MH370 crash: Boeing and MAS facing lawsuit

Published: Wednesday March 26, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
 Updated: Wednesday March 26, 2014 MYT 8:58:03 AM


MH370 crash: Boeing and MAS facing lawsuit 



PETALING JAYA: Boeing and Malaysia Airlines are facing a lawsuit filed by family members of the victims of the ill-fated Flight MH370. At press time, it is understood that court documents have been filed in a court in Chicago. Representatives of Chicago-based firm Ribbeck Law Chartered have been here the last few days and have met family members to discuss details of the lawsuit. Ribbeck is one of the leading aviation law firms in the world. Sources said that not all family members of the 239 victims were involved in the litigation process. Boeing, the manufacturers of the 777-200 aircraft, has been on the receiving end of a number of lawsuits in the past. The most recent lawsuit was filed in an Illinois court in January this year by a group of passengers who were aboard an Asiana Airlines flight that crash-landed in San Francisco on July 6 last year. Three people were killed and more than 180 others hurt.

SPRM kemuka 18 kes salah laku penjawat awam kepada Peguam Negara- Rasuah Pembinaan UMK Jeli

KUALA LUMPUR: Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) telah mengemukakan kesemua 18 kertas siasatan yang dibukanya berhubung salah laku dan kecuaian penjawat awam dalam Laporan Ketua Audit Negara 2012 kepada Pejabat Peguam Negara untuk tindakan lanjut.

Ketua Setiausaha Negara, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, berkata antara 18 kes yang disiasat oleh SPRM setakat 21 Februari lepas ialah tuntutan palsu pengarah di Kementerian Kerja Raya membabitkan dua projek Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK).

Pengarah itu mengesahkan Sijil Perakuan Siap bagi kerja-kerja pembinaan asrama UMK di Jeli dan kampus di Bachok yang masing-masing bernilai RM23.6 juta dan RM100.4 juta sedangkan kerja tidak mengikut spesifikasi serta tidak disiapkan sepenuhnya oleh kontraktor, katanya dalam kenyataan, di sini hari ini. 

Kes lain ialah tuntutan palsu oleh Telekom Malaysia (TM) kepada Kementerian Penerangan, Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan berhubung projek Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999 yang bernilai RM4.37 juta bagi tempoh 2007 hingga 2012. 

Bagi tempoh 2007 hingga 2010, TM juga menuntut bayaran perkhidmatan Promosi dan Publisiti sebanyak RM3.19 juta sedangkan projek tersebut telah dibatalkan, katanya. 

Beliau berkata bagi kes salah laku dan kecuaian lain yang melibatkan urusan tatatertib pula, sebanyak 140 pegawai dikenal pasti membabitkan 24 kes. 

"Daripada jumlah itu, 99 pegawai telah dimulakan prodising di bawah tatatertib, 12 di bawah prosiding tatatertib dan surcaj serta 29 pegawai di bawah prosiding surcaj," katanya. 
Antara kes yang melibatkan prosiding tatatertib dan surcaj ialah kes kehilangan aset oleh 67 pegawai polis dan kes pemberian program bantuan yang melibatkan dua pegawai Kementerian Belia dan Sukan. 

Katanya setakat 21 Februari lepas, lembaga tatatertib telah selesai menangani kes membabitkan 20 pegawai dengan 18 didapati bersalah dan dua lagi dibebaskan. 

Daripada 18 yang didapati bersalah, 16 dikenakan hukuman amaran dengan implikasi penangguhan kenaikan pangkat selama setahun, seorang dikenakan hukuman denda melibatkan pemotongan emolumen maksimum tujuh hari yang membawa implikasi penangguhan kenaikan pangkat selama 18 bulan dan seorang lagi dihukum tangguh pergerakan gaji yang membawa implikasi penangguhan kenaikan pangkat selama 30 bulan. 

Selain itu, 41 pegawai juga dikenakan surcaj, katanya. - BERNAMA

CATUAN AIR DI SELANGOR

Senarai Jadual Catuan Air SYABAS di Selangor : Susulan daripada keadaan bekalan air yang terputus disebabkan penutupan LRA Cheras Batu 11 dan LRA Bukit Tampoi kerana pencemaran ammonia di dalam Sungai Langat sejak 28 Januari 2014 yang lalu.

