Banker laid to rest after tearful wife claims body

KUALA LUMPUR: A distraught Cheong Mei Keun was taken by ambulance from Prince Court Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur to claim the body of her banker husband Hussain Ahmad Najadi at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

Cheong, who was on a wheelchair and accompanied by about 10 relatives and friends, broke down when she went to identify her husband’s body at the morgue yesterday.

Hussain’s body was later taken to the Jalan Duta Mosque for prayers before he was laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery.

The Arab Malaysian Banking Group founder was shot dead in Lorong Ceylon here on Monday. Cheong, who was with him, was also shot on her arm and leg.

Meanwhile, Najadi’s son Pascal Najadi, who is in Moscow, said he had been advised against returning to Malaysia for security reasons.

He said his security advisers had told him to remain in Russia and he was thus not able to attend his father’s funeral.

“At the moment, it is not safe for me in Malaysia as no one, including the police, know who is responsible for this brutal murder,” he said in a phone interview.

Pascal, who holds a British and Swiss passport, said he did not know why his father was killed despite being informed by the police that it could be the result of a property deal that went sour.

“I do not know anything about this property deal and hope the police will do everything in their power to catch the killers,” he said.

He thanked everyone who had expressed their condolences to him and his family over the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Najadi’s close friend Datuk Seri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah described the victim as a friendly, courteous and helpful person.

Muhammad Shafee, who had known Najadi for 25 years, said the banker was the first person to donate US$4mil (RM12.9mil) to the International Islamic University’s education fund.

“The last time I met him was three weeks ago at a breaking of fast,” he added.

Wives and lawyers cause a stir

KUALA LUMPUR: There were tears and shouts outside a magistrate’s court here after Insp S. Hare Krishnan was charged in connection with the death of N. Dhamendran while in custody.

Dhamendran’s distraught widow Marry Mariya Susay shouted outside the courtroom, asking why it took over two months for the accused to break his silence.

“I don’t believe him now. Why didn’t he say anything earlier?

“I hope he starts talking at the next mention. I will wait for Aug 2 and see what happens,” she said.

Moments before, Insp Hare Krishnan’s wife Shaarmini Balakrishnan, who had been maintaining her composure during court proceedings, burst into tears outside after her husband was taken away.

She continued sobbing and wiping her tears as she walked quickly away from the court, declining to talk to reporters.

The two women were not the only ones who caused a stir as an altercation occurred between counsel Latheefa Koya, who is holding a watching brief for Marry, and Insp Hare Krishnan’s counsel G. Sri Kumar outside the courtroom.

Latheefa alleged that police had known about the inspector’s whereabouts but had dragged their feet in producing him in court, while Sri Kumar refuted the claims that his client had absconded as he had lodged a police report proclaiming his innocence on June 1 and appointed a lawyer soon after.

Earlier in court, Insp S. Hare Krishnan was charged with murdering Dhamendran on May 21 at the special investigations office at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.

The offence under Section 302 of the Penal Code carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

Insp Hare Krishna remained silent throughout the proceedings and merely nodded when magistrate Nur A’minahtul Mardiah Md Nor asked if he understood the charge.

Dhamendran was arrested on May 11 on suspicion of attempted murder involving firearms and remanded from May 12 until his death on May 21.

The post-mortem conducted at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 22 showed that the cause of death was diffused soft tissue injuries due to multiple blunt force trauma.

DPP S. Nithia said the prosecution was awaiting the final post-mortem report and would be ready to prouce it in court on Friday.

Defence counsel S. Kavitha and G. Sri Kumar raised no objections.

Nur A’minahtul Mardiah then set Aug 2 for mention of the case.

Previously, three policemen, Sjn Jaffri Jaafar, Kpl Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman and Kpl Haswadi Zamri Sahari were charged with Dhamendran’s murder on June 15.

Insp Hare Krishnan surrendered at the Bukit Aman police headquarters on Monday after six weeks in hiding.

Wanted man held for having firearm

KUANTAN: A wanted man and two others have been arrested by police for having a revolver and three fake pistols.

Pahang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Sharifuddin Ab Ghani said that a team from the state Narcotics CID had been monitoring a food stall at Pekan Sri Jaya, Maran, at about 12.05am on Saturday.

During the surveillance, a suspect came in a car and went to the stall before he was joined by two others at 12.45am, said DCP Shari­fuddin.

“When our policemen identified themselves, one of the suspects acted aggressively and there was a struggle before all three were arrested.

“Upon inspecting the suspect’s car, we found a plastic bag containing a loaded revol­ver wrapped in a towel,” he told reporters at the state police headquarters here yesterday.

He added that there were four bullets in the gun and another one in the front passenger seat.

Police also confiscated RM2,000.

DCP Sharifuddin said the suspect then led the police to his house at Bukit Kampung Sri Jaya, where three fake guns were found hidden in a gap between a bed and a wall.

He added that the suspects, aged between 36 and 51, hailed from Pahang and Penang.

“One of them is on our wanted list for drug-related offences while another had six pre­vious criminal records.

“All three have been remanded for a week to be investigated under Section 8 of the Fire­­-arms (Increased Penalties) Act1971,” said DCP Sharifuddin.

Minions make their mark on traffic bollard

GEORGE TOWN: Penangites have been going all out for minions, the lovable characters from the Despicable Me movies.

