RM4m in drugs seized

RM4m in drugs seized

RM4m in drugs seized

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

20 February 2014| last updated at 12:16AM
By PREDEEP NAMBIAR | predeep@nst.com.my

POLICE have crippled the largest drug syndicate in the state with the discovery of a heroin processing lab at a condominium in Solok Gangsa here, and seizure of RM4 million worth of drugs.

In the two-day raid beginning Sunday, an elite federal narcotics team, together with their state counterparts, seized nearly 250kg of drugs, mostly heroin and drug based.

They also seized 69 Erimin-5 tablets, 18gm of syabu, four cars, a scooter, jewellery, watches, RM16,593 and Chinese renminbi $2,900 in cash.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin said four people, including a China national, aged between 28 and 42, were arrested in two separate raids here.

"One of the suspects took us to the drug lab in the condominium where we found the drugs. It is by far the largest seizure from Penang this year," he said at a press conference at the state police contingent headquarters here yesterday.
He said this was the third success of the 20-men elite Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotic Group (Sting) since its formation three weeks ago.

He said the police had kept watch on the syndicate for the past year following a public tip-off.

In the first raid, police nabbed the ring-leaders, a husband and wife, at a café in Tanjung Tokong, and found 18gm of syabu, 137gm  of heroin and 69 Erimin-5 pills on them.

It led to the capture of the remaining members -- a local man and a woman Chinese national -- at a shop in Pulau Tikus with 34gm of heroin on them.

Their arrests then led to the discovery of 73.4kg of heroin, 9.07kg of heroin No.4,  and 163.9kg of caffeine powder at the lab in the condominium in Solok Gangsa.

Datuk Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin (second from right) showing the drug-making paraphernalia seized from a lab in Solok Gangsa, Penang yesterday. Pic by Muhammad Mikail Ong

A.R. Rahman concert in April to do show in KL

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

20 February 2014| last updated at 12:08AM
By DENNIS CHUA | news@nst.com.my

THE Mozart of Madras, multiple award-winner Indian composer A.R. Rahman, will   entertain Malaysian fans on April 26.

 His 7.30pm showcase at Stadium Merdeka here is titled "A.R. Rahman Infinite Love In Concert".

 It is supported by Malaysia Major Events, a division of the Malaysia Convention And Exhibition Bureau of the Tourism And Culture Ministry.

 Rahman, who won two Oscars for the score of the film Slumdog Millionaire promises a sound and light extravaganza.

 "I haven't performed in Malaysia for a while and the last time I was in Kuala Lumpur was  in 2003, where I performed for the  Unity Of Light Concert.

 "I'm very excited to be back and I look forward to perform my latest songs for Malaysians," he said at a press conference at Double Tree Hilton, Jalan Ampang.

 The three-hour concert is organised by DML Live.

 Rahman will perform with his 78-piece ensemble a medley of his popular songs in Tamil and Hindi.

 These include songs from the upcoming Bollywood film, Highway.

 The singers who will join Rahman include Mohit Chauhan, Javed Ali, Neeti Mohan and Shweta Pandit.

 Rahman will also perform Qawwali devotional music and  electronic dance music.

 DML chief executive officer Keerthivasan Subramaniam said: "Music brings people across the world closer and Rahman has done so with his superb music."

 Malaysia Major Events chairman Datuk Ariffin Anthony said: "This concert complements our initiatives for Visit Malaysia Year 2014."

 The concert's creative architects Rapport Global Events' chairman Deepak Gattani said it was  delighted to bring Rahman back for a  concert and told fans to "expect the unexpected".

 Rahman, 47, from Chennai, has won two Grammys, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe and 15 Filmfare Awards.

 He sold more than 150 million copies of his works, comprising 100 film soundtracks and albums in half a dozen languages.

 Rahman said his concert's title comes from his 2011 song Infinite Love.

 "It is about the power of love in changing lives, and the song's video shows four children who demonstrate this."

 Rahman has just finished  the soundtrack of a new Disney movie Million Dollar Arm.

 The press conference was also attended by Malaysia Convention And Exhibition Bureau marketing, corporate and communications general manager Intan Hyriatee Mohd Zawai.

 For more information of the concert, visit www.dmlive.com.

Oscar-winner A.R. Rahman will perform a medley of his Tamil and Hindi songs. Pic by Syaharim Abidin

Negri's 41 days to disaster phase

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

20 February 2014| last updated at 12:02AM
By SUKHBIR CHEEMA | sukhbir@nst.com.my

SEREMBAN: Forty-ONE days was the deadline given by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan for  state authorities to act before the water shortage problem  affecting 7,000 households in Seremban hits 200,000 households.

The dry spell has wreaked havoc as Sungai Batang Benar, which supplied 31 million of litres of water to the treatment plant servicing the 7,000 households, has dried up.

This has forced the National Security Council (NSC) to activate the disaster operations rooms four days ago.

"This is a natural disaster and we need to take it seriously," Mohamad said, adding that the taps had run dry in parts of Mambau, Taman Cenderawasih and Taman Kelab Tuanku, including parts of Bandar Baru Sendayan and Rasah.

"The water shortage problem could worsen, with 200,000 households possibly affected if the state government is unable to find contingency plans to avert the situation within 41 days."

Mohamad said the old pipes from the Kuala Sawah treatment plant had to be reactivated to channel water to the affected areas as they were not in the piping range of the Sungai Terip Dam and its water treatment plant, which supplied water to most parts of Seremban.

"We have deployed 35 water tanks, 40 static tanks and 11 water tankers to areas in Sendayan, Mambau and Rasah as Sungai Batang Benar in Pantai has gone dry."