Kerajaan Negeri Selangor telah membuat keputusan dan Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) telah meluluskan Pelan Pengagihan Air Berjadual dilaksanakan di beberapa kawasan di Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat dan Sepang.

Pihak SPAN akan menyelaras dalam pengurusan dan perlaksanaan Pelan Pengagihan Air Berjadual tersebut dengan sumber-sumber daripada Kerajaan Negeri Selangor, Kerajaan Persekutuan dan Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd  (SYABAS).

Sehubungan itu, berikut adalah Pelan Pengagihan Air Berjadual untuk makluman semua pengguna terlibat:

Senarai Jadual Catuan Air SYABAS di Selangor :

 Pelaksanaan notis senarai jadual catuan air di Selangor 2014 adalah sangat penting bagi memastikan pengguna melakukan persiapan lebih awal.

Pihak SYABAS menerusi kenyataan rasmi akan memulakan catuan air di Selangor yang akan dilaksanakan bermula (27 Februari 2014 sehingga 31 Mac 2014) melibatkan seluruh daerah di negeri Selangor. Antara tujuan utama catuan air ini adalah disebabkan musim kemarau dan panas yang berpanjangan sehingga menyebabkan air di empangan berkurangan.

TRW

NEW RELEASES

TRW'S NEW STEERING WHEEL CONCEPT SUPPORTS AUTOMATED DRIVING

GENEVA, March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW) is unveiling a new steering wheel concept that is being shown on the Rinspeed XchangE showcar today. The steering wheel offers a number of multi-functional features including hands on/off detection to help support the driver during semi-automated and automated driving situations.

Guido Hirzmann, group leader, new technology, Mechatronic, commented: "Rinspeed's steer-by-wire XchangE vehicle featuring TRW's steering wheel system opens up a world of possibilities to the driver. With the integrated hands on/off sensor and flexible positioning of the wheel, the driver can choose whether to drive the vehicle himself, pass control of the vehicle to the front passenger, or have the vehicle drive itself in automated mode.

"Furthermore, with the increasing number of electronically controlled functions in the vehicle, certain controls can be eliminated or packaged into the steering wheel, offering more space and flexibility for the car interior. For example, with the XchangE vehicle, we have been able to remove the center console and integrate the gear shift into the steering wheel."

The steering wheel offers a modern, lightweight design incorporating the following functions which can be activated by touching transparent switches:

• A 'Drive Mode Manager' (DMM) display, located at the top of the steering wheel, illuminating 'A' when the vehicle is in automated mode. If the driver touches the steering wheel, 'M' (manual) becomes illuminated indicating that the driver is ready to take back control of the vehicle. If he then touches 'Push to Drive' or 'PTD', control is given back to the driver. Similarly, if the driver later takes his hands off the wheel, the DMM display automatically changes from 'M' to 'A' and the vehicle continues to drive in an automated mode.
• Gear shift – the driver can move from park, neutral, drive and reverse using the relevant switches on the steering wheel.
• Turn indicators – the indicator switches are illuminated white (ambient lighting) and when activated, the corresponding left and right arrows flash.
• Electronic Horn System (EHS) – the horn can be activated by touching a conductive area on the steering wheel airbag cover.

Hirzmann concluded: "Our steering wheel concept redefines the conventional role of the steering wheel as cars evolve and as a result can help to reduce some of the driving tasks and increase comfort. The technology is part of TRW's efforts to support the path to automated driving and promote the car of the future."

About TRW

With 2013 sales of $17.4 billion, TRW Automotive ranks among the world's leading automotive suppliers. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan, USA, the Company, through its subsidiaries, operates in 24 countries and employs approximately 65,000 people worldwide.  TRW Automotive products include integrated vehicle control and driver assist systems, braking systems, steering systems, suspension systems, occupant safety systems (seat belts and airbags), electronics, engine components, fastening systems and aftermarket replacement parts and services.  All references to "TRW Automotive", "TRW" or the "Company" in this press release refer to TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.  TRW Automotive news is available on the internet atwww.trw.com.  

