Traders in 3 states feel the heat

Traders in 3 states feel the heat

Traders in 3 states feel the heat

Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

07 April 2014| last updated at 12:19AM

While most were mini markets or sundry shops, one of the shops found to have been selling illicit cigarettes was Alisan Photo Studio in Air Itam.

Among the outlets raided were Eng Soo Mini Mart and Chung Meng sundry shop, also in Air Itam; Pasar Mini Hakai and Kedai Runcit A.Y. Teori Naluri Sdn Bhd in Gelang Patah; Pasar Mini Nandyny in Pekan Nenas; and, Kedai Runcit Khan, SLY Kedai Runcit and Kedai Fatimah Bt Awang, here.

An attempt by a trader here to hide two cartons of illegal cigarettes under the sofa of his shop failed when the smuggled items were discovered by Kelantan Customs officers.

The trader was detained by state Customs officers led by assistant chief (operations) Mohd Hassan Ismail.

Acting on a tip-off, the 20-man team from Rantau Panjang, Pengkalan Kubur and Kota Baru raided the shop about 11am and found the contraband cigarettes comprising of Gudang Garam and John brands.

Two other traders, including a Pakistani, were detained during the raids that were carried out simultaneously. Customs officers seized a total of RM3,000 worth of contraband cigarettes.

The traders told the Customs officers that they sold the cigarettes due to high demand for the contraband.

It is learnt that the traders' customers had chosen to buy smuggled cigarettes because they were cheaper at RM3 a pack compared with regular cigarettes, which cost between RM7 and RM12 a pack.

The arrest of the three brings to 15 the number of errant traders detained in Kelantan since the crackdown started on March 5.

In Batu Pahat, a 45-year-old trader was sentenced to a seven-month jail term after pleading guilty to possessing illegal cigarettes worth RM9,470.40.

He had committed the offence on March 30 at his store here.

Customs officers with illegal cigarettes seized in a raid on a provision shop in Beris Kubur Besar near Bachok, Kelantan. Pic by Fathil Asri

Education of autistic kids focus of forum

Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA will host the inaugural International Seminar on Autism at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) on April 22 and 23.

The prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, said the seminar, themed "Autism is not a tragedy, ignorance is" was aimed at raising the public's awareness and to share views with experts and others in the field on the education of autistic children in the country.

It will also allow participants to share their opinions and experiences in early intervention as well as autistic children's education development.

"The two-day seminar will be filled with a tight itinerary, including plenary and concurrent sessions, panel discussions and forums.

"A special session will be arranged for the wives of heads of state, called 'First Ladies' Voices', aimed at sharing experiences, perspectives and ideas on autism in their respective countries.

"This seminar is in collaboration with Autism Speaks, a leading non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in New York and supported by the health as well as education ministries," she told a media conference after the 2014 Autism Run at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa here yesterday.

The seminar is organised by the Permata Programme, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

She said the wives of five heads of state from Albania, Sudan, Morocco, Kyrgyz Republic and Sri Lanka had confirmed their attendance.

International presenters expected at the seminar include Prof Dr Eric Fombonne from Oregon Health and Science University, Prof Dr Cheryl Dissanayake (La Trobe University, Australia) and Dr Wu Ruth Yu Yu (Taipei Teachers University) as well as local autism experts. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will open the seminar.

Rosmah said Autism Speaks was also set to become a platform for the implementation of the autistic children's intervention programme, known as the Permata Kurnia Programme, which is expected to start in May next year.

On the Permata Kurnia Programme, Rosmah said the centre, which was expected to accommodate autistic children, was now being constructed and would be operational in May next year.

Rosmah said for a start, the centre which would operate in Sentul, is expected to receive its first 300 children below the age of 5 afflicted with mild autism as its pilot project.

"After six months, when we are sure of the centre's success, we will increase the age limit and expand the programme to every state."

Rosmah, who is also Permata's patron, said 1,260 participants from within the country and abroad had registered for the seminar.

They include government officials, academicians, NGOs and students from institutes of higher learning from the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Pakistan, United States, Algeria, Nigeria and India.