This time, the cylinder-shaped creatures were painted on a concrete traffic bollard by international artist Ernest Zacharevic.

The painting has been drawing crowds to Soo Hong Lane, off Armenian Street.

Zacharevic, who is famed for his murals in the George Town heritage enclave, posted a picture of his work on Facebook on Saturday with the caption “Goodbye Penang!” and since then, visitors have been flocking to take pictures with the minions.

The painting, believed to be the first of its kind in Penang, depicts a two-eyed minion sitting on a one-eyed minion, both dressed in blue overalls as shown in the movies.

Among the minion-struck was student Tan Hooi Xin, 21, who was spotted snapping pictures with her friends Ooi Jun Sze, Ong Xiao Mei and Michelle Tan, all 21.

“It’s really very adorable. This time, the artwork by Ernest is taking a different twist. Instead of a wall mural, it’s on a pillar,” said Hooi Xin.

On Sunday, a photo of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, his wife Betty and youngest son Ethan posing with the minions was also posted on his Facebook page.

It was reported in a Chinese daily on Sunday that Zacharevic would be leaving Penang for a holiday after completing his latest artwork.

The minion is one of the most notable characters in the Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 movies and the toys have taken the country by storm.

Truant students fall prey to pervert

MALACCA: Four secondary school students paid a heavy price for playing truant. They ended up getting sodomised, being forced to perform vile sexual acts, and receiving lewd massages.

They were rescued by the police after being held captive for several hours in a house in Sungai Udang here. The police acted on a tip off.

The horror started at about 8am on Tuesday when the students, aged between 12 and 14, were loitering under a tree outside the house of a masseur, 51, instead of being in school.

On seeing the boys, two of whom were brothers, the masseur asked them what they were doing in his house compound during school hours, and asked them in.

Once inside, the man made them watch television. Midway through, he used a remote to start a VCD player and a pornographic movie appeared on the screen.

After a few minutes, the masseur ordered the boys to come into his bedroom one at a time, where he massaged each of them in turn.

The boys claimed in their police reports that the man had forced them to be completely naked, so that he could give them massages which would improve their memory power.

They also told police that he had rubbed their private parts and had forced them to perform despicable acts.

At the end of each session, the boy who had been massaged had to go back to the hall to watch the porn movie while another entered the bedroom.

According to the students, the masseur had threatened to report them to the school authorities and the police if they didn’t give in to his demands.

He had also told them that they could not leave the house until after school hours.

But police stormed the place at about 11.30am, rescued the students and detained the masseur.

Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Salehuddin Abd Rahman confirmed that the masseur has been arrested.

Hairspray The Musical to make debut here for a good cause

KUALA LUMPUR: Come September, theatre fans will be transported back into the 1960s with Hairspray The Musical’s premiere in Malaysia.

Presented by Yvents! with The Star as media partner, Hairspray follows the trials and tribulations of teenager Tracy Turnblad as she navigates a world that frowns upon people who dare to be different.

Despite her perceived shortcomings – she has been accused of being too short, too large, with too tall hair – Tracy dreams of being on The Corny Collins Show, a local television dance programme.

When she finally lands a spot on the show, she uses her newfound fame to fight against racial discrimination.

Hairspray The Musical is also lending its support to a cause that is close to many people’s hearts – promoting awareness of breast cancer.

“Yvents! has been bringing shows in to Malaysia for the past 12 years. We have a responsibility not just to entertain but also to ensure that the production has a strong, meaningful platform,” said Yvents! managing director Yvette Kang during a chat at the Estée Lauder Malaysia office in Kuala Lumpur.

Proceeds from the Estée Lauder Malaysia Hairspray The Musical Pink Charity Night, to be held on Sept 22, will be channelled into the Estée Lauder Malaysia Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign.

Estée Lauder brand general manager Katrina Liew said: “The funds raised will support non-governmental organisations that we have been working together with for many years.”

The campaign celebrates its 17th year in Malaysia this year.

Hairspray The Musical will be staged at Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from Sept 17-22.

HSBC Cards is the official credit card. HSBC credit card holders will enjoy exclusive discounts on tickets.

Tickets, priced at RM190, RM290, RM390, RM490 and RM590 (excluding RM3 ticketing fee), are available from TicketsPeople. Call 03-2287 2727 or log on to www.ticketspeople.com for more information.

Robbers take pity on Indonesian labourer

GEORGE TOWN: They came, they robbed and much to the surprise of the pleading victim, returned most of the money.

But there was no escape for the two men, aged 23 and 31. Alert witnesses confronted them and handed them over to the cops.

The robbers stormed into the room of Indonesian labourer Herman Sugiono at a house in Lorong Kulit here at 9.30pm Monday.

Claiming to be policemen, they demanded to check his passport.

They then snatched RM163 from Herman’s bag. But when the Indo­nesian begged them to return his money, they relented and returned RM113 to him.

But as they fled with the RM50, several local residents who had seen them enter the room blocked their escape and handed them over to the police.

George Town OCPD Asst Comm Gan Kong Meng said one of the men had a previous record for a drug-related offence.

Police recovered a membership card purportedly issued by the Malaysian Oganisation of Crime Prevention Volunteer Squad (Rejam), eight Rejam Squad vehicle stickers, a RM50 note and a Civil Defence Department appointment card from both the men.

