GWR
24-11-07, 11:20 PM
Or was it just something to divert attention from the current wave of disatisfaction among Non-Malays!:
Locals find giant buoy, think it caused ‘blast’
By R.S.N. MURALI
KUALA TERENGGANU: A giant buoy found in a monsoon drain here caused a frenzy amongst locals when they linked the discovery with Friday's mysterious “blast” which rocked several towns in the state.
The buoy, from mid-sea, was believed to have washed to the drain in Kampung Cina here, early Saturday morning.
Businessman Lim Chong Soon, 51, discovered the buoy at about 10am at the back of his shop.
"This is the first time, in the 14 years that I’ve been here, that I’ve seen such a giant buoy here.
"My neighbours believe that the buoy could be fragments from Friday’s ‘blast’ at mid-sea,'' he said.
Locals believed that an oil tanker had exploded based on the loud sound resulting from the blast.
The news of the discovery also reached to State Police Chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ayob Yaakub who rushed to the scene to gauge for himself.
However, SAC Ayob explained to the crowd that the buoy could have been swept inland by strong currents and that people should not be alarmed.
It was later discovered that the mystery "blast" was actually sonic boom from the newly-acquired state-of-the-art Sukhoi fighter jets.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/nation/20071124184835&sec=nation
Mysterious ‘blast’ turns out to be sonic boom
By SIRA HABIBU
ALOR STAR: The mystery “blast” that rocked Kuala Terengganu, Dungun and Marang in Terengganu for several seconds on Friday turned out to be sonic boom from the newly-acquired state-of-the-art Sukhoi fighter jet.
Two of the fighter jets were involved in a non-combatant training in preparation for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) air show.
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) public relations officer Maj Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff said the fighter jets travelled at supersonic speed, emitting loud sonic booms.
“We hope the people in Terengganu do not panic upon hearing the sound,'' he said.
RMAF cleared the air following reports in the media that the “mysterious blast” shook high-rise buildings, causing some dwellers to run out of their homes.
The Star office in Kuala Terengganu was inundated with calls on Friday from people who wanted to know the cause of the 4.10pm “blast”.
Zulkiflee, when contacted, said air force pilots need to undergo training exercises, not only for the air show but also for defence purposes.
Malaysia acquired six Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia recently.
“The fighter jets were flying more than 10,000m above sea level,'' he said, adding that the training exercise commenced on Friday.
“The exercises are being carried out in the interest of the nation,'' he said.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/nation/20071124184835&sec=nation
Mystery blast in Terengganu
By R.S.N.Murali
KUALA TERENGGANU: A mysterious explosion rocked several buildings in Dungun, Marang and here yesterday, triggering panic among some residents.
The blast lasting several seconds caused several buildings here to shake and several dwellers at a high-rise apartment in the town centre ran out of their homes.
The Star office here was inundated with calls from people who wanted to know the cause of the 4.10pm blast.
One caller, Kharioul Azmi, 45, said he was shocked when the blast shook his home.
“The first thing I thought of was to save my two children, but there were no aftershocks,” he said.
“What really triggered the blast?” he asked.
Another caller Lau Kom Hon, 33, who was strolling along Chendering beach at that time, said he saw high waves hitting the shores just after the blast.
At press time, the cause of the explosion was still unknown but several fishermen reported that they too experienced the blast while at sea.
An official from the Meteorological Department in Kuantan confirmed receiving a report on the explosion but was unable to establish the cause and where it originated from.
He said there was no report on any tremors in the state or any tsunami threat.
“Neighbouring countries have also not issued any warnings ,” he said.
Terengganu police chief Senior Asst Comm 1 Datuk Ayob Yaakub said police are probing the source of the blast.
“We have alerted the navy and air force and we are still waiting for their response,” he added.
A spokesman for Petronas said there was nothing wrong with their piping system.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/nation/19567993&sec=nation
Locals find giant buoy, think it caused ‘blast’
By R.S.N. MURALI
KUALA TERENGGANU: A giant buoy found in a monsoon drain here caused a frenzy amongst locals when they linked the discovery with Friday's mysterious “blast” which rocked several towns in the state.
The buoy, from mid-sea, was believed to have washed to the drain in Kampung Cina here, early Saturday morning.
Businessman Lim Chong Soon, 51, discovered the buoy at about 10am at the back of his shop.
"This is the first time, in the 14 years that I’ve been here, that I’ve seen such a giant buoy here.
"My neighbours believe that the buoy could be fragments from Friday’s ‘blast’ at mid-sea,'' he said.
Locals believed that an oil tanker had exploded based on the loud sound resulting from the blast.
The news of the discovery also reached to State Police Chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Ayob Yaakub who rushed to the scene to gauge for himself.
However, SAC Ayob explained to the crowd that the buoy could have been swept inland by strong currents and that people should not be alarmed.
It was later discovered that the mystery "blast" was actually sonic boom from the newly-acquired state-of-the-art Sukhoi fighter jets.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/nation/20071124184835&sec=nation
Mysterious ‘blast’ turns out to be sonic boom
By SIRA HABIBU
ALOR STAR: The mystery “blast” that rocked Kuala Terengganu, Dungun and Marang in Terengganu for several seconds on Friday turned out to be sonic boom from the newly-acquired state-of-the-art Sukhoi fighter jet.
Two of the fighter jets were involved in a non-combatant training in preparation for the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) air show.
Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) public relations officer Maj Zulkiflee Abdul Latiff said the fighter jets travelled at supersonic speed, emitting loud sonic booms.
“We hope the people in Terengganu do not panic upon hearing the sound,'' he said.
RMAF cleared the air following reports in the media that the “mysterious blast” shook high-rise buildings, causing some dwellers to run out of their homes.
The Star office in Kuala Terengganu was inundated with calls on Friday from people who wanted to know the cause of the 4.10pm “blast”.
Zulkiflee, when contacted, said air force pilots need to undergo training exercises, not only for the air show but also for defence purposes.
Malaysia acquired six Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia recently.
“The fighter jets were flying more than 10,000m above sea level,'' he said, adding that the training exercise commenced on Friday.
“The exercises are being carried out in the interest of the nation,'' he said.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/nation/20071124184835&sec=nation
Mystery blast in Terengganu
By R.S.N.Murali
KUALA TERENGGANU: A mysterious explosion rocked several buildings in Dungun, Marang and here yesterday, triggering panic among some residents.
The blast lasting several seconds caused several buildings here to shake and several dwellers at a high-rise apartment in the town centre ran out of their homes.
The Star office here was inundated with calls from people who wanted to know the cause of the 4.10pm blast.
One caller, Kharioul Azmi, 45, said he was shocked when the blast shook his home.
“The first thing I thought of was to save my two children, but there were no aftershocks,” he said.
“What really triggered the blast?” he asked.
Another caller Lau Kom Hon, 33, who was strolling along Chendering beach at that time, said he saw high waves hitting the shores just after the blast.
At press time, the cause of the explosion was still unknown but several fishermen reported that they too experienced the blast while at sea.
An official from the Meteorological Department in Kuantan confirmed receiving a report on the explosion but was unable to establish the cause and where it originated from.
He said there was no report on any tremors in the state or any tsunami threat.
“Neighbouring countries have also not issued any warnings ,” he said.
Terengganu police chief Senior Asst Comm 1 Datuk Ayob Yaakub said police are probing the source of the blast.
“We have alerted the navy and air force and we are still waiting for their response,” he added.
A spokesman for Petronas said there was nothing wrong with their piping system.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/11/24/nation/19567993&sec=nation