21 September 2011

Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

WORLD

PP423/01/2012(029578)

MAIL EXCLUSIVE

SPORTS

Costly defeat

Experts in the dock Six Italian scientists and a civil servant in court over failure to predict L’Aquila quake

>> pg14 LOCAL

Zoo checks completed Perhilitan preparing audit report on 44 zoological parks in Peninsular Malaysia for further action

>> pg5

School of Hard Knocks UUM grad hot on job hunt to help family following dad’s recent death

>> pg7

LIFESTYLE

Free pair of passes to Arthur’s Day 2011, with Taio Cruz and a galaxy of stars, to the first 50 who bring in a copy of the paper! >> Centrespread

Hive of horror Tmn Alam Megah flats folks living in the shadow of menacing bee colony

>> pg8

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A FIF

Fifa slaps FAM with RM16k fine for Bukit Jalil pre-World Cup match fiasco in July

>> Backpage

Bogus cop menace

BRICKFIELDS

This year alone, 26 cases reported in ‘Little India’ with more unreported by fearful expats A PAIR of shiny shoes and navy blue pants seem to be enough to fool a foreigner into thinking those wearing them are always policemen.

And police have disclosed Brickfields has emerged as a ‘hot spot’ for bogus cops preying on foreigners and expatriates, with 26 cases of police impersonation reported there since January.

The matter first came to light when an expat wrote in to The Malay Mail to highlight the rising number of foreigners harassed by men donning shiny shoes, navy pants and behaving like cops.

The writer, who requested anonymity in his letter, said: “In the pretext of checking their documents and robbing them off their money, mobile phones, jewellery etc... have created an alarming situation. More and more expats are falling prey to these organised criminals”.

Brickfields district police chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the number of bogus cops was on the rise due to the large presence of foreigners living and working in the area.

“From the beginning of this year, our reports show more foreigners have been duped as they don’t

By THASHA JAYAMANOGARAN thasha@mmail.com.my know how to differentiate an actual policeman or recognise the various authorities.”

He said not many police reports had been lodged on such cases, at least not enough to help nab the culprits.

“We hear members of the public talking about it, with some writing in to the media and others bodies, but there are many more victims who have yet to make police reports that could help us catch these culprits.

“We have set up a police mobile beat base in Brickfields and pad it up with a high police presence within the vicinity. What’s frustrating is that victims are not making use of the facility.”

Police have also formed a special team to build rapport with Brickfields residents, including foreigners, to educate them on ways to identify a real cop.

Of the 26 cases, 13 suspects have been nabbed and five have been brought to court.

• Also turn to pg2

‘Makeup mule’ A FOREIGN drug smuggler thought he could stroll through Kuala Lumpur International Airport, but dogged Customs officials dug up his cache of syabu, all hidden in cartons of ‘factory sealed’ lip gloss sticks! — Pic: SHAHIR OMAR

>> Story on pg3

2

news

Re-registration date will not be extended THE Public Land Transportation Commission (SPAD) will not extend the date of re-registering commercial vehicles, which ends on Sept 30. Its chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said, to date, only 50 per cent of the 400,000 vehicles in the category had been registered with SPAD. Syed Hamid stressed the operators should not trivialise the registration exercise because its aim was to standardise the national transportation industry, and ensure the welfare of the operators. He said numerous avenues had been used, including using the print and electronic media, to explain the importance of registering their businesses with the commission.

Failure to do so, he said, would cause the licences of their vehicles to expire, and this would burden the operators.

Police kill four gang members POLICE believe 18 armed gang robbery cases have been solved after four foreigners were shot dead in Jalan Changkat Larang in Pengkalan, Ipoh, on Monday night. Perak police chief Datuk Shukri Dahlan said the drama unfolded at 9.30pm when the four "Doll Gang" members bumped into a police patrol car and sped off. "The Proton Waja with four men inside sped off, hit the road kerb, and crashed into the police car when reversing. One of the men then fired a shot at the police car as officers were approaching to arrest them. Shukri said three other suspects came out of the car armed with parangs and tried to attack the police officers. The policemen opened fire in self defence, killing all the suspects aged between 30 to 40 years old.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu will be charged at Butterworth Sessions court today in relation to his speech on Mat Indera at Tasik Gelugor, Penang, on Aug 21 — Bernama BRICKFIELDS

In fear of fake cops

Foreigners living in 'Little India' often the victims of police impersonators THE last thing expatriates in Brickfields want is a brush with the law.

This was what The Malay Mail gathered when we visited the area and spoke to expats as well as locals residing there.

Some locals voiced concern as foreigners found it difficult to differentiate policemen from other law enforcement officers or impersonators.

A Brickfields resident of 15 years said some foreigners mistook security guards for policemen due to their similar appearance in donning a baton and shiny black shoes.

"They (foreigners) can get so naive and get scared of

By THASHA JAYAMANOGARAN thasha@mmail.com.my

even security guards," said the resident, who chose to remain unidentified.

Said another local: "Some foreigners could also be illegals with criminal records. So, even when they come across a fake cop, they don't think twice. They would rather lose their watch or whatever money and valuables they have to avoid further complications."

A foreigner living and working in Brickfields for the last five years, said: "Foreigners have really nothing to fear

about. Instead, they just don't want to be singled out for anything that could jeopardise their presence. They just want to quietly earn a living and the opportunity to send back money to their homeland.

"Many a time, foreigners choose to give in to whatever is demanded of them to avoid further problems."

The Paper That Cares' observation in Brickfields also showed an increase in police presence in the vicinity, particularly near condominiums, where most foreigners dwell.

SEPANG

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LITTLE INDIA: A hub of foreign residents — and bogus cops

SEPANG

Persian 'Mr Moneybags' stopped 'Tax-free' Italian electric car seized with RM93,000 in KLIA STOPPED: The Tazzari for which the importer tried to evade paying import duties and taxes

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The Malay Mail ● Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

CASH HAUL: Govinden (centre) showing the seized money

A FOOLISH attempt by an Iranian man to carry RM93,900 in his luggage while leaving the country, was foiled when Customs officers detected the cash as his luggage passed through the scanner in Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

This is a first visit for the suspect who had entered Malaysia via a social visit visa in early July.

KLIA Customs director Datuk M. Govinden said the officers from the enforcement and compliance division are in the midst of inves-

THE MALAY MAIL IS PUBLISHED BY Malay Mail Sdn Bhd, Lot 2A, Jalan 13/2, 46200, Petaling Jaya

By G.PRAKASH prakash@mmail.com.my

tigating if the money could be earnings from drug sales here, due to the sudden rise of narcotics smuggling cases involving Iranians.

“We are investigating the case under the AntiMoney L aundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, Exchange Control Act 1953 and Customs Act 1967.”

Govinden explained the suspect had not declared the money as required to.

EDITORIAL Tel : 03-74951288 Fax : 03-74951229 Email : mmnews@mmail.com.my

“Anyone carrying such an amount of cash needs to have clearance from Bank Negara and they must have the approval from a Bank Negara controller or foreign exchange officer."

He added the rules are clear; if one carries anything more than USD10,000(RM30,000) they will have to go through a declaration process.

The suspect who was detained on Monday had been released on bond and temporar y customs bail pending completion of investigations.

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AN importer tried to evade paying more than RM50,000 in taxes on an Italian-made electric car called Tazzari that was seized at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's free trade zone on Monday at 12.30pm.

His mistake was forging a tax exemption form, seemingly approved by KLIA Customs director Datuk M. Govinden.

"The culprit had the cheek to use my name on the document but my officers knew it was a con as any tax exemption has to be approved by the Finance Ministry as well," said Govinden.

"We are in the midst of identifying the importer who also used a letter of approval from the International Trade

and Industry Ministry which we believe is also a fake."

He said had the culprit succeeded in getting the vehicle cleared, the government would have lost RM52,056 in tax and import duties.

"The retail price of the Tazzari here is close to RM100,000," he said, adding the case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(g) of the Customs Act 1967 for attempting to fraudulently evade Customs duties.

Upon conviction under this section, an offender is liable to a fine of 10 to 20 times the value of the goods or three years jail or both.

Manufac ture d by t he Tazzari Group in Imola, Italy, the car made its debut in 2009.

TO CONTACT US: Newsdesk : 03-74951015 & 03-74951017 CLASSIFIEDS : 03-74951273/03-74951282 General line : 03-74951288 CIRCULATION : 03-74951068 Fax : 03-74951226

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 september, 2011

A total 327,991 illegal immigrants worked in non-permitted sectors, according to Comprehensive Settlement Programme Phase 1 report — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein

KLANG

Innocent victim A case of mistaken identity that went painfully wrong

By AIZAT SHARIF aizat@mmail.com.my

WE have all had our share of bad days but not many can beat the misfortune that befell Mohd Syawal Rosnaini.

After putting in a full 10-hour work shift, he was beaten by a group of strangers for a crime he did not commit.

Recalling the ordeal, the 25-year-old said the incident occurred last Saturday when he was about to reach his house in Jalan Keretapi Lama, Kampung Perepat, Kapar.

"It was 7pm and I was riding my Yamaha 125Z motorcycle back from work. About 100m from my house, I saw a man walking towards my direction," said the mechanic.

He said he slowed down to avoid colliding with the man.

Suddenly, the man punched his head.

"I fainted. I noticed another two men standing behind my attacker," he said when met at his house.

Mohd Syawal regained consciousness minutes later, only for the other two men to take turns hitting him.

"They were angry and mumbled in a language I couldn't understand. But I knew the trio were Myanmar nationals

BADLY HURT: Rosnaini (left) showing injuries sustained by Mohd Syawal after an assault by three Myanmar nationals in Kampung Perepat, Kapar — Pic: SINAR HARIAN

from the village."

Mohd Syawal laid on the road while the trio, kicked and stamped on his head, face and body.

Two passers-by, who were Mohd Syawal's friends, then appeared on the scene.

They rushed to their friend's rescue and apprehended two of the attackers while the third one got away.

His friends contacted his father, Rosnaini Ahmad, who rushed Mohd Syawal to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.

"I sustained injuries to my

head, face and body."

He said Mohd Syawal later learnt the trio had mistaken him for someone from part of a group that extorted money from them three days earlier.

The foreigners were seeking revenge.

The eldest of six siblings said he never got involved in criminal activities.

"I don't have time to do those kind of things as I'm always at office. I'd rather do my job than get into trouble."

After sending his son to hospital, Rosnaini lodged a

police report at the Sungai Kapar station.

"I'm upset with what the trio did to my son. I thank Allah that my son was saved in time and recovering from his injuries," said the 52-year-old lorry driver.

When contacted, North Klang district police chief Supt Shukor Sulong confirmed the incident and said the case is under investigation.

"We have yet to justify the basis for the attack but according to the victim's statement, it was a case of mistaken identity."

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3

KLANG

Cable thieves found with RM1m worth of loot TWO electric cable thieves were arrested at an illegal scrapyard in Jalan Sungai Jati on Monday with stolen cables and electrical transformers worth RM1 million.

The duo, aged 41 and 19, were nabbed during a police joint operation called Ops Lusuh with assistance from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM).

"Acting on a tip-off that an illegal scrap metal yard was selling stolen cables and transformers, we observed the two suspects over the past week before raiding their premises," said South Klang district police chief ACP Mohamad Mat Yusop yesterday.

"We believe they conducted their illegal business for eight years, acting as fences for cable thieves while commit-

ing some of the theft themselves."

He said initial investigations showed the cables and transformers were stolen from TNB sub-stations, including overhead power cables from TM poles, mainly in the Klang area.

"Their scrap metal yard was renovated into a warehouse of sorts. We estimate the items seized are worth about RM1 million," he said.

"Ops Lusuh is on-going as the theft of cables and transformers have become rampant in Selangor.

"Copper wires can fetch RM40 for a kg."

Both suspects were remanded for further investigation under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft and Section 6 of the Second-Hand Dealers Act 1946 for operating without licence.

SEPANG

Syabu-flavoured Doha lip gloss

By G. Prakash prakash@mmail.com.my

WHEN an "overaged" African student who flew in from Doha, Qatar with 12 cartons of lip gloss was questioned by Customs officers at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) last Thursday, he said he bought it for friends who loved the particular brand called 'Romantic Bird Lip Gloss'.

Unsatisfied with his explanation, the officers opened a carton containing 20 lip gloss sticks. Initial scanning of each stick found nothing suspicious.

"Our passenger examination unit was still suspicious and decided to examine the lip gloss further taking eight hours to finally detect tiny packets of methamphetamine (syabu) powder inside the modified lip gloss sticks," said

LIP STICK PACKING: Govinden (centre) showing how drug smugglers hid the syabu in the cosmetic items at Customs Complex in KLIA — Pic: Shahir Omar

KLIA Customs director Datuk M. Govinden, adding the 34-year-old suspect was then arrested.

"We estimate the student tried to smuggle altogether 1.5kg of syabu with a street value of RM375,000."

Govinden said the syabu could not be detected by the scanner as the drug was sealed

in plastic along with carbon paper.

“This is a sophisticated new ploy and the syndicate must have packed it in a factory using proper machinery as the way drugs were sealed,” he said, adding the suspect claimed the 'Romantic Bird Lip Gloss' was famous in Doha.

The suspect was in Malaysia

for one and a half years, pursuing information technology at a private college, and took leave to return to Doha recently.

He has been remanded for a week to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which comes with a mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

SEIZED: TM technicians helping a Klang police station personnel sort through stolen cables at the scrapyard — Pic: KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN

4

news

Board to review 'Hantu Boceng' THE Film Censorship Board will be reviewing the movie Hantu Boceng, which PAS Youth claims contains elements insulting to Islam. Board chairman Datuk Raja Azhar Raja Abdul Manap said its members did not come across such elements when evaluating the movie.

"Nevertheless, we will do another review to see if the scenes complained about by PAS Youth are offensive," he said. PAS party organ Harakah Daily yesterday carried a report urging the authorities to withdraw the movie from cinemas due to alleged inappropriate scenes. Directed

by Ahmad Idham, the 90-minute movie, showing in cinemas in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei since Aug 31, was reported to have grossed RM5 million within five days, a record collection for a festive season screening.

Syabas needs more treatment plants SYARIKAT Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) needs more water treatment plants to avert critical water shortage in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya by 2015. Project executive director Sanusi Sulaiman told a roundtable conference yesterday water supply to the three areas rose during peak periods because of the festive season and population increase.

Based on the trend of the last six years, demand grew at 3.5 per cent annually. This requires 10 per cent reserve capacity to accommodate needs of users during peak hours and to accelerate recovery period after supply disruptions. Sanusi said Petaling Jaya, Hulu Langat, southern Kuala Lumpur and Klang are experiencing water shortages or "water stress".

Increase in dengue cases THE number of dengue cases reported nationwide between Sept 11 and Sept 17 increased to 325 cases from 311 cases reported the previous week.

Deputy Director-General of Health Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said the increase was due to the increase in the number of dengue localities. "Fifty-one dengue localities were monitored last week as compared with only 37 previously. There are also two uncontrolled dengue localities identified in Jinjang Utara Longhouse and Taman Koop Polis in Kuala Lumpur," he said. Dr Lokman also called on the public to cooperate in ensuring their residential areas were free from potential breeding grounds for aedes mosquitoes. Up to Sept 10, a total of 13,889 dengue cases, with 22 deaths, were reported in the country.

Current situation in our country not conducive to implement 'hudud' and, in this context, we cannot blame anyone — Former Perlis mufti Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

PETALING JAYA

Audits not a must

Checks on schools' facilities non-mandatory despite risks to students' lives IT is not compulsory for schools to conduct official audits on the condition of its facilities despite lives of students being put at risk.

Furthermore, the government does not have any plans to make auditing obligatory for schools in the near future. (See accompanying story).

Several non-governmental organisations have collectively opined there is a dire need for such an audit system especially in the wake of the death of 11-year-old Muhammad Fakhrul Amin Abdul Rahman, who died after being hit by a falling goalpost at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Kampung Jawa in Klang.

National Parent-Teacher Association Collaborative C ouncil (National PTA) president Assoc Prof Datuk Mohammad Ali Hassan said currently, schools are not required to submit any official audits on the condition of their facilities to the Education

By T.K. LETCHUMY TAMBOO t.k.letchumy@mmail.com.my

Ministry.

Although Mohammad Ali felt it is critical for such a system to be instituted, he said a more pressing issue is the need to set up a safety committee in every school in the country.

"Although it is stated under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, that every organisation should have a safety and health committee, I doubt this is being applied, especially in schools," he said, adding that safety and security issues must be a permanent agenda in the weekly and annual meeting of all schools, along with the emphasis on academic and co-curriculum issues.

"The school's authority must take proactive measures to check on the safety of their school. Annual as well as ad hoc routine checks, are a must."

Mohammad Ali said presently, schools are following the

ministry-issued circular called Garis Panduan Keselamatan Sekolah.

"This circular encompasses safety measures that must apply in laboratories, libraries and when handling sporting facilities," he said, adding the ministry should offer compensation to the family of the victim.

National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Loke Yim Pheng believes there must be an audit on the condition of schools and its facilities.

"Although there is a need for this, the issue of school children's safety should not stop there. Anyone can audit and submit it to the ministry for the sake of doing it. We need teachers who are sincerely concerned about people's lives," she said.

Loke said schools currently have stock-keeping books which are updated six-monthly with

No urgency for obligatory inspections

DEADLY: The field where Fakhrul Amin lost his life

Family consider suing school and ministry THE family of Muhammad Fakhrul Amin Abdul Rahman, the Year Five student who was killed after being hit by a falling goalpost at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Kampung Jawa on Saturday, is planning to sue the school and Education Ministry over the incident.

Fakhrul Amin's father, Abdul Rahman Sarbaini, 42, told The Malay Mail yesterday the decision was not born out of anger.

"I am not angry at the school management or the ministry.

I just feel the incident could have been completely avoided if precautionary measures had been taken," he said.

"If the school management had noticed the rotting goalpost and the danger it posed to students, they should have

entries of damaged facilities and things that need to be fixed.

"However, this is not compulsory, so we don't know whether schools are adhering to it.

"It is the duty of the school to ensure its students' safety and we have brought up the issue of safety in schools to the Ministry several times.

"This is not the first time an incident has occurred. Last year, another life was lost due to a goalpost accident. In this

case, the school should be answerable.

"They should have replaced the rotting goalpost in the first place."

Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (Page) president Datin Azimah Rahim (pic), meanwhile, said the accident could have been avoided if only maintenance was properly carried out.

"If the goalpost was really rotting and nothing was done about it, the school must definitely be held accountable."

