Trishaw riders reject RM100 aid

GEORGE TOWN: Trishaw riders here have rejected the RM100 aid offer to be dispensed every two months by the state government. The riders want a monthly payment of RM60 instead.

This has prompted the state to postpone the handing over of aid to trishaw riders, which was scheduled to be held at Komtar today.

State Tourism Development and Culture committee chairman Danny Lawsaid the aid would be given once an agreement was reached.He said an agreement on the matter was expected in two months as meetings with numerous trishaw associations needed to be held.

“The state government promised to pay RM100 every two months but as the Penang Trishaw Riders Association has requested RM60 every month, we have to work towards a solution and reach a mutual agreement.

“We are also considering distributing the same amount to trishaw owners,” he said before meeting some 20 trishaw riders in front of City Hall at Esplanade yesterday.

Association chairman Koay Beng Hong said 70 riders who rent from other trishaw owners were hoping to receive the RM60 monthly subsidy.

“We submitted our request to Law on Sunday,” he said, adding that the association had another 50 members who owned trishaws.

Trishaw rider Sulaiman Husin, 54, was elated when Koay informed him of the monetary assistance.

“Since I am only renting a trishaw, the aid will come in handy,” he said.

Tsonga to have subdued Federer raged for sixth ATP title

LONDON - Roger Federer won the first player to appear ATP World Tour title six times but will struggle when challenged Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before retains his title with a 6-3 6-7 6-3victory, this morning.

The 30-year-old, playing in the finals for the seventh time in 10 years and competed in the100 final match on the tour, losing in the second set but came to defeat Tsonga to confirm the title of the 70th of his career.

The player has an excellent record as a 16th grand slam title and even overcome the five-time champions Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras in the list of champions but also to recordanother record with the advent of the oldest player to win the title last season since IlieNastase in 1975 success.

Receding floods in Kelantan

KOTA BARU - The flood situation in Kelantan, the better this morning when only the transfer of only seven centers of which are still operating in two districts in the state ofPasir Mas and Tumpat.

State Flood Operations Room spokesman said the number of victims of the flood transferrecorded this morning was over 1.309 people involving 373 families.

"The length of the Golok River in the region this morning continued to decrease to 9.89meters, (but) were 9 meters above the danger," he said.

He said the three routes, Road and Jalan Kulim Bira Raft Base in Pasir Mas still closed, while in Tumpat, Pink 4/Kampung Branch Road / Greenhill has not opened yet.

To this day, Kelantan floods claimed four lives and three others were still reported missing.

Those who lost known as Mohd Alif Rizuan, 15, a bath in a river in Machang, Azman MohdYusuf, 17, who lost in Sungai Golok and Mohd Farid Mohd Yusof, 20, who disappeared inKuala Pak Amat Beach.

Shabery Makaf investigate the issue of judicial bias

PUTRAJAYA – Persekutuan Karate Malaysia (Makaf) diarah menyiasat kenyataan ketua jurulatih P. Arivalagan yang mendakwa pegawai Malaysia terbabit dalam isu pengadilan berat sebelah pada Sukan SEA ke-26 sehingga skuad kumite wanita kalah 1-2 kepada Indonesia di final semalam.

Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek berkata, jika dakwaan itu benar, pegawai Malaysia berkenaan boleh dianggap membelot pasukan negara dan ini perbuatan yang amat memalukan.

Beliau juga meminta Persekutuan Sukan SEA supaya turut mengkaji mutu pengadilan acara dalam temasya itu yang sedang berlangsung di Jakarta dan Palembang.

"Persekutuan Sukan SEA perlu melihat perkara ini kerana ia boleh menjejaskan ketelusan dalam mutu pengadilan sukan,” katanya pada sidang media Kejohanan Futsal 1Malaysia (F1M) di sini, hari ini.

Akhbar hari ini melaporkan Arivalagan mendakwa ada pegawai Malaysia yang sengaja merancang dan menetapkan pemberian pingat emas sehingga membolehkan Indonesia membolot 10 daripada 16 emas yang dipertandingkan dalam acara karate pada temasya dwitahunan itu.

Arivalagan, yang membimbing skuad negara 2004, turut mendakwa perkara itu didalangi pegawai dari Malaysia bagi memastikan dirinya disingkirkan daripada tugasnya

Nikol raged Hong Kong Open champion Seventh Time

HONG KONG - squash queen Datuk Nicol Ann David won the Hong Kong OpenSquash Championship for the seventh consecutive year in style after beating the tenthselection from Egypt Raneem El Weleily in the final at the Hong Kong Cultural CentrePiazza on Sunday.

Preferences and the world's number one outstanding action to set aside the El Weleily, a former two-time world junior champion, in straight sets match with a record 11-5, 11-4and 11-9 in just 30 minutes.

Nicol said the game early in the match was difficult for him as El Weleily do six shots'nick' in a row with the good, thus forcing him to a lot of running.

"Raneem can play quickly whenever she wants. Just like the other players, he oftenincrease the pressure, and I need to be in standby mode at all times.

"Now, I will go back to tennis training, and see what I can to repair and improve and playbetter in the coming seasons," he said as quoted by www.squashsite.co.uk.

In the men's category, world number four player, James Willstrop of England will struggle before successfully beat the second seed, who is also the world's number threeplayer Karim Darwish of Egypt with a record 11-5, 11-9 and 11-4 in 53 minutes.

With the win, Nicol took home the HK $ 79.560 (RM32, 319) and a trophy while Willstropwill reach HK $ 184.275 (RM74, 789) and a trophy.

Manchester Uniter have drawn

MANCHESTER United failed to take advantage of Chelsea's defeat when tied with 2-2draw against Bolton in the Premier League action at the Reebok Stadium tonight.

Bolton ahead of the United two times in the match and almost picked up three points,but Michael Owen defeats equalization network hosts to create a shock to the Red Devils.

Bolton has overtaken United in the sixth minute through Zat Knight networks, but Naniequalized in the 23rd minute.

Alex Ferguson's coaching team once again left behind when Martin Petrov beat Edwin van der Sar on 67 minutes.

But that position did not last long after the replacement United striker Michael Owenscored the equalizer in the 74th minute.

Ferguson clearly disappointing draw after witnessing her arch-rival, Chelsea lost for the first time this season at the hands of Manchester City last night.