Berita Hari Ini - 2007

fatz

HARI SANDING ENAM HARI LAGI...

Bakal isteri meninggal dunia, bakal suami pula parah

Oleh
Halifi Hussin

HANYA lagi enam hari mereka bakal bersanding menjadi raja sehari.

Kad undangan telah lama kedua-dua pihak layangkan. Pelamin pun sudah ditempah.

Tetapi, impian menikmati hari bahagia Ahad ini hancur apabila pasangan bakal mempelai yang menunggang motosikal itu terlibat dalam nahas jalan raya di Ekspreswe Rentas Pulau (PIE) menuju ke Jurong dekat jalan susur keluar ke Bukit Timah, sekitar 1 tengah hari kelmarin.

Kemalangan itu meragut nyawa Cik Siti Nurbaidura Mohd Yusof, 22 tahun, yang menunggang motosikal tersebut.

Beliau, seorang pegawai Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura (SAF), difahamkan sedang menuju ke kemnya di Clementi Road ketika itu.

Pemboncengnya yang juga bakal suaminya, Encik Fareed Serlan, 20 tahun, seorang anggota Perkhidmatan Negara (NSF) SAF di kem yang sama, cedera parah di muka dan dada.

Menurut polis, motosikal yang mereka tunggang tergelincir menyebabkan Cik Siti Nurbaidura cedera parah dan disahkan meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian sekitar 2 petang.

Encik Fareed, yang dikejarkan ke Hospital Tan Tock Seng (TTSH), kini diletakkan di bawah pemerhatian rapi.

Sewaktu kejadian, bapa Encik Fareed, Encik Serlan Amat, 56 tahun, yang bekerja di Kelab Keppel, sedang menunggu anaknya di rumah.

'Kami sepatutnya keluar makan bersama. Tiba-tiba, saya dapat panggilan daripada Polis Trafik.

'Beliau beritahu saya Fareed cedera tetapi tidak begitu teruk. Apabila saya tanya tentang keadaan Siti, dia tidak beri saya jawapan,' katanya.

Malang yang menimpa bakal menantunya itu hanya Encik Serlan ketahui apabila beliau sampai di TTSH.

'Rasa sedih itu tetap ada. Tetapi, apa boleh buat. Sudah takdir Tuhan jodoh mereka sampai ke sini sahaja.

'Majlis terpaksa kami batalkan. Tetapi, kami akan adakan majlis tahlil untuk arwahnya,' ujar Encik Serlan lagi.

Ketika ditemui di TTSH, Encik Fareed, anak kedua tiga beradik, dilihat tidak dapat menahan air matanya setelah diberitahu tentang nasib yang menimpa bakal isterinya itu.

Jenazah Allahyarhamah Siti Nurbaidura selamat dikebumikan dalam satu upacara penuh istiadat tentera di Pusara Abadi petang semalam.

Ketika ditemui di flatnya di Bedok Reservoir Road, ibu Allahyarhamha, Cik Sukiah Afandi, 40 tahun, menceritakan bagaimana tingkah laku anak bongsunya itu agak berlainan beberapa hari sebelum kejadian.

'Dia peramah orangnya. Dia suka berbual. Tetapi kebelakangan ini dia tidak banyak berbual. Dia diam sahaja.

'Dia pun selalu tinggal di kem. Kadang-kadang, tiga empat hari baru dia balik rumah. Tetapi beberapa hari ini, habis kerja sahaja dia terus balik rumah,' katanya.

Cik Sukiah berkata, kali terakhir beliau sempat bersua muka dengan anaknya adalah pada pagi kejadian tersebut.

'Selalu dia keluar sahaja. Tidak cakap apa-apa dengan saya. Tetapi, kali ini, dia cakap 'Mak, Siti pergi dulu',' kata Cik Sukiah sambil menahan sebak.

[ Last edited by  fatz at 25-7-2007 11:16 AM ]

miezarra_27

Originally posted by fatz at 25-7-2007 10:59 AM
HARI SANDING ENAM HARI LAGI...

Bakal isteri meninggal dunia, bakal suami pula parah

Oleh
Halifi Hussin

HANYA lagi enam hari merek ...

V.. ini ke ur MIL nyer anak sedara?

Ksian ek..
tapi tulah.. Allah lebih mengetahui dan menyayangi...

virgomal

yes kak mie.. tapi v tak berapa kenal
yang ini memang mak arwah...

fatz

The A380 chance to fly into aviation history
Posted: 25 July 2007 1804 hrs




Singapore Airlines is going to make it an even greater way to fly come October, taking passengers from Sydney to Singapore on the world's first flight of the mega A380 and giving the takings to four good causes.

