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theSun | FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13 2009 3

news without borders

David and Khadijah made


Nizar to vacate official ‘Datuks’
SINGERS Khadijah Ibrahim
and David Arumugam, of
carries the title “Datuk”, in
Pekan yesterday in conjunc-

residence ‘in 10 days’


Alleycats fame, smile after tion with the Sultan of Pahang’s
they are conferred the Darjah 74th birthday last Oct 24.
Indera Mahkota Pahang, Khadijah and David, whose
which real name is Thiagarajan K.R.
Arumugam, were among
95 conferred
awards and med-
als by the Sultan
by Humayun Kabir the last 11 months in the mentri the state secretary to collect. at an investiture
newsdesk@thesundaily.com besar’s house, which they regarded He said the “Pakatan Rakyat ceremony held at
as their second home. exco team” could still use the cars Istana Abu Bakar.
IPOH: Former mentri besar Datuk “I have to start looking for as he was still the “legal mentri be- Khadijah has
Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin alternative housing in the city as sar” but “PR does not want to cre- been part of the
will vacate his official residence in my children are studying here,” he ate more problems in the chaotic local entertainment
10 days time after he receives the said. political situation in the state”. scene for more than
official eviction order from the State Asked how he would function as He said many of them were us- 30 years.
Secretariat. the “Pakatan Rakyat mentri besar” ing their personal cars and had left Heading the list of
Nizar said he received a telephone when he did not not have an office, their official cars at the residence. recipients were three
call from State Secretary Datuk Dr he said: “There are lots of places Nizar also said the PR would cabinet ministers
Abdul Rahman Hashim yesterday that I can use as my office, such as return to power in Perak as it was – Minister in the Prime
morning ordering him to vacate the the PAS state headquarters.” confident of winning the legal Minister’s Department
residence. He said the press could contact suit it was filing to challenge the Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad
“I requested an official letter to his press secretary for any informa- legal status of Mentri Besar Datuk Zahid Hamidi, Works
this effect from him. I expect the tion or if press conferences were Zambry Abdul Kadir and his six- Minister Datuk Mohd
official letter to come any time and organised by the Pakatan Rakyat. member state executive council Zin Mohamed and

