- B E R I T A _ H A R I _ I N I _ 2 0 0 8 -

fatz

ALLEGED SLAPPING INCIDENT ON SIA FLIGHT
Stewardesses play safe by serving woman first
They do their best to avoid misunderstanding but chatting with passengers is part of their job
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi



TALK to the woman before chatting with her man. Always serve her first. And maintain more eye contact with her than with him.

'This way, no one gets jealous,' said Singapore Airlines (SIA) stewardess S. Abdullah.

The 27-year-old, who has been with the national carrier for the past 21/2 years, maintains these self-made 'rules' while on duty.

They have kept her out of situations where misunderstandings can arise, such as when a woman passenger accuses a stewardess of paying too much attention to her male companion.

Another SIA stewardess pointed out that cabin crew are expected to be friendly to passengers and that it can be a case of 'damned if you do and damned if you don't'.

'If you chat, some men think you're interested in them and some wives may get jealous,' said the 24-year-old, who has been with the airline for three years.

'But if you don't, you may be accused of discriminating among your passengers.'

The Sunday Times spoke to 20 stewardesses from several airlines following a case involving an SIA stewardess.

It was reported last week that SIA stewardess Then Jiamin, 25, is suing Madam Tan Siew Hoon, wife of Venture Corp chairman Wong Ngit Liong, for allegedly slapping her on a Tokyo-bound flight in September last year for speaking to her husband.

The 20 stewardesses interviewed said it is extremely rare for wives or girlfriends to get angry with them for being friendly towards the men, although some women do show displeasure by pulling a long face.

Said a 27-year-old Singaporean who is a stewardess with Emirates: 'Some women feel that we're trying to usurp their position when we serve their husbands. Maybe they're so used to serving their husbands at home, no one else can do it.'

The stewardesses said they do their best to avoid misunderstandings, although chatting with passengers is a job requirement.

Said a 22-year-old SIA stewardess: 'Given the choice, I'd rather keep to myself than make small talk.'

But SIA stewardesses are graded on how often they communicate with passengers.

When on duty in the business- and first-class cabins, they are expected to strike a conversation with every passenger there and refer to each of them by name.

The stewardesses also pointed out that it is men, not women, who are harder to handle. A key job hazard is unwanted attention from lecherous men.

One Singapore Girl said she encounters such men at least once in every three flights. She works on three to five flights a week.

'Once, this Singaporean man repeatedly dropped his menu on purpose and asked me to pick it up for him. He'd peep down my kebaya top each time I bent down,' said the 24-year-old.

Male stewards are apparently not spared, too.

Said a 31-year-old SIA steward: 'A male passenger once stroked my thigh as I was serving food.'

Airlines say they have clear rules on how their cabin crew should behave - towards women and men.

They also said they will report outrage of modesty incidents to the police, who will meet the aircraft upon arrival.

The best way to avoid problems is to treat passengers equally and not give anyone special treatment, said a 28-year-old SIA stewardess.

Her advice to those new in the job: 'Assess the situation first before chatting with a male or female passenger.'

How should a woman react when a stewardess is very friendly towards her male companion? Send your comments to [email protected]

[email protected]

fatz

All-star line-up at first S'pore Airshow


A man decorates a booth with pictures of fighter jets in preparation for the Singapore Airshow. -- PHOTO: AFP

FIGHTER jets, commercial planes and unmanned drones will jostle for attention at Asia's biggest airshow this week as titans Boeing, Airbus and other manufacturers take their wares to the booming Asian market, organisers said.

Industry issues like airport bottlenecks, security, environmental damage, the growth of low-cost carriers and the race to send tourists into space are also expected to be discussed at the inaugural Singapore Airshow, they said.

Regional transport ministers, airline chiefs, airport operators as well as the heads of the International Air Transport Association and the International Civil Aviation Organisation are expected to attend.