Tickets for the flight, however, cannot be booked the usual way.

Singapore Airlines said that due to requests from people all over the world to be passengers on the first flight, the airline has decided that tickets for the inaugural flight will be auctioned online through eBay.

The proceeds of the auction will be split three ways, between Singapore's Community Chest; the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick and The
Children's Hospital at Westmead; and M閐ecins Sans Fronti鑢es (Doctors without Borders).

Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Airlines, Chew Choon Seng, said the airline wanted to acknowledge the widespread interest in the new jumbo jet and use the opportunity to benefit worthwhile causes.

"It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience on an aircraft that will mark a new chapter in air travel. And while we will celebrate the event, we also wish to remember the people who are less fortunate and can be assisted by the charities to which all the proceeds will go," Mr Chew said.

Almost every cent raised through the A380 ticket auction will go to charity since ExxonMobil has stepped in to offer free aviation fuel on the historic flight.

Mr Kwa Chong Seng, Chairman and Managing Director of ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd said, "We are pleased to support this event as a strategic partner of Singapore Airlines. This charity event is in line with our long-standing effort to make a positive impact on the communities in which we operate."

As for eBay, it will subsidise the fees and charges from this auction, while PayPal will rebate a portion of its fees and charges to help support the charities.

So, clear your calendar for October, since the precise date for the A380 flight is yet to be decided, and pre-register for the auction at www.singaporeair.com/a380 where you can find auction details, the date of the flight and the charities to benefit from proceeds.

Every person on the flight will also receive a personalised ceremonial certificate confirming that they were part of the first-ever commercial A380 flight. - CNA/sf

fatz

ICA to resume immigration and registration services
By Ng Baoying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 July 2007 2111 hrs


SINGAPORE: The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) will resume all immigration and national registration services at 8am on Friday 27 July, after successfully completing its system upgrade and data migration.

ICA said that as it was not able to process applications during the suspension period, processing time for various services may take longer than usual.

As such, it has urged the public not to rush to the ICA Building for the resumed services on 27, 28 and 30 July if their applications are not urgent.


- CNA/so

miezarra_27

'LETUPAN' DI FLAT GARA-GARA LANTAI BERKECAI
Oleh
Khalid Khamis

CIK Aminah Awi sibuk di dapur untuk menyiapkan ubat bagi suaminya apabila ruang tamunya tiba-tiba digegarkan dek dentuman agak kuat.

Beliau yang terus meluru ke ruang tamu flatnya terkejut apabila mendapati hampir separuh lantai seramiknya terkopak dan berkecai.

Ditemui di flatnya di Blok 138, Bedok North Street 2, kelmarin, suri rumah berusia 53 tahun itu berkata 'letupan' tersebut berlaku sekitar 8.30 malam Jumaat lalu.

'Mula-mula saya terdengar bunyi merekah dan selepas itu bunyi meletup pulak.
'Nasib baik tiada orang di ruang tamu, kalau tidak mungkin sudah tercedera kerana kepingan seramik yang pecah melayang dan bertaburan di ruang tamu,' tambah beliau yang tinggal bersama suaminya, Encik Kassim Mahmood, 77 tahun, seorang pesara.

Mereka suami isteri menjadi kebingungan kerana tidak tahu punca sebenar.
Namun, kejadian yang sama pernah berlaku di flat mereka Februari lalu.

Dalam kejadian lebih awal itu, sebanyak 10 keping seramik di lantai bilik tidur mereka merekah dan meletup tetapi telah dibaiki dengan bantuan menantunya.

Cik Aminah menyatakan bahawa lantai seramik itu telah dipasang oleh kontraktor ubah elok apabila pasangan tersebut membeli flat yang baru siap dibina itu sekitar 20 tahun lalu.

Menyusuli kejadian itu, Cik Aminah telah menghubungi pihak majlis bandaran untuk membuat laporan, tetapi dirujukkan kepada Lembaga Perumahan dan Pembangunan (HDB).

Menurutnya, seorang pegawai HDB yang datang memeriksa lantai dan struktur flatnya itu memaklumkan kepada beliau supaya membaiki kerosakan lantainya itu sendiri atau mencari semula kontraktor yang bertanggungjawab.

Kali terakhir akhbar ini melaporkan kes jubin meletup ialah lebih 10 tahun lalu.

