently.

In a statement, Federal CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin said police were looking into the matter very seriously.

"A task force has been formed comprising officers from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor police headquarters to gather information and track down the culprits."

He also brushed off speculation that the recent attacks were related to the serial acid splasher who had injured several people since March, and said the belief was unfounded.

"We have strong reasons to believe these crimes are

SERDANG

Cops bust car theft ring POLICE smashed a car theft syndicate on Wednesday night with the arrest of four men at several locations in Puchong.

The suspects, all in their 20s, were believed to have been active for five months.

Serdang district police chief, Supt Abd Razak Elias said the gang's modus operandi was to pick on cars which had just been parked.

“Once a car owner leaves the vehicle, gang members would break the windscreen and steal valuable items left inside. Sometimes, they would also drive off the car.

"The four men are under remand and we are trying to determine the extent of their car theft crimes."

unrelated."

He urged members of the public with any information on the suspects to come forward and assist police investigation.

The Sabah incident occurred near a supermarket at Taman Khidmat, Kolombong in Kota Kinabalu when the victim, Ling Siew Ting, was alighting from her car when a man suddenly appeared and splashed her with the liquid.

Kota Kinabalu acting police chief DSP Peter Umbuas said Ling sustained burns on her eyes, cheeks, lips and chin.

Last Tuesday morning, Winson Ng, a 24-year-old Internet marketing operator, was splashed with corrosive liquid and robbed while changing a flat tyre at the Batu 9 toll plaza in Cheras.

The attack came after two similar attacks in Sungai Besi on July 26 and along Jalan Raja Laut on Aug 8, believed to be conducted by the same suspect.

On Aug 8, a stranger had thrust a container of acid at perfume sales promoter Mohd Rafie

FLASHBACK: Our reports on Aug 17 and 18

Abd Latif, 28, who was seated in a car while his friend was in a public toilet.

Police managed to trace the suspect through street video surveillance cameras and matched it with a man involved in a robbery at a petrol station toilet in Sungai Besi on July 26.

In that hold-up, a 35-yearold dispatch rider who had just cashed out company funds totalling RM18,000, was splashed

THE BANGSAR SPLASHER • Dark-skinned or tanned complexion, usually clad in dark clothing, fullfaced helmet and uses a motorcycle.

• Works with an accomplice.

• Terrorises areas in Bangsar, Brickfields, Titiwangsa, Jalan Pudu, and Jalan Conlay in KL and Mantin, Negri Sembilan.

• Targets mostly women and children.

• Terror started on March 2 when eight Year four and Year six pupils and a teacher of SK Bukit Bandaraya were splashed with acid outside their school compound.

• 22 people have since become victims of this culprit.

with acid before being robbed.

The victim managed to block the liquid with a bag he was holding and sustained only burn marks, mostly on his hand.

In both instances, the suspects had used a black Proton Wira

THE KL SPLASHER-ROBBER • Splashes acid onto victims before robbing them.

• Has used a black Proton Wira with fake number plate WLC 1475.

• First attack was on July 26 at a Jalan Sungai Besi petrol station when a 35-year-old dispatch rider was splashed with acid before being robbed of RM18,000.

• Terror expanded to Jalan Raja Laut on Aug 8 and Cheras Batu 9 toll plaza on Aug 16 when perfume sales promoter Mohd Rafie Abd Latif, 28, and Internet marketing business Winson Ng, 24, were splashed with acid in separate incidents.

numbered WLC 1475, which police have determined is a fake vehicle registration number.

However, in Ng's case, he had described the culprit to have used a blue car with stickers plastered on its bumper.

PETALING JAYA

Personal issues sparked inter-school brawl

THE "inter-school" brawl involving 40 students from three city schools on Tuesday could have been personal in nature, school administrators believe.

They came to this conclusion after interviewing their respective students involved in the fight.

However, police have not established the motive behind the fracas in which four out of the 10 students attacked were seriously injured.

One victim suffered head injuries that required three stitches, another fractured his right hand while two others had bodily injuries.

It all started when the four victims were leaving their school on Tuesday afternoon, when 30 students from two other schools, armed with iron rods, batons and helmets, bashed the four outside the

By THASHA JAYAMANOGARAN thasha@mmail.com.my

school compound.

Police who arrived after the incident, detained a suspect while the victims' school disciplinary teacher later made a report at the Dang Wangi police headquarters before informing the victims' parents.

The victims were sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur where they received outpatient treatment.

The incident led to a revenge assault planned by a schoolmate of one of the victims, on Tuesday night.

However, the revenge attack among students from the three schools involved did not take place as police prevented the fight receiving upon a tip-off.

The victim's schoolmate who was unhappy his friend

was assaulted, got two outsiders to meet the attackers at a playground in Taman Melawati.

While the victims deny any misunderstanding or arguments with the attackers, school administrators believe it was the students' personal issues that sparked the fracas.

A senior assistant of the school where the victims were assaulted, said the school administrators had spoken to all the students during assembly and managed to get the few who had information to come forward.

"We spoke to those students and then provided the information to the police to help facilitate investigations," said the senior assistant who

preferred anonymity.

He also said they were not taking sides even though the victims were from their school.

"We have to be fair and we can't simply believe what they say. Something happened between our boys and the students of the other two schools that led to such a shocking attack."

The headmaster of one of the two schools whose students had attacked the victims, said they have identified the attackers from their school.

"We will take appropriate action against these students when police complete their investigations," said the headmaster who also preferred not to be named.

"Until such time, these students will continue attending their classes."

news

3

Preschool teachers to be better qualified THE Education Ministry is in the process of drawing up mechanisms and requirements that would enable teachers and childminders to gain higher qualification, said its minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said despite the government carrying out various training programmes for them, Malaysian preschool teachers are still not of world standard. He said for example, Russia had long given recognition to preschool education. Their teaching manpower had doctorate qualifications or at least a masters degree. Muhyiddin said a scheme was also being studied for the government to provide assistance based on certain scales to children from middle-income families to attend private kindergartens and preschools. For now, the government provides a fee subsidy of up to RM150 per month for a poor child to attend private preschool classes.

M'sia 11th best for foreign students MALAYSIA now accounts for two per cent of the international student population around the world, making us the 11th most sought after country for tertiary education among foreign students, said Private Higher Education Institutions deputy director-general Datin Dr Siti Hamisah Tapsir. She said until June, the number of foreign students here has exceeded 90,000. The Higher Education Ministry targets 200,000 foreign students by 2020. She said the major disciplines sought were Hospitality and Tourism, Health Services, Islamic Finance and Business, Advance Engineering and Science and Innovation programmes.

Gift exchange for cigarette foils illegal SOME cigarette companies' antic in getting the public to collect cigarette packet foil paper in exchange for gifts like wheelchairs, free cigarettes and cash, is prohibited under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations. Anyone found guilty for committing the offence can be fined a maximum RM10,000 or jailed no more than two years, said Health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Hassan Abdul Rahman. The ministry has issued a stern warning to cigarette companies against conducting such a promotion.

In Facebook, the offer for a wheelchair is the exchange of 10,000 cigarette packet foils.

The foil can also be bought for RM2.50 a piece. Dr Hassan urged those with information on anyone involved to call 03-8883 4400 or the nearest health office.

4

news

Employees advised to declare gifts EMPLOYEES in the public and private sectors who received Raya hampers or gifts from anyone with official dealings with them should report and declare the gifts to their department heads.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief commissioner Datuk Sutinah Sutan said it was best that they refuse to accept the gifts to avoid elements of power abuse. "The hamper givers are normally those who have official dealings.

Otherwise, they would not give," she said.

Halfway house for ex-convicts HOMELESS ex-prisoners and those disowned by their families after serving time can stay at a halfway house provided by the Kelantan Parole Office since March.

State parole director Mat Yaacob said inmates would be given food, drinks, clothing and suitable jobs.

But they must assure to have changed their ways, not get involved in undesirable activities and are willing to readjust to the outside world, he said.

Maritime Agency will mobilise two ships and three fast boats to protect the nation's waters during Aidilfitri — MMEA East District enforcement operations director Maritime Capt Syed Mohd Fuzi Syed Hazan PETALING JAYA

Family accepts help Legal aid offer for electrocuted boy Mohd Naquiddin's kin taken up

MOHD MARZUKI MUDA, the father of 11-year-old Mohd Naquiddin who was electrocuted at the Taman Batu Tiga playground in Shah Alam five months ago, has accepted legal assistance from Umno Youth.

The legal aid would enable the boy's family to commence action against the Energy Commission, Subang Jaya Municipal Council and Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

The family of the deceased boy met with Umno Youth c o m mu n i t y c o mp l a i nt s bureau head Datuk Khairun Aseh at the latter's office in Solaris Dutamas yesterday.

Khairun said they would provide a lawyer to assist the family in seeking answers on their son's death.

"We feel there has been some form of negligence here.

Our legal representatives will check on claims and proceed with action if there are any discrepancies," he said.

By CECILIA VICTOR cecilia@mmail.com.my

Khairun also expressed his gratitude to The Malay Mail for highlighting the family's plight and said he would do whatever he can to help them fight their case.

Khairun said he wants all three parties to be transparent as to why the authorities did not conduct periodical checks at the playground where Mohd Naquiddin was electrocuted.

He also said the youth movement would assist Mohd Marzuki in securing a job, as he had lost his former job as a technician.

Mohd Marzuki said he was grateful to Umno Youth for taking up his case and offering him legal aid as he could not afford a lawyer.

At the meeting, Mohd Marzuki claimed the Subang Jaya Municipal Council had yet to issue any statement

PETALING JAYA

Parties with vested interest should decide

LET students, parents and school heads decide on whether they want Mathematics and Science to be taught in both Bahasa Malaysia and English, said Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) president Datin Azimah Rahim (pic).

"Students, their parents and school heads should get together and discuss options the government is considering, which is to have Mathematics and Science subjects taught in both Bahasa Malaysia and English. Since this would affect students, teachers don't have to be there as they are the educators and their function is to teach," she said.

"We have to know what results the government hopes to achieve by doing this.

Does it help students in the long run? The best way out is to let students and parents decide."

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Lok Yim Pheng agreed students and parents, with help from school heads, should be the ones to

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

By ANDREW SAGAYAM andrew@mmail.com.my

decide.

"After all, students are the ones who are going to study. The parents should discuss this with their children together with the school heads," said Lok. She said it would be better if the government, through the Education Ministry, get feedback from parents and students before making such proposals.

On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, said a committee in his ministry was conducting a study on how dual language could be carried out in view of the current implementation of the Upholding Bahasa Malaysia and Strengthening English policy.

Muhyiddin said he understood many parents are interested in the issue of the learning and mastery of the English language.

He said the committee's in-

depth study would examine the issue related to teachers' training, time allocated to learn languages, and the materials and curriculum used to teach the subjects.

The committee is led by Education Ministry directorgeneral Datuk Abd Ghafar Mahmud.

In April, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the government would study the possibility of using two mediums of instruction in the teaching of Mathematics and Science in schools.

MARZUKI: I hope justice will be served

to him on the matter. He said the council was unable to provide a report on the incident which he had complained about to them several months ago.

"I have since called and spoken to the council several times, but no statements have been forthcoming."

"The last time I spoke to them, I was told my report

KHAIRUN: We will help Marzuki all the way

in regards to my son's death had gone missing. Many other reasons were also given by the council."

Mohd Marzuki, who was present with wife Rose Zakaria, 43, and their three other children, a boy, 10, and girls, nine and six, said this would be the first time the family would be celebrating Raya without Mohd Naquiddin.

"I recall him enjoying his ketupat and rendang every year. But this year we won't be able to see that.''

Muhammad Naquiddin died after coming in contact with a lamp post at a playground on March 19.

The probe into the case took a long time due to difficulties faced in finding out who was the contractor responsible for carrying out cable works on lamp posts within the playground.

After five months of waiting, the Energy Commission finally had some good news and on Aug 16, The Malay Mail reported the commission had identified the contractor allegedly responsible for the boy's death.

In our report, the Energy Commission of Malaysia chief executive officer Ahmad Fauzi Hasan had said the investigation report into the case would be released within a month.

KUALA LUMPUR

Council worried over incomplete temporary sports centre THE Kuala Lumpur Schools Sports Council (MSSKL) is in "limbo" as the temporary State sports excellence centre at Jalan Maran in Titiwangsa is still incomplete.

Yet, sources revealed, MSSKL has been instructed to move into the temporary hub after the Raya holidays.

MSSKL was supposed to have moved to Jalan Maran last month but they refused to accept the keys from the contractor as the premises lacked facilities, especially a football field, adequate running water, beds and cupboards at the hostels.

The centre, which was formerly the Sri Kota Teacher’s Training College, was only given a new coat of paint besides other minor repairs.

Apparently, some RM5 million was allocated for the repair works at the centre.

“A letter was issued by the Education Ministry for the council to move into the temporary centre by next month. However, the council has appealed, saying students need to prepare for their examinations and would

By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my

prefer moving in December instead,” said a source.

There was supposed to be a site visit involving the council, the Education Ministry’s development unit and the Treasury to the centre yesterday.

It is understood the council officials waited at the centre for almost an hour before they were told it was postponed to this morning at 8.30.

The council unit head Nordin Mohd Noor declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong told The Malay Mail he still had not received the progress report.

On July 7, Wee had told The Malay Mail he would be obtaining the report from the section head.

Earlier, in April, Wee told The Paper That Cares that his ministry would not intervene in the proposed demolition of the Cochrane Sports Excellence Centre while urg-

ing all parties to "accommodate".

The Malay Mail visited the centre last month after parents bemoaned the substandard conditions there, adding it “did not reflect the government's 1Student 1Sport vision”.

The council was supposed to move from their current excellence centre in Jalan Cochrane as it is part of a massive redevelopment plan.

Ironically, the centre in Jalan Cochrane underwent a RM5 million renovation in 2009.

This was approved by the Treasury in 2009 to upgrade its facilities such as installing a drainage system for football fields, upgrading the dining hall and building a warden’s room. This was first made public by The Malay Mail on March 7, last year.

The old base in Jalan Cochrane — said to be the largest in the country - boasts of two football fields, two basketball courts, three sepak takraw courts and a hostel to accommodate 400 students, among others.

5

the malay mail

FRIDAY 19 AUGUST, 2011

Pretty blooms

T H E 1 Ma l ay s i a G re e n 1Malaysia Clean photography competition, organised by the Tourism Ministry and The Malay Mail, continues.

Aimed at avid photographers everywhere, the competition is a chance for all nature lovers to profess love for a greener and cleaner Malaysia through natural, green photographs.

The competition runs for 24 weeks from July 15.

All you need to do is snap

away and send to us as many pictures that go with each week's theme.

Each photo must also be accompanied by a description about the picture, its location and details that could support the entry, particularly on what CLEAN tourist spots mean and how one can help make a difference.

All entries should include the type of camera used, shutter mode, exposure mode, type of lenses and aperture

specifications.

Last week’s theme was ‘Pretty Flowers’ and we received many entries that captured the beauty of flowers in creative ways. It was pretty challenging for us to choose the best three photos.

As for this week, the theme is ‘Colourful Creatures’. So, it's time for you to stretch your imagination and go wild with your ideas and compositions.

An adventure awaits you

in the following week’s theme — ‘That Swamp Thing” where it's your chance to get dirty and show how mud and grime can be beautiful too.

Next, get cleaned up with ‘Clear Waters' when it becomes theme of the week before we ask you to put on creative caps and snap photos with the theme 'Magical Mountain'.

LAST WEEK’S BEST PHOTOS: 'Pretty Flowers' LIN JOE YIN Subang Jaya, Selangor · Camera: Nikon D3s · Exposure: 1/1250 sec, f4, ISO 3200 · Lens: 400mm COOL and calm perfectly describe the misty atmosphere up in Awana Genting Highlands. Its beautiful flower garden is a haven for birds and tourists alike.

TAN EE LONG Batu Caves, Selangor PLANTING a tree in a KL park to conserve the environment.

LIN JOE YIN Selangor , Subang Jaya on D3s ik N a: er ISO 200 · Cam 1/80 sec, f14, · Exposure: 4mm · Lens: 14-2 is a stately lway Station THE Ipoh Rai orish architecture. An o den of building of M dmark fronted by a gar n la e iv impress a. bougainville

Turn your photography into a quest, and you might just compose pictures that could win you the grand prize at the end of December.

