Enforcement officers seize 'Viagra coffee'

KUALA LUMPUR: A direct-selling company marketed a coffee mixture with a secret ingredient which guaranteed to "perk up" drinkers.

The secret ingredient was sildenafil, more popularly known as Viagra.

Enforcement officers from the Health Ministry recently raided the direct-selling company in Gombak.

A medical examination is required, along with a doctor's recommendation, before men who are suffering from erectile dysfunction are allowed to purchase sildenafil or Viagra.

A ministry spokesman said: "The coffee mixture had been distributed in sachets nationwide.
"Officers found 900 boxes containing more than 9,000 sachets of the coffee mixture which retailed for more than RM80 per box."

The company used individuals to distribute the product in small quantities to evade detection by authorities, he said.

"Investigations revealed that the distributor attempted to mislead the public by claiming that the coffee mixture could provide an energy boost, besides being beneficial for men," the spokesman said.

If a coffee mixture is sold at a higher than normal price then it is almost certain to contain the sildenafil.

"A coffee mixture containing the dangerous chemical is sold for between RM5 and RM10 per sachet compared with coffee mixtures which retail for between RM1 and RM2 per sachet," the spokesman said.

Sildenafil is a controlled substance because of the dangers it poses to those suffering from heart ailments and high blood pressure.

Those who consume sildenafil without a doctor's prescription run the risk of headaches, stomach aches, hearing loss, vision impairment and muscle pain.

Source: The New Straits Times

Elderly man dies during sex

KUANTAN: A 78-year-old businessman died of a heart attack while allegedly in the midst of foreplay with a transvestite on Sunday.

Harun Mohd Salleh of Kubang Buaya here, was in the 31-year-old transvestite's room in Jalan Sultan Ismail about 5.40pm when he died.

The transvestite claimed Harun was caressing him when he had the heart attack.

Deputy district police chief Superintendent Zulkifli Taha said police had classified the case as sudden death.

Source: The New Straits Times

Salesgirl molested by deformed man

MARANG: A lame leg, a deformed left hand and a cross-eyed look. We would be forgiven for thinking, upon being told of a crime involving such a person, that he was the victim.
Not so. In this instance at least, the physically challenged man was the predator.

The man, said to be in his 40s or 50s, molested a 23-year-old salesgirl from Kampung Padang Limau Nipis, here, on Sunday.

The woman was alone in a textile shop when the man approached her.

Producing a welfare card, he asked for a donation.
After she had given him RM5, he struck up a conversation with the woman and persuaded her to sit next to him.

He performed a coin trick before touching the victim's right thigh. He then touched her near the groin before grabbing her buttocks.

As the man got up to leave, he rubbed her abdomen, saying she would give birth to twins. That's when she realised she had been taken advantage of. She later lodged a police report. Members of the public is advised to contact the police if they saw a man fitting the description.

Source: The New Straits Times

Beggar spends RM40 in daily taxi fare to beg

It costs RM40 to travel by taxi from Kuala Nerang, Kedah, to this capital of Perlis.

A visually handicapped man was prepared to part with that sum daily to come here — all for the sake of begging in the streets.

The 36-year-old beggar was one of seven rounded up under the “Ops Selamat" operation here last night.

Perlis Social Welfare Department director Abdullah Ali told Bernama today the beggar was picked up while begging at the Titi Chai night market in Utan Aji near here.

Investigations revealed that the beggar had been receiving aid from the department but the assistance was terminated when it was found that he was involving in begging.
Abdullah said the detained beggars were handed over to their guardians while family members found to be living on the alms of beggars were given counselling, and beggars with no family or accommodation were given temporary shelter at Rumah Sri Kenangan, Jejawi, near here.

Source: The New Straits Times

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

More disturbing video surfaces after lesbian clip

KUANTAN: Another pornographic video clip featuring a secondary schoolgirl has surfaced here.

But this time, the content was more disturbing as it showed a girl forced to strip and being abused by a group of female gangsters.

The victim, believed to be a Form Two student, was forced to perform sexual acts in front of the group, which included several boys.

It is understood that the victim was abused as a payback for exposing the sexual and gangster activities of the other girls.

The culprits were believed to be involved in an earlier video clip that was circulated, featuring a Form Four and Form Five female student in a lesbian sex romp.
The existence of the first video clip was highlighted last week in the New Straits Times after it was found by a company manager in his daughter's mobile phone.

In the second clip, one of the female gangsters forced the victim to perform sexual acts.

Speaking with a thick Pekan accent, the gangster said: "Sit here and do it stupid!

"If not, I will kick you. Do you want me to distribute this (the recording) to the whole school?"

Throughout the two-minute and 39 second video clip, the victim was physically and verbally abused.

Her tormentors also made comments on her looks and body.

It could not be confirmed where and when the incident took place.

