back, neck and muscle pain? Take a rest

About 44 million workers in the EU have musculoskeletal disorders caused by their workplace

Almost 31 million days of work were lost last year due to back, neck and muscle problems, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS's Labour Force Survey, which polls hundreds of thousands of people in the UK, found that musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which include a large range of bone and joint complaints, accounted for more prolonged absences than any other ailment.

Although the country's workforce has largely swapped heavy manual labour for sitting in offices, MSKs have been the primary cause of absenteeism for the past five years, and the UK has one of the highest rates in Europe.

So why have bone and joint complaints persisted?

"Sitting is the new smoking," explains Prof Steve Bevan, director of the Centre for Workforce Effectiveness at the Work Foundation.

"The more sedentary you are the worse it is for your health."

Most deskbound workers, however, are not adequately addressing their health risks, and waving away the pesky "work station assessment officer". Preventative measures, such as keeping chairs, desks and computers at the right height, are often neglected. "Many office workers make repetitive movements," says Prof Bevan. "Allowing people to move around and take breaks is essential."

Source: BBC News

Employees safety must be taken seriously

MUADZAM SHAH: There are more than 4,000 officers who have the authority to check on the safety and health of employees in working premises and there is a need for more of them.

Human Resources Deputy Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said the Ministry is aggresively looking recruit more of these workers to attend safety and health courses held by the National Institute of Occupational of Safety and Health (Niosh) from time to time.

Maznah said they are the authorised person to check and monitor on the quality of safety and health in working premises and the demand for their authorisation is increasing.

She said they could either be part-timers or working as authorised officers on a full time basis.

“Existing officers who posses Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia(SPM) ceritificates and above are encouraged to attend the courses with Niosh and with the certs they will be able to be authorised officers to monitor and conduct checks on working premises.

“The intention is to ensure that the working premises and its environment are condusive, safe and according to the saefty and health standards.

This is to avoid any unneccesaries accidents during working hours, or at the working places and other related matters concerning the safety and health of the employees,’’ Maznah said after she officiated the safety and health awarenes programme held in Dewan Mini Stadium recently.

Maznah said the importance of safety and health among employees will not be compromised as all employers have to provide a condusive, safe and healthy working environment to their employees, either in factories, offices, and other type of working places.

“It has to be beared in our mind that accidents that occur during working hours will jeorpadise the employers’ daily operations and affect its activities,” she said.

Maznah said in any organisation, the most important asset for them is their staff.

She said the awareness on the importance of the workers’s safety and health is currently increasing and there are companies which have been cooperative in sending their staff to attend safety courses.

By NIK NAIZI HUSIN
metro@thestar.com.my

Bus operators not satisfy?

PETALING JAYA: Bus operators have criticised the authorities for deeming double-decker buses unsafe, saying that they had encouraged the use of these vehicles in the first place.

The Pan-Malaysian Bus Operators Association said the now defunct Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board had encouraged the use of double-deckers as a way to reduce operating costs.

“Now, they are saying these buses are unsafe and cannot be used on certain roads, which means the operators will have to bear losses,” association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali said yesterday.

It was reported that a study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) had found double-deckers to be unsafe and unsuitable for long journeys, especially on winding roads.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri had said that the build of the buses and their high centre of gravity made them suitable only for use in towns or on highways and not on winding roads and hilly areas.

He asked the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to review the routes for such buses to prevent accidents.

“When they introduced double-deckers, they did not impose any restrictions on routes and told us that the buses were safe,” Mohamad Ashfar said, adding that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and inspection body Puspakom had also approved the vehicles as safe.

SPAD chief operating officer Azhar Ahmad said the commission would liaise with JPJ and Miros to resolve the issue.

“While considering the interests of bus operators, we have to also look at the safety of passengers,” he said.

He added that SPAD would not rush to review the routes for double-deckers as they were already on the road and had been approved by the JPJ.

Miros director-general Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon clarified that the buses found on Malaysian roads were not “double-deckers” but “high-deckers”.

“We do not have double-decker buses in the country,” he said, explaining that double-deckers were much higher than high-deckers.

“Not all buses are suitable. Certain roads, in hilly areas for example, should not be used by any kind of bus,” Dr Wong said.

He added that Miros would publish the findings of the study on its website soon.

Meanwhile, SPAD will meet agencies such as the JPJ, Miros, the Transport Ministry and bus operators on the issue.

