New Straits Times articles from November 2008

New Straits Times archives from November 2008

Sunway provides good grounding in the performing arts.
November 30, 2008... SUNWAY University College (Sunway) began in 1987 as an institution pioneering twinning programmes. Programmes were replicated at Sunway to match the standards of educational partners. This track record has resulted in a pool of experienced...

'Kapcai' gains popularity.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Rizalman Hammim CUBCROSS racing could be the gateway to attract fans and riders alike to motorcross and endurance racing. Cubcross is motorcross-style racing where modified small-powered motorcycles popular known as 'kapchai'...

SAF in Penang's way.
November 30, 2008... Byline: K. Kandiah SINGAPORE Armed Forces (SAF) will meet host Penang in the first semi-finals of the 51st Milo-Asum Malaysia Open Water Polo Championship at the Penang International Sports Arena Aquatic Centre in Relau today. SAF...

Shalin ends campaign in sixth.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Ajitpal Singh SHALIN Zulkifli ended her campaign at the PBA Women's Tour CLR Carmen Salvino Scorpion Championship by finishing sixth but it was not enough for the title match at the Brunswick Zone Hawthorn in Vernon Hills, the...

Post-service plan for educators sought.
November 30, 2008... KUALA LUMPUR: Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein called on education experts such as the Kirkby Alumni to come up with a post-service plan for educators. He said this after alumni president Tan Sri Yahaya Ibrahim raised...

Masterskill offers solid foundation.
November 30, 2008... HEALTHCARE personnel play a major role in almost every industry. They are involved in so many aspects of health related issues that they are constantly in demand. Malaysia is projected to need 70,000 healthcare personnel by 2020 and...

BPSS Red retain Boys' U-18 title.
November 30, 2008... Byline: K. Kandiah DEFENDING champions Bandar Penawar Sports School (BPSS) Red retained the Boys' Under-18 title when they beat Negri Sembilan's Datuk Taha 1-0 in the 35th USM-Penang International Hockey Carnival at the Universiti Sains...

'Best in the world' award for KDU duo.
November 30, 2008... AT KDU College, students have the options of enrolling in a British or Australian pre-university programme. They can sign up for A-level programme offered by the University of Cambridge or a pre-university course from the University of...

FAM must crack the whip or nothing will ever change.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Christopher Raj WE must get one thing straight here -- the FA of Malaysia's determination to develop football cannot be faulted. It is not, unlike many other associations, averse to criticism and is consistently seeking new ideas...

PFA to settle salaries.
November 30, 2008... Byline: K. Kandiah NEWLY elected Penang Football Association (PFA) president Datuk Zahrain Mohd Hashim pledged to settle the players' salaries within three months and is confident of raising RM3 million for development and competitions....

Bryan within striking distance.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul THE focus was on Aaron Lim at the Karting World Championships in Macau yesterday, but 13-year-old Bryan Mehta stole the show by winning two heats in the junior KF3 class. Bryan enters today's pre-final and...

Steaming hot and fresh.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Tan Bee Hong FOR steamboat, it is imperative that the ingredients are very fresh, Chew Wen Pin tells TAN BEE HONG. I must confess to feeling a little deflated when I find out that Chew Wen Pin and brother-in-law Kiew Chang...

Strong sales for Rondo.
November 30, 2008... THERE has been encouraging sales for the Rondo MPV since it was introduced by Naza Kia last September. "Sales results of more than 300 units in the first two months of our Rondo introduction confirm that more new customers are switching...

For serious fun, dial 599.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Hezeri Samsuri BACK in 1993, Luca di Montezemolo, fresh from his appointment as a replacement for the late Enzo Ferrari, summoned the company to come out with a new car to rival the legendary Testarossa. What was wanted was a...

'Millions' vie to appear on 8TV show.
November 30, 2008... KUALA LUMPUR: Looking at the size of the crowd, one could be forgiven for thinking that a million people were eventually going to turn up for their shot at fame and fortune. Trials for the third season of the popular reality TV show...

Better steering with HSU 1.
November 30, 2008... CONTINENTAL Truck Tires has introduced its new HSU 1 M+S steering-axle tyre, which provides enhanced braking and steering safety, at the IAA Commercial Vehicle Tyres in September. With the HSU 1 M+S, Continental completes its lineup for...

