Selasa, 25 Mac 2014

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


Songkran festival goes dry

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

THERE will be no water pistol fights, celebrity dunk stations, or really, any kind of water fun at Singapore's first Songkran water festival on April 12 and 13.

The organisers of Celebrate Songkran 2014 at the Padang have taken heed of the national campaign to conserve water and nixed the water-based activities.

Instead, they will host a Water Conservation and Water Heritage Exhibition in conjunction with national water agency PUB.

The organisers said this was appropriate in view of the recent dry spell and current moves to cut back on water usage.

Though lighting designer Sanischaya Mankhongphithakkul, 25, agrees with the rationale, it still feels a little odd. "What's a water festival without water?"

During Songkran, celebrated every year during the Thai New Year from April 13 to 15, thousands take to the streets to douse each other with water guns and buckets.

Event organiser Leo Chin, 38, said the reworked concept does not detract from the celebration of water. "Water can either be saved or wasted. In this case, we have chosen to save it."

While he was bracing himself for some backlash, he did not expect it to affect the target of 10,000 participants over the two days.

Chin said he cancelled all water-related activities after he had public feedback expressing concern about water wastage.

He approached the PUB last week to explore how the event could support water conservation efforts.

A PUB spokesman said: "While some rain has returned, the recent dry spell is a good reminder for all of us to not take our water for granted, and to conserve water."

Other activities at the event will go on as planned. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Mystery of MH370 may never be solved, say experts

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Even if searchers are able to miraculously pluck Malaysia Airlines flight MH370's "black box" from the depths of the vast Indian Ocean, experts say it may not solve one of aviation's greatest mysteries.

Planes, ships and state-of-the-art tracking equipment are hunting for any trace of the passenger jet, which Malaysia said crashed in the forbidding waters after veering far from its intended course.

They face a huge challenge locating the Boeing 777's "black box", which holds vital clues to determining what caused the plane to vanish.

But experts believe the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder may not yield answers on the riddle of how and why the plane diverted an hour into the flight, and embarked on a baffling journey to the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean.

The data recorder details the aircraft's path and other mechanical information for the flight's duration, and "should provide a wealth of information", US-based aviation consultancy firm Leeham Co said in a commentary.

But the cockpit voice recorder – which could reveal what decisions were made by those at the helm and why – retains only the last two hours of conversations before the plane's demise.

That means potentially crucial exchanges surrounding the initial diversion, which took place halfway between Malaysia and Vietnam, will be lost.

"Clearly, it won't reveal anything that happened over the Gulf of Thailand – this will have been overwritten by the end of MH370," it said.

British aviation expert Chris Yates said that even if the black boxes are found, "it seems unlikely that we will get that answer" of why the plane ended up thousands of kilometres off course.

"We still have no idea as to the mental state of the pilot and co-pilot, we have no idea if somebody managed to get into the cockpit to seize the aircraft, and we've certainly had no admissions of responsibility since this whole episode started," he told BBC television.

Paul Yap, an aviation lecturer at Singapore's Temasek Polytechnic, said: "With the new satellite data, I think we can say it is a chessboard," he said of the wide search area. — AFP

N. Korea test-fires missiles as Obama hosts summit

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 09:17 PM PDT

SEOUL: North Korea test-fired two medium-range ballistic missiles Wednesday, prompting a stern US reaction after President Barack Obama hosted a landmark Japan-South Korea summit aimed at uniting the three nations against Pyongyang's nuclear threat.

Washington condemned the tests as "troubling and provocative", with the US State Department threatening "appropriate measures" for the violation of UN Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from conducting ballistic missile tests.

South Korea's defence ministry said both missiles flew 650 kilometres (400 miles) into the Sea of Japan (East Sea), upping the ante after a series of shorter-range launches in recent weeks.

Ministry spokesman Kim Min-Seok identified them as Rodong-class missiles with a maximum range of 1,000-1,500 kilometres.

"This missile is capable of hitting not only most of Japan but also Russia and China," Kim said, adding they had been fired from mobile launchers near Pyongyang.

North Korea last tested a Rodong missile in July 2009, following UN condemnation of its second nuclear test in May.

Kim said the tests were clearly timed to coincide with Tuesday's summit in The Hague between Obama, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-Hye.

"The North is boasting its military capability to grab the attention of the international community," Kim said. 

'No signs' of nuclear test

Warning that North Korea could be building up towards a major provocation, Kim said the South was closely monitoring the situation, but added there were "no signs" of Pyongyang preparing for an imminent nuclear test.

The South's foreign ministry denounced the "wanton violation" of UN resolutions, saying this could only serve to heighten regional tensions.

"We will come up with responses to the provocations in close cooperation with allies, partners and the UN Security Council," a ministry statement said.

Over the past four weeks, North Korea has conducted multiple launches of short-range Scud missiles and rockets to coincide with annual joint military drills South Korea is conducting with the United States.

South Korea condemned the Scud launches as a "reckless provocation" but stopped short of calling for UN sanctions, given the short range and a recent easing of North-South tensions.

The trilateral summit in the Netherlands came as Obama sought to help repair strained ties between two of the United States' closest Asian allies and key partners in the effort to curb North Korea's nuclear programme.

"Over the last five years, close cooperation between the three countries succeeded in changing the game with North Korea," Obama said.

"Our trilateral cooperation has sent a strong signal to Pyongyang that its provocations and threats will be met with a unified response," he added.

Relations between Tokyo and Seoul are at their lowest ebb in years, mired in emotive issues linked to Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule and a territorial dispute, as well as Japan's use of South Korean "comfort women" as sex slaves in wartime brothels.

Washington fears an open rift would undermine the united stance against North Korea's nuclear ambitions. 

Calibrated tests

Yang Moo-Jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the tests were a carefully calibrated "show of force".

Yang noted that previous Rodong tests had been launched from North Korea's east coast, and that firing them from near Pyongyang had curtailed their reach into the sea.

"If they had gone closer to Japan, that could have created a serious political backlash, not only from Japan but also possibly Russia," Yang said.

"It's a clear violation of UN resolutions, but the North is willing to risk sanctions to showcase its capabilities," he added.

Six-party negotiations on the North's nuclear programme - also involving China, Russia and the North - were suspended in 2009.