Dalam kejadian tersebut, seorang pemilik flat di Yishun, Cik Rohayah Shamsuri, mengalami nasib yang sama dan terpaksa menampung sendiri belanja membaiki lantai yang terjejas.

miezarra_27

GUNA WALI HAKIM SELEPAS SEGALA USAHA CARI BAPA GAGAL

SETELAH ibunya meninggal dunia 10 tahun lalu, Azza (bukan nama sebenar), 21 tahun, juga 'kehilangan' bapanya.

Bapanya meninggalkan Azza dan adik perempuannya secara mendadak tanpa memberitahu mereka rancangan seterusnya.

Hanya setelah beberapa tahun kemudian baru Azza tahu bapanya telah berkahwin lagi dan mempunyai anak daripada perkahwinan keduanya itu.

Bapanya langsung tidak mengambil berat keperluan Azza dan adiknya, sebaliknya menyerahkan segala tanggungjawab kepada seorang mak cik Azza.

Tetapi bapanya tidak dapat lari daripada tanggungjawab menjadi wali apabila Azza mendirikan rumah tangga kelak.

Azza, yang berkenalan dengan seorang jejaka, membuat keputusan untuk berumah tangga beberapa tahun lalu.

Tetapi, apabila membuat pendaftaran untuk bernikah di Pejabat Pendaftar Pernikahan (ROMM), beliau menghadapi masalah kerana bapa kandungnya tidak hadir untuk menjadi wali.

Memandangkan Azza tidak mempunyai datuk, pak cik sebelah bapa atau adik-beradik lelaki, beliau dinasihatkan ROMM supaya cuba menjejaki bapa kandungnya itu.

Bagaimanapun, Azza menghadapi kesukaran kerana bapanya telah pindah berkali-kali, malah dikatakan telah ke luar negara.

Usaha ROMM cuba menjejaki bapa Azza juga tidak berhasil.

Azza kemudian meletakkan iklan di akhbar untuk meminta bapanya tampil di ROMM sebelum tarikh pernikahannya.

Akhirnya, bapanya tetap tidak muncul dan upacara pernikahan Azza diwalikan oleh kadi sebagai wali hakim.

fatz

TETAP BERSAMA...
Isteri terlantar lumpuh sejak tujuh tahun lalu
Oleh
Chairul Fahmy Hussaini SELAMA hampir tujuh tahun, perasaan cinta dan kasih sayang antara Encik Sulaiman A. Gani dengan isterinya, Cik Surati Somari, tidak boleh diluahkan dengan kata-kata - tetapi hanya dengan kerlipan mata, anggukan atau gelengan kepala daripada isterinya.
Cik Surati, 60 tahun, kini lumpuh dan tidak boleh bercakap. Beliau hanya berkomunikasi dengan menggeleng, menggangguk dan mengerlip sebagai tanda faham apa yang ditanya atau diberitahu suaminya.

Namun keadaan ini tidak sekalipun merubah perasaan Encik Sulaiman, 55 tahun, untuk terus berada di sisi isterinya yang kini dalam keadaan lumpuh dan separuh sedar di hospital, dipercayai dek serangan angin ahmar sekitar pertengahan 2000.
Mengimbas kembali detik-detik hitam itu, pembantu jualan di sebuah gerai minuman di Pasar Sementara Geylang Serai itu berkata, semasa serangan itu berlaku di flat mereka, mereka baru saja pulang dari bercuti di Indonesia.

'Isteri saya ketika itu sedang berbual di telefon bersama adik perempuannya apabila beliau tiba-tiba pitam dan rebah, seluruh badannya menjadi lumpuh dari bahu ke bawah.
'Sekarang ini beliau faham apa yang saya katakan, tetapi beliau tidak boleh berkata-kata kecuali mengerlip mata saja,' ujarnya yang ditemui Berita Harian sebelum mengunjungi isterinya di Hospital Ren Ci, di Jalan Tan Tock Seng, semalam.
Isterinya telah dirawat dihospital itu sejak 2000.

Tambah Encik Sulaiman, beliau telah berusaha mengubati isterinya baik secara tradisional mahupun perubatan moden tetapi sejauh ini belum berhasil.
'Ribuan dah duit saya habis tapi sampai sekarang keadaannya begini juga,' ujarnya sayu.
Pasangan yang berkahwin pada 1996 ini tidak mempunyai cahaya mata.
Encik Sulaiman kini menyewakan seluruh flat tiga biliknya di Eunos Crescent bagi melunaskan segala hutang-piutang dan tunggakan bil bulanan, yang dianggarkan sekitar $4,000. Beliau mendakwa menumpang di flat rakannya di kawasan yang sama.