Green theme in classic remake.
November 30, 2008... AS envisioned by screenwriter David Scarpa and director Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism Of Emily Rose), the premise for the 2008 version of The Day The Earth Stood Still (TDTESS) is rooted not in man's violence against man, but in mankind's...

Check out study options at Facon fair.
November 30, 2008... THE 25th Facon Education Fair Incorporating Postgraduate, will be held on Dec 6 and 7 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). This event is superbly timed as it will be held after the SPM and STPM examinations and also around the release of...

Life-like relief!
November 30, 2008... Byline: Satiman Jamin Is it wood? Is it clay? Actually, it's both. Norazlan Ahmad tells SATIMAN JAMIN how he found inspiration to create a new medium for his art. What sets Norazlan Ahmad, 32, apart from other amateur painters is...

Naza-Brabus weekend special.
November 30, 2008... NAZA-BRABUS Motor Sdn Bhd will be having its "Weekend Specials @ Bangsar" this week. Walk-in customers will be able to view the sophistication, luxury and prestigious models of the Brabus A 170, B 200 T1, EClass Premier Line, E 270 CDI...

Rondo, Sedona and Rio triumph.
November 30, 2008... ALREADY the recipients of numerous awards and accolades, three 2009 Kia Motors vehicles won "Best Buy" or "Recommended" awards from Consumer Guide of the United States. The value-laden Rondo CUV was marked as a "Best Buy" while the Rio...

Ask not what your country can do for you ...
November 30, 2008... Byline: Joan Lau IT was raining heavily and the roads heading out of the city had turned into long, long parking lots. That was when a group of us from the office decided to go have dinner instead of trying to go home. The restaurant...

We are all one bangsa - Malaysian.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Zaini Mohd Said I HAVE always regarded the 11 or so Chinese families occupying the two rows of shophouses in Lenggeng town to be an ingrained part of the whole community in the mukim and therefore close to everyone. Their...

Right to expect quality homes.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Tan Choe Choe KUALA LUMPUR: It is a basic human right to own a house that is structurally sound, safe to live in, and has at least a door (entrance and exit) and the necessary number of windows. This may sound strange if...

Land Rover renaissance.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Azdee Amir SIME Darby Auto Connexion Sdn Bhd (Auto ConneXion), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sime Darby Motor Division, now manages the Ford, Alfa Romeo and Land Rover brands in Malaysia. Rajan Thurairatnam, the managing...

Yoga, mysticism and Islam.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Aniza Damis A new fatwa has been issued, and Yoga may soon be haram (forbidden) for Muslims in Malaysia. But why is it haram, and what is it about yoga that is so objectionable to Islam? ANIZA DAMIS looks into a study done by...

Most improved pair by a mile.
November 30, 2008... Byline: K.M. Boopathy WONG Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui may have lost in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Open yesterday but there is no denying they are the most improved combination in the national doubles squad this year. Zhang Yawen-Zhao...

Tea treat at Shell stations.
November 30, 2008... MOTORISTS can enjoy free samplings of Lipton Tea on weekends from 10am to 6pm at Shell highway stations. This promotion, which started in October with collaboration between Shell and Permanis, will carry on till next January. To...

Strong waves claim lives of two.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Chuah Bee Kim; Mohammad Ishak MERSING: Two secondary school students drowned while swimming in the sea off Air Papan beach near here yesterday. They were Mohamad Farid Rosle, 16, and a 14-year-old, known only as Mohd Mussali....

SEGi strives to bring out best in students.
November 30, 2008... THE Music Department at SEGi College Subang Jaya (SCSJ) constantly strives for its students to be among the best, aiming for international standards at all times. SCSJ understands that its Diploma in Music students need exposure to a wide...

Saving the compulsive saver.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Yap Ming Hui WHILE most people suffer from over spending, there is a group of people who suffer from compulsive saving. Those who suffer from compulsive saving never enjoy the things money can buy today. They long to feel forever...

Bracing for tough times.
November 30, 2008... WHILE this year saw a rush in orders for more fuel efficient trucks, many truck companies are expecting slightly lower commercial truck sales next year. The market is expected to shrink by around 15 to 20 per cent next year, but industry...

Eyeing a future in optometry at Twintech.
November 30, 2008... STUDENTS keen to become an optometrist, need to spend four years training as one after having completed the STPM or equivalent qualifications. At International University College of Technology Twintech, optometry is offered as a four-year...

