New Straits Times articles from November 2009

New Straits Times archives from November 2009

Former Belgian colony joins up.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Fauziah Ismail RWANDA became the latest member of the Commonwealth when its membership application was accepted by leaders of the grouping at their 20th meeting here on Saturday. Rwanda, which will become the 54th member, had...

Malaysia's three ideas adopted.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Fauziah Ismail COMMONWEALTH leaders have endorsed a separate declaration on climate change at their meeting here where three recommendations from Malaysia were accepted. Malaysia had pushed for a legally binding agreement to result...

PM: Bangladesh worker ban stays.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Fauziah Ismail BANGLADESH has asked Malaysia to review a ban on the import of its workers. However, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, that the ban was aimed at protecting...

Rosmah: Investing in kids will bring green benefits.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Fauziah Ismail PORT OF SPAIN (Trinidad and Tobago): Of all the investments governments can make in the name of a greener economy, none is greater than investing in the future generation, the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah...

'Nik Aziz must say sorry to God'.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Kristina George PUTRAJAYA: Pas spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat must apologise to God and the prime minister for his prayer to bring down Umno, said Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor. Tengku...

Quit to save your party, says Zahid.
November 30, 2009... LANGKAWI: Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat should think of stepping down for the good of his party, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. Although he did not want to get involved in Pas' affairs, Zahid...

Colonel Mat is my late dad, says Kickdefella.
November 30, 2009... KUALA LUMPUR: The Colonel Mat conspiracy claim may be working against Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, with a blogger claiming that the colonel is a reference to his late father. Former Kelantan state liaison officer Syed...

Penang to bar staff from BTN courses.
November 30, 2009... BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang is set to follow the Selangor government's move to bar its civil servants from attending Biro Tatanegara (BTN) courses. The other Pakatan-ruled states, Kedah and Kelantan, would also be asked to follow suit, Penang's...

Hopes rise for pay and benefits to go up.
November 30, 2009... Byline: B. Suresh Ram PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) feels that some increase in wages and benefits for workers could be expected next year. MTUC general-secretary G. Rajasekaran said positive signs could be...

MCA fighter who might end up the biggest loser.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Joseph Sipalan THE mild-mannered MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has been talking tough lately - even if it is tough love. It began with his faction demanding that party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat "respect" the...

Don't pin it on the working wife, says WAO.
November 30, 2009... Byline: B. Suresh Ram KUALA LUMPUR: The Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) came out strongly against the views on husbands paying for sex expressed in yesterday's front page report in the New Sunday Times. "WAO wishes to categorically state...

'Police did not act improperly'.
November 30, 2009... KUALA LUMPUR: Police did not overreact in the shooting death of a char kway teow seller in Perlis on Nov 14, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said last night. He said he had read the report on the incident and the facts revealed...

'Look at piracy in South China Sea'.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Leslie Andres; Haris Hussain; Adrian David; Marc Lourdes LANGKAWI: With piracy in the Straits of Malacca all but eradicated, attention should now be turned to the South China Sea. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi...

Despite slowdown, it's all systems go.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Leslie Andres; Haris Hussain; Adrian David; Marc Lourdes KUALA LUMPUR: The global economic slowdown will not have any adverse effects on the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace 2009 (Lima '09) exhibition. Defence Minister...

Finishing touches at high gear.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Leslie Andres; Haris Hussain; Adrian David; Marc Lourdes LANGKAWI: Preparations for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition 2009 (Lima '09) are ramping into high gear. With just two days to go, workers were...

Sukhoi pilots ready to show what they can do.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Leslie Andres; Haris Hussain; Adrian David; Marc Lourdes LANGKAWI: "We're ready," said Col Suri Mohd Daud. This assessment, from the tough-talking, no-nonsense commanding officer of No. 11 Squadron, came immediately after his...

Affin Bank offers finance solutions.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Leslie Andres; Haris Hussain; Adrian David; Marc Lourdes KUALA LUMPUR: As international manufacturing and production firms require a local banking agent to facilitate their trade agreements, Affin Bank is offering a one-stop facility...

Disaster prompts new look at ferry.
November 30, 2009... KUDAT: The boat tragedy on the eve of Aidiladha served as a stinging call for a better service to shuttle passengers to Pulau Banggi, 40km north of here. But for an additional ferry to the island to be viable, demand for the service has to...