Ibarat sudah jatuh ditimpa tangga, Encik Sulaiman kini bingung memikirkan nasib isterinya yang dikenakan Waran Tangkapan oleh Ibu Pejabat Polis Central kerana gagal melunaskan bil penyenggaraan bertarikh 26 April 2007.
'Saya sudah langsaikan separuh bil penyenggaraan yang tertunggak. Walau apa pun yang berlaku saya tetap bersamanya...' ujar Encik Sulaiman pilu.

[ Last edited by  fatz at 31-7-2007 06:17 AM ]

fatz

Singapura : 2 Ogos 2007         

TUJUH GURU TADIKA MOGOK

Rancang berhenti kerja sebab dakwa tidak dibayar gaji

Oleh
Khalid Khamis

SEGELINTIR daripada kanak-kanak tadika Hijrah Kindergarten di Punggol dan Choa Chu Kang tidak ke sekolah semalam selepas menerima khabar angin cawangan tersebut ditutup.

Desas-desus itu dipercayai dikirim melalui khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) oleh beberapa guru tadika itu kepada ibu bapa tentang perkara tersebut.

Puncanya, tujuh orang guru melancarkan mogok semalam dan memutuskan berhenti bekerja kerana mendakwa mereka tidak dibayar gaji.

Tujuh daripada guru dari kedua-dua cawangan telah melaporkan hal mereka kepada Kementerian Tenaga Manusia (MOM), semalam.

Mereka juga telah membuat laporan polis dengan mendakwa majikannya mengugut mereka berkaitan wang sekolah yang dikatakan lesap.

Ketika dihubungi semalam, salah seorang daripada mereka yang meminta tidak dinamakan mengesahkan tujuh guru telah melancarkan mogok dan membuat laporan polis dan MOM.

Namun kelas tadika di kedua-dua cawangan itu berjalan seperti biasa semalam dan hanya sebilangan kecil pelajar yang dikatakan rapat dengan guru-guru itu tidak hadir.

Jun lalu Hijrah menutup dua daripada empat cawangannya di Woodlands dan Bedok Reservoir.

Ini menimbulkan masalah kepada ibu bapa untuk mendapatkan tempat tadika yang baru; mendapatkan semula wang deposit; dan menghentikan khidmat potongan Giro.

Seorang daripada mereka, Cik Nooraini Abdullah, 33 tahun, yang mengeluarkan anak bongsunya di Punggol Mei lalu mendakwa yuran sekolah $125 masih dipotong melalui Giro sehingga Jun.

Seorang lagi ibu yang menghantar anaknya di Woodlands, Cik Nuramiza Zainal, mendakwa sukar mendapatkan semula wang yang sudah dibayar selepas cawangan Woodlands ditutup.

'Setiap kali saya telefon, mereka asyik berdolak-dalik dan dah janji untuk pulangkan semula 31 Julai lalu tetapi tidak ditunaikan,' katanya.

Ketika dihubungi, bekas pemilik Hijrah, Encik Abu Bakar Noor Muhammad, berkata Hijrah kini dimiliki anak sulungnya, Encik Norman, sejak April.

Menurut Encik Norman, dua cawangan Hijrah ditutup kerana jumlah pelajar terlalu rendah dan hambatan kos.

'Bagi isu pulangan semula wang, kami perlu diberi masa kerana perlu mengadakan mesyuarat dengan anggota jawatankuasa. Tentang potongan Giro pula, dalam perjanjian ada dinyatakan ibu bapa tidak boleh mengeluarkan anak-anak mereka pada bulan Mei dan Jun sebab itu yuran masih terus dipotong,' kata Encik Norman yang turut menafikan guru-guru tidak dibayar gaji.

Beliau juga mendakwa telah membuat laporan polis semalam kerana percaya ada di kalangan guru yang pecah amanah dan menggelapkan wang sekolah.

