New Straits Times articles from May 2012

New Straits Times archives from May 2012

Shafee denies allegation (HL).
May 31, 2012... Byline: Farrah Naz Karim; Alang Bendahara PUTRAJAYA: Former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Datuk Shafee Yahaya said he had recommended to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that disciplinary action be taken against his aide, Azmin Ali,...

Malaysia ranked 14th most competitive country.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Rupa Damodaran KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia climbed the global business ladder by two notches, securing a place as the 14th most competitive country in the world. Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea were the only three Asian economies...

Hub of Japanese excellence in KL.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Balan Moses KUALA LUMPUR: Once thought a pipe dream, the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), to be launched by Datuk Seri Najib Razak tomorrow, is proof that hard work and perseverance always works. The...

US senators call on Najib.
May 31, 2012... PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday received a courtesy call from United States Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman at his office in Perdana Putra building here. Both senators were accompanied by Malaysian special...

Watch lunar eclipse at planetarium.
May 31, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have a chance to view the partial lunar eclipse on Monday at the National Space Agency (Angkasa)'s National Planetarium from 8pm to 10pm. The public will be provided with several telescopes to watch the partial lunar...

Dad's bid to save girl fails.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Jason Gerald John MALACCA: A father bravely jumped into a puddle of water to save his 9-year-old daughter who was believed to have been electrocuted. Although he suffered a mild jolt, Massaari Mohamad, 35, managed to carry the...

Ex-Perak MB under probe.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Syed Umar Ariff; Chuah Bee Kim JOHOR BARU: Police are investigating reports lodged against former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammed Nizar Jamaluddin for a tweet deemed disrespectful to the monarchy. Johor police chief Datuk...

Publisher seeks judicial review.
May 31, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: The publisher of Irshad Manji's book will file for judicial reviews against his arrest and seizure of the books, and the ban on the book by the Home Ministry ZI Publications in a statement yesterday said that the Selangor Islamic...

2nd Lim-Chua debate on July 8 to be in English.
May 31, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: The second round of the debate between MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng will reach a wider audience as it will be conducted in English. Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute...

No 'rude' posters, bunting at polls.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Ben Tan JOHOR BARU: Caricatures of any individuals will be banned from all campaign materials in the next general election. The Election Commission (EC) said it would remove posters or bunting with caricatures under the Election...

Rafizi's actions 'hurt banking industry'.
May 31, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat strategy director Rafizi Ramli has come under fire for releasing private financial documents to the public and putting the banking industry in jeopardy. Bayan Baru member of parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain...

Businessman, teacher to head for Euro match.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Hevareena Jagannathan KUALA LUMPUR: Two lucky football fans will have much to brag about after they were picked to catch a match at the 14th UEFA European Football Championship in Poland and Ukraine next month. Abu Bakar...

Sofa sets for Fathers Day contest winners.
May 31, 2012... SHAH ALAM: The role and sacrifices of a father as breadwinner and head of the family are often overlooked. Readers can treat their fathers to brand new sofa sets by participating in the "Fathers Day - Daddy You're My Hero" contest in the New...

Malaysia hosting 85,000 refugees.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Looi Sue-Chern GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia, apart from housing millions of legal and illegal foreign workers, is also "hosting" over 96,000 refugees and asylum seekers. As of November last year, there were 10,778 asylum seekers and...

'Asean must tackle cyber security threat'.
May 31, 2012... PHNOM PENH: Mounting cyber security threats need immediate attention from Asean countries, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi here yesterday. "Studies show that losses incurred from cyber security crimes amounted to a...

Karpal applies to strike out sedition charge.
May 31, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran lawyer Karpal Singh applied to strike out a sedition charge against him for uttering seditious words against the Sultan of Perak three years ago. The Bukit Gelugor member of parliament filed the application at the High...

Pathmanabhan: Land deal is not a scam.
May 31, 2012... SHAH ALAM: Lawyer N. Pathmanabhan who is charged in the Banting murder case denied that the land deal involving cosmetics queen Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya was a scam. He found himself in the "hot seat" yesterday when he was bombarded with...