He said this after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting at Wisma Negeri here yesterday.

On cloud seeding, Mohamad said strong winds had caused the postponement of the exercise.

"The state Mineral and Geoscience Department has instead been directed to look for underground water reservoirs."

Negri Sembilan NSC secretary Tajul Ariffin Muhammad said the disaster operations rooms would monitor the dry spell and water shortage problem.

"We have yet to enter the disaster phase but we will declare a state of emergency should the situation reach a critical phase.

"For now, the water levels in the dams have yet to drop to critical levels," Tajul said, adding that a "disaster" status would be declared only if the water level continued to record low levels for more than three months.

He said the council would change the status to "dangerous" if there were no improvements three months after declaring a state of "disaster".

The water levels at all six dams in the state are above the critical levels, with the Kelinchi Dam being the lowest at 199.51m (critical level 198.30m) , followed by Gemencheh Dam at 100m (critical level 98m), Sungai Terip Dam at 100.64m (critical level 94.60m), Sungai Beringin and Ulu Sepri Dams at 135m respectively (critical levels 131.75m and 127.20m) and Talang Dam at 144.81m (critical level 140.50m).

Ayub Ujang, 48, measuring the water level in Sungai Batang Benar, in Jalan Pantai, Seremban, yesterday. The water level has been dropping during the prolonged drought that has hit many parts of the country. Pic by Dzulkeffli Mustapha

768 development projects deferred over water supply

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

20 February 2014| last updated at 11:56PM

A commission spokesman said of the figure, 717 applications were received between January 2012 and December last year, while 51 applications were received last month.

"We have been postponing the approvals for water supply for new projects in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya since January 2012," he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

He said the decision was due to low water reserves at dams and the uncertainty at the Langat 2 water treatment plant project.

He said the commission, however, would consider approving application for selected projects, that included religious buildings, hospitals, schools, educational institutions and low-cost housing.

"We will also give our consideration for projects that are partially completed and those requiring fewer than 45.460 litres water per day."

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) corporate communications and public affairs assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred said additional water supply was needed to support new development projects.

"Until we have sufficient supply, we have to delay the approval to supply water for a number of projects."

She said the move was supported by the commission.

"Ensuring adequate water is under the purview of the state government and Syabas only distributes the supply. As demand is constantly increasing at 3.5 per cent annually, alternative sources must be created.

"Syabas has, for years, highlighted that the water supply is insufficient to support even the current demand. The reserve margin is below one per cent, which is alarming.

"Klang Valley is the nerve centre of the country and it's understandable that a lot of development projects take place here.

"Hence, it is obvious that the demand here will increase rapidly."

A Selangor Menteri Besar Incorporated spokesman said in a meeting with the commission a few months ago, the commission had agreed to review the numbers.

"In the meeting, the commission agreed to approve applications for water supply for some 400 projects in the state.

"We had also issued indemnity letters to the commission to ensure guaranteed sufficient water supply for the projects."

Siti Nurzahirah Zulkufli, 7, carrying bottles of clean water taken from a Syabas water tanker. Syabas sent the tanker after Flat Taman Sinaran Balakong Cheras in Kuala Lumpur experienced water disruption for nine days. Pic by Effendy Rashid

BH, Bank Rakyat sign MoU

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

20 February 2014| last updated at 11:29PM

Both signed a memorandum of understanding to organise "Seminar Didik Rakyat 2014" for students sitting major examinations this year.

BH group editor Mahfar Ali said the newspaper would work with Yayasan Bank Rakyat to educate young minds.

"More than 10,000 students join our free education seminars every year before they sit their examinations.

"We have received positive feedback from parents and students about our seminars.

"The good response and feedback push us to continue giving back to students and the society."

Present at the MOU signing was Bank Rakyat chairman Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik, New Straits Times Press group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid, Yayasan Bank Rakyat board of trustees member Datuk Paduka Hanapi Sulaiman and Yayasan Bank Rakyat general manager Norasyikin Shaharuddin.

BH has collaborated with Yayasan Bank Rakyat for 11 years in the same programme.

This year, "Seminar Didik Rakyat" will be held in 37 locations.

'Berita Harian' group editor Mahfar Ali (second from right) and Bank Rakyat chairman Tan Sri Sabbaruddin Chik (left) at the signing of the memorandum of understanding in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. With them are NSTP group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid (right) and Yayasan Bank Rakyat general manager Norasyikin Shaharuddin. Pic by Muunira Abdul Ghani

Muhyiddin arrives in Phnom Penh

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 08:01 AM PST

20 February 2014| last updated at 11:31PM

 DEPUTY Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin arrived here yesterday on his first official visit to Cambodia.

He arrived at the Phnom Penh International Airport at 7pm (8pm Malaysian time) last night, and was greeted by Cambodian Education, Youth and Sports Minister Dr Hang Chuon Naron.

Present to welcome Muhyiddin were Foreign Affairs Ministry deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim, Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia, Raszlan Abdul Rashid, and embassy staff.

The deputy prime minister then proceeded to Sofitel Phnom Penh where he was greeted by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron and several Malaysian expatriates residing here.

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Hun Sen, as well as one of the latter's six deputies, Sok An, today.

Muhyiddin is also slated to attend a bilateral meeting with Hang before proceeding to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

He is scheduled to chair a meeting with another Cambodian deputy prime minister, Keat Chhon, who is also finance and economic adviser to the Cambodian prime minister.

The meeting will explore new avenues to boost trade activities and relations between both countries. Bernama

Cambodian and Malaysian officials greeting Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his arrival yesterday. Bernama pic