External News

RIO DE JANEIRO: Uruguay demonstrated a winning attitude and mentality in their 1-0 Copa America success over Chile on Monday that gave them top spot in Group C, match-winner Edinson Cavani said.

Uruguay began the game in second place in their pool behind the reigning champions and facing a daunting potential quarter-final tie with Colombia, the only side to go through the group stage with three wins.

But Cavani’s header eight minutes from time from Jonathan Rodriguez’s cross propelled Uruguay above Chile and into, what looks on paper at least, an easier last eight challenge against Peru.

“In some moments we played well, in other moments less well, but always with the (right) attitude and mentality we were able to snatch the game,” said the 32-year-old, who scored his 48th goal for his country.

But the Paris Saint-Germain forward insisted thoughts of a potentially easier quarter-final draw played no role in Uruguay’s approach.

“We wanted to win the group without knowing what would come next, to show a good image in the group and continue with this attitude,” he said following the match at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium.

Captain Diego Godín said this win “is important for confidence, to rediscover the feelings after Japan” in which they were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw.

Veteran coach Oscar Tabarez admitted there was little between the two sides.

“It was a keenly contested match with few spaces. We managed a little bit better than our opponents,” he said.

More so than avoiding Colombia, Tabarez was most pleased that Uruguay will get an extra day of rest ahead of their quarter-final, against a Peru side that has had two extra days to recover from their pool efforts, on Saturday in Salvador.

Chile will face Colombia the day before in Sao Paulo.

“One extra day of rest is useful, it’s important, because we’re on the limit,” said Tabarez.

Chile’s Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda, who was jeered by many of his team’s fans when his name was announced before the match, said his side were beaten by “Uruguay’s strength” – their aerial game.

“Undoubtedly, it was a very close game. We knew about our opponents’ quality, with a well defined system, a difficult style in terms of their aerial game,” he said.

“But we played very well, we showed character, we showed discipline.”

Still, defeat was hard to take.

“We lost, that’s tough on the players’ motivation,” said Rueda.

TAWAU, June 25 — Four foreign teen boys were charged in the Tawau Magistrate’s Court here today with the murder of a 49-year-old food stall operator, early this month.

The accused, three of whom were from the Philippines aged between 13, 14 and 19, and another from Indonesia, aged 14, were charged with killing the local man, Jaafar Jalman, at Taman Permainan, Jalan Persisiran here between 1am to 2am on June 9.

No plea was recorded from all accused after the charge read out to them before Magistrate Herlina Muse in a closed-door proceeding.

The charge, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

The court set July 17 for mention of the case.

On June 10, media reported that a man was found dead in a drain at Jalan Bantu Fajar here, with stab wounds on his neck and chest.

Following that, the police arrested four teenagers to assist in the investigation into the case. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde today said the trade tension between the US and China will not benefit anyone.

“Traders will not benefit and consumers will consume, and it will not increase the well-being of the people with more inclusive growth.

“We hope that the trade tensions do not escalate (but) the best way is for Malaysia to prepare and build its policy buffers, including fiscal policies,” she said in a joint press conference with Bank Negara governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus here today.

She said Malaysia could also boost its trade by working with Asean countries, cautioning that benefits to certain countries from the trade war would only be for the short term.

“There will be slower global growth if this trade tension continues,” she said.

Meanwhile, Nor Shamsiah said under Lagarde’s leadership, significant effort had been made to increase the representation of emerging economies at IMF in recognition of their growing importance to the global economy.

“IMF has also been very appreciative of the views and approaches of emerging economies in addressing policy challenges,” she said.

These include broadening issues of work that cover governance, corruption, inequality, climate change and national linkages to the larger economy.

Lagarde said she would meet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng later today to discuss Malaysia’s fiscal and monetary policies as well as corruption and governance.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi Azimah Omar mahu bertemu Lim Kit Siang dan bekas ketua polis negara Hanif Omar dengan kehadiran peguam mereka sebagai pengantara berhubung penyelesaian luar mahkamah berhubung saman fitnah oleh pemimpin DAP, FMT difahamkan.

Peguam utama Lim, Ramkarpal Singh berkata hakim itu ingin membuat cubaan terakhir untuk mencari satu penyelesaian tanpa perlu menjalani perbicaraan.

“Lim dan Hanif diminta hadir pada pengurusan kes seterusnya pada pukul 2.30 petang pada 28 Ogos,” kata Ramkarpal kepada FMT.

Lim diwakili Rayveni Asogan dalam pengurusan kes di depan Azimah hari ini.

