Call to spread Kaamatan cheer |
- Call to spread Kaamatan cheer
- 'Terror outfit was ready to hit Western targets'
- ‘GST vital to high-income nation goal’
- Two heart patients seek donations for surgeries
- Disclosures raise new questions
- Coins found at site of excavation
| Posted: 01 May 2014 05:00 PM PDT 02 May 2014| last updated at 11:53PM KOTA MARUDU: THE Kadazandusun community should make use of this Kaamatan festive month to spread cultural harmony, said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman. In launching the month-long harvest festival here yesterday, Musa urged the people to continue promoting peace and strengthening ties with all races. He said that like other cultural celebrations, Kaamatan was a vital event to nurture understanding among people of different cultures and beliefs. "Everyone must take this event as a platform for us to learn about each other, so that we can uphold racial harmony in Sabah." Kaamatan or harvest festival is celebrated annually in May to honour the spirit that embodies the cycle of the padi, and the events include traditional sports, Sugandoi (a singing contest) and Unduk Ngadau (beauty pageant). The festival finale on May 30 and 31 are observed as state public holidays.  |
| 'Terror outfit was ready to hit Western targets' Posted: 01 May 2014 09:02 AM PDT With Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Kumpulan Mujahiddin Malaysia (KMM) effectively neutralised and unable to carry out their operations, this new organisation had "borrowed" the two terror groups' playbook and revisited their foiled elaborate plans of attacks and was ready to carry them out. Sources close to the on-going investigations told the New Straits Times that the new terror group was not averse to using violence to fight secularism. Among the targets in the group's strike folders were foreign embassies, as well as entertainment outlets and places frequented by Westerners. "Their script is not much different (from JI and KMM)... Most of the places they were planning to attack were similar to those planned by the two terror groups," one of the sources said. JI had planned to simultaneously bomb the US embassy and another building in Singapore where its business interests were located at the end of 2001. An Arab suicide bomber had been tasked with the job, using six lorries packed with 17 tonnes of ammonium nitrate. Fortunately, that attempt was thwarted. Also on their target list were several entertainment outlets in Thailand popular with Americans. These plans were foiled, however. Unfortunately, on Oct 12, 2002, JI's plan to create chaos and bloodbath came to deadly effect in the Bali bombings. The plan was formalised in August 2002 and was perfectly executed. It called for a series of three explosions in the heart of the tourist district of Kuta. The first of three massive explosions ripped through the district packed with revellers at 11.08pm. In all, 202 people were killed, most of them Australians. Sources in the ongoing probe said the new terror group had been planning to carry out a hit similar to the botched JI attack on Dec 31, 1999, in Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, here. The group had targeted the area's entertainment outlets, which were popular with foreign visitors at the time. Six pipe bombs were placed in different parts of the area but failed to detonate after they were soaked by the rain. Other attacks planned by JI included one against the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) as well as Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonalds outlets in the country. In the 1999 KLIA plan, six KMM members were tasked with killing a couple, one of whom had converted as they returned from Melbourne, Australia. The men, armed with an M-16 rifle and a Colt pistol, had staked out the arrival hall but failed to execute their plan as they lost their targets in the crowd. That same year, JI tasked three men to shadow US Navy personnel out on liberty in the Bukit Bintang area. The operatives, armed with shotguns, would have executed their plans if it weren't for the presence of policemen on patrol. The sheer volume of people out that night also prevented them from getting a clear shot. Two years later, in April, they tried again. This time, KMM took the lead. Their targets this time were the officers and sailors of the US Navy command ship USS Blue Ridge, who were on their way back to their vessel in Port Klang. Four KMM members trailed the four buses the US Navy men were in but backed out as they realised that not only were they outnumbered, they were also outgunned as they only had with them one M-16, two handguns and several homemade bombs. The fact that they had not fitted false registration plates on their cars also forced them to rethink their plans. The federal police headquarters and immigration checkpoint at the Causeway were also on the two militant groups' hit list. "The plan to bomb the water pipes that run across the Causeway was aimed at putting a strain on Kuala Lumpur-Singapore bilateral ties. These militant groups reject the country's democratic system and their thinking is not at all straightforward. "An attack like that, if successful, would provide the setting for militant groups like JI and KMM to pursue their bigger agenda," said the source, who added that authorities believe the agenda of "removing the government of secular Muslim nations" was still being aggressively pursued by such militant groups. In these past instances, the authorities had managed to stop them and arrested them under the now repealed Internal Security Act. In the last few days, police have picked up 10 members of the new terror group which had been aggressively spreading their al-Qaeda- influenced ideology and doctrine to other states. It was just in 2010 that authorities said an al-Qaeda cell was detected operating in Gombak and that they were recruiting new members to become suicide bombers. Sources had told the NST that the new organisation shared the ideologies of the two terror groups, JI and KMM. The cell planned to attack religious locations, including a temple in Batu Caves. This, too, was thwarted.  The aftermath of the Jemaah Islamiyah bombings in Bali in 2002. The new terror group was in the same mould as JI. |
