Hari Raya gift for mother-of-four

STEADY hands won the day for Norzilawati Adam as she beat four others to win a Nissan Grand Livina 1.6 (A) in the fun-filled, nail-biting 2009 Wyeth Rewarding Your Trust Grand Finale held at 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya recently.

The five contestants had battled it out in a series of physical and mental challenges in an elimination process that left only two competing in the last challenge – a wire game in which they had to negotiate a rigged wand through a delicate touch-sensitive course.

As Norzilawati inched forward past her rival Ang Bee Hua and reached the end, she let out a yell of triumph and then burst into tears of joy.

“I’m speechless!” exclaimed the jubilant 31-year-old mother of four from Segamat, Johor, when asked how she felt.

“I think we might just have to spend Hari Raya inside our lovely new car!” Norzilawati said with a laugh as she clutched her excited daughter and equally joyous husband.

Worth the effort: Norzilawati and her family are all smiles as they pose with their prize car.

From June 1 till July 15, contest participants had to guess the weight of the child featured on the contest form. Every Monday to Friday over the six weeks, five daily winners were selected, with each receiving shopping vouchers worth RM250.

Wyeth sales and marketing director (nutrition division) for Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam Michael Toh said thousands of entries were received during the contest period.

“As we celebrate 50 years of our presence in Malaysia, the Wyeth Rewarding Your Trust Consumer Contest has been our way of saying ‘thank you’ to loyal customers who trust us to provide the right nutrition to drive children to excellence,” he said.

The grand finale was the highlight of a three-day family carnival organised by Wyeth Nutrition that also featured a host of other activities, including interactive games, free eye-checks and eye talks, appearances by Wyeth’s mascot SuperLex, clown magic shows, kids’ dance performances and story-telling sessions.

There was also free sampling of nutritional formula for children as well as discounts on the company’s products.

MCA EGM: A Decoy Tussle For MCA Presidency?

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- Barely a year after he took office, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat will be facing another "election" when the party convenes an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on Oct 10.

Ong has taken a huge risk by accepting all five motions proposed by supporters of his sacked deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, who, among others, are seeking a no confidence vote against Ong and to reinstate the latter.

The party president is seizing the bull by the horns, in chosing to leave it to the 2,377 delegates that represent 900,000 members to decide on his leadership following Dr Chua's expulsion for a sex video scandal.

"It's another party presidential election. That's how I look at it," a party insider told Bernama.

The EGM may yield several scenarios, firstly one side winning handsomely, the second of a no confidence vote in Ong and thirdly, and the most watched, the party president winning on a simple majority while Dr Chua makes a return to the party that expelled him on Aug 26 for a video sex scandal that happened two years ago.

The same party insider said anything less than the 60 per cent he secured in the party election last October would be viewed as Ong losing his support in the party and may cause him to vacate the post.

If the delegates pass the motion of no confidence against Ong and reinstate Dr Chua, it would also likely prompt Ong to come to the same decision.

"Although according to the party constitution, a two thirds majority is needed to remove the president, knowing Ong's style, he would prefer to throw in the towel if the motion is rejected with only a simple majority," the insider said.

"If that happens, under Article 40 of the constitution, the deputy president automatically becomes the president without having to seek a fresh mandate unlike previously," he added.

Before the constitution was amended in 1986, the deputy president can only be acting president and has to contest for the top post to become president.

Another party veteran voiced the possibility of a fresh party election if scenario three happened because the entire presidential council, which sacked Dr Chua, would resign.

While Dr Chua's side deny he is out to topple Ong, the president's supporters believe there is a "hidden element" in the motions to be debated at the EGM, which is to pave the way for his reinstatement and ascend to the party presidency.

"As the delegates will vote secretly for each separate motion, this could act as a safety net for Dr Chua. Unless the delegates vote in block and say no to all five motions, it would spell big trouble for Ong," the veteran said.

The remaining three motions are to annul Dr Chua's sacking, to revoke the appointment of any other deputy president and for no disciplinary action to be taken against delegates who had supported Dr Chua to call for an EGM.

