Lorry rams into heritage zone

Lorry rams into heritage zone

Lorry rams into heritage zone

Posted: 07 May 2014 09:01 AM PDT

08 May 2014| last updated at 01:00AM
By JASON GERALD JOHN | news@nst.com.my

MALACCA: A 48-YEAR-OLD man, believed to be drunk, not only defied the law by driving a four tonne trailer against the flow of traffic on a one-way street, but also severely damaged a centuries-old heritage building at the famed Jonker Walk, on Tuesday night.

  In the 10.08pm incident, the man from Taman Rambai Jaya in Bukit Rambai, here,  allegedly drove the Volvo prime mover into Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, against the flow of traffic, and rammed a newly-renovated shop causing its walls and roof to collapse.

  A police source said the driver then reversed and entered Jalan Hang Kasturi, also against the flow of traffic, before crashing into six more shops damaging their walls and roofs and bringing down an electric advertisement billboard.

  "The trailer, which was laden with a four tonnes of plastic pallets, also damaged drains and its metal covers along Jalan Hang Kasturi.

"It was pinned in between some centuries-old shophouses, unable to pass through the narrow turn at the Jalan Hang Kasturi-Jalan Hang Jebat. The trailer  was unable to clear through the narrow passage and its front tyre was damaged."

  The source said the trailer's  body snagged onto some electric cables belonging to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) causing a blackout in the area.

  However, no injuries or casualties  were reported in the incident which caused temporary chaos and turned Jonker Walk into a place resembling a disaster zone.

  Checks at the area showed that TNB officials had to temporarily cut off electrical supply in the area to shift the cables away from the trailer.

  According to the source, at about 11.55pm, representatives from the transportation agent who are also the owners of the prime mover, managed to free the vehicle and move it nearby Jalan Kota Laksamana.

  The driver was then taken to the Malacca Hospital to undergo further tests to determine the alcohol level in his blood and detect any presence of drugs.

  Initial investigation showed the driver had 10 traffic summonses for various offences.

A trailer which damaged a heritage building at Jonker Walk, Malacca on Tuesday. Pic by Muhammad Hatim Ab Manan

Mother, 2 daughters killed in fire

Posted: 07 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

08 May 2014| last updated at 01:00AM

   The victims were identified as Anisa Ramblee, 26; Norhaza Mohd Hazmi, 5, and Nordiana Mohd Hazmi, 3.

   Tabuan Jaya Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson said bodies of the two girls were found under the bed while the mother was on the bed in their room.

   The fire was believed to have started from a neighbour's house before it spread to their home. The blaze also destroyed nine houses nearby.

   It took 33 firefighters 30 minutes to control the blaze.

   Anisa's sister-in-law Faziah Saini, 24, said she stayed in the same house with the victims but had gone out to buy lunch when the fire started.

   "When I reached home, I was shocked to see the houses on fire. There was nothing I could do to save anyone," she said.

   Faziah said Anisa loved to spend her free time playing with the little girls in their room.

   "She has four daughters, another two aged seven and eight, who had gone to school."

    The bodies were  taken to the Sarawak General Hospital for post mortem.

'Mini Parliament' speaker dies

Posted: 07 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

08 May 2014| last updated at 01:04AM
By AKIL YUNUS | news@nst.com.my

PUTRAJAYA: VETERAN television actor Jamal Muhamad, better known as Pak Cik Jamal, died yesterday at the Putrajaya Hospital. He was 75.

He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital on Tuesday night after complaining of breathing difficulties and died at 11am.

His daughter Sheila, 47, said her father had previously been admitted to hospital several times for heart and liver complications, as well as for spinal problems.

However, his condition had reportedly worsened after he returned from performing the umrah last month.

"His illness had worsened following his return from Mecca.

"The doctor said he was suffering from a chronic lung disease and was suspected to have contracted the MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus)," said Sheila.

"He was much more active prior to travelling to perform the umrah, even as he was suffering from his illnesses."

Jamal's body was taken to the Jameatussolehah Mosque in Dengkil for the funeral rites before being buried at the Dengkil Muslim Cemetery nearby after Asar prayers.

Jamal was popular for his role as the speaker in the local TV series Mini Parlimen, which was aired on Radio Television Malaysia in the 1980s.

