Woman loses RM19,000 to cyber lover

KUALA TERENGGANU: A 28-year-old woman who fell in love with a “cyber Casanova” lost RM19,000 after being duped into parting with her savings to help him start a business.

The woman had never met the stranger, purportedly from Ireland, and only corresponded with him via e-mail.

She had believed that the cyber love affair was genuine after he asked for her hand in marriage and pressed her to part with a sum amounting to thousands of ringgit, said to be for capital to set-up a textile business in Malaysia.

State commercial crime chief Supt Azmi Adam said the man had told the woman that he planned to have the business in the country to secure her future after they got married.

“The woman received an e-mail from the man on June 23 asking her to deposit the money into a bank account,” he said yesterday, adding the money was said to be for Customs clearance to enable textile materials to be brought into Malaysia.

Later, the man asked for more money, claiming that he had to pay a penalty of an equivalent of £7,000 (RM40,869) to the Irish authorities due to flaws in export documentation.

“The woman continued to deposit more money into the bank account, believing that the man really loved her and the business deal was genuine,” Supt Azmi said.

However, when the man keep pressing for more money, she realised it was a scam and lodged a police report at Jertih in Besut yesterday.

Supt Azmi said police traced the e-mail address and discovered that it originated from Nigeria. The woman had deposited the money into a local bank account.

Source: The Star Online

Sex sold at food court

FOREIGN women have been using food courts in Jalan Gelang, off Jalan Loke Yew, in Kuala Lumpur to solicit for sex.

A Sin Chew Daily special investigative team discovered that the women also walk the streets to look for potential customers.

The women bring their customers to nearby flats to have sex.

Each “session” costs customers between RM100 and RM150, regardless of the woman’s age, the daily reported.

According to a resident at the flat, the women begin their “business” from noon to 6am every day.

Most of the women seen during the day were middle-aged while the young ones appeared at night.

The resident alleged that a group of men, believed to be plainclothes policemen, would raid the streets several times a month and round up the foreigners.

“But the women always return after a few days,” he said.

Source: The Star Online

Look into the case, orders CJ

KUALA LUMPUR: The Chief Justice will direct the senior High Court judge to look into the case where a Sessions Court judge is planning to cane a youthful offender himself in the courtroom.

“I am asking the senior judge in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to look into it and take the appropriate action,” Tun Zaki Tun Azmi told The Star.

“We have to confirm what actually happened.”

Zaki said this when asked to comment on news reports yesterday of the “rotan” sentence imposed on Muhammad Syafiq Abd Wahab, 20, under Section 293(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

On Friday, Sessions Court judge Zainal Abidin Kamaruddin had ruled that he would cane Muhammad Syafiq in the presence of his parents in court on July 15.

The former sales promoter, who had pleaded guilty, falls within the definition of a youthful offender since he was 19 when he, and a friend still at large, committed the robbery armed with a knife on Nov 16 last year.

While Section 293(1)(c) allows the court to order a youthful male offender “to be whipped with not more than 10 strokes of a light cane or rattan within the court premises and in the presence, if he desires to be present, of the parent or guardian of that offender,” it is silent as to who should carry out the caning.

It is understood, however, that a magistrate had imposed and carried out such a sentence some 20 years ago and that it had been done by magistrates sitting in juvenile courts a long time ago.

“These days, it’s rarely imposed, but magistrates used to carry out such caning in their chambers in the presence of the two juvenile court advisers, the prosecuting officer and a parent,” said a former member of the Judicial and Legal Services.

Bar Council chairman Ragunath Kesavan said the council would write to the senior High Court judge tomorrow for a revision of the “rotan” sentence to be meted against Muham- mad Syafiq by the judge himself.

“The CPC provides for such a sentence but it’s a fundamental principle of the role of a judge in the criminal justice system that he cannot be both judge and executioner.”

In agreement, DAP chairman Karpal Singh and former UN Special Rapporteur for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Datuk Param Cumaraswamy urged the Chief Justice himself to intervene in this case.

“This also goes against international human rights laws,” said Param when contacted.

