STORY TO BE TOLD

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia will help non-governmental organisations to bring back orang-utans from zoos abroad and rehabilitate them in their native environment in Sabah.

Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok said that the government was keen to assist in the rescue of displaced orang utans currently placed in zoos in Europe and United Kingdom.

He said one obese orang utan named Oshine, highlighted by the international media, was rescued from a private owner in South Africa and was now being rehabilitated at Monkey World in Dorset, UK.

“It is being put on a diet in the centre as it had grown too fat and has apparently never seen another orang utan until it arrived at Monkey World,” he said during a dialogue with Sabah NGOs regarding issues pertaining to plantations.

“I told them (NGOs) this is one thing (rescuing orang utans) that they may want to do and the government will give all the assistance to help them get back the displaced apes,” he added.

He said there was no reason for the orang utans to suffer in the cold north European climate as there was ample space for orang utans in the forests of Sabah.

Weighing about 100kgs, Oshine, a 13-year-old orang utan, was raised by a South African couple who fed him marshmallows and other sweets.

It is now on a strict diet of of fruit, yoghurt, lean meat and vegetables in Monkey World.

According to news reports, Monkey World carers were working towards reducing Oshine’s weight to about 70kgs and teach it to be an orang utan again by letting it live next to baby orang utans.

Source: The Star online

National footballer Zaquan marries actress Ayu

ALOR SETAR: National footballer Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak scored his most “memorable goal” outside the football pitch when he tied the knot with actress Ayu Raudhah.

The akad nikah was solemnised by imam Mustafa Kamil Jamil in a simple ceremony at the Sultanah Bahiyah Mosque here yesterday.

Ayu, 26, whose real name is Raudhah Abu Bakar @ Che Wan, donned a white wedding gown designed by local fashion icon Man Kajang and received bridal gifts of an undisclosed value from 23-year-old Zaquan.

It is understood, however, that the figure behind the hantaran had something to do with the number eight, which is Zaquan’s jersey number in the national squad.

Marital bliss: Zaquan giving Ayu a kiss during the wedding ceremony.

The up-and-coming football star said the ceremony was more exhilarating than scoring a goal in a football match.

“In our two-year courtship, she has been my number one supporter and has always been there to spur me to be a better player for the club and country,” said Zaquan.

Meanwhile, Ayu said she was relieved and happy that she is finally married, adding that it was time for her to build a home.

“I did not expect to be married to a famous football player. I will try to be a good wife to Zaquan although he is younger than me,” said the actress, who shot to fame in the popular 2009 TV drama Nur Kasih.

The ceremony was witnessed by about 200 people, including Ayu’s mother Zabedah Saad, and Zaquan’s parents Abdul Radzak Salleh and Azizah Arshad, as well as relatives and close friends.

Ayu is the sister of famous drama queen Rozita Che Wan, while Zaquan and his brother Aidil Zafuan are the terror twins in the Negri Sembilan squad.

Stewardess’ family believes she slipped from top floor of hotel
By SARBAN SINGH
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

SEREMBAN: The family of Malaysia Airlines stewardess Chin Swee Len, who was found dead in the car park of a hotel in Amsterdam on Jan 13, does not believe she committed suicide by jumping.

Her husband Cheng Yin Chet, 39, said Chin had been making elaborate plans for Chinese New Year, including texting her brother about dinner at her home on the first day of the celebration before departing on her flight.

Chin, 34, who had been with the national carrier since 1997, had also taken their 17-year-old son for Chinese New Year shopping before her flight to Amsterdam and promised to go for a vacation in Australia in September, he added.

“She told me that she would only get us new clothes upon her return,” said Cheng, adding that his wife would often go for walks after a long flight to avoid jetlag.

“Her room’s electronic data showed that on the said day, she left her room at about 10pm and had probably gone to the eighth or ninth floor, which was the hotel’s top most floor, to get some air.

“We believe that she must have slipped and fell,” he said, adding that the windows in Chin’s hotel room could only open a few centimetres.

Chin had flown to the Dutch capital on Jan 11 and was supposed to have returned on Jan 15.

However, when she failed to turn up at a pre-departure briefing, her colleagues went to look for her in their hotel located near Schiphol Airport.

It was reported that her colleagues were then told that she had been found unconscious at the hotel’s parking lot by other guests.

There were also other reports which said that she was found dead in her room with bruises all over her body or that she had been robbed and thrown out of her room on the fourth floor.

Dutch police have since ruled out foul play in her death. A hotel guest saw Chin’s body sprawled on the car park below at about 4am the following morning.

Cheng, who returned from Amsterdam on Jan 19 with his wife’s remains, said Chin’s belongings, including her laptop and cash, were still in her room.

