Pandas to arrive at end of May

Pandas to arrive at end of May

Pandas to arrive at end of May

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

12 April 2014| last updated at 12:28AM
By SHAMINI ANN | news@nst.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: MALAYSIANS will have to wait a while longer to see the Giant Pandas, Fu Wa and Feng Yi, in Zoo Negara.

China has decided to postpone the transfer of the pandas from the Sichuan conservation centre to Zoo Negara from the scheduled April 15 date to the end of May, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

Speaking to the media here yesterday, Palanivel said his deputy, Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit, had met with Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang yesterday to discuss the matter.

Palanivel said Dr Huang had raised concerns about sensitivity from citizens of China as well as Malaysia due to the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 incident and as a result, chose the end of May as a suitable timeframe.

The jetliner, whose flight path ended in the Indian Ocean, was carrying 153 Chinese passengers from its 227 passenger-total when it disappeared on March 8.

"The Chinese are hoping that we find the (aircraft's) black box first.

"However, they would still be sending the pandas at the end of May," Palanivel said.

The minister said he had explained the issue at yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

The pandas, a gift from China to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic bilateral relations between the two countries this year, came amidst a tense time for both countries as the search-and-rescue for the missing jetliner has yielded no physical results thus far.

Meanwhile, Malaysia special envoy to China, Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, said Malaysia respected the sadness felt by the next of kin of Chinese passengers aboard MH370 and hoped that there would be a closure.

"During this period of grief and difficulty, it is certainly a wrong time for the pandas to arrive here as it will involve the sending off ceremony by the Chinese side and a welcoming ceremony by the Malaysian side.

"Both events are supposed to be held in a good atmosphere. Hence, the Chinese government has suggested to postpone the date to a better timing, which will most likely be before the official visit of our prime minister to China," he said.

Ong said the good relationship between the two countries remained unchanged.

In a statement released by the ministry, the end of May also happened to be more significant for the arrivals of the pandas.

The date would mark exactly 40 years since China and Malaysia established diplomatic relations, when the late prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, visited China in 1974.

The agreement to send the pandas over to Malaysia was signed in 2012 between the Wildlife and National Parks Department and the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

The special enclosure to house Giant Pandas, Fu Wa and Feng Yi, for the exhibition at Zoo Negara, Hulu Kelang. Pic by Salhani Ibrahim

4 cops injured in separate incidents

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

12 April 2014| last updated at 12:30AM
By HANI SHAMIRA SHAHRUDIN AND ROSHIDI ABU SAMAH | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: TWO pursuing policemen were shot and seriously injured  by one of  two fleeing assailants at Taman Lembah Maju, Ampang here yesterday.

In the 10.30am incident, Lance Corporal Lional Richard Jr, 26, and Constable ZullFadzly Atlah, 28, who were on patrol, spotted two men seated on a motorcycle and behaving suspiciously near a drain.

Upon confronting the duo, the suspects abandoned their motorcycle and fled on foot.

"One of the policemen chased them and tugged at the shirt of one of them. The man had the tattoo of a tiger on his back," said Selangor deputy police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaffar.

He said the suspect managed to evade arrest and ran away, while the other assailant fired two shots at the policemen, one hitting the lance corporal in the abdomen and the other shot hitting the constable below his abdomen.

"Lional and Zullfadzly were rushed to the Ampang Hospital. Lional is expected to undergo a surgery to remove the two bullets from his stomach."

Lional has been in the force for six years and Zullfadzly, four. They are attached with the Pandan Indah police station.

Rahim said checks on the motorcycle revealed that it used a false registration number and was reported stolen last year.

"We believe the suspects used a revolver and we have come up with one of the suspect's photofit," he said, adding that the photofit had been circulated within the force and roadblocks were set up to track them down.

He said the two men in their 30s were believed to be accomplices waiting to commit crime at the area and the tiger tattoo might symbolise a certain gang.

He said the duo were armed and considered dangerous, and cautioned the public to be wary.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said they would go all-out in their hunt for the two suspects.

"We have some leads on the suspects," he said after visiting the two policemen at the Ampang Hospital.

He advised all policemen to exercise greater care while on duty, especially in areas known for undesirable activities.

"We do not know when such disasters will strike."

In Malacca, two policemen were injured after their car hit a road curb and turned turtle while chasing three men in a car yesterday.

