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Murky water in Sg Selangor due to river bank collapse
Two schoolgirls ride into watery grave in Tunjang
Syabas withdraws defamation action against Selangor MB

Murky water in Sg Selangor due to river bank collapse

Posted: 07 Dec 2011 07:35 AM PST

Published: Wednesday December 7, 2011 MYT 11:35:00 PM

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said Wednesday that the cause of the water in Sungai Selangor to be murky, which had affected the operation of four water treatment plants on Monday, was a result of the bank collapse at several locations along Sungai Kerling.

"Investigation by Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS) detected the collapsed bank about two kilometres from the Sungai Kerling mini-hydro station near the Selangor-Pahang border," he told a media conference after chairing the state executive council meeting here.

He said there was activities, like sand mining or illegal logging detected in the area which could have caused the river bank to collapse.

It was believed that heavy rain could have caused the river bank to collapse, he added.

Abdul Khalid said LUAS and the relevant agencies and departments would continue to monitor the situation to avoid any untoward incident.

He said operations of the affected water treatment plants had also been restored. - Bernama

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Two schoolgirls ride into watery grave in Tunjang

Posted: 07 Dec 2011 05:47 AM PST

JITRA: Two teenage schoolgirls rode into a watery grave when the motorcycle they were on, skidded and plunged into a swollen canal in Pida 1, Tunjang here on Wednesday.

Wirda Izwaney Daud, 13, and her pillion rider, Amalina Adam, 14, were believed to have drowned in the metre-deep canal near the Tunjang Railway Station.

They sustained head and neck injuries in the mishap, which occurred about 11.30am.

The victims were pupils of the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Permatang Bonglai in Tunjang.

When contacted, Kubang Pasu police chief DSP Ibrahim Mohamed Yusof said Wirda's body was found on the motorcycle while Amalina's body was found about 20 metres away in the canal.

Amalina's sister-in-law, Hana Duramee, 39, a Thai, said the victim had left the house about 11am with Wirda Izwaney, without informing the family of her whereabouts.

"Wirda Izwaney arrived on a motorcycle and fetched Amalina. They did not inform us where they were heading to.

"I was shocked when a group of people came to my house about 1pm and broke the news that Amalina had drowned in the canal," she told reporters when met at the Jitra Hospital mortuary.

Hana said, Amalina, the youngest of nine siblings, would usually inform the family of her whereabouts.

A resident, Salleh Saad, 65, said he was enroute to his family home to deliver insecticides when he spotted two bodies afloat in the canal.

"I alerted other residents who retrieved the bodies," he said.

Witnesses are requested to contact investigating officer Insp Juhaisam Jusoh at 012-6186272 to facilitate investigations. - Bernama

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Syabas withdraws defamation action against Selangor MB

Posted: 07 Dec 2011 05:43 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Water concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) has withdrawn its defamation suit against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in the High Court.

According to Abdul Khalid's counsel, Firdaus Husni, Syabas withdrew their suit before Justice Amelia Tee Hong Geok Abdullah after they achieved an agreement Wednesday.

Counsel for the plaintiff, S. Ravindran, told reporters the discussion began on Monday.

"Today, both parties were able to resolve the matter on terms which we have agreed to keep confidential," he said, declining to elaborate further on the terms of agreement.

In January, Syabas filed the suit against Abdul Khalid, claiming that he had uttered defamatory words against the firm in a press conference on Nov 22, last year, regarding its Tabung Budi programme.

In its statement of claim, Syabas said the defamatory remarks made by Khalid were published in an article entitled "Withdraw Syabas License - Khalid", which was published by Bernama on the same day, and Harian Metro on Nov 23.

Syabas said Abdul Khalid's statement could be understood to mean that Syabas had cheated the public with its Tabung Budi programme, and that the company was a hypocrite.

Syabas also claimed that Abdul Khalid's statement could be understood to mean that the water concessionaire was stealing money from the public.

As such, its reputation and commercial credit had been brought into public ridicule, and it had suffered injury to its trade and business.

It is claiming damages, with interest and cost, and other relief deemed fit by the court.

In his statement of defence, Abdul Khalid said that Syabas had no locus standi to file the defamation suit as it performed a public function, and that he was not responsible for the said press reports which were published by a third party.

He also claimed a defence of fair comment.

The matter went to trial on Nov 25, but it was resolved after two days of trial with four plaintiff witnesses called.

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Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 7 Disember 2011