Pertingkat kesedaran rakyat jaga kebersihan

SM Mohamed Idris,

Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) merasa amat kesal dengan sikap segelintir rakyat Malaysia yang masih belum mencapai tahap yang memuaskan dalam soal menjaga kebersihan terutama sekali di kawasan perumahan, taman awam dan tempat-tempat ibadat.

Pendedahan oleh akhbar tempatan berhubung tahap kebersihan tandas masjid dan surau yang seringkali dibangkitkan oleh khalayak umum sedikit sebanyak telah mendedahkan sikap kita yang masih belum mengutamakan kebersihan.

Kenyataan CAP ini tidak bermaksud untuk ditujukan khusus kepada umat Islam sahaja tetapi kepada semua rakyat Malaysia tidak kira apa bangsa dan agamanya. Ini kerana bukan sahaja tandas masjid dan surau yang menjadi rungutan bahkan tempat ibadat bukan Islam seperti kuil dan tokong juga turut mendapat rungutan berhubung tahap kebersihannya.

Selain tempat ibadat, terdapat juga sesetengah tempat makan, tandas awam di negara ini yang tahap kebersihan tandasnya masih tidak memuaskan. Pengalaman yang dilalui oleh kami ketika menggunakan tandas di tempat awam mengukuhkan lagi dakwaan ini.

Tahap kebersihan tandas dan bilik air di Malaysia telah lama menjadi rungutan dalam kalangan penggunanya sehingga kerajaan terpaksa melaksanakan Kempen Kebersihan Tandas di seluruh negara. Ini menguatkan lagi kenyataan bahawa sikap rakyat Malaysia yang masih tidak mengambil berat akan soal kebersihan.

Perbuatan membiarkan tandas dalam keadaan kotor serta tidak dipam selepas digunakan memburukkan lagi keadaan ditambah pula dengan segelintir mereka yang merokok serta membuang habuk dan puntung rokok merata-rata di dalam tandas juga menyebabkan keadaannya begitu kotor.

Lebih menyakitkan mata dan hati lagi apabila terdapat pelbagai contengan, tulisan dan lukisan yang tidak sewajarnya ditulis dan dilukis pada dinding tandas awam oleh mereka yang tidak bertanggungjawab walaupun rata-rata yang menggunakan tandas itu tahu kebersihan mestilah diutamakan.

Pihak berkuasa dan pihak yang bertanggungjawab terhadap kebersihan tandas juga perlu memikirkan semula terhadap penggunaan lantai tandas yang sering menggunakan jubin dari jenis yang berkilat kerana ia seringkali dalam keadaan basah, ini menyebabkan ia menjadi licin dan membahayakan kepada keselamatan penggunanya kerana ia boleh menyebabkan tergelincir dan jatuh.

Pihak pengurusan tandas dan bilik air di tempat ibadat dan tempat awam perlu mengambil tindakan segera bagi menukar jubin dari jenis yang licin kepada jubin yang tidak menyebabkan keadaan licin walaupun terdapat air di atasnya.

Pihak yang berkenaan juga perlu sentiasa memastikan lantai bilik air dan tandas awam dalam keadaan yang sentiasa kering bagi memastikan ia tidak licin dan membahayakan keselamatan penggunanya.

Pembaziran air juga perlu dielakkan sama sekali. Penggunaan air secara berhati-hati sedikit sebanyak dapat mengelakkan ia daripada melimpah ke atas lantai yang menjadi punca utama lantai menjadi licin.

Semua orang perlu mempunyai sikap bertanggungjawab bagi memastikan segala kemudahan tandas dalam keadaan yang baik dan memastikan perkara seperti tandas tersumbat, pam tidak berfungsi, lantai tandas pecah, licin dan berlumut serta siling bersawang dan sinki tersumbat tidak lagi berlaku di negara kita.

Memastikan kebersihan pada semua tempat merupakan tanggungjawab kita semua. Kita tidak boleh menyerahkan tugas dan tanggungjawab menjaga kebersihan tandas awam kepada satu pihak sahaja tetapi kita semua sepatutnya mesti mengambil sikap bertanggungjawab untuk menjaganya seperti mana kita menjaga tandas di rumah kita sendiri.

Penulis ialah Presiden Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP).

Perdana Menteri Malaysia ke Gaza

Aman Palestin Mesir

Dato Seri Najib tiba di Gaza pada Selasa jam 10:00 pagi waktu Gaza (4:00 petang waktu Malaysia). Beliau dan rombongan disambut oleh Perdana Menteri Palestin, Ismail Haniyah. Najib diiringi oleh Datuk Seri Anifah Aman dan Menteri Di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

Antara program rasmi beliau di Gaza adalah seperti berikut:

1. Lawatan ke sekolah yang diusahakan oleh Malaysia.
2. Majlis perletakan batu asas bagi membina semula pejabat Ismail Haniyah yang musnah ketika serangan Israel pada November lepas.
3. Pertemuan dengan menteri kabinet dan ahli parlimen Palestin di pejabat baharu Ismail Haniyah.
4. Lawatan ke Universiti Al-Aqsa di mana beliau akan memberikan ucapan berkaitan pendirian Malaysia mengenai Palestin sebelum diberi anugerah doktor kehormat.