“We will look into the technical and safety aspects such as the Safety Health and Environment Code of Practice (SHE-COP) and international standard practices like the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe's (UNECE) R66 regulations before reaching a decision,” SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said in a statement yesterday

Source: P. ARUNA
aruna@thestar.com.my

Fewer accidents at workplace

PUTRAJAYA: The rate of accidents at workplaces has halved over the past decade.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the rate had fallen from 10.3 cases for every 1,000 workers to 5.72 last year.

“This shows the success of joint efforts by the Government, employers and employees to reduce workplace accidents,” said Dr Subramaniam at the opening of the National Occupational Health and Safety Awards dinner here.

“We need to look at alternatives that can help improve the levels of occupational health and safety to further reduce workplace accidents,” he said.

One of the government initiatives to achieve the reduction includes the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2010-2015, launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in 2009.

“For instance, in the plan's third strategy, organisations that have expertise in occupational issues at the construction site was given the mandate to develop, implement and monitor training modules for site safety supervisors next year,” said Dr Subramaniam.

He hoped that the awards would motivate companies to continue their efforts in reducing workplace accidents.

Of the 144 participating organisations, 21 received awards for their exemplary efforts.

Source: The Star Online 23 Dec 2011

Badan tauke telefon jadi hitam

GEORGE TOWN - Seorang wanita yang baru pulang ke rumah terkejut selepas mendapati suaminya menemui ajal dalam keadaan menyayat hati apabila badan lelaki itu bertukar kehitaman disyaki terkena renjatan elektrik dari alat pemanas air kelmarin.

Mayat tauke kedai telefon, Tye Chuan Sin, 40, ditemui melecur lebih 50 peratus pada pukul 3 petang oleh isterinya di dalam bilik air rumah mereka di Taman Changkat, Bukit Gambir di sini.

Difahamkan, kejadian berlaku ketika mangsa sedang mandi sebelum menjemput anak perempuannya pulang dari kelas tambahan pada pukul 12 tengah hari. Isteri mangsa ketika itu keluar bersama anak lelaki mereka.

Bagaimanapun, anak mangsa yang penat menunggu kemudian menghubungi ibunya untuk mengambilnya.

Kakak mangsa, Tye Chuan See, 45, memberitahu, kakak iparnya yang hairan apabila mendapati suaminya tidak menjemput anak perempuan mereka, bergegas ke kelas tambahan yang terletak berdekatan rumah mereka sebelum tiga beranak itu pulang ke rumah.

Oleh NOOR HASLIZA NUSI
hasliza.nusi@kosmo.com.my

Review procedures to prevent gas leak fires

The palm-sized device was made of brass and simple to operate. It looked like the common gas regulator, except that it had a small meter which shows the amount of gas left in the tank.

The metered regulator cost RM90, almost eight times more than the regular ones. I bought one for two reasons -- it had an automatic shutdown feature which cuts off supply from the tank if there were a leak and lets me know how much gas is left so that I know when to order a new tank.

I hated having to keep a spare tank at home all the time. My fear of a gas leak was as great as running out of gas halfway through cooking my favourite bak kut teh.

But it was a necessary nightmare, before I stumbled upon the metered regulator.

I was even more impressed when the salesman told me that the metered regulator came with a RM1 million liability-insurance and was guaranteed to last five years.

Mine lasted me nine years but, when I went looking for a new one, I was told that it was no longer produced. Apparently, the price was too high for its time and the company had folded.

Last week, when I read that a blast had damaged a restaurant on the ground floor at Maju Junction, my thoughts went back to the metered regulator and gas safety. The blast is the second, involving a food outlet, which is believed to be due to a gas leak.

On Sept 28, the Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya made the headlines when a gas explosion destroyed a restaurant and injured four people.

The complex has since reopened and, according to reports, eateries there have been fitted with a brand new gas line, backed up by a state-of-the-art gas sensor that runs round-the-clock.

Although no one was hurt in the latest blast, I think the authorities should review current procedures for ensuring the safety of the eateries operating in enclosed premises, especially those that see high pedestrian traffic.

Are regular safety inspections, not just health checks, carried out at such eateries before their business licenses are renewed annually?

In case of a fire, especially at eateries in the older shopping complexes, are the kitchen areas shielded to protect people -- at least for the duration needed to evacuate everyone?

Apart from regular smoke detectors and sprinklers, should all eateries in old shopping complexes be equipped with gas leak detection systems?

