New Straits Times articles from January 2006

New Straits Times archives from January 2006

Is such a system in order?
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: M.A.F. A RELATIVE of mine recently had a property offered to her in Sentul. She was offered the property at RM260,000. My relative went to several banks and found one that offered better...

Beauty of large works.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: LEE SUE CHIEN THE XL Show art exhibition at Xoas Gallery was both a delight and a disappointment. LEE SUE CHIEN finds out why. JOLLY Koh was superbly unjolly when he arrived for our...

Never out of date!
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: PEGGY LOH THE 'kuda' calendar is still popular with people despite the PDA-era because it so convenient and full of information, writes PEGGY LOH. TYPICALLY, as December draws to a...

A taste of all things BUGIS.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: PEGGY LOH THE Bugis have a rich history and culture. They are not shy to share it with visitors as PEGGY LOH found out during her homestay visit with them near Pontian, Johor. THE...

Higher electricity tariffs on the cards.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - The spectre of higher electricity tariffs is looming again. Less than three weeks ago the Government said rates would not be increased, but today Energy, Water and...

Not for the faint-hearted.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Siti Nurbaiyah Nadzmi MERSING, Mon. - Kuala Mersing fishermen may be as full of tall tales as any of their brethren around the world, but mention the waters around mysterious Pulau Sri Buat...

Faulty ATMs.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: OOI HOCK GUAN I WELCOME the decision made by the ABM that banks work only five days a week. As mentioned by the ABM executive director, there are 6,584 self-service terminals nationwide....

A taste of home-cooked meals Down Under.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ZAlina Mohd Som A Malaysian is running a Thai restaurant with her New Zealander husband in Adelaide, offering both Thai and Malay food, writes ZALINA MOHD SOM. THE NAME IS MEKONG THAI...

An ecological haven.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) LAST month, we went to the Tanjung Piai National Park in Johor. We were excited as the national park, an ecological haven, gave us the rare opportunity to spend time in luxuriant forest and coastal...

Patient privacy.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) TESTS have apparently shown that the closer cellular phones are to sensitive electronic apparatus, the greater the interference with the readings of the instruments. It would seem reasonable for the...

Let ban stay.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: SAMUEL YESUIAH IN response to the NST reader who suggested in the letter "Mature Approach Needed" (NST, Jan 23) in respect to the ban on handphones in schools, I would say the ban is a...

Comments on current issues.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Improving law enforcement KUALA LUMPUR declared war on traffic offenders, especially red-light beaters. What happened? - Rudd CONGRATULATIONS to the police and Customs for a job well done! Fewer...

Hunting for clues at tourist spots.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) SELANGOR'S annual tourism calendar will include a motoring treasure hunt to promote the State's tourism industry, says State Tourism, Health and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Lim Thuan...

Something worth waiting for.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Anizah Sharin could not have her honeymoon right after her wedding to Affendy Mohd Zain last November. What she didn't know was that her patience would pay off, big time. ...

Reference book on Bigfoot planned.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) MUAR, Mon. - The State Government expects to come up with a reference book on the Johor Bigfoot. A committee comprising experts from local universities and non-governmental organisations will...

Just the right time for a Bush-Hamas parley.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: W. SCOTT THOMPSON Hamas' landslide polls triumph has significantly changed the geopolitical equation in Palestine, and it's time Washington recognised this, writes W. SCOTT THOMPSON. THE...

No need for annual check.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: MOHD FAIZAL ABDULLAH THE Transport Ministry's move to have private vehicles more than five years old inspected at Puspakom to reduce accidents ("Roadworthiness checks", NST, Jan 21) does...

Educate students on proper use.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) IN today's society, the use of handphones in schools does not lend itself to a yes-or-no solution. Every gadget has good and bad points. We have to weigh the pros and cons and make our decisions...

Evening of cultural dance and music.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Alan Teh Leam Seng ENJOY an evening of traditional dance and music in Langkawi amidst a beautiful tropical setting every Thursday as the Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort treats diners to a...

Fewer teeth, higher heart risk.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan THE more teeth people have lost, the greater their risk of cardiovascular problems, a new study suggests. Researchers analysed data from a nationwide telephone...

Umno to focus on membership drive.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - About 20,000 Umno branches nationwide will focus on wooing new members over the next six months. With just over three million members, Umno has targeted a 10 per cent increase...