Sumber berita: Omar Seyam, CEO Aman Palestin Gaza.
Sumber gambar: Fan Page Najib Razak
___________________________________
Semoga lawatan Perdana Menteri ini ke Gaza akan mengukuhkan lagi nama Malaysia antara negara yang konsisten memberikan bantuan kepada Palestin.

Royalti: Kelantan Fail Injunksi Halang Petronas

KUALA LUMPUR: Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan hari ini memfailkan permohonan injunksi interlokutori bagi menghalang Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) daripada membayar royalti petroleum kepada Kerajaan Malaysia.    Kerajaan Kelantan memohon injunksi bagi menghalang Petronas daripada membayar kepada kerajaan Malaysia royalti yang jumlahnya bersamaan dengan lima peratus nilai petroleum yang didapati dan diperolehi di pantai dan di luar pantai negeri Kelantan yang dijual oleh Petronas, atau ejen-ejennya sehingga keputusan kes saman yang difailkan kerajaan negeri itu terhadap Petronas pada 2010.    Permohonan itu difailkan melalui Tetuan Tommy Thomas di pejabat pendaftar Mahkamah Tinggi dengan menamakan Petronas dan kerajaan Malaysia sebagai defendan.    Dalam permohonannya kerajaan Kelantan juga memohon suatu injunksi memaksa Petronas memasukkan wang royalti itu dalam sebuah akaun berprinsipkan syariah yang beroleh keuntungan dikendalikan oleh Petronas tetapi dengan pendedahan penuh kepada plaintif (kerajaan Kelantan) sehingga perintah lanjut dibuat mahkamah dalam kes saman itu.    Plaintif juga memohon suatu injunksi yang memaksa Petronas untuk menyediakan satu akaun yang menyenaraikan semua bayaran tunai royalti itu sebelum ini yang dibuat olehnya (Petronas) kepada kerajaan Malaysia.   Permohonan itu turut disertakan dengan afidavit Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perancangan Ekonomi, Kewangan dan Kebajikan Kelantan Datuk Husam Musa yang turut hadir ke mahkamah hari ini.    Pada 30 Ogos 2010 kerajaan Kelantan menfailkan saman perlanggaran kontrak terhadap Petronas.    Dalam pernyataan tuntutannya, kerajaan negeri menyatakan bahawa Perjanjian Petroleum Kelantan dimeterai pada 9 Mei 1975, jelas menyebut bahawa Petronas perlu membayar tunai lima peratus daripada hasil minyak sama ada daripada usaha carigali di kawasan pantai atau luar pantai.    Ia menyatakan satu perenggan daripada perjanjian itu menyebut bahawa pembayaran hendaklah dibuat secara tunai dua kali setahun pada atau sebelum 1 Mac atau pada atau sebelum 1 September.    Perbicaraan kes saman itu di Mahkamah Tinggi yang ditetapkan pada 31 Jan ini ditangguhkan sementara menunggu rayuan berhubung permohonan dalam kes saman itu di Mahkamah Persekutuan.  - Bernama

10 PERKARA YANG MEROSAKKAN OTAK KITA !

✔ TIDAK MENGAMBIL SARAPAN PAGI.
Otak merupakan organ yang paling banyak menggunakan tenaga, iaitu sebanyak 25% daripada keperluan tenaga badan. Tidak mengambil sarapan pagi menyebabkan paras gula dalam darah menjadi rendah dan mengurangkan bekalan nutrisi pada otak. Banyak sel-sel otak akan mati dan keseluruhan otak akan menjadi kurang aktif pada hari tersebut.

✔ TERLEBIH MAKAN.
Tidak bermakna makan berlebihan menyebabkan otak menjadi semakin baik. Makan berlebihan menyebabkan darah pdialirkan kepada perut dan usus untuk tujuan pencernaan, menyebabkan kekurangan darah yang sampai kepada otak. Ini akan menyebabkan mengantuk, malas dan hilang daya fokus.

✔ MEROKOK
Asap rokok sangat merbahaya kerana mengandungi pelbagai racun dan boleh membunuh banyak sel-sel otak.

✔ MENGAMBIL GULA BERLEBIHAN.
Gula yang berlebihan dalam badan boleh menganggu penyerapan protein dan nutrisi. Ia juga boleh menganggu perkembangan otak yang sihat.