Some party leaders are more worried about a possible deadlock if scenario three happens.

"It would prolong the crisis as we will be back to square one. It is just like marriage, if the two cannot reconcile, you cannot force it to happen," said a leader who did not want to be identified.

Ong and Dr Chua are believed to each have at least 30 percent hardcore backing and need to win over the remaining 40 per cent of neutral or fence sitters.

Crucial are the states of Selangor, Johor and Perak which account for just over 50 per cent of the delegates with Selangor having 431, Johor 418 and Perak 347.

The rest are Federal Territory which has 178 delegates followed by Pahang (176), Kedah (173), Penang (149), Sabah (148), Negeri Sembilan (122), Melaka (90), Kelantan (76), Terengganu (43) and Perlis (27).

-- BERNAMA

10 Accident-Prone Spots Being Upgraded

en areas along federal roads that have been identified as blackspots or high accident risk areas are being upgraded and improved to prevent road accidents, said Works Minister Datuk Seri Shaziman Abu Mansor.

"Till now upgrading and improvement work has been 40 per cent completed and will be fully completed by the end of this November," he told reporters after launching the 'Works Ministry 2009 Road Safety Campaign' at the north-bound Dengkil rest and recreation area here Monday.

The areas identified are Jalan Serting Tengah in Negeri Sembilan; Jalan Damar Laut-Pantai Remis in Perak; Jalan Alor Setar-Kangar; Jalan Butterworth-Alor Setar; Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan; Jalan Kuantan-Segamat; Jalan Batu Pahat-Kluang; Jalan Klang-Teluk Intan; Jalan Muar-Melaka; and Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai.

Shaziman said the upgrading of the roads did not involve a large cost.

"Sometimes we just need to make changes to the geometry of the roads or increase traffic lights and that does not cost much," he said.

Shahziman said he had also issued directives to highway concession companies to temporarily halt all upgrading and improvement works for 10 days beginning Sept 17 to smoothen road users' journeys home.

"We also asked them to ensure that all lanes at toll plazas were open and to prepare additional lanes if needed to reduce congestion," he said.

He said to reduce road accident deaths in the country his ministry had launched a road safety initiative based on noble values and it was called C.A.R.E. (C for 'cermat' being careful, A for 'adab sopan' being courteous, R for 'berfikiran rasional' rational thinking and E for 'etika' being ethical).

"This campaign is to instill noble values as their driving lifestyle.

"This campaign is not a spur of the moment thing as to instill the C.A.R.E. culture needs continuos effort," he said.

--BERNAMA

'Balik Kampung' Then, 'Balik Kampung' Now

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- In the last week of this Ramadan, the song 'Balik Kampung' by the late Datuk Sudirman Arshad seems to be in the hearts of many city dwellers.

Several days before Aidilfitri which is expected to fall on the weekend, the exodus home or 'Balik Kampung' will begin with roads leading out of the city choked with vehicles carrying tens of thousands of the population of major towns nationwide, to their respective hometowns.

"The exodus home is already a culture of Malaysians, not only for Hari Raya but other celebrations like Chinese New Year and Deepavali. Not only for the Malays, but also for other ethnic groups," said former educationist Fatimah Mansur.

She said the exodus home during festivities has already turned into a phenomenon.

WHY THE NEED TO 'BALIK KAMPUNG'?

The trip back home is always something tiring.

There is severe traffic congestion, road crashes with fatalities and not to mention the high transportation costs incurred.

Then why the need to 'Balik Kampung'. Why not celebrate Hari Raya in the city?

"Our society loves to visit their relatives and friends. They prefer to meet them personally and not to simply talk over the telephone or communicate via e-mails and other methods.

"Balik Kampung is a process to strengthen family ties," said Fatimah.

For nurse Elizabeth Choo, Aidilfitri is for all to celebrate.

"It is a national holiday, so we should go back and meet our aged parents as they find it difficult to come here. In the other days, we are too busy working," said Choo of Tanah Merah, Kelantan.

