Berawans bank on illustrious past in Regatta

MIRI: The smallest indigenous Kenyah sub-group, the Berawans of Mulu-Long Terawan, took part in the Sarawak Regatta in Kuching on Aug 31, carrying the hopes of the Baram people of winning a few races.

The Berawans have ruled the waves in the historical Baram Regatta for at least three decades. This is the first time the famous Berawans with their vociferous war cry are taking part in boat racing outside their territory which they have dominated for so long.

“We are taking part in the Sarawak Regatta more to celebrate the 50th Merdeka with the rest of Malaysians in our State capital. Nevertheless we promise to give our best and pose the greatest challenge to the other teams from the rest of Sarawak,” said team manager Garry Hassim Wan.

He told The Borneo Post this at Kuala Baram before the team left for Kuching in three buses yesterday. The team comprises 58 men paddlers and 18 women paddlers. The team accompanied by four boats is taking part in seven of the boat racing events.

One of the boats, the famous Tedung Melancar 7, has a unique history that was told to The Borneo Post by ex-paramount chief of the Orang Ulu in Baram, former Temenggong Baya Malang.

“A snake went into the boat as our people were making it in the jungle. When they brought the boat out of the jungle down a hill, it slided like a snake, avoiding the trees on its way down the hill,” said Baya Malang. Tedung Melancar was born, and in the 1954 Baram Regatta during its debut, the boat ruled the waves of the mighty Baram River.

“The most memorable win of Tedung Melancar was in the 1972 Baram Regatta when we won the Sultan Pahang Cup. In second place was Tun Rahman’s boat which happened to be one of my boats also, and in third place was Tuanku Haji Bujang’s boat from Kuching,” reminisced Baya Malang.

Tedung Melancar 7 will now compete in Kuching, as if to repay the favour of yesteryears. The number seven denotes the seventh generations of Tedung Melancar since it was born. The other three boats are Sri Terawan-Mulu 1, Sri Terawan-Mulu 2 and Sri Terawan-Mulu 3 built by Dick Mane, a younger generation Berawan boatbuilder.

The patron of the team was a political secretary to the Chief Minister, Robert Laing Anyie. Two of the boats will take part in the VIP races representing Baram Member of Parliament Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan and assemblyman Lihan Jok. The boats will also represent Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Royal Mulu Resort in the race among the hotels. Backed by six months of intensive training, the Berawan boat warriors are sure to make waves during the Sarawak Regatta in Kuching.

The Borneo Post

Miri gets RM465mil gift from Federal Govt

MIRI: People in Miri, the oil capital of Sarawak, got a RM465mil Merdeka Day "gift" Friday.
This gift came in the form of Federal Government funds for a RM400mil new four-lane highway that would connect the Sarawak-Brunei checkpoint to the Miri Airport and a just-completed RM65mil flyover highway project; both of which are vital infrastructure projects that would transform the land transportation layout of this resort city.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud announced the good news Friday to the 300,000 people in this northern hub of Sarawak which hosted the state-level Merdeka celebrations.

"The highway costing RM400mil will be constructed from Kuala Baram (the checkpoint) to the airport. This project has been approved already.

"Both these projects are vital for the transformation of Miri. Miri is fast expanding, from the shores across the Canada Hill to the inland.

"As this city progresses and expands, we need to widen our roads and create new links and to open up new suburbs in order to meet the needs of the fast-expanding population," he said at a ceremony to mark the completion of the flyover.

Taib, who is also State First Finance Minister and State Minister for Planning and Resources Management, said the flyover would play a vital role in reducing the massive traffic congestion faced by some 50,000 people living in the Tudan resettlement area and the various residential estates in the Kuala Baram vicinity.

The Star

Malaysians Display 50 Years Of Unity At Merdeka Parade

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 (Bernama) -- It turned out to be a truly people's show at the 50th Merdeka gathering and parade here Friday morning, showcasing Malaysia as it truly is -- solidly based on goodwill and solidarity, economically strong and a friend to all.The thousands who were all around Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and along the parade route saw the parade reflecting the five eras which established peace, progress and prosperity for the nation -- independence, development, unity, modernisation and excellence.