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor (centre) performing aerobics with participants at the 2014 Autism Run at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Pic by Farizul Hafiz Awang

'Too early to confirm pulses'

Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

07 April 2014| last updated at 12:22AM
By HARIS HUSSAIN | news@nst.com.my

PERTH: THE three pulses detected in the southern Indian Ocean by two search-and-recovery ships are a promising sign,    but have not been verified as being from      missing  Malaysia Airlines flight    MH370.

Australian Joint Agency Coordination Centre chief coordinator Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston (Rtd) said yesterday it was too early to confirm if the acoustic signals came from the black box of the missing plane.

He said both vessels -- China's Haixun 01 and Australia's Ocean Shield -- were analysing the contacts. The distance between the two ships is roughly 300 nautical miles.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority is also in contact with the Chinese authorities at the Rescue Coordination Centre to obtain additional information on the two pulses picked up by Haixun 01.

Houston said the fact that there were two acoustic events picked up by the Chinese vessel in the same location made this a "very promising" lead.

"The first detection was fleeting. However, the second one in the afternoon (on Saturday) lasted about 90 seconds. Both events occurred in the high-probability area in the southern part of the search area.

"HMS Echo is about 14 hours from Haixun 01's position and will assist it, making use of Haixun 01's sophisticated underwater listening gear.

"The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has also been tasked to check out the acoustic signals picked up by the Chinese vessel. If needed, more assets will rendezvous with Haixun 01 to render assistance."

Houston said Ocean Shield was investigating its own contact, describing the vessel as best suited for the task, as it was equipped with a towed pinger and remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV).

"Ocean Shield is the most capable vessel currently out there and will be rerouted to aid Haixun 01 if its (Ocean Shield's) contact turns out to be nothing more than an underwater anomaly."

Ocean Shield is expected to take more than a day to reposition itself, while it is still unsure if the ROV on board would be deployed to investigate the contact it picked up.

The international investigation team yesterday advised of a correction to the satellite data with regard to MH370's flight track, which further raises the importance of the southern part of the search operations.

Houston verified that the Chinese authorities were sharing all their information. He urged the media not to speculate otherwise.

Meanwhile, Bernama reports that a third Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft arrived at the RAAF Base Pearce yesterday to assist in the search for MH370.

The additional military aircraft is part of the Malaysian programme to intensify the search for the jetliner after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the plan to send more military assets during his two-day visit to Australia on Thursday.

RMAF 20th Squadron chief Major Muhammad Jafri Suboh said the aircraft arrived at 12.30pm, along with 33 military personnel.

A Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 being prepped for take-off at Perth International Airport yesterday to join the search-and-recovery efforts for MH370. Pic by Haris Hussain

Abductors call victim's family

Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

07 April 2014| last updated at 12:03AM
By AVILA GERALDINE | avila@nst.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: THE abductors of Chinese tourist Gao Huan Yuan, who was kidnapped  with a Filipina from a resort off Semporna, have made contact with her family.

This was confirmed by Eastern Sabah Security Command director-general Datuk Mohammad Mentek yesterday.

"Esscom has been informed about a phone call. The call was made by a representative of the gunmen to tell the family that their victims are safe. As far as I know, the conversation focused on the women's safety and there was no demand for ransom."

Gao, 29, and resort employee Marcy Dayawan, 40, were kidnapped by seven men at gunpoint from the Singamata Adventures and Reef Resort at 10.30pm on Wednesday.

Their captors took them in a boat with a 40-horsepower engine and crossed over to Philippine waters undetected before taking the women to an island.

Media had earlier reported that the duo were taken to Simunul island in southern Philippines.

Yesterday, Philippine officials received reports that the gunmen had moved their victims and were seen to have landed in Jolo island.

Mohammad did not reveal the location of the gunmen but stressed Esscom was informed about their whereabouts.

He said with a 40-horsepower engine, the gunmen would have been able to travel to Philippine waters in 45 minutes.

Victims of the kidnapping case on Sipadan island in 2000 had said they had taken almost 24 hours to reach Jolo by moving in waters near islands from Sabah to the Philippines.

Semporna is 160km away from Simunul island while the distance to Jolo is 327km.

On the identity and background of the suspects, Mohammad said those involved in the Singamata kidnapping were also involved in the Pom Pom and Sipadan kidnap cases.

"They also stayed and worked in Semporna illegally. They know the Semporna area well. One of them was involved in the smuggling of drugs, firearms and controlled goods."

