New Straits Times articles from March 2002

New Straits Times archives from March 2002

Today in history.
March 31, 2002... 1952 Three zones for Malaya Cup Soccer AN East Zone, comprising Terengganu and Kelantan will be added to the North and South Zones in this year's Malaya Cup competition. This was decided on by the Football Association of Malaya at...

Ikram's offer for the retrenched, school leavers.
March 31, 2002... Byline: Arni Abdul Razak IN times of economic uncertainties, equipping oneself with knowledge is the best thing to do. In line with the Government's efforts to assist those affected by the recent economic downturn, Ikram College of...

Cosmopoint sets new standards in multimedia education.
March 31, 2002... Byline: Seelen Sakran COSMOPOINT Institute has made its presence felt since 1991 and there has been no stopping its senior management from enabling the institute to provide the highest quality in IT and multimedia education. "Our...

Heidfeld, Massa to give best at their 'special' track.
March 31, 2002... Byline: Juli Suharni Jaafar, julisuharni@nstp.com.my INTERLAGOS is a difficult track. The Autodromo Jos Carlos Pace is one of the only two anticlockwise circuits on the Formula One racing calendar, thus providing unusual stresses on the...

Samba heat at Interlagos.
March 31, 2002... Byline: the looks of it, Montoya is indeed going to be a stone in Michael's FORMULA One is special because of the fascinating battles that emerge every season between men and machines. The men are the very best drivers and the machines...

Sato's bad run continues.
March 31, 2002... NOTHING seems to be going right for Jordan's Takuma Sato. First he crashed in practice and failed to qualify in a session that started dry but turned wet in Melbourne. (But, he was later allowed to race due to exceptional circumstances)....

A welcome change of fortune.
March 31, 2002... JUDGING by the dearth of interest in the McLaren-Mercedes box so far at this year's Brazilian Grand Prix, David Coulthard's fastest lap during free practice Friday couldn't have come at a better time. Normally besieged by journalists,...

Yoong, Webber very promising.
March 31, 2002... Byline: Glen Peters, glenp@nstp.com.my NO testing sessions over the week, and KL Minardi Asiatech drivers Alex Yoong and Mark Webber will be looking to tread carefully in the third round of the Formula One World Championships at the...

Coulthard's last laugh.
March 31, 2002... Byline: Juli Suharni Jaafar, julisuharni@nstp.com.my STRANGE things happen on April Fool's Day! And it couldn't get any stranger than last year's Brazilian Grand Prix, which was held on April 1. Well figure this: Michael Schumacher...

Remembering the King.
March 31, 2002... Byline: Juli Suharni Jaafar MARCH 21, 2002 was just another Thursday to many. But, to F1 fans like me it was a nostalgic day. The King would have been 42 that Thursday. On this day, back in 1960 in Sao Paulo, Neyde and Milton Guirado...

Boost for child AIDS victims.
March 29, 2002... Byline: D. Maheshwari DOING its part for charity, the Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel in Bandar Sunway, Selangor had raised RM20,000 for children suffering from HIV/AIDS. The initiative was taken by hotel management during the festive...

Chance to race at Sepang.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Syida Lizta Amirul Ihsan RACING buffs, read on. Buy any model of TAG Heuer watch from any of its retailers nationwide between April 15 and July 15 and get a chance to represent TAG Heuer in the Merdeka Endurance Race 2002 in...

MSC rapidly turning into popular investment hub.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Annie Freeda Cruez, anniefc@nstp.com.my CYBERJAYA, Thurs. - The Multimedia Super Corridor is fast developing into a popular investment hub for those in the Information Technology business worldwide and has chalked up a total sales...

Bukit Merah Laketown food offers.
March 29, 2002... Byline: K. Kalai BUKIT Merah Laketown Resort near Taiping in Perak is offering several food promotions at its lakeside Le Lac cafe and the K'Bali cafe at Palm View apartment. A "Hawker Stalls Fair", offering a variety of northern...

PM: Parties' affairs not subject to court's intervention.
March 29, 2002... SHAH ALAM, Thurs. - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today the affairs of political parties were not subject to the Government's, or even the court's intervention. "We amended the law so that party matters must be...

'ACA investigating allegations'.
March 29, 2002... SHAH ALAM, Thurs. - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today the Anti-Corruption Agency will investigate allegations of corruption against former Rural Development Minister Datuk Annuar Musa. He said Annuar had informed...

