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The Star
01-08-2025
- General
- The Star
Captain of sunken yacht recalls harrowing experience of surviving out at sea by swimming for two days
KUALA TERENGGANU: The captain of the yacht Daisy will never forget his harrowing experience of swimming in the open ocean for nearly 48 hours to survive after his yacht sank in the waters of Pulau Yu on Tuesday (July 29). Ahmet Volkan Ata, 52, from Turkiye, said he could only swim and would float when he felt tired, all while praying to be found by a fishing boat. "I kept swimming day and night. I hoped that I'm going to meet fishermen or some floating object that I can grab. "I didn't know what was real or not. I was hallucinating," he told Bernama when met at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital (HSNZ) here on Friday (Aug 1). Though at times he feel like giving up, Volkan Ata said he was grateful he was finally found by a local fishing boat after two days of battling the ocean. Recounting the tense moments, he said during a strong storm, his yacht sank hastily because one of the windows was open. "It happened like in 20 or 30 seconds. I couldn't find time to do or react against anything. "Although the boat sank we managed to swim up," he said. Volkan Ata was steering the yacht while the other two on board were sleeping. Meanwhile, one of the rescued passengers, Ates Demiroren, 42, who also swam for over 20 hours to save himself, expressed hope that their friend Eser Demirkol, who is still missing, would be found soon. He said after the yacht sank, he and Volkan Ata managed to swim back to the surface and were still communicating. But Demirkol could not swim and was seen sinking with the yacht. "I just kept swimming for more than 20 hours. Some boats were passing by but they didn't notice me. "Luckily I saw a fishing boat and I swam to them about one kilometer while screaming for help until they noticed me," he said. Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee Chairman Datuk Razali Idris said the state government would assist the two survivors until they safely reach the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. "They are both in stable and healthy condition but may need to be warded for another one or two days as doctors still want to monitor their condition. "We have also contacted the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and a representative will come here soon to assist the victims," he said. Razali said the state government, along with the police and the Turkish Embassy in Malaysia, are also handling the documentation, including their passports, which were lost in the incident. The three Turkish men were participants in a voyage who had planned to tour the continent from Malaysia to their home country on Monday (July 28). However, on Tuesday afternoon, the yacht was hit by a storm and is believed to have sunk in the waters of Pulau Yu. Demiroren was found floating in the waters and rescued by local fishermen yesterday afternoon, while Volkan Ata was found safe by a local fishing boat last night after nearly 48 hours adrift at sea. Demirkol is still missing. — Bernama
Daily Record
14-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Planning officers approved council's Strathclyde Park watersports refurbishment project
The revamp, which will include building a new extension over the roof terrace and provision of new charging points for electric vehicles, has formally received planning permission. Planning officers have approved North Lanarkshire Council's planned refurbishment project at the water sports facility in Strathclyde Country Park. The revamp, which will include building a new extension over the roof terrace and provision of new charging points for electric vehicles, has formally received planning permission. The popular outdoor attraction, which was a venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European rowing and triathlon championships, has been earmarked as a world class, low carbon 'Park of the Future'. The refurbishment is intended to further boost the facility's appeal as a venue for top level competitions while also providing educational activities and opportunities for schools and community groups. The project is also an important element of the Net Zero by 2030 initiative. A new cafe will also be created to increase passing trade, while the design will also add significant improvements to the building's energy efficiency. A key element of North Lanarkshire Council's regeneration project is to reduce the building's carbon footprint by at least 80 per cent by retro-fitting super-efficient insulation and generating energy from a heat pump in the loch and from solar panels on the roof. Increased electric vehicle charging infrastructure will be provided along with better cycle storage and refreshed changing rooms, encouraging active and low carbon travel to the site. 'The Watersports Centre building has provided a base for activities at the park for 50 years and this transformative project will give it a bright new future,' said Councillor Helen Loughran, convener of the council's Environment and Climate Change Committee. 'We will reduce its carbon footprint, making the building more efficient and sustainable to run, and provide multi-purpose spaces for community groups and others to use as well as creating spaces for small businesses.' The first stage of work has started to improve the building entrance and access, ahead of the main work within the Watersports Centre building in the autumn. The project is expected to be complete in spring 2027. Ryan Broadley, Managing Director of Linear Design and Construct, who are carrying out the building works, said: 'We're really pleased to be working with North Lanarkshire Council and hub South West on this retrofit project. 'As a local contractor, it means a lot to be involved in work at Strathclyde Park, a spot that's close to home and loved by many of our team.' Tom McEwan, Development Manager at hub South West, who are helping organise the project, said: 'This milestone marks the redevelopment of Strathclyde Water Sports Centre. It represents a major investment in community wellbeing, sustainability, and inclusive access to sport. 'At hub South West, we're proud to collaborate with North Lanarkshire Council and our delivery partners, Linear to breathe new life into this important facility. 'Reimagining and reusing existing public assets is central to our mission, and this project is a great example of how strategic refurbishment and retrofit can create long-term value for both people and place.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
