young professionals night’08 - "purity of heart, clarity of future"

Howdy, people!! It’s just a month away! Hope you’re anticipating the event as much as we are! ^__^

The 3rd Young Professionals Night’08 - a charity dinner jointly organized by the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society-Young Pharmacists Chapter and Young MAICSA Group in aid of MAKNA (National Cancer Council of Malaysia) - will be held at the Canopy Club, Setia Eco Park on 15 November 2008 (6.30pm – 11.00pm).

Tickets are priced at RM50 and proceeds from the dinner will be channelled to MAKNA. Raffle tickets are sold at RM5 each. Psst…did I mention that chances of winning terrific prizes at this poolside party increase with the number of tickets you buy? ;)

So, come dressed in your sweetest or flashiest pink and white in tandem with the night’s colour code to join in the fun!

To get your tickets or for further enquiries, contact:

Audrey at 019-214 1115 / snufflepaegus@yahoo.co.uk
Jason at 016-477 3570 / jcheng53@hotmail.com


Phuar Hsiao Ling
MPS-YPC

YPN (15 Nov 2008), Canopy Club @ Setia Eco Park, Shah Alam

Greetings, everyone! How have all of you been doing since we first released our announcement on the YPN? We certainly hope that everything's well on your side and that you're excited for more news from us!

For those who have marked 15 November 2008 on their daily planner, you may now add Canopy Club @ Setia Eco Park, Shah Alam, to that because that's where you'll be on that day for YPN! With direct linkage to the NKVE expressway, you can get there in 10 minutes from Damansara, 8 minutes from Subang and just 20 minutes from Jalan Duta!

We are pleased to announce that we will be working with MAKNA (National Cancer Council of Malaysia) by raising funds and spreading awareness of cancer.

Also, while shopping for something to wear for the YPN during the sales season now, think pink and white! The theme for YPN is Purity of Heart, Clarity of Future. Purity is symbolized by WHITE and our ever beating heart that keeps us alive is RED. Mix white and red together and you get PINK. So, that explains why the colour code for YPN is pink and white!

Tickets for fun and charity will cost RM50 each. And did I mention that we are gearing for a poolside party?

We'll be back with more tidings the next time!

Phuar Hsiao Ling
MPS-YPC

First Announcement of the Young Professionals Night (15 November 2008)

Hi, people!! Before you continue reading this, I request you to do one thing first. No, it’s not a reminder to hug your loved ones today but just reach out to the daily planner sitting on your table right now, uncap your pen and put a mark on 15 November 2008. And now you’ve got to keep that day (or more specifically, that night) free.

What’s so special about this date (though you now have a reason to not meet with your tiresome relatives or friends) until you have to upturn books and files and mess up your workplace in search for a pen?

Well, I’m proud to inform you that the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society-Young Pharmacists Chapter (MPS-YPC) and the Young MAICSA Group will be hosting the third Young Professionals Night.

For the uninitiated who’s going like, “the third Young Professionals Night?” Relax, my friend. Here’s a recap of what you’ve been missing thus far, no need for you to frantically google the first and second Young Professionals Night.

The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia-Young Engineers Section (IEM-YES), then-known as IEM-Graduate & Student Section, brought forth the first Young Professionals Night at the MySciFiFan Outpost, Cineleisure Damansara, on 27 January 2007. If you came for the event, remember receiving a stack of business cards, shaking lots of hands and smiling throughout the night as hi’s and nice-to-meet-you’s and keep-in-touch’s were exchanged?

Next, the Young Lawyers Committee and the Pupils Welfare Committee of the KL Bar organized the second Young Professionals Night on 17 November 2007. Over 180 people witnessed the official launch of the Young Professionals Alliance at the Si Khiong Star Mercedes Benz showroom, Jalan Sultan Ismail.

And thus, a year later, the time is certainly ripe for another gathering of the young professionals.

So, now you’re thinking, “What can I expect from joining the Young Professionals Night?” as you ignore your tidy-freak colleague saying, “Tsk, tsk,” while he walks away from your cubicle.