BALIK KAMPUNG THEN, BALIK KAMPUNG NOW

This writer remembered his 'Balik Kampung' time in 1982 when he was an undergraduate at a university here.

Then, he had to sit on the floor of a third-class train coach as he was unable to get a bus ticket home to celebrate Hari Raya with his mother in Pasir Mas, Kelantan.

The number of express buses to Kelantan then were not that many, not as many as today. To get a plane ticket, air travel then was only for those who can afford to.

Now, there are hundreds of express buses available for the trip home. Not only they are comfortable but all are air-conditioned.

If this is not enough, the transport authorities issues hundreds of temporary permits for express buses during the festive seasons.

And, the flight home is a facility for all.

"Fly home uncle, it is only a short while and the fare is not expensive", said a university student Nurul Huda when enquired by the writer on her mode of transport home for Hari Raya.

"Before, if I want to return home to Sabah for Hari Raya, it was so expensive and difficult. Not any more now," said Surami Saimi of Penampang, Kota Kinabalu.

Three decades ago, only MAS provide air travel in the country. Now there are budget-travel airlines like Firefly and AirAsia that will fly you to various destinations locally and abroad.

For those who prefer train rides, then taking the KTMB coaches will be comfortable as all the coaches have air-conditioning apart from numbered seats.

Hence it is not difficult to 'Balik Kampung' and meet your relatives and friends.

Selamat Hari Raya.

-- BERNAMA

Umno Organises Competition On Best Coverage Of General Assembly

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- A competition on best daily and overall photography, best print media report, best electronic media report, and best non-Bahasa Malaysia news report will be held in conjunction with the Umno general assembly on Oct 13-16.

The winners of each category will be announced during the Mass Media Appreciation Night at Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre, on Oct 24, to fete the media representatives covering the assembly.

Each winner would receive between RM500 and RM3,000, Umno executive secretary Datuk Abdul Rauf Yusoh told reporters on Monday.

He said a special area on level 4, adjacent to Dewan Merdeka, would be provided for the 1,200 local and foreign media representatives covering the event to conduct interviews with the leaders.

"Media representatives who require special one-to-one interviews with any of the Umno leaders are to submit their request forms to the secretariat to arrange for the interviews," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Umno Will Be More Transparent, Democratic Without Quota System - Mohd Ali

MELAKA, Sept 12 (Bernama) -- Melaka Umno Liaison Committee feels the scrapping of the party's quota system would make it more transparent, strong, democratic and curb money politics.

Its Chief Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, who is also Melaka Chief Minister, said the move would give candidates a fair chance without having to worry about exceeding the quota, like before.

"We fully support the decision proposed by the party division and branch members after a constitution amendment committee meeting chaired by Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein," he said at a gotong-royong organised by the Melaka Mass Media Club (KEMM) here Saturday.

He said Umno members had been seeking for such a decision for several years now.

"This is because the quota system previously prevented candidates from receiving enough nominations to contest and led to problems such as money politics and such," he said.



In SEMPORNA, Umno vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the move would help reduce factionalism in the party.

Shafie, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said it would also help members choose leaders who were truly of calibre.

He told this to reporters after presenting Aidilfitri aid to 175 hardcore poor families in Kampung Bubul near here.

-- BERNAMA

Highway Concession Review Study Ready In December - Shaziman

JOHOR BAHARU, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- A study on highway concessions that entailed a review of toll rates is expected to be completed in December, said Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

He said among the proposals received by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) included a call for the government to take over expressways from concession holders.

Shaziman said EPU would table the findings of the study, which started last year, to the National Economic Council chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"Although new toll rates may not be implemented immediately after the study is concluded, the revision will be a win-win situation for all," he told reporters after opening the first phase of the Senai-Pasir Gudang-Desaru Expressway here on Thursday.

On the new expressway, he said motorists can start using the 77km expressway, which linked the west and east coast of Johor, from tomorrow for free for one month.

Concession holder Senai Desaru Expressway Bhd is still studying the toll rates along the expressway that cuts travelling time from Senai to Desaru from two hours to 45 minutes.