'Ada guru yang tidak memberi resit kepada ibu bapa yang membayar yuran sekolah,' katanya lagi. Polis menjalankan siasatan.

miezarra_27

Mum dies after giving birth to twins [/td]

IT was supposed to be a double bundle of joy for the Low family, but it became a tragedy instead. After giving birth to the premature twins by a Caesarean section last Saturday, Madam Swee Lay Kuan , 44, died from massive bleeding two days later. Her husband, 43-year-old Mr Jason Low claims that Raffles Hospital, where his wife was admitted, did not have enough blood stock and the staff told him that the authorities needed to approve application to get more blood from the Bloodbank @ Health Sciences Authority (HSA). The hospital has denied this, saying that a continuous supply of bloold is always available for patients. A staff also suggested Mr Low ask his family and friends to donate blood at the Bloodbank @ HSA for Madam Swee's use. Some 200 relatives and friends responded and turned up at the Bloodbank @ HSA to donate blood, and Mr Low claims that only after that was more blood released. Madam See, a sub-contractor, was given transfusions of 103 units - about 46 litres - of blood and blood products over two days following surgery to remove her womb. The procedure was carried out soon after the twins were delivered on Saturday, due to profuse bleeding. The mother of four was originally scheduled to deliver on Aug 23, but was admitted last Thursday for bleeding that was caused by a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia). As there was a risk of premature labour, the hospital performed a Caesarean section on Saturday, "in the interests of the twins' safety". In response to Mr Low's claims that the hospital did not have enough blood, a spokesperson from Raffles Hospital told The New Paper (TNP) that a continuous supply is always available. Like all other hospitals in Singapore, Raffles Hospital holds stocks of emergency blood from the Bloodbank @ HSA for immediate use during emergencies. "The hospital would also arrange to obtain replenishments of its emergency stock from the blood bank. A supply of blood and blood products for patients who need further transfusions would also be obtained," the spokesperson told TNP. He added that it was customary in cases like Madam Swee's, "relatives and well-wishers were requested to assist the Bloodbank @ HSA's Centre for Transfusion Medicine (CTM) in replenishing their stocks." Dr Diana Teo, director of the Centre for Transfusion Medicine (CTM) of HAS said that although the centre is appreciative of family and friends coming forward to donate blood, it is "never a requirement for any patient needing blood transfusions." "The provision of blood is dependent only on the patient's clinical condition," Dr Teo told TNP. "Whether she needs 40 bags or 100 bags of blood, we will supply," she added. There is also no "higher authority" that needs to approve the release of blood, she said. For the full report, read The New Paper today

fatz

Originally posted by SQ154 at 22-4-2007 09:23 PM
Police search Pandan Reservoir for missing girl

SINGAPORE: Police and civil defence officers are searching the Pandan Reservoir for a missing girl.
Police say four teenagers, aged between 12 and 14 years, were sweptaway by the river while trying to retrieve a handphone Sunday afternoon.
One boy managed to climb out himself, while another boy and a girl were rescued after they were found hanging onto something.
Police have also closed off the entrance of the canal.
The incident happened near Block 408, Pandan Garden. - CNA/yy

the follow up...

fatz

BERITA MINGGU
19 hb 8, 2007

fatz

Singapura : 20 Ogos 2007         

USIA KELUARKAN JUMLAH MINIMUM AKAN DINAIKKAN

PM: Perubahan tidak popular tetapi perlu bagi memastikan warga berpendapatan rendahpunyai simpanan mencukupi bagi hari persaraan

PEMERINTAH akan meningkatkan usia untuk mengeluarkan Jumlah Minimum Tabung Simpanan Pekerja (CPF) kepada 65 tahun menjelang 2018.

Perubahan secara bertahap itu akan dilaksanakan mulai 2012, kata Perdana Menteri, Encik Lee Hsien Loong, semasa berucap di Rapat Hari Kebangsaan malam tadi.

Beliau berkata usia tersebut dinaikkan bagi memastikan warga Singapura yang berpendapatan rendah mempunyai simpanan yang mencukupi bagi hari persaraan mereka, terutama golongan wanita yang hidup lebih lama.

'Saya tahu perubahan ini tidak popular. Dalam satu tinjauan akhbar The Straits Times, mereka tanya adakah orang ramai mahu pulangan lebih tinggi dalam CPF mereka, mereka jawab ya! Adakah mereka mahu bekerja lebih lama, jawabnya ya! Adakah mereka bimbang simpanan persaraan tidak mencukupi, jawabnya juga ya!

'Tetapi ramai tidak mahu melengahkan masa mengeluarkan Jumlah Minimum (CPF). Tetapi kita tidak mempunyai pilihan. Penduduk kita hidup lebih lama, jadi kita mesti bekerja lebih lama dan melewatkan tempoh untuk mengeluarkan simpanan kita,' kata Encik Lee.

Pada masa ini, warga Singapura boleh mengeluarkan sebahagian wang CPF mereka pada usia 55 tahun.

