The Star Asks The Clinic in Jalan Ipoh about the recent botched circumcision case of a 9 year old but Doctor denies any knowledge of it

Doc claims ignorance

THE STAR

 

KUALA LUMPUR: An old, unassu­ming cli­nic, facing busy Jalan Ipoh, sits sandwiched between motorcycle workshops and empty coffee shops.

Outside, a worn-out black plastic sign with letters missing shows a list of treatments and services such as blood test and medical treatments.

While it doesn’t state so, this cli­nic also does circumcisions. More specifically, this is where a nine-year-old boy had his penis severed during a bungled circumcision.

So far, it appears to be business as usual for this clinic.

The Star went to see the doctor at the clinic for an eye ailment.

On the pretext of making inqui­ries for a relative who was looking for a doctor to circumcise his cou­sin’s son, The Star asked whether he had heard about the recent circumcision case but he said he was un­aware about it.

“I heard about the one in Cheras but don’t know of any other cases,” said the soft-spoken doctor.

When asked whether his clinic did circumcisions, he said yes but had stopped providing the service recently.

“My assistant, who helped me with the procedure, just quit on Thursday,” he claimed.

Asked why the assistant left, he merely shrugged.

When shown an article on the phone about the boy who had his penis amputated in the botched circumcision at his clinic, the doctor maintained his ignorance.

“Oh, I don’t know. I didn’t know this happened. A clinic in Jalan Ipoh? I don’t know where,” he said.

He went on to say that mistakes can happen anywhere, even in big hospitals and not just small clinics.

The neighbours have no clue that anything happened.

passers-by and business operators next door were surprised to hear that this was the clinic where the botched procedure occurred.

“We had no idea. This clinic has been here with the same doctor for as long as we can remember – at least 15 years.

“There has never been any pro­blem,” said a nearby resident who only wished to be known as Zul.

Another nearby resident, who wished to be known only as Chong, said he had never been to the clinic before but knew that it performed circumcisions.

Earlier this week, a 10-year-old was reported to have had the head of his penis cut off during a laser circumcision procedure at a private family clinic in Taman Cheras Utama - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/boy-loses-penis-in-another-circumcision-gone-wrong#sthash.tV20CaB3.dpuf

Quick action from the friendly neighbourhood "abang bomba" freed a woman who found herself unfortunately stuck after getting caught in a grill of a drain

Firemen free woman stuck in TTDI drain

THE STAR

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Some quick action from the friendly neighbourhood "abang bomba" freed a woman who found herself unfortunately stuck after getting caught in a grill of a drain.  

According to a Fire and Rescue department spokesman, they received a call informing them of the incident at Taman Tun Dr Ismail at about 10.23am.   

In ten minutes, a team from the TTDI fire station was at the scene to help the damsel in distress who did not notice the hole in the iron grill. 

The woman’s left leg got stuck in the drain after falling through the deceptively small-looking hole. 

Firefighters managed to free the victim in a matter of minutes. 

"She only suffered minor bruising on the left leg," said the department spokesman.

: An Indonesian pilot who stumbled through airport security and repeatedly dropped his belongings before making a slurred announcement was fired (Video)

Indonesian pilot fired after slurred cockpit announcement

THE STAR

Screengrab of 32-year-old pilot Tekad Purna staggering through a metal detector at airport security. The Straits Times/Asia News Network

JAKARTA: An Indonesian pilot who stumbled through airport security and repeatedly dropped his belongings before making a slurred announcement to his 154 passengers from the cockpit has been fired, officials said on Saturday.

The CEO of budget airline Citilink, a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, had also offered his resignation to take responsibility for the incident.

YouTube footage showed 32-year-old pilot Tekad Purna staggering through a metal detector at airport security and dropping his bag and belongings several times after arriving late for his flight on Wednesday from the city of Surabaya to the capital Jakarta. - AFP

Firefighters (Abang Bomba) came to the rescue of a man whose penis was stuck in a metal ring.

Bomba called to remove ring from man's penis

BY NATASHA JOIBI

THE STAR

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Firefighters came to the rescue of a man whose penis was stuck in a metal ring.

