Massa eyeing big effort for Ferrari

MONZA (Italy): Two weeks after watching a seemingly-formidable Sebastian Vettel drive to yet another victory for Red Bull, Felipe Massa and his Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso want to finally give Italian fans something to shout about.
In the last European race of the season, this weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Brazilian Massa and the Spanish two-time champion will also be hoping for some hot weather at the old Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

They know that high temperatures will favour not only the conditions for the 'Tifosi', but also for their tyres' performance in what is expected to be another close fought contest between the champions Red Bull and their nearest rivals McLaren and Ferrari.

"This is, of course, a very important weekend for us," admitted Massa.
"But not in the sense of it being a last chance for us this year -- or anything like that.

But because we really want to produce a great result for ourselves, for the team and most of all for the fans.

"Spa was not fantastic for us and the cold weather accentuated our tyre problems, but this weekend, we have the same tyre compounds but hopefully much hotter weather.

"We will need a car with good top speed."

Massa, without a win this year, added: "Monza is our last weekend of racing in Europe this year and, because this season has not gone so well for us, it will be even more important to do our job perfectly and try and get the result that we and all the Tifosi want and deserve.

"Like all the teams, we will have a low down-force set-up unique to Monza, with small wings -- and in free practice you need to make sure the car is well balanced with good traction to pull out of the slow chicanes and that it is able to deal with jumping the kerbs, which is vital for a quick lap time, especially in qualifying."

Massa forecast a weekend of excitement for the spectators.

He said: "I think we will see a lot of overtaking, because of the high speed nature of the track and the fact we will have two zones where we can use the DRS (Drag Reduction system).

"I'm not saying it will be an advantage to be second coming into Parabolica on the last lap to overtake the car in front.

"Obviously, if you have a good car, it's probably a better strategy to pass before then and pull out a gap that is bigger than one second.

"However, if you are fighting right down to the last lap, well, that could be the case, which would make for a very exciting race." -- AFP


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Taken from New Straits Times Online

ETP plans will continue

Slowing global economy won’t affect projects, says Pemandu chief
KUALA LUMPUR: The slowing global economy won’t affect projects planned under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), said Datuk Seri Idris Jala.

“There is no doubt in my mind that these will continue,” said Idris, who is chief executive officer of Pemandu, the unit under the Prime Minister’s Department that oversees the ETP’s implementation.

Idris’ assurance comes amid growing concern among analysts that a global economic downturn could lead to several projects under the ETP being delayed or shelved.

These projects are key to the country’s plan to transform itself from a middle-income nation into a high-income one by 2020.

Speaking at an ETP progress update here yesterday, also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Idris allayed these concerns. He said it was important for Malaysia to continue to be more competitive.

“It’s clear the winners (in an economic downturn) will be those countries or companies that are more competitive than others.” To date, 84 per cent of the 87 initiatives announced under the ETP — unveiled in October last year — are being implemented. Of these initiatives, 23 are operational, 50 have commenced and 14 are in progress.

Najib yesterday announced eight more initiatives expected to produce RM1.4 billion in investments.

These span eight sectors such as manufacturing, retail, education, agriculture and aerospace.

The biggest of these initiatives is the RM706 million investment by plantation firm Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd in developing the downstream sector of the palm oil industry. It plans to build three plants and a research and development centre.


Read more: ETP plans will continue http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/ETPplanswillcontinue/Article/#ixzz1XPxltthD


Taken from New Straits Times Online

Prepaid mobile users to pay 6pc service tax Read more: Prepaid mobile users to pay 6pc service tax

KUALA LUMPUR: Come Sept 15, prepaid mobile users will need to pay a six per cent service tax whenever they buy a starter pack or reloads.
This means, a customer will need to pay RM10.60 for a RM10 prepaid reload.

"Service tax is a consumption tax and chargeable to the customer, as provided for in the service tax laws.

"The Service Tax Act 1975 requires telecommunication companies to levy service tax at the prevailing rate on telecommunication services, including mobile prepaid services.
"This is similar to the service tax levied on food and beverage purchases from restaurants and hotels," said mobile service providers in a joint statement yesterday.