'The scale of the exhibition is far larger than anything we have had,' managing director Jimmy Lau said, comparing it with the Asian Aerospace fair, which has been moved to Hong Kong after a long presence in the city-state.

'We are on the way to becoming one of the top airshows in the world.'

More than 30,000 trade visitors, half of them from overseas, are predicted to throng the show from Tuesday to Sunday.

Air force chiefs, including the commander of the Israeli Air Force and the Commander of Pacific Forces, United States Air Force, will discuss the future of global air power at their own summit during the event.

Brigadier-General Wong Huat Sern, a Singapore air force commander, said one of the emerging issues is the future of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

'For example, what is the future of unmanned warfare and the future growth of UAVs? Will they be used for air-to-air combat?' he said.

The airshow will also feature a conference on defence procurement and a convention showcasing the latest technology in space engineering and design.

Singapore, South-east Asia's most advanced economy, decided to host its own airshow after organisers of Asian Aerospace transferred the event, held every two years, to Hong Kong.

A record US$15.2 billion (S$21.5 billion) worth of deals was clinched during the last Singapore Asian Aerospace in 2006, but Mr Lau would not comment on potential contracts this year.

The Singapore Airshow will be held at a 30-hectare site near Changi Airport and boasts 40,000 square metres of exhibition space, or 40 per cent more area than its predecessor.

Unlike Asian Aerospace, which is now strictly a civil aviation event, the Singapore Airshow will have equal commercial and defence components.

As in the past, United States-based Boeing, Europe's Airbus and other industry players will showcase their products, including the world's biggest airliner, the Airbus A380, UAVs, warplanes and other lethal war machines.

'The Asia Pacific will continue to be a key market,' said Mr Joe Song, Asia Pacific vice-president for international business development at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

Defence budgets in the region were growing between five and eight per cent annually, he said.

Boeing will bring three F-18 Super Hornets and an F-15 fighter jet to the airshow as part of its defence exhibit that will also feature the Harpoon and JDAM weapons systems.

Air force Top Guns from Singapore and elsewhere will take to the skies during daily aerobatic displays.

Boeing said its commercial exhibit will feature the 787 Dreamliner, its first new model in more than a decade.

The Sydney-based Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation consultancy cited reports that Boeing would announce during the airshow orders for about 100 aircraft worth up to US$8 billion from South-east Asian carriers.

Rival Airbus said it will bring in an A380 aircraft, which will take part in daily flying exhibitions. Last year, Singapore Airlines became the first carrier in the world to commercially fly the double-decker A380, the world's biggest passenger plane.

Scale models of the A350 and the A320, which is popular among Asian budget carriers, will also be displayed.

In its latest 20-year sales forecast, Airbus said the world's fleet of large passenger jets - those with more than 100 seats - and freight planes numbered 14,980 at the end of 2006 and the figure was projected to grow to nearly 33,000.

The greatest demand for new planes will come from the Asia Pacific region, where airlines will take delivery of 31 per cent of new planes in the next 20 years, compared with 24 per cent for Europe and 27 per cent for North America, it said.

US defence firms Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman will also have a large presence at the airshow, organisers said. -- AFP

fatz

Airbus A380 plane holds up traffic at S'pore Airshow
By David Boey

A DOUBLE-DECKER Airbus A380 airliner was among the warplanes, business jets and helicopters towed by road this weekend to the site of the upcoming Singapore Airshow at Changi North.

As drivers and passers-by gawked at the world's largest passenger jet, police and Airbus ground crew guided the A380 along a newly built road - at about the speed of a brisk walk.

The aerial giant, which will put on a flying display that includes low-level passes and tight turns, is likely to be a crowd pleaser at the airshow, which opens on Tuesday and runs through Sunday.

The event is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors, from industry players to aircraft and military enthusiasts

About 60 planes and choppers will have made the road trip to the airshow site by tomorrow, according to organisers.