Namun, mereka wajib mengetepikan Jumlah Minimum sekitar $99,600 ke akaun persaraan dan menerima habuan bulanan selama 20 tahun bermula pada usia 62 tahun.

Saranan untuk menaikkan usia tersebut sebelum ini pernah dibayangkan oleh Menteri di Pejabat Perdana Menteri, Encik Lim Boon Heng, baru-baru ini.

Akhbar ini juga pernah melaporkan bahawa para pekerja bersedia untuk menerima DDA yang lebih tinggi tetapi mahu pemerintah meluaskan dahulu peluang pekerjaan dan meneliti isu penjagaan kesihatan pekerja tua.

Menurut Encik Lee, pemerintah perlu membuat pe rubahan sekarang kerana rakyat Singapura kini hidup lebih lama.

'Walaupun dengan kadar faedah yang lebih tinggi dalam CPF, sekiranya kita mula mengeluarkan wang dari CPF terlalu awal, simpanan itu akan susut.

'Sekiranya kita melambatkannya, Jumlah Minimum itu akan bertahan lebih lama. Sekiranya anda menangguhkannya selama setahun, anda boleh menikmati kadar faedah lebih tinggi dan wang simpanan itu boleh bertahan dua tahun lagi.

'Namun, lebih ramai penduduk akan hidup melebihi 82 tahun (62 tahun usia persaraan + 20 tahun habuan bulanan), terutama golongan wanita. Oleh itu, kita perlu menaikkan kadar DDA,' ujarnya lagi.

Encik Lee berkata mereka yang mencecah usia persaraan (62 tahun) dan mereka yang berumur melebihi 58 tahun tidak akan terjejas dengan perubahan tersebut.

Mereka yang berusia 57 tahun atau lebih muda akan terjejas dengan perubahan itu.

Mereka yang berusia 57 tahun misalnya akan menerima wang dari Jumlah Minimum pada usia 63 tahun, mereka yang berusia 55 tahun (menerima pada usia 64 tahun) sementara mereka yang berumur 53 tahun ke bawah akan mula menerima wang mereka pada usia 65 tahun.

Bagi membantu anggota dalam lingkungan 50-an tahun yang terjejas dengan pe rubahan itu, pemerintah akan memberi habuan tambahan.

Golongan itu akan menerima bonus sekali sahaja dalam Akaun Persaraan yang dikenali sebagai D-Bonus (Bonus Penangguhan).

Anggota berumur 58 tahun ke atas yang menangguh tempoh DDA secara sukarela pula akan menerima V-Bonus (Bonus Penangguhan Sukarela).

Perincian mengenai bonus khas ini akan diumumkan kelak.

fatz

Singapura : 22 Ogos 2007         
         
HIJRAH KINDERGARTEN DIARAH TUTUP

SEMUA ASET DIRAMPAS OA

Oleh
Khalid Khamis

HIJRAH Kindergarten diarah menghentikan operasi mulai 1 September ini selepas pejabat pemegang harta (OA) membatalkan pemindahan hak milik tadika tersebut daripada bekas pemiliknya kepada anaknya.

Semua aset perniagaan Encik Abu Bakar Noor Mohamed dirampas OA di bawah Seksyen 77 Akta Muflis.

Notis arahan penutupan itu dikirimkan kepada Hijrah Kindergarten di dua cawangannya di Punggol dan Choa Chu Kang kelmarin.

Selain itu, satu lagi notis juga diberikan kepada pemiutang dan pemegang aset untuk membuat tuntutan sebelum atau pada 3 September ini kepada OA.

Dalam jawapannya kepada Berita Harian semalam, Pejabat Muflis dan Pemegang Amanah Awam (Ipto) mengesahkan telah mengeluarkan notis untuk menutup semua perniagaan Encik Abu Bakar termasuk dua tadika nya itu.

'Pihak OA tidak boleh memberi komen lanjut mengenai kes ini kerana siasatan masih dijalankan,' tambah jurucakap Ipto.

Encik Abu Bakar kini dipercayai disiasat cuba menghapuskan asetnya sebelum mengisytiharkan dirinya muflis kerana memindahkan asetnya kepada anaknya, Encik Norman.

Kini pihak OA bekerjasama dengan Kementerian Pendidikan (MOE) untuk meringankan kesusahan terhadap ibu bapa dan penjaga.

Antara lain, senarai tadika lain di sekitar kawasan dua tadika terjejas akan diberikan untuk membantu mereka mencari tadika lain.