Seoul and Washington have refused to consider a resumption until North Korea makes a tangible commitment to denuclearisation.

Wednesday's tests also coincided with the fourth anniversary of the sinking of the South Korean naval corvette, Cheonan, which Seoul said was torpedoed by a North Korean submarine.

The North has always denied involvement in the incident, which killed 46 sailors.

South Korea's military exercises with the United States, which wind up next month, are an annual source of North-South antagonism.

But this year's drills began as relations between Seoul and Pyongyang were enjoying something of a thaw, as both sides held the first reunion for more than three years of families divided by the Korean War. -AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Netflix recruits Jane Fonda and Sam Shepard

Posted: 20 Mar 2014 11:30 PM PDT

Each of the two actors is set to participate in a different series in development at the streaming platform's studios.

Jane Fonda will co-star with Lily Tomlin in a comedy from the creator of Friends, while Sam Shepard will play the patriarch of a family in a drama from the creators of Damages.

In 2015, Netflix will present Grace and Frankie, a comedy featuring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as women whose respective husbands have fallen in love with each other. Longtime enemies, Grace and Frankie come to support each another after their husbands run off together.

The series will be an on-screen reunion for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who appeared together 34 years earlier in 9 to 5. While primarily known as a film actress, Fonda has appeared on TV before, namely in HBO's The Newsroom. Tomlin, meanwhile, rose to fame on the 1970s sketch comedy show Laugh In and has had roles in several iconic series since, including Murphy Brown, The West Wing and Desperate Housewives, to name a few.

Sam Shepard in a psychological thriller

Recently seen in the historical miniseries Klondike, Sam Shepard has been cast in the next series from the creators of Damages.

Currently untitled, the drama will focus on four siblings whose secrets and private wounds come to the surface when the black sheep of the family returns to the fold. An exploration of family relationships, the psychological thriller drama will focus on competition, jealousy and betrayal among brothers and sisters.

Developed by Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman and Glenn Kessler, the series will feature Kyle Chandler (The Wolf of Wall Street), Ben Mendelsohn (The Place Beyond the Pines), Linda Cardellini (ER) and Norbert Leo Butz (Blue Bloods) in the roles of the siblings. Shepard will play the father of the family opposite Sissy Spacek (The Help) as the mother. – AFP Relaxnews

Chris Martin will be a guest mentor on 'The Voice'

Posted: 19 Mar 2014 10:25 PM PDT

The Coldplay lead singer is set to make an appearance in the reality-based talent show.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin will be the guest mentor for the second round of battles on NBC's The Voice. In the role, the singer will advise all four teams' contenders during "Battle Rounds: Round 2," which will begin on March 31.

Martin will advise on vocal techniques, stage presence and the importance of tailoring songs to fit their persona and strengths.

The new round will include both those singers that advance via battle wins and through steals in battles against another singer or group for the chance to advance to the playoff round. Each coach can steal one more singer in this round.

The live shows are set to begin airing on April 21 with the Top 12. The finale will air on May 20.

Coldplay, which formed in 1997, has sold more than 60 million copies of its five No.1 albums. Coldplay's sixth studio album, Ghost Stories, is set for a May 19 global release. — Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews


From superhero to tech whiz: Christian Bale as Steve Jobs?

Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:25 PM PDT

Christian Bale is David Fincher's choice to play Steve Jobs in Sony movie.

Oscar winner Christian Bale is David Fincher's choice to play Steve Jobs in the untitled movie that Aaron Sorkin has written for Sony, an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.

Scott Rudin and Mark Gordon are producing with Film 360's Guymon Casady.

A representative for Gordon did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment, while Sony declined to comment on the record. A representative for Bale also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fincher recently met with Sony's Amy Pascal to discuss the possibility of directing the film, and told her, in no uncertain terms, that he'd only take the reins of the project if Bale plays Jobs.

Fincher and Pascal had a tense relationship during the making of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but Pascal believes in him as a filmmaker – and is inclined to keep him happy, according to one insider. It helps that Pascal has a good relationship with Bale, following a positive experience on American Hustle. The film earned Bale an Oscar nomination during a highly-competitive year.

While Steve Jobs is a long way from Batman, Bale has been considered a prime contender to play the tech superhero since the project was first announced due to his physical resemblance to the Apple co-founder.

Bale has not been approached to play Jobs yet, as the actor is taking a brief break from the business to spend time with his family since wrapping the role of Moses in Ridley Scott's "Exodus." The Biblical epic is expected to have Bale back in the awards conversation.

Sorkin, who won an Oscar for writing Fincher's Facebook drama "The Social Network," based his script on Walter Isaacson's bestselling authorized biography. That book was, in turn, based on more than 40 interviews that author had with Jobs, as well as interviews with friends, family and colleagues.

The film consists of three long scenes regarding Apple's buzzed-about product launches, including the Mac, NeXT (after Jobs had left Apple) and the iPod.

Production could begin before the end of the year, though an early 2015 start is more likely, as both Bale and Fincher will be busy this fall promoting their respective movies, Exodus and Gone Girl. Though Open Road's Jobs, which starred Ashton Kutcher, grossed only US$35mil (RM115.8mil) worldwide, Sony believes that there is considerable interest across the globe in a Steve Jobs movie made by and featuring A-list talent.

Bale, who will soon be seen in a pair of Terrence Malick movies, has no firm attachments to movies in development. The notoriously selective actor won an Oscar for his supporting performance in David O. Russell's The Fighter. He's repped by WME and attorney Carlos Goodman. – Reuters

Movies coming soon: Anime buffet

Posted: 21 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Three feature films for anime fans.

FROM March 27, anime fans can check out three feature films released exclusively at eight GSC locations (Mid Valley, Pavilion KL, 1 Utama, Paradigm Mall, Aeon Bandaraya Melaka, Gurney Plaza, Suria Sabah and CityONE Megamall). The films are Lupin The 3rd Vs Detective Conan The Movie, Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission and Magical Sisters Yoyo And Nene.

This "Anime Showcase" is organised by GSC Movies and Odex Pte Ltd, a Singaporean company and a pioneer in that country's anime market. Those interested can buy the tickets now via GSC e-Payment (www.gsc.com.my), its mobile app, and from the participating cinemas' ticket counter.

