FMT News |  |
- PKNS dapat kelulusan Kementerian Kewangan
- MP Stampin, Mambong sokong umum calon awal
- ‘Shahrizat lembu’ banner creates online buzz
- Bekas pekerja Ladang Bangi: Pemaju berniat jahat
- M’sians held in Lebanon: Home Ministry to probe
- Top 10 spookiest destinations for Halloween
- Messi breaks 300-goal barrier as Barca hit five
- Good habits that are bad for your health
- Man City, Arsenal rediscover taste of victory
- Man City edge Swansea in Premier League marathon
- Federer looks for Paris title match
- City win longest match in Premier League history
- Wilshere, Arteta get Arsenal back to winning ways
- Woods makes charge at CIMB Classic
- Take-a-break Mancini sweats on Richards injury
- Anwar: Khalid will defend his parliamentary seat
- Mahabharata – Bahagian 4
- Is ex-Sabah DCM Tham making comeback?
- Alien crackdown causes havoc in Sabah businesses
- Affordable housing: Don’t blame capitalism
- Perjuangan BN adalah demi rakyat
- Time for Anwar to show leadership
- Umno’s chief crony
- Respect religion, stop false rumours
- Housing for ex-estate workers: The real story
| PKNS dapat kelulusan Kementerian Kewangan Posted: 28 Oct 2012 04:27 AM PDT
Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berkata Timbalan Pengurus Besar (Korporat) PKNS Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria sudah memperjelaskan isu tersebut termasuk kelulusan pihak Kementerian Kewangan. Justeru itu, katanya, beliau tidak perlu menjawab isu itu kepada Timbalan Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor, Datuk Seri Noh Omar mengenai penjelasan rancangan penggabungan lima aset komersial PKNS bernilai RM321 juta Abdul Khalid, yang juga Pengerusi PKNS, berkata demikian kepada pemberita pada satu majlis Aidiladha di sini hari ini. Pada majlis Korban Parlimen Tanjung Karang di sini hari ini, Noh, yang juga Menteri Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani, mendesak Menteri Besar itu memberi penjelasan mengenai isu tersebut. Lima aset PKNS tersebut ialah SACC Mall, Shah Alam, Menara PKNS, Petaling Jaya, Kompleks PKNS Shah Alam dan Bangi serta Wisma Yakin di Kuala Lumpur. - Bernama |
| MP Stampin, Mambong sokong umum calon awal Posted: 28 Oct 2012 03:08 AM PDT
Yong menyifatkan cadangan tersebut sesuai dengan situasi semasa, selain memberi peluang kepada calon yang terpilih untuk bersedia lebih awal. “Bagus beritahu awal supaya calon-calon dapat terus bekerja. Situasi sekarang agak kelam-kabut kerana masing-masing tidak tahu siapa yang akan jadi calon dan seterusnya bertanding,” katanya selepas melancarkan Program Penyelengaraan Pili Bomba di sini, hari ini. Dawos yang juga Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan persekutuan pula berkata langkah itu akan membolehkan calon membuat perancangan strategik bagi menghadapi pilihan raya. “Terserah kepada Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, yang juga Pengerusi BN, untuk membuat keputusan,” katanya. Baru-baru ini beberapa pemimpin BN menggesa agar calon yang akan bertanding diumum lebih awal untuk menangani kemungkinan wujud perbuatan sabotaj. Sementara itu, di KUALA LUMPUR, Ketua Umno Bahagian Cheras Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee berkata Umno perlu tampil berani untuk mengumumkan lebih awal calon mana yang layak bertanding pada pilihan raya umum akan datang demi menjamin kemenangan parti dan BN. Beliau berkata apabila parti membuat keputusan tersebut (umum awal), sekurang-kurangnya calon yang dipilih ada masa untuk berkempen dan berdepan dengan cabaran orang yang sabotaj parti. “Bagi saya, kalau kita bagi tahu dan umum awal, ini satu kelebihan. Apa nak takut. Kita perlukan kemenangan. Suka atau tidak suka, kena namakan calon,” katanya kepada Bernama. Setiausaha Agung BN dan Umno Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor sebelum ini dipetik berkata BN berkemungkinan menamakan calon pilihan raya umum lebih awal, berbanding sehari atau dua hari sebelum hari penamaan calon yang diamalkan sebelum ini. - Bernama |
| ‘Shahrizat lembu’ banner creates online buzz Posted: 28 Oct 2012 01:06 AM PDT
The banner, purportedly placed in Kangar, Perlis, was meant to inform the public about a Shahrizat's Aidiladha function and her contribution of 20 cows as sacrificial offering. Organised by Kangar Umno division, the event was supposed to be held at Simpang Empat Abi public service center. However a design blunder in the banner placed the words “Datuk Seri Shahrizat” and “lembu” next to each other, making the sentence reading "Datuk Seri Shahrizat lembu". Netizens were quick to jump into the design blunder, tweeting remarks that hit out at the “brainless graphic designer” and to question the coincidence, among others. @missosixnine tweeted that: "and this is why you shouldn’t hire a brainless graphic designer. #DesignFAIL @paanSchweizer said: "I read and spot the Shahrizat lembu sentence straight away. Lol, I don't think that this is a coincidence."