Don't escalate war by attacking Iraq, says PM.
March 29, 2002... PUTRAJAYA, Thurs. - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned today against escalating the war on terrorism to include military strikes on Iraq, saying it would only foster a terror backlash. Dr Mahathir spoke four days before...

Dr M: No need to fear privatisation of water management.
March 29, 2002... SHAH ALAM, Thurs. - The country will not advance or enjoy numerous benefits if the people resist change and close their minds to privatisation, Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today. The Prime Minister said that while a decision had...

Choong says his chances of upset victory boosted by Pas, Keadilan support.
March 29, 2002... BENTONG, Thurs. - DAP candidate Choong Siew Onn said today the presence of Pas and Parti Keadilan Nasional in the last remaining days of campaigning has helped boost his chances for an upset victory over Barisan Nasional. While admitting...

DAP using redundant issues, says Ka Ting.
March 29, 2002... BENTONG, Thurs. - The DAP has no issues and is trying to convince voters that the redundant local issues they raise are still relevant, MCA vice- president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said. Ong, who is Housing and Local Government Minister,...

Deal soon on hiring Viets.
March 29, 2002... KOTA BARU, Thurs. - Malaysia is expected to finalise arrangements over the recruitment of Vietnamese workers in another two months, Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said today. He said this after opening the 25th general...

New technology to enhance functions of protein film.
March 29, 2002... PENANG, Thurs. - A home-grown technology using oil palm waste will be making its debut tomorrow as the world's first process in enhancing protein film functions. The environmentally-friendly invention - which took six years of research...

The promise of space.
March 29, 2002... IT is a testament to the pace of technological change that what might have seemed literally outlandish a few short years ago now not only makes excellent sense but is, in fact, already manifest reality. The impending formation of Malaysia's...

Soros and Calpers want to buy Malaysian bonds.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Hardev Kaur REMEMBER George Soros who had described Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad as "a menance to his own country"? He had also said that the selective capital controls and other policies implemented by the...

Crossroads.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Nurlina Mydin WHAT do you do after graduating from school? Go on a cross-country trip with friends you've hardly spoken to in eight years and a stranger who just got out of jail? If you had the brains to become the class...

Ting invited to meet 'phantoms' in Penang.
March 29, 2002... PENANG, Thurs. - MCA Elections Steering Committee chairman Datuk Dr Ting Chew Peh has been challenged to come to Penang to meet some of the "phantom" members listed in the party membership list next week. State MCA organising secretary...

ROS reviewing decision.
March 29, 2002... KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The Registrar of Societies is reviewing its earlier decision to bar 261 MCA branches from participating in the party elections while studying clarifications provided by MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Ting Chew...

Star-studded IIFA Awards ceremony.
March 29, 2002... KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - A star-studded night is expected at the 2002 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards ceremony at Genting Highlands' Arena of Stars on April 6. The creme de la creme of the Indian film industry comprising...

Grand Banks to make bigger boats after move to Pasir Gudang.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Carol Murugiah, bizdesk@nstp.com.my GRAND Banks Yachts Sdn Bhd is expanding into manufacturing a range of larger luxury boats as it begins shifting its yacht-building from Singapore to its facility at Pasir Gudang in Johor in...

MRCB unit awarded RM425m contract.
March 29, 2002... CONSTRUCTION group Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd's 55 per cent subsidiary Transmission Technology Sdn Bhd has been awarded a RM425 million contract to undertake an electrical transmission lines project in Sabah. MRCB told the...

Dividends likely for Posim's minority.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Alice Chia, alice@nstp.com.my MINORITY shareholders of Posim Bhd will have the prospect of dividend payouts to make up for the loss of a high-priced general offer for their shares, says Lion Land Bhd (LLB). "Minority...

Pay attention to these sectors, says Dr M.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Chok Suat Ling; Azura Abas, newsnstp.com.my PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia must pay more attention to sectors like the fabrication of steel and aluminium products and food as they can significantly...

Kekatong application dismissed.
March 29, 2002... THE Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday dismissed an application by Kekatong Sdn Bhd to stop a wholly owned subsidiary of Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd from selling its charged land, a Danaharta statement said. The statement said the...

Ranhill voted Asiamoney's best newly listed company.
March 29, 2002... INTEGRATED engineering and construction company Ranhill Bhd has been voted "Malaysia's Best Newly Listed Company in 2001" by Hong Kong-based Asiamoney magazine. The award was given to Ranhill following the magazine's Southeast Asia's...