The series was slated for a new season with brand new cast members this year.

He is survived by his wife, Zainab Serat, 67, three children and eight grandchildren.

A picture dated Aug 31, 1984, showing the 'Mini Parliament' contingent led by Jamal Muhamad (centre) marching during the Merdeka Day parade in Kuala Lumpur. (Inset) Jamal Muhamad.

'Uzbek students can come to warm, sunny Malaysia'

Posted: 07 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

TASHKENT: DEPUTY Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday made the case for Uzbekistan's businesses  to strengthen their cooperation and links with Malaysian companies, to tap their full potential and boost trade and investments.

Speaking at a roundtable meeting with captains of industry from Malaysia and Uzbekistan, Muhyiddin, who is on a four-day official visit here, said Malaysia was a reliable and competitive trading partner for Uzbekistan, and offered a platform to access the 600 million Asean market.

"We are here today to forge closer collaborations between the business communities of Uzbekistan and Malaysia, particularly in the fields of oil and gas, logistics, infrastructure, construction, town planning and education."

Muhyiddin cited Petronas, which is in partnership with Uzbekneftegaz in the oil and gas exploration and production work, and is now into gas to liquid operations.

"Besides Petronas, Malaysian oil and gas companies have competency and expertise in consulting, engineering, construction, equipment and piping supply and management of oil and gas projects."

Muhyiddin said Malaysia would like to share its experience with Uzbekistan in human capital development, where the focus had been to boost productivity, skills and knowledge.

"Uzbekistan has a young population and I understand that many of them go to Moscow to study but we would like to welcome them to the warm and sunny-weather Malaysia to further their education.

"Within the Asia-Pacific region, Malaysia is considered a hub for education excellence," said Muhyiddin, who is also education minister.

While Malaysia is Uzbekistan's second largest trading partner in Asean, a number of products such as consumer electronics and electrical items imported into the country is through a third country.

"Some of these products are made in Malaysia.

"There is room for us to increase direct exports to your country, which will make the products more competitively priced in your market."

Muhyiddin said Uzbek companies could promote their products, seek business partners and penetrate the Asean market by participating in trade fairs held in Malaysia, including the Malaysia International Halal Showcase, International Trade Exhibition, Offshore Technology Oil and Gas Exhibition and Conference, and Malaysia International Furniture Fair.

"Today's round-table discussion is another small step towards achieving and improving our existing trading relationship.

"I hope to gain feedback from business leaders and to exchange key ideas on enhancing trade and investments."

Earlier, Muhyiddin highlighted Malaysia's achievements as an investment destination, including its 24th position in the latest Geneva-based World Economic Forum's Global Enabling Trade Report 2012 covering 132 countries. The latest ranking placed Malaysia among the top 20 per cent of global trade-enabled economies.

 According to the World Bank Doing Business 2014 report, Malaysia is ranked 6th easiest nation to do business in the world. In the category of getting credit, Malaysia is ranked number one, number four in protecting investors, number five in trading across borders and is the 6th most competitive among 189 economies in the world.

  Also Present were Elyor Ganiev, Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade; Abdul Aziz Harun, Ambassador of Malaysia to Uzbekistan; Shaykhov Alisher Erkinovish, Chairman of Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Datuk Dr. Wong Lai Sum, Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade); and Datuk Wan Hashim Wan Jusoh, Executive Director Manufacturing Development, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida).

  Yesterday, On Tuesday, Muhyiddin and the Malaysian delegation were given the rare opportunity to view the original Uthman Quran. on Tuesday.It is a 7th-century Quran believed to have belonged to the third Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, and is kept in the Hazrati Imam Complex in Tashkent. The copy of the Quran is one of a group commissioned by Uthman 19 years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, but the incomplete manuscript in Uzbekistan's possession (it is only 1/3 of the entire Quran)  is the only remaining copy known to exist in the world today.

   Unesco has certified the Uthman Quran manuscript as the earliest existent written version of the Quran. Uthman was assassinated while reading it, and it is believed his blood still stains the page of the surah he was reading at the time. The murder of Uthman precipitated the deep Sunni-Shia schism which has divided the Muslim community since then.

  The original manuscript is kept securely locked in a reinforced glass case, where the humidity and exposure to light is controlled to preserve the fragile pages. The Uthman Quran is written on animal skins.