It also gives me the jitters when I see fast-food outlets operating within a shouting distance of petrol stations.

There is no telling what can happen if an eatery near an underground petrol bunker catches fire, as a result of human carelessness or a faulty stove.

Source: Estung, NST

Beware of bogus recycling centres

Pertubuhan Amal Seri Sinar founder and president Datuk Eadon Ching said some organisations claimed to be non-governmental organisations (NGOs) but were actually companies running businesses.

"Most people will respond positively when approached or after finding out about a recycling campaign, without checking the organisation's background.

"We have come across a few supposedly non-profit organisations that are actually commercial enterprises. We came to know about them as the organisations were registered as companies with Sdn Bhd or Bhd in their names.

"The easiest way to find out about an organisation is through the Registrar of Societies (ROS). If the organisations are not registered with ROS, then they are illegal," he said during a recent visit to a recycling centre in Hulu Langat, Cheras.

He said the authorities should monitor activities and programmes of organisations which claimed to be non-profit-making to make sure that the public would not fall prey to unscrupulous individuals.

"This may seem petty to some, but if you think carefully, it is not only morally wrong to deceive people by having a charity front.

"Before this happens, we have to give a clear message to those taking advantage of people's good intentions to do charity work. In Singapore, such immoral acts would incur a jail term and fine."

He said he had informed the authorities about it, but it seemed that there was no specific law to stop individuals from collecting recyclable items from others.

"Charitable organisations like ours have to depend on public donations to maintain our daily operations including collecting items from the 272 recycle bins we placed at various places.

"The money we get from the recycling process would be used for our programmes and community events.

"However, some irresponsible people would simply exploit people's generosity to generate income for themselves," he said, adding that the most common items received were books, bottles, clothes and newspapers.

"We provide free pick-up services for bulky items such as old furniture and electrical appliances.

"We hire staff and technicians to make sure that the items are fixed before donating them or sending them to countries like Myanmar and Laos."

He advised the public to at least check the organisations' websites before contributing to them.

"If the website has not been updated for a long time, then you know that the organisation is not active."

Ching, who is a businessman, got the idea to set up the society in 2003 after receiving encouragement from friends.

Apart from recycling and environmental campaigns including tree-planting, Pertubuhan Seri Sinar also goes to schools and residential areas to increase awareness on the importance to practice 3R (reduce, reuse and recycle) in one's daily life.

The association collects 60 tonnes of items daily, of which 60 per cent comprised clothes.

Source: NURADZIMMAH DAIM
KUALA LUMPUR
streets@nstp.com.my

5-year-old falls off S’pore flyer platform

A five-year-old boy veered off a platform and fell into a safety net at the Singapore Flyer last Sunday evening, after his father lost grip of the stroller the boy was seated in.

The New Paper (TNP) reported that the boy’s father, known as Mr Tan, had just disembarked from a capsule after the 30-minute ferris wheel ride when he accidentally let go of his son’s stroller.

According to Singapore Flyer centre manager Thiru Ramayah, who spoke to the same paper, the stroller rolled down the disembarkation platform, which is sloped, and slipped off it, falling about half a metre into a safety net below.

After hearing a shout for “code red”, Ramayah saw what had happened in his closed-circuit television monitor from the Flyer’s command centre, and rushed out to ensure that the five-year-old was unharmed.

“The boy appeared to have been tipped out of his stroller and trapped under it,” said Ramayah to TNP, adding that three technicians lowered a rescue ladder to the safety net to help the boy up.

Senior technician Glenn Villaflores told the paper that the boy was “crying non-stop” and seemed very afraid.

“Everything happened very quickly,” said the 28-year-old. “We were very focused on getting the child to safety.”

Ramayah added that Mr and Mrs Tan seemed equally traumatised by what had happened, saying that Mrs Tan was also sobbing. The family was led to a quiet area to calm down after the crew had rescued the five-year-old.

“We offered them water, and one of my staff members even bought stuffed animals from the gift shop for the boy and his younger sister to try to calm them down,” he said.

The Flyer was halted for four minutes as the rescue effort took place, and Ramayah said there was no need for an announcement to be made because it was over so quickly.

A spokesperson for the Flyer told Yahoo! Singapore that the safety net installed below the wheel can support loads of up to 300kg.

She also said that members of staff are stationed along the boarding and disembarkation decks, as well as in a control room, to ensure that guests are looked after at all times.