The best three pictures of the week will be published

every Friday in The Malay Mail.

At the end of the 24 weeks, our special committee will choose the three most outstanding photos from the entire collection of entries that would be awarded the grand prize of RM5,000, the second prize of RM3,000 and the third prize of RM1,000.

SO SNAP AWAY AND SEND AS MANY PICTURES AS YOU LIKE TO

1mgreen@mmail.com.my CONTEST RULES & REGULATIONS  The contest is open to all Malaysian citizens.  There is no limit to the number of entries.

However, a winner can win only one (1) prize.  Each entry must be based on the weekly theme and must be accompanied by a short essay (150 words or less) telling what CLEAN tourist spots mean and how one can help make a difference.  Images captured by cameras can be of any format, in colour. However, mobile phone and PDA images are not acceptable.  No digital super imposition is allowed. Composite photographs, trick photographs, or any form of digital imaging or image manipulations will not be accepted. Only minor photo touch-ups such as cropping, adjustment of brightness and colour as well as softening or sharpening of the image are allowed.  Photographs submitted





 

must not have been previously published in any form.

All entries must be complete with accurate information. The results of the contest will be decided by a panel of judges, appointed by the organisers. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained.

Copyright and reproduction: The organisers reserve the absolute rights to exhibit or reproduce any acceptable entries in whatever way deemed fit for exhibition and for any print-based publicity and promotional purposes without prior notice, consent or payment of fee whatsoever to the contestants.

Contest runs from July 15 to Dec 23. Deadline for entries is Dec 30.

Winners will be notified via email. Details of winning entries will also be published in The Malay Mail.

6

news

Income tax was deducted from the half-month bonus for civil servants on Aug 15 — Inland Revenue Board public relations officer Noorhelmi Azrul Mohd Nor

The Malay Mail Friday 19 August, 2011

PETALING JAYA

Bill dispute

Talks on ‘illegal’ backdating of electricity charges to begin today THE Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) is set for talks with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) today to discuss the latter's new practice of backdating electricity bills after changing from analog to digital meters, leading some consumers to complain of bills shooting up to RM20,000.

It is learnt this new practice goes against the Limitation Act 1953, which only enables companies to backdate charges for up to six years.

Consumers whose electricity meters have been replaced from analog to digital have been charged with backdated bills up to 10 years due to faulty meters.

TNB claimed that consumers slapped with charges of up to RM20,000 were involved in electricity theft and guilty of tampering with the meters.

By Asrol hadi abdullah sani asrol@mmail.com.my

Fomca chief executive officer Datuk Paul Selva Raj confirmed the consumer body's meet with TNB. "We have to see where the fault lies and will be discussing this with TNB tomorrow," he told The Malay Mail yesterday.

National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) senior manager M. Matheevani said TNB's retrospective charges are against Section 20 of the Limitation Act 1953.

"The Act states that no one can have the right to charge or file a case beyond six years.

TNB has been found to have charged for more than 10 years. The charges were also based purely on assumptions and there were no proper

mechanisms involved. How can they justify the charges without the proper mechanisms?"

Under the limitation of actions, the Act states that no arrears in rent or damages can be claimed "after the expiration of six years from the date on which the arrears became due".

TNB senior general manager (Operation Region 2) Datuk Roslan Ab Rahman had reportedly said the backdated payments were based on estimation of electricity usage.

TNB has also reasserted that back-billing for faulty meters is necessitated under the Electricity Supply Act (1990) that requires consumers to pay for loss of revenue.

Matheevani, however, said the Act does not address problems faced by the consumers but only on behalf of the supplier or company.

"The law needs to be reviewed to better serve consumers," she said.

She added that NCCC has received 359 complaints on meter tampering since January this year, which was more than triple such cases last year.

She also said Fomca was still waiting for a response from the Energy Commission of Malaysia on the matter.

Matheevani said the problem is not with consumers but TNB, which she claimed has been negligent of its electricity meters for years.

Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam president Jacob George agreed

We have to see where the fault lies and will be discussing this with TNB — Datuk Paul Selva Raj that TNB, not consumers, should bear the costs.

"We have been calling TNB to calibrate electricity meters since 1999 due to duplication of billing and other issues but they never rectified the matter.

"Only now does TNB want to resolve the problem through a quick-fix by backdating bills. If this continues, we will prepare a memorandum to the Prime Minister because it's angering consumers who should not absorb the costs of TNB's own mistake."

Malaysian Association of Standards Users chief executive officer N. Ratna Devis said there must be an inde-

pendent regulatory body to control the period in which TNB can backdate bills.

"Usually a person is innocent until proven guilty but TNB has already found consumers guilty of tampering with electricity meters. Consumers are at a disadvantage because they do not have the technical abilities to prove otherwise.

"Current regulations give an advantage to the service provider and revisions must be made. If not, consumers will continue to remain powerless."

TNB is reported to have lost RM500 million in revenue annually to electricity theft.

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

Postal voting by soldiers will be conducted in a clean, transparent and professional manner without any interference from their superiors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin

KUALA LUMPUR

news

A green way to go

Panasonic to help Malaysia cut down on carbon dioxide emissions

TO help Malaysia become a more eco-conscious nation, Panasonic Malaysia yesterday launched an Econation programme and will be increasingly providing total energy solutions with eco products that have virtually zero carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to enable more efficient use of energy that powers homes, businesses and townships.

"Currently, our eco products make up 60 per cent of our total product range and these will be increased by 10 per cent this year," said Panasonic Malaysia managing director Jeff Lee (pic) at the launch in KL. "We hope to achieve our RM2 billion sales target by the end of our fiscal year in March 2012 and simultane-

By CECILIA VICTOR cecilia@mmail.com.my

ously help Malaysia achieve a 100,000 tonnes reduction in CO2 emissions."

Lee said Econation is also aimed at fulfilling Panasonic's goal of becoming the No. 1 green innovation company in the electronics industry by 2018, in tandem with their 100th anniversary of its founding that year.

"To achieve this, we have Green Life Innovation which promotes lifestyles with virtually zero CO2 emissions, and Green Business Innovation which creates total energy solutions to facilitate the use of resources and energy in the most efficient manner.

"The environment has always been central to Panasonic's business activities as our goal is not only to greatly minimise environmental impact but also promote a sense of security, comfort and joy that is sustainable for generations ahead."

To make Econation as widely known as possible, there will be a series of Econation print advertisements, an Econation365 website (http:// www.econation365.com) and a new television commercial featuring British soprano Sarah Brightman, a Panasonic ambassador who will sing the Panasonic global song titled Shall Be Done.

The next phase of publicising Econation will be via social media platforms like

SHAH ALAM

Two-way Ramadan blessing IT was a night of blessing for the 66 children, aged four to 16 years, of Al-Khaadem Home Of Hope when they were feted to a buka puasa feast and given duit raya by Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Berhad (Takaful Malaysia) recently.

The blessing went two ways, said Takaful Malaysia group managing director Datuk Mohamed Hassan Kamil, as the event gave the company an opportunity to exercise its corporate social responsibility.

"We should always be sensitive towards their needs and continuously provide support to ensure they receive good education like other children," he said.

The activities for the night

GOOD FOOD: Al-Khaadem children at the 'buka puasa'

included Al-Quran recital, tazkirah (lecture) and terawih prayers.

Board member Zakaria Ismail also presented the company's zakat (tithe) contribution to the foundation, which was represented by its president, Ustaz Hussain Yee.

The zakat contribution will be used to support the daily administration and management of the home, especially in providing education for the children.

Ustaz Hussain said: "The contribution is very meaningful and we are truly grateful."

SHAH ALAM

'Clean' tech collaboration

AGENSI Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Universiti Tenaga Nasional and Q-Cells Malaysia Sdn Bhd to collaborate on an initiative under AIM called the InnoAccelerator Project.

The project will serve as a platform to bridge and facilitate cooperation among industries, universities and schools to drive innovation and eventually produce products and services that will benefit the country.

By FAIZAL NOR IZHAM faizal.nor@mmail.com.my

The three entities will work together in developing the InnoAccelerator Project for the green technology sector. AIM will facilitate grouping of key players in the project and the three parties will work on plans for training in schools and among university students.

Under the project, 10 different technology sectors have been identified, namely,

agri-bio, telecommunication, advanced manufacturing, green technology, halal food retail, automotive, nanotechnology, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals and aerospace.

Each sector's programme is championed by an industry expert and another from academia, who will then disseminate best practices, knowledge and the innovation culture to 100 different schools nationwide, encompassing approximately 10,000 students.

Facebook to encourage everyone to embrace sustainable lifestyles through energy solutions, along with eco activities and contests.

Under t he Gre en L ife Innovation, Panasonic will soon be opening an Econation Centre in Section 16, Petaling Jaya, which will feature roof solar panels, hydrogen fuel cells, lithium ion accumulator batteries, AC/DC wiring systems and a range of energyefficient solutions for the home and office. Also in the pipeline are the building of PanaHomes or eco homes that aim at zero CO2 emissions.

Under Gre en Business Innovation, Panasonic will showcase their environmental commitment next month, by

having the largest booth at the 2nd International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition & Conference Malaysia (IGEM) on Sept 7 to 10 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a sales, service and marketing company for the Panasonic brand of electrical and electronic products which encompasses audio-visuals, home appliances, air conditioners, digital and video cameras, professional broadcasting equipment, business systems, telecommunications, health and beauty care, and batteries and lighting.

7

8

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

hotline@mmail.com.my

tel:03-7495 1000/1001/1002 tel:019-261 4948 (after 9pm)

your right to be heard ● ● ● ●

Complainants have to submit their personal particulars and provide a detailed account of their complaint.

Complainants have to first file their complaints with the respective parties before contacting Hotline.

Complaints referred by Hotline to the relevant parties would be published if there is no response in seven days.

After a complaint has been resolved, the complainant cannot demand non-publication of the matter.

Duo's bus woes

● She continues to wait hours for Metrobus No. 12

WHERE IS IT?: Chrisostom waiting for her bus to arrive — Pic: Salhani Ibrahim

ONE continues to wait for hours for her bus to take her home, while the other has to face up to a driver who not only smokes but shouts at him as well.

Every evening after work, ELIZABETH CHRISOSTOM waits in Jalan Bangsar for Metrobus No. 12 to go home to University Tower next to University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

Very often, the bus does not come and if it does, it is hours late, says CHRISOSTOM, whose plight was highlighted by Hotline on Aug 1.

"The situation has not changed. When will action be taken?" she asks.

CHRISOSTOM has to stay back late sometimes. When she finishes work, there is little chance of her catching Metrobus No. 12 because it usually bypasses Jalan Bangsar and uses the Mid Valley way instead.

CHRISOSTOM says it is

By T.K. Letchumy Tamboo, IKRAM ISMAIL and FAIZAL NOR IZHAM

Che Hasni: SPAD to meet bus operators soon

the only bus that uses the route.

On previous occasions, when she was lucky enough to catch the bus, she was told by the drivers they prefer to use the Mid Valley route.

Because of this, more often than not, CHRISOSTOM has no choice but to take a taxi home. ● The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) had told Hotline it needs to inspect the permits of bus companies to ascertain if they follow the routes set out for them, failing which,

action can be taken under the SPAD Act 2010.

Contacted again about a week after Hotline highlighted CHRISOSTOM's plight, SPAD Enforcement and Training general manager Mej-Gen (Rtd) Datuk Che Hasni Che Ahmad says Metrobus has an open network permit, which means it is allowed to follow whichever route it wants.

"We also found that RapidKL also has buses servicing the Jalan Bangsar route," says Che Hasni.

"We have spoken to the bus operators and learnt that since RapidKL is also servicing the route, sometimes Metrobus does not use Jalan Bangsar.

"Metrobus says Jalan Bangsar is a congested area.

However, that should not be an excuse not to take up the route."

Che Hasni says SPAD will be calling the bus operators for a discussion soon.

● Smoking driver tells him to go if not happy

LEONG CHIN WEI had a rude encounter with a Transnasional bus driver when he took the bus from the Medan Gopeng bus station in Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur on July 11.

LEONG, 33, says the bus driver was smoking during the journey.

"I politely told him not to smoke in the air-conditioned bus as it was affecting the passengers," he says.

According to LEONG, the driver began to shout at him and told him to get off the bus if he was not happy.

LEONG says the driver smoked at least three to four cigarettes during the journey.

Although the other passengers were noticeably uncomfortable as well, he feels they had no choice but to keep quiet, as they did not want to

be yelled at by the driver.

"Transnasional must take action against such disrespectful drivers, who do not bother about the passengers' health," says LEONG. ● KONSORTIUM Transnational Berhad's Corporate and Employee Communications officer Aisah Mohd apologises to LEONG for the driver’s behaviour.

"It was uncalled for and stern disciplinary action has been taken against the driver," she says.

LEONG has accepted the apology by Transnasional and is happy action has been taken.

However, he hopes the Health Ministry can impose stricter rules against smoking in non-smoking areas, or while driving.

Sweeper's nightmare OBSTRUCTION: Mohd Farok trying to clear the leaves under the abandoned car — Pic: KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN

MONDAY was his first day at work cleaning the roads in Bandar Baru Selayang.

But he faced an obstacle as he struggled to remove dried leaves under an abandoned car in Jalan Besar.

MOHD FAROK NIR

AHMAD,18, says he was told the car has been lying idle there for a couple of months.

"The local council should do something to remove the vehicle," he says.

MOHD FAROK says a verbal complaint was

made to the local council's enforcement officer stationed in the area but no action was taken.

Contacted by Hotline, a spokesperson for the Selayang Municipal Council says immediate action will be taken to remove the vehicle.

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

municipal council had not been carrying out the task 1. Companies which have put up posters without TAKE NOTE previously. permits along Jalan Gasing have been issued 3. The Drainage and Irrigation Department will be notices by the Petaling Jaya City Council to conducting talks with residents of Kampung Sri Andalas, Klang, living bring them down by today. From January to June this year, the council along Sungai Pasir Putih on how to keep the river clean. The problem removed 2,186 illegal advertisements and posters in the city, including of rubbish accumulating in the river is largely because of the acts of banners, small advertisement boards and Ah Long stickers.

2. The Sepang Municipal Council will start collecting garden waste in irresponsible people and the department is finding ways to educate the Taman Alam Putra, Seri Kembangan, beginning next month. The people on how to keep the river clean.

A danger no more Manhole covered up after City Hall alerts Maxis

BEFORE

AFTER

9 Online comments www.mmail.com.my Long wait for housing document (Aug 18) ● BANKS are quick to harass you when you miss your loan payment and they take away your property when you are unable to pay up within the stipulated time. It's their right, true. The public seems powerless when banks do such things. Totally unfair. Banks make more money these days, from charging clients for printing out statements to clients having to pay additional costs when renewing or changing cards that become faulty easily. And the banks get away with it all the time! — Banker Manhole danger (Aug 18) ● I LIVE in the area and the manhole has been there for a long time. It is a problem especially when riding a motorcycle at night. Many people won't realise it until it is too late. And placing a wooden stick there is not the solution. The rightful person must quickly address this and not wait till some good Samaritan complain to the Press to get the work done. If the manhole is managed by Maxis, they should check it regularly. I will not be surprised if such a problem exists in other places. — Siva Kumar

SWIFT ACTION: The manhole with the branches and pole in it, and covered up two days later

THE exposed manhole in Jalan Sepadu has been covered up.

It was covered up two days after Hotline alerted Kuala Lumpur City Hall about the problem.

It was brought to Hotline's attention by concerned reader K. SARAVANAN of Taman Overseas Union.

SARAVANAN, a regular user of the road, says

GETS THE ACTION he almost drove over the manhole on his way to work a week ago and had just spotted it on time.

He had assumed that the relevant authorities would take responsibility and

cover the manhole immediately as it posed a danger to motorists and motorcyclists.

However, when he passed the area the next day, the manhole was still not covered.

SARAVANAN says that when he passed by the road a day later, he noticed someone had placed branches and also a wooden pole with a yellow plas-

tic bag to alert other road users on the presence of the manhole.

Following their investigation, City Hall says the manhole is maintained by Maxis and they have asked the telco to cover it up as soon as possible.

When contacted, SARAVANAN says he is glad swift action has been taken to prevent accidents from taking place.

