Foul!

As published in Mailsport today  Loon Hong in this picture posted by a fan on Facebook. By Haresh Deol haresh@mmail.com.my PETALING JAYA — It is a bleak Chinese New Year for the snooker fraternity after legendary billiards maestro Moh Loon Hong passed away yesterday. Loon Hong suffered from cancer of the bladder and passed on at 4.33am at Unversiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). He was 63. The Penangnite was a hit on the green carpet, having won two SEA Games gold medals in the 1991 Manila Games and 1995 Chiang Mai Games. He clinched the bronze at the 1993 Singapore Games. Snooker runs in the blood of the family as his son Keen Ho also excelled in the sport, having won the Asian Junior Championship in 2003 and winning the SEA Games gold medal in Korat in 2007. His daughter Chaw Teng plays pool for the country. Loon Hong was supposed to play alongside Keen Ho in the upcoming Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. “It’s a loss ... I’m lost for words,” said Keen Ho. ...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol HE slaps on a helmet, with hardly any padding within, and does not see the need to buckle up. In shorts and slippers, he sits on his bike — minus rear view mirrors — and goes full throttle paying little attention to his surroundings. Sounds like a Mat Rempit on a kap chai? Not exactly. Even those who own high-powered machines are guilty of such practices. Why is it that motorcyclists, riding on big or small bikes, generally disregard safety? Some say suiting up is an expensive affair despite cheaper alternatives. Others blame it on our weather, saying it’s too hot to wear jacket and gloves while there are those who don’t see the need to wear such attire due to the short riding distance. Then there are those who say they are mocked by their peers when they suit up — this is especially so among those who ride small bikes. But the disregard of such safety and bad riding practices has contributed to the la...

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol THE drains are clogged, rubbish strewn everywhere. Rats run around as mosquitoes breed in stagnant waters. Children, some learning to walk, play in such unhygienic conditions. This sums up the living conditions of the pockets of refugee communities in Ampang. Mostly from Myanmar, they live in small houses and make do with what little they earn from carrying out odd jobs. Those staying there are mostly illiterate. They know many among them are sick and some have died. To them, it is a way of life. Heading to the nearest hospital — Ampang Hospital — is a pricey affair. They instead rely on advice by sinseh who run traditional medicine shops nearby their homes. Malay Mail Afternoon, on Jan 11,  highlighted a possible rotavirus outbreak among the community in Ampang following the death of a 15-month-old baby on Dec 26. Another four children, between the ages of six months and three years were admi...