Karpal said that, although Section 288(4) of the CPC states that this type of “whipping” shall be inflicted by way of rattan, a judge implementing his own sentence would infringe the doctrine of separation of powers.

“A judge imposes a sentence. It is the executive which carries out that sentence.”

Karpal said a judge could not compromise his impartiality by “descending” to carry out a whipping sentence, adding it should instead be carried out by a court official designated for that purpose.

The Star Online

Judge to cane robber in court

KUALA LUMPUR: In a rare court ruling, a sales promoter who admitted to armed robbery was ordered to be caned 10 times in the court premises. And the judge himself will do the caning.

Sessions Court judge Zainal Abidin Kamarudin ordered Muhammad Syafiq Abd Wahab, 20, to be caned in the presence of his parents.

The judge said he would personally cane Muhammad Syafiq on July 15 using canes supplied by the court.

Zainal Abidin said 10 light canes (rotan) were to be used to carry out the sentence as provided for under the Criminal Procedure Code for youthful offenders.

He also ordered Muhammad Syafiq to carry out 200 hours of community service.

Turning to the parents, the judge told the father, pensioner Abd Wahab Jonit, 64, that the offence was rarely passed by court but urged him to accept it.

“I know it is not a nice feeling for a father to watch his son being caned but it has to be done by a judge,” he said.

Zainal Abidin then urged Muhammad Syafiq to seek forgiveness from his father.

The youth, though, merely stared at the judge.

Muhammad Syafiq admitted to robbing student Muhammad Fitri Muhammad Zamzuri, 16, of his identity card and cell phone while armed with a knife.

He committed the offence with another friend still at large near the football stadium in Cheras at 1.30am on Nov 16 last year.

According to the facts, two men on a motorcycle approached Fitri, who was with two friends and demanded they surrender their belongings to them.

Muhammad Syafiq, who was riding pillion, also asked if they had any drugs with them before slapping Fitri and kicking his friend on the face. He also pointed a knife at them.

Just then, four military and religious officers on an anti-vice operation came to the students’ aid and arrested Muhammad Syafiq.

Earlier, Zainal Abidin ticked off Muhammad Syafiq when he heard his confession, saying he had chosen bad friends.

Welfare officer Muhd Razmee Abdul Razak, who tendered a probation report for Muhammad Syafiq, recommended that the youth be given a community service sentence saying that 80% of those who went through such a sentence showed progress in their attitude.

Source: The Star Online

Identical twins escape death penalty

KUALA LUMPUR: A pair of identical twins was acquitted and discharged by the High Court here Friday of drug trafficking because of difficulty in identifying which of the two was in possession of the drugs five years ago.

Justice Zaharah Ibrahim, who described the case as unique, said that although R. Sathis Raj and R. Sabarish Raj, 27, looked alike and had identical DNA, which made it difficult to differentiate between them, there was no doubt that one of them was the culprit.

”My job, as required by the law, is to determine whether the prosecution has succeeded in establishing a prima facie against the two accused. In this case, both are identical twins.

”Arresting officer Chief Inspector N. Sekaran, when identifying the first twin, was sceptical, but when asked by counsel, said that he needed some time and yet was still not so sure when identifying the first twin.

”A member in the arresting team, Kpl Mohamad Sidek Paiman, at first could not identify, but later asked for both the twins to stand and said there was a difference in their height. However, he identified the first twin as the one wearing spectacles.

”The question is, which of the twins was arrested first. Is it the one wearing the spectacles because at the time of arrest both were not wearing spectacles.

”Mohamad Sidek said he only identified them from the shirts they wore on that day,” she added.

Sathis Raj and Sabarish Raj were charged with their brother, R. Deva Raj, 43, now deceased, with two counts of trafficking in 166,336gm of canabis and 1,762gm of raw opium at a house in Jalan SS 2/19, Petaling Jaya, at about 4.05pm on Aug 5, 2003. Justice Zaharah said that based on the testimonies by the two policemen, there were doubts and the prosecution had failed to determine which of the twins was in possession of the drugs.

“One of the accused should be called to enter his defence but the question is which twin, because even the DNA cannot be used to determine the identity. On the day of the incident, both were not wearing spectacles. Otherwise, that could have been used as a basis for Mohamad Sidek to identify the first twin.

