World Cup trophy due on Jan 5

World Cup trophy due on Jan 5

World Cup trophy due on Jan 5

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:24 AM PST

28 December 2013| last updated at 12:24AM

Kuala Lumpur is one of the stopovers for the trophy during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, according to the world football governing body.

The coveted prize is scheduled to arrive at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport on Jan 3, following which there will be a series of activities organised by Coca-Cola, one of FIFA's corporate partners.

The trophy started its journey from the  Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept 12.

It will travel to 88 countries and territories, covering some 150,000km in 267 days before returning to Brazil, which is the  host country for the 2014 World Cup. Bernama

The most coveted in football trophy will be on display in Malaysia starting from Jan 5 at the Putra World Trade Centre


Related Articles

Malaysia named theme country for Book Fair

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:23 AM PST

28 December 2013| last updated at 12:23AM
By ROZANNA LATIFF | news@nst.com.my

  In a post on his Facebook account, the prime minister said the selection was a recognition of the country's efforts to become the largest publishing trade hub in Asia.

  "With this acknowledgment, I am confident  we will be able to spread local publications to the international market."   

  Reputed to be Asia's leading publishing trade show, the TIBF will be held from July 2 to 5 next year in Tokyo.

  According to TIBF organisers Reed Exhibitions, Malaysia was selected as the theme country based on its impressive participation in the fair over the past three years.

  Last year, Malaysia's representatives inked 15 trade deals, valued at over RM500,000, with various Japanese parties.

  The offer to become the fair's theme country has been given on a selective basis since 1998.

Other countries to receive the honour include Holland (2000), Italy (2001), Germany (2005), Egypt (2009), Saudi Arabia (2010), Spain (2011) and Korea (2013).

  Earlier, Najib also called for better cooperation between higher education institutes, employers and students in order to produce graduates to meet the country's manpower needs.

  He said a close relationship between the three institutions was important in raising the quality of education and empowering graduates in their chosen fields.

 "I believe that human capital empowerment is a key component of the national development agenda."

 The government had earlier embarked on several efforts to produce high-quality graduates, including the 1Malaysia Training Scheme, the Graduate Employability Management Scheme and the Skills Development Program.

  New graduates would  also be given the opportunity to take part in special training programmes with government-linked companies and agencies, such as Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC) and Bank Negara Malaysia.

The Malaysia booth at the 2013 Tokyo International Book Fair, which was held in Korea this year. Malaysia is the first Southeast Asian country to be chosen as the theme country for the internationally acclaimed fair.

Fire destroys furniture factory line in Malacca

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:02 AM PST

28 December 2013| last updated at 12:04AM

  The factory, which specialises in manufacturing tables and chairs for export, caught fire at 8am, destroying about a quarter of the factory.

  Tangga Batu Fire and Rescue station operations officer Abdul Razak Manap said a team of 26 firemen and five fire engines from  stations in Ayer Keroh, Kubu and Tangga Batu were dispatched after receiving a distress call at 8.16am.

  "When we arrived  at 8.25am, the fire was huge but we brought it   under control in 35 minutes, preventing it  from spreading.

  "The fire destroyed the factory's finishing department, which paints and dries furniture using automatic sprays."

 Razak said the cause of the fire and losses were still being investigated.

  Factory owner Tan Ser Hiong declined to be interviewed.

Fire and Rescue team inspecting damage caused by a fire at a furniture factory in Bukit Rambai, Malacca, yesterday. Pic by Mohd Jamah Nasri

Thai ranger is latest blast victim

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

28 December 2013| last updated at 12:01AM
By ADIB POVERA | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A 25-year-old Thai army ranger was the latest victim of an ongoing series of blasts in southern Thailand since Sunday.

The Bangkok Post reported that the latest attack, which was the eighth such incident to take place this week, occurred at Yaha district yesterday.

In the 8.25am blast, Odd Patcharakobchai and seven of his colleagues from the Thai army's 47th Rangers Regiment were on patrol along Yaha-Baro road in Tambon Baro when a bomb went-off.

The Thai English daily said the explosive device was planted in a bush by the roadside near the ranger's patrol area.

Odd was hospitalised for injuries to the  right leg, raising the injury toll from the series of explosions in southern Thailand to 36.

Criminologist Associate Professor P. Sundramoorthy said judging from the pattern of attacks, the unrest was likely to continue.

  He said if Thai separatists were responsible for the attacks, the unrest would persist until their aim was achieved.

Malaysians, he said, should be wary and heed the advice of the government and Thai authorities should they plan to visit any of the bombed areas.  

"Not all of us are deterred by the bombings because of  work or business commitments.

"The least we could do is to be alert and keep abreast  with the goings-on if we are planning a visit to those areas.

 "In some cases, we may just be at the wrong time and place," the Universiti Sains Malaysia criminal expert said.

The kingdom's southern provinces were rocked by triple explosions, within hours of one another.

Two police stations in Sadao and Padang Besar (Thailand) were destroyed and  27 people were injured on Sunday.

It continued as eight people, including six Thai policemen, were injured in four separate explosions within a span of three days since Tuesday.

NGOs lodge reports over rally

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

28 December 2013| last updated at 12:10AM

The organisations involved were the Kelantan People's Action Council (MTRK), Armed Forces Veteran Association and Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa).

About 20 members of the NGOs, led by MTRK Machang chairman Kamaruddin Abdul Kadir, filed the report at the Machang district police station here about 10am.

