NEED A VACATION? SPACE WILL SOON BE AFFORDABLE

     Sub-orbital flights can cost as cheap as RM15,000 in future which would help develop the space tourism industry, said Prof Dr Patrick Collins, a professor of economics at Azabu University, Japan.
    "Currently space flight costs range from US$100,000 to US$200,000 (RM327,170
to RM654,340), but by doing it on a larger scale, engineers believe it can be as
low as RM15,000 in 2020," said Collin in his talk titled 'From Microgravity to
Orbital Flight' at Planeterium Negara here today.
    A sub-orbital space flight is a spaceflight in which the spacecraft reaches
100 kilometres above the sea level. It could boost space tourism besides cutting
cost for microgravity research.
    Sub-orbital flights helps researchers to carry out microgravity research
without going to outer space, hence saving time and cost. 
    Collins also said that space tourism could be commercialised like air travel
and such efforts and research were being carrying out by few countries like the
United States of America (USA), Japan besides a few European nations.
    "In 2000, only 1 billion passengers flew on aircraft, but in 2010, 2.5
billion passengers used aircraft services. So in future, we can expect more
people to travel to space. USA, Japan and Europeans are working on the
possiblities," he said.
    Collins is also a collaborating researcher  with the Institute for Space and
Astronautical Science. He is also an adviser to a number of companies and his
research focus for the past 25 years has been on how to stimulate growth on
commercial space activities, mainly for tourism and energy supply.
    Meanwile, National Space
Agency (ANGKASA) Director General Dr Noordin Ahmad said it its effort to become
a developed nation by the year 2020, Malaysia was not
sidelined on the matter and expected the new technology to reduce costs.
    "We are expecting the concept of sub-orbital flight to be used in expediting
microgravity experiments with the least possible cost compared to using the
older method of sending microgravity experiments to the ISS (International Space
Station) which is very costly," Noordin told Bernama.
    Malaysia has been involved in microgravity research since sending its first
astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor into space in 2007. The research was
on five themes namely microbes in space, cells in space, protein in space, food
in space and students suggested experiments. 
    As a continuation, Malaysia continued research in collaboration with
Japan and Russia in the area of parabolic flight, protein crystallization and
space seeds from 2008 until end 2013.
    -- BERNAMA

THE UEFA'S ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT REFEREE SYSTEM IN MALAYSIAN FOOTBALL

     The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) will implement the additional assistant referee (AAR) system, beginning with the quarter-finals of the 2014 Malaysia Cup.
    FAM Referees Committee chairman Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz said the system
which was adopted from  UEFA, will be fully implemented in the Malaysian League
(M-League), early next year.
    "We will implement this system from the middle of this year in stages,
beginning with several friendly matches and use it fully from next year," 
he told reporters after opening a course on the system organised by FAM, here,
today.
    Through the implementation of the system, Astaman said there will be two
additional assistant referees, joining the fourth officials along with the
referee and two assistant referees.
    They would be positioned alongside each goal line to watch for incidents in
the penalty area and help the match referee in
taking decisions, he said. 
    UEFA is currently using the system in the European club competition after it
was firstly introduced at the 2012 European Football Championship (Euro 2012).
    "With the cost for each set of  'Radio Communication System' and 'Electronic
Flag' estimated at around RM15,000, we will need at least 15 sets to ensure full
implementation in the M-League (in 2015)," said 
Astaman.
    On another note, he said the committee had received six official
complaints about poor refereeing, out of 415 games in the M-League so far.
    "Of the six, two have basis for action to be taken against the referees.
    "Apart from this, action has been taken against seven referees and assistant
referees based on the reports fo match comissioners," he said.
    Some 30 local referees joined the two-day course which
will be conducted by six instructors namely Hugh Dallas, Werner Helsen (both
from UEFA referees committee) beside four local instructors -- Subkhidin Mohd
Salleh, Mohammad Radzali Yaacob, Nasaruddin Ishak and Ahmad Khalidi Supian.
    -- BERNAMA

