Snatch thief jailed 15 years over widow's death

Snatch thief jailed 15 years over widow's death

Snatch thief jailed 15 years over widow's death

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 09:03 AM PDT

30 April 2014| last updated at 11:36PM
By MELISSA DARLYNE CHOW | news@nst.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: A GENERAL worker was jailed 15 years by the High Court yesterday for causing the death of a senior citizen in a snatch theft incident two years ago.

Ooi Kean Leong, 31, pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of causing the death of Tan Kim Chuan, 67, in front of a motorcycle parking area at Block J, Jalan Padang Tembak, at 6.02am on July 10, 2012. He was initially charged with murdering Tan.

Counsel Anthony Chew, in mitigating for Ooi, told the court that his client had no intention of causing her death but only to snatch the victim's bag.

He said Ooi had saved the court's time by pleading guilty and he had repented for causing Tan's death.

Deputy public prosecutor Muna Mohamed Jaafar, pressed for a deterrent sentence.

Judge Datuk Zamani Abdul Rahim ordered Ooi's sentence to begin from his date of arrest on Aug 8, 2012.

Tan, a widow, who had moved to the Rifle Range flats two weeks earlier, was walking alone near block J when her handbag was snatched by a motorcyclist.

She fell and knocked her head on the road, and succumbed to her injuries at Penang Hospital.

Closed-circuit television footage showed seven people walking past her as she lay unconscious with a cracked skull.

At 6.10am, three people carried her to the side of the road and called an ambulance.

Ooi Kean Leong being escorted out of the High Court in Penang yesterday.

Chinese families hear MH370 cockpit recording

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

30 April 2014| last updated at 11:45PM
By ZULITA MUSTAFA | zulita@nst.com.my

CNN said the recording Malaysian officials played was purportedly the last communication with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight 370 before it disappeared on March 8.

"Malaysia three-seven-zero contact Ho Chi Minh 120.9, good night," says a voice identified by Malaysian officials as that of a radar controller in Kuala Lumpur.

"Good night, Malaysian three-seven-zero," answers a male voice, believed to be that of a crew member on the plane.

Malaysian officials released the recording more than 50 days after the plane disappeared, in a long-awaited briefing before relatives of the flight's Chinese passengers.

The session yesterday included the release of a chronology of the aircraft's last-known contacts with radar stations as well as a satellite orbiting over the Indian Ocean.

The report quoted Sayid Ruzaimi Syed Aris, an official with Malaysia's aviation authority, that at 2.03am local time on March 8, the MAS operational dispatch centre sent a message to the cockpit instructing the pilot to contact ground control in Vietnam.

He said flight 370 did not respond.

Nearly 20 minutes later, at 2.22am, the Royal Malaysian Air Force picked up the flight for the last time on its radar system.

By that point, Sayid said, the plane was believed to have swerved far off course over Penang.

According to Malaysian officials in Beijing, there was no direct communication between MAS and Flight 370 for a five-hour period.

"At 7.13am, MAS tried to make a voice call to the aircraft, but there was no pickup," said Sayid.

If all had gone according to plan, MH370 would have landed at the International Airport in Beijing at 6.30am on March 8.

Malaysian officials told Chinese families that by their calculations, the aircraft would have run out of fuel seven hours and 31 minutes into the flight.

"Based on the fuel calculation, the aircraft fuel starvation would have occurred at 8.12am," said Subas Chandran, a MAS representative.

The Malaysian delegation also published slides showing the last known "handshakes" between the aircraft and an Inmarsat satellite over the Indian Ocean.

The sixth and final handshake took place at 8.11am, Malaysian time.

According to these Inmarsat data points, in relation to the Inmarsat satellite, flight 370 was far south of where it should have been if it had been on its route to Beijing.

The briefing marked a sharp change from previous combative meetings between Chinese family members and Malaysian officials.

The "families' committee" formed during the agonising month and a half since the plane's disappearance had spent weeks demanding details on the aircraft's last-known location.

Last week, about 100 family members marched at midnight to the Malaysian Embassy in Beijing and staged a 15-hour sit-in, demanding a meeting with a high-level technical delegation.

A security employee (left) blocks journalists as Malaysia Airlines representatives leave after a briefing at a hotel in Beijing, China, yesterday. AP pic

Entrepreneurs get Superb boost

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

PUTRAJAYA: FOR Nur Azini Mohamed Kamal to be selected among the 13 winners of the government's grant for young innovative Bumiputera entrepreneurs is a dream come true.

Her company, Impulse Studio Sdn Bhd, which she founded a couple of years ago, has been trying to bring in a technology from Germany to Malaysia but it has not been easy.

"Trying to get funding was not easy as there was little acceptance of my idea of an alternative gym despite it being so popular in Europe," Nor Azini, 37, told the New Straits Times yesterday.

Alternative gym, she said, referred to electrical muscles stimulation embedded in the workout attire to help one lose weight more efficiently than conventional work-outs.