Cop: Photos kept on disc.
May 31, 2012... Byline: T.N. Alagesh KUANTAN: Four police photographers testified yesterday on the seventh day of the murder trial of French tourist Stephanie Foray. The four were Corporal Amran Salim, 49; Lance Corporal Meor Fadhirul Marzuki, 27;...

Technology and tenacity put students at the top.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Satiman Jamin LAPTOPS and inscription stones may not have much in common but both have crucial roles to play in their own periods in history. In Terengganu, the use of e-book has kept the quest for Islamic knowledge alive, much in...

Cultivating creativity.
May 31, 2012... MULTIMEDIA Development Corporation (MDec) creative multimedia vice-president and director Kamil Othman wants to dispel the parental notion that creative-related courses are a "waste of time". In pointing out that, on the contrary, there is a...

Striving for reforms on a proven path.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Zakri Abdul Hamid IT has been said many times that a better education system is fundamental to Malaysia's drive to become a developed country. The question is, what specific steps are needed to improve the system on which so much...

When teachers' hands are tied.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Chok Suat Ling CANING may be a painful subject but it certainly whips up one's attention. Whether or not several lashes from the rotan will transform our young miscreants into upright students has for a long time been debated upon,...

Beijing still turning a blind eye to abuses.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Frank Ching BEIJING has scored points in its handling of the case of Chen Guangcheng, first by agreeing to guarantee his safety by relocating him and his family to another city where he can study law and then, after the blind activist...

Merap and the confessions of a dubious voter.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Rita Sim IF you live in the Klang Valley, have a chat with your friends or neighbours about where they will be voting. Chances are, many will still choose to vote in their hometown, even if they have been living in Kuala Lumpur or...

Rise of the educated uneducated.
May 31, 2012... Byline: A. Kathirasen I REMEMBER the gentleman's bicycle that my father had. I sat on the bar in front of the sturdy Raleigh bicycle as muscle-power carried me to school during the first few years of my studies. The gentleman's bicycle was...

Don't hire haggling cabbies.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Mohd Nur Kamal THE Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) refers to the letter, "Taxi Drivers: Time to act against these rogues" (NST, May 23), by Datuk Tunku Yusuf Jewa of Kota Baru, Kelantan, SPAD, through its enforcement division,...

Media must respect rights of victims.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Datuk Dr Amar Singh ON May 25, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kie came to my department to see a 2-year-old victim of abuse. She was accompanied by the Perak Welfare Department director and...

Deny children what they love most.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Dr S. Nathesan THE issue of caning children and students has resurfaced. First of all, we must agree that punishment is necessary to discipline them. But is caning the way? I am afraid it is not the right approach to this matter. ...

Preserve Kuching's 'perahu'.
May 31, 2012... Byline: A.M. I JUST returned from Kuching, Sarawak's capital city, which boasts a waterfront facing the famed Sarawak River. Kudos to the city administrators. The city is uniquely administered under two municipal councils; Kuching North...

Thanks for first-class aid.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Alan Bligh I EXPRESS my sincere appreciation to the crew members of AirAsia flight AK5129 on May 6 for their assistance during a medical incident. I also thank the doctor, paramedics and staff of Pusrawi Medical Centre at the...

Nicol on track to break squash title record this year.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Mohd Faizal Abdullah HAVING won the prestigious title in 2005, 2006 and 2008, once again our national squash darling and icon Datuk Nicol Ann David paid tribute to the Jalur Gemilang by having it flown high at the O2 Arena in London...

Need for information literacy workshops.
May 31, 2012... Byline: S.E. Tan I REFER to the report "A new era for age-old habit" (New Sunday Times, May 27). National Library director-general Datuk Raslin Abu Bakar is very happy with the increase in membership and in the number of books borrowed. ...

Sitar maestro deserves recognition.
May 31, 2012... Byline: A.H.K. I CONGRATULATE the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry on the recent recognition accorded to "154 sites, tangible and intangible objects and distinguished individuals" as the country's National Heritage" on May 10....

How jobseekers can make the cut.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Carisma Kapoor KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians need to equip themselves with certain skills to meet the challenges of newly created jobs in the country. About 350,000 graduates, including Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia leavers and diploma and...