Lion Corp: Hefty tariffs not a bailout for Megasteel.
March 29, 2002... LION Corp Bhd says the hefty tariffs introduced this month on some steel products will help Malaysia's steel industry and is not a bailout for its new steel mill Megasteel Sdn Bhd. "You cannot just say that (only) Megasteel will benefit...

Problem of sending bulky cargo from Kuching.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Sulok Tawie, sulok@nstp.com.my TRANSPORT companies and forwarding agents are facing problems sending out outsized and bulky cargo shipments to overseas destinations from Kuching since the withdrawal of the wide-bodied Airbus...

Time dotCom's Business Solutions for SMEs.
March 29, 2002... TIME dotCom Bhd is targeting to capture some 18,000 small and medium-sized businesses (SME), with a turnover of RM25 million and below, to link them to its latest business solutions by the end of the year. Its chief executive officer...

TCL Premier may be delisted if KLSE, SC don't act fast.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Lee Siew Lian, bizdesk@nstp.com.my LISTED shell TCL Premier Holdings Bhd runs the risk of being de-listed if the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) and the Securities Commission (SC) don't act fast. The SC has only today to...

Powertek's profit drop by 15.2pc.
March 29, 2002... INDEPENDENT power producer Powertek Bhd saw its net profit drop by 15.2 per cent to RM43.4 million in the fourth quarter ended Jan 31, 2002 from RM51.2 million in the third. Earnings per share also dropped 15.2 per cent to 18.9 sen from 22.3...

Tanjong's earnings down by 20.5pc.
March 29, 2002... TANJONG Public Limited Company saw its net profit drop 20.5 per cent to RM161.4 million in its financial year ended Jan 31, 2002 from RM203.1 million previously. Earnings per share also dropped 20.8 per cent from 53.6 sen to 42.4 sen before.

Mustafa appointed managing director.
March 29, 2002... ARAB-MALAYSIAN Securities Sdn Bhd has promoted Mustafa Mohd Nor as managing director with effect from March 1. Mustafa, also the chief economist of AMS, joined the company in 1990 and was appointed executive director in 1992, AMS said in...

Rahman Hydraulic minority faces setback.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Fazli Ibrahim, fazli@nstp.com.my MINORITY shareholders of Rahman Hydraulic Tin Bhd may have lost another battle in their war against Special Administrators (SA) who took control of the company in 2000. Rahman's SAs removed...

K.P. Keningau gets exclusive rights to plantation timber.
March 29, 2002... SABAH-based K.P. Keningau said it has secured exclusive rights to purchase plantation timber for 16 years in Sabah which is expected to contribute to its future earnings. Its subsidiary Kilang Papan Keningau Sdn Bhd has signed an...

MMC Engineering returns to black.
March 29, 2002... MMC Engineering Group Bhd posted a net profit of RM7.8 million in the financial year ended Jan 31, 2002 from a loss of RM10.4 million previously. Earnings per share also increased to 24.6 sen compared to a loss per share of 32.7 sen...

Revved up for the extreme.
March 29, 2002... Byline: 6.18am, Wednesday, March 20, Mary threw in the towel. Twenty-four HOW many of us can tolerate the long hours sitting in our cars, stuck in crawling traffic, during rush hour on a hot afternoon? Endless bumper-to-bumper...

French envoy opens Le Bouchon.
March 29, 2002... MALAYSIAN French Chamber and Industry held a cocktail reception to mark the opening of French restaurant Le Bouchon by French ambassador Xavier Driencourt at Changkat Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur recently.

Siemens Integra holds annual dinner.
March 29, 2002... SIEMENS Integra Transportation Systems held its annual dinner at Hotel Midah, Kuala Lumpur recently.

Wong and Ong in last eight as Sairul falls.
March 29, 2002... Byline: K.M. Boopathy, boopathy@nstp.com.my THREE Malaysians reached the quarterfinals of the Korean Open badminton championships but the doubles challenge came to an end in Yeosu City yesterday. Veteran shuttler Ong Ewe Hock booked...

[0] Today in history.
March 29, 2002... 1952 Refresher course for Selangor referees RECENT slack refereeing in Selangor FA matches have caused the Referees Board to reintroduce refresher courses. At a meeting last night presided over by K.K. Pillay, chairman of the board,...

Malaysia up against big boys in opening round.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul IT may be viewed as a challenge, or just part of the learning process, but Malaysia is set to face New Zealand, Wales and Canada in the opening group matches in the Malaysia Sevens on April 27-28 at the MPPJ...