On Saturday, Muhammad Fakhrul Amin was playing football with friends at the school field when the post fell on him.

His father, Abdul Rahman Sarbaini, 42, rushed to the scene upon hearing the news and took him to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital. Fakhrul Amin was promounced dead at the hospital after sustaining severe bleeding and a cracked skull.

removed and replaced it with a new one immediately.

"It would have only cost them between RM300 to RM400 to get a new goalpost.

"Now, because nobody took the responsibility, my son's life is lost.

"I am definitely planning to sue the school and the ministry for negligence. I just do not know how to go about it yet," said Abdul Rahman.

The production operator from Klang said despite all that, he was thankful the school headmaster visited him on the night of the incident and expressed his sympathy and condolences.

The family, he said, are still trying to come to terms with their loss.

"We accept his death as

God's will but at the same time, we are also devastated by it.

"I have eight children and now, I only have seven."

Abdul Rahman said his wife, Faizah Ayub, 41, a teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kampung Jawa, was the worst hit by the tragedy, adding she cries all day long.

Abdul Rahman also recalled his son's obsession with football.

"Every morning before going to school, he made sure he got the latest football updates on TV. "His favourite footballer was Fernando Torres and his ambition was to be a famous football player one day.

"Sadly, his dream will never come true."

THERE are no regulations compelling schools to conduct obligatory inspections on the condition of their facilities.

This was confirmed by Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic) yesterday.

The issue of the lack of such a system was raised by several non-governmental organisations in the wake of the death of Year Five student Muhammad Fakhrul Amin Abdul Rahman, of Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Jawa, who died after being hit by a falling goalpost at the school field on Saturday.

"It is not compulsory for schools to conduct such audits," he told The Malay Mail in a telephone interview.

When asked if the ministry plans to introduce such an audit system in schools, especially when taking safety aspects into consideration, he said there are no such immediate plans.

"We are not planning for such an audit yet because at this juncture, we have not received a full report of the incident.

"Under current guidelines, it is the duty of schools' heads or principals to ensure safety

especially for facilities involving sports.

"However, we will revisit and re-examine the guidelines if needed," he said.

On Monday, following Fakhrul Amin's death, the Education Ministry had directed school heads and senior assistants (cocurriculum) to carry out immediate inspections of all sports facilities within their school grounds.

Wee had reportedly said this move was to ensure facilities such as goalposts were in good condition.

He had also said he was waiting for a report on the incident from both the school and the State Education Department.

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Greater emphasis must be given to unique factors and underlying causes that led people of particular regions to turn to terrorism and extremism -- Datuk Hussein Haniff, Malaysian Permanent UN Rep

PETALING JAYA

Zoo audit completed Perhilitan to release details after discussion with ministry

THE Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) has finished auditing all 44 zoological parks in the peninsular, including those in Malacca and Johor, which allegedly mistreated their animals.

Malacca Zoo was found to have confined eight orangutans in a cage instead of leaving them out in the open with the other animals, while baby elephant Paloh which was chained at Johor Zoo was seized and has since been moved to a sanctuary

By IKRAM ISMAIL ikram.ismail@mmail.com.my

in Pahang where it can roam freely.

Perhilitan deputy directorgeneral Dr Zaaba Zainal Abidin told The Malay Mail the probe by their special roving task force was completed on Sept 14.

"Our department is in the process of re-evaluating the audit and preparing a full report on all 44 zoological parks in the peninsula," he said.

As soon as the report is completed, Perhilitan will submit it to a committee headed by Natural Resources and Environment Ministry secretary-general Datuk Zoal Azha Yusof.

"Based on the findings, action will be taken against zoo operators who do not ad here to t he Wi ld life Conservation Act 2010," said Dr Zaaba.

"Our department could reject the renewal of licences and temporary permits and also shift the jeopardised ani-

FLASHBACK: The Malay Mail story last year on a tiger subjected to abuse at a Malacca resort

mals to our rescue centre."

Details of the probe will be revealed to the public once the report has been presented to the committee.

Since 2003, there had been at least seven cases of mismanagement in the country,

resulting in the seizure of animals from several zoos.

The most recent was the seizure of 132 animals, including three tigers and an elephant, at Danga Bay Petting Zoo in Johor Baru earlier this month.

PETALING JAYA

SPCA meets apartment managers on dog abuse probe

CRUELTY: Top photo shows a stray, barely alive with eyes popping due to pressure from a thick wire around its mouth. Bottom photo. A gunny sack with a dead dog in it.

THE Kota Kinabalu chapter of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) will meet the management of an apartment building which hired dogcatchers to rid the area of strays but whose inhumane treatment of the animals last Thursday, caused a public uproar. " We are me e t i ng t he apartment management on Wednesday (today) so that we can prepare a report for submission to the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services (DVS)," SPCA Kota Kinabalu president Mohammad Iskandar Shah told the The Malay Mail.

"We will also discuss what action to take against those who abused the stray dogs."

The incident came to light when 19-year-old Nurul Shakinah Saiful Majid, who lives near the apartment at Kiansom in the city's Inamam area, uploaded pictures of the abused strays on her Facebook account.

"At the time I was at home when a friend alerted me about dogs being abused by dogcatchers," said Nurul, adding she could also hear the pitiful squealing of the canines.

"Taking along my digital camera, I walked around the apartment in Kiansom for about half an hour before witnessing the cruelty of the dogcatchers and I snapped several pictures."

She said there were at least half a dozen strays being mistreated, and some dogs had apparently been brutally killed.

"I quickly contacted the SPCA Kota Kinabalu and they sent a rescue team which managed to convince the dogcatchers to release the surviving strays," she said.

When contacted, Sabah DVS director Dr Yeoh Boon Kiat said they would investigate after receiving a report from the Kota Kinabalu SPCA. He said under the Cruelty to Animals (Prevention) Ordinance 1925, any person convicted can be fined up to RM500 and imprisoned up to six months for each offence.

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5

Prasarana gives 150,000 free coupons SYARIKAT Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) distributed 150,000 free coupons valid for one-way travel on Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Monorail on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays for one year from Sept 22. Prasarana chairman Tan Sri Ismail Adam said it is in support of World Car Free Day campaign celebrated on Sept 22, aimed at reducing carbon emissions by private vehicles and encouraging the public to choose public transport. He said the campaign encourages the public to ride bicycles as parking facilities are provided at 17 LRT stations. Ismail said last year, public transport users recorded during peak hours were about 240,000 people and in the middle of this year, the number rose to 360,000 people.

Pak Lah clears air on reforms FORMER prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday said he was very clear about the reforms he wanted to institute when in office. "Perhaps when I was in office I should have been more forceful about it considering the resistance I was facing," he said in a statement issued last night. He was responding to a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz yesterday that during Abdullah's time there was some opposition against his reform plans because Abdullah had not clearly indicated what he wanted to do. Local news portals reported Nazri had said this when asked to comment on Abdullah's comments that his reforms were opposed by hardliners. Abdullah said he hoped Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would be more forceful with his reform plans. — Bernama

SUBANG JAYA

Promoting innovative entrepreneurs NOT all creative youngsters and aspiring entrepreneurs have the platform to translate their skills into capital and not all small businesses can always find the right talents to suit their unique needs.

With that in mind, the Malaysian Innovation Agency (AIM) yesterday launched their National Innovation Strategy (NIS) to promote innovative entrepreneurship nationwide.

"As we approach Vision 2020, Malaysia will require more creative talents to develop a more innovationbased economy," said AIM chief executive officer Datuk Dr Kamal Jit Singh, at a pre-

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

sentation at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa. "Our local universities have produced plenty of potential talents but still need that extra bit of encouragement. Our goal is to focus on industries such as agriculture-based biology, advanced manufacturing and green energy.

Therefore, our role would be to act as 'middleman' between entrepreneurs and small or middle-tier businesses by supporting them and matching their talents and needs."

AIM, a statutory body set up by Parliament, plans to

achieve this via three main initiatives: strengthening the building blocks of innovation, engaging the enablers and finally, nurturing local talent with the aim of achieving global penetration.

"Malaysia's current problem is that we lack an innovation index. In other words, we have not developed a concrete measure of how innovative we really are," said Kamal Jit. "Therefore, the first stage of the plan aims to develop a workforce with the skills, qualities and aptitude to innovate from a young age up until university level and produce workers who have

transferable skills. In the meantime, we hope to take advantage of decades-long research and development (R&D) activities conducted by local universities and public research institutes (PRIs) so that we can identify and transform them into potential capital through commercialisation."

Using what is known as the Quadruple Helix Model, those from academia, industry, government and the rakyat will participate in innovation projects at initiation stage. AIM will then offer to streamline the operations of disbursement agencies to act as fund managers, ensuring

the most compelling applications will receive adequate public funding.

"The second stage will be engaging innovators through multiple-platform information and communication technologies such as online social networking," he said.

The third and final stage will involve aligning and developing 33 of Malaysia's PRI and centres of excellence (COE) in the proposed niche areas so they can penetrate the global market and create capital without government assistance.

More information can be found at http://agensi.innovation.my.

KAMAL JIT: AIM to act as middleman in supporting small businesses

6

news

European Union open to sharing experience in security legislation with Malaysia — Head of EU Delegation to Malaysia Vincent Piket

PETALING JAYA

Illegal operators

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Female airport limo drivers now available

50 per cent of commercial vehicles still not registered with SPAD THE Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is sticking to the Sept 30 deadline for the re-registration of commercial vehicles even though only 50 per cent of the estimated 400,000 vehicles are registered.

The exercise, started in April, is mandatory for bus, taxi and freight operators, in accordance with Section 10 (1) of the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (Amendment) Act 2011.

The section enables SPAD to gather comprehensive details on transport operators, their assets and drivers' details to identify dormant and problematic permits.

Among the operators who have yet to register their members is the Putrajaya Public Transport Cooperative Berhad, whose secretary-general, Mohd Salim Mat Zain, said they needed more time to finalise their documents.

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani asrul@mmail.com.my

"We have 158 taxis and we managed to register 90 per cent of our fleet," he said.

"But we are having difficulty confirming the details of the remaining taxis and their drivers. We urge SPAD to give us time to complete the process."

Peninsular Malaysia Express Bus Operators Union deputy president Murad Yahya said they had no problems meeting the deadline.

"Six months is a fair amount of time for the re-registration exercise and the process is simple," he said.

"Also, SPAD officers help us fill the forms and even despatch mobile teams for our convenience, so we have completed re-registering our 500 buses."

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators

Association (PMBOA) president Datuk Ashraf Ali said SPAD had given enough time for re-registration.

"Since amending the Act in January, SPAD also sent circulars and conducted road shows," he said.

"SPAD officers have also been flexible, with their officers continuing their duties up to 7pm."

Yesterday, SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the deadline would not be extended.

“Only half of the vehicles are registered so far."

Under Section 16 (4) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, operators without licences could be fined a maximum of RM10,000, or jailed a year, or both.

ADDED INFO: Syed Hamid (left) being briefed on the new Internet applications in taxis

WOMEN passengers can now opt for female drivers when using airport limousine services from KL International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.

Airport Limo Sdn Bhd (ALM) announced as part of its rebranding process, it will provide specialised services for women, children, senior citizens, and passengers with special needs.

ALM chief executive officer Mohd Asyaharim Abdul Latiff said tracking services would also be provided to notify family members of the limo’s location.

“We have a special service for passengers with special needs and those not conversant in English and Bahasa Malaysia.

With this service, passengers can also opt for women drivers. There will be no extra

charges," he said at the rebranding launch yesterday.

Also present was SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar.

“We can also take children right to the gates at the airport, and customers can check the status of vehicles carrying their loved ones.”

Mohd Asyaharim said the special services can be ordered through its walk-in counter at KLIA, or call centre or website.

He also said 100 new Proton Persona taxis were being equipped with the Apple iPad2 as part of the rebranding exercise.

“We are the first in the world to provide Internet application in taxis with the iPad2.”

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

PUTRAJAYA

First batch of 47 Malaysian students arrived at KLIA from Syria yesterday under government's effort to get them out of the strife-torn country â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bernama

news

7

Bittersweet day Graduates overcome personal obstacles to achieve success

GRADUATION is usually a day of double joy for graduates and parents.

But this was not the case for 24-year-old G. Shanmugam who lost his father weeks before his big day.

Shanmugam's father B. Ganasegaran, passed away suddenly on Sept 12, following a heart attack.

Although saddened by his loss, Shanmugam, who hails from Sungai Petani, Kedah, is nevertheless prepared to step into his father's shoes as sole breadwinner for his family.

"I hope to secure a job soon as I am the eldest in the family. I need to provide for my other siblings as they are still studying and my mother is only a housewife."

Shanmugam, who will receive his degree in tech-

By IKRAM ISMAIL ikram.ismail@mmail.com.my

nology management from Universiti Utara Malaysia soon, said he planned to send his resume to both the government and private sector.

"I hope to be able to secure a job in my hometown as I want to be close to my family."

Yesterday, Shanmugam and 58 other students graduated from the My Career, My Future-Exclusive Graduate Employability Training programme, organised by My Partners Sdn Bhd on behalf of the Higher Education Ministry. The eight-week programme commenced on July 18 and ended on Aug 26.

Shanmugam was among

the top six graduates for the "Most Admirable Participant" category.

Another outstanding graduate at the event held at the Education Ministry's multi purpose hall was Nurnadia Shamsudin, 24, who is a dwarf.

The Temerloh-born business administration graduate was determined to not let disability hamper success.

"Although I am only 129cm tall, I want to work hard to make a name for myself."

Nurnadia who is the second of four siblings said although there were times when she suffered a lack of confidence, she remained undeterred in her quest for a better future.

Top six: Shanmugam (third from right) with other top graduates.

"I'm lucky and happy to have close friends who constantly provide me with moral support."

Nurnadia said she aimed to be an entrepreneur and planned to start a cake and biscuit business.

The ceremony was attended

by Higher Education Minister

Understanding the plights of Autistic children with The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM).

This Sunday, 10.30pm

Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and the ministry's director general Prof Datuk Dr Rujhan Mustafa.

The specially designed programme covers communications and public relations. It was initiated by the ministry in 2009 to reduce unemployment among

fresh graduates.

Participants are guaranteed jobs and 85 per cent of previous participants have been employed in the private sector.

For more details, visit www.mypartners.com.my or contact 03-77100502/180088-6772.

8

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 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.

By CECILIA VICTOR and HAMZAH NAZARI

Abuzz with danger Residents living in fear, Fire Department says it will remove beehive

RESIDENTS of Block 17 of Taman Alam Megah in Shah Alam have been living in fear of a huge beehive above their flats for the past four months.

The bees have stung at least four people but the Fire and Rescue Department is reluctant to set fire to it for fear of damaging the building.

M. LOGESWARAN, who lives in the unit just below the hive, says he, his mother and sister have been stung by the bees.

"I have made several complaints but no action has been taken," he says.

"I complained to the Shah Alam City Council but was told the nest is too small to be removed.

"I also complained to the Seksyen 15 Fire Station a month ago, when the nest became bigger, but they told me the same thing."

The family is forced to close all their windows to prevent the bees from entering their home. The hive has also grown to some 2.5m wide.

"We have to check our rooms at least five times a day to make sure there are no bees," says LOGESWARAN. Residents' association member T. MAHALINGAM also says he has made several complaints to the authorities.

"I'm worried about the safety of the residents. Will they act only if someone has been badly stung?"

MOHAMAD MOKHLIS, who lives just below

STINGING THREAT: The he beehive at Block 17 of Taman Alam Megah.

At least four residents have been stung — Pic: KHAIRULL AZRY BIDIN

LOGESWARAN's unit, fears the bees may attack the children.

"We are appealing for help.

We have have no experience handling such matters.'' says the 23-year-old.

The Hotline roving team visited the flats and saw bees swarming the area.

● A SPOKESMAN for the Shah Alam Seksyen 15 Fire and Rescue Department says: "Although we received a report, we were not able to remove the nest as we usually set fire to it.

"If the nest is small, there is a possibility prop-

erty will be damaged when we set fire to it."

The spokesman says firemen will go to the flats during the night to remove the hive.

"We managed to remove another hive at a different block there some time ago."

TNB clears misunderstanding on power bill YAP KOK SENG, of Taman Puncak Jalil, says Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has unfairly billed him following the revision in domestic consumer tariffs from June 1.

Before the revision, he says, he received a monthly bill estimation of RM150 but a bill that arrived two

months later amounted to RM431.

“As a household of five adults, we are prepared to pay more following the revision but not when the reading in done once every two months and we are penaliaed following the inaccurate estimation by TNB," says YAP.

“This is unfair to the larger households who have little choice but to consume less.” ● A TENAGA NASIONAL BERHAD spokesman says they contacted YAP on Aug 23 and explained the new tariffs.

"The current procedure of issuing a bill estimation

once every other month followed by a bill for two months' usage came into effect following a move

by TNB to improve its efficiency," says the spokesman.

The procedure was approved by the Malaysian Energy Commission in September 2007 and has

been implemented in other countries.

When contacted, YAP says TNB explained to him the estimation he received was less than his actual usage, and the subsequent bill included the balance.

He says he is satisfied with the explanation.

PAYING MORE FOR POWER

• TNB's new tariffs will only affect a quarter of Malaysian households, specifically those who use more than 300 kilowatts per hour (kWh) per month.

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

9

1. The Petaling Jaya City Council allows parking lots by seizing the tables and the public to fish in five lakes — chairs and issuing compounds of up TAKE NOTE Taman Sri Aman, Taman Jaya, Taman to RM250 under Section 461B of the Bandaran in Kelana Jaya, PJS 10/24, Street, Drainage and Building Act 1974.

3. The public is asked to cooperate with the Kajang and Kelana Jaya community lake.

2. The Selayang Municipal Council will continue to take Municipal Council to check vandalism in Taman Tasik action on shop owners who place tables and chairs on Cempaka, Bandar Baru Bangi.

Leaking for 10 years

Residents say apartments neglected, management promises action

SHODDY WORK: The stained ceiling and walls of Siva's apartment

BLOCK 1 of the Cempaka Apartments in Bandar Baru Selayang has been neglected for the past 10 years, says a resident.

R. SIVA says the ceilings of the medium-cost apartments are leaking, there are cracks all over the walls and water seeps from the cracks.

The walls have also not been painted for the past 20 years, he says.

According to SIVA, the residents feel there is no point paying a maintenance fee to the management company because of the condition of the apartments.

SIVA tells Hotline he has brought the matter up with SAP Urus Harta Sdn Bhd, the management company,

four times in the past two months but no action has been taken.