Apart from being able to catch the films, ticketholders can also redeem one item of anime merchandise at the Odex booth at the Animax Carnival (March 29 and 30) at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Level 3. Please take note that this offer is valid while stocks last and only during the Animax Carnival in Kuala Lumpur.

Lupin The Third Vs Detective Conan The Movie

A new mineral with stealth properties is discovered in a faraway land. Unfortunately, this discovery attracts the wrong crowd, one guy by the name of Arsene Lupin III. Meanwhile, Vespania's Queen Sakura dies and her son Prince Gill follows soon after. This leaves the royal house in disarray.

When a new ruler is appointed, she becomes the target of everyone's suspicion. Our little hero, Detective Conan, comes into the picture when he sees the new queen in trouble at a party he is attending. Directed by Hajime Kamegaki, with the voices of Minami Takayama (Conan) and Kanichi Kurita (Arsene Lupin III).

Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission

The second feature-length anime film based on the hugely popular Hunter X Hunter manga, which revolves around Gon, a powerful "Hunter" who specialises in fantastical quests for strange relics, unknown creatures, hidden treasure and so on. The Last Mission delves into the murky past of Isaac Netero, chairman of the Hunters Association, and the shadowy Jed, a user of the "On" power that derives its power from hatred.

When the Battle Olympia Tournament comes under attack by a group of On-using warriors hell-bent on killing all Hunters, Gon and his friend Killua are forced to find the source of the invasion and in the process, discover the dark secrets that Netero has been hiding all these years. Voice talents include Mariya Ise, Megumi Han, Chisa Yokoyama and Daisuke Namikawa.

Magical Sisters Yoyo And Nene

When a big tree entangled with a tall building suddenly appears out of nowhere, sisters Yoyo and Nene, who have magical abilities, go and check it out. They are suddenly transported away from their world to a place where weird happenings are going on. Ai Kakuma lends her voice to Nene and Sumire Morohoshi voices Yoyo.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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North Korea fires missiles as U.S., Japan, South Korea leaders meet

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 08:30 PM PDT

SEOUL/THE HAGUE (Reuters) - North Korea fired missiles into the sea on Wednesday just as U.S. President Barack Obama brought together the leaders of South Korea and Japan to discuss how to deal with Pyongyang and to thaw chilly ties between Washington's two key Asian allies.

The launch of the two medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles began at 2:35 a.m. Japan and Korea time (1735 GMT Tuesday), Japan and South Korea said - precisely when South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe were sitting down with Obama in The Hague.

The firing off North Korea's east coast toward Japan appeared to be a show of defiance by Pyongyang.

It followed a series of short-range rocket launches over the past two months, and could help improve cooperation between Tokyo and Seoul in the wake of the first meeting between Abe and Park since the Japanese premier took office 15 months ago.

Japan's relations with South Korea, as well as China, has been strained by what Seoul and Beijing say is Abe's refusal to properly atone for Japan's wartime past.

North Korea's "provocations and threats" would be met by a united response, said Obama, who will visit Japan and South Korea in April.

"It is the first time that the three of us have an opportunity to meet together (on) some serious challenges that we all face," Obama said after meeting both leaders on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in The Hague

South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters in Seoul that the launches were "a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a grave provocation against South Korea and the international community".

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told parliament that Tokyo had protested against the launches through its embassy in Beijing, while Abe ordered his government to confirm the safety of airplanes and ships in the area.

Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera ordered the military to step up surveillance. U.S. officials also condemned the latest launches.

But Japan's plans to resume high-level talks next week with Pyongyang, suspended since December 2012, would not be affected, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

ANNIVERSARY

The first Rodong launches in more than four years also come during annual South Korean-U.S. military drills and on the fourth anniversary of the sinking of the South Korean navy ship the Cheonan. Seoul blames North Korea for that attack, but Pyongyang on Wednesday again denied any role, saying in a commentary the accusation was "a farce".

Wednesday's missiles fell into the sea after flying 650 km (400 miles), well short of their maximum range - thought to be some 1,300 km (800 miles) and enough to hit much of Japan - said an official at South Korea's office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The North was likely "mindful of neighbouring countries' reaction" in setting the trajectory, the official said, without elaborating.

The three-way summit in the Hague focused on North Korea, leaving aside thorny issues between Japan and South Korea.

The three leaders discussed specific steps to deepen coordination, including military cooperation that included joint exercises and missile defence, Obama said.

Abe has visited all 10 Southeast Asian countries and met with their leaders and also met five times with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but had previously not held talks with Park since assuming office. Abe has also not met Chinese President Xi Jinping as premier.

The Japanese leader's December visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, seen by critics as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism, upset not only China and South Korea but also the United States, which expressed "disappointment".

After the meeting in the Hague, Abe said he wanted to deepen cooperation with South Korea, Japan's Foreign Ministry said.

(Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul, Steve Holland in The Hague and Nobuhiro Kubo and Stanley White in Tokyo; Writing by William Mallard; Editing by Dean Yates)

Probable death toll rises to 24 in Washington state mudslide

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 08:09 PM PDT

ARLINGTON, Washington (Reuters) - The likely death toll from a devastating weekend landslide in Washington state rose to 24 on Tuesday after rescue workers recovered two bodies and believed they had located eight more, the local fire chief said.

The discovery of additional victims came as crews searched under drizzly skies for survivors amid fading hopes that anyone could still be plucked alive from the massive pile of muck and debris.

"Unfortunately we did not find any signs of life today, we didn't locate anybody alive, so that's the disappointing part," local fire chief Travis Hots told a media briefing.

As many as 176 people remained listed as missing three days after a rain-soaked hillside collapsed on Saturday, tumbling over a river, across a state road and into a rural residential area where it swallowed dozens of homes near the town of Oso.

Officials said they were hoping that number would decline as some of those listed as missing may have been double-counted or were slow to alert family and officials of their whereabouts. Eight people were injured.

But the disaster already ranks as one of the deadliest landslides in recent U.S. history. In 2005, 10 people died when a hillside gave way and engulfed homes in La Conchita, California.

Though authorities have said the chances were low of finding any more survivors in the cement-like mud blanketing the landscape, Hots said some 50 more searchers had been brought in to sift through the disaster zone in hopes of a miracle.

