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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Cops hunting for ‘Datuk’, 4 others involved in gold robbery case

 

Ampang Jaya police chief Azam Ismail says the victim allegedly made a purchase with the suspects to capitalise on escalating gold prices. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Police are on the hunt for a local man with a “Datuk” title and four African nationals suspected of involvement in a robbery during a gold purchase transaction at a shopping centre in Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, last Friday.

Ampang Jaya police chief Azam Ismail said the 27-year-old victim, who owns a restaurant, claimed it was his first encounter with the suspects, Harian Metro reported.

“The victim allegedly engaged in a purchase transaction with the suspects to capitalise on the rising gold prices,” Azam was quoted as saying.

“In this instance, we have yet to recover the money taken by the suspects.”

Earlier, police reportedly arrested three women suspected of being involved in a robbery involving gold transactions which resulted in a loss of RM300,000.

According to the victim’s police report, he and his friend had engaged in a transaction with a woman and a man at the shopping centre on March 15 at 1pm.

Police said the three detained women, aged 58, 54, and 31, were sales agents. Investigations are being conducted under Sections 395 and 397 of the Penal Code - FMT

British music brain recalls Sudirman’s stunning 1989 Asian win

 

The Asian Popular Music Awards in 1989 was the brainchild of Simon Napier-Bell, whose career spans a large part of the history of British pop. (Simon Napier-Bell pic).

PETALING JAYA: Impresario Simon Napier-Bell remembers vividly the day a small man who dreamt big turned up at the Royal Albert Hall in London 35 years ago and did something extraordinary.

It was March 19, 1989, and at 5’1, Malaysian singer Sudirman Arshad was the clear underdog onstage, up against eight other pop idols for the best performer title at the Asian Popular Music Awards.

Napier-Bell said Sudirman’s was an incredible victory, considering he was up against the best of Asia without any international exposure.

He said the likes of Singaporean trailblazer Anita Sarawak, Hong Kong megastar Leslie Cheung, Philippines’ diva Kuh Ledesma and China’s rock icon Cui Jian were already accomplished performers on the intercontinental circuit.

Napier-Bell, who organised the event, recalled how Sudirman heralded his arrival on the global scene “with a star performance, filled with passion”.

He said the singer nailed it with the song “One Thousand Million Smiles”, a tune composed just days before the event.

“The song will undoubtedly stand the test of time; well-written songs don’t go away,” said Napier-Bell in a video call from Thailand where he now resides.

“The audience, comprising at least 30% Filipinos and many Malaysians, were awe-struck,” he said. “So were the judges.”

Napier-Bell said the event was recorded and broadcast in full on Carlton Television, and received good ratings.

He said it was unfortunate Sudirman could not show the world more of what he was capable of.

“He was a natural, instinctive musician whose captivating persona would have embraced fans across Asia and perhaps even elsewhere,” he added.

Sudirman died on Feb 22 in 1992, aged 37, after being bedridden for almost seven months.

His nephew, Atai, recently disclosed to FMT jottings written as a 13-year-old in his diary after witnessing Sudirman’s win in London.

Atai wrote: “I’m out of words. My favourite uncle won, not only the hearts of Asians, but the British as well.”

Sudirman (fourth from left) with Asia’s best who performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London. (Daniel Dharanee pic)

He said it didn’t feel like Sudirman had won the Asian title. Rather, it felt like he had taken the UK by storm.

The competition did have its anxious moments.

The song, composed by Michael Veerapen and penned by Paul Ponnudurai, was submitted to the London-based orchestra mere days before the event.

Then there was the awkward moment when musical director Veerapen learned at the final hour that his passport would not be valid for the trip.

The problem, however, was overcome with a quick phone call to the immigration department, courtesy of Sudirman’s star power.

On the night of the performance, Sudirman merely got 30% of his choreography right, yet when it came to announcing Asia’s best performer, chief judge Peter Jamieson announced there was a clear winner.

Simon Napier-Bell (centre) with Jimmy Page (left) and Keith Relf of the Yardbirds in 1965. (Simon Napier-Bell pic)

Yardbirds, Wham! and more

Napier-Bell has been a leading figure in the music industry for over 50 years as a songwriter, record producer, artiste manager and entrepreneur.

His career has spanned a large part of the history of British pop. Among those he managed were the Yardbirds, Marc Bolan, Boney M, Asia, Ultravox, Japan, Blue Mercedes and Wham!

In 1985, he masterminded taking Wham! to China, the first Western pop group ever to play there, a publicity coup that made George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley household names worldwide.

Besides writing several best-selling books on the music industry, he also wrote film scores and co-wrote Dusty Springfield’s hit song, “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” (later recorded by Elvis Presley).

Asked why the Asian Popular Music Awards ended after just one edition, he said it was discontinued due to the ban on tobacco advertising.

He said he was unable to get other sponsors because he was tied down by a five-year sponsorship deal with Salem.

“We had planned for the second event to be held in Kuala Lumpur and for it to eventually make an impact on the global music scene over the years,” he said.

Just a few weeks away from his 85th birthday, he still has projects on the go.

Napier-Bell said he was looking forward to working with Sudirman’s former manager Daniel Dharanee on a project called “The Artiste”, aimed at tapping music talents in Asia.

On Malaysia’s stringent restrictions on concerts by international artistes, he simply said: “Game over, Malaysia.” FMT


Miti’s RM1bil tech revenue goal ‘challenging but achievable’

 

Deputy minister of investment, trade and industry Liew Chin Tong says the ministry aims to have 100 local technology firms achieve an annual revenue of RM1 billion each by 2030.

PETALING JAYA: The government’s target of having 100 local technology companies each generating RM1 billion in revenue by 2030 is challenging, but feasible with effort, say major industry players.