Your truck's best friend.
November 30, 2008... THOSE who are in the haulage industry will know that their trucks rule the fate of their companies. One glitch and the whole transport schedule is off, resulting in huge losses. That is why their utmost priority is to make sure their...

Zakry-Fairuz come out tops.
November 30, 2008... Byline: K.M. Boopathy ZAKRY Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari took full advantage of an ineffective Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to reach the final, their third this year, in the Hong Kong Open yesterday. Kien Keat-Boon Heong were expected to...

Malaysia hold Singapore.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Christopher Raj WINNERS of Asean Championship Football Singapore were held 2-2 by Malaysia in a friendly at the Petaling Jaya Stadium yesterday. Singapore struck in the 10th minute through Croatian Alexander Duric but Malaysia...

'Try exercises other than yoga'.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Aniza Damis TO practise yoga or not? For Muslims, that choice may not exist any more. The most recent fatwa by the National Fatwa Council has decided that yoga is 'haram' (forbidden). This has created waves in the public...

Puteri head denies retracting ACA report.
November 30, 2008... SEREMBAN: Puteri Umno Jempol division chief Hanim Ismail has denied that its committee members had retracted their reports against state Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) officers. They had alleged that the ACA officers spoke to them in a...

(Music review).
November 30, 2008... Byline: B. Gavaskar Raj Then and Now: The definitive Herbie Hancock (Universal music) THOSE who know Herbie Hancock as a jazz visionary will be pleased to know that this new release is a collective album containing his past works. The...

'They never asked us a single sen'.
November 30, 2008... RAIN or shine, the lawyers from the Legal Aid Centre were there to help. "Even in bad weather, they never let us down," says Sabariah Hashim, who lived in a squatter home in Kampung Semarak, Kuala Lumpur, for over 30 years. Sabariah, 40,...

AeU at the forefront of e-learning.
November 30, 2008... ASIA e University (AeU) is a dual-mode international university set in Asia, by Asians for Asia. Its establishment is an initiative of Malaysia, as the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) countries' prime mover for e-education, with the support...

Temporarily unfit category needed in drivers' form.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Yamin Vong THE scrapping of the bid by a company to monopolise the health certification of truck drivers must be hailed as a triumph of a more open Transport Ministry led by Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat. The next step is...

Bracing for the monsoon.
November 30, 2008... IF the November wet spells continue, another flooding nightmare can be expected in both Kelantan and Terengganu, just in time for the Rainforest Challenge (RFC). Based on the Meteorological Services Department weather forecast, the East...

Big Maverick wins Barker Trophy.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Go-Ram CLASSY Big Maverick, put up a smashing performance to capture the S$350,000 (RM847,600) EW Barker Trophy for Singapore Group 2 horses over 1400m (Race 9) at Kranji yesterday. The four-year-old New Zealand gelding by...

Persona launched in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
November 30, 2008... PROTON has launched its Persona in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The expansion of Proton in Middle East markets will also see the Persona launched in countries like Qatar, Bahrain and Syria over the next two months. The Persona was...

Emotional farewell for 5 killed cops.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Mahendra Ved MUMBAI: The country yesterday bade farewell to its policemen and commandos who died fighting the terror attacks here amid emotional slogans and tempers running high against the perpetrators. It became clear that the...

King pays respects to Razali's family.
November 30, 2008... KUALA TERENGGANU: Thousands of people, including Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, braved a downpour yesterday to pay their last respects to Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail. Razali died of a heart attack on...

18,000 retrenched this year.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Rina De Silva; Adie Suri Zulkefli KUALA LUMPUR: At least 18,000 Malaysian factory workers have been retrenched this year. However, it is unclear if the workers were retrenched because the factories ceased operations or due to...

Dining vouchers await KLIMS visitors.
November 30, 2008... A TOTAL of 1,000 Werner's fine dining vouchers will be given to visitors of the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2009 (KLIMS '09) which will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre from May 29 to June 7 next year. The motor show,...

Chery freshens up the Tiggo.
November 30, 2008... CHERY Alado Automobile has unveiled its updated and facelifted Tiggo that will have an additional engine option in the form of a 1.6-litre besides the previously offered 2.0-litre option. "A lot of effort and dedication has been invested...

