New Straits Times articles from December 2001

New Straits Times archives from December 2001

A printer packed with useful features.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Nigel Yap CANON S400SP (printer) Manufacturer: Canon Inc Enquiries: Canon Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd (Tel: 03-78446009) Price: RM448 THE Canon S400SP is one of the new printers in the market targeted at the home and student...

Samsung phone for modern women.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Subashini Selvaratnam HERE'S something for women to look out for. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has launched a new trendy mobile phone, the SGH-A400 Egeo, exclusively designed for women. Samsung's chief representative Choi Tae...

E-services for telcos.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Subashini Selvaratnam COMPANIES are lining up to provide solutions for telecommunications companies. One of them, Sonera SmartTrust Ltd, has come up with solutions for mobile banking, prepaid services, global system for mobile...

Cisco offers new IP-based products.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Subashini Selvaratnam VOICE communications has increasingly become more sophisticated with Internet protocol (IP) telephony. In view of this, Cisco Systems has introduced a new IP-based product, the Catalyst 4224, which supports...

AIDS Foundation fundraiser.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Siti Hajar Abd Aziz CAMERATA dell'Arte, organiser of ExpoMuzik 2001 incorporating the Festival of Music Kuala Lumpur 2001, held a charity concert and dinner in aid of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation at the Nusantara Ballroom,...

Luxury timepieces at flagship boutique.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Jasmime Kaur BEARING in mind that wearing an exquisite timepiece can make anyone look and feel great, luxury watch retailer The Hour Glass opened its flagship boutique at the Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur recently. ...

PM launches Darby Park apartments.
December 31, 2001... THE PNB Darby Park Hotel apartments at Jalan Binjai, in the heart of the city, was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently. Owned by Permodalan Nasional Berhad, the hotel has 226 units of one, two and...

Legend holds workshop on meat-free meals.
December 31, 2001... LEGEND Hotel in Kuala Lumpur recently held a cooking demonstration to introduce the healthy properties of meat-free cuisine to members of its online Secretaries Club. Some 25 people, comprising mainly personal assistants, secretaries and...

Kamaruddin, Sheikh to tell all.
December 31, 2001... Byline: S. Selvam INTERNAL bickering and political powerplay within the Malaysian AAU, and not the feud with the National Sports Council, are the reasons for the sorry state the sport is in. And come Wednesday, the stage is set for...

Today in history.
December 31, 2001... 1951 South Indian Rovers win cup SOUTH Indian Rovers, of Kuala Lumpur, won the knockout cup soccer competition of the Ramnad District Association (Malaya) by defeating Dravidian Sports Club of Port Swettenham in the final 2-0 at the...

Chua scalps Ong in major upset.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Gopal Singh SARAWAKIAN James Chua created an upset beating top seed Ong Ewe Hock 7-6, 7-1, 7-0 in the men's Division One singles final of the Penang Open badminton championships played at the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)...

Choon RR win island relay.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Gopal Singh The team of 12 runners also comprised R. Muniandy of Sungai Petani and Rosli Rumia. Choon RR clocked 4:22.33, Langgers Road Runners were second in 4:40.37 and BM Leopard third in 5:06.41. The run, the only of...

Selangor beat Penang to claim national crown.
December 31, 2001... Byline: K.M. Boopathy LACK of depth cost Penang the national inter-state team title as they were toppled by Selangor and even the presence of world number seven Ong Beng Hee could not change the outcome at the Jalan Duta courts...

All point to a better new year for TNB.
December 31, 2001... COULD 2002 be a better year for Tenaga Nasional Bhd? Things did look better for TNB this time around, especially with economists predicting between two and six per cent GDP growth for next year, said a stockbroking firm. Another boon...

WCT Engineering looking ahead to the future.
December 31, 2001... SMALLISH KLSE main board construction company WCT Engineering Bhd is walking tall these days. It has secured some RM1.2 billion worth of projects this year to boost its order book to RM1.4 billion. Soon, it will have two toll-road...

Plantation-based Bukit Katil Resources to boost land bank.
December 31, 2001... PLANTATION-based group Bukit Katil Resources Bhd plans to increase its land bank in the next few years, said its chairman N. Sadasivan. The company, which has 2,000 acres in its land bank, will concentrate on strengthening its core...