But a student, who claimed to be the victim's schoolmate, said that it was recorded in a classroom of a secondary school here.

"The girl was forced to perform the act in front of several female and male students," the schoolmate said.

She also claimed that the gangsters and the victim were from the same school.

She believed that the culprits were also involved in the first video clip.

Source: New Straits Times

Student's lesbian sex romp video makes the rounds

PEKAN: A video clip involving two secondary school students in a lesbian sex romp is making its rounds at schools here.

The clip, 100 minutes long, is believed to feature a Fifth Former and a Fourth Former. It is believed that the incident was videotaped on a mobile phone by the older of the two students.

The clip came to light after a company manager discovered it on his daughter's mobile phone.

"She knows the students featured. The video clip has been widely distributed among teenagers here," said the 45-year-old who wanted to be known only as James.

A 19-year-old girl, who wanted to be known only known as Amy, claimed the tomboy was well known here for her Cassanova personality.
"She has many girlfriends due to her 'handsome' appearance and caring attitude.

"She also likes to record her intimate moments with her girlfriends and show them to her friends."

Amy said this was the first time such a video clip had been circulated among the public.

Source: New Straits Times
Rumoured video can be found here

Fraudsters use women to obtain contracts

KUALA LUMPUR: Sexual gratification is one of the three main factors why fraud takes place.

Fraudsters use women in exchange for government contracts and licences from authorities and decision-makers, according to the Malaysian chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Its president, Akhbar Satar, said these women are usually guest relations officers hired to seduce the decision-makers who were mostly males.

He was speaking during the "Economic Crime" seminar held in conjunction with the 2008 World Economic Crime conference. The seminar was organised by Berita Harian and Help University College.

"The fraudsters know that men are usually weak when it comes to women," said Akhbar who was the former Anti-Corruption Agency director of training as well as former Negri Sembilan ACA director.
He added these female accomplices are paid at least RM1,000 per "session".

"At times, these sexual acts are recorded and it may be used as a form of extorting the victims later if necessary."

The "victims" are usually people in power such as politicians, government officials and corporate heads.

Some of the female fraudsters "offer" themselves just to get the contracts and licences, he added.

The act of using women in exchange for business contracts and licences was a global phenomenon, he added.

The other two factors why fraud takes place are the lure of a powerful corporate position and promise of money.

"These factors show that it is human nature to desire maximum pleasure with minimum pain," he said.

Akhbar said these factors were compiled from reports made to the ACA.

Fraud, Akhbar said, included bribery, corruption and economic crime.

Economic crime is defined as acts in violation of the criminal law designed to bring financial reward to an offender. The crime also involves illegal business activities.

Source: The New Straits Times

POLICE: Website's report an attempt to sabotage investigations, confuse public

Police have dismissed reports on the Internet that a private hospital doctor had not found any medical evidence of sodomy by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s accuser as another attempt to sabotage police investigations.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the reports were also aimed at confusing the people.

Police, he said, were considering investigating the news website and a blog over their reports, which referred to a medical report allegedly issued by Pusrawi Hospital on Jalan Tun Razak.

The news report claimed that there was no evidence that Anwar’s former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan had been sodomised.

However, Ismail declined to comment on the medical report itself, saying investigations were ongoing.
Mohd Saiful had alleged that he had been sodomised by the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Ismail also quashed rumours that Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid, the Pusrawi Hospital medical officer who examined Mohd Saiful on June 28, had been picked up by police.

“Mohamed Osman’s statement had been recorded by police earlier on in the investigation, as such, rumours circulating about his arrest by police are untrue,” Ismail said.

Attempts to get in touch with Pusrawi Hospital officials were futile as all questions were met with a “No comment” answer.

According to the news website, Dr Mohamed Osman had examined Mohd Saiful about four hours before lodging a police report alleging he had been sexually assaulted by Anwar.

Mohd Saiful went to the hospital about 2pm on June 28 complaining of ’tenesmus’, a medical term for difficulty and pain in passing motion.

Dr Mohamed Osman, a Burmese Muslim, is said to be on leave.

Source: The New Straits Times

The Sensintrovert: Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid of Hospital Pusrawi Claimed That Saiful Bukhari Wasn't Sodomised - No Sign of Anal Intrusion/Per-Rectal Bleeding

Malaysia-Today: Doctor on the run: police want him to fabricate evidence against Anwar

Susan Loone: Saiful was never sodomised by Anwar…

Man on car roof causes stir on highway

SUNGAI PETANI: Traffic at Km109.5 of the North-South Expressway near Taman Kempas here was reduced to a snail's pace when a motorist acted "strangely" after his car was involved in an accident with a mini-lorry yesterday.

The motorist, in his 40s, had climbed up his car rooftop almost immediately after the 6.25am incident.