Confusion over broadband fee waiver

NURFAINIE IRDINA GANI, of Banting, Selangor, is shocked she still has to pay her Internet bill even though she has terminated her broadband account with Celcom Axiata Berhad.

She says the company had offered to waive the outstanding amount.

"This is the second time I'm complaining to Hotline. The first complaint was published on Aug 14," she

says.

A few days after NURFAINIE's first complaint, she received a call from Celcom's headquarters and they offered a partial waiver on her bill.

NURFAINIE says she agreed even though she is not supposed to pay as she had already terminated her broadband account earlier.

"To my surprise, I later received a phone call from a debt collector telling me I am still required to pay

the full amount. I asked him to double-check with Celcom but he refused to do so," she says.

"This is not the first time I'm facing problems with Celcom. I hope they will put a stop to this." ● A SPOKESMAN for Celcom Axiata Berhad says the company has investigated and found NURFAINIE still has outstanding payment.

This resulted in an automated follow-up by the

debt collector.

"We informed the customer prior to her complaint on July 6 the partial waiver was only for RM103.75 and the customer agreed to make payment for the remaining RM220.56 within 14 days from July 26," the spokesman says.

"We have addressed her concerns to the debt collection agency and they will look into the matter."

Feeling hot over frequent power cuts (Aug 18) ● DISRUPTIONS should not happen unless there is a tsunami. Period! It is surprising how TNB can acknowledge that the disruption happened and go on to say they are improving their service. Yes, it is good they have finally realised they need to buck up but being the sole power distributor to residential areas doesn't mean they can allow any form of disruption. Imagine if the same thing happened in an industrial area in Penang or Shah Alam? Imagine how much of losses companies will incur? — Shazali Card dormant if unused for one year (Aug 17) ● YET Touch 'n Go never explained how come he can use it for boarding the bus.

Don't tell me these guys don't know the reason. — Kirana She wants to be 'Chong' again (Aug 17) ● WHY need to change surname in the first place? Nothing else better to do? The Chinese have the saying "Walk doesn't change name, sit doesn't change surname".

— Abugaga Annoying neighbour (Aug 16)

● MINE are even worse. They will do their

laundry all day with some detergent that they use and the smell gets into my house and I can't even open my windows. They park their cars waywardly and don't seem to care as well. — Anonymous

● ANY lawyers here want to help this chap out pro bono? — Anonymous

River of trash (Aug 11) ● MALAYSIAN mentality is make a mess but don't blame yourself but the authorities.

First they litter everywhere, then when the rubbish clogs up the drain and river, they say the local council or other departments not doing their job. We must change our attitude first before blaming everyone else for not doing their jobs. — Anonymous

10

letters&opinions

● Mail: Letters To The Editor, Malay Mail Sdn Bhd, Lot 2A, Jalan 13/2, 46200, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

● Email: mmnews@mmail.com.my Fax: 03-7495 1229

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

● Opinions may be in the form of Letters to the Editor or comments posted in relation to all news. ● Letters to the Editor must carry your name, address and contact number. A pseudonym may be included.

PJ: Crazy splasher strikes again (Aug 18)

Take extra precaution

THESE acid-splashing crimes do not seem to be exclusive to the Klang Valley anymore.

A friend of mine in Sabah contacted me today (Aug 18) to tell me that apparently there was a similar incident that just took place in Kota Kinabalu.

My friend was not too sure of the details of the case but she told me the victim was a young woman.

I cannot believe it.

The first thing that came to mind was: are these lunatic culprits being swayed by news they see in the media?

Because it started with one culprit, but following widespread news about the crime and the severe injuries it caused, more opportunistic copycats seem to suddenly emerge these days.

I a m a s i n g l e , c a re e r woman who work late

nights. Sometimes driving home af ter work, w hich takes about 15 minutes, I put my window down. No, not to invite danger but to breathe in the cool air of the early hours — something I thought I had the right to do, seeing that the roads are clear of traffic.

But, after the phone call from my Sabahan friend, I believe this 'right' I thought I had is now 'stripped away', too.

Control sale of acid THE last I heard, the government was mulling acid and corrosive substances as controlled material. What happened to that?

Even if the serial splasher is nabbed, he has set a prec-

edent for others to follow.

Ta k e B a n g l a d e s h , f o r example, which has outlawed the open selling of corrosive substances.

When are we going we start?

burned fingers and hands or gloves placed on dashboard.

This is because the acid splashers have to suffer from minor acid burns as well.

How many faces need be scarred before real preventive measures are taken?

What is being done now is mere damage control.

Jus Jerry

F o c u s o n t h e Ku a l a Lumpur roads to Mantin, Negri Sembilan.

That might be the only clue other than a photofit.

aged to not go blind, thanks to the large sunglasses she donned at the time.

I'm not sure how or what else we 'normal' citizens can do to protect ourselves but we must think of something.

Fast.

The police have their work cut out for them on this one.

It may take some time before these cases can be solved.

Death-fearing woman

Not too reassuring

THE Energy Commission of Malaysia claimed it took them a 'long time' to search for the contractors responsible for the faulty lamp post at the Taman Batu Tiga playground in Shah Alam, the one that had killed 11-year-old Muhammad Naquiddin Mohd Marzuki last March, because they had to 'go down to the ground and ask around'.

I guess the commission does not go to the ground that often. The contractors should have been hauled up much earlier.

The excuse of not being able to locate the cont rac tors is simply irresponsible.

While I am glad the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and the commission are pro-active

to a certain extent, I'm disappointed as I believe such a matter could have been handled better.

Nevertheless, the subject matter is that a child was electrocuted at a playground.

What assurance does the public have that such an episode will not happen again in the future?

Lim CH

johanssmKhunPana

PJ: Merdeka Day

PJ: London riots

Ensure wellbeing of all IT is in the juxtaposition of riot and politics, of criminal looting and inflexible economic policies, of community violence and communities under pressure, and the collision of despair and hopelessness on the one hand, and inequity of opportunity and life chances on the other, that the killing of the three young men in Birmingham, central England, by a hit-andrun driver while trying to defend their community, is to be seen.

Tariq Jahan, the father of one of the three murdered youths, despite his own tragic loss, showed courage and compassion over condemnation or calling for cruel revenge, when he declared soon after: "Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, go home."

Here was a true peacemaker. His was a call for reconciliation by all sides intended to stop such pain

about anywhere.

I read that one of the victims had his vision spared because he managed to hold up his bag in front of his face when the attacker splashed acid on him.

Maybe it is wise to always carry something in hand, just like the victim.

I also read somewhere that a woman in America, who had acid randomly splashed on her face last year, man-

PJ: Playground electrocution: Found at last! (Aug 16)

Look out for burn signs OUR police are too well known for setting up road blocks. Plus they have eyes like hawks.

They do look out for telltale signs of the assailants Look out for signs of

What's the deal? Why are these perpetrators doing this? Out of sheer pleasure picking their victims at random?

Initially, most of the victims were women and children. But it has since been reported that several men have fallen victim as well.

Until the police can catch the perpetrators of these evil acts, we must all take extra precaution when moving

spreading to afflict others.

Anyone in their right mind will condemn any form of violence, whoever the perpetrators might be.

And so it is unequivocally in the case of the London riots, too.

However, as some church groups claimed, it was wrong to say this is just about 'looting and broken society' and called for greater 'social equality'.

It is only through a true sharing of, and an enabling environment to pursue, common interests, goals and experiences that we can dispel and eschew all inexplicable provocation by our words and deeds.

Equally, those who are freely and fairly elected to govern must exercise their responsibilities based on a social, economic and political agenda that gives due consideration especially to those who see their lives as having little room for upward mobility, lack-

ing access to basic needs, facilities, opportunities and benefits and without an effective mechanism for their grievances to be heard and redressed.

The right to freedom of speech, including the means to express one's grievances peacefully, is fundamental. However, intimidation, injustice, inflicting destruction on people and property and inciting hatred and hostility toward each other have no place in a society in which mutual respect, the rule of law and the recognition and guarantee of basic human rights are key principles.

Ensuring the wellbeing and progress of everyone in conditions of peace and dignity might not be populist politics. It is a social, moral and communal necessity and responsibility.

Rueben Dudley

Fly the Jalur Gemilang IN conjunction with the 54th anniversary of our Merdeka Day, Malaysians are encouraged to fly our national flag — the Jalur Gemilang. A national flag symbolises the spirit of patriotism and pride, unity and love for the nation.

Under a common flag, we attained independence and built our lives harmoniously irrespective of race, colour or creed. Under one flag lies the symbol of unity for all our communities, as we strive towards building a united Malaysian nation in which our future lies.

I have no doubt Malaysians are proud of their flag as it symbolises nationalism and patriotism which are needed to strengthen the process of nation-building.

In fact, it is not just for Merdeka Day that the Malaysian flag should be flown. We should fly the flag on all important occasions and if practical, every day.

In many countries I visited, I observed that national flags were flown daily at government and private buildings such as business corpora-

tions, schools and community centres.

In Malaysia, with the exception of some, many building owners do not make it a practice to fly the national flag except on Merdeka Day. Even on that important day itself there are many premises which do not fly the flag.

What is most important here is to teach our younger generation to love our flag.

The future of our nation lies with our youths, so it is essential that we inculcate in them the spirit, love and pride for our flag. Schools should have a daily ceremony to hoist the national flag, besides singing the Negaraku.

Ensuring our young to respect and love the national flag is essential to build future generations of Malaysians imbued with a strong sense of patriotism and national pride.

At the same time, I also need to stress here that flying the Jalur Gemilang is not the only way to express one's patriotism.

Patriotism can come in various forms. When we

speak up in defence of our nation in the national interest, it is a patriotic act.

When we refrain from committing acts of vandalism on public property or throw garbage in public places indiscriminately, we are patriotic.

Malaysians can display their patriotism through their words, thoughts and actions in the interest of the country and in nation-building. Being patriotic also means contributing one’s views and opinions in areas that can bring good to the country.

Expressing one’s feelings through the right channel is one of the basic rights which should be practised by all patriotic Malaysians who love the country and want the best for the nation. In this regard, making constructive criticisms in the interest of the nation does not make a person less patriotic and his loyalty to the country should not be questioned.

Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye Trustee 1Malaysia Foundation

The Obama administration said yesterday it would postpone the deportation of illegal immigrants without criminal records and allow them to apply for work permits as it reviews over 300,000 cases — AFP

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

WASHINGTON

Pressure on Assad grows

US says EU also ready to impose sanctions on Syria THE White House said late yesterday that it expected the European Union to unveil fresh economic sanctions on Syria "soon" as part of an effort to drive President Bashar al-Assad from power.

Asked whether Europe would impose new restrictions on Syria's oil sector, spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters: "We do anticipate that the Europeans will be announcing some similar actions soon."

"In the whole of this process the president has been committed to working with nations around the world to present a united front and isolate the Assad regime," Earnest said aboard Air Force One airplane.

"This has been an effort the president has been personally engaged in," he said as Obama headed to the posh resort island of Martha's Vineyard for a stretch of vacation.

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton had signaled the likelihood of new sanctions, saying "the addition of further names to the list of those targeted by the EU restrictive measures is under preparation."

"Moreover, the EU is mov-

EMBATTLED: Assad is faced with rising International pressure — AFPpic

world 11

LONDON

Hacker hits back THE private investigator at the centre of the phone hacking scandal at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World has launched legal action against the tabloid, its owners said yesterday.

Glenn Mulcaire, who was imprisoned for six months in 2007 for intercepting messages on royal aides' phones, has lodged papers at the High Court in London, News International said.

Mulcaire's decision to sue for "breach of contractual indemnity" came after British police arrested a 13th person in the probe into phone hacking, with reports saying it was the now-defunct tabloid's award-winning Hollywood reporter James Desborough.

Mulcaire's action comes after the company, part of Murdoch's News Corporation, announced on July 20 it would stop paying his legal costs with

immediate effect.

A spokeswoman for the discontinued newspaper's owners News International confirmed that the action was being taken but made no further comment.

The Guardian newspaper reported that the High Court writ claims that a News International subsidiary has a contractual obligation to pay Mulcaire's legal costs as he fights more than a dozen court cases brought by celebrities and public figures who believe their voicemail messages were hacked.

It emerged this week that News International has paid approximately £246,000 (RM1.2 million) to lawyers acting for Mulcaire.

Mulcaire is alleged to have hacked into thousands of messages left on mobile phones at the newspaper's request.

— AFP

WASHINGTON

Climate change forces species to move fast

ing ahead with discussing further restrictive measures that will broaden its sanctions against the Syrian regime. By these efforts we continue to aim at assisting the Syrian people to achieve their legitimate aspirations," she said.

Earnest pointed to statements from the European Union, Britain, France and Germany echoing Obama's own call for Assad to step down and said: "That united

front is an indication of the president's personal efforts on this issue."

He also predicted that "extremely robust" new US sanctions announced by Obama "will have a very significant impact on the Syrian government."

Obama ordered all Syrian State assets frozen and banned investment and exports to the country.

The order also targeted

Syria's oil and gas sector, a key revenue stream for Assad's regime, significantly ramping up pressure on Damascus to halt its assault on pro-democracy protests.

The order also targeted five Syrian State-owned energy companies and prohibits Americans, wherever they are located, from engaging in any transactions or dealings involving Syrian oil or gas. — AFP

CLIMATE change appears to be forcing many of the world's creatures to migrate to more favourable locales up to three times faster than previously believed, a study said yesterday.

Researchers compiled past studies on species migration and combined them into a meta-analysis that showed a clear trend toward cooler climates, with the fastest moves in places where heating was most intense.

"These changes are equivalent to animals and plants shifting away from the equator at around 20 centimetres per hour, for every hour of the day, for every day of the year," said project leader Chris Thomas, biology professor at the University of York.

"This has been going on for the last 40 years and is set to continue for at least the rest of this century," Thomas said.

— AFP

12 world Oh dear, what has Depardieu done now?

More than 40,000 people were either killed, illegally arrested and tortured or "disappeared" during the 1973-1990 dictatorship of the late general Augusto Pinochet, Chilean officials said — AFP EILAT (Israel)

Air raid on Rafah

FRENCH actor Gerard Depardieu has been removed from a flight bound for Dublin.

The 62-year-old, star of Cyrano de Bergerac and Green Card, was on a flight from Paris Wednesday when he urinated in front of fellow passengers, the BBC reports. The plane was still on the ground but was preparing for take-off when Mr Depardieu asked to use the lavatory. When staff told him to stay in his seat, it is understood he stood in the aisle of the plane and urinated into a bottle. A passenger on the CityJet plane contacted a French radio station and claimed the movie star had also urinated on the aisle. The traveller claimed Depardieu stood up minutes before take-off and declared in a loud voice: "Je veux pisser. Je veux pisser," (I need to pee).

IBM has developed a microprocessor which it claims comes closer than ever to replicating the human brain The system is capable of "rewiring" its connections as it encounters new information, similar to the way biological synapses work. Researchers believe that that by replicating that feature, the technology could start to learn, the BBC reports. Cognitive computers may eventually be used for understanding human behaviour as well as environmental monitoring.

Dharmendra Modha, IBM's project leader, explained that they were trying to recreate aspects of the mind such as emotion, perception, sensation and cognition by "reverse engineering the brain."

First robbery shocks islanders THE remote Pacific island of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands has experienced its first ever bank robbery, local officials say. The robbers, who struck last week, are said to have bagged about NZ$200,000 (RM489,000) — mostly savings from locals, the BBC reports.

Police were flown in from the capital, Rarotonga, to probe the theft which shocked islanders, its mayor said. The perpetrator is not believed to be from the 2,000-strong island. "Everybody more or less knows each other," Mayor John Baxter told Radio New Zealand. "If it was done by one of the local lads, then surely they would have talked and we would have got to the bottom of this." "We feel that it's someone from outside Aitutaki, who's not living here.

Maybe someone who's come back from overseas or is living abroad."

