The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Snake exhibition draws nearly 1,500 in Malacca
- Drug trafficker caught during pre-dawn raid
- Micro-financing for hawkers
| Snake exhibition draws nearly 1,500 in Malacca Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:13 AM PST MALACCA: As the Year of Water Snake draws near, revellers are getting the chance to find out more about the slithery reptile. Ikia Aquaria and Pet is ushering in the Year of the Snake with a 30-species snake exhibition at Taman Malim Permai, here. The one-week long exhibition has thus far attracted roughly 1,500 people from as far as Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Singapore. According to Ikia Aquaria's general manager, Eric Chee, the main purpose of the exhibition is to counter the public's perception that snakes are are something to be afraid of. He added that snakes are more afraid of humansthan we are of them. The highlight of the exhibition was a snake show by Historical Exotic, a local snake collector and performing group. They showcased a few breath-taking feats like kissing a king cobra and putting fingers into the mangrove serpent's mouth. Their brave acts received thunderous applause from both kids and adults who visited the exhibition. Snake-handler, Asyraf Farhan Md Shah, said the well-trained performers need to know the movements, mood and speed of the snake well before playing with them. "Snakes do not attack people unless they are provoked or feel threatened," he added. Among some of the non-venomous and tamed snakes showcased during the snake performance were Catsnakes, Copperhead Racers, and King Snakes. At the exhibition, young children were seen fearlessly touching and handling the exotic animals compared to their adults. One of the unique snakes which attracted the attention of many visitors was the four-year-old, 2.5 meter-long Albino Burmese Python, owned by Ikia Aquaria and Pet. |
| Drug trafficker caught during pre-dawn raid Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:18 AM PST KUANTAN: Police stormed a house in Taman Datuk Abdul Rashid near here during a pre-dawn operation last week and arrested a drug trafficker high on drugs. Pahang narcotics chief Supt Yap Toon Khuan said the suspect, aged 36, had seven previous convictions. He said background checks showed the suspect was working as a security guard. "Urine tests also revealed that the suspect was tested positive for morphine. "Checks in the premises saw the seizure of 82gm of heroin hidden inside a safe deposit box," he told a press conference here. Supt Yap said the operation, acting on a public tip-off and own surveillance, was carried out by a Kuantan narcotics department team led by Insp Mohd Izzudin Zulkifly. He said the suspect refused to co-operate when instructed to open the safe deposit box in his bedroom. "We had to prise open the safe deposit box before confiscating a bag with the drugs stuffed inside three small packets. "The market value of the drugs is estimated at RM2,000 and enough for the consumption of 100 drug addicts," he said. Supt Yap said police believed the drugs were brought in from Kuala Lumpur to be distributed in Kuantan town. He added police were in the midst of tracking down his suppliers and other accomplices. "The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty, upon conviction. "The suspect has been remanded for a week to assist in investigations," he said. |
| Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:13 AM PST TEMERLOH: Some 1.5 million hawkers and stalls operators could benefit from the interest-free small scale business loan provi- ded by Bank Rakyat in a move to offer business opportunities to them. Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the amount of loans eligible are between RM1,000 to RM5,000 and the interest for the loans will be subsidised by the Government. Ismail Sabri said they also do not need to provide guarantors and the payment period can be between 60 months to 108 months. He said they are also eligible to apply for the loans even if they have poor records from other financial institutions like CTOS. "However, they have to be free of other current loans during the period of applying this type of loans. "Meaning that if they still have unsettled loans like the small scale entrepreneur loan (Tekun), they have to settle that loan first before applying," Ismail Sabri said after officiating the 1Malaysia Traders programme in Lurah Semantan here recently. He said giving out the business loan like this was the Government's appreciation to them for their support. Ismail Sabri said they have to be fulltime hawkers or operating the stalls. "For this year, we have allocated RM50mil fund for the loans. "In the future, we can increase the amount depending on the needs," he said. Ismail Sabri also said that a sum of RM7mil has been allocated for them to do some repair works or upgrading works on the stall sites. |
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