"They could have put a full stop after the word Shahrizat. Or they purposely want to frame Shahrizat?" the posting said. However, when asked about this banner blunder by netizens, Shahrizat suspected opposition's work behind the banner. "Who else will use my name? This is normal lah," she said in reply to @syedshah. Shahrizat was implicated in a series of exposure by PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli last year, claiming that she had abused her ministerial position to help her family members to secure RM250 million soft loan from the government for the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) project. Rafizi claimed that the cattle-rearing project turned up to be a fiasco as the cattle produced did not meet the target, and the operator company, NFC Sdn Bhd had used the loans to purchase luxury condominiums. Under growing pressure from the government and the opposition, Shahrizat relinquished her ministerial post earlier this year when her senatorship ceased. The opposition however has been riding on the scandal to label Shahrizat as "the cow minister", saying that the case proves the corruption level within ruling government. |
| Bekas pekerja Ladang Bangi: Pemaju berniat jahat Posted: 28 Oct 2012 12:47 AM PDT
Menurut wakil bekas pekerja Ladang Bangi, S Arutchelvan yang juga ialah ahli Majlis Perbandaran Kajang, pihak pemaju hanya menyerahkan notis saman pemula kepada bekas pekerja semalam walaupun saman tersebut difailkan pada 17 Oktober. Kumpulan bekas pekerja Ladang Bangi tersebut dikehendaki menghadirkan diri di mahkamah pada hari Isnin dan sekirannya gagal akan menyebabkan keputusan diambil tanpa megambil kira kepentingan bekas pekerja. "Kita anggap ia tindakan kotor kerana tidak memberi peluang untuk ke mahkamah. Esok kita ke mahkamah tanpa peguam. Ini memberi satu kelebihan kepada pihak pemaju. "Aduan ini dibuat untuk memberitahu mahkamah bahawa mereka main kotor," kata Arutchelvan yang juga adalah setiausaha agung Parti Sosialis Malaysia ketika ditemui bersama pengerusi jawatankuasa bekas pekerja Ladang Bangi C Krishnan. Menurut Arutchelvan para pemaju tersebut juga memilih masa yang salah untuk memberikan notis kerana kebanyakan bekas pekerja Ladang Bangi sedang sibuk dengan persiapan untuk menyambut Hari Deepavali dalam tempoh dua minggu. Beliau menambah bahawa Trans Loyal dan peguam mereka juga tidak memaklumkan tindakan ini pada hari Khamis lalu semasa satu mesyuarat di Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKJ). "Mereka mengambil kesempatan ke atas kerajaan negeri dan MPKJ," dakwa Arutchelvan. Lading tersebut pada asalnya dimiliki Golden Hope dan bertukar pemilik kepada Sime Darby, dan kepada Serie Emas. Serie Emas dilaporkan berjanji untuk membina rumah bistari untuk 43 pekerja dalam tahun 2006. Sejumlah RM18,000 telah ditawarkan kepada bekas pekerja yang telah keluar dari Ladang Bangi 10 tahun lalu. Trans Loyal telah mengambil kawasan bekas ladang beberapa tahun lepas namun gagal melunaskan keperluan bekas pekerja ladang. "Kerajaan Selangor mempunyai dasar yang mewajibkan pemaju membina perumahan untuk pekerja sebelum diusir. Dulu dia guna gangster sekarang guna mahkamah untuk mengusir keluarga bekas pekerja ladang," kata Arutchelvan. Isu pampasan bekas pekerja ladang ini pernah dibangkitkan di mahkamah di dalam tahun 2001 dan 2006 di mana bekas pekerja menang namun tuntutan perumahan tidak ditunaikan |
| M’sians held in Lebanon: Home Ministry to probe Posted: 27 Oct 2012 11:14 PM PDT
The official, who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak on the matter, said the families of the suspects were informed of the arrests and the Malaysian embassy in Lebanon was monitoring the case. The two suspects were arrested in Yemen and deported back to Malaysia a few years ago, also for alleged al-Qaeda links, the official said. Bernama quoted Malaysia’s ambassador to Lebanon, Ilango Karuppannan, as saying he learned about the arrests Friday but he could not confirm when the pair was arrested. The two suspects, aged 21 and 28, were accused of plotting to carry out suicide attacks in Lebanon, Bernama said. They were arrested at the Beirut International Airport, it said. Home Ministry to investigate “It’s too early to announce the details. However, they are not directly involved with any militant groups in this region or members of the Jemaah Islamiah or Darul Islam. So far their group is outside this region,” he told reporters after an Aidiladha sacrificial offering at Kampung Sri Tambak in Sembrong, here today. Hishammuddin, who is also Sembrong MP, said the government viewed very seriously the involvement of its citizens with militant networks such as Al-Qaeda and Taliban. Furthermore, he remarked that such involvement with terrorist organisations based in the Middle East was an unusual phenomenon because so far Malaysians had only been involved with regional groups. “We’ll investigate the suspected involvement of Malaysians with Al-Qaeda and Taliban in depth as it’s a matter of grave concern,” he added. - dpa/bernama |
| Top 10 spookiest destinations for Halloween Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:51 PM PDT In honor of the ghoulish festival whose origins are said to stretch back to ancient harvest festivals online travel adviser Hotwire.com (www.hotwire.com) has compiled a list of its Top 10 spookiest destinations. Reuters has not endorsed this list:
The city of Hollywood is so glamorous that even spirits have a hard time leaving it behind. In fact, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift are just two of the many ghosts rumored to dwell in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Meanwhile, B- and C-list celebri-ghouls are believed to haunt some of Tinsel Town’s other famous landmarks including Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood sign. If you’re in the mood for some guided fright-seeing, the Dearly Departed Tour will steer you through 50 years of Hollywood murders including those of Sharon Tate, Janis Joplin and the infamous Black Dhalia. 2. Salem, Massachusetts Though tragedy struck Salem, Massachusetts over 400 years ago, the essence of the “witch hysteria” still lingers over this small town. The Witch Trials of 1692 accused more than 150 people of witchcraft and condemned 19 to the death. Visitors can check out the full story behind “Witch City, USA” at the Salem Witch Museum and then venture onto the haunted grounds themselves. And because of its history, Salem has also become a world-renowned meeting place for enthusiast of the dark and creepy, which has helped create a whole new generation of spookiness.
