Saturday, November 28, 2009

Why you should have sex everyday - Star

Nov 28 2009 By timesofindia.indiatimes.com


Heard that song called Sexual Healing?

It's not just a metaphor. Sex can actually heal. It can heal your body and mind and also prevent lots of diseases.

Some say it's the first medicine ever known to man and it should be administered daily. Sounds too good to be true? Let's discover the five reasons to have sex each day.

Great form of exercise


Making love is a form of physical activity. During intercourse, the physiological changes in your body are consistent with a workout. You must have noticed that the respiratory rate rises, which means you get tired. Hence, you burn calories.

If you have sex three times a week for 15 minutes you'll burn about 7.500 calories in a year.

That's the equivalent of jogging 120km! Heavy breathing raises the amount of oxygen in your cells, and the testosterone produced during sex keeps your bones and muscles strong.

Pain relief

The "Honey, not today, I have a headache" cannot be an excuse any more.

During sex, both male and female bodies produce endorphins, hormones that act as weak painkillers.

A study conducted by reknowned sex theraphist Gina Ogden showed that during sexual stimulation and especially during orgasm, we don't feel pain.

If she finds another excuse, remind her that sex is good for her entire reproductive system, because it trains the PC muscle, which keeps the reproductive organs in shape.

In women, sex can also increase fertility, postpone the menopause and relieve PMS symptoms.

Prostate protection


Most of the fluid you ejaculate is secreted by the prostate gland. If you stop ejaculating, the fluid stays in the gland, which tends to swell, causing lots of problems.

Regular ejaculation will wash those fluids out and ensure the well being of your prostate until old age. Problems may also occur when you suddenly change the frequency of ejaculations.

Prevents ED

Fifty per cent of men older than 40 suffer from erectile dysfunctions and all young men fear the moment when they won't be able to get it up any more. The best medicine against impotence is...sex.

An erection keeps the blood flowing through your penile arteries, so the tissue stays healthy. Plus, doctors compare an erection to an athletic reflex: the more you train the more capable you are to perform.

Stress relief

It's a scientific fact: sex can be a very effective way of reducing stress levels.

During sex your body produces dopamine, a substance that fights stress hormones, endorphins, aka "happiness hormones" and oxytocin, a desire-enhancing hormone secreted by the pituitary gland.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Perak to increase NGO involvement in local councils - Malaysian Insider

By Clara Chooi

IPOH, Nov 25 — The Perak government plans to increase the participation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the running of local councils by invoking provisions under Local Agenda 21.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said that the current system, which the Barisan Nasional administration had adopted from the previous Pakatan Rakyat government, did not optimise the use of NGO talent because of the 30 per cent quota.

Under the PR system, 30 per cent of local councillor posts are given to professionals and non-political appointees, mainly representatives of NGOs.

“However, we are aware that there are many more NGO representatives out there who are willing to participate in local government administrations but because of the quota system, they may not make the cut.

“If we use Local Agenda 21, however, we can capitalise on this,” he told a press conference after chairing the weekly state executive councillor meeting here today.

Zambry said that under Local Agenda 21, the state government could form a “second layer” to the councillors, comprising only of NGO representatives.

According to state executive councillor for local government matters Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, the “second layer” would be involved in council matters and would play a pivotal role in aiding the local governments in sustainable development of the state’s 15 districts.

“They will also sit in during local council meetings,” he said.

Agenda 21 is an action plan towards global sustainable development that was amongst the five papers presented during the 1992 Earth Summit or United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro.

Zambry said the Housing and Local Government Ministry had already commissioned the setting up of Local Agenda 21 in Malaysia several years back.

“We might as well make full use of this and come up with a modus operandi on how to improve the effectiveness of our local councils by expanding the involvement of these NGOs,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zambry said that the state government had already identified several problematic councillors currently serving the local councils but has yet to finalise the list of names.

“We will not hesitate to discontinue their services during the new round of appointments. There will be no compromise on this,” he said, adding that the new team of local councillors would be appointed by early next year.

Zambry also issued a stern warning to all present and aspiring councillors to make sure they performed well or face the boot.

“Enough is enough. We do not care which political party they represent — if they fail to perform, we will discontinue them.

“We do not want these people to think that the appointments are merely privileges bestowed upon them by their leaders or given to them because of their unfaltering support to a certain leader. They must consider themselves as the people’s representatives too,” he said.

He added that the each councillor was subjected to key performance indicator (KPI) evaluations, which would value their services based on their achievements, attendance and effectiveness.

“If they fail, they will go,” warned Zambry.

On a separate matter, Zambry said the Health Ministry had given its thumbs-up to the state government’s request for allocations under the 10th Malaysia Plan to build new hospitals.

Among the state’s requests was an expansion for the present Tuanku Bainun Hospital here which will add a maternity and cardiology wing costing some RM200mil, as well as a brand new hospital in Parit Buntar, also costing some RM200mil.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Celebs help club to clean up river - Star

Nov 17, 2009

SOME 60 Leo Club members spent a recent Sunday morning cleaning up the banks of the Kinta River in Ipoh under their ‘Keep Our Sungai Kinta Clean’ project.

Organised in conjunction with Eco Week 2009 by the Leo Club of SMJK Sam Tet, the clean-up was attended by fellow Leos from five other schools in Ipoh.

They also managed to rope in celebrities from Malaysia Celebrities Go Green (MCG2), namely actor-TV host Baki Zainal, singer Azizi Zakaria, radio DJ Faradina Mohd Nadzir who is better known as Dina and Miss Malaysia World 2008/2009 Soo Wincci.

Baki said the MCG2 artistes were committed to caring for the environment.