Mohammad said he had held discussions with all security components in Esscom on the positioning of vessels and patrol boats in Semporna waters.

"The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Royal Malaysian Navy and marine police are restructuring the position of their assets, taking into account the passage commonly used by kidnappers and smugglers."

Tourists continue to visit Sabah despite the recent double kidnapping case. Pic by Edmund Samunting

5 killed in 3 accidents

Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

07 April 2014| last updated at 11:58PM
By T.N. ALAGESH AND ROSHIDI ABU SAMAH | news@nst.com.my

 PEKAN: TWO  mothers and their  children were killed in  accidents here and in Teluk Intan, Perak, on Saturday.

A bus driver was also killed in another accident the same day in Ipoh.

In the incident here, year-old Nur Damia Hanan Marzuki, died at the scene while her mother, Maziah Jusoh, 27, died at Muadzam Shah Hospital in Rompin.

The duo and Nur Damia's father, Marzuki Che Othman, were on their way to their hometown in Terengganu when their Perodua Alza collided with a lorry at Km72 of Jalan Kuantan-Segamat at 7.30pm.

Marzuki, a 27-year-old General Operations Force policeman in Simpang Renggam, Johor, was injured and warded at the same hospital.

Pahang police administration and traffic enforcement officer Assistant Superintendent Zainalabidin Othman said Marzuki was trying to overtake another vehicle when he crashed into the oncoming lorry, which was heading towards Muadzam Shah. The lorry dragged Marzuki's vehicle for about 5m before coming to a stop.

"The car was mangled and the trio were pinned in the wreckage. The baby, who was in Maziah's lap, was flung to the back seat," Zainal said.

The mother and her child were buried at Kampung Durian Burung in Kuala Terengganu yesterday.

In Teluk Intan, 30-year-old Nur Zuraiyanie Habil and her 2-year-old daughter, Nur Qurratunnisa Muhammad Syafie were killed instantly when their car collided with a lorry at Km47 of Jalan Teluk Intan-Sitiawan about 5pm.

Nur Zuraiyanie's 5-year-old son, Muhammad Iman Qashrin Muhammad Syafie, escaped unhurt, despite the car bursting into flames. The driver of the lorry also escaped injuries.

Hilir Perak police chief Assistant Commissioner Goh Kok Liang said Nur Zuraiyanie, who was heading towards Sitiawan, had tried to overtake a vehicle and crashed head-on with the lorry.

He said the Proton Saga car driven by the deceased burst into flames in the collision.

In Ipoh, tour bus driver Lim Chee Kheong died at the scene when his bus crashed into a tree and a telephone pole in front of a house in Taman Rapat Setia Baru.

The 55-year-old was heading to his house in Chemor, about 20km from Ipoh, after dropping off passengers in nearby Taman Rapat when the accident happened at 10pm.

The wreckage of the Proton Saga after two people were killed in Teluk Intan, Perak, on Saturday. Pic by Ravale Savarinathan

Heart boy needs RM28,000

Posted: 06 Apr 2014 09:01 AM PDT

07 April 2014| last updated at 11:57PM
By MASTURA YUSOFF | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: A MONTH-OLD baby suffering from congenital malformation of his right heart valve needs to undergo  corrective heart surgery.

Tarakeshwar Ganesan, who has a pulmonary atresia with ventricular septum, needs RM28,000 for the operation at a private hospital here. His right valve failed to develop, thereby obstructing the outflow of blood from the heart to the lungs.

His parents, Ganesan Villayan, 26, a driver, who earns RM1,500 a month, and his wife, Jaya Row, 26, a teacher, who earns RM1,100, are unable to pay for the surgery.

"I hope we receive some donations soon as I fear my son's condition will worsen. He is our only child and I really hope the public can help us," said Jaya.

She said her son turned blue the day after he was born and his condition had worsened.

Tarakeshwar, who has been in the intensive care unit of Tuanku Ampuan Najihah Hospital in Kuala Pilah, was transferred to Gleneagles Hospital here yesterday.

Donors can send their cheques made payable to The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, with the patient's name written on the back, to: The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, 31, Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, or call 1-300-22-6787.

Jaya Row with her month-old son Tarakeshwar Ganesan, who was born with congenital heart problem. Pic by Sugumaran Suppiah