BERNAMAPIX
I informed Abdul Rahman that Nizar said the official cars of the team. Health Minister Datuk
I shall do so (vacate) in 10 days 11 former state executive council- He said the PR panel of lawyers Liow Tiong Lai – all
time,” he said. lors would be left in the compound would file the suit at the Kuala of whom received the
Nizar and his family had spent of the mentri besar’s residence for Lumpur High Court today. Darjah Kebesaran Sul-
tan Ahmad Shah (First
Class), which carries the
title “Datuk Seri”.
PPC cancels services of pier contractor
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
of the USS New Orleans, which is
anchored in Penang waters until
about small vessels entering the
Penang Channel without register- Freedom Walk cancelled,
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang
Sunday.
When completed, the 450m-
ing with the harbour master, as
required. Bar president tells court
Port Commission (PPC) has ter- long T-shaped jetty will be able to She noted that the operator of
minated the services of the main handle vessels carrying more than the trading vessel Bahtera Unggul, KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian walk, there had been two other
contractor for its RM65 million 2,000 passengers. which had caught fire near the Bar president Datuk Ambiga events – the Bersih and Hindraf
terminal redevelopment project be- Tan said the new jetty is neces- Chew Jetty last Sunday, had not A Marine Sreenevasan told the sessions gatherings – which raised the
cause of delays in its completion. sary as it would boost tourism in notified the authorities upon enter- stands court here yesterday the Bar concern of many people,” she
PPC chairman Tan Cheng Liang the state with the arrival of more ing Penang waters. guard on the supported the “People’s Free- said during cross-examina-
said yesterday the authorities had cruise liners. The vessel has since drifted deck of the dom Walk” to celebrate Human tion.
no choice but to end the services Although the project’s main and sunk in the channel’s busy USS New Rights Day on Dec 9, 2007. “We were concerned that
of Izoma Sdn Bhd in December building has been completed, sev- waterway. Orleans, However, it cancelled the the authority may use a heavy
because the company failed to eral structures, such as a mobile “We are looking into a mecha- anchored in event because of security rea- hand against the participants
finalise the project despite remind- bridge, pontoons and fenders, have nism to monitor such small ships the waters sons, and the information had of the walk and we felt it is our
ers and notices. yet to be finished. that come into our waters,” Tan off Penang. been made public, she said. responsibility to ensure they
The project, which comprises Tan also said the port authori- said. Despite the cancellation, are safe.
the redevelopment of Swettenham ties were concerned she was aware that some “In two or three gatherings
Pier into an international cruise lawyers had taken part in the by Hindraf and Bersih, the
terminal to accommo- walk that day. police had used force and tear
date large vessels, and Ambiga was testifying gas.”
other related facilities, in the trial of lawyers Amer Ambiga also said the
was initially targeted to Hamzah Arshad, Latheefa Malaysian Bar believed in the
be completed by Novem- Beebi Koya, N. Surendran and fundamental right to freedom
ber 2007. K. Sivarasa and activists Eric of a peaceful assembly and the
A special rescue com- Paulsen, Johny Andu @ Abu Police Act provision requiring
mittee is being formed to Bakar Adnan, Nooraza Othman a permit to hold an assembly
come up with a new plan and Ashraf Ali Sadakathullah, was ultra vires the Federal
to complete the project, charged with taking part in an Constitution.
which began in May 2006 illegal assembly and failing to Another witness, Insp Za-
and is still only 86% com- adhere to a police order to dis- kuan Hafiz Ahmad Ansari, who
plete. perse on Jalan Tuanku Abdul was in charge of the arrests
“We had given the Rahman between 8.10am and that day, said he did not use
contractor three exten- 8.50am on Dec 9, 2007. any force when arresting Amer
sions after it failed to meet She said the Bar Council Hamzah and Surendran.
the original deadline,” Tan had informed and written to “I did not use force or
said. the Dang Wangi police station handcuffs. I only held their
“We are looking at the about the walk and other shoulder and elbow. Both of
fastest and most cost-ef- activities planned to celebrate them cooperated and did not
fective way to salvage the Human Rights Day. show any aggressive reaction,”
project.” “The main reason the walk he said.
She told reporters this was cancelled was because The trial before Judge S.M.
after hosting a visit by US na- it involved members of the Komathy continues on March
val Commander Scott Davies public and just prior to this 31. – Bernama
MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

Religious groups want sincerity in tackling issues


by Bernard Cheah Penang Diocese’ northern district Malaysia Hindu Sangam’s Penang yet to settle, including complications council was a official state body.
newsdesk@thesundaily.com chancellor, Rev Jude Miranda, said Council deputy chairman, P. Muru- brought about by conversions. She also said minority communi-
the initiative reflected a long-time giah, said Malaysia has, of late, seen Penang Global Ethic Project ties should be taken into account
GEORGE TOWN: Religious groups dream among the people. a widening of the gap among people pioneer Datuk Anwar Fazal said the in the council’s composition and
have called for greater inclusiveness “This is not meant as a challenge of different religions. initiative was significant in light of activities.
and sincerity in tackling issues in to any religion but as a process of He said the council should act as the Unesco designation of George Malaysian Buddhist Association’s
the new Penang Religious Goodwill mutual sharing and understanding a umbrella body to tackle pressing Town as a World Heritage Site. state assistant secretary, Lim Tien
Council, the first government body as we accept differences among our issues. “The council can proactively con- Tong, said the council should com-
of its kind in Malaysia. faiths,” he said. Murugiah pointed to the lack of tribute in demonstrating the unique plement the efforts of existing inter-
Community leaders interviewed “There need to be a clear under- appreciation of other religions’ sen- cultural diversity that Unesco has faith non-governmental initiatives.
by theSun yesterday welcomed the standing of the objectives behind the sitivities as a cause of incidents, such applauded in Penang as an example He also said the council can
move to form the council, chaired setting up of this council. as demolition of temples and slow to the world,” he said. serve as a proactive platform for
by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, “There could be one or more municipal approvals for religious Bahai Community of Malaysia joint initiatives, such as humanitar-
saying a common objective should groups that might not be ready to structures. external affairs director June Low ian projects, to bring people closer
be spelt out to foster much-needed come together to face the challenging He also said there were pending said representatives of all major together with their common practi-
unity among the faiths. issues brought up by other groups.” social issues that the government has religions should be included as the cal values.

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