New Straits Times articles from December 2006

New Straits Times archives from December 2006

Price of peace.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Lam Lin Shi HOLIDAYS are not always about partying and shopping. Winning a contest allows LAM LIN SHI a taste of luxuriously quiet vacations. WHAT would you do if you had RM6,000 to...

Germany's Finest Youth Musicians.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) MALAYSIAN audiences will get an opportunity to watch one of Europe's finest youth orchestras live when the German Philharmonic String Orchestra, or Deutsche Streicherphilharmonie, performs in Penang...

A pick me upper.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Joanna Retnam; Ben Suppiah THERE WAS A GIRL THIS year has zipped by but I still have had no Brad Pitt-types approach me (duh, why else am I still single?) but I have had a number of......

Muse-ic across the Causeway.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Aref Omar DURING the MTV European Music Video Awards in Copenhagen last month, Brandon Flowers, vocalist for the Killers, claimed in his acceptance speech that the Best Rock award they won...

Rolling out the ICT red carpet.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) COME May 2008, Malaysia will be the honoured host of the biennial World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT), the global forum for ICT business, policies, ideas and technology. The winning bid...

Sanctuary for the innocent.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Debra Chong THE STEVENS (comprising Steven Silvaraju and wife Jacinta) DAY JOBS: Staff at an international school in Kuala Lumpur. Jacinta works full-time in the preschool while Steven is a...

Interior dreams.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Jaswinder Kaur ANNE LASIMBANG SHE studied Geology, but Anne Lasimbang traded what could have been a lucrative income in the oil and gas industry to work with indigenous people. "I...

On track towards Vision 2020.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Mustapha Kamil FIFTY years ago, the Malaysian economy revolved around rubber and tin. Back then, almost 70 per cent of what the young nation earned was derived from these two...

10 New Year resolutions to save fuel.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) FILLING up with fuel is as necessary as humans drinking water. But as oil prices keep rising, owning a car is burning a big hole in our pockets. Nonetheless, here are some fuel-saving tips that...

Motor box not bright enough.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Paul David DEAR Paul, I am having problems with my Mercedes-Benz 123 model 1982. 1) The motor box does not illuminate brightly at night and I am unable to see the meter readings...

Russians can rock.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Joanna Retnam A SOFT bed. A huggy pillow. Total darkness. These are the prerequisites for my snuggy slumber. But I've never fallen asleep in public, much less in an upscale place with posh...

Ingredients for a better life.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Suryani Dalip HARUN MAT YUSOP, 35 PRE-OCCUPATION: Teaching juvenile delinquents at Henry Gurney School in Teluk Mas, Malacca cooking skills. It is a six-month course to help them build a...

ENEOS takes the F1 high road.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) ENEOS' involvement in motorsports started in 2000 when it supplied engine oil for the San Marino GP. In 2003, it supplied gear oil at the Australian GP, and in 2006, ENEOS signed a Lubricants...

Nippon Oil eyes Malaysia.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) JAPAN'S biggest oil company, Nippon Oil Corporation (NOC), is using its research and development partnership with Honda's F1 Racing Team to blend oils for the Malaysian market. Besides Malaysia,...

Easing the pain.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Julia Chan DR RANJIT MATHEW OOMMEN HE had it all - a successful career, loving wife and three daughters, and all the recognition that came with being a recognised surgeon. But Dr Ranjit...

Cutting edge Blade.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) CURRENTLY available only in Japan, the Toyota Blade compact hatchback comes in front and all-wheel drive variants. Featuring an exterior characterised by subtle lines and an aggressive-looking...

Boarding now ... a witch doctor!
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: P. Selvarani; Patrick Sennyah IT used to be theft of cutlery and demands for freebies. But now flight attendants on major airlines also have to contend with suicidal passengers, amorous...

Almost an astronaut.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Rachael Philip SHE would always be remembered as the girl who did not make it to space but astronaut candidate Vanajah Subramaniam has gravitated to a special place in many people's hearts....

No power for uphill.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Paul David DEAR Paul, There is not enough power in my Wira 1.5 manual (1995) when going uphill. And there seems to be a knocking sound in the engine and my mechanic said the car needs a...

Ah Pan's gifts of survival.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Sam Cheong Y.P. CHAN, 50 Y.P. CHAN, or Ah Pan, as he insists on being called, is a man with boundless energy when it comes to his passion - educating indigenous people in Gua Musang,...

For a special occasion.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Q: I just got a bottle of Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque 1996 champagne for my birthday (green bottle with white flowers on it) and I plan to save it for a very special occasion. But I don't know how to...

