The Star Online: Metro: Central

21-year-old has a zest for life despite suffering from brittle bone disease

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 06:29 AM PDT

Saturday June 15, 2013

IN HER parents' words, she is like a "glass doll". Her skull was soft as fontanel until she was two; her bones were so brittle that even a cassette could fracture them.

In fact, days after she was born, doctors had said that Nadeera K. Vasu might not survive beyond five years.

They advised: "It is better to let her go."

Suffering from among the most severe cases of osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bone disease, nevertheless delicate Nadeera was the best gift for her parents.

*Full story in your copy of The Star today

Selangor to improve enforcement and bus services

Posted: 15 Jun 2013 06:29 AM PDT

SELANGOR residents can soon enjoy playgrounds equipped with solar lights, improved bus services and beefed up enforcement over the next five years.

These will be implemented under the first phase of a five-year plan announced by new Local Government, Studies and Research executive councillor and former state speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim yesterday.

Other elements include increasing the councils' revenue through a better auditing and payment system, improving local councils' image, live telecast of monthly council meetings, improving the welfare of council employees, finalising bylaws including the licensing fees of commercial buildings and regulating the swiftlet industry, installing CCTV and beefing up enforcement and upgrading public markets.

Teng said the councils would also build or replace facilities in 500 fields and playgrounds in residential areas over the next five years.

"This will involve gazebos, playground equipment such as swings and slides, outdoor gym apparatus, stone benches and solar lights.

"In each zone, two playgrounds will be chosen by the respective assemblymen every year."

He said Selangor would be the first state to air its monthly council meetings live, with Aug 30 set as the target date.

"All the councils will be streaming their monthly meetings live.

"The meeting minutes will also be made available via the councils' websites.

"This is in line with the state's amended Freedom of Information Act," Teng said.

"We will also increase the number of enforcement officers to ensure people's safety and complement the police's efforts."

A total of 414 CCTV cameras will be installed. The private sector will also be roped in, including banks.

"We hope more CCTV cameraS can be positioned not just inside but outside buildings so that we can use the recording for investigation purposes in case a crime occurs."

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Sabtu, 15 Jun 2013