Put down your Mardi Gras beads and prepare yourself for ghosts, voodoo and vampires. Commonly referred to as “the most haunted city in the United States,” New Orleans definitely lives up to its frightening reputation, with voodoo shops, museums and wickedly cryptic tales of Marie Laveau, the “Queen of Voodoo.” But the spooky adventures don’t end there. Come face to face with the paranormal on one of the many ghost and cemetery tours, or step into Anne Rice’s world of vampires and demons in the French Quarter. 4. Sleepy Hollow, New York It may not be the most terrifying place on this list, but one short story about a headless horseman has made the tiny suburb of Sleepy Hollow a well-known horror hot spot. There are tours year-round, but the scariest time to venture into this village is in October when the Halloween theme is in full effect. From ghostly hay rides to cemetery tours to the annual Horseman’s Hollow haunted house, visitors are definitely in for some scares that might leave them speechless…or even headless.
If you think you’ve got the guts to face anything, head to Edinburgh, Scotland. A history of gruesome military attacks, tortures and executions have given the infamous Edinburgh Castle its reputation for being one of the most haunted places in the country, and the city itself has been called the spookiest place in Europe. Take a stroll down “The Royal Mile” and meander on your own through the eerie narrow lanes that lead off the main street, or join one of several guided tours through Greyfriars cemetery or the Edinburgh Vaults beneath the city streets for a frightful, yet historical, experience. 6. Prague, Czech Republic This “Magical Capital” has a sinister past, which some believe has made it an ideal place to find plenty of hauntings. Prague has something for every supernatural enthusiast, like ill-willed ghosts seeking revenge, a legendary golem protecting the city’s famous Jewish Quarter, the trotting sound of a headless Templar Knight’s horse on the cobblestone streets and eerie crypts in the dark dungeons of Prague Castle. With more horrifying happenings than you can imagine, Prague will definitely send chills down your spine.
Simply saying the name “Bermuda Triangle” can raise the hair of travelers around the globe. Still one of the world’s biggest mysteries, the Bermuda Triangle (or Devil’s Triangle, as it’s sometimes called) is tied to the complete disappearance of over 50 ships and 20 aircraft. Willing to take the risk? Visitors can use their own vessel to sail through the unnerving triad or take a cruise to the Caribbean from an east coast port so you can face the unexplained phenomena from the lap of luxury. 8. Paris, France To many, Paris is the city for lovers, but it’s also the home to some chilling ghost stories. There are tours that take you to some of the more haunted locations, like the Père Lachaise Cemetery or The Catacombs of Paris, but visitors need only walk around the best parts of the city at night to experience a ghostly encounter. It’s said that the spirit of translator Gérard de Nerval haunts the Théâtre de la Ville, and if you’re at the Pont Marie at night, you might catch a glimpse of the Frenchwoman who froze to death while waiting for her husband to arrive on that very bridge.
You might not need garlic and wooden stakes when visiting Brand Castle in Transylvania, Romania, but the terrifying truth of the infamous Prince Vlad will definitely make you watch your neck when roaming this castle. This legendary torturer’s reputation for being sadistic is well-known throughout Europe, and even though he wasn’t believed to be a vampire, his inhumane thirst for blood was the impetus behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Prince Vlad’s remains disappeared mysteriously from the castle, leaving many questions unanswered, but visitors can tour this landmark to feel the remnants of Dracula’s wrath. 10. Moscow, Russia The ancient city of Moscow lends itself to somber legends and centuries-old spirits. Here, visitors can walk with “Diggers” down into the cryptic Underground Planet, the seemingly endless underground network of tunnels, and witness a dreary torture chamber and a pond that was once the site of a mass suicide. These esoteric experiences aren’t just reserved for the subterranean; visitors who walk down Tverskaya Street might spot the famous and ghostly black cat at midnight. Meanwhile, Myasnitskaya Street is the home of the ghastly patriarch of the once-wealthy Kysovnikovys family who lost it all during a robbery and roams around muttering, “Oh, my money, my money…”, and then those who were hit hard on one of Kuznetsky Most Street’s gambling houses might also enjoy getting picked up by a grey coach that will take them “wherever their soul wishes”.—Reuters |
| Messi breaks 300-goal barrier as Barca hit five Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:22 PM PDT  MADRID: Lionel Messi smashed through the 300-goal mark with a brace as Barcelona crushed Rayo Vallecano 5-0 in Madrid yesterday to go three points clear at the top of La Liga.David Villa, Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas got the other goals to put the pressure back onto second-placed Atletico Madrid who entertain Osasuna on Sunday. Messi’s goals were the 300th and 301st of his career, a total made up of 270 for Barca and 31 for Argentina in only 419 matches. They also took him to 13 in the league this season and 73 in all competitions in 2012. That’s just two behind Pele’s 75 goals for Santos and Brazil in 1959, and only 12 shy of Gerd Mueller’s all-time best calendar year record of 85 for Bayern Munich and West Germany in 1972. Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova was delighted with his team who have now equalled the club’s best ever start to a La Liga season, taking 25 points from a possible 27. “Being able to win 25 out of 27 points is not an easy feat. We could have drawn a couple of our matches, but we fought until the end and we deserve the points we've won,” he said. Vilanova also praised Messi for his team spirit as much as his goals. “We’re very pleased with Leo, but I'm sticking with what he did in the 89th minute, when we were up 5-0 he ran back 30 metres to defend a corner kick.” Rayo started brightly and had claims for a penalty turned down on eight minutes when Fabregas appeared to hold back Leo Baptistao. Rayo were pressuring the Catalans and it took until the 19th minute for Barca to have their first shot when Messi drove wide. However, a minute later, Barcelona were ahead. The chance came from nothing when Fabregas picked up a loose ball and played in Villa with a probing pass that the Spanish national team’s all-time top scorer finished first time with his right foot. Fabregas was the supplier again for Villa seven