The celebration this morning, on the heels of the midnight heralding of a new period that builds upon five decades of glorious achievements, also showed that Malaysia's social contract is thriving, with people of all races and religions teaming together in performing various displays and in marching along in the massive parade.Together with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, and other Malaysian leaders were a host of foreign dignitaries from all over the world.

Themed "Malaysiaku Gemilang" (My Glorious Malaysia), the colourful and joyous two-hour parade comprising 25,000 participants kicked off at about 8.00am.Thousands of spectators began flocking to the square as early as 6am to witness the parade made up of 100 contingents from the public and private sectors, including 12,570 marchers, 14 floats, 25 military vehicles and a breathtaking aerial display performed by 52 aircraft.Among the foreign dignitaries present at the historic occasion were the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah; the Duke of York, Prince Andrew; Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Australian Governor-General Major General Michael Jeffery.Asean leaders who converged on the square for the parade were Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla and a host of ambassadors. Also joining in the celebration was former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The national anthem "Negaraku" was played soon after Tuanku Mizan arrived at the square as five Royal Malaysian Air Force Nuri helicopters flew overhead bearing the Jalur Gemilang and Malaysian Armed Forces' (ATM) flags.The King then inspected a 107-member guard-of-honour.This was followed by hoisting of the Jalur Gemilang accompanied by Negaraku as a 14-gun salute boomed. Both parade participants and spectators then gave spirited renditions of patriotic songs such as "Jalur Gemilang", "Cemerlang, Gemilang, Terbilang" and the Merdeka celebration theme song "Malaysiaku Gemilang".Following this, all eyes were on 50 special education students who recited the Rukun Negara (national ideology) led by Syed Nur Khairin Al-Safi before breaking into shouts of Merdeka seven times.

The square then turned into a kaleidoscope of colours as the field presentation comprising 10,000 performers, a choir, drum beaters and members of the "integrated people's component", got underway.The performances depicted important events which had left indelible marks on Malaysia since it freed itself from the shackles of colonialisation 50 years ago.The performance by the 1,000-strong Malaysia Drum Symphony signified the spirit of unity among the country's various racial communities.

Fourteen helicopters, each flying a flag of a state in the federation, made a fly-past shortly after the parade themed on the eras of Malaysia's five prime ministers began.It started with the Era of Independence during Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj's time, the Development Era under Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the Era of Unity of Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Modernisation Era and the Era of Excellence under Abdullah.

The parade was fronted by 60 National Service (NS) Training Programme trainees who held aloft a Jalur Gemilang measuring 9m by 18m, and the marching band of the Royal Malay Regiment behind them.They were followed by two groups of NS trainees numbering 400 each carrying the national and state flags respectively.The Independence Era contingent comprised 100 Merdeka veterans, including 20 who rode in Bufori cars, and 1,000 members of Umno, MCA, MIC and political parties in Sabah and Sarawak behind them.They were followed by contingents from the Old Putra Association, National Warriors, ATM veterans, Commonwealth veterans from the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and veterans of the Royal Malaysia Police, Homeguard, and Jungle Squad.

A float themed Nation and People Building co-ordinated by the Information Ministry then led 13 others in the parade.Next came the Development Era float themed Development under the New Economic Policy (NEP) prepared by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry.Among the other contingents in this theme were those of the Industrial Training Institute, Agricultural Training Institute, Felda, Felcra, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry and Tabung Haji.

The Unity Era procession was made up of contingents from Kemas, Federal Territories and Permodalan Nasional Berhad as well as the PNB float.The Era of Modernisation had four floats, including the one on the oil and gas industry by Petronas and Proton's creation highlighting elements of the automotive industry.Others who took part under this category were the Public Service Department, International Trade and Industry Ministry, telecommunications and media companies as well as automotive companies.

The Era of Excellence procession began with the Economic Planning Unit's float carrying the National Mission theme of the Ninth Malaysia Plan followed by contingents from the Malaysian Islamic Development Department and the Anti-Corruption Agency.Others who were in it included the Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry, National Civics Bureau, Youth and Sports Ministry, Malaysian Youth Council and Mardi.The contingents from Khazanah Nasional, UEM Group and Johor Corp followed them and this was when the much-anticipated air show began.