Soo (right) joining Leo member in removing an old peice of wood on the Sungai Kinta banks.

“We travelled from Kuala Lumpur to show our support,” said Baki.

Azizi said he was using his popularity to get his fans to go green.

Dina hoped more young people would realise the importance of keeping the environment clean.

The clean-up covered a 1km stretch of the river bank between Jalan Sultan Idris Shah and Jalan Sultan Iskandar Shah.

Alan Thoo, the chairman for Leos in District 308B2 (Selangor to Perlis), said the Leos picked up not only plastic but also broken bottles, old tyres, old jeans and pieces of wood that had been dumped on the river banks.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Wall outside State Secretariat collapses - Star

Nov 14, 2009

IPOH: Part of a retaining wall at the State Secretariat building here collapsed following days of heavy rainfall. The 21m-long wall in front of Jalan Istana crumbled at about 9pm on Thursday.

It is believed that water from a drain in the compound had washed away the earth underneath the wall causing it to give way.

Removing debris: An excavator cleaning up fallen portions of the retaining wall at the Perak State Secretariat building in Ipoh yesterday. — ZABIDI TUSIN / The Star

Datuk Bandar Datuk Roshidi Hashim, who visited the site, said damage was estimated at between RM8,000 and RM10,000. Repairs are now under way.

Hours earlier, part of a road kerb along Laluan Lapangan 3 in Taman Sri Perkasa also gave way, creating a 2.5m-deep crater.

Hawker Lim Ah Lek, 66, said it had been raining heavily shortly beforethe incident.

“The rain fell for about half an hour but it was so heavy that the water level in front of my house rose to about 15cm,” he said.

Lim said he saw the gaping hole as he was leaving his house at about 7pm.

“There is heavy traffic on this road as it is a main road. Many schoolbuses use the road.

“We are afraid that the road will collapse,” he said.

Resident Lee Geok Hoon, 45, said she feared for her life. “I use this road four times a day,” she said.

Ipoh City Councillor Kok Pak Foo gave his assurance that the council would repair the road kerb immediately. He visited the site with Gopeng MCA division chief Albert Chang and his deputy Alex Chan.

Perak launches new information channel

IPOH, Nov 14

The state government has launched Perak TV Digital Media Network, a new channel to disseminate information on activities by government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGO).

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said to this end, 300 television sets would be installed at strategic places like government offices and restaurants.

He said the project by K-Perak Inc Corp and Simfoni Maya Sdn Bhd was not poltically motivated but aimed at improving the delivery system of all government agencies.

“We are providing the people with a new alternative to receive information on economic and social activities. The television sets will also be installed in rural areas.

“As such, the people will have a choice to receive information not fully covered by the mainstream media,” he said at the launch here today.

Zambry said the new information channel would also offer advertising space for local products at much lower cost compared to other service providers. — Bernama

Sunday, November 8, 2009

RM60mil approved to upgrade Sultan Azlan Shah airport - Star

Nov 7, 2008

IPOH: Work on extending the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport runway and upgrading the terminal building will start next year.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the Cabinet had approved RM60mil for the two projects.

He said the runway could now be extended by 200m from the present 1.8km apart from the airport terminal being upgraded.

This would allow the airport to attract more budget airlines within Asean to fly there, he said.

Currently, only Firefly offers flights from here to Singapore daily.

"Our surveys showed that Perak hold immerse potential as a tourist destination.

"With the extension, we hope other budget airlines will be attracted to use the airport," said Ahmad Husni Saturday.

Speaking to reporters after a ground-breaking ceremony for a market at the Tanah Hitam New Village in Chemor near here, Ahmad Husni, who is also Tambun MP, said work on extending and upgrading the airport would start next year.

On another matter, Ahmad Husni said elected representatives had also been roped in to ensure projects under Budget 2010 were carried out.

"The Yang Berhormats can also write to the Prime Minister or the Deputy Prime Minister if projects in their area are facing problems," he said.

Najib was reported to have asked his ministers to closely monitor projects under Budget 2010.

The Prime Minister wants the 160 projects listed to start according to schedule as this was the commitment given by the Government to the rakyat.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Reaching out to the disabled - Star

Nov 5, 2009

REGISTRATION for the disabled to learn vocational skills is now open at Persatuan Daybreak, Ipoh.

A social concern arm of the Canning Garden Methodist Church, Ipoh, Daybreak has since its inception in 1992 trained over 500 people who were physically or intellectually challenged.

Its chairman Siaw Tack Chuan said the centre provides hands-on-training to enable people to learn skills in any workplace, including socks manufacturing and packaging, plant nursery, general clea-ning, contract assembly and packaging and handicraft.

He said those who register would be given two years’ training, adding that the centre would also find a job for them.

Sandra showing (from right) Siaw, Thong and Kojima a pillow made by a trainee.

The centre, he said, would monitor the trainees’ progress for ano-ther two years while they were employed.

Siaw said those employed would receive RM300 allowance from the Welfare Department if their salary was below RM1,200 a month.

Daybreak, which is largely dependent on public donations, recently received RM40,000 for its nursery project from the Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM).

The JACTIM Foundation was established in 1994 for the purpose of contributing to Malaysian cultural, social and educational developments, and also strengthening the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Japan.

A symbolic cheque presentation ceremony was held at the centre on Tuesday.

International Culture Exchange Committee director and chairman Kenji Kojima handed over the mock cheque to Ipoh Timur MCA division chief Datuk Thong Fah Chong who represented deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong.

Also present were Daybreak executive chairman Datuk Sandra Lee and state Social Welfare director Chong Phaik Kee. Those who wish to register with Daybreak can contact 05 -3235908/3235909.