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Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Some of the news on 7th January 2007 - the day you was born...

some of the news that appears in The Star on the day Ee Shuen was born....

First week of VMY 2007 draws in 390,000 tourists

PUTRAJAYA: The first week of Visit Malaysia 2007 has seen some 390,000 tourists, mostly from Asian countries, visiting Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the numbers were very encouraging although the Government was trying to encourage more long-haul visitors from places like Europe and Russia.

“We are expecting five charter flights to arrive in the next day or two, particularly those from Russia,” he told reporters after giving away bicycles to top-scoring students at SK Putrajaya 2 here Sunday.

Tengku Adnan also quashed reports that since VM2007 started, there had been a spate of negative incidents targeted at tourists.

“There has been only one ugly incident in front of a hotel in Kuala Lumpur where the tourist was assaulted and injured by a man. Of the 390,000 tourists who came, the number of incidents has been less than 0.1%,” he said, adding that he had also received some reports of taxis overcharging passengers.

Tengku Adnan said he had apologised to the tourist involved, who had to receive 11 stitches for his wound.

“I don’t think the motive for that assault was robbery because the tourist was just taking a walk and dressed casually. I have apologised to him on the Government’s behalf,” he said.

On the operations of the KL Hop-On Hop-Off double decker buses, Tengku Adnan said he had advised the bus company to get more vehicles as tourists had to wait too long for their ride.

The service offers a tour with pre-recorded commentary in eight different languages that will guide tourists through 42 major sights and attractions in Kuala Lumpur.

“The turnaround time for the buses is too long due to the traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur. We have also advised the company to employ tour guides on board the buses until they have managed to get the pre-recorded commentary working again,” he said.

On complaints that Immigration officers at the country’s main entry points were unfriendly, Tengku Adnan said he would inform Home Affairs Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

“I think the officers are just overworked, particularly during peak hours when there are many tourist arrivals,” he said.


Badminton: Old hands still needed

By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: There's plenty of life left yet in veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.

Although there are more young men's pairs making the grade, Malaysia will continue to rely on the hardy Tan Fook-Wan Wah combination, national chief coach Yap Kim Hock said.


EXPERIENCE COUNTS: Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah can give the the younger pairs a run for their money.
Kim Hock said yesterday that the pair would be in the national team as they bid to qualify for this year’s World Championships and next year’s Beijing Olympic Games.

“I had a discussion with coach Rexy (Mainaky) and we have agreed that we still need their services,” said Kim Hock after a training session yesterday.

“The back-up players may have done better than them last year. But Tan Fook-Wan Wah are still ranked fourth in the world and their performances are not that poor. Their form only dropped in the later part of the year.

“In fact, their presence will keep the back-up players on their toes. They can still provide quality sparring sessions. We need the competition to keep the standard high in the doubles department.”

Last year, Tan Fook-Wan Wah won the Asian Badminton Championships title, finished as the runners-up in the All-England and Hong Kong Open and reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian and Thailand Opens.

The duo, however, were uninspiring at the World Championships in Madrid.

Currently, five other men's pair ranked behind them in the world rankings are Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui (seventh), Gan Teik Chai-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif (11th) and Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock (31st).

The two new pairs – Doha Asiad Games gold medallist Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Kuala Lumpur Open champion Chan Chong Ming-Hoon Thien How – are also formidable but they still have yet to establish themselves in the world rankings.

Kim Hock, however, said Tan Fook-Wan Wah would have to prove themselves to be considered for major tournaments.

“We are happy to have a big pool of doubles players in the national team. There will be no special preferences. The race will be open for everyone. This will keep everyone on their toes,” he said.

The major tournament for the national team this year is the Sudirman Cup in Glasgow, Scotland in August.

Asked if the partnership of Tan Fook-Wan Wah would be split and paired up with youngsters, Kim Hock said: “That is not our plan yet. I think we have done enough tweaking with some of the other partnerships.”

“It will not be wise to split partnerships this year as we are currently in the qualifying period for the world meet while the qualifying period for the Olympic Games will begin in May. Besides, the world rankings will also be important if we want our players to compete in the Super Series this year.”

Following the success of new partnerships of Kien Keat-Boon Heong, Chong Ming-Thien How, there was an option for the coaches to team up Tan Fook and Wan Wah with either Bin Shen or Soon Hock.

The back-up pair of Bin Shen and Soon Hock, who had been earmarked for the future, failed to make headway last year.

Currently, all six men's pairs are preparing for the Malaysian Open, which will begin on Jan 16 at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium (KLBA).

Last year, Chong Ming and Kien Keat were the champions.

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