Idris Jala first M’sian voted to IATA board

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Airlines managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Idris Jala has been elected to the International Air Transport Association’s board of governors effective yesterday until 2010.

The first Malaysian to be named to the 30-member IATA board, Jala joins other leaders from the world’s leading airlines, MAS said in a statement. Commenting on his appointment, Jala said: “This is an excellent opportunity for Malaysia Airlines to be involved in the key decisions impacting the airline industry as a whole.”

He thanked all his staff for their full and continued support of MAS’ business turnaround plan. New IATA board chairman Fernando Pinto said: “Malaysia Airlines under Jala has made great progress in turning the corner. “We are delighted to have him with us, and trust that his experience and invaluable insights will further strengthen the board.” IATA is a trade association representing some 250 airlines, which account for some 94 per cent of the world’s air traffic.


Bernama

PTK Won't Be Abolished, Modification Allowed

PUTRAJAYA, June 4 (Bernama) -- The Public Service Department (PSD) will not abolish the Pernilaian Tahap Kecekapan (PTK) test for evaluating the competency of civil servants, its director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said.

However, the PSD had given the leeway for departments and statutory bodies to draw up their own evaluation system to measure the competency level of their employees in giving them a promotion, he added. "It (PTK) can be changed but not abolished because we need a system to evaluate those wanting a promotion. They have to sit for the PTK exam.

"But if a statutory body or department feels it can come up with its own evaluation system, then we will study it and most likely allow it if it's equivalent to the PTK exam," he told a press conference here. Ismail was responding to a call by Cuepacs, the civil servants umbrella body, for the PTK to be abolished, saying that it did not reflect the true competency level of a civil servant. He cited the Accountant-General's Office, where the civil servants there needed not sit for the PTK to gain promotion but their competency would be gauged through a professional test.

"Similarly, organisations like Bernama (Malaysian National News Agency) and RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) can come up with their own evaluation system which they see fit for an officer to pass before being promoted. "Although the PTK exam is the most popular exam chosen, several government departments are implementing their own evaluation system...this we allow." Ismail said although the introduction of PTK was the government's idea, it had consulted Cuepacs before implementing it in 2001.

-- BERNAMA

Loga, of Alleycats, dies

GEORGE TOWN: Loganathan Arumugam, a founder-member of the popular and widely followed Alleycats pop music band, died after losing a year-long battle with lung cancer. The 54-year old musician, who was one of the most recognisable local musicians with his trademark Afro hairdo, died at the Mount Miriam Hospital here at 10.50am yesterday.

He died to the tune of a collection of early Alleycats songs being played on a portable disc player placed at his bedside. Family members said Loga, as he was fondly known, died with a smile listening to his music which brought him and the Alleycats worldwide fame. He leaves wife, Susan, 50; son Vigneshwaran, 24, and daughter, Priyadashini, 20. Loga used to play the flute in the band and was also vocalist alongside his brother, David Arumugam, 57. David said his brother’s death was fated and the family accepted it as the will of God.

"It has been a tough battle but he fought it all the way after learning that he had lung cancer in October last year. He used to smoke but gave it up many years ago," he said when met at the hospital. The body was later taken to the family home in Jalan Tanjung Bungah here and is expected to be cremated according to Hindu rites at 11am on Wednesday. Asked on the future of the band, David said Loga had informed him that the Alleycats music should never die.

"We recorded an album last year but its launch was put on hold after Loga was diagnosed with cancer. The launch was supposed to take place when his condition improved," he said, adding Loga’s last stage performance was at the PJ Hilton in October last year.

David said the group had also planned to release a "live" album once Loga’s condition improved and the project was already on the drawing board. The Alleycats, formed in 1969, has contributed much to the development of the local pop music scene. The group started by playing in clubs around the country before signing a recording deal with PolyGram Records in 1978. The Alleycats has 29 albums to its credit.

It is one of Malaysia’s favourite bands with evergreen hits like Sampaikan Salam, Andainya Aku Pergi Dulu Sebelum Mu and Sekuntum Mawar Merah. The band until today is regarded as one of the classic Malaysian pop music groups. Meanwhile Karyawan president Freddie Fernandez said Loga was a versatile and gifted artiste who had "dedicated his life to music and clubs".

"This is very sad news for the Malaysian music industry. The power of Loga’s harmonies with David was awesome and they were famous for getting crowds of all races to enjoy and appreciate their music," he said. Composer M. Nasir, who co-produced the first Malay album for the Alleycats, Terima Kasih, in 1978, said he spoke to Loga on the phone last week. "We talked about his illness and the treatment he was taking. He sounded fine at the time and I was confident he would be making full recovery. I will really miss him."

He remembers Loga for his positive outlook on life. Singer Khadijah Ibrahim recalled meeting Loga with other members of Alleycats at a stage show in 1979. The first thing that struck her was his Afro hairdo."I remember him as a very serious person when it came to work. Off stage, he was friendly and charming. I will always remember his zest for life," she said. For singer Francissca Peter, Loga was an intelligent musician who never stopped working to make the Alleycats music relevant to today’s audiences.

"Even the younger generation knows Alleycats. A musician like Loga is a rare commodity," said Fran, who got to know Loga and David in the late 1970s when they performed together at stage shows.

Source : New Straits Times

Altantuya Murder Trial: The DPPs who were replaced

SHAH ALAM: Deputy public prosecutors Salehuddin Saidin and Noorin Badaruddin, who were replaced on Sunday, have been handling the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial from the time Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 30, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, were charged on Nov 15. Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was charged with abetting the policemen a day later.

Salehuddin is the head of the Classified Cases Unit while Noorin is head of the General Crimes and Sexual Unit in the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Putrajaya. They have appeared for the prosecution, individually or together, since then. Salehuddin last represented the prosecution last week following Corporal Sirul Azahar’s attempt to obtain a statement of witnesses through a court order. Lawyers’ response to the change in DPPs

There were no reasons given to the court on the change of DPPs. The new DPPs should have at least provided a reason. Counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin. The case was already fixed for this month. The court had already fixed other cases before and after itthe case. If the case is fixed after, the court may be packed with other cases. The case should go on, if not, the court should grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, or grant my client bail, until the prosecution is ready to proceed. Counsel Wong Kian Kheong

We were going to apply for a postponement anyway, to fulfil the 10-day notice of alibi. But we were only going to apply for a one-day adjournment. I think it is fair since the new DPPs have just received the case to get at least two weeks to look at the files. But we are ready to go on with the trial. Counsel J. Kuldeep Kumar

I am in a quandary as to why the previous DPPs could not continue with the case. This has disrupted the court schedule of the trial judge and the lawyers. More importantly, the postponement had entailed additional expenses to the government as the five witnesses from Mongolia would remain here until they complete giving evidence. The Attorney-General (Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail) owes the public a satisfactory explanation. Counsel Karpal Singh