Menurut notis dan dokumen itu, OA memberi masa sehingga akhir bulan ini untuk para ibu bapa pelajar terjejas mencari sekolah alternatif.

Notis itu turut ditampal di depan pagar Hijrah Kindergarten untuk memaklumkan para ibu bapa.

Hijrah Kindergarten turut menampal notis menyatakan Encik Abu Bakar telah memindahkan perniagaannya kepada anak sulungnya, Encik Norman.

Malah pihak pengurusan juga mendakwa bahawa pengurusan Hijrah Kindergarten akan diambil alih oleh pengurusan yang baru agar pendidikan anak-anak tidak terjejas.

Sehingga akhbar ini dicetak, Hijrah Kindergarten tidak membalas pertanyaan yang diajukan oleh BH melalui faks.

Kontroversi Hijrah Kindergarten mendapat perhatian selepas beberapa kakitangannya membuat aduan kepada Kementerian Tenaga Manusia (MOM) kerana gaji dan caruman CPF yang tertunggak awal bulan ini semasa dalam pengurusan Encik Abu Bakar.

Seorang jurucakcap CPF ketika dihubungi berkata:

'Kami telah memfail satu Tuntutan Utama (Prefrential) dengan OA bagi jumlah yang masih tertunggak.'

Sebelum itu, Encik Abu Bakar didenda $9,600 tidak termasuk jumlah CPF kakitangan yang tertunggak kerana dua kali sabit kesalahan gagal bayar gaji.

Dalam jawapan bertulis, MOM mengesahkan mahkamah telah mengarahkan Encik Norman membayar gaji lima bekas pekerjanya.

Kes berkaitan dengan CPF pula dijangka didengar lagi hari ini.

fatz

Bus driver dies after losing control of vehicle
By Ca-Mie De Souza, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 August 2007 1635 hrs
         

SINGAPORE: A 43-year-old bus driver died on the spot after he was flung out of his vehicle while travelling along Woodlands Road.

The accident happened at 1.20am on Friday.

Police said the driver of the private bus had lost control of his vehicle, mounted the centre divider and crossed into the opposite lane before crashing into some trees and a building.

He was flung out and sustained multiple injuries.

The only passenger in the bus, a 45-year-old woman, sustained slight leg injuries and received outpatient treatment at the National University Hospital.

Police are appealing for eyewitnesses to call the Traffic Police Hotline at 1800-547-1818.

fatz

16-year-old boy dies after being hit by bus at Hougang Central
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 August 2007 2319 hrs
         
         
SINGAPORE : A 16-year-old boy died after being hit by an SBS Transit bus at Hougang Central on Friday morning.

The driver is now assisting the police with investigations.

SBS Transit says it will carry out its own checks once police investigations are completed.

Meanwhile, the driver has been suspended with immediate effect.

Police say the bus was turning right into Hougang Central at about 7am when it knocked down Gabriel Goh Wei Xiang, who was on his way to school.

The three passengers onboard were not injured.

Channel NewsAsia understands that Gabriel's family learned about the incident after his teacher called to say he did not attend school on Friday.

Gabriel, who was studying at Holy Innocents' High School at Upper Serangoon Road, was due to take his O-level examinations this year.

His father, Goh Joo Chuan, said, "His teacher called me today, saying that Wei Xiang did not come for class today. So I informed my wife and she called home, asking Wei Xiang's elder brother to go down the flat to take a look. His brother recognised his shoes and school bag on the road." - CNA/ms

fatz

Home > Latest News > Courts and Crime
Aug 24, 2007        

Lawyer failed to get client off for molest
SHOULD a woman's breasts be considered private parts? This issue was put before the court on Friday as a lawyer tried unsuccessfully to save his client from doing jail time for molest.

Mr Raymond Lye's client, 29-year-old Indian national Valluru Krishna, had grabbed the breasts of a 25-year-old woman at the void deck of a block of flats on the night of Jan 30 this year.

Valluru was fined $4,500 by a district court in May but the prosecution appealed to the High Court to jail him for at least nine months and order caning.

This is a standard sentence that has been handed down to molestors who violate their victims' private parts - including breasts - since former chief justice Yong Pung How set the benchmark.

But on Friday, Mr Lye cited dictionary definitions to argue that breasts are not considered private parts.

In other words, his client's crime was not so serious that it fell into this category of cases which warranted the benchmark sentence.

He urged the court to relook the benchmark for cases involving contact with the breasts.

