The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Malaysia and Hong Kong are men’s and women’s champions
- Protecting Jalan Sultan
- Nervous wreck turns champ in speech contest
| Malaysia and Hong Kong are men’s and women’s champions Posted: 03 Oct 2011 08:04 PM PDT MALACCA: Malaysia and Hong Kong shared the glory spoils emerging as men's and women's champions in the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) Open Waterpolo Championships held at the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre in Krubong, Malacca recently. To add more cheer, Hong Kong garnered the silver in the men's competition while the national side was second best in the women's division. Hosts Malacca, also stood proudly in the medal standings picking up a bronze in the men's division. In all ten teams — Penang, Malacca, Sabah, Terengganu, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia, Negeri Sembilan, the Armed Forces and the national side, heading for November's Jakarta-Palembang SEA Games were in the men's competitive fray. The national side, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur made it a three-team affair in the women's division. In the men's session and following the preliminary round group fixtures, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Malacca and Indonesia qualified for the knockout semifinal stage. Hong Kong maintained an unbeaten streak in Group A beating Terengganu 21-4, Penang 7-4, Sabah 21-6 and Malacca 7-5. Malacca with a three wins, one loss was second in the group. Malaysia also kept up an impressive unbeaten run in Group B beating Kuala Lumpur 25-1, Indonesia 17-8, Negeri Sembilan 23-5 and the Armed Forces 17-2. Indonesia occupied second spot in the group with three wins posted over Negeri Sembilan (14-5), Kuala Lumpur (20-3) and Armed Forces (17-6). In the semifinals, Malaysia and Hong Kong were in a class of their own ousting Malacca and Indonesia 20-2 and 11-6 respectively. Hitting the goal trail for Malaysia were Rodney Tan and Fam Jia Yi (four goals each), Fam Jia Shin and Tan Hun Sen (three goals a peice), Daryl Khoo (two) with Kelvin Lim, Timothy Heng, Thomas Lee and Sung Jun Hao netting a goal each. Malacca replied though Anderson Wong and Gan Yu Jie. In the other play-off to decide a shot into the final, Hong Kong warded off determined and gritty Indonesia to prevail 11-6 victors. To Tou was tops on the island state's scoring chart with six goals while Lau Ching Ming netted thrice with Cheng Hoi Yeung and Ku Yat Wa each netting a goal to secure the hard fought win. Indonesia replied through Reza Desda and Walad Wirawan (two each) with Hendry Jaya and Ismayana Taufan registering a goal each. In the final, Malaysia pulled out all stops to inflict a thumping 19-8 victory over Hong Kong. Thomas Lee and Goh Kah Yi impressed with five and four goals respectively while Tan Hun Sen, Sung Jun Hao and Daryl Khoo each netting twice. Others who inflated the national side's score were Rodney Tan, Kelvin Lim, Fam Jia Shin and Timothy Heng with a goal each. Hong Kong down 3-6 at the halfway mark got their goals through Ku Yat Wa (four), To Tou (two) with Koo Yu Fat and Fung Kong Ching scoring once each. In the women's division adopting a one round league with the top two finishers squaring off in the gold medal play-off, Hong Kong stamped their superiority from the onset. They beat Kuala Lumpur 22-3 and Malaysia 5-3 while the national side downed the city outfit 24-2. In the final tussle, Hong Kong again proved best notching a 9-6 win over Malaysia. Captain Joanne Shum Ying was the toast for the visitors netting five goals with Ng Chan Yu (two goals) and one each from Chan Sze Ting and Wu Ka Wing rounded up Hong Kong's tally. Malaysia replid through Chan Su Jie (two) and one each from Shirleen Khoo, Woo Yi Wen, Aileen Lim and Low Jia Yee. Malacca's Fam Kow Jan who handled both the national men's and women's in the recent invitational meet and currently supervising centralised training in preparation for the SEA Games, disclosed that both sides are shaping up well and are now displaying more cohesion in both the attack and defence departments. "As for the SEA Games,it is going to be very tough even to secure a bronze medal in either division. We have young teams on hand to carry the challenge for the upcoming November Games. The games will spell more of an exposure and gaining of regional competitive experience. Still, we are not throwing in the towel. We aim to give fancied Thailand, Singapore and hosts Indonesia currently in training in China, a run for their money," he added. |