✔ MENGHIDU UDARA YANG TERCEMAR BERLEBIHAN.
Otak merupakan pengguna oksigen yang terbesar didalam badan manusia. Menghidu udara yang tercemar menyebabkan kerosakan sel-sel otak. Berkawan dengan perokok juga mendedahkan kita kepada asap rokok yang sangat merbahaya kepada otak.

✔ TIDUR YANG BERLEBIHAN.
Tidur adalah baik untuk kesihatan otak kita. Namun tidur yang berlebihan menyebabkan otak kurang aktif dan melemahkan daya fikiran seseorang.

✔ TIDUR DENGAN MENUTUP MATA.
Tidur sambil meniarap dan menetup muka ke bantal atau menutup dengan buku atau lengan boleh menyebabkan banyak gas karbon dioksida terperangkap dan disebut semula semasa bernafas. Ini boleh menyebabkan otak kekurangan oksigen.

✔ KURANG BERIMAGINASI.
Berfikir adalah satu cara yang baik untuk mengasah otak kita. Kurang berimaginasi akan menyebabkan tahap kecerdasan otak kita menurun.

✔ JARANG BERFIKIR.
Jarang berfikir akan meneybabkan otak kita menjadi lembab dan tidak aktif. Maka, selalu berfikir akan melatih otak kita bekerja dan meningkatkan keupayaan otak kita.

✔ TIDAK MEMBACA AL-QURAN.
Al-Quran merupakan kalimah-kalimah ALLAH SWT. Membacanya akan memberikan banyak manfaat kepada badan kita termasuklah mengaktifkan otak kita dan mengelakkannya daripada rosak. Tidak membaca AL-Quran otak kita akan menjadi dungu dan dangkal.

Petikan daripada Majalah Q & A.

Sumber fb

Malaysia’s Top 10 Unsolved Mysteries

By Farah Harith (farah.harith@malaysiandigest.com)