Since the launch of mobile prepaid services in 1998, mobile operators have been absorbing the service tax.

According to mobile operators, the move was to ensure mobile prepaid services remained competitive compared with postpaid.

"With prepaid rates progressively reduced over the years, it is currently offered at very competitive rates," they said.

Telecommunications analysts view the news as "generally positive" for mobile operators, with DiGi.Com Bhd seen as the biggest beneficiary and Maxis Bhd benefiting the least.

As at June 30 this year, 83 per cent of DiGi's customer base comprised prepaid users. In contrast, about 75 per cent of Maxis' customers were prepaid users.

Today, prepaid users are spending about RM36 to RM51 a month.

Analysts believe the implementation of the service tax is unlikely to reduce prepaid users spending significantly.


Taken from New Straits Times Online

It’s all in the chromosomes

NINE out of 100 males are colourblind, says consultant opthalmologist Dr Tan Niap Ming.
She said there were many types of colour deficiency, but the most common was the “red-g reen” colour blindness.

“Many people with the condition cannot tell the difference between green and tones of red.

“But a big majority of them can differenti at e solid colours, even if it is between green and red; and they usually face difficulty in identifying desaturated hues of colours.” Dr Tan said to help such people drive on public roads, some countries had added a tinge of blue to the traffic light ’s green bulbs, so they have a greater contrast with red bulbs.

“They can also read the red light’s position on traffic lights.” The traffic light system, where red is the highest bulb and green the lowest, is universally standardised.

“Abnormal colour perception, or colour deficiency, is the termprefer red by medical practitioners as the word ‘blindness’ implies it is a disability or handicap,” Dr Tan said.

Even though the condition could not be cured and visual aid to correct the abnormalities had not proven to be effective, she said people with abnormal colour perception could function just as well in their daily commitments as others, such as driving.

“People with abnormal colour perception should be allowed to drive as their condition is really not a big hindrance.” However, she maintained that other professions which required perfect colour and eye vision, such as airline pilots or bus drivers, should continue to keep the ruling as the risks were much g reater.

Dr Tan urged parents to check their children to see whether they had the condition.

She said it was important to do so because only then could they provide clearer career guidance.

Dr Tan, who is also an aviation opthalmologist, said she had to tell many young, aspiring pilots they could not pursue their dream career because they had colour deficiency. Most of them did not know it.

“They had wanted to become pilots all their lives. Imagine having to ditch 10 to 15 years of preparations just because they did not know they had abnormal colour perception.” She said parents should start testing their children from the ages of 5 to 7.

“Grownups above the age of 40 should test their colour perception as well, as the ability to detect different hues of colours tapers off at that age due to the natural yellowing of the lens.” She said the reason the condition was apparent in males was that males only had one X chromosome, whereas females had t wo.

The abnormality is caused by a mutation in the red-green receptors in one’s eye, and the genes of which are located in the X chromosomes.

“Since men only have one X chromosome, the condition will show if it is inherited from their parents (one of whom or both carry the mutated chromosome),” said Dr Tan.

“Women are less susceptible to display colour deficiency because they have two sets of X chromosomes.” She said if one X chromosome carried the hereditary mutated gene, there was a second healthy X chromosome that could override the deficiency.

“But some women, although not colour-blind themselves, can be a carrier of that gene. Her male children may inherit and display the condition.” Dr Tan said other than genetic inheritance, colour blindness could also be caused by nerve damage or degeneration of the eye receptors.