He then made curious gestures at passing motorists, causing them to slow down as they passed his car, which had veered to a stop on the left lane of the highway after colliding into the lorry which was also travelling southbound towards Butterworth.

The driver of the lorry, in his 50s, along with his accompanying daughter, in her 20s, were not hurt in the mishap.

Later, policemen and firemen, who had rushed to the scene, tried in vain to coax the motorist, who was travelling alone, to come down.
The man, who was wearing a baju Melayu and a sarung, proceeded to take off his shirt.

He then lit a cigarette and assumed a sitting position on his car rooftop after complaining of the heat.

The policemen, who were assisted by several Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan patrolmen, persisted in trying to talk him into coming down and seek medical treatment.

This infuriated the man, who started to shout at those around him.

About an hour later, the policemen managed to grab the disturbed motorist when they caught him off-guard.

He was later sent to the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital for a medical check-up.

Source: The New Straits Times

'Dr M threatened judges...' Judge's stunning allegation in court

SIBU: A High Court judge here has alleged that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad threatened to punish the judiciary in 1997 for decisions he disliked.

Justice Datuk Ian Chin, 60, is the most senior of the 48 High Court judges in the country.

He made the stunning allegation at the start of proceedings on Monday when hearing an election petition filed by Wong Hus She, the defeated DAP candidate for the Sarikei parliamentary seat, the Borneo Post reported.

Anticipating a motion for his recusal, Chin took the "step to disclose what the parties and counsel may not be aware of but which they may later complain that I should have disclosed".

Wong lost the Sarikei seat to Barisan Nasional's Ding Kuong Hing by 51 votes.
Both sides did not object to Chin as the presiding judge, the Borneo Post reported.

He referred to two cases he had presided over in February 1997 - a libel suit and an election petition - the decisions with which the then prime minister was apparently displeased, he said.

He said Dr Mahathir had gone to the judges' conference about a month later "to issue a thinly veiled threat to remove judges by referring to the tribunal that was set up before".

From May 26 until 30, he was "packed off to boot camp" for lessons on taking the government line in judicial decisions.

Last month, the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam video clip castigated Dr Mahathir for going against the Constitution in appointing judges and called for an investigation into Dr Mahathir.

According to the notes of proceedings made available to the New Straits Times, Chin said in the libel suit: "I distinguished M.G.G. Pillai v Tan Sri Datuk Vincent Tan Chee Yioun & Other Appeals (1995) 2 MLJ 493 and refused to give what I consider to be an astronomical award for damage to reputation in libel cases".

In the election petition, he had set aside the victory of BN's Mong Dagang in the 1996 state polls in the Bukit Begunan seat.

Chin said Dr Mahathir had "expressed unhappiness" over the decision.

"After he was done with issuing that threat, he then proceeded to express his view that people should pay heavily for libel.

"He managed to get a single response from a Court of Appeal judge who asked whether he would be happy with a sum of RM1 million as damages for libel.

"He approved of it and he later on made known his satisfaction by promoting this judge (since deceased) to the Federal Court over many others who were senior to him when a vacancy arose."

Chin said he was "devastated" by what went on but was consoled by fellow judges who remarked "the prime minister was too much".

"It will be recalled that the prime minister not long after he assumed office had said, in a much publicised campaign against corruption, that he will put the fear of God in man but this apparently, given his diatribe in that conference, changed to instilling a fear of him if any judgment is to his dislike."

He said the "boot camp" he attended with selected judges and judicial officers was "an attempt to indoctrinate those attending to hold the view that the government's interest" was "more important than all else when we are considering our judgments".

"Stating this devilish notion was no less a person than the president of the Court of Appeal," he said.

"The perversion of justice did not stop there. My brother judge (Datuk Muhammad) Kamil Awang was one morning looking for me after clocking in. We were both then serving in Kuching.

"When I met him in his chambers, he was distraught and he told me about receiving a telephone call the night before from the chief justice asking him to dismiss the election petition that he was going to hear in Kota Kinabalu.

"He sought my opinion as to what to do about the telephone call.

"We went into the possibility of making a police report or of writing to the chief justice a letter to record what he had said over the telephone but in the end, he decided against it since it would be his word against that of the chief justice," Chin said.

"I was happy to learn later on that he did not bow to the pressure by the chief justice and went on to hear the petition and thereafter, making a decision based on the law and evidence."

Chin also declared that he had twice stood unsuccessfully for election as a BN candidate in the 1980s, in one of which he lost to the DAP. He had also heard other election petitions.

"Now, though no longer the prime minister and so no longer able to carry out his threat to remove judges which should, therefore, dispel any fear which any judge may have of him, if ever there was such fear, nevertheless the coalition party that he led is still around and the second respondent won on a ticket of that coalition party and it may cross someone's mind that I may have an axe to grind against the party concerned or any member thereof.