"This makes up over 200 responders that are here on site working very hard to locate victims and hopefully find somebody that is still alive. That is still our number-one priority out there," he said.

At one site in a square-mile zone of devastation that once contained a meandering river surrounded by rural homes, the landslide pushed a house onto the highway, leaving nothing intact but its cedar shake roof.

Operators of excavators with clawed buckets dug through the debris, and chaplains stood by to comfort searchers and families of the missing. Hots said dogs also were being used to identify potential buried bodies, which were dug out in some cases with bulldozers or other heavy equipment.

OBAMA HOPES FOR THE BEST

President Barack Obama, who was in Europe for a meeting with

world leaders, signed an emergency declaration ordering U.S. government assistance to supplement state and local relief efforts, the White House said.

Speaking at The Hague, where he was attending a summit, Obama began a news conference on Tuesday by addressing the disaster in Washington state and asking Americans to "send their thoughts and prayers" to those affected by the disaster.

"We hope for the best, but we recognize this is a tough situation," he said.

The president also called Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Tuesday to discuss the mudslide, according to Inslee's office.

Compounding the sense of urgency was a fear of flooding as water levels rose behind a crude dam of mud and rubble that was dumped into the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River by the slide.

The river was rising with rain on Tuesday, but had cut a channel through fresh mud and debris, lessening the chance of flooding, officials said.

Meanwhile, a 22-week-old baby who was hurt in the slide remained in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after being taken there by helicopter along with his mother, who was also hurt, the hospital said.

The landslide was not the first to hit an inhabited area in Washington state. More than 100 houses were destroyed by a slow-moving landslide in the town of Kelso in the late 1990s.

A report filed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1999 highlighted "the potential for a large catastrophic failure," and was one of many warnings issued about the area where this weekend's disaster occurred, the Seattle Times reported.

In Arlington, a town near Oso where authorities set up a command post, people's thoughts were clearly on the search and recovery efforts a dozen miles away. Local residents greeted each other with hugs, and in one supermarket they put non-perishable food into a steel tub to collect for anyone who might need assistance because of the disaster.

"I was born and raised in this town, it's traumatic for us," said 45-year-old Julie Biringer, who offered hugs to customers at her drive-through coffee stand. "There's been a lot of tears I've shared with my customers today."

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Kaminsky in Darrington, Wash., Steve Holland in The Hague and Susan Heavey in Washington, D.C.; Writing by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Ken Wills)

Spooked by defaults, China banks begin retreat from risk

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 08:05 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - Some of China's struggling firms are finally getting the reception that regulators have been hoping for -- a cold shoulder from banks in the form of smaller and costlier loans.

Reuters has contacted over 80 companies with elevated debt ratios or problems with overcapacity. Interviews with 15 that agreed to discuss their funding showed that more discriminate lending, long a missing ingredient of China's economic transformation, has become a reality.

Up against a cooling Chinese economy and signs that authorities will not step in every time a loan goes bad, banks are becoming more hard-nosed and selective about whom they lend to.

There are signs that even state-owned firms, in the past fawned over by lenders for their government connections, have to contend with higher rates, lower lending limits and more onerous checks by banks.

"Interest rates are going up 10 percent for the entire industry," said Wang Lei, a finance department manager at PKU HealthCare Corp. "Obtaining loans is getting difficult and expensive."

PKU HealthCare, which is controlled by Peking University and makes bulk pharmaceuticals, has struggled to remain profitable. Its debt-to-EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) ratio exceeded 60 at the end of September, four times the average for listed Chinese companies from the sector.

To be sure, several companies with strong balance sheets and profits reported no significant changes in their funding conditions.

That in itself is a welcome sign that banks are finally differentiating between the strong and the weak, more aware that they are on the hook for losses if businesses fail.

China's first-ever domestic bond default earlier this month when solar equipment maker Chaori Solar missed its payment and regulators refused to step in, drove that message home.

"It was a wake-up call for lenders," said Christopher Lee, managing director and the head of greater China corporate ratings at Standard & Poor's. "There is no such thing as a risk-free investment."

That marks a painful, but necessary shift for the world's second biggest economy to fulfil Beijing's ambition to cut wasteful investment and secure more balanced long-term growth.

For household goods maker Elec-Tech International Co Ltd, less credit is the new reality. Its bank cut its borrowing limit by 500 million yuan (48.85 million pounds) to no more than 2.5 billion yuan this year, said Zhang, an official at Elec-Tech's securities department.

"Last year, the bank gave us a discount on our interest rates. This year, we probably won't get any discount," Zhang who declined to give his full name said. "It feels like banks are not lending and their checks are becoming more rigorous."

"STRATOSPHERIC DEBT LEVELS"

Some gauges of China's corporate debt are already flashing red.

Non-financial firms' debt jumped to 134 percent of China's GDP in 2012 from 103 percent in 2007, according to Standard & Poor's.

It predicted China's corporate debt will reach "stratospheric levels" and become the world's largest, overtaking the United States this year or next.

Fearing a wave of defaults as China's economy cools after decades of rapid growth, regulators in the past two years told banks to cut off financing to sectors plagued by excess capacity such as steel and cement.

Experts say banks were at first slow to respond, but in the past few months, banks have started turning down credit taps.

"We have become more prudent in issuing loans," said a spokesman for Bank of Ningbo.

He added that the bank has intensified communication with companies in troubled sectors or borrowers deep in debt.

"Under normal circumstances, we would review company loans every quarter or every six months, but for the sensitive cases, we will step up channel checks and work closely with the companies."

Another manager at a regional Chinese bank said it was overhauling its lending in cities identified as high-risk, such as Urdos and Wenzhou.

Located in Inner Mongolia, Urdos is infamous for its clusters of empty apartment blocks that pessimists say is an emblem of China's housing bubble. Wenzhou, is China's entrepreneurial hotbed that recently lost its shine after local property boom went bust.

THE BANK'S PROBLEM

Companies spurned by banks find a way around it. At a cost.

A listed supplier of building materials in southwestern China that declined to be identified said banks blacklisted it after two years of losses.

The firm, which is undergoing restructuring, borrowed 10 million yuan in the underground market at an annual rate of about 15 percent this year.

And as companies bend the rules, risks shift outside the banking system into the universe of networks of seemingly unrelated firms connected by murky financial deals.