KPDNKK TO BOOST ENFORCEMENT AGAINST SALE OF FAKE GOODS

The Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (KPDNKK) Ministry is beefing up enforcement on the sale of fake jerseys and sports equipment in the light of the 2014 World Cup fever.
    Its enforcement director, Mohd Roslan Mahayudin told Bernama that KPDNKK
viewed the matter seriously as it was against the law and would result in loss
of revenue for the country.
    "Other than stealing copyrights, the sale of fake goods is a loss to the
nation as revenue cannot be collected," he said adding that during the 2010
World Cup in South Africa, 429 seizures were made nationwide involving goods
worth RM3.2 million.
    "The government probably lost between RM3 million to RM4 million in revenue
from the total worth of goods seized."
    In this regard, he said KPDNKK advised the public against buying fake
products as they were of low quality and deemed supporting an illegal activity.
    Mohd Roslan said KPDNKK would cooperate with owners or representatives of
trademark in curbing the sale of pirated goods.
    A Bernama survey in Petaling Street here found fake items such as jerseys,
caps and underwear with the Brazil 2014 World Cup logo being sold freely.
    Fake jerseys with the logo of the International Federation of Football
Association (FIFA) and the countries represented were also being sold for as low
as RM15 to RM25.
    Sport shoes from popular brands were also being sold cheap, between
RM50-RM100, he said.
    -- BERNAMA

NYPD WILLING TO SHARE INFORMATION TO COMBAT CORRUPTION

     The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is committed to help the law and enforcement agencies throughout the world to fight against corruption.
    The NYPD's former Chief of Internal Affairs Bureau, Charles Campisi said the
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) faces the same challenge as faced by
United States in combating corruption.
    "The New York City Police Department is dedicated to help and working
together with government law and enforcement agencies throughout the world, we
believe by sharing information and resources, we all can combat corruption the
best way," he told reporters here today.
    Earlier he, together with Peter Ainsworth, a veteran United States
prosecutor serving as Senior Deputy Chief for Litigation of the Public Integrity
Section, the US Department of Justice's Criminal Division and United States
Embassy Legal Advisor Kenneth C Kohl, conducted a workshop for about 30 MACC
senior officials at the Malaysian Anti Corruption Academy (MACA) here.
    During the workshop on 'Internal Affairs Investigation and Succesfull
Prosecution of Police Corruption', Campisi also shared some ideas on how the
NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau detected the drug abuse among the police officers
using hair as well as finger and toe nails apart from urine test. 
   He also shared how the NYPD engaged with the public to encourage them to
report corruption among the authorities.
    "In New York City, we try to use every resource available. We encourage the
public to be involved, we attend public meetings and explain the rules and
procedures, they understand what to be expected. 
    "We let them know the ways they can report corruption. We make it as easy as
possible for them to report corruption. We try to engage with citizens as
much as we can," he said.
     According to Kohl, the authorities also needed to be proactive besides
being reactive in fighting corruption.
    "Whether it's an Internal Affairs Bureau or officers professional
responsibility, the identity between the law and enforment agency needs to be
proactive, not just reactive to corruption," he said.
    Also present was MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed. -- BERNAMA