She said that although one of them was indeed in possession of the drugs, she was acquitting both because she could not afford to send the wrong person to the gallows.

After Justice Zaharah delivered her judgment, the twins, both clad in white shirts, cried and hugged each other.

Deputy public prosecutor Rosidah Abu Bakar prosecuted while counsel Gurbachan Singh appeared for the twins. - Bernama

Source: The Star Online

New Era College senate head punched while giving speech

KAJANG: What started out as a happy event turned chaotic at the New Era College convocation.

A man went up to the stage as college senate chairman Dr Yap Sin Tian was giving a speech and punched him in the face in front of 500 people, including students, parents and guests.

However, the attacker managed to flee the scene.

Dr Yap, who is Dong Zong (the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia) president, was ushered to a seat with a fractured cheekbone and nose. An ambulance arrived later to send him to the Kajang Specialist Hospital.

College principal Mok Soon Choong took over the podium to continue the speech and calmed the situation.

Witnesses said the attacker wore a shirt used by members of a fund-raising event in the college. The man has been identified as a former college graduate.

Dong Jiao Zong Education Centre directors, who were seated near the stage, tried to catch him but he managed to escape.

It is unclear if the attack is linked to an ongoing squabble between Dr Yap and the college’s former principal Dr Kua Kia Soong.

Dr Yap had supported Dong Zong when it did not extend Dr Kua’s contract which expired in December.

The Dong Jiao Zong has made a police report on the attack.

College officials said they would conduct their own investigation.

In Penang, MCA vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai expressed regret over the attack.

“It is sad to see such an incident happening in an educational body. Any problem should be settled without the use of violence,” he said.

Source: The Star Online

Female newscaster, actress among 26 nabbed at sex party

KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested a female newscaster of a private television station, an actress and 24 others who took part in a sex party at a hotel room in Jalan P. Ramlee on Thursday.

The two woman and seven others - six men and a woman - tested positive for drugs, said ASP Mahani Ahmad of the police's vice, gambling and secret society branch.

All those arrested during the 3.30am operation aged between 18 and 31 years, she said when contacted.

She said the police also found liquor and various drugs like ketamine, cocaine and syabu in the room on the 11th floor of the hotel and a 20yearold student of a Kelana Jaya private college believed the drugs supplier was among those held.

During the raid, three couples were on the bed while the rest were entertaining themselves believed intoxicated, she said.

She said preliminary investigations showed the sex party was hosted by two men and those who attended it knew each other through Friendster, a social network in the internet.

Those arrested were taken to the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters. Meanwhile, about 40 people were arrested for various offences during the new year's eve party in Bukit Bintang where several fights took place between drunken youths.

A number of people including foreign tourists also lost cash, passports and electronic gadgets to pickpockets and 10 police reports were lodged at the mobile police station deployed there. - Bernama

Source: The Star Online

Grocery shop owner brushes off claims of sorcery

KEMAMAN: The owner of a house in which a starving burglar claimed he was trapped has brushed off any claims of sorcery.

Grocery shop owner Che Ibrahim Che Abdullah instead believes it was punishment from the Almighty for the burglar who claimed he was mysteriously trapped in the shop for three days.

The 57-year-old Che Ibrahim said he was a constant victim of burglaries whenever he and his wife returned to their village in Selising, Kelantan.

“This time, I asked for divine intervention as I could no longer tolerate it,” he said when met here.

He said he had recited some prayers before leaving for Kelantan with his 52-year-old wife to celebrate Hari Raya Aidiladha.

Last Friday, Che Ibrahim returned to his shop and found the 36-year-old man lying in a room, starving and dehydrated.

The man, who begged for forgiveness, claimed he had broken into the house-turned-grocery shop three days earlier.

Upon entering the shop, the man claimed he was immediately blinded and the place felt like a cave.

“Each time I wanted to flee, I felt a ‘supernatural figure’ shoving me to the ground,” he told police during interrogation later.

He added he had no choice but to stay put in the room for three days as his shouts for help were in vain.

