6
news without borders
Four picked out
at ID parade
by Charles Ramendran
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PETALING JAYA: A seven-year-old kidnap
victim who was freed by his captors after his
family paid a RM1 million ransom pointed at
four suspects in an identification parade at
the district police headquarters in Section 8
here yesterday.
He had come to the police headquarters
with his mother at about 11.30am. They left
six hours later without speaking to reporters
who had waited to interview the boy.
Police were not available for comment
but it is learnt that the boy is expected to
turn up again today for another round of
identification parade.
The boy, who was kidnapped on April 10
and released four days later, had identified
the four suspects who are among the 13
people arrested by police soon after the
victim was freed. Police had also recovered
part of the ransom amounting to about
RM320,000 from the suspects who included
three women and all said to be related or
known to one another.
In an unrelated case in Kuala Lumpur, two
men coolly walked into a goldsmith’s store
located in the Jaya Jusco shopping centre
in Kepong, held up two staff members and
escaped with gems worth about RM300,000
yesterday.
Kuala Lumpur serious crimes deputy
chief Supt Khairy Ahrasa said there were no
customers at the Poh Kong Jewellers when
the robbers hit at 2.40pm.
The robbers who did not cover their faces
did not utter a word as they scooped the
gems into a plastic bag and held the workers
at gunpoint. It is learnt the store’s security
guard was away for lunch at the time.
Police urged those with information to
call the KL police hotline at 03-2115 9999.
theSun | WEDNESDAY APRIL 29 2009
World tender to
develop Fort Cornwallis
Lim said he was taking a personal interest
in several iconic sites, including the Penang
Hill funicular railway and the 18th century
Suffolk House, to enhance the state’s drawing
power among international travellers.
“We must make the best of our assets if
we want to make George Town an interna-
tional heritage site,” he said.
Representatives from the fort’s current
operator, Sebagus Travel and Tours, asked
Lim why the tender was being called again
after one was made earlier this year.
Lim explained that none of the tenders
submitted was up to par with the state’s as-
pirations to boost the image and maintenance
of the fort.
He said it was now important to open the
tender to international bidders “to get the best
possible investment returns while augment-
ing conservation efforts”.
The current operator, whose contract
expired in January, is administering the
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thersundaily.com premises on a month-to-month basis.
Originally surrounded by a moat, Fort
GEORGE TOWN: Fort Cornwallis, the first Cornwallis was made as a wooden stockade
structure built by the British upon their landing from “nibong” palm trunks before being re-
in Penang in 1786, is being earmarked for an built with bricks.
international tender exercise in a state initia- It was home to Penang’s first Christian
tive to develop it as an iconic monument. chapel as well as a Sikh shrine used by
The state government has identified the soldiers brought from India by the British.
star-shaped structure The chapel as well as
as a unique symbol to a gunpowder magazine
promote George Town’s This is an international still stand within the old
inner city, listed by heritage site. We are willing to premises.
Unesco as a World Her- give heritage experts with strong The Sri Rambai can-
itage Site. background in conservation non (pix), presented to
Chief Minister Lim who can ensure good economic the Sultan of Johor by
Guan Eng, who an- the Dutch and brought
nounced the tender returns the opportunity to offer to the fort by the British
during a visit to the fort their ideas.” in 1871, also stands on
yesterday, said it was the ramparts, its nozzle
necessary to enliven the structure for tour- still aimed in the direc-
ists while ensuring its conservation value is tion of the sea.
enhanced. The fort was gazetted on Sept 8, 1977 under
“This is an international heritage site. We the Antiquities Act 168/1976 as an Ancient
are willing to give heritage experts with strong Monument and Historic Site.
background in conservation who can ensure The closing date for tenders is May 28. A
good economic returns the opportunity to site visit for interested parties will be held on
offer their ideas,” he said. May 6.
briefs
Employer of injured maid
arrested
GEORGE TOWN: A 40-year-old businessman
was arrested on suspicion of abusing his Indo-
nesian maid and causing grievous hurt to her
on Monday.
He was arrested at his home in Taman Brown,
Gelugor, after neighbours alerted the police.
The maid, identified as Susanti, 29, suffered
a fractured spine after she was believed to
have fallen down the stairs of the double-sto-
rey house on Sunday. She has been warded at
Penang Hospital.
Penang police chief Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob, be bestowed the “The Order of the Rising Sun,
who visited Susanti yesterday, said arrange- Gold Rays with Rosette” while Lau, 70, who is
ments would be made for her family in Java to a private medical practitioner at the Medical
see her. Health Clinic of Pantai Hospital in Jalan Bukit
The suspect is expected to be charged under Pantai here, will be conferred “The Order of
Section 325 of the Penal Code with causing the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays”.
grievous hurt, which carries a maximum seven “The ceremony to present the decoration
years jail and a fine, upon conviction. will be held in Malaysia on a later date,” it
said. – Bernama
Two Malaysians to be
honoured by Japan Six shot dead in south
KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians, Dr Stephen
Thailand
Leong Mun Yoon and Dr Lau Poh Yok, are to BANGKOK: Six people were shot dead in the
be honoured by Japan in recognition of their restive southern Thai provinces as suspected
outstanding contribution to the promotion of insurgents went on a rampage with more than a
academic exchanges and medical services, dozen attacks to mark the fifth anniversary of the
respectively, between Malaysia and Japan. Krue Se incident on Monday.
The Embassy of Japan here said in a state- The killing took place in Sukae village in Yaha
ment yesterday that Leong, 71, who is former district in the Yala province when unknown
director for Japan Studies at the Institute of gunmen opened fire at a house at about 8.30pm.
Strategic and International Studies (ISIS), will – Bernama