Quiz champs to boost Asean ties.
May 31, 2012... Byline: R.S. Kamini KUALA LUMPUR: Three fifth formers will play the role of young ambassadors when they represent Malaysia at the Asean Quiz Competition 2012 in Cambodia in August. The trio, who topped the national-level Asean quiz finals...

'Beware of kids' spending habits'.
May 31, 2012... PUTRAJAYA: Higher allowances given by parents is one of the reasons more teenagers are lighting up these days. Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the rise in the cost of living had led to the rise in allowances. ...

Switch to food crops, tobacco planters urged.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Elvina Fernandez KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry yesterday urged tobacco planters to switch to growing crops that may help to increase the country's food production. Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said alternative crops...

Kaamatan a lesson in unity, says Najib.
May 31, 2012... PENAMPANG: A message from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak livened up the launch of the two-day Pesta Kaamatan, or Harvest Festival, here yesterday. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman in conveying the greetings said the celebrations...

Film on Kadazandusun culture.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Avila Geraldine KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah company has come up with a documentary to create awareness on the importance of preserving Kadazandusun culture. Through the hour-long film, the producers of Vinoun Films hope to bring to...

Development authority to boost tourism.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Audrey Dermawan IPOH: The Perak government has urged its federal counterpart to seriously consider the setting up of the Pulau Pangkor Development Authority to further boost tourism on the island and its surrounding areas. The...

13 foreign prostitutes held in raids.
May 31, 2012... SUBANG JAYA: Seven foreign prostitutes were rounded up during a series of anti-vice raids here on Tuesday. The seven - four Chinese and three Thai nationals -- in their 30s, were arrested along with a Bangladeshi caretaker at a massage...

Air shows at RMAF Subang base.
May 31, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang will be abuzz on Sunday with a host of activities in conjunction with its 54th anniversary. The highlight will be an aerial display of the air force's fighters, comprising a Sukhoi...

Four children in need of help.
May 31, 2012... Byline: K. Kandiah GEORGE TOWN: Four children suffering from serious heart complications are waiting for urgent operations at the Gleneagles Medical Centre (GMC) in Penang. Their parents are appealing for donations from the public so that...

Joyful Affair on comeback trail.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Go-Ram JOYFUL Affair looks ready for a comeback victory in the Class 5 event over 1100m straight at the one-day Perak Turf 's Club (PRTC) one-day June meeting on Saturday going by his workout in Ipoh yesterday. Taken out by a track...

SLTC plans to hold international races.
May 31, 2012... SELANGOR Turf Club (SLTC) is hoping to host its first International Group 2 races soon. Speaking at the Club's annual general meeting on Tuesday, chairman of Selangor Turf Club, Tan Sri Datuk Richard Cham said, "To attract more international...

London in Heidi's sights.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Ajitpal Singh A SWITCH from the pool to open water swimming two years ago may soon pay dividends for Heidi Gan as she will be making an attempt to qualify for the London Olympics at an event in Setubal Bay in Portugal on June 9-10. ...

Guam and India make final.
May 31, 2012... FAVOURITES Guam stayed on track to winning their division when they beat Indonesia 38-17 in their semi-final match on the opening day of the HSBC Asian Five Nations Division Three tournament yesterday. Guam, who lost to China in the Division...

Gavin takes one stroke lead.
May 31, 2012... TWO Malaysians soared to the fore on the second day of the 25th MPI-Saujana Amateur Championship despite a 60-minute rain delay and slightly wet conditions. Gavin Green came in with a three-under 69 to add to his opening day 71 to take over the...

Kinrara Oval in high demand.
May 31, 2012... THE Kinrara Oval could be in for a busy period over the next few months as the Malaysian Cricket Association's (MCA) plans to popularise the sport gathers steam. Malaysia is almost certain to stage the World Cricket League (WCL) Division Four...

MAU to leave fate in Wada's hands.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Devinder Singh THE six national sprinters who skipped anti-drug tests last year will have to accept whatever punishment recommended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (wada). Citing financial constraints, the Malaysian Athletic Union...

Razie stars in comeback win.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Ajitpal Singh RAZIE Rahim's final minute penalty corner earned Malaysia a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Pakistan for their first victory in the Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh yesterday. Razie sent a powerful low flick past Pakistan...

