Saturday, April 09, 2005

NIE programme gets a boost from Rotary District 3300 clubs

NIE programme gets a boost from Rotary District 3300 clubs

April 9, Mentakab
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Rotary District 3300 has ensured that pupils of 10 schools nationwide read the New Straits Times daily, at least for the next 24 weeks.
The Rotary Clubs of Temerloh, Bentong, Sitiawan, Melawati, Petaling Jaya, Bernam Valley, Kuala Terengganu and Kelana Jaya have joined hands to finance 13,230 copies of NST for thousands of students to help them in the study of English.

The project, which began on March 29, is a Rotary-NST Newspaper In Education (NIE) programme. The schools receiving the newspapers are SK Undang and SMK Panji Alam in Kuala Terengganu; Catholic High School, Bentong; SMK Taman Desa, Rawang; SMK Pangkor, Pangkor Island; SMK (P) Taman Petaling, PJ; SMK Kelana Jaya, PJ; SMK Hulu Kelang, Ampang; SMK Hwa Lian and SMK Mentakab in Mentakab. Each school will receive 35 copies with Minda and Skor as supplements for students preparing for the PMR and SPM. "The schools will receive their newspapers every Tuesday and Wednesday for the next 24 weeks," Rotary Club of Temerloh president Surina Suhaimi said.

She said students should use the newspapers to improve their English.

SMK Mentakab head prefect Federick Chaw Sau Hong, 19, was happy that he could start his day with the NST. "I used to share one copy in the library with 1,300 students. Now, we have 35 copies," he said.

NST for 10 schools nationwide

New Straits Times » Local

NST for 10 schools nationwide


April 8:
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MENTAKAB, Fri. - Rotary District 3300 has ensured that pupils of 10 schools nationwide read the New Straits Times daily, at least for the next 24 weeks.
The Rotary Clubs of Temerloh, Bentong, Sitiawan, Melawati, Petaling Jaya, Bernam Valley, Kuala Terengganu and Kelana Jaya have joined hands to finance 13,230 copies of NST to ensure that students are proficient in English.

The project, which began March 29, is a Rotary-NST Newspaper In Education (NIE) programme.

The schools receiving newspapers are SK Undang and SMK Panji Alam in Kuala Terengganu; Catholic High School, Bentong; SMK Taman Desa, Rawang; SMK Pangkor, Pangkor Island; SMK(P) Taman Petaling, PJ; SMK Kelana Jaya, PJ; SMK Hulu Kelang, Ampang; SMK Hwa Lian and SMK Mentakab in Mentakab.

Each school will receive 35 copies with Minda and Skor as examination supplements for students preparing for the PMR and SPM.

"The schools will receive their newspapers every Tuesday and Wednesday for the next 24 weeks," Rotary Club of Temerloh president Surina Suhaimi said.

She said students should use the newspapers to improve their English, which was a necessary tool to face the challenges posed by globalisation.

Friday, April 08, 2005

Announcement - Sungai Pahang Rafting Expedition

24 April -1 May Sungai Pahang Rafting Expedition

Venue Kuala Lipis to Pekan

Organizer Perbadanan Kemajuan Bukit Fraser
Tel: 09-517 1623/4
Fax: 09-517 1626
Email: pkbf@tm.net.my

Maklumat AM - Unit Pembahagiaan Pusaka Kecil

JKPTG Negeri Pahang

Unit Pembahagiaan Pusaka Kecil

Pahang Tengah

Aras 3, Kompleks Pejabat Plaza Temerloh

Jalan Ahmad Shah
28000 Temerloh

Bera
Jerantut
Maran

Temerloh 09-2961460 09-2968853

pusakatemerloh@kptg.gov.my

Remote sensing way to also monitor illegal logging, fires

Remote sensing way to also monitor illegal logging, fires
08 April, 2005
Kota Kinabalu: Two State government agencies sealed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (Macres) to capitalise on precision spatial technology to boost resources management and productivity.

The ceremony was witnessed by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, representing Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at Pacific Sutera Harbour Resort, Thursday.

Musa said it was timely for both Sawit Kinabalu Group and Yayasan Sabah Group to obtain expert service in up-to-date technology in the bid to better manage its resources and boost productivity.

He said the use of Remote Sensing (RS) technology by Yayasan Sabah would allow a more efficient sustainable management of its vast tract of forested land in the State, while for Sawit Kinabalu in managing its rapidly expanding oil palm plantations.

The MoU with Yayasan Sabah also covers the monitoring of illegal logging and forest fire.

"So the use of RS technology would assure enhancement of productivity capacity," said Musa who is Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees Chairman.

Musa who is also Sawit Kinabalu Group Chairman said it was important for government agencies to take steps to position itself with a competitive edge by keeping abreast with advanced technologies.

He said Sawit Kinabalu, for instance, must make strategic choice to adopt best practices and new technologies in order to confront the uncertain business environment.