Aircraft on display include the B-1B Lancer, the fastest bomber in the United States Air Force, business jets and three jets being considered by the Republic of Singapore Air Force for advanced pilot training. They are the BAE Systems Hawk from Britain, the Italian Aermacchi M-346 and South Korea's T-50 Golden Eagle.

Over the weekend, hundreds of workers put the finishing touches on the exhibition stands of some 900 exhibitors who will showcase their products at the event.

Some companies, like United States aviation giant Boeing, flew in their own tradesmen to help a local contractor set up their exhibition stand, which includes models of Boeing planes, as well as an F-15 Eagle fighter jet simulator.

A Boeing spokesman said the workers, who are skilled in areas such as design and electrical works, are part of a 75-person delegation that was flown in for the airshow.

Several European companies also flew in their tradesmen, and The Straits Times understands these foreign contractors will stay till the end of the show next Sunday, when they will tear down the booths.

Meanwhile, the exhibitors are raring to go, including Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer. The company has flown in its Legacy 600 business jet, which can seat up to 16 people, so potential customers can have a first-hand look at the luxury craft.

fatz

Twenty-nine party-goers nabbed for drink driving in early morning bust
By Amy Tan and Tessa Wong & Lee Pei Qi

NO MATTER which way they went, party-goers in the heart of a downtown drinking districts ran into road-blocks early Sunday morning.

As part of a new strategy to catch drink drivers, which the police call ring-fencing, officers set up road blocks on four streets around the Outram and Havelock area.

The blitz, the first of its kind, netted 20 drivers, according to police.

The five road blocks were set up simultaneously at Havelock Road, Outram Road, Ganges Avenue and Zion Road, which formed a loose ring around at least six night spots.

They included popular nightclub Zouk, and karaoke lounges such as Tiananmen KTV at the Furama Riverfront hotel and Lido Palace at the Holiday Inn Atrium hotel.

The police hope to curb an alarming rise in drink driving with their new strategy. The number of drink-drivers caught last year increased by seven per cent to 4,009 - the highest figure in 10 years.

Sunday's roadblocks went up at 3 am, and within three and a half hours police had nabbed 20 suspected drink drivers, officers said.

The Straits Times observed six arrests during a two-hour tour of all five roadblocks. Those arrested looked to be in their twenties or thirties, and were mostly men.

Many were driving sleek cars bearing logos like Porsche, Maserati, Lexus and BMW.

Some claimed innocence. A female driver who was stopped at one of the Outram roadblocks claimed she had 'not really' drank while playing mahjong at a friend's place earlier.

But her breathalyser result was over the limit, and she was promptly arrested.

There were also other drivers seen trying to dodge the road blocks.

At the junction of Kim Seng Road and Havelock Road, the Straits Times spotted a Porsche Carrera S running a red light as it slowly turned left into Havelock Road.

But the driver slammed on the brakes once he spotted the telltale flashing lights of the road block ahead. He then reversed back to the traffic light and went straight instead - into the arms of the police at the Outram Road blocks.

Anticipating that drivers would try to avoid the roadblocks by taking slip roads or hiding in carparks, the police stationed men up to 150 m ahead each barrier.

fatz

Man returns home from work to burnt flat
By Diana Othman


The blaze destroyed Mr Noor's living room and left the rest of his flat covered in soot. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

MR MOHAMAD Noor Abdullah came home after working the night shift on Sunday to find his Ang Mo Kio flat ravaged by a fire.

The blaze destroyed the 30-year-old's living room and left the rest of his flat covered in soot.

Speaking to The Straits Times on Sunday, Mr Noor, a cleaning supervisor, said: 'I feel very down. My furniture is damaged and I have no place to stay.'

The fire broke out in his four-room corner unit on Sunday at 7.20am. No one was injured.

Mr Noor's flat was empty at the time. His wife, Mrs Aliza Hanibah, was staying at her sister's home and their tenant, a nurse, left for work at 5.45am that morning.

Other flats were unaffected as the blaze was quickly put out by fire fighters, according, to Mr Prakash Kulasagar, who lives in a unit directly above Mr Noor.