In the 1.25am incident at a traffic light junction near Taman Ciptaco in Jalan Tun Razak, Lance Corporal Muhamad Hanif Hashim, 27, suffered injuries to his elbow while Corporal Mohd Tarmizee Wan Dolah, 37, suffered head injuries.

Melaka Tengah police chief Assistant Commissioner Salehhudin Abd Rahman said the policemen had earlier spotted a green Proton Wira car without a registration number near Taman Muzaffar Shah, Ayer Keroh, and ordered it to stop for inspection. The driver of the car, instead, sped off towards the city centre, which led to the high-speed chase.

"Upon arriving at the traffic light junction, the driver of the Proton Wira made an abrupt left turn towards Taman Ciptaco with the policemen in hot pursuit.

"Hanif, however, lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the road curb while attempting the same turn."

Salehhudin said the injured policemen were sent to the hospital by their colleagues who arrived at the scene afterwards. Additional reporting by Kelly Koh

Datuk Abdul Rahim Jaafar with the photofit of one of the two suspects who shot two policemen at Taman Lembah Maju, Ampang yesterday

Esscom: We do not want traitors

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

12 April 2014| last updated at 12:33AM
By ROY GOH AND KRISTY INUS | news@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: SOME 527 immigrants were rounded up yesterday from an island village near a resort where two foreign women were kidnapped by an armed group in Semporna last week.

The group was believed to have stayed at Kampung Labuan Haji on Pulau Bum Bum before they struck at the resort about four kilometres from Semporna town on March 2.

Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek said the immigrants, including 287 women, were rounded up during an integrated Op Gasak 6.

The Esscom-led operation involving the police, Armed Forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Immigration Department lasted for about four hours from 4am.

All of them were taken to a district police station where they were screened by various agencies, with two tested positive for drugs.

"In the wake of the latest kidnapping case, we will focus on efforts to clear Semporna of illegal immigrants," he said referring to the kidnapping of tourist Gao Hua Yuan, 29, from China, and Marcy Dayawan, 40, from the Phillipines.

The two were grabbed from the Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort, a popular tourist attraction built over a reef near Pulau Bum Bum, the island of more than 30 villages with a population of about 30,000.

Since Op Gasak was launched in November, a total of 852 illegal immigrants had been rounded up.

Mohammad urged community leaders to promptly report to the authorities if they have any information about illegal immigrants or suspicious characters in their villages.

"We do not want traitors in our midst such as those who harbour criminals or illegal immigrants," he said, adding that action will be taken against locals found to be in cahoots with the culprits.

Mohammad said Esscom will increase an additional 30 per cent of their assets to be deployed in the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone which covers 10 coastal districts.

A police source, meanwhile, said investigations into the  case revealed that the kidnappers had sought refuge at Kampung Labuan Haji, before striking at the resort.

"We believe that they gained inside help because they seemed to know certain information prior to kidnapping the women," he said.

The officer also said a rope that was placed around the resort to deter boats from coming close as it would get entangled with the propellers was opened at one end.

"This was to facilitate delivery of construction materials by suppliers to an additional building being built opposite Block F where the Chinese tourist had stayed," he said adding the living quarters for the Filipina resort staff was also not too far away.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had revealed the two hostages were likely to be somewhere in the southern Philippines and that a group had demanded for a 500 million peso (RM36.4 million) ransom for their release.

Meanwhile, Esscom is co-operating with Filipino security forces for the release of the two kidnapped victims,

Mohammad, however, said Esscom could not issue any other information for  fear that it could jeopardise efforts to free the victims.

"At present, the victim is still in a safe condition and our officer is still co-operating with the Filipino security forces to undertake efforts for the release of the victims."

One of the 527 illegal immigrants arrested one nautical mile away from the south of Pulau Timba-Timba, Semporna. Pic courtesy of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency

Abu Dhabi hypermart chain to open 6 outlets

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

12 April 2014| last updated at 12:50AM
By M. HAMZAH JAMALUDIN | news@nst.com.my

DUBAI: MALAYSIANS will get another option to shop for reasonably-priced items when the Abu Dhabi-based Lulu International Group opens its hypermarkets in Malaysia under a collaboration with Felda.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said under the joint venture, Lulu Group would open its first hypermarket in Kuala Lumpur this year before unveiling another five at different locations in the next few years.

He said the group had agreed to invest US$200 million (RM647 million) on its hypermarkets in Malaysia.

