New Straits Times articles from March 2010

New Straits Times archives from March 2010

4 principles of affirmative action.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The government will study recommendations to tweak its affirmative action policies drawn up by the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the New Economic Policy (NEP) launched...

'Confront realities, make tough decisions'.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: Despite its success for the past half decade, Malaysia has been experiencing considerably slow progress in recent years, trapping its general population in the dreaded middle-income trap. In danger now of not achieving its...

'They are needed measures'.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce president, Datuk Nicholas Zefferys, said the measures recommended in the New Economic Model report for Malaysia (NEM) unveiled yesterday were "needed measures". He said the foreign...

Full details by third quarter of the year.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Adeline Paul Raj KUALA LUMPUR: The government will outline details of its New Economic Model (NEM) by the third quarter of this year, said National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) chairman Tan Sri Amirsham Aziz. "By the third...

Amber's man is in property.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Dennis Chua KUALA LUMPUR: Popular model and actress Amber Chia has found her Mr Right, and he is a 36-year-old businessman from Kuala Lumpur who shares her love of fashion and films. The Ipoh-born Chia married Melbourne University...

Smokey Bandits to wow F1 crowd.
March 31, 2010... Byline: M. Hamzah Jamaludin KUANTAN: Spectators at the Petronas Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang this weekend will not only enjoy the loud roars of the mean machines but also the thunderous sound of jet-fighters. A group of Royal...

'I am lucky to be alive'.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Kalbana Perimbanayagam KUALA LUMPUR: "It's a miracle, I survived." This is what 24-year-old Sim Eih Xing had to say when recalling the bomb blast incidents on the Metro line in Moscow on Monday. Sim, from Penang, was one of the...

Altantuya's father told to deposit RM60,000.
March 31, 2010... SHAH ALAM: The High Court yesterday ordered the father of Altantuya Shaariibuu to deposit RM60,000 in two bank accounts for the government and former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda as security for cost. The amount was in connection...

PKR chief: Women make better reps.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The candidate for the impending Hulu Selangor by-election should be a woman as female elected representatives are perceived to be more committed and sincere in their service to the rakyat, says Parti Keadilan Rakyat Wanita chief...

Apco: Allegations untrue.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The allegations repeated against Apco Worldwide in Parliament yesterday are false, a company spokesman said in a statement last night "Apco Worldwide is not working for the government of Israel. We did not devise the 1Malaysia...

DPM: Chinese, Tamil schools not neglected.
March 31, 2010... Byline: V. Vasudevan; Sajahan Wahid; Ili Liyana Mokhtar NATIONAL-TYPE schools are not treated like stepchildren, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told the house yesterday. Describing as wild the allegation that the government...

Decision to refer Anwar to panel by next week.
March 31, 2010... Byline: V. Vasudevan; Sajahan Wahid; Ili Liyana Mokhtar THE government will decide by next week if it will refer opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the Rights and Privileges Committee, said Minister in the Prime Minister's...

Raja Nazrin: Strike a balance.
March 31, 2010... Byline: M. Husairy Othman; P. Chandra Sagaran; S. Ista Kyra THE Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah said the wisdom of a government's leadership is important as it has to strike a balance among the different ethnic groups, religions and...

A little drama, but meeting proceeds smoothly.
March 31, 2010... Byline: M. Husairy Othman; P. Chandra Sagaran; S. Ista Kyra IT was a rather subdued affair at the opening of the first meeting of the third term of the state legislative assembly sitting yesterday, but not without a little drama. ...

PTPL offers Diploma in Multimedia.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: Major advances in science and technology since the computer revolution in the 1970s has brought a new dimension to how the medium is being applied. If before this computers were only limited to analysing data its use has now...

Enhancing soft skills at international levels.
March 31, 2010... SEREMBAN: A group of Seremban PTPL College students from its School of Hospitality & Culinary Art participated in a study tour to Singapore from Feb 5 to 7. The group comprised of 34 students doing Diploma in Hospitality Management-Tourism...

Deploring terrorism.
March 31, 2010... THE twin suicide bombings that killed at least 38 people and wounded 64 others on the underground trains in Moscow are to be deplored, as terrorist acts against civilian populations in crowded public places are clearly intolerable. Terrorism is...