"There are 2,000 such gyms in Europe after only seven years and I hope this will catch on here, too, not just in Malaysia but regionally as well."

Nur Azini said she had spent RM360,000 to bring the technology here and would use the RM500,000 grant to open her first gym in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar, next week.

"My goal is to open another two outlets in the Klang Valley by the end of the year."

Another winner, Megat Farril Robert Rizal, who founded Superencipherment Technology Solution Sdn Bhd, said with the grant, it would be easier for him to market his product.

He said his company and another from Israel were the only two companies that offered the data encryption security solution to secure data in mobile devices.

"We engage in multi-layer encryption and it is already being used," he said, adding that he was targeting government contracts before marketing it overseas.

The two were among 13 winners in the first phase of the Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera (Superb) scheme. Each received a grant of RM500,000.

The RM100 million grant scheme, overseen by Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (Teraju), was opened for application on Feb 1 and attracted more than 1,700 applicants, but only 25 were short-listed.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in announcing the recipients yesterday, said the 12 other finalists would instead be given RM25,000 each to help them progress in their businesses.

Najib said the government would continue to ensure that Bumiputera entrepreneur programmes like Superb remained active in line with the goal for all Malaysians to reap the benefits when Malaysia became a developed nation.

"What is certain is that all entrepreneurs in the country will always be supported by the government through assistance schemes in the form of financial help, training workshops, infrastructure or advisory services," he said at the Prime Minister's Office here yesterday.

Najib said Malaysia needed quality and innovative ideas from the younger generation as there was a huge pool of untapped talent looking to explore their capabilities and test their skills not just for the domestic market but also internationally.

"Quality idea does not revolve around whom you know but it is all about what your know-how.

"If you have an idea that can be translated into a product that has a high impact on society, we will try our best to support it."

The Superb scheme is a collaboration with government agencies, such as Cradle Fund, Malaysian Technology Development Corporation, MyCreative Ventures, Malaysia Venture Capital Management Bhd, Kumpulan Modal Perdana and Multimedia Development Corporation.

The panel of judges for the first round of the scheme's winners were Mydin Holdings managing director Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin, AirAsia Bhd executive chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, Malay Chamber of Commerce president of the Sabah branch Datuk Awang Buhtamam and OMNI Petromaritime founder Dr Jamal Yusuf.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with Nur Azini Mohamed Kamal and other winners of the Skim Usahawan Permulaan Bumiputera (Superb) scheme in Putrajaya yesterday. On Najib's left is Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Bernama pic

Malaysia's integrity index up

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

30 April 2014| last updated at 11:42PM

The Integrity Commitment Report 2009-2013 saw an improvement in the National Integrity Perception Index with an integrity score index of 6.8 in 2013 from 6.5 in 2009.

"Although, the index has shown positive trend throughout the years, we still need to further improve the integrity level among the people.

"However, these improvements do not require drastic changes or allocation of funds, but rather in the change of attitude among the people," he said in his presentation of the report at the National Integrity Institute in Jalan Duta here yesterday.

Also present was former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan.

Mohd Tap said a survey by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in 2012 shows the public's confidence level of the MACC's efforts in fighting corruption shot up to 64 per cent in 2012 from 42.5 per cent in 2011.

"It was also revealed that Corruption Perception Index survey, conducted by Transparency International, showed that Malaysia had recorded a slight improvement with a score of 50/100 last year compared with 49/100 in 2012."

In an another report, titled Ease of Doing Business 2009-2014 by the World Bank, Malaysia ranked sixth this year, a jump of 15 notches from position 21 in 2009.

Mohd Tap later presented the five-year progress report to Low, who will be tabling it in Parliament today. Low said the content of the report would be used in the newly implemented Integrity and Governance Committee model to monitor and reduce abuses, mismanagement and irregularities in the public sector.

Media Prima Berhad chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar, who was also one of the panelists at the forum "Localising Integrity Agenda", said creating a new society with more awareness of the value of integrity must start from scratch, especially children in schools.

"Integrity simply means being honest and having strong moral principles. The social structure is changing and it is not easy to do what we believe is right anymore," he said at the forum, held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the National Integrity Plan and the establishment of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.

Media Prima Berhad chairman Datuk Johan Jaaffar speaking at the 'Localising Integrity Agenda' forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Salhani Ibrahim

Fama rescues tomato farmers

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

30 April 2014| last updated at 12:17AM
By BALQIS NASIR AND NIKITA NAWAWI | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR:  THE Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) has come to the rescue of Cameron Highlands' tomato farmers who are facing a glut in the supply.

Since the end of last month, Fama had bought 110 tonnes of tomatoes from the farmers for sale at its outlets nationwide, said its director-general, Datuk Ahmad Ishak.

The produce was sold, among others, at pasar tani, Agrobazaar Kedai Rakyat (AKM) and 10 Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) in the Klang Valley.