minutes later, but this time his shot was saved by Ruben Martinez in the Rayo goal. Two minutes later, Ruben advanced quickly to block a Fabregas effort after Messi had found the ex-Arsenal man in space. Messi went close with a curled free-kick and as a hard fought first-half drew to a close Andrija Delibasic forced Victor Valdes into a save at the other end. Within two minutes of the restart, Messi had doubled the lead. Pedro Rodriguez found Martin Montoya in an advanced wide position and the right-back pulled the ball back for the little Argentinian who steered it first time into the top right corner of the net. Javi Fuego then hit a rasping left footed drive that Valdes pushed wide and Jordi Amat tried his luck from distance as the home side looked for a quick way back into the match. Valdes was earning his wages as he next got down well to stop another drive from Fuego. Barcelona were quick to sense the danger and began to close down the game with a more measured approach that restricted Rayo’s attacking forays. Xavi and Fabregas then added two more in two minutes with 10 minutes remaining. With two minutes left, Messi raced onto a Fabregas pass to get his second and his side’s fifth. Earlier in-form Malaga were held to a 0-0 draw at struggling Espanyol. The Andalusian side rested Joaquin Sanchez and Javier Saviola after wins over Valladolid and AC Milan in the last seven days, but in a game of very few chances they could not find a way past Espanyol who moved off the bottom of the table. The point means Malaga will remain in third position as Real Madrid, who play Mallorca on Sunday, are four points behind on 14 points. Betis move into fourth on 16 points after a 1-0 home win over Valencia thanks to an early Salva Sevilla goal. Despite a string of chances for Spain striker Roberto Soldado, the away side left empty handed and have only one point to show from five away trips this season. Deportivo La Coruna earned a much needed point with a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo in the Galician derby to bring to an end a run of four defeats. Juan Dominguez equalised for Deportivo after Mario Bermejo had opened the scoring, both in the first period. Celta defender Gustavo Cabral was red-carded just after the interval. - AFP |
| Good habits that are bad for your health Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:20 PM PDT
Drinking water Talking over your problems Sipping on mocktails Early morning workouts Taking nutritional supplements Slathering on sunscreen Switching to low fat foods LINKS |
| Man City, Arsenal rediscover taste of victory Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:20 PM PDT  LONDON: Manchester City and Arsenal bounced back from damaging Champions League defeats to return to winning ways in the Premier League yesterday, although both sides were made to toil.City put their 3-1 loss at Ajax behind them with a 1-0 success at home to Swansea City in the Premier League’s longest-ever game, while Arsenal celebrated Jack Wilshere’s return from a 17-month lay-off by edging bottom club Queens Park Rangers by the same scoreline. Defending champions City moved up to second place and closed to within a point of leaders Chelsea, who host third-place Manchester United on Sunday, while Arsenal climbed to fourth. “It was important to get three points today after defeat in mid-week. We did not play well in the first half because we were so tired and we were better in the second half,” said City coach Roberto Mancini. “In the end, the only important thing is the result. If you win, you are the best manager; if you lose, you are the worst.” It took City 38 minutes to register a shot on target against Swansea in a lacklustre first half at Eastlands. Swansea looked more likely to take the lead, but their clearest opportunity saw Joe Hart race from his line to save at the feet of the advancing Michu. Spanish midfielder Michu drew Hart into action again with a downward header in the 59th minute but, two minutes later, Mancini’s side struck. Gael Clichy was allowed to carry the ball infield before finding Carlos Tevez, and the Argentine sent a shot dipping into the bottom-left corner to end a personal run of eight games without a goal. Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm had to be stretchered off after appearing to hurt his groin as he tried to reach Tevez’s shot, while City defender Micah Richards also had to leave the fray with a leg injury. The stoppages meant that over 12 minutes of injury time were played — breaking the Premier League record — but City managed to keep their slender lead intact. At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal were made to wait until the 84th minute before Mikel Arteta’s goal took them past QPR and enabled them to snap a two-game losing streak. “We played quite well but lacked a little bit of the confidence you miss when you have lost two games,” said Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, whose side had lost to Norwich and Schalke in their previous two outings. “A draw would have been a big disappointment, but if we had lost today it would have been a crisis.” Wilshere made his first appearance since missing the whole of last season through injury and Bacary Sagna also returned, but despite controlling the game, the hosts squandered opportunities throughout. The momentum finally tilted in Arsenal’s favour 10 minutes from time when QPR centre-back Stephane Mbia was sent off for petulantly kicking out at Thomas Vermaelen. Arteta tucked home from close range four minutes later, amid suspicions of offside, and despite a flurry of late chances for the visitors – notably when Jamie Mackie shot straight at Vito Mannone after a mazy run — Arsenal survived. “It was amazing to be back – words cannot describe it. I was just running around, smiling,” said Wilshere, who played for 67 minutes. “Last time I played it was with (Cesc) Fabregas and (Samir) Nasri – now it’s with Arteta and Santi Cazorla, who are great players too. It’s like a new team and I’m like a new player.” Fulham climbed to sixth after sharing six goals with Reading in an extraordinary 3-3 draw at the Madejski Stadium. After falling behind to a stunning long-range strike by Mikele Leigertwood, Fulham hit back through substitute Bryan Ruiz and then pulled ahead in the 77th minute when Chris Baird glanced home a header from Ruiz’s corner. Gareth McCleary equalised for Reading in the 85th minute before Dimitar Berbatov restored Fulham’s lead three minutes later, only for Hal Robson-Kanu to snatch a share of the spoils for the hosts by bundling home from close range in the last minute. Elsewhere, a superb volley by Ivan Ramis set Wigan Athletic on their way to a 2-1 win at home to West Ham United that sent the Latics up to 15th, while Stoke City and Sunderland drew 0-0 at the Britannia Stadium. Earlier, Norwich frustrated former coach Paul Lambert by holding Aston Villa to a 1-1 draw at Villa Park that left the Midlands club one place above the relegation zone. - AFP |
