100 cars destroyed in fire

100 cars destroyed in fire

100 cars destroyed in fire

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

31 January 2014| last updated at 11:16PM

   A worker, Mohd Munir S Sain, 20, said he realised that cars parked at the storage yard behind the workshop were on fire when he heard a loud explosion followed by thick black smoke that emitted an intoxicating smell about 9.30am.

   "I ran to the back but was helpless...the fire spread quickly,"    Munir said, adding that he and other workers    tried to put out the fire but they were held back by the heat and flames.

   Muar Fire and Rescue Department Senior Operations Commander Ismail Mahmud said 16 firefighters from Muar and Bukit Gambir stations were dispatched to the scene with three fire engines, upon receiving an emergency call at 10am.

   "Efforts to put out the blaze were hampered as the main water pipe along Jalan Salleh had also burst about 7am the same day. We were forced to pump water from a nearby drain and  used water from our tanks to bring the blaze under control within 30 minutes," he said, adding that the firefighters managed to move 50 cars to safer grounds.

   Ismail said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Firefighters trying to put out the fire at the workshop. Pic by Syarafiq Abd Samad

Student seeks help to buy artificial leg

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

31 January 2014| last updated at 11:12PM

Mohd Nor Syukri Mohamed, 15, was born with a deformed left leg and needs RM6,800 for a prosthetic limb.

"I envy those who can walk and run but I can't tell my parents to grow me a leg. I just want to be like the others," he said at his home in Kampung Jepak Ulu here.

Syukri's father, 54-year-old labourer Mohamad Zaini, said some individuals had pledged to help his son but did not keep their promises.

"He can walk. It is just that he cannot walk like a normal person."

Syukri, a Form Three student of SMK Kemena, is a high achiever, is well liked by his peers and, despite his condition, also active in sports.

Syukri also has an 8-year-old sister who suffers from a heart problem. She receives treatment at Bintulu Hospital every month.

Those wishing to assist can do so by sending their cheques with Syukri's name written on the reverse side to: The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit NSTP, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, 31, Jalan Riong, 59100, KL.

Mohd Nor Syukri Mohamed with his mum at their home. Pic by Kandau Sidi

'Chance for BN to regain support'

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

31 January 2014| last updated at 11:33PM
By SYED UMAR ARIFF | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: SEVERAL prominent political analysts have voiced their preference for Barisan Nasional  to contest the controversial Kajang by-election, saying it can be used as a platform to garner stronger support from the people.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin opined that BN should employ the by-election as its political launch pad for the next general election. He said as a ruling coalition, BN must continue efforts to garner support from the people.

"This is a good opportunity for BN to have its election machinery tested or use new strategies.

"They can employ younger members to organise campaigns. The by-election should be their political launch pad as well as to garner more support."

Yesterday, BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the BN supreme council would discuss matters relating to the Kajang by-election after the Chinese New Year celebrations.

In the 13th General Election, BN had fielded Lee Ban Seng in a six-cornered fight in Kajang, which saw PKR's Lee Chin Cheh emerging as the winner by a majority of 6,824 votes.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's candidacy for the Kajang state seat was announced by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim three days ago.

Professor Datuk Zainal Kling concurred with Shamsul that BN should take advantage of the electorate's fluidity in support.

"There are a lot of things taking place in Selangor. You will never know unless you try. Go to the ground and find out whether there is a swing of support from the opposition to BN," said the head of National Professors' Council's socio-culture cluster.

However, Universiti Sains Malaysia's Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said as a sign of protest, BN should not field a candidate because of the unethical resignation of Lee.

He cited the Penanti state seat by-election in 2009, in which BN decided to pull out. Najib had said it was not an election provided for by the Federal Constitution as it was only done to resolve PKR's internal crisis.

The Penanti by-election was called after incumbent and Penang deputy chief minister I Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin resigned over allegations of graft over sand-mining. But the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission later found insufficient grounds for prosecution.

Representatives of non-governmental organisations protesting after lodging a report against the resignation of PKR's Lee Chin Cheh, outside the Kajang police headquarters yesterday. Pic by Aizuddin Saad

Guard jailed 3 years for bid to rob airline executive

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

31 January 2014| last updated at 11:21PM

Mohd Faiz Amirol, 23, was sentenced by judge Manira Mohd Nor after he pleaded guilty to attempting to rob Shahrinawati Abu Bakar, 30, together with his friend Azizee Ishak, 26, in front of Palm Villa City Garden condominium, Taman Nirwana here, on Aug 29 last year.