The eye-catching Visit Malaysia 2007 float from the Tourism Ministry further enlivened the parade. It was followed by contingents from, among others, the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela), Civil Defence Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team, Prisons Department and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).Behind them was the Royal Malaysia Police contingent which stole the crowd's attention as it had a 30-strong mounted unit and 24 dogs from its K-9 unit.Overhead, aircraft belonging to the Fire and Rescue Department, MMEA and police flew past.

The parade ended with the ATM contingent featuring 25 of its assets, including PT-91M "Twardy" tanks.Sonic booms sounded above, as just then, Royal Malaysian Air Force jets thundered across the Kuala Lumpur skies.Apart from MIG-29s, Hawks, F18s and C130 Hercules, three Sukhoi multi-role jet fighters that were only recently procured, demonstrated their prowess much to the delight of the crowd.Back on the ground, about 2,000 people assembled by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry were involved in formation displays to the accompaniment of folk and patriotic songs.The national anthem was then played, symbolically ending the ceremony at Dataran Merdeka followed by the departure of the King and Queen.

-- BERNAMA

ACA asked to be more transparent in preventing corruption: IGP

PETALING JAYA: Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan yesterday urged the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to be more effective and comprehensive in discharging its responsibilities.

He said the ACA’s scope of investigation should also be directed at the other enforcement agencies instead of the police force alone. He was commenting on the statement by a former Inspector-General of Police, Tun Haniff Omar, in his weekly column in an English-language tabloid recently that 40 per cent of the members of the Malaysian police force were involved in corrupt practices.

“It was a sweeping comment. The integrity of the police force is important to me personally. I have endeavoured to build up public confidence in the police force. “That’s why I have warned police personnel involved in corrupt practices that stern action would be taken against them,” he told reporters after attending the 50th Merdeka Anniversary celebration at Bandar Kinrara, Puchong last night.

He also said that the police needed the cooperation from all quarters because of their limited manpower in a particular area. “Among the trends that should receive attention are rape, vehicle theft by syndicates, robbery and housebreaking,” Musa said. He said Johor, Sabah, Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur were among the states which had recorded decreases in their crime rates.

He said the police also constantly enhanced regional cooperation with neighbouring countries in fighting crimes involving international syndicates. Musa said that before the local authorities developed new townships, they should get views from the police to ensure the towns to be developed were really safe.

“Police officers should join as a member of the township development committee because we can give important input in terms if security aspects,” he added.

– BERNAMA

No open burning permits to estates if haze worsens

KUCHING, Mon: The Sarawak government will stop issuing permits for open burning to plantation companies if the haze situation worsens, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said today.

He said the Natural Resources and Environment Board, closely monitoring the haze situation, issued 26 permits this month but only eight estates have actively conducted open burnings but they were confined to 50 hectares. “We will issue more permits only if these plantations do not pose any danger of contributing to the haze.

“The permits will be frozen if hotspots are detected or the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading breaches the very unhealthy mark of 200,” said Dr Chan, who is also State Disaster and Relief Management Committee chairman. He said the State Fire and Rescue Department has been told to be on standby, particularly in peat soil areas like in Tudan, Miri division. Peat soil areas are prone to widespread fires during the dry spell.

IRB to refund taxpayers by year-end

KUALA LUMPUR: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) aims to refund taxpayers, especially for backlogged cases by the end of this year, said its chief executive officer Hasmah Abdullah. Despite the heavy task ahead, Hasmah said the IRB was determined to give out all refunds as soon as possible with priority given to senior citizens.

"My mission is that there will be no more backlogged refunds that will be carried forward to next year including refunds for 2006.

"We are aware that there are backlogged refunds that are still due from previous years and we are working round the clock to ensure that it is reimbursed quickly," she said during a press conference here Monday.

She said 70% of refunds, a majority of which was for e-Filing, had already been processed for the 2006 tax year while 53% of refunds from backlogged cases (2005 and before) had already been reimbursed.

Hasmah said IRB aimed to give out e-Filing refunds for the 2006 assessment year by the end of this month while refunds for those who filed their returns by paper and backlogged cases would be given out by the end of this year.

