Front Page; The Star (11/03/07)

GLCs rapped

CEOs of government-linked companies (GLCs) came under fire for their no-show at an economic congress aimed at moving Malays forward in trade and business. Umno Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein agreed with the delegates that the CEOs had not taken the congress seriously.

Delegates lament no-show of CEOs at economic congress

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB and IZATUN SHARI

KUALA LUMPUR: The top brass of government-linked companies (GLCs) came under fire for their no-show at an economic congress here aimed at moving Malays forward in trade and business.

Several delegates made caustic remarks against the absent CEOs, questioning why they were not present at the Jihad Ekonomi Melayu (Malay Economic Struggle) congress.

One delegate quoted a CEO as saying at a recent meeting that he did not “give a damn” about replacing his Malay suppliers with non-Malay ones.

Another delegate rapped a GLC chairman for refusing to give an appointment to see him “for even a minute”.

The two-day congress, which ended yesterday, was jointly organised by the umbrella body Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Malayu (Gabem), Umno Youth and the Muslim missionary foundation Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi opened the gathering on Friday.

On the same night, Gabem chairman Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik headed a forum attended by representatives of Khazanah Nasional, Telekom Malaysia (TM) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), which gave a token presence of the GLCs at the gathering.

Responding to the criticisms against the GLCs, Umno Youth leader Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and his deputy, Khairy Jamaluddin, agreed with the delegates that the CEOs had not taken the congress seriously.

Speaking to reporters after presenting a paper on Paradigm Shift and the Malay Agenda, Khairy said it did not give a good impression of the GLC top guns when they did not show up at the event in which the Malay prime movers of the economy were present.

“We are insulted,” he said, adding that since it was an important congress and opened by the Prime Minister, the CEOs should find the time to come.

To a question, he said: “To be frank, I feel they look down on initiatives like this because it comes from the grassroots, the (Malay) Chamber of Commerce and Umno.”

When it was suggested that the CEOs were all his friends, Khairy said: “If they were my friends, they would have come.”

Hishammuddin, who closed the event, told reporters that the CEOs could have rescheduled their appointments to be with the Malay entrepreneurs.

Asked whether he was as upset, he said: “I am merely reminding them (the CEOs).”

Source; The Star Online

Front Page; The Star (10/03/07)

Altantuya murder trial brought forward

EARLIER TRIAL: The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial has been brought forward to June 4, nine months earlier than its scheduled date.


By CHELSEA L.Y. NG and CECIL FUNG

SHAH ALAM: The Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial has been brought forward to June 4, nine months earlier than its scheduled date.

Judicial Commissioner Mohd Zaki Md Yasin, who took over the case from a more senior judge, Justice K.N. Segara, said the court was inclined to start the trial as early as next month.

It however had to settle for the June date because lawyers for the two policemen charged with the murder of the Mongolian beauty, requested for time to prepare their defence.

Lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, who appeared for Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar, had asked for the trial to start in May or June while Zulkifli Noordin, who acted for C/Insp Azilah Hadri, was adamant that the case be heard from June 4.

“Please give us time to prepare the defence to avoid future hiccups,” Zulkifli said.

“We want extra time to prepare but not KK (Wong). If possible, he would want the trial to start tomorrow,” Zulkifli said, referring to Counsel Wong Kian Kheong, who appeared for the third person implicated in the case, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

Wong then quipped that he had wanted the trial to start “last week.”

“I was given strict instructions by my client to get the earliest possible date because he wants to be vindicated as soon as possible,” Wong said.

The judge then asked DPP Salehuddin Saidin how many days he needed for the trial, to which the prosecutor said he had about 40 witnesses and needed about a month.

The DPP also said he was ready to conduct the case.

When the judge suggested that the trial be fixed in May instead of April, Zulkifli again stood his ground.

This prompted the judge to remark: “You seem to want a later date when the defence counsel usually asks for an earlier trial.”

Wong, who agreed with the judge, then tried to get up to say something but was asked by a smiling Zulkifli not to reply. This drew laughter from the public gallery.

The judge finally fixed the June 4 date but warned all parties that he would not entertain any request for further postponement.

Earlier, DPP Salehuddin also raised the issue of Razak replacing his solicitors Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill with the law firm Norendra & Yap.