In another case, the body of a Nepalese man who had been swept away by strong currents while swimming with his friends in Tanjung Tokong on Monday was found stuck between huge rocks at a beach nearby.

Indra Bahadur, 25, who had been working at the Mount Erskine market, had gone swimming with four of his friends when the incident happened. His body was sent to the Penang Hospital for a post-mortem.

HM and PTA head grilled

SUNGAI BULOH: When we arrived, the dining tables and chairs were still there at the girls changing room of SK Seri Pristana, where non-Muslim pupils had been having breakfast and lunch over the past week,

As we entered the school grounds at about 6pm yesterday, the headmaster and the head of the Parent-Teacher Association looked distressed as officers from various government departments questioned them repeatedly on why the pupils had been moved to the changing room.

They showed us the changing room which was very clean at the time.

Two tables with purple tablecloths were placed in the small space next to the shower stalls and the sinks, with benches for the pupils to sit on.

The canteen, which was directly opposite the changing room, was re-opened to the pupils yesterday on the directive of the Education Ministry.

There are three shower stalls and three sinks in the room, which is right next to the girls toilet and the toilet for handicapped pupils.

According to the school officials, there are only 28 non-Muslim pupils in the school.

Headmaster Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor said the pupils, both Muslims and non-Muslims, had been using the changing room since March because there was not enough space in the canteen.

“Our enrolment increased by more than 500 pupils this year. We do not even have enough classrooms. We have an average of 49 pupils in each class now,” said the visibly worried headmaster who had to answer his cell phone every few minutes.

“I only decided to move them into that room because many were sitting on the grass or by the drain to eat because there was not enough space.” He said the canteen had been closed over the past week due to a minor “renovation”.

Mohd Nasir brought us into the canteen to show us the newly-installed glass doors at a small corner of the canteen.

The renovation was completed over the weekend, he said.

“The canteen was supposed to have been re-opened on Monday. I did not know that it was kept closed. I was away for a meeting that day,” Mohd Nasir said.

The head of the school’s Parent-Teacher Association Hussein Mohd Ariff said that the PTA members were aware of the situation as it had been brought up at the AGM.

“As a parent, I know it was not ideal but the decision was not up to me,” he said.

The headmaster stressed that he would never discriminate against his pupils.

“As you can see, the shower room is very clean. The only reason I chose this place is because it is the closest room to the canteen.

“I did not mean any harm to the pupils,” he said, adding that he had not received any complaints from parents until yesterday.

As we spoke, parents were walking into the school to check on their children after seeing the photos and comments in the social network.

“I suspected something was wrong when another parent told me the children were eating in a changing room,” said a parent.

“I asked my daughter, who is only nine, and she told me that the place where she was eating was narrow and smelly.”

Jawi probe against beauties

PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department (Jawi) has launched an investigation against the four Muslim Miss Malaysia-World finalists as they are deemed to have insulted Islam.

Its director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali said Jawi’s enforcement unit would look into the matter following a Malay daily’s report that the girls were bent on taking part in the beauty pageant despite an edict by the National Fatwa Council prohibiting it.

“Based on the report, the participants had expressed their disappointment with the fatwa that was gazetted on Feb 8, 1996, under the Administration of Islamic Law (Federal Territories) 1993,” he said in a statement yesterday.

According to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, the fatwa explicitly states that participating, organising or contributing to any sort of beauty contest is haram (not permissible) and a sin for Muslims.

Jamil Khir maintained that there was nothing strange about the action, adding that “the fatwa is for every Muslim to observe.”

The daily reported yesterday that one of the contestants, Sara Amelia Muhammad Bernard, 20, expressed her disappointment, though she was aware that Muslims were not allowed to enter beauty pageants.

“The organisers informed me that we were allowed to join because we would be wearing sportswear instead of swimming attire,” she said.

Fellow disqualified contestant Wafa Johanna De Korte, 19, was also disappointed.

“I would be honoured to continue vying for the title if I still have the chance,” she was quoted as saying, while adding that she was nonetheless touched that the organisers recognised their potential.

According to Che Mat, Jawi will carry out investigations under Section 7 of the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997.

“If we find sufficient evidence for further investigation, they will be charged in the Syariah Court,” he said.

Those found guilty can be fined up to RM3,000, jailed up to two years, or both.

Pageant organiser Datuk Anna Lim said that although the girls have been disqualified, they are still allowed to attend the event as guests.

“They will not be in the pageant until and unless the Federal Territories mufti allows it.”

S. Korean tourist drowns while trying to save hubby

KUALA BESUT: A South Korean tourist drowned while trying to save her husband during a snorkelling outing at Tanjung Langir, Pulau Perhentian Besar, near here.

Kim Dong-huk (pic), 52, who tried to save her husband who had difficulty breathing while snorkelling, died at the Pulau Perhentian health clinic about 30 minutes after being rescued by villagers at 12.30pm yesterday.

Besut OCPD Supt Kamaruddin Mohd Zakaria said the woman and her husband, Kyung Min-baek, 54, had gone snorkelling at 10am.

They were at sea for about two hours when her husband had breathing difficulties.