Israel retaliates immediately after seven citizens are killed

Israel prepares for Palestinian statehood rallies GEARED-UP: Defense Minister Ehud Barak (centre) and Israeli chief of staff Lt. General Benjamin 'Benny' Gantz (left) arrive at Eilat yesterday, following a series of coordinated attacks that killed several people in southern Israel — AFPpic

IsraeliDefence Israeli Defence Forces Forces (IDF)(IDF) are toare useto new use riot new riot control techniques control techniques andand equipment equipment as part asof part of a $22 a $22million millionoperation operation to prepare to prepare for planned for planned demonstrations along demonstrations along its borders its borders coinciding with coinciding with a Palestinian a Palestinian pushpush for statehood for statehood at at thethe UNUN in September in September New receiver: New receiver: Enables Enables standardstandardissue M-16 issue M-16 semi-automatic semi-automaticrifle rifle to fire to fire 0.22 0.22 round round instead instead of usual of usual 5.56mm 5.56mm bullet bullet Impact Impact Smaller Smallerrounds roundsare are rounds: rounds: not as aslethal lethalwhen when IDF IDF has has fired at at lower lower purchased purchased body from from new ammunition new ammunition Golan Heights: Golan Heights: Israeli Israeli army army over 75m 75m for snipers for snipers to to use use planting new planting newland land mines mines away away with withRemington Remington 5.56mm 5.56mm 0.22 0.22 M-24 M-247.62mm 7.62mm rifle rifle LEBANON LEBANON SYRIA SYRIA 80km 80km Polymer-compound Polymer-compound ISRAEL ISRAEL round rounddoes does not 50 miles 50 miles WEST WEST penetrate penetrate skin BANK BANK but but deals deals painful GAZA GAZA blow STRIP STRIP JORDAN JORDAN

IBM develops 'brain chips' for computers

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

SEVEN Israelis were killed in a string of attacks in southern Israel yesterday, prompting the military to hit back with strikes on the Gaza militant group it said was responsible.

The bloodshed, which killed six civilians and a soldier on two desert roads near the Red Sea resort town of Eilat, prompted a wave of international condemnation led by the White House.

Within hours of the coordinated attacks, which saw gunmen ambush two buses and a car, detonate a bomb under a military jeep, and fire

a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at a car, Israeli troops had hunted down and killed seven of the attackers, a top military official said.

And shortly afterwards, Israel hit back at the Gazabased militant group it accused of responsibility for yesterday's attacks, launching air raids that killed six people in the southern city of Rafah, medics said.

At least four of the dead were top members of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), but one was a two-year-old boy, they said.

"If the terror organisations think they can harm our citizens without a response, Israel will make them pay a very heavy price," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned in a televised address.

"If you harm Israel, we will respond immediately and very strongly," he said, noting that "those who ordered the killing of our citizens... are no longer alive."

The attacks began around noon, when gunmen strafed a bus on route 12, a desert road which flanks the Egyptian border.

BRUSSELS

by the fierce storm, the Belga news agency reported.

Tens of thousands of people had flocked to the annual outdoor concert and many were under a big tent, sheltered from the rains and listening to the group Smith Westerns, when it collapsed, according to the RTBF public television website.

Ambulances rushed to the scene as the concert came to a halt.

Last year at the festival's 25th season, two tragedies occurred: a sound engineer died of a heart attack, and a rock singer, Charles Haddon, committed suicide by jumping from the top of a pylon after his group performed. — AFP

LUANDA

Giant Okavango-Zambezi conservation zone launched in Africa FIVE southern African countries signed an agreement yesterday to create a giant conservation zone in the Okavango and Zambezi river basins that stretches over an area half the size of France.

The "conservation and tourism area" will cover parts of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, linking

Skunk Skunkbomb: bomb: 25 25 camera-guided, camera-guided, truck-mounted truck-mounted hoses hoses can can drench drench crowds crowds 150m 150m away away with with synthetic synthetic version version of of foulfoulsmelling smelling liquid liquid squirted squirted by by skunks. skunks.

Odour Odour lingers lingers for for several several days days Scream: Device Scream: Deviceemits emitspenetrating penetrating bursts of bursts of sound sound at at 10-second 10-second intervals, intervals, causing dizziness causing dizziness and and nausea nausea

Pictures: Pictures: Getty Images Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS Sources: Sources: Jane’s Jane’s Information Information Group, Group, IDF IDF

Shortly afterwards, the gunmen detonated a roadside bomb as a military vehicle rushed to the scene; they also opened fire on a second bus, killing the driver.

In another incident on route 90, a desert road near the Jordanian border, gunmen fired an RPG at cars some 15km north of Eilat, security sources said. — AFP

ADEN

Storm leaves one dead at rock festival A VIOLENT storm hit an outdoor rock music festival yesterday in northern Belgium, leaving at least one person dead and seven others seriously injured, firefighters said.

Two stages collapsed, one falling on the concert-goers.

Some giant screens also fell down and trees were uprooted

EGYPT EGYPT Lachish LachishTraining Training Base: Instruction Base: Instruction centre for centre for army army units to units to be be deployed at deployed at borders borders

14 national parks and nature reserves, including world-famous Victoria Falls and the Okavango River delta.

Leaders said they hoped the agreement would protect the region's rich biodiversity and give root to a thriving ecotourism industry.

"It's the largest protected

tourism zone in the world," an official from the 15-nation Southern African Development Community said in announcing the deal at the regional bloc's summit in Angola.

The region is known for rare species including cheetahs, African wild dogs, black sable and rhinos. — AFP

Qaeda gunmen seize south Yemen town

YEMEN'S army yesterday raided the town of Shaqra in lawless Abyan province that was seized by suspected alQaeda gunmen, killing three militants, officials said.

The army raided the town, a stronghold of the jihadist network in southern Yemen, killing "three Al-Qaeda militants," a security official in Abyan said.

The toll could not be independently verified.

Earlier, a local official had told media al-Qaeda fighters had attacked the town.

"Al-Qaeda fighters have attacked positions of armed t r ib e s me n " t aske d w it h defending t he tow n on Wednesday, and have "managed to drive them away without any resistance," the official said.

Tribesmen backing government forces in the res-

tive region had in mid-July chased the suspected sl-Qaeda militants from Shaqra.

The security official said the army had carried out similar raids targeting alQaeda positions in the cities of Zinjibar and Jaar, al-Qaeda strongholds in Abyan.

Shaqra lies 35km east of Zinjibar,the provincial capital that has been mostly under the control of suspected al-Qaeda gunmen since late May. The militants tried to advance to nearby villages after taking control of Shaqra but "their advance was halted by tribesmen, and clashes broke out," a tribal source said.

Yemeni tribesmen have in past weeks been locked in battle with suspected al-Qaeda militants in Abyan, especially in Zinjibar. — AFP

FriDay 19 August, 2011

the malay mail

13

14

world

Inflation roared back in July at the fastest pace since March, squeezing consumers just as the US economy appears to be veering toward recession, government data showed yesterday — AFP

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

HONG KONG

Tycoons as paupers Hit show turns Hong Kong's richest into poorest

TOP jewellery executive Erwin Huang is a respected power broker in Hong Kong's business community, but he scored a failing grade when it came to rubbish collection.

The 46-year-old got a hard lesson in low-paid work as part of a hit television show that turns some of the financial hub's wealthiest business titans into its poorest labourers for a few days, sparking a ratings bonanza.

Donning a mask, apron and rubber gloves, Huang nearly passed out from the rotting stench of rubbish he was tasked with dumping, and threatened to quit his temporary job after just a few hours.

"It's very stinky. I need some fresh air. I can't take it anymore," Huang, who received about US$6 (RM17) a day, complained to his unimpressed supervisor.

"Look at my hands, they are swollen. It's because of the dirty water.

This is very hard. I'm dizzy, I need some time to rest," he groaned, taking repeated rest breaks.

Huang's hapless performance aired on The Battle of the Poor Rich, which has soared in popularity since its 2009 debut.

Some of Hong Kong's mega-rich have appeared on the show as janitors and sweepers, scrambling for their next meal while sleeping in the city's

infamous cage homes — tiny cubicles that rent for about US$200 a month.

The wealthy volunteers are taking part in the reality show, which highlights the plight of the city's poor, to experience another side of life while hoping to boost their flagging public image.

Huang, then chief executive of Tse Sui Luen Jewellery, found his small quarters too much to bear in Hong Kong's stifling heat, so he opted to sleep on the street instead.

Adding insult to injury, Huang's female superior gave him a failing grade, noting that his slack effort caused them to miss the rubbish truck.

"I know some people think it's funny seeing these millionaires sweep the floor," said Doris Wong, the show's executive producer, adding that the gimmicky style "draws audiences".

The show's weekly ratings have soared from about 64,000 during the first season to 1.2 million viewers in the second season. For Hong Kong financier Johnny Chan, collecting cardboard was an "eye opening and humbling experience", far from his lucrative job in Hong Kong's glitzy financial district.

"When I was on the show, I felt so empty and scared, it was hard living," Chan said. — AFP

EYE-OPENER: Learning how the other half lives was an experience for Michael Tien, also a participant in ' The Battle of the Poor Rich ' — Season II. Tien, a local politician and owner of popular clothing chain G2000, said his time sweeping the city's streets "wasn't tough at all".

But he admitted getting lost taking public transport. He is usually chauffeur-driven. -- AFPpic

LONDON

MUMBAI

William and Kate debut as wedding dolls

STRONG SHOW: Supporters of Indian social activist Anna Hazare hold torches and candles as they shout slogans against corruption during a demonstration in Kolkata yesterday. – AFPpic

Dabbawallahs join graft protest MUMBAI'S famous army of lunchbox delivery men are to stop work for the first time in their 120-year history to support an India-wide anticorruption campaign, a representative said yesterday.

Some 5,000 "dabbawallahs" will not deliver home-cooked meals to more than 150,000 office workers in India's financial and entertainment hub today, as the activist Anna Hazare begins his hunger strike in the capital New Delhi.

"What Anna Hazare is doing is right," Raghunath Medge, president of the Mumbai Dabbawallahs Association, told media. "Corruption has to be weeded out and that is why we are supporting him.

"Surely for one day Mumbaikars can put up with some hardship to support a wider cause."

Mumbai's dabbawallahs, many of whom are barefoot and cut distinctive figures on

the streets in their white cotton homespun uniforms and Nehru caps, have won plaudits around the world for their reliability.

The business magazine Forbes once awarded them a "six sigma" rating, meaning that they have an error rate as low as one per one million deliveries, putting them alongside some of the top businesses in the world.

Fans of the dabbawallahs, who use trains, handcarts and bicycles to deliver the steel tiffin boxes using a complex colour-coded system and 10-digit alpha-numeric code, include the Virgin Group tycoon Richard Branson.

Britain's Prince Charles, who met the delivery men on a visit to India, also invited two dabbawallahs to his wedding to his second wife, Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005 after they sent the couple a wedding present. –AFP

PRINCE William and his bride Catherine reappeared in their wedding outfits yesterday as miniature dolls of the royal couple hit the shop shelves in London.

William, now also the Duke of Cambridge, is dressed in his scarlet Irish Guards colonel uniform, while the his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, is in her white wedding dress as they were on their April 29 wedding day.

The dolls, made by British firm Arklu, went on sale at Hamleys toy emporium in central London.

The miniature replicas are "instantly recognisable and, some might say, delightfully kitsch,"

Arklu said.

They might be "a touch eccentric, but such quirkiness is also a great British tradition!"

The C atherine doll includes her earrings, tiara, engagement and wedding rings, bridal bouquet, shoes, and "something blue" knickers, which bear the designer's "signature ribbons and attention to detail" in "a sweet and lovely child-like version".

"It looks a lot like her and what she looked like on her wedding day. I think it looks really pretty," said 12-year-old Annie Hardwick.

Her younger sister Bella added: "I'd probably put it up on display so I can

remember when she got married. There are lots of other ones that I like but I think this one is very good."

William has his cap under his right arm and has been given some black and shocking pink socks, while his shoes have a W stamped in them, following reports that William marked his shoes to avoid mixing them up with his brother Prince Harry's.

The boxed set of both dolls costs £100 (RM492) while single Catherine dolls cost £50. There are no separate William dolls.

A one-pound donation goes to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.— AFP

ROYAL TOY: Dolls modelled on Britain's Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, on their wedding day are pictured at Hamleys toy store in central London — AFPpic

MADRID

Baton charge on pope protestors

HAPPY CROWD: Pope Benedict XVI arrives in his Popemobile for the World Youth Day welcoming ceremony at Cibeles square in Madrid yesterday. – AFPpic

SPANISH anti-riot police blocked off a major Madrid square yesterday after about 150 activists gathered to protest a visit by Pope Benedict XVI. Some 100 police sealed off roads leading to the central Puerta del Sol square and used vans to hem in the demonstrators, angered by the cost of hosting the 84-year-old pontiff.

An underground metro station and a railway station in the square were closed.

About 100 pilgrims decried the protesters from outside the police perimiter shouting: "Shame!"; "Hypocrites!"; and "We are the youth of the pope". Police asked them to move on.

After the pope presided over a welcoming ceremony nearby in Madrid's emblematic square Plaza Cibeles, organisers warned pilgrims over loudspeakers: "Please do not go to Puerta del Sol for security reasons.

The Puerta del Sol, birthplace of Spain's widespread "indignant" protests over the handling of an economic crisis, was the scene of clashes the previous night between activists and police.

Thousands of anti-papal protesters and hundreds of young Roman Catholics in Madrid for the August 16-21 World Youth Day celebrations had hurled insults at each other in the square on Wednesday night.

— AFP

FriDay 19 August, 2011

the malay mail

15

16 lifestyle

Looking forward to AFTER months of looking at tantalising spy photographs, Zuffenhausen has finally ended our misery by releasing a handful of official photographs of the 2012 version of their Iconic 911.

This is an all-new car that is likely to up the bar for everyone looking for a everyday, driveable and practical supercar.

There is hardly any technical details of the car floating about so just enjoy these photographs before the beauty is unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

By SHAMSUL YUNOS lifestyle@mmail.com.my

More tiny concepts for future cities Bugatti to produce Galibier BUGATTI is a company that knows how to produce outstanding and quite extraordinary vehicles so when it came up with the Galibier four-door sedan, the concept was stunning enough to make jaws drop.

Well, recently rumours of a production version of this vehicle began gaining momentum and some reports suggest that the company will take the plunge and build this vehicle.

Expect it to have similar engines to the Veyron and similar scorching performance.

Bugatti wants this to be the

fastest four-door saloon in the world.

Billionaires rejoice.

SMALL is beautiful. Less is more. At least that is what car designers would have us believe in the future.

Thanks to the comprehensive scare of global warming and deteriorating planet, more car companies are showing off really small cars for the future and the Audi Urban Concept is another one of those caring cars.

Basically, it is a two-seater, semi-tandem car that has just about enough room for two lean individuals who enjoy sitting in very close proximity to each other.

Of course, Audi describes it as an ‘innovative’ 1+1 concept made from plastic and other lightweight materials.

The free-standing wheels are kept in position by what looks like a double wishbone arrangement while power is from a compact electric drive system.

The idea is to combine racing car with fun, urban car.

“The result is a concept car with no unnecessary weight,

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and one that concentrates on the pure essence of sporty motion,” said Audi.

The technology in the Audi urban concept showcases the company’s ultra-lightweight construction skills.

The cockpit is moulded in carbon fibre-reinforced poly-

mer and the whole vehicle rolls on 21-inch wheels.

Two e-tron electric motors drive the Urban Concept and a lithium-ion battery supplies the energy and they say it should be enough for extended city tours.

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

2012

BMW F30 3-Series caught naked

HESE are the clearest hots of the upcoming MW 3-series and rom these photos we can see the ransformation of the model and how it eeps up with the design development at BMW. The lines are more confident nd clearly defined. In a way, t is a return to the ate 1980s and early 990s when BMWs were designed to look like German cars.

We can also see the typical MW surface treatment along he flank and bonnet that has

17

Naughty cars go everywhere THE Volvo S60 has been making waves in the Malaysian motoring scene thanks to the bold design, high level of specifications and superb performance of the T6 flagship that was launched some months ago.

However, the prohibitive price of the sporty variant has left many waiting for the locally assembled variant, and on Tuesday, it finally landed.

The locally assembled versions will be offered as the T5 and the new T4 variant. Both turbocharged models promise a more ‘naughty’ and dynamic driving performance than any previous Volvo.

“This is Volvo’s sportiest car ever.

The new S60 is pure driving pleasure, with a dynamic, extrovert design that delivers enthusiastic driving characteristics,” said Goran Larsson, president of Volvo Car Malaysia.

Both the T4 and T5 features a Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection (GTDi) engine.