Meanwhile, Kemaman Deputy police chief Supt Abdul Marlik Hakim Johar said the burglar had been warded at the Kemaman Hospital for the last four days.

It is learnt that the burglar was still traumatised after the incident.

Source: The Star Online

Burglar who picked the ‘wrong’ house

KEMANAN: A burglar entered a house-turned-grocery shop, thinking he was in for a killing. He nearly got himself killed instead.

The owner, who was away to celebrate Hari Raya Haji returned home yesterday morning to find the burglar trapped in the house for 72 hours without food and water.

The intruder was fatigued and dehydrated when the owner and his wife returned to the shop in Kampung Binjai from their hometown in Kota Baru.

The couple, in their early 50s, found the burglar lying in a room, clasping his hands in an apologetic gesture for his wrongdoing.

The owner, instead of calling the police, decided to call an ambulance to rush the burglar to the nearest hospital.

When interrogated later, the 36-year-old burglar told investigating officers that he had sneaked into the house after realising the owner was out.

The burglar, who entered via the back door, claimed that he was blinded once he was inside and felt like he was in a cave.

“Each time I wanted to flee, I felt a ‘supernatural figure’ shoving me to the ground,’’ he told police.

He claimed this was his first time experiencing such trauma during a break-in.

The burglar had no choice but to stay put in the room for three days as his shouts for help were in vain.

Kemaman Deputy police chief Deputy Supt Abdul Marlik Hakim Johar said the couple lodged a police report on the same day.

He said the burglar was warded at the Kemaman Hospital and his condition is stable.

Source: The Star Online

Man killed over tussle for karaoke microphone

SANDAKAN: A 23-year-old man who hogged the microphone at a karaoke outlet here was stabbed to death by irked fellow customers.

Abdul Sani Doli was stabbed by customers of a coffeeshop cum karaoke outlet at Lebuh Tiga here late Wednesday after a fight broke out with other customers following his refusal to give up the microphone as he continued to sing.

Abdul Sani and his assailants had argued over the microphone before it turned into an exchange of blows that spilled over into the street where the three assailants stabbed him.

Abdul Sani staggered a short distance before collapsing on the walkway in front of a machinery shop and died at about 11.55pm on Wednesday.

Sandakan district police chief Asst Comm Rosli Mohd Isa said police have classified the case as murder and two people have been detained to assist in the investigations.

Abdul Sani is believed to have suffered chest wounds. His body was sent to the Duchess of Kent Hospital for a post mortem.

Source: The Star Online

‘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

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

Councillor who took sexual favours sacked

IPOH: The state government has declared as vacant the post of Perak Tengah district councillor, held by Zul Hassan who is facing a corruption charge and admitted to having accepted sexual favours.

The move which was quickly hailed by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

“Zul Hassan, who is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Authority (ACA), had not only issued a statement confessing to illicit sex, but also justified his decision by saying he was induced into committing thw immoral act,” PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in a statement.

“Such a statement makes a mockery of Pakatan Rakyat’s pledge towards a government that respects the trust of the people,” she said.

Zul Hassan is facing a corruption charge over a development project at Seri Iskandar in Perak Tengah. In a complaint that he lodged against one Mohamad Imran Abdullah, he and businessman Fairul Azrim Ismail admitted having accepted offers to have sex with Chinese nationals.

Mohamad Imran is the complainant in a corruption case in which Zul and four others are the accused.

Zul Hassan had been quoted as saying “what is important is we did not ask for the women. He supplied them to us. If people sedekah (donate), don’t you want to accept it?”

Dr Wan Azizah said the PKR disciplinary committee will deal with Zul Hassan, who will be asked to explain his statement above.

Source: The Star Online

MCA shocked by arrest of reporter and not perpetrator

PETALING JAYA: The MCA has expressed shock that former Bukit Bendera Umno division chairman Datuk Ahmad Ismail, who made racist remarks has not been taken to task but reporter Tan Hoon Cheng, who wrote about the incident, has been arrested instead.

“The perpetrator who vowed to conduct a nationwide roadshow on his remarks without any remorse is still at large,” MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat said in a statement yesterday.