Myanmar's democrats face some tough choices.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Kamrul Idris THE only thing certain about the Myanmar elections due this year is that they will not be free and fair. The generals in charge of one of the world's darkest corners have written a Constitution and election laws that...

Obama's victory a lesson to all leaders.
March 31, 2010... Byline: W. Scott Thompson EVERY state has at least one big problem it needs to solve. Solving these big ones usually turns out to be a win-win solution because it permits the state to get its spark back, or its economic growth, or just its...

Trains are a better alternative.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Norizan Abdul Rahman I SUPPORT Saesha Razak's objection to the proposed second highway to link the northern and southern parts of Peninsular Malaysia and his suggestion to improve the rail service, "Beef up rail service" ( NST, March...

Trust them.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Bulbir Singh I READ with pleasure that about 6,000 desk policemen are to be redeployed to field work ("Desk personnel to be roped in" - NST, March 25). It is a sound move. Put the men in blue where they would be more effective in...

New direction.
March 31, 2010... Byline: G. Selva THE men in blue celebrated their 203rd Police Day with plenty to smile about as the government has announced extra monetary perks. The demands of modern day policing have become greater than ever and the men in blue will...

Implement scheme quickly.
March 31, 2010... Byline: N.K.S. I SUPPORT Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam's move to implement a plan to provide pensions to Socso contributors ("Socso pension plan" - NST, March 15). I am a retiree and I have to look for part-time jobs to...

Family must provide love and attention.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Hamdan Ibrahim YOUNG girls, who should be in school studying, are eloping with their boyfriends, especially foreigners. Such cases seem to be on the rise lately. The recent case of a bright student from Sungai Petani who eloped...

More pay, so work more.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Hamdan Ibrahim LOW-RANKING police personnel have much to cheer about following the increase in allowances as well as automatic promotions for those who are eligible. These benefits will increase their take-home pay and thus improve...

Top achievers deserve the recognition.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Zamri Mahmud I BEG to differ with the opinion of some writers that we should not glorify the brilliant students who achieve straight As in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination. As long as we do not go overboard in aggrandising...

Give us info on tax evasion.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Dessy Warnela Jaswar WE refer to the letter "IRB should investigate the victims as well" (NST, March 8) from Gursharan Singh. The Inland Revenue Board thanks the writer for his suggestions. Gursharan is welcome to give detailed...

Emphasis is more on written work.
March 31, 2010... Byline: J.M. IT is good to know that the Education Ministry is planning to allot more time for the teaching of English and Bahasa Malaysia ("More time for English and Bahasa lessons - NST, March 21). However, I hope this doesn't mean there...

May they continue to shine.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Yeoh Seng Hong ALLOW me to congratulate the triumphant trio of Malaysian sports: Datuk Lee Chong Wei in badminton, Datuk Nicol David in squash and Adrian Ang in bowling. Incidentally, all three champions hail from Penang. Lee...

Assistant MOs can issue MCs.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Dr Nooraini Baba I REFER to the letter "Medical certificates: Ministries must clarify issue" (NST, March 18) from M.A. of Shah Alam. The Ministry of Health would like to clarify that there is nothing clear nor explicit under Section...

Chua weighs 'em for posts.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Eileen Ng KUALA LUMPUR: Now that the dust in MCA has more or less settled, attention is now on who's who for ministerial posts. The obvious coveted jobs - the transport as well as housing and local government portfolios - are...

Hock Seng quits MCA posts.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng has quit as MCA's treasurer-general and Federal Territory chief, citing political fatigue. The Cheras division chairman tendered his resignation letter to newly-elected president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek...

Regent exemplary leader, says MB.
March 31, 2010... KOTA BARU: Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the Regent of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra was an exemplary ruler and highly respected by the people. The prince, he said, had always shown compassion and...

Anwar seeks to strike out Chandra's defence.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants to strike out academician Dr Chandra Muzaffar's defence in his RM10 million defamation suit on the grounds it was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of the court process. Anwar, in...