For example, trade loans subsidised by the government to help selected sectors are quietly re-directed by companies to other unrelated businesses, firms say. New financing methods also emerge as easy credit dries up.

The latest plan hatched by a cash-strapped aluminium end-user involves having banks buy the metal and re-selling it to firms who pay out monthly loan plus interest.

Others such as Xiamen C&D Inc, an import and export firm, are directly cashing in on firms' thirst for funds.

Xiamen C&D, which borrows at less than 6 percent per year is offering loans of several hundred thousand yuan to smaller firms at 7-8 percent, said Lin Mao, the secretary of Xiamen's board of directors.

For larger companies, typical loans amount to 20-30 million yuan, and are 90 percent insured by Chinese insurers, he said.

Banks grow more aware of the risks. But rather than pull the plug on teetering firms, some bankers say they prefer a slow exit to keep them afloat for as long as possible to claw back their loans.

"Few banks are able to retreat completely even if they should," said a banker at another regional Chinese bank who declined to be named. ($1 = 6.1888 Chinese Yuan)

(Additional reporting by Polly Yam in Hong Kong and Beijing newsroom; Writing by Koh Gui Qing; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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From superhero to tech whiz: Christian Bale as Steve Jobs?

Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:25 PM PDT

Christian Bale is David Fincher's choice to play Steve Jobs in Sony movie.

Oscar winner Christian Bale is David Fincher's choice to play Steve Jobs in the untitled movie that Aaron Sorkin has written for Sony, an individual familiar with the project has told TheWrap.

Scott Rudin and Mark Gordon are producing with Film 360's Guymon Casady.

A representative for Gordon did not immediately respond to TheWrap's request for comment, while Sony declined to comment on the record. A representative for Bale also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fincher recently met with Sony's Amy Pascal to discuss the possibility of directing the film, and told her, in no uncertain terms, that he'd only take the reins of the project if Bale plays Jobs.

Fincher and Pascal had a tense relationship during the making of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but Pascal believes in him as a filmmaker – and is inclined to keep him happy, according to one insider. It helps that Pascal has a good relationship with Bale, following a positive experience on American Hustle. The film earned Bale an Oscar nomination during a highly-competitive year.

While Steve Jobs is a long way from Batman, Bale has been considered a prime contender to play the tech superhero since the project was first announced due to his physical resemblance to the Apple co-founder.

Bale has not been approached to play Jobs yet, as the actor is taking a brief break from the business to spend time with his family since wrapping the role of Moses in Ridley Scott's "Exodus." The Biblical epic is expected to have Bale back in the awards conversation.

Sorkin, who won an Oscar for writing Fincher's Facebook drama "The Social Network," based his script on Walter Isaacson's bestselling authorized biography. That book was, in turn, based on more than 40 interviews that author had with Jobs, as well as interviews with friends, family and colleagues.

The film consists of three long scenes regarding Apple's buzzed-about product launches, including the Mac, NeXT (after Jobs had left Apple) and the iPod.

Production could begin before the end of the year, though an early 2015 start is more likely, as both Bale and Fincher will be busy this fall promoting their respective movies, Exodus and Gone Girl. Though Open Road's Jobs, which starred Ashton Kutcher, grossed only US$35mil (RM115.8mil) worldwide, Sony believes that there is considerable interest across the globe in a Steve Jobs movie made by and featuring A-list talent.

Bale, who will soon be seen in a pair of Terrence Malick movies, has no firm attachments to movies in development. The notoriously selective actor won an Oscar for his supporting performance in David O. Russell's The Fighter. He's repped by WME and attorney Carlos Goodman. – Reuters

Movies coming soon: Anime buffet

Posted: 21 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Three feature films for anime fans.

FROM March 27, anime fans can check out three feature films released exclusively at eight GSC locations (Mid Valley, Pavilion KL, 1 Utama, Paradigm Mall, Aeon Bandaraya Melaka, Gurney Plaza, Suria Sabah and CityONE Megamall). The films are Lupin The 3rd Vs Detective Conan The Movie, Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission and Magical Sisters Yoyo And Nene.

This "Anime Showcase" is organised by GSC Movies and Odex Pte Ltd, a Singaporean company and a pioneer in that country's anime market. Those interested can buy the tickets now via GSC e-Payment (www.gsc.com.my), its mobile app, and from the participating cinemas' ticket counter.

Apart from being able to catch the films, ticketholders can also redeem one item of anime merchandise at the Odex booth at the Animax Carnival (March 29 and 30) at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Level 3. Please take note that this offer is valid while stocks last and only during the Animax Carnival in Kuala Lumpur.

Lupin The Third Vs Detective Conan The Movie

A new mineral with stealth properties is discovered in a faraway land. Unfortunately, this discovery attracts the wrong crowd, one guy by the name of Arsene Lupin III. Meanwhile, Vespania's Queen Sakura dies and her son Prince Gill follows soon after. This leaves the royal house in disarray.

When a new ruler is appointed, she becomes the target of everyone's suspicion. Our little hero, Detective Conan, comes into the picture when he sees the new queen in trouble at a party he is attending. Directed by Hajime Kamegaki, with the voices of Minami Takayama (Conan) and Kanichi Kurita (Arsene Lupin III).

Hunter X Hunter: The Last Mission

The second feature-length anime film based on the hugely popular Hunter X Hunter manga, which revolves around Gon, a powerful "Hunter" who specialises in fantastical quests for strange relics, unknown creatures, hidden treasure and so on. The Last Mission delves into the murky past of Isaac Netero, chairman of the Hunters Association, and the shadowy Jed, a user of the "On" power that derives its power from hatred.

When the Battle Olympia Tournament comes under attack by a group of On-using warriors hell-bent on killing all Hunters, Gon and his friend Killua are forced to find the source of the invasion and in the process, discover the dark secrets that Netero has been hiding all these years. Voice talents include Mariya Ise, Megumi Han, Chisa Yokoyama and Daisuke Namikawa.

Magical Sisters Yoyo And Nene

When a big tree entangled with a tall building suddenly appears out of nowhere, sisters Yoyo and Nene, who have magical abilities, go and check it out. They are suddenly transported away from their world to a place where weird happenings are going on. Ai Kakuma lends her voice to Nene and Sumire Morohoshi voices Yoyo.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Chinese firm to buy 100 Sukhoi regional jets

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 03:08 AM PDT

BEIJING: O-Bay Aircraft Co, a privately owned Chinese firm based in Henan province, has signed a US$3.5bil deal with Russia's Sukhoi Civil Aircraft to buy 100 SSJ-100 regional jets, a Chinese executive said on Tuesday.