“This ensures that staff members on ground are able to react quickly to any emergency,” she said.

Railings are also installed along the boarding and disembarkation decks, and staff members stationed right beside the capsule entry and exit points to usher guests safely, added the spokesperson.

“The Singapore Flyer takes the safety of our guests very seriously and we hope that our guests will also exercise caution and responsibility to ensure their safety,” she said.

Source: Jeanette Tan (Yahoo News)

Safer option with ‘Taxis for Women’

PUBLIC transport is now safer for women with the launch of "Taxis for Women" by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development yesterday.

Deputy Minister Datuk Heng Seai Kei said the project was in line with their aim of providing safe public transportation for women.

"These taxis are to cater to women, especially those who are used to travelling alone or with their children.

"We hope it will reduce the number of rape and robbery cases involving taxi drivers and female victims," she said.

According to Heng, the idea was to have taxis that were "driven by women, for women".

"Some 400 taxis will be on-call to ensure the safety and comfort of female passengers."

The service, which will be expanded in stages, currently has 50 taxis operating around the Klang Valley.

She said the service would also help create job opportunities for women, especially single mothers, housewives and pensioners, who were looking for another source of income for their family.

"It is an alternative for women, and those who are interested to pursue this career can also work in shifts to accommodate their schedule," she said.

The ministry and Abex Manufacturing Sdn Bhd are providing training and courses for those who were interested to become female taxi drivers, said Heng.

One of the taxi drivers Faridah Idris, 38, said the service provided female commuters a safer option to travel in.

"Women passengers are normally more comfortable with us.

"For female drivers, there are always risks when picking up passengers, especially at night.

"With this project, both female drivers and passengers can feel safer," she said.

The launch was held in conjunction with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 2011 at the Bandar Tasik Selatan bus terminal.

Also present were Land Public Transport Commission chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and Singapore High Commissioner, Ong Keng Yong.

Source: AISYAH SULAIMAN
aisyahs@nst.com.my

Derelict project a health risk

JOHOR BARU: Residents of the Larkin flats here and those living in the surrounding areas want the authorities to deal with the health risks posed by an abandoned housing project.

The project for the relocation of residents of Kampung Setulang Baru was started in 2003, but was stalled several times before being completely abandoned in 2009.

The site is now an eyesore and residents living in the vicinity are worried that it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Kampung Melayu Zone committee member Azman Dawam said the residents are fearful of the dengue threat as puddles of water could be found at the site of the abandoned project every time it rains.

Johor Baru Umno Youth chief Khaled Mohamad recently visited the area and promised to take up the matter to the authorities.

"We (Umno Youth) are equally frustrated over this project which should have been completed in 2007. "It was for the benefit of the poor," he said.

A resident of the Larkin flats, Romzi Abdul Razak, said he hoped the authorities will revive the project, so that the site would be cleaned up.

"The drains at the site are mostly clogged, causing them to be ideal places for the aedes mosquito to breed," he said.

Source: Mahani Ishak

Driving home road safety habits

IN an effort to promote good road behaviours and reduce the number of accidents, B. Braun Medical Industries (BMI) Sdn Bhd launched a month-long road safety campaign at its plant in Bayan Lepas recently.

Targeted at BMI's 5,000 staff as well as those from neighbouring factories, the campaign featured programmes such as roadshows and talks. The inaugural campaign will be held for four weeks.

BMI operations and CoE IVA vice-president Dr Juergen Schloesser said it was the first time BMI was organising a campaign focusing on road safety.

Schloesser said road accidents killed more people than malaria.

"Last year, BMI recorded 32 commuting accidents involving our own employees. This year, until October, there were 17 accidents with four fatalities," he said.

"We must know how to keep ourselves and others safe when we are on the road."

BMI has also reaffirmed its commitment towards road safety and was aiming at cutting its commuting accidents by half by next year.

State Road Safety Department director S. Jegan lauded BMI for its commitment in promoting road safety to the industrial zone community.

Campaign organising chairman and BMI environmental, health, safety and security senior manager V. Ramachandran said the campaign was well received by representatives of B. Braun's neighbours.

Source: LOOI SUE-CHERN

Stress of living with accidents

KERETAPI Tanah Melayu Locomotive Drivers' Association (PPL) president Rahman Zakaria said he had seen more than 10 accidents involving people on the tracks throughout his 21 years of working for KTM Berhad.