Safee, Norshahrul together again.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Ajitpal Singh SAFEE Sali and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha will finally reunite on the playing field when Malaysia face the Philippines tomorrow after injuries kept the strikers apart since October. National coach K. Rajagobal has not...

Deadlock in negotiations.
May 31, 2012... Byline: Zainuddin Muhammad SEE you in court ! The Terengganu FA may have no choice but to opt for legal option after facing a dead-end over contract termination settlement with former head coach Mat Zan Mat Aris. FA president Datuk Che Mat...

New approach for pair.
May 31, 2012... Byline: K.M. Boopathy MEN'S doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang has come up with another unusual method to turn around Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's form by asking them to undergo mixed doubles training as part of their preparation for the London...

Tough draw for top duo.
May 31, 2012... Byline: K.M. Boopathy THE focus will shift to men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong as the injured Lee Chong Wei will not compete in the Indonesia Open, the final warm-up event before the London Olympics, and the premier super series...

Johor prince raps critics over WWW1 plate.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Ahmad Fairuz Othman; Masami Mustaza JOHOR BARU: Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim hit out at critics who questioned the Johor palace's spending habits following the latter's purchase of a much sought-after vehicle...

Boosting capital market (HL).
May 30, 2012... Byline: Kamarul Yunus KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday announced a slew of initiatives to boost the capital market as well as women seeking reemployment and fresh graduates. The initiatives include tax breaks...

2013 Budget on Sept 28 to focus on growth.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Rupinder Singh PUTRAJAYA: THE 2013 Budget will be tabled in Parliament on Sept 28, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday. This date is the earliest for a budget to be tabled since Najib became prime minister. The...

Early tabling 'suggests October polls'.
May 30, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: The early tabling of the 2013 Budget, scheduled in September instead of October, has sparked another round of speculation on the date of the 13th general election. Political analysts said the early timetable was a strong...

Najib and Dr M top kids' wish list.
May 30, 2012... PUTRAJAYA: Many terminally ill children, who can have their wish granted, are no longer asking for the latest gadgets but the chance to meet leaders they idolise. Top of their list is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former prime...

PM's meeting with Saudi king 'will resolve haj issue'.
May 30, 2012... PUTRAJAYA: The government is confident that Riyadh will not impose any sanction on Malaysian pilgrims visiting the holy mosques in Mecca and Medina after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak holds talks soon with Saudi Arabia's ruler King...

Sad over misguided women's fate.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Audrey Dermawa IPOH: RAJA Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah has expressed concern over rampant cases of abandoned babies as well as the increase in number of cases involving women drug mules. The queen, who is the royal patron...

Bag in lake sends cops on frantic hunt.
May 30, 2012... SHAH ALAM: Police spent hours scouring the Raja Lumu Lake here after a caller claimed to have seen a woman jump into the lake yesterday. A team sent to the scene found luggage with clothing nearby. The search later widened to include a...

Recording 'made for safety reasons'.
May 30, 2012... KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) president Datuk S. Nallakaruppan yesterday claimed that he had recorded opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's movements and whereabouts for "safety" reasons. "I was his friend (and)...

Raja Petra: PKR leader ordered cover-up of graft.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Akil Yunus KUALA LUMPUR: CONTROVERSIAL blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has revealed that a senior Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader had allegedly ordered a cover-up of evidence of corruption by his former political secretary. Raja Petra...

Department detains publisher.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Lee Shi-Ian; Beboshini Unni; Mazlinda Mahmood PETALING JAYA: SELANGOR religious officers raided a publishing office in Merchant Square here yesterday and confiscated 180 copies of a book written by liberal Canadian Muslim author...

Leave my son alone, man tells PKR leaders.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Koi Kye Lee PUTRAJAYA: PARENTS of the Sunday drag race accident victims yesterday lashed out at the opposition whom they felt were trying to score political points over the tragedy that befell their children. Expressing doubt over...

An eye on mini tornadoes.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Nuradilla Noorazam KUALA LUMPUR: MINI tornadoes do occur in Malaysia and they are the result of severe thunderstorms. Meteorological expert Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abdul Samah said waterspouts and mini tornadoes, which are commonly...