Malaysia can match what Taiwan can serve.
March 29, 2002... Byline: R.G.Raj, nstsport@nstp.com.my THE last time Malaysia won a major Rugby International title was in 1999 when they defeated Thailand in the Kings' Cup final in Ipoh. Malaysia will open their World Cup Qualifier against a...

Dutton: Don't hire contractual players yet.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Glen Peters, glenp@nstp.com.my WE don't have a pub to attract foreign players to our club, because of that we decided to hire Fijian players. Those were the words uttered partly in jest by a Staroba Orange official during a...

SJKC Keong Hoe retain title.
March 29, 2002... Byline: K. Kandiah DEFENDING champions SJKC Keong Hoe retained their title in the Penang Schools Boys' Under-12 Balik Pulau Zone badminton team final when they defeated SJKC Chong Cheng 3-2 at the SJKC Shih Chung badminton hall in Balik...

SJKC Chong Cheng in final.
March 29, 2002... UNDEFEATED SJKC Chong Cheng cruised into the Penang Schools Boys' Under-12 Balik Pulau Zone badminton team final when they defeated SJKC Kwang Hwa 3- 0 in their semifinal at the SJKC Shih Chung badminton hall in Balik Pulau yesterday. ...

Sui Sher sets new mark for gold.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Alias Mohamed LEE Sui Sher of Kuala Terengganu Selatan district set a new mark in the discus event in the Terengganu schools athletics championships which ended in Gong Badak yesterday. Sui Sher hurled the discus to 25.74...

Lai a star in the making with three records.
March 29, 2002... Byline: R.G. Raj, nstsport@nstp.com.my LAI CHOI LIN a form three student with SMK Kampar proved to be the star athlete in the making with her record breaking performance in both the Girls Class Two, triple jump and the long jump events...

Chong is best under-12 swimmer.
March 29, 2002... Byline: K. Kandiah, penang@nstp.com.my SK St Xavier Cawangan's Andy Chong was judged the best swimmer in the boys' Under-12 category for his feat in breaking the 50m breaststroke record on Wednesday on the last day of the Penang Schools...

Five records shattered in district meet.
March 29, 2002... Byline: M. Dattaya FIVE more records were shattered on the second day of the 46th Larut, Matang and Selama District Schools Sports Council athletics meet yesterday. Gurupal Singh of SM Ridwan set a new mark in the Class One boy's...

Suspended Azheem nominated for awards.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Glen Peters, glenp@nstp.com.my CONTROVERSIAL diver Mohamed Azheem Bahari was nominated for the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) sportsboy of the year award, which he is favourite to win if based on sporting achievements...

Sealey confident of semis berth.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Glen Peters, glenp@nstp.com.my A TALL target, but national coach Felton Sealey feels his charges can make the semifinals of the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Champion's Cup tournament at Maba Hall in Kuala Lumpur from April...

Mazlan set to stamp mark after bad season last year.
March 29, 2002... MAZLAN Khamis, hoping to make amends for his unfruitful outing last year, is set to stamp his mark in the opening leg of the Shell Advance Winston AAM Malaysian Cub Prix championship beginning at the Stadium Negeri in Batu Kawan in Penang...

BTSC mum over huge debts.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul THE Batu Tiga Speedway Circuit management chose to remain tightlipped on the backlogged taxes and arrears which they owe the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS). Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri...

Norhidayah upstages senior for title.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul, nstsport@nstp.com.my KLANGITE Norhidayah Ramli bettered her personal best by 107.2 points to record a grand total of 493.2 en route to upstaging national shooter Nurul Hudda Baharin to win the overall women's...

RM1.9b CGC loans.
March 29, 2002... IN 2001, the Credit Guarantee Corporation approved 7,488 loans worth RM1.94 billion, Entreprenuer Development Minister Datuk Nazri Abdul Aziz said. He told Hoo Seong Chang (BN-Kluang) that since 1972, 329,508 applications for RM21.9 billion...

Credibility attack baseless, appeal told.
March 29, 2002... KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The attack on the credibility of two prosecution witnesses who testified in the trial of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is baseless, the Federal Court heard today. Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Azahar Mohamed said...

Ruling on Tajudin's application today.
March 29, 2002... KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The High Court will decide tomorrow at 3.30pm whether to grant an injunction sought by tycoon Tan Sri Tajudin Ramli to prevent Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd from selling his shares in Technology Resources...

Jeffrey concedes top PBRS post to Kurup.
March 29, 2002... KOTA KINABALU, Thurs. - In an unexpected turn of events, Bingkor Assemblyman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan today called on Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah members to accept the decision made by the Registrar of Societies to declare Tan Sri Joseph...