| ‘GST vital to high-income nation goal’ Posted: 01 May 2014 09:01 AM PDT 02 May 2014| last updated at 12:17AM The government, he said, needed a more efficient tax system to improve its revenue collection and ensure the country's economic resilience to take a leap from an emerging economy to an advanced economy nation. He said only one out of 10 working Malaysians were paying personal income tax and the GST would give the government a broader and more efficient tax system to improve its revenue stream. "By earning higher revenue, the government can continue with its transformation programme to stimulate the economy and improve our competitiveness in attracting investors so that we can create more job opportunities. "Sometimes, we need to wait several years to reap the fruits from the seeds that we plant today. But if we do not plant the seeds, we will never reap the benefits," Najib said in his speech during the national-level Civil Servants' Workers Day celebration in Dewan Wawasan, Jitra here. Present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir; the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Service (Cuepacs) president Azih Muda, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. He said the government had significantly reduced the country's poverty rate from 60 per cent in the post-Independence era to below 1.7 per cent in 2012 and could not risk endangering the ongoing economic transformation programme. Najib said despite global uncertainties, Malaysia still managed to record a Gross Domestic Product growth of 4.7 per cent last year and was expected to perform even better this year. "We are on the brink of transformation to become an advanced economy from an emerging economy. If we stop this transformation now, we will expose the country and the people to grave risk." Najib assured civil servants that the government had taken the livelihood of the people into consideration before proceeding with the transformation programme. He urged the people to see things from a wider perspective, although at a glance, the transformation programme, such as the GST implementation, was viewed as unnecessary and uncalled for. "The government has strong reasons to proceed with the transformation. We hope the people will react to this in a rational manner." Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, told the 5,000 crowd that the BN government had no plans to reduce the 1.5 million civil servants employed nationwide, while reassuring them that in fact, it was planning to do more to improve their wellbeing. "Some leaders from the opposition said they would reduce the number of our civil servants by up to half if they come into power. They said the 1.5 million figure is too large for our 29 million population." Additional reporting by Zahratulhayat Mat Arif  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak posing for a selfie with civil servants during the national-level Civil Servants' Workers Day celebration in Dewan Wawasan, Jitra, Alor Star, yesterday. |
| Two heart patients seek donations for surgeries Posted: 01 May 2014 09:01 AM PDT 02 May 2014| last updated at 11:53PM The operations, to be carried out at a private hospital here, will cost RM50,000 and RM58,000 respectively. Law Key Chuan, 21, from Malim, Malacca, struggles from defective pulmonary and tricuspid valves which mainly operate as the channel of the blood (oxygen) to the lungs. Key Chuan's brother, Law Khey Beng, 40, said his sister's condition was discovered in March when she went for a scan after experiencing recurring blackouts and shortness of breath. "The doctor found out there was a leak in the right ventricle of her heart. "The Gleneagles Hospital estimated the surgery will cost around RM50,000," said Khey Beng, who is the sole breadwinner in the family of four. He said his sister was once warded when she was only 12 days and her condition worsened over the years. Chia also suffers from a ventrical septal defect or a hole in the heart. Her mother, Thor Chay Kwian, 34, said Chia had undergone three BT shunt procedures, the first when she was 5 months old, to treat her condition. "The surgery this time is estimated around RM58,000 and will help her live normally," said Thor, who is a housewife from Klang. Chia is slated to undergo a surgery for her pulmonary atresia before another operation to treat the hole in her heart. Donors can send cheques made payable to The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd with their names written on the back and addressed to: The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, Bangsar, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.  Law Key Chuan (left) and Chia Yu Tian with her mother Thor Chay Kwian at the Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur recently. Pic by Sugumaran Suppiah |
| Disclosures raise new questions Posted: 01 May 2014 09:01 AM PDT The release includes the preliminary report into MH370, dated April 9; an additional document on the actions taken directly after the plane went missing on March 8; a map showing the aircraft's flight path, and the passenger seating plan. (The full release can be accessed at www.nst.com.my.) In a statement, acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the data was compiled by an internal team of experts appointed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week, and was released following the conclusion of the team's review. "The prime minister has set, as a guiding principle, the rule that as long as the release of a particular piece of information does not hamper the investigation or the search operation, in the interests of openness and transparency, the information should be made public." New disclosures include a detailed timeline document of the actions taken on March 8 between 1.38am, after the aircraft