“The wife tried to rescue her husband, who was struggling in the water and gasping for breath. But when the husband held on to her too tightly, she could not swim,” he said.

Kim’s body was later sent to the Besut district hospital in Jerteh for post-mortem.

When met at the district hospital, Kyung said they arrived in Pulau Perhentian on Saturday with two friends for a holiday.

“I am sad that my wife died while trying to save me,” he said. 

Pos Malaysia rescues 'junked mail'

KUALA LUMPUR: Pos Malaysia personnel have retrieved the remaining letters dumped into a ravine at Ukay Heights in Ampang.

About 50 workers used several big, white mail bags to gather the letters. Three Pos Malaysia vans were stationed near the area.

A check by The Star at 8.30am yesterday found that the staff first inspected the area before descending the ravine to collect the undelivered letters.

The arduous task was completed two hours after it began.

Pos Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Khamil Jamil and group CEO Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood were at the site to supervise and monitor the operations.

“We are also looking at surrounding areas,” Pos Malaysia group head of corporate communications and customer care Datuk Rohaiza Hashim said. “Pos Malaysia welcomes any information from the public. We remain committed to meeting the delivery service level.”

On Saturday, The Star reported that residents found heaps of undelivered letters in the ravine. Pos Malaysia has sacked the three postmen involved.

The incident has left a number of Ukay Heights residents reeling in frustration.

“We were shocked and angry when we found out about it,” said housewife Hazarina Manang. “Some of us have not received our letters for more than six months,” she said.

“My husband has not been getting his mail from clients, bank statements, cheques, letters from our families overseas and our bills,” added the 36-year-old. “We hope Pos Malaysia will be able deliver the letters quickly.”

Another resident, Christian Hillier, who is an SPCA committee member, said they did not know if there were letters missing as one would not know if someone had corresponded with them via mail.

“It’s not like we do not get mail every day, but just on certain days,” said the 47-year-old. “And based on the letters that were found, I believe this has been going on for more than a year.”

Fiona Suleiman, a Ukay Heights resident since 1985, was relieved that the problem had been detected.

“I get my utilities bills but I haven’t been receiving any other mail for months.”

Teen among suspects held for hiring out firearms

KOTA BARU: Police have busted a gang which had been renting out guns for between RM500 and RM1,000. And among the three suspects nabbed was a 15-year old school dropout.

The two other suspects were a man and a woman, both aged 29. A fourth suspect managed to escape but police have identified him and are tracking him down.

The seizure of two pistols, a fake gun, a Taser and several rounds of ammunition during a raid on a house at Kampung Bunut Susu in Pasir Mas at 3am yesterday, is expected to help police solve a series of shooting incidents in the state.

The genuine guns were Colt Super Automatic .22 Magnum and a Unique Mikros Modelle. The fake was a Baby Hi-capa 3.8.

State police chief Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman said the suspects were believed to have been renting out guns.

He said the police forensics team would determine the ballistic capability of the guns and whether they matched recent shootings, including cases involving two teachers.

On July 8, Hashim Mat Zain, 45, the senior assistant of SK Beris Panchor, Bachok, was shot dead while driving out from the school on his way home at about 1.50pm.

Three days earlier, another teacher, Mat Zaki Hashim, 35, of Kampung Kubang Panjang in Pasir Mas, was shot in the neck but survived. He is recuperating at Raja Perempuan Zainab II hospital.

Jalaluddin said the suspects tested positive for drugs and had been remanded for investigation un­­­­­­­der Section 8 of the Firearms Act 1971.

The proximity of the border towns of Rantau Panjang and Sungai Golok, which are only divided by a 6m-wide river, makes it very easy for smugglers to bring in any type of firearms, including M16 machine guns.

Jalaludin said Kelantan police hadseized five pistols and an M-16 rifle so far this year, compared with six pistols last year and nine in 2011.

“We are working hard to track down criminals who use firearms. We view the shootings very seriously, several units have been formed to tackle the situation,” he said, adding that assigned policemen were plain-clothed.

Young Kethan leaves a good impression on Tim Burton

PETALING JAYA: He aspired to be a movie director and Kethan Kumar’s imagination even caught the attention of a famed American director who saw the potential in the boy.

Kethan had been writing a movie script and had flown to Los Angeles on a private jet from Austin, Texas, to meet his hero, director/producer Tim Burton, on Feb 23 last year on the eve of the Academy Awards event.

Sadly, the final chapter could not be written – the 11-year-old who was about to enter sixth grade at the St Andrews Episcopal School in Austin lost his battle with leukaemia on Friday.

Kethan, born to Malaysian parents Lokesh Duraiappah and Sumithra Thavarajah in the Texan capital, has left his mark on the community there.

Burton, known for his dark and quirky take on horror and fantasy-style movies, paid tribute to the boy in a eulogy read out at a memorial service at the McGill Chapel on Sunday.

“The moment you meet Kethan, you are changed,” he wrote, adding that the boy had made a lasting impression on him in that one meeting.

Close family friend Prof Bernard Arulanan-dam, who is also Malaysian-born and based in Texas, said Burton had praised Kethan for his knowledge on the movie-making world.

Gary Thompson, who sits on the US Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) national representatives board, also spoke of the huge impact Kethan had had on him.