Said Mr Prakash, 41,: 'I was sleeping when the fire broke out but I woke up because someone knocked on my door. The fire fighters then arrived a few minutes later.'

It was another resident who first noticed smoke coming out from the flat's kitchen window while jogging nearby.

She called police, fire fighters and also knocked on the doors of a few neighbours to warn them.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force said they are still investigating, but the fire could have started in an 'electrical source' such as an overloaded electrical panel.

fatz2

More bicycle parking facilities at MRT stations, bus interchanges
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 February 2008 2014 hrs


Bishan bus interchange


SINGAPORE : Transport Minister Raymond Lim said more and better bicycle parking facilities will be made available around MRT stations and bus interchanges.

The initiative will be implemented progressively, starting with towns where demand for bicycle parking facilities currently outstrips supply.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will carry out a year-long pilot study in 2009 in Pasir Ris, Tampines and Yishun to gather feedback and better understand the needs of cyclists before extending it to other MRT stations and bus interchanges, said Mr Lim.

He was responding to a written question by Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng on integrating cycling into urban transport planning.

Mr Lim said other cycling initiatives have been listed in the land transport review.

From March this year, cyclists will be allowed to carry their foldable bicycles onboard buses and trains on a trial basis during off-peak periods.

LTA will impose size restrictions and other conditions to ensure that the safety and comfort of other commuters are not compromised. - CNA /ls

fatz2

Brunei's foreign minister calls on MM Lee at Istana
By Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 February 2008 1956 hrs


Prince Mohamed Bolkiah


SINGAPORE : Brunei's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Prince Mohamed Bolkiah called on Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Istana on Monday.

The prince is in Singapore for The Brunei Forum on February 19.

Also visiting Singapore is the Finance Minister from Bahrain. Shaikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa called on Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at the Istana on Monday evening.

During their meeting, Shaikh Ahmed said he is interested to learn from Singapore's experience in areas such as civil aviation.

In response, Senior Minister Goh briefed his guest on recent developments in Singapore and how Singapore maintains its economic competitiveness.

The two leaders also discussed recent economic developments in the Gulf region and opportunities for Singapore and Bahrain to work together. - CNA /ls

fatz2

Nearly S$15,000 in cash, valuables lost in car theft cases
By Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 February 2008 2115 hrs

SINGAPORE: A man lost a bag containing foreign currencies amounting to S$8,300 as well as S$3,000, which he left in his car last week.

Also in that bag were two mobile phones valued at S$200.

At about 10.30pm last Wednesday, the victim had left his car unlocked along the road to go to a nearby shop on Geylang Lorong 8.

He returned five minutes later to find his bag, which was left on the front passenger seat, missing.

Also on the same day, a man lost a bag containing a laptop valued at S$1,500 as well as laptop accessories worth S$600 in Tampines.

He had parked at the open surface carpark near Blk 513, Tampines Central, and had secured his car before heading to the post office nearby.

But when he got back some ten minutes later, he found that his front passenger window was smashed and his bag was missing.

If you have any information on these cases, please call the police hotline at 1800-255-0000. - CNA/ac

fatz2

Singapura : 19 Februari 2008         

DENDA $4,500 KERANA LEBIH 6 TAHUN TAK BAYAR GAJI AMAH

SEORANG majikan disaman setelah dia gagal membayar gaji pembantu rumahnya selama lebih enam tahun.

Zubaidah Sanluan didenda $4,500 pada 11 Februari lalu kerana tidak membayar gaji amahnya dan membuat pengakuan palsu kepada Pengawal Permit Pekerjaan.

Dia juga dilarang daripada mengambil pembantu rumah pada masa hadapan.

Menyurut satu kenyataan Kementerian Tenaga Manusia (MOM) semalam, siasatan yang dijalankan pada April tahun lalu menunjukkan Zubaidah tidak membayar amahnya gaji sejak Januari 2001.