"One incident which haunts me until now, was when the train hit a Chinese woman, who was crossing the tracks at night.

"It was Chinese New Year and she was heading home."

She did not survive.

Rahman said drivers often suffered trauma and psychological stress after these accidents.

He added that many drivers took time off and even switched to desk jobs after accidents on the tracks.

Mohd Ariza Yahya, a locomotive driver of 15 years, said the accidents would involve not just human victims but animals as well.

"I remember during one trip in Labok, Kelantan, where two elephants died after being hit, while crossing the tracks. It is dangerous not just to animals, but to people onboard because hitting huge objects will damage the train."

Nor Amran Hamid, who has been driving trains since 1995, said he was once injured when the train he was driving was pelted with rocks by children.

"Although small, the stones managed to crack the windshield of the train and shards of the glass hit my eyes. Luckily, it did not damage my eyesight."

Mohd Khairi Ariffin said an accident in Bukit Berapit, Perak, left him with a broken rib when a boulder rolled down the hill and stopped the train in its tracks.

"We crashed into the boulder and I was lucky the whole train did not topple into the gorge by the side."

Source: NST

Lynas installs RM1.5mil air quality monitoring system

KUANTAN: Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd has installed an Airborne Monitoring System (AMS) at its site in Gebeng while a second unit will be placed in Kuantan town next month.

Its managing director Datuk Mashal Ahmad said the units, which would provide updates on air quality every 10 minutes, cost RM1.5mil and were operated by the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB).

“With the AMS, people will know that whatever radiation emitted is very low, negligible and harmless to humans and the environment.

“The readings are also accessible online,” he said during a briefing on the rare earth plant's progress here yesterday.

Also present were general manager (plant) Khairul Salleh Jais, engineering services senior manager Wee Tait Eng and Lynas Malaysia's radiological safety adviser Prof Dr Ismail Bahari.

Mashal also commented on the 11 recommendations imposed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) review team, including three that need to be fulfilled before the pre-operation licence, which is for a two-year period before actual production could begin.

“We have given all the facts and data, and a permit to operate will make it possible to prove that the statistics are right,” he said, adding that the plant would be completed in January.

Mashal also denied that Lynas would start shipping rare earth from Australia.

He added that an empty container was brought in to map out the logistics involved.

On the ongoing protests against the plant, Mashal said Lynas welcomed any form of dialogue.

“They need to understand the processes involved and listen to the right people with the right expertise.

“Also, they must not impose conditions such as bringing along their lawyers or wanting to take photos and video recordings in the plant,” he added.

Source: ROSLINA MOHAMAD
roslina@thestar.com.my

Fire drill turns into kids' fun activity

GEORGE TOWN Recently, there was a brief panic among the residents of the apartments in densely-populated Halaman Damai, Kampung Rawa, here, when a fire-engine showed up for a fire drill.

Firemen, from the Fire and Rescue Department unit in Jalan Perak, used a ladder to rescue a "victim" who was on the fifth floor of block nine.

The neighbourhood was abuzz with activities when children packed into the fire engine to check out the fire fighting equipment.

Some children took the opportunity to learn about basic fire evacuation techniques from the firemen.

The drill was part of "Program Mesra" organised by the Umno Jelutong division. Ahmad Azhari Hamzah, 51, an Umno branch leader and a member of the organising committee, said the drill was held to raise public safety awareness.

"We have to be prepared for any emergency. Our aim is to expose the children to ways to disperse during a fire," he said. The children were treated to lunch.

Source: Phuah Ken Lin
streets@nstp.com.my

Making schools safe for work, study and play

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, concerned about the dangers of dilapidated infrastructures in schools, has introduced a programme to create awareness of safety and health among staff and children.

ELEVEN-year-old Nur Shahreen Natasya Mohd Amin, of SK Taman Indahpura 1, was among those who won prizes in a recent poster drawing competition held in conjunction with the recent launch of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in Schools programme.

Nur Shahreen, who won a hamper, said she did not expect to win as it was the first time she was taking part in a drawing competition.

“I think safety is important in everything that we do and in all places, particularly at home and school,” Nur Shahreen said.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), concerned about the potential threat that dilapidated infrastructures posed to teachers, administrative staff, students and visitors to school compounds, introduced the pilot project involving 10 schools in Johor.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said at a press conference after launching the programme at the NIOSH complex in Taman Teknologi Park that NIOSH was working with the Education Ministry, as part of its corporate social responsibility drive, to create awareness of safety and health in schools.