Institute builder told to stop work.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Satiman Jamin; Zarina Abdullah KUALA TERENGGANU: A stop-work order has been slapped on the main contractor of the Oceanography and Aquaculture Institute at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu here following the collapse of the fourth floor...

Businessman: I gave RM50,000 to former Immigration head.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: A businessman testified in the Sessions Court yesterday that he had given an envelope said to contain RM50,000 to former Immigration director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don. Datuk Seri Low Chang Hian, 66, a Singaporean with...

Girl, 15, says she was not abducted.
March 31, 2010... LANGKAWI: A 15-year-old girl who was reported missing by her mother has come out to say that she was not abducted but had willingly stayed with the family of her boyfriend. Halimaton Abd Rashid came forward yesterday to deny claims that she...

Key to wakil rakyat success.
March 31, 2010... SUBANG: For the people to warm up to their wakil rakyat, they must have four characteristics, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last night. "As the people's representative, one must go to the ground and those leaders must be easily...

Man held over murder in chalet.
March 31, 2010... PORT DICKSON: Police have detained a suspect in connection with the murder of a businessman who was attacked in a chalet at a five-star resort here last Saturday. District police chief Superintendent K. Baljeet Singh said the 36-year-old man...

Disabled youth hounded by cops over National Service.
March 31, 2010... KUANTAN: The family of a 20-year-old mentally handicapped youth was left fuming recently when policemen came looking for him for allegedly skipping the National Service programme. The youth's father, Zulkifli Abdul, 46, a fisherman from...

Qobin starts 7 summits quest.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: Mountain climber Muhammad Muqharabbin Mokhtaruddin or Qobin, 28, is set to climb seven mountains around the world and will leave for Tibet today to begin his first quest. Qobin, who leaves for Tibet at 7.50am from Kuala Lumpur...

1.5kg syabu hidden in bag handle.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Lee Shi-Ian SEPANG: Two Iranian men were arrested at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Monday night after police found RM375,000 worth of syabu hidden inside the handle of their trolley bag. Selangor narcotics department...

Solar lights up lives of Batu Sapi residents.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Roy Goh SANDAKAN: Fishermen on an island off here can now unload their catch at a well-lit jetty when they return at night, thanks to a solar-powered lighting system that uses rechargeable batteries. Five jetties at the Batu Sapi...

Case against MIED board set for April 30.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court will hear on April 30 a leave application by a member of Maju Institute for Education Development (MIED) to initiate a suit against its board of trustees. S. Vigneswaran filed the application on Jan 12 naming Datuk...

Tour operator barred from Matta activities.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) has barred tour operator Andalas Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd from all its activities. Matta president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said the association had received a letter from...

Foetus found at temple.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: A security guard found a dead foetus stuffed inside a plastic container in Jinjang, here, yesterday. The incident occurred at a temple just after midnight when a guard dog started barking and pawing at a plastic container...

18 years' jail, rotan for raping daughter.
March 31, 2010... KLANG: An unemployed man was sentenced to 18 years' jail and two strokes of the rotan for raping his then 14-year-old daughter. Sessions judge Datuk Anita Harun sentenced the 37-year-old man after he pleaded guilty to raping the girl at their...

Pintar programme strikes a chord.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Dennis Wong KUCHING: Fifty pupils from SK Matang here benefited from Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad and the New Straits Times Newspaper in Education's Pintar programme on Monday. The pupils took part in the half-day "Our Planet, We...

Guard denies killing man.
March 31, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: A security guard pleaded not guilty at the High Court yesterday to murdering a man last year. Muhammad Azman Saholl Meera, 27, was charged with murdering Alex Rafael, 26, a worker at a games shop, at Danau Kota, Setapak, at...

5 Indonesians die in boat accident, 17 others saved.
March 31, 2010... TAWAU: Five Indonesians, three of them children, were killed in a boat accident here yesterday morning. Seventeen others on board the speedboat, which was heading to Nunukan island in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, were rescued by Malaysian...

Executive councillor adopts baby.
March 31, 2010... IPOH: A bright future awaits the child who was abandoned at a rubbish dump near a shopping mall here as the baby has already obtained a birth certificate. State Industry, Investment, Entrepreneur Development, Information Communication...

