'Cloud seeding in catchment areas will go on'

'Cloud seeding in catchment areas will go on'

'Cloud seeding in catchment areas will go on'

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

04 April 2014| last updated at 12:42AM
By KALAVAANI KARUPIAH AND MASTURA YUSOFF | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: EVEN though there has been steady rainfall in recent days, it  has not fallen over the required water catchment areas, resulting in the need to extend water rationing.

Meteorological Department's atmospheric science and cloud seeding division director, Azhar Ishak, said the cloud-seeding operation would be continued in an effort to increase the water levels in dams in Selangor.

"We will continue to carry out the cloud seeding operation until we get further directives.

"At the same time, the process can only be conducted if there are enough clouds in the catchment areas surrounding the seven dams.

"Basically, there is no other method to ensure that cloud seeding results in more precise rainfall. All we need are sufficient clouds to conduct the operation."

Department of Irrigation and Drainage's water resources and hydrology director, Datuk Hanapi Mohamad Noor, said though the rainwater was not sufficient in the catchment areas, it had helped raise the water levels in the dams.

"Take for example, the Sungai Selangor dam. Generally, the water level in this dam drops by an average of 0.2m daily without any rainfall. The dam also releases water into Sungai Selangor and three other water treatment plants, which are located downstream of the dam, in Rasah, Kampung Timah and Rantau Panjang."

Hanapi said if rain did not fall in the dam catchment area but instead downstream of the dam, it would still help raise the water level in Sungai Selangor through other river tributaries such as Sungai Batang Kali, Sungai Ulu Yam, Sungai Serendah and Sungai Rawang.

Hanapi said additional water could be sourced from underground by constructing tube wells.

"Tube wells can supply underground water between half and one million litres per day, which can benefit about 5,000 people daily.

"If more underground tube wells can be constructed, preferably near the water treatment plants, then there will be more water supply available from the rivers."

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd's corporate communications and public affairs assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred said the water crisis had forced it to continue the water rationing exercise even though the third phase of the exercise was slated to end this month.

"We will continue our efforts until we get the stop notice from the Selangor government."

The ongoing water crisis has taken a turn for the worse, with more than 2.2 million consumers affected in the latest phase, bringing the total number of those affected to 5.9 million in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

The water rationing is expected to continue until the end of this month and may be extended if the situation worsens. Additional reporting by Nikita Nawawi

Arshad Hassan, 58, collecting rainwater at his home in Taman Assam Mara, Taiping yesterday. The Perak Water Board has started a two-week water rationing exercise from yesterday until April 16 in Taiping and Kamunting. Pic by Muhaizan Yahya

PM in Vietnam to boost ties, trade

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

04 April 2014| last updated at 12:33AM

This is his first official visit to Vietnam, at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, since taking office as prime minister in 2009.

Joining him were Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Today, Najib, accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, will be accorded an official welcoming ceremony at the Vietnamese Presidential Palace here.

He will later hold a meeting with his counterpart, where he is expected to discuss a host of issues and to also thank the Vietnamese government for its support in the search and recovery effort of flight MH370, followed by a bilateral meeting.

Afterwards, Najib is also expected to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on an agricultural collaboration between the two countries before performing Friday prayers at the Al Noor mosque.

He is scheduled to make courtesy calls to Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and Communist Party of Vietnam Secretary-General Nguyen Phu Trong before wrapping up the first day by attending a dinner with Malaysian expats.

Tomorrow, the prime minister will hold a breakfast meeting with Malaysian and Vietnamese business communities before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.


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Maid to know fate on April 7

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

04 April 2014| last updated at 12:08AM

Judge Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim fixed the date yesterday at the end of the trial after hearing submissions from deputy public prosecutor Julia Ibrahim and defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

Wilfrida was charged with the murder of 60-year-old Yeap Seok Pen, at the latter's house in Kampung Chabang Empat Tok Uban, Pasir Mas between 11am and 12.30pm on Dec 7, 2010.

The accused, from East Nusa Tenggara, was charged under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the death sentence upon conviction.

Earlier in the proceeding, the court was told that there was a possibility that Wilfrida had not attained the age of 18 at the time of the incident.