Taken from New Straits Times Online

IWK to be privatised to 1MDB

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 — Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) is expected to be privatised soon to a consortium led by strategic investment agency 1MDB, some 11 years after the government was forced to bail out the national sewerage company from financial difficulties under its previous owners, according to sources in the Finance Ministry. The sources told The Malaysian Insider that the 1MDB-led consortium will include water distribution company Puncak Niaga, and that the deal has been given the nod by the Economic Council chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. However, it is understood that some ministry officials are still scrutinising the deal because of concerns about its feasibility and worries that the government could once again be forced to bail out the company if the latest plan fails. Under the proposed deal, the 1MDB consortium will acquire IWK for RM1 and take over its debts which include more than RM1.5 billion in loans still owed to the ministry. The consortium is seeking a 60-year concession from the government and will only pay back the principal amount and interest on the loan over the long term. It also has plans to link sewerage charges to water usage. The plan could spark a new round of controversy because of the lack of transparency surrounding negotiations, with consumers still wary about deals involving IWK. From Day One, IWK has had problems convincing a sceptical public to pay for separate sewerage charges which had previously been part of the water bill. In 2000, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration paid nearly RM200 million to nationalise IWK to “safeguard public interest and to avoid service disruptions.” The nationalisation of IWK was to tackle the company’s debt then of nearly RM700 million. IWK’s bailout in 2000 exemplified the pitfalls of Dr Mahathir’s privatisation policy in which government-owned assets or resources were allocated or sold to private investors in the hopes of generating profits. The IWK story began in 1993 when businessman Tan Sri Vincent Tan convinced the government to let a consortium of private interests led by him to take over the ownership, operation and maintenance of more than 2,800 state-owned sewage-treatment plants nationwide. But IWK subsequently found that many of the treatment plants it inherited from the government were not functioning and costs began escalating. A nationwide furore also ensued, with many consumers and businesses complaining bitterly about IWK. Maintaining the plants and staying profitable proved impossible for IWK. Under pressure, the government also forced the company to reduce its charges. By 2000 Dr Mahathir’s government then decided to nationalise IWK. The Najib government’s new plan could attract similar criticisms because it involves 1MDB and Puncak Niaga, a company that is seen as politically connected to Putrajaya.

 Taken from Malaysian Insider

Cops complete probe into Mat Sabu’s alleged remarks

GEORGE TOWN: Police have completed their probe into PAS deputypresident Mohamad Sabu’s alleged remarks that the men who attacked the Bukit Kepong police station in 1950 were the country’s true heroes.

Penang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said the investigation papers were sent to Bukit Aman before they were forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“We have made some recommendations but it is up to the Deputy Public Prosecutor to decide on the next course of action,” he said at the state police headquarters here yesterday.

DCP Ayub said Mohamad gave his statement on Sunday.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday chided the PAS leader for his views on the Bukit Kepong incident.

However, Dr Mahathir felt it would be wise for the authorities not to arrest Mohamad but instead to let him continue with what he wants to say about the events at Bukit Kepong.

He said this after delivering a keynote address at a function in Malacca.

Taken From The Star Online

Umno demands PAS deputy president to return medical claims

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Umno has called on Mohamad Sabu to refund the Penang Water Supply Corpo­ration the RM8,434.05 he received in medical claims.

Penang Umno chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman said the PAS deputy president should instead claim reimbursement of the hospital bill from PAS since he was, by most accounts, representing his party when he suffered the injuries.

Mohamad, who was injured in a motorcycle accident on the same day as the Bersih 2.0 rally, was admitted to a hospital for three days from July 15 where he underwent surgery on his right knee.

He subsequently submitted a claim for the RM8,434.05 hospital bill from the corporation.

Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, is a director of Bursa Malaysia-listed PBA Holdings Bhd, the parent company of the corporation.

Zainal Abidin said it was unethical for a company director to claim medical expenses from his company if the ailment or injuries incurred are not related to his scope of duties as a director.

“Mat Sabu and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should understand that PBA Holdings is a listed company, meaning that the public can make enquiries on their accounts.

“Both of them in the past have questioned other company directors for alleged questionable dealings.

“Now, they must also subscribe to the same principles,” he added.

Lim had on Monday denied that Mat Sabu was caught during the Bersih 2.0 rally.

“He was caught at noon but the rally started at 2pm.

“When he was caught, he was on his way to a mosque,” Lim had said.

Taken From The Star Online