It aims to do this through education, awareness, training, exhibitions and drawing competitions.

“Safety issues can include school buildings, toilets, canteens, laboratories and school fields,” Lee said.

“Training and information dissemination are the main elements in ensuring that employees know the risks they are facing in the workplace and how to work safely to deal with the risks,” he said.

Lee said the government was aware of the problem as Budget 2012 had an allocation of RM1 billion for a special fund to be used for the construction, improvement and maintenance of schools, especially to cater for those with urgent needs.

On a separate matter, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that part of a RM500 million allocation for the Education Ministry will be channelled to improve national schools next year.

The funds will be used for infrastructure repairs in 600 national schools in the country.

Lee said the government had previously introduced programmes such as the School Health Programme in 1967 and Safe School Project in 2002.

However, these programmes focused primarily on improving health and making schools safe from social ills and negative external influences, such as drug addiction, gangsterism and crime.

The OSH in school programme covers another aspect — it views schools as a workplace, in accordance with the OSH Act 1994.

Last year, Mohd Khairi Iskandar Onzek, eight, died two days after he was pinned down by a goal post which had toppled on him at a school field in Kepala
Batas, Penang.

Two months ago, Muhammad Fakhrul Amin Abdul Rahman, 11, of SK Kampung Jawa 2, Klang, also died after being hit by a falling goal post when playing football at the school field.

Lee said there were previous reports of termite-infested schools and collapsed ceilings in schools throughout the country. Lee urged private companies to come in as sponsors for the OSH in school programme.

Source: CHUAH BEE KIM

Residents plead for help coastal erosion

A 1.5km long embankment and reclamation work to address the problem lack of embankment

Erosion and the destruction of mangrove forests along a 1.5km stretch of coastline in Pontian are exposing residents to the risk of property damage during storms.

The 28 families of Kampung Permata panic every time a storm occurs as there are no concrete wave breakers or mangroves to protect their village from the impact of huge waves during downpours.

They claimed that coastal erosion had been occurring for about 30 years.

The village's Umno branch chief, Abdul Aziz Sulaiman, 52, said there was a drainage system, but it was of no use as erosion still continued to occur.

He said many homes would be damaged during storms. Often, he said, the roofs were blown away. Villagers are worried as the houses are becoming more and more exposed to the fury of the sea as coastal erosion continues unabated.

"We hope the government will take this problem seriously, as property is often damaged when there is a storm."

Besides erosion, Rashid Rahman, 52, said villagers were also threatened by floods.

"The residents are getting more worried by the day. An embankment should built and reclamation work should be carried out."

Pontian member of parliament Datuk Ahmad Maslan said he had applied for a RM7million allocation from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to put a stop to the coastal erosion and flooding.

"The allocation includes funds to build a 1.5km-long embankment along the coast and for reclamation work to be done to prevent further erosion," said Ahmad.

Source: UMI NADIRAH ABDUL RAHMAN AND TOGI MARZUKI

Precautions before play

TOURISTS who want to ride water scooters at the Batu Ferringhi tourism belt in Penang will from now on be given a checklist to ensure that they are briefed on the safety procedures by the water sports operators.

The move, introduced with immediate effect by the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP), state government and Supratechnic (M) Sdn Bhd, is an effort to further enhance safety measures taken by the operators.

Supratechnic’s managing director Chow Kum Hoong said tourists who wished to go on the water scooters would first be briefed on safety measures before being given a checklist.

“Upon understanding the listed safety measures in handling the machine, they will then have to sign on the list as an acknowledgement,” Kum Hoong said after a workshop on ‘Basic Operating Safety Riding’ for water scooter operators at the Lone Pine Hotel in Batu Ferringhi.

Supratechnic is the sole distributor of Yamaha marine engines in the country.

The one-day workshop, organised by MPPP jointly with the Penang Water Recreation Association and the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Penang chapter, saw some 100 operators and 40 council enforcement officers taking part.

Kum Hoong also said his company would provide the operators with laminated safety regulation sheets to be given to tourists for their own reference.

“We hope that with all these measures being taken, the number of accidents involving water sports will be reduced,” he said.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow who opened the workshop yesterday, said the demerit point system to ensure operators adhered to the rules set by the authorities would be enforced with immediate effect.