| Man City edge Swansea in Premier League marathon Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:18 PM PDT  MANCHESTER: Carlos Tevez’s first goal since September 1 earned Manchester City an unconvincing 1-0 win over Swansea City yesterday, bringing Roberto Mancini some relief after a trying week.Mancini, the City manager, made a half-time tactical switch that saw Tevez take up a deeper role, from which he scored with a superbly struck 61st-minute effort. Gael Clichy cut in from the left and delivered the ball to Tevez, who dispatched an unstoppable right-footed shot that led to visiting goalkeeper Michel Vorm collecting a game-ending injury in the process. A subsequent injury to City defender Micah Richards meant that the game finished with a Premier League record of 12 minutes and 42 seconds of injury time. Mancini’s tactics, particularly in defence, had been a burning topic in the build-up to the game, in the wake of the dispiriting 3-1 defeat at Ajax on Wednesday that almost certainly ended their Champions League interest for another season. In response, the Italian sent City out in what appeared to be a straightforward 4-4-2 formation, perhaps an attempt to return to basics after Mancini criticised his players’ ability to adapt to shifting tactics. Defender Aleksandar Kolarov was pushed into a wide-left position, however, and clearly looked uncomfortable there, switching with Samir Nasri and moving onto the right wing before being replaced at half-time by Mario Balotelli. Balotelli, along with Richards and Joleon Lescott, had declined to wear the ‘Kick It Out’ T-shirts sported by their team-mates before the game, as unrest over attempts to tackle racism in the game continues to simmer. City’s short-term concerns were about allowing their supporters to forget the disappointment of mid-week, but it was something they failed to do in the first half, with boos from a section of home fans greeting the half-time whistle. It had taken City until the 38th minute to force Vorm into a save of note, the visiting keeper easily gathering a Tevez shot from just inside the area, although by this stage the Welsh team were also finding their feet in the attacking third. Michu was denied a decent heading opportunity by a superb defensive clearance by Richards and the same Swansea player had the ball in the goal after 37 minutes, only for his effort to be ruled out for an obvious offside. City goalkeeper Joe Hart was called into action five minutes before the interval, performing admirably as he sprinted from his line to block the progress of Michu, who had been played clean through by Ki Sung-yueng. The introduction of Balotelli at half-time saw an instant improvement in City’s play as, within seconds of the restart, Sergio Aguero unleashed a shot that flew just wide of the mark from the edge of the box. Balotelli almost met a low Nasri cross in front of goal and the former Arsenal man then freed Balotelli to round Vorm, who did well to force the Italian to the byline before making an important save. The game’s pivotal minute arrived just before the hour as, first, Michu met a Pablo Hernandez cross with a stooping header that Hart pushed away, before Ki’s follow-up shot was blocked by a defender. Tevez’s goal followed within two minutes and injury was added to insult when Vorm hurt himself as he dived, forcing him to depart on a stretcher to the benefit of substitute goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel. City survived a scare when de Guzman shot narrowly wide after a terrible clearance from Nasri, but the game ended on a negative note for Mancini when Richards went down holding his knee and had to be stretchered off. - AFP |
| Federer looks for Paris title match Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:16 PM PDT  PARIS: Roger Federer will bid to back up his title from a year ago when he heads the field at the final event of the regular ATP season, the Paris Masters, starting on Monday.The Swiss world number one stormed to victory at the Bercy Arena a year ago against outsider John Isner in the final, beating Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals and putting out Rafael Nadal in the semis. Federer is focussing on another end of season sprint, but one without a pause as the eight-man World Tour Finals begins in London a day after the Paris final. That scheduling wrinkle may come back to haunt the ATP as the organisation shortens the 2012 season by a fortnight, eliminating the rest and preparation week before the round-robin end-of-season classic. With Nadal missing after ending his campaign early due to the knee injury which has kept him off court since June, Federer leads a pack trailed by second seed Novak Djokovic and US Open winner Andy Murray. Djokovic beat Murray for the Shanghai title this month, with neither man playing since. Murray withdrew from the Swiss Indoors, claiming a back niggle, to the dismay of organisers faced with his second pullout in as many years. Federer is trying to avoid pressure as the race to the year-end number one ranking goes down to the wire with Djokovic pushing hard and results in Paris a key to any possible movement in the table. “I have to think day by day. It’s simple, it’s pretty routine, but it’s my only way to handle these next couple of crazy weeks,” said the Swiss. “I want to play well at the World Tour Finals, there’s no question about that. It’s the highlight of the end of the season and one of the biggest events we have in the sport.” With all 16 seeds getting first-round byes, lesser contenders will begin play, with French players Benoit Paire, Paul-Henri Mathieu – both defeated by Federer in Basel last week – and Michael Llodra receiving wildcard entries. Spain’s David Ferrer takes the fourth seeding ahead of Czech Tomas Berdych, and a trio of London contenders – France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, del Potro and Serb Janko Tipsarevic. Others who will be battling for the last two spots in the London field are Spaniard Nicolas Almagro and France’s Richard Gasquet. - AFP |
| City win longest match in Premier League history Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:14 PM PDT  MANCHESTER: Manchester City won the longest match in Premier League history yesterday as the champions’ 1-0 victory over Swansea lasted 102 minutes and 42 seconds.The clash at Eastlands featured over 12 minutes of stoppage-time after Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm suffered a calf injury in a failed attempt to save Carlos Tevez’s second half goal, while City defender Micah Richards needed prolonged treatment on a knee problem. That additional time added by referee Martin Atkinson meant the game beat the previous record of 102 minutes and 26 seconds set in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in 2011. - AFP |