"Every six months, my roof leaks. It leaks in the toilet, dining area, in the rooms and also in the balcony.

Whenever it rains, water accumulates in the house. My family members have slipped and injured themselves."

For the past 10 years, SIVA has been forking out his own money to repair the roof whenever it leaks.

"The residents paid hundreds of thousands to buy their units. SAP is not doing its part, which is not fair to the residents.

"Our complaints have been ignored or not taken seriously and even if a contractor is

sent to do repair work, it's always a shoddy job," he says. ● A SPOKESMAN for SAP Urus Harta Sdn Bhd says: "We have done some repair work a couple of months back.

"We are aware the roofs have leaked again and

we will be sending our contractor, who is on emergency leave, to assess the situation.

"We assure the residents repair work will be carried out."

When contacted, SIVA hopes the management will do a proper job this time.

Company refunds shop lot deposit SITI HAWA IDRUS, of Ampang, wants a developer to return her RM5,000 deposit before her credit card company charges her interest on the amount.

She says she used her credit card to pay the amount to Twin Pavillion Development Sdn Bhd for a shop lot in Bangsar Trade Centre on July 31.

SITI HAWA says she was told by the sales personnel among the terms and conditions of the sale was her deposit will be refunded should her loan be rejected

by the bank.

"I received the rejection letter from the bank on Aug 4. At that point, I was told by the sales personnel the refund process will take about one month," she says.

Since then, she has called Twin Pavillion several times but she still does not know when she will receive her cheque.

"I explained to them RM5,000 has been debited from my credit card account and the due date for payment is Sept 15.

"I am just asking for my money. If I do not receive the cheque by Sept 14 and make payment to my credit card company, I will be charged interest."

SITI HAWA wants to know what is taking the company so long to return her deposit and who will bear the interest should she fail to make the payment on time. ● A SPOKESMAN for Twin Pavillion Development Sdn Bhd says the late refund is because of a complication.

She says the company has also incurred costs because of the transaction "but we are not passing these costs to our customers".

"Since this matter is urgent, we will try our level best to refund SITI HAWA’s deposit within a day or two," she says.

Contacted on Sept 15, SITI HAWA confirms Twin Pavillion Development has refunded her the RM5,000 deposit in time for her to avoid paying interest.

Online comments www.mmail.com.my Mix-up over complimentary pizza (Sept 19) ● EVERYONE breaks fast at the same time.

There is sure to be traffic jam and the need to queue. It is clearly stated that should Domino's not deliver within 30 minutes, you get a voucher only. Unless the company had asked you to pay for your order, but since you did not, and got free vouchers, do you still need to complain? — Anonymous ● I HAD a similar experience when I went to the newly-opened Domino's Pizza in Bandar Seri Permaisuri. I planned to break fast at the outlet itself and despite being informed that my order would be ready in 15 minutes, which was 10 minutes before the time to break fast, I ended up waiting an additional 15 minutes past breaking of fast. I had to break fast with just a carbonated drink and it was so frustrating. The staff there were not organised. The outlet, like most fast food outlets, was managed by youngsters.

There were no senior or experienced staff in charge. It seemed more like a group of school children being left on their own during a weekend outing. — Nawawi Payment woes (Sept 19) ● THE charges are crazy, if you ask me. Have you parked inside the mall before? It smells bad. The complex management and the parking management must manage the car parks properly. If you cannot manage, pass it to someone who can do the job. — Anonymous ● THEY have covered basement parking. Quite a lot of parking spaces there actually. No rain, no sun and the payment machine is inside the shopping mall. You have the option not to park outside. Besides, if you go there on weekends, lots of people are parked along the road anyway. — Anonymous ● FOR parking in the building, there are machines within the mall for payment.

Perhaps they are run by different contractors.

If afraid of rain and sun, then just park inside the building. — Anonymous ● WHY don't they just put the payment machines inside the mall, like what other malls are doing, instead of putting them out there? — Anonymous ● SECURE Parking claims it is not feasible to provide a covered walkway connected to Amcorp Mall because of the layout of the open-air car park. I would say it is not feasible because of the cost involved. They may want to cut cost and maximise profit.

Hey, that's business. — ben yap Hit by ‘cheap’ greens (Sept 19) ● The authorities must come down hard on the illegal traders and the shop owners who allow them to sell in front of their premises.

The market stallholders pay rental and they should be protected against those trying to put sand in their ricebowl. — Johann ● THOSE legal traders should lower their prices. If you want to maintain high prices, than face the brute force from consumers who choose not to buy from you. Don't be too greedy and you'll survive. — ben yap

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 Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 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.

MAIL Q&A: Moving to different waters (Sept 9)

KL: Jalan Sultan traders should reconsider court action (Sept 2)

Remembering embering the marine ne police

I WOULD like add to your article on the history of the Royal Malaysian Police's Marine Operations Force, which I had served for 33 years.

I was the commanding officer, Northern Malaya, followed by commanding officer, Southern Malaya, inclusive of Eastern Peninsula, and later, the commanding officer for Sabah Marine Police.

Altogether, within these three responsible areas, I was reappointed after my retirement as my services were urgently needed to lead some of the critical areas within the force.

I am sharing experiences for the future generation to remember the sacrifices made by those behind it.

In short, the MOF came into being at that time when the police felt the need for a profesional organisation to be set up after anticipating future problems along the coast. The country needed a unit that is dedicated to the defence of the country's waters from enemies

Uncertainty over acquisition

sacrifices made by officers and ratings of the time.

We we nt t h rou g h t he period from the Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation, Communist insurgency, and also controlled the influx of illegals and piracy.

Despite having limited resources, the MOF then was able to protect the country from its enemies.

Let us not forget their sacrifices and place them at the rightful place in history.

WE appreciate the efforts of all parties, including MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, for their intervention to save the heritage shops in Chinatown from acquisition.

Dr Chua has advised us to be patient and not to seek judicial review of the intended acquisition while waiting for the negotiations to progress.

It is always the last choice for anyone wanting to bring issues to the courts but while his advice has good intentions, we understand there is only a 40-days time limitation to seek judicial review whereafter the opportunity is permanently lost.

Due to this short time window and the uncertainty of the outcome of any negotiations, Dr Chua’s advice may be detrimental to the cause.

Can he obtain an extension of the time to submit for judiciary review while waiting for the negotiations to be concluded, and preserving our rights to submit for judiciary review if the negotiation fails?

Supt (B) SK Puvaneswaran

TGC

PROTECTOR: The sacrifices of the officers and men of the Marine Operations Force must not be forgotten

and threat efficiently.

It was the year 1947 and the MOF back then was a branch, similar to other branches in the police force, such as the Special Branch and Criminal Investigations Department.

The task was to police the sea as stipulated in the Police Act. The police commissioner then, through the chief secretary, appointed British Royal Navy officers, some retired, to helm the new branch. The branch was given the Sea Defence Motor Launches and

Harbour Patrol Launches to conduct their operations.

The launches were based at Gelugor, Penang, a former Royal Air Force Air-Sea Plane sea base, and Tampoi, Johor Baru, rice godown and a defunct match factory, both in Skudai, Johor.

The ratings and officers were then selected and crewed the MRNVR ship HMS Kedah while Penang Habour Board Crew were recruited to join the Marine Branch.

I recalled some of the crews even sailed to Sri Lanka (at the

time known as Ceylon) with the ship.

My appointment as patrol supervising officer was in 1954. All of us, Malaysians, gradually took over as commanders of the launches after having undergone seagoing training. The first four were Syed Mansor, myself, Woodworth and Yong. I later became chief of north marine division in 1957 and south division in 1960.

It is not because of glory that I write this letter but more for everyone to remember the

KL: Push for Palestine (Sept 13)

Palestinian Statehood and Israel's soft diplomacy AROUND this time last year, US President Barack Obama told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) true security for Israel requires an "independent Palestine" — one that allows Palestinians to live with dignity and opportunity.

In the same speech, he reminded "friends of Palestine" the rights of Palestinians can only be achieved through peaceful means. Since then, a Palestinian diplomatic delegation has been on a world tour lobbying individual States to recognise Palestine as sovereign.

In an unprecedented move, Obama boldly declared in May this year the US supports the establishment of a Palestinian State based on pre-1967 borders, that is, borders before Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula in the Middle East war.

Tw o m o n t h s l a t e r , Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that 122 countries have now recognised Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders. His next step is to seek formal recognition at the UNGA. While Palestinian diplomats have been busy hard-selling Statehood to world governments, Israeli missions abroad are actively engaging in soft diplomacy with civil society members in "unfriendly" territories.

During R amadan this year, Israel's mission in Singapore engaged in a dialogue with a predominantly Nusantara-Muslim audience from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Held on the island's Bugis district, the event was organised by the national student organisation, Himpunan Mahasiswa Indonesia.

The young Israeli Deputy

Chief of Mission, Michal Sarig-Kaduri, was frank about Israel's challenges in Southeast Asia, particularly among States with significant Muslim population.

Up ag ai nst w hat she described as unfair reporting on the Middle East crisis by national media in the region, Israel today has chosen the path of direct and candid conversations with civil society members — circumventing the hot topic of politics, and instead discussing culture and heritage.

A graduate in Sociology and Anthropology, the deputy chief acknowledged that Israel's history is passionately disputed by many quarters.

But she also asked that the audience considered the cultural bond Israelis have to their State.

While recognising that Israel is a nation of migrants from across the globe, these

are people whose collective identity is bound to the Hebrew language. Visit an archeological site in Israel, she said, and find ancient tombs having the same script as those you see on ice cream vans and road signs.

To say the Jewish State has no historical ties to the land, therefore, is erroneous.

Nevertheless, to identify onself as a "Jewish State" and, at the same time, proclaim oneself to be the only true and rational democracy in the Middle East is equally problematic.

Israel's Arab population, comprising 25 per cent of the total population, is growing at a higher rate than their Jewish counterpart. What then becomes of the democratic Jewish State when Arabs outnumber Jews?

This does not take into account the possibility of returning Palestinian refugees who were exiled from their

homes throughout Israel's expansion years ago. As much as the Israeli mission wanted to focus on culture and heritage, these questions inevitably led to a discussion on politics.

When asked about Palestine's bid for formal recognition at the UNGA, the deputy chief placed her hope in a United States veto in the United Nations Security Council.

Israel is concerned by the growing support for Palestinian Statehood and does not recognise Palestine's unilateral efforts at the United Nations. She said a UNGA vote will legitimise the tearing down of Israel's 760km-long and 8m-high separation wall, and Israel then will have no choice but to "defend" itself militarily.

This writer finally asked about the Palestine that Israel envisions. The deputy chief

candidly said Israel's vision of Palestine is that of two sovereign territories — West Bank and Gaza — governed by an elected authority that Israel recognises. They will not be completely detached from each other. Israel foresees the construction of a highway or railway linking the two patches of land. Regarding military outposts, air space, ownership of archeological findings, holy sites and other stately matters, she said those will have to be negotiated.

While friendships were forged on that day, following a scrumptious breaking of fast meal with the Israeli ambassador, many in the audience also left with a clearer understanding and appreciation for Palestine's unilateral campaign for Statehood at the UNGA which meets in New York this week.

Juana Jaafar

news

Global demand for wood products expected to rise from 3.5b cubic metres in 1990 to 6.4b cubic metres by 2020 — World Bank report

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 september, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR

Night run draws 6,000

Putrajaya marathon also attracts international interest THE eagerly-anticipated Putrajaya Night Marathon (PNM) 2011 on Oct 15 has received overwhelming response with more than 6,000 people having signed up.

Since its launch on July 28, the public have also expressed their excitement on the PNM site on Facebook.

PNM race director Nithiaseelan Vegayathunam said: "Sports apparel experts Brooks will be rewarding runners with Brooks shirts at the race. All runners will receive a medal and certificate upon finishing, a testament to the organiser’s efforts to make the event a true runner’s marathon."

By ANDREW SAGAYAM andrew@mmail.com.my

Nithiaseelan said that while football is the world’s mostwatched sport, running is the world’s most-participated.

“Running creates a bond that is truly one of a kind. No other activity I know of can generate this bond. It quite literally spreads like a virus.

We have runners from all over the world who have registered, including from Australia, Singapore and Kenya."

The closing date for registrations is tomorrow or when 10,000 have signed up, whichever comes first.

Bank Simpanan Nasional

EARLY BIRD: Nick Arthur (left), one of the first to register

is the title sponsor for PNM, while ntv7 and The Malay Mail are media partners. Other

partners include Brooks, 100 Plus, Milo, PowerBar and hooHa.asia.

11

KUALA LUMPUR

Dutch Lady and Tesco campaign for children IN conjunction with the recent Ramadan, Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad (Dutch Lady Malaysia) teamed up with Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Tesco) to raise funds for charity.

Their joint campaign from Aug 18 to 31 was called "Buy and Donate", in which RM1 from sales of every kilogram pack of Dutch Lady Growing Up Milk powder, such as Dutch Lady 123, Dutch Lady 456 and Dutch Lady 6+, were collected for distribution to nine children’s homes nationwide.

"Ramadan signifies a time of patience and tolerance as well as sharing and giving," said Dutch Lady Malaysia managing director Bas van den Berg.

"As Malaysia's leading dairy company, we take our promise to provide the best dairy nutri-

tion for Malaysians seriously and are steadfast in our commitment to consumers. Hence, we were delighted to have embarked on this campaign with Tesco, one of the leading hypermarkets in Malaysia.

Together, we hope to provide a more meaningful life for the patrons of selected homes."

Tesco's corporate and legal affairs director Azlam Shah Alias said: "At Tesco, we are always looking to improve the welfare of the community around us. This year, our corporate social responsibility efforts with Dutch Lady Malaysia not only gave us an opportunity to contribute to children in Malacca, but also gave our customers a chance to do their part, too."

The funds for the nine homes will go towards improving facilities.

12

world

We would not be here at this very precipice of such a dangerous move if the Obama policy in the Middle East wasn't naive, arrogant, misguided and dangerous — Texas Governor Rick Perry

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

NEW YORK

Condolences for Turkey Obama meets Erdogan after Ankara bomb blast

US President Barack Obama offered condolences over a bomb blast in Ankara yesterday, as he sat down with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key Middle East ally.

Obama met Erdogan on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, on a day when an attack by suspected Kurdish separatists in the Turkish capital killed three people and injured at least 15.

The president extended "deep condolences for the loss of life in the explosion in Ankara," adding the attack "reminds us

that terrorism exists in many parts of the world".

Three people were killed and 15 were injured in the bomb blast, the Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin told Turkish television.

Sahin said there was a "high possibility that it was a terrorist attack," using the government's shorthand for attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Erdogan, however, earlier warned against a rush to judgment, saying there had been no information that the incident was a terrorist attack.

Obama also praised Turkey as

"a Nato ally and a great friend and partner on Nato issues" and thanked Erdogan for "all the work in Afghanistan".

Washington regards Turkey as one of its most important allies and Obama has spent considerable time engaging Erdogan in his two-and-a-half years in office and paid a visit to Ankara and Istanbul in 2009.

In recent months, the Obama administration has been alarmed at the estrangement between Turkey and its closest Middle East ally Israel, over an Israeli raid on a flotilla bound for Gaza that killed nine Turks.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday urged Turkey to defuse tension and repair strategic ties with Israel.

In her meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in New York, Clinton "made clear that this is not a time when we need more tension, more volatility in the region," a senior US official said on condition of anonymity.

The United States has offered to mediate an end to the IsraeliTurkish crisis — which analysts said could also harm ties between Nato allies Washington and Ankara — but Turkey has rejected the US offer. — AFP

ALLIES: Obama (right) speaking during a bliateral meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly yesterday — AFPpic

There is a wide perception that policymakers are one step behind markets.

Europe must get its act together. — IMF chief economist Olivier Blanchard

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

LONDON

Marquez's mark on Iran 'News of a Kidnapping' sells out after detained leader cites it as accurate reflection of his experience

LIFE IMITATES ART: Mousavi cited the book (inset) as an accurate reflection of his own situation

THE Nobel-prize winning author Gabriel Garcia Marquez is revered for his evocation of a surreal and sometimes dangerous world where nothing is quite what it seems.

In this case, h owe ve r, t h e country in question is not his native Colombia but Iran under P re s i d e nt M a h m o u d Ahmadinejad.

Copies of Marquez's 1996 work News of a Kidnapping have sold out from bookshops in Teheran this week after detained opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi said the book's description of Colombian kidnappings offers an accurate reflection of his life under house

arrest, report the Guardian.

Mousavi and fellow opposition leader Mehdi Karroubi have been under house arrest since mid-February when thousands of Iranians poured onto the streets in response to their calls for fresh protests in solidarity with prodemocracy movements in the Arab world.

Since then, they have had little access to the outside world. But Mousavi was allowed a brief meeting with his daughters last week, for the first time in seven months. The brief encounter took place in the presence of security officials but Mousavi reportedly told his daughters: "If you want to know about my situation in captivity, read Gabriel Garcia Marquez's News of a Kidnapping."

Mousavi's comments spread quickly across Iran's huge online community, prompting hundreds of opposition supporters to seek out the book. Queues formed in

some bookshops and copies of the book sold out within days.

One Teheran-based journalist said: "It took me couple of hours to find a copy of the book.

I first went to bookshops in the Karimkhan area, but none had a copy left. I went to Enghelab Avenue and I was amazed to see people queuing up to buy the book as if they were queuing up to buy a new Harry Potter."

At least 10 large bookshops in the capital told the Guardian their stocks of the book had sold out.

None of them would say why.

"It got sold out in the last week or so, we have no copies left," said one shopkeeper. "I don't know why it happened, I can't say." News of a Kidnapping, which was initially published in English in 1997, describes the abduction in the early 1990s of high-profile Colombians, including journalists and politicians, on the orders of the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar.

Google+ opens to the world launched in an invitationonly test format on June 28.

Enhancements to Google+ included letting members take part in video-chat "Hangouts" using camera-enabled smartphones or tablet computers, or broadcast video presentations to groups of watchers using "Hangouts On Air".

Google said it has also woven its Internet search expertise into the social network by adding a query box.

"Google+ is still in its infancy, of course, but we're more excited than ever to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to software," Gundotra said.

"Over the next day, we'll be rolling out all of these features globally."

— AFP

13

Al-Jazeera head resigns AL-JAZEERA'S top executive, Wadah Khanfar, resigned yesterday after eight years as the head of the satellite news channel and was replaced by a member of the Qatari ruling family, the company said.

"For some time I have been discussing my desire to step down with the chairman of the board," Khanfar wrote on Al-Jazeera's website. "He has kindly expressed understanding and has accepted my decision.