"The petitioner in this case may also have a similar view with regard to my defeat by a candidate standing on the ticket of the party to which he belongs.

"So I wish to hear from the parties as to whether they entertain any such notion and whether they wish to apply for my recusal so that, if any, I can make a decision thereon.

"After this disclosure, litigants who were affected by the hundreds of judgments that I handed down since those infamous days may justifiably worry as to whether any of my judgments were in any way influenced by this attempt to hang the Sword of Damocles over my head.

"No amount of words from me would assuage you of your worry; you will have to read my judgments as to whether they are according to the evidence and the law or whether they were influenced by threat."

Chin then adjourned for half an hour to let the parties consider an application for his recusal.

None, however, was made.

Datuk Ian Chin was appointed judicial commissioner on Feb 26, 1992 and since then has served in the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak. He is, at present, a resident judge at the High Court in Kota Kinabalu.

Source: The New Straits Times


Tun Mahathir's Response from his blog Chedet.com

"Dr M threatened judges

Both the New Straits Times and the Star today chose to splash Justice Dato Ian Chin’s “stunning” claims of my alleged interference in the judiciary, providing brief respite from the current issues of oil price hike etc etc

I will refrain from commenting for now and will do so in due time.

However, I am quite curious about what Ian Chin considers as “veiled threat”. Perhaps he could be more specific as his allegations are very serious."

Grandfather with 25 kids takes wife No 4

KUALA TERENGGANU: While the recent fuel price hike and concerns over possible increase in food prices might turn more Malaysians into thrifty individuals, the opposite is true for Abu Bakar Embong.

The 49-year-old former broker and grandfather of three from Manir has instead taken a fourth wife.

Yesterday, he promised the Syariah High Court here that he would meet the financial needs of his three other wives, as well as some of the 25 children he has with them.

He told Syariah High Court Judge Shaikh Ahmad Ismail that he could provide for his existing family as his monthly income was about RM20,000.

"I can guarantee that it will never be not enough."
Shaikh Ahmad granted him permission for a fourth wife as he had fulfilled the requirements needed under Islamic law, which included consent from the three wives, who also confirmed that their husband could support all four wives.

The wives told Shaikh Ahmad that they each had a house and car from Abu Bakar.

The judge also advised Abu Bakar to tend to the religious education of his children and to always be fair to all his wives.

His children are between 4 months and 25 years old.

His children have also approved of his plan to marry Suhaili Alias, 25. The wedding is scheduled to take place this week.

Abu Bakar's three wives Asnah Jusoh, 46, Mazumi Ismail, 45, and Norazlina Ariffin, 25, said that their husband was a loving, honest and responsible man.

"In fact, I helped arrange the proposal for the fourth wife, with the help of the other two," Mazumi said.

"We get on well and we are cooperative.

"If one of us is in labour, we will be by each other's side and every weekend we get together with the children."

Source: The New Straits Times

Like a virgin... again

Some foreign students are leaving the country not just with a new academic certificate, but with a ‘new’ intact hymen — or so some plastic surgeons tell TAN CHOE CHOE

Dr V. Surendranathan says the hymen can also tear
through rigorous physical activities like cycling or running.

THEY'RE usually in their early 20s and most are in the final year of their studies.

"The girls don't come alone (for the consultation and surgery). They come with their boyfriends or a trusted girlfriend," says a consultant plastic surgeon with a notable private hospital in Kuala Lumpur.

A lot can happen when youths leave home to study abroad and sexual exploration is invariably on the top of the list.

"And when these girls come here -- either with their boyfriends or they befriend local guys -- some of them engage in penetrative sexual acts," says the surgeon.

But despite the freedom they enjoy here, the day eventually comes when they have to go home to their parents, get married and settle down.

And some of these girls come from communities that for various cultural and religious reasons, still require a girl to be a virgin.

"To them, having the hymen intact is not just an important marriage commodity -- their very lives depend on it," says the surgeon.

Never mind that over the past few decades we've achieved and advanced so much -- like putting a few men on the moon, doing organ transplants and creating babies in test tubes.

There are still reports of women being killed or brutalised by their family members in certain African and Middle-eastern countries if they are found not to be virgins on their wedding night.

Last Sunday, it was reported that a young Muslim couple's marriage was annulled in 2006 because the bride, a student nurse in her 20s, was not a virgin.

The wedding night party was still under way at the family's home in Roubaix, France, when the groom, an engineer in his 30s, came down from the bedroom complaining that his bride was not a virgin.

He could not display the blood-stained sheet that is traditionally exhibited as proof of the bride's purity.

Elisabeth Badinter, a philosopher and pioneer of women's legal rights, said the annulment would only serve to send young Muslim girls running to hospitals to have their hymens restored.

