Newswriting Assignment 2

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak gave a speech of Malaysia Green Forum 2010 on 26^th April at Sri Siantan Conference Hall for advancing environmental and landscape issues.

Malaysia Green Forum main objective is to build an action‐oriented network that deals with environmental issues in a holistic manner. The MGF2010 has drawn the participation of senior government officials, industry captains, society leaders and academic experts from within and outside the country. 

Malaysia is one of the countries with the richest biodiversity in the world, which prized with 16 million hectares of tropical forest area, and 73% of them are protected as a national park. He hopes that through MGF2010 meeting, the participants would be able to come up with creative, innovative and pragmatic solutions to the green issue our country face today, said by Dato'Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak.

The prime minister mention that he would like to recognize the critical contribution by Yang Amat Berbahagia Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for bringing together 14 agencies from 4 different ministries when he established the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in 2004 that paved the way for a more comprehensive and cohesive approach in tackling environmental issues.

The government has consistently affirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability over the years and continues to take cognizance of the growing need and urgency of green technology towards sustainable development, said by the Prime Minister.

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak announced the formation of the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water after six day of taking office. The government continues to take cognizance of the growing need and urgency of green technology towards sustainable development. 

Hence the National Green Technology Policy was launched last year, just 106 days after the setting up of the said ministry. A technical arm called The National Green Technology Center also came to being through a restructuring exercise of the then Malaysia Energy Centre. He would like to thank for the forum partners such as Sime Darby Berhad, UEM Group Berhad, and TSR Capital Berhad for coming forward to demonstrate their operate social responsibility for supporting the forum, he added. 

Newswriting Assignment 1

ALUTIEN: A 6.6 magnitude strong earthquake hit Aleutian Islands on Sunday night at 7:01 p.m. PST reported by Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

There’s an epicenter in the North Pacific, about 40 miles east of the village of Nikolski and 850 miles southwest of Anchorage. It shook the three fishing villages which located on western islands in the Aleutian chain including Nikolski, Dutch Harbor and Unalaska for three minutes without injuries or major damage.

According to seismologist George Carts, the quake was felt strongly in the towns of Unalaska, and there was some minor damage at Nikolski, with items knocked off shelves and small items damaged.

The earthquake of 6.6 magnitudes can cause severe damage if it hits populated areas, richter scale measures ground motion and is recorded on seismographs; each increase of one number means a tenfold increase in magnitude; example, 7.5 is 10 times greater than 6.5.

After 20 aftershocks; one measured 5.0 on the scale. None was powerful enough to cause a tsunami, officials said and Aleutians are sparsely settled.


Official categories: 3.5 can cause slight damage; 4, can cause moderate damage; 5, is considerable damage; 6, can cause severe damage; 7, definitely a major earthquake which can cause widespread heavy damage; 8, consider as a great quake.

Element of Newsworthy 5

Wednesday October 3, 2012

DJ Royce Tan distressed by lack of closure over his mother’s murder

KUALA LUMPUR: Radio DJ Royce Tan said he has endured severe distress after the murder of his mother last year and the pain has been worsened by the slow pace in bringing the alleged murderer to justice.

At a press conference held at the office of his lawyer Gobind Singh Deo here on Wednesday, a tearful Tan said that a delay in completing the post-mortem report had delayed court proceedings several times.

Tan's mother Lai Kam Lian was discovered stabbed to death outside the compound of her house in Taman Sri Segambutat about 9.45pm on Dec 1 last year.

Hair dresser Lim Kang Wee, 29, was arrested the next day and charged in the Magistrate's Court on Dec 15 for the murder of the My FM Mandarin radio station deejay's mother.

The court allowed Lim, who was once a mental patient, to be sent to Hospital Bahagia Tanjung Rambutan, Perak, for observation.

Lim's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said the case had been called up seven times so far in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court, but could not be transferred to the High Court for trial due to the delay in completing the post-mortem report.

“In today's practice it usually takes about two to three months, at most, for a post mortem report to be prepared.”

He said that a prolonged delay would jeopardise the fairness of the trial as the memories of witnesses would fade over time.

Gobind, who is also MP for Puchong, said he had written to the Attorney General about the matter a few weeks ago and would also be raising the matter in his Budget speech.

The case has been sent for mention at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/3/nation/20121003175202&sec=nation

What: DJ Royce Tan's mother been murdered 

Where: Compound of her house in Taman Sri Segambutat

When: Dec 1 last year

Who: Lai Kam Lian and Lim Kang Wee

Why: Murderer are once a mental patient

How: Stabbed to death

Element of Newsworthy: Conflict

Element of Newsworthy 4

Tuesday October 2, 2012

Group hired to kill me, says DJ

JOHOR BARU: A local radio station DJ went through a harrowing experience when she was abducted by a group of men who threatened to kill and burn her.

Julie Diana Omar Shariff, 34, who has been a DJ for Best 104 for eight years, was driving home to Kampung Sungai Danga when the 1am incident took place on Saturday.

“A group of eight men in two cars blocked my car and one of them barged into my vehicle and pointed a gun at my neck.