He added that the State Government was willing to invest in the business in the business where it can increase the competitive edge of Sabah through its corporation such as Sawit Kinabalu.

Sawit Kinabalu Group was represented by its Acting Managing Director, Salim Mohammad, while Director, Tan Sri Khalil Jamalul on behalf of Yayasan Sabah Group signed the MoU with Macres represented by its Director, Datuk Nik Nasruddin Mahmood.

Under the collaboration, Sawit Kinabalu would acquire the necessary knowledge and skill in the processing and analysing satellite data as well as spatial modeling in the Geographical Information System (GIS) environment.

While Macres would get the experience in developing an operational methodology for an effective oil palm plantation management using the Remote Sensing (RS) and related spatial technologies.

The project is expected to be implemented over five years beginning next month with the first stage involving a collaboration on oil palm nutrition using RS technology to develop a model to identify areas with nutrient deficiencies.

This allowed Sawit Kinabalu, which is the first oil palm plantations' company in Sabah to venture into the technology, to take corrective measures on poor performing palms accurately, faster and cheaper.

Salim in his speech said the scope of this collaboration also involve human resource development programme.

He also said that the joint project was crucial for Sawit Kinabalu to help achieve its goal of productivity improvement, which is 25 per cent Oil Extraction Rate and 35 Metric Tonnes of Fresh Fruits Bunches per hectare/year.

Sawit also hoped that the project to commercialise the project in the future. According to Nasruddin, said the RS technology is based on the Macres transceiver station in Temerloh, Pahang, which has the capacity to receive data directly from satellites such as RadarSat, Spot 2,4,5 Landsat, NOAA, MODIS and OCM at real time.

Khalil believed that the combination of Yayasan Sabah's knowledge in the forestry industry and Macres expertise in RS, it would lead to new and benefiting results not only for both organisations but also for the industry.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

WHAT'S UP? Potpourri from the Pahang palate

WAHT'S UP? Potpourri from the Pahang palate
Wahti Mahidin
Malay Mail Apr 3:
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For being the launch of a cookbook, Ampun Tuanku, it was ironic that guests were kept mighty hungry for an extended length of time last Monday night.
It was the official launch by the Sultan of Pahang of a recipe book painstakingly compiled by the Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Sultan Iskandar.

Something like three hours extended, since guest arrival was scheduled for 7.30pm, yet food first hit our plates at 10.38pm. Good food, thankfully. Good, traditional, Pahang recipes straight out of the Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang book.

And it wasn’t just the recipes, it was the ingredients as well. As much as Tunku Azizah could engineer it, fresh food products were brought to the Mandarin Oriental kitchen from her adopted home-state to ensure taste authenticity.

Salivate over some facts – 150 live ikan patin from the Tengku Mahkota Pahang’s private fishery, 15kg of tempoyak and 40kg of spices from Pekan and 60kg of pucuk cemperai from Raub.

The hotel’s ballroom had been transformed into Pahang, complete with transplanted trees and all. Oddly enough, bales of orange and black cloth draped the walls and ceiling, making the place look very – how about Halloween?

During the dance performance, I couldn’t see the stage for the trees – aha, aha ha ha – as this autumnal forest was more populated towards the back of the ballroom, where the Press tables were placed. Thanks to our microscopic and penetrating vision, we Press people managed to enjoy very spirited ibok dancing by some highly charged Pahang Cultural dancers.

After the performance, more dancers came onto the stage, as well as around it. So many more that I thought Noraniza Idris was going to appear. She didn’t, but her song did or at least it sounded like her song, performed by another singer who had a more melodious voice but couldn’t quite meet the modulation requirements of a Noraniza Idris-type song.

Not that it really mattered as the performances were hardly the night’s highlights. Fund-raising was. One book bearing the Sultan of Pahang’s signature was put under the hammer and managed to beat out a RM200,000 bid from Berjaya Group head, Tan Sri Vincent Tan. It was rather interesting considering the opening call was for RM10,000.

Other major sponsors and donors had already pushed collection up to Monday morning to RM2.5 million.

Throughout the night, book sales went on outside the ballroom. Impressively put together in hardcover, Air Tangan Tengku Puan Pahang is a bargain at RM158.60, the original RM200 price discounted to carry the birthdate of the Tengku Puan. And apart from giving to a noble cause, one also takes home a pretty book for the coffee table.

Most impressive that night had to be the video of the Tengku Puan Pahang forging through lalang-grown paths on foot, or gliding on rivers in boats, to get to an obscure destination where she would cook, and cook, and cook.

An endless montage of the Princess in varied makeshift kitchen settings made the viewer sit up and take notice – Tunku Azizah is no trophy cook. Deft hands manoeuvred ladles in huge woks, as well as knives around many an onion. Her chopping, dicing, and slicing too seemed very seasoned.

These skills were displayed in Mandarin Oriental’s kitchen for hours, much earlier before the launch, to guide the hotel’s cooks in preparing dinner. I empathically reflected on this fact when observing a glazed-eyed Tunku Azizah autographing copies of books purchased by guests, at the end of the night.

