DOVER (England): A visibly upset Zahra Masoumah Abdul Halim burst into tears when she was forced to abandon her attempt to conquer the English Channel due to unfavourable tide and wind conditions.
The 17-year-old was pulled out of the water just over the half-way mark between Dover and Calais in France after swimming for 12 hours and 46 minutes.
Instead of swimming in a straight line, she was tossed sideways by tidal forces and forced towards the Netherlands, instead of France.
She had to struggle harder to stay on course, and was instructed by boat pilot Paul Foreman to get out of the water at 6:39pm on Wednesday (1:39am Thursday Malaysian time).
“When he told me it was all over, my tears flowed freely. I knew I could still continue although it might take at least another 12 to 15 hours,” said the girl.
Not discouraged, Zahra now plans to swim from Pulau Rupat, Indonesia to Port Dickson in Malaysia across the Straits of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
“It’s about 50km and there is a lot of jelly fish. They’ll probably put me in a cage,” said the girl, who said she will undertake the swim with her 12-year-old brother Salman Ali Shariati later this year.
Foreman described Zahra as being incredibly brave and mentally strong, and someone whom all Malaysians should be proud of.
“She’s only 17 and has swum for the first time in cold waters for nearly 13 hours,” said Foreman, who is from the English Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation.
Zahra’s father Abdul Halim Manaf, who had followed the swim in the boat, said she was not just fighting against the tide but also the strong winds that kept pushing her back.
Her mother Haniza Mohamed said Zahra had cried and hugged her upon her return but she had then comforted her daughter by pointing out it was “good enough” to have swum that far in such unfavourable conditions.
Coach Arof Omar concurred, saying Zahra was still steady and had stayed longer in the water than the two male Cuban swimmers who had also failed in their attempts earlier.
Seven Continents Club Extreme Exploration chairman Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarudin, who organised the swim, said Zahra could hold her head high for her steely determination.
Zahra took off from Shakespeare Beach at 6:07am (1:07pm Malaysian time) on Wednesday in her attempt to become the first Malaysian girl to swim across the channel.
The taxpayer pays RM80,000 for her to not make it. Did that doctor who swim the english channel get this money for free? Nah, he went back to Oxford like nothing happens. 2 standard , 1 Malaysia
Appreciate your family
With the mellowing wind and glaring sun, am able to spend some time to collect my thought and share my appreciation that my parents are here. It has been something that I really wanted to do should i get this opportunity. In fact, this is one of the reason that I agree for this job, so that my parents would be able to come over and spend some time over. Yeah, it sounds very noble but it is not except when God intervenes I guess it is just a time where they can take some time for themselves and enjoy looking around.
I have been too busy many times with the many activities in KL and Port Dickson. Many times, I do feel that it is done for other people or activities. IN some way, I am enjoying the longest 'me-time" with tinges of guilt. IN the same way, my parents have always been putting other people first. I guess that is what we inherit from them, which can be both a blessing or curse. So in the midst of things, am glad that they are around to share in this experience.
So, today is Father's day and I would like to say that I am in love with both of them. THey have been great and patient with me all through my life. It is difficult to have a son like me who almost always put his interest in the first priority. They would very much adjust to my timings and all. Recall that I forced them for a 3 day trip to Scotland and back, Wales in a day and other adventorous things. A trip to Amsterdam where it rained and Paris where Engish is mea cuppa. So, in a way Port Dickson has been a good start and this short stint is even better.
Thanks Mom and Dad!!
I have been too busy many times with the many activities in KL and Port Dickson. Many times, I do feel that it is done for other people or activities. IN some way, I am enjoying the longest 'me-time" with tinges of guilt. IN the same way, my parents have always been putting other people first. I guess that is what we inherit from them, which can be both a blessing or curse. So in the midst of things, am glad that they are around to share in this experience.
So, today is Father's day and I would like to say that I am in love with both of them. THey have been great and patient with me all through my life. It is difficult to have a son like me who almost always put his interest in the first priority. They would very much adjust to my timings and all. Recall that I forced them for a 3 day trip to Scotland and back, Wales in a day and other adventorous things. A trip to Amsterdam where it rained and Paris where Engish is mea cuppa. So, in a way Port Dickson has been a good start and this short stint is even better.
Thanks Mom and Dad!!
Old is not useless.. .. and PAS
The old gaol in Oxford that is not a hotel.
Old Roman Bath in Bath... where the Romans used to be an empire.
Old water system that the romans Build.
Finally, the Stonehendge - 5000 yrs ago the medieval british used this place as an area of perhaps worship and surely a sign of the social class.That brings me to the irk of the week...
The winner of the proxy fight between UMNO and PAS. If you read the newspapers, you will find good words for Nasaruddin. He has got an extremely good press from an otherwise UMNO control media. And so, he won. In return, he sounded a bit more cocky.
Nasaruddin, I respect Tok Guru and I dun know about you . I did read about your clandestine meetings with AAB and your closeness to Hadi Awang, who lost Terengganu through his mismanagement. If you guys want to loose PAS through this mismanagement, the lost of trust among public would be so great that no amount of work could change it.
AND, if you said this before the election.. gerenti you will have lost. How disrespectful.
AND, if you said this before the election.. gerenti you will have lost. How disrespectful.
Old is not lousy & please show respect to your Tok Guru. Secondly, it is not about skin or religion. I hope PAS would know what is best for them.
300 million down the drain?
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium was issued a partial work completion certificate last year as it was considered safe to host the Malaysia Games.
State Public Works Department deputy director Ghazali Hashim said the certification, based on the report by an independent examiner, was given to several sections of the stadium including the track, field and several areas outside the building.
