Drunk held for smashing 7 ATMs in Ipoh

Drunk held for smashing 7 ATMs in Ipoh

Drunk held for smashing 7 ATMs in Ipoh

Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:01 AM PST

13 January 2014| last updated at 11:18PM
By AUDREY DERMAWAN | audreymd@nst.com.my

IPOH: A DRUNK man caused a stir when he started smashing the display panels of seven automated teller machines at a bank in Menglembu here on Saturday night.

The incident happened about 10.10pm when the 34-year-old suspect was attempting to withdraw money from the machines.

Ipoh district police chief Assistant Commissioner Sum Chang Keong said initial investigations showed the suspect became agitated after one of the machines swallowed his ATM card.

"At the time of the incident, he was drunk."

Sum said a police team from the Menglembu station, who was informed of the incident, rushed to the scene to arrest the suspect.

"We also seized a knife at the scene," he said, adding the suspect had been detained for investigations.

Seven ATMs in Menglembu were damaged on Saturday.

Policemen apprehending the suspect (wearing white) near a bank in Menglembu, Ipoh, on Saturday.

51 Perak traders fined under Op Harga II

Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

13 January 2014| last updated at 11:30PM

  Its deputy director, Mohd Khalis Kasim, said the traders were slapped with fines for  offences under the Price Control and Anti Profiteering Act 2011 and the Weights and Measures Act 1972, between Jan 1 and yesterday.
   
    He said consumers in the state who wanted to make complaints could contact the DTCC office at 05-2493 403, the toll-free line 1 800 88 6800 or    e-mail to e-aduan@kpdnkk.gov.my or contact the nearest DTCC office.
 

More flock to farmers' market

Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

13 January 2014| last updated at 11:29PM
By T.N. ALAGESH | news@nst.com.my

 KUANTAN: THE Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority's (Fama) "Jimat Belanja Dapur" (Save On Kitchen Expenses) campaign launched last week proved to be a win-win situation for  "Pasar Tani Mega" operators and consumers here.

While  he people enjoy lower rates for  items sold under the dark-blue canopies at the farmers' market, the operators had  received a steady stream of customers who made a beeline since early morning to buy fresh vegetables, meat and other produce.

  To make it convenient for customers, some operators placed the produce, such as onions and chillies, in small plastic containers while others used plastic packets with price tags.

  Since the prices at the weekly open-air market were far cheaper than those at hypermarkets and grocery stores, many people bought extra vegetables, fish and chicken as they could store the perishable goods in the fridge.

  Housewife Maimunah Samim said the farmers' market was her preferred destination as the items sold were fresh  from the farms and seldom contaminated with pesticides.

  The 32-year-old from Indera Mahkota here said she only went to the wet market in Jalan Tun Ismail  when  items were not available at the farmers' market.

  "However, that seldom happens as I come here early and get to pick the fresh ones. With Fama's campaign, essential items are offered at cheaper prices.

  "Although some people claim that several items were experiencing shortages due to the monsoon season,  all of the items  available here are sold at cheaper prices."

  Trader Ahmad Rusdi, 44, said  some traders, who had a  supply of vegetables from their own farms, had attracted to lower the prices further and this had lured in more customers.

  A spokesperson from Fama said it  planned to introduce more pasar tani in housing areas. Pahang  offers 513 pasar tani, selling more than 22 selected items.

Operators at the farmers' market receive a steady stream of customers as they look for bargains because of the rising cost of fish and fresh goods. Pic by Luqman Hakim Zubir

PM: Flood mitigation a priority

Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

 KEMAMAN: THE government is considering pumping money into flood-mitigation projects in several states that are periodically flooded.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said aside from this project, aimed at giving the people a better life, the government was fast rebuilding roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other facilities that were destroyed or damaged by the floods.
Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Johor were badly hit by the first wave of the year-end floods last year, which dispalced 50,000 people.

"We are looking at the possibility of carrying out urgent flood mitigation projects.

"These projects are costly ... (a flood mitigation project) in Kemaman for example, will cost RM480 million and (one) in Kuantan will cost RM300 million.

"This does not include the cost of rebuilding destroyed roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other facilities. If we total all these up, the cost will be billions of ringgit," Najib said.  

Najib, who is also finance minister, said although the projects were costly, the government would  consider them as the rakyat was Umno's and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government's priority.

Najib said it was thus important to transform the nation's economy so that big and costly undertakings that benefited the rakyat, including flood mitigation projects, could be carried out.

"We have to transform the nation's economy so that when it becomes  strong, the increased income could be channelled back to the rakyat for projects like these," he said adding  that the government's policies were on the right track towards a better economy and ensuring the well-being of the rakyat.