The T5 is a 2.0-litre petrol engine which pumps out 240hp and 320Nm of torque for 0-100km/h in 7.5 seconds and top speed of 230km/h.

The new T4 is a 1.6-litre, 180hp petrol engine that cranks out an impressive 240Nm of torque from just 1,600 and all the way up to 5,000 revs.

An on-demand overboost function further increases torque to 270 Newton metres.

“This puts the T4 among

the most powerful 1.6-litre engines in Malaysia currently,” said Larsson, adding that small, high-performance GTDi engines combined with our fuel efficient, dual-clutch Powershift transmission are our bid to get more energy and efficiency out of smaller engines.”

Safety features remain impressive with the T5 offering Pedestrian Detection technology with full auto brake. This feature detects pedestrians who walk in front of the car, warn the driver and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time.

This allows the S60 to avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds of up to 35km/h if the driver does not react in time.

Other safety features include City Safety that automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle ahead slows, stops or if the S60 driver is driving too fast towards a stationary object.

Collision Warning with Full

Auto Brake, warns and automatically brakes if the car risks hitting another vehicle from behind (T5 only).

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Queue Assist is a radarbased control system which automatically maintains a set gap to the vehicle in front.

This comfort-enhancing system operates at speeds of 0 to 200km/h, which basically means the car drives itself while in queues with repeated speeding up or slowing down, including speeds below 30 kilometres per hour. This feature, available only on the T5 Volvo, is also offering special festive giveaway, free accessories worth RM10,000 to the first 60 customers who book their T4 or T5 cars now.

The selling prices for the S60 are RM220,000 for the T4 and RM255,000 for the T5 (both prices on-the-road, without insurance).

For more details, visit www. volvocars.com.my.

Ferrari FF previewed become the brand’s trademark since the days when controversial and influential designer Chris Bangle headed the BMW design team.

FERRARI fans who have held back buying the sportscar due to the lack of a proper fourseater can now sigh in relief as Naza Italia is bringing the all-wheel drive Ferrari FF to our market.

Priced at RM2.8 million, the car is designed to be the most versatile Ferrari but without sacrificing any of the thrills related to the brand.

It has enough power to accelerate to 100km/h in three seconds and can go well beyond 250km/h at top speed.

The car has enough space to accommodate four adults and three golf bags, making it a perfect grand tourer.

Owners can choose from a wide range of personalisation options, including a set of luggage tailored specifically to fit the FF. Naza Italia expects to sell a handful of the FF every year and already has interested customers placing money for the vehicle.

18 lifestyle

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

TestDrive

By SHAMSUL YUNOS lifestyle@mmail.com.my THE Peugeot 207SV is basically a cosmetic makeover for a sedan that is struggling to find popularity despite making all efforts to offer value, quality and even a certain level of refinement.

Bare bones, the 207 sedan is basically based on the highly successful 206 hatchback with a boot grafted on to give it more maturity and slightly more load-carrying capability.

The face has been upgraded to conform with the current Peugeot design language and this gave it the right to be raised from being a 206 to a 207.

At the heart of this RM70K sedan is the desire to offer European style and quality at a price that many people can afford and in this sense, the 207 has ticked off all the right boxes but somehow this has not resulted in Malaysians rushing to buy it.

Some may say that the basic styling, while updated to current Peugeot looks, is not enough to make people forget that it is based on the 206. However, it is strange for anyone to reject the 207 on the fact that it is based on a highly accomplished model; in fact, this should be a reason to consider the car.

The SV bodykit, interior leather trim and chrome kickplates have done a good job of breathing some excitement into the 207 inside and out.

Finally, the nose and tail looks more balanced 150mm

SPECIFICATIONS PEUGEOT 207SV ENGINE ▪ Engine Type: 4 Inline Cylinders, DOHC 16 Valve ▪ Displacement: 1,597 cc ▪ Max Horsepower: 110hp @ 5800 rpm ▪ Max Torque: 147 Nm @ 4000 rpm ▪ Transmission: Auto Adaptive Gearbox with Tiptronic and Sport Mode ▪ Tyre Size: 185/60 R1 SUSPENSION ▪ Front: Independent with Pseudo MacPherson type struts and Anti-Roll Bar ▪ Rear: Independent Trailing Arms with Transverse Torsion Bars and Anti-Roll Bar

Recommended Tyre

Standard Fitment 185/60 R15 84H

ContiSportContactTM 3

http://www.continental-tyres.com.my

A little bit of make-up can help The 207 now looks more youthful but can the rest of the car keep up?

150mm

in terms of visual bulk and proportions, thanks SPECIFICATIONS to the well-designed front lip and rear spoiler.

In terms of driving pleasure, the 207 is a refined car, quiet and unobtrusive on daily commutes and relatively eager to please on weekends when the driving shoes are on.

The engine is typically Peugeot, not very smooth but reassuringly tough and needs to be worked quite hard to extract the most fun out of it.

The four-speed transmission is best described as adequate and we are happy to report that under most driving conditions, the noise, vibration and harshness level are comparable to anything else in this market segment.

Like many cars that grow a boot post-launch, the 207 has a fairly cavernous load area and this should please the average Malaysian family 63mm which needs to consider how much they can carry home for the festive seasons and long weekends.

As a family car, the chassis has been set up to be safe and forgiving, and this means if the driver makes a mistake, it will tend towards understeer and correct itself with throttle lift off.

Recommended The steeringTyre is relatively accurate and, more importantly, does tell the driver what is happening on the tyre contact patch. Sensitive

drivers will pick up on these clues and enjoy a predictable chassis that is mostly limited by the grip level it can offer.

In the end, there was one issue that kept coming back to bring the 207 SV a notch down and that has to be the design of the dashboard, which migrated virtually unchanged from the 206 into the 207.

The dashboard is the key piece of furniture in a car’s cabin and it sets the tone for the rest of the interior and I cannot help but think that Peugeot would have done well to invest a bit of money in redesigning it or at least upgrading the plastics used in the construction.

That hard-wearing, shiny plastic may have been acceptable in the early 1990s when the 206 was first launched but these days motorists demand better grade materials even for their relatively basic car. http://www.dunloptyres.com.my I am not sure if the dashboard is the main

reason it has failed to take off but I suspect it is one reason.

The others could be the memories of 206 buyers seeing massive discounts at the end of the car’s life, hurting re-sale value.

Be that as it may, the 207 is a car worth considering because it is a genuine European car that offers entertaining handling and, to some, a lot of style.

lifestyle 19

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

Get a Chevy Captiva and save RM20K THE Chevy Captiva SUV is quite a handsome-looking vehicle and those who have driven it, enjoy the space, refinement and equipment level. Well, now is your chance to get one that has been preregistered at RM20,000 less than the list price.

As an added bonus, many of the cars will come with unique G1M (Gagasan 1Malaysia) registration numbers.

The Captiva will be made available at the Captiva Carnival from today until Sunday at

the Kontena Nasional yard in Bandar Sunway next to Guinness Anchor.

The Captiva Carnival, in conjunction with the recently launched Hari Raya Sales and After-sales Campaign, will see a fleet of 145 units of preregistered Captiva for sale at irresistible prices.

There are 100 units of Captiva bearing the special G1M number plates. They were the official course cars during the 2011 F1 Malaysian GP and are in pristine condition.

Naza is also offering low interest rate of 2.45 per cent depending on the year of commitment and it also comes complete with manufacturer’s warranty. Trade-ins are available. Each of the pre-registered Captiva is thoroughly inspected via a 40-point check system to ensure that safety is not compromised.

Opening hours for the Captiva Carnival are from 9am to 6pm. For more information, call 1-800-22-4389.

Lotus sponsors Norwich City LOTUS is a well-known name in the automotive world while Norwich City is, well, a name in English football. To petrolheads, this decision by Group Lotus to sponsor the football club looks a bit like giving back to the community because, let's face it, Lotus is probably more famous than Norwich City.

So congratulations to Lotus for their committment to the community! With the start of the 2011/12 season, Lotus announced a five-season partnership with Norwich City and they believe this marriage will allow Group Lotus the opportunity to communicate with the worldwide football

audience through strategic branding and marketing activities.

Group Lotus chief executive officer Dany Bahar said: “No one can deny the global appeal of football and this partnership with our local heroes Norwich City Football Club will provide us with a new platform to talk to future

Test drive a Kia in Penang NAZA Kia Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the official distributor of Kia Motors vehicles in Malaysia, will take its hugely popular Test Drive Kia On Tour 2011 roadshow to Penang this week.

The five-day roadshow is on until Sunday at the Queensbay Mall in Penang from 10am to 10pm at the Centre Court.

The roadshow in Penang is the second leg of Naza Kia Malaysia’s Test Drive Kia on Tour 2011 which began in May at 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya.

Following Penang, Naza Kia Malaysia will take the test drive campaign to Johor Baru before ending with another roadshow in the Klang Valley

in October.

Customers who test drive any of the vehicles at any of these roadshows will be in the running to win a Forte 1.6EX. In Penang, customers will be given a chance to test drive the multiple-award winning and all-new Sportage as well as the highly popular Forte and Sorento SUV. Customers who participate in the test drive or make a booking at the roadshow will be in the running to win a Forte 1.6EX from Naza Kia Malaysia. The lucky winner of the Forte 1.6EX will be announced following the completion of the Test Drive Kia On Tour 2011 in October. The Test Drive at Queensbay Mall will also include mystery gifts for customers who participate in the test drive or sign up to be a Kia Malaysia fan on Facebook at the venue.

For more information, call 1-800888-542.

Lotus fans.

"The relationship makes sense on so many levels and we are very proud to be associated with a team who share our values of passion, performance and dedicated hard work.

"Business aside, I’m also planning on using our association with the team as a great

staff motivator back at the factory where our team are working so hard.”

Norwich City FC chief executive David McNally said: “This is a great and dynamic partnership with another Norfolk sporting giant which everyone at Norwich City is really excited about.

“It’s a significant deal financially and a welcome commitment to the club from a globally-renowned brand which also has a proud Norfolk heritage and strong local links.

"We’re really looking forward to working together with Lotus in the seasons ahead.”

Hondareminds reminds City Honda City ownersto to install install rear owners rear seat belts belts seat

Exxon sold to beer maker San Miguel IN case you are wondering why a beer maker is interested in fuel retail, it's because San Miguel is the parent company of Petron, the biggest refiner and fuel retailer in the Philippines. The beverage business is just one part of the empire.

There has been no real explanation why ExxonMobil is uprooting from the Malaysia retail fuel sector but this follows the trend set by BP which sold its retail interests to Malaysian conglomerate Boustead Holdings which then turned it into BH Petrol.

According to reports, the deal will cost San Miguel RM1.8 billion (US$600 million) and this includes the purchase of ExxonMobil’s stake in Esso Malaysia Berhad for US$206 million. Esso Malaysia is listed on Bursa Malaysia.

Analysts say that San Miguel is paying well below market value for the shares of Esso Malaysia which operates a refinery in Port Dickson.

Esso Malaysia also owns

Exxon Mobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Exxon Mobil Borneo Sdn Bhd which are involved in the retail, industrial and wholesale and aviation fuels businesses.

The Port Dickson refinery is an aging facility that can process 88,000 barrels of oil per day and at the moment it is running at half capacity.

San Miguel will also get 10 distribution terminals and 560 retail stations.

The Esso and Mobil brand will be retained for up to three years to give San Miguel a chance to develop their own brand.

Exxon will remain in Malaysia for their upstream interests exploring oil and gas and also the sales and marketing of chemicals, lubricants and asphalt products.

The American oil company will also retain the operations of the ExxonMobil Kuala Lumpur Business Support Centre.

ExxonMobil’s history in Malaysia dates back to 1893.

IN October 2008, Honda initiated a free rear seat belt installation campaign for the 25,480 units of Honda City sold between 2003 and 2005 but to date only 50 per cent of owners have taken up on the offer.

With the festive season looming, Honda is initiating a reminder campaign to call on owners to install the seat belts free of charge.

Honda Malaysia managing director and chief executive officer Yoichiro Ueno said: "Promoting road safety has always been a commitment of Honda.

“Three years ago, Honda Malaysia was the first nonnational car manufacturer in Malaysia to sign a MoU with JKJR, to promote and support the government's move towards road safety.

"In view of the upcoming festive holidays and that many will be driving on the

roads to balik kampung, we urge all City owners who have yet to bring their car in for the free rear seat belt installation to do so.”

The rear seat belt requirement is compulsory for cars registered from Jan 1, 1995, onwards and the ruling takes effect from Jan 1, 2012. Car owners now have less than six months left until Dec 31 to install the rear seat belt.

Currently, only 10 per cent of backseat passengers in Malaysia use the seat belt.

Many still do not realise that failure to wear it would induce the risk of serious injuries and death by 50 per cent in an accident.

Once the ruling takes effect, passengers in the back could be penalised with a RM300 compound if they are caught not wearing the seat belt.

For more information, visit www.honda.com.my.

20 lifestyle

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

An eccentric show all in one night

SUDOKU

By LOONG WAI TING waiting@mmail.com.my

HOW TO PLAY

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTION

Sudoku X is a simple variation of Sudoku with the only difference being the squares in white (which make up the numeral X) need to tally from 1 to 9 along with the remaining coloured squares.

FA_Week 01_OUT.pdf

1

8/9/11

10:41 AM

THEY swarmed the hall by the thousands, and filled the entire arena from top to bottom the minute the gates to the concert at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands were opened.

For those who came for the Best of Hokkien Concert Live in Genting 2011 recently, it could be one of the best shows they’ve ever been to, especially those seated in front.

The concert, which started about 8.30pm, lasted for almost two hours. It presented one great show after another by five Taiwanese performers, all of whom came with

one mission in mind — to really entertain their fans.

They were Sun Shu Mei, Wang Shi Xian, Shen Wen Cheng, Xie Jin Yan and Chen Mei Fong.

What was indeed fun was when each of them performed different gimmicks to please the fans. They pushed it even further by coming down the stage to shake hands. Lucky fans rushed forward when their favourite singers, who were nearby, offered to distribute chocolates and sweets. Now, that was exactly how great singers and entertainers in the past "bribed" and pleased their fans.

The stage was kept minimal with live bands crowding half of it, producing some of the loudest and clear notes.

The first to take the stage was Sun Shu Mei, who appeared in a white flowing dress decorated with flower prints.

The petite singer, who did a special duet with “big brother” Wang Shi Xian, has a voice like an angel. Really, one could easily be fooled by

FAMOUS FIVE: Concert ends on a sweet note

her petite size (she was the smallest in the troupe).

This "little chilli" has got the loudest voice, packed with some really good voice control to grab the crowd’s attention.

Among the highlights of the show was when Wang Shi Xian challenged himself to sing two Cantonese songs, Wong Deng Dao Hua Er Ye Xie Liao and Mei Tian Ai Ni Duo Yi Xie, originally sung by Hong Kong’s Jacky Cheung.

Wang, who was worried if he could pull it off, shed happy tears in the end after getting thunderous applause from the crowd.

“I practised whenever I could. Even when I’m asleep, I can’t stop myself from not

thinking about it,” he said.

He showed no sign of slowing down, as he ran from one corner of the stage to another to get the crowd pumped up.

The fans, on the other hand, showed much love to all of the five singers with their endless cheers and applause.

Most who came that night were either native Hokkien speakers or fans of Taiwanese Sun Shu Mei

dramas that are popular on local TV. One particular fan was a 71-year-old grandmother, who came all the way from Penang with her family. They really enjoyed the performances and that made their trip worth every minute.

As the music played, the grandmother tapped her feet along with the beat.

She hoped there would be a similar concert closer to her home in the future.

The concert ended on a sweet note, with confetti strips snowing all over the five entertainers who came together for a final farewell song.

Xie Jin Yan

FriDay 19 August, 2011

the malay mail

21

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the malay mail

Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

FriDay 19 August, 2011

the malay mail

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PROPERTY / MOTORING / HEALTH / HOME / OTHERS

the malay mail

Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

Readers can also look out for classified ads ONLINE as early as 9.00a.m at www.mmail.com.my

M22

Houses wanted

M131

Vehicles for tender

M131

Vehicles for tender

M131

Vehicles for tender

M131

Vehicles for tender

M321

Fashion/health & beauty

M321

Fashion/health & beauty

M394

Home electrical appliances

TRAD MASSAGE, RM50, SS21/12, PJ. Newly open. Call: 03-7873 0971.

