Crackdown on massage parlours, cybercafes with ‘side activities

KUANTAN: The Kuantan Municipal Council (MPK) will not hesitate to revoke the licences of massage parlour operators who violate the rules by providing sexual services, nor cybercafe owners who allow their premises to become gambling dens.

It was a unanimous decision made during its full council meeting held here on Wednesday after its president Datuk Azizan Ahmad suggested that firm action be taken against such operators.

He said fines or suspending their licences weren’t sufficient deterrents, and they should instead be given the maximum penalty of having their permits revoked.

“There is a need to act quickly on this matter. We do have a set of rules and regulations but if the premises conduct activities other than those listed in the licence -- such as gambling and prostitution -- we should immediately cancel the licence,” Azizan said.

Source: The Star Online

Shah Rukh Khan to accept Datukship in person

MALACCA: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has confirmed that Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan will be accepting his Datukship.

The ceremony would be held in November, although the date has yet to be decided, he said.

Shah Rukh Khan was among 77 people conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), which carries the title Datuk, in conjunction with the 70th birthday of Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob on Oct 11.

The conferment of the title on the Bollywood heartthrob stirred up a controversy. Some commented that the actor did not deserve the award as he probably did not even know where Malacca is situated, while others said such awards should be given to local artistes.

The Malaysian Artistes Association (Karyawan) however backed the conferment, saying it had no problem with it as long as similar or higher awards were conferred to equally deserving local artistes.

Karyawan said it was the prerogative of the state Ruler to confer awards on intended candidates, but added that it would have been better if associations were given the opportunity to recommend some names for such awards.

The issue was even brought up in Parliament.

Mohd Ali earlier said the decision to confer the title on the actor was based on a suggestion by former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin to Yang diPertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob as a means to further promote Malacca.

Shah Rukh Khan had starred in the movie One 2 ka 4 that was shot at the A Famosa Resort in Alor Gajah in 2001.

“This resulted in many people visiting Malacca since. The award is given in recognition of this,” Mohd Ali said.

He added that awarding international artistes such awards was also a good way to promote the state and country as a location for movies.

Source: The Star Online

Peeping Tom falls to his death from condo’s eighth floor

GEORGE TOWN: A suspected Peep­ing Tom fell to his death after spying on a woman living in a nearby high-rise building.

The 20-year-old contract worker was said to have slipped off the balcony of the eighth floor condominium he rented while ogling through his binoculars.

He was alone in the condominium in Gurney Drive on Friday when the incident took place.

A security guard who was on his rounds stumbled upon the body sprawled in a pool of blood in the compound at 11.30pm.

He immediately alerted the police.

The man’s body was claimed by family members at the Penang Hospital mortuary yesterday.

A police spokesman said the man had earlier gestured to neighbours of his “discovery” through his binoculars before the incident.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said that po­­lice had ruled out foul play and classified the case as sudden death.

He added that no clear motive was established over the death, except that police had recovered a pair of binoculars at the scene.

He said initial investigations revealed that the deceased could have been too “preoccupied” with his peeping when he slipped and plunged to the ground from his unit.

Source: The Star Online

People just Khan believe it!

MALACCA: The conferment of Datukship on Bollywood heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan has stirred up a controversy. Politicians, professionals and the man on the street are hotly questioning the wisdom of the move.

Some commented that the actor did not deserve the award as “he hardly knows where Malacca is” and asked whether he had promoted Malacca in his songs and movies.

SMSes received by The Star also hit out at the move, saying such awards should be given to local artistes.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the decision to confer the title on the actor was suggested to Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob by former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin recently.

Daim said it was a means to promote Malacca and the actor had shot a movie scene here several years ago.

The movie One 2 ka 4 was shot at the A Famosa Resort in Alor Gajah in 2001.

“This resulted in many people visiting Malacca. The award was given in recognition of this,” Mohd Ali said after the investiture ceremony in conjunction with Khalil’s 70th birthday celebrations.

Shah Rukh Khan was given the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) which carries the title Datuk.

Scores of fans gathered at the Dewan Seri where the investiture cere­­mony was held yesterday to catch a glimpse of the actor. He, however, did not attend the ceremony.

Mohd Ali said Daim was making arrangements to bring the actor here to receive the award in a special ceremony.

Businesswoman Fatimah Tahir, a huge fan of the star, said she was stunned to hear that he had received a Datukship.

“I thought the award is given to those who have contributed towards Malacca’s development.

“I wonder whether Shah Rukh Khan even knows where Malacca is,” said the 40-year-old from Taman Melaka Raya.

Lawyer Nizam Bashir from Ujong Pasir here also questioned the decision to award Shah Rukh Khan as he had not seen the actor promoting Malacca in his songs or movies.

“I am happy for him but does he even know he is getting the award?” said Nizam, 35, adding that it would be more meaningful if deserving local artistes were given recognition.

The local artistes who received the Darjah Seri Melaka (DSM) award, which does not carry any title, were singer Goh Eng Boon, popularly known as Andre Goh, comedian Jantan Osman also known as Ali Mamak and 60s singer Mariam Ahmad.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said he was not against deserving people being awarded the Datukship but priority should be given to local artistes.

He noted that if Shah Rukh Khan deserved the award, then so should Hollywood stars Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones who shot the movie Entrapment against the backdrop of the Twin Towers in 1999.

Source: The Star Online