Bagaimanapun, wanita itu membuat pengakuan palsu bahawa dia sudah membayar gaji apabila mendapatkan permit kerja baru bagi amahnya bulan lalu.

Dengan bantuan MOM, gaji yang dihutang sebanyak $19,398 bagi tempoh bekerja selama enam tahun dan dua bulan akhirnya dibayar kepada pembantu rumah Zubaidah.

Di bawah Akta Pengambilan Kerja Tenaga Manusia Asing (EFMA), menjadi satu kesalahan jika majikan tidak membayar pembantu rumah mereka dalam tempoh tujuh hari dari hari pembayaran gaji mereka.

Jika didapati bersalah, majikan boleh didenda sehingga $5,000 dan/atau dipenjara sehingga enam bulan.

Majikan yang degil juga boleh dilarang daripada mengambil pembantu rumah lagi.

Sejak 2007, MOM telah membantu mendapatkan semula gaji lebih $270,000 yang tidak dibayar kepada 276 pembantu rumah asing.

Kesemuanya, tiga majikan telah diberkas sejak tahun lalu kerana gagal membayar gaji amah mereka.

Pembantu rumah yang tidak dibayar gaji boleh mendapatkan bantuan MOM dengan menghubungi hotline 1800-339-5505.

fatz2

Luar Negara : 19 Februari 2008         

PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE-12

PM ABDULLAH: S'PURA ANGGUR KELAS SATU, M'SIA EPAL KELAS SATU

PULAU PINANG: Usah bandingkan ekonomi Singapura dengan ekonomi Malaysia.

Ia bagai membandingkan 'anggur kelas satu (Singapura) dengan epal kelas satu (Malaysia)', kata Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, apabila berucap kepada masyarakat Cina dalam satu sesi dialog di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Pulau Pinang kelmarin.

'Kita mempunyai jumlah penduduk lebih 20 juta dan kita diletak pada tempat kelapan di dunia dari segi daya saing kita.

'Ini bukan perangkaan kerajaan dan saya tidak berbohong kepada anda. Ini statistik daripada tinjauan antarabangsa,' katanya yang ditukil akhbar The Star semalam.

'Jika saya menukil statistik dari tinjauan kami sendiri, anda tidak akan percayakan kami. Di semua tempat saya pergi, masyarakat peniaga memberitahu saya bahawa prestasi (ekonomi) Malaysia baik. Mereka orang yang pandai. Anda tak boleh memperbodohkan mereka kerana mereka banyak membaca,' tegas beliau.

Datuk Abdullah menambah, kerajaannya tiada sebab untuk berbohong kepada rakyat negara itu.

'Tolonglah percaya kami - kami adalah kerajaan anda,' ujarnya.

'Jika anda lihat pada ekonomi kita, ia baik. Fakta itu dibuktikan dengan perangkaan. Tapi, rakyat masih mendakwa sebaliknya kerana kenaikan harga barangan. Ini satu cara yang terlalu mudah untuk menganalisis ekonomi,' jelasnya lagi.

Menurutnya, persoalannya sekarang ialah 'bukan bagaimana hendak menurunkan harga tetapi bagaimana hendak membantu rakyat sanggup bertahan'.

fatz

More car owners using illegal car plates
Posted: 19 February 2008 2209 hrs

SINGAPORE: More car owners are using Euro car plates, which are considered illegal as their font size and colour do not conform to the Land Transport Authority's (LTA's) vehicle licence plate requirements.

The LTA said the numbers and alphabets on the Euro car plates are not easily distinguishable due to irregularities in font size and colour.

Over 8,600 car owners were caught using illegal car plates between 2005 and 2007.

International car plates are priced between S$80 and S$90 each, or up to S$30 more than a standard car plate.

According to one car plate manufacturer, those who opt for Euro car plates usually want to show their love for all things European. He added that in the past few months, an average of 50 owners per month opted for such plates.