Fishermen jailed in Indonesia ask for help.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) PORT DICKSON, Mon. - The families of four Malaysian fishermen serving jail terms in Dumai, Sumatra, for encroaching into Indonesian waters are appealing to the Government and Wisma Putra to help them...

Orang utan's last stand.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Julia Chan KOTA KINABALU, Mon. - Dr Benoit Goossens (picture) is passionate about wildlife research and many conservationists are thankful that among the subjects he has chosen is the orang...

Unexplained disappearances.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) MERSING, Mon. - Pulau Sri Buat has a history of danger and death. Perhaps the most baffling case of missing persons occurred in June 1995, when four people vanished at sea. The bodies of...

Three kids drown in canal.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) ALOR STAR, Mon. - It was such a hot day that three friends, including two brothers, opted for a dip in a canal en route to playing football at a field. They never got to play that game. One after...

Traveller's Column.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) WHERE did you spend your last vacation? In Langkawi, recently. Which is the best hotel you've stayed in so far? The Awana Porto Malai, Langkawi, as it is very convenient and everything is in one...

Have a ruling for students.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: HALIM HASSAN THERE is now a worrying trend among secondary schoolchildren to go to school without safety helmets, especially in residential areas. I think the Education Ministry must...

Issues not considered.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: ROBERT SMITH I READ with interest your editorial about the execution of Nguyen Van, an Australian citizen who was arrested during a stopover in Singapore and subsequently executed under...

Continue with the good work, Makna.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: A.D. I AM a specialist dealing with cancer and I have been working in an unglamorous peripheral hospital for many years. Most of my patients are too poor to afford private or even...

Install CCTV in all state capitals.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: AZMI ATAN LAST week's TV3 crime-prevention programme 999 had a segment on how closed-circuit TV, or CCTV, can help prevent or reduce snatch-theft cases. If placed strategically, CCTV...

Lowering the risk of heart disease.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Yam Cher Seng WITH ever more research and new findings, things that were once carved in stone have become questionable. The cholesterol issue is one example. Talk about cholesterol and...

Time to develop the game properly.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: SUSAI ANTHONY MUTHU AT a recent seminar, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad said that the FAM is stuck in the stone age while the state...

Jointly wooing the tourists.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Shanti Gunaratnam SINGAPORE and Malaysia will jointly promote each other as they enjoy a good relationship, writes SHANTI GUNARATNAM. MALAYSIA and Singapore wil jointly promote each...

Private school with a difference.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Sulaiman Jaafar KOTA BARU, Mon. - International schools are usually found in big cities like Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Most are profit-driven. So it's quite a surprise to see an...

Free-for-all that needs regulating.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: J.D. LOVRENCIEAR WHETHER it is on the main highways, city roads or countryside and townships, the increasing appearance of all kinds of signage is a growing cause of concern. Business...

Be transparent about measures.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: LOGA SUNTHRI VEERAIH THE proposed water-tariff hike by Syabas has confused consumers in Selangor, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur. Apparently, Syabas is entitled to request a tariff hike of 15...

Waitangi Day special with Kiwi Phil Madsen.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Kiwi entertainer Phil Madsen (picture), a singer and songwriter, will entertain Malaysians with a special performance during Waitangi Day on Feb 6. Feb 6 is known as Waitangi...

Water supply disruption.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Water supply to several areas in Petaling district will be disrupted from 8pm on Feb 4 till the following day for pipeline relocation work. Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn...

Rethink on tax on outgoing Indonesians.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) INDONESIA has been imposing a one million rupiah (RM410) fiscal tax on its citizens each time they travel out of the country. It is now planning to do away with it, all in the name of Asean solidarity....

Fibrocystic breast disease.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Q: I HAVE been suffering from fibrocystic breast disease since last November. Can you advise me on what to do to reduce the discomfort? Can you give me an overview of this disease? A: FIBROCYSTIC breast...

Back to nature.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Zalina Mohd Som WHEN ZALINA MOHD SOM visited beautiful Tasmania, she was asked to pick her favourite spot. Her immediate answer was the Cradle Mountain National Park. IT'S A DILEMMA....

Magical outing at Mines.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Suryani Dalip WHY not treat your family to an unforgettable festive outing at the Mines Resort City in Seri Kembangan, Selangor which is organising the Mines Flora Fest 2006, the Dazzling...

Nu way to apply makeup.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE more you wear it, the better you will look. Nu Colour is a new make-up range that is supposed to be a "continuation" of its skincare range, Nu Skin. Known primarily for its skincare, it is now...

