Victim of sex game gone wrong?

JOHOR BARU: A hairdresser who was found murdered, naked, gagged and with his hands and legs bound may have been the victim of a sex game gone wrong.

The body of Tang Kin Kok, 49, was discovered by a housemate in his room at a rented house in Bandar Selesa Jaya here at about 9.50pm on Saturday.

Nusajaya OCPD Supt Abdul Aziz Ahmad said Tang’s body had bruises on it and he could have been dead for between three and four hours before he was discovered.

“We found no defensive wounds and no signs of forced entry into his house.

“However, the victim’s green Proton Iswara Aeroback is missing,” he said.

He added that police were not ruling out the possibility that Tang died from suffocation as his mouth was gagged.

“A post-mortem will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death. The victim was from Perak and had worked at a hair salon in the Holiday Plaza shopping mall,” he said.

Supt Abdul Aziz urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.

By The Star

Cigarette prices go up on Jan 1

PUTRAJAYA: The cheapest cigarettes in the market will cost RM6.40 per pack of 20s by Jan 1, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said this was under the Tobacco Products Control Regulations gazetted by the ministry that will also see price promotions for cigarettes being prohibited.

Liow said the new regulations would set the minimum retail price for a stick of cigarettes at 32sen.

Currently, a pack of 20s costs RM9.30 but cheaper cigarettes that cost as low as RM4.80 per pack are available in the market.

He said the regulation prohibiting price promotions was aimed at putting a stop to promotional activities through discount offers for cigarettes.

“The two regulations are vital in making cigarettes less affordable to children, youths and those from the lower income group,” he said in a press statement issued Sunday.

Liow said the move was in line with the government’s commitment to protect children and teenagers from taking up the smoking habit and exposing themselves to chronic diseases or taking drugs.

Even the World Bank, he said, agreed that taxes on tobacco products and price controls were the best ways to reduce the number of smokers while Malaysia’s own studies had shown that a 10% increase in price reduced the number of smokers by 3.8%.

Liow said the regulations would require cigarette companies to declare to the ministry the retail price of their cigarettes before Jan 15 next year.

Those introducing new tobacco products will have 14 days before their products hit the market to make the declaration, he added.

“A notice listing the minimum price of cigarettes will also have to be clearly displayed at the counter or place where the cigarettes are sold but the notice cannot contain logos, brands, trademarks or descriptions related to the cigarettes,” he said.

Under the regulations, producers or importers can adjust the retail prices of their cigarettes as long as they follow the minimum price regulation and notify the ministry 14 days before the adjustments took effect.

Adjustments, however, will be limited to only three times a year and the period between adjustments must not be less than 30 days while the adjustments must be less than 5% of the earlier retail price.

Cigarette labels will not be allowed to carry the words discount, special price, special offer, promotion, limited edition or any other words that indicate the offer of a discount or prices cheaper than those listed on the cigarette packs or labels.

By DHARMENDER SINGH (The Star)

Egypt and Jordan crack down on anti-Israel rallies

By Richard Meares

LONDON (Reuters) - Jordanian and Egyptian riot police cracked down on Friday on protesters demanding an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza and to ties with the Jewish state.
Protesters from the Muslim Brotherhood clash with plainclothes police during a protest against the Israeli air strikes in Gaza, in Cairo January 2, 2009. (REUTERS/Nasser Nuri)

Israel's week-old offensive has sparked daily protests around the world and Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, also saw angry demonstrations in Kashmir, Turkey and Iraq.

Jordanian police fired tear gas to push back hundreds of people marching on the Israeli embassy in the capital Amman.

Chanting "No Jewish embassy on Arab land", worshippers set off from a mosque to the nearby Israeli embassy. Police fired tear gas at around 1,500 demonstrators, forcing them to retreat, and beat and arrested several of them.

Protesters chanted slogans backing the Islamic militant group Hamas that controls Gaza. "Revenge ... revenge ... Hamas, bomb Tel Aviv," they shouted.