| Posted: 03 Oct 2011 08:01 PM PDT THE Land Acquisition Act 1960 and National Land Code 1965, specifically the amendment made in 1990, are two laws brought into view in the Jalan Sultan debate. Lawyer and former member of the Bar Council Roger Tan, who is also a columnist with The Star, explained the relevance of these laws in this context. He first highlighted an individual's constitutional right to property as enshrined in Article 13 of the Federal Constitution. The Article reads: "No person shall be deprived of property save in accordance with law" and "No law shall provide for the compulsory acquisition or use of property without adequate compensation". He noted that even Singapore does not have a similar provision in its constitution. The word 'law' in Article 13(1) can only mean an enacted law. This law is the Land Acquisition Act 1960 (LAA) which is in force since Oct 13, 1960. Circumstances that allow land to be compulsorily acquired are: Section 3(1) of LAA states that the state authority may acquire any land which is needed - (a) For any public purpose; or (b) By any person or corporation for any purpose which in the opinion of the state authority is beneficial to the economic development of Malaysia or any part thereof or to the public generally or any class of the public; or (c) For the purpose of mining or for residential, agricultural, commercial or industrial purposes. "'Public purpose' in 3(1)(a) is not defined in the LAA. Broadly speaking, it would include the purpose in which it relates to the general interest of the society as opposed to the particular interest of an individual or corporation," he said, "We should note that if the acquisition is meant to build a commercial centre to help finance the construction cost of the MRT, then it becomes an issue whether the purpose of the acquisition falls within 3(1)(a). "It is near impossible to challenge the validity of a land acquisition," he said, adding that any challenge is only limited to the determination of the measurement of the land; the amount of compensation; the persons to whom it is payable and the apportionment of the compensation. He also noted that since 1960, there have been few cases challenging the land acquisition's legality and validity on the ground that the acquiring authority had acted mala fide, that is, in bad faith but almost all had failed. If the acquisition is made under 3(1)(b), the acquiring authority will need to follow the procedures detailed by 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F which were incorporated into the LAA in 1992. He explained that the main issue of acquiring under 3(1)(b) would be whether a development approval was granted and whether the acquisition was for public utility. He highlighted two other important sections in LAA, they are: Section 8(3) says that a land acquisition declaration shall be conclusive evidence. In other words, it is difficult to challenge the purpose for the intended acquisition, and; Section 68A states even if the subsequent use of or dealing with the land might be different from the purpose which was originally stated when the land was acquired, the acquisition is still legal. Such a provision acts as an ouster clause, which means the acquisition cannot be invalidated. The National Land Code (NLC) was brought into light by some parties to highlight the possibility of acquiring only the stratum (underground land) while not affecting the surface properties. Tan said Section 44 (1)(a) of the NLC endowed upon landowners the exclusive use of (air) space above and below the land. However, ever since Part Five (A) of NLC was inserted by the NLC (Amendment) Act 1990 on 23 February 1990, separate ownership of surface land and stratum land has been made possible. "I don't think it is correct to state that Part Five (A) NLC was inserted to allow for the acquisition of underground land without affecting surface property, which is by acquiring only the stratum. That is only possible if there are already two separate and independent surface and stratum titles issued over an alienated land," he said. He added that Part Five (A) only applied to the following situations: (a) the state authority can alienate any underground land which is state land to anyone (see Section 92C); and (b) because of Section 44(1)(a), the State can only alienate the acquisition of pre-war buildings underground land below the alienated land to the registered proprietor of the alienated land on the latter's application and no one else (see Section 92D). "Hence, if no individual or separate stratum titles have been issued to the registered proprietor of the alienated land, no separate acquisition of the underground land will be possible and any acquisition will then involve the entire alienated land," he concluded. Only the state authority, in this case the Federal Government, has the power to 'alienate', and only state land is capable of being 'alienated'. Therefore, if SPAD wants to give any interest over the acquired land later alienated to them, it will only be by way of a lease of between 30 and 99 years. Naturally, this will not appeal to the landowners if they now hold the freehold titles, he said. There are three other alternatives, nevertheless. One way is for the land acquisition to proceed and the other, the current landowners to surrender their properties to the