A special task force, she said, had been set up in every state to ensure refunds were processed quickly and in a smooth manner. Hasmah urged those who had yet to receive their backlogged refunds to contact her personally by e-mail at hasmah@hasil.org.my.

Source : The Star

EC To Use Indelible Ink In Next General Election

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- After much deliberation, the Election Commission (EC) today finally decided to use the idelible ink on voters either on their fingernail or finger in the next general election, said its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.He said EC arrived at the decision to use the the Indian-made ink which would only deface after a few days after consulting the National Fatwa Council's advice on whether its usage contravened Islamic syariah (Islamic law).Abdul Rashid said EC was working on the guideline to be observed by election personnel when carrying out the procedure during the casting of votes, he told reporters here today.

"Although the use of indelible ink may not be foolproof in curbing cheating if there were any or if at all there were cases of those appearing for the dead, it could thwart allegations made by certain quarters on the existence of phantom voters or trying to tarnish EC's image," he said.The National Fatwa Council had approved the decision after the Chemistry Department and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) concluded their findings that the ink was free of unclean elements which could render ablutions void.

EC had proposed the use of indelible ink to prevent cheating in the next general election.On the procedure of using the ink, Abdul Rashid said the second clerk would apply the ink on the fingernail or forefinger of the voters' left hand after their identity were confirmed by the first clerk.He said the third clerk would then give a punched ballot paper to the voters.

"To amputees, a stamp mark using the indelible ink would be made on the stump after they had completed voting," he said, adding that the procedure was not applicable in postal voting which was safeguarded by several declarations.Abdul Rashid said the first clerk who was responsible in checking the identity cards of the voters would also check the voters' fingers to determine whether they had already voted while for those using nail colouring, the ink would be applied on their finger.

However, he said voters were not encouraged to use nail colouring when casting their votes.Abdul Rashid said the use of indelible black ink which cost less than RM1 million would be very effective as it would not be easily removed like the ones used in other countries.He said the use of the ink would appease several political parties which had requested EC, after the 2004 general election, to introduce certain procedures to prevent rigging.

"In an election, cheating could be done in three ways namely by using the identity of cards of dead electors, using other voters' identity cards or casting the votes twice (by using the same identity cards at two different places)," he said.Abdul Rashid said the EC would study the problems it encountered after introducing the indelible ink before enforcing it as an election procedure.

-- BERNAMA

20 Die, Nine Injured In Express Bus Crash

FATAL TRIP… Fire and Rescue personnel assisted by policemen loading up 19 dead bodies onto a truck, in what is believed to be one of the country's worst traffic accidents. As at 5pm today, 20 people who were on board the northbound express bus are reported dead while nine others are injured, two of them critically. A police spokesman said the ill-fated bus was travelling from Melaka to Butterworth when it skidded while descending a hill, and crashed into a railing on the left of the road before plunging into a five-metre deep drain.

TAIPING, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Twenty people were killed and nine others injured in what is regarded as the country's worst express bus crash, which occurred at Km 229 of the North-South Expressway in Bukit Gantang near here today.The bus, with a driver and co-driver and 27 passengers travelling from Melaka to Butterworth in Penang, was said to have been going down an incline of the highway at about 4.30 am when it crashed through the railing on the side of the road and plunged into a ditch five metres below.

The driver of the bus, Rohizan Abu Bakar, 38, was among the dead. He was from Taman Seri Petaling in Kulim, Kedah. Also killed was an Indonesian national, H. Abu Bakar, who was from Medan, Sumatra.An unidentified three-year-old child was critically injured and has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Taiping Hospital. Also among the injured are two Vietnamese nationals and a Nepali.Taiping police chief ACP Raja Musa Raja Razak told reporters that of the dead, only 11, all male, have been identified so far. The nine others, seven of whom are female, have yet to be identified because identification papers were strewn about at the scene of the accident, he said.