In France, although it is officially discouraged, the operation is seeing increasing demand from Muslim women who fear the consequences of being unable to prove their virginity on their wedding night.

It takes only about 30 minutes and voila, the girl is a "virgin" again. The operation is not only attracting foreign students, but some local university students have also started to request for their hymen to be repaired.

A 22-year-old varsity student told the New Sunday Times that she went to see a plastic surgeon to have her hymen restored after she learnt about the procedure on the Internet.

"I buat salah (made a mistake) and had pre-marital sex with my former boyfriend once. I don't want my future husband to think that I'm a slut just because of that one night," says the business administration student who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity.

She forked out RM2,500 for the procedure last December. It was money she saved from giving part-time tuition.

"The hymen is fragile and can be easily torn, not necessarily through penetrative sex, but also rigorous physical activities like cycling or running, or even after a fall," says consultant plastic surgeon Dr V. Surendranathan.

Restoration of the hymen is done on an outpatient basis, under local anesthesia or sedation.

Simple repair consists of piecing together the remnants of the hymen by closing the tear and it's a simple procedure that is done by pulling the tissue together.

However, the result of this particular procedure is not meant to last and some experts say "it must be done three to seven days before the wedding".

When the hymenal remnants are not sufficient, a small incision can be cut into the outer flaps of the vagina and a suture put across it.

"After about three to four weeks -- during which time the patient is advised against any form of penetrative sex -- the sutures, which are usually fine black threads, will come off on their own," says Dr Surendranathan.

Another option is inserting a tear-through nylon-like biomaterial. "When sexual intercourse takes place, the biomaterial would be torn and the tearing would cause some bleeding -- just like what a broken hymen would."

Hymen reconstruction is quite the in-thing among sex workers, says another plastic surgeon who declines to be named.

"They come here for vaginoplasty (tightening and reshaping of the vagina) and usually request hymenoplasty as part of the package," he reveals.

He says simple vagina tightening surgery costs about RM3,000 to RM8,000 -- although the procedure can go up to RM16,000 in some hospitals. Hymenoplasty is more affordable -- it's usually about RM1,500 to RM3,000.

"They tell me having a new hymen is worth it because some customers are willing to fork out about RM10,000 just to spend one night with a 'virgin'."

Procedures like hymen reconstruction are relatively rare and confined to a minority of women who need to conform to religious or ethnic rules on virginity, says Dr Surendranathan.

A greater number of patients complain of stretched vaginal muscles or inner labia that are too big, uneven or unsightly.

Vaginoplasty involves the removing of excess vaginal lining and the tightening of surrounding soft tissues and muscles to return a vagina to its normal anatomical shape and diameter.

Most women who opt for vaginoplasty are those who've had children and are in their late 30s and above.

"They complain about a feeling of looseness. This can decrease the sensation during sexual intercourse, resulting in lower levels of satisfaction for her and her partner," says consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Lee Say Fatt.

After three children and 14 years of marriage, Kristy (not her real name), 42, went for vaginoplasty recently after her husband hinted that he "could not really feel her" any more.

So when she suggested about going for surgery to "tighten things up down there", he was all for it.

"He paid for everything of course. Our sex life has definitely improved," says Kristy.

But she can't help harbouring a little resentment towards her husband after the surgery.

"In a way, him wanting me to do it made me feel like he didn't really love me anymore -- not if I can't satisfy him sexually."

The erosion of sexual pleasure aside, a woman would also experience stress incontinence, and the weakening of the wall between the vagina and bladder or the vagina and that with the rectum.

Some hospitals combine vaginoplasty together with labiaplasty and advertise them collectively as vaginal rejuvenation surgery.

Labiaplasty is a cosmetic genital surgical procedure that will reduce the size or change the shape of the small lips on the outside of the vagina.

What are the risks involved in such surgeries?

"As with any surgery, there can be complications, both surgical and anaesthetic. But complications are rare and they may include bleeding, infection and scarring," says Dr Lee.

Proper surgical techniques and the use of laser will significantly reduce these risks, he says, adding that "laser minimises pain, blood loss and swelling".

It also promotes excellent wound healing, resulting in minimal or no scarring at all.

"The procedures are generally done as day cases and patients are usually put under general anaesthesia.

"After surgery, the patient will be under observation for a few hours before they are allowed to go home -- on the same day."

Women usually report mild to moderate discomfort for a few days after the operation, says Dr Lee. "This can be easily relieved by oral painkillers and cold packs.

"Many women can return to their usual daily activities after resting for a few days."

After surgery, patients would have to abstain from sexual activities for at least six weeks.

Source: The New Straits Times

First time 'sex' on video makes settlers see red

GEMAS: A Felda settler who made recordings of his sexual acts with a woman for his "own viewing pleasure" is in big trouble after the clips were widely circulated and ended up in the hands of the police.