Watched by riot police, at least 60,000 people headed later to Amman sports stadium for the largest rally in decades by the opposition Muslim Brotherhood. Its leader told a cheering crowd Palestinians should intensify an uprising against Israel.

In Cairo, police beat opposition Islamists with batons when they tried to stage a rally downtown, witnesses said.

A rally in the costal town of El-Arish in North Sinai turned violent when protesters tried to force their way through a police cordon.

"People charged at the police and pelted them with rocks," a Reuters witness said. "Police started rounding people up and beating them."

Egypt's protests were called by the Brotherhood, the main opposition group which has historical and ideological ties to Hamas.

"This will not prevent us from declaring our anger and expressing our solidarity with the Palestinian people," Mohamed Habib, the Brotherhood deputy leader, told Reuters. He said Egypt should break off diplomatic and economic ties with Israel.

"SELL-OUT" CALLS

Egypt and Jordan both have peace treaties with Israel, and their diplomatic ties with it often prompt accusations of a sell-out from other Muslims and Arabs.

Protesters in countries such as Lebanon, Yemen and Iran accuse Egypt of cooperating with Israel by refusing to open its border crossing with the Palestinian coastal strip.

Israel's offensive, one of the worst in 60 years of Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has killed more than 420 people. Israel says the attacks aim to stop Hamas firing rockets on towns in southern Israel, where four Israelis have died.

It sealed off the West Bank to deny entry to most Palestinians and beefed up security at checkpoints as people renewed protests across the occupied territory.

In Ramallah, Hamas supporters scuffled with the Fatah faction of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, taunting them as "collaborators". Elsewhere, protesters stoned soldiers at checkpoints and some were wounded by rubber bullets.

In Jammu and Kashmir at least 50 people were injured when baton-wielding police fired tear gas shells to disperse hundreds of Muslim protesters, police and witnesses said.

In the summer capital Srinagar, angry demonstrators shouting "Down with Zionist terrorism, down with Israel" burned American and Israeli flags near Kashmir's grand mosque Jamia Masjid.

There were also demonstrations in New Delhi, Hyderabad and other Indian cities.

TURKEY

In mainly Muslim Turkey, thousands gathered outside an Istanbul mosque to condemn the attacks, which have prompted harsh government criticism against its close ally Israel.

Chanting "Damn Israel, Damn Zionism" up to 5,000 worshippers held a peaceful protest after prayers in Turkey's largest city.

About 200 Iraqi men and boys gathered for an indoor demonstration inside a Baghdad mosque, many wearing white headbands bearing the words "victory for Gaza". Banners read: "Gaza is in the hearts and minds of all Arabs".

Several thousand demonstrators gathered in the central square of the Austrian capital Vienna, freeing black and white balloons and holding pro-Palestinian signs. Bigger protests are expected in London, Dublin and elsewhere in Europe on Saturday.

Copyright © 2008 Reuters

M'SIA TURNS INTO CENTRE OF MODERN CIVILISATION

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's strategic position and its diverse culture provide an opportunity for the country to progress into a centre for modern civilisation.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this aspect could be realised if the benefits derived from the globalisation process were to be wisely exploited.

He said it was not impossible for Malaysia to be the centre for all civilisations in the world because of the diversity and benefits derived from the various culture in the country.

"Besides the cultural benefits, we also can translate them into economic benefits and use our diversity in creating business chains.

"We have the extra edge compared with other countries because our policy is apt, which is diversity in language. We do not pressure or close down Chinese-medium schools, in fact, we are the only country in South East Asia which allows the setting up of Chinese schools," he said in his speech at a function held to commemorate the coming Chinese New Year celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here tonight.

-- MORE

He said all these measures demonstrated the commitment of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government towards the development of Chinese education in the country.

"The founding fathers of this country had chosen the right path compared to the other nations in Southeast Asia, which had mostly opted for the assimilation concept.