Filepic: Cosgrove-Meurer ProductionsEVERYONE enjoys a good mystery once in a while, some perhaps more than others. All the great mystery writers at some point owe some part of their success to real-life mysteries.   Malaysia, on that score, is no stranger to real-life mysteries either. From the ill-fated Tanjung Kupang air crash; the gruesome Nurin Jazlin murder as well as the killing of beauty queen Jean Perrera Sinappa, Malaysian history is filled with crimes which remain unsolved to this very day. As such, Malaysian Digest has compiled some of the most intriguing real-life local mysteries which have baffled the authorities and the public at large. 10. Death Of A Beauty Queen Jean's murder on the front cover of The Star Jean Perrera Sinappa was a former beauty queen, whose husband had just died in a traffic accident. But four months later on April 6, 1979, she was found dead in her car along the Federal Highway, Kuala Lumpur. Her then-lover, who was also her brother-in-law, Karthigesu was found unconscious outside the car, by the roadside. When Karthigesu regained consciousness at the hospital, he claimed he was knocked on the head from behind. An ensuing trial found Karthigesu guilty of killing Jean and he was sentenced to the gallows. The prosecution presented a case where Karthigesu flew into a jealous rage upon discovering that Jean was having an affair with a Sri Lankan doctor, Dr Narada Warnasurya. However, in an odd turn of events, Karthigesu was freed two years after the trial ended following an appeal. The killer walks and the mystery remains unsolved. 9. Where Did My Baby Go? Sharlinie's disappearance prompted the entire nation to distribute her photo in hopes of finding the little girl. Filepic: syahrilkadir.wordpress.com In recent years, news of missing children figured prominently on the front pages of local newspapers. However, there are those which stay with us long after the case goes cold, such as the case of Sharlinie Mohd Nashar. On January 9, 2008, five-year-old Sharlinie was at a playground close to her home in Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya with her sister. Soon after, she went missing. The public was sent on high alert when reports emerged that a ‘lelaki kucing’ (cat man), so dubbed because he had asked kids to help him look for missing cats, could be behind her abduction. Her disappearance sent the media into a frenzy, as it came barely a year after another missing child case, that of Nurin Jazlin Jazimin. No effort was spared in the dissemination on information regarding Sharlinie’s disappearance, with the little girl’s poster splashed at every toll booth and petrol kiosk nationwide. Sharlinie’s family also put their lives on hold to search for their girl, with the father even traveling to neighbouring countries to chase down leads, all to no avail. In exactly two days, it will be exactly five years since Sharlinie was taken from her family. Police’s lead on the case eventually grew cold, and her whereabouts remain unknown to this day. 8. The Girl’s Death Which Broke A Million Hearts DNA test confirmed that Nurin Jazlin was murdered and stuffed into a gym bag August 20, 2007, seemed like any other day for the family of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jazimin. The girl had gone to a market near her home to buy a new hairclip, and was never seen alive again. Witnesses reported seeing her being dragged into a white van in Wangsa Maju. Her disappearance triggered massive media coverage, with her name and face etched into the minds of every Malaysian. The heartfelt pleas by the family for her safe return also touched the hearts of many, and Malaysians across all walks of life prayed for her safe return. Their prayers went unanswered. A month later, a child’s lifeless, naked form was found stuffed in a gym bag in Petaling Jaya, with CCTV camera recording providing little clue as to who may have dumped the bag there. Her parents were unable to identify her remains due to the extreme physical changes in her body, but DNA tests confirmed their worst fears: the remains were indeed of their daughter. An Indonesian woman was subsequently detained over the case, but the murder remains unsolved. The killer, perhaps, still walks among us. 7. When Pleasure Turns Into Murder Norita Samsuddin, 22, was a small town girl from up north, trying to make it in the big city. She had the good looks of a fashion model and was believed to have received several modelling offers all of which she turned down in lieu of building a career as a marketing executive at Transpro Sdn Bhd, the company she was attached to at the time of her untimely demise. On Dec 5, 2003, Norita was found dead in a room at a posh apartment complex in Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur. Her naked body was found with her hands tied with a bra and several wires. There were no signs of injury on her body except strangulation marks on her neck and piece of cloth stuffed in her mouth. Engineer Hanif Basri was later arrested and charged for her murder. It was believed that Hanif had visited Norita that night and the prosecution tried to prove that he was the last person to see her alive. However during the trial it was brought to light that someone else had visited Norita after Hanif left. The case against Hanif however was a weak one. Hanif was acquitted after a trial that came complete with conspiracy theories and lurid details of Norita's social life. The circumstances surrounding her death was as mysterious as the circumstances surrounding the investigations after her death. It was believed that the crime scene was tampered with although nothing was ever proven. Whatever the truth is, it probably lies ‘buried’ with Norita.  6. Did The Butler Do It? Datuk Norjan's murder trial brought to light various lurid details about her life which her family then sought to suppress. Filepic: Utusan Malaysia Sabah Assistant Minister of Rural and Entrepreneurial Development Datuk Norjan Khan Bahadar was found dead in a hotel room at Bandaran Berjaya, Kota Kinabalu, on 11 February 2004. Norjan was found lying fully clad on the floor by her bed at the hotel with several small stab wounds on her neck and face. Police initially cited jealousy as a possible motive but later ruled it out, citing robbery instead although it is believed that nothing was missing in her room. Investigations later led to the arrest of a waiter, Azman Bakar who the police believed had killed Norjan because he was jealous of seeing her with another man. During the trial, a witness was brought forward, a Pakistani businessman, Amir Khan. Lurid details emerged during the trial, suggesting that Datuk Norjan had intercourse with Amir Khan although he denied it. Azman Bakar was later released when the prosecution failed to prove that Azman had in fact known Norjan. No further arrests were made. Again, another mystery remains unsolved. 