Chong Wei puts on ‘weight’ and it suits him fine

World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei is putting on “weight” in his bid for glory at the World Championships in Guangzhou, China, from Aug 5-11.

The 30-year-old has been wearing a new and funky high-tech performance suit in training since last week. Named Lila, it is a locally-made brand and created by Joseph Dolcetti, a former head of the conditioning department at the National Sports Institute (NSI).

Weights are attached to the suit, which uses the Exogen technology (High Performance Exoskeletons), and the wearer can load up to 10% of his body weight.

“Age is catching up. So, I am game to try out anything new in sports science to give me power and speed to keep up with the youngsters. Why not embrace it if it helps. I have tried Lila and I am comfortable with it,” said Chong Wei, the first Malaysian athlete to adopt the new weight training programme.

 Continue Reading..

Bus Companies not selling bus ticket until govern increase 30% price ticket

A late scramble for bus tickets is on the cards for those planning the balik kampung trip for the coming Hari Raya period unless express bus companies get their way.

The companies want to raise their fares by 30% and have chosen not to sell advance tickets for July and August until they get Government confirmation over an increase.

The move, if approved, will see a bus ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru costing about RM40 instead of the usual RM31.10 (Transnasional).

Pan Malaysian Bus Operators Association (PMBOA) president Datuk Ashfar Ali said the bus companies had met Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) officials in late May seeking the increase.

Continue reading..

Liong Sik: I don’t understand bonds

Dr Ling also told the court that he could not understand JPPH’s valuation of the land, saying it was very “confusing” to him


Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik admitted during his cheating trial today that he does not understand the purpose behind the issuance of bonds to finance a property purchase.

Dr Ling, who served as Malaysia’s transport minister for 17 years until 2003, told the High Court that while he has heard of bonds, his knowledge on the matter is limited to what he reads in stock market reports.

“That’s all I know,” he said to a question from lead prosecutor Datuk Tun Majid Tun Hamzah during cross-examination this afternoon.

“What about bonds for purchasing property? Or bonds to finance a purchase?” Tun Majid asked.

Shrugging, Dr Ling said, “No.”

“So you have never heard about people raising bonds to finance a purchase?” Tun Majid continued.

“No. They may be doing it but I don’t know how to do it and I don’t understand its purpose,” Dr Ling replied.

No need to amend Act - Minister

There is no need to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 as the mandatory jail sentence for dangerous driving leading to the death of accident victims is already provided under the act.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha in a statement today said studies, however, could be done to gauge the effectiveness of the existing law with the aim of improving it in future.

He said there are six sections that incorporated prison sentences - varying between three months to 10 years - based on the seriousness of the offences committed by drivers.

"The offences were causing death by reckless or dangerous driving, reckless and dangerous driving, careless and inconsiderate driving, driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs and being in charge of motor vehicles when under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs," he said.

KTMB's commuter service gets a boost

Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and KTMB President, Dr Aminuddin Adnan having a look at one of the six car sets (SCS) coaches at the KTMB complex depot in Batu Gajah, Perak.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad(KTMB) commuter service is expected to get a shot in the arm in February when four of the 38 six car sets (SCS) it purchased become operational.

Its president Dr Aminuddin Adnan said this would help overcome problems like delays and lack of coaches faced by the service, which was currently using the three-coach Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) sets.

Lady taxi drivers

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry launched women taxi drivers as an alternative mode of public transportation for women.

RTD to clip wings of ‘lesen terbang’ motorists

Those who cut corners to obtain their driving license may not get to drive in the future because the Road Transport Department (RTD) will blacklist them from driving exams.

This stern warning comes from RTD director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan in the wake of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arresting three men from different driving schools yesterday for their alleged involvement with a lesen terbang (flying license) syndicate.

The syndicate is believed to have allowed students sitting for their driving examinations to skip taking the computerised first stage test, but will still be able to “pass” it – for a fee.

It’s a four-car MRT

Taipei MRT and Singapore MRT


THE RM36 billion Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system in the Klang Valley will have four-car train sets which can carry up to 1,200 passengers for each trip.

Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) group managing director Shahril Mokhtar said the four-car train set was to accommodate a projected 1.2 million commuters along the proposed 51km line with 35 stations.

“The rolling stock tender for the new four-car MRT trains will be opened early next year. We are looking at having four-car trains which can accommodate 50 per cent more passengers per trip, to cope with the projected increase in commuters."

Currently, the four-car train sets at the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Kelana Jaya line has a capacity of 800 passengers per trip.

During peak hours, the frequency of the MRT trains would be increased to one every two minutes, if there was enough trains to cope.

AirAsia reintroduces fuel surcharge from May 3

AirAsia, the low-cost carrier, will reintroduce the fuel surcharge for all domestic and international routes beginning May 3 to offset escalating jet fuel price.

To date, the price has exceeded US$140 (RM420) per barrel.

"Rising jet fuel prices and continuous upward spiral caused by the situation in the Middle East and other external factors have made it imperative for us to reintroduce the fuel surcharge " said regional head of commercial Kathleen Tan in a statement today.

She however said AirAsia would continue to ensure its fares would remain low despite the fuel surcharge.

She also said all flight bookings made before May 3 would not be affected by the fuel surcharge.

Meanwhile, she said, the airlines' recent partnership with Expedia, the world's online travel agency, and other initiatives, which are currently in the pipeline would further increase its revenue for ancillary income.

Police no longer hide behind pillars for traffic ops

Police no longer hide behind pillars in carrying out traffic operations, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar.

"We no longer hide behind pillars, but issue summonses immediately, and those issued with summonses should not forget to settle their fines," he said during a dialogue session with 1,000 Indian youths at the programme, 'A Day With the Police' at the Selangor Police Headquarters, here today.