Various specialties of ENEOS Motor Oils.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) NIPPON Oil Corporation (NOC)'s lubricants have a total sales volume of over one million KL per year. The ENEOS' engine oil range includes Pro Racing 0W-50, Pro Racing 5W-50, Eco Touring 5W-30,...

Strays touch her heart.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Yeang Soo Ching >TERRY POH OCCUPATION: Owner of advertising firm. PREOCCUPATION: Rescuing stray animals, mainly dogs, and finding safe homes for them. "I don't think there will ever...

Tuesdays with Dr Malikka.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Gerald Chuah DR MALIKKA ASHOK DR MALIKKA Ashok believes in service with a smile. She has been a practising doctor for more than 20 years, running her own clinic in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar,...

Frontier's new look.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) A TWO-tone look, one tonne payload and waterproof bedliner mark the new 2007 Nissan Frontier 4WD Sports Utility Truck (SUT). The enchanced 2.5-litre SUT has a direct injection diesel engine with...

Celebrating a most precious gift.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Kathirasen LIFE, for many of us, can be a burden. For millions, it is a strangling yoke. But it should not be so. I have for some years now, tried to celebrate life; to try and savour...

Tyre's markings.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Paul David DEAR Paul, Some time back, you wrote about how to read tyre markings. I am using a set of tyres that reads P205/ 75 R 15. What do the numbers and letters mean? - Hisham Ahmad...

Nurturing a strong spirit of patriotism.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) NATIONAL SERVICE OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY THE spirit of patriotism and national integration among the younger generation of Malaysians is the main element in the implementation of the National...

(This is a fine ...).
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Subhadra Devan David Gomes & Junji Delfino: It's Christmas Time Again (Catalyst Records) THIS is a fine jazz take on the popular traditional Christmas songs. It is well-made and deserves...

Sips on the sweet side.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Q: Is there such a thing as sweet wines for those who don't like them "dry"? A: It's surprising how many people ask us to recommend an inexpensive everyday wine that's sweet. This is not as simple...

A very special family.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Ravi Nambiar SITI SARIAH SARIMAN, 50 SITI Sariah Sariman took out her life savings of RM50,000 five years ago and used it to set up a home for disabled children. Since then, the...

And, in a galaxy not so far away ...
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) (ENTER the Minister for Mishaps and Migraine, Onlytalkus, and his political secretary Noddingheadus.) Onlytalkus: Oh, why did I listen to you and come here in this weather? Noddingheadus: Minister, it...

NS spirit lives on.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid SPEECH by ABDUL HALIM ABDUL HAMID, National Service Department Director General. Istood in awe the first time I was at Bukit Jalil Stadium on Jan 1, 2006. It...

Big exhaust pipe.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Paul David DEAR Paul, Would a big diameter exhaust pipe result in higher fuel consumption? - Alan M Reply: Exhaust systems are designed to suit the characteristics of an engine and what it...

Woes after overhaul.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Paul David DEAR Paul, My Volvo 940 turbo (1994) has clocked 185,000km. Since 1996, I have to top up with half litre of water into the expansion tank after every 450km. I did an engine...

SEGi emphasises quality of lecturers.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE success of students depends greatly on the capabilities, qualities and dedication of the educator. Producing more than 250 first class honours graduates for close to 30 years speaks volumes for...

Goddess at classic gathering.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) A GROUP of fans got together for an inaugural meeting of classic Citroen cars at an eatery on Jalan Sultan Ismail recently. Present were two classic Citroen DS or Deesee (Goddess) in pristine...

Talent of a child in Shell calendar.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) SIX commissioned artworks of Malaysian child autistic savant, Yeak Ping Lian, are featured in Shell Malaysia's calendar 2007 that was launched last Wednesday. Ping Lian, a gifted 13-year-old now...

'The Tunku never acknowledged my worth publicly ...'.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE story of Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, a Malaysian giant whose role stretched from the struggle for Independence right through to the aftermath of May 13, has been largely unknown. In the following...

Horror gets a local Tamil twist.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Suganthi Suparmaniam A SPIRIT seeking justice for its untimely death. Where? In Malaysia. But have no fear, it's only a film. Not another one? But it's in Tamil. And it is in digital...

'I just felt dizzy and nauseous'.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Poppy Rhodes "ELECTRO-SENSITIVITY is a rather misleading term. I'm fine around electricity. But put me next to a BlackBerry or a wireless laptop accessing the Internet and I feel dizzy,...