Fatigue could also have exacerbated her melancholic dedication of the book to her late mother-in-law, Tengku Ampuan Afzan. When Tunku Azizah’s voice broke during her speech, many eyes became teary as well.

If I had originally thought Al-marhumah was reserved, Tunku Azizah set my opinion straight with the revelation that Tuanku Afzan was the pillar-of-strength through some of the Tengku Puan’s most trying moments.

That expression of longing and gratitude moved me more than the Sumatra earthquake aftershock did. Really, my breathing turned woefully sharp for a spell. NO ONE felt the tremor, strangely enough.

That night, it was a matter of heart, winning over stomach, and opening eyes for me. Despite the absolutely rich and delicious pudding served as dessert, I felt the absence of a much-loved lady. And now the glow of her memory, through the Tunku Azizah Fertility Foundation which is funded initially by receipts from cookbook sale, will ignite hope for married women thus far unable to conceive.

Menjunjung Kasih, Tuanku.

Pushers using Felda schemes

The Star Online > News
Thursday March 24, 2005
Pushers using Felda schemes


BY FARIDAH BEGUM
KUANTAN: Pushers in Pahang are now using Felda schemes to distribute “modern” drugs such as syabu and ecstasy pills and this is increasingly becoming a problem for enforcers.

State Anti-Narcotics Department assistant chief, ASP Mohd Sakri Arifin, said that while it is easy to detect addicts of “traditional” drugs, such as ganja and heroin, those who take the new and more sophisticated amphetamine-type stimulants are more difficult to catch.

This is because they do not display withdrawal symptoms, such as shivering, breaking into cold sweat or showing feverish eyes, he added.

“The effect that we have seen so far is that those who use the modern drugs seem to age rapidly. They look gaunt and are thirsty all the time,” he said in an interview here, adding that addicts would drink water continuously.

ASP Mohd Sakri said because of this new development, the police were not just monitoring entertainment outlets but also stepping up checks in Felda plantations to smash the supply line.

He said their investigations showed the Jengka area in Maran had become a serious drug “port” (or black area).

“This is a traditional Felda area where many drop-offs are made without being easily detected, as the many oil palm estates provide numerous entrances and exits.

“They are also well-guarded by scouts, known among their circles as jaga air, who would first enter and check out a designated area.

“Once the coast is clear, the pushers and their buyers would move in,” said ASP Mohd Sakri, adding that the scouts were usually addicts who provided the surveillance service for a free supply of drugs they were addicted to.

He said the state police nabbed 9,193 addicts for various drug offences last year. Of the number, a total of 2,902 were caught in Kuantan.

Pahang Sultan among Siti’s fans in London

Apr 3:
SITI Nurhaliza’s London concert attracted fans from far and near, including members of Malaysian royalty and other VIPs.

Here’s what some of them had to say after enjoying her performance at the Royal Albert Hall:

* “SHE’S my superstar. She looks after herself well, I have liked her for the past 10 years. The country should be proud of her achievement. I came all the way to see her,” said Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang who was swarmed by the crowd of Malaysians outside the Royal Albert Hall before the concert began. He was accompanied by Sultanah Kalsom.

* DEPUTY Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was also among those who turned up to watch Siti’s outstanding performance. “The show was very good, Siti invited us personally and I came to give her moral support,” she said, claiming that Cindai was her favourite song. “Judging from the superb response from the crowd, everyone, including British and other nationals, were also clapping and dancing. Malaysia is very proud of Siti,” she added.

* THE concert’s musical director and producer, Roslan Aziz, was very satisfied and expressed his sense of relief when met after the concert. “Three months of planning, organising, stress, worry and hard work. But Siti is a total professional. She will go very far. It was a very successful show. It went so smoothly with hardly any problems.”

* SITI’S father, Taruddin Ismail, said: “I will not stop praying for Siti to be successful and to achieve her ambition to expand her music career internationally.”

* HER mother, Siti Salmah Bachik, was almost too shy to comment. She said quietly: “There is no words to describe my feelings at the moment except that I am thankful and happy. I am so proud of her achievement, especially when she sings traditional Malay numbers at the Royal Albert Hall.”

Police keeping an eye on errant doctors in Pahang

Police keeping an eye on errant doctors in Pahang
M. Hamzah Jamaludin

KUANTAN, Tues:
POLICE are watching the activities of errant doctors, especially those supplying drugs to addicts.

Archive Since 1991 State Police chief Datuk Ramli Yusoff said three doctors had been arrested under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 since 2003.

"We have a case (involving a doctor) every year and we view this matter seriously" he told reporters this after attending the State Police monthly gathering today.

In all three cases, he said, the general practitioners had their own private clinics. The latest case was on Friday when a 40-year-old doctor was arrested while allegedly selling psychotropic pills to a drug addict in the compound of the Mentakab Hospital.