The Fugees strike a new chord.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Faridul Anwar Farinordin AFTER an eight-year hiatus, The Fugees is back with a plan to release a new album this year. FARIDUL ANWAR FARINORDIN met the hip-hop group in France recently. ...

Man, cops in tower standoff.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) SEREMBAN, Mon. - It took the police and firemen more than five hours to persuade a man to climb down a 200-metre telecommunications tower in Taman Seri Kasih, Senawang early today. The man, in his...

A KERIS to call your own.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: SAGER AHMAD NOT only do you get to see replicas of famous keris but you can also purchase them as souvenirs at a gallery in Gombak, Selangor, writes SAGER AHMAD ONE place where you could...

Abused girl dies of head injuries.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Husairy Othman IPOH, Mon. - M. Munindi and P. Vijaya loved three-year-old Malati very much. But as they were poor, the couple, both 35, left their only child in a relative's care and...

Stay alert with right diet.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Q: I'M a student and have problems paying attention in class. I'm always feeling sleepy, tired and weak. I also have difficulty recalling notes. A: AN improper diet may lead to the problems you...

True Malaysian spirit.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Chinese New Year was celebrated in true Malaysian spirit with visits to homes of neighbours and friends. Thousands visited open house held by prominent personalities around...

Terengganu on world tourism map.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Sager Ahmad THE Monsoon Cup 2005 put Terengganu in the world spotlight. But the State has always been known for its clean beaches, islands, food and unique lifestyle. Story and pictures by...

National football player detained.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUANTAN, Mon. - A prominent state footballer was detained after testing positive for drugs in a police raid at a pub here on Saturday night. Sources said the footballer and several others were detained...

Bright future awaits Sungai Lembing.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: DIANA YEOH A new future is in store for the abandoned largest underground tin mine in the world at Sungai Lembing, Pahang. Funds may soon be allocated to turn the mine into a major tourist...

Local tourists 'a spoilt lot'.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Eileen Ng KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Local tourists are spoilt. They want to participate in jungle trekking, rock climbing and other adventure sports, but want to do so in comfort. A survey...

Police confirm Nurshafiqah was raped and murdered.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) JOHOR BARU, Mon. - Nora Abu Bakar still remembers her 14- year-old daughter's smiling face as she left for school last Wednesday. That is how she wants to remember her precious Nurshafiqah. Not her...

RM15.3b lost to crime in 2004.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Chow Kum Hor KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Crime is bleeding the country of billions annually, with losses of RM15.3 billion estimated for 2004. Internal Security Deputy Minister Chia Kwang...

Chic, spacious and stylish.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Meena Sreenivasan THE interiors of the Swiss Garden Hotel Kuala Lumpur have taken on a new and contemporary look. The hotel's lobby, Garden Terrace Coffee House, Blue Chip Lounge and...

Animal carcass mystery deepens.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Neville Spykerma KLANG, Mon. - Mystery still surrounds the partial carcass of an unknown animal recovered from the coast near Carey Island here last Monday. While certain quarters were...

Celebrations go awry for Vietnamese duo.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KAPAR, Mon. - Three people were killed in separate fights here, with one man being stabbed by his friend and another losing his life over a trivial matter. In the first case, the New Year...

On guessing games.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Kitty Kaye GUESS what? KITTY KAYE is stumped by love's elusive ways. Research show that Scrabble, learning new languages and crossword puzzles keep the brain active and prevent...

Rock music fest.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE 27th Trans Musicales is an annual rock music festival held in Rennes, Brittany. Last year, it took place over three days in December and featured an impressive line-up of artistes who cross musical...

Two chefs, two cuisines.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Zalina Mohd Som AT Genting Highland's Imperial Rama restaurant, you can have a choice of Thai or Teochew cuisine. Better still, have a bit of both, recommends ZALINA MOHD SOM WE often hear...

Do not be enslaved by anger.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Bridget Menezes WHEN a person is angry, much of his energy is wasted. Many diseases, especially psychosomatic ailments, heart diseases and nervous diseases, are related to an angry frame of...

Their indomitable spirit prevails.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THEY DIDN'T COME PREPARED. ALL THEY had were their casual denim and leather jackets to brave the 11 degree temperature of Cradle Mountain National Park, their first destination in Tasmania. Worse...

Correction.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) FOR those who want to make reservations at the Genting Palace Restaurant at Genting Hotel in Genting Highland, which was featured in Travel Times, Jan 17 issue, the phone number to call is 03-6101...

