New Straits Times articles from November 2011

New Straits Times archives from November 2011

Travel gadgets.
November 28, 2011... GOING somewhere this holiday? If you are hitting the beach or hiking up mountains, it is best to pack light and bring only the essentials. Siti Syameen Md Khalili suggests 10 packable and portable gadgets and gizmos that will not weigh you down...

Simply a-maze-ing!
November 28, 2011... It normally requires a teasing block of cheese or a large cat giving chase in order to get a mouse to move at top speed. But not for this incredible micromouse. The robotic rodent managed to negotiate a complex maze in just 3.921 seconds....

Stylish Honor.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Edwin Kee ARE you on the lookout for an Android-powered device but do not want to take the road well travelled - i.e. that includes the likes of HTC, Samsung, LG and Sony Ericsson? Along comes Huawei with the Honor smartphone...

Nod to Note.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Tatee Hassan While the Samsung Galaxy Note may have an identity crisis, its solid looks and cool features are never in doubt, writes Tatee Hassan IS it a smartphone or a tablet? It's a tweener and somehow Britney Spear's song "I'm not...

Beautiful combat.
November 28, 2011... Byline: As Zephyr The third instalment of Modern Combat offers cinematic thrills and pure gaming fun, writes As Zephyr I'M a big fan of film director Michael Bay. I've seen all of his biggest hits, including Transformers, Bad Boys and...

Malaysia's Top 10 Fastest Rising Searches on Google.
November 28, 2011... WEEK: NOVEMBER 18-24 1 DIASPORA Ilya Zhitomirskiy, co-founder of social network Diaspora (described as a Facebook alternative), was found dead at his home in San Francisco. He was 22. 2 MALAYSIA VS INDONESIA Malaysia's Harimau Muda took on...

Use your phone to pay.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Izwan Ismail The next time you go shopping, you may be able to leave your wallet at home, writes Izwan Ismail FARAH Ilyana Khairudin, 24, has been selling women's clothing and handbags at her boutique, Cala Qisya, since April this...

Google help to set up your online store.
November 28, 2011... IF you have a business and do not have a Web presence yet, it's time to do so. With the Get Malaysian Business Online (GMBO) initiative (www.getMYbusinessonline.com. my) by Google, you will be able to set up an online store front in just 30...

Tech way to forge family ties.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Compiled by Izwan Ismail MICROSOFT Malaysia has initiated a short online film-making project to highlight the importance of family relationships. The project is part of the company's It's A Great Time To Be A Family campaign where...

Dare to be different.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Izwan Ismail Unconventional is the route to success for product designer Alex Knox. Izwan Ismail talks to the man TO most of us, a fan with no blades makes no sense. But not to Alex Knox. The British product designer and engineer...

Sound her out.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Rozana Sani Making herself heard in numerous ways, hearing-impaired Selina Ooi has inspired those who share her affliction, and the rest of us to understand them better. Rozana Sani writes IT IS 5.30PM. After a day of websites,...

Driving home his point (HL).
November 28, 2011... Byline: Zubaidah Abu Bakar KUALA LUMPUR: AS Umno finalises preparations for its most crucial gathering this week, grassroots leaders are especially looking out for strong expressive messages from party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak. ...

Trained maids for young, elderly.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Roy See Wei Zhi; Predeep Nambiar KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can now hire Indonesian maids who are specially trained to care for the elderly and the young. They will have the option of choosing maids skilled not only in domestic...

Crafting culture.
November 28, 2011... LAST Wednesday, the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, received the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award, which was established 20 years ago to recognise those who have supported and promoted the arts. Earlier in May, another royal...

Practise moderation, says king.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Eileen Ng; Koi Kye Lee PUTRAJAYA: YANG di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin yesterday advised Malaysians to practise moderation in their everyday lives. He said social moderation referred to doing things in a wise manner,...

Fatwa council chairman inspired by award.
November 28, 2011... PUTRAJAYA: The national-level "Tokoh Maal Hijrah" award was conferred on National Fatwa Council chairman Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Abdul Shukor Husin yesterday for his contribution to Islamic education in Malaysia. Shukor, 69, described...