5. The Double Six Tragedy The Double Six Tragedy claimed the lives of Tun Fuad Stephens and several other key government figures Many of us living in KL would have driven in Taman Tun Dr Ismail and noticed Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. Some of us have no idea who he was. Some of us can say that he was the former chief minister of Sabah. But how many of us know that his death is still shrouded in mystery and the case remains unsolved until today, and the original report of the incident has been filed under Classified? It was infamously known as the Double Six Tragedy. On June 6th, 1976, Tun Fuad Stephens, alongside several other government officials, as well as Tun Fuad's eldest son, Johari boarded a GAF Nomad aircraft, operated by Sabah Air at Labuan Airport. The plane was headed for Kota Kinabalu. However, upon approaching KK International Airport, the plane stalled and crashed, killing everyone onboard. Foul play was suspected although it was later claimed that the aircraft had several design flaws. It was also believed that overloading could have been a contributing factor but the real reason remains a mystery. Tun Fuad's death came 44 days after his second term as Sabah's Chief Minister. The political circumstances surrounding his death is perhaps ironic as it had to do with oil and gas. Reports claim that Tun Fuad upon ousting Tun Mustapha in the 1976 state elections, refused to sign away 95 per cent of the oil and gas revenue to the federal coffers and held out in Labuan for a higher percentage of at least 20 per cent. Tun Fuad's tragic death settled the oil royalty issue in favor of the federal government and Petronas, when Harris Salleh, his successor, signed away the oil revenues, witnessed by then Paramount Chief of the Dusuns, Joseph Pairin Kitingan. Whether it was truly a technical fault that wiped out all passengers on board the Nomad or whether it was premeditated, the answer may never surface.  4. A Life Of Misery Ended Xu Jian Huang was found dead with 23 torture body marks on his body Xu Jian Huang, a 14-year-old Chinese national was sent to live in Malaysia with his father's cousin. However, on Sept 27, 2005, he was found drowned in a swimming pool with 23 torture marks on his body. Investigations led to the arrest and trial of three men who were charged with Xu’s murder; his uncle, businessman Koh Kim Teck, and his two bodyguards Resty Agpalo and Mohd Najib Zulkifli. The 36- day trial saw the businessman having his 'Datuk Seri' title revoked. However, due to 'unresolved and unanswered doubts', all three men were cleared of killing the boy. The trial came complete with lurid details. However, missing witnesses contributed to the acquittal of the three men. According to a 2010 news report, the prosecution appealed against the acquittal, and Koh, a well-known corporate personality, disappeared soon after that. Koh was absent throughout the appeal. In 2010, his acquittal was upheld by the Appellate Court. Koh's whereabouts remain unknown. Did he torture his nephew? Were the bodyguards involved? Why were there witnesses missing? Jian Huang carries the knowledge of those who killed him to his grave. 3. Black Magic Woman Mona Fandey was always spotted with a smile on her face throughout her trial The murder was solved. The murderer was sentenced to death. Case closed. However, the sheer mystery surrounding what happened and the oddity of the murderer earns this case a spot on this unsolved list. On July 22, 1993, police discovered the dismembered body of Mazlan Idris, state assemblyman of Batu Talam, Pahang. Former singer turned 'bomoh' Mona Fandey was arrested alongside her husband and assistant. All three were found guilty and sentenced to the gallows. The death sentence was upheld despite several appeals. No one who lived through the 1990s could forget the gruesome details that emerged from the Mona Fandey-Mazlan Idris trial. His body was chopped into several parts following a supernatural ritual believed to bring more money for him, and he was buried in a storeroom near her house in Pahang. What constitutes this as an unsolved is how remorseless the three were even during their execution. Throughout the trial, it was reported that Mona uttered the words 'Aku takkan mati' and remained calm with a smile on her lips.  2. The Assassination Of An IGP Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Hashim, a Kedahan, was appointed as the country’s 3rd Inspector-General of Police (Ketua Polis Negara). On one fateful day on June 7, 1974, Abdul Rahman was in his car on his way to a meeting in Bukit Aman. His car, driven by Sergeant Omar Yunus, was coasting along Jalan Tun Perak when it came under a hail of gunfire. Two unknown assailants had rained 11 shots at the car, seven of which hit the IGP. At the time, Malaysia was fighting the uprising of subversive forces that came in the form of communist members. It was believed that the order for the hit came from the leader of Parti Komunis Malaya, Chin Peng. This, however was never proven in court. In 1975, two men, Lim Woon Chong and Ng Foo Nam were found guilty of assassinating Perak police chief Tan Sri Khoo Chong Khong at Jalan Ashby in Ipoh. It was later theorized that both could have been the same unknown assailants who had gunned down Abdul Rahman although it was not proven. Lim and Ng were sentenced to death in 1978 under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Until today, it is still unknown if the two men were the same hired guns who had carried out the hit on the IGP.  1. An Air Crash That Rocked The Nation The Tanjung Kupang crash wore heavy on the hearts of Malaysians at the time especially during the mass burial which was broadcasted live on television On the evening of December 4, 1977, Malaysia Airlines’ flight 653 left Penang for Kuala Lumpur's Subang Airport. However as it began its descend for Subang's Runway 33, captain GK Ganjoor reported an 'unidentified hijacker' on board. Several minutes later, the captain radioed in that the flight was now headed for Singapore. Cockpit voice recordings picked up screaming, cursing as well as what could have been the cockpit door being broken in. At 8.15 pm, all communication with the flight was lost. At 8.36 pm, the flight crashed at Tanjong Kupang in Johor. No survivors were found. What was even more tragic was that none of the bodies could be identified as they were blown to bits. The victims' remains were interred in a mass burial. Until today, no evidence was found to determine what caused the crash and who the unidentified hijacker was. Residents of nearby Tanjung Kupang reported hearing explosions, however there were no weapons or bullets found in the wreckage. Passengers on board included the Malaysian Agricultural Minister, Dato' Ali Haji Ahmad, Public Works Department Head, Dato' Mahfuz Khalid, and Cuban Ambassador to Japan, Mario García. Some speculated that the Japanese Red Army was responsible but no evidence was found to support the theory. It remains a tragic memory in the history of commercial aviation in Malaysia, and the devastating demise of all its passengers warrants this tragedy a top spot in Malaysian Digests' Top Ten Unsolved Mysteries In Malaysia.     - mD Source malaysiandigesat