Abu Samah - the ex-British child soldier

Abu Samah - the ex-British child soldier
James Wong Wing On
Apr 5, 05 12:09pm

Although Abu Samah, 79, is usually a reticent man but his life has been extraordinary, epitomising the evolving nationhood.

For a start, he was sent to fight the Japanese invasion in December 1941 in Kota Baru, Kelantan at the age of 14, as a soldier of the British-sponsored Federated Malay States Volunteers Force.

But after his force lost grounds and morale, he went to Singapore and ended up in the Heiho, a reserve unit of the Japanese troops. However, in March 1945, he escaped to return to Malaya where he contacted the Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) led by the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM).

Since March 1948, Abu Samah has been loyal, through thick and thin, to CPM - and was made a member of the central committee of the party since 1975 - although he joined Umno between 1946 and 1948 and was a committee member of Temerloh's Umno Youth division.

After the proclamation of the 'Emergency' on June 20, 1948, Abu Samah led a group of left-wing Malay youths into the jungle and to take up arms against British colonialism. They joined Abdullah CD's 10th Regiment.

Abu Samah was born in February 1926 in the Semantan district of Temerloh, Pahang. His full name is Abu Samah Mohamad Kassim and is the fourth child in a family of six.

He is a distant descendant of a 19th-century anti-colonial Malay hero, Dato' Bahaman @ Abdul Rahman of Semantan, Pahang. According to Abu Samah, since at a very young age, he had been told stories about the heroism of Bahaman who resisted the attempt by British colonialists to control Pahang.

Doctors held for selling pills to suspected drug addict

Doctors held for selling pills to suspected drug addict

KUANTAN: Pahang police have nabbed three doctors over the past three years for selling pills and cough mixture to suspected drug addicts.

The most recent case involved a private medical practitioner, who was caught with psychotropic pills on the grounds of the Mentakab Hospital on Sunday night.

The 40-year-old doctor is being held at the Temerloh police station, where he will be remanded for a week.

Anti-narcotics officers found him with 100 pills during a surprise raid following a tip-off. Some 900 more pills were found in his car.

Police said the doctor, who is believed to have a clinic in Bera, was caught while trying to sell the pills to a suspected drug addict.

It is learnt that the doctor had been selling the pills to addicts for RM5 to RM8 each.

Pahang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Ramli Yusuff warned doctors, especially private practitioners, not to abuse their position and sell illegal drugs.

�We will monitor the situation closely because doctors have been caught selling illegal drugs to addicts,� Ramli said at the state police monthly gathering here yesterday.

He said two other doctors have already been charged in court, adding that the arrests were made following information from the public.

DCP Ramli said previously it was the trend for suppliers to sell cough syrup to drug addicts but, he added, it appears that selling psychotropic pills has become more lucrative now.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Water catchment area being logged

Water catchment area being logged

TEMERLOH: Illegal logging has been discovered in a water catchment area in Jerantut by the Pahang Forestry Department.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the department found this out about two weeks ago.

The illegal logging was being carried out over an area of 8ha to 12ha.

“The department is investigating the extent of the operations.

“It will take action against those involved once the probe is completed,” Adnan said after attending a dinner with the people hosted by the Kuala Krau Umno division here on Sunday night.

He added that some logging contractors also tried to log outside the areas designated by the department.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Pahang lad assumes new role in six-nation invitational tournament

Pahang lad assumes new role in six-nation invitational tournament
BY S. RAMAGURU

KUALA LUMPUR: Midfielder Mohamed Soffian Mohamed is one of the most experienced players in the National Junior hockey team but the six-nation junior invitational tournament, which begins here on Sunday, will be a first of sorts for him.

It will be the first international tournament where he will take on the role of central midfielder and it will be a big test for him ahead of the Junior World Cup Finals, which will be held in Rotterdam from June 28-July 10.

The 21-year-old Soffian said yesterday that he would be out to make a good impression in the tournament at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

�I am excited over the prospect of playing in a new role in an international meet,� he said.

�I played as a defender in the qualifying tournament in Karachi last year. Later in the year, I was asked to take the centre midfield role and I played in that position in the Razak Cup last December.�

Soffian added that he still had a lot to learn and hoped that he would settle in well playing in an offensive role before the outing in Rotterdam.

�The tournament next week is important because I will be able to gauge myself against more experience opponents. I will likely partner Kelvinder Singh and Mohamed Shukri Mutalib. We forged a good understanding in the Razak Cup,� he said.

Coach Sarjit Singh found the central midfield department a weak point in the team and he tried out a number of players over the last few months before settling for Soffian.

�We do not have a natural midfield player and Soffian is the best option available to us for the moment,� said Sarjit.

�He played well in the Razak Cup and also in the tour to Australia earlier this year. The six-nation tournament will help him learn more about playing in the position.�

Soffian said that he was fortunate that he had Sarjit to teach him playing the role of central midfielder.