Don't be in denial, leaders told.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Jaspal Singh IPOH: THE country's leaders were yesterday advised to take a leaf out of the political turbulence in Syria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and other countries by understanding the realities on the ground instead of being in the...

Dr M: BN is the best option.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Nuraina Samad KUALA LUMPUR: THE Barisan Nasional (BN) remains Malaysians' only option to govern the country because the opposition has "nothing to indicate that they will be a better government,' said former prime minister Tun Dr...

Making BN win big is Umno Youth's only focus.
November 28, 2011... Byline: M. Hamzah Jamaludin; Alang Bendahara KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO Youth is always known as the most vocal among the three party wings, at least in the past. However, this might not necessarily be the scenario during its annual general assembly...

Puteri Umno faces test.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Ahmad Fairuz Othman; Roy Goh KUALA LUMPUR: THE experiences that Puteri Umno has gathered, in its 11 years of existence, will be put to test during its annual general assembly on Wednesday as the movement prepares to face the next...

Shahrizat: We are united to ensure victory.
November 28, 2011... PETALING JAYA: Wanita Umno will work closely with Umno Youth and Puteri Umno in preparing for the next general election. Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the three movements were committed to strengthening Barisan...

Cops quiz 13 over NFC allegations.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Lee Shi-Ian KUALA LUMPUR: POLICE have interviewed 13 people, including Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution, over allegations of criminal breach of trust involving the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC). ...

SMK Melawati wins F1 contest.
November 28, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: Four students from SMK Taman Melawati won the Fastest F1 Award during the regional "F1 in Schools Technology Challenge" recently. Team Streamline comprises Sulaiman Albakri Burhanudin, Syed Afiq Syed Albakri, V. Kiren Raj and...

Restaurant blast at Maju Junction.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Oleh Fahirul N. Ramli KUALA LUMPUR: AN explosion at Maju Junction Mall damaged a restaurant and an adjoining outlet on Saturday night. No one was injured in the 11pm explosion, which occurred after the mall had closed. The...

RM500m fund 'a timely move'.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Michael Murty; Predeep Nambiar KUALA LUMPUR: SEVERAL youth groups yesterday praised the government's move in setting up a trust fund for Bumiputera students to pursue higher education under the Bumiputera Education Leader Foundation...

NRD to sort out 'Siamese' woes.
November 28, 2011... ALOR STAR: Speedy MyKad and passport database update is assured for Malaysian Siamese who have their race status given as "Thai" and not "Siamese", Home Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Mahmood Adam said yesterday. He said those facing this...

Less rain in next 3 days.
November 28, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: Though the rain appears to be easing off for now, the Meteorological Department and non-governmental organisations are still keeping an eye out for changes in weather conditions. Mercy Malaysia vice-president Associate Prof Dr...

Clinic open despite floods.
November 28, 2011... RANTAU PANJANG: The clinic in Jalan Lubuk Setol here is still drawing patients despite the overflowing water from Sungai Golok nearby. A clinic worker said it reopened on Saturday after closing for two days since Thursday when floodwaters...

Two swept away by strong currents.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Chuah Bee Kim; Ahmad Othman KOTA TINGGI: TWO teenagers are believed to have drowned after they were swept away by strong currents while swimming in Sungai Pemandi in Kampung Makam, near here. The two victims, who were identified as...

Search for 2 missing youths called off.
November 28, 2011... KOTA BARU: Search operations for two people who went missing in Machang and Rantau Panjang on Saturday were called off at 6pm yesterday without their bodies being found. A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said operations were expected to...

Woman killed, son hurt.
November 28, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: A woman's routine visit to her mother in Taman Bukit Serdang near here yesterday turned into a nightmare when she found her dead in the living room of the house. She also saw her brother struggling for life with his throat slit. ...

'Women taxis' for vulnerable, too.
November 28, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: The "Taxis for Women" service can also be used by the elderly, children and family, says Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Senator Datuk Heng Seai Kie. "Although priority is given to women, the service...

Anwar says some PKR reps slacking.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Rizalman Hammin JOHOR BARU: PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim admitted yesterday that some elected representatives from the party had forgotten their duties to the people. He said this was clearly in contrast to the...