O-Bay Aircraft also plans to manufacture SSJ-100 jets in partnership with Sukhoi and two Chinese companies in Zhengzhou city, Henan province, said the executive, who declined to be named.

"We are still in detailed discussions with Sukhoi for the China assembly plant which would be up and running by 2018. Part of the 100 jets would be manufactured in the China plant," the executive told Reuters, without disclosing financial details of the plant.

O-Bay Aircraft, the executive said, has conducted a detailed study about the growth potential of the Chinese market. It will set up an airline company flying the SSJ-100 jets and sell the jets to other Chinese carriers in the future.

However, global regional jet makers, such as Bombardier Inc and Embraer SA have made little headway in China so far because Chinese airlines, including regional carriers, prefer commercial jets made by Boeing Co and Airbus Group NV.

Safety of home-made planes are also called into question after Chinese aviation authority grounded some of China's self-made MA-60 regional planes last month after two consecutive instances of landing gear failure.

State-backed Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China is also making a regional jet, the ARJ21, as well as a commercial jet, the C919. – Reuters 

Penang's Suiwah regains momentum as shares climb

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 06:51 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Suiwah Corporation's share price rose to a two-week high of RM2.51 early Wednesday as investors and analysts remained upbeat about the department store-property company.

At 9.35am, it was up 12 sen to RM2.51 on a volume of 42,100 shares done.

The FBM KLCI rseo 1.42 points to 1,838.59. Turnover was 319.83 million shares valued at RM174.63mil. There were 208 gainers, 127 losers and 203 counters unchanged.

Suiwah's share price rose to a high of RM2.53 on March 12 before easing slightly on profit taking. Its shares had rallied from RM2 on Feb 12, based on stock market data.

Public Invest Research was upbeat on Suiwah's upcoming Sunshine Tower project (mixed development comprising a retail podium, a hotel, a SOHO block and a serviced apartment block) which will be built on a nine-acre commercial land in Air Itam, Penang.

It expects the project to provide healthy recurring rental income upon completion.

"We believe the project will be a significant game-changer for Suiwah which has only a market capitalisation of RM137mil. Based on our sum-of-parts (SOP) valuation, we value Suiwah at RM274mil or RM4.78/share which is on the conservative side, in our opinion.

"In our valuation, we have only included land value instead of development value of the Sunshine Tower project," said Public Invest Research.

KLCI opens in the red as banks weigh

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 06:16 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's FBM KLCI opened lower on Wednesday, weighed down by banks but the broader market was firmer, tracking the key regional markets and the rebound on Wall Street.

At 9am, the FBM KLCI was down 2.26 points to 1,834.91. Turnover was 31.16 million shares valued at RM11.75mil. There were 100 gainers, 46 losers and 112 counters unchanged.

Overnight on Wall Street, its key indices rebounded from a two-day decline as the hard-hit biotechnology sector regained its momentum and also due to the stronger consumer confidence.

Reuters reported Asian shares edged higher in early trade on Wednesday on fresh signs of strength in the US economy and diminishing concerns over the diplomatic standoff between the West and Russia.

However, analysts expect Malaysian equities to probably show a fairly sluggish performance ahead.

Hwang DBS Vickers Research said following a sudden rise just before market close on Tuesday, the KLCI could give back all its 3.3-point gains and possibly more today.

"Essentially, the KLCI is expected to struggle to overcome the immediate resistance hurdle of 1,840 for the time being," it said.

Ambank fell seven sen to RM7.08 and CIMB was down five sen to RM7.10.

Among the consumer stocks, BAT fell the most, down 54 sen to RM59.64 while Carlsberg lost six sen to RM12.60.

Petronas Gas fell 30 sen to RM23.52 with 100 shares done.

Shangri-La fell 25 sen to RM6.55 while UMW was down eight sen to RM10.72.

Among the gainers were Coastal Contracts, up 11 sen to RM4.97.

Glove maker Hartalega rose 10 sen to RM6.55 and Karex 10 sen to RM2.99.

Paramount added seven sen to RM1.65. RHB Research upgraded it to a Buy with a fair value of RM1.88.

Paramount bought 30.7 acres of land in Batu Kawan to replicate its Utropolis university township in Glenmarie, which adds another RM800mil in gross development value to its portfolio.

Milux jumped five sen to RM1.52.  It proposed to diversify into the iron ore business and it had also announced a share split, rights issue and warrants.

CCM Duopharma added seven sen to RM3 on rising interest in the company on expectations of strong earnings and revenue growth.

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Enders

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

It was with no small amount of excitement that I awaited the sequel to Lissa Price's Starters, a young adult novel about a dystopian future where rich old folks "rent" young teenage bodies to relive their youths. The book was dark, clever and layered, telling a gripping story while making astute observations about growing up.

However, the sequel – appropriately titled Enders – falls so short of its predecessor that I wonder if it was written by the same author. Whereas Starters kept me glued to its pages, Enders is a chore to finish. While Starters could hardly condense its plot into one book, Enders feels stretched and thin. Whereas Starters was fresh and fascinating, Enders feels tired and done to death. Come to think of it, was Price making some sort of meta commentary on the ageing process with her two books?

Following the downfall of Prime Destinations, the "body bank" that facilitated the rentals, at the end ofStarters, protagonist Callie Woodland is reunited with her younger brother, Tyler, and best friend, Michael, and is living comfortably thanks to Callie's ex-renter Helena's generosity. The computer chip implanted in Callie's brain at Prime Destinations, however, is still there, leaving her body vulnerable to being "hijacked" by someone with the right technology.

What's more, the Old Man – the mysterious, faceless villain from the first book – is still very much around, and is able to use the chip in Callie's head to communicate with her. So, Callie bands together with other former "Metals" like herself – as the teens with chips in their heads are called – in an effort to discover the truth behind the Old Man's plans.

