Scalpers selling Cup final tickets at three times the price

KOTA BARU: Touts were openly selling Malaysia Cup final tickets for three times the price outside the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here on Saturday.

Six scalpers were seen displaying the tickets outside the stadium, much to the dismay of disgruntled fans who were unable to get their hands on them after queuing up for hours.

Kelantan meet Pahang in the final at the Shah Alam Stadium on Sunday.

Red Warriors supporter Rozaimi Ishak, 24, from Wakaf Baharu, said he was disgusted with the touts, who offered the tickets for RM120, as he failed to get hold of them after having waited for five hours.

“I am upset as scalpers still managed to have their way even though Kelantan FA (Kafa) have taken measures to weed them out,” he added.

Kafa vice-president Datuk Ismail Md Noor Kafa, when contacted, said the sale of 10,000 tickets on Wednesday was transparent and it was closely monitored by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“Although Kafa has brought up the matter with the police, there is no law to penalise ticket scalpers,” he added.

Meanwhile, two large screens will be placed outside the Shah Alam Stadium and another at Dataran Shah Alam for football fans who do not have tickets to the match. – Bernama

Cops detain two acquaintances of 'security guard robber'

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have detained two men in Shah Alam and Sentul to assist investigations on the case where a security guard robbed the jewellery outlet he was stationed at the KL Festival City shopping complex, Setapak here.

Kuala Lumpur CID deputy chief (operations and intelligence) ACP Khairi Ahrasa said they were detained at their homes.

In the first raid, a 26-year-old man, believed to be the suspect's friend, was detained at 9pm last Thursday.

He said in a follow-up operation, police arrested another man, aged 51, believed to be the supervisor of the security guard.

"We believe the detention of the two men can help police detect the main suspect," he said, adding the two men were remanded one-week from Saturday.

In the incident, the security guard was reported to have escaped with 100 gold chains after threatening four workers of the jewellery shop at gunpoint. - Bernama

Pemerhati bola sepak pilih Kelantan juara Piala Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR 2 Nov. - Kejohanan bola sepak berprestij tanah air, Piala Malaysia semakin menghampiri kemuncaknya dengan aksi final yang menemukan dua pasukan Pantai Timur, Kelantan dan Pahang di Stadium Shah Alam, malam esok. 

Ramai pemerhati bola sepak tempatan melihat Kelantan yang kini memburu kejuaraan ketiga selepas 2010 dan 2012 merupakan calon juara edisi ke-87 kejohanan berdasarkan kekuatan yang dimiliki mereka di setiap posisi.

Mereka bagaimanapun menyifatkan Pahang turut berpeluang untuk meraih kejuaraan buat kali ketiga selepas 1983 dan 1992 seandainya berjaya memanfaatkan ketiadaan pertahanan kental Kelantan, Obinna Nwaneri yang digantung perlawanan.

Kedua-dua pasukan pernah bertemu dalam saingan kumpulan C Piala Malaysia menyaksikan keputusan seri 1-1 pada aksi Kuantan, 20 Ogos sebelum Kelantan menang besar 4-0 pada aksi timbal balik, 21 September di Kota Baharu.

Bekas pemain kebangsaan awal tahun 2000, Mohd Nizam Jamil berkata Kelantan mempunyai kelebihan dengan skuad simpanan yang terbaik sekalipun skuad utama gagal memberikan persembahan terbaik.

"Dalam erti kata lain, sekiranya skuad utama gagal memberikan impak dalam separuh masa sesuatu perlawanan, barisan simpanan mereka mampu menampung kekurangan berkenaan.

"Walaupun Kelantan kehilangan khidmat Obinna, saya melihat pasukan ini masih mampu memberikan ancaman kepada kubu Pahang menerusi rangkaian tiga serangkai iaitu kapten, Mohd. Badhri Mohd. Radzi, Norfarhan Muhammad serta Indra Putra Mahayuddin," kata Mohd Nizam.

Mohd. Nizam yang kini bertugas sebagai pengurus pasukan Liga Perdana, SPA Putrajaya FC bagaimanapun menyifatkan Pahang turut berpeluang untuk muncul juara sekiranya keputusan di suku dan separuh akhir dijadikan ukuran utama.