They met at a reception hosted by a former St Andrews principal, as Thompson’s daughter Kyla was due to start first grade with Kethan in 2008.

“When I heard he was fighting cancer just like my wife was fighting a recurrence of her breast cancer, something stirred inside of me.

“When I met him, his smile and his glow and his warmth quite simply changed me,” he said in his eulogy.

Kethan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2006.

He had several episodes of remission and relapses throughout his eight-year battle with the disease.

After his second relapse in May 2012, Kethan found a silver lining after he discovered a love for drawing.

“I kind of look at it that way – like if I didn’t relapse, I wouldn’t have found out that I love drawing,” he said in a video entitled “Kethan’s Story” on YouTube.

Mourners wore bright colours to honour his love for rainbows, while multi-coloured balloons were released after the memorial service.

SPAD hints at taxi fare increase

KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is reviewing taxi fares and has indicated a possible increase in the near future.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said SPAD was studying the costs incurred by taxi drivers.

“I understand that SPAD is currently reviewing the taxi fares, taking into account the operational costs (of taxi drivers),” he said to the loud cheers of over 500 cabbies at the SPAD headquarters in KL Sentral here yesterday.

SPAD, he added, was also looking into an “accreditation programme” which would become a future requirement for cabbies to enable better taxi services.

Najib said this in his speech before presenting 500 Taxi 1Malaysia (Teks1m) individual licences to the cabbies. They were part of a group of 1,000 drivers chosen out of 19,117 Teks1m applicants earlier this year.

Later at a press conference, SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the fare review was almost at its final stage although he declined to comment on what kind of increase would be involved.

However, he said SPAD hoped to present the review before the Government by the end of the year, adding that the implementation might take place by that time or at the beginning of next year.

Asked when the fare review might take effect, he said this would be set up “as soon as possible” after it was approved by the Government.

The current flag-off rate for Malaysian taxis is RM3, with 10 sen charged for every subsequent 100m. The last review was in 2009.

Asked about a possible public outcry over such an increase, Syed Hamid said Malaysians could not hope to demand for good service and pay low rates at the same time.

“We’ll try to create a balance (between) having good service and paying for that service. We need to look at taxi drivers’ welfare, too,” he said, adding that feedback from young adult commuters was that they did not mind paying more if the service was good.

SPAD, he said, was also looking at a flexible fare review mechanism.

SPAD CEO Mohd Nur Ismal Kamal said the commission would also get public feedback on the fare review before it was presented to the Government.

Chua: Give them scholarships

PETALING JAYA: Top scorers who fail to get into popular courses in public universities should be offered places in private institutions on scholarships provided by the Government, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Dr Chua said MCA understood that there had been a high demand for popular courses such as medicine and pharmacy, and that the public universities would not be able to accept all the top scorers due to limited places.

“In such cases, the deserving students should be offered places in private universities via scholarships provided by the Government.

“Since the Government has stopped awarding scholarships to SPM graduates unless they are accepted into reputable universities, it now has the means to provide these to students who obtained a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.0 in their STPM examination,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

“Each deserving student must be assured of a place in university and they should not be turned away unless they do not have the required entry points,” he added.

Dr Chua was commenting on the hundreds of students - including 55 with perfect CGPA of 4.0 - who had not gained places to study medicine and other courses of their choice in public universities.

He also urged the Government to admit all top scorers with a 4.0 CGPA into public universities without further delay as they had rightly obtained the perfect cumulative grade point average.

This was in line with the country’s agenda of grooming local talent to cater to its development and vision to become a high-income nation by 2020, he pointed out.

“MCA stands firm that the Government should provide tertiary education to all students based on meritocracy. I would like to remind students with CGPA of 4.0 that they could also opt for other courses of their choice and not merely popular ones like medicine and pharmacy,” he said.

Dr Chua said that he had also conveyed this issue and the students’ grievances to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister for further action.

Meanwhile, another 33 STPM top scorers, who met with problems in their applications to enter public universities, have also asked MCA for help after the party highlighted some 108 appeal cases on Tues-day.

Its Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said that they were the latest batch, adding that he expected more to come.

Pointing out that most of the 88 top scorers had opted to study medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and engineering, he said he would “analyse on case by case basis and see how to help them.”

To date, Dr Wee said 14 of the ca­ses did not get any offers, 12 were given courses which were way off from their choices while the rest did not get what they wanted.

He said that there was also a very small number with what he des­cribed as an “unreasonable re­­quest”, such as wanting to do medicine in Universiti Malaya despite being offered places in Universiti Kebang­saan Malaysia.

China wife runs off with child

KUALA LUMPUR: Contractor Neoh Lye Heng was a happy man when he found a wife from China through a matchmaking agency in 2005. But his happiness has now been shattered as the love of his life has suddenly run away from home taking their son.

Neoh, 53, from Ayer Itam in Penang, said that when he returned home on July 9, he could not find 43-year-old Fang Li or their three-year-old son Neoh Jin Hui. He has also been unable to contact her via phone.

“Our relationship has been loving and I did not expect this,” he said at a press conference at the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department on Tuesday.

Neoh, who broke down twice during the press conference, urged Fang to return their son as he is a Malaysian. He also lodged a police report on July 11.

Neoh said he checked with the Immigration Department last Sunday and was told that both his wife and son were still in the country.