The first phase of the expressway is from Senai to Ulu Tiram for a distance of 23.1km while the second phase from Ulu Tiram to Cahaya Baru, Masai and Pasir Gudang (26.9km).

The construction of the second phase of the RM1.4 billion project from Cahaya Baru to Bandar Penawar and Desaru (27km) is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of next year.

Present was Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.

-- BERNAMA

Fire And Rescue Services Patrols On Highways For Hari Raya Period

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Services Department will during the festive season patrol highways and main roads identified as accident-prone areas to provide speedy assistance.

Assistant director of operations, Azizan Ismail, said the patrols will be for two weeks beginning Sept 13 on a continuous basis with shift changes every three hours.

"Seven fire stations will be involved and they are the central station at Jalan Hang Tuah, the Pudu station, Cheras station, Taman Desa station, Wangsa Maju station, Bukit Jalil station and the Taman Tun Dr Ismail station.

"Each station will have seven firemen and an officer on constant stand-by," Azizan told Bernama after the launch of Ops Raya 2009 at the Sungai Besi toll plaza here on Friday.

The launch was done by Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha and Ops Raya 2009 is intended to raise awareness of road safety.

Azizan said during the patrols the firemen were also directed to inspect, prevent and remove possible sources of fire at places where large number of people congregated, especially shopping complexes.

He also reminded people heading to their hometowns or villages to switch off all electrical items and gas pipes as a precaution.

Azizan said people also needed to inform their neighbours to watch their homes while they were away.

-- BERNAMA

felda Very Close To My Heart, Says Najib

SIK, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said his continued overseeing of the affairs of Felda, founded by his father, was because he had plans to bring the organisation to the global level.

"When I was a minister, I was also in charge of Felda, like my father (Tun Abdul Razak Hussein) had.

"Believe me that the Felda community is very close to my heart, just like my father had been, and there's still the agenda that I need to finish," he said at a Ramadan thanksgiving function with the Felda settlers of Teloi Timur, here, Thursday.

At the function, more than 4,000 Felda settlers in Kedah and Perlis received Raya contributions amounting to over RM1.3 million.

A Felda Teloi Timur settler, Mohd Yusof Ibrahim, 61, said he and his family were thankful for the contribution which would be used to prepare for Hari raya.

"We are delighted to receive the money as it will lessen the burden for people like us to buy the essentials for Raya," he added.

Harun Ahmad, 60, also from the same land scheme, said the contribution showed the Barisan Nasional government's concern for the welfare of Felda settlers who were mostly low-income earners.

-- BERNAMA

Sindora plans US$4.2m vessel sale

INDORA Bhd has proposed to dispose of a vessel, the MT Nautica Segamat, a liquid petroleum gas carrier for a total cash consideration of US$4.2 million (approximately RM14.38 million).

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, Sindora said its 51 per cent subsidiary, EA Technique (M) Sdn Bhd, has entered into a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Lucky Marine Co Ltd for the sale of the vessel.

It said approximately RM10.33 million from the sale consideration would be used to reduce borrowings and the balance utilised to meet EA Technique's working capital requirements.

The proposed sale forms part of its fleet renewal plan involving the disposal of older vessels and would also enable EA Technique to focus on other areas of business which are more profitable.
Sindora said the sale is expected to be completed within the fourth quarter of this year. - Bernama

UPSR Candidates Undergo Health Checks

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- 517,908 Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) candidates today began sitting for their papers but not before they were examined for fever to look out for Influenza A(H1N1) infection.

As a result four candidates who had symptoms of the flu had to sit for the exam in hospital.

They were one each from Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Ampangan Tinggi, Negeri Sembilan; Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Cina) Chong Hwa Pusat, Penang; Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Meradong, Sarawak; and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Tamil) Bandar Segamat, Johor.

The process of fever checks was witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin who is also the Education Minister at Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Bukit Damansara here Tuesday.

"I am satisfied with all steps taken by schools and the parent-teacher associations to ensure the smooth proceeding of the UPSR exam and preventive steps for H1N1," he told reporters when met at the school today.