state authority. By doing either of these, the state authority can then simultaneously alienate the surface and stratum land to the current landowners and SPAD respectively. The third method is for the current landowners to apply for separate stratum titles and lease them to SPAD but this may be subject to any express terms such as any prohibition against leasing. Tan opined that the third method would not be attractive to SPAD as it might not be bankable to the MRT's financiers, and while the second method was less time consuming than the first, the state authority was technically not required to pay compensation to the landowners when the land was surrendered to them. "But this can be done by way of a separate agreement between SPAD and the landowners for the former to pay compensation to the latter upon surrender. "The subsequent payment can also be secured by way of a bankers' guarantee," he said, highlighting also the higher premium facing landowners when the land is alienated back to them as MRT would boost the value. Tan also noted that the second and third methods could not be exercised if the land was under any encumbrances unless with the prior consent of such encumbrancers. The state authority's assurance that the surface land will be alienated to them is pivotal to the landowners, he noted. He said under Section 78(3) of NLC, alienation took effect only upon registration of the titles into the landowners' names, therefore, even a letter of approval to alienate is not binding upon the state authority and will not stand in a court of law. "However, administratively, the problem can only be ameliorated but not guaranteed by arranging the time for surrender and alienation not to lapse for too long from one to the other or if it is possible, simultaneously," he added. In terms of legislative protection for historical building, Tan agreed that the National Heritage Act (Act 645) that came into effect on March 1, 2006, has the power to do so. It is "an Act to provide for the conservation and preservation of national heritage, natural heritage, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, underwater cultural heritage, treasure trove and for related matters". Section 70 states that if a site has been declared national heritage, there shall be no change of ownership except by inheritance or sale with the prior approval of the commissioner. No person shall without the approval of the commissioner demolish, alter or to deal with the national heritage except in case of urgent necessity for the safety of persons or property. "As a conclusion, the National Heritage Act provides extensive preservation and conservation for heritage sites, however, the area in question, that is the Chinatown, is not designated as 'Heritage Site' under the Act as to date and therefore the protection cannot be extended there," he said. But despite the above, he highlighted, neither Act 645 nor the LAA states that the state authority is not permitted to acquire such properties. "Perhaps employing political and social means will be more effective in stopping any such intended acquisition," he added. |
| Nervous wreck turns champ in speech contest Posted: 03 Oct 2011 08:00 PM PDT BATU PAHAT: Form Four student Nur Amalina Mohd Latif was so nervous during a public speaking event that just before her turn, she left the hall to be all by herself and cry. However, after a few minutes, the 16-year-old composed herself and managed to get onto the stage before delivering her speech entitled 1Malaysia Bersih dan Indah in Bahasa Malaysia. Her efforts proved to be fruitful as she walked away as champion in the state level Bahasa Malaysia public-speaking competition, which was part of the Mini Tourism Carnival for Schools programme at Minyak Beku here recently. "When I heard the other participants' speeches before mine, I got really anxious. "After gathering myself up I proceeded on stage and I felt my confidence grow as I began delivering my seven-minute speech," related Nur Amalina, adding that she was satisfied with her performance. Driven by her ambition to be a lawyer, the SMK Bandar Seri Alam student took up the challenge to participate in the competition after her classmate turned down the opportunity offered by their teacher. "My father urged me to take part in order to develop confidence and language proficiency, which are qualities needed in a lawyer," she said. Nur Amalina beat 20 other students from various schools statewide to bag RM500 and a trophy for her speech. Meanwhile, State Tourism and Domestic Trade committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang, who attended the event's closing ceremony, said that the programme was to encourage students to "Think Tourism, Act Tourism". "This is to prepare our future leaders and educate them on tourism knowledge and also expose them to the various work opportunities available in the tourism sectors," he said. |
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