Sanjuan in mint condition.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Go-Ram TUNKU Gold Cup winner Sanjuan, entered for next Sunday's RM600,000 Selangor Gold Cup over 1600m, geared up for his fourth straight success in the Banded 75 & Above event over 1400m on Sunday with a sizzling barrier practice...

Ryan James sizzles.
March 31, 2010... LAST-start winner Ryan James impressed with a smart workout at Kranji yesterday and looks set for back-to-back wins in the Class 3 - 1400m in Race 9 on Saturday Taken out by a track rider, the strapping four-year-old by Thorn Park sprinted...

Lotus hi-tech hub will materialise in Sepang.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul LOTUS Racing will not allow the dream of a Formula One production line operating out of the Sepang Circuit to die, pledged their deputy team principals. "When we got started, it was an idea among just the three of...

Well geared for home debut.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul THERE will not be any great improvement from the results of the opening two races, but Lotus Racing expect not to fare any worse in their debut home race - the Petronas Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang...

Malaysian football re-emerging as a force.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Ajitpal Singh FOR a month beginning June 11, football's World Cup in South Africa will become the focal point of Malaysian life, as our football-crazy nation engrosses itself in the tournament. We will of course be rooting for a...

Fairuz elated at prospect.
March 31, 2010... IT won't be a race situation for Fairuz Fauzy as he belts up in the seat of the Lotus Racing T127 on Friday, but he is no less excited.. The Malaysian will have the honour of being the first Lotus Racing driver to pilot the car on their home...

Johor on the rise.
March 31, 2010... Byline: T.N. Alagesh AFTER tasting defeat against Penang on Monday, Johor put up an energetic display to defeat Malacca 3-0 in Division One of the Razak Cup in Kuantan yesterday. Johor, who emerged champions in 2007, started in impressive...

Mohd Afiq eyes top three finish.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Sean Augustin TEENAGER Mohd Afiq Ikhwan will be gunning for a top three finish in his debut at the Formula BMW Pacific Championship this weekend. The race, which will be held as a support race for the Petronas Formula One Malaysian...

Negri upstage Selangor.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Ajitpal Singh; Zainuddin Muhammad NEGRI Sembilan came back from a goal down to upset defending champions Selangor 2-1, courtesy of an own goal by defender Nasriq Baharom in the FA Cup semi-final first leg at the Shah Alam Stadium...

Shalin's performance puts men to shame.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Ajitpal Singh SHALIN Zulkifli, despite the presence of world class men bowlers, made heads turn with a devastating performance at the 7th Kuwait International Open to qualify for the last 16 together with Zulmazran Zulkifli at the...

Daniel on the recovery lane.
March 31, 2010... Byline: Ajitpal Singh DANIEL Lim has resumed training after recovering from a back injury but isn't certain to return to action soon. The 34-year-old bowler hurt his back during training at the beginning of the year and has subsequently...

Mend the rift (HL).
March 30, 2010... Byline: Sajahan Waheed KUALA LUMPUR: There should be no more factions in MCA as all leaders and members must respect the decision of delegates at the party elections on Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday. "I would...

Speed up approvals, local authorities told.
March 30, 2010... JOHOR BARU: Do away with the "pettiness" when it comes to approving development projects from investors. This was the call from Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman to the local authorities yesterday in his speech at the convention for...

Missing girl seen in Langkawi.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Nadia Badarudin LANGKAWI: Missing student Halimaton Abd Rashid has been spotted with a male companion here. A member of the public, who claimed he saw the couple at the passenger ferry terminal about 1.30pm yesterday, said he...

Poor response from private doctors.
March 30, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The response from private medical practitioners to offers to serve in government hospitals is still poor, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai here yesterday. He said only 18 of the 162 vacancies offered nationwide...

Building floor collapses, 1 dead.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Satiman Jamin; Taufiq Md Daud KUALA TERENGGANU: A Bangladeshi construction worker died and four of his co-workers seriously injured when the fourth floor of a building under construction at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu campus in...

Fans advised to take public transport to circuit.
March 30, 2010... SEPANG: Motorists who do not have parking stickers to enter the Sepang International Circuit for the Petronas Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix race on Sunday can park their vehicles at the long-term parking facility at the Kuala Lumpur...

