Siblings Begin Their Swim
Salman Ali Shariati, 10, and his sister Zahra Ma'soumah Abdul Halim, 15, began their 45-km swim from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis on 22 August night, an effort to coincide with the nation's 50th anniversary of independence.
They began their swim at 8.50pm at the Kuah Jetty here. Langkawi Assistant District Officer Mohd Rinizan Razali represented the District Officer in launching the swim.
The siblings, who are swimming in cages, were accompanied by their parents Abdul Halim Yusof, 47, and Haniza Muhamad, 41, as well as several other family members in a vessel.
Entry Date: 24/8/2007 9.37pm
Swim From Langkawi To Perlis
After registering their names in the Malaysia Book of Records as the country's youngest long-distance swimmers last year, Salman Ali Shariati Abdul Halim, 10, and his sister Zahra Masoumah, 15, will swim across the Melaka Straits from Langkawi Island to Kuala Perlis tomorrow.
They are scheduled to begin their 46-km challenge from Kuah in Langkawi at 8pm and are expected arrive at Kuala Perlis in 20 hours.
Salman Ali Shariati and Zahra Masoumah swam nine kilometres across the Dinding Straits from Pangkor Island to Lumut on Feb 26 last year to register their names in the Malaysia Book of Records as the youngest long-distance swimmers in the country.
When he was six, Salman Ali Shariati swam 1.2km from Damar Laut to Lumpur in 2004 and early this year he swam up and down for 12km in the Ipoh Municipal Council's swimming pool.
Zahra Masoumah hopes to be the first woman to splash across the Melaka Straits.
Entry Date: 18/8/2007 11.17am
Captains Fined For Collision
Two captains involved in the Nov 24 collision between two ferries, resulting in the death of a three-year-old boy, were fined RM49,000 each at the Langkawi magistrate's court.
Kapt Muhamad Thamby Ariffin and Kapt Mohd Isa Haron were fined after they pleaded guilty to seven charges under various sections of the Commercial Shipping Ordinance.
Magistrate Ahzal Fariz imposed a fine of RM8,000 for each of the first six charges in default eight months jail, and RM1,000 for the seventh charge, in default one month in jail.
The two captains paid the fine.
The charges include failure to assess risk of collision, failure to manoeuvre ferries within a safe speed limit, failure to use all suitable methods available to avoid collision, failure to use the radar, failure to adjust speed based on limited visibility, failure to raise the alarm within two-minute intervals to avoid collision, and failure to secure the safety of passengers.
The collision between the two ferries that occurred at 5.10pm on Nov 24 near Pulau Payar resulted in the death of three-year-old Mohd Danial Ramli.
A total of 33 people were injured in the collision between Express Kenangan 6, that was carrying 153 passengers, and Express Sejahtera 15, with 60 passengers.
Entry Date: 11/8/2007 7.10pm
Police Training Centre
A 113ha piece of land in Langkawi, alienated to the police force, will be turned into a modern training facility.
Police management director Commissioner Datuk Ismail Omar said the training centre, its sixth so far, would churn out over 50,000 police personnel.
The site, where the abandoned Hotel Delima was situated, would be an ideal place for training due to its location and surrounding, he added.
Entry Date: 11/8/2007 7.10pm
Optimist Asia 2009
Malaysia will host the international yachting championship, Optimist Asia at Langkawi in 2009 after two contenders, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates (UAE) pulled out from the bid.
Malaysia Yachting Association (MYA) Development Committee chairman Mohd Afendy Abdullah said Hong Kong and UAE along with other members of the International Optimist Dinghy Association had agreed to make way for Malaysia to organise the championship.
Malaysia had also submitted an offer to host the World Optimist Championship 2010 for which Argentina and Qatar had also handed in their candidacy.
Entry Date: 11/8/2007 7.10pm
Langkawi International Dialogue
The eighth Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) kicked off here in early August with a splendour of colours showcasing the various cultures of Malaysia.
The guests and delegates to the three-day Dialogue were treated to an eye catching cultural show and a laser display to signify the opening of LID 2007.
The Dialogue, first held in 1995, has drawn about 500 participants from 40 nations, mostly southern and eastern African countries, including 10 heads of state and government.
For the first time, three Asian countries - Thailand, Laos and Cambodia - are attending the event.
The opening ceremony at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre began with welcome remarks by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar followed by a dinner and cultural performances.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi then delivered his opening address which set the tone for the Dialogue.
He also presented LID Companionship Awards to former presidents Joaquim Alberto Chissano of Mozambique and Dr Sam Nujoma of Namibia.
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