PPP wants Murugiah to quit cabinet.
November 30, 2009... JOHOR BARU: Senator Datuk T. Murugiah is expected to be issued a 14-day notice by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) instructing him to step down as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department today. PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas...

Civility in civics.
November 30, 2009... AT this pass in our political development, what is there in our national structure, history and identity that is not controversial? When the germ of the National Civics Bureau or Biro Tatanegara (BTN) was hatched in 1974, it was seen as a means...

Loud Delhi wakes up to a quiet ride on the Metro.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Mahendra Ved ANYONE who has seen Satyajit Ray's 1955 classic Pather Panchali will remember child protagonist Apu and his sister watching wide-eyed a train passing by their village. These days, Apu's excitement transmits to me each...

Restrict them to two.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Robert Apoi I TOTALLY agree with S. Param of Ipoh ("Good reason to cut 4D draws" - NST, Nov 26) that the legal gaming outlets should be allowed to hold only two 4-digit draws a week (Wednesday and Saturday), with no special draws at...

Nothing in black and white for our records.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Erwin Tan THE Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has launched a campaign to remind members to nominate beneficiaries for their savings. Why are the names of the nominated beneficiaries not listed in the nomination acknowledgment slip...

English now a mother tongue.
November 30, 2009... Byline: E.L. I REFER to the letter "PPSMI waivers must not be granted" (NST, Nov 26) from Sa'ari Hasan of Ayer Keroh, Malacca. The writer seems to assume that all Malaysian children are brought up in households where only Malay, Chinese or...

Think of the future.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Samuel Yesuiah THE writer of the letter "PPSMI waivers must not be granted" (NST, Nov 26) seems to be obsessed with the idea of bulldozing through a reversal of the policy of teaching Science and Mathematics in English. The...

High time we changed our habit.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Chua Teck Boon MANY recently concluded festive celebrations were well received by all races in Malaysia as a way of life. Thousands of open house functions were held throughout the country every day. Polystyrene products took...

Deductible as first-time application.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Hasan Mohamed WE refer to the letter from A.E. Pereira of Kluang ("Mystified by fee deduction" - NST, Oct 20). We investigated at the branch concerned and were further informed that the complainant had opened a savings account with...

A tragedy just waiting to happen.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Richaed Teo I WONDER how Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) could allow illegal settlers to squat on the reserve land bordering the railway line. The land adjacent to the railway line stretching from the Seremban station all along Rasah are...

Turning down RM10b was irresponsible.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Calvin Sankaran PENANG Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's recent admission that he turned down an FDI (foreign direct investment) worth US$3 billion (RM10 billion) because he couldn't guarantee the pros-pective investor that 1,000...

In the dark about new regulation.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Hardev Kaur I OPENED a fixed deposit account with the main branch of Bank Simpanan Nasional in Ampang in 1997 and I applied for a credit card as well. The bank held my FD certificate. However, I requested that the yearly interest...

Implement plan right now.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor THE Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) would like to commend the organisers of the National Colloquium on Water Demand Management held at the Putra World Trade Centre in October. We share the organisers' view...

Once friends, now doormat.
November 30, 2009... IPOH: It has been nine months since DAP's Hee Yit Foong and PKR's Osman Jailu and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi left their parties to become independents friendly to the Barisan Nasional. Their switch caused the downfall of the Pakatan Rakyat state...

Taxi drives get a warning.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Syed Umar Ariff JOHOR BARU: Print the receipts or risk having your taxi permits revoked. That is the warning by Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board chairman Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique to taxi drivers who refuse to produce...

'We'll sue if state stops jetty project'.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Mazlinda Mahmood KUALA SELANGOR: The Malaysian Fisheries Development Board's fish landing jetty project, and relocation of four squatter homes in Pasir Penambang here, will go on despite the state government's efforts to stop it. ...

Thai architect bags Scrabble title.
November 30, 2009... JOHOR BARU: With the winning word "botanica", a 34-year-old Thai architect clinched the World Scrabble Championship (WSC) title which eluded him twice before. Pakorn Nemitrmansuk walked away with US$15,000 (RM50,880) in prize money at the...