Tested formula for 'delicate' issues.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Chow Kum Hor THE year has seen a host of sensitive issues blowing up, and in the process, putting race relations to the test. CHOW KUM HOR looks at 'touchy' situations this year and how to...

RM30 million BMW upgrade.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) A HIGHER level of comfort and convenience awaits customers at Auto Bavaria branches nationwide following upgrades, costing RM30 million, to its facilities. This includes bigger showrooms, higher...

The man who saved Malaysia.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) MOST Malaysians have only a vague memory of him. To many, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman was little more than a leader whose time was cut short much too soon. But a soon-to-be-released biography of the...

So much more to be achieved.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Vijesh Rai AS the last few hours of 2006 tick away, the Malaysian sporting fraternity must be wishing for the ability to turn the clock back and start the year afresh. When the reviews for...

Customers come first.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) IF you are looking for a trusted and reliable electrical appliance, think Panasonic. What makes the Panasonic brand a stand out from the rest is its customer service. "We want happy and...

Swing with the Curve.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Ben Suppiah PEOPLE, people and more people! It's been a while since Petaling Jaya has drawn the party crowd. The Curve seems brimming with "mall rats". Experiencing this Mutiara...

Catwoman.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Suryani Dalip ZAHARAH NAWAWI, 66 WHO: Retiree, novelist, columnist and poet from USJ4, Subang Jaya. LABOUR OF LOVE: Looks after 35 strays. They are housed in a four-room "bungalow", a...

From fiqh to Quran: Resolving apostasy.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Chandra Muzaffar WHEN Malaysians ushered in 2006, the Moorthy (Mohamed Abdullah) episode was still reverberating in the air. As 2006 drew to a close, the Rayappan Anthony incident is still...

Breeding champions.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Brenda Lim RAISING horses at the National Stud Farm in Tanjung Rambutan is a huge challenge, considering the hot and humid weather. But good food, sheer hard work and breeding experience...

Swamped but spirits aren't crushed.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Ravi Nambiar EIGHT districts were inundated and nearly 100,000 people had to flee their homes in the worst floods to hit Johor in over 50 years. The destruction wrought by the raging flood...

Saluting the jazz youngbloods.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) IN Hennessy X.O's final tribute to Malaysian jazz musicians, we highlight the future of jazz in Malaysia by presenting pianist Eric Li Yuan, drummer John Ashley Thomas, bassist Halizor Hussein and...

A challenging year.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Abdul Razak Ahmad TWO major political episodes made 2006 one of the most challenging years for Umno and the Barisan Nasional. First, it was the year former Prime Minister Tun Dr...

Chow Kit's big brother.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Su Aziz >RAJA AZIZAN SUHAIMI RAJA ABDUL LATIFF BY DAY: Counsels HIV sufferers at non-governmental organisation Ikhlas. BY NIGHT: Takes care of the children of sex workers and drug...

NSTP, Jaring in Net tie-up.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR: The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd has signed a memorandum of understanding with Jaring Sdn Bhd to expand the capabilities of its e-media resources. Signing on behalf of Jaring was...

UCSI on expansion drive.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) UNIVERSITY College Sedaya International (UCSI) is putting the money where its proverbial mouth is with heavy investments in building new campuses over the next few years. Its major projects are to...

Conducive environment for businesses.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE expansion of local enterprises has created many opportunities for the development of small-scale businesses and industries in Malaysia. The initiatives taken by the Domestic Trade and Consumer...

Celebration of piety and resolve.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Md Asham Ahmad AIDILADHA is the celebration of piety, as exemplified in the story of the family of Ibrahim. Ibrahim (the man/father), Siti Hajar (the woman/wife), and Ismail (the son/child)...

With his heart he reaches out.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Shannon Teoh MOHD ZHARIFF AFANDI, 25 CURRENT PURSUITS: Double degree in psychology and international relations. HIS CONDITION: Born without arms, Zhariff simply thinks that fate has...

A world-class premier port.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), the international gateway of the southern region, has been experiencing rapid growth over the past five years, proving itself as a successful regional distribution,...

Two is better than three, say employers and MTUC.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: R.S. Kamini KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund's move to restructure the accounts of members to increase their savings on retirement has been well received. Under the scheme, which...

Bright size life.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Minderjeet Kaur CHILDREN walk for miles under scorching sun to school. But they don't mind. They know it is the only way to break the chain of poverty in their village in Kalimantan Barat....

Couple of successes.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Aref Omar LAST year represented a breakout year for the little power pop engine Couple. The Ipoh-mali band has been making bite-sized tsunami waves on the international indie scene with its...