Lead in safety technology.
November 30, 2008... VOLVO Trucks is known for being a leader in cuttingedge safety technology. The Volvo R&D division, or Volvo Technology, is one of the leading partners in a major European Union traffic safety research programme. One of the many...

Brazilian movie about a woman's liberation wins top KL film award.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Hizreen Kamal KUALA LUMPUR: Brazil's A Casa de Alice (Alice's House) won the hearts of the judges and emerged the biggest winner when it was chosen as best film at the 2nd Kuala Lumpur International Film Festival 2008 (KLIFF...

Six-month study on workers' fund.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Tan Choe Choe; Ooi Tee Ching KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed retrenchment fund for workers will not be set up in time to face the human resource crisis that will come in the wake of the global economic slowdown, said Human Resources...

Diana shows her versatility.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Azdee Amir ACTRESS Diana Rusdi, who plays the lead character of Dr. Siti on the show Ampang Medical, enjoys playing such a mature and human role. She finds a few similarities between herself and the role that she plays. ...

Learn cheerleading from experts.
November 30, 2008... TOP international cheerleading experts from the International Cheer Union will be here to improve the level of cheerleading in Malaysia at Cheer Jam 2008. Organised by Cheerleading Association And Register Of Malaysia (Charm), it will be...

Keep them busy.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Nurjehan Mohamed NURJEHAN MOHAMED offers tips to busy parents who want to keep their children amused during the school holidays. With the school holidays upon us again, busy parents may be wondering how they could occupy...

The grand old dame.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Marina Emmanuel SHE may be getting on in years but the venerable grand dame of Penang is at her sparkling best, writes MARINA EMMANUEL. Tigran, an Armenian, started in 1884 with the Eastern Hotel in George Town and a year...

Probe into credit card link.
November 30, 2008... KUALA LUMPUR: Police will investigate reports by international news agencies that Malaysian-issued credit cards had been found in the personal belongings of terrorists in Mumbai. "These reports have to be verified first as it is too early...

MCA has to get its act together.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Chok Suat Ling IT's been just over a month since Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat won the MCA president's post, but already several insistent issues have cropped up, demanding his undivided attention. He is already fighting fire on...

Still a long way to go.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Intan Maizura Ahmad Kamal FOR Datuk Paduka Marina Mahathir and professor Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, the fight to eradicate the stigma for HIV/AIDS remains a long one, writes INTAN MAIZURA AHMAD KAMAL. Going into an AIDS...

Morrison's having some fun.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Subhadra Devan HE spent a few years busking on the street corner in and around his hometown of Rugby, Cornwall in England, and that says singer-songwriter James Morrison, is why he doesn't get stage jitters on stage. "That...

OUM keeps cyclist's dream alive.
November 30, 2008... LIVING life on the fast lane has been the norm for Kimberley Yap since she was in primary school. Her passion for swimming began at the age of nine but over the years, she has uncovered her talents in other competitive sports. At 23,...

Baby legal eagles to the rescue.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Audrey Vijaindren UP to 90 per cent of those charged with crimes in the Kuala Lumpur courts do not have access to legal assistance or representation. While most lawyers might choose to sit in cushy offices and ignore this is...

Extreme test for the Hilux.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Luis J.A. Wee THE Toyota Hilux will be making its debut entry into the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) as official support cars for the event. To prepare the vehicles for the gruelling challenge ahead, they were sent to 4WD...

UK trip for MINI customers.
November 30, 2008... BMW Malaysia has launched a competition that will earn the 998th, 999th and 1,000th customers the chance to visit the MINI plant in Oxford, United Kingdom, an invitation to MINI's 50th birthday bash and a limited edition roof art of their...

State seeks bigger role in Langkawi.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Noor Adzman Baharuddin ALOR STAR: Kedah wants more say in the running of Langkawi's development programmes if the Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) charter is renewed in March 2010. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul...

Theme song to 'sell' Sabah.
November 30, 2008... KOTA KINABALU: The hit song, Sayang Kinabalu, about the state's natural beauty and friendly people, ubiquitous at weddings, events, karaoke lounges and airwaves will get more exposure, now that it has been declared as Sabah's theme song. ...

What's going on.
November 30, 2008... NST NIE Programmes * The Young Apprentice Series: Cub reporter is held tomorrow and Tuesday for those aged 13 to 17 at MBSJ, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya. * The Young Apprentice Series: Leadership Challenge is held tomorrow to Wednesday...