"Selain itu, Pahang juga harus mengeksploitasi sepenuhnya dua pemain sayap mereka iaitu R. Gopinathan dan R. Surendran dalam mengucar-kacirkan pertahanan mereka sekiranya ingin menjulang kejuaraan," katanya yang memilih kemenangan bakal berpihak kepada Kelantan dengan kemenangan 2-1.

Berkongsi pandangan adalah blogger sukan, Muhammad Aiman Aminul Abdullah yang memilih Kelantan sebagai calon juara berdasarkan kekuatan seimbang yang dimiliki pasukan bimbingan Bojan Hodak itu di setiap posisi.

"Mereka juga mempunyai pengalaman luas beraksi di pentas final selain mampu beraksi (dengan selesa) di hadapan penyokong yang ramai.

"Malahan kemaraan mereka ke final juga bukanlah satu perjalanan yang mudah kerana mereka terpaksa menghadapi saingan sengit daripada Johor DT dan ATM," kata penulis blog www.suarasukan1mas.blogspot.com.

Muhammad Aiman Aminul yang merupakan pengkritik bola sepak tempatan berkata ketiadaan Obinna di barisan pertahanan tidak menjejaskan rentak permainan pasukan Kelantan yang mempunyai beberapa pemain lain yang boleh menggalas tanggungjawab berkenaan seperti Azizi Mat Rose, Mohd. Farisham Ismail dan Nik Shahrul Azim Abd Halim.

"Saya yakin Nik Shahrul Azim pasti menjadi pilihan utama Hodak untuk menggantikan tempat Obinna kerana beliau pernah beraksi dalam final Piala Malaysia musim lepas selain final Piala FA, musim ini," katanya yang menjangkakan Kelantan akan mencatatkan kemenangan 3-1.

Dalam keghairahan penyokong kedua-dua pasukan memberikan sokongan kepada pasukan masing-masing, Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) selaku pengelola perlawanan memperketatkan kawalan keselamatan paling tinggi dalam sejarah kejohanan bola sepak negara bagi memastikan ia berjalan lancar.

Sejumlah 2,155 anggota keselamatan bakal dikerahkan untuk mengawasi perjalanan perlawanan, penggunaan helikopter Polis Diraja Malaysia dan unit anjing pengesan selain tapisan tiga lapis iaitu pemeriksaan badan, tiket serta bahan terlarang termasuk suar dan mercun. - BERNAMA

Dua pengawal guna kad pengenalan palsu dipenjara

Totoh Sabatal dan Yusri Sambiron (kanan) ketika hadir di Mahkamah Majistret Petaling Jaya, semalam. - Utusan/RASHID MAHFOF

PETALING JAYA 1 Nov. - Dua pengawal keselamatan warga Filipina yang bekerja di sebuah kondominium di Sri Kembangan masing-masing dihukum penjara sebulan oleh Mahkamah Majistret di sini hari ini selepas mengaku bersalah menggunakan kad pengenalan palsu.

Totoh Sabatal, 40, dan Yusri Sambiron, 41, yang ditangkap awal pagi ini turut diperintahkan diserah kepada Jabatan Imigresen untuk dihantar pulang ke Filipina selepas selesai menjalani hukuman.

Majistret Ahmad Solihin Abdul Wahid menjatuhkan hukuman tersebut terhadap Totoh manakala hukuman ke atas Yusri diputuskan oleh Majistret K.B. Elena Hong Tze Lan.

Kedua-dua mereka didakwa secara berasingan atas pertuduhan yang serupa.

Totoh didakwa tanpa kuasa yang sah menggunakan kad pengenalan palsu bernombor 711005-12-5269 atas nama Abdulzan Ludjuman sebagai pengenalan diri.

Yusri pula didakwa melakukan perbuatan sama menggunakan kad pengenalan palsu bernombor 701113-12-5135 atas nama Norazman Abdillah sebagai pengenalan diri.

Kesalahan itu didakwa dilakukan di pondok pengawal Kondominium Bayan Villa, Sri Kembangan dekat sini pada pukul 1.15 pagi, hari ini.