The 52-year-old settler and his "partner", a 21-year-old woman, were arrested by police and are expected to be charged in the Sessions Court and Syariah Court soon.

The man had sought the help of a 21-year-old friend to record the sexual acts in a hut in a rubber plantation at Felda Jelai 3 early last month.

The friend used his mobile phone to record the deed.

The recordings, under the title "Budak Jolai" (Budak Jelai), were circulated via Bluebooth and multimedia messaging service (MMS) to almost every settler in Felda Jelai 3 who had a mobile phone.
There were three recordings showing the man having sexual intercourse with the woman, believed to be from Felda Jelai 4.

The man had allegedly paid the woman RM20 to buy a prepaid reload card for her mobile phone as "payment" for her role in the 10-minute recording.

In the recording, the cameraman could be heard referring to the "main actor" as "pakcik" and instructing him what to do and what positions to take.

The woman was seen leaving the "set" abruptly midway through the final recording session as she was allegedly "bored" with the "main actor" who was more than twice her age.

According to sources, several shocked Felda settlers lodged a report as they were ashamed that such an incident could occur in their community.

A team from the Gemas police station detained the two "actors" from their respective homes in Felda Jelai 3 and 4 on May 26.

Also detained was the cameraman from Felda Jelai 3.

Sources also said that upon questioning, the 52-year-old told police that it was the first time he had sexual intercourse with a woman.

Tampin acting district police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Isa Ujang confirmed the arrests.

"They have been questioned and will be charged soon," he said.

Meanwhile, several Felda settlers said they were very upset with the incident as it had tarnished the image of Felda settlers.

"We are shocked that such a thing happened right under our noses.

"Now everyone is talking about it and it is most embarassing," said one of the settlers, who did not want to be identified.

Source: The New Straits Times

Two girls... and a customer: Not all GROs are prostitutes

EASY money... that was what led 19-year-old Noreen to become a part-time guest relations officer (GRO) at a karaoke outlet.

She begins work at 6pm daily and finishes at about 2am on weekdays and 4am on weekends. She earns up to RM150 a day, depending on the number of customers.

Noreen, who hails from Port Dickson, says she is studying computer programming in Seremban but often found herself short of money.

She hopes to complete her course by next year but in the mean time, she needs about RM1,500 every month to pay her fees, rental and other expenses.

"I come from a below-average family and previously, I was working part-time at McDonalds' to supplement what my father used to give me.
"But that was hardly enough. A friend who frequents this joint then introduced this job to me."

She says the job is "simple". All she has to do is accompany customers who want to sing karaoke.

"There's no basic salary. My pay depends on tips and commission from the sale of drinks."

Noreen doesn't offer any "extra services", although her customers have asked her often enough.

"Some can become a bit aggressive after a few drinks. That's when we call in the bouncers."

Most of her customers are elderly men who want to enjoy a pretty girl's company while they sing their hearts out or have some drinks in the private rooms.

"How much I make each night depends on how much the customers tip me. Sometimes, it's a few ringgit, sometimes it's quite a generous sum."

Her parents have no idea their only daughter is working in a karaoke lounge. They think she is still flipping burgers at McDonalds'.

"I don't intend to do this for long. I attend classes in the morning and study in the afternoons. Hopefully, I will complete my studies next year and get a better job.

"Contrary to what people may think, being a GRO does not necessarily mean you are a prostitute. It's two different things."

Source: The New Straits Times

The boyfriend who became her pimp

PETITE Kim, from Muar, got into prostitution when her desire to live a luxurious life drove her to sell her body at 16.

She befriended a woman at a local hairdresser who promised her earnings of between RM500 and RM700 per night, depending on "how hard she worked".

"I started working as a part-time GRO at a karaoke bar. I didn't do sex then and only kept the lonely men who came to the bar company," said Kim, 22.

At that time, she earned between RM50 and RM150 a night, depending on the number of customers and the sale of drinks.

But shortly after, she got a boyfriend who was much older and not long after that, she started offering sexual services.
"My boyfriend began introducing clients to me and since I was very young at that time, the men paid between RM500 and RM600 to sleep with me.

Source: The New Straits Times

In just a few weeks, "the work became a routine" and she was servicing up to four men per night.

"My earnings increased tremendously and I was able to buy anything I wanted."

A prostitute for five years now, Kim says she has no plans to "retire".

"I work on my own and unlike those in hotels and brothels, I don't have to pay any commission to anybody."

She gets her clients by word of mouth and by advertising her "services" on the Internet.

"Most of my clients are introduced by former clients and we normally meet up at a hotel of my choice. The room is paid for by the client, of course."

Her clients are usually men aged 40 and above and they come from all walks of life.