�The coach was one of the best midfield players and I am glad I get to learn from him. From defending, I now have to set up the attacks. I have to play a lead role now and the other players would expect you to play at a much higher level,� he said.

Soffian is a product of the Seberang Temerloh School. It was his defensive qualities that brought him into the national junior training squad in 2002.

He left Pahang two years ago to play in Kuala Lumpur and is now a contract player with Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). He intends to quit BSN and return home after the Junior World Cup Finals.

�The Sultan has appealed to Pahang-born players to return home to play for the state and I will do so. I have a job offer in Kuantan but nothing has been finalised yet. It is good that efforts have been made to get me a job in my home state,� said Soffian.

For the moment, he will give his full attention to the six-nation tournament and work on improving his game.

Malaysia open their campaign against Pakistan on Sunday. Their other opponents are England (Monday), Germany (Wednesday), South Korea (Thursday) and India (April 2).

ACA offers to review government procedures

ACA offers to review government procedures

SEGAMAT: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has offered to help government departments and agencies review their work procedures to “shut the door” on opportunities for corrupt practice.

ACA director-general Datuk Seri Zulkipli Mat Noor said that certain departmental systems or work procedures were open to corruption and the agency could assist by reassessing the system.

Speaking to reporters after opening the Segamat ACA branch office yesterday, he said that besides embarking on punitive action, the ACA also emphasised the importance of community education to combat corruption.

The Segamat branch office is among nine new branch offices approved by the Government in 2002, said Zulkipli.

The others are Port Dickson, Kemaman, Bintulu, Seberang Prai, Sungai Petani, Temerloh, Teluk Intan and Kluang.

“We decided to set up an office here because the Batu Pahat office, which looked after Segamat, Labis, Kluang and Muar, was too far for the people here to visit,” he said.

Bangsar residents show the way:

ZERO CRIME
Noor Husna Khalid
Mar 28:
KUALA LUMPUR: One neighbourhood has proved that it is possible to have zero crime.

Welcome to Taman Bukit Bandaraya in Bangsar, perhaps the safest neighbourhood in the country for there has not been a single case of crime for one year. Residents at Jalan Pudina and Jalan Rumpai took the law into their own hands in a positive manner when they decided that they should do their part to help police and City Hall to curb criminal activities and make their own neighbourhood safe.

They hired the services of a security company about two years ago and the number of crime cases started dropping.

Last month, city police declared their neighbourhood a crime-free zone — a distinction for anywhere which does not have a single crime case for 12 consecutive months.

“We have finally achieved our target, that is, to have a zero per cent crime rate in our area,” Inderjit Singh, the Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association alternate chairman cum Jalan Rumpai/Pudina Security Committee chairman, told The Malay Mail yesterday.

The security scheme was part of the residents association’s programme in line with the call by the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation, headed by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, to residents to take action.

Inderjit said the police and City Hall could only do so much, and that it was time for residents to make their own initiative.

“We now have guards patrolling the area every hour, day and night. Whenever they go on their rounds, they will carry a security clocking device to time their progress,” said Inderjit, 58.

“There are six keys located within the neighbourhood and each time the guards patrol the roads, they will clock it and keep the record in a log book, which I will occasionally check.”

Apart from the clocking device, each house has a security plate number glued to their gates.

“This is to enable the guards to alert the owners or the authorities should an emergency arise,” said Inderjit.

The guards work on shifts, with one on duty from 7am to 4pm, another from 4pm to 11pm, and two from 11pm to 7am.

Inderjit said the guards will even inform or call the house owner if they see anything suspicious.

“Sometimes, a resident’s house gates are not closed properly and when this happens, the guards will either close them themselves or call the owner to check if everything is all right,” he said.

Any outsider will be questioned by the guards and if the answer is unsatisfactory, the guards will send them away.

If the outsiders refuse to leave, the guards will call for a police patrol car.

Inderjit said each household pays only RM50 per month for the security guards.

“It is not a big amount for the safety of the neighbourhood,” he said.

“At first, some residents refused to pay but now even neighbouring housing areas have requested to be included in the security scheme.”

The residents association members continue to have meetings with the police once every two months.

“We meet the police to discuss crime complaints, but since we implemented the security scheme, we are proud to say that we have nothing to complain,” said Inderjit.













NO WORD FROM CITY HALL YET


KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association alternate chairman Inderjit Singh said residents in his area are still waiting for an official reply from City Hall on a proposal they made last August to have part of Jalan Rumpai and Jalan Pudina blocked with only one access road leading into the area.

Inderjit, who is also Jalan Rumpai and Jalan Pudina security committee chairman, said that if the proposal was approved, a proper guardhouse could be built at the access road into the area.

“We have a petition signed by the residents, and also an approval letter from our Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil,” he said.

“Both documents were included in our proposal sent to the Kuala Lumpur Mayor.”

Inderjit said a City Hall officer explained certain guidelines to the residents should City Hall approve the proposal.