made its final contact with ATC, and 6.14am, shortly after search-and- rescue (SAR) operations were activated. The document showed a series of exchanges beginning at 1.38am when Ho Chi Minh City ATC (HCM-ATC) in Vietnam queried Kuala Lumpur ATC (KL-ATC) on the whereabouts of MH370. Over the next three hours, KL-ATC contacted Malaysia Airlines Operations Centre (MAS OPS), Singapore ATC, Hong Kong ATC and Phnom Penh-ATC to establish MH370's location. The communications record indicated, among others, that misleading information was received at 2.03am from MAS OPS that the aircraft had entered Cambodian airspace. After checking with Phnom Penh ATC, however, HCM-ATC informed KL-ATC that the aircraft had never entered Cambodia. As further attempts to establish contact with the aircraft failed, the Rescue Coordination Centre was finally activated at 5.30am. According to the MH370 investigation team's preliminary report, the lack of real-time tracking "resulted in significant difficulty in locating the aircraft in a timely manner". The report stated: "While commercial air transport aircraft spend considerable amount of time operating over remote areas, there is currently no requirement for real- time tracking of these aircraft. There have now been two occasions during the last five years when large commercial air transport aircraft have gone missing and their last position was not accurately known." (While the report did not state what the other occasion was when a large commercial aircraft had gone missing, it is understood this was Air France flight AF447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, an Airbus A330 which crashed on June 1, 2009, killing all 228 passengers and crew aboard.) Following the team's findings, the Malaysian Air Accident Investigation Bureau recommended that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) "examine the safety benefits of introducing a standard for real time tracking of commercial air transport aircraft". The ministry also clarified previous reports on the plane's movements as recorded by Malaysian military radar. According to the ministry's account, the Malaysian military's primary radar tracked an aircraft, believed to be MH370, making an air turn back in a westerly direction across Peninsular Malaysia on the morning of March 8. The aircraft was categorised as friendly by the radar operator and, therefore, no further action was taken at the time. The radar data was reviewed in a playback at approximately 8.30am on March 8, and the information was sent to the Royal Malaysian Air Force operations room at approximately 9am. Following further discussions up the chain of command, the RMAF informed Hishammuddin at approximately 10.30am of the aircraft's possible turn back. The minister then informed Najib, who immediately ordered SAR operations be initiated in the Straits of Malacca, along with the South China Sea operations, which started earlier in the day. The preliminary report was drafted with the involvement of the United States' National Transportation Safety Board, the United Kingdom's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, China's Air Accidents Investigation Department, the Civil Aviation Administration of China and Malaysian officials.  New disclosures include a detailed timeline document of the actions taken on March 8 after the aircraft made its final contact with the Kuala Lumpur air traffic control. |
| Coins found at site of excavation Posted: 01 May 2014 09:01 AM PDT 02 May 2014| last updated at 12:51AM MALACCA: TWO old coins were found by a company carrying out excavation works for treasure in Pulau Nangka. The artefacts which were found early morning yesterday will be sent for further testing to verify its authenticity. Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, who was informed of the findings at 1.40am yesterday said the matter would be referred to the National Heritage Department for advise and views. He said the discovery augured well for future efforts to find hidden treasures on the island. "However, I want the coins to be tested to determine whether they were made from gold and whether it has any value. Also, I hope that there are no elements of deceit pertaining to the findings," he said after launching the Mixed Green Development Project in Taman Kota Laksamana yesterday. Idris said the company, Smart Partnership International (M) Sdn Bhd would be allowed to continue excavation works until the laboratory testing results were available. He said a second company, Legend Treasure Sdn Bhd, which was supposed to initiate excavation works in a different part of the island yesterday, had been asked to postpone their work temporarily. State Works, Public Infrastructure, Transportation and Project Recovery Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Ghafar Atan said the coins with inscriptions believed to be in Sanskrit, together with pictures of ancient Hindu gods, could also be from the Majapahit empire of the 13th century. "We have to send the coins to be carefully scrutinised by the experts to know its metal content, origin, age and value." Majapahit was one of the last major empires of the region and considered to be one of the greatest and most powerful empires in the history of Southeast Asia. Earlier, Idris said more than 87 foreign investors had expressed interests to invest in the state, particularly along the coastal areas. He said this involved a total investment of RM200 billion and would bring about rapid developments to areas such as Banda Hilir, Klebang and Pantai Kundur. "The Green Mixed Development Project with a gross development value of RM330.9 million will also provide a huge economic impact to the state when completed," adding that the first phase of the project was expected to be completed in 2017.  Smart Partnership International (M) Sdn Bhd workers using special drill machines worth RM100,000 per unit to carry out excavation works in Pulau Nangka, Malacca, yesterday. Pic by Muhammad Hatim Ab Manan |
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