Movie treat in fund raising campaign

GEORGE TOWN: Golden Screen Cinemas Sdn Bhd (GSC) is collaborating with non-profit organisation Hope Worldwide Malaysia to raise money to fund community projects for the less fortunate.

With every RM15 donated, GSC will offer a complementary ticket to a special screening of the upcoming blockbuster movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones on Saturday at 10.30am.

Hope Worldwide Malaysia executive director Katy Lee said funds were needed to sustain their free clinic in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur, for the benefit of 100 registered needy families.

"We are glad that a big company like GSC has stepped up to share our endeavours to improve the life of the community, bringing hope and changing lives," she said in a statement.

All cheques, postal order or bank drafts can be issued to Persatuan Kebajikan Hope Worldwide Kuala Lumpur.

Donations can also be made at the marketing department of GSC in Kuala Lumpur or at participating GSC cinemas.

Receipts will be issued with all donations which are tax-exempted.

The movie is based on the first book of the Mortal Instruments series by best-selling author Cassandra Clare. The story follows the trials face by seemingly ordinary teenager Clary Fray who discovers that she is a descendant of a line of Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of young half-angel warriors.

The special screening will be held at selected GSC cinemas which includes Penang's GSC Gurney Plaza.

Green solution

WASTE CRUSHER: MPPP councillors are being persuaded to acquire bio-regen machines for markets, schools and hawker centres to turn garbage into liquid fertiliser

GEORGE TOWN: PENANG Island  councillors have been urged to use part of their allocation to buy bio-regen machines, which convert food waste into liquid fertiliser.

Penang Island municipal councillor Dr Lim Mah Hui said there were 11 such machines on the island, with four installed in schools such as SMJK (C) Heng Ee and Convent Green Lane which were supported by charity organisations like the Rotary Club.

"The waste processed so far is 185 tonnes, which is still a drop in the ocean, when compared with the total amount of waste produced in Penang.

"Effort is being made to also install such machines at the Pulau Tikus market. I urge more councillors to participate in this programme and sponsor such machines or any other similar machines in hawker complexes or schools in their areas," he said at the full council meeting here yesterday. Lim said that in August 2011, he had used part of his Cleaner and Greener Penang funds to install the machine at the Bayan Baru hawker complex.

He said enzyme was added to the liquidised food waste which was converted into rich fertiliser after 30 days.

"This project has been successfully carried out by MPPP staff and we have processed 73 tonnes of food waste, or about 120kg per day to date. "About 30 food stalls participated in this project but it should be expanded to include the other 140 stalls," he said.

Meanwhile, MPPP president Datuk Patahiyah Ismail supported the proposal for councillors to use some of their funds to acquire such machines.

Patahiyah said that each year, councillors were allocated RM45,000 for the Cleaner and Greener Penang project.

She added that one such machine will be installed at the Pulau Tikus market next week.

Penang Island Municipal Council staff use a special machine to store waste which will be turned in liquid fertiliser.

Weight alert

Are you obese, fat or skinny? Check your body mass index and body fat reading

THE New Straits Times-Cyberjaya Green Ride 2013 is all about encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Physical activity and balanced meals will help you maintain your ideal weight.

One way to find out if your weight falls within the healthy range in relation to your height is by using the body mass index (BMI). You can calculate your BMI by dividing your weight (kg) by the square of your height in metres (BMI = kg/m2),
Due to its ease of measurement and calculation, it is the most widely used diagnostic tool to determine if a person is underweight, overweight or obese.

With the World Health Organisation giving its endorsement for the use of BMI to determine a person’s appropriate weight to their height, it has been used extensively by health practitioners around the world.

A person with BMI of  30 and above is considered obese and those between 25 and 29.9 are overweight. Healthy weight is between 18.5  and 24.9, and underweight is below 18.5.

There are health risks associated with people with underweight and overweight problems. Illness associated with being underweight ranges from simple tiredness due to inadequate energy intake, reduced immunity, infections, anaemia, vitamin deficiencies, thinning of the bones, infertility and heart rhythm irregularities.

While those with high BMI are at risk of high blood cholesterol or other lipid disorders, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, certain cancers, gall bladder disease, sleep apnea and snoring, premature death, osteoarthritis and joint disease.

The classification enables health professionals to recognise that people with low BMI may have an eating disorder, or alert them to certain health problems in  a person with high BMI.

To maintain an ideal weight, it is advisable to start on a healthy diet that has a balance of food groups, vitamins and minerals as well as engaging in physical activity.  

If you are in the overweight and obese range, losing at least 10 per cent of body weight may bring about desirable health benefits and improved feelings of well-being.

Come to  the Health & Style booth at the New Straits Times-Cyberjaya Green Ride 2013 on Sept 14 at Cyberjaya Lakeside and check your BMI reading.

BP Healthcare Group will set up a mobile diagnostic centre equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for audiometry test, lung function test, resting ECG, body composition analysis, bone mineral density check and body mass index test.

Chong Wei tipped to retain Japan title

LEE Chong Wei, despite lack of preparation, could still retain the Japan Open title as he is not expected to face a threat from third-seeded Du Pengyu of China in the semi-finals of the super series event on Sept 17-22.

   Pengyu is in the bottom half of the draw and is likely to take on compatriot Chen Long, the World No 2, in the last four and the latter should book a place in the final.