Flextronics aims to make country major logistics hub.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Michael Sun GLOBAL electronics manufacturing services provider, Flextronics, is set to make Malaysia a major manufacturing and logistics hub for its operations in Asia Pacific region. Senior vice-president and managing...

Hopes for better year in banking industry.
December 31, 2001... INVESTORS are hoping for a brighter 2002, despite disappointing nine-month results for banks, MIDF Sisma Securities Sdn Bhd said. It said no positive surprise was expected for the fourth quarter of 2001. "We envisage earnings growth...

Hai-O earnings cut.
December 31, 2001... HAI-O Enterprise Bhd recorded a lower pre-tax profit of RM1.631 million for the six months ended Oct 31, 2001 compared to RM3.255 million in the same period last year. The profit was achieved on the back of lower revenue of RM41.411 million...

General makes RM1.7m.
December 31, 2001... GENERAL Corporation Bhd reported a lower pre-tax profit of RM1.745 million for the nine months ended Oct 31, 2001 against RM4.430 in the corresponding year. The profit was achieved on the back of lower turnover of RM86.634 million against...

Changhuat posts less.
December 31, 2001... CHANGHUAT Corporation Bhd reported a lower pre-tax profit of RM1.323 million for the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2001 compared to RM2.034 million in the same quarter last year. The profit was achieved on the back of lower revenue of...

Seloga's 3-month loss.
December 31, 2001... SELOGA Holdings Bhd reported a pre-tax loss of RM2.508 million for the three months ended Oct 31, 2001 on a turnover of RM11.338 million. It also recorded a pre-tax loss of RM19.682 million for the fifteen months ended Oct 31, 2001 on a...

Megan's higher pre-tax.
December 31, 2001... MEGAN Media Holdings Bhd recorded a higher pre-tax profit of RM12.565 million for the six months ended Oct 31, 2001 compared to RM10.423 million in the same period last year. The profit was achieved on the back of a higher turnover of...

Lower gains for H&L.
December 31, 2001... KUMPULAN H&L High-Tech Bhd recorded a lower pre-tax profit of RM2.699 million for the year ended Oct 31, 2001 against RM6.421 million last year. The profit was achieved on a lower revenue of RM27.916 million compared to RM35.988...

Komark profit down.
December 31, 2001... KOMARKCORP Bhd recorded a lower pre-tax profit of RM1.578 million for the six months ended Oct 31, 2001 compared to RM2.827 million in the same period last year. The profit was achieved on the back of higher turnover of RM36.083 million...

Delirium confident of prospects.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Shirene Shan DESPITE unfavourable global market conditions, e-consulting solutions provider DeliriumCyberTouch Sdn Bhd is sanguine about prospects for its operations in Malaysia next year. Group turnover is expected to reach...

CI poised to end on a high note, above last year's close.
December 31, 2001... Byline: S.N.Lock LAST week, share prices on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) closed higher on follow-through window-dressing activities. Overall market sentiment had improved marginally as the window-dressing exercise focused on...

Memo: The week that will be.
December 31, 2001... Monday, Dec 31 PRICEWORTH Wood Products Bhd to hold its initial listing ceremony on the Second Board of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange at the Presentation Terrace, KLSE Information Gallery, Mezzanine Floor, KLSE at 9am. * HONG KONG...

New look for Hour Glass outlets.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Alice Chia THE Hour Glass Sdn Bhd, the Singapore-based luxury watch retailer, has invested about RM3 million to create a new look for its stores. The investment included the installation of information technology and security...

DHL logistics support for Ericsson.
December 31, 2001... DHL Worldwide Express, an international air express company and business logistics solutions provider, has been appointed by telecommunications supplier Ericsson to provide on-going logistics support. DHL Malaysia general manager Yasmin...

Suryani brushes Nurul aside to claim second gold.
December 31, 2001... Byline: S. Selvam And with yesterday's win, Nur Suryani consolidated her position for a place in the Manchester Commonwealth Games squad next year, as Nurul was once again, left to pick up the pieces. On the first day of competition,...

Umno can look forward with optimism but not overconfidence.
December 31, 2001... Byline: now, MP for Kinabatangan Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin said Umno leaders THINGS are looking good for Umno especially party president Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad as he savours some comforting developments in the party and country as...

Former Sun editor will not disclose identity of sources.
December 31, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - The former editor of The Sun, Andy Ng, said he will not disclose the identity of the sources who tipped off his reporters about an alleged plot to assassinate the Prime Minister and his deputy. He said it would...