Besides the bus driver and the Indonesian national, the others who died at the scene of the accident have been identified as T. Krishnan, 46, of Taman Haji Muslim in Kuala Ketil, Kedah; Fadliz Ahmad, 22, of Jalan Penaga, Taman Maju in Jasin, Melaka; Josli Arshad, 22, of Jalan Dang Merdu in Jembatan Duyong, Melaka;Nazri Noordin, 35, of Desa Baiduri in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam, Penang; Pang Tee Min, 58, of Jalan Ong Kim Wee, Melaka; Mohd Yazid Md Yusoh, 23, of Jalan Koklam Air Utama of Phase 4, Taman Maju in Jasin, Melaka; Md Basri of Kampung Pulai Darat in Merlimau, Melaka; and Kamis Said, 62, of Batu 22 1/2 Pasir Gembor, Tanjung Bidara in Masjid Tanah, Melaka.One passenger, Shahril Efendi, 22, of Alor Star, died at Taiping Hospital at 5 pm.Besides the three-year-old child, the co-driver of the bus, P. Veeraman, 36, of Taman Sri Merbau in Sepang, Selangor, was also critically injured and is in the ICU of Taiping Hospital.The two Vietnamese nationals have also been sent to Taiping Hospital. They have been identified as Quang Ngoi Hung and Ngu Yeh Hui Vinh, 27. Also admitted to the hospital are Mohd Fauzi Hassan, 27; Zurina Rashid, 23; Mohd Zahidi Che Ahmad, 22; and Siew Ken Meng (male), 21.The Nepali, Chatrapati Eyam, 24, was the only passenger who was slightly injured and was allowed to leave the hospital after outpatient treatment.

Raja Musa said the high death toll resulted from the body of the bus being badly smashed and the roof ripped off, which caused several of the passengers to be flung out and others to be trapped in what remained of the vehicle.He said Fire and Rescue personnel who rushed to the scene removed some of the injured passengers, administered first aid and sent them to Taiping Hospital, about 20 km from the scene of the accident.

They had to use a crane to winch up the wreckage to remove the trapped bodies, he said.Taiping Fire Station Officer Mazlan Zainal said it took the fire and rescue personnel about three hours to remove the bodies from the bus.Mazlan said fire and rescue personnel from the Taiping and Kuala Kangsar stations arrived at the scene at 4.50 am.He said the injured were sent to Taiping Hospital in ambulances.PLUS, the toll expressway operator, closed the left lane of the highway to facilitate the rescue operation.

"This is the worst accident in the nation's history," Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy told reporters after going to the scene of the accident and calling at Taiping Hospital.In November 2003, fourteen people were killed and 28 others injured when two buses collided along Jalan Kuala Lipis-Merapoh in Pahang.Chan said a preliminary investigation indicated human negligence to be the cause of the accident.

"A thorough investigation has begun, involving all departments and agencies, such as the police, Fire and Rescue Department and JPJ (Road Transport Department)," he said.He also said that a probe would be conducted to determine the state of fitness of the driver, looking into such aspects as fatigue, drowsiness and use of drugs.It would also take into consideration the structure of the bus and the design of the road, he added.Chan said the ill-fated bus was registered in 1987 and was owned by Syarikat Kenderaan Bukit Gantang Sdn Bhd of Taiping."The bus has been in use for 20 years. It was last inspected in May and received the approval of Puspakom (the computerised vehicle inspection centre)," he said.

Chan said the bus had left Melaka at about 10.30 pm yesterday and had already covered about 400 kilometres. The wreckage of the vehicle has been towed to the Taiping district police station."The bus had a driver and a co-driver. We will find out whether a change of drivers was made in keeping with the regulation requiring a switch after two hours of driving," he said.Chan said he had informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of the accident."The prime minister has ordered immediate measures to be taken to enhance road safety in the country," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Credit cardholder’s RM7,700 nightmare

He claims losing card to thief and ends up having to fork out RM3,080 on purchases he never made

KUCHING: A credit cardholder is seeking justice from Bank Negara to provide better protection to cardholders after he has to fork out RM3,080 in payment to his bank for an extravagant purchase by a ‘thief’.

The victim, Choo Siew Joon lost his wallet around 1pm on Feb 13 but he did not realise it until after a thief charged a sum of RM7,700 in a single transaction on his credit card at 1.55pm,” said Member of Parliament for Bandar Kuching Chong Chieng Jen yesterday.

“The bank, without prior confirmation with the cardholder, approved the transaction. It was only after the transaction was approved that the bank called the cardholder. By then it was already too late,” he said.

