SIBU: Logging activities in the upper reaches of Rajang River are not to blame for the recent logjam despite what is widely believed, State Forestry Department director Datu Len Talif Salleh said at a press conference Tuesday night.
He said while people might perceive that logging was the main cause, studies showed that it contributed minimally to the massive debris that clogged the Rajang river for several days.
Instead, Len pointed to changing rain patterns as the main culprit.
He explained that rain patterns had changed for the past two or three years.
“Based on the hydrographs report on Nanga Ga’at, the water level on Oct 3 at 4.48pm was 8 metres.
“On Oct 7 at 7am, the water level was 5 metres. At 9pm on the same day, it rose to 11 metres.
“Through this study, we have concluded that the debris was caused by the concentration of rains within a short period,” he said, adding that most of the debris was from Sg Melatai.
According to Len, logging activities around Sg Melatai had stopped since 2006 or 2007.
As such, no one could be held responsible for what had happened.
“All of us were taken off guard because of lack of communication. We will try to work with other agencies to study this and other areas as well,” he said.
REMBAU: Twelve people, including three women, were killed and more than 50 others injured in an accident involving two buses,three cars and a van at Km223 of the North-South Expressway, near the Pedas toll plaza, yesterday.
A police spokesman said the accident occurred at 6.50pm when a Delima Express bus, heading from Johor Baru to Kuala Lumpur, was believed to have skidded before crashing into the highway guardrail.
The bus ended up in the southbound lane where it crashed into a Toyota Hiace van.
A Welfare Department bus, a Perodua Myvi, a Honda City and a Honda Accord then crashed into the express bus.
The spokesman said the Welfare Department bus was carrying 40 retired members of the armed forces and their wives.
The bus driver, however, managed to steer his vehicle to avoid a more serious impact.
“The bodies of the victims were all over the expressway and police had difficulty determining whether they were from the Delima Express bus or the other vehicles. ”
The accident victims were sent to the Malacca, Alor Gajah, Jasin, Tuanku Jaafar and Tampin hospitals.
One of those affected, Md Razel Sarmin, 38, the driver of the Honda City, said he was on the fast lane of the expressway heading to Pontian in Johor from Kuala Lumpur when he saw the Delima Express bus hurtling into his path from the opposite side of the expressway.
“The bus crashed into the Toyota Hiace van which spinned several times. I managed to avoid the bus, but my car grazed the back of the van.
“My seven family members and I in the car then stopped at the side of the expressway. We saw bodies all over the road.
“I saw the driver of the van hanging from the driver’s side window and the Delima Express bus was blocking all three lanes of the highway heading to Alor Gajah.”
Another witness, Abdul Hamid Hasan, 55, an ex-serviceman from Taman Rambai Jaya in Malacca, who was on the Welfare Department bus and sitting in a front row seat, said he was rudely awakened when the bus driver applied the emergency brakes.
“I opened my eyes and was shocked to see an express bus blocking our path and our bus driver trying to avoid it.
“Our bus slightly hit the back of the express bus.”
Three of the ex-servicemen’s wives , including one who is pregnant, were injured and they were rushed to hospital.
Three fire engines from the Rembau, Tampin and Alor Gajah stations were sent to the scene.
At least eight ambulances took the injured to hospital.
The accident caused massive traffic jams on both sides of the expressway.
CRASH VICTIMS' NAMES:
The police have released the names 12 people who died in a crash involving two buses, a van and three cars at Km223 of the North-South Expressway near Simpang Ampat toll plaza yesterday.
The police confirmed that nine locals and three Myanmar nationals were killed in the accident.
They were express bus driver R.Ramachandra, 52, from Kampung Tengah, Klebang Besar and express bus passengers, Muhammad Farizuddin Talib, 19, (Balai Panjang, Malim); Azizi Ajis, 19, (Kampung Gapis, Nyalas); Norazmi Abdul Karim, 24, (Kampung Pondok Kempas, Selandar); Sharene Sofia Fadzry Tan, 18, (Semabok Perdana); Nur Shafika Baba, 29, (Pokok Mangga here), and Eng Sok Kuan, 52, (Kuala Lumpur).
Three male Myanmar nationals, who were also express bus passengers, were Pau Khan Tual, 21; Kam Khaw Tual, 28; and Cin Thawa Tuang (age unknown).
Van driver Goo Chuan Heng, 34, from Taman Maju, Batu Pahat and motorist Pang Shi Moei, 57, (Taman Segar, Segamat).
A lady goes to her priest one day and tells him, "Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots, but they only know how to say one thing."
"What do they say?" the priest inquired.
"They say, 'Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?'"
"That's obscene" the priest exclaimed, then he thought for a moment. "You know," he said, "I may have a solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots that I have taught to pray and read the bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house, and we'll put them in the cage with Francis and Jacob. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship, and your parrots are sure to stop saying...that phrase...in no time."
"Thank you," the woman responded, "this may very well be the solution."
The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest's house. As he ushered her in, she saw that his two male parrots were inside their cage, holding rosary beads and praying. Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them. After a few minutes, the female parrots cried out in unison: "Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?"
There was stunned silence. Finally, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and exclaimed, "Put the beads away, Francis, our prayers have been answered!"
A new supermarket opened near my house. It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the sound of distant thunder and the smell of fresh rain.
When you approach the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and experience the scent of fresh hay.
When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle, and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.
The veggie department features the smell of fresh buttered corn.