Mereka didakwa mengikut Peraturan 25(1)(e) Peraturan-Peraturan Pendaftaran Negara 1990 yang memperuntukkan hukuman penjara sehingga tiga tahun atau denda maksimum RM20,000 atau kedua-duanya.

Pendakwaan dikendalikan oleh pegawai pendakwa dari Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (JPN), Zubaidah Zahol Ahmad sementara kedua-dua tertuduh tidak diwakili peguam bela.

Utusan Malaysia pada 28 Oktober lalu melaporkan JPN mengesan ramai warga asing yang memiliki kad pengenalan palsu dan bekerja sebagai pengawal keselamatan di sektor berisiko tinggi seperti di institusi perbankan di seluruh negara.

Tangkapan kedua-dua tertuduh dijalankan oleh pihak JPN susulan arahan Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pada 29 Oktober lalu supaya JPN menggunakan kaedah biometrik untuk memeriksa identiti semua pengawal keselamatan di seluruh negara.

Maggi’s culinary competition promotes interest, food education

YOUNG MAGGI CHEFS: MAGGI brings out the talent in the young.

PUTRAJAYA: Homemade meals are more than rustling up something in the kitchen for a bite. In fact, cooking a meal from scratch gives us the opportunity to prepare fresh, tasty, healthy and balanced dishes where children get a food education and learn cooking skills.

THE CHALLENGE: A watchful pair of eyes hoovers over the young challengers.

THE CHALLENGE: All smiles as challengers coolly cook up their dishes.

As part of Nestlé, the world’s largest food and beverage company with a commitment to Nutrition, Health and Wellness, MAGGI constantly strives to deliver tasty and balanced meals to Malaysians.

The MAGGI® Secondary Schools Cooking Competition aims to inspire schoolchildren to cook homemade meals by giving them the chance to participate in a cooking competition at district, state and national levels.

THE CHALLENGE: The fight is so close…it is the presentation that could bring in more points.

The MAGGI® Secondary Schools Cooking Competition Winners

Grand Final held on October 22 at Ruang Legar Auditorium Cempaka Sari in Putrajaya saw talented young cooks from lower secondary schools around Malaysia cooking up a storm. These 48 young people were winners of the regional competitions.

Champs of The MAGGI® Secondary Schools Cooking Competition

Well deserved win at The MAGGI® Secondary Schools Cooking Competition

The competition, which is supported by the Ministry of Education, started off in mid-April with district and state championships.

 Close to 4,800 aspiring chefs aged 13 to 15 from around the country took up the cooking challenge which awarded points for taste, culinary skills, creativity, team work, and nutritional value, among other things.

MAGGI’s continuous campaign to inspire more families to embrace everyday cooking to better their lives was the inspiration for the competition’s 2013 theme.

State Special Olympics kick off in Miri today

SPECIAL PROGRAMME: Dr. Toh Teck Hock (right), Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Regional Clinical Advisor (Health Promotion) conducting the HAP talk.

MIRI: The Sunflower Centre of the Miri Chapter of the Malaysian Red Cresent (MRC) is abuzz with activities as athletes and coaches gather for the 3rd State Special Olympics here yesterday.

They converged at the centre to attend the Healthy Athletics Programme (HAP).

The respective team managers also expressed satisfaction with the preparations for the games which will kick off today.

All five sports to be competed except for swimming will take place today from 8 am until 5 pm today.

Football is at the Pusat Belia Field, bowling at Megalanes East Centre, track & field at Miri Open Stadium and bocce at the Sunflower Centre compound.

The swimmers will take centre stage on Sunday at the Miri Public Swimming Pool Fine weather is also smiling on the organisers as hosts the Miri Chapter of the Special Olympics looks forward to have all the events conducted as scheduled.

Organising chairlady and Miri Chapter chairperson Liza Chai reported that the spirit of the athletes is high.

“They are satisfied with the hospitality and accommodation, and hopefully all the events will run on smoothly” she said.

110 athletes from Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, Limbang and host Miri will compete in the state-level meet.

Parents and members of the public are encouraged to come to support and witness the events.

The Special Olympics Sarawak (SOS) president and Minister for Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah will officiate at the closing ceremony on Sunday.