| Wilshere, Arteta get Arsenal back to winning ways Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:12 PM PDT  LONDON: Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta came to the fore to end a difficult week for Arsenal on a positive note with a 1-0 victory over 10-man Queens Park Rangers at the Emirates Stadium yesterday.Arteta’s 84th-minute goal was enough to secure a much-needed victory for Arsene Wenger’s side. But it was the return of Wilshere to the starting line-up after a 17-month absence with ankle and knee problems that provided the greatest cause for optimism for the home side. By contrast, there was only frustration for QPR manager Mark Hughes, whose side remain bottom after conceding the decisive goal two minutes after Stephane Mbia had got himself needlessly sent off for kicking out at Thomas Vermaelen. After the troubles of the previous seven days, Wilshere’s inclusion in the Arsenal starting line-up could hardly have been better timed. Back-to-back defeats against Norwich City and Schalke were bad enough, but the disappointing results were compounded by insipid performances from Arsenal on both occasions. Then, on the morning after the Champions League loss to Schalke, the club’s hierarchy came in for heavy criticism at a testy Annual General Meeting, when supporters made clear their frustration at the club’s failure to invest more heavily in the playing squad. The optimism of early season had faded, and Wilshere’s return provided a welcome distraction from the gloom. The midfielder last appeared in a competitive match in May 2011 and Wenger had insisted on the eve of this game that, at best, the midfielder could expect a place on the bench. The manager also maintained the England international was still two months away from full match fitness, but his first contribution — a teasing low cross in the fifth minute — confirmed a partially fit Wilshere still has plenty to offer. Arsenal have certainly missed the 20-year-old’s drive from midfield, typified by his contribution in the 19th minute, when he played a one-two with Aaron Ramsey before testing visiting goalkeeper Julio Cesar with a powerful shot. Wilshere eventually left the field after 66 minutes, having been his side’s stand-out player. Yet as impressive as Wilshere’s return was, his presence was not enough to galvanise Wenger’s side, who again looked unconvincing. Andre Santos was again vulnerable at left-back and had Jose Bosingwa, the QPR right-back, shown more composure when twice in good positions to cross, the visitors may have exposed this weak spot more tellingly. Arsenal picked up the tempo at the start of the second half and Julio Cesar was again called into action to keep out Per Mertesacker’s header from an Arteta free-kick. The home side, though, were guilty of squandering two further free-kick opportunities from good positions around the Rangers area and as their urgency to find a way through increased, they started to leave gaps at the back. Shaun Wright-Phillips delivered an excellent cross that was destined for the head of Bobby Zamora before Vermaelen cleared, then, seconds later, Bacary Sagna’s last-ditch tackle denied David Hoilett a clear run on goal. Rangers’ efforts began to unravel, however, when Mbia lashed out at Vermaelen and Arsenal quickly exposed their undermanned opponents. Julio Cesar produced an excellent save to deny Olivier Giroud but Arteta poked the ball home after initially heading the rebound against the crossbar. There was still time for Rangers substitute Jamie Mackie to shoot at Vito Mannone after a mazy run, while Esteban Granero went close with a free-kick, but this was Arsenal’s — and, more specifically, Wilshere’s – day. - AFP |
| Woods makes charge at CIMB Classic Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:09 PM PDT  KUALA LUMPUR: Tiger Woods birdied five of his first nine holes to come roaring back into contention in the CIMB Classic’s final round today.The 14-time Major winner, trailing by five shots overnight, started with three straight birdies and added two more on six and seven in an astonishing half-round. He picked up another shot on the par-four 10th to be 17-under for the tournament at Malaysia’s par-71 Mines Resort and Golf Club, two strokes back from joint leaders Chris Kirk and Bo Van Pelt as play continued. - AFP |
| Take-a-break Mancini sweats on Richards injury Posted: 27 Oct 2012 10:05 PM PDT  MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini hopes a week of rest can help kickstart his team’s season after a lacklustre victory over Swansea featured a worrying injury to defender Micah Richards.The versatile former England international was stretchered off after collapsing in agony and receiving treatment to his knee, an injury which followed Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm also being carried off after tearing his groin. The Dutchman was injured while trying to keep out Carlos Tevez’s 61st minute shot, the only goal of a game which brought City a 1-0 victory after the disappointment of their Champions League loss to Ajax in midweek. Vorm will be out for four to six weeks with the injury, missing a League Cup tie at Liverpool on Wednesday and a league game against Chelsea next weekend. The two serious injuries meant that referee Martin Atkinson played 12 minutes of injury-time, making this the longest game in Premier League history. “Micah has a problem with his knee,” said Mancini. “I don’t know the situation but probably it is bad. I hope not but I don’t know. He was tired because it was his third game in 10 days.” However, with City’s interest in the League Cup over, a blank week may now be what the Italian requires to get key players fit and healthy after a gruelling and — in Europe, at least — unproductive start to the campaign. “We have played every few days for a few weeks and have not been able to make a lot of changes because we have six players injured at the moment,” he said. “At this difficult moment, when we’re so tired and don’t have any players because of injuries, it’s important to get three points. “It is important to have the rest now. That’s why it was important to get the three points because we have one week now where maybe we can recover and we can maybe get a couple of players back for the next game.” Tevez claimed his first goal since September 1 and was the one constant attacking threat in the second half, after he was placed in a deeper-lying role which allowed him to see more of the ball. “Carlos also played well against West