Future is hot for pepper farmers.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Sulok Tawie SERIAN: Tuai Rumah Michael Nyangu Saron has come full circle. Seven years ago, the village headman left his pepper garden for an electronics factory in Singapore because the pepper price was too low. "I was one of...

Coming to the aid of disaster victims.
November 30, 2009... GEORGE TOWN: SEGi College Penang students managed to raise RM1,000 for Tabung Bencana NSTP after just five days of passing the hat around. The college collected the money thanks to an initiative by a group of students enrolled in the diploma...

Missing man found warded.
November 30, 2009... GEORGE TOWN: A 57-year-old mentally disturbed man, reported missing by his family last week, was found warded at the Penang Hospital. Yeoh Seng Hin had suffered injuries when a motorcycle hit him while he was crossing a road on Nov 21. He...

5 more held over parang attack.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Kalbana Perimbanayagam KLANG: Five more people have been arrested in connection with a parang attack during a birthday party in Taman Sentosa here on Saturday. Two of the victims died and another two were seriously injured. Acting...

Lion Group foundation website for scholars.
November 30, 2009... PETALING JAYA: The Lion Group educational and charitable foundation yesterday launched its website at Sunway Pyramid shopping mall. The website features a symbol of a rising sun spreading its rays, "symbolising the giving of hope and...

Popular beach draws visitors and rubbish.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Looi Sue-Chern GEORGE TOWN: A short stretch of beach on the southeastern coast of the island overlooking the Penang bridge and Pulau Jerejak is becoming the latest attraction here. The Bayan Mutiara beach, located next to a new...

Gerakan questions wisdom of monorail plan in Seberang Prai.
November 30, 2009... GEORGE TOWN: Penang Gerakan has questioned the state government's aim in allowing two companies to build monorail test tracks in Seberang Prai Selatan. The party's state chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said although the state had not entered...

No-plastic days meet resistance.
November 30, 2009... GEORGE TOWN: The state government's decision to extend its no-plastic Mondays to three days a week from January has not gone down well with retailers and consumers here. Many retailers were unhappy with the latest ruling which they claimed...

Jal Treasure wins the Admiral Grand Prix.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Go-Ram JAL Treasure, who last won more than 10 months ago, upstaged favourite Captain Obvious to capture the RM100,000 Admiral Grand Prix for Table 1 horses over 1400m (Race 9) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Partnered by replacement...

Seven storm out of Makaf AGM.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Devinder Singh SEVEN affiliates walked out on the Malaysian Karate Federation's (Makaf) Annual General Meeting in Bukit Jalil yesterday as Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam was elected unopposed to the president's...

Adam now a fitter player.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Ajitpal Singh ADAM Jaya has fainted on court before due to exhaustion and also injured his ankle more times than any other professional players in the country. All this occurred when Malaysia was relying on him in tournaments. ...

End of the road for Azlan in Rotterdam.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Devinder Singh AZLAN Iskandar's Dutch Open campaign ended in the semi-finals after running second seed Cameron Pilley of Australia close in Rotterdam on Saturday. Pilley avenged his Hong Kong Open defeat to the Malaysian by coming...

Accolades continue to flow for Nicol.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Devinder Singh NICOL David added to her burgeoning accolades when she was voted Wispa Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive year at the World Squash Awards in London on Saturday. The world champion came out on top of world...

Meeting to resolve coaches' controversy.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Jugjet Singh THE Malaysian Hockey Federation's (MHF) stand to bar national coaches from handling Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) clubs took their coaching committee and the affected coaches by surprise, and a meeting will be held next...

National team on course for another win.
November 30, 2009... THE national rugby team are on course for their second Asian Sevens Series title of the year after reaching the final of the Carlton Sri Lankan Championship at the Colombo Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. Malaysia started their campaign by...

Triumph in Laos can be a golden return for football.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Vijesh Rai A REGAL sounding e-mail from the FA of Malaysia's media department a couple of days ago on the Under-23 squad's departure for the Laos Sea Games brought back memories of just how good local football once was. K....

JR wants to get the better of Popo.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Arnaz M. Khairul THE form book reads that JR Stanly Jalip is the most likely among the Malaysian mountain bikers to end the country's medal drought in the Laos Sea Games on Dec 13, but the Sabahan has other ideas. Having finished...