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) said focusing on strengthening the information and communications technology (ICT) ecosystem will be crucial in supporting the growth of tech companies to meet this goal.

“According to Bursa Malaysia’s portal, only five out of the 118 technology companies listed on the exchange have achieved more than RM1 billion in revenue so far,” FMM president Soh Thian Lai told FMT.

“In addition to providing financing assistance, advisory services and business guidance, the government should look into strengthening the ICT ecosystem and talent pool.”

Soh said the government should focus on specific measures such as developing local technology solution providers to aid small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in technology innovation.

“The government should also foster technology talent development by redesigning technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes for high-skilled jobs.

“It should also strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics education to produce sufficient and competent engineering graduates,” he said.

Malaysian Employers Federation president Syed Hussain Syed Husman also said Miti’s target was achievable despite being a challenge.

“This is based on the idea that the companies will be supported by the government, which will also continue to support the SMEs in research and development and innovation,” he said.

Syed Hussain said the Malaysian Investment Development Authority’s (Mida) work in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, particularly in aerospace and global services clusters, will have an impact in this area.

Economist Carmelo Ferlito said he remains “very sceptical” about setting quantitative targets, citing the challenge firms face in accurately predicting their future revenues.

“Therefore, it is quite unrealistic to think that we can really target a certain industry to count a certain number of players generating a certain amount of revenue.

“The target is not too big or too small, it is just impossible to determine. The economy is an evolving and ever-changing organism, and it does not respond to centrally planned targets,” the Center for Market Education CEO said.

However, he said, the commitment to create the appropriate ecosystem for private firms to flourish is positive.

“It needs to be translated into adequate policies that may benefit the entire economy and not only the high-tech sector,” he said.

On March 12, deputy minister of investment, trade and industry Liew Chin Tong said the ministry aimed to have 100 local technology firms achieve an annual revenue of RM1 billion by 2030.

Liew said the government will continue to support local companies in R&D and innovation by providing assistance to SMEs nationwide. - FMT

Isu stoking: Tindakan tegas perlu diambil jika berlaku kecuaian - Ikim

 


Tindakan tegas perlu diambil terhadap pihak pengurusan KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd (KK Super Mart) sekiranya terbukti berlaku unsur kecuaian dalam kes penjualan stoking tertera kalimah Allah kerana ia melibatkan sensitiviti 3R (bangsa, agama dan raja).

Ketua Pengarah Institut Kefahaman Islam Malaysia (IKIM) Prof Datuk Dr. Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil berkata tindakan itu sebagai pengajaran kepada semua pihak agar insiden seumpama ini tidak berulang di masa hadapan.

“Sebenarnya perkara seperti ini bukan pertama kali, ia pernah berlaku sebelum ini…oleh itu IKIM menyarankan supaya masyarakat Malaysia mengambil pendekatan memahami dan mengetahui tentang perkara yang dibenarkan atau dilarang dalam sesebuah agama.

“Dalam hal ini, kita melihat Perlembagaan itu sendiri menjunjung kebebasan seseorang untuk menganut agama, namun agama Islam telah diberi satu kedudukan yang tinggi dalam agama di bawah Perkara 3 (1) dan agama lain dapat diamalkan dengan aman dan damai,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian dalam temu bual eksklusif dalam rancangan Malaysia Petang Ini yang diterbitkan Bernama TV hari ini bagi mengulas isu berhubung isu penjualan stoking yang tertera kalimah Allah di satu daripada cawangan kedai serbaneka terkemuka itu.

Mohamed Azam berkata insiden seperti itu tidak seharusnya berlaku tambahan pula umat Islam kini berada dalam bulan Ramadan yang mulia.

“Jika perkara ini berlaku di luar negara yang majoritinya beragama Islam, saya kira hukuman yang lebih berat pasti dikenakan...sebagai contoh menghina Jesus di negara majoritinya beragama Kristian seperti di England individu itu boleh dikenakan tindakan di bawah undang-undang Blasphemy,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun beliau menasihati orang ramai supaya tidak mengambil tindakan di tangan sendiri dan menyerahkan hal itu kepada pihak berkuasa untuk mengambil tindakan sewajarnya.

Selain itu beliau berkata pihaknya juga menguar-uarkan pendekatan konsep ‘Fiqh al-Ta`ayusy’ atau ‘co-existence’ iaitu hidup orang Islam dan bukan Islam dalam keadaan yang aman dengan memahami pantang larang agama masing-masing.

- Bernama

Woman remanded for breaching men's prayer room at Penang mosque

 


Police have remanded a woman who breached the men's prayer room at Jamek Ar-Rahman Mosque in Batu Feringghi and claimed that the voice of the bilal and the imam were too loud and that they were disturbing the neighbourhood.

Astro Awani reported Timur Laut police chief Razlam Ab Hamid as saying that the elderly woman was remanded for four days starting yesterday to assist in the investigation after her family handed her over to the police at a nearby station.

In addition, he said, the woman will be referred to a psychiatrist.

So far, the investigation is carried out according to Section 298A of the Penal Code, which covers causing disharmony using religion.

"We received seven police reports regarding the case, and we will also refer the woman to a psychiatrist because the suspect seems to have a mental problem," he said when contacted.

A video of a woman who did not cover her aurat (improperly dressed) and entering the men's prayer room indicated the incident took place at 10pm on March 12.

According to the mosque chairperson Ismail Din, this was the woman’s third attempt at expressing her dissatisfaction with two previous complaints made through letters sent to the mosque.

He said the woman claimed that the mosque’s morning call to prayer disturbed the neighbours who were sleeping. - Mkini