"This has led to an increase in the price of tomatoes from 20 to 30 sen to 80 sen and RM1.20 per kg."

Ahmad said oversupply of the produce was common during this period of time. "The cold weather in the past few months caused tomatoes to grow rapidly, compounded by the slow export market."

He said the produce were exported to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Dubai before the glut.

"Exports were slow when some countries started to turn to their neighbours for supply like Dubai, which is getting its stocks from Jordan and Egypt.

"Fama would continue to monitor the situation to help the farmers."

Federation of Malaysian Vegetable Growers Association secretary-general Chay Ee Mong Monday said the glut of the highlands' daily output since last month had caused the price of tomatoes to drop considerably.

"However, the price has started to go up slowly as exports of the produce have resumed since the last few days."

In Cameron Highlands, farmers said they had no choice but to resort to destroying the produce to cut down on their losses.

One of the affected farmers, who wished to be known as Choo, 63, said he had been allowing his tomato plants to wither since the price of tomatoes went rock bottom since last month.

"I have started removing the trees by the roots two weeks ago," he said here yesterday.

Choo, who plants only tomatoes on his 1.2ha farm at Kampung Raja, said this was the worst period in his 10 years of farming tomatoes.

"I was told the last time the price of tomates was this low was about 20 years ago."

When asked to estimate his losses, Choo said: "All my sweat and tears are gone".

The New Straits Times reported yesterday that since last month, 100 tonnes of tomatoes had gone to waste due to excess in supply. Cameron Highlands is capable of producing 300 tonnes of tomatoes daily.

Besides being exported to Singapore, the tomatoes are also sold at local markets.

Kuan Ting Woon, 46, said he had destroyed 20 per cent of his tomato plants in Lojing since the price plunged.

Another farmer, who declined to be named, said the price of tomatoes had started to show signs of increase.

"Today, the price has increased to RM1 per kg. I hope the price will remain, or better still, increase in the next few days," said the farmer who runs a farm in Sungai Palas. Additional reporting by Sylvia Looi

Affected farmers have been allowing their tomato plants to wither since the price of tomatoes went rock bottom since from last month.

Farmers resort to destroying their crop following the oversupply in tomatoes.

300 trainees graduate from ABM

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, who officiated the ceremony, presented skill competency certificates to the graduates at Dewan Perdana Felda, here.

He said ABM, which is the training arm of CIDB, had trained more than 200,000 skilled construction personnel so far.

Most of the trainees have pursued careers with reputable construction companies, locally and abroad.

"Last year, ABM successfully trained 27,424 people and 75 per cent of them were absorbed by the industry.

"ABM aims to train 28,000 construction personnel for high-demand fields this year with estimation of at least 80 per cent of them will be absorbed by the industry upon completion of their training," said Fazillah during the graduation involving trainees from ABM's central, north and eastern centres.

Upon congratulating the graduates, Fadillah urged youths to venture into the technical and vocational field offered by ABM so that lucrative job opportunities would not fall to foreign workforce.

He urged state governments and industry players to work together to create skilled personnel to meet the government's target of a 60 per cent workforce in the technical and vocational field by 2020.

Meanwhile, Nur Marsyitah Mazlan, 25, who was the first female to win ABM's Best Trainee honour, said she took up architectural drafting in 2011 to improve her skills for her diploma studies in civil engineering.

"I felt an ABM certificate would help me gain advantage in the job market and create better opportunities for myself. The course is thorough, complete and students are well-trained to master the subject."

Marsyitah was hired as a store planner and design officer at 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn Bhd two months after leaving ABM and she was promoted two years later to be an executive with six officers under her supervision.

CIDB inked memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with seven strategic partners, including five international construction companies, namely Cementaid Sdn Bhd, Lend Lease Projects (M) Sdn Bhd, UAC Berhad, BWYS Group, Urbanisma Consulting Group (UCG), Malay Contractor Association Of Malaysia (PKJMM) and Yayasan Pelajaran Mara for high-impact construction projects.

CIDB chief executive Datuk Seri Dr Judin Abdul Karim said the board was grateful for the support from industry players in meeting the demand for 40,000 skilled workers in years ahead.

Also present were Works Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Himmat Singh, CIDB chairman Tan Sri Dr Ahmad Tajuddin Ali and CIDB Holdings Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Abdul Latiff Hitam.

Established in 1997, with six branches nationwide, ABM provides courses for school-leavers and those in the industry.

Courses range from building, crane operation, plant operation, mechanical and electrical, welding, civil engineering, drafting, and blasting and painting, among others.

Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof (standing, centre) witnessing the signing of MoUs between Construction Industry Development Board with seven strategic partners at the Akademi Binaan Malaysia graduation ceremony yesterday. Bernama pic

Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof (fourth from left) meeting with some of the graduate trainees after presenting them with their skills competency certificates yesterday. Pic by Nurul Shafina Jemenon