Syed Adney, Razali out.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Devinder Singh GOALKEEPER Syed Adney Syed Hussein and striker Razali Umar Kandasamy found themselves cut from the Laos Sea Game-bound national Under-23 squad for very different reasons yesterday. While Syed Adney's exclusion was...

Pei Tty, Eei Hui treading with caution.
November 30, 2009... Byline: K.M. Boopathy WONG Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui are the pair to beat in the Laos Sea Games women's doubles but the Malaysians, who are aiming for their second gold, are not taking things for granted. Pei Tty-Eei Hui ended Malaysia's...

Saiful aims to go higher.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Ajitpal Singh TEENAGER Saiful Bahri Musmin earned praises from the local petanque fraternity when he earned a bronze medal on his Sea Games debut in Korat, two years ago. He was only a rookie then when he made headlines. Now...

Hasli out to surprise opponents in Laos.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Ajitpal Singh PISTOL shooter Hasli Izwan Amir Hasan has been experiencing a "Jekyll and Hyde" time in competitions this year. The Perak-born shooter has been making waves on the local scene but not in international competitions. ...

'Big sister beat little sister'.
November 30, 2009... SM SECTION 11, Shah Alam dominated the SportsUnite U R MY SIS Under-16 Unity Netball Carnival at the Bukit Jalil Sports School recently with both their teams reaching the final. SM Section 11 Team A edged Team Cluster 11-9 in their semi-final...

Minoprio looks set to conquer.
November 30, 2009... Byline: Zainuddin Muhammad THEY are dubbed the "Young Guns" by defending Monsoon Cup champion Peter Gilmour. Partly because the combined age of New Zealander Adam Minoprio, 24, and Australian Torvar Mirsky, 22, is still three years lower...

Koo-Tan out for revenge in JB.
November 30, 2009... Byline: K.M. Boopathy KOO Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's main objective in the World Super Series Masters in Johor Baru is not just to defend their title but also end their losing streak to South Koreans Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae. National...

'Make climate pact binding'.
November 29, 2009... Byline: Fauziah Ismail MALAYSIA on Friday called for not only a politically binding agreement at next week's Copenhagen Summit but also one that is legally binding. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who took part in the debate on...

KV plate vehicle can be driven on mainland for 3 months.
November 29, 2009... THESE are the top 10 stories on the New Straits Times online site www.nst.com.my for the week ending Nov 28. 1. Customs relaxes restriction on vehicles with KV plates 2. Girl, 16, pregnant after rapes 3. Maths and Science classes: A lesson...

Correction.
November 29, 2009... IN the report Green Technology for the Future last week, the paragraph regarding the energy potential of ocean thermal conversion technology should have read: "... the energy potential would be about 2,500 megawatts, more than Tenaga Nasional...

Sunrise launches education foundation.
November 29, 2009... SUNRISE Bhd recently launched the Sunrise Education Foundation (SEF), an independent, non-profit organisation which provides scholarships and other forms of subsidy for the education of the underprivileged. The study aid covers primary,...

Tiong Lai's faction declares 'new order'.
November 29, 2009... Byline: Joseph Sipalan KUALA LUMPUR: Peace still looks a long way off for the MCA, with the MCA Integrity Restoring Task Force (MIRT) declaring a "new order" for the party as its endgame. Party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who...

Civics bureau courses 'harmless'.
November 29, 2009... Byline: Mazlinda Mahmood; Veena Babulal; Joseph Sipalan KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Government has no problems about making public the contents of the Biro Tatanegara (BTN) or National Civics Bureau courses. Home Minister Datuk Seri...

Hishammuddin shifts focus to grassroots.
November 29, 2009... KUALA TERENGGANU: Following his success in closing ranks among state Umno leaders, Terengganu chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will now focus on the grassroots. "The grassroots are important. If we don't put our ears to the ground and...

MMU is big on student exchange.
November 29, 2009... THE Multimedia University (MMU) is going big with its foreign student exchange programme. Partnering with a number of renowned universities abroad, MMU is offering students a chance to study overseas to gain enriching academic experience. ...

Explore Taylor's pathways to top varsities.
November 29, 2009... THE variety of education options and career paths available today is plentiful. Deciding on your child's higher education has become a crucial decision. Pre-University (Pre-U) education, such as those offered at Taylor's College in Subang...