City Fire and Rescue Department chief operations officer Samsol Maarif Saibani said when contacted that 12 firefighters were dispatched to University Malaya Medical Centre after a call was received at about 8.56pm Friday from the hospital.

When they reached the ward, the man was already in agonising pain.

Samsol said the team from the Hang Tuah station encountered a small problem removing the metal ring at first, as it was too thick to cut through.

He said the blade of the tool used to cut through the ring was not sharp enough for the delicate task.

"We had to call in another team from the Sungai Buloh headquarters to assist us.

"Usually in a case like this, bomba will get called in to help because medical facilities do not have the tools required to remove the ring from the private part," he explained.

Samsol said the victim was in his 30s, although he did not disclose as to why the ring was found stuck around the man's genitalia.

Firefighters managed to remove the ring at about 2am on Saturday.

Samsol said that this was only one of many such cases this year where the Fire and Rescue Department had been called in to help.

Singer Nassier Wahab will entertain at KL’s Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 1

30 years and counting

By TAHIR ALHAMZAH - 30 December 2016 @ 2:01 PM New Straits Times

Singer Nassier Wahab will entertain at KL’s Hard Rock Cafe on Jan 1, writes Tahir Alhamzah
For me, singer Nassier Wahab has always been a mainstay of the local music scene.

Also impressive is the fact that he still looks pretty much the same from three decades ago. Not bad at all for the 54-year-old seasoned artiste.

“I don’t have an answer to how I maintain my looks I think it’s partly due to my happy-go-lucky approach in life. I don’t let problems overwhelm me.

“Whenever I encounter one, I always tell myself that there are many out there who are worse off. I think not letting any of it get the better of us just helps to make us feel more relaxed in getting through each day. And being calm and relaxed does help to slow down ageing, I suppose,” says Nassier, who will be staging a show to celebrate his 30th year as a recording artiste.
The long-standing singer has kept himself busy over the years with singing engagements either at public performances or private functions.

SPECIALLY FOR FANS
However, according to Nassier, who released his debut album Cinta Dan Perasaan in 1985, this one-hour show will be among his few performances that are open to all.

“People have approached me for such shows but nothing ever materialised. That’s why when Melody United initially contacted me, I didn’t give it much thought. Only when they kept asking, I realised this time would be different. I’m thankful that come New Year’s day, I’ll finally have my very own showcase,” says Nassier.

He adds: “This will be the perfect time for my friends and fans to gather. There are some from Singapore who told me that they’d be here for the performance. Some of my friends who will be in Kuching, Sarawak for the New Year’s eve celebration have told me that they’d catch an early morning flight back to KL just to attend my show.”
“The afternoon showcase is also a good time for those who want to bring along their family members. Unlike evening shows, it’ll be a casual afternoon for everyone to unwind and watch me do my thing,” says the singer.
FANS YOUNG AND FAR
The showcase will be divided into three segments: One featuring his popular songs, another with songs created by renowned composer Datuk Dr Ahmad Nawab and the third, showcasing songs he performed during the second season of reality show Gegar Vaganza, which he participated in last year.
“I must say that it was indeed one of the sweetest moments in my singing career when I joined Gegar Vaganza,” says Nassier, who finished third runner-up.

He explains that it was a good platform to challenge himself and to keep his career fresh.
“From the show, I now have fans as young as 6. It’s kind of cute when these young children say they know who Nassier Wahab is. And they don’t even call me ‘uncle’,” laughs Nassier.

The singer has just returned from a 10-day umrah. Throughout his spiritual journey in the holy lands of Medina and Mecca, many pilgrims from Malaysia recognised and approached him.

“I’m thankful to Him for blessing me with such a good life. And

I hope I’ll be able to continue to help friends who may need assistance.

I find the more I share with friends and family, the more blessed
I feel.”

Also in the pipeline in January is his plan to record a new album in Bandung, Indonesia, with Indonesian composers Richard and Ryan Kyoto, whom he has been working with since 2007.

Nassier Wahab Celebrating 30 Years will be opened by Melody United’s singers Kris Patt and Alfi Alwi, with backing by the Patriot Band and percussionist Calvin Clarke.