It's a bland, meandering plot with not much else going on. The most fascinating part of Starters involves a sinister plot device about the geezers taking over much younger bodies, but Enders hardly explores that. Instead, the book is about a whole bunch of things: Callie wanting to get that chip out of her head, defeating the Old Man, figuring out if her dad is really dead, etc, etc, etc. Price throws so many things at us that there's little space to explore any of them with depth. It's a struggle figuring out what the main point of the novel is.

In the absence of a strong central theme, all the small flaws in Starters are amplified in Enders. Callie, who appeared a little impetuous initially, is full-blown irritating and immature here. "I don't talk to liars, you lying liar!" she hurls out eloquently during a climactic point.

Furthermore, Price's depiction of this society, where all middle-aged adults were killed in the Spore Wars, starts to make less and less sense the more you read about it. And her love for plot twists and surprise endings, nicely handled in Starters, is on overdrive in Enders as she chucks "big reveals" at us one after another, while removing everything that caught our interest in the first book.

Callie's love interest Blake, so prominent in Starters, is shuffled aside speedily without explanation. And while Price keeps talking about how important Tyler is to Callie, we hardly see him in much of the book. Meanwhile, her relationship with Michael, so sweetly outlined in the first book, is clumsily handled here.

As these established relationships are poorly dealt with, however, we're introduced to a whole slew of new characters, most of whom leave little impression. There's also a new potential romance for Callie, which isn't just jarring but becomes increasingly unconvincing as the story progresses.

Enders is an apt example of a problem that's plaguing the young adult fiction genre, the tendency to rush out books or a series based on a concept instead of a fully-fleshed narrative. Alas, it takes more than one great idea to tell one great story.

The Hotel on Place Vendôme

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Paris has, for some two centuries, held an extraordinary fascination and appeal for American writers. The long list of scribes from across the Atlantic who chose to live or spend a creative sojourn in the French capital includes Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, Henry James, Gertrude Stein, F Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton, Henry Miller and poet-musician Jim Morrison.

To this illustrious list we can add a professor at a college in the New England state of Maine, whose bestsellers The Widow Clicquot (2008) and The Secret of Chanel No. 5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume (2010) have, in recent years, placed her in the premier league of literary American Francophiles.

Tilar Mazzeo became intrigued by the Hotel Ritz in Paris while researching The Secret of Chanel No 5. On leafing through declassified documents on the wartime activities of style icon Coco Chanel, she felt another book coming on. And this is the gratuitously fascinating result.

But it wasn't as breezy an undertaking as one might think. Mazzeo was actually warned by an elderly widow who fought in the Resistance against recounting the wartime history of the Hotel Ritz as a giddy collaborationists playground.

If truth is the first casualty of war, this is doubly true in enemy-occupied cities. The "collective French national fantasy" – now rather frayed – is that everyone aided and abetted the Resistance. However, the reality is that only a few brave souls did. Inevitably, the hotel's WWII years constitute most of the book, though Mazzeo also includes the establishment's history from its 19th century construction right up to today.

No simple dry litany of facts (that so often make up historical non-fiction), this story is told in a rather intimate tone, giving it an engaging warmth rarely found in such works. It's also cinematic, a film noir in many shades of grey, and swarming with dramatis personae and their endless intrigues and betrayals.

Indeed, this story of shadowy lives, mysterious deaths and dangerous liaisons feels ripe for a Hollywood adaptation, albeit a sensitive and appropriately art-house one. We learn how lavish and rowdy dinner parties continued even while the French capital was under siege during WWI, and of the hotel's surreal indifference to – and insulation from the privations of – that horrific conflict, which took around 1.5 million French lives.

During the next world war, German troops occupied their own wing of the hotel. One such "guest" was Gestapo founder General Hermann Göring. Nazis, moneyed expats, war reporters, well-heeled mischief-makers and assorted Parisians all managed to co-exist in this parallel universe through Europe's darkest years.

The hotel also became a hub of informal and illicit commerce with perfumes, jewellery and furs being sold for francs and reichsmarks. Coco Chanel was the principal retailer and amassed a fortune flogging Chanel No. 5 to the Nazis. Her own German lover, Hans von Dincklage, found her scent part of the irresistible seductive package, despite severe penalties for fraternising with the enemy.

We also read of the ferocious competition for scoops among the press corps stationed at the hotel. The notion of fair play swiftly went out the window once the guns started firing on various fronts around Europe.

Inevitably, one of the larger-than-life characters here is Ernest Hemingway, and his legendary passion for the hotel's wine cellar, which he basically drank dry before other war correspondents (such as photojournalist Robert Capa) could get to it.

A whole chapter is given to the liberation of Paris, and the desperate dealings and double-crossings that ricocheted around the hotel in its aftermath.

Mazzeo is a top-grade storyteller whose aim is true Рand shines a beacon on the evidenced truth, no matter how sordid. Duly, the book contains extensive bibliographic notes. "We all live in the long shadow of this history," she states, after illustrating how the many weird vignettes told here shaped the future. And Mazzeo's remarkable history of the Hotel on Place Vend̫me drives this truism home with ̩lan.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #1 (ongoing)

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

American Vampire is the Eisner Award-winning series by Scott Snyder (Batman) and Rafael Albuquerque, about a new bloodline of US bloodsuckers – as opposed to classic Euro ghouls – that possess new powers and weaknesses.

The series focuses on two characters from that species, former Wild West outlaw and original American vampire Skinner Sweet – whose origin was written by Stephen King, no less – and his first "offspring" Pearl Jones, a former Hollywood actress. In the First Cycle, the 34 issues followed them through different decades of US history, from the late 1800s to the 1950s.

Now, after a year-long hiatus, Snyder and Albuquerque have returned to the title that launched their careers and established Snyder as one of the hottest comic book writers in the industry. According to Snyder's footnote at the back of American Vampire: Second Cycle #1, the first issue of the saga's so-called "second half" is designed as a "jumping-on point" for new readers.

If you've already heard of Snyder through of his acclaimed work on the DC New 52 Batman book, then this is the perfect place to start reading what is arguably his best work so far. American Vampire: Second Cycle #1 is stunning.

Snyder starts with a four-page prologue set in 1811, in which he sets up a mysterious and devastating new enemy that's even more fearsome than the US bloodsuckers, before jumping to 1965, where Sweet and Jones have moved on from their former "jobs" working for the vampire-hunting organisation, Vassals of the Morning Star.