“There are 18 categories of offences under the system and deductions for each offence is set according to its severity,” he said, adding that an operator’s licence would be revoked once a total 50 demerit points was accumulated.

Among the violations the operators could be penalised for are operating water scooters without a licence, unauthorised modifications of the machines and allowing riders under 16 to ride without an accompanying adult.

Kon Yeow said an investigation panel which had been set up to receive and solve complaints as well as to monitor water sports activities on the beach, comprised representatives from the council, police, Civil Defence Department, hoteliers and water sports operators.

“The panel will also conduct investigations to ascertain the true cause of an accident and to determine whether it is due to the tourist’s or the operator’s negligence,” he said.

Source: HAFIZ MARZUKHI
hafiz@thestar.com.my

Stinking up the neighbourhood

The owners of 12 shophouses and 10 residents in Batu Settlement, Jalan Ipoh in Kuala Lumpur have been putting up with a clogged sewerage system for the past six months.

Paval Arumugam said his shop’s toilet was overflowing with faeces and customers were put off by the smell.

He added that they had been facing the problem since 2008 due to the standalone sewerage system.

The system gets clogged because it is not connected to the Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) pipe. Shoplots on the opposite row have a different system that is maintained by the IWK.

Paval and his neighbours do not enjoy the services nor do they pay the IWK for its services.

“It is embarrassing for me to decline my customers the use of the toilet. I have to resort to ask them to use some of our neighbours’ facilities,” he said.

He added that it was usually the units downstairs that had clogged toilets and some had resorted to directing the water into the drains.

Paval’s neighbour, Tony Soh, 50, said some of the manhole covers for the underground sewerage system were missing, making it dangerous for children and senior citizens who use the backlanes.

He said some shop owners had bought their own covers to prevent unwanted incidents.

A restaurant worker, who declined to be named, said he and the other workers were forced to clean the clogged outlets recently to ensure the water outlet was free.

Paval has tried to lodge complaints with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and IWK twice but both parties have declined to take up the task.

According to IWK, the shopowners would have to hire private contractors to clear the clogged system.

“We do not mind paying IWK the fees like all the others but we just want somebody to take the responsibility. It is now nobody’s baby,” he added.

To make matters worse, some irresponsible people are throwing the garbage in open manholes due to the lack of a designated collection area.

Despite numerous complaints, the collection has not improved leaving the entire area dirty and messy.

IWK Kuala Lumpur head of section (pipelines) Abdul Ghani Mohamed said the pipeline was a private service.

He said there could be several reasons why the pipes were not connected to the public lines.

However, Ghani said he would meet the affected parties to advise them on the best course of action.

“We will advise them to hire contractors to fix and maintain the system since it is a private one.

“IWK usually sends three different contractors to look at the problem and ask them to quote the price.

“We will then recommend to the clients to hire the contractor with the cheapest quotation,” he added.

Source:PRIYA MENON(priya@thestar.com.my)

Beware the leeches during floods, especially females!!

FEMALE students in Kelantan have been advised not to stay or play in flooded areas to avoid the repeat of cases of leeches which entered the private parts of girls and women in the state last year, Kosmo! reported.

Kelantan Education Department director Hussain Awang said at least 13 female students in the state encountered such problems then.

He added that the victims were playing in floodwaters when they suffered the bleeding.

“Please avoid playing in the floodwaters as the leeches could endanger your health due to internal bleeding,” he said.

Hussain also reminded parents to keep a watchful eye on their children to avoid any untoward incident during the rainy season.

Source: JOSEPH KAOS JR, WINNIE YEOH and A. RAMAN

4 Years old Girl Killed by Falling Tree

JERANTUT, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- A four-year-old girl was killed when a coconout tree fell on her at her house compound in Kampung Lada, near here,yesterday.

In the 10.30am incident, which was witnessed by her mother and siblings, the victim, Nurshuhada Azman, was only about two metres away from their house.

Her father, Azman Zainuddin, 41, said the 15-metre high coconut tree suddenly came crashing down on his youngest child although there was no strong wind at the time.

"I accept the fate from Allah. The hospital confirmed that my child died of serious head and body injuries," said Azman, who rushed to Jerantut Hospital on hearing about the incident.

Nurshuhada''s remains were buried at the Kampung Lada Muslim cemetery at 3pm yesterday. Jerantut police deputy chief DSP Zakaria Kasim when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Source: BERNAMA QA MS HAZ MO