Abdullah Mum about the DATE & PLACE of Meeting with Dr M; MORE PICS-Samy Vellu Entertains 10000 To Open Hse in PWTC; & Woes of FLOODS UP North

Abdullah-Mahathir Meeting: Pak Lah Gives No Clue To Date Or Venue; October 22, 2006 00:14 AMKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The guessing game on the meeting between Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues as the prime minister declines to say anything on their meeting date and venue. Swarmed by reporters after attending the Deepavali open house hosted by Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Abdullah kept mum to questions posed by reporters who followed him from Dewan Merdeka of the Putra World Trade Centre to his official car parked outside the hall. Abdullah and Dr Mahathir had agreed to meet before Hari Raya Aidilfitri to discuss issues raised by the former prime minister. Dr Mahathir had openly criticised Abdullah for reversing some of his policies including scrapping the "crooked bridge" project to replace the Johor Causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore.

There are no conditions or mediators for the "four-eye" meeting.
Abdullah had confirmed that he would meet Dr Mahathir before Hari Raya. Hari Raya is expected to fall on Tuesday. With only two days to go for Hari Raya, many are eagerly waiting when the two leaders will meet and to what extent the closed-door meeting will resolve the differences between them. Dr Mahathir had said he would raise again the issues that he had been keeping in his heart since he left the government.The meeting was proposed by Mubarak, the former elected representatives' council. Abdullah wished Malaysian Indians of Hindu faith a Happy Deepavali while walking towards his car. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, ministers, corporate figures and community leaders were among the 10,000-odd guests at the open house.
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October 21, 2006 15:09 PM
Longer Festive Break Makes Deepavali Merrier





KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The longer festive holidays has added merriment to the Hindus to usher in the Deepavali joy and to meet up with relatives and friends. The extended holidays till Wednesday and more than a week school break from Friday gave them the luxury to return to their hometowns to celebrate the Festival of Lights with family members. For Malaysian Indians of Hindu faith, this year's Deepavali is more meaningful as they will soon join their Muslim friends to welcome Aidilfitri. Hari Raya is expected to fall on Tuesday.
On a bright sunny day in most areas in the country, the Hindus began their day with oil baths early in the morning and dressed in their best they headed to temples for prayers. Upon their return, they hosted open houses to welcome friends and colleagues from other religions to share in the Deepavali merriment.
Hosting open houses is a unique culture observed by Malaysia's multi-racial population during major festivals. As a mark of respect for the Muslims who are fasting in the holy month of Ramadan, the Hindus are extending their open houses till tonight to enable the Muslims to join in the feast.

Some are even hosting their open houses at night so that all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, can attend. Works Minister and MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will host his open house at Dewan Tun Razak of the Putra World Trade Centre from 7pm to 10pm today. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is among 6,000-odd guests and visitors expected at the open house.
In SHAH ALAM, State Executive Councillor Datuk K. Sivalingam would receive guests and visitors at his open house at the Exco House in Section 7 from 7pm.
Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo is expected to attend the event.

In PENANG, Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon is expected to attend the open house held by the State People's Progressive Party (PPP) chairman Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan at his residence in Taman Bukit, Bukit Mertajam, tonight.
Tomorrow, the State Gerakan will host an open house at Dewan Sri Pinang and Dr Koh, who is also Gerakan deputy president, is expected to attend.

In KUCHING, the small Indian community of Hindu faith ushered in the Deepavali celebrations albeit on a moderate scale.
The city's Hindu community leader Kapitan T. Komarusamy led fellow believers in thanksgiving prayers and for peace and prosperity at the Sri Mariaman Temple here last night.
Though Sarawak is the only state which has not gazetted Deepavali as a public holiday, the Hindus take leave to join in the celebrations and receive friends and well-wishers in their traditional "open houses".

Meanwhile, Sarawakians, especially the Muslims, are taking advantage of the extended weekend break and Hari Raya holidays to return to their hometowns.
Besides taking flights, many chose to travel by road with the opening of the Durin Bridge spanning the Rejang River, near Sibu, the final link along the Pan-Borneo Highway. Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu described the toll-free bridge as "a very pleasant Deepavali and Hari Raya gift" to the people from the government. The bridge opened for traffic at midnight last night.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, Deepavali is being celebrated on a moderate scale by the minority Indian community in the state while the Muslims are taking advantage of the public holiday to do last-minute shopping for the Aidilfitri.
The Kedai Payang central market was a hive of activity with last-minute shoppers, especially housewives.
In MELAKA, State MIC chief Datuk R. Raghavan said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Ali Rustam is expected to attend his open house at his residence in Taman Maju, Jasin, tonight.
In SEREMBAN, about 500 people, including State Barisan Nasional (BN) component party leaders, are expected to attend the open house of State Executive Councillor Datuk T. Rajagopalu at his residence in Rasah.
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October 21, 2006 21:07 PM
Flash Flood Dampens Festive Spirit Of Several Families