“However, we have not issued any certification for the roof as it was still under the warranty period,” he said of the roof of the stadium which collapsed on Tuesday.
A local consultant commissioned to evaluate the safety of the roof declared it safe, he said, adding: “So, we allowed the Games to be held at the venue.”
Slightly confused here...
Ghazali had earlier accompanied Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek to visit the site Wednesday.
Ghazali said the department was only empowered to issue a work completion certificate once the warranty period had ended. “We have to wait for the warranty period to be over before issuing any certification for the roof,” he said.
Ghazali said government buildings were exempted from having to apply for Certificate of Fitness before occupying the premises.
More confused here.
So, they have to wait till warranty expires before applying for a certification, esp. so since they are government and does not need a CF process of vetting. No wonderlah the government building always collapse. And the contractor can run away with the profit margin. I would not want to be a government servant then, can die anytime.
In the case of the stadium, he said the department issued a partial certification and was in the midst of getting a full-fledged status for the stadium.
The department, he said, would ask the stadium’s main contractor for compensation and carry-out remedial work.
“We will hold the main contractor responsible as (the other firm) the Korean firm was the sub-contractor. “As far as we are concerned, payments were made directly to main contractor and not the Korean firm,” he said.
Ghazali said the department had previously compounded the main contractor for not completing work as scheduled.
Now only said the truth. Blamed the South Korean. So, who got this contract huh?
Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said has ordered an immediate inspection of newly completed buildings following the incident.
He said the checks would focus on detecting structural defects, cracks and shoddy workmanship. Some of the new buildings are the indoor stadium, Sultan Mahmud Airport and swimming complex.
Again, shoddy workmanship due to being in government.
He said he himself noticed defects on the roof of the year-old Sultan Mahmud Airport. He said the state would appoint independent consultants to carry out the checks.
But you kept quiet. WOULD is future tense... and more money to cronies.
The roof collapse came only one year after the stadium’s completion which cost RM300mil.
Authorities are investigating if the contractors had rushed to complete the stadium ahead of the Malaysia Games in June last year. Meanwhile, Raja Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Shah of Senibahri Arkitek, the principal architect of the stadium, said he might comment on the incident in a few days’ time.
“I can’t say anything now as I do not have the full facts,” he said when contacted via SMS in Medinah where he is on his way to perform the umrah at Mecca.
Raja Kamarul Baharin said he would return to the country on June 10.
Now, here is the connection. Raja DTK Kamarul Bahrin is of course connected to the Terengganu royalty. He is the chap who managed to seludup back the 2 children in the 1990s from his ex Australian wife. And the Malaysian interpol basically refused to help the Australian police to capture him.
Itulah kerajaan UMNO.
State Public Works Department deputy director Ghazali Hashim said the certification, based on the report by an independent examiner, was given to several sections of the stadium including the track, field and several areas outside the building.
“However, we have not issued any certification for the roof as it was still under the warranty period,” he said of the roof of the stadium which collapsed on Tuesday.
A local consultant commissioned to evaluate the safety of the roof declared it safe, he said, adding: “So, we allowed the Games to be held at the venue.”
Slightly confused here...
Ghazali had earlier accompanied Youth and Sport Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek to visit the site Wednesday.
Ghazali said the department was only empowered to issue a work completion certificate once the warranty period had ended. “We have to wait for the warranty period to be over before issuing any certification for the roof,” he said.
Ghazali said government buildings were exempted from having to apply for Certificate of Fitness before occupying the premises.
More confused here.
So, they have to wait till warranty expires before applying for a certification, esp. so since they are government and does not need a CF process of vetting. No wonderlah the government building always collapse. And the contractor can run away with the profit margin. I would not want to be a government servant then, can die anytime.
In the case of the stadium, he said the department issued a partial certification and was in the midst of getting a full-fledged status for the stadium.
The department, he said, would ask the stadium’s main contractor for compensation and carry-out remedial work.
“We will hold the main contractor responsible as (the other firm) the Korean firm was the sub-contractor. “As far as we are concerned, payments were made directly to main contractor and not the Korean firm,” he said.
Ghazali said the department had previously compounded the main contractor for not completing work as scheduled.
Now only said the truth. Blamed the South Korean. So, who got this contract huh?
Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said has ordered an immediate inspection of newly completed buildings following the incident.
He said the checks would focus on detecting structural defects, cracks and shoddy workmanship. Some of the new buildings are the indoor stadium, Sultan Mahmud Airport and swimming complex.
Again, shoddy workmanship due to being in government.
He said he himself noticed defects on the roof of the year-old Sultan Mahmud Airport. He said the state would appoint independent consultants to carry out the checks.
But you kept quiet. WOULD is future tense... and more money to cronies.
The roof collapse came only one year after the stadium’s completion which cost RM300mil.
Authorities are investigating if the contractors had rushed to complete the stadium ahead of the Malaysia Games in June last year. Meanwhile, Raja Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Shah of Senibahri Arkitek, the principal architect of the stadium, said he might comment on the incident in a few days’ time.
“I can’t say anything now as I do not have the full facts,” he said when contacted via SMS in Medinah where he is on his way to perform the umrah at Mecca.
Raja Kamarul Baharin said he would return to the country on June 10.
Now, here is the connection. Raja DTK Kamarul Bahrin is of course connected to the Terengganu royalty. He is the chap who managed to seludup back the 2 children in the 1990s from his ex Australian wife. And the Malaysian interpol basically refused to help the Australian police to capture him.
Itulah kerajaan UMNO.
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About Me
- amoker
- Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
- I am mysterious ... and leave la some comments if my writting make sense. Proud Of Malaysia and disillusioned by the direction.