"I say that our founding fathers had wisdom and vision because out of this integrity policy, Malaysia has emerged as a unique country.

"If you love Malaysia, there is hope for the country to become even stronger. We can do it if we choose to cooperate as one family," he said.

Elaborating further, Najib said the concept of one Malaysia was based on the peace and stability that would take the country to even greater heights.

Also present at the function were Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, MCA president and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, MCA Youth chief and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, and Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) chairman, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

By BERNAMA

SOP RV MIS AO

Catholic newspaper threatens action against Malaysia govt

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 2, 2009 (AFP) - A Catholic newspaper Friday threatened legal action against Malaysia's government after being told to stop publishing its Malay language edition in a row over its use of the word "Allah."

The Herald, circulated among the country's 850,000 Catholics, nearly lost its publishing licence last year for using the word "Allah" as a translation for "God," with authorities saying "Allah" should be used only by Muslims.

Now the newspaper has been told it must stop publishing its Malay edition while the issue is resolved in the courts, as part of conditions for it to be allowed to continue printing its editions in English, Chinese and Tamil.

Murphy Pakiam, the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and publisher of the weekly newspaper, said in a letter to the home ministry that it had seven days to revoke its decision or face legal action.

He said he was "totally perplexed" over the suspension which "reeks of ill will and bad faith" and was effectively a punishment for the legal battle that is due to be settled next month.

"We are therefore advised and verily believe that this condition constitutes a serious violation of our constitutional freedom of expression and speech," he said in the letter, a copy of which has been obtained by AFP.

Religion and language are sensitive issues in multiracial Malaysia, which experienced deadly race riots in 1969.

About 60 percent of the nation's 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims, who dominate the government.

The rest of the population includes indigenous tribes as well as ethnic Chinese and Indians -- practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, among others.

The Herald's editor, Father Lawrence Andrew, has said that more than half Malaysia's Catholics are from indigenous groups, most of whom live on the Borneo island states and who mainly speak Malay.

By AFP - Saturday, January 3

‘Datuk’ faces 10 years’ jail and rotan

GEORGE TOWN: A 29-year-old man who goes by the name “Datuk Kabi” claimed trial in a magistrate’s court in Balik Pulau to cheating a car salesman of RM75,000.

C. Kamaleshwaran, who was unrepresented, claimed trial to cheating Ng Cheiw Beng, 43, by inducing him into believing that an AmBank (M) Bhd cheque dated April 5, 2006 for RM75,000 was genuine.
On trial: Kamaleshwaran being led away by a policeman after he was charged at the Balik Pulau magistrates court Friday. He was later rearrested.

The cheque was purportedly payment made by Kamaleshwaran to Ng for the purchase of a car.

Kamaleshwaran, from Kuala Ketil, Kedah, denied committing the offence at the Pappadom Restaurant at Krystal Point in Sungai Nibong at 3pm on March 26, 2006.

He faces a maximum jail term of 10 years with whipping and a fine if found guilty.

Prosecuting officer Chief Insp Md Saad Hassan had suggested bail of RM8,000 but Kamaleshwaran appealed for a lesser amount saying his aged mother could not afford the high amount.

Magistrate Norhayati Johar allowed Kamaleshwaran bail of RM3,000 in one surety and fixed the case for mention on Feb 11.

It was learnt that Kamaleshwaran was rearrested outside the court for other related cases in Penang after his mother posted bail in the afternoon.

It has been reported that a “Datuk Kabi” was involved in more than 20 cheating cases involving land and other transactions using dishonoured cheques in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah and Penang.

He allegedly issued cheques from a closed bank account to buy and rent houses and purchase other goods.

The man had turned himself in to the Bukit Aman Commercial Crimes Department on Dec 18, last year.

By TheStar

10 die in road horror

GUA MUSANG: Ten people were killed and a baby seriously injured in a three-car accident involving a Perodua Kenari, a Perodua Kancil and a Nissan Murano four-wheel drive.