The public probably doubted that Al-Jazeera would fulfil its promise of independent journalism. We managed to pleasantly surprise them by exceeding all expectations," Khanfar wrote in a two-page farewell to fellow employees.

— AFP

Man escapes train smash A GERMAN train has derailed after slamming into a car but the motorist had a lucky escape from certain death. The fourcarriage train was travelling from Chemnitz to Leipzig when it hit the car at a level crossing and derailed, with the front carriage overturning, reports The Age. Police spokesman Torsten Henkel said the car had halted at the lowered gate of the crossing as the regional express approached and the driver got out to watch it pass.

A van approached from behind and failed to brake, ramming the car onto the tracks. "The car was empty. Otherwise the man would have been killed," Henkel said.

End to drag queen thievery

SAN FRANCISCO

GOOGLE opened its Google+ social network to the world yesterday, dropping the need for an invitation to join the Internet giant's rival to Facebook.

"For the past 12 weeks, we've been in field trial and during that time, we've listened and learned a great deal," Google senior vice-president of engineering Vic Gundotra said in a blog post.

"We're nowhere near done but with the improvements, we've made so far we're ready to move from field trial to beta. Anyone can visit google.com/+, join the project and connect with the people they care about."

The announcement came as part of a list of the 10 latest improvements Google is making to the social network it

world

A GROUP of drag queens were accused of stealing fabrics, feather boas and other accessories worth thousands of dollars from a string of Florida stores. Three men were arrested yesterday at Jo-Ann Fabrics in Orlando after staff recognised them as part of a larger group of transvestites who had previously taken merchandise from the store, the Orlando Sentinel reported. The cross-dressing collective terrorised fabric and hobby retailers in the area for over a year. "It's a whole gang of drag queens," manager Amanda Marshall said.

IN CAHOOTS: Students marching alongside teachers at the strike yesterday — AFPpic

MADRID

Teachers strike to save education HIGH school students attend a teachers demonstration the city yesterday to protest education spending cuts at a time when Spanish regions are under pressure to shore up their finances.

Unions said between 70 and 80 per cent of the region's 21,000 high school teachers were joining the strike. The Madrid regional government put the figure at 43 per cent.

The regional government has increased the number of hours of classes teachers must give from 18 hours a week to 20 hours because temporary hiring is being cut back. — AFP

Samsung may block iPhone 5 SAMSUNG Electronics is considering legal action to ban sales of Apple's new iPhone, a source familiar with the matter said, in what could be its strongest step to defend against claims by the US firm that the South Korean firm had copied its product designs. The Maeil Business Newspaper reported the South Korean firm may seek injunction request on Apple's new iPhone in Europe. — Reuters

14

world

A kindergartener in Sweet Springs, Missouri, brought a bag of crystal meth and crack pipe to school for show-and-tell but an alert teacher kept the boy from sharing his treasure — Reuters

Science on trial

ROME

Italian experts taken to court over L'Aquila quake response

A GROUP of Italian scientists went on trial yesterday for failing to predict an earthquake that killed more than 300 people in central Italy in 2009 despite signs of increased seismic activity in the area.

The seven defendants — six scientists and one government official — are accused of manslaughter in a case that some see as an unfair indictment of science.

Prosecutors say residents around the city of L'Aquila in the mountainous Abruzzo region should have been warned to flee their homes in the days before the quake.

"We simply want justice," L'Aquila prosecutor Alfredo Rossini told reporters.

The injured parties are asking for €50 million (RM213m) in damages.

The defendants were members of a panel that had met six

DEFENDANT: Bernardinis at the hearing yesterday

days before the quake to assess risks after hundreds of tremors had shaken the medieval university city.

At that meeting, a committee analysed data from the low-magnitude tremors and determined that the activity

DEVASTATION: L'Aquila after the 2009 earthquake — AFPpic

was not a prelude to a major earthquake.

The only one of the seven defendants present at yesterday's hearing was Bernardi De Bernardinis, a former senior official in the Civil Protection Agency.

The other defendants include top scientists like Enzo Boschi, the former director of Italy's prestigious National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology, as well as Claudio Eva, a physics professor at Genoa University in northern Italy.

"This is a trial which opens on very shaky foundations. You cannot put science on trial," Alfredo Biondi, Eva's lawyer, said. Biondi said his client had told the meeting in question that "one cannot rule out a major earthquake".

The experts are accused of giving overly reassuring information to residents who could have taken adequate protective measures if they had been properly informed.

According to the indictment, the seven are suspected "of having provided an approximative, generic and ineffective assessment of seismic activity risks as well as incomplete, imprecise and contradictory information".

Some 120,000 people were affected by the L'Aquila quake, which also destroyed the city's historic centre and medieval churches. — AFP

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Prison chief fired after teen rape The head of Brazil's prison system in the northern state of Para was sacked yesterday after a 14-year-old girl's claims that she was raped for four days in a penitentiary. Police commander Francisco Mota Bernardes was fired because "he took too long to take steps when he was made aware of irregularities in the prison," the head of state public security, Luiz Fernando Rocha, said. The teenager had told police she suffered four days of sexual abuse in the prison colony. — AFP

Cops drop bid to out sources London's Metropolitan Police Service yesterday said it had dropped an application to force the Guardian newspaper to disclose the sources for its reports on the News International phone-hacking affair. Scotland Yard announced Friday it had tried to obtain a court order under the Official Secrets Act to identify "evidence of potential offences resulting from unauthorised leaking of information". The Guardian was at the forefront in uncovering the scale of phone hacking at the now closed News of the World. — AFP

Acknowledgeing a lesson well learned from the BP Oil Disaster, Malaysia plays host to the 1st Hazards Asia Pacific Symposium to discuss best practices in the region’s chemical and process operations.

DR. HAPIZ ABDULLAH Chief Executve Officer, Petronas Chemicals Group

KAMARUDIN ZAKARIA Petronas Vice Presidet, Downstream Operations

PAUL ELLIS

Deputy Chairman of CICM & Chairman Organizing Committee 1st Hazards Asia Pacific Symposium

A brave and agressive take on all possible analysis and perspectives towards captains of industries and their businesses. We bring you in-depth reporting on what makes their business tick based on its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

This Saturday, 10.00pm

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Disney and filmmaker James Cameron announced plans yesterday to open 'Avatar' land at Walt Disney World, Florida, with construction due to begin by 2013 — AFP

world

15

LONDON

Icy situation 'Times Atlas' publishers apologise for 'shrinking' Greenland

THE publishers of the Times Atlas were forced to admit yesterday they were wrong to claim the Greenland ice pack had shrunk by 15 per cent, as Arctic scientists rounded on the company for misinterpreting data and failing to consult them.

The humiliating climbdown for HarperCollins – part of Rupert Murdoch's publishing empire – came after key sources of data on the Greenland ice denied that their research, cited by the Times Atlas, warranted the claims, reports

the Guardian.

Despite criticism of the claim by scientists, a spokeswoman for the atlas issued a robust defence of the claim, saying: "We are the best there is. Our data shows that it has reduced by 15 per cent. That's categorical."

But HarperCollins put out a statement yesterday saying: "For the launch of the latest edition of the atlas, we issued a Press release which, unfortunately, has been misleading with regard to the Greenland statistics. We came to these statistics by comparing the

Gisele escapes speeding fine ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES: The 'Times Atlas' depicting Greenland in 1999 (left) and with 15 per cent of its ice gone in the 2011 edition (right)

extent of the ice cap between the 10th and 13th editions of the atlas. The conclusion that was drawn from this, that 15 per cent of Greenland's once permanent ice cover has had to be erased, was highlighted in the Press release, not in the atlas itself. This was done without consulting the scientific community and was incorrect. We apologise for this and will seek the advice of scientists on any future public statements."

Experts at the US's main research body for the Arctic, the National Snow and Ice

Data Centre (NSIDC), said their estimates showed that the Times Atlas was wrong. In a statement, NSIDC said: "(We have) never released a specific number for Greenland ice loss over the past decade. The loss of ice from Greenland is far less than the Times Atlas brochure indicates."

They joined experts from the UK's Scott Polar Institute in Cambridge, who criticised the Times Atlas for failing to consult researchers before publishing the claims.

However, the publishers' statement was not enough

LOS ANGELES

INCOGNITO: The band in disguise during their impromptu gig

LOS ANGELES

Foo Fighters' gay serenade to church FOO FIGHTERS fans have hailed the band's attempts to serenade the Westboro Baptist Church group with an ode to gay sex, reports NME. NME.com users have taken to Facebook to cheer Dave Grohl's band for singing the specially penned Keep It Clean, outside Kansas City's Sprint Centre.

One fan wrote: "Without resorting to stooping to their level, he has completely blown them out of the water."

The controversial church group were picketing the show in the city but, ensuring they had the last laugh, Grohl and his band surprised the protesters with their comedy song. Donning redneck beards, wigs and trucker hats, Foo Fighters took to the back

of a pick-up truck to sing their ode to same-sex loving.

The band were jeered by the fundamentalist Westboro Baptists throughout the performance outside Kansas City's Sprint Centre but also cheered by a large number of fans watching.

The impromptu gig came after the church group, the subject of a number of Louis Theroux documentaries, announced they were going to picket the band's show due to their teaching of "fornication, adultery, idolatry and fags".

NME.com users ridiculed the movement with one fan writing: "Further proof organised religion is just no good for anything but laughing at."

Hendricks hot for 'Wonder Woman'

MAD MEN actress Christina Hendricks (pic) says she'd like to play Wonder Woman in a potential bigscreen adaptation of the iconic 70s TV series, NME reports.

The 36-year-old, who plays Mad Men's Joan Holloway, was asked in an interview with New York Magazine whether she'd accept the lead role in the proposed Nicolas Winding Refn-directed film.

"Sure! I grew up on the TV show, and I had Wonder Woman Underoos. And Nicolas said, when we were on set (of current release Drive), 'I want you to be Wonder Woman'. And I think he is such an extraordinary and exceptional director that if he asked me to do it, I would do it in a heartbeat."

Prior to the Winding Refn speculation, Joss Whedon had been attached to the project and was also keen on casting Hendricks in the lead. "I'd like to think that Joss would have cast me," she added. "I also loved working with Joss (on Firefly). I'm excited to see what he does with The Avengers.

"Hopefully the stars would align (for Wonder Woman). It would be really fun. It would be cool, wouldn't it? I'd get to kick ass."

Asked if she'd want to bring Wonder Woman back to the dark, sexually liberated roots of the character, Hendricks said: "Well, I would certainly do what Nicolas wanted to do, and I can only guess what his version would be but as I grew up with and am now married to a comic book fan, I think it's important to be true to the original comic books because I know the fans love every detail and it's very important to them."

to settle the controversy, as the company puzzled scientists by continuing to insist the maps were correct, even though they show as clear of ice some areas of land around the edges of Greenland that glaciologists say retain ice cover.

HarperCollins said: "We stand by the accuracy of the maps in this and all other editions of the Times Atlas."

Scientists said that the maps showed some coastal areas of Greenland to be clear of ice, when they were, in fact, still ice covered.

SUPERMODEL Gisele Bundchen (pic) escaped with a warning after police stopped her car for speeding at the weekend.

The Brazilian beauty was driving though Massachusetts when her car was pulled over.

Bundchen was given a warning for allegedly driving 24kkph over the speed limit and allowed to leave without a fine. State police spokesman David Procopio told the Boston Herald: "The traffic cop did give her a warning and let her go on her way. He insisted Bundchen did not receive any special treatment because of her celebrity status."

Watson's big beauty faux pas ACTRESS Emma Watson is no stranger to experimenting with her look but even the gorgeous Brit admits even she's prone to a makeup mishap from time to time. "Wearing too much makeup has been my biggest beauty faux pas," she told Britain's Hello! magazine. "The funny thing about me is that I do have a lot of products. I've always loved makeup and its ability to transform you but I don't actually wear a lot of it, so there is an irony that I own so much of it but wear so little. But I do love beauty products."

'Glee' star splits with boyfriend ACTRESS Lea Michele has split from her actor boyfriend Theo Stockman, a source confirms to Us Weekly. The couple, who have been dating for over a year, vacationed together in Hawaii in July. "I'm a relationship girl," the 25-year-old Glee star told Glamour magazine in 2010.

"I would rather be in a long distance relationship with him than not have a relationship at all." Michele went solo to Sunday night's Emmy Awards.

Franco to direct 'Child Of God' ACTOR James Franco is all set to direct Child of God, a film based on Cormac McCarthy's novel, reports the Times of India. "We shot a 20-minute test of it that turned out pretty well. We were gearing up to do the feature but for various reasons, it's on hold," he said. Franco is currently working on two documentaries, one about his time on US soap General Hospital and the other about a porn website.

16 lifestyle

’MASiF’ feast for the s

By CHE'AZ cheaz@mmail.com.my IT all started a year ago when a group of people who were passionate about the good things in life sat together and dreamed up a festival to be a platform for talented Malaysians to showcase their creativity and work of art to the world.

After much deliberation and planning, the Music, Arts and Style International Festival (MASiF) was born. Its concept was to be simple, yet comprehensive and designed to be a feast to the senses, be it fashion, music, visual arts or activities promoting Malaysia’s rich culture.

The inaugural MASiF was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and it attracted a lot of attention.

The success led to yet another festival that wrapped up last weekend.

This year's three-day-long MASiF affair was held at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and was divided into two segments — indoor (within the KLCC building) and outdoor (at the centre court of KLCC).

The lead-up to the launch, entitled 'Lets MASiF', was kicked-off outdoors with a string of performances by local indie acts, such as After Life, Brainhead, Produkhatikecewa, Stubborn, Classmates and The Lipz Art Inc, followed by pop stars, such as Ella and Jamal Abdillah. The first night certainly attracted the crowd.

“In the long run, we want MASiF to be synonymous with Malaysia Day and be the starting point to drive international recognition for Malaysian talent. At the same time, we’re keen to work hand-in-hand with the government and relevant partners to achieve the ultimate goal-increased tourism as international travellers' desire and seek to discover more about Malaysia,” said MASiF president Adam Salim.

He also believed that having the event on the weekend of Malaysia Day would be apt for our countrymen to celebrate our rich diversity of culture to promote unity.

The show opened with a grand entrance made by one of Malaysia’s most beloved designers, Datuk Radzuwan Radziwill, who showcased his latest collection.

Young singer Narmi belted out her hits that became the background music for catwalk models strutting their stuff in colourful dresses by Iszal Ismail.

The evening got even hotter when models showed off the latest collection by the everso-lovable Calvin Thoo while serenaded by Ella.

Thoo’s designs were followed by the works of young designers from the house of Wan Pa, a name famous for dressing up celebrities on the red carpet.

That night, the house of Wan Pa also displayed quite a number of contemporary works.

Yet another highlight was the collection from Datin Sharifah Kirana who recreated the kaftan by using intricatelyembellished fabrics for her

CREATIVE BLEND: Noryn (sixth left day-to-night wear.

During the first segment of the second day that carried the theme ‘One MASiF’, performances by Azureforjanne and Anamys Affair, followed by Oh Chentaku, Egois Red Ruby Avengersm Bohemia, Project Alice and Dekya Inc wowed the crowd.

The second segment was blasted by the energetic show by younger names like Prema Yin, I’m Singles, One Nation Emcee, Fadzly Razman and Tasha Ink. The energy was also pumped further by Stacy, Yassin, Melda Ahmad, Atilia, Hafiz AF, and Azlan and the Typewriter. There was also a wayang kulit show by the Three Theatre Group.

In the fashion showcase, many new names, or rather, students from the International Academy of Fashion Design, debuted their creations. Other designers who took part in displaying their designs were Noor Rahan, Aira Couture, Nawal Jazz, Jezmine, Anizam Yusuf, Akmal Ariffin and Salleh Hamid.

It was a rather busy day, as interactive activities were

FROM INDONESIA: Yuni lending her voice to the occassion

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

senses

t) with models showing off Von Jolly's designs — Pix: AMINOR AZMI offered to visitors. Among the highlights were appearances of renowned illustrator Imuda and watercolourist Ismail Kadir.

Talented designers also joined the fray. There were new collections by Hajaba, Ya Salma, Syarehan Ahmad and Azwa Safrina highlighting Islamic values in their designs. Their designs were joined by works from O’oi Couture, Jyeik Couture, Fizi Woo and Madukara

by Eusopth Salleh.

Among the performers who lent their music to the fashion show were Toi, Melda Ahmad, Atilia, Stacy, and Azlan and the Typewriter, while the stage was kept busy with models parading new works by Ang Eng, Raymond Goh, Arefen Zaidin and Shegar Chandra.

The final day, themed ‘Massive MASiF’, kicked off with rousing outdoor performances courtesy of Malaysia’s top indie bands, such as Janitior, Mind Blank, 3Kustik, Happy Siblings, Kid n’ Xera, Friday King Road, Dichi Michi and Skudap Skudip, during the first half of the day. It was later

CROONER: Adibah sings her heart out

topped by Marionexxes, Filipino hearthrob Andy Panglila, The Adlys and Treeji.

The indoor show was quite an event, too, with performances

by Malaysian divas Misha Omar, Noryn Aziz and Adibah Noor, as well as special guest performers from Indonesia, Yuni Shara, and the Philippines’ pop princess Amber Davis.

The closing event also saw the latest works by Joanne Chan who displayed her latest avant garde collection, followed by Ghetto by G Alexander, Eloquent Memoir and Merlee Shariff. They were joined by Veejay Floresca who came out with two exclusive collections from the Philippines and Ivan Gunawan from Indonesia who captivated all with his stunning designs.

Can we have MASiF 3 quick?

KIDDY STYLE: A young model showcasing designs by kapas.biz

17

Cruz with Taio on Arthur’s Day

By LOONG WAI TING waiting@mmail.com. my TAIO CRUZ is a person who wears many hats. As the English singer-songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur has come thus far in his career, he has remained humble, and would still “occasionally” work twice as hard as any artistes in the industry.

“Being in the music industry, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is to work hard. When my song Dynamite won the Top Pop Song award at the 2011 Billboard Awards, it felt good!

It was the first-ever award that I’ve ever won and also the first time I’ve been able to be on stage to receive the award. It felt amazing...,” the 28-year-old singer said.

“It was a massive surprise and it felt incredible as I don’t normally expect to win anything at these shows.”

While life presents itself to its owner, Cruz, on the other hand, is a maker of his own destiny.

“The best thing about being a professional singer is that you get to sing and perform and do what you love for a living. As far as I’m concerned, there is no bad in my world.”