   Chong Wei is in a relatively easier top half of the draw where he could either meet fourth-seeded Thai Boonsak Ponsana or Nguen Tien Minh of Vietnam in the last four.
   Chong Wei opens his campaign against Hsu Jen Hao of Taiwan which will be followed by a possible second round meeting with Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia. The Malaysian could then meet Hu Yun of Hong Kong in the quarter-finals.    The BA of Malaysia (BAM) also took a tough stand by omitting Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng from the men's singles, while Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and two other men's doubles Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah and Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How were withdrawn following their poor results in the World Championships in Guangzhou last month.

   Chong Wei and mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying got the nod as they are defending their titles in Tokyo.

   Peng Soon-Liu Ying also have an easy draw and  a semi-final spot is in their reach if they take their chances well.

   The fourth-seeded Peng Soon-Liu Ying play Pakkawat Vilailak-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul of Thailand in the first round and could meet  China's Liu Cheng-Bao Yixin before a likely quarter-final clash against Indonesia's Markis Kido-Pia Zabedah.

   Independent pair Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern are the only other Malaysian interest in the competition and will play Kim Cho Hee-Park So Young of South Korea in the first round.

The star reveals she called a photographer an expletive.

Miley Cyrus is at it again!

No, not twerking. Tweeting. And ruffling some feathers while she's at it.

The 20-year-old singer took to Twitter Wednesday evening to reveal she scuffled with a photographer and called him the c-word.

"Just called this paparazzi a (expletive removed) So before he makes breaking 'news' out if it. Ill just say it. Ha-Ha # (expletive removed)"

Cyrus offered no further details.

Earlier this week, Cyrus broke her silence about her raunchy MTV Video Music Awards performance.

"Madonna's done it. Britney's done it. Every VMA performance, that's what you're looking for; you're wanting to make history," she said.

Cyrus' next album, Bangerz, is set for an Oct. 8 release.

Miley Cyrus poses on the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards in August.

Newcomer Colin Trevorrow to film 'Jurassic Park 4'

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood newcomer Colin Trevorrow was named the director of the long-awaited fourth installment of dinosaur movie franchise Jurassic Park on Thursday.

Universal Pictures said that Steven Spielberg, who directed the first two movies in the US$1.9 billion worldwide franchise, would be the executive producer of Jurassic Park 4, but he would not direct.

Trevorrow, 36, is little known in Hollywood. He made his feature film directorial debut with the independent time travel comedy Safety Not Guaranteed, shown at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, and has made a TV movie and documentary.

Universal said Jurassic Park 4 would be made in 3D and was scheduled for release on 13 June 2014.

Spielberg announced in 2011 that a fourth film was in development, and speculation had been rife about whether he would direct it.

Jurassic Park III, directed by Joe Johnston, was released 12 years ago, but its US$368 million worldwide box-office take was well below that of the first two films.

The original Jurassic Park, first released in 1993, will return to U.S. movie theaters in April in a 3D conversion.

Universal gave no details of casting or the plot for Jurassic Park 4.

Najib: Perwani will act as transformation agent to help women in various sectors

PUTRAJAYA: “Purple Power” ripped across the country with hundreds of thousands of purple-clad women walking in support of the slew of national initiatives to empower them.

The 1Million Women Purple Walk started at Putrajaya Square yesterday and flagged off by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

This was followed up with similar events at the state-level which drew an all-out response.

A 100,000-strong women's assembly, named as the 1Malaysia Perwani Community, is to act as a national community transformation agent.

The Prime Minister, who wore a purple shirt in support of the nationwide exercise, said Perwani would be broken into small groups of between 10 and 20 women to help women in education, business and also crime prevention. 

Najib joining the walk together with (from left) Muhyiddin, Rosmah and Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in Putrajaya.

Resident associations, Puspanita, Police Family Association (Perkep), Malaysian Armed Forces Family Welfare Association (Bakat), Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, NGOs and single mothers would help out.

“As a mover of various activities, the 1Malaysia Perwani Community can promote healthcare, family welfare, skill training, entrepreneurship and tuition.

“They can become the eyes and ears of the government in combating crimes and threats to national security,” he said in launching the initiative yesterday.

Najib, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said Perwani was an initiative under the National Blue Ocean Strategy to improve the welfare of women.

He said the 1Malaysia Perwani Community would act as a conduit between women and the authorities to provide feedback on infrastructure and public amenities.

Attesting that women had proven their mettle in many fields, Najib pointed out 62% of the country's undergraduates were women.

Participants cheering and holding up placards in support of the 1Million Women Purple Walk 2013 in Putrajaya.

“Now 30 of the 62 High Court judges are women, of the secretaries-general in ministries, seven of them are women with the latest being in the Health Ministry,” he said.

“But we do not just want to recognise women. We want to empower women and want them to be part of mainstream development and transformation,” he stressed.

At the event, Najib also launched the Purplelicious Mobile Cafe, the latest project initiated by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to help single mothers earn a living.

Under the programme, nine single mothers from various races will operate a mobile cafe using two trucks which would make pit stops at selected locations in the Klang Valley and Putrajaya.

The cafe will serve sandwiches, pasta and ice-blended drinks with the menu prepared with the help of Chef Jo of MasterChef Malaysia fame.

Also present at the event here was Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa and Cabinet ministers.