Surfing the winds.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: F.K. KOK. THE annual Monsoon Madness 2006 held recently in Kuantan was seen by millions worldwide on TV. The event promises to be even bigger next year, writes F.K. KOK. WHILE the...

111 DEATHS IN FIRST 7 DAYS (HL).
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Malaysian road users do not learn. Seven days into Ops Sikap X, 111 people have lost their lives. This is 29 more deaths than during the same period last Chinese New Year. ...

Burgundy - land of great wines.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Zubaidah Abu Bakar THERE is more to France than just Paris as ZUBAIDAH ABU BAKAR discovers during her visit to the famous Burgundy wine-growing country and Mont Blanc. THE NEXT TIME...

'Singapore aware of reasons for bridge'.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Singapore is well aware why Malaysia wants to go ahead with the construction of a bridge across its half of the Johor Strait, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi....

Justice and fairness rule, says Abdullah.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Justice and fairness to all form the Prime Minister's moral compass in governing the country, regardless of questions of personal style. "I know it is not a bed of roses for...

Najem pledges RM227.5m to charity.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KUALA LUMPUR, Mon. - Self-proclaimed billionaire Elie Youssef Najem claims to have pledged RM277.5 million to several charities recently. The donations include RM111 million for the construction of...

Asha's sun-kissed Island.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Anthea De Lima ANTHEA DE LIMA has a glimpse of Island Shop's preparation for its spring/ summer 2006 catalogue featuring Asha Gill in the breezy Tanjung Jara Resort in Dungun, Terengganu....

Right royal treatment.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) THE Regency Rajah Court Hotel in Kuching fulfils two functions: Its spacious grounds and gardens offer a chance to relax, its strategic location near the airport, port, town centre and administrative...

Youngest member of renowned dance troupe.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) MUAR, Mon. - It was love at first sight for Standard Six pupil Ang Aik Meng when he saw his first lion dance. Ang, the youngest member of the renowned Kun Seng Keng Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe of...

From Tibetan plateau to Mt Everest.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Sharifah Arfah DESCRIBED as "The Roof of the World", the Himalaya mountain range is isolated from most inhabited areas due to its altitude. It is probably this isolation that lends...

ABM should rethink move.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: WONG MAUN CHIN I DON'T see any reason why banks need to switch to a five-day work week. I am sure most bank customers are against the Association of Banks in Malaysia's decision. ...

Kudos to NST for airing woes.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: K. PRABHA THE Menteri Besar of Johor must be lauded for directing his officials to act on issues highlighted in our local dailies (NST, Jan 18). He certainly has noticed that the NST pages...

Outdated rules.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: BONG CHIN BENG WHILE ABM has good intentions to encourage the Malaysian banking industry to go electronic by telling banks they need not stay open on Saturdays, our banks must also do their...

Golden Rainbow takes Gold Cup.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Go-Ram GOLDEN Rainbow upstaged his more seasoned rivals to capture the RM500,000 Tunku Gold Cup, the first leg of the RM2.5 million Selangor Turf Club's (SLTC) Triple Crown Series for...

Jimenez will be back to try his luck.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) MIGUEL Angel Jimenez will be back for the Maybank Malaysian Open and the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, venue for the Feb 16-19 event, has been advised to stock up lots of Rioja. The wise-cracking,...

Josiah boost for sprint team.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul JOSIAH Ng Onn Lam will ride as part of the national team sprint trio for the first time since 2002 when he combines with Junaidi Nasir and Hafiz Sufian for the Commonwealth...

Yong Li leads Team TM challenge.
January 31, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) ALL the questions over the second Malaysian team to start the TM Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) on Friday have been answered with the unveiling of Team TM on the event's team list. The team is to be...

Planter: Bigfoot survived on leaves.
January 29, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) KOTA TINGGI, Sat. - A search for Bigfoot in the 1990s produced faeces samples and cement casts of its footprints, a planter claimed today. Abdul Rahman Ahmad, 70, said the results of the analysis...

Change of heart on Rottweilers.
January 29, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) SHAH ALAM, Sat. - The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) appears to be back-peddling on its stand that Rottweilers will not be allowed as pets. Deputy mayor Za'ba Che Rus said yesterday the "decision"...

Protecting young victims of sex abuse.
January 29, 2006... (From New Straits Times (Malaysia)) Byline: Rina De Silva KUALA LUMPUR, Sat. - Tracey (not her real name) was only 14 but she was labelled a slut in her small town of 5,000 people. She was a friendly and average-looking girl who...