Well, for Malaysian fans, you’re in luck. In conjunction with the 24-hour global Arthur’s Day Celebration which will begin in Dublin, Ireland, at exactly 17.59pm tomorrow, Taio Cruz has confirmed his attendance in

Malaysia as part of the concert’s massive line-up, which features acts from around the world.

“Fans can definitely expect to see me dressing in allblack, with dark sunglasses and leather jacket. If I’m not wearing that, something must be very, very wrong,” he said, very matter-of-factly.

“I’ll be coming to perform the songs that fans love. I feel like if I was a fan of an artiste and he comes out and does a whole heap of songs I’ve never heard, I’d be very disappointed. I always like to do the songs my fans have heard and love.”

On his biggest influence on both his life and music, the young singer described himself

as a sponge absorbing influences from lots of people.

“I don’t really have one specific person that influences my sound.

I can’t put my finger on just one person, and the same thing goes to life,” he said.

Apart from producing and recording music, the Londonborn Cruz keeps himself busy keeping his business running smoothly. In September 2009, he launched the brand Rockstarr — a fashion and accessories brand with major focus on sunglasses.

How did he do it?

“Like any business, it definitely requires some navigation. You have to try to stay current and continually promote it to make sure people are

aware of your project,” he said. “And the same thing is required in the music industry and with being an artiste, it’s very similar. You just try to do your best on those accounts!”

The Arthur’s Day 2011 concert will be held in Speed City at Selangor Turf Club, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday. Included on the show are Soler, a popular pop duo from Macau; Mizz Nina, DJ Skeletor and The Kartel Group, which includes Joe Flizzow, Dandee from Thailand and Take-T from Japan. This is the third annual global celebration featuring Taio Cruz as the headline act.

More than 15,000 people are expected to attend the concert in Kuala Lumpur.

FREETICKETS! FANCY getting your hands on some free passes? The Malay Mail is giving out two pairs of tickets (four) to 50 lucky winners. The first 50 people to bring a copy of this article to The Malay Mail (one person each) during office hours (9am to 5pm) today and tomorrow will get the passes.

Daisies to whiten skin EVERYONE wants to be fair. No matter how we try to say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, many individuals (especially Asians) still believe fairer skin and brighter tones are still what everyone needs.

Clinelle is fulfilling that special need, through its Brightening Serum, the latest whitening product in its range of skin care. The base of the product is apparently the humble daisy. According to Clinelle research, daisies have the components to brighten one's skin.

Clinelle's Brightening Serum apparently also evens out the skin tone while moisturising and revitalising skin texture. In addition, the serum integrates an Evinix SystemTM which helps to repair, refine and re-shield the skin. This product retails at RM79.80.—

By CHE'AZ

FOR A BRIGHTER TOMORROW: Susan Lim (centre), Senior General Manager of Clinelle, with the serum

lifestyle 18 life

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

The 70â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s revisited by Raoul

By CHE'AZ cheaz@mmail.com.my THIS year's autumn/winter 2011 collection from Raoul combines the look of men and women's wear inspired from the strict uniformity of 1970's Pan Am flight attendants. The men's collection is leaning towards that touch of 70's swagger, fused with the minimalist aesthetics of the 90's.

With understated elegance, clean lines and refined tailoring, this collection sports classic styles with subtly arresting details that catches one's eye and redefines the style of a modern man. The key colour palate include cognac, putty, maroon and navy which are often contrasted alongside bright colour blocks or with receding neutrals that come in black, grey and bitter brown.

Fabrics are care-

fully chosen and have been specifically selected in displaying luxury and comfort.

The fine worsted wool are used for suiting and jackets while the herringbone, double-faced and light-weight cashmere are used for overcoats with a leather collar.

Polished leather are also used for bomber jackets.

The style and the detailing have been pared down to its essential form and function, and executed in non-traditional ways.

Patch leather pockets, contrast and self fabric-binding on shirts as well as tailored jackets twith self fabric-binding draw at-

tention to cut and form.

The highlights of this series are the shirts which make a statement of the season.

Among the highlights are, terracotta suede duster coat worn over knit turtleneck and slim trousers, and velvet jacket with flat leather patch pockets for textural contrast.

There are also shearling leather motorcycle jackets and a fine gage cashmere-silk blend knits have graphic details such as colour blocking, stripes and collar tipping.

Meanwhile, the women's ensembles flaunt the confident looks of graphic simplicity in their suits and skirt/blouse combinations. This essence of minimalism as reinterpreted in the 90's create a classic timeless sensibility and linear, graphic silhouettes (at times androgynous) yet always feminine.

As for the fabrications, the collection uses heavy and light fabrics combined and contrasted with meticulous precision.

Also used are Ponti jersey, heavy wool and tweed combinations together with a luxurious

cashmere, hand-woven paisley lace, crepe de chine, double georgette, honeycomb weave and novelty metallic silk yarns.

Other fabrics include heavy crepe, crepette, shantung, small gestures in foil and crisp Pima cotton for shirting. Leather is dominant over suede for ready-to-wear. Knits are lightweight cashmere, perfect for layering over blouses, under jackets or worn with a matching knit skirt, perfectly suitable for both the seasoned traveller and the unpredictable climates we are experiencing.

The women's base colours are neutral, monochromatic and tonal. Shades of porcelain white, eggshell, putty grey, cognac, terracotta, navy and ink, are punctuated with bursts of bright colours like fluorescent red and ultra violet.

The highlights of this collection would be tunic style dresses and gilets worn alone over opaque tights or over wide-legged trousers. Pinafore skirts are worn with a fitted mock

turtleneck and tailored dresses with heavy top stitching.

And the sky-high block heels as brogues complete the look perfectly as do the belts with their utilitarian edge.

BAGS AND ACCESSORIES MEN: Leather briefcases and bags in neutral colours like black and navy, featuring various carrying style options, organisational features and different sizes to combine daytime essentials with modern styles.

Shoes are polished and appear sophisticated in heavy, shiny box calf leather. Lace up shoes and loafers are in cognac, brown and black.

WOMEN: Vintage-inspired leather and suede, in neutral colours like tan, navy and maroon with gold or silver horseshoe-shaped hardware details, worked into modern verities like mini satchels, block heels and skinny belts. Leather is used to great effect in graphic combination with suede.

The saddlebag in mini version is reinforced this season with smaller accordion compartment purses.

Italian fashion arrives THE MaxMara Autumn/Winter 2011 collection has finally arrived in style to our stores. The luxury Italian fashion label has once again produced a line of autumn-winter pieces along with an equally elegant line of accessories.

The collection begins with the classic British country-look embodying urbanism and sophistication with endless traditional shapes and fabrics which are reinterpreted and transformed by new technologies and unexpected combinations.

Among of the most outstanding designs that will catch the eyes are the parkas, duffel coats and biker jackets. These particular designs shout out elegance through their new silhouettes with short trapezeshaped skirts and fur appliques', buckles and fringing.

Again the creativity of this line is put up front. The kilt becomes a bustier dress and the tartan is illuminated by embroidery.

As for the fabrics, the longhaired alpaca and mohair, neoprene-effect leather, pure caramel and cashmere are chosen for the collection.

The colour selections are according to the theme of a city which are, greys, pale powder shades, brown, 60's yellow, antique silver and gold.

For Sportmax's designs, the inspiration is said to have come from chilly northern Europe as portrayed in Ingmar Bergman's films, the timeless design of Arne Jacobsen, moorlands and wide-open spaces.

This sartorial collection of minimalist items inspired by menswear come with a hint of a relaxing weekend in the forest in cosy raincoats, shearling coats, cocoon knits and blanket skirts.

On the other hand, the evening collection is all about magical fairytale prints inspired by the landscapes of Hans Christian Ander-

sen's tales, and these were lit up by ice-like sequins.

The long-line silhouettes combining earthy shades of browns and glace, are an interpretation of the designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nuances for teal and poppy. All in all, the neutral colour palette keeps things cool and contemporary but the soft textures give this collection a comfortable, easy-to-wear feel.

Meanwhile, for those looking for accessories or perhaps the right bags to go with the season, MaxMara also dedicates a collection of bags called Ginevra, which just might offer all the trademarks that women would look for â&#x20AC;&#x201D; elegance, precision, tradition and a passion for quality.

lifestyle 19

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

CPR and SCA

Can cardiopulmonary resuscitation prevent death during a heart attack?

By dr haizal haron kamar lifestyle@mmail.com.my I have been getting some enquiries regarding sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after the last Heart2Heart article and I thought it would be good to address some of these issues this week.

1. Is it possible to predict or prevent a first SCA? As briefly touched in the last article, SCA is usually due to acute myocardial infarction or heart attack. To prevent SCA is really to do anything and everything possible to prevent a heart attack such as abstaining from tobacco in any shape or form, exercising

regularly, watching diet and weight, and going for regular medical checkups.

However, there are rare cases of SCA found mainly in the young where the heart muscle is abnormally thick (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy or HOCM) or the coronary arteries originate from abnormal sites on the aorta (anomalous coronary arteries). These are usually not detected as young people do not usually go to see a doctor for a medical checkup. In a way, it rather sad as HOCM can be suspected from a simple ECG tracing and later confirmed by doing an echocardiogram.

HOCM is genetically-linked so once it is detected in a child or young adult, all the siblings and close family members should be screened.

2. How effective is CPR if done correctly?

Statistics in the West show that around 800,000 people in the United States, Canada and Europe have out-ofhospital SCA every year. That is around two every three minutes! It is the commonest cause of sudden unexpected

death and it is probably not a remote possibility for you to be witness to one at some point in time. I remember as a young medical student travelling in a plane when a man collapsed with SCA and died. Therefore, knowledge of CPR is very useful.

However, statistics are also not very much in favour of CPR. The survival rate averages only five per cent, in part due to inefficient CPR techniques.

Looking from another angle, the survival rate is almost a guaranteed zero if CPR is not started.

3. I am afraid to do mouthto-mouth in a CPR. Is chest compression enough?

In a proper CPR, it is best to have both chest compression (to maintain blood circulation) and mouthto-mouth respiration (to aid oxygen delivery to the lungs) in a coordinated manner. This is best achieved in a hospital where emergency facilities are available. However, it may not be possible in an out-ofhospital setting especially if you are alone with the patient.

There is usually reluctance especially amongst the lay public to do mouth-to-mouth breathing for fear of infection transmission and also of doing it the wrong way.

Recent studies have shown that chest compressiononly CPR not in a hospital setting is just as effective as, if not more than, ‘hand and mouth CPR’. I find this a very interesting finding as it virtually eliminates the problem of fear mentioned earlier. A bystander will then just need to concentrate of manual chest compression, a not too difficult technique to learn, while waiting for help to arrive.

4. What can we do to prevent another SCA? The commonest heart rhythm abnormality in SCA is ventricular fibrillation (VF). It invariably leads to death unless there is timely intervention. In a hospital setting, a single DC cardioversion (electric shock delivered through two paddles applied on the chest) is usually sufficient to restore normal heart rhythm. What about at home or anywhere else? This is

when a small device akin to a pacemaker called implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is placed under the skin on the chest with wires sticking into the heart chambers. The ICD is able to detect VF and automatically discharge an appropriate electrical energy to deliver a shock to the heart.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind my readers of a public forum on ‘Cardiac Emergencies’ which will be held this Saturday.

Emergency heart cases such as heart attack and SCA will be discussed including a

demonstration on current and effective CPR techniques. The number to call for enquiries and RSVP is 018-2116789 or you can email allee@ tropicanamedicalcentre.com.

Make some time to make a difference.

If you have any questions or comments, do write to me at haizal@tropicanamedicalcentre.com. See you again next Wednesday.

Dr Haizal Haron Kamar Consultant Cardiologist Tropicana Medical Centre

sudoku

Question

What's wrong with a big heart?

Jimmy Dear Jimmy, Thank you for read-

ing The Malay Mail and Heart2Heart. What you are asking me is a very common question posed to me by my patients. In fact, it is one of the commonest referrals to a cardiologist from a Wellness or medical screening centre. Is it “serious” or “life-threatening”? It is potentially, yes, but most of the time, it is nothing to be worried about. Let me explain.

Cardiomegaly is the medical term for a big heart. Now, a “big heart” in the medical context is not a good thing. It does not reflect your generosity or kindness. What it means is that your heart is abnormally enlarged usually due to heart failure.

The heart is dilated and

weak causing you to have symptoms such as breathlessness and swelling of your feet.

Cardiothoracic ratio, or CTR in short, is a simple and rather crude way of measuring the size of the heart using a chest x-ray image. The ratio is calculated by measuring the width of the heart over that of the chest. A ratio of less than 1:2 (or 50 percent) is considered normal. If it is greater than that, then the CTR is increased indicating cardiomegaly.

There can, however, be technical flaws in this formula. If the chest x-ray is taken wrongly or rather not in the best position, then the heart can appear

to be bigger than it really is. Remember when we used to play shadow puppets when we were small?

What happened when we moved our hands near and then far away from the light source? The size of the shadows changed, right? Likewise, the heart shadow size changes too if the x-ray is not taken in the correct way.

A CTR of 17.5:29 is above normal. A consultation with a doctor will be necessary. More often than not, a simple test called echocardiogram — an ultrasound scan of the heart which can accurately measure the size of the heart — will be done to exclude or confirm cardiomegaly.

how to play 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.

Yesterday'S solution

Dear Dr Haizal, I am an avid reader of your most informative articles in The Malay Mail and you ought to be congratulated and thanked for publicly sharing your expertise and experience.

Recently, a close friend of mine went for a medical checkup and his X-ray report stated "Cardiomegaly —cardiothoracic ratio of 17.5cm/29.cm". What does it mean? Is it serious or life-threatening?

Thank you and with warm regards,

20

the malay mail

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

WEDNESDAY 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

the malay mail

21

22

PROPERTY / MOTORING / HEALTH / HOME / OTHERS

the malay mail

Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

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

M20

Houses for sale

M130

Car for sale

M133

Commercial vehicles for sale

M321

Fashion/health & beauty

M321

Fashion/health & beauty

M390

Home services/renovations

CHERAS TAMAN BUKIT ANGGERIK. D/S. 16x35.

L/A 1805sf. Corner 2R+1B. Bumi Lot RM 265K ONO. 012-330 7579.

Cheong.

Computer ALL PC repairs services 24 hrs for office residents.

Microsoft certified engineer.

Contact Sri 012-271 6814

M22

Houses wanted

M303

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

016-321 4958, 010-539 4958

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

0 A-1 MASSAGE Services (1606620-V) by Female.

Outcall only. Private & cosy. Call: +6012-393 0136

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

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

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

M392

Home repairs/maintenance

SPECIALIST IN notebook / pc repairs. Best price & services.

On-site repairs & free troubleshooting.

Call 016-380 1984 Teh

M430

Business opportunities

M436

Leasing/loans CAR REPAYMENT PROBLEMS? R.O, Auction, Finance? Let us help you settle them. You pay us nothing!

T&C apply. Call: 017-641 5062

M398

Services ACCOUNTS, AUDIT ,TAX, Secretarial, MOF & Register co..Door steps service.

Lembah Klang.03-5511 5922 / 03-4107 8457 Sainy.

Visit www.mhmfirm.com

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

Owners TEL / SMS 019-228 6666

M35

Properties for sale TASMANIAN (Australia) property for sale at very competitive prices. Ring Freddie Forstner on +61409886698 or E mail magyar@trump. net.au or visit www. batterypointheritage.com.au

GOOD NEWS !!!

Great promotion. Immediate stock , Fast approval. High trade in. Low d/ payment. Free body kit & sport rim for Forte. All new Sorento ready stock. Sportage, Citra RS, Rondo, Picanto, Pregio.

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Out call only : 019-255 6622

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

M135

Vehicles for hire

Home furniture/furnishing

Office/office building for sale

M43

Office to let

INSPIRA D/p 0, 9 yrs RM850.

Saga d/p 0 9yrs RM398 Pesona , d/p 0 9 yrs RM498 Exora , d/p 0.

9 yrs RM 638 . Goverment loan 140%.Government black list can apply. High Trade in accpt.

Road tax free 2 years. face book: rejalfaaisproton 013-679 9967

A DAILY, WEEKLY, MTLY. RM50-RM300. All types of cars.

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

A FULL GLAMOUR Massage (001711965-V) by female.

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LOCAL INDIAN girls mssg.

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

MALAYSIA DAY OFFERS For Proton cars. Attractive cash rebate. Free services. Ready stock. Call: AMIR 012-223 8240

ALL MODELS CAR Van & MPV, Toyota Alphard, Wish, BMW, Naza Ria, Kia Spectra, Vios, Waja & Perdana V6 etc.

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Tel: 019-599 9973 / 012-2532 566 Roadster Travel (KPL/LN 3540)

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

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

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

Interested please Call Julie: 016-293 1051

M53

CYBERJAYA. Ground Floor shop in Biz Avenue 2 , 1446 sqf.

Rent RM3800/ Sale RM890000.

Pls contact: 012-288 0218

M130

INDIAN AROMA TRADITIONAL Massage by local Indian girl. Relaxing for M/ Female.

1pm -11pm. Appt. DIVYA 016-6468 493/016-3095 232

NAMASTE!!! Need a relaxing massage ?

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

TMN SETIAWANGSA KL available office space 1st flr. rental RM700 per month. F/f. & free parking, available immediately. Call: Baharin 019-279 2060

Shops to let

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

M393

M40

One South Street Mall office suites: Promotion Hari Malaysia ~16-18 September 2011 ~10am - 6pm ~Buyer get buyer cash voucher ~Buyer special rebate ~Please visit our show unit ~serve with light refreshment.

Tel: 03-8945 8878 (Hp) 0129536189 / 016-7783386. AYG Property Solutions E(3) 1168

REPAIR ON THE SPOT., Air cond, fridge, water heater, & w/machine.

24hrs & 7 days operation.

Call: Syed 017-388 3154

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.

Oscar Tan 012-388 5897

BRAND NEW EXECUTIVE Taxis for hire! Complete with meter, gas cylinders etc.

Call Mr.Felix: 012-298 0066 / Mr.John: 012-209 0563.

Car for sale

AROMA MASSAGE RM39 at Serdang, Judy, Alice, Jenny, Ari, Mira,Jean.

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

OM SAI RAM 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. & YANTRA WORLD brng excelnt 3 days Weight GAIN (+20kg ) Program now at RM789, Can pay by instlmnt. Original Price RM3899. Fast, Easy & Herbal.$ bec guarntd. Call Rubini 010261 7817 or 012-630 1672

OUTCALL TRADITIONAL MASSAGE, pre / post natal,body Scrub for men / women by experienced masseur.