MCA Public Services and Complaints Depart­ment head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said he had received reports on 16 cases of foreign wives running away, taking along the children.

“The women are mainly from Vietnam, Indonesia and China and they tend to run off with their children,” he said.

He said that so far, with the assistance of matchmaking agencies, only the children in two cases had been returned. He added that the chances of children being returned was less than 10%.

“I am concerned about the number of runaway foreign wives. There has already been seven cases this year alone,” he added.

He said many men in similar situations had difficulty getting access to their children when they were taken away.

Chong said it was also difficult to get the wives to sign divorce papers and hence the men could not remarry. Moreover, advertising for their return and payment for the flight fare would cost thousands of ringgit.

On the possible reason for foreign wives running away, Chong said most of the men were much older than the women and they possibly had different expectations.

Anyone who has seen Fang and the couple’s son can call the department at 03-2203 3888.

All she wanted was to serve people - now she - saving lives

KUALA LUMPUR: When Teresa Lim Sim Lee was in her teens, she decided that she wanted to dedicate her life to serving people.

“But I couldn’t do much then because I was still studying, and had to at least complete my Form Five,” said the marketing and promotions manager with a mall management company now.

So, as soon as she had completed her secondary education in 1995, Lim joined the Malaysian Volunteer and Fire Rescue Association (MVFRA) and is today one of its most valued members.

For her dedication, Lim received the Iron Lady 2013 Award from the Road Safety Marshal Club recently.

To be where she is today in MVFRA, Lim trained hard almost every Sunday for the past 19 years at the association’s headquarters in Jalan Kampung Pandan near here, as well as volunteer her services from 8.30pm to 10.30pm there daily.

“We attend to emergencies such as road accidents and other disasters, and are often alerted by passers-by or ambulance services,” said the 36-year-old spinster.

Lim had also served in Aceh in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami as well as in the Philippines after typhoon Ketsana made landfall in 2009.

One of her most memorable rescue operations was the one that took place in Slim River, Perak, in 2010.

In the accident, a car carrying four children and their parents was sandwiched between two trailers.

She said the MVFRA volunteers were extricating the remains of the adults when they realised that two of the children were still alive, but had been scalded by the hot coolant from the car’s radiator.

“The girl had stopped breathing momentarily and I resuscitated her several times while we rushed her to hospital,” recalled Lim, who also described it as one of the saddest moments on the field.

Meanwhile, MVFRA founder and chairman Capt K. Balasupramaniam said Lim had attended to more than a hundred accident cases, as well as served during floods and fires.

He added that Lim was also very active in public education, which was widely conducted by MVFRA.

Exercise caution on issues related to religion, media advised

PETALING JAYA: The media should exercise sensitivity on matters related to religion, belief and culture.

Home Affairs Ministry undersecretary (Publications, Quranic Texts Control Division) Hashimah Nik Jaafar said writers and publishers should exercise extra care when writing stories on Ramadan, for instance, and other religious festivals.

She said they should ensure that the articles and images they publish did not hurt the feelings of any community.

“There are many ways of writing and publishing issues. Media experts should use their wisdom and have the respective communities in mind when making a decision,” she said.

Hashimah was giving her views at the talk on Ramadan and Fasting for editorial staff at The Star here yesterday.

She said the ministry would continue to provide guidance to the media whenever required so that they would not highlight issues that could harm the safety and security of the country.

The talk was among a series of events organised by The Star before major festivals to educate its editorial staff and create awareness on sensitivities related to the events.

Teacher called me a prostitute, says 12-year-old

MALACCA: A 12-year-old has alleged that her school disciplinary teacher labelled her a prostitute.

The pupil from Batu Berendam lodged a report at about 1.40pm yesterday at the Tengkera police station, stating that the female teacher had wrongly assumed she was part of a rowdy group of male classmates that had created problems for another teacher.

The boys were apparently making noise in class, in total disregard for the teacher, who then referred the incident to the disciplinary teacher.

The girl claimed that the disciplinary teacher refused to listen to her explanation that she was not involved.

Instead, the teacher was said to have hurled abusive remarks and called her a prostitute for being part of the group of troublemakers.

It is learnt that when her mother arrived at the school upon the teacher’s request, she was asked to transfer her daughter to another school.

The chairman of the state committee for education, Datuk Yunos Husin, said the state government viewed the allegation seriously.

“It is deemed an inappropriate comment but we need to probe further to see what really transpired that day,” said Yunos, who added that the state education department would be asked to look into the matter before any further statement could be issued.

Case for and against the EO

Amidst all the talk on the repealed Emergency Ordinance Act 1969 (EO), Cafe Latte Chat invited former Selangor police chief Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah (Hisan), Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua (Tony), Universiti Sains Malaysia criminologist Dr P. Sundramoorthy (Dr Sundramoorthy) and NGO Marah founder Dave Avran (Dave) to give their views in a session moderated by StarMetro deputy editor Eddie Chua (Eddie).

Eddie: What do you think about repealing the law?

Hisan: The EO’s primary aim is securing public safety, Malaysia’s defence and public order. It is necessary to arm the police with this law, especially in parts of the country terrorised by criminal organisations. It has been effective in segregating the criminal elements from society.

Eddie: Why is the Opposition not keen on having a similar law to the EO drafted?