Observation by Bernama in the federal capital showed everything was normal with no candidates needing to be isolated.

In KELANTAN, 37,531 UPSR pupils underwent temperature checks.

Kelantan education director Mohd Ghazali Abdul Rahman said just a female pupil in Pasir Puteh was found having a high temperature but checks showed she did not have symptoms of the flu and she was allowed to sit for the exam.

In PENANG, one pupil out of 26,510 had to sit for the exam in hospital due to Influenza A (H1N1) infection.

State education director Ibrahim Ahmad said checks for fever were made at all exam centres.

In JOHOR, 63,164 UPSR candidates underwent Influenza A(H1N1) screening and were given masks before being allowed into exam halls.

State education director Sufa'at Tumin said all candidates and invigilators were also asked to wash their hands with hand sanitizer.

Of the 63,164 candidates, 41,008 were from Sekolah Kebangsaan, 19,903 from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina and 2,253 calon from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil.

In KEDAH, 41,226 pupils were tested for Influenza A(H1N1) and given face masks.

State education director Shahidan Abdul Rahman said all candidates would be examined for fever beginning today till Thursday when the exam ends besides being given masks.

565 examination centres have been opened throughout the state involving 3,582 exam officials.

In PAHANG, three UPSR candidates in Kuantan had to sit for their exams in the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital for suspicion of having Influenza A (H1N1).

State education director Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Latiff said 14 pupils had to take their examination in isolation after registering temperatures of more than 37.8 degrees celsius.

28,226 pupils are taking the UPSR exam at 546 examination centres in the state.

In PERLIS, 4,631 sat for the exam and were watched over by 320 personnel. Four of the pupils had to take the exam in hospital while being treated for conditions not related to H1N1.

In TERENGGANU, one pupil out of 24,345 had to take the exam in hospital when confirmed to be positive for Influenza A (H1N1).

The head of the UPSR evaluation and examination sector of the state education office, Hashim Mohamad Zain, said the pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Tok Jiring had to sit for the exam at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital.

"Two other pupils positive for the illness and who were quarantined at home were permitted to sit for the exam in separate rooms in their respective schools," he said when contacted.

He said they were students of Sekolah Kebangsaan Cukai, Kemaman and Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Baru, Kertih.

He further said that eight pupils suspected to have the flu were also permitted to sit for the exam in special rooms in their schools.

In SABAH, 46,185 pupils sat for the exam at 1,082 centres in the state.

State education office head for the evaluation and examination sector, Md Nor Md Sharif, said concern about the influenza A(H1N1) virus led to all centres being equipped with thermometers and masks.

However, he said no one had to be isolated due to the virus.

In SARAWAK, 46,311 candidates from 1,263 schools sat for the exam under advisement to wear face masks.

State education director Dr Julaihi Bujang said parents were asked to inform school authorities if their children displayed signs of Influenza A (H1N1).

-- BERNAMA

Who invented word pangait in Borneo?

                               pix of human skulls

I would like to talk about the word pangait, I notice the spelling keeps on changing from pangait,panggait to even pengait, and perhaps soon it will change to Penangites- Penang people.

I would say the correct spelling is pangait.

First, the word pangait is very much Borneo’s word by the sound of it. Hear across the ethnics in this island it must be pangait not pengait. In Sabah people are not used to say é as much as people from the Peninsula.

How and who created the infamous word pangait God knows, I’ve no inkling.

All I knew of pangait in Malay, in as far as Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei are concerned pangait means hooky metal or wood- like instrument or even akin to parang.

People use it for harvesting palm oil seeds or coconuts or papayas, usually with long handle.

Unfortunately in Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei when we say pangait it also means something else which is always associated with someone chopping someone’s head. In other words, it’s the head, which is most significance than the body.

I also have no idea how pangaiting taking place all I know and I understand that pangait’s job is to kill and kidnap the victim. There is no clear indication as to whether the hooky instrument is ever used at all.

By the way, pangait-not the instrument but the person doing the killing, and usually isn’t originated locally. They were outsiders or might even foreigners.