"Most are married men but I never ask why they need my services. We never discuss personal stuff and it's purely 'business'."

Many of her friends left the profession after several years when they had made enough money to set up some small businesses.

"I'm still young and will probably do this for a couple more years until I've saved up enough money."

When asked if the authorities had ever caught her, she says no.

"I am very particular about my clients and where we meet. The authorities normally raid the cheaper hotels."

She says her clients range from middle-income earners to some VIPs who sometimes book her for the whole night.

"Every man has his secrets and desires. I have had men who don't even want to have intercourse, but rather just spend the whole night talking.

"Some only ask me to do stuff while they watch. It's weird."

Source: The New Straits Times

Robin Hood : Bank executive's jet-setting lifestyle comes to an end

SHAH ALAM: Bank executive Mohd Faizal Hussin lived it high, with fancy cars and vacations to exotic destinations.

He bought shares, a Proton Perdana V6 and went on holidays to Amsterdam, London, Sydney and Melbourne.

Nothing wrong if it were his own money.

But he siphoned a whopping RM1.4 million from the account of American citizen Syed Vickar Ahamed, 67, a professor at a university in New York.

The professor travelled to Malaysia often and provided IT consultant work for companies here. From his projects, he saved up a large amount of money and kept his savings in Maybank.
Mohd Faizal's jet-setting lifestyle came to light when Syed Vickar called the bank one day and inquired about his account balance and found it was less than what it should be.

Mohd Faizal, 35, who was entrusted with handling large amounts of money including Syed Vickar's account, was yesterday sentenced to jail for 31 years and three months on 202 charges of criminal breach of trust, forgery and money laundering.

He was arrested by investigating officer ASP Foo Wei Min on June 29, 2004.

Mohd Faizal was found guilty by Sessions Court judge Datin Zabariah Mohd Yusof on all charges -- 100 counts of forgery, 99 counts under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and another three of criminal breach of trust.

He committed the offences at the Sri Gombak Maybank branch, 11-13, Jalan SG 3/4 Taman Sri Gombak here, between Dec 24, 2002 and Sept 17, 2003.

Zabariah also fined him RM939,255.21, the amount which he had already used.

If he fails to pay the fine, he has to serve another 15 months in prison.

"You have breached the trust given to you to handle customers' money. The victim in this case is a foreigner and a premier account holder," she told the accused when sentencing him.

"What you have done has affected the country's economy and I find no reason why a light sentence should be given to you."

She said it was an offence to use other people's money for his own enjoyment.

"Every penny made should be 'halal' and from your own effort," she added.

In pressing for a deterrent sentence, deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud said the amount involved in this case was more than RM1 million.

"He had breached the trust given by customers and this trust cannot be quantified.

"This will also leave a negative impact in financial institutions."

He said Mohd Faizal's actions had also affected the confidence placed by local and international investors.

Awang Armadajaya urged for the sentences to run consecutively, as each charge was of a different transaction.

Meanwhile, DPP Muhammad Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi said money laundering offences were becoming global.

"The accused used money obtained from illegal means to support his lifestyle.

"Each money laundering case is closely watched internationally and would also be reported in journals so that the effectiveness of the act can be monitored."

Muhammad Saifuddin urged the court to impose a fine amounting to RM939,255.21, which Mohd Faizal had used, and for the court to seize the Proton Perdana V6 which the accused had purchased.

In mitigation, Mohd Faizal's counsel Zainal Ithnin pleaded for leniency as the accused had surrendered to the Da-mansara Utama police station and had given his full cooperation during investigation.

"He has repented and learnt his lesson not to commit such offence again," he said.

Source: The New Straits Times

LANDMARK DECISION: Syariah High Court declares convert no longer a Muslim

The Syariah High Court in Penang has delivered a landmark decision allowing a Chinese convert to renounce Islam and revert back to her Buddhist faith.

Syarie High Court judge Othman Ibrahim said the court had no choice but to declare Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah no longer a Muslim as she had never practised the teachings of Islam.

Siti Fatimah, who is from Nibong Tebal, is a Chinese by birth. She filed the application in May last year. In her affidavit to renounce the religion, Siti Fatimah, whose Chinese name is Tan Ean Huang, said she converted to Islam in July 1998.

However she never practised any of the Islamic teachings and claimed that she had converted for the sake of marrying an Iranian named Ferdoun Ashanian in 1999, but he left her a few months later. She has no knowledge of his current whereabouts.

Source: The New straits Times

'What makes you think I don't have proof?'

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin was a celebrity at the Jalan Duta court complex here yesterday.

The 58-year-old arrived at 9.06am, accompanied by his wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, a battery of lawyers and a throng of supporters.

His well-wishers read like a who's who of Pakatan Rakyat notables, including Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Abbas, Batu MP Tian Chua, Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong, PAS Youth chief Salahudin Ayub and Pandamaran state assemblyman Ronnie Liu.

