Sime Darby and 2 other companies rebut haze claims

Sime Darby and 2 other companies rebut haze claims

 

JUNE 24, 2013

Three companies -- Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL), Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), and Sime Darby -- have issued rebuttals after being named by Indonesia's Senior Presidential Aide Kuntoro Mangkusubroto as being among several responsible for fire hotspots in Riau Province.

In a statement released to the media, Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) said Indonesia's accusation requires verification.

"They do not correspond with intensive monitoring on-the-ground conducted by APRIL in its own concessions over the past several weeks nor with information on Friday from Indonesia's official national body for Meteorology, Climate and Geophysiccs, which identified 13 hotspots in Riau, none of which are on APRIL's concessions," APRIL said in a statement.

The company said the Director General of the Ministry of Forestry, Bambang Hendroyono, had confirmed Friday the fires causing the haze were mostly occurring on community land, not forestry concessions.

APRIL said it had maintained a "strict no-burn policy in its concessions" since it began operations in 1994, reported CNA.

It added the small number of fires within its concessions over the past three weeks were spread from those that began outside its concessions and were extinguished by its fire fighting teams.

Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) also said it does not practise, and "highly condemns" the slash and burn activity for its detrimental impact on the environment.

The company said it is deeply concerned about the forest fires and resulting haze in Riau, Sumatra, and is urging others to support it in implementing "zero burning and zero deforestation practices".

APP said its fire fighting crews and community members have been working to control the fires in its suppliers' concessions.

"The task is very complex because of the combination between strong wind, high temperature and the fact that the fire has reached peat land," APP said in its statement.

APP added that it welcomes opportunities to work with NGOs, companies, communities and governments to address the haze problem.

Malaysian plantation giant Sime Darby, which runs PT Tunggal Mitra, has also denied reports of any fires on its property.

Sime Darby Plantation said there were no fires in any of its operating areas in Indonesia, and that it strictly adheres to a zero burning policy in its operations.

Tunggal Mitra Plantation covers almost 14-thousand hectares, the majority of which is used for planting and development.

Sime Darby said there are some parts occupied by local communities, and that it is unable to exert control over those areas. -  June 24, 2013.

 http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/litee/malaysia/article/sime-darby-and-2-other-companies-rebut-haze-claims/litee/malaysia/article/haze-update-malaysia-singapore-should-know-themselves-says-indonesian-minister

Najib: Opposition is teaching people 'bad things'

Friday, 06 July 2012 17:10

Najib: Opposition is teaching people 'bad things'      

    Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today opposition political parties in the country seem to be teaching people bad things, even matters contrary to religion.

Evidently, three bad things were that debts do not have to be settled, good deeds can be forgotten and promises need not be fulfilled, he said.

"Many promises were made (by the opposition parties) during the last general election but (after coming to power in several states) they did not fulfill them," he said at the presentation of Aidilfitri clothing to 45 non-governmental organisations and 52 boat motors to fishermen in his Pekan parliamentary constituency, here.
Najib said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, on the other hand, not only fulfilled its promises but also provided the people with aid which it had not promised in the first place.
He also said that Islam required all debts to be settled, and added that when people died, their outstanding debts had to be settled by their next-of-kin.
By debts, the prime minister was apparently referring to those associated with the opposition proposal to write off the loans provided by the National Higher Education Corporation Fund (PTPTN).
No need to remember BN's good deeds
Najib said the opposition was also poisoning the minds of the people by suggesting that they did not have to appreciate what the government was doing for them.
"They tell people it is not necessary to remember good deeds, associated with aid for the people. I do not know of any country providing the people with mosquito nets, dentures and spectacles. When the government resurfaces a road, tarring is done up to the steps of houses," he said.
Najib said what the country has achieved so far would not have been garnered without having national leaders with integrity and vision.
"Without integrity and vision, implementing any plan would result in a nightmare for the people," he said.
The prime minister said the people should be grateful for the peace and unity they enjoyed.
"Let's not make a mistake. If we do, we will lose the blessings we now enjoy. We have seen what has happened to the people in countries where political stability has been compromised," he said.
Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was also present at the event.
-- BERNAMA

http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=36047:najib-opposition-is-teaching-people-bad-things&Itemid=2

Penang UMNO building collapse. Antenna breaks by strong wind.

Penang UMNO building collapse. Antenna breaks by strong wind. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iTl4xJ7Q8lg

Penang Disaster! Wind Blows UMNO Building Roof Collapse / Break Off
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jegDIwMqUC4


Star

Published: Friday June 14, 2013 MYT 8:15:00 PM
Updated: Friday June 14, 2013 MYT 11:03:39 PM

Penang freak storm: Work starts on removing “hanging beam”

By CAVINA LIM

The beam on top of the Umno building

GEORGE TOWN: A crane is being used to remove a concrete beam that is hanging precariously at the Umno building in Macalister Road here.
The beam fell on top of the 21-storey state Umno headquarters during Thursday’s thunderstorm which blew a section of a lightning arrestor and crashing onto the road.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said Friday that a giant crane would be used to remove the 20-foot concrete beam and work could only start tomorrow.
He said the crane only arrived at the scene at 7pm and by the time it is assembled and ready to work it would be late night.
“It takes about at least three hours to set up the whole crane,” he said when met at the scene in Macalister Road.
However, the authorities said work to remove the beam would be carried out throughout the night.

