First time on a plane...I guess

‘Bonnie and Clyde’ couple nabbed while watching porn

JOHOR BARU: A married couple believed responsible for multiple robberies were caught off-guard -- and redfaced -- when police raided their home while they were enjoying a pornographic movie on DVD.

The 23-year-old man and his 30-year-old wife were enjoying their porn and getting “frisky” when police raided their home in Skudai at 2.50am last Thursday.

Police seized several items including 18 pornographic DVDs and weapons they are believed to have used in their robberies.

Johor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said that the couple are believed to have robbed houses in Nusajaya and Skudai on Sept 9 and Oct 30 respectively.

“We believe the suspects are responsible for multiple robberies in Skudai and Nusajaya.

“We are checking whether they have past criminal records,” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters here on Tuesday.

Last week, a different married criminal couple were killed in a shootout with police in Petaling Jaya.

Source: The Star Online

Modified NGV unit explodes, trader dies

MALACCA: A trader who turned a cooking gas cylinder into a natural gas vehicle (NGV) storage unit to power his van died hours after the tank exploded at a petrol station here on Friday.

Mohd Hilmi Ishak, 25,died at the station in Jalan Datuk Seri Md Zin Abd Ghani, Batu Berendam.

His brother, Mohd Rosli, 30, and a friend identified as Razali Md Zin, 31, who were in the van, which burst into flames, sustained serious injuries and have been warded at the Malacca Hospital.

The explosion is believed to have been caused by a spark from the engine, which was running at that time.

Jalan Kubu Fire and Rescue Services Department operations chief Mokhtar Osman said Hilmi was in the driver's seat when the tan k exploded.
"We believe that the self-modified cooking gas cylinder was placed under the driver's seat and covered with canvas."

Mokhtar said investigations revealed that Hilmi had attached the hose to the modified tank and was filling it when the tank exploded.

He said the department received a call about 8.10pm and a team was dispatched to the area.

They took 20 minutes to put out the fire.

In Rembau, The Road Transport Department said it will post the list of 72 authorised NGV installer workshops on its website and publish it in the newspapers by next week.

Currently, there are 58 workshops authorised by the RTD to convert vehicles to run on natural gas.

"Sometimes, people are taken in by the cheap NGV conversions offered by irresponsible workshops," said RTD director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said after presenting a group of senior citizens with their motorcycle licences in a ceremony at Sekolah Kebangsaan Undang Rembau.

"Some people also ignore the basic safety rules at petrol stations, like switching off the engine or handphones."

He was referring the accident which claimed Hilmi's life.

Solah said two similar incidents in Cheras in Kuala Lumpur and Kepong have been reported.

He advised motorists to patronise RTD accredited workshops and have the vehicle inspected by Puspakom to ensure all safety guidelines have been followed.

Source: The New Straits Times

Angkasawan denies being paid RM1.2mil for seminar appearances

PETALING JAYA: Angkasawan Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor who is embroiled in a controversy over claims that he has collected RM1.2mil in fees for talks has vehemently denied the allegations.

The Angkasawan, whose family has also come out in support of him, also denied that he had made appearances and given talks to 150 companies.

“I am a millionaire? I wish I were,” he said in reaction to a report claiming that he had made a total of RM1.2mil by charging RM8,000 per hour.

Dr Sheikh Muszaphar also denied making appearances at 150 corporate functions, saying that so far, he had given talks at 200 schools and less than 10 companies.

“The report is absolutely untrue,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said the ministry had not received any official complaint about the allegations made in a news portal.

Dr Ongkili said that if the allegations were true, a complaint could be lodged and the ministry would investigate.

He said the Government’s contracts with the two Angkasawan — the other is Dr Faiz Khaleed — expires on Dec 31, adding that under the contract, they were obliged to take part in all promotional programmes arranged by the ministry.

They are also prohibited from receiving any rewards other than those from the ministry, he said.

Ongkili’s deputy Fadillah Yusof, in response to the allegations, said: “I’ve asked him (the astronaut) to meet me to discuss the matter on Monday.”

The Angkasawan’s father, Datuk Sheikh Mustapha Syed Shukor, and brother Sheikh Taufik (who often accompanied him for talks around the country), also vouched for Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, saying he had never demanded fees and added that he was a victim of jealousy and backstabbing.

Sheikh Taufik said: “He does not get paid for programmes organised under the Angkasawan programme like roadshows and school visits.

“Sometimes at the schools, he brings along his book (Reaching for the Stars) but all proceeds from sales are meant for the children of our brother (Sheikh Mustapa who died not long after Dr Sheikh Muszaphar landed on Earth).

“He is not fussy about money. He regrets leaving the matter for third parties to arrange and now wants to personally deal with such invitations,” Sheikh Taufik added.

The father expressed disappointment with the way his son has been treated.

He said Dr Sheikh Muszaphar did not get much from the ministry, adding: “He was only given a car to use and paid a RM5,000-plus salary. He even has to pay for a driver and a bodyguard to see to his safety as he has to travel around a lot to give motivational talks.

“When he is invited to give talks overseas, such as in the United States, he has to pay for lodging and flight tickets. So, if the organisers offer payment, he accepts them for these purposes,” Sheikh Mustapha said.

He claimed that many organisers wanted to make money out of his son by inviting him to give talks. He also said that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar was not given monetary rewards like other sportsmen who made the country proud.

“All he gets is his monthly salary.

“He was also warned not to accept any datukship,” he said, adding that Dr Sheikh Muszaphar, however, accepted his datukship from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, his home state.

“He did not want to accept but I told him that the Yam Tuan Besar will murka (be angry).”

Source: The Star Online

Mahathir can’t swim, urges parents to ensure their kids can

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad can do many things but take him to a pool and that’s where his human frailty will begin to show

The former Prime Minister can’t swim.

Launching a charity triathlon event for an 11-year-old who will also swim 8km across the Putrajaya lake, the former Prime Minister spoke about his “weakness”.

“I confess that I can’t swim. I am astonished that humans can swim.

“I used to worry that when I sailed on ships, I would sink to the bottom in case anything happened to the vessels,’’ he said.

He acknowledged how important it was to learn to swim, and urged parents to ensure their children could do so.

“It is a bit too late for me but I have tried to learn swimming many times,” he added.

Salman Ali Shariati Abdul Halim will also cycle for 360km and run 84km to raise funds for his attempt to swim across the English Chan–nel next year.

If successful, the boy will be–come the youngest swimmer to cross the English Channel.

Dr Mahathir praised Salman — a student of the Anglo Chinese School in Ipoh who is dubbed the “Iron Boy” — for his grit and determination at such a tender age.

He was recognised as the country’s youngest long distance swimmer by the Malaysia Book of Records last year.

Source: The Star Online

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