Under LTA's Road Traffic (Motor Vehicles, Registration and Licensing) Rules, those caught using illegal car plates will face a maximum fine of S$1,000 or a jail term of up to three months.

Repeat offenders will be fined a maximum of S$2,000 or a jail term of up to six months. - CNA/ac

fatz

Fans in Singapore mourn death of HK actress Lydia Sum
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 19 February 2008 2154 hrs




SINGAPORE : Fans in Singapore are saddened by the death of Hong Kong acting legend Lydia Sum.

The 60-year-old comedian died from liver cancer in Hong Kong tuesday.

In Singapore, the late actress was best remembered for her award-winning role as a "dim sum" chef in an English comedy.

"Living with Lydia" was Sum's first break into English sitcoms. Though not fluent in the language, Sum agreed to star in the Singapore show.

The series, produced by MediaCorp's Channel 5, went on for four seasons from 2001 to 2004. It even won Sum the best comedian award at the 2003 Asian Television Awards.

The cast and crew of the show had a very good relationship and many have fond memories and praise for the late actress.

"She's got a big and hearty laugh, and you can hear it from miles away. When you hear her laughter, you'll also want to laugh along with her," said actor Joel Chan, who was one of the casts in "Living with Lydia".

"We used to talk and she would say "qi sin", which I think means crazy. She was very professional, with lots of energy. And to live... in our hearts is to never die, that's what I feel. She'll always be with us," said Daisy Irani, Executive Producer of "Living with Lydia".

Sixty outfits and 60 pairs of matching shoes - that was what the actress brought to each filming season, according to the production crew. But costumes aside, the sitcom also made the actress very popular amongst non-Chinese speaking TV viewers in Singapore.

"She gives everybody a lot of joy in all her performances. She really gives herself to the audiences," said one Singapore resident.

"She's somebody who always laugh. We used to watch her (on TV) when we were young," said another.

In memory of the late comedian, Channel 5 will screen the last season of "Living with Lydia" every Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel 5 from February 26. - CNA /ls

fatz

Feb 19, 2008         

S'porean family held hostage in Johor factory

FOR two terrifying hours in the early hours of Monday, a Singaporean family of five was held at knife-point in their factory in the Johor town of Pontian, and forced to watch as robbers carted away factory property, supplies and valuables.

The ordeal for the Koh family and eight of their workers began just after midnight, when robbers - including one armed with what looked like a samurai sword - burst into the premises.

The victims, told to lie face down, were beaten up and bound.

The robbers made off with $120,000 worth of premium plastic resin, a company car, 13 mobile phones, valuables like necklaces and $5,700.

Except for one worker who was slashed on his left arm and foot, nobody was seriously hurt.

Mr Koh Chee Guan, the 37-year-old director of the company Millenshire, told The Straits Times at the factory on Tuesday that the intruders cut through the wire fence to get in.

It was 12.30am and he was pulling the night shift at one of the 16 machines in the 3,000-sq-m, single-storey factory, from where the family has run its business for eight years.

Mr Koh said he saw a figure out in the compound and then two others, including the one with the sword.

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.

fatz

Boy slashed because group didn't like the way he walked
By Diana Othman



19-YEAR-OLD youth was left with a deep gash on his left forearm after a gang of young boys set upon him with choppers and parangs last Saturday night.

He is currently recuperating in Changi General Hospital (CGH).

The victim who only wanted to be known as Bob said he and two friends, also 19, were walking back from a friend's house at Block 263 in Tampines Street 21 at about 11.45pm when they passed a group of about seven to nine other boys.

The group then followed Bob and his friends for the next two to three minutes.

One group member walked up to Bob, took out a chopper and asked, 'You know what this is, right?' The rest of the gang then surrounded the three friends and took out their weapons.

'I was a bit kancheong (panicked) but I talked to them calmly. I tried to make them put down their weapons and see if we could talk it out,' said Bob from his hospital bed on Tuesday .