Air festival draws 20,000.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Adrian Lai KUALA LUMPUR: THE final day of the Malaysia Air Festival (MAF) ended on a high note yesterday, attracting more than 20,000 visitors. MAF deputy chairman Cornelius Moreira said the air show was a resounding success and...

Guan Eng rapped for double standards on tolls.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Adie Suri Zulkefli TASEK GELUGOR: MINISTER in Prime Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop yesterday accused Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of practising double standards over the recent PLUS Expressway concession revision deal which...

Building aid for vernacular schools.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Roy See Wei Zhi KUALA LUMPUR: VERNACULAR schools can submit requests for the authorities to construct, improve and maintain their facilities, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek. "We will give additional assistance to...

DPM gives RM50,000 to KK Sikh temple.
November 28, 2011... KOTA KINABALU: The Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in Jalan Mat Salleh here can now carry out renovations, thanks to a RM50,000 grant from Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday. Sabah MIC chairman Datuk V. Jothi handed over the...

Body in oil palm estate.
November 28, 2011... KULAIJAYA: The body of a Pakistani was found in an oil palm plantation here yesterday. Muzamil Shah, in his 30s, had wounds on the head, face and hands, and was found at the Kelan Oil Palm plantation at 9.40am. Kulaijaya district police...

Stabbed man dies.
November 28, 2011... BUKIT MERTAJAM: A customer of an Internet cafe, who was stabbed while trying to stop two armed robbers in the outlet at Taman Serumpun, Berapit here, died 24 hours after the incident. Seberang Prai Tengah district police chief Assistant...

Settlers catch trio of armed robbers.
November 28, 2011... Byline: T.N. Alagesh MARAN: A GANG of three robbers, who terrorised the community in Felda Jengka 10 here, with their violence was caught recently. The parang-wielding foreigners, in their 20s and early 30s, had committed four robberies...

Body of woman in ferry sinking found.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Avila Geraldine KOTA KINABALU: THE body of a woman who drowned following Saturday's ferry accident in Sungai Lihak-Lihak was recovered yesterday. Hajarah Kadin, 44, was found by villagers at 11.20am more than six kilometres from...

Mayawati tries to carve a state.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Mahendra Ved "DIVIDE and rule" (derived from Latin: divide et impera) had different connotations during the colonial era in Asia, Africa and Latin America. India's British rulers, many historians say, kept Hindus and Muslims...

Aviation sector dangerously close to stalling.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Mustapha Kamil Mohd Janor THAT "fasten your seatbelt" sign has been turned on for quite a while now in the Malaysian air transport services sector and voices are becoming louder that something drastic must be done quickly to get it...

Asean and the global sovereign debt problem.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Steven CM Wong LET us be clear on one thing: Asean economies do not have sovereign debt problems like those of their counterparts elsewhere. They are - indeed the whole region is - literally on a different continent where public...

Maintain trees after planting.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Liew Khooi Cheng; Dr Pola Singh KUDOS to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for initiating a drive to plant 13 million trees nationwide ('13 million trees planted ahead of schedule' - NST, Nov 23). It would be good...

Need to do more for commuters.
November 28, 2011... Byline: V. Francis I AM a regular commuter using KTM Bhd's Komuter service between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban. I board the train at the KL Sentral station and feel sad that the service rendered by KTMB is far from satisfactory. Delays...

East coast rail service a muddle.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Jeremain Tan THE train left KL Sentral at 8.30pm on Wednesday and arrived in Kuala Krai at 1.45pm the next day after a torturous journey of more than 16 hours. In Gua Musang, the train broke down, causing further delay. After that...

Shed some light on the seized drugs, money.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Lau Bing RECENTLY, there have been many cases where the Customs Department had successfully uncovered drugs being smuggled into the country. Many of us wonder what happens to the large amounts of money and foreign currencies, and...

Check if you really need the vitamins.
November 28, 2011... Byline: M.J. I WAS at the Menara Maybank lobby recently where I witnessed the sale of multivitamins and nutrients. I heard one of the salesmen convince some of the staff that they needed vitamins since they worked until midnight almost...

At mercy of 'powerful' clerk.
November 28, 2011... Byline: D.S. I HAD the misfortune of dealing with a clerk at the Education Ministry's "Bahagian Pendidikan Guru" last week. I wanted to hand over a letter of appeal for a cancellation of transfer for my wife. My wife requested three...