Tony: We question its effectiveness, its relevance today and people getting detained without getting a fair hearing. Undoubtedly the EO has been used on hardcore criminals but there is also the likelihood that there are innocents among them. How do you challenge a law that does not allow for fair trial? I have also seen cases where youths of 19 and 20 years of age being sent to Simpang Renggam for motorcycle theft. There are those in the police force who use it as an easy way to solve crime. We should have sufficient professionalism to bring criminals to court.

Dave: It was a mistake to repeal the EO. There were many things that could have been done instead – such as amending it, putting safety measures in place or forming a review committee. Repealing it comes at a very great cost to the man on the street.

Tony: We are jumping the gun because we have not been given any evidence other than statements by the Home Minister and Inspector-General of Police that the EO is behind the recent rise in crime. In 2009, when the crime index peaked around 245,000, the EO was in place. Crime statistics came down after that, so why is the EO is the reason crime has increased?

Hisan: The police do manage to arrest and charge criminals but it is the period after they are released on bail that causes problems. The moment they are released, they commit crime again. This is where the police are fighting a losing battle.

Eddie: So, is there a problem with the law or the people using it?

Hisan: When dealing with crime, you must look at the whole criminal justice system (CJS), not just the police. You must also look at the prisons, the judiciary, prosecutors, etcetera. Another issue is the time it takes to convict a person, which takes about two to three years. In the meantime, they will be out there and this is where the EO comes in useful to separate them from society while pending their trials. In Selangor, we have been arresting the same group of people again and again for crimes like robbery, hijacking, snatch theft and vehicle theft.

Eddie: Dr Sundramoorthy recently had a letter published stating the country is going to see a surge in violent crime especially those involving gangs previously detained under the EO. What is this study about?

Dr Sundramoorthy: The study was for the Finance Ministry in 2010 and covered the CJS extensively to spot trends and crime control strategies. We analysed data from 1997 to 2009 and saw a trend of increasing violent crime in the country at a growth rate of 13.5% though I cannot recall the exact figure. The trend showed that 2005 onwards, prior to the NKRA period, violent crime was increasing rapidly in the country. Based on the study, we realised the EO was one of the preventive strategies taken by law enforcement to deal with repeat offenders, gang members and organised crime. There are no figures now as it takes time to analyse data but after the study, we believe there will be a surge in crime. The EO is one of the better tools of the police but there are mechanisms of it that could be improved. It was not right for the Government to repeal the EO without studying it and finding out its strengths, weaknesses and identifying abuse.

Eddie: Do you think the EO should have been amended instead?

Tony: The fact remains that violent crime was already increasing while the EO was in place. We should not try to implement laws on an ad-hoc basis just to catch criminals because of weaknesses in the CJS. We should fix the root problem, one of them the CJS, and at the same time study the resources within the police force.

Dave: Another aspect to look at is the psychological warfare against criminals. If there were a deterrent like the possibility of being brought in under the EO or thrown into a detention camp, I would think twice before committing crime.

Tony: If one takes that line of argument where you can arrest a person without basis as a deterrent; then anything can be a deterrent including the threat of being beaten up to death in a police station. The deterrent has to be an effective police force. We have enough police officers. However, the Tun Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission of Inquiry stated that there is misallocation of resources within the force. The crime investigation department stands at only 9% of the police force.

Hisan: Distribution of manpower in the force comes under the IGP. Coming back to the EO, it is a good law but abusers should be sought out. The law helps protect scared witnesses and I have seen them, without ears or hands after torture. I believe we should bring back the law.

Dr Sundramoorthy: If a similar law is drafted, the final say has to lie with an independent body, not the Home Minister. People from all walks of life, including critics like (Tony) should be able to contribute their views on it because experts have their own ideologies and ideals and may want to propose aspects favourably to these.

Hisan: We can also look at other countries where they have acts to handle organised syndicate crime.

Dave: We need to look at the bigger picture. If a few people have to suffer for the greater good, we are all for it. To the layman, you can talk about this until the cows come home but we do not care, we want to be safe now.

Dr Sundramoorthy: At the end of the day, it still comes back to what extent Malaysians are willing to give up in terms of their liberty in order to live in an environment that is safe, peaceful and where we do not need to think of being a crime victim every time we step out of our homes.

Malaysians in shock over Monteith's death

PETALING JAYA: Gleeks in Malaysia joined in the global outpouring of grief following the death of one of the most loved actors in the hit television musical Glee.

Cory Monteith, 31, who plays Finn Hudson, was found dead in a hotel room in Vancouver, Canada yesterday from undisclosed causes.

“I really do not know what to say. I am really sad that this happened. He was very handsome and talented. Amen. God bless his soul,” said Malaccan, Stephanie Foo Mei Jin, 33.

Die-hard fans commented that Glee would not be the same without Monteith, who had publicly discussed his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, and had recently completed a round of rehabilitation.

“It is so weird, I can’t watch Glee without him already, I want Lea (Michele) and Cory back together!”, said Carolyn Tay Li Min, 21, from Kuala Lumpur.

Teoh En Wan, 24, from Taiping, Perak, who has been an avid fan of Glee since season one, posted on her Facebook: “No more Finn. Glee will never be the same anymore.”

Even the guys were taken aback with the tragic news.