One of them hit him on the back with a chopper handle and then someone slashed at his left arm. The deep wound on his arm needed 33 staples to close. The muscles, veins and an artery there were damaged.

His two friends were left unscathed.

'I am angry and upset. How can this kind of thing happen?' asked Bob's mother, Mrs Loh, a kindergarten assistant teacher.

The police said that investigations on the case are ongoing and in the mean time, they will heighten patrols in the vicinity

miezarra_27

Innalllillahi wainnaillaihirajiun..
Akibat kecuaian ibu bapa...anak jadi mangsa...Kesian..
tapi Allah lebih menyayanginya...

fatz2

Roads near Padang closed for YOG's host city announcement countdown
Posted: 20 February 2008 1329 hrs
         
         
SINGAPORE: Roads near the Padang will be closed on 21 February from 4pm to 9pm for the countdown to the live announcement of the host city of the First Youth Olympic Games in 2010.

They include St Andrew's Road, Connaught Drive, Old Parliament Lane and Empress Place.

Parts of Fullerton Road

fatz2

Strong earthquake hits Indonesia's Sumatra island
Posted: 20 February 2008 1641 hrs


A man points to the intensity of an earthquake on a seismograph.

JAKARTA: A strong 7.5-magnitude quake struck Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday, sparking a local tsunami alert and triggering panic, US meteorologists and residents said.

The US Geological Survey said the undersea quake struck at 3:08 pm (0808 GMT) some 312 kilometres (194 miles) west-southwest of the North Sumatra capital Medan, at a depth of 34 kilometres.

Indonesia's meteorological agency, which put the magnitude of the quake at 6.6, said it struck 42 kilometres northwest of the town of Sinabang, the main town on Simeulue island, in Aceh province.

A 5.5-magnitude aftershock hit shortly afterwards, it said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a local watch bulletin, saying there was no threat of a "destructive widespread tsunami" but that a local tsunami could affect coastal areas within a 100-kilometre radius.

Zainul Tahar, the head of Aceh's search and rescue office, told AFP that he had spoken to officials at the port authority in Sinabang.

"I was told that there was no damage, although there was mass panic in town," he said, adding that he had also contacted authorities in Meulaboh, opposite the island on Aceh's mainland, and no damage was reported there.

The meteorology office's Suharjono told ElShinta radio that there were no immediate reports of damage.

However, he said, "the possibility of damage is there... in Sinabang, the possibility of damage exists."

An AFP correspondent in the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh said the quake was felt there for about two minutes.

People initially ran outside in panic, but quickly calmed down, the reporter said.

ElShinta radio also quoted listeners as saying panic had hit the population in North Sumatra's capital of Medan, where people rushed out of buildings.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

The earthquake-triggered Asian tsunami in December 2004 killed some 168,000 people in Aceh, which is located at the northern tip of Sumatra. Indonesia was the nation worst hit by the tsunami.

Simeulue was one of the islands closest to the 2004 quake's epicentre, but the tsunami killed fewer than 10 people in part because the 70,000-strong population recognised the receding sea as a sign of disaster and fled inland.

In 2005, entire villages on Simeulue were destroyed by a quake which killed at least 17 people. - AFP/ac

Residents feel tremors in parts of Singapore after Indonesia's quake
By Hasnita Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 20 February 2008 2158 hrs

SINGAPORE: Residents in Katong, Whampoa and Bukit Batok reported feeling tremors Wednesday afternoon, following a 7.5-magnitude quake off Indonesia's Sumatra island.

Those who called the MediaCorp News hotline said it lasted about a minute.

A couple from St George's Road said they had felt tremors before, and Wednesday's was comparatively mild.

The last time Singaporeans felt tremors was on 4 January when a 6.3-magnitude quake rattled the western coast of Sumatra. - CNA/ac

fatz2

Man with armed NSman Dave Teo to be sentenced on Monday
By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 20 February 2008 0005 hrs

SINGAPORE: The man charged with being in the company of armed National Serviceman Dave Teo will be sentenced next Monday.