'Board at fault for not ensuring CLP list in order'.
March 29, 2002... KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - The Legal Profession Qualifying Board was at fault for not ensuring the Certificate of Legal Practice examination master list and answer scripts were in order, a lawyer told in the Court of Appeal today. Karpal...

Swiss help in Perwaja probe welcome, says Rais.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Brenda Lim, brendalim@nstp.com.my KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - Co-operation from the Swiss Government will make it easier for the Anti-Corruption Agency to investigate and bring to justice those allegedly involved in the mismanagement...

Farmers remove pigs before deadline.
March 29, 2002... SEREMBAN, Thurs. - Seventy farmers at Site A, Bukit Pelandok, have kept to today's deadline to remove about 300 pigs reared in contravention of a Government ban. Menteri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said Bukit Pelandok was free of...

Good response to Berjaya real value.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Jumaatun Azmi BERJAYA Hotels & Resorts reaped about half a million Ringgit in sales revenue during the Matta International Travel Fair due to encouraging response from the public. Products which sold like hot cakes were the...

Gold Crown for the fourth year.
March 29, 2002... LEISURE Cove, a resort under Leisure Holidays Bhd in Tanjung Bungah, Penang, has received the prestigious Resorts Condominium International or RCI Gold Crown Resort Award for the fourth year in-a-row. The award recognises affiliated...

Leading Hotels of the World 2002 directory.
March 29, 2002... THREE Malaysian hotels - Hotel Istana, The Datai in Langkawi and Mutiara Beach Resort Penang - have been listed in the Leading Hotels of the World Directory 2002. While Hotel Istana and Mutiara Beach Resort have been in the directory...

Passage to Antarctica.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Hisham Harun "ON the Good Ship Lollipop..." it certainly wasn't. Neither were Zahra Zainal and sister Noreen "... on a sweet trip to the candy shop" as how child star Shirley Temple put it in her 1930s song. Aboard an old...

Cash it in with a debit card.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Lalitha Anandarajah YOU'RE 16, so there's no way your parents will give you a supplementary credit card. What do you do for instant cash? How are you going to look cool in front of your friends? The debit card could be the...

Where are the new talents?
March 29, 2002... Byline: Zainal Alam Kadir CHECK out the list of nominees vying for awards at the Anugerah Industri Muzik 2002 to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur on April 20 and you know that it's going to be a dreary event. ...

The Basie swing at Dewan Filharmonik.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Sheshadri Sridar THE Grammy Award-winning Count Basie Orchestra (CBO) will showcase its unique swing arrangements at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday and Tuesday at 8.30pm. The Basie swing was developed in...

Bollywood glamour at Genting.
March 29, 2002... WITH the 74th Annual Academy Awards recently concluded, it's now time to look closer at home, at India's International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards 2002 to be held at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands, on April 6. It is being held in...

Spirited response to Bangsa Malaysia.
March 29, 2002... IS Bangsa Malaysia achievable? We posed this question to 10 young people who discussed the issue at length. Here are several letters which were e- mailed to us in response to our article titled 'Malaysians in soul and spirit' last week. ...

'See' the essence of shakespeare.
March 29, 2002... Byline: Faridul Anwar Farinordin; Anita Anandarajah MENTION Shakespeare and English literature and some students might cringe at the thought of plodding through the playwright's long, wordy, poetry- like text, which they sometimes have to...

The drama way to teach.
March 29, 2002... IN school, we often hear about teachers who send their students to sleep by reading out chunks of literary texts off the pages. Macbeth could become a bedtime story, and not the great tragedy it is meant to be. The series of Royal...

EP-TEC plans expansion.
March 28, 2002... Byline: Aimie Pardas, aimie@nstp.com.my EP-TEC Solutions Sdn Bhd, a member of the EP-Asia group, hopes to expand its business in Southeast Asia, as well as Australia and New Zealand, by leveraging its local office as a regional support...

Oracle identifies investment sectors.
March 28, 2002... ORACLE Corp Malaysia Sdn Bhd has identified five sectors - education, government, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing, which will spearhead its investments in information technology (IT) this year. The company expects a...

Pivotal to strengthen local presence.
March 28, 2002... PIVOTAL Corp, a provider of customer relationship management software in the mid-market segment, is optimistic of its prospects in the region this year despite increased competition resulting from Microsoft's entry into the CRM space via the...