Gina/ Rina/Apple/ Rozie.

BLUE ROSE AROMAS 24A, Lrg Ara Kiri 2, Lucky Gdn Bangsar.Therapist local Indian g i r l s . P r i v a t e & c o s y. 1 1 a m 11pm.

Ms Meera 0320945542/ 016-2056003

GOOD PRICES OFFERED for land / houses and Apt in Shah Alam, PJ & KL. Quick sale.

Owners TEL / SMS 019-228 6666

M35

TRADITIONAL MASSAGE in Cheras & Balakong.

Call Sonia,Hanisha, Julia, Mira & Rosa. 0123676 780. 012-258 1334

Properties for sale In Semua House â “ going lock stock barrel Selling apparels, cushion covers and decoration item. Ground floor shop nicely set up and decorated. Sale RM80k or nearest offer. Contact 019-281 6216/ 012-234 8151

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Car for sale

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CUSTOMIZE HAIRPIECE / Toupee / Wig - RM1,700 only. More info : www. hairsetup.com Call: 0193118916 , 03- 9274 7857

Shops for sale DAMAI COMPLEX 41/2 storey shop house for sale, at Jalan Dato’ Hj. Eusoff off jalan Ipoh. Freehold. 019-980 6952

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‘0’ DEPOSIT ALL PROTON Models, no license can buy, Less doc can help. 100% loan for gov. & private staff, int from 3.0%, loan fast approval, high trade in. Meet at your place.

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BRAND NEW. All models. ( Vios, Altis, Camry, Prius, Avanza, Inova, Rush, Hilux, & Hiace Van) Full & Islamic loan, Int rate at 2. ++%, Special discount + free acc . @ email: shaharudin.toyota@gmail.com

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VOLKSWAGEN 2011. New 5 years warranty + road assist, low int. Models: Passat, GTi Golf, Tiguan, Eos etc.

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M133

ALL NEW CARS/ MPV available for rental. We are also looking for vehicles under 5 years for long term lease (pajak) Call: 012-241 7736

CHEAPEST RATE Car rental in KL. Many types of Cars & MPV. (Pajak- accepted) Call for RAYA booking: 012-987 7756

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Sonata/ Tucson/ Santa Fe/ Starex/ i30/ Accent/ i10. Special discount! Super high trade in (any car). Low d/p & interest. Easy loan approval. Mystery gifts.

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Excellent customer service.

Head office: 012-381 0737

EURO RENT (KKKP4225) New fleet of Proton cars, MPV & vans. Long/ short term rentals.

Corporate/ expats. Credit card accepted. Call Fabian: 037877 1834/5, 012-238 1769. www.euro-rentacar.com.my

AAAAA QUEENS SPA Male and female masseurs, out call service available. Private & Cosy.

Call: 03-9057 1336/ 016-646 9891 www.klqueensland.com

Financing/insurance service

Vehicles for hire CAR LOAN Refinancing,Buy Used car / New car Blacklisted name are qualified to apply.

Aerowatts Auto S/B(678070-M) Tel:03-6185 8982 012-308 3528,019-314 3601 A DAILY, WEEKLY, MTLY. RM50-RM300. All types of cars.

MPV, Van & 4 x 4. Call: ARI 016683 2111 / BEN 016-901 2276

DIABETIC? FREE! Blood Glucose Meter. Get it now!

For info call: 016-3130974 or visit www.medicaldevice2u. com T&C Applies

GOLDEN MERMAID. Out call Relaxation massage by Male & Female masseurs. Call: 012-907 5995 / 03-2021 7637

INDIAN AROMA TRADITIONAL Massage by local Indian girl.

Relaxing for male & Female.

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NAMASTE!!! Need a relaxing massage ?

Interested just call : SIMI 014-6311 228 (Indoor only) K.Lumpur

AROMA ASIAN Massage. For outdoor only. With Promotion price.

Interested please Call Julie: 016-293 1051

Home services/renovations

CENTURY ROLLER SHUTTER specialist. Installation, service & repairing all kind of door roller shutter. Call Lee 012-649 9238

WELLTAX GLASS & aluminium works. Windows & grilles direct from factory! - sliding casement - main gate - repair door - all aluminium works.

Inquiry call Mr. Ling (M) 019227 0528 (M) 019-202 8855 (T) 03-8962 2189 (F) 03-8962 3189

M392

Home repairs/maintenance

Fashion/health & beauty

Education MQA APPROVED DIP.in accountancy (ACCT) & Mgt (FT / PT) RM 400 p/m - PTPTN & EPF claimable. Call: 0360925254 / www.asa.edu. my / SMS: 012- 656 1160.

MQA/ JPA recognised MBA programme.Credit transfer and exemptions acceptable.P/T weekends.EPF withdrawable.

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PROVEN & TESTED: Over 9,215 people won 4D in a week! Last 2 days for those who want to take the 1 hour 4D Training Prediction Course, to win this week coaching by the Professional Author and Physics Maths Expert at our Training Center at Pusat Kajian Fizik Sains, Sunway. Call: 019329 4728 Mr. Yap or 012-239 2775 Mr. Goh to book now.

Get this new 4D Formula book title: Rahsia Menang Lottery 4D Akhirnya Terbongkar. Click to see www.SureKena.com UNLEASH THE MUSIC INSIDE YOU. Classes for-guitars, drums, saxophones, keyboards, Piano, violin.Call 03- 7873 6388.

M303

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Please Call: 014-6620 579 OUTCALL TRADITIONAL MASSAGE, pre / post natal,body Scrub for men / women by experienced masseur.

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AKS BEAUTY CENTRE Body massage + scrub (2hrs) RM100. Whitening facial (1hr) RM50, (1 1/2 hrs) RM70. Hot stone oil massage (2hrs) RM130. Call:03-7984 3077

M135

MITSUBISHI ALL new models.

Fast loan & fast delivery, (Call to believed), Grandis, Pajero, Lancer, ASX, Sport back. Good trade in, Attractive promotion, good deal in town. All models stock available. 24 hrs in call.

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LOCAL INDIAN girls massage.

P & C. Shalini 016-224 2495 Sharon 011-162 61730

M138

(NEW) INOKOM & HINO Special promotion, free body. Call:0123211 453/ 012-3225334

AN EXTRA Trade in Value,low d/p,spd.delivery, free tint, f/ tank, Ste. lock, T & Go, Many Gifts.

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Commercial vehicles for sale

(NEW) HICOM, High discount, high trade in, cheapest in town. Call: 016248 8363 / 012-676 3609.

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Pls call: 012-326 9849

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YANTRA SLIMMING World brgs excelnt 3 days weight loss (-10kg) Program now at lowest price @ RM799 Can pay by instmnt. Original price RM3889. Fast & Easy, Herbal & Natural. No side effects. $ bec guarantee. Call Rubini 0102617817,0126301672.

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Call: Syed 017-388 3154

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On-site repairs & free troubleshooting.

Call 016-380 1984 Teh

M393

Home furniture/furnishing

M430

Business opportunities

ASX. MIT TRITON. PAJERO Sport, Lancer & Grandis.

Trade in accepted . Call: 012-977 6961 HARUN

NISSAN ALL NEW Models Promotion. Full loan. Debit cash RM3k - 10K. 100% ready stock with impuls earo kit. Leader seats, tinted. Guarantee 1 week delivery. High trade in. 24 hrs approval. Door to door service.

Call: Junson 016-6666 132

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012-678 0220/ 012-3281 449 Batavia /Darlina Beauty House.

ALL CARS MPV & Luxury car for hire. Suitable for VIP & weeding ceremony.

Pawn (pajak) accepted. 017932 4646/ 013-671 6565

0 AARON MASSAGE Services (1606620-V) by Female. Outcall only. Private & cosy. +6012-393 0136

AROMA THERAPY Massage for all kind of body pains & sickness. P & C. Interested call: JOJO 017-8484 898

SAUNA D’ HOME BEAUTY and Health care. Agent required.

019-735 5295 www.saunaku. com 2011 Great Promotion!

SPECIALIST IN REPAIR cushion sofa, curtains, car seat & new sofa, in Jalan Kuchai Lama.

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BEST BUSINESS Opportunities, run your own free organic store, no investment, no renovations, risk free with multiple income sources. Call 012-256 9668 for more info.

OTHERS / JOBS / LEGAL / NOTICES

Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011 M430

Business opportunities

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AGENT Smoker Haven required Private, food/ retail shop & Kiosk.

Easy, good income. Low capital.

Cash/ Credit card. Interested call: 03-8023 4626 (10am 5pm) www.SmokerHaven.com

M323

Pets

the malay mail

M515

M515

M515

M515

Jobs

Jobs

Jobs

Jobs

M580

Notices/legal/proclaim

25

M580

Notices/legal/proclaim

TEA CUP POODLE for sale 2 to 3 month old all vaccine and dewormed.

Price:RM 950 Call:012-249 5424

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M370

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DRIVER FOR SENIOR Management urgently wanted.

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M432

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TOMAZSHOES! Leather Shoes! RM69 - RM89! High Quality and Comfortable!

Come to USJ9 Mall, Puchong 017-707 8383

M372 M434

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CO FORMATION RM1,400.

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WE HAVE more than 1 Million Malaysia Updated Email & Phone List to Find Your Customers Group to Boost Up Your Business.10,000 Email List for RM200 & 1,000 Phone List for RM200. This Month Promotion: Free Email Blasting Marketing Software + Training.

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IMMEDIATE VACANCY FOR 1.Sales Supervisor. Able to handle inventory, staff discipline & etc 2.Sales Coordinator.

Both positions req. Min. SPM, able to speak simple English, good communication skill, creative & hard working.

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REAL ESTATE in Kota Damansara requires Negotiator. With / without experience.

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RECOVERY OFFICERS Supervisors/ Managers/ Clerical needed. Attractive basic salary, commission and performance bonus provided.

Loc: near the Pudu LRT station. (walking distance) Call: 03-9195 5551 @ 5552 or E-mail gtr@galatrack.com SALES CO-ORDINATOR. A 25 years well established Co with proven track records & ISO recognition at Bandar Puchong Jaya required min SPM/higher. Working exp in clerical liaise with customer & service dept. Computer literate Chinese dialect preferably Offer Basic+Bonus+Medical Ins+Alt Saturday Off. Contact WAI KING 0358826882/0122329801 or send resume to wkg@corida. com.my /fax 0358826881

STORE LABOURERS urgently required by a Shah Alam company.Age below 30 years old.

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M580

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TEACHERS / NURSES Required For Sales Job, Excellent Spoken English, Willing to work on weekends/ Public Holidays, Earn 3k7k Monthly, Retireeâ ™s Can also apply Interested candidates please Send Cv to saim_au@yahoo.com” VAN DRIVER Required at USJ for 5 days week. Min SPM with 1 year related working experience and able to work in a fast pace environment.

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Jobs ACCOUNTS cum Administrative Assistant. Min SPM and above.Experience in general accounting functions & duties.Computer literate and well verse with Microsoft Office application especially Excel. Able to start immediately will be an added advantage.

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LEGAL / NOTICES

the malay mail

M580

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M580

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03-7495 1273

M580

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M580

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M580

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Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011 M580

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The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

Payment of incentives amounting to RM465,500 by FT Sports Council to their athletes who won medals at the 14th Sukma is to encourage them to improve — Bernama

sports

KUALA LUMPUR: SNOOKER

Still in the doldrums

27

MOH: Might not feature for Malaysia — FILE photo

OCM to play referee as fight on the green baize continues THE never-ending fiasco involving the Malaysian Snooker and Billards Federation (MSBF) could affect the participation of the national cue artists in the year-end Sea Games in Indonesia.

The national body have been in a chaotic state since the biennial general meeting last December.

Former president Prof Datuk W.Y. Chin agreed to step aside and allow Raymond Lim to take the hot seat.

However, Raymond quit hardly after a month in office due to the constant squabbling among members and Chin declared himself president.

Eight months have passed and the situation remains.

There has not been any centralised training for the Sea

By HARESH DEOL haresh@mmail.com.my

Games-bound squad.

Even worse, no one seems to know who will compete in the Games. MSBF have until Sept 30 to submit the names of their athletes to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

Secretary Melvin Chia is on the opposing end of Chin's team. Melvin was part of the board elected during the Dec 17 meeting.

The Sports Commissioner's Office, through a letter dated July 5, acknowledged the members elected at the December meeting as the executive board members for MSBF. The letter was signed off by deputy Sports Commissioner Salleh Ramli.

Melvin has met OCM and National Sp or ts C ouncil (NSC) but to no avail. Melvin insists the letter by the Sports Commissioner's Office should have put the matter to rest.

Snooker ace Moh Keen Ho and pool expert Patrick Ooi may not see action if Chin is allowed to name the squad.

It is widely known both Keen Ho and Patrick do not enjoy a cordial relationship with Chin.

C h i n , m e anw h i l e , h a s requested OCM to arbitrate the dispute.

"Chin has written to us and it's now up to the other party to decide," revealed OCM honorary secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi. "Once we call for arbitration, both parties must come forward. If any one party decides

PETALING JAYA: FOOTBALL/ MALAYSIA CUP

Turtles need friendlies, says Abdul Hadi

WHILE their counterparts are busy playing friendly matches, Terengganu are relying on training for their assault on the historic Malaysia Cup. However, national striker Abdul Hadi Yahya believes his team should be playing friendly matches instead of sharpening their skills in practice sessions. " We s h ou l d b e pl ay ing against other teams to improve match fitness.

Hopefully there is one, if not several, before the Malaysia Cup starts," said Abdul Hadi.

The Turtles are favourites for the Cup alongside Selangor and Kelantan. The players need match practice if they are to live up to their billing.

Terengganu have been in talks with T-Team, a Terengganu based club, for a friendly but nothing has been agreed yet.

The Super League topscorer is eager to continue his goal scoring after a cou-

By VIJHAY VICK vijhayvick@mmail.com.my

ple of average outing with the national team.

"I didn't perform when wearing the national colours against Singapore but I have to make amends now."

Despite that, the 26-yearold marksman insists he hasn’t lost his goal scoring form. He still feels confident of getting the goals.

"I have set a target of one goal a game. Hopefully, we have more than just the group stage matches."

Ab d u l Ha d i r e c k o n s Terengganu have been placed in a tricky group together with dark horses Negri Sembilan, Sime Darby and Premier League champions PKNS. "The team has not set a target yet but personally I hope we can go all the way."

Should Terengganu emerge victorious, they will look back at a glorious 2011 season.

The Turtles won the FA

ABDUL HADI

Cup when they beat Kelantan 2-1 in extra-time and finished runners-up in a closely contested Super League season.

not to defend their cause, we will then rule in favour of the opposing party.

"If you don't have anything to hide there is no excuse not to come to OCM," he said.

Kok Chi said OCM have the right to arbitrate over this matter unless the Sports Commissioner's Office suspends MSBF. "I doubt the Sports Commissioner's Office will suspend them. Through arbitration, both parties will be heard and the truth will prevail."

Kok Chi added the situation can be quickly solved through fresh elections.

"I believe that's the best way to move forward.

"But we still have time and I'm sure this matter will be resolved soon."

When the going gets tough, Jian Han gets going A GOOD showing at the national schools meet in March was all it took for Tern Jian Han to be given an opportunity to perform at a higher level.

The 15-year-old was then spotted and enrolled at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS). Now, he trains under national swimming coach Paul Birmingham.

Birmingham only has positive words for this young boy, tipping him to show great improvement over the next couple of years.

"He has only been with us (national set-up) since late March and has already showed improvements," said the Australian.

The new surroundings may be harsh for this Batu Pahat lad but he is determined not to let homesickness affect him.

"The first week at BJSS was very tough," said Jian Han. "Not only was I away from my family but the training load was much greater. But it helped me improve."

Before the national set-up, Jian Han used to train once a

BackToSchool with Vijhay Vicks

vijhayvick@mmail.com.my

JIAN HAN

day. Gym work was not part of his training regime.

Now, the Johorean visits the gym three times a week and trains in the pool twice a day.

"It is not only the number of times I train but the intensity as well."

Since joining the national set-up, Jian Han has already begun to reap the benefits.

At the National Age Group championships in April, Jian

Han recorded a personal best in all events he competed in.