Here’s what you’ll get to experience - a chance to mingle with chartered secretaries and administrators, engineers, lawyers, pharmacists and other young professionals and a chance to serve the community. We are currently in talks with MAKNA (National Cancer Council of Malaysia) to assist in their mission by raising funds for their good work and elevating the awareness of cancer among professionals and the public. And definitely, a chance to let your hair down and paint the gathering place red.

Whether you have been waiting in anticipation for the next Young Professionals event or if you have been missing all the action all this while, the opportunity has come for you to flash your million-watts smile (again) during the third Young Professionals Night this 15 November 2008. All the details will be revealed with time. Do watch out for future announcements and now you can e-mail your relatives or friends, stating that you’re booked that night for social networking.

Till the next post, take care.

Phuar Hsiao Ling
MPS-YPC

No-confidence motion rejected, opposition stages walkout

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia today disallowed a no-confidence debate against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, resulting in a walk-out by opposition Pakatan Rakyat MPs.

Pandikar rejected the emergency motion filed by Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on Friday on the grounds that the issue had already been debated last month.

According to the Speaker, the debate on the oil price hike filed by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad on June 23 was a no-confidence motion.

In that motion, the government won with a vote of 129 against 78.

At noon, Wan Azizah stood up in the Dewan Rakyat to ask the Speaker to reconsider his decision against allowing the no-confidence debate.

However, Pandikar refused to entertain the request.

"I do not even need to give a reason for rejecting a motion. I have read the motion and it asks for a resolution and that does not fall under Standing Order 18(1) in which it is filed under."

"How can I allow something that does not fall within this SO (standing orders)? If I allowed it, the whole world will look at me and see if I make a stupid decision or not," he said.

Shouting match

This led to a shouting match with BN MPs telling their opposition counterparts to sit while a visibly agitated Pandikar Amin hammered his gavel several times demanding for order.

Around 12.20pm, Wan Azizah then announced that Pakatan Rakyat MPs would walk out since they were not given the opportunity to carry the voice of the public to the August House.

Outside the hall, the PKR president told reporters that she was unhappy with the way the emergency motion was dealt with by both the Speaker and the police.

"I want to know why was the motion rejected. This is the government's reaction to us because we wanted to debate a motion democratically in Parliament.

"We're disappointed and we regret that this has happened. Is this a siege? What is there to it? The Speaker only needs to give 30 minutes for us to speak and another 30 for the government to speak.

"This is why we walked out. They disrespect the rules and the voice of the people that we carry into the house," she said.She said the opposition will also boycott the rest of today's proceedings to protest against the police action today in turning Parliament into a "war zone".

There was a heavy police presence in Parliament as roadblocks were mounted along major roads leading to the building causing massive traffic jams.

Why bar Anwar?

The roadblocks are in anticipation of a protest ahead of the possible no-confidence debate.
However, the opposition denied calling for a rally and the police yesterday obtained a court order barring PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim from the vicinity.

Commenting on this, Wan Azizah expressed amazement at the overreaction by various parties over Anwar's interest in attending Parliament.

"He expressed his interest to attend parliament to hear the motion and that triggered such an amazing reaction.

"How can an individual be barred from entering if he is a guest of mine? Until there is a directive that any guest of the MP is not allowed in. I don't understand.

"I want the inspector-general of police to explain why is there this (overblown) reaction," she said, adding that it gives the impression that Malaysia is a police state.

On whether Pakatan will file a similar motion in future, Wan Azizah said the parties will discuss to see what to do next.

Not the right order

At a separate press conference, Pandikar Amin said the opposition MPs had a right to stage a walkout but declined to comment on it.

He also explained the reason why he wrote to Wan Azizah this morning - before Parliament began - to reject the emergency motion in chambers.

According to him, the opposition had filed their emergency motion for a resolution under Standing Orders 18 but that standing order only allows for debates.

"It is not the proper standing order. SO 18(1) and (2) does not allow for vote of no-confidence to be carried out. It is like a person who had committed raped but was charged for murder. You cannot do that," he said.

He explained that the emergency motion requesting for a resolution which leads to voting should be filed under SO 27.

Pandikar Amin also said that the debate on the security and leadership has already been discussed on June 23 during Shahrir's emergency motion debate on the fuel price hike and the mid-term review of the 9th Malaysian Plan.

"If I had allowed the motion, I will be seen as the most stupid Speaker in the world for allowing a motion filed under the wrong SO to be debated.

"I will not allow them to drag the Speaker into their politics. I will let the people decide whether they were right to walk out and whether I was right in rejecting their motion," he said.

MV Agusta: Proton sells for RM5, Harley buys for RM350 mil

Harley Davidson Inc has agreed to purchase Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta, once owned by Proton Holdings Bhd, for US$109 million (RM352 million).

According to an Associated Press report, the deal will help Harley-Davidson expand into the European market as sales slump in the US, where consumers are pulling back on spending.

In 2006, Proton Holdings had sold the company, which it bought for RM368 million, for one euro (RM5), a deal which raised many eyebrows and drew flak from various quarters.

Among those who criticised the 'firesale' were former premier and Proton adviser Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the company’s former chief executive officer Tengku Mahaleel Arif.

In a news report then, Mahathir said: "As the two people (Mahathir and Mahaleel) most involved in the purchase of MV Agusta, our credibility and honesty are at stake."

Mahathir said there was no urgent need to sell the stake in the Italian motorcycle company as its debts had been frozen.

In defending the sale, Proton had said here were no synergies between the motorcycle maker and Proton as a carmaker.

"There were no operational, engineering, and technological synergies between Agusta and Proton. This has been independently confirmed by Proton’s appointed advisers.

"Proton manufactures cars for the masses while Agusta manufactures motorcycle," the company had said in a statement.

Careful consideration

Proton bought a 57.75 percent stake in MV Agusta in December 2004 for 70 million euro (RM367.6 million).

The current management sold the stake to Italy’s GEVI Spa, which also assumed the motorcycle maker’s 107 million euro debt.

Proton said the entire purchase consideration of RM367.6 million was treated as goodwill and written off in the financial year ended March 31, 2005.

The additional provisions relating to MV Agusta in the accounts of the Proton group for the financial year ended March 31, 2006, amounted to RM136.2 million.

The company also reiterated that the decision to dispose the stake in MV Agusta was after careful consideration of the financial and operational implications to the Proton group, both in the immediate as well as the long term.

Meanwhile, Harley Davidson is expected to seal the deal in several weeks. It will be paid for through euro-denominated debt, said the American motorcycle manufacturer.

The purchase price includes Harley-Davidson assuming MV Agusta's existing bank debt of about US$70 million.

MV Agusta is privately held, and the Castiglioni family owns 95 percent of its shares.

Under the agreement, Harley-Davidson will pay Claudio Castiglioni, who will continue to serve as chairman, additional payments in 2016 if certain financial targets are met.

MV Agusta will keep operating from its headquarters in Varese, Italy. Harley-Davidson will appoint a new managing director once the deal closes.

The Xie Xingxing murder trial: Azura threatened to kill Xie, London court told

MALAYSIAN Noor Azura Mohd Yusoff, on trial at the Old Bailey for the brutal decapitation of a Chinese student whose hands were also chopped off, was a prostitute, prosecutors claimed.

Prosecutors said that Noor Azura, 22, also known as 'Princess', was a hooker, was "possessive", and also jealous of the relationships her Belfast-born boyfriend of Vietnamese origin, 26-year-old Trach Lon Gian, had with other women.

Noor Azura was also alleged to have issued a death threat to Xie Xingxing days before the victim's remains were found floating in a bag in a south London dock.

In court yesterday, Xie's flatmate, Rui Li, said Xie, known as Evelyn to her friends, told her that Noor Azura had called and threatened to kill her.

Speaking in Mandarin via an interpreter, Li said, "She (Noor Azura) was asking about the relationship between Evelyn and her boyfriend, and also if Evelyn had any relationship with her boyfriend she would not have treated it kindly.

"Later on, Evelyn told me that she had threatened her and said she would kill her."
Li said even she (Li) was not spared a warning as Noor Azura had texted her phone with a message which read: "Leave my boyfriend alone, stay away from him."

Trach, from Deptford, south London, is also accused of the crime. Both he and Noor Azura have denied murdering Xie. Li, who worked with Xie in a karaoke bar, said that prior to the murder she had attended a party at a Greenwich hotel.

However, she left when the party continued at the home of Noor Azura and Trach in Knoyle Street, New Cross, south-east London.

Noor Azura, the court was told, wasn't present at the house during the party.

Li said Trach told her he did not "love her (Noor Azura) as much as he used to but he will still be responsible for her".

Another Vietnamese man, Chanh Ngo, whom the authorities believed was involved in the murder but has since fled Britain, was also present at the party, she said.

Xie was believed to have been killed two weeks after the party.

On Wednesday, the prosecution argued that evidence pointed to the murder having been committed in the couple's flat.

Brian Altman, appearing for the prosecution, said traces of Xie's blood were found in the flat.

The odds that the blood wasn't hers, Altman, said, were a billion to one. The property, he said, had been cleaned by the time police searched it. However, cops discovered swabs of blood matching Xie's on the bathroom door and on the shower head in the bath.

"The probability of obtaining matching DNA profiles if the blood had come from someone else was in the order of one in a billion," he said.

The prosecution also said that there was "very strong" evidence that a bedsheet found with Xie's body had been in contact with the beige carpet at the house.

Her decapitated body, minus hands, were fished out of the river on April 19 by a couple living in a boathouse in the marina. Seven weeks later, a decapitated head wrapped in a bin bag washed up close by.

Jurors were also told that there was "moderate support" for saying the plastic bags used to wrap the head were from a roll found at the address.

Her hands have never been found.

The case continues today.

ACA quizzes IGP Musa, AG Gani

Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has summoned inspector-general of police Musa Hassan and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail for questioning on the allegation that they were involved in fabricating evidence in former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's black eye incident.

Musa arrived at the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya at 8.20am wearing a grey suit with a polka-dot tie. He smiled to journalists before entering the building. Meanwhile, Gani arrived at 9.50am.

Both Musa and Gani did not stop to talk to the media after their separate sessions with the ACA.Gani, who was first to come out of the meeting at about 11.30am, walked past the horde of waiting reporters without saying a word.Musa came out of the ACA headquarters at about 1.05pm and similarly broke through the media cordon."I have nothing to say. Thank you," said Musa as he evaded answering questions from reporters who had been waiting since early morning to get comments from both the IGP and the AG."They recorded my statement. That's all," Musa said before speeding off in his official car.

Last Tuesday, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim lodged a police report against Musa and Gani for allegedly fabricating evidence in his trials 10 years ago.At that time, Musa was the investigating officer of the charges against Anwar while AG Gani was the chief prosecutor. When Anwar was arrested on Sept 20, 1999, he was brought to the national police headquarters in Bukit Aman where the former deputy premier was beaten by then police chief Abdul Rahim Noor, resulting in a black eye and injuries to other parts of his body.

Original medical reports ignored

Anwar said that the original medical reports done by a number of doctors were ignored.

"The medical reports concluded that the injury inflicted on me was consistent with an assault," said Anwar in his police report.However, Anwar claimed that instead of accepting the report and proceeded to prosecute his assailant, then attorney-general Mokhtar Abdullah - in collusion with Gani - asked another doctor, Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof, to allegedly fabricate a second medical report.

Anwar said he believed both Musa and Gani were present in Bukit Aman on the night he was assaulted by Rahim Noor and that both had "concealed" the assault."I believe both Musa and Gani Patail were actively involved in the procuring of the second undated report by Dr Rahman..." he said.Anwar called for a fresh investigation into the alleged fabrication of evidence, which is an offence punishable by up to 7 years' imprisonment.

The ACA has stepped in to investigate the allegation as both the police and Attorney-General's Chambers are implicated in the matter.