Khalid said this when responding to a statement by a dialogue participant that the frequent police presence on the road lately had resulted in drivers being more disciplined on the road compared to the past when policemen hid at the end of the road and emerging from their hiding place to stop traffic offenders.

Khalid later told a media conference that the physical presence of the policemen during traffic operations had started not long ago.

"Don't be surprised if you are issued with a summons ... we shouldn't be hiding, we will come out in the open and enforce the law," he said.

On efforts by the police to curb gangsterism among the Indian community in Selangor as raised by several participants, he said besides prosecuting them in court, police also carried out preventive measures.

MMC-Gamuda blocking Bumi companies in MRT project, says Perkasa

There’s an “evil” attempt by MMC-Gamuda Joint Venture Sdn Bhd to deny Bumiputera contractors opportunities in the Klang Valley mass rapid transit (MRT) project, several Malay groups allege.

Perkasa, along with NGOs of Bumiputera entrepreneurs, today accused the project delivery partner (PDP) for the MRT project of enforcing “strict” conditions which disallowed Bumiputera participation and only benefitted “rich Non-bumis.”

“Perkasa along with Bumiputera NGOs feel as though tight conditions are purposely being enforced by MMC-Gamuda JV...is Prasarana also playing a part in this project or not?

“What is Prasarana’s role? What we can see now is that the package for the MRT construction is being looted and monopolised by MMC-Gamuda and Bumiputera contractors have absolutely no chance to take part,” said Perkasa economic director Dr Zubir Harun.

Puduraya resumes services

The Puduraya Bus Terminal has begun operations after undergoing major renovations. 

Vehicle sales at all-time month high

Total vehicle sales surged to an all-time month high of 12.7% to 63,265 units in March 2011 from 56,139 units a year earlier due to a rush for deliveries and invoicing by companies that have their financial year ending in March, the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) said in a statement yesterday.

“Year-to-date (YTD) March 2011 sales volume increased by 7.5% over the same period last year, up from 4.3% as at YTD February 2011,” said MAA, which also attributed the higher sales in March to it being a longer working month (compared to February).

“Fear and anticipation of a possible short supply and higher prices of motor vehicles caused by the catastrophe in Japan resulted in consumers buying forward,” it said.

Of total vehicle sales, passenger vehicles in March rose to 56,483 units from 50,533 units a year earlier while the number of commercial vehicles rose to 6,782 units from 5,606 units previously.

Meanwhile, total vehicle production, both passenger and commercial, rose to 53,124 units from 51,579 units a year earlier.

Passenger vehicle production increased to 49,118 units and commercial vehicle production was higher to 4,006 units from 3,850 units in the previous corresponding period.

MAA said sales volume for April would moderate and is expected to be lower than March.

“The strong sales in March 2011 is unusual,” it said, adding that adjustments of production from the impact of the catastrophe in Japan might start to affect supply.

Puduraya resumes services

The Puduraya Bus Terminal has begun operations after undergoing major renovations.

MRT’s first contract runs into controversy

The owners of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) will award their first major contract today for an independent check engineer (ICE) chosen by the government and who will be paid two per cent of the undetermined project cost, which is reportedly above market rates.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the consortium of HSS Integrated Sdn Bhd, Hong Kong’s MTR Corp Ltd and Canadian SNC-Lavalin is likely to land the contract despite being rejected by Syarikat Prasarana Berhad (SPNB) earlier for not putting a price to its brief — which usually costs up to 0.8 per cent of the total project.

The total project cost for the MRT is estimated at RM36.6 billion for three rail lines through the Klang Valley when it was first proposed two years ago but that projection did not include cost of land and also rolling stock for the MRT.

Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project KVM

Govt may ban electric bicycles

Electric bicycles may be taken off the road if the Cabinet accepts a recommendation from the Transport Ministry.

Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said he will be presenting a paper during Friday’s Cabinet meeting to recommend disallowing electric bicycles, citing safety reasons.

He said continuing to allow electric bicycles, which have battery-powered motors, could result in a higher risk of injury or death.

Stubborn offenders 17m traffic summonses not paid despite discount offer

The deadline to pay traffic summonses at a discount has passed but a staggering 17 million summonses have not been paid.

These offenders will be blacklisted and cannot renew their driving licences or vehicle road tax.

Federal traffic police chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof, who released the figures yesterday, said only 65 per cent of the 49.4 million summonses dating from 2000 had been paid by Monday’s deadline.

The offer of discounts to settle summonses started last December.


Last August, the cabinet warned that motorists who did not settle their outstanding summonses by Feb 28 would be blacklisted.

Pay your summons before Feb 28th

Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan warned traffic offenders there would not be a further grace period for those who failed to settle their summons before March 1st.

RM10 million to repair MRR2 this year: Shaziman

Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said RM10mil will be spent this year to repair and improve the traffic system at Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2).

"We will resurface MRR2 if necessary to make the road safe for motorists," he said after visiting three locations; MRR2 towards Kepong, Batu Caves flyover and the road to Karak highway at Gombak today.

He said the Cabinet meeting on Jan 19 had agreed that the ministry took full responsibility for repairing MRR2 since last month to avoid duplication with other agencies.

Repair of the 45km stretch was previously divided between Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Public Works Department (PWD).

"Duplication of responsibility had confused the people who ended up being pushed from PWD to DBKL and back," he said.

MRR2 and federal highway between Kuala Lumpur to Subang would be involved in a pilot project using LED lights that could save electricity up to 55 percent.

"The LED lights to be installed next month are brighter and if proven successful will be put up at other roads."

Shaziman said MRR2 was chosen as it is the most popular road nationwide with traffic of 200,000 vehicles daily.