DAP Youth chief wants Kerk to contest different seat.
December 31, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - DAP Socialist Youth head Teng Chang Khim has asked secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock not to seek re-election in the Kota Melaka parliamentary constituency in the next general election. In his speech during the State...

DAP won't aid ex-allies in polls.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Chow Kum Hor PETALING JAYA, Sun. - The DAP, which has decided not to contest the coming by-election for Indera Kayangan, will also not extend any help to its former partners in the opposition front during the campaign. A...

Preparations for grand bash well under way.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Shamini Darshni KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - Preparations to usher in 2002 in Dataran Merdeka are well under way and the excitement can be felt by everyone including volunteers taking part in the programme. Stages and tents were put...

Marine police move to curb illegal entry.
December 31, 2001... KLANG, Sun. - Marine police will launch Ops Pagang 2002 in their effort to curb illegal entry of immigrants, especially from Indonesia. Federal Marine Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner (II) Mohamad Muda said the operation would see...

Hope for doctors trained in China.
December 31, 2001... Byline: R. Murali TAMPIN, Sun. - In a bid to overcome the shortage of doctors in Malaysia, the Health Ministry has developed a programme enabling Malaysian students who are pursuing their medical degrees in China to return and serve in...

South Koreans look to Malaysia as their favourite destination.
December 31, 2001... Byline: Habsah Marjuni KUALA LUMPUR, Sun. - When leading South Korean actor Kim Ho Jin, 30, wed equally famous model Kim Ji Ho, 27, on Dec 11, the South Korean public became very curious about the choice of destination for the...

Father Lucius Su dies after long illness.
December 31, 2001... PETALING JAYA, Sun. - China-born Catholic priest Father Lucius Su died in Petaling Jaya today. He was 75. Su came to then Malaya in 1957, a year after he was ordained a priest at the age of 30. He first served as discipline...

Raya greetings from Boston.
December 30, 2001... A WARM hello from the Malaysian community in Boston. Students are from MIT, Boston University, Harvard and Northeastern. Some are undergrads on the ATU (American Top University) programme. Several are graduates, post- graduates and a few are...

Interior design holds much promise.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Suryana G. Mohamad A FLAIR for design is essential to succeed in the world of interior design, but artistic genius is not necessary. Believe it or not, even choosing a dress colour is related to design! "No one is...

Promising Open Day at Monash.
December 30, 2001... Byline: R.V. Veera IT BUFFS will have a field day at the university's Malaysia Open Day on Jan 5 as they can try their hands at website designing, explore Monash University's web camera and video-conferencing facilities and learn to...

Emphasis on holistic studies at Taylor's.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Jasbir Singh THERE are many factors that set the American education system apart from others, chief of which is its emphasis on holistic, broad-based education. And this is why many students opt for American degrees coupled...

UNiM makes great strides outside UK.
December 30, 2001... Byline: 2003, UNiM will move to a purpose-built campus at Mutiara Putra, THE University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNiM) is the first branch campus of the British University outside Britain. Since opening its doors in September 2000,...

KTJ students raise RM34,000 for charitable cause.
December 30, 2001... KOLEJ Tuanku Ja'afar raised RM34,000 for the Mawar Haemodialysis Centre Negri Sembilan, during its Open Day held recently in conjunction with its 10th anniversary celebration. KTJ principal Patrick D. Briggs said a mock cheque was...

Cosmopoint moves up in IT field with Aussie tie-up.
December 30, 2001... TO ensure that students have more options for acquiring a degree, Cosmopoint College recently signed a collaboration agreement with Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, one of Australia's leading universities. The agreement,...

A-Level programme INTI College's forte.
December 30, 2001... Byline: R.V. Veera WHEN the Cambridge A-Level programme was introduced at INTI College in December 1999, the student enrolment stood at 22 but today it has soared to over 100 students which bears testimony to the quality of the...

Wacky Matilda shoots from the lips.
December 30, 2001... Byline: the way, she thinks Malaysian men are so adorable, especially when IT WAS an unusual venue for a Press conference but singer and programme host extraordinaire, Matilda Tao, or more affectionately known as Tao-zi, delights in the...

Austrian attractions.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Tan Bee Hong GUSTAV Klimt. The Viennese painter is known for his expressionistic, seductive style. Thus, when My Best Friend and I drove past a restaurant called Klimt's, we made a mental note to drop in someday. So I have,...