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紧急，快快share出去！！！
巫统大厦楼牌已倾斜约15度，情况骇人，促请民众勿接近灾区，以避免不幸事件的发生
Emergency, quickly share out!!! UMNO building is tilted about 15 degrees, shocking, urged people not to close to the disaster area in order to avoid unfortunate events happen! (Translated by Bing)

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UMNO HQ LOSES LIGHTNING ROD, NOT ANTENNA.

The massive gale which started around 6.55pm tore off the lightning rod of the state Umno building in Jalan Macalister.
Earlier reports had referred to the lightning rod as an aerial, but the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission later clarified that it was a lightning rod.
The 20-metre lighting arrestor atop the Umno building in Jalan Macalister collapsed, leaving one person dead and eight others injured.
Jahir Hussain Sulaiman, 46, the driver of a pick up truck who was seriously injured in the incident later died at the Penang Hospital.
His nephew Azharudeen Mohd Mohideen, 18, told reporters at the hospital’s mortuary at 11.30pm that his uncle had died.
The lighting arrestor had collapsed on his vehicle and six other vehicles that were parked below. The rest of the victims only sustained minor injuries.
Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the storm caused the the 20-metre lighting arrestor atop the Umno building in Jalan Macalister to collapse at around 6.45pm and damaged seven vehicles including the pick up truck.
He said the driver of the pick up truck had been seriously injured.
https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/06/14/storm-wreaks-havoc-in-penang/
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Malaysiakini

Compensate lightning rod crash victims, Umno told

Susan Loone 1:21PM Jun 14, 2013

Penang PAS wants Umno to compensate the people injured and owners of vehicles that were damaged in the massive storm that hit George Town yesterday and caused a huge lightning rod to fall off the top of the Penang Umno headquarters on Jalan Macalister.
Earlier reports had referred to the lightning road as an aerial, but the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission later clarified that it was a lightning rod.
The incident caused the death of one person, injured five others, with the strong winds wrecking havoc in the other parts of Penang as well. Another person died in Air Itam, after being hit by a falling tree.
State PAS Youth secretary Afnan Taib Azimudden (right) said Umno leaders should not just be praying that no one was injured.
Afnan was referring to a Malaysiakini report last night quoting state Umno Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin as expressing sympathy to those affected by the incident.
Compensate lightning rod crash victims, Umno told
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Lim Guan Eng ‏@cmlimguaneng 23h

Salah taip yg betul lentur ibupej umno yg sebelum ini tegak-Menara Ibupej UMNO Pg yg luntur skrg akibat ribut kencang pic.twitter.com/1Jzu4zh46b

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Jeneral Yakuza Ogawa

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Malaysiakini

Penang gov’t to give aid to victims of storm

Susan Loone 1:51PM Jun 14, 2013

The Penang government would be giving financial assistance to the victims of the storm which wreaked havoc in several parts of the island and mainland, causing two deaths and several injured last night.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said his administration was assessing the situation and would also give aid to those whose rooftops were blown away by the strong winds.
“We feel regret and express our deepest sympathies to those affected and hope they or their families can be patient while we sort things out,” Lim said at a press conference along Jalan Macalister.
“For those whose rooftops have been blown away, we urge them to lodge a police report. Our welfare department is also assessing the situation,” he added.
Penang gov’t to give aid to victims of storm
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Malaysiakini

The Penang Umno headquarters was damaged by strong winds, breaking the antenna from the 23-storey building.
According to Bernama, seven pedestrians were injured. Two of whom suffered serious injuries. Seven vehicles were also damaged.
The Lebuh Pantai fire station said that the incident happened at 6.55pm.

The rubble had caused massive damage to Jalan Macalister, located in the heart of Georgetown.
…..
In a press release, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng urged Penang Umno officials to swiftly provide rescue workers access to the roof to prevent more debris from falling off the roof.
“About seven cars have been damaged and we hope there are no more casualties,” he said.
When contacted, Penang State Umno Youth chief Shaik Hussein Mydin said he received word that the lighting rod of the building has collapsed.
“It’s an accident, a natural disaster. We hope no one is hurt, ” he said.

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PEJUANG RAKYAT… ‏@putrareformasi 23h

Struktur bangunan umno runtuh.. pic.twitter.com/Tcyq6iFTeX

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Star

Published: Thursday June 13, 2013 MYT 8:19:00 PM
Updated: Thursday June 13, 2013 MYT 11:11:19 PM

Storm blows antenna tower off roof top, causes gridlock on major roads in Penang (Updated)

By CAVINA LIM

Fire personnel carrying out investigations on the road where the antenna fell

GEORGE TOWN: A thunderstorm blew havoc in Penang uprooting trees and causing gridlock on major roads here on Thursday.
The strong winds, which started at 7pm, blew off a 40m section of a pole located on top of the 21-storey Menara Umno in Macalister Road.

Some of the damaged cars after a section of a pole fell after the storm

Trees were also uprooted in several places, falling on parked cars.
In Tanjong Tokong, roof awnings was seen flying off from houses.
Five people including two seriously injured were sent to the hospital.
Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said a man, who was walking up the Air Itam Dam during the storm, died after suffering a heart attack when a falling tree narrowly missed him.
The Meteorological Department said the storm lasted for about one hour from 7pm.