In the Brunei Bay area typical pangait are known to be of Indian complexion-dark skinned people. Strange. They are hired by the authorities or even hired by the government of the day to chop citizens’ heads. The head is very valuable used as ritual, buried behind or under the bridge or under the buildings.

So the story goes occasionally whenever someone is missing in the neighbourhood that must be taken by pangait.

In the 60s I knew one an old lady disappeared in Sipitang and has never been found until today, people said the caused of her disappearance was by pangait.

Pangait believers believed when they are lots of bridges being built then the panggait would be rampant. Never walk alone in lonely place.

By burying human heads under the bridge would prolong the life span of the bridges or buildings.

I remember when I was a kid my dad was saying to me but I wasn’t sure whether it was only meant as joke or he wanted to frighten me. He once saw a few pangaits loitering in his 30 acres rubber plantation, one had dark complexion while the other two were very brown.

According to him he was very familiar with the plantation-after all his property if that pangaits were looking for him, he said had no problem in outwitting them. He was in fact watching the movement of the three pangaits from the rock top with a shotgun lent to him by his relative without being noticed. That’s perhaps the closest story about pangait that I knew of.

To cut the story short, I was one day at a talk about the origin of the Dusun, where the speaker prophesied that the Dusun came from Baram River in Sarawak moving upward to Sabah, they were the earlier pangaits in Borneo.

Surely there is a contradiction with many elders who said that the earlier pangaits were the Murut or Dayak group and couldn’t be the black skinned foreigners as I mentioned earlier nor could it be the earlier Dusun from Baram River.

I said, since the main business of pangait was chopping human heads, the pangaits could have started together by the invention of parang, as parang basically metal or iron.

The earlier discovery of metal parang in Borneo was in the cave somewhere in the East Coast of North Borneo, now Sabah. I therefore couldn’t imagine pangait used wood to chop someone’s head.

So pangait was originated from the East Coast of Sabah?

by kandayan

37-day-old baby's life was hanging by a thread

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Muhammad Adam Haiqal Zaidi's life was hanging by a thread when he was wheeled into the operating theatre at Gleneagles Medical Centre in Penang at 9am on Aug 2.

The 37-day-old baby's surgeons were anxious to begin as soon as possible as minutes would have made the difference between life and death.

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In fact, a doctor later told Adam's father, Zaidi Abdul Hamid, that his son would have died had the ambulance been 30 minutes late.

The baby was born with congenital heart disease with his great arteries reversed with two holes in his heart.

Adam was in the operating theatre until 5pm before the operation was over -- and he was given a new lease on life.

When news came from the operating theatre at 5pm that the surgery had been a success and that Adam was on the road to recovery, Zaidi and his wife, Rohana Sakiman were overjoyed.

But it would be touch and go for six days before doctors gave Adam a clean bill of health.

Adam's story of poor health began when the newborn drank milk and then went to sleep, not waking until his next feed. The couple thought this was normal until Adam had jaundice and became drained of energy, sometimes finding it difficult to breathe.

Zaidi and Rohana knew something was wrong and made an appointment to see consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Hafiz Law Ing Aii who told them that Adam needed immediate surgery or their son would not see his first birthday.

Adam was first admitted to the intensive care unit at Penang Hospital for 10 days and then transferred to Gleneagles Medical Centre which was equipped for the complex surgery.

The operation would cost RM42,000, a sum the couple could not come up with as Zaidi earned about RM800 a month as a contractor.

Fortunately, the medical centre brought Adam's plight to the attention of New Straits Times Press charity unit senior executive Aidah Nordin.

She then passed Adam's case and that of two others to SapuraAcergy Sdn Bhd, a contractor for the offshore oil and gas industry, which has a record of helping charitable organisations.

Adam is now a bouncing baby who brings joy to his parents every day with his chuckles and smiles.

Last Wednesday, company marketing and communications manager Fadzlina Tokiman presented a cheque for RM15,000 (S$6139.5) to the couple at Balai Berita

"This is the first time we are donating money for such cases although we have been donating food and other items to orphanages and children's homes annually."