Witness Datuk Dr Zahari Noor, a forensic consultant and head of the department at the Penang Hospital, testified that he made the conclusion after examining the accused with his team on Oct 29, last year.

Dr Zahari, the defence's fourth witness, said he was earlier asked by the Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital here to form a team for the task.

"A five-man team was formed to conduct the examination, with me leading the group.

"The other members were two radiologists, a dental specialist and a paediatrician.

"I concluded at the end of the examination that she was no more than 21 years old on the day we checked her," he said.

Asked by Shafee, Dr Zahari said his finding was made based on dental, X-ray and physical examinations on Wilfrida and after consulting the other team members.

When shown a photocopy of the passport which stated Wilfrida's birth date as June 8, 1989 and her baptism card which stated her birth date as Oct 12, 1993, Dr Zahari said he was inclined to accept the date on the baptism card as her actual date of birth.

Two other witnesses, the chief pastor of Gereja Roh Kudus Halilulik in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, Febronius Fenatsaid and Wilfrida's uncle, Carnelius Kornelis Bere Mau also gave their evidences.

Police officers escorting Wilfrida Soik at the High Court. She is charged with the murder of her employer Yeap Seok Pen. Pic by Shahuri Awang

Karpal's 'quit move a public mockery'

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

04 April 2014| last updated at 12:11AM

Former DAP leader Tan Tuan Tat said the Bukit Gelugor member of Parliament has probably forgotten or is ignorant of the fact that Registrar of Societies (RoS) has yet to recognise the party's central executive committee election last year.

"Until the investigation by RoS is over, Karpal's position as chairman and Lim Guan Eng's position as secretary-general is invalid," said Tan during a press conference.

He said RoS had announced that it would conduct an investigation into the election. DAP leaders and members had expressed worry over the possibility of the party being de-registered.

"We wonder to whom did Karpal Singh tendered his latter of resignation? We all know legally there is no secretary-general after the party's national election on Dec 15, 2012."

He also urged DAP's national organising secretary Anthony Loke Siew Fook to make a sworn statement under oath that the 500 letters of non-attendance given to RoS recently were not fake.

"I dare the forensic department to check the authenticity of the 500 letters. We are of the considered opinion that the genuineness of the 500 letters is in doubt."


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Bright future for returning talent, says Wahid

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

04 April 2014| last updated at 12:41AM

This, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar, would enable them to fulfil their professional aspirations as well as contribute towards Malaysia's transformation.

"The presence of so many corporate leaders from Malaysia to engage with Malaysian talent here is testimony to the demand for top talent in Malaysia and should provide confidence to our talent of a great future in building their career in Malaysia," he said during a luncheon with Malaysian professionals and students in the UK organised by Graduan and the United Kingdom and Eire Council of Malaysian Students recently.

He elaborated on the strength and sustainability of the Malaysian economy, reinforcing the point of a bright future for returning Malaysian talent.

Wahid also spoke at professional networking sessions organised by Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) at the Chartered Accountant Hall and Lancaster London Hotel, attended by more than 100 Malaysian professionals.

Corporate leaders, including Employees Provident Fund chief investment officer Mohamad Nasir Ab Latif, Deloitte Malaysia executive director Nizar Najib and Petronas' vice-president of Treasury Nuraini Ismail, shared the opportunities available for them to return and advance their careers in Malaysia.

TalentCorp also briefed the professionals on the revisions to the Returning Expert Programme, slated to take effect middle of this month.

Search operation resumes

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

04 April 2014| last updated at 12:18AM

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has determined a search area of about 223,000 sq km, 1,680km west-northwest of here.

Eight military planes took part in yesterday's evolution, one of which was tasked with dropping self-locating datum marker buoys within the search area.

The first aircraft departed for the search area at 6am.

A total of nine ships were also deployed to the search area.

The weather yesterday was fair, with visibility up to 10km. The southern part, however, experienced some isolated showers.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau continues to refine the area.

The aircraft entered the search area based on continuing groundbreaking and multidisciplinary technical analysis of satellite communications and aircraft performance, passed from the international air crash investigative team, comprising analysts from Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia.