Nine injured in train and tanker collision in Kota Kinabalu (with VIDEO)

The scene of the explosion after a commuter train collided with a fuel tanker at a railway crossing in Kepayan, Sabah. - 31 October, 2011

KOTA KINABALU: A huge explosion ripped through a commuter train with 200 passengers after it collided with a fuel tanker at an ``unmanned'' railway crossing near a petrol station in Kepayan here. At least nine people were seriously injured.

Most passengers scrambled out from the rear driver's compartments as they fled the inferno that spread almost immediately following the impact between the four carriages and the Shell tanker.

But 34 of the 200 passengers could not be traced though police have ascertained, as of 7.45pm, that no one else was inside the wrecked carriages.

However, a detailed search is being carried by police, firemen and Sabah Railway staff.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the train impacted the tank section of the lorry carrying some 27,000litres of petrol as it was heading into the Shell station to deliver the fuel.

Upon impact, the first carriage derailed while the second unit landed atop the tanker that exploded at the crossing which Sabah Railways director Mohd Zin Mohd Said had classified as ``illegal.''

Hamza said at 7.45pm that there were no deaths ``as yet'' and they have detained the driver of the oil tanker for questioning while the train driver Ali Ramli, 50, escaped injuries.

Ambulances carrying the injured to the hospital were trapped in a massive traffic snarl due to motorists slowing down or stopping indiscriminately to watch the accident and the situation was further aggravated by a heavy thunderstorm.

The colonial railway is the only commercial rail line in Borneo Island that operates services from Kota Kinabalu to west coast towns and interior Tenom.

``This is the worst mishap in our history,'' said Mohd Zin. - Star

A huge dark plume billowed from a fiery explosion near the Kota Kinabalu Airport after a train crashed into a fuel lorry tanker at an “unmanned crossing” in front of a petrol station. Watch this video:

Najib leaves for Mecca for pilgrimage

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor today left for Saudi Arabia to perform the haj pilgrimage.

They were accompanied by Najib's mother Rahah Mohamad Noah and Najib's younger brother Mohamed Nazim as well as Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.

They took off from the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport at about 5pm for Medina.

In a Twitter posting before leaving for Saudi Arabia, Najib said: "I will be leaving to perform the haj pilgrimage shortly.
"I thank all of you for your prayers."

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Norainee Abdul Rahman as well as several cabinet ministers were among the dignitaries who were at the airport to bid farewell to Najib and his wife.

- Bernama

'What's wrong with minister's kids in project?'

As far as the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry is concerned, there is "no conflict of interest" in the RM257 million soft loan awarded to the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).

Nor does the ministry have any concern over the viability or performance of the project.

"The project is not (by) direct nego (negotiation). We offered it out. Six companies came forward.

"Where is the conflict of interest if the loan award is decided upon by the selection committee?" Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar (left) told Parliament today while winding up for the ministry during the policy stage of the Budget 2012 debate.

However, Noh did not name the minister who is related to the individuals with interests in the NFC, despite constant prodding by opposition MPs.

Noh also said that the Auditor-General's Report did not state any major issues with the project.

"If you look at the audit report, it does not say the project failed."

He argued that the report stated only that there are outstanding commitments by the government which have not yet been undelivered, which has caused some delays with the project.

Shahrizat's husband and children

In a press conference afterward, Noh admitted that allegations of family ties between NFC company officers to a federal minister are true, but saw no problem with the matter.

In a media package distributed to selected media prior to his press conference, the ministry listed the names of Mohamad Salleh Ismail, husband to Women Welfare and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, as well as their three children - Wan Shahimur Izran, Wan Shahimur Izmir and Wan Izzana Fatimah Zabedah - as the management team behind NFC.

"It's true... What's wrong with that?" he shot back when pressed by reporters.

The minister said that the selection committee which awarded the concession is not made up of one person, but staffed by experts who evaluated the merits of all the firms that bid for the project in 2006.

"It is not as if we awarded it direct to the company," he stressed.

He also defended the NFC for having youngsters on its board.

"We should be proud that there are youths who want to become cattle-herders."

Noh also said that the Auditor-General's Report did not state any major issues with the project.

"If you look at the audit report, it does not say the project failed."

Noh pointed to the concern of the audit report, which said only 5,742 heads of cattle had been slaughtered instead of the 8,000 targetted by 2010.

He explained that there is actually 8,016 heads of cattle in the NFC pens.

Slow early development

"Its just that they only slaughtered 5,742. This is because the abbattoir they used is small, as the government promised large scale abbattoir is still outstanding," reasoned Noh.

He argued that the report stated only that there are outstanding commitments by the government which have not yet been delivered, which has caused some delays with the project.

Among the commitments still outstanding from the government, explained Noh, are the construction of an abbattoir, a food processing plant, a bio-fuel plant and the remaining 20 out of 71 satellite livestock farms which are supposed to be served by the feedlot project.

The minister also posited that the performance of the feedlot project has also been delayed, as not all the RM250 million in soft loans and RM13 million in infratructure grants have been disbursed.

As of now, only RM181 million of the loan and RM6.2 million of the grant has been disbursed, since disbursement is subject to ministry monitoring of project performance.

However, Noh admitted, the project is being scrutinised by the Finance Ministry as to whether the government is going to go ahead with it because of the slow early development of the project over the undelivered government commitments.

The issue of the concessions granted to NFC has been fodder for the opposition which used it to attack the government with allegations of conflict of interest and a public funds sinkhole in the making.

INDIANS MUST BE WARY OF NAJIB’S NAMBIKEI

“Nambikei” is a word now frequently used by Prime Minister Datuk Sri najib Tun Razak. Najib first used nambikei at the 65^thMIC General Assembly in August. Literally, nambikei means believe, trust, confidence and hope. After 54 years under Barisan Nasional – UMNO hegemony, Najib wants Indians to continue to place their nambikei in Najib and Barisan Nasional.

Nambikei as the the rallying call of Najib has become important because in the 2008 General Election, Indians for once had the gumption and the cojonnes to abandon Barisan Nasional. For once, Indians braved and cut their umbilical cord with MIC.

With almost 850,000 Indian voters, 70 % of them living and voting in 50 parliamentary constituencies where Indians form as much as 20% of the voters, nambikei takes a greater importance not only for Najib but importantly for the survival of Barisan Nasional.

From the regular stage managed appearances at Indian events, to the cheerful announcement by Najib that he loves thosai and murrukus, granting 1642 citizenship to Indians (wonder how many Indonesians became citizens during the same period these 1642 Indians were waiting for the citizenship), formation of a task force to look into the problems faced by the Indian community ( after 54 years ) does not hide the fact that Najib and Barisan Nasional is desperate to regain the Indian votes. Indians must not be hoodwinked by the sudden benevolences by Najib and Barisan Nasional.

If Najib and Barisan Nasional has “found” Indians, it is all because of general election 2008 and the rise and effect of Pakatan Rakyat. Najib and Barisan Nasional realize that their survival in the next general election depends on Indian voters and their votes, thus the nambikei cry from Najib.

For more than 50 years, Indians had placed their nambikei in Barisan Nasional. Indians became Barisan Nasional’s fixed deposit. Alas, the gains never reflected the deposit. The Indian community gave so much and gained so little, progressed so little but only to be mired in a quagmire.

Indians must never make the mistake of the past but realize that any small measures now by the Barisan Nasional government is the a result of what the community collectively did in 2008. Some Indians may lament that nothing much has changed for the Indians even under Pakatan Rakyat, but Pakatan Rakyat has only been around for 4 years and is a work in progress as compared to 54 years of Barisan Nasional. Still, in the four short years of Pakatan Rakyat, Indians have benefitted much. For a change, with Pakatan Rakyat, it is Barisan Nasional that is desperate in seeking Indians. Thus, this is is not a time to abandon Pakatan Rakyat, for to believe in the nambikei is a return to Barisan Nasional, which may only mean the return to the status quo – Indians being ignored !

Indians, instead must make the nambikei-man to redress and correct the injustices of 54 years by Barisan Nasional against Indians.

Najib's daughter spend RM180, 000 in Australia?

Australian newspapers reported that the daughter of Prime Minister DatukSeri Najib Razak spent about RM180, 000 or AU $ 60,000 for goodsbrand in David Jones, a prominent building in the country.

He and his wife travel to Perth last week led the Malaysian delegation to the Meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM).

The delegation was also accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Minister Senator Datuk MaglinDennis D'Cruz, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department DatukDr Mashitah Ibrahim and President of the People's Progressive Party(PPP) Datuk M. Kayveas.


According to West Australian newspaper reports, the opportunity to attendthe Commonwealth conference provides an opportunity for the shoppingtrips.

"Some businesses in the city, gaining a large profit, when the first womanknown to buy $ 150,000 for pearls in West Australia, while the daughter of Prime Minister Najib Razak is believed to spend & $ 60,000 in DavidJones," the newspaper quotes.

Richard Muirheand, State Director for CHOGM 2011, said, the shopping and leisure activities have been arranged for delegates outside theCHOGM schedule.

Translated from Malay - read http://www.keadilandaily.com/anak-perempuan-najib-belanja-rm180000-di-australia/

Govt rejected Lynas submissions

International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed is also forced to defend himself from the accusation that he is a 'Lynas mouthpiece'.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has rejected Lynas Corporation Ltd’s submissions on safety requirements for its controversial RM1.5 billion rare earth refinery in Gebeng last month.

The revelation came amid a report today by the Australian Associated Press that the Australian mining giant is expected to begin commercially supplying radiation-risk rare earth by 2012.

The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) told Parliament today that Lynas had given the submissions on July 18.

This was two weeks after Putrajaya adopted the 11 recommendations set out by an International Atomic Energy Agency-led (IAEA) review of the refinery.

“But we returned all documents for corrections and additional information on Sept 19,” deputy minister Fadillah Yusof said during MOSTI’s winding up of the 2012 Budget debate.

The government vowed to cease all operations including the import of rare earth until the 11 conditions are thoroughly met.

The recommendations included a comprehensive, long-term and detailed plan for managing radioactive waste that covers decommissioning and remediation.

Lynas was to commence operations late this year and was already planning to begin shipment of rare earth despite protests from residents who fear radiation leaks would be a repeat of the Bukit Merah disaster in 1987.

The incident in Perak has been linked to eight cases of leukaemia with seven resulting in death. The plant was closed following public anger but the refinery is still undergoing a clean up process worth RM300 million.

‘I am no Lynas spokesman’

However, it was reported today to have delayed plans to start rare earth production at the Pahang plant to the first half of 2012.

Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh, the leading lady in the fight against Lynas, said the entire approval process was shrouded in secrecy and demanded more transparency.

“This involves the safety of the residents. They deserve the right to know what the process is like,” she added.

Fadillah, however, said Putrajaya was not permitted to disclose the details as they were “business secrets” belonging to Lynas and might be subject to legal action should they be revealed.

Earlier today, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed was forced to defend himself from the accusation that he was a “Lynas mouthpiece”.

The accusation was made by a fuming Fuziah, who also described the minister of being pro-business.

“It is unfair to accuse me of being a spokesman for Lynas. The ministry has prioritised the Malaysian public and will continue to engage all interested parties,” he told Parliament.

Putrajaya believes that the rare earth refinery plant would be a strategic move that was expected to rake in RM2.3 billion in investment spinoffs and job creation.

Three MPs thrown out

Er Teck Hwa, Lim Lip Eng and N Gobalakrishnan defied the Speaker’s order to sit down.

KUALA LUMPUR: Three MPs were kicked out of parliament house for disobeying the Speaker’s order to sit down.

Bakri MP Er Teck Hwa was told to get out when he remained standing and continued to demand an answer to a question he posed to the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Mustapa Mohamed, who finished his winding up speech without responding to the former.

Er wanted clarification on a piece of information alleging that Malaysia was interested in trading with Israel. Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia repeatedly asked him to sit down, but he was defiant.

“Why didn’t the minister answer?” he said. “It’s just a yes or no. I just want to know if Malaysia has economic ties with Israel”

Pandikar Amin eventually ordered Er out after several failed attempts to get him to sit down.

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng told Er not to leave. A clearly livid Pandikar then showed the door to him as well.

The Speaker said there was no room for questions after a minister had finished his speech. However, he allowed both the DAP reps back into the house 25 minutes later.

Er told reporters that he was not satisfied with the Speaker’s decision as he was merely trying to seek clarification.

“I have got documents, including a customs document from an NGO, which shows that Malaysia wants to have economic relationship with Israel,” he said. “I just wanted to clarify if the information was accurate.”

Earlier, Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan (Independent) was shown the exit when he continued to shout at his DAP counterparts, alleging that they had not kept their promises on the Kampung Buah Pala issue.

He was sent out a few minutes before lunch break and was allowed back into the hall after the break.