Rawang hit by morning flash floods

Rawang hit by morning flash floods

Rawang hit by morning flash floods

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

25 December 2013| last updated at 12:21AM
By HARIZ MOHD | harizm@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: RAWANG was hit by      flash floods   yesterday morning, cutting off the Batu Arang road and leaving thousands of motorists stranded for more than  an hour.

The 7am incident, which resulted from heavy rain, saw a Proton Waja damaged by a landslip in Jalan Desa 2/3 Bandar Country Homes.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohamad Sani Harul said the Batu Arang road near the Aeon Anggun Rawang shopping complex, connecting Bandar Country Homes and Bandar Tasik Puteri with Rawang town and the North-South Expressway toll plaza, was flooded from 7am until 8.15am.

The flooding left thousands of road users stranded, with traffic jams continuing until past 10am.

"Firemen from the Rawang fire station found that the road was flooded in 0.5m of water, which spilled over from a small river there.

"The officers helped move at least three cars that broke down in the water."

It was learnt that a housing area near the Batu Arang road was also affected by flooding.

On the landslip, Sani said they received a call at 7.16am and a team from the Batu Arang fire station was dispatched.

"Initial observation found that soil from a slope, about 3m high, fell on top of a parked Proton Waja.

"The landslide uprooted a tree, while debris hit another car parked there. Luckily, no one was injured in the incident."

Six firemen cordoned off the location and conducted risk assessment on the slope and nearby houses.

Heavy rain also hit several areas in the Klang Valley, creating chaos in roads leading into the city.

A spokesman from City Hall's Integrated Traffic Information System (ITIS) operations centre said it received reports of flash floods on the road connecting Kinrara and Technology Park Malaysia.

"There was also a massive traffic jam in Jalan Loke Yew heading towards Jalan Kinabalu between 7.15am and 8am."

The Meteorological Department's website said its rain monitoring station in Petaling Jaya recorded 44mm daily rainfall from 8pm Monday to 8am yesterday.

The department issued a warning on thunderstorms and heavy rain at 7.25am.

The warning said thunderstorms and heavy rain were "occurring over Perak (Hilir Perak and Batang Padang), Selangor (Hulu Selangor, Gombak, Petaling, Kuala Langat, Sepang and Hulu Langat), Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan (Jelebu, Seremban and Port Dickson) and Malacca (Alor Gajah)".

A Proton Waja is trapped under earth and rocks after a landslip brought on by heavy rain in Jalan Desa 2/3 Bandar Country Homes, Rawang, yesterday. Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue Department

Petronas pipes gas to Sabah terminal

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

25 December 2013| last updated at 11:31PM
By Roy Goh | roygoh@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU:  Petronas has begun piping natural gas into the RM3.8 billion Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT) in Kimanis, marking an important milestone in the industry.

  With an initial flow of 65 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) from the Kinabalu Non-Associated Gas field southwest of the state via a 120km underwater pipeline since Monday, it was part of the commissioning process for the terminal.

  The commissioning process will put to test and ensure the systems and components at the terminal are running according to specifications and requirements before it starts commercial operations.

  Once fully operational, the SOGT, located  65km from here, will have the capacity of 260,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil and 1,250 mmscfd of natural gas, said a statement from Petronas Sabah and Labuan Regional office.

  It is the biggest integrated terminal in the country with the ability to receive, handle and export oil and gas produced offshore.

  It will position the state as an onshore oil and gas hub in the region, complementing the operations of the existing Sabah Gas Terminal, the Labuan Crude Oil Terminal and the Labuan Gas Terminal.

  Sabah branch Malaysian Malay Chamber of Commerce chairman Datuk Ag Buhtamam Ag Mahmun yesterday said the move was a positive development for the country.

"The SOGT and other key oil and gas projects in the state are part of the national agenda to bring more progress.

"To see it up and running to fulfil its potential surely makes the business community excited as it is bound to trigger economic spillovers."

  Buhtamam said, however, Petronas needed to play its part in ensuring active participation of local entrepreneurs, especially Bumiputeras, and make it part of their key performance indicators.

  "The prime minister  has called on government-linked companies to assist in the national Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Agenda policy and this is where Petronas can play its role."

  Buhtamam said Petronas could start by identifying vendor development programmes (VDP) for local companies in Sabah and look into developing more human resources in the industry to support the oil and gas industry.

  Petronas embarked on a host of projects in the state over the last three years such as the SOGT, the 512km Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline, Kimanis Powerplant, Kinabalu NAG upstream development, Sabah Ammonia and Urea Plant in Sipitang and Kimanis Power Plant.