“We were told there should be no shops, public amenities and places of worship within the gated area as otherwise we cannot keep outsiders from entering the area,” he said.

Inderjit also said Shahrizat had promised to help provide a proper guardhouse to replace the current makeshift guard post.

“We cannot build a guardhouse until City Hall gives its approval,” he said.

Resilient Siti

Music: Resilient Siti
AZMAN AHMAD
Mar 22:
Despite lack of big sponsors, diva stays upbeat for London show, writes AZMAN AHMAD.

THE reluctance of big corporations to sponsor Siti Nurhaliza’s historic April 1 concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall may have saddened the diva but that won’t stop her from giving her best for the international audience.

In fact, she has been working extra hard, rehearsing for almost one month now for the show, the first by her in England.

There is every reason why Siti wants her concert to be perfect. It’s a milestone not only for her but Malaysian artistes as well.

No other artiste in the country has ever performed a full concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

The late Sudirman Arshad scored a first there but it was in an international music contest for Asian singers.

For the record, Sudir did Malaysia proud when he clinched the best Asian performer title after beating the likes of Anita Sarawak and Leslie Cheung.

Siti’s concert is a different ball game altogether since it’s the first by a Malaysian.

At a recent Press conference after a sneak preview of her show at the Putra World Trade Centre, Siti said while she is happy to realise her dream of performing on an international stage, the lack of sponsors made her feel a bit disappointed.

“After all, I’m doing my bit to bring Malaysian music to the rest of the world but it seems that not many people are aware of what I’m doing. Unlike sports events where sponsors abound, I hope there’ll be sponsors for events such as concerts involving local artistes, especially those held abroad,” said Siti.

She is confident more sponsors will eventually come in as there are still a few more weeks before the show.

Concert executive chairman Ahmad Fazli Yaakob, or Fazley, said the absence of big sponsors forced the two companies behind the concert, Siti Nurhaliza Productions (M) Sdn Bhd and Putrade Property Management Sdn Bhd to bear most of the cost.

“There’re a few small sponsors but the big corporations are shying away. It’s a sad thing but there’s still time for them to come forward,” Fazley said.

It’s understood that only some of the air tickets for Siti’s 60-odd entourage to London are sponsored by an airline.

That’s one of the reasons why most newspapers are not sending their reporters to cover the concert in London as they have to pay their own way.

There is a Royal Albert Hall package that includes the round ticket fare to London and accommodation but it’s still beyond the means of many people.

Siti’s concert is a 50-50 venture between Siti’s SNP and Fazley’s Putrade Property Management. It has Pak Ngah Suhaimi as assistant producer, Indonesian Erwin Gutawa as orchestral director and 34 members of the London Symphony Orchestra in the string section.

Local musicians for the pop segment are keyboardists Aubrey Suwito and Jason, Andy Peterson (bass) and Steve Thornton (percussion), Ramli Mohram (rebana), James Wilson (guitar), Greg Lyons (saxophone) and Kesavan (flute).

The concert will also feature traditional musicians under the supervision of Pak Ngah Suhaimi, in addition to 16 traditional dancers from Yayasan Warisan Johor.

Roslan Aziz, the concert musical director and producer, said he was pleased with the hard work and professionalism shown by Siti at rehearsals.

“She’s a gifted singer and in a class of her own. I admire her for her extraordinary talent and determination to further improve herself though she’s already the No. 1 singer in Malaysia,” he said.

He also showered praises on the musicians and dancers, especially the traditional troupe from Johor with their superb choreography.

“This is the first time I’m working with Siti and I’m so proud of her determination to give her best. I’m confident that she’ll make Malaysia proud with her performance,” he said.

TV personality Mahadzir Lokman is acting as Siti’s speech coach to make sure she delivers her English correctly and fluently at the concert. He’s also the emcee for the concert. Siti will perform 30 songs, some medleys which will include pop and traditional tunes from her albums during the two- hour show.

Her wardrobe is designed by Radzwan Radzwil and Michael Ong. Siti and her dancers will also wear batik to help promote Malaysin art and culture.

On ticket sales, Fazley said it was normal for the counter at the Royal Albert Hall to be packed with patrons at the last minute. “We’ve been told that bookings have been encouraging but the tickets will only be claimed two weeks before the show. From Malaysia, there’re about 200 fans who bought the Royal Albert Hall package that includes flight and accommodation,” he said. Siti and her entourage will leave for London on March 23, where they will perform a few pocket shows to promote her concert, including one at Oriental City London, on March 26 and 27.

“We may have another one in Manchester too as there’re quite a number of Malaysians staying there. Siti’s show is expected to attract Malaysians, Singaporeans, Indonesians and Bruneians living, working or studying there besides foreigners,” he said.

Siti’s Royal Albert Hall concert will mark her 10th year in show business as her debut album Jerat Percintaan was released on April 1 a decade ago.