He added that the thief bought jewellery and earlier on at 1.26pm, the culprit bought fuel.
Chong said after several rounds of negotiation, the bank finally offered Choo, a businessman a sum of RM3,080 as full settlement of the amount.

“As the cardholder was fearful of litigation against the bank which has the resources to engage a lengthy litigation, the cardholder was compelled to accept the reduced amount,” he said. He pointed out that he had helped Choo to lodge a formal complaint against the concerned bank on its failure to implement precautionary measures to safeguard the interest of its cardholder.

“Given that the transaction was clearly out of the normal spending pattern of the cardholder and was excessively high, the bank ought to have called the cardholder before it approved the transaction,” he added. Chong said if the bank did not have such a precautionary measure to protect the interest of its customers or credit cardholders, then it should make it clear to the public.

Bank Negara should make it compulsory for banks to implement a system whereby there must be a maximum charge per transaction or per day for all credit cards, above which the banks must obtain the prior approval of the cardholder before charging to the cardholders’ account, he said.

“Bank Negara should also make it compulsory for banks to make public whether it provides such protection to its cardholders,” he suggested.

“Banks with such measures would have a competitive edge over those which do not have,” he said.

Meanwhile, Choo urged for better security system concerning credit cards to prevent similar

Source : The Borneo Post

‘I want apology from NBC’

PENANG: A gynaecologist here is demanding an apology from NBC over a documentary in which he was portrayed as a bad guy and has thus damaged his reputation. Dr Ng Kok Kwang, 45, said he wanted to clear his name as the documentary linked him to an alleged human trafficking case involving a Filipina, Lannie Erecito, 22.

Dr Ng: ‘I did not commit any wrongdoing’He said NBC's Dateline had affected his reputation and he demanded an apology, failing which legal action would be taken against the station.

“I did not commit any wrongdoing and I was very cooperative and helpful to the police and the TV crew when they came to interview me late last year.

“I was shocked when my friends in the United States and patients here called me to tell me about the damaging report.

“I watched the documentary and found that a lot of things that I told them had been censored, leaving only the damaging part,” he said in his clinic at Burmah Road here yesterday.

The case came to light when Erecito 's uncle, Troop Edmonds, a former marine, and a friend, Jerry Howe – said to be a retired FBI agent – decided to mount a “rescue” operation by coming here sometime last year following a phone call from her.

Erecito is said to have returned home to the Philippines with the two men. However, The Star, quoting sources, reported yesterday that there was no evidence to show that the Filipino singer had been held against her will while she was in Penang. Dr Ng, who has been a gynaecologist for 11 years, said he brought Erecito to Penang to sing at one of the hotels last October but she wanted to quit a month later.

“I told her that she owed me and my business partner Kenny Kang about US$1,200 (RM4,100) for the expenses we spent to bring her to Penang. Lannie was among 16 Filipino singers whom we brought to Penang to sing at hotels.

“They were paid RM700 monthly as promised in the contract, provided free food, accommodation and transportation and equipment to practice. “Lannie agreed to pay and told me that she would call her auntie, who is Edmonds' wife, in the United States. However, she disappeared after that without paying us the money.

“Sometime late last year, the police asked me to go to the police station where I met Lannie, her uncle, his friend and the TV crew,” he said. Dr Ng added that it was then that he knew about the allegation and gave his statement to the police, complete with proof like bills and tickets.

Source : The Star

Defiant Petrol Kiosk Operators Asked To Give Up Licences

KUALA LUMPUR, The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) today asked petrol kiosk operators to give up their licences if they insist on reducing their operating hours to between 7am and 10pm from the present 24 hours.

Fomca President Datuk N. Marimuthu said these members of the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) could return the licences to the oil companies."The oil companies say they receive many applications from people wanting to operate petrol kiosks," he told Bernama.He was commenting on the PDAM's endorsement of a resolution by its members at its annual delegates conference of Aug 1 to reduce the operating hours of petrol kiosks.

He had earlier closed a competition on consumerism held in conjunction with Consumers Day 2007 at the Tenaga Nasional Sports Complex in Bangsar.Marimuthu said the cited reason of security concerns reflected that the country was unsafe.Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Secretary-General Mohd Zain Mohd Dom said the ministry would hold a meeting with PDAM on Aug 15 to find a solution.