Brom last week,” said Mancini. “He was playing hard for the team and maybe deserved to score last week. Instead, he scored today and it was an important goal.” For Swansea, the loss of Vorm is particularly hard to deal with, given that his team faces such important games in the coming days. “It’s his groin. You’re talking four to six weeks or something,” said manager Michael Laudrup who will now press stand-in Gerhard Tremmel into action. “That’s a part of football and even if it’s early in the season that’s what can happen. “That means everybody has to be ready and now suddenly Gerhard has to be ready starting with the Liverpool and Chelsea games.” Further frustration for Laudrup came with the realisation he has also lost defender Angel Rangel for the forthcoming game against Liverpool after he collected a first half yellow card, his fifth of the season, for simulation in the first half. “That was really something,” said Laudrip sarcastically. “You’ve got to admire that. Getting a free-kick against him was strange but if that was diving, then we have invented a new form of diving today.” At least, for Mancini, the win lifts the pressure that is undoubtedly mounting following the team’s poor showings in Europe and allowed him a smile in the post-match press conference when asked how he had brought about City’s second half improvement. “What did I say at half-time?” smiled Mancini. “I only shot three or four players in the dressing room — so I was calm.” - AFP |
| Anwar: Khalid will defend his parliamentary seat Posted: 27 Oct 2012 09:46 PM PDT
PKR de factor leader Anwar Ibrahim said that the party would re-nominate Khalid to contest the seat during a visit to Pekan Sungai Besi this morning. Khalid was also present with Anwar. "During the last general election, we won all (localities) but the army camps. This time, God willing, we will even emerge triumphant in army camps," he told some 300-odd crowd during his Jelajah Merdeka speech. A former corporate figure, Khalid wrested the Bandar Tun Razak seat from a strong MCA incumbent Tan Chai Ho with a majority of 2,515 votes. He also won the Ijok state seat with 1,920 majority. In recent weeks, the political chatter had been that PKR would replace Khalid as the Selangor MB if Pakatan wins the state again in the next general election. It had been said that he would not be asked to contest for a state seat and instead to concentrate in his parliamentary seat.
One more term only He said he would put in place a leadership succession plan should he be elected again in Bandar Tun Razak as he felt two-terms were enough for him. "It's not just me, but every parliamentarian should be giving a chance for other leaders to replace them," he said. When asked whether he would also re-nominated to defend his state seat, he answer was: "that hasn't been announced, they only announced me for Bandar Tun Razak". Asked again whether the plan was to shift him to become a cabinet minister, he said it was only "speculations".
"In the past even the postman shunned to be a PKR candidate. Although the situation has changed, but now we are worried that certain candidates would become indisciplined once they are elected," he said. In another development, speaking on the Batu Caves condominium project furore, Khalid said he would use his power as the State Planning Committee (SPC) chairman to look into how the planning approval was issued in 2007. He said he might consider the formation of an independent task force to recommend the best way to develop properties around Batu Caves. |
| Posted: 27 Oct 2012 09:31 PM PDT
"Saya memerlukan khidmat tukang tulis terhebat untuk berkolobrasi dengan saya bagi menjayakan projek mega ini," kata Vyasa dengan penuh hormat kepada Brahma yang menjelma di hadapannya. Selepas berfikir sebentar, Brahma memutuskan bahawa Ganapathi adalah pilihan terbaik untuk memikul tugas penting dan berat ini. Tambahan pula, dewa berkepala gajah itu masih bujang dan tentu tidak menghadapi masalah untuk meluangkan masa yang lama bersama-sama Vyasa. Tidak akan ada isteri atau kekasih yang cemburu buta. Teks yang dicadangkan oleh Vyasa pastilah sebuah epik yang panjang dan memerlukan masa yang lama untuk dikarang atau dirakam dalam bentuk tulisan. Brahma, Vishnu dan Shiva serta pasangan masing-masing sibuk dengan tugas hakiki dan sukar memberikan komitmen tinggi yang diperlukan bagi menjayakan projek mega menghasilkan teks berdasarkan penceritaan lisan oleh Vyasa. "Ganapathi adalah pilihan terbaik untuk menjadi tukang tulis seperti yang kamu harapkan. Teruskan pertapaan sehingga dewa berkepala gajah itu muncul di hadapan mata. Luahkan hasrat kamu kepadanya dan nyatakan juga bahawa Brahma sendiri yang mencadangkan namanya bagi projek mega ini," kata Brahma sebelum ghaib dari pandangan mata kasar. Vyasa yang akur pada keputusan itu meneruskan meditasi berbentuk pertapaan sehingga akhirnya Ganapathi @ Ganesha menjelma di hadapan mata. Tentu sahaja Vyasa gembira bukan kepalang memandangkan dewa berkepala gajah yang menunggang tikus mondok itu tidak mudah dipujuk-rayu untuk muncul di depan mata. Tanpa melengahkan masa, Vyasa membentangkan cadangannya secara terperinci kepada Ganapathi. Memandangkan dewa berkepala gajah itu memang meminati sastera, penulisan, bahasa dan seni, dia bersetuju untuk bekerjasama dengan Vyasa dalam menjayakan projek mega menghasilkan epik Jaya berciri faksyen dan semi-autobiografi. "Akan tetapi," kata datuk kepada Hassan dan Hussain yang masih khusyuk mengikuti kisah yang disampaikan, "Ganapathi meletakkan suatu syarat penting yang wajib dipenuhi sekiranya Vyasa mahu menggunakan khidmatnya sebagai tukang tulis profesional." "Syarat apa, datuk?" Hussain bertanya dengan penuh rasa ingin tahu. "Apakah Ganesha meminta supaya namanya turut dicatatkan sebagai 'pengarang bersama' pada teks yang bakal dihasilkan?" Hassan mengemukakan pertanyaan berupa pandangan. "Atau meminta supaya mereka sama-sama menandatangani surat perjanjian rasmi agar tidak timbul sebarang isu berkaitan royalti, honorarium, hak cipta dan sebagainya di kemudian hari?" Hussain turut mencelah. Lelaki tua itu ketawa mendengar pandangan yang dikemukakan oleh cucu kembarnya. Mereka ternyata amat kreatif dan mampu berfikir di luar lingkungan tanpa terikat pada corak pemikiran konvensional yang semakin menjadi barah dalam kalangan masyarakat. – Bersambung minggu depan Uthaya Sankar SB baru-baru ini dituduh cuba menyebarkan agama Hindu melalui cerpen yang dihasilkannya. |
| Is ex-Sabah DCM Tham making comeback? Posted: 27 Oct 2012 09:18 PM PDT