Be prepared for difficult times.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam AT least two finance ministers, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah and Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit, have sounded greater caution on our...

It's not right to deny them birth certificates.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Samuel Yesuiah I REFER to the letter "Love them for who they are" (NST, Nov 18) on the status of illegitimate children. It was a wonderful letter that looked into the stigmatisation of illegitimate children and questioned the validity...

Accord priority to preventing accidents.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye THE International Social Security Association (ISSA) Switzerland has reiterated that safety and health at work is the responsibility of society as a whole and that building and maintaining a national accident...

Don't use legal loopholes to stigmatise them.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Jose Mario Dolor De Vega I REFER to the report and letters regarding illegitimate children. The right to be recognised and to have a father for purposes not only of recognition, but also of legitimacy is an undeniable human right...

Good Planning grabs Trophy.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Go-Ram KUALA LUMPUR BEAUTIES, beasts and Sasa Fashion On The Turf Day took centrestage at the Selangor Turf Club's (SLTC) Ladies Day, the second day of the four-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday with the fairer sex dressed in...

RSC end title drought.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Fadhli Ishak ROYAL Selangor Club (RSC) captured their first Guinness Jonah Jones Rugby Sevens title since 1972 with a convincing 26-15 victory over the Hong Kong Lions in a wet final at the RSC Sports Annexe yesterday. The Lions,...

Banking on mean machines.
November 28, 2011... MOHD Khairul Adli Azahar and Ahmad Syukran Aizat Yusoof will head to the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix grand finale at Penang Esplanade on Dec 3-4, armed with confidence in their Suzuki bikes. The Suzuki FortyOne Racing duo will be betting...

Langkawi to kick off four-leg circuit.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Zainuddin Muhammad MALAYSIA will have a match racing circuit of its own beginning next year. The four-leg Malaysian Match Racing Tour (MMRT), organised by the Malaysian Yachting Association (MYA) and T-Best Events Sdn Bhd will...

Fairytale finish for Williams.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Zainuddin Muhammad WHEN you're hot, you're hot! That is Ian Williams of Team GAC Pindar who emerged champion of the Monsoon Cup after beating Johnie Berntsson of Berntsson Sailing Team 3-1 in the finals at Pulau Duyong, yesterday. ...

Kuala Lumpur upset Perak.
November 28, 2011... KUALA Lumpur upset the formbook when they beat Perak 3-2 in the semi-finals of the Boys National Under-14 tournament at the KLHA Stadium yesterday. They will meet Terengganu, who also edged Kelantan 3-2, in the final today. KL's charge...

Malaysia fight back for draw.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Jugjet Singh MALAYSIA played a game of two halves to hold Japan to a 2-2 draw in the Champions Challenge I at the Randburg Hockey Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday. The national players lost 3-1 to Canada in the opening match, and...

Coach Mat Zan calm despite tensions.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Zainuddin Muhammad MAT Zan Mat Aris is a happy man these days. He is back in the Super League, coaching his old team, Terengganu, and his biggest problem now is looking for a place to stay in Kuala Terengganu. Earlier, the...

Heartbreaking.
November 28, 2011... Byline: Devinder Singh A CALAMITOUS five-minute spell was all it took to ruin Malaysia's hard work and shatter their Olympic dream as 10-man Bahrain staged a miraculous comeback from two goals down to win 3-2 at the National Stadium in Bukit...

'Put party above self' (HL).
November 27, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: Leading up to the Umno general assembly starting on Tuesday, Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants Umno members to put the party above self-interest. Najib, who is Umno president, said party members must make sacrifices and not allow...

(The picture on the ... ).
November 27, 2011... THE picture on the front page of the New Straits Times yesterday says it all. Children frolicking in the muddy flood waters without a care in the world. This is the scene that is played out year after year when the monsoon rains come lashing...

Nazri: Govt will amend assembly bill.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Jaspal Singh PADANG RENGAS: The government will carry out several amendments to the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, including amending the controversial Section 9(1), which requires an organiser to give a 30-day notification to the...

'Wasatiyyah' way to peace.
November 27, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: THE peace and harmony enjoyed by the people is the result of wasatiyyah, or moderate approach, adopted by most Malaysians, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He said the majority of Malaysians rejected...