He said anybody in his right mind would certainly be stunned by such an arrest targeted at the reporter and not the perpetrator.

MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn said he disagreed with the use of the ISA on Tan.

“As a reporter, Tan was only carrying out duties assigned to her. Her story had gone through the due editorial process before it was printed,” he said.

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the arrest of Raja Petra Kamaruddin was judicious because he ridiculed Islam in his postings which could spark fury among Muslims.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, meanwhile, urged the Government to bring Raja Petra to trial in court under existing laws.

“This is consistent with Gerakan’s stand that the ISA should be reviewed, if not repealed,” Dr Koh said in a statement.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim condemned Raja Petra’s arrest and called for his immediate release.

“Raja Petra should be given access to proper legal counsel, and his wife and children should not be denied an opportunity to visit him while he is held captive,” he said in a statement.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang called for Raja Petra’s release as there was no justification for his detention. He said Raja Petra should be charged in court if he had infringed the law, and not held in detention without trial.

Source: The Star Online


Background story: Raja Petra, Teresa Kok and Sin Chew reporter arrested under ISA

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) here and in Penang.

The first person to be picked up was Raja Petra, 58, from his house in Sungai Buloh near here, followed by Tan, 32, who was arrested from her house in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Teresa, 43, was detained at 11.20pm as she was on her way home in a car.

All of them were arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA for allegedly being a threat to security, peace and public order.

A team of police officers from Bukit Aman arrived at Raja Petra’s house at 1.10pm and led him away 40 minutes later.

The team also took some 15 VCDs on ceramah held by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as 16 books.

Last week, the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and several Muslim bodies lodged a police report against Raja Petra, who is already facing criminal defamation charges for allegedly insulting the Malays, Muslims and Islam.

In a statement, Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said Raja Petra was arrested based on surveillance that showed that he was involved in activities that could cause unrest among the multi-racial and multi-religious society of the country.

Tan, who was picked up at 8.40pm, was taken from her house in Taman Seri Rambai in Bukit Mertajam to the state police headquarters on the island.

Tan, 32, reported former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racist remarks while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Lee Kelvin from Guang Ming and Tan Ming Xao from Nanyang Siang Pau, who had vouched for the accuracy of Tan’s report had gone into hiding.

Kok, 43, who is also state assemblyman for Kinrara and the senior Selangor state executive councillor, was picked up over an alleged involvement with a resident’s petition over a mosque.

Acting Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar confirmed the arrests of Tan and Kok.

Under the Section, police are empowered to detain the trio for a period of 60 days after which the Home Minister can decide on further detention.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar admitted that the decision to detain people and issue show cause letters would be unpopular and would be criticised but it had to be done.

“While we may want to be popular, freedom without responsibilities has ramifications.

“We have to take action to protect the wishes of the majority,” he said.

Syed Hamid also said Raja Petra had been warned on many occasions in the last two years.

“Now, with so much public uneasiness, we do not want anything that can threaten peace in the country.

“The police looked at all aspects and, under present circumstances, the actions were necessary,” he added.

Source: The Star Online

Welder’s love plans unscrewed

JOHOR BARU: A welder who tried to elongate his penis with a nut found himself in a pickle when the nut got stuck after he had an erection.

The victim, from Taman Sri Skudai, had apparently been trying to increase the length of his penis ahead of his engagement next week when disaster struck.

It is learnt that the incident occurred on Thursday and the 20-something-year-old victim went to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here to seek treatment when he was unable to get the nut off himself.

Unfortunately, hospital authorities were at a loss and had to call the Fire and Rescue Department for assistance.

A department spokesman confirmed that they received a call from the hospital yesterday, and sent seven firemen to help out.

They, too, were unable to remove the nut.

At press time, the nut was still firmly attached to the base of the man’s genitals.

This is the second case in the past week involving objects stuck on penises. On Aug 25, firemen were summoned to the University Malaya Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur to cut a steel ring from a patient’s penis after numerous attempts by doctors failed to dislodge it. It is believed the patient, in his 20s, had slipped the ring onto his penis to increase his sexual prowess.

Source: The Star Online