New Straits Times
01-07-2025
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Of boat and bus tragedies
BE it safety on roads or at sea, the Malaysian story is the same: a tale of repeated tragedies. On Saturday, it was a boat tragedy off Pulau Perhentian. There, two children and an adult lost their lives when a boat capsized in stormy weather. A child, who is reported to be in critical condition, is among 12 victims of the tragedy being treated at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital in Kuala Terengganu. The 22-year-old skipper of the boat, who has five drug-related offences to his name, tested positive for drugs. As if this wasn't bad enough, the travel agency and the boat operator were continuing to operate despite their licences having expired in April. The skipper also did not ensure that the passengers wore life jackets. A. Sangeeta, who lost her husband and daughter in the tragedy, shared this with the New Straits Times on Monday on the passengers' request for life jackets: "My husband and his friends asked the boatman for life jackets, but he told them that they were wet and reassured us the trip would only take 10 to 15 minutes." The plot thickens with the Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman Datuk Razali Idris revealing on Monday that the tourist boat had operated without night-time approval. It gets worse. The boat was only allowed to carry 10 passengers, but it ferried 15. And this is just the preliminary findings of the Marine Department. Despite so many breaches of the law and regulations, it was business as usual for the two. Why were they allowed to continue operating for so long? A case of enforcement gone wrong? Sure reads like it. Looks like we need an enforcer to keep an eye on another enforcer, who in turn has to keep an eye on yet another, and so it goes on ad nauseam. After almost every tragedy, it is a replay of the same narrative. It is not as if Malaysia doesn't have laws and regulations; there are plenty of them. The problem isn't with the laws and regulations, but with the enforcement of them, say lawyers. Is it so hard to throw the statute book at them? Or are there other factors at work here? The Terengganu government is proposing that the Marine Department either revoke or suspend the licences of tourist boat operators and skippers who are found to be negligent. But why must the regulators and enforcers wait for tragedies to happen before they invoke those provisions? If at sea there is a lack of robust enforcement, it is similarly wanting on our roads. Road safety experts, like lawyers, express similar views about the status of enforcement in the country: nothing to write home about. Take the seat belt rule for express and tour buses that came into force yesterday. The experts laud it, but at the same time, they worry about its enforcement. They are not being worrywarts. They have seen it all before. The seat belt rule was in force in 2020 for new express and tour buses, but not strictly enforced. How about buses made before 2020? They will be given time. Isn't five years enough time? Apparently not.
New Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Kijal assemblyman Razali ordered to enter defence on sedition charge
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here today ordered Kijal Assemblyman Datuk Razali Idris to enter his defence on a charge of making a speech of seditious nature, alleging government influence over the judiciary, at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery two years ago. Judge Norma Ismail made the order after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against Razali, 58, who is also the former Bersatu Information Chief, at the end of the prosecution's case. "After examining the evidence and submissions of both parties, the court found that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case. "Therefore, the accused is called to defend himself on this charge," said the judge, who then set the trial date for four days on Sept 26 and 30 and Oct 2 and 3. The proceedings were attended by deputy public prosecutors Datuk Badiuszaman Ahmad and Muhammad Amir Hannif Ahijman, and lawyer Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, representing Razali, who is also the Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman. On Nov 24, 2023, Razali pleaded not guilty to making a speech of a seditious nature between 9.30 pm and 11.30 pm on Nov 10 of the same year at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery at Padang Astaka Chukai, Kemaman in Terengganu. He was charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which provides a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, if convicted. – BERNAMA
The Star
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Kijal assemblyman Razali ordered to enter defence on sedition charge
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here on Thursday (June 12) ordered Kijal assemblyman Datuk Razali Idris ( pic ) to enter his defence on a charge of making a speech of seditious nature, alleging government influence over the judiciary, at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery two years ago. Judge Norma Ismail made the order after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case against Razali, 58, who is also the former Bersatu information chief, at the end of the prosecution's case. "After examining the evidence and submissions of both parties, the court found that the prosecution had succeeded in establishing a prima facie case. "Therefore, the accused is called to defend himself on this charge," said the judge, who then set the trial date for four days on Sept 26 and 30 and Oct 2 and 3. The proceedings were attended by deputy public prosecutors Datuk Badiuszaman Ahmad and Muhammad Amir Hannif Ahijman, and lawyer Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, representing Razali, who is also the Terengganu Tourism, Culture, Environment and Climate Change Committee chairman. On Nov 24, 2023, Razali pleaded not guilty to making a speech of a seditious nature between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Nov 10 of the same year at the launch of the Kemaman by-election machinery at Padang Astaka Chukai, Kemaman in Terengganu. He was charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948, which provides a fine of up to RM5,000 or imprisonment of up to three years or both, if convicted. - Bernama