Kamaruddin said the organisers' aim of toppling the government through the rally was undemocratic as it was elected by the people in the general election.

"We are shocked that there are certain groups of Malaysians organising a rally to bring down the government. Their aim of changing the government through force is undemocratic and against the law and Constitution of the country.

"Their act meant that they have rejected the results of the recent election, which was made by the people. If they really want to change the government, they should wait for the next general election," he said after lodging the report.

In Shah Alam, more NGOs demanded organisers of the "Himpunan Guling Kerajaan" (Guling) to cancel the rally on Dec 31.

Gagasan Penyelewengan Selangor (GAPS), Persatuan Kebangsaan Anak Polis Malaysia (PKAPM) and Community Policing Association lodged reports on the matter at the police station here.

GAPS chairman Mohd Durrany Izan urged the government to cancel the planned New Year's Eve concert at Dataran Merdeka.

"We do not want the organisers of Guling and their supporters to take this opportunity to cause harm to civilians who will be attending the concert.

PKAPM deputy president Syed Abu Bakar Syed Ahmad said the rally organisers did not think of the plight of enforcement officers who had to sacrifice their time with their families during New Year's eve because they had to be on duty to secure the grounds during the assembly.

"I think the organisers are selfish and have failed to see the bigger picture, especially considering that it is the New Year's eve."

In Alor Star, two police reports were lodged yesterday against the organiser of a proposed illegal gathering.

The first was lodged by Pendang Umno division members at the Pendang police district headquarters.

Pendang Umno Youth chief Mohamad Fadzil Zolkipli lodged the report, accompanied by some 50 Umno members, about 11am.

He hoped the people would not get involved in the rally as it would tarnish the country's image.

In Kulim, a report was lodged by the Kedah Anti-Fraud Task Force, Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim Kedah (Tibai) and Perkasa at the district police headquarters.

Tibai chairman Khairul Anuar Ramli said the assembly could threaten public order.

The rally, aimed at toppling the government, also went under the label of Bersih 4.0 and invitation to attend it was circulated on social media sites and pro-opposition blogs.

Pendang Umno Youth chief Mohamad Fadzil Zolkipli (left) and Pendang Puteri Umno chief Amal Izzah Shamsuddin (second from left) showing police reports lodged against the organiser of a proposed illegal rally at the Pendang police district headquarters yesterday. Bernama pic

Dengue-related deaths rise to 88

Posted: 27 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

PUTRAJAYA: THE dengue scourge has raised its head again, claiming more lives this year.

Despite efforts to curb its spread, the death toll from January to Dec 21 stands at 88, a massive 151 per cent increase compared with last year's total of 35 lives.

The number of dengue cases has also skyrocketed. The Health Ministry recorded 41,226 cases, almost double the 21,444 cases reported last year.

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Selangor had the most number of deaths with 24 victims, followed by Johor with 21, and Malacca, nine.

"Twelve states have shown an increase in the number of cases. Malacca has the highest increase, with a 229 per cent jump from the previous year. Johor has a 191 per cent increase and Selangor shows a 152 per cent jump from last year."

Other states that saw an increase in the number of cases are Negri Sembilan (100 per cent), Perak (42 per cent), Labuan (40 per cent), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (39 per cent), Penang (31 per cent), Perlis (30 per cent), Kelantan (41 per cent), Pahang (12 per cent) and Sabah (nine per cent).

Dr Noor Hisham said three states recorded a decline in dengue cases. They were Terengganu (21 per cent), Sarawak (13 per cent) and Kedah (one per cent).

He said the rise in dengue cases was not unusual, based on annual trends.

"If we examine the weekly trend of cases reported since 2002, we can see a cyclic pattern every two to three years."

Malaysia, he pointed out, was plagued by dengue cases in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 and this year.

Dr Noor Hisham also noted that Malaysia was not the only country to experience a drastic rise in dengue cases. He said countries in the Western Pacific Region also experienced a similar phenomenon this year.

"For example, as of Dec 11, Singapore recorded a 490 per cent increase in dengue cases. Laos saw a 480 per cent rise, while New Caledonia experienced a whopping 2,600 per cent rise and Australia, 10 per cent."

Dr Noor Hisham said the public could play a role in curbing the spread of dengue by eliminating the breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitos.

"The public also can do their part by destroying Aedes breeding grounds in the vicinity of their homes and neighbourhoods."

He said the ministry would launch the "Let's Quash Aedes" campaign next month. It will involve a month-long gotong-royong in all states and districts.

The ministry, he said, had also implemented Op Gempur Aedes since July that saw action being taken against owners of premises found to have been breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito.

"We have also increased the number of Communication for Behavioural Impact (Combi) projects by providing training to volunteers to conduct dengue prevention and control within communities."

Dr Noor Hisham said until September, 2,668 Combi projects had been launched, involving 53,360 volunteers nationwide.

Last week, the New Straits Times reported that the increase in the number of dengue cases in Selangor had caused congestion at government hospitals, with some patients having to wait more than 10 hours to get admitted.

State Health Department officials had admitted that almost all public hospitals in the state were overcrowded with patients seeking treatment for dengue fever.

This was caused by Selangor topping the chart with 21,138 dengue cases as of Dec 13.

Deputy Director-General of Health (medical) Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai had confirmed that there had been a sudden increase in the number of patients needing admission at government hospitals in the Klang Valley.

A Health officer Mohd Hakimi Arifin,26 collecting samples of mosquito larvae at a condominium Mentari Court Condominium in Petaling Jaya. File pic