Having lost her husband at the end of American Vampire #33, Jones now lives alone on her ancestral land, which doubles as a refugee home for isolated vampire kids. Sweet, on the other hand, has fallen back on old habits and is a chopper-riding outlaw. From the striking cover, which mirrors that of American Vampire #1, to the visceral images of Sweet chomping down on some gun runners, Albuquerque's artwork is both comfortingly familiar and wonderfully fresh.

But it's Snyder and Albuquerque's partnership that really makes this title brilliant. Though Snyder has worked with other artists on two spin-off miniseries, Survival of the Fittest with Sean Murphy and Lord of Nightmares with Dustin Nguyen, Albuquerque brings out his characters and stories the best. They suck us back into the world of American Vampire as if they never left, reacquainting fans with old friends, introducing readers to new characters, and setting up a premise that promises to be bigger than anything else.

"The honest truth is that being away from this series crushed me," writes Snyder. "I've been dying to get back on American Vampire (as has Rafa) all year. So in San Diego this past summer, Rafa and I made a pact: Not only would we never step away again, but we would make this half of the series the best material we've done on the book, hands down."

Well, Scott and Rafa, judging from the great work you've done with this first issue, I'd say you're off to a brilliant start.

Collected editions of American Vampire are available in the graphic novel section of Kinokuniya, Suria KLCC. Visit kinokuniya.com/my, e-mail ebd3_kbm@kinokuniya.co.jp or call (03) 21648133. Single issues of American Vampire: Second Cycle can be ordered from virtual comic store Earth 638 (visit facebook.com/earth638, e-mail earth638@yahoo.com or call 012-6631584, 

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The Star Online: Nation

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Passenger inflates life jacket in plane as others follow suit

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

PETALING JAYA: Fearing the worst, a passenger on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH066 from Kuala Lumpur to Incheon, South Korea, inflated a life jacket after learning that the aircraft's generator had failed.

The incident happened when the flight was diverted to Hong Kong following the generator failure.

"Yes, one passenger did so and others followed suit. However, they were not instructed by our cabin crew to do so as it did not involve an emergency landing," the airline confirmed in an e-mail yesterday.

In a statement, MAS said the Airbus A330-300 landed at the Hong Kong International Airport "uneventfully" following the minor scare. It added that electrical power continued to be supplied by the auxiliary power unit during the flight.

Flight MH066 left Kuala Lumpur at 11.37pm on Sunday and was scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport at 5.50am local time yesterday. Following the incident, MAS said the return flight, MH067, was cancelled and its 271 passengers were transferred to other carriers and subsequent MAS flights back to Kuala Lumpur.

According to a MAS official who wished to remain anonymous, the aircraft is expected to remain grounded for an unspecified time because it would need to have usable life jackets on board for its next flight.

"Once they are inflated, they cannot be used again until they are refilled. The gas used to refill the life jackets are classified as dangerous goods and must be packed carefully before the aircraft is certified to fly again," he said.

Tackling social disorder issues

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Marking the Royal Malaysia Police 207th anniversary today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar talks of plans to tackle problems related to social disorder.

He said the police intend to collaborate with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to identify these problems.

"Several studies conducted overseas indicate that social disorder problems can cause a negative perception in the community unless they are tackled quickly," he said at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman yesterday.

Citing an example, he said the presence of a large number of illegal immigrants and beggars in the city could cause fear and discomfort in the people.

"As such, it is necessary for the police to draw up a strategy with the relevant authorities, including the community and the private sector, to resolve these problems," he said.

Khalid also said the police would continue to give priority to the welfare and security of the people while raising their confidence, trust and respect for the force.

The police would work with all quarters, including the community, to remain the premier law enforcement agency in the country, he said.

"Over the past 207 years, we have always encouraged the people to cooperate by providing information with accuracy and speed to tackle crime and other security problems," he said.

Khalid gave the assurance that the police were always ready to face challenges by adopting the necessary measures, including augmenting the number of its personnel.

He said the intrusion in Lahad Datu, Sabah, last year and the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on March 8 posed major challenges for the force and it was able to learn a lot from these experiences.

He also said that the presence of policemen at public places would give the people a greater sense of security.

On the motorcycle patrol units, he said their presence in housing estates allayed fear and helped to reduce crime in localities.

"Besides looking after the security of the people, these units help the police to meet and greet the people," he said.

On measures to step up the integrity of the force, Khalid said an anti-corruption campaign would be implemented with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Integrity Institute of Malaysia to enhance awareness among policemen.

"Such cooperation is to seek the best method to ensure the integrity of each police personnel," he said.

The 207th Police Day carries the theme "Our Commitment to Com-munity Well-being". — Bernama

School trip takes a horrific turn

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: A school trip took a horrific turn when a bus carrying 34 students overturned near Kampung Nanding in Hulu Langat, killing one and injuring four.

The students and a teacher from SMJK Katholik, Petaling Jaya, were returning from Lembah Azwen Resort where they had attended a leadership camp on Sunday. They were on their way to lunch at a restaurant near the village when the accident occurred at about 1.30pm yesterday.

"The road to the restaurant was very steep and the bus overturned as the driver tried to steer the vehicle away from the ravine," said Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab. The 48-year-old driver escaped unhurt.

The dead student, who was pinned in the wreckage, has been identified as 17-year-old Chin Yeong Peng.

His body had been sent to the Serdang Hospital for a post-mortem.

The four injured students were sent to Ampang Hospital for treatment. Most of the students were reportedly in shock and cried as they were escorted away from the overturned bus.

They were heard shouting for their friends who were still trapped beneath the bus.

By 4pm, all the students had safely gathered at a hut located on top of the hill and many of them had calmed down by then.

Parents of the students were asked to pick up their children from Kg Nanding.

ACP Abdul Rashid said initial investigations indicated that the brakes of the bus were malfunctioning at the time of the accident.

"The case is being probed under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act for reckless driving," said ACP Abdul Rashid.

He said four buses were assigned to transport 157 students of the school, popularly known as Catholic High, to and from the camp site. The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department despatched 12 people to the scene at about 2.30pm.

Department operations assistant director Mohd Sani Harul said the firemen had to cut the front portion of the bus to rescue the trapped students.

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