14 œ
Let’s celebrate
World
Forestry Day
FUN and games are in store for
the public with lots of prizes to be
won in the celebration of World
Forestry Day on March 21
Themed “Forest is Fun”, the
event is organised by Forest Re-
search Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
to enhance appreciation for the
forest and to strengthen aware-
ness towards the importance of
conservation.
Among the fun activities are
Scaventure Hunt for 20 teams
of six people each, Green Cycle
mountain bike race for up to 50
participants, and Forest Run for up
to 150 participants.
There will also be a Kiddie
Fun Art competition for two age
categories of children – six to eight
years old, and nine to 12 years old,
for which up to 50 participants will
be accepted per category.
The activities will kick off from
8am and prizes will be given to the
top three winners in the Scaven-
ture Hunt, Forest Run and Kiddie
Fun Art.
The event will be launched by
FRIM director-general Datuk Dr
Abd. Latif Mohmod, who will also
present prizes to winners of FRIM
photography competition themed
“The Enchanting World of FRIM:
Through the Lens” which was held
from Jan 1 to Feb 28.
The winning entries of the
photography competition will be
exhibited outside FRIM auditorium
from March 21 to 26.
Meanwhile, children from
Down Syndrome Association of
Malaysia will also join a guided
trekking along one of the nature
trails and participating in collage
and colouring activities.
Popular singer Zainal Abidin
Mohamed is expected to make a
special appearance.
Pa r t i c i p a -
tion in all For more information, log
events are on to www.frim.gov.my.
free of charge.
To register con-
tact Shahrin or Faizal at 03-6279
7525 or 03-6279 7526. Deadline
for registration is tomorrow.
theSun | MONDAY MARCH 16 2009
City planning experts coming to KL
by Giam Say Khoon The international speakers are: today,” Norliza said in a statement. officially endorsed and supported the
newsdesk@thesundaily.com » Loong Yee Mun from Surbana “The ideas shared will be able to conference although it may not apply
CITY planning experts will gather
Urban Planning Group, Singapore;
» Robert Spinks from Bovis Lend
help all of us open up the possibilities
in city planning, especially with the
all the ideas that will arise from it.
“It will certainly help to inject
in Kuala Lumpur from March 24 Lease, Australia; impending finalisation of the Draft positive aspects into the current city
for the International Conference on » Patrick Fensham, SGS Economics Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020,” she plan,” he said.
World Class Sustainable Cities 2009 and Planning Pty Ltd, Australia; added. Following the presentations and
(WCSC 2009) to help the country’s » Choi Chik Cheong from Land Co-organised by Real Estate and panel discussions, the committee
capital progress to a world class city Transport Authority, Singapore; Housing Developers Association will hold a roundtable discussion
by 2020. » Sicco van Gelder from Placebrands Federal Territory (Kuala Lumpur), with the international speakers and
WCSC 2009 co-chairperson and Ltd, Netherlands; and Malaysian Institute of Planners and city planners the next day.
Malaysian Institute of Planners » Kie-Wook Kwon from Seoul met- the Malaysian Institute of Architects, Ideas and action plans arising
president Norliza Hashim said six ropolitan government, South Korea. WCSC 2009 will explore and show- from the discussions will be distilled
speakers from all over the world The event, to be held at Renais- case successful strategies and best and offered to City Hall for its consid-
will explore case studies of actual sance Hotel, is expected to draw about practices that have helped global cit- eration in their finalisation of the KL
cities and their success in addressing 400 people from non-governmental ies attain recognition for successful City Plan 2020 by mid-year.
urban planning, transportation and organisations, local and planning and sustainable planning initiatives. Those interested in participating
traffic, river restoration and rede- authorities and the public. Event co-chairperson and Malay- in the conference can download the
velopment, sustainable construction “We have assembled a dream sian Institute of Architects president registration form at www.rehda.com
and development, and city branding team of speakers to share exciting Lee Chor Wah said Kuala Lumpur or call Soon Teck Giap at 03-7803
issues. developments in the global cities of City Hall has been very open and has 2978.
Scrolls for 74 grads of Russian medical university
by Chin Lee Kam representatives from Embassy of
newsdesk@thesundaily.com Russian Federation Consul Vladimir
Tka Chov and Vice-Consul Dmitry
SOME 500 parents and relatives wit- V. Anikin.
nessed the graduation ceremony for Varatharaju congratulated the
74 Malaysian graduates of Kursk State parents and thanked them for
Medical University, Russia, at Holiday the sacrifice their made for their
Villa Subang on March 1. children.
The convocation was officiated by He said Magaram Enterprise
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister‘s will continue to provide good
Department Datuk S.K. Devamany, who service to its clients and to help
also presented the scrolls to some of the any student aspiring to do medi-
graduates. cine.
At the function, Magaram Enterprise Kursk State Medical University
chairman Datuk M. Varatharaju gave out was started in 1935 and there are
souvenirs to the graduates. 15 clinical hospitals in Kursk city.
Devamany has full praise for It received JPA’s and MMC’s
Varatharaju for his effort in helping to recognition in 2001 and was
churn out doctors for Malaysia where reassessed by the same or-
there is an acute shortage for them. ganisations along with National
Devamany presents a
Though there are more than 300 over- Accreditation Board last year
scroll to a graduate as
seas medical colleges recognised by the and is regarded as an excellent
Varatharaju looks on.
Public Service Department (JPA) and the university with up-to-date fa-
Malaysian Medical Association (MMC), the cilities and good ratio of senior
majority of Malaysian medical students lecturers and professors to the
are in Russia, followed by Indonesia. medical students.
The deputy minister also urged It now has 1,300 foreign
the Higher Education and Health medical students from 30 differ-
Ministries to give maximum support ent countries, with majority of them being Malaysians.
to Magaram Enterprise, an agent for m e d i c a l Also present at the ceremony were MIC vice-president Founded by Dr. V. Sathiyananthan, Magaram En-
colleges in Malaysia. Datuk S. Veerasingam, Datuk Dr R. Mohan Dass, Datuk terprise has to date sent some 700 students to the
Meanwhile MMC ex-president Datuk Dr. N. Nelson Renganathan, Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou, head of university.
Athimulam advised the fresh graduates to work hard and the university’s administration Iobidze Yurij Shalvovich, A total of 199 of these students have graduated so
bring a good name to Kursk State Medical University. its coordinator for foreign students, Mohamed Chahine, far. Another 120 will graduate in September this year.