Thunderstorm blew havoc in Penang, two killed

GEORGE TOWN: An evening storm wreaked havoc in Penang yesterday causing the communications tower atop the Umno building in Jalan Macalister here to collapse, leaving two person dead and eight others injured.

Jahir Hussain Sulaiman, 46, the driver of a pick up truck who was seriously injured in the incident later died at the Penang Hospital.

The telecommunication antenna fell and crashed down at 7pm on Thursday.

Another victim was killed by a tree which fell on him near Air Itam Dam here during the heavy thunderstorm that wreaked havoc in most parts of Penang.

The 33-year-old man, believed to be a farmer, was jogging in the area when the incident happened at 6.50pm.

According to Penang Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) deputy director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah, the incident was a result of a heavy storm.

“The antenna suddenly was blown off the building and crashed onto seven cars including the lorry nearby the building. At the time, the lorry driver was arranging some gas cylinders,” he said.

He added the driver was then trapped in his vehicle as a result of the incident.

“Six firefighters from the Lebuh Pantai fire department received the call at 6.56pm and rushed to the scene. The firefighters managed to rescue the trapped victim two minutes upon arriving at the scene,” he said.

The victim is believed to be about 40 years old and sustained severe injuries on his body and head. He was rushed to the Penang Hospital immediately.

A fire hydrant pipe also burst because of the crash and the area was covered with water.

“This had caused bad traffic and for safety reasons, we had to close the road for further inspection of the building,” he said.

Menara umno kukuh/selamat.cuma antena di atas runtuh.doakn rakyat ppinang slamat dari bencana alam @cmlimguaneng: twitter.com/cmlimguaneng/s…"

— zainal abidin osman (@dzainalabidin) June 13, 2013

TERKINI: Situasi di Macalister Road/Menara UMNO. twitter.com/johanjohari7/s…

— J | J (@johanjohari7) June 13, 2013


Big antenna at Umno building Macalister Rd fell. Traffic standstill in many roads #fb twitter.com/Boboboman/stat…

— Boboboman (@Boboboman) June 13, 2013

watch this video.. just happened at Umno building Macalisted road, Penangfacebook.com/photo.php?v=10…

— SELLVA GANAPATHI (@gAnAcItIzEn) June 13, 2013

Ibupej Bangunan UMNO Pg bhgn bumbung tumbang dan jatuh Jln Mcalister hancur 7 buah kereta.Pemandu trak gas cedera. twitter.com/cmlimguaneng/s…

— Lim Guan Eng (@cmlimguaneng) June 13, 2013

FAM is not an army batallion - Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) advisor Tan Sri Annuar Musa chided Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad for running the administration of the national body like an army general.

The former FAM deputy president said the problems within the FAM was because the retired lieutenant-general still thinks he was serving in the army, although he had retired a long time ago.

"The FAM is not an army battalion but a unique association. In the FAM there is an exco which is elected and in football there are stakeholders, including supporters, fans, sponsors, ministry, affiliated members and other relevant bodies and totally different from the army," he said in his Facebook posting today.

The regimented style of the former director of Military Intelligence in defending the FAM from any criticism has resulted in three state FA presidents suspended for their alleged criticism against the national body.

The three are Annuar himself as the President of KAFA, Johor FA President Tunku Ismail Idris Sultan Ibrahim and Perlis FA President Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

The action by the FAM to suspend the trio has not gone down well among state affiliates and football fraternity in the country.

Annuar said the post of FAM secretary-general is not elected but an appointed post with a paid salary.

"Therefore, the secretary-general is not only answerable to the President but to the entire development of football in the country because in the absence of the congress and exco, the FAM secretariat is responsible," he said.

Annuar also questioned the need for the FAM secretariat to employ 70 to 80 staff unlike the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) which has less than 10 staff but still considered a world class administration.

"What does not make sense is that some of the staff are paid salary that is even higher than that of a general while some are paid even higher than a minister," he said.

The administration and management cost of the FAM runs into millions while state FAs remain cash-strapped because most of the sponsors money or broadcasting rights does not reach the state FA.

"The Malaysian Super League (MSL) was closed down but the FAM secretariat added its departments, resulting in more money spent and no money to spare for the affiliates," he said.

Annuar said Malaysian football was facing a major financial problem but unfortunately the FAM secretariat had chosen to ignore the fact and it is the FAM President who has to shoulder all the responsibility.

"Though three State FA presidents have been suspended, voices of discontentment will continue to be raised and heard because FAM is not ATM (Armed Forces Malaysia)," he said.