Ong Boon Jun may get between five and seven years' jail, according to his defence lawyer Amolat Singh.

The maximum sentence for the amended charge of "being in the company of a person in possession of a firearm" is ten years.

Ong had initially been charged with "consorting with a person carrying a firearm", which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years' jail.

But the charge was reduced and the case was transferred from the High Court to the Subordinate Courts, where the district judges have less sentencing power.

Mr Amolat is hoping for the lowest sentence of five years' jail and six strokes of the cane.

Ong was with Teo in a Geylang hotel last September while Teo was allegedly carrying a firearm. Later that day, Teo, a then full-time NSman, was caught on Orchard Road, armed with a gun and bullets. - CNA/ac

fatz2

Singapura : 20 Februari 2008         
         
PENGENDALI JENAZAH DITUDUH ANCAM, SERANG DAN TENDANG

SEORANG pengendali jenazah dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Rendah semalam atas tuduhan mengancam dan menyerang seorang lelaki dipercayai berhubung pertelingkahan perniagaan.

Tay Hai Choon, yang juga dikenali sebagai Roland Tay, 60 tahun, dikatakan mengancam Encik Paul Wong Wah Suang, 52 tahun, dengan menghayun tuil besi (crowbar) ke arahnya di Lavender Street pada 31 Mei lalu sekitar 4.30 pagi.

Tay, pengarah Direct Singapore Funeral Services, juga didakwa dengan tuduhan menampar dan menendang Encik Wong pada hari yang sama.

Serangan itu juga didakwa dilakukan bersama dengan Kelvin Mark Marie, Sureh Kannan Selvi - kedua-duanya berusia 33 tahun - dan Raj M. Perumal, 44 tahun, yang telah pun didakwa di mahkamah minggu lalu.

Tay mendapat liputan meluas pihak media sebelum ini kerana terlibat dalam pengurusan kematian budak perempuan dari China, Huang Na; mangsa kes keratan mayat di Kallang, Hong Mei, dan mangsa yang terjun ke rel MRT, Tan Jee Suan.

Peguambela Tay, Encik Gurdip Singh, memberitahu mahkamah bahawa beliau hanya baru mendapat keterangan mengenai kes itu dan meminta mahkamah menangguhkan kesnya selama empat minggu lagi.

Satu sidang sebelum perbicaraan akan diadakan pada 11 Mac ini.

Jika didapati bersalah, Tay boleh dihukum penjara sehingga dua tahun atau denda atau kedua- duanya sekali atas kesalahan jenayah mengugut.

Bagi menyebabkan kecederaan, dia juga boleh dipenjara sehingga satu tahun atau didenda sehingga $1,000 atau kedua-duanya sekali.

Kes bagi ketiga-tiga lelaki yang dipercayai pekerja Tay itu juga ditetapkan bagi persidangan sebelum perbicaraan.

fatz2

Feb 20, 2008         
Delivery vehicle thief caught in Clementi

POLICE have arrested a jobless man suspected of stealing two lorries and a van in Ang Mo Kio and Clementi areas between Feb 4 and 16.

The 42-year-old Malay man stole the vehicles while the drivers were making their deliveries.

'In each case, the suspect would take the opportunity to steal the vehicle when the driver left the engine running while they were busy delivering the goods,' said police on Wednesday.

Through thorough follow-up investigation and forensic work, officers from the Ang Mo Kio police division established the identity of the suspect.

On Tuesday at about 4 pm, the suspect was nabbed at a friend's flat at Block 301, Clementi Avenue 4.

All three stolen vehicles have since been recovered.

Superintendent Lee Chin Ek, Commander of Ang Mo Kio police division, commended his officers for their diligence and good investigative work.

He advised owners and drivers to secure their vehicles before leaving them unattended, even if it is for a short time.

The suspect will be charged in court on Feb 21. If convicted, he faces a maximum jail term of seven years.