Ramkarpal berkata, pihak terbabit cuba mencari penyelesaian sejak sebulan lalu dengan arahan Azimah, tetapi ia gagal.

“Kami mengemaskini kepada hakim tetapi dia mahu membuat cubaan terakhir melalui pengantaraan, kerana tarikh perbicaraan akan ditetapkan,” kata Ramkarpal.

Lim memfailkan saman itu pada 17 Oktober tahun lepas, mendakwa Hanif, ketika berucap pada konvensyen “Karamah Bangsa” di Universiti Teknologi Mara di Shah Alam pada 6 Sept, menuduh Lim berniat mengarahkan DAP untuk memisahkan atau membahagikan Semenanjung Malaysia kepada 2 bahagian berdasarkan kaum dan berniat untuk memecahkan kaum Melayu dan Cina.

Lim juga mendakwa kenyataan itu diterbitkan di Sinar Harian.

Dalam pernyataan tuntutannya, ahli Parlimen Iskandar Puteri itu berkata, Hanif juga secara salah dan berniat jahat menyebabkan kata-kata fitnah itu disiarkan di dalam portal berita Malaysiakini dan Free Malaysia Today pada hari sama (6 Sept) dan keesokannya.

Lim turut mendakwa kata-kata fitnah itu menyebabkan reputasinya selaku ahli Parlimen dan orang kenamaan terjejas.

Beliau juga mendakwa satu surat bertarikh 12 Sept dihantar supaya defendan menarik balik kata-kata fitnah serta memohon maaf, namun peguam defendan menjawab surat berkenaan dan menafikan kata-kata fitnah itu terhadap plaintif.

Oleh itu, plaintif menuntut defendan mengemukakan permohonan maaf dan menarik balik kata-kata fitnah itu selain menuntut ganti rugi am, teruk dan teladan serta satu perintah injunksi bagi menghalang defendan atau ejennya daripada mengulangi atau menerbitkan semula kata-kata fitnah berkenaan.

PUTRAJAYA, June 24 — The Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT) in Parliament is currently not needed, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

He said the current Minister’s Question Time (MQT), scheduled on Tuesday and Thursday, was sufficient for now.

Speaking to reporters after opening the National High-Level Dialogue on Business and Human Rights here today, Liew said the PMQT had been deliberated following the proposal made by some members of parliament (MPs) who wanted the PMQT.

“But the fact is that we have the MQT and in the past one year, we have seen the prime minister coming to answer questions in Parliament during the MQT as well as the ordinary question time.

“So I think for now we don’t really need the PMQT yet, but in time to come and when the need arises, then we probably can consider that. But for now, I think MQT is sufficient,” he said.

Asked on the July Parliament session, Liew said it would be the most exciting session with some MPs also describing it as extraordinary because it would see the introduction of several laws.

Asked on what bills would be tabled, Liew said the abolition of the mandatory death penalty and Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) would be in the pipeline.

Other “big” issues include the constitutional amendment on the voting age to allow the young people to vote at the age of 18, he said. — Bernama

ALOR SETAR, June 24 — Nine more cases of chikungunya were recorded in Alor Setar, bringing the total to 23 cases suspected to be infected with the disease after displaying symptoms such as fever, joint pain, and rashes.    

Kedah Health director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail said the Alor Setar Health Office (PKD) said up to 5pm yesterday, the cumulative cases detected since yesterday were 23 individuals when many of them received outpatient treatment at private clinics in Alor Setar and they were reported to be in stable condition.

“The blood test results found that 15 individuals were tested positive of chikungunya, while the blood samples from patients show these were negative of dengue virus,” he said in a statement here today.

DrNorhizan said vector control activities have been conducted, where 342 premises were checked and found 16 premises to be positive for mosquito breeding, while a total of 1,355 containers had been inspected.

“Ten premises were slapped with compounds under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act (APSPP) 1975. The fogging activities were also carried out within 200 metres from the affected area.

“The District Health Department (PKD) Kota Setar is carrying out preventive and control measures including area case detection (ACD), health awareness to the residents as well as conducting checks and destroying mosquito breeding sites around the residential area and business premises,” he added.

He also advised residents especially in areas of Jalan Tunku Ibrahim around City Plaza who have a fever and joint pain are advised to seek further treatment at the nearest health centre.

Yesterday, 14 people living in a row of shophouses near City Plaza here are suspected to be infected with chikungunya after displaying symptoms of the disease such as fever, joint pain, and rashes. — Bernama