Wanita Tendang Penyamun Sampai Tergolek

MELAKA: Seorang wanita nekad melawan empat penjenayah yang merompak kedai serbaneka milik suaminya dengan menumbuk dan menendang seorang daripada mereka dalam kejadian di Jalan Kampung Pantai, Kampung Hulu, di sini, malam kelmarin. Dalam kejadian 8.45 malam, tindakan pantas mangsa, Sally Lee, 31, yang menutup laci di kaunter ketika seorang lagi penjenayah cuba mengambil duit dan dua kamera miliknya turut mengakibatkan tangan lelaki itu cedera akibat tersepit. Kejadian itu mengakibatkan mangsa kerugian RM4,000 apabila komputer riba, cakera keras luaran (external hard disk), beg mengandungi RM600 dan dua kamera miliknya dilarikan penjenayah berkenaan. Sally berkata, ketika kejadian dia berseorangan di selepas suaminya, Ben Kong, 30, menghantar barangan tidak jauh dari situ. “Datang lelaki memakai topi keledar dan jaket hitam membeli air mineral, selepas saya memberi baki RM1, tiba-tiba datang tiga lelaki berpakaian sama. "Seorang daripadanya mengatakan mahu melihat pemandangan sungai di belakang kedai dan dua lagi berada di depan kaunter," katanya. Menurutnya, dia yang curiga dengan tindakan empat lelaki itu terkejut apabila dua daripada mereka masuk ke dalam kaunter. Katanya, seorang daripada lelaki itu mengacukan pisau di lehernya dan memberi amaran supaya senyap. "Terkejut dengan keadaan itu, saya memulas tangannya sebelum menumbuk perut dan menendangnya sehingga dia dan seorang lagi rakannya jatuh. "Ketika saya bergelut, dua lagi rakan lelaki itu mengambil komputer riba dan cuba mengambil beg berisi duit serta kamera di dalam laci. "Saya yang sedar tindakan mereka segera menolak laci dengan kuat sehingga penjenayah itu cedera di tangan kerana tersepit," katanya. Menurutnya lagi, terkejut dengan tindakan nekadnya, empat penjenayah itu melarikan diri menaiki dua motosikal. "Saya menjerit meminta tolong dan kebetulan seorang pelancong yang lalu di kaki lima kedai ini turut dirempuh penjenayah itu ketika melarikan diri. "Biarpun beberapa barangan berharga dilarikan penjenayah, saya bernasib baik tiada kejadian lebih buruk berlaku," katanya. Sementara itu, Ben berkata, dia hanya mengetahui kejadian yang menimpa isterinya selepas dimaklumkan orang ramai. "Ketika kejadian saya baru keluar menghantar barang di kedai berhampiran dan terkejut selepas dimaklumkan mengenai kejadian itu. "Seorang pelanggan tetap kedai kami yang nyaris dilanggar motosikal ditunggang penjenayah itu ketika melarikan diri sempat mengambil nombor pendaftarannya sebelum menghubungi polis," katanya. Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Daerah Melaka Tengah Asisten Komisioner Salehhudin Abd Rahman, mengesahkan kejadian dan katanya kes disiasat mengikut Seksyen 395/397 Kanun Keseksaan. - Harian Metro

Malaysia’s Top 10 Richest People For 2013

KUALA LUMPUR: Telecommunications billionaire T. Ananda Krishnan is now the richest man in Malaysia. With a fortune estimated to be around RM30.56 billion, he takes over the top spot previously held by ‘Sugar King’ Tan Sri Robert Kuok. A research conducted by Chinese daily Nanyang Siang Pau showed that Ananda received a boost in his wealth when Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd was listed on the Bursa Malaysia last year. The research showed that Kuok, who has investments in the hotels and resorts sector, agriculture and shipping industry, slipped from the number one spot, with a combined fortune of RM29.4 billion. Kuok was last year’s richest Malaysian, based on the rankings issued by Malaysian Business, with an estimated fortune of RM45.7 billion, but his wealth receded by RM16.3 billion this year. It is estimated that for 2012, the three men’s combined wealth is approximately RM75 billion. Meanwhile, Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng of IOI Corporation Berhad, who is involved in among others, the agriculture and real estate industries, maintains his fourth spot on the list with an estimated worth of RM14.68 billion, compared to RM11.36 billion last year. In fifth place is Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay from the Genting Group with RM14.17 billion, a jump from seventh place with RM7.58 billion last year. He is followed by Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan from the Hong Leong Group, who retains his sixth spot. His fortune increased from RM8 billion last year to RM10.42 billion this year. The riches of Tan Sri Dr Yeoh Tiong Lay of construction and property giants YTL Corporation went up 11 spots to seventh this year, with RM9.14 billion compared to RM9.53 billion last year. One of the two Bumiputeras in the list, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary, fell from fifth spot to eighth, with RM9.14 billion compared to RM9.54 billion last year. Ninth and 10th place, respectively, goes to banking magnate Tan Sri Azman Hashim of the AmBank Group, with RM14.8 billion, and Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian of Batu Kawan Bhd, who is worth RM3.95 billion. The research, the second undertaken by Nanyang Siang Pau, also listed that the total estimated worth of all 10 billionaires is approximately RM141.35 billion. It also stated that among the 10 richest entrepreneurs in Malaysia, the Chinese captured the top spot with a total worth of RM97.4 billion; Indians with RM30.56 billion; and Malays with RM13.32 billion. 1. Tan Sri T. Ananda Krishnan (Usaha Tegas) - RM30.56 billion 2. Robert Kuok (Kuok Group) - RM29.40 billion 3. Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow (Public Bank) - RM15.10 billion 4. Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng (IOI Group) - RM14.68 billion 5. Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (Genting Group) - RM14.17 billion 6. Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan (Hong Leong Group) - RM10.42 billion 7. Tan Sri Dr. Yeoh Tiong Lay (YTL Corporation) - RM9.75 billion 8. Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary (Yayasan al-Bukhary) - RM9.14 billion 9. Tan Sri Azman Hashim (AmBank Group) - RM4.18 billion 10. Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian (Batu Kawan Berhad) - RM3.95 billion   The Top 10 Richest People in Malaysia (Nanyang Siang Pau, Jan 2013) Source malaysiandigest

