PETALING JAYA: Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) is aware that certain individuals and companies are using the huge interest in the halal business and services to scam unwary investors.

In response via e-mail to The Malay Mail frontpage yesterday on con artistes targeting the thriving halal business, HDC Corporate Affairs and Communications Department said, “HDC is aware of this and has taken the initiative by placing newspaper advertisements to notify the public between May 30 and June 3, 2009, in  several vernacular newspapers."

SEPANG: "No, there is no problem at the air base. Reports to the contrary are baseless.

That was the response from Defence Minister Datuk  Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when asked about the reported defects at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Gong Kedak, Terengganu which houses the 18 Sukhoi Su-30MKM multi-role combat aircraft.

"I plan to visit the air base, probably next week.

PETALING JAYA: Businessman Datuk Nik Kamaruddin Ismail is relieved now that the longdrawn trial of former Perbadanan Komputer Nasional Bhd (Nascom) chief executive officer has ended with the court finding him guilty.

He was among two businessman who had lodged police reports against Nascom's chief, Zulkifli Amin Mamat, in 2003 (see accompanying story).

However, in a text message, Nik Kamaruddin said: "Considering the anxiety and lost time, I was expecting the jail term to be longer."

PETALING JAYA: The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Sukhoi Su-30MKM simulator system is expected to be operational by May.

The system was supposed to be commissioned this month but defence industry sources told The Malay Mail it was not ready.

SHAH ALAM: A High Court judge sentenced a man to death this morning for trafficking Esctasy pills after he found claims of police frame-up just an "afterthought" by the defence.

Judge Datuk Wira Mohtarudin Baki said he had no other option but to sentence workshop operator Tio Tek Huat, 42, to death after finding his defence had failed to raise a reasonable doubt against the prosecution case.

PETALING JAYA: International intelligence agencies are likely to agree to the Malaysian government's decision to deport nine foreigners detained under the Internal Security Act for alleged links with international terrorist  organisations back to their own countries.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia-Indonesia 1984 Security Arrangement - which governs security along the borders of both countries - is under review to reflect current realities.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the review was expected to be finalised after another meeting of the working committee scheduled later this year in Indonesia.

The first draft revision was agreed upon during an earlier working committee meeting in December last year at Genting Highlands.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have shot a warning for the public to stay away from the demonstration outside the Australian High Commission tomorrow.

A senior city police officer told The Malay Mail this morning that police have not issued a permit for the protest in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng in retaliation to the note of protest handed over by about 50 Australian lawmakers to Malaysian High Commissioner Salman Ahmad in Canberra on Thursday, demanding that the government drop all charges against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and call off his trial.

PUTRAJAYA: An expected development - that was how Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak described the resignation of Bayan Baru Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim from Parti Keadilan Rakyat this morning.

KUALA LUMPUR: The abduction of two seaweed farm workers at Pulau Sebangkat near Semporna was due to a business dispute.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters this afternoon, that the two workers, a 40-year-old manager and a 25-year-old supervisor, were abducted after the seaweed farm management failed to pay its workers.

He denied that the abduction was related to terrorism reiterating that it was a business dispute.

KUALA LUMPUR: KD Tunku Abdul Rahman tropical water trials has been delayed again until next week after another defect was discovered on Jan 17.

Royal Malaysian Navy chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar when confirming this afternoon told reporters that the  engineeers from Bousted DCNS Naval Corp Sdn Bhd had traced the defect to the high pressure air blowing system inside the submarine's ballast tank. The ballast tanks which can be filled with water or air are used to control when a submarine surface or submerge.

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (pic) has been declared the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak.

The five-man Federal Court bench this morning retained the Court of Appeal's decision pronouncing Zambry, 47, as the lawful MB, ending any hope of his predecessor, Datuk Seri  Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, 52, of the Pakatan pact of DAP-PKR-PAS, reclaiming the post.

KUALA LUMPUR: The commanding officer of the former KD Sri Inderapura have been discharged from the navy after he pleaded guilty to two charges made against him at a court martial on Jan 25.

With the sentence, Captain Zainuddin Hitam, 41, will stand to lose any benefits from his service in the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). Zainuddin of Sitiawan, Perak is appealing the dismissal, RMN chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaaafar told The Malay Mail today.

The court martial was held at the RMN base in Lumut and the proceedings were not open to the public.

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign defence attachés and diplomats will no longer be allowed free access to the Defence Ministry.

The Malay Mail was informed that the decision, which took immediate effect, was made following an investigation by military intelligence into allegations that armed forces personnel were leaking secrets to a foreign embassy.

PETALING JAYA: Two more fighter jet engines were "lost" by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in 2007, apart from the two F5 engines that were stolen from its Sungai Besi air base.

The other two engines "lost" belonged to a newly-delivered Sukhoi Su-30MKM Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA). The aircraft suffered "foreign object damage" (FOD), as it goes in air force lingo, after its engines sucked in stones and other objects as it landed in June 2007.

KUALA LUMPUR: Some of the foreigners detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) last week are alleged to be 'recruiters' for the al-Qaeda network.

KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran politician Datuk Kadar Shah Sulaiman Ninam Shah (right) finally turned up at the Syariah Court Complex here this morning to attend his divorce settlement case.

PETALING JAYA: Other foreign missions, besides the United States Embassy in Malaysia, have also issued travel advisories to their citizens to avoid the eastern coast of Sabah, particularly Semporna and the islands of Mabul and Sipadan, due to possible threats from the notorious Abu Sayyaf terror group.

The alert was issued after ambassadors and representatives of foreign missions in Kuala Lumpur were briefed by the US Embassy on its advisory to Americans to avoid to Sabah because of possible threats from terrorist and criminal groups.

KUALA LUMPUR: With the arrests of eight men within the last days around the Klang Valley, police believed they have solved the arson attack on the Metro Tabernacle Church in Desa Melawati, Hulu Klang on Jan 8.

Federal CID chief Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin said that the police are still investigating whether the eight were involved on the failed arson attempts on three other churches in the Klang Valley during the same night.