Nassier Wahab Celebrating 30 Years
When: Jan 1, 3pm
Where: Hard Rock Cafe Kuala Lumpur, Ground Floor, Wisma Concorde, Jalan Sultan Ismail, KL
Admission: RM65-RM300

Call: 019-361 1535 or visit www.AirAsiaRedtix.com

Several road closures for a month at SPRINT Highway due to MRT construction starting Jan 1.

One month road closure along Sprint highway due to MRT construction

NST

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be several road closures for a month at SPRINT Highway due to MRT construction starting Jan 1.

MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd in a statement today said the left-most lane along SPRINT Highway/Jalan Semantan will be closed 24 hours daily in order to facilitate finishing works, coating, drainage and road works.

“This 200-metre closure stretch starts after 10 Semantan until the junction of Jalan Damansara Endah. During the closure, two lanes will be made available for motorists from Kuala Lumpur heading towards Petaling Jaya,” the company said.

It also said that there will also be a full night closure of Sprint Highway/Jalan Semantan (both Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya-bound) intermittenly from KM7.4 until KM8.1, to facilitate station works of MRT Semantan Station.

“The closure will take place from 10 pm to 5 am (Monday to Friday) and 12 midnight (Saturday) to 12 noon (Sunday),” the statement said.

MMC Gamuda also stated that there would be a continuation of right most lane closure from Kiara Interchange to Wisma Lensa (Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya-bound).

The closure is to facilitate bearing and turfing works and would begin from 10 am until 4 pm, 10pm until 6am and off peak daily.

“Three lanes will be made available for motorists on Kuala Lumpur-bound and two lanes will be made available for motorists on Petaling Jaya-bound,” the statement said.

There will also be a continuation of full road night closure of SPRINT flyover near Pusat Bandar Damansara (Petaling Jaya-bound) that would begin from 10 pm to 6 am (Monday to Friday) and 12 midnight (Saturday) to 12 noon (Sunday), to facilate station works of MRT Pusat Damansara Station.

In addition, there will be a night traffic management at SPRINT Highway and Jalan Ma’arof, which stretches from the junction of Jalan Medang Serai to Ma’arof Interchange for both Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya-bound.

The closure is to facilitate road work, coating piers, drainage and station works that would begin from 10pm to 6am.

Apart from that, during the same period, there will be also a continuation of lane closure next to SPRINT Highway (Damansara Toll Plaza) from 10pm until 6am in order to facilitate works on the drainage and road kerb.

During this closure one lane will be made available to the motorists from Kuala Lumpur heading towards Petaling Jaya and there will be two lanes available for motorists on Jalan 16/11 going towards Petaling Jaya.

There is also a closure for two lanes for a stretch of 200 metres after the Section 16 Petronas Station at SPRINT Highway (Kuala Lumpur-bound) and the closure will be divided into a two lane closure (Monday-Friday, 12am to 6am) and a three-lane closure (Saturday-Sunday, 12 midnight to 6am).

The closure is to facilitate the completion work on the link bridge for Phileo Damansara Station and material delivery and unloading for station work.

MMC Gamuda also announced the full closure of SPRINT Highway near Victoria Station for installation of gantry starting Jan 1 until 15 from 10pm to 6am. --Bernama

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali announced his resignation as the Selangor Football Association (FAS) president.

Azmin quits as FAS president, aims parting shot at exco lineup

NST

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali earlier today announced his resignation as the Selangor Football Association (FAS) president.

He cited disappointment with the attitude and culture practiced by FAS exco lineup as among the chief reasons for his resignation.

In a statement from the MB's office, Azmin said Selangor state government exco member Amirudin Shari is also stepping down as FAS team manager.

"The FAS executive committee, through an Extraordinary Congress in Dec 2014, had unanimously agreed to appoint me as the new FAS president, and I welcomed this appointment with the hope of making positive changes in its management as well as the development of state football.

"Amirudin Shari, in his capacity as a state exco member in charge of Youth Development and Sports, was also appointed as the state football team manager to reinforce the quality of the sports, including the setup of Akademi Merah Kuning, which is aimed at polishing the talents of young footballers in Selangor.

"We had been working hard to provide financial funding to these efforts and to ensure the welfare of Selangor football players through transparent and prudent financial management.

"Unfortunately, during our two years with FAS, we did not see the readiness of the FAS exco to support the efforts towards positive changes. The association exco members continued with their old attitude and culture of excessive politics, old-fashioned way of doing things, and over dependency on subsidy mentality," said Azmin.

In the statement, Azmin also claimed that FAS exco had failed to produce a strategic plan to manage the football association, including a professional administration organisation as recommended by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

He claimed the FAS exco continued to wallow in irresponsible politicking to the frustration of Selangor folk, especially its football fans.

"Thus, Amirudin and I made the decision to no longer be with an organisation which is not committed to the agenda of change towards returning Selangor football to its glory days."

In ending the statement, Azmin said the state government would continue to support football development in Selangor, but through new ways that would be decided later.

He said Selangor football fans can be rest assured that their glory days can be achieved through management that is clean and with integrity.

The FAS management fiasco, which had been snowballing over the past few months, recently received the attention of the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah.

Tengku Amir had via his official Instagram account last Friday suggested for the current FAS exco lineup "to respectfully move aside" if they are not able to improve the Red Giants' situation.

McDonald’s policy of only allowing halal-certified birthday cakes into its outlets could fuel the view that Islam is an intolerant religion

McDonald’s confirmed that it allows customers to bring their own birthday cakes as an exception to its “No Outside Food” policy, as long as the cakes are certified to be halal or permissible for consumption by Muslims. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng

McDonald’s halal cake rule paints Islam as intolerant, preacher says

MALAYMAILONLINE

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 ― McDonald’s policy of only allowing halal-certified birthday cakes into its outlets could fuel the view that Islam is an intolerant religion, PKR’s Islamic Council leader Wan Ji Wan Hussein said today.

He said the jurisprudence on food matters in Islam on matters of “halal (permissible)” and “haram (forbidden)” is not complex, citing the views of notable Islamic scholars that Muslims should not be fixated with how food is processed.

“There was a fiqh (understanding) that with food where you cannot see its preparation, you should not be too fixated on whether the ingredients are halal or not,” he told Malay Mail Online.

“What they are doing will only make Islam look like this very rigid religion when, actually, especially on matters of food, it is quite simple,” he added.

The preacher added that in the climate where prejudice towards Islam is already high, the controversy surrounding McDonald’s halal cake policy would only draw more negativity towards the religion.

“It makes Islam looks extreme. And what will happen is it will further alienate non-Muslims from the religion,” he said.

Yesterday, the fast food chain confirmed that it allows customers to bring their own birthday cakes as an exception to its “No Outside Food” policy, as long as the cakes are certified to be halal or permissible for consumption by Muslims.

“This condition is critical to preserve the integrity of our halal certification,” the company said, adding that it was in line with fulfilling requirements for its halal certification.

The move drew criticism as being extreme.

Earlier today, civil society group Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) said the federal Islamic authority’s halal certification should apply only to an eatery’s food and not its premises.

Its co-president, Gan Ping Sieu, said the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) “should not penalise halal-certified eateries that allow diners who bring in non-halal certified food into their premises”.

“Rightfully, Jakim’s halal certification applies only to food served in F&B outlets. There is no such thing as halal or non-halal premises,” he said in a statement.

Several Muftis contacted by Malay Mail Online could not be reached for comment

4 face charges linked to the kidnapping of a Datuk businessman who was held for RM19 million ransom.

Four alleged gangsters charged in court for kidnapping of Datuk businessman

NST

KUANTAN: Four men with alleged ties to an underworld gang were hauled to court here today to face charges linked to the kidnapping of a businessman who was held for RM19 million ransom.

In the magistrate's court, Low Sing Hwa, 29, and Tham Hock Ann, 36, indicated they understood the charge read to them of kidnapping Datuk Chin Yoke Choon, 53, to secure the ransom money.

The duo, with three others who are still at large, are alleged to have kidnapped Chin, who is the managing director of Tunas Manja Group, at the parking lot of a hotel at Bandar Indera Mahkota here, at 5.55pm on Dec 26, last year. The victim was later freed.

Low and Tham may be sentenced to death if convicted under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Act 1961.

Magistrate Noor Zaihan Mohamad Ali denied bail and set Jan 24 for mention.

Later, at the sessions court, the duo claimed trial to being members of underworld group "Geng William", an offence that may see them jailed for up to 20 years if convicted under Section 130V(1) of the Penal Code.

During the same proceedings, two other men linked to the kidnapping, Liew Chee Hwa, 29, and Choo Jia Lerk, 23, pleaded not guilty to fraternising without good cause with the same underworld group.

They face a maximum jail term of 20 years and fine if found guilty under Section 130Y of the Penal Code.

Judge Siti Aminah Ghazali did not grant bail, as the four men were detained under the provisions of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012. She fixed Jan 24 for mention.

All the cases at the magistrate's and sessions courts are expected to be transferred to the High Court here later.

Deputy public prosecutor Muhamad Asyraf Md Kamal and Faridz Gohim Abdullah prosecuted. Counsel S. Sundarajan acted for all four accused

The Sessions court here granted flamboyant cosmetics entrepreneur Datuk Seri Vida's request for the temporary return of her passport

 

Datuk Seri Vida granted temporary return of passport for business, umrah trips

NST

IPOH: The Sessions court here granted flamboyant cosmetics entrepreneur Datuk Seri Vida's request for the temporary return of her passport to allow her to make business-related and umrah trips next year.

Khairilazwar Khalil, lawyer of Datuk Seri Vida (whose real name is Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman), made the request before judge Murtazadi Amran. Khairilazwar said that the Vida Beauty Sdn Bhd founder has trips scheduled for Thailand (Jan 3 – 5), China (Jan 16 - 22) and to perform the umrah (Jan 26 - Feb 3).

Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran, however, objected to the request, as he had not received the affidavit and expressed concern that Hasmiza might try to flee the country.

Murtazadi granted the request and ordered Hasmiza to return her passport to the court no later than Feb 6, 2017.

Earlier, Murtazadi set mention for Hazmiza’s remaining 16 charges of failing to submit statements on Goods and Services Tax (GST) amounting to RM4.2 million between April 1, 2015 and July 31, 2015 – to which Hasmiza pleaded not guilty – on March 9 and 10, 2017.

She allegedly committed the offences at the Royal Malaysian Customs, GST Division office, at Wisma Kastam at Jalan Tun Razak here.

The 16 charges are framed under Section 41(6) of the GST Act 2014, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, or three years’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.

Parents of 9 year old botched circumcision victim at a clinic in jalan Ipoh pleads for Ministry of Health assistance

‘Please help my only child’

 

KUALA LUMPUR: It’s a living nightmare for the father of a nine-year-old boy who had part of his penis severed during a botched circumcision.

Fighting back tears, the boy’s father – who wanted to be known only as Ali – issued a plea to medical experts and authorities to help his only child.

“Please help us. We don’t know what to do. It has been 16 days since this happened and it has been 16 days of torture for us,” he said at a press conference at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

The boy’s case is the first of two botched circumcisions that have been reported in the past two weeks.

On Dec 15, Ali’s son had the front of his penis completely severed during a circumcision procedure using scissors at a clinic in Jalan Ipoh.

Ali, who was in the room when the doctor accidentally severed the boy’s penis, claimed the doctor had admitted his negligence to him and quickly stitched back the severed part. Apparently, the reattachment was not done properly.

The boy was then rushed to a medical centre for reconstructive surgery.

He was later referred to HKL but by then it was too late as the penis had turned black.

Doctors had no choice but to amputate the penis, he said.

Ali said his son, who was too young to understand the gravity of his situation, was still being treated in HKL.

However, he is not in pain as the doctors have put him on anaesthesia.

Ali and his wife are now seeking help from the Health Ministry to send their son overseas for treatment.

“Countries like Singapore and Saudi Arabia have expertise in such cases, so we hope that he can be sent there,” he said.

Their lawyer P. Uthayakumar said he had written to the Health director-general and the director of HKL to seek financial assistance to send the boy overseas.

On Dec 20, a 10-year-old boy reportedly had part his of his penis severed during a laser circumcision procedure at a clinic.

Soon after the procedure, the doctor told the boy’s father that he had accidentally cut off the head of his son’s penis.

The boy was rushed to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, which then referred him to the HKL for surgery to reattach the head. It was learnt that the surgery was a success.