 

Anwar wins suit against Utusan, court rules articles ‘distorted’

By Zurairi AR

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim won his defamation lawsuit today against Utusan Malaysia after the High Court here ruled that the newspaper had “distorted” the opposition leader’s words to suggest he backed the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movement.
Justice Datuk VT Singham also said the Umno-owned daily did not practise responsible journalism, in addition to disregarding a golden opportunity to correct itself after Anwar (picture) had sent a legal notice asking for clarification.
“The articles ... were distorted, incorrect version of the events ... and taken out of context,” Singham said in his judgment.
“The court is satisfied that the words (in the articles) are defamatory to the plaintiff.”
The judge said it was “crystal clear” that Anwar did not say that LGBT activities should be legalised in his BBC interview, and the Utusan articles had suggested that Anwar was unfit to hold public office and be the opposition leader.
Anwar had in January filed the defamation suit seeking RM50 million in damages and an injunction to stop Utusan and its editor-in-chief from repeating statements accusing him of being a gay rights proponent.
At a hearing on July 18, Anwar had told the court that it was “public knowledge” that Utusan Malaysia was Umno-owned and that it took orders from the party’s president.
He also agreed then that homosexuals should be discriminated against to protect the sanctity of marriage, but pointed out that archaic laws should be reviewed to prevent innocent people from being punished.
Earlier this year, Anwar was acquitted of a charge of sodomising former male aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, with the High Court ruling that the prosecution had not done enough to prove the opposition leader had committed sodomy against Saiful.
Just days after Anwar was exonerated, Utusan Malaysia front-paged a story titled “Anwar ulas isu gay” (Anwar discusses gay rights), claiming the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) de facto leader had told a BBC interview that laws on homosexuality in Malaysia were considered “archaic” and “not relevant”.

Source themalaysianinsider

Malay Archipelago and China’s supremacy

Christopher Fernandez | January 20, 2013

China’s rise as an economic superpower is being watched with caution by its neighbours.

COMMENT

The stark reality of an economically-empowered China is only now beginning to sink in as the Chinese make forays to expand their territory and land and maritime space much to the fear and dismay of nations in the South China Sea region.
The Chinese are making a bid to claim in its entirety the Spratly Islands whose islands are also being similarly claimed as territories of the nations of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
China is also in a dispute with Japan over the Diaoyu islands which is known as Senkaku to the Japanese and the latter are not flinching in any way in their bid to claim the islands which in turn has caused much resentment and anger among the Chinese.
The Chinese map of history also lays claim to Tibet and Taiwan. While Tibet was annexed by China in 1950 after a five-year period of independence, Taiwan has clearly shown strong resistance in wanting to be part of the People’s Republic of China.
While Macau and Hong Kong have reverted to China upon the expiry of their treaties with Portugal and Britain respectively, Macau has become more of a gaming haven while Hong Kong strongly refuses to abide by the tenets and obligations of communist China and so is enjoying the status of a Special Autonomous Region.
Incursion into Indian Territory

The Chinese see their land and sea space according to a map of their own making, as opposed to the rest of the world, and they even have the audacity to occupy swathes of Indian land in the north Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh.
What transpired was that in 1961 the Sino-India war was fought at the instigation of then premier Chou-En Lai over his hatred of Nehru’s stance in wanting to lead Asia. Nehru’s leadership moves caused much anger in Chou who decided then to attack India.
Chinese forces invaded and occupied parts of the north Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh before Chairman Mao reprimanded Chou for his actions and instructed him to stop the battle which by now had Nehru requesting the British and American forces to come to the  aid of India.
Chou gave in to Mao’s commands but refused to pullout Chinese troops from the occupied Indian land and since then China has also laid claim to these lands belonging to India as being part of the Chinese expansionary map.
World leaders guarded against Chinese aggression