Fast pace of love and emotions.
December 30, 2001... Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas By James Patterson. Headline, RM50.90,pp280 ALMOST everyone, at some point in their life, fails to escape the reach of love. In Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas, James Patterson's astute novel on romance, that...

Dalton's 'exorcism'.
December 30, 2001... A PREPUBESCENT boy spouts profanities in Latin using voices other than his own. Furniture in his room moves about by itself. Welts on his stomach appear to spell out demonic messages. He enjoys committing such blasphemous acts as spitting...

No sanctuary, only nightmares.
December 30, 2001... FORMER child star, Melissa Gilbert, who left an indelible mark in prime- time television with her starring role in Little House On The Prairie, stars in best-selling author Nora Roberts' Sanctuary, premiering at 10 tonight exclusively on...

Taking music to the street.
December 30, 2001... IN THE contemporary music landscape, the smart money's on the street. There was a time not too long ago when music companies planned, strategised, and commissioned market research even before investing a red cent in marketing new albums....

Gold on the road to El Dorado.
December 30, 2001... Byline: chance, the two men find the gate to El Dorado, are mistaken to be BOTH of them have tackled Shakespeare: one was a donkey-headed aspiring actor in A Midsummer's Night Dream, the other has brought to the big screen many of...

Lee hopes for spot in Thomas Cup team.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Gopal Singh NATIONAL singles shuttler Lee Tsuen Seng is hoping to make it to the Thomas Cup squad - at least as a reserve. Lee, 22, has been showing progress this year, having won the Dutch Open and finishing as runner-up in...

Azmi appointed Perlis FA team manager.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Isma Jamil PERLIS FA treasurer Azmi Saad has been appointed team manager of the State Premier One side yesterday. The FA, which held its council meeting yesterday, endorsed Azmi's appointment while Jamil Saad will remain as...

Chua sends Yong crashing.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Gopal Singh SARAWAKIAN James Chua, representing BAM, created another upset disposing giant killer and fellow national teamate Yong Hock Kin 7-4, 7-4, 3-7, 7-5 in a thrilling singles semifinal of the men's Division One of the...

Two-gold Hashim emjoying a renaissance.
December 30, 2001... FORMER national shooter Mohamed Hashim Desa proved that he is still a force to be reckoned with when he bagged two gold medals on the penultimate day of the Tun Haniff Omar Trophy at the Subang Shooting Range yesterday. His two gold...

Gritty Soyza pulls Penang through.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Lee Keng Fatt PENANG were given a run for their money by defending champions Kuala Lumpur in the men's Division One semifinals in the Inter-State squash championships at Jalan Duta courts yesterday. The favourites defeated...

Battle for trainers' title hots up.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Go-Ram THE battle between brothers - Johann van Breukelen and Marinus van Breukelen - for training honours hotted-up on the eve of the running of the richest race in Malaysia, the RM1,250,000 Yang Di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup. ...

Toyota's F1 machine.
December 30, 2001... TOYOTA has taken a significant step on its path to Formula 1 with the unveiling in Cologne of its definitive 2002 challenger, the TF102. Official drivers, Mika Salo and Allan McNish, will give the car its race debut at the Australian GP...

Made by 'Global Honda'.
December 30, 2001... Byline: T. Yogendra HONDA aims to dramatically increase its competitiveness in Asia and developing countries through its "Made by Global Honda" concept which will incorporate production bases in these countries. The company, Honda...

Ford's new ASEAN chief.
December 30, 2001... JOHN Parker has been appointed president of Ford's Association of South- East Asian Nations (Asean) operations effective December 1. Assuming the new role, Parker will be responsible for the company's operations in the Asean region...

Hybrid: New Honda Civic.
December 30, 2001... HONDA Motor Co released the new Civic Hybrid sedan which boasts ultra-high fuel economy of 29.5km/L*1 p - the highest in the world for a 5-passenger gasoline-powered production vehicle. The Civic Hybrid features a state-of-the-art VTEC...

Made to measure.
December 30, 2001... Byline: 2003, however, there will be a special Vectra at a higher price. THE Vauxhall Vectra, the company-fleet favourite, is under pressure. The current Vectra is six years old and in the past few months, new models of the Ford Mondeo,...