Call: Mira 013-336 3160

FOR LITTLE OR No Money earns from 100K to millions for Onex Programs, pre IPO biodiesal shares. 6010-2101649 KEMENTERIAN KEWANGAN MOF Registration, Bumi status.

Call: 03-40434000 / 019-3840000. www.

Ready Companies.com

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

Tel: 012313 0778 / 03- 7981 1898

M394

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T&C apply. Call 013-277 8625

‘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.

Free smart tag, touch n go, full fuel, steering lock, tinted. Open everyday.Mr Lim 012-214 0207

ALL NEW MODELS. Attractive promotion. New sport back. Fast delivery, FOC maintenance.

Pls call: 012-326 9849

TRADE-IN VALUE. ENJOY brand new 5-seater SUV (manual), 7-seater MPV (auto), 14-seater VAN (manual) with 100,000km / 3 year warranty.

Lowest d/p. Good Interest rates. Call James 019-281 1163

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

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

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

A/C, ASTRO, dismantle/ reinstall, t.v, tel, water heater, wiring, plumbing, lights & W/ machine. Sam 012-201 8305

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

M414

Photography

M370

Articles for sale

M432

PROPERTY TRAINING Firms, be own boss start immediately, great potential small capital, high income, low risk consultant - 012-339 7738 / 019-220 7770

ANTIQUE- NYONYA/ Chinese porcelain, Epergne, clocks, dolls, furniture’s, crystals, Murano.

017-2829 700, 012-208 6745

M434

Business Services

VIDEO to DVD Conversion.

Video filming & Photography Svs. 03-4041 6850 / 6277 4991 / HP 012-235 5190. w w w. s h e e l v i s i o n . c o m

SAFFRON BEAUTY CARE(002052898-A) 22A-2, Jln Rimbunan Raya, Kepong.

Massage by local Indian girl. Private & cosy. Riya 014-664 6956

TRADITIONAL MASSAGE in Cheras & Balakong.

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

CUPID’S TOUCH High success rate genuine clientele.

Call: 03-2142 6118 / 032142 1118 / 016-650 1118 w w w. c u p i d s t o u c h . c o m . m y

Business for sale

CO FORMATION RM1,400.

Work permit, shelf co., rep. of office, MOF, close down, secretarial & audit.

Call: 012-696 3631.

MUSLIM COMPANY Secretary New & Shelf Co. ROC, MOF Bumi Kem. Kewangan Call: 03-40410000 / 0162860000

M300

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

Gina/ Rina/Apple/ Rozie.

M280

Friendship

Home electrical appliances

UNIFORM FACTORY at Cheras, we make all types of uniform. Call: William 016-338 3670 Agents are welcome 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.

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

Come to USJ9 Mall, Puchong 017-707 8383

M372

Articles wanted

Education

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

HIGH 4D TRAINING SKILLS for direct top prizes. 4D winning numbers for Magnum & Toto.

Increase chances in winning 4D Magnum & Toto Jackpot game using these powerful techniques. Call Mr.Vincent: 012670 7182 for more information.

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.

Call Mr Goh :012-2392775 or Mr Yap :012-2168427

BUY / SELL / PAWN Note book, hand phone new/ old 70% digital camera.0342517755 / 012-3388688 Peter.

208 Plaza Ampang City, KL

Full color, 260gsm, art card with matt. Lamination.

Other printing services are also available. Call Mr. Rahman H/P 016-3275477 or email adclassic65@gmail.com / a d c l a s s i c 6 5 @ ya h o o. c o m

JOBS / LEGAL / NOTICES

Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011 M515

M515

Jobs

Jobs

ACCOUNT/AR CLERK & Personal Driver. Interested candidates please call Mrs Yap H/P 012-3900 738/ 016-3230 738

CRAFT BAKERS, AN European style community bakery for organic breads & sandwiches located at Solaris Dutamas urgently requires 2 cafe staff to prepare & serve sanwiches & coffee. Training will be provided for sandwich & food preparation & barista skills. Previous experience will be an advantage.

Working hour btwn 9am & 5pm.

Hourly rate between RM7 to RM9 depending on experience & performance. Must be able to speak English. School leavers are encouraged to apply if you would like to learn & develop skills in bakery industry. Contact Gandhi at: 012-290 054 / Email to caftbakers@craftbakers.org.uk CREDIT RECOVERY OFFICERS wanted at Klana Jaya. School leavers or fresh graduate or retires encourage to apply. Interested call: 016-207 0228 Lee, 012-296 0625 John DOCTOR WANTED in Shah Alam. Full/Part time.

5 day week. Salary 8-10k.

Email resume shihchoon@ gmail.com or call 012-229 3395

ACCOUNTS ASSISTANT required by authorised Honda dealer in Subang Jaya (near Goodyear Court). Min SPM/ above.

Computer literate.

To assist exec in accounting & admin functions. Able to start immediately is an advantage. Chinese female preferred. E-mail to stbt@ usjcarexpress.com or contact Mr. Steven 03-56358988.

ADMIN EXEC, CLERK. Min SPM / Diploma, With or no exp, Willing to learn, honest, hardworking, SALES EXEC. Own transport, service dealers.

Positive attitude, work independently.

Speak/ write English, located: Bdr Sri Dâ ™sara Tel:03-6272 9316 / angiebhb@yahoo.com

ADMIN/ GENERAL Clerk Wanted. SPM or equivalent Age < 25yrs. Malaysian Citizens.

Fluent in English & BM. Salary + Allowance +RM1200++.

Despatch, Minimum SPM, Possesses driving license, motorcycle & hand phone .

Interested? Call: 016-308 4747 An established Company at Jalan Ipoh seeks LORRY DRIVER Requirements:Familiar with Klang Valley.

With experience at least 1 year. Capable to carry heavy goods. Willing to work long hours. Interested candidates kindly call 03-6257 7860 BRANCH MANAGER / Sales & Marketing Exec.

Selling International & local Project, gd income.Fresh graduates. Based in Kajang, KL, PJ & USJ Tel: 77276121 usj@or ientalrealty.com.my

BUS DRIVERS WITH E License & Van Drivers (male/female) needed for international school based in KL. Call: 03-4044 8081 / 012-234 8081 (10am-5pm) BUSINESS MANAGERS â “ RM 20,000.00 and more per month can be earned. An excellent opportunity to be your own Boss by joining a 3rd party outsource company handling personal loans. The role requires previous experience handling a team of sales people. Candidates with Supervisory and interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate a team are preferred. Call: 032072 5588 Jessica or Thava, mobile number 016-201 8007 for immediate interview.

C&S consulting engineers looking for junior drafts person. Contact 012-3236682

DRIVER: 3-4 Yrs experience with good road knowledge, interested. TECHNICIAN IT: Min SPM, Exp IT / Electronic, valid driving license. ENGINEER IT: Dip IT / Electronic, 2 Yrs. Exp, HW, SW. Contact: 03-5513 1114 / Email:hr@rhyzrin.com

M515

M515

M515

M515

M515

Jobs

Jobs

Jobs

Jobs

Jobs

PRECISION MACHINIST/ TOOL & DIE MAKERS needed.

Min. 3 yrs exp. in High Precision Steel or Carbide Grinding, CNC Milling/Wire-Cut, EDM for Semicon tooling spares fabrication. Preferred Malaysian or foreigners with work permits may apply. Call 03-5636 8122 or send resume at roswati@ sandpipers.com.my or kschan@sandpipers.com.my

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

RUNNERS WANTED IMMEDIATELY. Attractive Commission.

Possess own motorbike. Call: 032694 9901 / 2693 4142

SALES DEVELOPMENT Executive/ Van Salesman / Lorry Driver & Lorry Attendant needed with or without exp. Call 03-8062 2007

SECURITY ELITE GUARDS CISCO Urgently needed at 5 Star Hotel in KL, Ex Uniformed personnel’s are encouraged.

Salary RM 1800.00+++. EPF, SOCSO, medical, insurance, meals and hostel provided.

Contact: Chandran 012-376 0640, Jeya 016-222 3213, Jefri 019-348 4646, Office 03-2282 7055, 2282 7044

TEACHER / CARETAKER NEEDED in a kindergarten at Mutiara Tropicana. Interested please call 016-909 8206

GENERAL CLERK & GENERAL WORKER urgently wanted in Shah Alam. 5 days week. No experience required. Tel: 03-5638 1166 IMMEDIATE VACANIES FOR Credi recovery Officers / Field visit Officer & despatch. Age below 37. Min SPM. Male / female. Indoor / outdoor. With / Without experience. Urgently required in Tmn Shamelin, Cheras. Good basic salary + high commission. Please call Ms.Yatie 03-9285 0500.

IN-HOUSE TAILOR Ladies Wear. Mont Kiara. Part/Full Time.

Salary RM 1K ++ based on experience. Call: 012-201 5526 MEMBERSHIP CONSULTANT (Basic+Comm+Free gym m’ship) Good communication skills, sales experience is an advantage, training provided.

High commission. CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICER (Basic+Incentive+Free gym m’ship) Experience in handling customers, pleasant and friendly.Both positions are based in Sri Petaling. Start immediately. Call Ms Adeline 012-609 9969 / Ms Lily 012366 5998 for an interview.

ONLINE EDUCATION BUSINESS. We are looking for business partners to expand our market share. The only e-learning portal endorsed by the Ministry of Education.

Huge market potential (Std 1 to Form 5). Pioneer & leader in e-learning. Low start-up capital. High income return.

SMS your particulars <NAME> SPACE <AGE> SPACE <OCCUPATION> SPACE <AREA> to 012-3776739 PERSONAL DRIVER needed with experience, with OT, non smoking. Ref, discipline.

Punctual. Familiar with KL & PJ area.Condition strictly apply Call: 012-379 8877

TEAM MANAGERS â “ RM 20,000.00 and more per month can be earned. An excellent opportunity to be your own Boss by joining a 3rd party outsource company handling personal loans. The role requires previous experience handling a team of sales people. Candidates with Supervisory and interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate a team are preferred. Call: 03 2072 5588 Jessica or Thava, mobile number 016-201 8007 for immediate interview

VACANCY AT a Spare Parts Company 1) Lorry Driver 2) Motor Driver 3) General Worker Salary is negotiable. Staff refreshment is included.

Company is opposite of Petronas Segambut. Please call: Michelle 016-975 3681 / 03-6259 9666

Vacancy. 1) Store Hand. Prefer stay in Klang area & with motorbike license. 2) Technician / Sales Executive. Prefer with electrical background & with car license. Training provided. Please contact 033324 3362 or 03-3324 5111 email: westbend@hotmail.com

WAREHOUSE ASSISTANCE & GENERAL Clerk required at Subang USJ 1. Candy & Soft Toys Wholesaler. Preferably below 45 years old. Call Ms.Tai at 012-360 1966 / 03-8023 6813

WAREHOUSE ASST. Willing to work at Jln Reko, Kajang.

Assist in loading of goods process and monitoring. Tel: 8736 8777 ext. 328 Siew Wan

03-7495 1273

03-7495 1273

A ESTABLISHED INTERNATIONAL Newspaper /Magazines distribution company wants a DESPATCH RIDER , with motorcycle license , preferably staying around Putra Jaya area . To deliver newspaper/ magazines to Putra Jaya area . Working hours from 0600 to 1400.

Salary negotiable. If interested please come personally to the following address: NEWSPAPER & MAGAZINE SERVICES (M) SDN BHD. 16 JALAN SM 10, TAMAN SRI MANJA OFF JALAN KLANG LAMA. 46000 PETALING JAYA TEL: 7783 7797 / 7783 0895 / 96 - Puan ROSE.

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sports

Malaysia target to finish fourth in the three-day Borneo 7s rugby tournament to be held at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu from Friday — Bernama

KAMpusBuzz with Kamaruzaman Ahmad mmsport@mmail.com.my

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

SHAH ALAM: FOOTBALL

'I was hurt' Red Giants' coach calls it quits

BUKIT JALIL: SQUASH READY TO ROLL: Hijjah is ready to ‘swing’

SELANGOR coach K. Devan (pic) quit hardly 24 hours after speculating there is a conspiracy to bring him down.

Devan, who is usually a cool figure on and off the pitch, had earlier told Mailsport he was unperturbed with the unfurling of banners by fans demanding his resignation after the Red Giants lost 2-1 to T-Team at Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.

He believed those were not the sentiments of the true Merah Kuning fans but certain quarters who have a vested interest in seeing him lose his position.

However, he was disturbed.

With that in mind and the poor performance of the team in the Malaysia Cup, Devan called it quits.

By HARESH DEOL haresh@mmail.com.my

FA of Selangor (FAS) held a meeting on Monday night and Devan was asked if he would reconsider his decision — but he didn't budge.

FAS respected the decision and promoted Devan's assistant P. Maniam to the hot seat. FAS secretary Datuk Hamidin Amin insisted he is unaware of any conspiracy to unseat Devan.

Devan remains one of the most successful coaches in Selangor, having won six titles in two seasons including the Super League (2009, 2010), Selangor Cup (2009), FA Cup (2009) and the Sultan Ahmad Shah Cup (2009, 2010).

Here's what Devan, voted Coach-of-the-Year in 2006 and 2009, had to say about his three seasons with Selangor.

"I cannot do miracles. My decision to quit was based solely on the team's poor performances but I was hurt with the banner demanding my resignation.

"I thought I could laugh it off but I couldn't. This was the first time such a thing is happening in my coaching career. I met (FAS secretary) Datuk Hamidin Amin and

he asked me to reconsider but I had made up my mind.

I'm happy that they (FAS) have been accommodating and we agreed to a mutual termination.

"I'll still be paid until my contract expires. In the meantime, I'll finally get to enjoy a long break with my family back in Seremban.

"I thank FAS for their help and support all this while. I truly enjoyed working with Selangor and enjoyed coaching one of the best teams in the country. I apologise to the fans for failing Mission 33 (a campaign initiated by FAS to win the Malaysia Cup for the 33rd time).

"I wish Maniam all the best and hope he will carry on with my programme. I hope the players will understand this sudden decision of mine.

I wish Selangor all the best."

BUKIT JALIL: SWIMMING

Next stop, London Olympics

Hijjah calling her shots

DESPITE the lack of competition and other shortcomings, Zulhijjah Azan — also known as Hijjah — is steadfastly holding on to her squash racquet.

Hijjah, 21, feels she still has what it takes and, with a small element of luck, can achieve her goal of being in the national team.

In 2008, she was dropped from the national back-up squad due to budget constraints. She is currently at No 7 on the national ranking list.

"It was difficult for me to accept as I had to train on my own and enter competitions with own pocket money. I also had to pay additional travelling expenses," she said.

"The biggest setback, however, was that I was not able to compete in junior

international tournaments abroad like when I was with the back-up squad.

"The local competitions were few and far apart and my ranking suffered. Thus my performance remained stagnant but I persisted with my training.

"My late father introduced me elder brother to squash before he succumbed to cancer. It is one of the reasons for me to keep up the momentum in his memory.

"My brother Ashraf is coaching in Surabaya and he is also playing full-time," said Hijjah.

She looks forward to any form of sponsorship from good Samaritans in order for her to compete in championships abroad.

She can be contacted at the National Squash Centre in Bukit Jalil.

NATIONAL swimmer Kevin Yeap (pic) aspires to compete in the London Olympics next year.

It will be the icing on the cake to his series of international championships which includes the Sea Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

However, his immediate target is to qualify for the Jakarta Sea Games in November and he hopes to win the 1,500m freestyle gold in his third attempt.

"My aim is to win gold in Jakarta in my third Sea Games.

I did not win any medal in Korat in my first attempt."

He also swims in the 400m and 800m freestyle but his pet event is the 1,500m freestyle.

High-octane performances and medal-winning efforts in Jakarta will augur well for his

preparation in the Olympic qualifiers, which will be going into full swing next year.

His personal best in the 1,500m freestyle is 15.52 minutes which he clocked twice this year. To have a chance of qualifying for the Olympics, Kevin must clock 15.43 minutes.

He is confident of making the Olympic grade as he is ranked sixth after the Asian Games in Guoungzhou last year and has since double up his efforts in training.

The Ipoh-born 22-year-old said: "Apart from increasing my stamina, I am putting emphasis on stroke rates.

"It has got to change. I have now discovered that it was my main weakness. The pumping rates should be more intense and rapid since it is a long distance race."

BUKIT JALIL: FOOTBALL

Malaysia in Varsity World Cup THE Malaysian University football team will compete in the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World Cup scheduled in the UAE from Feb 10-20.

Fourteen countries will be participating in the inaugural championship including Brazi l, It a ly, t he Cze ch Republic and Uruguay.

Ma l aysi a qu a lif ie d on merit by emerging 12th am ong 1 6 n at i ons w h o comp ete d in t he World University Games (Universiade) in Shenzhen last month.

Coach Aminuddin Hussein said: "We played against the best football nations in the world like

Brazil and Russia losing 2-1 and 2-0, respectively. Our team were ill-prepared. I was given the task to train them for only two weeks.

"On top of that, we were not able to have the best players like defender Mahali Jazuli who was on national duty."

The te am w ho pl aye d

i n She n z he n c ompr is e d six players from the M-league.

T he y are Fa h r u l R a z i Kamaruddin, Arman Fareez, Hazwan Rahman (all Kuala Lumpur), Norhaidi U b a i d u l l a h ( Ke l a nt a n ) , Hishamudin Shaari (Perak) an d B u ny am i n Um ar (Selangor).

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Petaling Jaya: RUGBY

More challengers for Cobra title

A LARGE number of debutants will make their presence felt at the Cobra 10s this year.

Among the teams featuring in the 42nd edition of the tournament scheduled next month are Impala from Kenya, Japan club Tradition Valley RC and Australian clubs Casuarina Cougars and NS Silverbacks.

Organising chairman Tan Sri Krishnan Tan (pic) believes his team are ready to put on a spectacular show for rugby fans in the country.

"We are now halfway through the Rugby World Cup. It is one of the world’s top three major sports event and the largest in the world this year," said Krishnan.

"Come November, with the spirit of the RWC 2011 still lingering, Malaysian fans will be thirsting for more action and Cobra will be well prepared to put on a spectacular show for rugby fans."

The two-day event held at the PJ Stadium will also welcome traditional teams including Penguin International from the UK and South African clubs Ponsonby and NNK. Local teams in the fray include Borneo Eagles and ASAS. The hosts, Cobra, will be looking to defend their title won in 2008.

The organisers received a shot in the arm after banking giants HSBC were named as the title sponsor for the seventh consecutive year. The title sponsorship is valued at RM250,000.