Those killed were all five people in the Kenari and five of six people in the Kancil. The four people in the four-wheel drive escaped with minor injuries.

In the pile-up at the 21st kilometre of Jalan Kuala Krai-Gua Musang at 10.30am yesterday, the Kancil heading for Kuala Krai from here, is believed to have collided head-on with the Murano before the Kenari crashed into the Kancil.

The deaths came as a stark reminder of the country’s newest traffic law, the rear seat belt ruling that came into force two days ago. None of the rear passengers in either car were buckled up, police said.

Gua Musang Fire and Rescue Department chief Rosli Che Sulaiman confirmed that only the drivers of the Kancil and Kenari had their seat belts on.
Sole survivor: Abdul Rahim Jaafar, 35, (centre) accompanying his daughter Noraihah Nabila to Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital after the accident Friday. — Bernama

He said rescue personnel had to cut the seat belts of the drivers to remove their bodies.

The deceased were identified as Haliza Md Zain, 33, the driver of the Kancil, her sister Maziatul Shamila, and three of her children Mohd Rahiza Yuswa Abdul Rahim, 12, Norashidah, 10, and six-year-old Shaha.

Haliza’s fourth child, one-year-old Noraihah Nabila was seriously injured and has been admitted to Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital.

The five victims in the Kenari were driver Lau Sin Eik, 59, Lee Bee Seng, 50, Lau Chai Soon, 78, Ho Kin Hum, 86, and 18-year-old Shareen Lau Ming Min.

Phua Thein Noo, 28, drove the Murano while his passengers were Tan Chee Hua, 44, Wong Kee Hooi, 20, and 33-year-old Lau Soon Lee.

Gua Musang OCPD Supt Ahmad Termizi Abd Haq said police had detained Phua for questioning.

“Preliminary police investigations showed that the Kancil driver may have wanted to overtake another vehicle when the collision happened.

“Almost all the victims died on the spot except for the six-year-old child who died on the way to Gua Musang Hospital,” he told reporters.

Supt Ahmad Termizi said some of the victims were trapped in their vehicles while some were thrown out.

He said Fire and Rescue Department personnel took at least 40 minutes to extricate the bodies.

All the bodies were taken to Gua Musang Hospital for a post-mortem.


By C.A. ZULKIFLY

Famous banana leaf outlet opens in Puchong

KRISHNA Curry House, having served Petaling Jaya folk faithfully for over 20 years, has now marked its presence on the Puchong culinary map.

Opened in mid-September, the branch in Bandar Puteri Puchong offers authentic banana leaf rice, the mere mention of which conjures up a mouth-watering image of steaming hot white rice served on a large banana leaf with an assortment of vegetables for the customers.

A basic set of banana leaf rice – with four different kinds of vegetables, mango acar, moor milagai (deep-fried chilies), a cup of rasam and crispy poppadom – is priced at RM4.50 at the Krishna Curry House.
You can’t miss this: The eye-catching exterior of the outlet.

“Extra flavour is added when the heat from the rice touches the banana leaf,” said the outlet’s director, K.Kunabalan,

The choices to go with the meal are aplenty and one would not go wrong with Claypot Lamb Bone Marrow, Claypot Fish Curry, Sotong Sumbat and Crab Masala.

Kunabalan, whose mother R. Pushparani is the mastermind behind Krishna Curry House in Jalan P.P. Narayanan (formerly Jalan 222), ensures the freshness of the ingredients by choosing them personally at the wholesale market.

But it is the tried-and-tested recipes by Pushparani that draws the customers.


“The love for cooking is just in me. My mother introduced me to the culinary world and I played with the spices, mixing and matching them to come out with the best tastes,” Pushparani, 60, said.
A must-try: Sotong Sumbat is a spicy dish.