Power and luxury.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Sherman Dez THE BMW 5 Series remains the quintessential mid-size luxury sports sedan. Each model presents a distinctive personality and price range, and all are wonderful cars in their own right. Twenty-four year old...

Bodies of two more mudslide victims found.
December 30, 2001... PONTIAN, Sat. - Two more bodies were found today by a search and rescue party, making three confirmed deaths in Thursday night's mudslide which swept away four houses at the foothills of Gunung Pulai. The search is still on for two others...

Stay with party, says reinstated Umno member.
December 30, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - A former Umno member who was reinstated after a five- year suspension has urged others who had been punished by the party not to abandon it. Former Negri Sembilan Umno treasurer Datuk Dr Abdul Murad Ahmad said they...

Bulldozer operator killed.
December 30, 2001... GUA MUSANG, Sat. - A 20-year-old bulldozer operator was killed after the machine slid down a hill in Felda Aring Enam yesterday. Raja Ali Raja Bahar was among workers repairing a road there when the incident occurred about 5.30pm. ...

Dr M, wife among 50,000 at national Christmas open house.
December 30, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - More than 50,000 people joined Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Datuk Seri Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at the celebration of the Malaysia 2001 Christmas open house tonight. The open house, held...

A defender of our golden oil.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Theresa Manavalan TAN Sri Borge Bek-Nielsen drinks neat two tablespoons of the red palm oil every day, convinced it contains all the magical properties that make a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Take a good look at him and...

Liz-Bing the sad joke.
December 30, 2001... LIZ Hurley's former lover, millionaire producer Steve Bing, has accused her of a "set-up" after the pregnant actress told 35 million TV viewers of their relationship. He reportedly said through current girlfriend Brenda Swanson that Liz...

Don't let our top brains wither away, say professors.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Yong Tiam Kui WITH a mandatory retirement age of 56, a typical lecturer with a PhD would only be spending 25 years or so teaching. This is because it takes 20 or more years of study to reach the PhD level. So when a doctorate...

Ballot box may be the only solution.
December 30, 2001... Byline: now, it is an open secret that a breakthrough was reached and a THE ongoing renovations at Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, gave rise to rumours that the works were carried out because of bad feng shui (geomancy) at the...

MCA leaders' move is wise, says PM.
December 30, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today the decision by MCA leaders to put aside their differences and work for the common benefit of the Barisan Nasional was indeed wise. Dr Mahathir, who is also...

'Verdict proves justice prevails'.
December 30, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The High Court's verdict on 19 members of the Al- Ma'unah religious extremist group shows that justice prevails in the country, irrespective of the offender's race or religion. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir...

'No defection can shake BN'.
December 30, 2001... Byline: Ainon Mohd; Firdaus Abdullah KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The Barisan Nasional Government will not lose its majority if any of the component parties decides to pull out from the coalition, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad...

Lawyer on right to defend Misuari.
December 30, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - Elly Pamatong said today he had a written agreement with Nur Misuari's wife to represent the renegade Philippine leader. "I also received instruction from Misuari on Nov 16 to defend him should any problems arise in...

Sun's ex-editor quizzed for three hours by police.
December 30, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The former editor of The Sun, Andy Ng, was quizzed for three hours at the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman today. He came to the Criminal Investigation Department at 11am to give statements pertaining to his...

Sabah BN to send team.
December 30, 2001... KOTA KINABALU, Sat. - Sabah Barisan Nasional will send a team to support the party's candidate for the Indera Kayangan by-election, its chairman Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said today.

Keadilan, Pas tell police not to interfere in by-election.
December 30, 2001... PENANG, Sat. - Pas and Parti Keadilan Nasional have warned the police against interfering in the upcoming Indera Kayangan by-election. Kedah Pas deputy commissioner Mohamad Sabu, who likened the law enforcement agency as pemuda tahan...

Pas MP backs plan for island rehab centres.
December 30, 2001... PENANG, Sat. - Pas MP for Kuala Kedah Mohamad Sabu supported the Home Ministry's proposal to turn several remote islands off the Malaysian waters into dadah rehabilitation centres. Describing the proposal as timely, he said the concept of...

'Monthly wages will cripple plantation sector'.
December 30, 2001... KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - The Malaysian plantation industry will collapse if workers are given monthly salaries. Consolidated Plantations Bhd managing director Syed Tamin Syed Mohamad said if workers were paid basic salaries, they would take...