She said the company looked forward to helping more such children in future.

Despite Sapura's help, RM27,000 is still needed to settle dues with the hospital.

Those who wish to help can send cheques, made payable to The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, to: The Cashier, Finance Department/Charity Unit, The New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd, Balai Berita, No. 31, Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.

ohor JPJ To Deploy 140 Personnel

JOHOR BAHARU, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- The Johor Road Transport Department (JPJ) will mobilise 140 personnel at bus terminals, taxi stations and the Senai International Airport during Ops Sikap XX from Sunday till Sept 28.

Its director Rosli Ramly said the personnel would be stationed at the Larkin, Johor Baharu, Kulai, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Bentayan (Muar), Segamat, Mersing and Kota Tinggi bus terminals.

He said the JPJ would be checking on buses and taxis' condition, the fares, bus permits, drivers and touts.

Rosli said buses without second drivers or those with drivers at the steering wheels for more than eight hours would be detained until replacement drivers show up.

He said drivers on drugs or under the influence of alcohol would arrested and blacklisted.

Rosli urged the public to buy tickets from the bus counters and not from touts.

-- BERNAMA

Man in railway mishap recovering

THE Singaporean injured in Monday morning's railway mishap is now recovering in the Singapore General Hospital.

Retiree Mohd Noor Rahmat, 78, was travelling home from Kuala Lumpur when the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train he was on derailed near Batu Anam train station in Segamat, Johor. He was in one of the two coaches that flipped on their sides.

Mr Mohd Noor was taken to Segamat hospital for treatment but came back to Singapore in an ambulance on Tuesday morning.

He was one of three elderly Singaporeans hurt in the incident, one of whom was his wife, and the only one still in hospital . Fourteen other passengers were also hurt.

Though his left eye was still swollen shut and his neck was in a brace, Mr Mohd Noor was in good spirits.

He had been dozing when he was awoken by a loud sound and saw the coach 'jump off the tracks'. Chaos ensued as three carriages separated from the other six.

Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.

Welcome to Bandar Putra, Segamat

Profile

Segamat An exciting opportunity for you to own a home with modern design and quality finishes as well as find a new base for business success. And just as delightful is the fact that you will be living in Bandar Putra Segamat. A mixed and integrated project comprising varied houses and shopoffices is in the midst of being developed by a private company of the IOI Group. Location Bandar Putra Segamat is an integrated township, located in Segamat, a fast-growing town in the state of Johor. This self-contained township with a projected population of 150,000 upon completion, is well established within distinguished neighbourhoods. With its prime location next to the district hospital, and close to the Government complex, SEDC Industrial Park, TAR College and Inland Port, Bandar Putra Segamat is poised to be another prominent landmark in Segamat itself. It is easily accessible through excellent roads and highways. Bandar Putra Segamat linked to the proposed Kuantan – Segamat – Muar Highway to the North-South Expressway for easy access to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Overall Development Spanning over 6,000 acres of freehold land and built on solid estate land, Bandar Putra Segamat consists of double-storey low cost houses, double-storey low medium cost houses, single-storey terrace houses, double-storey link houses, single-storey semi-detached houses, two-storey semi-detached houses and two-, three-, and four-storey shopoffices. Modern Facilities This new township of Bandar Putra Segamat has much more to offer besides the various dwelling units and business precincts. Among the numerous modern amenities provided are schools, kindergarten, college, community hall, town parks, fire brigade training centre, medical centre and religious centre. Apart from that, the recreation park is most useful for relaxation and for residents to enjoy leisure activities after a hard day’s work. With so many outstanding features incorporated into the development of Bandar Putra Segamat this unique and enormous project is poised to spearhead the growth of Segamat town. This self-contained township, which is complimented by numerous unrivalled facilities and amenities, will definitely meet the needs of the affluent and prospering residents as well as the industrial demands of business enterprises. So make haste in grabbing this fantastic investment opportunity in order to carve a niche in this profit-reaping development.