IPOH, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- It was a solemn and tiring Deepavali for K. Velamah and family this year as they have to clean their house on the day of the festival due to a flash flood last night. The hope of Velamah and neighbour A. Ramanaidu for a joyous Deepavali was crushed after their homes at Kampung Datuk Ahmad Said Tambahan 2 here were flooded with one metre deep of muddy water. "All preparations like cakes, clothes and carpets are destroyed. A neat home is now upside down," she told reporters at his house here Saturday.

Apart from the mess inside, the factory worker's house compound was filled with carpets, sofa cushions, children books and rice, all laid out to dry under the sun. "We are not having an open house today because we have been cleaning the house since last night, and we are still not finished until now," she lamented.

Ramanaidu said the flood water came too fast for them to rescue their belongings from being submerged. The two houses were among the 30 units in the area that were flooded for more than three hours last night after a heavy downpour in the evening. Houses occupied by Muslims who were ready to celebrate Aidilfitri next week were also not spared by the flash flood caused by the overflow of Sungai Kati and Sungai Meru. Among them were two new Muslim converts, Abdul Rahim Abdullah, 28 and Mohd Ayob Abdullah, 23, who lost their Aidilfitri preparations and shelter when parts of their homes were washed away by the current. Abdul Rahim said his brother and him were grateful that they were at the mosque when the incident happened at about 7pm.

"All our new Raya clothes were washed away as our closet was at the floor that fell into the river," he said. They are now staying at a nearby house owned by their foster father Abdul Razak Ishak.
Another resident Zambry Ashari, 56, said his house was submerged in one metre deep of water, destroying all his preparations for Raya cakes for this Aidilfitri.
He said the water level rose and entered the house too fast, giving him insufficient time to salvage his cakes. "I am sad because the preparations to make 'baulu' cake for our own consumption as well as for sale could not be saved. I estimated a loss of RM3,000," he said. Manjoi Assemblyman Datuk Nazri Ismail said the flash flood was caused by the overflow of Sungai Kati whose riverbed had become shallow due to land erosion caused by developments of the hilly Meru area."I hope the Ipoh City Council and the Drainage and Irrigation Department can deepen the Sungai Kati riverbed," he said.

Following are flooded scenes from Pendang, Kedah where 200 people have to be evacuated

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October 21, 2006 23:44 PM
Newly-Opened Third Lane Eases Jam For South-Bound Traffic - PLUS
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- The newly-opened third lane between Senawang and Seremban has eased the congestion for south-bound traffic.
The lane has greatly reduced the jam and people heading south to their hometowns for Hari Raya need not worry of heavy traffic in the coming days."The lane is open for the first time this year for the festive season. Traffic movement is smooth due to the third lane," a PLUS Control Centre spokesman told Bernama Saturday.

He, however, said there is a one kilometre bumper-to-bumper crawl near the Jelapang Toll. "There is a high volume of cars on the North-South Expressway and at the toll plazas queuing up to collect toll tickets. The queue will slow down later," he said. Earlier, at 6pm, he said, traffic was heavy between Rawang and Lembah Beringin but slowed down at about 9pm.

He said traffic came to a near standstill in the morning and afternoon near Sungai Buloh, Rawang, Lembah Beringin and Bukit Beruntung. "Now, everything is fine, there's no problem from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh. We're facing problems only at the Jelapang Toll. "Also, there are no major accidents so far, only minor ones are reported," he added.
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RM1 Bln Needed To Remedy 230 Killer Spots, Says Samy Vellu; October 21, 2006 22:08 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- A whopping RM1 billion is needed if all the 230 dangerous stretches and accident-prone spots on federal and state roads are to be improved, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Saturday night. He said his ministry had identified the killer spots and accident-prone stretches in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
"Of the total, we have improved part of the killer stretches," he told reporters when met at his Deepavali open house at the Putra World Trade Centre. Samy Vellu said the government had spent RM130 million to rectify dangerous stretches and accident-prone spots on federal and state roads. "Many of the 230 killer spots have been remedied. For instance, the government spent RM43 million to build the road divider along the Kluang-Batu Pahat accident-prone stretch," added Samy Vellu, who is also MIC president.
Ministers, corporate figures and community leaders are among the 10,000-odd guests at the open house. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak are expected to attend the open house after tarawih prayers.

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