The Star Online: Metro: South & East

32 vagrants rounded up in ‘Ops Blue Thunder’
New Coastal Highway project is 80% complete, says Irda CEO
Bera Puteri Umno distribute goodies to 65 children

32 vagrants rounded up in ‘Ops Blue Thunder’

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:51 PM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: A growing number of 'street sleepers' comprising beggars and the homeless had prompted the City Hall to hold an exercise to get rid of them.

From sidewalks to overhead bridges and staircases, these vagrants would call it a night pretty much anywhere they could rest their head in the downtown area.

This issue had prompted the City Hall (which has been aggressively implementing its beautifying campaign in the capital) much duress as they work towards improving and elevating Kota Kinabalu's image into a clean, safe and beautiful city.

The three-hour operation dubbed as 'Ops Blue Thunder' resulted in detention of 32 people including 11 women from the city's popular spots such as Gaya Street, Kampung Air, Sinsuran, Padang Merdeka and Segama.

The joint-operation was organised by the City Hall with help from various agencies including the police, Immigration Department, National Anti Drug Agency, Internal Security Department and Community Welfare Department.

City Hall's director-general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said this was the first integrated operatio to curb vagrants and the officers involved did not use excessive force.

"We would approach them in a friendly manner and note down their particulars and then ask them not to sleep on the streets again," he said.

Seven people including two children out of those detained were found to be paperless and they were sent to the temporary detention centre for illegal immigrants before deportation.

A local man was also arrested for drug possession after police found suspected Syabu on him.

New Coastal Highway project is 80% complete, says Irda CEO

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:51 PM PDT

JOHOR BARU: Work on the New Coastal Highway is progressing well as it is expected to open for motorists in the second-quarter of 2012.

Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) CEO Ismail Ibrahim said the project already at 80% completion level.

The 15km toll-free highway costing RM945mil links Johor Baru city centre to Nusajaya, one of the five flagship development zones in Iskandar Malaysia.

Other zones linked by the facility includes the Johor Baru City Centre, Eastern Gate Development Zone, Western Gate Development Zones and Senai-Kulai.

"Motorists using the highway from the city centre will reach Nusajaya in 15 mins from 30 mins currently," he said adding the highway would disperse traffic congestion by 30% to the city centre.

It provides direct link between the Bukit Chagar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine to Nusajaya for motorists entering Johor Baru from Singapore to visit Legoland Theme Park at Nusajaya and Indoor Theme Park @ Puteri Harbour.

Ismail said this after witnessing a signing ceremony between Genting Property Sdn Bhd and Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) represented by its senior manager Beverly Goldman and Johor general manager Mohd Roslan Mohd Rashidi respectively for the provision of the high speed broadband services.

He added that the interchange connecting the North-South Expressway to Kulaijaya near the exit point to Senai-Pasir Gudang-Desaru Expressway would be ready by mid-October before the opening of the JPO in November.

"The interchange will provide an alternative route for motorists and shoppers to visit the JPO and will improve connectivity and accessibility to Kulaijaya," said Ismail.

JPO is a 50–50 joint-venture between the Genting Group's 54.6% owned subsidiary Genting Plantations Bhd and Premium Outlets, a division of US-based Simon Property Group, offering off-seasons branded items between 25% and 65% all year round.

This is the first of its kind in South-East Asia, there are 52 outlets in the United States, Mexico, Japan and South Korea.

Separately, Ismail said Iskandar Malaysia has received cumulative committed investment of 75.96bil up to June 2011, of which 60% (RM45.48bil) from local investors and 40% (RM30.48bil) from foreigners.

Bera Puteri Umno distribute goodies to 65 children

Posted: 30 Aug 2011 06:50 PM PDT

TEMERLOH: The Bera Puteri Umno branch members took time off to distribute goodies to 65 children warded at Sultan Ahmad Shah Hospital here recently.

About 20 members, led by its chief Norfazilah Mahat, handed out the gifts to the children who were warded for various ailments.

Norfazilah said the visit and gifts were an annual affair for the wing and this year, they decided to make the contributions to children in the hospital.

"It has been part of the wing's activities to carry out volunteer works and counselling in hospital or government clinics and we do so during non-festival season as well.

"By doing this, we will be informed about the kind of diseases or sickness most common among the people or those suffering from chronic ailments who may need further help.

"These details will be relayed to the party's headquarters for the next course of action," she added.

The Bera Puteri Umno members, said Norfazilah, would make the visit twice monthly including organizing a blood donation campaign with the hospital's administration.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 31 Ogos 2011