-- BERNAMA

Kuching City South Mayor dies

A sad Taib says given his sound track record, Chong could have brought Kuching city to new heights

GREAT LOSS: Chua (centre) with children (from right) Crystal and Michelle and other family members standing by the casket.

KUCHING: Kuching City South Council Mayor Chong Ted Tsiung passed away at the Kuching Specialist Hospital here at around 4.30am yesterday after battling cancer for about a month.

He was 51 years old.

Chong leaves behind his wife Mary Frances Chua, and three daughters between the ages of 14 and 21.

According to his family members, he was suffering from pancreas cancer.

He was appointed as the third mayor of the city council on Sept 25, 2006.

He is the first non-politician to be appointed to the post since the elevation of Kuching to city status exactly 19 years ago on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was among the last few people who had the opportunity to speak to Chong before he passed away.

Taib had visited Chong on Thursday afternoon.

Relating his visit to reporters yesterday, Taib said: “I just spoke to him yesterday (Thursday). He seemed to be well and I was happy to see him.”

“I did not expect him to pass away but the doctors did say that the cancer was at a very serious stage,” he said.

Taib was saddened by Chong’s demise as he believed that the later had what it took to bring the city to new heights given his sound track record while serving in the civil service.

“I always had high hopes for Chong to work for the people of Kuching when I appointed him as the mayor. He was a humble and very open-minded man. I feel sad that he is no longer with us,” said Taib, extending his condolences to Chong’s family.

Although he did not disclose what he had spoken to Chong about, it is learnt at a Kuching City South Council (MBKS) press conference yesterday evening that Chong had ‘apologised’ to Taib.

Acting Mayor Mohd Amin Hassan revealed: “When the Chief Minister visited him in the hospital, he (Chong) apologised for not being able to do much during his time. That shows that he is a very humble and dedicated man.”

Chong’s funeral service will be at St Faith’s Church tomorrow at 2pm.

The cortege will then go to the MBKS building boulevard where a memorial service will be held at 2.30pm.

Born to a family of nine in Kuching on June 18, 1956, he received his primary education at the 10th Mile Chinese Primary School and his secondary education at Dragon Government Secondary School at Mile 24 Kuching-Serian Road.

In 1982, he graduated with a Bachelors Degree (Honours) in Public Administration from Demonfort University, Leicester in England.

Later in 1995, he obtained his Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management from the Hull University of UK.

On employment record, he has served for 24 years in the Sarawak State Civil Service in various capacities.

Among the posts he has held were Sarawak Administrative Officer, Assistant District Officer and Divisional Development Officer.

He also had a two-year stint in Peninsular Malaysia under the National Integration Officer Exchange Programme.

Since 1994, he had served the State Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), a State environmental authority responsible for the protection and enhancement of the environmental quality of the State.

He was the NREB controller before he was appointed as the Mayor of Kuching City South.

For his service in the State’s public sector, he was awarded the Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (PBK) in 2006 and the Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (PPB) in 2001 by the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Source : The Borneo Post

Foreign Workers In Malaysia Expected To Exceed Five Million By 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- The number of foreign workers in Malaysia is expected to exceed five million by 2010 and this will have a major impact on the employment situation in the country, said Malaysian Institute of Economic Research (MIER) executive director Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ariff.

He said that currently there are some two million foreigners working legally in the country while the illegal ones was estimated at about 700,000 people.

"We need constructive policies to address this matter," he said when giving a talk to some 400 participants attending the Malaysian Student Leaders annual conference organised by the United Kingdom and Eire Students Council at a hotel here Saturday.

He said the policies must comprehensively and clearly address the economic sectors that should be allowed to use foreign manpower, like construction, plantations and services (domestic maids).

When met by reporters later, Mohamed said specific policies were needed to avoid direct competition for jobs between Malaysians and foreign workers.

"A case in point is the manufacturing sector. Employers will prefer foreign workers as the wages they will have to pay them will be lower than for locals. If they can, they will opt for a 100 per cent foreign workforce," he said.

On the economy, Mohamed said the efforts by the government to create the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) and Iskandar Development Region (IDR) would spur economic growth.

Source : BERNAMA