Defiant as ever, Raja Petra challenged the government to repeal the Official Secrets Act (OSA) so that he could reveal what he claimed was evidence against his charge of sedition.

"What makes you think I don't have proof? What makes you think I don't have documents?
"If I do submit the proof behind my writing, they will arrest me under the OSA. You think I'm stupid?" he asked the assembled journalists.

Declaring war on the government, Raja Petra said the government should be afraid of bloggers.

Clad in a yellow shirt and blue jeans, the Internet-based political commentator said he was not informed of the charge against him until the last minute.

When it was suggested that it seemed as if he was courting prosecution by his repeated run-ins with the law, he replied that he did not want to be charged but had been expecting it.

He refused to concede that his website's contents were seditious in nature, insisting that it was not wrong to incite the people against a "dishonest government".

Part of Raja Petra's disgruntlement was understandable. He was asked to be at court by 9.30am, but was not attended to until an hour later when he was told to go to the Petaling Jaya court instead.

Lim described the charge as harassment.

"I think this is a disgraceful and atrocious development," the opposition stalwart said.

Source: The New Straits Times

Wife expects Raja Petra to be out on bail today

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin and former banker Syed Akbar Ali yesterday became the first Internet citizens to be charged with sedition.

Raja Petra, 58, was charged in the Sessions Court here with posting a seditious article on his website, Malaysia Today, at www.malaysia-today.net titled "Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell".

The article implicated Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the murder of Altantunya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian woman.

The offence was alleged to have been committed at his house at No 5, Jalan BRP 5/5, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, on April 25.

If convicted, he is liable to be fined RM5,000 or jailed up to three years or both.
This is the fourth time Raja Petra has been investigated by the police under the Sedition Act 1948. The first was in March 2001, followed by November 2004 and July last year.

Syed Akbar, 48, a Jalan Masjid India-based jeweller, was charged at the Sessions Court in Jalan Duta with posting a seditious comment on the Malaysia Today website.

The comment was in response to an article titled "Malaysia's organised crime syndicate: All roads lead to Putrajaya". He allegedly posted seditious comments about Malays and Islam.

Both men pleaded not guilty to their charge.

Raja Petra was initially taken to the Jalan Duta courthouse but after waiting for an hour, he was told to go to the Sessions Court here.

He was represented by a team of seven lawyers -- K. Balaguru, William Leong, J. Chandra, Lim Lip Eng, Jesvinderjit Singh, Karpal Singh and his son, Gobind Singh.

The courtroom was packed with Raja Petra's friends and bloggers who had come to show their support.

Among those present were Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Pandamaran assemblyman Ronnie Liu.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Nordin Hassan suggested bail of RM5,000 in one surety.

Balaguru raised a preliminary objection stating that the charge did not state the time of the alleged offence. He, however, withdrew his objection after a discussion with Karpal.

Judge Nurmala Salim then set bail at RM5,000 in one surety and fixed five days for hearing, which begins on Oct 6.

Nordin, speaking to reporters outside the court, said he would be calling about 15 witnesses.

Raja Petra was taken to the Sungai Buloh prison about 2pm when he declined to post bail. His wife Marina Lee Abdullah said her husband had told her that if his grassroots supporters, especially the "netizens", wanted him out, they would help raise funds.

"He doesn't want anything more than RM1 per person. I tried to persuade him, but he stood by his decision."

When contacted later, Marina told the New Straits Times that Raja Petra is expected to be out on bail this morning.

As at 4pm, a total of 24,500 people had banked in RM1 each into the designated CIMB account and Paypal (an online payment system) through Raja Petra's Walk with RPK: One Ringgit One Person campaign.

In contrast, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court was practically empty when Syed Akbar was charged. He had a team of three lawyers -- Ashok Kandiah, Malek Imtiaz and Haris Mohamed Ibrahim.

With only his wife and son for support, Syed Akbar, who is also an author, appeared before judge S.M. Komathy Suppiah about 12.45pm.

Before the charge was read, Ashok raised an objection that the charge was vague.

However, DPP Ishak Yusof argued that according to the Criminal Procedure Code, a plea had to be recorded before any objection could be raised.

However, Ashok submitted that an accused could not be called to enter a plea on a vague charge.

He pleaded for more time to make proper submissions as they were informed of the nature of the charge only at the last minute.

"If the charge was given earlier, we could have come up with more comprehensive submissions," he said.

DPP Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria appeared for the prosecution.

Komathy adjourned for lunch and when court resumed at 2pm, Ashok pleaded for bail to be set at RM1,000 as his client would not abscond.

Ishak suggested RM5,000, and Komathy set bail at RM3,000 in one surety pending hearing on June 10.

Source: The New Straits Times