Lesson on imaginative ideas.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Punitha Kumar KUALA LUMPUR: THE arts are important in education and it must be emphasised on students, said the Education Ministry's co-curriculum and arts division director, Muhamat Roli Hassan. He said adequate exposure of fine...

Crackdown on errant owners.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Noel Achariam; Predeep Nambiar KUALA LUMPUR: OWNERS of PPR units who have been renting out their units to foreigners will face the music and may be subject to harsh penalties, said Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister...

'Sub-letting of PPR units not something new'.
November 27, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: The sub-letting of People's Housing Project (PPR) units to foreigners has been in practice for quite some time, according to residents. Many registered tenants who share their units with foreigners feel uneasy with their...

PKR takes pre-polls campaign to Johor.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Zubaidah Abu Bakar PARTI Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), trying to emerge from its recent setbacks, has been busy making plans to face the coming general elections. Yesterday, the party splashed on large TV screens its election campaign...

More evacuees return home.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Sulaiman Jaafar; Elvina Fernandez KOTA BARU: In Kelantan, the worst affected state, the situation improved slightly with the number of victims at evacuation centres dropping to 1,760 people compared with 1,817 people on Friday. The...

Keadilan reps come under fire.
November 27, 2011... JOHOR BARU: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) elected representatives came under fire from a delegate during its national convention yesterday for lacking communication skills. Kedah PKR delegate Dr Azman Ismail said there had been complaints from...

We wore 'smocks' and shorts to school.
November 27, 2011... Byline: P.Selvarani THEN AND NOW: Before the current school uniform was introduced in 1970, all schools in the country had their own uniforms. They came in shades of blue, brown, yellow, green and numerous other colours. P. Selvarani takes a...

I do, but do sign here first...
November 27, 2011... Byline: Audrey Vijaindren CONTINGENCY PLAN: With the rise in divorce cases, couples may need to address the sensitive question of whether they should sign a pre-nuptial agreement before saying, 'I do', writes Audrey Vijaindren. AMERICAN...

Safer option with 'Taxis for Women'.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Aisyah Sulaiman KUALA LUMPUR: Public transport is now safer for women with the launch of "Taxis for Women" by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry yesterday. Deputy Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kei said the project was...

Aerodrome to stay open.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Adrian David KUALA LUMPUR:THE scheduled closure of the Sungai Besi aerodrome at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base on Thursday has been deferred indefinitely. This follows a hurried meeting convened last Friday involving the...

Family loses RM1m to five robbers.
November 27, 2011... GEORGE TOWN: A company director suffered nearly RM1 million in losses after her house was broken into by five masked men, believed to be Indonesians, in Taman Jesselton here on Friday. In the 5am incident, the 43-year-old woman was fast...

A festival that soars high.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Adrian David; Adrian Lai KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Air Festival left thousands of visitors spell-bound on its first day yesterday. The air show provided guests with an opportunity to get up close to more than 50 new-generation...

Ernie braves bullets to do job.
November 27, 2011... KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran pilot Earnest Walter Talalla's spirits were not dampened by the hot weather and downpour, even though he was in a wheelchair. Ernie, as he is known among aviators, braved the weather to attend the Malaysia Air Festival...

It's good to give others a chance.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Ahmad A Talib LETTING go is never easy. Necessary though on many occasions, it can be very painful at times. Not everyone will let go of what they love or have without considerable sacrifices on their part. But there will come a...

Reading is wired in writing.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Wan A Hulaimi WE are, as we Skype, email, text and telephone, slowly losing touch with ourselves. I am thinking of this even as I thump on this keyboard, producing letters onto the screen, words taking shape almost immediately on a...

Najib's deepening reforms.
November 27, 2011... Byline: A Jalil Hamid JUST 11 weeks after his landmark Malaysia Day speech, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak unveiled on Nov 24 a raft of law reforms that took even the opposition by surprise, not just by the speed but the depth of the...

Don't stop aiming for the top.
November 27, 2011... Byline: Leslie Andres THURSDAY in the United States saw Americans celebrating Thanksgiving, a holiday where thanks are given for the harvest and other blessings of the year. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, it is a...