DAP Media statement

We call on the Works Minister to make the safety of the Temerloh Hospital as 'beautiful' as the external appearance by producing the list of outstanding works and ensuring professionalism of world standard in the equipment, installation, functioning and maintenance of the hospital
Media Statement
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw

(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): On 17 March, 2005, we visited the Temerloh Hospital at Kampung Paya Luas. As it costs nearly RM500 million, it is impressive. We hope thatthe contents of the hospital, the care of the patient, the quality of the staff, the saving of the cost, the purchase, the installation, the functioning, the safety and the maintenance will be equally impressive.

Alas, while some of the explanations by PHTSB representatives on the construction of the hospital were acceptable, others threw more doubts, especially in the issuance of Certificates of Fitness (CF) and the Certificate of Practical Completion (CPC). If major outstanding works such as RCD is overlooked or missing, CPC should not be given.

The PHTSB representative told us that RCD was overlooked and that it had bought 160 units with each unit costing RM800;RCDs were in the process of being installed. The Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu asked us to visit the beautiful Hospital. We have done so. Now, he should do the people a favour by making every aspects of the hospital beautiful. The overlook and non-installation of RCDs are not beautiful.

Each RCD with safety features such as audible alarm costs RM1,200. It deals with excess current, making electrical equipment especially those for heart patients safe. There are over 300 units of RCDs, lying in switchrooms. If these are not installed, how do doctors and nurses use electrical devices? They may have to find switchrooms and install these devices. A doctor or a nurse may not be an electrician, he or she is not familiar with swtichrooms, let alone knowing which RCD controls which area. The Works Minister should look into this and
other outstanding works at once, so as to ensure the safety of the staff and the patients. If mechanical and electrical things go wrong in future, what will he do?

(18/2/2005)

Liqua Health's policy, ops to remain the same

Monday, March 28 2005
Liqua Health's policy, ops to remain the same
By ANNA MARIA SAMSUDIN

March 22 2005

LIQUA Health Corp Bhd’s company policy and operations will remain the same despite the resignation of its executive chairman Datuk Mohd Sarit Yusoh last week.

Executive director See Keng Leong, when contacted, refused to provide more information on Sarit’s resignation but said the change will not affect overall operations.

He said this was mainly because the principal directors, such as managing director Goh Bak Ming and executive deputy chairman Fei Chong Ming, are still with the company.

“I do not want to disclose in detail the reason for Datuk Sarit’s resignation. All I can say is that people can come and go and that is how things are with the board of directors as well, See told the Business Times.

Liqua Health announced to Bursa Malaysia Bhd last Friday the resignation of Sarit, who has direct and indirect interest of 0.03 per cent and 32.33 per cent respectively in the company, and its non-executive director Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

Sarit, who is a Temerloh member of Parliament, is also a director of Kwantas Corp Bhd, Kurnia Setia Bhd, Goh Ban Huat Bhd and Khee San Bhd.

Non-executive director Datuk Zubir Ali has been redesignated as chairman while Au Wei Ming and Yogananthan Paramasivam have been appointed as executive director and non-executive director respectively.

Liqua, which took over Parit Perak Holdings Bhd’s listing status on Bursa Malaysia’s main board in 2003, sells health food products and general merchandise by multi-level marketing.

The company, through wholly-owned subsidiary Liqua Health Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd, had recently entered into two separate sales and purchase agreements with United Malaysian Estate Sdn Bhd and Ace Portfolio Sdn Bhd for a total consideration of RM3.2 million each.

Temerloh Hospital Project

We call on the Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to conduct immediate investigation into the Temerloh Hospital Project to ascertain whether there have been improprieties
Media Statement
by Dr Tan Seng Giaw

(Kuala Lumpur, Monday): The Public works Department has been monitoring the Temerloh Hospital project (PHTSB) which, as a turnkey contractor, is responsible for the design, construction, equipping, commissioning and maintenance of the hospital. The contract number is JKR/IP/B/24/2002. This project is supposed to cost RM500 million.

The project is situated at the 44-acre site, Kampung Paya Luas, Mukim Perak, Daerah Temerloh. The possession of the site was on 8 March, 2002. But, works started in 2001. Is there special privilege given to PHTSB? Works was due for completion on 7 September, 2004. This was extended to 6 December, 2004. The Certificate of Practical Completion was issued on 15 January, 2005, without full consideration of the actual status of the progress of the project.

The main contractor for the project is PHTSB with Syarikat Permodalan Kebangsaan (SPK) having 40% shares, Mokhtar Mohamad Nazir (MMN) Bina 40% and Aspirasi Sama 20%. Some believe that PHTSB has been awarded the contract under an unusual circumstance. While SPK and MMN Bina are listed in the Construction Industry Development Board (CIBD), we are not clear about Aspirasi Sama.

In line with the provision of Clause 8 of the Conditions of Contract, the Contractor shall ensure that the quality of works as a whole must be maintained and that the works are carried out in conformity in every respect with the requirements of the contract.