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  All forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including those set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 (our "Form 10-K"), such as: economic conditions adversely affecting our business, results or the viability of our supply base; risks associated with non-U.S. operations adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; the unsuccessful implementation of our current expansion efforts adversely impacting our business or results; any developments related to antitrust investigations adversely affecting our financial condition, results, cash flows or reputation; pricing pressures from our customers adversely affecting our profitability; global competition adversely affecting our sales, profitability or financial condition; any disruption in our information technology systems adversely impacting our business and operations; any shortage of supplies causing a production disruption for any customers or us; the loss of any of our largest customers or a significant amount of their business, or a significant decline in their production levels, materially adversely affecting us; strengthening of the U.S. dollar and other foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations impacting our results; our contingent liabilities and tax matters causing us to incur material losses or costs; any inability to protect our intellectual property rights adversely affecting our business or our competitive position; commodity inflationary pressures adversely affecting our profitability or supply base; costs  or adverse effects on our business, reputation or results from governmental regulations; work stoppages or other labor issues at our facilities or those of our customers or others in our supply chain adversely affecting our business, results or financial condition; any increase in the expense of our pension and other postretirement benefits or the funding requirements of our pension plans reducing our profitability; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements.         

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140304/DE76255

SOURCE TRW Automotive Holdings Corp.

For further information: John Wilkerson/TRW Automotive, 734.855.3864 /john.wilkerson@trw.com, Louise Colledge/ TRW Automotive, +44 121.506.5317 / louise.colledge@trw.com

MISSING MH370: There's still hope for MAS airliner

MISSING MH370: There's still hope for MAS airliner

KUALA LUMPUR: The fact that there was no distress call, demand for ransom or any group claiming responsibility for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has given hope that the plane could be found.

"There is still hope for MH370 since there was no distress call, ransom or any group claiming responsibility," said Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein at a press briefing on the search for the missing aircraft here today.

Hope was also in the air when the search and rescue multinational operations involving 26 countries, begun today, focusing in the so-called southern corridor, involving the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF).

Australia and Indonesia have also agreed to lead the search in the two sectors of the 'southern corridor' in their respective regions.

In the last 24 hours, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has spoken to his counterpart from Australia and the Premier of China.

Hishammuddin, who is also the Defence Minister also pledged to review the nation's radar system after the search and rescue operation for the plane was completed. 

Meanwhile  Hishammuddin  also said the sharing of information with the various foreign agencies involved in the investigation of the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines MH370 jetliner did not jeopardise the country's security because it was within limits.  

"It is not at a worrying level. But for the long term, we will review the capability of our radar. I have noted this to the prime minister," he said at a news conference on developments surrounding the missing aircraft here today.

Hishamuddin who is also acting Transport minister said the country's focus and priority was to search and track the MH370 aircraft.

He also dismissed the theory that the aircraft was hijacked via remote control.

"For me, this is not possible. If there is verified information we will definitely investigate," he said.

He also dismissed reports that Malaysia had refused an offer by the FBI to send a team to Malaysia. 

"That is clearly false information because Malaysia has been working with the FBI, interpol and other relevant international law enforcement authorities since day one," he stressed. 

Yesterday, experts from the Civil Aviation Administration of China also joined the investigation teams.

Today, officials from the French Office of Investigations and Analysis for the Safety of Civil Aviation arrived in Malaysia to lend their experience. 

These authorities are working with Malaysia Airlines and the DCA to refine data that can help with the search.

Hishammuddin also said that Chinese intelligence and authorities had been requested to relook the passenger list involving their citizens.

To a question as to whether the authorities had investigated the possibility of suicide by the pilot, Hishammuddin said the police were looking at all angles.  --BERNAMA

Read more: MISSING MH370: There's still hope for MAS airliner - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/font-color-red-missing-mh370-font-there-s-still-hope-for-mas-airliner-1.518325#ixzz2wIQRlW3n