People don't take Pleasure in more hillside homes.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Sharanjit Singh GEORGE TOWN: THE rows of hillside bungalows in Batu Feringghi with "for sale" signs and the uproar by residents furious with the development in their backyards are not slowing down the number of projects approved for...

Mum held in baby-in-pot probe.
May 30, 2012... JOHOR BARU: The mother of a 2-month-old baby, who was found dead in a huge pot two weeks ago in Kampung Seri Ladang, Batu Pahat, was arrested on Saturday to facilitate investigations. A police official said they wondered how the boy, Asyraful...

PTPL College students, staff do their part for charity.
May 30, 2012... SHAH ALAM: As part of PTPL College's aim of instilling the spirit of voluntarism, 200 students and staff of PTPL College, Ampang, took part in a flashmob charity event at a shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur recently. The "Charity Flashmob...

Head start in early child education.
May 30, 2012... SHAH ALAM: EARLY education plays an important role in the development of young children. This is an important period of a child's transition from family to a social environment. A quality basic education can ensure the success of the child in...

Asean-China Forum for South China Sea.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Dr Chandra Muzaffar NO one will believe that the standoff between the Philippines and China over a disputed island in the South China Sea is a straightforward bilateral issue. It has serious implications not only for regional...

Investing in jobs.
May 30, 2012... THE Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) is not only quantified in headline ringgit and sen. It is also being measured by a value of greater social significance: high-paying jobs. Some 40,000 of them are to be yielded by 21 projects worth...

The Afghan conflict's 'terrible mistakes'.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Kamrul Idris IN relating his time as British envoy and then special representative to Afghanistan, Sherard Cowper-Coles tries hard not to sound glum. Cables From Kabul, published last year, is the testimony of a first-class...

Character to play increasing role in US election.
May 30, 2012... Byline: W Scott Thompson ELECTIONS are won from a variety of reasons: economic issues of the day, party trends, pure popularity and so forth. Sometimes, not enough character is an issue. Richard Nixon was not known as "Tricky Dick" for...

Bar Council tiptoeing into politics.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Zainul Arifin Md Isa IT has been a month since the Bersih 3.0 rally and it must be said that not many came out of the situation unscathed. The government, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, police, ministers, the media, Bersih organisers,...

If a Brazilian city can do it, so can we.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Eleanor Chen CURITIBA SUCCESS: Kuala Lumpur plans to learn from city's excellent public transport IN January, I was stuck in a traffic jam on two highways just trying to get from Kajang to Mid Valley Megamall. The 21km journey, which...

More important for BN to wrest back Kedah.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Noor Adzman Baharuddin STOP THE FUSS: Let the people decide instead of speculating on who should be the next menteri besar TO name or not to name. That is the issue that has been forced into the open following speculations that Datuk...

Time to stop blaming TV for the real problems in our lives.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Samuel Yesuiah I CONCUR with the letter, "Housewives need some escapism" (NST, May 17) on the case for women watching dramas. Tamil dramas and serials on Astro have been blamed for causing "dramas" in homes. Many women have been...

Technical glitches pose major sporting hurdle.
May 30, 2012... Byline: C. Sathasivam Sitheravellu THE recently concluded National Schools Athletic Championship (MSSM) in Kangar ran into many technical controversies. The boys Under-18, 100 metres final had to be re-run the next day due to a problem....

Revamp teacher training.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Dr Dzulkiflee Abdullah I HAD the opportunity to attend the National Dialogue on National Education in Kuching on May 26. During the dialogue which was moderated by Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Wan Nordin, I had a chance to voice my views...

Underlying message is how important kids are.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Rueben Dudley NOT many are aware of the origins of the designation of a day dedicated to honour children, especially International Children's Day, which is commemorated on June 1 each year. Many confuse it with the United...

Union built on bliss lasts.
May 30, 2012... Byline: Jose Mario Dolor De Vega THIS is a rejoinder to Capt P George Oommen's reaction "Love, Money and Marriage" (NST, May 25) to Marisa Demori's letter, "Money is vital, even in love" (NST, May 22). I concur that "while it is true that,...