He criticised the opposition for sowing negative ideas about Umno and BN in the rakyat's mind, adding that it was as though they had come forward to help those in need.

"Umno's philosophy is to give priority to the rakyat. Who has been at their side in good and bad times? Who has been helping the rakyat? Who else if not Umno and the BN government. Don't try to fool the rakyat (by) going down once or twice (to make appearances) during the floods and then highlighting it on Facebook to claim that they are championing the rakyat.

"From start to finish, it was Umno and BN who helped the rakyat. Our leaders were there to assist, from (providing) food aid, boats, volunteers ... they left the (Umno) general assembly to be with the rakyat who were having a hard time."

He said  the government was fair in assisting the people during the floods.

"It doesn't matter whether or not they support us or whether or not (we) won in the area or not, we assisted everyone. This is because the value of humanity is higher than political considerations. This is our government," he said to  15,000 people who attended the flood assistance presentation ceremony at Padang Astaka in Chukai, here, yesterday.

During the ceremony, 600 families who were affected by the floods last month received household items, apart from cash assistance ranging from RM500 to RM1,500 from the state government, and RM500 from the Federal government.

Present at the ceremony were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and Communication and Multimedia Minister who is also the Kemaman member of Parliament Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

 Najib said the kind of assistance given to flood victims which  included household items like LCD television sets, refrigerators, gas stoves and mattresses was unprecedented.

"I believe that this assistance will alleviate the burden of the flood victims and I hope that after this we can give out more assistance like this."

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak presenting household items and cash assistance to 600 families affected by the floods during the flood assistance presentation ceremony at Padang Astaka in Kemaman, Terengganu, yesterday. Pic by Yusmaizi Karim

Farmers are too stubborn, says officer

Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

13 January 2014| last updated at 11:35PM

Cameron Highlands district officer Datuk Ahmad Daud said this had been their attitude all along.

"Yes, we did receive a number of reports on illegal land clearing in the area (Sungai Bertam) and action will be taken soon."

Ahmad said the farmers needed to be relocated as the river had to be deepened and widened to prevent a recurrence of the Oct 23 flash floods that claimed three lives.

"The project must proceed smoothly without any interference from the farmers."

He denied that approvals had been given to the farmers to clear the river reserve for cultivation until March, as claimed by Bertam Valley residents association chairman Wong Fook Chai.

"No such thing. The project must go on without any hurdles."

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced in the 2014 Budget that RM40 million had been set aside for the deepening and widening of the river.

Malaysia Nature Society president Professor Maketab Mohamed said nothing had changed since the Oct 23 incident.

"As far as we are concerned, land clearing is going on unabated, even after the incident.

"Farming continues within the buffer zones of the river and the authorities just close their eyes."

He said they should do their jobs instead of being defensive.

A Bertam Valley resident, who did not want to be named, said enforcement against illegal land settlers and foreign workers left much to be desired.

"I can remember only one operation against illegal workers mounted by the Immigration Department last year. There was none after that."

Liew elected Johor DAP chief

Posted: 12 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

13 January 2014| last updated at 11:26PM

The Skudai assemblyman has helmed Johor DAP since 2005.

The results matched the wishes of the DAP central leadership, as Liew's candidacy was seen by many to have been endorsed by party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and his father, Lim Kit Siang.

Up for grabs were 15 state party committee positions, which were contested by 23 candidates. Only 303 out of the 528 delegates were present to cast their votes.

Liew secured 185 votes, ranking 14th in the 15-member committee, while Dr Boo ranked 10th, garnering 219 votes.

The 15 elected state committee members later cast their votes again for the state committee line-up, including for the post of chairman, which was won by Liew.

Former Johor DAP deputy chairman Norman Fernandez did not secure another term in the state committee. In his place, S. Ramakrishnan was voted in.

The two new elected vice-chairmen are Ahmad Ton and Tan Chen Choon.

In a press conference later, Liew said he wanted to run an inclusive party and prove that there were no factions in the state leadership.

He thanked Dr Boo and his committee for their past contributions, noting that many previous committee members were re-elected.

"Dr Boo still plays a meaningful role in the new committee. We will continue to support him as the opposition leader of the state assembly," he said.

To a question, he said him being ranked 14th would not pose a problem, as the party practised collective leadership.

He also refuted claims that he was parachuted in to contest the post or that he was an outsider, saying that he is a Malaysian currently residing in Kluang.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (centre) with former Johor DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau (right) and newly elected chairman Liew Chin Tong at the Johor DAP convention in Batu Pahat yesterday. Pic by Syarafiq Abd Samad