In the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, he recorded 27.59s, 59.27s and 2.10.12s, respectively. In the butterfly, he clocked 26.4s (50m), 59.12s (100m) and 2.10.9s (200m). Jian Han's best timing in the 200m freestyle is 2.00.27s.

He improved further in the Malaysia Open in May as he improved on his personal best in all events except the 50m butterfly. He also took home a silver in the 200m backstroke.

In the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, he recorded 27.37s, 58.40s and 2:09.9s, respectively. In the butterfly, he clocked 57.85s (100m) and 2:09.58s (200m). Jian Han's best timing in the 200m freestyle is 1.58.62s.

28

sports

Colin Montgomerie has urged Tiger Woods to come and play in Europe after the former world No 1 failed to qualify for the US PGA Tour's season-ending FedExCup series — Reuters

'I'll be OK'

CINCINNATI: TENNIS

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

WILLIAMS: On a run of 12 straight wins before pulling out of Cincinnati — AFP photo

Williams plans to be healthy for US Open FOURTEEN-TIME Grand Sl am ch ampi on S e re n a Williams says she is recovering from her foot injury and should be healthy in time for the US Open which begins in less than two weeks.

Williams, who has won two of her last three tournaments, used the social networking site Twitter this morning to say she is motivated to compete in New York.

"Guys! I'll be ok! I'll be at the US Open! I wanna be there just as much (more) as u guys want me to! I'm already doing better," she tweeted.

Williams pulled out of the WTA hardcourt tournament in Cincinnati yesterday, complaining of a sore big toe on her right foot. She was scheduled to play a second round match against Australia's Samantha Stosur when she decided to pack it in.

Williams had been on a run of 12 straight wins after successive titles at Stanford and Toronto.

"I felt a pain while playing (in the first round on Wednesday) and I don't think it's the right time to be taking risks," said Williams, who underwent a foot operation after winning Wimbledon in July 2010.

That injury, followed by a pulmonary embolism, kept her away from the courts for almost a year.

She returned at Eastbourne in June, with her world ranking having slipped to 175, but the successes at Stanford and Toronto have seen her rocket up the rankings to 31 this week.

Williams said yesterday she plans to rest the foot but also added the time off will give her a chance to go to the wed-

ding of reality TV star Kim Kardashian, who is marrying NBA player Kris Humphries in California this weekend.

"Now that I have time, I probably will (go)," said Williams, who is friends with Kardashian.

Meanwhile, world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki has dropped her father Piotr as coach in a dramatic attempt to halt a worrying slump in form just 11 days before the start of the US Open.

"I am no longer her coach.

Who will be the new one?

I promised I wouldn't say," Piotr told the Ekstra Bladet newspaper.

The pair agreed to make the change, he said, after Wozniacki's third consective fourth-round exit at Wimbledon earlier this year.

Since then, she has lost both her openers at the Toronto

and Cincinnati events, the traditional tune-ups before the US Open, the season's final Grand Slam event, which gets underway on Aug 29.

"From morning to night, we have heard how Caroline should play. Now we are trying something else. I am Caroline's father and I will always support her," said Piotr, a former professional footballer. — AFP RESULTS Men's third round Tomas Berdych (CZE) bt Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 6-2, 6-2; Andy Murray (GBR) bt Alex Bogomolov Jr. (USA) 6-2, 7-5; Mardy Fish (USA) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 7-5, 7-5; Rafael Nadal (ESP) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP) 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (11-9) Women's third round Nadia Petrova (RUS) bt

Christina McHale (USA) 6-3, 6-3; Samantha Stosur (AUS) bt Li Na (CHN) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4; Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)

bt Marion Bartoli (FRA) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Petra Martic (CRO) 6-2, 6-2

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

sports

Barcelona are beyond any comment. You cannot compare them with any team — Brazil striker Neymar

29

BARCELONA: football/ primera liga

'Barca acted like a small team'

YOU CAN'T SEE ME: Mourinho (left) caught poking Vilanova's eye during the scuffle

'The Poking One' Mourinho becoming a Real pain in Spain with his 'martial arts'

HOLA! Is Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho destroying beautiful Spanish football?

B a rc e l on a c e nt re b a c k Gerard Pique thinks so after the "Special One's" controversial antics during their sides' ill-tempered Spanish Super Cup return-leg clash at Nou Camp yesterday.

The Catalans won a highly entertaining match 3-2 thanks to Lionel Messi's late winner, his second goal of the night after also laying on the first strike for Andres Iniesta.

Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo replied for Real, who lost 5-4 on aggregate.

However, Mourinho surely made the headlines after he poked Barca assistant manager Tito Vilanova in the eye following a brawl at the end of the match watched by nearly 100,000 fans.

Mourinho, since his arrival from Inter Milan last season, has been involved in several controversies with nothing much to show in terms of results on the pitch, with the exception of the ''tiny'' Copa del Rey success.

The Barca players, officials and fans alike are obviously fed-up with Mourinho's antics.

LatinHeat

with Mustapha "El Loco" Kamaruddin moose@mmail.com.my

Some fans suggested the Portuguese tactician, who app arent ly can't accept d e f e a t g r a c e f u l l y, h a s instilled this hatred against Barca into his players.

And every time Real lose to Barca, there must be unfair outside factors to be blamed... never his poor tactics or team.

"I hope the brawl isn't what is talked about — it's a shame," said Pique. "It's not the first time it happened and it's always the same players. Someone has to take action here, Mourinho is destroying Spanish football. They talk a lot about the Catalans, but the problem is in Madrid."

Barca boss Josep "Pep" Guardiola was also left frustrated by Mourinho's action, and Pique believes the Portuguese has gone too far this time. "I think he is crossing the line and the limit, and he needs to be stopped. We can't end up like this every time. If we do, things will get worse."

Quite true. Football needs players and officials with

some character to add colour to the game but not poking someone's eye, really. When did Mourinho learn martial arts?

Barca midfielder Xavi also took a swipe at Real.

"Unfortunately, this is the image of Madrid. The cameras speak for themselves.

We haven't been allowed to play, Real were just kicking and seeking squabbles," he said.

O n t h e c h a l l e n g e on Fabregas, which earned Marcelo a red card, Xavi said: "You can be aggressive or over-enthusiastic but Marcelo went in to hurt Cesc. It's good that today justice has been done. We're not in the best physical condition but we still beat Real, who had thoroughly prepared for the Supercopa."

This is to add salt to Real's wound.

The red card to Marcelo, following a brutal foul on Fabregas, resulted in a touchline brawl between the coaching staff of both clubs.

During the ruckus,

Mou r i n h o app e a re d t o poke Vilanova in the eye before appearing to blow him a kiss from a distance.

Creative, indeed.

On the altercation between the two men, Guardiola said the images speak for themselves and there are things that should not happen in football and this is one.

"This could end badly if unchecked. I can do something with my players, and make sure that they behave their best, but I do not give lessons to anyone else."

Responding to Mourinho's claim he did not know who he was ''poking'', Guardiola said: "He has to know who he is. I know who Karanka ( Mo u r i n h o ' s a s s i s t a n t , Aitor) is. Tito is very important to our team."

Perhaps, now Vilanova must have some kind of a mask to protect his eyes for an El Clasico — just in case Barca win.

Mourinho has a good re c ord i n c o a ch i ng , of c ou rs e, m ai n ly v i a h i s defensive approach. But he should now focus more on improving Real, who are desperately relying on him to steer them back to the top after all the money spent.

Can he? Let's wait and see.

Adios!

REAL MADRID manager Jose Mourinho continued his verbal assault on Barcelona, claiming they used "small team" tactics to win the Spanish Super Cup. Another fantastic footballing spectacle between arguably the best two sides in Europe was again overshadowed by the antics of Mourinho, who thrust a finger in the eye of Barca assistant manager Tito Vilanova in a melee in the closing stages of yesterday's second-leg at Nou Camp.

Mourinho, who will this season serve a touchline ban in Champions League fixtures after comments made about Barca last season, could now face further action but instead chose to question the Catalans' sporting morals post-game.

He was particularly unhappy that the ball-boys seemed to ''disappear'' after half-time with the home side 2-1 up and 4-3 ahead on aggregate.

"Real gave a spectacular performance from the first to the last minute. We came here to play. What I'm about to

say is not a criticism, I'm just stating a fact: there were no ball-boys in the second-half, which is something typical of small teams when experiencing difficulties.

"I'm not going to say we're happy because we didn't win the Spanish Super Cup, that would be hypocritical of me. But we intended to play like men and not fall on the ground at the slightest touch."

The sub-plot came at the end of a wonderful game which saw Barca twice take the lead through Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema replying.

But, with extra-time looming, Barca won it when Messi volleyed home Adriano's right-wing cross.

Real's frustration then spilled over with Marcelo sent-off for a crude tackle on debutant Cesc Fabregas, on from the bench, which sparked the bust-up leading up to Mourinho's clash with Vilanova and red cards for substituted players David Villa and Mesut Oezil.

Jose a scourge for Spanish football, says Barca veep

BARCELONA vice-president Carles Vilarrubi attacked Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho after yesterday's amazing all-in brawl at Nou Camp.

Barca are furious over Mourinho's clash with assistant coach Tito Vilanova.

"I must say that Mourinho is a scourge for Spanish football," blasted Vilarrubi.

"Someone must do something so this will not happen again. I am convinced that Real as an institution cannot support their manager in cases like yesterday, so we'll see what happens in the coming hours."

Barca are also angry Real players did not remain on the pitch as they lifted the Super

FIXTURES Sunday Espanyol v Granada (12am) Levante v R. Zaragoza (12am) Villarreal v Sporting Gijon (2am) Osasuna v Valencia (4am) Rayo Vallecano v Mallorca (8pm) R. Santander v Getafe (10pm) MONDAY Real Madrid v Ath Bilbao (12am) Malaga v Barcelona (2am) Real Betis v Sevilla (4am) TUESDAY Real Sociedad v Atle Madrid (3am) NOTE: Matches likely to be off because of players' strike

RAMOS

Cup after winning 5-4 on aggregate.

"I'll give you a scoop. From our location you can see everything perfectly and I saw Mourinho order his players to go to the locker room as soon as the referee blew the final whistle," said Vilarrubi.

Meanwhile, Real rightback Sergio Ramos said they cannot be blamed for the mass brawl.

A crude tackle by Marcelo on Barca debutant Cesc Fabregas sparked the furious clash.

"Once again, Real cannot be blamed for anything, the big picture is that we showed the right attitude and took this onto the field, at both the Bernabeu and Nou Camp," said Ramos.

"The brawl? It was not that different to what I saw in other games. It was a tense match," said Ramos, who seemed to be the only player who congratulated Barca for their success.

30

sports

Atletico Madrid agreed a deal, believed to be worth €40 million (RM170.7m) to sign Colombian striker Falcao from Porto — AFP

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

PARIS: FOOTBALL/ EUROPA LEAGUE

LONDON: FOOTBALL/ PREMIER LEAGUE

Stoke on target ...but Schalke crash to Finnish minnows

YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE: Thun's goalkeeper Dragan Djukic (left) holds the jersey of Stoke's Jonathan Walters before being handed a red card — AFP photo

FA CUP runners-up Stoke City took a step closer to the Europa League group phase this morning, but Champions League semifinalists Schalke were stunned 2-0 by Finnish minnows HJK Helsinki.

Stoke, competing in Europe for the first time since the 1974-75 Uefa Cup, secured a 1-0 victory at Swiss league leaders FC Thun thanks to an 18-minute strike from midfielder Danny Pugh.

Thun, who played in the Champions League six years ago, finished the game with 10 men and defender Nicolas Schindelholz in goal after goalkeeper Dragan Djukic was sent

off in injury time for a lastman foul on Jon Walters.

Victory puts Tony Pulis' side, beaten 1-0 by Manchester City in May's FA Cup final, in pole position ahead of the return-leg at the Britannia Stadium next Friday.

Schalke were dreaming of a Champions League final place four months ago but Raul and Co may have to forgo European competition altogether this season after their shock defeat in the Finnish capital.

HJK boast 40-year-old former Ajax, Barcelona and Liverpool playmaker Jari Litmanen in their ranks, but

it was 21-year-old forward Teemu Pukki who did the damage against the Bundesliga heavyweights.

The former Sevilla player opened the scoring in the 18th minute, cutting in from the right flank and unleashing a soaring drive into the far corner with his left foot before completing his brace in the 54th minute.

Twenty-time Greek champions Panathinaikos also had a night to forget, as they went down 3-0 at Maccabi Tel Aviv, while 2009 Dutch champions AZ Alkmaar fell 2-1 at Norwegian outfit Aalesunds FK.

Meanwhile, Fulham completed a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Ukraine outfit Dnipro in their Europa League playoff, a Clint Dempsey brace helping the Cottagers on their way to a healthy lead in the tie.

A quiet Craven Cottage had to wait until the end of the first-half to see anything of interest during this European tie, with Aaron Hughes opening the scoring from closerange after 38-minutes of drab football.

Dempsey made it 2-0 moments later after being left to his own devices in the centre of the box for him to

Europa League playoff first-leg RESULTS

THIS MORNING Vaslui 2 Sparta Prague L. Warsaw 2 S. Moscou Ekranas 1 Hapoel Tel-Aviv Loko. Moscow 2 Trnava FC Zestafoni 3 Bruges HJK Helsinki 2 Schalke Nicosia 2 Salzburg Aalesunds 2 AZ Alkmaar A. Vienna 3 Gaz Metan Poltava 2 D. Bucharest FC Thune 0 Stoke City M. Tel-Aviv 3 P'thinaikos S. Bucharest 2 CSKA Sofia Lovech 1 Dynamo Kiev Wroclaw 1 R. Bucharest N'jaelland 0 S. Lisbon Salonika 2 Karpaty Lviv Besiktas 3 Vladikavkaz Bursaspor 1 Anderlecht Std Liege 1 Helsingborg Hannover 2 Sevilla R. S. Belgrade 1 Rennes Met. Kharkov 0 Sochaux Fulham 3 D'petrovsk Athens 1 Dinamo Tbilisi Rosenborg 0 Larnaca Bratislava 1 Roma NK Maribor 2 Rangers S. Rovers 1 P. Belgrade Hearts 0 Tottenham CD Nacional 0 Birmingham Differdange 0 PSG Ath Bilbao 0 Trabzonspor Lazio 6 Rabotnicki Celtic 0 FC Sion Ried 0 PSV Eindhoven Braga 0 Young Boys Atle Madrid 2 Vitoria

0 2 0 0 3 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0

Second-legs to be played on Aug 25

put Steve Sidwell’s cross away easily.

It was Dempsey who struck again just three minutes into the second-half with a well targeted header into the top corner. Dnipro failed to impress and struggled to overcome Fulham's dominance.

— Agencies

LONDON: FOOTBALL/ PREMIER LEAGUE

Tony is QPR head honco

M A L AYS IA N b u s i n e s s man Tony Fernandes has completed his takeover of Premier League newcomers Queens Park Rangers.

The 47-year-old has secured a 66 per cent stake in the club buying out previous majority shareholders — former Renault Formula 1 team boss Flavio Briatore and Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone.

Fernandes will work alongside Indian steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, who have retained his 33 per cent stake.

"QPR are a raw diamond

and hopefully, I can contribute into turning it into a diamond," said Fernandes.

He will take the role of chairman of QPR Holdings Ltd and will be joined on the board by joint Tune Group owner Kamarudin Meranun, one of Malaysia's most successful business tycoons.

"Everyone knows I've followed West Ham all my life but I've always had a soft spot for QPR," said Fernandes, who is also team principal of Team Lotus Formula 1.

"QPR were one of the first

teams I watched as a child at Loftus Road."

Amit Bhatia, who will resume his position as vicechairman, told the club's website: "I'm excited to welcome Tony to QPR and having spent considerable time with him, we share the same vision and values.

"We have discussed in great detail how to restore pride at the club and I'm very pleased with the outcome of these discussions.

"It was a difficult decision to resign from the board when I did, so I'm thrilled to be back and would like

to thank all those who supported me and my family.

I look forward to serving the club to the best of my abilities again.

"Tony and I will work alongside each other to try and make this season as exciting and successful as possible. I love this club and this is a happy day for me."

Fernandes said the opportunity to get involved with the club was mentioned to him by the previous owners.