“He then covered my face with a cloth and tied my hands before driving me off in the vehicle,” she said.

Julie added that one of the men told her that they were hired to kidnap, kill and burn her.

“They told me that someone had told them to do so because I had refused to reciprocate his love,” she said, adding that during the journey, one of the men received a call from an unknown person who told them that they were not allowed to rape or harm her.

She was then taken to a plantation where the group took away her valuables including her cellphone, jewellery and RM20,000.

“One of them even pricked my thumb,” she said, adding that she was then released but suffered minor injuries due to the pushing and shoving.

She said she was surprised that the men gave her some money and a bottle of water, and returned her driving licence.

Julie, who did not know who hired the gang, lodged a report at the Ayer Bemban police station.

Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Dr Hashim Haron said police had arrested two suspects. “We nabbed the duo, in their early 40's, between 4pm and 6pm on Sunday and are looking for another three to five suspects,” he said.

He added that the case would be investigated under Section 395/397 of the Penal Code for armed robbery.

“The two men have been remanded until Oct 7 to facilitate investigations,” he said, urging those with information to contact the Johor police hotline at 07-2212 999 or the nearest police station.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/2/nation/12111026&sec=nation

What: Group hired to kill a DJ

Where: Kampung Sungai Danga

When: Saturday.

Who: Julie Diana Omar Shariff and A group of eight men 

Why: Group of men were hired to kidnap, kill and burn her.

How: She was then taken to a plantation where the group took away her valuables including her cellphone, jewellery and RM20,000.

Element of Newsworthy: Conflict 

Element of Newsworthy 3

Tuesday October 2, 2012

Salesgirl, boyfriend nabbed for staging 'kidnap'

SHAH ALAM: A salesgirl's plan to dupe her mother into parting with RM10,000 in 'ransom' by allegedly faking her own kidnap, went awry when the police saw through her ruse.

The 20-year-old and her 18-year-old boyfriend, believed to be her accomplice, were caught napping at a hotel room in the Genting Highlands Theme Park.

The police went to the hotel at about 11.30pm on Monday, following a report lodged by the woman's cousin, seven hours earlier, after the salesgirl's mother received a call from a 'kidnapper'.

The 'kidnapper' reportedly told the mother that the salesgirl had been kidnapped and that the family should bank in RM10,000 into her daughter's account to secure her release.

The police did not buy that.

Selangor CID chief SAC Mohd Adnan Abdullah said a police team went to the hotel at the theme park and caught the duo.

"The suspects were believed to have planned to extort the money from the girl's family by hatching a fake kidnap," he said, adding that the money was not handed over to couple.

He said the suspects have been remanded until next Saturday. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/2/nation/20121002203037&sec=nation

What: Salesgirl, boyfriend nabbed for staging 'kidnap'

Where: Genting Highlands Theme Park

When: Monday

Who: Salesgirl, Boyfriend and Salesgirl's mother

Why: Planned to extort the money from the girl's family

How: Salesgirl's plan to dupe her mother into parting with RM10,000 in 'ransom

Element of Newsworthy: Conflicts 

Element of Newsworthy 2

Monday October 1, 2012
Floodwaters receding in Pendang

ALOR SETAR: The flood situation in 10 villages in Pendang is improving with the floodwaters receding.

However, 206 people from 57 families, who took refuge at Pusat Rakan Sukan, Tanah Merah here, were not allowed to go home yet, said Pendang Civil Defence Department chief Mohd Izudin Inusneah Monday.

He said the victims were from Bonggol Kambing, Hampar Kanan, Pondok Hampar, Bonggol Besi, Sukamari, Alor Punti, Pondok Haji Husin, Tanjung Radin, Tanah Merah Dalam and Lubuk Gajah.

The water level reading at Sungai Pendang at 11 am dropped to 2.7 meters from 2.85 meters Sunday, he added. - Bernama

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/1/nation/20121001124901&sec=nation

What: Floodwaters recending

Where: Pendang

When: Sunday

Who: 206 people from 57 families

Why: Flood situation is receding

How: Water level reading dropped from 2.85 meters to 2.7 meters

Element of Newsworthy: Consequence

Element of Newsworthy 1

Monday October 1, 2012

Man in CCTV recording allegedly abusing wife claims trial

IPOH: The man who was featured in a CCTV recording allegedly abusing his wife has claimed trial at a Magistrate's Court here Monday.

Calven Chik (pic), 26, was charged with assault with intent to cause hurt towards Amanda Fong, 19, at the Amanda & Co boutique in Ipoh Garden South on Aug 23 at about 4pm.

Chik was charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code.

Magistrate Haslinda Raof set Oct 31 for mention.

Chik became the center of attention after a CCTV footage, allegedly showing him hitting Fong, went viral on social networking website Facebook in August.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/1/nation/20121001114219&sec=nation

What: Man abusing his wife

Where: Boutique in Ipoh Garden South

When: August 23

Who: Calven Chik and Amanda Fong

Why: -

How: -

Element of newsworthy - Conflict