Focus on faster, better wireless broadband service

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

25 December 2013| last updated at 11:30PM

Its minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, said the focus would not only be on the coverage but the quality and speed of such services provided by teleco providers, in line with the increased demand for wireless broadband, essential for providing faster Internet services to keep up with the rapid advancement in telecommunications.

Malaysia not only wants to achieve 100 per cent penetration rate for Internet services, but also targets to improve the quality of the services, especially in rural areas.

"In the past, we only used telephones for conversation, but now we use telephones to send and receive text messages, videos and pictures. It can also be used to send information related to health, weather and other informative messages.

"So, we need more advanced services," he said after handing out incentives to poultry farmers under the Azam Tani programme, here yesterday.

He said the country needs to be equipped with state-of-the-art technology to cater for a surge in requirement for technology, which has not only reached the 2G, 3G and 4G level, but has reached 5G now.

Speaking of the rapid development in digital television broadcast services, he said infrastructure development projects for such needs would start by the middle of next year.

He said the digital systems would be tested first in east coast states.

He said the infrastructure development for such services would incur a cost of about RM1 billion and was expected to be completed by 2017 before the government decides to end analogue television broadcast services by 2020. Bernama

USIM wins best scientist award

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

25 December 2013| last updated at 12:25AM
By Sukhbir Cheema | sukhbir@nst.com.my

NILAI: Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) created history when it bagged  three awards from the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) during the Socrates Award Ceremony  held in London from Dec 16 to 19.

Its vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Asma Ismail, said the success of the university in bagging the Best Regional University, Best Manager of the Year and Best Scientist 2013 on an international level had provided an opportunity for USIM to continue to strengthen Islamic Science. This had effectively turned it to become an influential academic institution, significant and able to keep pace with other premier universities at the global level.

"Within one year, USIM has managed to get recognition from the EBA. This is the first time I was involved in a conference with vice-chancellors from Europe, 250 participants from various universities involving 25 countries, including from Asia and the Middle East.

"We are proud to be chosen as the Best Regional University as competition from other QS World University Ranking universities was stiff," she said at a press conference held at the university here yesterday.

Dr Asma said the success showed that Islamic banking and finance was slowly getting a place in the West, with many Western countries now keen to learn more about it in Malaysian higher learning institutes.

"This has also given USIM the opportunity to introduce itself on an international scale," said Dr Asma, who was the recipient for the Best Manager of the Year award.

She won the award after demonstrating immense leadership, professionalism and an outstanding reputation in leading USIM to win the other two awards.

The univerisity bagged the Best Scientist 2013 award after coming out with a TYPHIDOT kit, which is used to detect typhoid fever.

"The rapid diagnostic test to diagnose acute typhoid has generated sales, publications and more than 500 jobs worldwide and supported the local industries in Malaysia."

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Asma Ismail (centre) and colleagues showing the awards the university won from the Europe Business Assembly during the Socrates Award Ceremony in London recently. Pic by Nor Adila Ab Kadir

Alarm foils break-in on deputy minister's home

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

25 December 2013| last updated at 12:26AM

According to Kuching Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Roslan Bek Ahmad, the sound of the alarm alerted two policemen and three Rela members who were patrolling nearby.

He said two suspects were seen rushing out of the compound and fled the scene before the patrol team could do anything.

"The alarm triggered at 3.15am and they (the policemen and Rela members) tried to catch the robbers but failed."

Initial investigations revealed that the thieves gained access into the compound by cutting a hole through the fence at the right side of the house.

"It was when they tried to force open one of the windows that caused the alarm to trigger."

Meanwhile, Dr Wan Junaidi's senior private secretary, Wan Hamzah Wan Paee, said the deputy minister and his family were away on holiday. Bernama


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Restoring confidence and security in Sabah

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

25 December 2013| last updated at 12:20AM

For that, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman thanked members of the security forces in maintaining peace and order in the state.

He also advised the people to not be influenced by quarters out to disrupt peace and harmony.

"I call on Malaysians, especially in Sabah, to maintain the peace and harmony for the good of the present and future generations," he said in his message in conjunction with the Christmas celebration.

The setting up of ESSCOM was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on March 7 following the invasion of Lahad Datu by the Sulu terrorists.

It covers 1,400km of the Sabah coastline from Kudat to Tawau.

Musa said although the population in Sabah comprised more than 32 ethic groups and races, the people were united and respected one another, adding this spirit should be instilled among the people.

He said it would enable Sabah to achieve greater heights, as well as to be more developed and competitive. Bernama


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