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No Smoke Without Fire: Entertainment Centre Struck By Fire, Twice In Two Days

JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 18 -- There is no smoke without fire. Going by this adage, an entertainment centre struck by fire last night - the second time in two days - has raised suspicion that arsonists might have been at work.The Johor Fire and Rescue Department suspects there may be more than meets the eye in the blaze which engulfed the Sakura Karaoke Lounge about 10.30pm.At the height of the incident, about 100 patrons and workers ran helter-skelter as 25 explosions -- believed to have been caused by overheated liquour cylinders -- shattered the night.Last Saturday, fire broke out at one of several karaoke rooms of the Sakura Karaoke Lounge about 2am.Also damaged in yesterday's fire-hour blaze were the Platinum Disco KTV Lounge and a now-defunct entertainment outlet which ceased operations about two years ago.The three outlets are located on the fifth floor of a shophouse in Taman Sentosa.Department director Senior Superintendent Abdul Ghani Daud said Tuesday that an investigation would be carried out to determine if the two fires at the Sakura lounge were the work of arsonists.He said investigators had not ruled out foul play as the fires occurred within two days.About 50 fire-fighters spent about five hours to put out the blaze as only one of five fire-hydrants was operational, coupled by strong winds which also hampered their efforts.The fire-fighters arrived in seven fire engines from the Johor Jaya, Pasir Gudang and Johor Bahru fire and rescue departments.Damage to the three outlets, furniture, an assortment of electronic sound equipment and vehicles was reportedly estimated at RM600,000.



World Junior Hockey Host Job Remains Uncertain For Johor

JOHOR BAHARU, Nov 18-- The Johor Hockey Association may face the prospect of losing their host job for the 2009 Junior Hockey World Cup if the facilities are not ready as time is of essence.That's because despite a mandatory requirement by the International Hockey Federation (IHF) to have two pitches - main pitch and warm-up pitch - adjacent to each other, only the main stadium had taken shape.The new hockey stadium here, which is situated at the Taman Daya housing estate is almost completed and the laying of the artificial turf was now in progress.However, there are no signs of a warm-up pitch despite ample space available and even Malaysian Hockey Federation's (MHF) new President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was in the dark although the event was due in seven months."There is no problem with the main stadium and I am sure it will be ready for the tournament in June. As for the other pitch, we will have to seek the funding and I will need to speak to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob."Part of the requirement as host is to provide two pitches. One for the tournament and the other for warm-up. In the event we cannot afford the extra pitch, so be it. We will tell the IHF so," he said after inspecting works at the main stadium here Monday.The new hockey stadium with a seating capacity of 2000, is 80 percent completed and a new electronic scoreboard already installed but the warm-up pitch which is believed to cost around RM5 million has not taken shape."I am confident Johor will be a good host and there is no question of the MHF taking the tournament away from Johor and allow another state to host. It will be in Johor and no where else. I am not here to deny Johor the opportunity to host the Junior World Cup."That's my assurance as MHF president," added Tengku Abdullah.The 20-team 2009 Junior World Cup would be co-hosted by Malaysia and Singapore with Singapore staging the opening ceremony and Johor Baharu hosting the final.