Bubbly dance.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Rachael Philip A bacchanal lunch with chef and champagne ambassador Bernard Dance leaves RACHAEL PHILIP swaying to a tune in her head. IT starts with a gentle sigh as the bottle is...

A Mini spin in Spain.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Yamin Vong THE much anticipated new Mini will be launched in Malaysia next year. And for a preview of what we can expect, an international press launch was held in Spain by its owners, BMW....

Beware the watchman.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Debra Chong CHRISTOPHER NG, 46 DAY JOB: Manager of an equipment rental and service company in USJ, Selangor. NIGHT DUTY: Volunteer resident patrol since 2004. The father of two...

My counsellor, my confidante.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Cynthia Lee LOURDES PITCHAIMUTHU, 75 SHE has severe arthritis but she frequents the cancer ward at the Malacca Hospital. Lourdes Pitchaimuthu, 75, fondly known as Aunt Lourdes, is a...

Coventry cat is back.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Thomas Huong WITH a price tag of more than RM652K, expect this luxury saloon from the Jaguar family to prowl the roads with a high standard of build quality, aesthetics and driving comfort....

Liver and alcohol.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE live is the largest internal organ in the body and also one of the most important as it carries out hundreds of specialised functions including detoxification or the breaking down of toxic...

RTM visit gives students insight into broadcasting.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) DO you know what it is like in RTM, the national radio and TV broadcaster, where television and radio broadcasting in Malaysia was born? Many wake up to the live talk show Selamat Pagi Malaysia (SPM) in...

Obermaier Motorsports.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) OBERMAIER Motorsports is a one-stop shop for all your Mini needs. It has a full diagnostic system to pinpoint problems as well as ensure that you are getting the desired results after all the...

Maximise your Mini.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: P. Karan WHILE it is no secret that the classic Mini of the sixties still enjoys great popularity and a huge fan base, the new Mini is set to follow in its footsteps. More than five...

Presidential award for Nasimuddin.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) CBT congratulates Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin, Chairman and Group CEO of the Naza Group of Companies, for being awarded the prestigious Presidential Award from the government of South Korea. ...

Ultra-Tune.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) ULTRA-Tune has been around for quite a while. It is known for its expertise in high-end continental makes like Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Ferrari. They can do anything, from servicing to extensive...

Han Jiang temple wins Unesco award.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Melissa Darlyne Chow GEORGE TOWN: The Han Jiang Ancestral Temple of the Penang Teochew Association (PTA) won the 2006 Unesco Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award of Merit, the second...

Malaysians take four out of 10 titles.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: K.M. Boopathy SIBLINGS Low Wee Wern and Low Wee Nee made it a grand day by securing the girls' Under-17 and Under-15 titles respectively on a day where Malaysia secured four out of 10...

Bosch concept centre coming up.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Thomas Huong A BOSCH concept service centre will be set up by the NSS Group of Companies in Hicom Glenmarie by June 2007. Its managing director, Mak Wai Tuck, said: "The operations...

Panaria set to mount serious challenge.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) EVERY time the world's top sprinter Alessandro Petacchi's career is described, it starts with the win in Mersing at the end of stage 6 in the 1998 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) when he was still a young...

Get prepared - a storm may be brewing.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Yamin Vong LAST week, on the anniversary of the tsunami, there were several articles on how people were rehabilitating their lives and rebuilding their homes. There were also articles...

Another two years to decide on meters.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) IPOH: To scrap or not to scrap: that's the question Ipoh City Council has for its 200 Reino parking meters worth RM6.8 million, which are not making much money for the council. The multi-bay...

The crusader.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Yeang Soo Ching WONG CHOI KUAN, 51 OCCUPATION: School bus conductor PRE-OCCUPATION: The living conditions of the 1,000-odd residents of the low-cost flats in Taman Ampang Mewah, Ampang,...

Friend to the people.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Sam Cheong T. MOHAN, 33 HEAVY machinery dealer T. Mohan has dedicated every Wednesday as "Social Work Day" for the past five years. And he's never missed a single appointment at his office...

A full teaching year.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Koh Soo Ling FROM extra perks announced in this year's Budget to tuition centres under greater surveillance, 2006 spells success stories and challenges for most teachers. KOH SOO LING talks...

He buries the forgotten.
December 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Sharanjit Singh P. MURUGIAH, 49 FOR the past 30 years, P. Murugiah has helped bury more than 300 unclaimed bodies in Penang. The 49-year-old considers it his "life mission" to ensure...