The contractor shall engage full time on site during the whole duration of the contract adequate number of professional engineers or other appropriate professionals registered with the respective boards in Malaysia and sub-professional staff to provide close supervision of the works at all times to ensure full compliance with the design and specification of the works.

For example, the paved roads and car parks have not been constructed to the required qualities. The contractor has promised the use of granite which is RM18 per tonne, whereas in some parts it is using limestone, costing RM11 per tonne. Has Puan Puteh Kamariah Bt Mohamad, who is PWD quantity surveyor, surveyed the quality of all the materials used?

The covered pedestrian walkway has three road gaps. Why is it not covered?

Testing and commissioning for the mechanical and electrical works is not completed. Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu should let us know whether there is a schedule for Technical Viability of the testing and commissioning ?

We have often heard the Works Minister talked about the certificate of practical completion (CPC). On 31 January, 2005, Puan Puteh Kamariah Bt Mohamad signed the CPC as the Project Director as follows:

In accordance with Clause 40 of the Condition of Contract and subject to the completion of any outstanding work and the making good of any defects, imperfections, shrinkages or any other faults whatsoever ( as listed in Appendix A) as required under Clause 46 of the Condition of Contract and which may appear during the Defects Liability Period it is hereby certified that the whole of the Works as mentioned above were satisfactorily completed on 14th January, 2005 and taken into possession on 15 January, 2005 and that the said Defects Liability Period in respects of the said Works began on 15th January, 2005 and will end on 14th January, 2007.

We urge the Works Minister to investigate immediately whether the whole of the works has been completed satisfactorily. What is his criteria for the issuance of the CPC?

Sentuhan daripada bahan terbuang

- Lanskap -

Sentuhan daripada bahan terbuang
Oleh Md Fuzi Abd Lateh

PENGGUNAAN bahan terbuang seperti tempayan dan pasu pelbagai ukuran serta batu sungai dalam pembentukan landskap mampu memberikan ilham menarik selain membentuk satu suasana damai kepada pemilik kediaman.

Menyedari hakikat ini, pereka landskap, Faridah Abu Bakar, 44, memanfaatkan barangan sebegini bagi membentuk landskap di banglo miliknya di Bandar Bukit Beruntung yang didiami sejak tiga tahun lalu.

Kedamaian serta keindahan tumbuhan menghijau yang dibentuk di sekeliling kediamannya menambat hati siapa saja yang bertandang dan bukan hanya jiran, kediamannya turut menarik tumpuan peminat landskap dari Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam dan Sungai Buloh.


Faridah yang sering dibantu suaminya, Ngah Ismail, 52, ringan tangan menyusun dan menanam pelbagai tumbuhan di sekeliling rumah. Setakat ini pasangan ini sudah membelanjakan lebih RM150,000 bagi membentuk landskap di kediaman mereka.

Teknik adunan seni taman moden dan tradisi diterapkan pada rekaan landskapnya yang memperlihatkan penggunaan pelbagai jenis pokok dari buluh kuning, sepit udang sehinggalah ke pandan, jambu dan kaktus.

Di penjuru kiri laman pula dibentuk trek refleksologi yang digunakan mereka sekeluarga untuk tujuan kesihatan.

Usaha yang dilakukan Faridah bukan saja memberikan kedamaian dan keindahan pada kediamannya malah pernah menjuarai pertandingan seni landskap kategori rumah banglo setingkat peringkat daerah Hulu Selangor, premis tercantik. Terbaru, menyandang naib johan pertandingan sama peringkat negeri Selangor.

Kata Faridah, ilham menghasilkan landskap di kediamannya bukan saja berdasarkan apa yang terfikir pada minda tetapi juga berdasarkan pengalaman melawat negara jiran, Thailand serta melalui pembacaan seperti buku Thai Garden Style dan Balinese Garden oleh William Warden.

Sentuhan Faridah bukan sekadar tanaman hiasan di tanah tetapi juga yang digantung di beberapa penjuru rumah yang diisi antaranya dengan orkid rimba manakala teratai dalam pasu tambah berseri dengan pembinaan kolam ikan di satu penjuru rumah yang turut menjadi tempat berehat pada waktu lapang.

Selain itu, Faridah turut membina sudut santai sekeluarga di penjuru kanan halamannya yang mana bangku seminfero yang cantik diletakkan di bawah pokok jambu yang dicantas rendang.

Bagi memberikan nilai tambah pada landskap yang dihasilkan Faridah turut menanam beberapa tumbuhan herba di bahagian belakang rumahnya seperti lengkuas, pandan, serai, halia merah, pegaga, halia putih juga kantan. Selain memanfaatkan bentuk pokok berkenaan yang tidak kurang menariknya ia juga memberikan keharuman di taman di samping digunakan untuk memasak.

Apa yang pasti gaya yang diberikan Faridah pada landskapnya nampak kemas, tersusun dengan kombinasi warna yang menarik, menyerlahkan ilham sebenar yang menekankan kepada kedamaian.