The punishment, he suggested, should range from a fine, for 'fleeting contact over a fully clothed woman', to a short jail term for serious cases, such as where threats are used.

Mr Lye said his client's case only deserved a high fine. He also urged the court to consider - as a last resort - just a short jail term.

Justice Tay Yong Kwang, after hearing the appeal, substituted the $4,500 fine with a three-month jail term.

But he did not make a ruling with regards to Mr Lye's arguments on the definition of private parts.

Read the full report in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.

fatz

MOH hopes to change HOTA to include Muslims by year's end
By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 August 2007 2310 hrs




SINGAPORE: The Health Ministry hopes to include Muslims under the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) by the end of the year.

But before the law is amended in November, the ministry wants to seek public views on the matter and get feedback on whether it could be given enforcement powers to investigate HOTA-related offences.

Last year, there were 557 persons waiting for a kidney transplant. Among them, 118 (or 21 per cent) were Malays, but only 56 got the transplant.

And of the 418 organ donors from 1988 to June this year, only ten were Muslims.

The proposed changes to HOTA aim to change the situation.

"Part of the reason for doing public consultation is

fatz

PM Lee to speak on progress of Malay community
By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 25 August 2007 2306 hrs



SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will be speaking at self-help group Mendaki's 25th anniversary celebrations next week.

Some figures on the progress of the Malay community in the last 25 years will also be released during the event.

Responding to a question on the community's progress during the Young NTUC Dialogue on Saturday, Mr Lee said while there's still a gap between the Malay community and others, there has been dramatic and steady progress within the community in the last 25 years.

This is in terms of education, housing and the quality of life.

Mr Lee said it will take a long time to eliminate the gap because in heterogeneous societies over the world, it's difficult to have identical performances among all of them.

But if each community made the effort to take advantage of the opportunities available, they would then do well. - CNA /ls

[ Last edited by  fatz at 26-8-2007 12:02 PM ]

fatz

2 die in Six Avenue car crash

Two young men, believed to be foreigners, died when their sports convertible burst into flames early yesterday morning after slamming into a concrete wall of a bungalow on Sixth Avenue, trapping them inside.

Police said the bodies were so badly burnt that they have not been able to conclusively identify the two men, who were pronounced dead at the scene at 4.30 am.

The driver is believed to be a 19-year-old foreigner who studied here, and the passenger, also said to be 19, was a student at the United World College.

The impact of the crash was so great that the bang woke up the wife of IT manager Muller Felix, whose house is a few doors from the crash site.

Mr Felix,49, roused from his sleep by his wife, rushed out with a fire extinguisher, even though he knew it was hopeless to try and save anyone trapped in the burning two-door car.

Recalling the incident yesterday to The New Paper on Sunday, Mr Felix, who is from the Netherlands, and has been living in Sixth Avenue for about 10 years, said: "My wife was the first to be woken up. She heard the sound of screeching tyres followed by three explosions.

"We could see from our window that a fire had broken out."

While Mrs Felix called for fire fighters, Mr Felix ran to the kitchen to grab a fire extinguisher.

Said Mr Felix: "I tried to get as close as I could to the burning car. The closest I got to it was about half a metre.

"I used the fire extinguisher to put out the flames on the front passenger side as the driver's side was up against the all."

He added: "There was no shouts or screams coming from the men inside the car. There was absolutely nothing that I or the rescuers who came after could have done to save them."

He said there were a few small explosions, followed by bright flashes.

Two fire bikes, a fire engine and an ambulance from the Singapore Civil Defence Force rushed to the scene and doused the fire within five minutes.

They then found two men in the front seats and took 15 minutes to extricate their bodies from the wreckage. They are believed to have been heading to the McDonald's outlet in King Albert Park to meet friends.

A 19-year-old undergraduate living in the house, whose garden wall was slammed into by the car, said he could see two-metre tall flames from his bedroom window.

"We could see the car from our kitchen window. Even though a garden was between us and the wall, we could feel the heat," said the undergrad, who wanted to be known only as Alex.

He ran to his neighbours' homes to raise the alarm in case the fire spread.

"We were worried that houses were going to burn down because the flames were so big," he said.

It is not clear to whom the car belonged or if the driver had a licence or had been drinking, said The Sunday Times.

Several hours after the accident, a Caucasian man and a woman who looked Chinese turned up at the mortuary to identify one of the bodies. Later in the afternoon, they gathered with a small group of friends and a Chinese monk to burn joss papers and joss sticks at the crash site.

[ Last edited by  fatz at 26-8-2007 12:15 PM ]