Thesun 2009-08-05 Page08 Why Umno Must Tee Keat Over Pkfz

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theSun

news without borders ‘Do not confuse retreaded tyres with regrooved’ PUTRAJAYA: Vehicle owners should not confuse retreaded tyres with regrooved tyres, following the government ruling to issue summonses to those using regrooved tyres, beginning November. Road Safety Department (RSD) directorgeneral Datuk Suret Singh said regrooved tyres did not meet safety standards as they were made from bald tyres which were illegally regrooved by ‘backyard’ industries. On the other hand, he said, retreaded tyres were produced legally through a new manufacturing process recognised by the Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim). “Based on regular use, new tyres will be worn out within three to four years and they can be retreaded twice by the industry. “Retreaded tyre manufacturers will run a check on these tyres and pick only the

safe ones to be retreaded. They will process the tyres by increasing the compound or new layers before retreading them. Those unsuitable for retreading are disposed for recycling,” he told Bernama. Suret said Malaysia’s retreaded tyre industry is recognised worldwide and countries like New Zealand, Australia and Taiwan had also imported Malaysian-made retreaded tyres. However, he refuted allegations that the high demand for retreaded tyres among users was because they were much cheaper than new tyres. “Retreaded tyres are not as thick as new tyres, so they can only be used up to a few months because the tread pattern wears off quite easily. “So, between a RM50 retreaded tyre which could last only a few months and buying a new tyre at RM95 which could last

up to three to four years, which would be more cost effective?” he asked. Suret said the four main players in the country’s tyre industry – Malaysian Association of Tyre Retreaders and Dealers Society, Tyre Retreading Manufacturers Association of Malaysia, Association of Tyre Importers and FMM Malaysian Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Industry Group – had agreed to stop the use of regrooved tyres. “Stern action will be taken against errant dealers and the tyres will be seized,” he said. Beginning Nov 1, only tyres marked with Sirim’s logo ‘MS’, the American Department of Transportation’s ‘DOT’ or the European Community Standard’s ‘E’ are allowed to be used, while car owners using other tyres, including the regrooved ones, would be fined up to RM300. – Bernama

Sex workers more trustworthy than officials: Survey BEIJING: Prostitutes are considered more trustworthy in China than government officials and scientists, a recent survey of more than 3,000 respondents showed. The online survey of 3,376 Chinese showed that 7.9% of respondents considered sex workers trustworthy, putting them in third place after farmers and religious workers, the Insight China magazine said on its website.

“A list like this is at the same time surprising and embarrassing,” the China Daily said yesterday in an editorial, commenting on the result of the survey, which was carried out in June and last month. The newspaper said the list showed scientists and teachers ranked “way below, and that government functionaries, too, scored hardly better”. Soldiers and students were ranked after sex workers on

the list of trustworthy professions, the Insight China magazine said. “Given the constant feed of scandals involving the country’s elite, this is not bad at all,” the China Daily editorial commented. “At least (the scientists and officials) have not slid into the least credible category which consists of real estate developers, secretaries, agents, entertainers and directors.” – AFP

| WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5 2009

Why Umno must back Tee Keat over PKFZ FORMER Pulau Manis assem- RM4 billion and RM12 billion. blyman Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul It should not be Lim Kit Siang, Aziz of Umno says the Umno-led but Umno, who should come Barisan Nasional should give forward to give Ong the supMCA chief Datuk Seri Ong Tee port.” Keat full backing over the Port Mohd Ariff said the fiasco, Klang Free which is Zone (PKFZ) linked to incident. former MCA He said this transport by Kong See Hoh is a crucial ministers, [email protected] opportunity will deal the for MCA and party a cripUmno to regain the support pling blow, as such the BN govof the people, Sin Chew Daily ernment definitely cannot keep reported yesterday. its distance over the incident. Writing in his blog, SakPointing out that the fate and mongkol AK47, Mohd Ariff said fortune of Umno is closely linked if Umno wants to reclaim its to MCA, he said although there former glory, it should not just are two forces within MCA, one watch MCA from the sideline on led by Ong and the other by his the PKFZ issue. deputy Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi “The cost (outlay of PKFZ) Lek, Umno has to show clearly ballooned from RM1 billion to that it supports Ong.

Press Digest

briefs Worker dies in gas leak at LNG plant BINTULU: A worker died after a gas leak occurred at the Malaysian Liquefied Natural Gas (MLNG) plant in Tanjung Kidurong here yesterday. A source at Petronas Sarawak confirmed the incident happened at around 4.30pm when the worker together with two colleagues were conducting inspections at a major gas pipeline at the facility. The three men were said to have fainted after inhaling gas before other workers realised what had happened. As of 10pm, the condition of the other two workers was yet to be known. A source at the Bintulu Hospital told Bernama the hospital rushed an ambulance to the scene after receiving a distress call. – Bernama

11 Nigerians, local woman held over drugs KUALA LUMPUR: Eleven Nigerian students and a local woman, believed to be involved in drug trafficking, were arrested by police during four raids in the Klang Valley early yesterday morning. All suspects, in their 20s, were arrested by a team from the Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division. During the first raid on a condominium in Subang Jaya at 6am, police found a Nigerian with 1kg of heroin and 98 capsules believed to be heroin. Following the arrest, police raided another condominium in Petaling Jaya 30 minutes later and arrested four more Nigerians and a local woman, but no drugs were found. In a subsequent raid at a condominium in Sentul, an hour later, police arrested five more Nigerian men believed to be associated with those arrested earlier. Another Nigerian man was arrested in Nilai at 8am. – Bernama

Pilot killed, 40 hurt as plane skids off runway BANGKOK: A Bangkok Airways pilot was killed when his plane skidded off the runway at the popular Koh Samui Island airport. Thai aviation authorities confirmed that flight PG266 pilot Chartchai Pansuwan died while 40 others were injured, including 23 seriously, in the incident about 2.30pm. The twin engine propeller driven ATR 72-500 plane from Krabi, with 68 passengers and four crew, was landing during heavy rain when it skidded off the runway and crashed into an old control tower. The identities of the passengers have not been released. – Bernama

Sentencing adjourned on Mumbai bombers MUMBAI: An Indian judge yesterday adjourned sentencing on three people found guilty of planting bombs that killed 52 people in Mumbai in 2003, as the prosecutor pushed for the death penalty. Judge M.R. Puranik, sitting at a special anti-terror court in the city, deferred judgement on Haneef Sayyed, his wife Fahmeeda and Ashrat Ansari until tomorrow after hearing arguments from their lawyers. All three were convicted of a string of charges last week, including murder and attempted murder, after two bombs exploded at the Gateway of India monument and the Zaveri Bazaar jewellery quarter on August 25, 2003. – AFP