"They will also help market more Malaysian products at their hypermarkets, including those produced by our small-and medium-sized industries and Felda.

"It is, indeed, a good opportunity for us as Lulu International is the biggest operator of hypermarkets chain in the region with an annual turnover of more than US$5 billion (RM16.2 billion)," Muhyiddin said after visiting a Lulu hypermarket here yesterday.

Present were Lulu International Group executive director Ashraf Ali M.A. and director Salim M.A. Lulu Group has more than 100 hypermarkets in the Middle East and one in Kerala, India.

Muhyiddin said the group had also agreed to sign contract farming deals with local farmers and entrepreneurs to help supply fresh vegetables and fruits to their hypermarkets.

"They are interested to buy in bulk highlands vegetables and we may promote the produce from Cameron Highlands (Pahang) and Kundasang (Sabah)," said Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin established a personal relationship with Lulu Group founder, Yousuf Ali M.A., when he helped promote Malaysian products in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during his tenure as  Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister.

Muhyiddin said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) would help identify and promote local fruits and vegetables while Malaysia Airlines  would be asked to provide competitive freight services to transport the perishable items to the Middle East.

"Fama will also open more collection centres to help buy fruits and vegetables from our farmers and smallholders."

Asked whether the opening of the new hypermarkets would  affect the existing retail and wholesale industries, Muhyiddin said the government had always promoted healthy competition as this would eventually benefit the people with better choices at reasonable prices. He said Lulu hypermarkets would  would only sell halal products.
 

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin looking at a coffee product from Malaysia that is on sale at a Lulu hypermarket in Dubai yesterday. Bernama pic

'Focus on economic cooperation'

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

12 April 2014| last updated at 12:48AM

Al Ghurair Investment LLC vice-president Essa Al Ghurair said  Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) should lead the way since they were well-respected among  Muslim nations.

"Both countries are also strategically located and can act as the gateway to the respective regions.

"The chamber of commerce in both countries should play a more effective role for this to happen," he said  at the Al Ghurair Hotel here.

Essa later hosted a dinner for Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Malaysian entourage at his hotel.

Al Ghurair Investment LLC is a diversified industrial group with operations in more than 20 countries.

"Malaysia and the UAE can strengthen and promote Islamic finance and banking apart from exploring more opportunities in the property, tourism and agriculture sectors," said Essa, who is also a member of Dubai Chamber of Commerce board of directors and World Islamic Economic Forum  Advisory Panel.

Essa said Malaysia had no problem in leading the way as its leaders had helped establish strong ties with the UAE and other Muslim countries. He said UAE businessmen were  interested to invest in Malaysia, including  Iskandar Malaysia and the Refinery and Petrochemicals Integrated Development  project.

Drugs worth RM12.7m seized at KLIA

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

12 April 2014| last updated at 12:29AM

Its director, Datuk Chik Omar Chik Lim, said the drugs, weighing around 66.8 kg and packed in two large parcels, was the largest quantity of narcotics to be confiscated in the airport's history.

The parcels, flown in from Lagos, Nigeria, contained 11 black bags that carried another 67 smaller packets of the same colour.

Chik Omar said the sender of the parcels had declared the items as 'hair attachments' but an inspection on the packages at KLIA's MAS Kargo storage facility revealed they contained a powdery substance, which later tested positive for methamphetamine.

However, Chik Omar said the suspects had yet to be detained.

"Our investigation showed that the drugs were imported by an unregistered company addressed in Klang, Selangor," he said, adding that attempts to contact the receiver of the parcels went unanswered.

Chik Omar said the drug bust brought the total narcotics seized to date this year to 67.75 kg (worth RM12.87 million), which also led to the arrests of four foreign nationals.

On April 2, the department detained a female Chinese national, 23, who attempted to smuggle two kg of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of RM376,200.

The recreational drug was found in the woman's laptop bag.

She was charged under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction.

In another case, Chik Omar said the department had seized 1,645 boxes containing 32,900 contraband cigarettes worth RM1,809, which did not have Customs duty-paid stickers.

He said three smugglers were fined RM18,090 and jailed one month for the offence.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport's (KLIA) Customs director, Datuk Chik Omar Chik Lim (second from right), with three officers showing the seized methamphetamine drugs worth RM12, 682,500 at the Customs Complex in KLIA. Pic by Ahmad Irham Mohd Noor