Unlikely as it might seem for India, it was Singapore elder statesman, Lee Kuan Yew, who some years ago suggested that if anyone can contain the expansive might of China, it is India, but he said the Indians will have to buck up to bolster their economic growth to match China’s and act as a buffer from the Chinese expanding their presence into South East Asia.
While the United States have a visible and strong naval and military presence in the region, both US president Barack Obama and secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, have urged India to play a more leading role in world affairs in keeping with their rise also as an economic powerhouse.
While the feeling of the Atlantic powers, North America and Western Europe, is that China is beginning to resemble a bull in a China shop and has created nervousness and tensions to rise in the region, the jitters and shudders being felt needs to be appeased by a concerted effort by the world at large to push China back within its confines and space.
While in the past “ping-pong” diplomacy was seen as the way forward, this has become redundant and it appears that a more forceful response by China’s troubled and worried neighbors might be more appropriate.
While land and maritime disputes are usually forwarded to the International Courts of Justice at The Hague for arbitration, whether a nation like China subscribes to such an approach and will abide by the decisions of the ICJ is difficult to ascertain.
A better solution – the rise of the Malay Archipelago

Since India fights shy of wanting to act in a more comprehensive way to curtail the expansionist policies of Beijing, it is envisaged that a vital role can be played by the Malay Archipelago, as Malays are prevalent not only in Indonesia and Malaysia, but in Singapore, Brunei, South Thailand and South Philippines, to act as a buffer against China.
Since this region shares a common heritage and is united by the use of the Malay language, it is possible to develop politically and economically this region into a powerhouse that can rise up to match the might of China.
With India and the Malay Archipelago acting as buffers, it will be hard for China to wiggle its way into expanding its land and maritime territory. China’s only real desire in expanding territory is land grabbing to exploit the potential of harvesting rich, abundant natural resources in the region but which unfortunately does not belong to them.
The world at large must look into the possibility of causing the Malay Archipelago to rise in power and act as a counterweight to China. Indonesia especially needs to look into its currently shelved plans of developing nuclear weapons for its armed forces.
But what is even more important is to fast track the economic growth in this region. There needs to be developed a pact and common understanding among nations and areas of the Malay Archipelago to come together and develop and grow to match the success stories of China and India.
By doing so, it will cause a balance of power and the power equilibrium will be such that China’s harbored intentions of the bullying and cowering into submission of countries in this region will stop.
The region of the Malay Archipelago offers rich spoils for foreign investors and can be transformed into the most dynamic economic region in the world if a concerted effort is made by advanced and developed countries to participate and explore and exploit its huge and tremendous potential.
But more importantly, the need to invest in the Malay Archipelago has to be seen in the light of balancing the equation of power in the Asia-Pacific region and to place the region on par with the forerunners of the globalised world.
Christopher Fernandez has been teaching and writing throughout Asia since 1984.

Source freemalaysiatoday

Algeria Hostage Crisis: Malaysia Working With CIA, MI-6, Egyptian Intelligence

Sunday,

The Amenas natural gas field in the eastern central region of Algeria, where Islamist militants raided and took hostages Wednesday, Jan 16. Pic: APKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is forging cooperation with American, British and Egyptian intelligence to find out about the fate of two more Malaysians, whose identities are known, in the hostage incident in eastern Algeria, North Africa, last Wednesday. Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the cooperation involved the United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Britain's MI-6 and the Egyptian intelligence. He said the latest information was still unclear, forcing the government to obtain information from various sources including intelligence agencies to know about the situation of the Malaysians who were taken hostage in Algeria. "I am monitoring the matter closely, and we have a network of intelligence agencies that we can rely on and not necessarily in Algeria but nearer to that country. "I also receive reports from our anti-terrorism unit, but I admit that we have been receiving some conflicting reports. "So, certain things remain unclear but the fate of our citizens is our prime consideration," he told reporters after a patrol programme with the Motorcycle Patrol Unit in the Ampang area here Sunday. In the incident, five Malaysians were among 130 workers of various nationalities at the Amenas Oil and Gas Production Complex in Algeria who were taken hostage by a group of militants. It is believed that the incident was an act of revenge against the Algeran government for allowing the country's air space to be used by French fighter jets to attack Islamist rebels in Mali. Of the five Malaysians held hostage, three are safe and will return to Malaysia soon while the other two have yet to be identified. The three are K. Ravi, Lau Seek Chiang and Patrict Purait Awang. Meanwhile, the Malaysian embassy in Algiers, Algeria has received information that one of the two unidentified Malaysians might have been killed during the attack by the militants at the gas facility while the whereabouts of the other are unknown. - Bernama