“I am shocked to hear the news. May his soul rest in peace. Glee will never be the same without him,” said Johorean Kevin Sivarag, 24,

“He was one of the guys that we see as our role model, without him on Glee, there won’t be anyone else to look up to,” said Kenneth Haw Chong Lim, 23, of Malacca.

Nurazie Saile, 26, from Sabah, extended her heartfelt condolences to the family, and prayed that Monteith will rest in peace.

Into its fifth season, Glee is a musical comedy about a group of talented kids who seek refuge from the unpleasant realities of high school by joining glee club, a place where they find strength, comfort, acceptance and ultimately, their true selves.

Kyle Massey

Kyle Massey is speaking out after being the victim of an inappropriate hoax on Twitter.

Rumors circulated on the social media site over the weekend claiming that the "That's So Raven" star, 21, was dying of cancer. Although Massey does not know where the false report started, he has released a statement confirming that he is not terminally ill.

“We are not sure where this rumor started, but we would like to put a stop to it immediately,” his rep for the "Dancing With the Stars" alum tells JustJared.com. “This is a very serious disease and he’s upset that someone would make light of such a serious subject. He has been affected personally from the disease as he has had family members who have passed away from cancer.”

PAS wants to wield 16:16 magic in Kuala Besut by-election

BESUT: PAS is determined to ensure that the Kuala Besut by-election ends in a “hung legislative assembly”.

This, said its secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, was because there were different legal interpretations of the number of seats between Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat in the assembly was equal and also on the voting power of the state Speaker.

“What is important now is for PAS to win in Kuala Besut to equal the number of seats that Barisan has in the state assembly,” he told The Star.

“Then, we will get legal experts to give their views on the situation.”

The 13th general election saw Barisan securing a slim win in Terengganu with a two-seat advantage over Pakatan’s 17 seats. Should the Opposition win the Kuala Besut by-election, Barisan and Pakatan would have the same number of seats —16 — in the state assembly.

While some view this as a hung assembly with a possibility that a re-election must be called for the entire state, there are also those with the opinion that Barisan still has the advantage of ruling the state as the Speaker has the right to vote.

State PAS commissioner Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut said the party’s machinery was focused on winning the by-election and making history despite disputes over a possible hung state assembly.

He said a “balanced” assembly was unheard of, thus it would be one of the motivations to win the Kuala Besut seat.

“Seats locked at 16:16 will be the first of its kind. We want to be the first to do so,” he said.

“We have won the seat before so it is not impossible for us to win again this time.”

He added that the “magic number of 16:16” was also one of the party’s campaign mottos for the by-election.

“We have chosen our best candidate with the goal of locking the assembly at 16 seats each.”

Stars Pray for Randy Travis After Brain Surgery

Country music stars and fans joined together to urge prayers for Randy Travis on Thursday after he underwent brain surgery following a stroke at a Texas hospital.

Travis remained in critical condition Thursday after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain Wednesday night, publicist Kirt Webster said. The 54-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer had been improving while being treated for heart failure caused by a viral infection when he had the stroke.

Nancy Jones, the widow of Travis' lifelong hero George Jones, paid a visit to Travis on Thursday. Stars including Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum and Martina McBride and the Grand Ole Opry used Twitter to express their concerns and join Webster's call for prayers for the singer, a popular and pivotal figure in country music. Hundreds posted messages with the hashtag PrayforRandy.

The setback occurred hours after doctors said Travis was showing signs of improvement since the start of treatment Sunday for congestive heart failure and the insertion of a pump to help his heart increase blood flow.

His doctors said Wednesday in a video statement that his heart problem stemmed from an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus, but they have not released any information since.

Infections, both viral and bacterial, may start elsewhere in the body but sometimes can affect the heart, either because the infection itself spreads or because immune cells that are fighting it enter the heart and cause inflammation.

About 20 different viruses, including the flu, can lead to this so-called myocarditis, and there's no way to predict who is at particular risk, said Dr. Justine Lachmann of Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. When younger people develop heart failure, it's usually for this reason.

Swordsmen robbers held at budget hotel

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have busted a sword-wielding robbery gang that has been targeting budget hotels and cyber cafes in Sentul here.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ku Chin Wah said three suspects aged 33 to 42 were arrested at a budget hotel in Jalan Ipoh at 8am on Monday.

Police are still looking for two more suspects said to be involved in at least six robberies in Kuala Lumpur.

“So far, the suspects have admitted to at least six cases. We believe they were planning another robbery when they were arrested,” he said at the city police headquarters in Jalan Hang Tuah here yesterday

SAC Ku said police seized a stolen car, a Taser, a Rambo knife, several swords, nine handphones, four hats – with one bearing a police logo – several walkie-talkies and other tools used in the robberies and break-ins.

SAC Ku said the suspects, who have been remanded until Saturday, had criminal records.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old soldier who had been detained for 21 days committed suicide at an army camp in Jalan Padang Tembak.

The Defence Ministry Corporate Com­munications Unit confirmed the soldier was found dead at 5.45am yesterday at the Kementah Camp.

It said the Armed Forces had handed the case over to police for further investigation.

SAC Ku confirmed the man, believed to have hanged himself, was found dead by police inside his lock-up cell after they were alerted at 7am on Wednesday.