Starry treats for F1 weekend.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Dennis Chua KUALA LUMPUR: American R&B legend Lionel Richie, who serenaded the closing of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, leads a line-up of international artistes this Petronas Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix weekend. The...

Breaking the curse of health portfolio.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Sim Bak Heng A TWO-DECADE spell was broken at Wisma MCA at 6.40pm on Sunday. Party members shuddered to contemplate the careers of those who were picked as health minister since former health minister Datuk Chan Siang Sun died of a...

Uniting grassroots big challenge.
March 30, 2010... Byline: B. Suresh Ram; Jason Gerald; Sean Augustin KUALA LUMPUR: Uppermost in the minds of MCA delegates as they journey home after electing a new set of leaders is the extent of factionalism in the party. Yesterday, many of the delegates...

Accept results, says Dr M.
March 30, 2010... PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he hoped all MCA members would be able to accept their new party leader Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek in order for party activities to run smoothly. On Sunday, Dr Chua won the...

Path's clear for Ahmad's return.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Audrey Dermawan GEORGE TOWN: The stage looks set for controversial Umno politician Datuk Ahmad Ismail to return as the Bukit Bendera division chief following the decision by all 36 division committee members to resign en bloc. ...

Nik Aziz reappointed spiritual head of Pas.
March 30, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Nik Aziz Mat has been reappointed Pas' Mursyidul Am, or spiritual leader, despite having expressed willingness to relinquish it due to health reasons. Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi...

Two hurt as tree crashes down on coffee shop.
March 30, 2010... GEORGE TOWN: Fruit seller Hoay Ean, 55, was serving customers when a giant tree that had provided shade for his stall in front of a coffee shop in Jalan Burma came crashing down yesterday. The moment he heard a crackling sound, he turned...

International drug ring smashed.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Lee Shi-Ian KUALA LUMPUR: An international drug ring, operating out of Malaysia, was busted with the arrests of six African men and two women on Saturday night. The drug ring, believed to be run by Africans, was uncovered after...

Wee rips into 'little Napoleons' in Pakatan.
March 30, 2010... Byline: V. Vasudevan; Sajahan Waheed; Ili Liyana Mokhtar MAVERICK Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) caused a stir in the house when he told some of his party colleagues, whom he labelled "little Napoleons", not to force him to expose their...

Steps taken to manage foreign workers.
March 30, 2010... Byline: V. Vasudevan; Sajahan Waheed; Ili Liyana Mokhtar THE government has implemented seven new measures to manage foreign workers in the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said. He said the measures were a product of a study...

Soi Lek's sensational return to centre stage.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Azmi Anshar YOU have to hand it to Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, the way he masterfully read the sentiments of MCA delegates to manoeuvre Sunday's MCA elections into a presidential victory. The manoeuvring itself a master class in...

Tourists to get a feel of being soldiers.
March 30, 2010... SEREMBAN: Organising barrack stays for visitors to Port Dickson will be among the attractions in line with the prime minister's recent declaration of this popular beach destination as an Army Town. Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi...

A lot depends on Ganesan today.
March 30, 2010... Byline: M. Husairy Othman JUST how smoothly proceedings will go at the Perak state assembly sitting today totally lies in the hands of Speaker Datuk R. Ganesan. It is quite obvious that the former Sungkai assemblyman will be sorely tested...

Appeal in wife enticement case on Aug 13.
March 30, 2010... KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court will hear on Aug 13, an appeal by a businessman who allegedly enticed TV presenter Daphne Iking. Choy Khin Ming, 44, filed the appeal on Aug 26 last year, against magistrate Mohd Faizi Che Abu's decision...

Where confusion reigns.
March 30, 2010... Byline: Nik Imran Abdullah ISTANA Balai Besar and Istana Mahkota, both in Kota Baru, have been in the news quite often lately, particularly after the Sultan of Kelantan Sultan Ismail Petra returned home after receiving medical care in...

Nik Aziz heads honours list.
March 30, 2010... KOTA BARU: Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat heads the list of 639 people who will be conferred state awards by the Regent of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Sultan Ismail Petra today. Nik Aziz would be conferred the...