  After viewing the Quran and being briefed on its history, Muhyiddin presented a donation from the Malaysian government to the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan to support its preservation efforts. He also signed the visitor's book, writing in Jawi that Malaysia is grateful for Uzbekistan's role to preserve this important Muslim heritage.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin visiting the historic Hazrati Imam Complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, yesterday. He is accompanied by Malaysian ambassador to Uzbekistan Abdul Aziz Harun (second from right). Bernama pic

'Tripartite meeting positive and productive'

Posted: 07 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

08 May 2014| last updated at 01:13AM
By THARANYA ARUMUGAM | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Tripartite Ministerial Meeting in Canberra, Australia, to discuss the new phase of the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has been described as positive and productive.

Royal Malaysian Navy deputy chief Vice-Admiral Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin, in a series of Twitter postings, expressed his gratitude to Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for the mandate on MH370 Tripartite meeting.

"TQ (Thank you) Sir @HishammuddinH2O for the mandate on MH370 Tripartite meeting. Extremely positive and productive engagement. Intense and constructive #MH370 Tripartite Meeting in Canberra. Outcome of high level of trust and commitment by all. Thank you Australia, China and friends of Malaysia," he said, adding that the best minds and assets would be committed to the search-and-recovery (SAR) mission.

Kamarulzaman said among the matters discussed in the closed- door meeting was on the mapping of the southern Indian Ocean floor and how state- of-the-art equipment would be rolled out in the new phase of SAR.

"The best technology will be put to bear for next phase in search of #MH370," he said, adding that technical and operational challenges in the SAR mission were also discussed.

He said former Australian Navy deputy chief Rear Admiral Trevor Jones and Environmental Geoscience division chief Dr Stuart Minchin briefed on operational and oceanographic challenges, where right assets with effective analysis were crucial at the meeting.

Kamarulzaman also tweeted an image on the characteristics of two underwater search equipment, namely the multibeam echosounder and backscatter, which were discussed in the meeting.

The multibeam echosounder for deep water could go to depths between 4,000m and 6,000m, compared with the Bluefin-21, which could only reach 4,500m.

"The best available (vessel mounted) multibeam systems (will be of) 12kHz or 30kHz (and will provide) high-resolution acquisition (and) information on seabed to improve autonomous under-water vehicle deployment options or navigation."

The backscatter provides information to differentiate between "hard" and "soft" parts of the sea- bed and might provide targets for higher resolution survey work.

Universiti Sains Malaysia Associate Prof Dr Mohd Rizal Arshad said the multibeam echosounder and backscatter were acoustic imaging devices that would be mounted at the bottom of the vessel.

He said the multibeam echosounder would emit sound waves from directly beneath a ship's hull, while the backscatter would be used to produce high-resolution maps of the seabed.

"The raw data obtained will then be analysed to make 3D images," said Rizal, who specialises in underwater robotics technology.

Meanwhile, Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, who was in Sydney, told the New Straits Times that the meeting was held to discuss the technical aspects of the SAR and for the officials to chart the next stage of search.

Ministry: Carry out more tests

Posted: 07 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: THE Health Ministry has ordered for more frequent checks on the water quality at treatment plants in Selangor, especially those which source water from Sungai Selangor.

The directive came the day the New Straits Time published the results of laboratory tests on water samples taken from mining pools in Bestari Jaya, identified by the state as its alternative source of water.

Dr Subramaniam said the ministry had discussed measures that must be taken to ensure that water that comes out from households' taps was in accordance with established standards, especially when there is a water shortage.

"I have instructed that frequent checks, especially on heavy metal content, are carried out to ensure the water quality is in accordance with safety) standards set by the ministry," he said after chairing the ministry's post-cabinet meeting yesterday.

The NST report, backed by independent lab test results, revealed that the water samples contained, among others, high levels of mangese, iron, nickel and lead.

As of yesterday, the ministry was still awaiting the latest test results for traces of heavy metals from samples taken from all treatment plants.

All treatment plants in the country, he said, would derive their raw water from normal sources, not from mining pools, and would be tested monthly for heavy metal content. This, he said was above and beyond the fortnightly water tests for bacterial, chemical and metal content.

Dr Subramaniam also said it was the responsibility of the Department of Environment (DOE) and Luas to ensure that the water sources were not suspect.