Azizee maintained his not guilty plea.

Both, initially pleaded not guilty when they were charged with gang robbery of Shahrinawati at the same place and time.

Counsel Haqq Razak, for Faiz, mitigated for a minimum sentence as Faiz had to take care of his parents. He also said that Shahrinawati's death was not directly caused by Faiz.

Deputy public prosecutor Norazlina Mohamad Yusoff called for a deterrent sentence.

In sentencing Faiz, Manira said she was taking into consideration that it was his first offence.

No date was fixed for hearing of Azizee's case, represented by counsel Dony Abdullah.

Shahrinawati, died on Aug 29 last year on the way to the hospital, after she was hit by a car driven by a man who had tried to help her during the robbery.

It was reported that she was attacked by the two men, one of whom was armed with a parang, at 2.45am in front of the condominium.

Mohd Faiz Amirol is escorted by police officers to the Ampang Sessions Court. Pic by Sairien Nafis

Car plunges 4 floors down parking lot

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

31 January 2014| last updated at 11:11PM

In the 7.30am incident, the 53-year-old driver reversed his car in the parking lot before ramming through a sidewall. The vehicle then plunged to the ground floor of Star City complex.

Firemen had to extricate the driver, who was pinned inside the mangled vehicle.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Services Department spokesman Affendy Ramin said the victim was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

City police deputy chief superintendent M. Chandra said the victim broke his shoulder and suffered internal bleeding.

A security guard at the complex, Temano Karim, said he was at a nearby food outlet when he heard a loud crash.

"I rushed out and saw a man inside the wreck. We called out and he responded by waving his hand. We then assured him that help was on the way before calling for help," he said.

The wreckage of the car after the driver was extricated from the vehicle at Star City complex in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.

Bigger guns, faster cars to take down drug lords

Posted: 30 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

31 January 2014| last updated at 11:29PM
By HARIZ MOHD AND NORBAITI PHAHARORADZI | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE training and operation of the police force's  newly-formed Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (Sting) will be beefed up to zero in on drug lords and kingpins who use high-powered vehicles to escape arrest.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said at the Sting launch at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) here yesterday that the elite squad would focus on hunting down drug lords and cartel members.

Last year, police arrested 33 drug kingpins and busted 34 drug laboratories nationwide, netting RM402.73 million worth of drugs and drug-making paraphernalia.

The success rate, the highest ever recorded by Bukit Aman's Narcotics Department, is expected to increase this year with the launching of Sting.

"Through Sting, our aim to set up two elite police squads dedicated to battling organised and narcotics crimes has been realised. Even before Sting was formed, the Narcotics Department made great progress in crippling drug distribution lines.

"We believe that with the newly-formed elite squad, the Narcotics Department will record more successes this year, not only in arresting small fish but drug syndicate ikan jerung (sharks) as well."

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, and Narcotics Department director, Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim, were among those present at the launch.

Noor Rashid said Sting required a boost in technology and equipment to battle on par with its "enemies".

Among others, the department needed a technological upgrade and faster vehicles to keep up with suspects who used high-powered vehicles.

Noor Rashid said RM9 million had been requested from the government.

"Drug suspects are using cars like Mercedes Benz and BMWs while we are using Proton Wajas which are no match at all for high-powered cars."

Noor Rashid said if approved, RM4 million would be spent on uniforms, training and narcotics enforcement with RM1 million to buy communications equipment.

The squad comprises 61 high-ranking officers and 139 personnel. Sting would focus their operations on detecting drug syndicates operating in and out of the country through land and sea channels as well as airports.

"Sting personnel will undergo mental and physical training locally and abroad, including in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United States," Noor Rashid said.

They must be able to zoom in on drug distribution spots and carry out their duties without fear or favour, he added.

Personnel will be armed with state-of-the-art weapons and equipment, including sniper rifles, sub-machine guns, night vision goggles, body armour, gas masks and breathing apparatus.

On the abuse of Ketum leaves by drug addicts, Zahid said the ministry's legal advisers, with the assistance of the Attorney-General's Chambers, were studying Thailand's drugs laws against ketum abusers and suppliers.

On the Immigration Department's 6P integrated operation against illegal immigrants launched last week, Zahid said more than 3,000 illegals of various nationalities had been nabbed, with 2,544 deported so far.

In the nationwide crackdown against illegal immigrants, checks were conducted on 11,461 foreigners, Zahid said.

Members of the newly-formed Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (Sting) at the unit's launch at the Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.