The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Racial bond crucial for unity
- Team consisting mainly Malacca players does country proud at event
- Foundation comes to the rescue of endangered proboscis monkeys
| Posted: 04 Aug 2011 01:36 AM PDT JOHOR BARU: Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman urged the people to be careful as there are parties that are trying to use the 'divide and rule' to come to power. He likened it to a new form of colonialisation, which would hurt the country in the long run. "Previously, foreign powers used this method to stay in power and now there are certain parties using politics, racial divide and polarisation to come to power," said Ghani. He added that the strength of a nation came from the unity, understanding and strong bond forged among the many races in the country. Ghani was addressing a huge crowd at the launch of the state-level flying the flag ceremony in conjunction with the upcoming Merdeka celebrations. He also urged Johoreans to come out with full force to fly the flag in conjunction with the 54th Merdeka celebrations at all places including at their homes and offices. In relation to the event, state Unity, Human Resource, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan said that about 2,000 flags has been distributes to the various districts state-wide. "I hope that the flags can be put up all over the state as part of our way of remembering the sacrifices made by the people who fought for our independence," he said. He added that Johoreans should be proud of the sacrifices made by those who fought for the country's independence and freedom. "I everyone will play their part to ensure stability and peace among all the races in the country," he said. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Team consisting mainly Malacca players does country proud at event Posted: 04 Aug 2011 01:34 AM PDT MALACCA: Malaysia bagged the Boys Under 20 and Women Open silver medals at the 6th Betawi Cup International Waterpolo tournament held at the Senayan Swimming Stadium in Jakarta. For national coach Malacca's Fan Kow Jan, there were extra reasons to smile with pride. The national outfits at the week-long meet paraded mostly Malacca players who helped the historic state bag a double-gold waterpolo sweep at the recent Malaysia Games (SUKMA) held at the Bukit Jalil Sports Complex. For the records, the Boys Under 20 side comprised 7 players from Malacca. They included Alex Tan Ming Han, Daryl Khoo Tiong Jinn, Ong Rui Jiang, A.Sharvin, Fam Jia Yi, Fam Jia Shin and Chee Huan Song. The others were Timothy Heng, Daniel Heng, Woo Yit Weng, Lim Chin Cong and Tay Ping Zheng (all from Selangor) and Negeri Sembilan's Eugene Lee. The women's outfit featured 6 Malacca players - Shirleen Khoo Mei Jee, Samantha Keo Wan Tyn, Aileen Lim Zhixiang, Low Jia Yee, Low Sheen Yee and Lim Shirinnah, The rest included Hay Yan Xiang, Woo Yi Wen, Debbie Ng Peck Yin and Lim Yi Won (all from Selangor), Chan Su Jie, Yap Yee Chuin and Cheryl Liew Jia Peck (from Kuala Lumpur). Malacca had another reason to celebrate as Fam Jia Yi and Shirleen Khoo captured the Top Scorer awards netting seventeen and twenty goals respectively from five matches. Malaysia's overall performance was the best to date in the annual competition surpassing their fourth placed finish both in the men's and women's divisions when making their debut in 2007. In the recent tourney, the Malaysian boys turned in a sterling display to hold favourites and fancied Singapore 6-6 in regulation time in the final. However, the homesters were edged 5-4 in the penalty shootout and had to settle for the silver. In the preliminary round league matches, Malaysia were edged 9-8 by Singapore, defeated Indonesia (A) 11-2, Indonesia (B) 32-5, Sekayn Aquatik Club of Jakarta 34-2. The top two finishers in the one-round preliminary league squared up in the final. The women's competition also adopted a one-round league with the top two placed teams meeting in the final. Malaysia bowed out 4-10 to Indonesia (A) in the gold medal tie. Earlier, the national side overcame Philippines 16-9 and Indonesia (B) 13-2 and lost to Indonesia (A) 9-16 in preliminary league matches. Coach Fan in assessing Malaysia's overall performance, in context with the upcoming SEA Games in Jakarta and Palembang in November, said it would be tough for the men's and women's national teams to pick up medals in the regional games. "In the men's division, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand are ahead of us in standard. In fact at the Betawai Cup, the Indonesian men's and women's sides for the SEA Games were in China for centralised training and friendly matches and are bent on winning the waterpolo golds on home ground. With Singapore and Thailand in the mix, it will spell a uphill battle for us to even snatch a bronze." In the women's division, he said, there is some hope for a bronze. "At the Betawai Cup, Singapore and Thailand did not take part as they are already in centralised training back home. We have to muster consistent good forms and showings at the regional games if we are to harbour hopes of picking up a bronze at the least". The national sides would commence centralised training at the Malacca Krubong Aquatic Centre in late September, following an invitational international tournament to be held in the middle of the same month. Currently, only the Malacca players in the national training squads are enjoying Fan's weekly training supervision since late June with the outstation ones joining in over last weekend sessions once a month. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Foundation comes to the rescue of endangered proboscis monkeys Posted: 04 Aug 2011 01:33 AM PDT KINABATANGAN: The endangered proboscis monkeys living in fragmented forests in Sabah's Lower Kinabatangan near Sandakan is getting a boost in conservation efforts. Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) has donated RM1.5 million to the Sabah Wildlife Department to conserve and manage the estimated 2,500 to 3,000 proboscis monkeys living in the area. The three-year commitment would see the department and Cardiff University in the United Kingdom conduct a Proboscis Monkey Conservation Programme at the Danau Girang Field Centre. The programme would support research and conservation work on the primates, considered as one of the most unique, charismatic and endemic primate species of Borneo. YSD's Governing Council Member Caroline Russell, handed over the mock cheque to Dr Benoit Goossens, the centre director, at a simple ceremony here. Also present were Yatela Zainal Abidin, YSD Chief Executive Officer and the department veterinarian Dr Sen Nathan. Russell said Sabah is considered to be the last bastion for the proboscis monkeys on the Borneo Island. "This is why YSD, with the help of department and centre, has decided to embark a programme to help conserve the species," she added. Russell said these troops of vibrantly coloured monkeys are the most beautiful sight to watch along the Kinabatangan River in the evenings and "it would be a shame if there is no awareness or steps taken to preserve their habitats." "YSD hopes the contribution, which would be used for conservation biology and wildlife management, could bring a change to that and the money would be a permanent feature in the area." The three-year project also involves rescue and translocation operations of between 100-250 proboscis monkeys living in perverse habitats. The department would send it's a five-man rescue team to carryout this task which would take between three and six months to complete. Most of the pocketed groups of proboscis monkeys were found along the east coast of Sabah, especially in Kunak and Tawau areas and along the Segama River. The monkeys would be relocated to a suitable habitat. Genetic blood samples would also be collected for identifying purposes. At the end of the project, an international workshop will be held to promote the restoration and re-establishment of wildlife corridors along the main rivers in Sabah. Conservation working papers would also be presented and discussed at a workshop with an aim to conserve the monkey population. The Proboscis Monkey Con-servation Programme is in line with YSD's Conservation of the Environ-ment and Protection of the Ecosystems pillar - the protection and preservation of the environment and conservation of animals and their natural habitat. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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