The spices – cinnamon, cumin, fennel, black pepper, coriander, to name a few are essential in Indian cuisine and Pushparani has them ground for the aroma and flavour.

The use of santan, according to Pushparani, is kept to a minimum.

For the Claypot Fish Head Curry for example, turmeric, candlenuts, small onions, ginger, garlic, cumin, tamarind and more are used.

Eggplant, lady fingers and dried tofu are also added in and the choice of fish is the ikan jenahak and ikan merah.

Crab Masala is another seafood dish that received the thumbs-up from the customers.

The sambal that coats the blue crabs is not too overpowering and the sweetness of the crab meat is savoured.

Sotong Sumbat is a combination of squids and prawns – the prawns are stuffed in the squids for extra kick.
Filling: A basic set of banana leaf rice.

The Claypot Lamb Bone Marrow raised a few eyebrows when Kunabalan suggested we sucked the bone marrow with straws.

“We have seen our customers doing that,” he said.

The jelly-like substance found in the middle of the bones is soft and chewy.

If there is still room in the stomach, appam is a nice dessert.

The freshly made bowl-shaped pancake served with sweet pandan-flavoured santan is crunchy on the outside and soft in the centre.

The outlet also serves Coimbatore Chicken Briyani, assorted tosai and roti canai, and made to order fried stuff such as chicken and fish.

As accountant-turned-restaurateur Kunabalan puts it: “Here, we stick to the authentic Indian cuisine.”


By THO XIN YI (The Star)

M’sian roads to be rated for safety

KUALA LUMPUR: Like hotels being rated with stars, roads nationwide would be rated according to its safety level and it is estimated that road accidents could be cut by 30%.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said the Road Safety Department and Malaysian Institute for Road Safety Research (Miros) under his ministry and the Works Department under Works Ministry have embarked on a joint-project to evaluate safety of roads in the country.

So far, the pilot project under International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP) has evaluated the safety level of 3,800km of roads last year.

“The safety of the roads were identified like star ratings of hotel,’’ said Ong.

He also said the pilot project has since been expanded to cover all road networks in the country when the outcome of the pilot project was found to be useful.

‘‘We will have a complete inventory of the rating of the roads then,’’ said Ong.

It is not known when the project, which started last year, will be completed.

Parameters of the rating for the safety level included the width of the road, road surface, signages, lightings and even the guardrail, Ong said.

“Road designs plays a big role to reduce road accidents,’’ Ong said this to reporters after launching a road safety campaign in conjunction with The Super Home Ideas Exhibition and Exclusive Property and Investment Show held at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre on Saturday.

Also present at the event is Datuk Suret Singh, director-general of Road Safety Depatment.

Last year, more than five percent of Malaysian roads (3,800km) were successfully evaluated for safety and this rating would pave the way for a scientific approach to safer roads and fewer accidents.

Under the IRAP carried out last year on mostly federal roads, it was found that more than 90% of the 3,700km of roads surveyed scored two-stars and above out of five stars.

Statistics have shown that said 91% of road fatalities occur on non-highway roads.

According to the Malaysian Institute for Road Safety Research (Miros), complacency in taking care of road infrastructure could now be avoided with this sort of evaluation method.

“The roads would just deteriorate if we don’t take care of everything,” said Miros director-general Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.

Prof Ahmad Farhan added that having done the study, some of the roads would require upgrading works.

“This is not to say that road conditions are the only factor when it comes to accidents, but the results will help us identify what needs improving to make safer roads.”

Prof Ahmad Farhan said the Works Department had their own plans but with the results, notes could be compared to coincide and prioritize upgrading works with their plans and IRAP findings.

“We hope that we can stagger and prioritize so that the roads that require the most attention, that is, the blackspots, will be given attention first,” Prof Ahmad Farhan said.

Malaysia is the first country in Asia to adopt IRAP and with the success of the pilot, Prof Ahmad Farhan said the second phase would be carried out soon.

By The Star