Archive for July, 2007

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Devamani is champ for 6th time

July 17th, 2007
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SHE left a comfortable job in a bank to concentrate on her first love – athletics – 10 years ago. 

Since then, 37-year-old S. De-vamani has never looked back. 

Thrilled: Devamani holding up her winnings.

Yesterday, she won the 21km women open category in the 20th edition of the Seremban Half Marathon. 

It was more special as it was her sixth consecutive victory, and, to make it even sweeter, she finished a good 17 minutes ahead of second placed Yong Lai Chee.  

“This is a very special event for me. Since I am from Port Dickson, I will make sure that I keep on participating as long as I can,” said the former Maybank employee. 

Devamani, who only became actively involved in the sport when she was 19, has become a legend in the women’s athletics circuit. 

On Sunday, she won the 10km Langkawi Beach Run on the island. 

She has bagged several other titles this year alone. Among these were the Kuala Lumpur Marathon (March), Power Run and Port Dickson Half Marathon (April), PDRM Run and Sibu Half Mara-thon (May) and the Penang Bridge Run (June). 

Devamani, who is married, said her winnings were sufficient to keep her going. “I am happy that such events are being held to encourage more people to participate in sports,” she said. She said that her next assignments were the Adidas King of the Road (August) and the Tanjung Piai Eco Run (September). 

Briton Pauline Mulroy, who won the 11km women veteran category, was also happy to be back again. 

The 43 year old who works in Singapore won the 21km half marathon when she participated four years ago. The following year she emerged second. 

“It’s good to be back to Serem-ban. But I will not get a chance to see much of this place as I have to leave today,” she said adding that she would return next year to defend her title.

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Enga Thambi Parthiban concerned for the people

July 17th, 2007
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Others do it for whatever reason, but our new rep is really concerned for the people's welfare.
 
'Estate 'clinics 'just as good'

SHAH ALAM: Medical treatment given at government clinics in estates are on par with those of other clinics, Plantations Committee chairman G. Kamala said at the Selangor State Assembly yesterday. 

"Eighty-six clinics are now operating in 91 estates in Selangor and estate workers receive good treatment.  

"Cases that require expert advice are referred to government hospitals," said Kamala, who is Taman Sri Andalas assemblyman. 

She was replying to questions from Ijok assemblyman K. Parthiban on the conditions and reasons for the closure of a clinic. 

"We must understand that government clinics operate under the auspices of the estate.  

"Some estates have been developed, causing the clinics to move to other locations as the workers are no longer living within the plantations," she said. 

Kamala explained that doctors visit government clinics in the estates to check on conditions and on the medications required. 

Parthiban later told The Star that he brought up the matter of clinics closing down in estates because he was concerned for the people's welfare. 

"Government clinics are important in cases of emergency. 

"If one clinic closes down, it could be another six kilometres before we reach another one," he said.

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Exercise some wisdom on banning Evan Almighty

July 17th, 2007
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Zam: Exercise some wisdom

PUTRAJAYA: Muslims in the country should exercise wisdom in addressing religious issues and not become hysterical when confronted with something seen as challenging their faith or belief like a film, Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said. 

He said it was crucial for parents to nurture strong religious belief in their children, which would protect them from being easily influenced by elements that could dent their faith. 

Zainuddin said this in response to calls by various quarters for the Government to ban the screening of Evan Almighty following claims the movie contained scenes that insulted Muslims and Islam. 

"Muslims should not become weak by overreacting to such a film," he added. 

The Information Minister said if Muslim parents feared that the movie could affect their children's faith, then it was their responsibility to prohibit them from watching it.  

He said banning the film would not solve any problem because Malaysia is a multiracial society and has different religious beliefs. 

"We live in a country with various races and religions, so we have to exercise more wisdom in facing issues relating to religion," he added. 

Zainuddin said even if the film was to be banned, people could still watch it on online. 

He said the people could also choose not to watch the movie since there were other films. 

The film Evan Almighty has actor Morgan Freeman playing the role of "God" and he orders Evan Baxter (played by Steve Carell) to build an ark to avoid a big flood.  

The film has been approved by the Malaysian Film Censorship Board and will be screened in cinemas starting on Aug 23. ? Bernama 

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Election Fever – EC braces for election, 190,000 officers appointed

July 17th, 2007
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when is suitable time for election?
 
august – near to merdeka, can invoke feel good factor?
sept – before budget?
oct – puasa and raya time – not suitable
nov – before spm starts?, bonus for govt staff should be arriving
dec – people in holiday mood, and expenses for school etc – not good time?
jan – before plus toll increases?
 
EC braces for election, 190,000 officers appointed

By R.S.N. MURALI

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Election Commission (EC) is bracing for the 12th General Election, with some 190,000 electorate officers having been appointed nationwide. 

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said it has already begun briefing those involved for the polls expected late this year or early next year. 

Frequent courses and campaigns have been organised to "ensure a smooth process even if the election is called at any time," he said here Monday. 

Wan Ahmad noted that 4.82 million Malaysians from the 15.2 million who are eligible have yet to register as voters. 

He said the EC would conduct a series of awareness campaigns to get them to do so. 

"We hope to get them to exercise their rights as citizens, and will work closely with the various political parties to disseminate the message to unregistered voters," he said. 

Wan Ahmad said Selangor had the highest number of unregistered voters with 700,000 people, followed by Johor (600,000), Kuala Lumpur (300,000), Sarawak (360,000), Kedah (285,000), Terengganu (75,000) and Kelantan (197,000).

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Sivaji bosses his way to a record

July 17th, 2007
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'Sivaji' bosses his way to a record

By : Kamachy Habimanan

A humorous scene from the movie with Rajnikanth and Shriya. The fllm has broken the box office record for being the highest grossing Indian film in Malaysia with RM8 million collected.
A humorous scene from the movie with Rajnikanth and Shriya. The fllm has broken the box office record for being the highest grossing Indian film in Malaysia with RM8 million collected.

JOHOR BARU: Sivaji the Boss has broken the box office record for being the highest grossing Indian film in Malaysia with RM8 million collected.

Ever since its opening in 56 theatres across the country on June 14, with angry fans breaking furniture in a handful of theatres, the film has registered double the amount of ticket sales compared with previous record holder Chandramukhi at RM4 million.

The owner of the movie rights in Malaysia, Pyramid Saimira Theatre Chain (M) Sdn Bhd, expects Sivaji the Boss to collect even more.

"The movie is still being screened in many theatres in Malaysia.

"The collection has proved to be the highest grossing Indian film in Malaysia.
"But the overwhelming response from Rajnikanth fans will definitely see the collection going up," said the company's head of distribution, Boban Balakrishnan.

Pyramid Saimira Group had paid AVM Productions in India RM15 million for the rights to distribute and screen the movie in Malaysia, and in Coimbatore and Hyderabad in India.

It is learnt that the sum is the highest so far paid by any Malaysian company for distribution rights for an Indian film, after the rights to Chandramukhi was bought for RM1.7 million by Lotus Five Star AV (M) Sdn Bhd in 2 005.

Star Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd manager B. Raaj said its 16 theatres nationwide were screening the movie.

"Although our cinemas in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Klang were badly affected due to the riots, we collected about RM4 million," Raaj added.

Raaj said that the riots by patrons at its cinemas had caused them almost RM500,000 in damages.

Angry fans in those cinemas had broken furniture and display cases after technical glitches marred the screening of the film on opening night.

Raaj claimed that the distributor had never apologised or visited their premises although they were supposed to have been responsible for technical glitches.

The movie has been screened in Japan, China, the US, Britain and Australia

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