A total of 13 international and three local teams will compete for the prize money totalling US$33,000 (RM102,943).

sports

Malaysia's back-up silat squad dethroned Singapore in the Deputy Prime Minister's Cup tournament — Bernama

27

Coming up short NSC 'missing' proper representation

WE have agencies and government bodies to ensure the masses adhere to the laws of the country.

But what happens when a government agency does not seem to follow the laws passed by the Parliament?

That is the question on the minds of many when it comes to the National Sports Council (NSC).

Let's take a look at the NSC Act 1971.

Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Act focus on the Council, its functions and members of the Council.

What interests many is Section 5(3)(b) of the Act, which states the Council shall consist of "three representatives nominated by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM)."

But the question of who the three representatives are remains one that even OCM is finding difficult to answer.

Two — OCM president Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar and vice-president Low Beng

FromThe Sidelines with Haresh Deol

haresh@mmail.com.my

Choo — sit on the NSC's Board of Management and not the Council. The Board and Council are two separate entities as clearly distinguished in Section 6 of the same Act. Even if certain quarters suddenly claim Tunku Imran and Beng Choo are on the Council, the third representative remains 'missing.'

OCM secretary-general Datuk Sieh Kok Chi (pic) could only afford a smile when this was brought to his attention.

"Laws are made to be followed," was his brief reply.

However, Kok Chi's assistant T. Kumar was more generous with his thoughts.

A lawyer by profession and

having studied the NSC Act 1971, Kumar acknowledged OCM does not have three representatives on the Council.

"It's something we have discussed during our meetings and we find it odd the Council is able to operate without proper representation as stated in the Act of Parliament," said Kumar.

"It even raises the question to who now advises the minister, who is also the chairman of both the Board and the Council. Is the minister well aware of this situation?" he asked.

Questions were emailed to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek with copies sent to

several other officials within the ministry last week. Sadly, there has not been a response since.

Kumar rightfully pointed out that the Parliament enacted the Act with specific intentions as the opinions of all stake holders were taken into consideration.

"Decisions made by the Council has to also be made by each State Sports Council.

The input should be from the grassroots to the higher level and not the other way around.

The Act says so."

These decisions should also benefit the masses and not just the elite few. The minister should look into this as a lot of money is spent on researching how our sports industry can grow.

"It's not just scrutinising the administration of sports associations but also looking into how NSC is being run.

"Perhaps it is high time for the NSC Act 1971 to be reviewed," he concluded.

Perhaps.

As former US President Theodore Roosevelt once said: "Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favour." ● Haresh Deol is a Senior Journalist with The Malay Mail. He loves listening to Elvis Presley's Clean Up Your Own Backyard. He blogs at www.hareshdeol.blogspot.com and prefers receiving brickbats through email instead of SMS at haresh@mmail. com.my.

KUALA LUMPUR: HOCKEY/ MALAYSIAN League

Sapura coach wants improvement UP THE ANTE: Sapura's players, like Azreen Rizal Nasir (left), will be expected to perform better as the season progresses — Pic: Razak Ghazali

By VIJHAY VICK vijhayvick@mmail.com.my

"SAPURA must buck up!"

Those were the words of Sapura coach I. Vikneswaran ahead of their match against Maybank.

The bankers, also known as the "Tigers", had the luxury of watching the other teams in the Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil last weekend as they were not scheduled to compete.

"They have seen us play and will surely have a plan to counter our threats. Their coach Wallace Tan is a great tactician. He will surely have tricks up his sleeves to surprise us," said Vikneswaran.

"They have also reinforced their team with several players and could be harder to beat this year."

Maybank have made several signings this season, with former UniKL marksman Mohd Zulhairi Hashim joining the ranks. With the return of Suhaimi Hashim and national forward Mohd Hafifihafiz Hanafi from injury, Maybank have a team that can trouble defences.

Sapura had beaten

Fixtures TODAY Sapura v Maybank — Pitch 1 (6pm) KL Hockey Club v UiTM — Pitch 2 (6pm) UniKL v Yayasan N. Sembilan (YNS) — Pitch 1 (8pm) TNB v Nur Insafi Penang — Pitch 2 (8pm) (All matches at National Hockey Stadium)

Standings

Sapura KLHC YNS UiTM UniKL Maybank Nur Insafi TNB Forces

P 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1

W D L 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1

F 4 2 2 1 1 0 1 1 0

A Pts 0 3 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 4 0

Maybank comfortably, winning 2-0 in the away tie and handing the Tigers a 4-0 whopping in the return match last season. However, the format of the competition is different this year.

"We cannot be complacent and think the outcome will be the same again. My boys have lots to improve on after the last game. We have always improved as the season progresses," said Vikneswaran.

28

sport

Samoa escaped with a warning after a player blasted the World Cup's scheduling as 'like slavery, like the holocaust, like apartheid' on Twitter — AFP

AUCKLAND: rugby/ world cup

Enter flyhalf Parra

feisty: Parra may provide France a route to the final — AFP photo

Positional changes to play key role for France in crunch match against All Blacks

FRANCE head coach Marc Lievremont sprang a surprise selection for their Pool A clash against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday by naming Morgan Parra as flyhalf.

Parra has never donned the No 10 jersey at Test level with the vast majority of his international experience playing as scrumhalf.

Parra, who did come on at flyhalf for the final 19 minutes of the victory over Japan, will become only the second player in World Cup history to earn starts at scrumhalf and flyhalf.

Tonga's Taniela Moa was the first last Wednesday and Parra is the sixth Frenchman to do so.

Parra, 22, admitted it was an intimidating prospect.

"I was surprised. We spoke a bit about it yesterday (Monday), but yes, it was a

surprise. I have to play the best I can without putting pressure on myself," he told ITV. "It's always exciting to play against the All Blacks, especially in their backyard, but it will be a hard test."

Parra's shift forces regular flyhalf Francois Trinh-Duc to the bench and Lievremont said it was a decision based on his indifferent form in France's first two matches.

"I thought about this long into the night, especially the decision about the halfbacks, which wasn't an easy one," said Lievremont.

"Francois Trinh-Duc is paying the price for the last two games and Morgan has done well when he's played."

New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter, one of the world's best players, is set to line up against Parra after recovering

from injury.

"This is one of the biggest tests of my career. It's a big challenge," said Parra.

Lievremont has named a full-strength French side who include five personnel and two positional changes from last Sunday's 46-19 win over Canada.

Hooker Dmitri Szarzewski makes his debut in place of William Servat, while lock Lionel Nallet and captain Thierry Dusautoir return in place of Romain Millo-Chluski and Fulgence Ouedraogo.

Centre David Marty also drops out of the 15 to make way for a switch in position with Aurelien Rougerie moving one out to outside centre.

Dimitri Yachvili takes over as scrumhalf and Maxime Medard is picked on the left wing.

FACT FILE FULL NAME: Morgan Parra DATE OF BIRTH: Nov 15, 1988 PLACE OF BIRTH: Metz, France HEIGHT: 5ft 11in (1.80m) WEIGHT: 77kg POSITION: Scrumhalf/Flyhalf INTERNATIONAL CAREER 2008–present: 19 caps (111 points)

NORTH SHORE

Team first, glory second for Springboks' Habana

SOUTH AFRICA'S star winger Bryan Habana will be putting records second and victory first when he lines up against Namibia in a Pool D match tomorrow.

The celebrated star will make his comeback from a knee injury in the Springboks' third match of the tournament, and has a chance of breaking Joost van der Westhuizen's try-scoring record.

Habana has scored 38 Test tries and shares the record with the former Springbok scrumhalf, but will have a golden opportunity to break the record against winless Namibia, who conceded 12 tries in total in their pool clash with Fiji and Samoa.

"If that 39th try comes, it comes, but if the Springboks win 150-0 without me scoring a try and I've contributed, I'm definitely still going to be happy," said Habana.

Habana admitted to being

good times: Habana is greeted by supporters before a training session — AFP photo

disappointed that he was not part of the team who beat Fiji 49-3 last week. He said he was now more eager to make his contribution.

"It was probably the right decision not to get chosen last week and after training yesterday in front of an almost full stadium it feels

good to be back again," he said.

"The rehabilitation time that you put in with the physios, the medical team and the conditioning guys, and then getting onto the field and making sure you get involved in the game is important."

Habana is not the devastating wing of 2007 when he was crowned as International Rugby Board International Player of the Year.

He scored 30 tries in his first 34 Tests but only eight in his past 37 internationals.

Nevertheless, South Africa head coach Peter de Villiers is delighted to have him back in the starting XV. "Bryan brings some energy to the team. He's a bundle of energy. I'm glad to give him a run again," said De Villiers.

He was adamant Habana would put the team's goals a he ad of t he p ers ona l achievement of breaking the try-scoring record.

"If you can give me one player on this team who will put his interests above the interests of the team, then today I will personally send him home," he said.

"We all understand why we're here and we'll work toward that goal."

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

NELSON

Italians must improve defence, says captain Parisse ITALY captain Sergio Parisse (pic) saw his side score nine tries in their 53-17 win against Russia in a Pool C match in Nelson yesterday but has warned that they must improve defensively.

The Italians were never threatened after securing a try bonus point in just 22 minutes as they went on to record their highest score in a World Cup match. Italy, who led 38-7 at the break, scored through Parisse, Giulio Toniolatti (two), Tommaso Benvenuti (two), Edoardo Gori, Luke McLean, Alessandro Zanni and a penalty try, with flyhalf Riccardo Bocchino, who limped off injured late on, adding four conversions.

The Russians were a much improved side after half-time, with Alexander Yanyshkin, Vladimir Ostroushko and Alexey Makovetskiy executing their first tries in a World Cup. And it was those three Russian tries that were of most concern to number eight Parisse, with games against the United States and Ireland to come.

"Russia were a tough opposition, we are happy to have the victory, we will take the five points as it was important for us if we are to have a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals," he told ITV. "The Russians played a physical game, they scored three tries which is good for them. We are happy with the win but we must continue to improve.

"In defence, we made a couple of mistakes, we scored some tries and we can take confidence in our attack but we must train hard because the United States will be a really tough game and obviously Ireland in the final game will be really, really hard."

Italy head coach Nick Mallett thought they started well and then got a bit loose, but gives Russia credit as they played some nice attacking rugby.

"This was a nervous game for us, we needed to get five points as we need to go into the Irish game with a good shot. We haven't often played sides below us in the rankings but I am pleased we came through," he said.

Russia technical director Kingsley Jones was pleased with his side's second-half display but felt they had "selfdestructed" early on.

"We finished strong and the second-half result was good, but we self-destructed a bit in the first 10 minutes.

Our discipline in defence and at the breakdown was not good, and we let ourselves down at times, but I am pleased with how we fought back in the secondhalf," he said.

result Yesterday POOL C Italy 53 Russia 17

Fixtures TODAY Pool A Tonga v Japan (3.30pm) TOMORROW POOL D South Africa v Namibia (4pm) (Both matches live on Astro's CH816 and CH831)

TABLES POOL A

New Zealand France Canada Tonga Japan POOL B

England Scotland Argentina Georgia Romania POOL C

Ireland Australia Italy USA Russia POOL D

South Africa Samoa Wales Fiji Namibia

P 2 2 2 2 2

W 2 2 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0 0

L PD 0 +107 0 +53 1 -22 2 -36 2 -102

BP Pts 2 10 2 10 0 4 1 1 0 0

P 2 2 2 2 2

W 2 2 1 0 0

D 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 2 2

PD +35 +19 +31 -40 -45

BP Pts 1 9 1 9 2 6 0 0 0 0

P 2 2 2 2 2

W 2 1 1 1 0

D 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 1 1 1 2

PD +21 +17 +10 -5 -43

BP Pts 0 8 1 5 1 5 0 4 1 1

P 2 2 2 2 2

W 2 1 1 1 0

D 0 0 0 0 0

L 0 1 1 1 2

PD +47 +30 +9 -22 -61

BP Pts 1 9 2 6 1 5 1 5 0 0

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

Legendary Bulgarian footballer Yordan Lechkov, now mayor of the southeastern town of Sliven, handed a suspended sentence for mismanagement and abuse of power — AFP

TAIWAN: TENNIS

Russians invade Taiwan

sports

29

ATLANTA: GOLF

Not about the money Wins and player accolades the lure for Donald

RUSSIAN tennis stars Maria Sharapova (pic) and Vera Zvonareva will be in Taiwan this week for an exhibition match at Taipei Arena tomorrow.

Zvonareva arrived in the country yesterday and Sharapova is due to arrive today.

"I am excited to see a new country and new fans," Sharapova posted on her Facebook page.

The stars, who are visiting Taiwan for the first time, said in a telephone interview in August that they wanted to experience the local culture and interact with fans during their short stay.

Their visit will be followed by the arrival of Rafael Nadal of Spain and his compatriot David Ferrer, also for an exhibition match that will be played at National Taiwan Sport University on Oct 1. — Agencies

WORLD No 1 Luke Donald is spoilt for choice when it comes to incentives at this week's Tour Championship but he says the US$10 million (RM31.2m) bonus for the overall FedExCup winner is not among them.

The Briton is much more interested in clinching his second PGA Tour victory of the season in a bid to secure Player-of-the-Year honours on the US circuit for the first time.

Donald lies fourth in the points standings going into the Tour's fourth and final playoff event and should he triumph at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday, he would also land the prestigious FedExCup. "I'm not really thinking about the money," the 33-year-old Englishman told reporters this morning while preparing for Friday's opening round.

"I'm really concentrating on winning the tournament, picking up another trophy, winning the FedExCup. To win Playerof-the-Year that comes with it.

"I've won US$25 million or something. But the money is really the last thing I'm thinking about."

Any of the top five in the standings would clinch the FedExCup by winning the Tour Championship, and Donald

spoilt for choice: Is the US$10 million prize needed? Donald doesn’t think so — AFP photo

knows he is ideally placed for a final push.

"I'm in a great position," the Chicago-based professional said. "Top five is pretty important; it gives me a lot more control going into this week."

Donald, who lies second b e h i n d A m e r i c a n We b b

Del Potro confident of Spanish Davis Cup upset

Stich hits out at players' strike shorter season than we used to have. I played singles and doubles and guys like Stefan Edberg played singles and doubles at Grand Slams and they never complained, they loved it, it was their job.

"Murray doesn't even play four rounds of Davis Cup throughout the year. It's not down to the tournaments and the Association of Tennis Professionals, it's down to the players themselves. They seem to want to play less but have more prize money and have more influence on the schedule."

Stich, who also won the Wimbledon and Olympic doubles titles, said crowded tournament schedules allowed lower-ranked players to earn a living.

"They should never forget that it's a partnership,"

(a season) as much as when Tiger (Woods) was winning (multiple times).

"A couple of guys have won a few events, two events, but there's no clear-cut winner," Donald added. Six players have each won twice on the PGA Tour this season.

BUENOS AIRES

LONDON

TOP players threatening to strike in protest at a crowded schedule should stop living in a dream world, according to former Wimbledon champion Michael Stich.

Rumblings of discontent have surfaced in recent weeks with world No 4 Andy Murray (pic) claiming yesterday that leading players were "not afraid" to consider strike action.

The jam-packed calendar has long been an issue and leading players will meet at the Shanghai Masters next month to discuss their grievances.

However, Stich believes they have little to complain about.

"I don't think it's a big issue," the German, who won the Wimbledon in 1991, told the BBC. "They have a

Simpson in the PGA Tour money list, believes victory at East Lake could also decide Player-of-the-Year honours in what has proved to be a hotly contested race.

"A win this week would sway a lot of people's minds," he said.

"No one has really dominated

Donald has enjoyed a careerbest year on both sides of the Atlantic, winning three tournaments and contending for the money list crowns on the PGA Tour and also the European Tour.

His only blemish has been his failure to claim a first Major title.

"The No 1 goal at the beginning of this year was to try and compete, be in contention for Majors," Donald said with a wry grin. "In that regards, it was somewhat disappointing.

"I had a chance in two of them, which was an improvement on previous years, but the other two weren't that great.

The goal is always to try and peak for those events."

Donald tied for fourth at the Masters and shared eighth place at the PGA Championship but he laboured to joint 45th at the US Open while he missed the cut at the British Open.

"I'll look back at the end of this year and realise maybe I played a little bit too much leading up to the US Open," he admitted. "I felt a little bit over-golfed.

"I'm always thinking about new ways to try and prepare and find the right scenario.

I'm not sure if I've found it yet." — Reuters

added Stich. "If they go on strike they should think what if the tournaments went on strike because then they wouldn't have a job, no income and no career.

"They should get into discussions that are reasonable, which is happening, but to go on strike is not a good solution."

Currently, top-ranked players are obliged to play all four Grand Slams, eight Masters Series events, the ATP World Tour finals should they qualify and a handful of smaller ATP tournaments. On top of that, they also have Davis Cup commitments to their countries. — Reuters

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO (pic) expressed his confidence this morning that Argentina could "strike a blow" against a Rafael Nadalinspired Spain when the two sides meet in the Davis Cup finals in December.

Del Potro, ranked 13th, won both his singles rubbers to help Argentina to a 3-2 success over defending champions Serbia on a hardcourt surface in Belgrade during the weekend to set up a showdown with Spain, who host the final from December 2 till 4.

Spain have won all three of their previous meetings with Argentina including the last time the two nations met in the final in Mar del Plata in 2008.

"We're heading to brick dust," said del Potro of the tie on clay. "Nadal is the king there and it's going

to be complicated.

"But finals are always different and special. Hopefully, we'll all arrive in top form and have four players of a high level to face Spain.

"Spain are the favourites, but if we go in with a low profile and a good attitude we'll get a good result. We went to Serbia as well to cause an upset and we struck hard. Hopefully, we can repeat this."

Del Potro scored the winning point on Sunday when world No 1 Novak Djokovic retired injured while trailing the South American 7-6 (7/5), 3-0.

David Nalbandian and Del Potro won the opening day's rubbers although doubles duo Juan Ignacio Chela and Juan Monaco lost their tie.

Serb Janko Tipsarevic won the final dead rubber when Monaco retired.

Del Potro added: "The doubles is the point that we're going to have to work most on."

It will be the fourth final for Argentina who have never lifted the title.

Spain have dominated over the last decade, winning in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009, and have not lost at home since 1999. — AFP

30

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PRESSTALK DAILY MIRROR

Blues bank on Barkley CHELSEA will try to take advantage of Everton's financial difficulties with a £20m January bid for teenage midfielder Ross Barkley. Barkley does not turn 18 until December but is already being touted as one of the hottest prospects in the Premier League. The Blues made an informal approach in the summer and will up the stakes with the big-money bid when the transfer window reopens in the winter. Barkley was discovered by scout Mick Doherty, who left Goodison Park for Stamford Bridge a few weeks ago.