"I hope other agencies, especially DOE and Luas, will continuously conduct tests on raw water. They must immediately alert us and issue a statement once they notice changes in the water content," he said, adding that the ministry would heighten its checks at the plants if Selangor decides to source water from the mining pools.

He said if any contamination is detected in samples taken from water treatment plants, a protocol to shut down the plant would kick in to facilitate remedial works.

Water experts, meanwhile, said the use of water from the mining pools should be put on hold until the authorities had satisfied all safety checks.

Associate Professor Dr Zaki Zainudin said more comprehensive studies should carried out to determine the quality of the water.

"This water is to be supplied to the public and this can only be considered if a full-spectrum investigation has been carried out.

"The authorities and those checking for hazardous elements in the water must look beyond the presence of heavy metals or microbacteria.

"There are over 120 check-boxes in the National Water Quality that the authorities must tick off before they even think of using the water," he said, adding that a lab's test results were far from enough.

Zaki said the onus was also on the authorities to establish past activities that had taken place at the pools as they could have contributed to other risk factors.

This, he said, included when exactly they were decommissioned, if waste materials had been dumped into the ponds and the use of the surrounding land.

The Selangor state government yesterday came out strongly to dispute the findings of the laboratory testing commissioned by the New Straits Times on water samples taken from the mining pools.

The state government's spokesman for the water issue, executive councillor Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, during a press conference, finally made public the results of the a test commissioned about a week ago by the Selangor Water Management Authority (Luas), the authority responsible for raw water supply to the state, including from the mining pools, which is being used to increase the water level of Sungai Selangor.

Luas personnel had, on May 2, taken samples from the ponds and sent them for testing. Its director, Md Khairi Selamat, announced yesterday that tests on 27 parameters, basically showed that the mining pools were free of hazardous metals, except for a bit of manganese, which he said the treatment plants would get rid off.

Zaki also said the differing results from the NST and Luas-commissioned tests should trigger a more comprehensive study on the water samples.

He said the continuous taking of samples should be done from different parts of every one of the mining pools and at different depths.

"At this point, no one can say conclusively that the results (the lab tests of the mining pools' water) mean that the water from  the ponds is 100 per cent safe or otherwise," he said.

Yunus, in dismissing the NST report, said yesterday the lab results it published was different from a full report Luas received, which found that water in several former mining ponds were safe for consumers.

Yunus said water from the former mining ponds pumped into Sungai Selangor were channelled to the Sungai Selangor dam water treatment plant and would go through several treatment processes for cleaning. It must pass quality checks before being channelled to consumers.

"The state government guarantees that the water from these former mining ponds, channelled to consumers, is safe to use, based on the assurance given by Luas.

"Water channelled through the pipes to consumers is not raw water but treated water that have passed through several treatment processes," he said, adding that the state's priority was the safety of the people and would never compromise on issues that can affect the safety and welfare of the people.

Asked whether the state's water treatment plants would be upgraded to treat water from former mining ponds, Yunus indicated that there were no plans to do so at the moment as the water from the ponds was safe.

Meanwhile, Khairi said the mining ponds had been identified as the states' alternative source of water since 2009.

The test results announced yesterday were for samples taken from the Kambing Susu, KL-Larut, Kolam Hang Tuah 1, Kolam Hang Tuah 2, Kolam Rasa, Rasa mining pools, as well as Sungai Selangor. The results for the Sungai Darah mining pool, were not released.

The NST probe team spent two days in Bestari Jaya recording and observing the flow of water from the mining pools, including the Sungai Darah and Hang Tuah ponds, into Selangor. Based on  the lab test reading (see table), the sample taken from the Hang Tuah pool, which had a pump channelling water into Sungai Selangor, recorded high readings for metal traces. At the Sungai Darah mining pool, the team detected an underground pipe where water from the pond was flowing into the river. At the same time, a water pump was channelling water into the mining pool.

Zaki cautioned the danger in this, saying that this would stir up sediments at the bottom of the mining ponds.

A Luas spokesman, when asked yesterday if it would consider engaging an independent party to collect water samples to be sent for testing, said the matter had not been discussed.- Additional reporting by Azura Abas, Mazlinda Mahmood and Eunice Au.