Two men die in crash.
November 30, 2008... SITIAWAN: Two men were killed when their car crashed into an oil palm at Km12 Jalan Damai Laut-Taiping yesterday. Driver Chu Chong Feng, 32, and Ooi Chor Lai, 60, died at the scene. Their bodies were sent to Manjung Hospital for a...

A Nu Jazz experience.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Aref Omar Nu Jazz artiste Ray Harris wants to put the fun back in jazz and all are invited, writes AREF OMAR. Glasgow may be a hot bed for producing notable rock acts the likes of Travis, Franz Ferdinand, Mogwai and The...

Fuel efficiency at stake.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Yamin Vong ENJOY the low petrol prices while you can. I've paid the road tax on my V8 Range Rover and am enjoying it again for weekend drives. However, I have to confess that there's a guilty feeling about feeding this guzzler....

Unlicensed truck drivers on the road?
November 30, 2008... CURRENTLY, Malaysian truck drivers can hold three types of driving licence, the E1, the E2 and the Full E. The E2 is for vehicles with an unladen weight not more than 5,000kg, E1 for vehicles with unladen weight not more than 7,500kg and...

Shopowner found dead.
November 30, 2008... MARAN: A shop-owner was found murdered in her premises at Jengka 13 yesterday with her neck slashed with a sharp weapon. The 56-year-old woman was believed to have been killed before 9pm on Friday. Police found her body in the kitchen after...

Not all about the music.
November 30, 2008... Byline: James Lochhead SINGER Ray Rozells announced: "We're not too sure of this song, but we're going to do it anyway." And the band swung effortlessly into Ray Charles' Unchain My Heart, tight as you like, swinging the audience back to...

Soi Lek left with only one post.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Anis Ibrahim JOHOR BARU: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has almost become a non-entity in a state that he headed just 10 months ago. His name was not in a state line-up announced by party president Datuk Seri...

Logic defying chariot.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Thomas Huong THIS is a car with attitude that undeniably stands out on the road. Love or hate it, the X6 is a convention-defier in SUV (sports utility vehicle) design with its sloping coupe roofline in the rear and athletic,...

Jake brake advantage.
November 30, 2008... TALK to truck drivers about stopping power and the Jake Brake will surely be mentioned. So, what is a Jake Brake and who is Jake? Jake Brake is a registered trademark of Jacobs Vehicle Systems Inc and it is actually another name for...

11,000 DVDs seized in raid.
November 30, 2008... GEORGE TOWN: Police posing as DVD buyers seized RM55,000 worth of pirated discs in two raids and arrested three peddlers on Friday night. Northeast district police chief ACP Azam Abdul Hamid said the simultaneous raids were carried out in...

Shaving their way to a record.
November 30, 2008... KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1,000 customers at the Giant hypermarket had a "close shave" at its Bandar Kinrara outlet in Puchong yesterday. But there was no cause for alarm as they were merely male customers who went home with a smooth,...

Daddy, please don't tell them.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Chai Mei Ling EVEN as Malaysia celebrates World AIDS Day today with the theme 'Keep the Promise', focusing on educating the young, the continuous prejudice HIV-positive children face in schools means that adults need education...

As pretty as Jabba the Hutt.
November 30, 2008... I ONCE drove an oil tanker. She was called the Jahre Viking and at 1,504ft was not only the longest ship in the world but also the biggest man-made movable object. She was so vast, in fact, and drew so much water that she was unable to...

Family in detention.
November 30, 2008... Byline: Subhadra Devan GEMUK Girls director alvin tan of the Necessary Stage tells SUBHADRA DEVAN he was pleasantly surprised to see full houses for all nine shows. In 1987, while Malaysia had Ops Lallang, Operation Spectrum was in...

Sex education the domain of parents.
November 30, 2008... WORLD AIDS Day celebrations this year will centre around the theme Keep the Promise, with a focus on educating the young. With that in mind, Malaysian AIDS Council and PT Foundation are holding several activities and workshops targeted at...

ATC introduces two new programmes.
November 30, 2008... CERTIFICATE in Business Studies (CBS) and Diploma in Management are programmes designed by Advance Tertiary College for students keen on having business qualifications. ATC principal and deputy chief executive officer Dr Danny Choong...