"I've always wanted to be involved in football and the

appeal of a London club, like QPR, was too good an opportunity to turn down," he said.

QPR won promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship under manager Neil Warnock last season.

They kicked off their campaign back in the top flight with a 4-0 home defeat by Bolton last weekend but Fernandes has already given his backing to Warnock.

"It's a momentous day," said Warnock. "Everybody connected with QPR should be excited."

Dream Chelsea move for Lukaku HIGHLY-RATED teenage B elgium striker Romelu Lu ka ku de cl are d it was a dream come true after completing his transfer to Chelsea from Anderlecht.

The Blues confirmed on their website yesterday that the deal had been finalised after the two clubs agreed a fee, thought to be between £15 million (RM74m) and £20m, for the 18-year-old earlier this month.

He underwent a medical at the Blues' training g round in C obham last week and will now be available for tomorrow's Premier League game against West Brom.

"Amazing. It's a dream come true," he said .

"I dreamed to play here since I was 10-years-old, t h in k ing ab out sha k ing hands with all those players like John Terr y and Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba.

"It's amazing to arrive here in a big club with big ambition. It was just what I was searching for."

Meanwhile, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is out for three to four weeks after suffering a knee injur y, meaning Hilario or Ross Turnbull will deputise.

Cech, 29, fell awkwardly at the end of training on Wednesday and will now miss the match against West Brom and the following weekend visit of Norwich.

Blues boss Andre VillasBoas said: "Cech yesterday suffered a medial ligament injury and will be out for three to four weeks. It was a normal training incident.

He fell awkwardly with his weight on top of him. We expected much worse when we saw the incident."

The Malay Mail Friday 19 AUGUST, 2011

We've got two options with Luka (Modric). Either we keep a fantastic player or we sell him, get the money and bring in four players and have a better team — Spurs boss Harry Redknapp

presstalk DAILY MAIL

Parker is first of many

TONY FERNANDES' takeover at Queens Park Rangers is expected to trigger a spending spree, with the London club being linked to at least six players, with Scott Parker a priority. Fernandes has made his intentions clear immediately with a reported £4m (RM19.6m) bid for Parker. However, Parker is unsure about a move, as QPR have yet to show how much they are willing to put into transfers. QPR are also in for Shaun Wright-Phillips, Nedum Onuoha, Philipp Degen, Peter Crouch and Jimmy Bullard among others, and the first bigname signing will be important in convincing the rest.

DAILY MAIL

Boost for Blackburn Blackburn manager Steve Kean looks to have finally made a breakthrough in the transfer market after revealing the club are close to signing three players. Blackburn have so far endured a frustrating time with only striker David Goodwillie and midfielder Radosav Petrovic arriving from Dundee United and Partizan Belgrade, respectively. Sporting Lisbon midfielder Simon Vukcevic has long been linked with Lancashire rivals Bolton but he is understood to have had a medical at Blackburn ahead of completing a bargain £3m move. Kean has received more positive news from two other players, though, and an unnamed striker and defender will have medicals with the Lancashire outfit over the next two days.

DAILY MAIL

Malaga tempt Berba MALAGA owner Abdullah Al-Thani has already spent over £50m this summer and is looking to lure Bulgaria forward Dimitar Berbatov from Manchester United. Berbatov had a disappointing couple of months at Old Trafford, with the peak of his frustration coming with news he was left out of the Champions League final against Barcelona. Despite being a private person, he is a popular figure at United, and his ability is valued, although there is a general recognition that he is being slowly phased out. Big-spending Malaga had a busy summer, signing Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan, Diego Buonanotte, Santi Cazorla and Joris Mathijsen, and are seriously looking to add Berbatov to that list.

sports

Badly stocked armoury Stubborn Wenger must buy quality, experienced players to keep Arsenal up there IT'S great to see that Arsene Wenger is continuing to build for the future. The question is, will he have a future at the club to build for?

After a sixth season without honours — almost unthinkable for a club of Arsenal's prestige and quality — the pressure on the shoulders of the 61-year-old Frenchman is ever-increasing.

To the apparent annoyance though of many Arsenal fans, the longest serving (and most decorated) manager in the club's history, refuses to get his cheque book out and make necessary signings.

Some have suggested that it's almost as though the money's coming out of his own pocket, while many others are getting frustrated at Wenger's apparent inability to look at the imperatives that so many other less qualified people seem to accept.

To wit; Arsenal need experienced players in key positions.

In Wenger's defence, world class strikers and centrebacks don't exactly grow on trees, and one almost admires his refusal to buy for the sake of buying. Having said that, he has to concede that his current squad have weaknesses, and should the issues not be addressed, the Gunners are likely to come up short again this season.

It's also worth bearing in mind that Arsenal have lost their captain Cesc Fabregas — the heartbeat of the team for many a season

now, and arguably Arsenal's best player.

It's also looking likely that Samir Nasri will be heading north-west to join Manchester City, and he was definitely the team's standout performer in the last campaign.

Shorn of two massively influential players, the responsibility for ruling the midfield roost will fall to Jack Wilshere (19), Aaron Ramsey (20), and Alexandre Song, a comparative veteran at the age of 23.

No one would dispute the talent and ability of the trio, but it may be too much to expect them to take control of a team's engine room at such tender ages.

"Rubbish," declared Wenger's apparently shrinking legion of adherents, "Fabregas was given that role at the age of 17, and he did all right!"

While this is true, it's important to note that his teammates at that time (seven years ago now) were the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires — all experienced players who could nurture the young Cesc and relieve some of the pressure from his then young (and fairly scrawny) shoulders.

Who do Wilshere and Ramsey have for such support? Perhaps only each other.

Wenger has spent money in the summer, bringing in Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The latter, who celebrated his 18th birthday last Monday, has

enormous potential, and will certainly be one to watch… in the future.

Having only played a handful h football's ofGAME gamesON inwith English third tier, Oxlade-Chamberlain ANDREW LECI is not ready for the hustle and bustle of the Premier League, while Gervinho amply demonstrated against Newcastle last weekend that, mentally, he may not be either.

He was provoked at St James' Park, and he retaliated — doing something that all of us would probably like to do — slap Joey Barton — and he, in turn, has been slapped with a three-match ban for violent conduct.

He needs to learn quickly, and will miss this weekend's clash with Liverpool, as will Song (also suspended) and Wilshere, who's injured.

Arsenal's problems are already mounting, and their squad strength is likely to be called into question much earlier than anyone at the club would have liked.

If their next assignment is not hard enough, they also have to negotiate the second-leg of the Uefa Champions League playoff

31

FIXTUREs

WENGER

against Udinese.

Let's be honest, the Gunners were fortunate to come away from the Emirates on Tuesday with a 1-0 win, and I simply cannot remember the last time I saw a Wenger side cough up possession on so many occasions.

Arsenal's game is predicated on their ability to keep the ball — it's difficult, nay impossible, to create goalscoring opportunities if you don't. Take that out of the equation, and there are going to be serious problems.

Don't get me wrong, this is not an exercise in Wenger bashing — I have nothing but admiration for the man (despite his selective myopia) and I want Arsenal to do well.

I'll go further. The Premier League, if not the entire football world, needs a successful Arsenal, if for no other reason than to prove that the 'beautiful game' can indeed be beautiful. I rejoice when I discover that I am covering an Arsenal match. They play football as it is meant to be played, and I believe that we are all purists at heart.

So, come on Arsene, dust those cobwebs off the cheque book and make that marquee signing. Your future may depend on it.

Catch Andrew Leci on Monday Night Verdict every Monday at 8pm on ESPN and send in your feedback to theverdict@espnstar. com

TOMORROW Sunderland v Newcastle (7pm) Home win Arsenal v Liverpool (7.45pm) A draw Aston Villa v Blackburn (10pm) Home win Everton v QPR (10pm) Home win Swansea v Wigan (10pm) A draw SUNDAY Chelsea v West Brom (12.30am) Home win Norwich v Stoke (8.30pm) A draw Wolves v Fulham (9pm) Home win Bolton v Man City (10pm) Away win TUESDAY Man United v Tottenham (3am) Home win Predictions by Mailsport

Standings

P W D L Bolton 1 1 0 0 Man City 1 1 0 0 Man United 1 1 0 0 Wolves 1 1 0 0 Liverpool 1 0 1 0 Norwich 1 0 1 0 Sunderland 1 0 1 0 Wigan 1 0 1 0 Arsenal 1 0 1 0 Aston Villa 1 0 1 0 Chelsea 1 0 1 0 Fulham 1 0 1 0 Newcastle 1 0 1 0 Stoke 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 Everton Tottenham 0 0 0 0 Blackburn 1 0 0 1 West Brom 1 0 0 1 QPR 1 0 0 1 Swansea 1 0 0 1

F A Pts 4 0 3 4 0 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 4 0 0 4 0

Leading scorers 2 1

Aguero Klasnic Hoolahan Rooney Cahill Fletcher Larsson Silva Muamba Ward Dzeko Suarez Long Watson Formica

(Man City) (Bolton) (Norwich) (Man United) (Bolton) (Wolves) (Sunderland) (Man City) (Bolton) (Wolves) (Man City) (Liverpool) (West Brom) (Wigan) (Blackburn)

LONDON: football/ premier league

Financially-hit Everton must not sell players, says Arteta EVERTON star midfielder Mikel Arteta warned the club that they cannot afford to lose their best players, largely due to the fact that they do not have the funds to bring in new faces.

The financial situation of the club means manager David Moyes has only been able to bring in young defender Eric Dier on a season-long loan from Sporting Lisbon. And there has also been uncertainty over the future of star players at the club, including defender Phil

Jagielka and midfielder Jack Rodwell.

Arteta says Moyes must keep hold of such players if he wants his 10th year as manager at Goodison Park to be a successful one.

"We know the situation at the moment. We can't spend money like other clubs," he told BBC Sport.

"That is sensible, even if it is not very popular.

"But at least we have been able to keep our best players. If we cannot sign new players, we must keep

the ones we have."

Regarding speculation linking players with a move away from the club, Arteta said: "It has been the same with myself, with Tim Cahill, Marouane Fellaini and so many other players in previous years.

"It is important that we stayed, now and for the future."

Whilst Arteta wishes the club could bring in some new players, he recognises the difficulty of the situation, and knows Moyes is

ARTETA

doing all he can to ensure the club progress.

"Do we need to buy players? Hopefully, by the end of August someone will come in who will help but if that is not the case then we know what we have got in the team and we will have to fight," he said.

"Am I worried he might leave? No, what I know about him 100 per cent is that he loves the club.

I think people need to stay calm because they have got the right person

as manager."

Ever ton chairman Bill Kenwright insists the club's inability to borrow any money from their bank is to blame for a lack of transfer activity this summer.

Kenwright says Everton have also not even been able to sell any of their players to help raise funds to add new faces to Moyes' squad, and he lays the finger of blame in the direction of their bank, who have clamped down on lending in the wake of the recession.

Where there’s a will...

Serena Williams says she is recovering from her foot injury and should be healthy in time for Friday 19 August, 2011 the US Open

>> pg28

Friendly fight, anyone?

National and Terengganu striker Abdul Hadi Yahya wants to sharpen his skills with more friendly matches

Hearts broken

edinburgh: Football/ EUROPA league

Five-star Spurs light up Europa League route

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR led the way on a positive night for English clubs in the Europa League playoffs this morning, crushing Scottish rivals Hearts 5-0 to all but book their place in the group phase.

Three goals in the first 30 minutes of the game from Rafael van der Vaart, Jermain Defoe and Jake Livermore left the Scottish side stunned and without any response to offer.

The ease with which Spurs grasped control of the tie reflects the gulf between the elite divisions of Scotland and England, and means that Harry Redknapp will have the luxury of resting players when the two meet again next Friday.

The English side seemed quite relaxed with the vocal challenge and Tottenham’s possession of the ball was greeted warmly with whistles of derision but they were unperturbed.

As expected, Gareth Bale was involved early but it was the pace and evasiveness of Defoe which created the opening goal.

A swift run in from the left by the England international caused severe problems for the Hearts defence and the attempted clearance from Marius Zaliukas collided with Van der Vaart, who made the most of the good fortune to stroke home and give Spurs the lead after only five minutes.

>> pg27

LOCAL

Snooked for Sea Games Olympic Council of Malaysia to play peacemaker to resolve Malaysian Snooker and Billards Federation fiasco

>> pg27

Latin Heat

Spain’s Real black eye Real Madrid’s boss Jose Mourinho gives Spanish football a bad name after catching Barca’s assistant manager Tito Vilanova in the eye

>> pg30 football

Stoke make Swiss cheese

hammering: Van der Vaart is congratulated by teammates after scoring the first goal — GETTY photo

Van der Vaart was involved again as Aaron Lennon showcased his raw speed to work a slick one-two with the Dutchman, who then sent through a final pass to release Defoe, who made no mistake with a left-footed shot beyond Marian Kello.

With Tottenham in total control of the game and tie, Redknapp’s side continued to assault the Hearts defence and the Scottish side had little resistance to the white wave.

With every possession, it felt as if another goal could come from anywhere and after 28 minutes, the third inevitable

Spurs goal was scored.

Early goalscorers Defoe and Van der Vaart were causing havoc again and wonderful interplay between the duo on the edge of the box left the Hearts rearguard chasing shadows with 21-year-old Livermore profiting from such dominance.

The youngster, who has been loaned to six different sides over the years, was making a rare start for the first XI and his finish was as cool and calm as he could have hoped.

Hearts hopes were crushed when a long ball over the top from Tom Huddlestone af-

ter the hour was collected by Gareth Bale, and with pace and skill, he nudged the ball around Kello to leave the goal wide open for him to tuck the ball home for the fourth.

Spurs continued to hammer home their advantage with a perfect example of counter attacking football. Lennon launched the attack before substitute Andros Townsend sent a probing through ball wide to Defoe, who delivered a neat cross to the winger to apply a simple finish.

With that, Tynecastle emptied, and Harry Redknapp can start his preparations for

Spurs’ trip to Old Trafford on Monday for their first Premier League game of the season knowing that the hard work in this tie was done and dusted.

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio, on the other hand, will now be contemplating explaining the result to his new bosses.

“I just enjoyed watching us play,” Redknapp said.

“Niko Kranjcar and Rafael van der Vaart, their link-up play was great. I expected a really tough game up here, the crowd were great before the kick-off, and they deserve some success.” — Agencies

Asmir Begovic CLUB secures 1-0 win over FC Thun in their return to European competition after 36 years

>> pg30

PRESSTALK

RIO DE JANEIRO: FOOTBALL

Strike halts Maracana World Cup work

WORK on Rio’s famed Maracana Stadium, the centrepiece of the 2014 World Cup, has been halted by a two-day strike by 1,500 workers following an explosion that left one man seriously injured.

The president of the SITRAICP construction union, Nilson Costa, said that as well as improved safety standards, workers wanted a rise in their basic salaries, food vouchers and health insurance.

Next Tuesday, a health and safety inspector will conduct a review of the safety

conditions at the site.

Last week, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff promised that the renovation and construction work on the Maracana would be completed in time for the 2014 World Cup. Meanwhile, veteran striker Ronaldinho was handed a surprise recall to the Brazil squad for next month’s friendly against Ghana, with coach Mano Menezes opening the door for him to the 2014 World Cup finals.

The 31-year-old, now playing for Flamengo in the Brazilian championship, last played for Brazil last November 2010 after being overlooked for the World Cup in South Africa when his club career at AC Milan began to flag.

But Menezes said Ronaldinho deserves another opportunity in a misfiring Brazil team which has struggled in recent months, following a quarterfinal exit at the Copa America and a 2-0 loss to Germany in a friendly.

“Ronaldinho is a world champion with the Brazil team. And after his return to the country, he has readjusted and is playing very well,” said Menezes, of a player who has scored 15 goals in total this season.

“He is becoming one of the best players of the season and what has been successful with Flamengo can also help the national team.”

Brazil face Ghana at Craven Cottage in London on Sept 5. — AFP

Now everyone can buy aIRASIA’s Tony Fernandes’ takeover at Queens Park Rangers is expected to lure at least six players with England international and West Ham midfielder Scott Parker the first

Published by Malay Mail Sdn Bhd (239512V), Lot 2A, Jalan 13/2, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and printed by The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad (4485-H), 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 KL

>> pg31