Good results, yes, but where's the creativity?
November 29, 2009... Byline: Sonia Ramachandran THE Education Ministry may emulate the methods used by Chinese schools for the teaching of Mathematics and Science in national schools. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also education minister,...

Check out postgrad options at Facon fair.
November 29, 2009... POSTGRADUATE studies in Malaysia is fast growing as can be seen from the introduction of many master's programmes and research Ph.D studies by public and private universities. At the 27th Facon Education Fair Incorporating Postgraduate, which...

Disability no hindrance to OUM grad.
November 29, 2009... DESPITE suffering from hearing impairment, clerk Teh Cheang Hock proved that nothing is impossible if one puts one's mind and heart to it. All it took Teh was a strong willpower to reach greater heights in his life and career. The...

Getting an edge and head start at INTI.
November 29, 2009... CARNATIC music and actuarial science may be poles apart to many, but for Ashveen Charavarthy Sekaran, each constitute a sum that contributes to his penchant for diversity that also includes a healthy indulgence in speech, drama and forensics. ...

Five Pre-U programmes at Sunway.
November 29, 2009... CHOOSING the right pre-university programme is an important step in your pursuit of your dreams and goals. At Sunway University College, you will discover and appreciate the unique benefits of the different pre-university programmes offered....

Search continues for nine.
November 29, 2009... KUDAT: The search continues for nine people who remain missing after their boat capsized off Pulau Banggi on Thursday evening. There were 28 people on board, 21 of them relatives going to the island to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha. A...

Survivors thought it was the end.
November 29, 2009... Byline: Roy Goh KUDAT: During seven hours at sea clinging to a cooler to stay afloat, Wahadir Hamdan, 33, resigned himself to death. He was one of the 28 people on board the ill-fated wooden boat that flipped over twice after it was hit by...

Penang Medical College students raise RM3,800 for charity.
November 29, 2009... PENANG Medical College students did a fine job raising RM3,800 for the Children's Protection Society (CPS) at a three-hour event in conjunction with Halloween at Tanjung City Marina's QE11 restauranrt recently. About 300 patrons obligingly...

Play it cyber safe.
November 29, 2009... Byline: Chandra Devi Renganayar DO you know how easy it is for hackers to get into your computer system? They can do it with such relative ease that cyber security is now no longer a technical but social issue. CHANDRA DEVI RENGANAYAR finds...

Explore option in computer forensics at MSU.
November 29, 2009... JOB opportunities in Computer Forensics are projected to be one of the fastest growing occupations. Reports on employment trends indicate that computer forensics related professions have seen a positive growth. Computer Forensics is the study...

PTPL diplomas prepare students for 'real world'.
November 29, 2009... PERHAPS the most important factor in determining the worthiness of a programme is the ability of graduates to secure meaningful employment. The rapid growth in business and management industry demands changes on techniques and approaches. It...

Computer security tips.
November 29, 2009... ALONG with antivirus, installing anti-spyware programme and firewall is also a must. Cyber Security Malaysia provides some fundamental tips to stay safe online. 1. Delete junk e-mails without opening them and never open an e-mail attachment...

Berjaya students get tips from experts.
November 29, 2009... BERJAYA University College of Hospitality has been roping in culinary experts from around the world to expose its students to the gastronomic delights and cultures from around the globe. From the American grill king Chef Robert Rainford to...

2 die in parang attack.
November 29, 2009... KLANG: Two men were killed in Jalan Raja Nong, Taman Sentosa, after attending a birthday party at 1am yesterday. Two others, including a 15-year-old, were critically injured. The four were on their way home when they were confronted by a...

Teen raped by neighbour.
November 29, 2009... Byline: Lee Shi-Ian; Kalbana Perimbanayagam KUALA LUMPUR: For days, an 18-year-old mentally disabled girl kept repeating "sudah kotor ( I'm dirty)". Finally, it sunk into her family that she had been raped. According to a source, police...

Jewellery shop robbed.
November 29, 2009... NIBONG TEBAL: Five robbers wearing ski masks robbed a jewellery shop at Sungai Bakap near here yesterday and escaped with RM500,000 worth of jewellery. The robbers, including one armed with a pistol and another with a hammer, struck about...