LANCE!

No deal, says Neymar NEYMAR (pic) has refuted claims that he is set to sign an agreement with Real Madrid after having a medical.

There have been pictures of Madrid's head of medical services Carlos Diez landing in Sao Paolo, where he was reported to have overseen a medical test for Neymar.

However, Neymar, speaking after Santos' win over Corinthians on Sunday, insists no deal is done. "There is no truth in those rumours. I am a Santos player and I will stay here for the club's centenary. I went to the hospital to solve a personal problem. The rumours are just speculation. There is no deal at all."

METRO

Alvarez to replenish Arsenal INTER MILAN winger Ricky Alvarez, who slipped out of Arsenal’s clutches in the summer, could be set for a shock loan move to the Gunners in January. Alvarez has seen starting opportunities restricted at the San Siro, largely because Wesley Sneijder — who was expected to be sold to Manchester United — has stayed at the club. As a result, the 23-year-old has struggled to find form, and Nerazzurri bosses are said to be considering letting Alvarez join the Gunners in order to build up his match fitness.

Alvarez started the Italian Super Cup final defeat for Inter, and has since made just two appearances off the subs' bench.

I'm unhappy with a poor performance from the referees, which in the end, had a decisive role in the result, and I don't take it lightly — Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

LONDON: FOOTBALL/ LEAGUE CUP

Dalglish not excited with Gerrard's return

LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish warned the imminent return of midfielder Steven Gerrard will not solve all of their problems.

The Reds suffered backto-back defeats at Stoke and Tottenham in the league to dampen their bright start to the new season.

Now Gerrard is in line to make his long-awaited return to action in Liverpool's League Cup away tie against Brighton tomorrow (2.45am)

and, although Dalglish will be happy to have his skipper back, he has called on the players to improve on the dismal showing at White Hart Lane.

"It's natural everyone wants to chase Stevie, especially after you have lost 4-0," Dalglish told Sky Sport.

"But we'll see how it goes and when both parties agree he'll play. Stevie has done fantastically well to get where he is, and having him back in

the side can only be a good thing.

"But we know there is plenty of room for improvement after a defeat like that, and we have to correct the mistakes we made, improve on it and try to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"This is about a team and about a squad and not one player. Each player has to look at themselves, and correct the mistakes they made — and that is all they should

concentrate on.

"We have had good days and we will have a lot more coming but that doesn't mean we dismiss a performance like that. When we played well we went out and worked hard to make it better and we'll do exactly the same."

Midfielder Charlie Adam welcomed the return of Gerrard even though it could cost him his place in the side.

Adam, who will miss the

trip to Brighton as a result of his sending off at Spurs, admits Gerrard's return will provide the club with a timely boost and that it could be difficult for him to get his place back in Dalglish's starting line-up following his suspension.

"It's going to be difficult for me because Steven will want to play the same as everyone.

When he does come back, it's then up to the manager to decide," he said.

Lucky Gunners Arsenal avoid shock exit, United rout Leeds

ARSENAL avoided a humiliating League Cup third round exit against Shrewsbury as the troubled Gunners came from behind to win 3-1, while Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over old rivals Leeds this morning.

After Saturday's 4-3 defeat at Blackburn condemned Arsenal to their worst start to a season for 58 years, chief executive Ivan Gazidis chose to publicly express the club's support for boss Arsene Wenger.

But even Arsenal's loyal board may have started to doubt Wenger when League Two Shrewsbury took a shock lead through James Collins at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger has never hidden his distaste for the League Cup, yet he could hardly afford such a shocking defeat so soon after that incredible 8-2 loss at Manchester United.

So the Frenchman, who gave South Korean forward Park Chu-young his debut among 11 changes, must have breathed a sigh of relief as goals from Kieran Gibbs, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yossi Benayoun sent Arsenal, beaten by Birmingham in last year's final, into the fourth round.

Arsenal were in chaos early on as Mark Wright fired against a post and Shrewsbury went ahead when Collins powered home a header from Marvin Morgan's cross in the 16th minute.

The turning point came when Reuben Hazel missed a golden opportunity to increase Shrewsbury's advantage.

Arsenal equalised moments later through Gibbs' header and young winger OxladeChamberlain put the hosts

THROUGH YOUR LEGS: Owen (left) scores the opening goal for Manchester United during the match against Leeds at Elland Road — AFP photo

LEAGUE CUP Results This morning Aldershot 2 Rochdale 1 Arsenal 3 Shrewsbury 1 Aston Villa 0 Bolton 2 Burnley 1 Milton Keynes 1 Leeds 0 Man United 3 Nott Forrest 3 Newcastle 4 Stoke

(aet)

0 Tottenham

0

Stoke won 7-6 on penalties

Wolves 4 Millwall 0 Blackburn 1 Leyton Orient 1 Crystal P 2 M'brough 1

Fixtures

ahead with a long-range shot that trickled past Shrewsbury goalkeeper Ben Smith.

That settled Arsenal's nerves and a first goal for on-loan Chelsea midfielder Benayoun killed the tie.

At Elland Road, Michael Owen bagged a brace as Manchester United gained a measure of revenge for their shock FA Cup defeat against Leeds with a routine win.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team were left with red faces after Leeds, then languishng in League One, won 1-0 in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford in January last year.

But there was no repeat of that shock scoreline this time as Owen's double and a Ryan Giggs goal secured an emphatic success on United's first visit to Elland Road

for eight years.

However, reports of fighting between rival fans outside the ground spoiled the occasion.

Ferguson made 11 changes after Sunday's 3-1 win over Chelsea and United were in front after 15 minutes when Owen converted Park Ji-sung's pass.

Owen produced another cool finish for his second goal from Mame Diouf 's cross in the 32nd minute and Giggs put the result beyond doubt with a fine individual effort on the stroke of half-time.

Stoke beat Tottenham 7-6 on penalties after a dour 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium.

Thomas Sorensen was the hero for Stoke as the Danish goalkeeper saved a spot-kick

from Massimo Luongo to end an epic shoot-out.

Newcastle left it late to go through with a 4-3 win at Nottingham Forest thanks to a goal from Fabricio Coloccini in the last minute of extratime.

Forest had earlier come from behind three times with Robbie Findley, Matt Derbyshire and Marcus Tudgay cancelling out Peter Lovenkrands' double and Danny Simpson's 93rd-minute strike.

Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish won this tournament with Birmingham last season, but he won't be going back to Wembley as Bolton won 2-0 at Villa Park.

Chris Eagles put Bolton ahead with a long-range blast in the 54th minute and

Tomorrow Brighton v Liverpool Cardiff City v Leicester City Chelsea v Fulham Man City v Birmingham Southampton v Preston North End Everton v West Brom (3am) All matches at 2.45am unless stated

Gael Kakuta's strike handed McLeish the first defeat of his Villa reign.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy made eight changes from the team beaten by QPR on Saturday, but his stand-ins still thrashed Millwall 5-0 at Molineux thanks to goals from David Edwards, Adam Hammill, George Elokobi, James Spray and Adlene Guedioura.

Blackburn built on the momentum from Saturday's win over Arsenal as Steve Kean's team beat League One strugglers Leyton Orient 3-2 at Ewood Park, with their goals coming from a Jason Roberts penalty and strikes from Ruben Rochina and Simon Vukcevic. — AFP

sports

I don't know if what (Sami) Khedira did can be called a brawl.

To me it was not a brawl — Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho

The Malay Mail Wednesday 21 SEPTEMBER, 2011

31

VALENCIA: football/ primera liga

Results This morning Osasuna 0 Sevilla 0 R. Sociedad 1 Grenada 0 Villarreal 2 Real Mallorca 0

Fixtures Tomorrow Malaga v Athletic Bilbao Atle Madrid v Sporting Gijon Racing Santander v R. Madrid Rayo Vallecano v Levante Valencia v Barcelona FRIDAY Espanyol v Getafe Real Betis v Real Zaragoza

Standings

Valencia Real Betis Sevilla Barcelona Sociedad Real Madrid Malaga Levante Vallecano Osasuna Atle Madrid Zaragoza Espanyol Mallorca Grenada Ath Bilbao Getafe Santander Villarreal Gijon

P 3 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3

W D L F 3 0 0 6 3 0 0 5 2 2 0 5 2 1 0 15 2 1 1 5 2 0 1 10 2 0 1 6 1 2 0 2 1 2 0 2 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 2 1 0 2 3 1 0 2 1 1 0 3 1 0 1 2 4 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 2 0 0 3 2

A Pts 3 9 2 9 3 8 2 7 4 7 3 6 2 6 1 5 1 5 9 5 1 4 7 4 4 3 2 3 6 3 6 1 6 1 8 1 8 1 5 0

Don't freeze

Canales tells teammates not to be scared of Barca TALENTED Valencia attacking midfielder Sergio Canales (pic) is expecting a tricky tie against champions Barcelona at the Mestalla tomorrow (4am).

Valencia are on top of the standings with nine points from three games and must now defend their position against third-placed Barca — who are coming off an 8-0 mauling of Osasuna at Nou Camp last Saturday.

With 15 goals scored to date, the Catalans are topping the league's scoring charts, but Canales has called on his team to go out with a winning mentality.

"We are happy with the work we have been doing," he said.

"We have not conceded any goals in the last three games.

"We must not be afraid of suffering a heavy defeat, we have to play knowing we can win.

"This will be a tough match, but we will try to win, as always. Barca are perhaps the team who have made the least

mistakes, but we have to search for them."

On Real Madrid's 1-0 defeat at Levante on Sunday, Canales, who is on loan from the Santiago Bernabeu outfit, gave little importance to the result.

"Any team can beat anyone.

The league has just started, only three matches have been played. I am only focused on my team and on how well we have been doing," said the 20-year-old.

Meanwhile, Barca president Sandro Rosell responded to Real's ace attacker Cristiano Ronaldo's claims that fans are envious of him for his good looks, wealth and talent. Ronaldo was jeered in Real's 1-0 Champions League win at Dinamo Zagreb last Wednesday and apparently, the Croatian supporters had abused him because he is ''good-looking, rich and a great footballer."

"I don't know anything about men," Rosell told 8tv.

But physically, I like Messi better than Ronaldo."

The Barca supremo also claimed Real do not have an agreement in place to bring in Neymar from Santos, despite reports that the Brazil international had signed a precontract and even undergone a medical with the capital club.

"He is a great player and Real do not have an agreement closed with him," he said.

Rosell also claimed he would vote for a smoking ban at Nou Camp and revealed he would like to see part of the stadium reserved exclusively for young people.

'Socios' or partners are set to vote later this week on the club's controversial sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation, which has seen the team sell space on their shirts for the first time in their 112-year history.

"When I go to Uefa meetings, they all congratulate me on the deal because it's a very good contract. I hope the 'socios' think of the club and about player investment in future."

MADRID: FOOTBALL/ PRIMERA LIGA

Sevilla hold out against Osasuna

Results This morning Novara 3 Inter Milan

1

Fixtures Tomorrow Genoa v Catania AC Milan v Udinese Chievo v Napoli Palermo v Cagliari Lecce v Atalanta Fiorentina v Parma Juventus v Bologna Cesena v Lazio Friday Roma v Siena

Standings

Napoli Juventus Udinese Cagliari Novara Genoa Catania Palermo Fiorentina Lecce Parma Chievo Lazio Roma Siena AC Milan Inter Milan Cesena Bologna Atalanta

P 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2

W D L 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 1 0

F 6 5 4 4 6 4 1 4 2 2 3 3 3 1 0 3 4 1 0 3

A Pts 2 6 1 6 0 6 2 6 5 4 3 4 0 4 4 3 2 3 2 3 5 3 4 1 4 1 2 1 1 1 5 1 7 1 4 0 4 0 2 -2

(Note: Atalanta deducted six points for match-fixing)

SEVILLA missed the chance to take provisional top spot in La Liga this morning but maintained their unbeaten run as they hung on for a 0-0 draw at Osasuna.

The hosts had plenty to prove after their 8-0 thrashing by Barcelona on Saturday and attacked from the outset with Roland Lamah causing plenty of problems for Sevilla, who have their sights on a Champions League place this season.

Juan Nino had excellent chances in both halves while Sevilla also survived a penalty claim when Diego Perotti appeared to handle the ball in the area.

However, Sevilla could have stolen the points when Jesus Navas was denied from point blank range by keeper Andres Fernandez midway through the second-half.

Sevilla move up to third with eight points from four games, one point behind leaders Valencia and Real Betis.

Real Sociedad, meanwhile, move up to fifth after beating Granada 1-0 with a Daniel Estrada cross catching out Granada keeper Roberto Fernandez who had come off his line.

Reigning domestic and

EXCUSE ME: Sevilla's Jesus Navas leaps over Osasuna's Jukka Raitala — AFP photo

European champions Barcelona face Valencia, who have won their three opening matches, and meet in today's top of the table

clash.

Real Betis are another side with a 100 per cent record and they meet Zaragoza while Real Madrid, who

dropped their first points at the weekend with a surprise 1-0 defeat away to Levante, travel to Racing Santander.

— AFP

STOCKHOLM: FOOTBALL/ EURO 2012 Qualfiers

Liverpool's Agger to miss Denmark qualifiers LIVERPOOL defender Daniel Agger has fractured two ribs and will miss the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Cyprus and Portugal, his agent told Danish media this morning.

Per Steffensen told Danish sports website www.sporten. dk that Agger must rest for four weeks after sustaining the injury during Liverpool's 4-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

"Daniel has fractured the top two ribs. He now has to lie still for four weeks before resuming training. He's sad, and it's annoying because now we'll be hearing all these stories about how he's injured all the time," he said.

Denmark face a crucial finish to their Euro 2012 qualifiers as they are one of three teams at the top of Group H. Portugal are leading on goal difference from the Danes and Norway.

They will now have to plan without Agger for their final two qualifiers, away to Cyprus on Oct 7 and at home to Portugal four days later. — Reuters

Stich it to them

Donald ducks cash

Former Wimbledon champ Michael Stich tells players to wake up and smell the coffee

The thrill of winning and accolades turn on world No 1 Luke Donald

>> pg29

LOCAL

Sapura hockey SOS

Coach I. Vikneswaran urges team to raise their game or fall prey to Tigers

>> pg27 Rugby

France fries selection Morgan Parra named as flyhalf for France in tie against All Blacks on Saturday

>> pg29 football

Gerrard not Messiah

Manager Kenny Dalglish warns Liverpool is about a team and not about Gerrard

>> pg30

presstalk

Tough for Toffees

Chelsea may bid for Everton’s teen midfielder Ross Barkley in next transfer window

>> pg30

>> pg29

Wednesday 21 September, 2011

Inter misery

MILAN: FOOTBALL/ SERIE A

Gasperini in danger as Nerazzurri fall to Novara

INTER MILAN coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s position became increasingly untenable this morning as the Serie A giants’ winless run continued with a shock 3-1 defeat at promoted Novara.

Inter have not won away in five games this season putting increasing pressure on Gasperini as the humiliation against Novara, returning to Serie A after 55 years, follows last week’s home loss to outsiders Trabzonspor in the Champions League.

Inter are at 17th position with just one point from three games.

Gasperini’s position looks even weaker after Ansa reported that Inter president Massimo Moratti gave a less than supportive reply to a question by journalists after the match as to whether the coach had control over the team.

“It doesn’t seem that way to me, no, but lets see tomorrow.”

Gasperini, though, was insistent he would battle through.

“We played really badly,” he said.

“But I believe in what I am doing, which has given me a lot of happiness before this, it is a difficult period we are going through, but I must come out of this stronger and more resolute.

“We have to be a bit more humble, when we tried to go on the offensive we found ourselves in trouble.

“We have succeeded in playing like that in other matches. But this evening it is clear, it did not work, and that goes beyond just tactics.”

Marco Rigoni’s double lifted Novara to their first win of the season and provisional fifth place.

Inter danger man Giampaolo Pazzini started on the bench but was brought on

by Gasperini at half-time in place of an uninspiring Diego Forlan after Riccardo Meggiorini had put the hosts ahead after 38 minutes.

Pazzini had Inter’s best chance of the night, a shot at goal on 61 minutes, but it went wide.

feeling the heat: Malaysia must ensure no more untoward incidences occur in future matches or risk further punishment from Fifa — FILE photo

shocked: Gasperini’s position became increasingly untenable — AFP photo

Inter’s defence were made to work by the pairing of Meggiorini and Andrea Mazzarini with the latter missing a chance for a second goal after 53 minutes.

Japanese striker Takayuki Morimoto, who caused endless headaches for Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia all evening, finally obtained

a penalty for his side which Marco Rigoni transformed four minutes from time.

And in a late scramble for goal, Esteban Cambiasso reduced the deficit for the visitors with a minute to go before Rigoni got his second one minute into time added on.

Leaders Napoli, who beat

AC Milan thanks to a Edinson Cavani hattrick at the weekend, travel to Chievo tomorrow. Second-placed Juventus host Bologna who are looking for their first points.

AC Milan host third-placed Udinese as AS Roma look for their first win under Luis Enrique on Friday against promoted Siena. — AFP

Petaling Jaya: football

FAM fined!

By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my

FIFA have slapped the FA of Malaysia (FAM) with fines amounting to RM15,820 in relation to the pre-World Cup round two return-leg match between Malaysia and Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on July 28.

This was confirmed by the world body in a statement to Mailsport yesterday.

“FAM have been fined 4,000 Swiss Francs (RM14,020) for crowd disturbance and has to cover the procedural costs of 500 Swiss Francs in relation to this match.”

The email was signed by the media department.

FAM received a letter from Fifa disciplinary committee deputy-secretary Wilma Ritter earlier this month after the match commissioner’s report revealed fans threw water bottles onto the pitch, flares were lit and la-

ser lights were beamed at Singapore goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud.

FAM responded to Ritter’s letter and admitted to the security flaws seen in the match.

Fifa then confirmed the committee will deliberate on the match in their meeting last week as revealed in Mailsport in an article off From the sidelines column titled FAM clueless published on Sept 7.

Mailsport had, in an earlier article Walking on a tightrope published Aug 8, revealed the match could have breached several regulations of the Fifa Disciplinary Code.

A fan, Ahmad Jazimin Jalaluddin, was blinded in the right eye after being struck by firecracker fragments during the match.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw but Singapore advanced to the next round after earning a 6-4 aggregate.

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