He said that Dhiren Rene Norendra, who is a partner in the new firm of solicitors, was a potential witness in the case and he was concerned about future complications.

Wong explained that he was the counsel in the case but he would advise Razak to change his solicitors again.

Source: The Star Online

Kebanggaan Malaysia: Kancil VS Evo 8

Proud to be MALAYsian. Kancil can, yeah!

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Lost s03e12 - preview

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My Boobs Are Ok!

Front Page; Star (08/03/07)

Auto debit at toll plazas soon

It will be a smooth drive along the North-South Expressway when the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system is implemented by the end of this year. Under the MLFF, the toll charges will be deducted electronically as vehicles bearing special tags pass through toll plazas at normal driving speeds, as there will be no barriers.

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be a smooth drive along the North-South Expressway when the Multi Lane Free Flow (MLFF) system is implemented by the end of this year.

Under the MLFF, which is similar to systems used extensively in Europe, the United States, Australia, Canada and Singapore, the toll charges will be deducted electronically as vehicles bearing special tags pass through toll plazas at normal driving speeds, as there will be no barriers.

Efkon Asia Sdn Bhd, a local consultant appointed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA), is in the final stages of completing its feasibility study and submitting its recommendations.

The recommendations will be discussed in a committee comprising officials from the Works Ministry, MHA, toll concessionaires and Rangkaian Segar, the operator of the Touch ‘n' Go electronic payment system and SmartTag, before the MLFF electronic toll is implemented.

Efkon chief operating officer Helmuth Blausch said the MLFF would reduce congestion at toll plazas, be environmentally friendly and increase road safety.

“Some of the advantages include improved traffic flow, reduction in travel time, savings on fuel and cutting down the vehicle's wear and tear,” he said in an interview.

There are over 650,000 SmartTags in circulation at present.

Blausch said it was wise to expand on the existing system rather than replacing it.

“There is no need for the replacement of tags and the system infrastructure, and we also avoid the pitfalls from putting a new and untested system in place.

“All the technology used in the SmartTag lane is easily extended to high-speed MLFF,” he said.

Under the MLFF system, a laser scanner would detect and classify the vehicle, triggering the camera system to capture an image of it on the dedicated lanes on the expressway.

It will then debit the amount and inform the user of the correct payment.

Front Page; Star (07/03/07)

Earthquake hits Sumatra

Two strong earthquakes which hit southern Sumatra sent tremors through the west coast states of Peninsular Malaysia. The Malaysian Meteorological Department however assured the people that there was a “very slim” possibility of a tsunami.

Tremors felt on the west coast

PETALING JAYA: A 6.3 magnitude earthquake which hit the island of southern Sumatra sent tremors through the west coast states of Peninsular Malaysia.

Incidences of people fleeing shaking buildings were reported in the Klang Valley, Seremban, Malacca, Johor as well as in Singapore.

A Malaysian Meteorological Department officer however assured the people that there was a “very slim” possibility of a tsunami because the quake occurred inland at 71km north-east of Padang in Sumatra. The epicentre of the quake was 324km south-east of Malacca.

According to the United States Geological Survey website (www. earthquake.usgs.gov), the first earthquake of 6.3 magnitude happened at 11.49am yesterday.

About two hours later, an aftershock measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale rocked the island again, sending panicking residents who fear an impending tsunami scrambling to safety.

At 4.50pm, another quake of 4.4 magnitude struck close to the epicentre of the first quake.As at press time, at least 70 people including schoolchildren in Sumatra were killed by the earthquake, which flattened hundreds of buildings.

According to an Associated Press report, hospitals in Sumatra were overwhelmed by the injured, including those who were trapped inside a crowded state bank when the quake occurred.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that all 112 Malaysian students at Andalas University in Padang have been confirmed safe.

Director of the Malaysian Students Department in Indonesia Dr Junaidi Abu Bakar told the news agency that the students had been told to gather at the Padang Hospital should a disaster strike.

“A Malaysian Consul official in Medan is in Padang and he is handling the students at the hospital,” he said.

Related Stories:
Thousands of Malaysian workers all shook up
Nerves jangled in S’pore
Quake measuring 6.3 hits Sumatra, death toll likely to increase
Ring of Fire rears its ugly head again

Note; source The Star Online

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