Outstanding athletes at the games will be selected to represent Sarawak in the National Games in Kuala Lumpur next year.

Victim of snatch theft in vegetative state

STILL HOPING: Lee’s 10-year-old son (wearing face mask) has just come out from visiting her mother. Others are his sisters and relatives.

SIBU: Housewife Lee Sing Kiew who hit her head on the cement ground during a snatching incident at Wisma Sanyan car park on Wednesday night is now in vegetative state.

Her eldest daughter told reporters yesterday the doctor had broken the bad news to them –the brain cells of her 53-year-old mother had died.

Lee went through a four-hour surgery on Thursday noon, and the hospital is managing her condition now.

Although she was in vegetative state, her family members are not giving up hope.

They took her 10-year-old son – the only boy among six siblings – to her bedside to talk to her, pleading her to wake up.

Lee and her son have a strong bond.

Before the tragedy at 8.45pm, Lee was heading to a tuition centre to pick him up after her beauty facial session at Wisma Sanyan.

Two thieves on a motorcycle then snatched her handbag as Lee was going towards her car, causing her to fall.

Initially, family members did not break Lee’s tragic news to her son, but, they decided to take him to the hospital yesterday, hoping for a miracle from this affectionate bond.

Lee’s taxi-driver husband Wong Sing Poh returned to the crime scene on Thursday, and taking Lee’s shirt alone, he called “her soul to return home” – a traditional ceremony to wake up a comatose person.

Sibu police chief ACP Shafie Ismail confirmed the crime yesterday, saying they had identified the two thieves.

He said a manhunt had been launched; he hoped members of the public would help solve the case soonest, as this was a crime of great public concern.

He said the thieves were always on the move.

He vowed to nail them down.

“I understand Lee’s condition has stabilised; I hope she will get well soon.”

Shafie confirmed the crowded area surrounding Wisma Sanyan was a crime hotspot.

He said he had been sending policemen there regularly to patrol, backed up by Rela members.

He hoped members of the public would not blame the police and the Rela for Lee’s tragedy, saying the surroundings of Wisma Sanyan was a huge area, and Rela patrolling team might be at other spots then.

However, Dudong assemblyman Yap Hoi Liong was not satisfied with Shafie’s explanation.

He said he called Shafie on Thursday night to complain on the Rela’s working attitude.

“I told Shafie I have received numerous public complaints about on-duty Rela members spending long time drinking in coffee shop.

Apparently, they are enjoying the hi-tea session while at work.”

Yap, who was at the hospital visiting Lee’s family members yesterday, said: “Snatching thefts and other property crimes in Sibu have flashed red light.

“The police must beef up the security. How can Rela members afford to take easy time drinking in the coffee shops? Put an end to this hi-tea session.”

The assemblyman hoped the police would solve the snatching case that made Lee a vegetable; he also called on members of the public to help the police.

Meanwhile, the daughters of Lee who work in Sabah, Miri and Kuching have returned after they were told of their mother’s tragedy.

Family members and relatives are keeping vigil in the hospital.

Also in the hospital yesterday were Lee’s husband, her parents-in-law and relatives who returned from outstation on hearing Lee’s tragedy.

DIWALI (Deepavali) - Festival of Lights

Diwali (also spelled Devali in certain regions) or Deepavali as it is known in Malaysia, popularly known as the “festival of lights,” is primarily a five day Hindu festival which falls between mid-October and mid-November.


For Hindus, Deepavali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes.


Diwali is certainly the most awaited festival of the year. This is also a time when people don’t mind spending extra and go liberal on their buying spree.


Diwali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji.

The name "Diwali" or "Divali" is a contraction of deepavali which translates into "row of lamps".

Diwali involves the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. These lamps are kept on during the night and one's house is cleaned, both done in order to make the goddess Lakshmi feel welcome.

Firecrackers are burst because it is believed that it drives away evil spirits. During Diwali, all the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family members and friends.


Mostly, there are some of art which is "rangolis," flowers, lights and earthen "diyas" for the occasion decorated on the floor in many shopping complex that can be seen in Malaysia. The decoration is using rice in different colors to show the beautiful of festival.

But not only for mall, there also can be seen in other places such as KL Sentral, KLCC and many more.