“In fact, even her luggage had not been opened,” he said, adding that she had stayed at the hotel several times before.

Cheng said he was satisfied with the investigation conducted by the Dutch authorities.

“I am satisifed that there was no criminal element involved in her death. Robbery was not a motive,” he said, adding that Chin did not suffer from any medical condition.

Cheng, who is also Seremban Gerakan Youth head, denied that he had any marital problem with Chin.

Malaysian Ambassador to the Netherlands Datuk Fauziah Taib had said police investigation showed that there were no signs of forced entry into Chin’s room.

Read more/More news on: http://thestar.com.my/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/

Stewardess' death: Family rules out suicide

By Sarban Singh

Family members of Malaysia Airlines stewardess Chin Swee Len, who was found dead in the car park of a hotel in Amsterdam on Jan 13, do not believe she committed suicide.

Her husband Cheng Yin Chet, 39, said Chin had been making elaborate plans for Chinese New Year, including texting her brother, inviting him to join a vegetarian dinner on the first day of the celebration before leaving on her flight.

Chin, 34, who had been with the national carrier since 1997, had also taken their 17-year-old son for Chinese New Year shopping before her flight to Amsterdam and promised to go for a vacation in Australia in September, he added.

"She told me that she would only get us new clothes upon her return," said Cheng, adding that his wife would often go for walks after a long flight to prevent jetlag.

"Her room electronic data showed that on the said day, she left her room at about 10pm and had probably gone to the eighth or ninth floor, which was the hotel’s top most floor, to get some air."

"We believe that she must have slipped and fell," he said, adding that the windows in Chin’s hotel room could only opened by several centimetres.

Chin had flown to the Dutch capital on Jan 11 and was supposed to have returned on Jan 15.

However, when she failed to turn up at a pre-departure briefing, her colleagues went to look for her in their hotel located near the Schiphol Airport.

It was reported that her colleagues were then told that she had been found unconscious at the hotel’s parking lot by other guests.

There were also other reports that said that she was found dead in her room with bruises all over her body and that she had been robbed and thrown out of her room on the fourth floor.

Dutch police ruled out foul play in her death. A hotel guest saw Chin’s body sprawled on the car park below at about 4am the following morning.

Cheng, who returned to Seremban from Amsterdam on Jan 19 with his wife’s remains, said Chin’s belongings, including her laptop and cash, were still in her room.

"In fact, even her luggage seemed as if it had not been opened," he said, adding that she had stayed at the hotel several times before.

Cheng said he was also satisfied with the investigation conducted by the Dutch authorities.

"I am also satisifed that there was no criminal element involved in her death."

"Robbery was also not a motive," he said, adding that his wife did not suffer from any medical condition.

Cheng also denied that he had any marital problems with Chin.

Published Jan 22 2011

Three friends brutally killed

Villagers at the scene of the triple killings

What should have been Chinese New Year preparations for families of three friends in Paya Mengkuang, near Masjid Tanah in Malacca, have now turned into funeral arrangements after they were brutally killed.

Chong Sai Keong, 17, Tai Shi Yong, 18 and Lan Lu Xuan, 20, were killed by a group of armed youth on motorcycles at about 10.30pm on Friday, about 1.5km from their homes.

It is believed that the three, who were also on motorcycles, had been provoked by the group who led them to an ambush along Jalan Kampung Solok in Pengkalan Balak.

Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusof (left) comforting Tai Keng Yong whose 18-year-old son Tai Shi Yong was murdered along with his friends

They were killed shortly after residents in the tight-knit community had finished lighting up their town centre with lanterns for the coming festival.

A heartbroken Chong Kim Siak, 52, said he had earlier received a call that his son was involved in an accident.

"I was about to leave home when I received another call to say that he was killed in a fight. In the end, I didn’t go to the scene as I couldn’t bear to look at my son’s lifeless, bloodied body," he said, adding that Sai Keong was to have joined a wiring and air-conditioning course in a nearby community college after dropping out of school.

Tai Keng Yong, 55, said he rushed to the scene after receiving a call that his son was in an accident.

“It was then that I learnt my son was attacked by a group of youths. I rushed him to the Terendak Army Camp Hospital but it was too late,” he said, adding that Shi Yong had mobile phone shop in nearby Pengkalan Balak.

Lan Song Hing, 49, said his only son Lu Xuan, a mechanic, had earlier gone to play badminton and football with several friends.

“I never expected this to happen to him,” he said.

State Chief Police Officer SAC Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said a 16-year-old youth was detained on Saturday and has been remanded for a week.

“We are investigating the motive of the attack,” he said.

Published Jan 22 2011