EXTREME GROUPS STEM FROM RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES AMONG MUSLIMS - ACADEMICIAN

By Mohd Razman Abdullah and R. Vikneswaran

Conflicts due to religious differences between Sunnah Wal-Jamaah and Syiah members in the Middle East are believed to have been influenced by the emergence of religious groups in the region, said an academician.
    Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) College of Law, Government and International
Studies dean Prof Madya Dr Martadar Mohamed said, on the other hand, Malaysians
were easily influenced by the militants' activities due to feelings of
unsatisfaction on the development in Syria and Iraq.
    He said this extreme belief culminated in these people indulging in counter
jihad whose struggles were in conflict with Islamic teachings.
    According to his study, he said the militant groups obtained donations from
sympathetic people, including from organisations and individuals within the
country.
    "They also received financial aids from non governmental organisations and
Islamic groups from countries in the Middle East," he told Bernama.
    He said, as such, Malaysian authorities needed to provide suitable mechanism
to curb the matter so that the conflicts that occurred in the Middle East would
not spread to the country.
    Dr Martadar was commenting on the five Malaysians who were currently wanted
by the police to assist in investigations pertaining to militant activities,
including a Universiti Malaya senior lecturer, Dr Mahmud Ahmad, 36.
    Meanwhile a security source said a militant member from Malaysia would
normally be trained in the southern Philippines for basis military training
before being sent to countries in the Middle East such as Syria and Iraq.
    He said they would receive trainings on shooting using various weapons,
warfare technique and militant groups' ideology.  
    Prior to this, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had said
this year police had arrested 19 locals, who were believed to be involved in
militant groups that had ties with those in southern Philippines and Middle
East.      
    "In this (militant) movement, it is not easy to allege with real evidence
that can be accepted by the court," said Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan
Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told the Dewan Negara sitting last week.
    Efforts to combat militants had become more challenging to the police after
the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA).    
    This is because under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act
2012(Sosma), individuals can only be detained for 28 days and required to be
charged in court after that period.
    Crime analyst Datuk Akhbar Satar is of the view that the involvement of
Malaysian nationals in militant crimes were still under control but the
authorites must not take it lightly by increasing the monitoring and
intelligence level. 
    "Our intelligence experts must have indepth knowledge to identify the
militant members because this issue not only can tarnish the country's image but
also jeopardise national security," he said.
    He even urged the management of local universities to monitor the movement
of their staff under their purview following the involvement of university
lecturers in militant activities.
    "Vice-chancellors and faculty deans must recognise the lecturers who serve
in the universities. They have to know the thoughts and direction of every one
of their personnel," he said.
    Former Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department director, Tan Sri Zaman
Khan Rahim Khan said the police needed to widen their intelligence contacts with
 other countries to fight militant crimes among locals.
    "Other countries can channel information as militant crimes among the locals
are influenced by those outside Malaysia to enable action, to contain these
militants, to be taken," he said. -- BERNAMA

USE OF DENGUE VACCINE EXPECTED TO START IN 2016 - S.SUBRAMANIAM

     The use of vaccine to prevent dengue in Malaysia is expected to start in 2016, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
    He said even though the vaccine would be available soon, the ministry would
be reviewing the data obtained on the vaccine over a two-year period. 
    "The vaccine will only be available to the public from 2016 after we have
reviewed the data obtained," he told reporters after launching a 1Malaysia
Indian Community Health programme at SJK(T) Kuala Kubu Bharu here today.
    He said to date, the vaccine was found to only have a 56 per
cent success rate.
    "The vaccine is for four dengue steroetypes, namely DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and
DEN-4, but control on DEN-2 is unsatisfactory at only around 35 per cent. This
forced us to review the data analysis to ensure its efficacy," he said.
    On Friday, a private company announced that the much awaited vaccine for
dengue will be made available in several countries.
    Subramaniam said the vaccine would only be made available to the public if
its success rate was at 80 per cent and above.
    In this regard, the ministry does not want to place too much hopes on the
vaccine and instead to continue carrying out overall prevention programmes.
    He called the local authorities and the people to ensure cleanliness of the
surroundings especially at dengue hotspots. -- BERNAMA

LEMANG TO'KI A POPULAR CHOICE DURING AIDILFITRI

     Lemang, a delicacy made of glutinous rice and
coconut milk cooked in bamboo over a slow open fire, is a must-have during the
festive season, especially Aidilfitri.
    For individuals who frequently travel from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Baharu,
Kelantan, the name Lemang To'Ki Bentong would be familiar as the stall is about
45 minutes from the Gombak Toll Plaza.
    The proprietor of Lemang To'Ki, Mazlan Ramli, 49, when met at his stall,
said although there were many instant food products in the market, lemang made
the traditional way remained in demand because it tasted better and could be
kept for a longer time.
    "To' Ki lemang can be kept for three days and longer if it is keep in the
refrigerator," he told Bernama. 
    The strategic location of his stall, which is near the Bentong-Kuala
Lumpur and Bentong-Kota Baharu main route, is also a major factor that made his
lemang popular.
    Mazlan, who has been in the lemang business for nine years, also receives
orders from the Pahang royal family, as well as state government departments.
    He said he could sell between 60 and 200 sticks of lemang a day, especially
on weekends, retailing for RM8, RM10 and RM12 a stick depending on size.
    "The demand for lemang will increase by two or three folds during the
festive season, especially three days before Aidilfitri," he added.
    Besides lemang, the stall which operates daily, also offers food for lunch,
like ayam gole, and beverages, like cendol.
    The stall opens from 7am until midnight everydays, except on Mondays, but
during the fasting month, it only opens at 4.30pm. -- BERNAMA