Tham, 53, who dropped out of politics eight years ago after he was not picked to defend his Elopura state seat, is said to have been wooed by parties on both sides of the political divide. Met at a private dinner function here on Friday, the former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) co-founder was coy about talk that he would be a candidate in the 13th general election, expected to be called anytime. "In politics, anything is possible," said Tham. "I am weighing my options for now and perhaps in a few weeks’ time if you ask me the same question, I may have a more definite answer." He admitted that he had met with representatives from both the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition as well as the opposition in the state capital, as well as in Kuala Lumpur during a business trip there recently. "I was approached. I told them I would consider their invite but made no promises. After eight years in the political wilderness, there are many things to consider first before I make a decision to come back or stay away from politics for good. "But don't ask me where I am going to stand or on which party ticket. It could very well be in a seat which is away from my traditional stronghold in Sandakan and the party I join could catch you all by surprise. "So let's just wait for the time being. Let me consider the matter seriously and in due course I will give you all my decision." Now a businessman with extensive local and regional business establishments, Tham made his political debut in 1985 as a Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate at the age of 26, defeating his more senior Berjaya opponent Yap Pak Leong by 171 votes in the watershed state elections that brought the former opposition party to power in Sabah. Together with his former PBS colleague Yong Teck Lee, he helped form SAPP in 1994 and retained the Elopura seat by beating a PBS candidate and in 1996 he was appointed deputy chief minister, a position he held for seven years. Tham is Gerakan-friendly In 2006, he co-founded rubber glove manufacturer Fox Gloves Solution Sdn Bhd, now known as Ecoglove Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd. Resigning from the party after SAPP withdrew from the BN coalition in 2008 he said: "It has always been my intention to serve the people through the government. "I made the same decision in 1994, leaving Parti Bersatu Sabah and formed a party to join Barisan Nasional because at that material time, BN still ran the federal government. Today, I hold the same principle," he told reporters then. Tham is known to be close to Chief Minister Musa Aman and helped campaign for the BN and former rival PBS whose candidate Linda Tsen beat his former colleague Yong in the 2010 Batu Sapi by election. He is also a close friend of former Gerakan president Tun Lim Chong Eu, Tun Lim Keng Yiek and current president Koh Tsu Koon and is said to be in regular contact with the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department. Tham is not a member of any political party at the moment. [Main photo shows Tham with his one-time boss in PBS Joseph Pairin Kitingan] |
| Alien crackdown causes havoc in Sabah businesses Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:59 PM PDT
State representative Jimmy Wong said plantation managers are furious with the Immigration Department for detaining registered foreign workers for days during their operations against illegal immigrants. “They say the immigration authorities don’t seem to be able to distinguish on the spot as to whether the documents the department issued to foreign workers are real or fake. “They are detaining all foreigners they come across for two to three days and this is causing loss of income for the plantations as well as scaring their workers,” Wong said. He urged the Immigration Department to be more professional when carrying out their operations at estates and business premises and not just detain everyone for screening, even those who can prove on the spot they are legitimately employed. Employers relying on foreign workers to carry out their business operations have complained that they are incurring losses after their workers were detained for screening at detention centres despite having all their papers in order. “A palm oil estate owner in Kunak said he recently incurred unnecessary losses after his workers who have documents were taken away for screening and only released after two to three days," Wong said after contributing cows to Kg Jawa, Kg Bukit, Kg Saddhani and Kg Baru for their Hari Raya Haji celebration. The Sri Tanjung representative said it was appalling to learn that the Kunak's immigration officers when carrying out the operation could not distinguish its own documents issued for foreign workers were fakes or not. "The immigration officers went to this estate and they were shown the workers documents issued by the department during the check, but the officers still told the workers to board the lorry to be taken to screening centre. “The workers only returned after two days. The estate owner said that as there were no workers to harvest the palm oil fruits and thieves had entered the plantation and stolen the ripened fruits off his trees," he said. "How is it that the department officers could not determine its own documents such as worker permit and passport is fake or not. Either there is no standard or are they inexperienced.” Be professional, immigration told “Does it mean there are many falsified documents out there? I hope the Immigration Department will carry out its operation in a profession way. “Ensure experienced officers lead the operation. The department must improve the way it conducts operation on foreign workers," he said. The state and federal government authorities have launched a series of crackdowns on illegal immigrants in the state after years of permitting thousands of them to enter and settle down in Sabah. The Immigration Department’s task has been made all the more difficult as several thousand of these people have since obtained citizenship through undisclosed means and have been used by politicians to sway elections since the 1990s. After years of allegation and denials by the federal government, a Royal Commission of Inquiry was set up recently to shed light on the issue. Sabah’s population and registered voters increased dramatically over the last three decades and many locals point to political shenanigans by those in power at both federal and state levels for the unexplained phenomenon. |
| Affordable housing: Don’t blame capitalism Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:48 PM PDT
Just last week, on Oct 20, at Harbour View Hotel Kuching, I attended the Freedom Film Festival road show and watched a short movie called "M-C-M Utopia Milik Siapa", the movie is one of the winners in this year's Freedom Film Festival 2012. The movie is about young Malaysians that cannot afford to buy a property. In his movie, Boon Kia Meng blamed the home builders and government for failing to provide sufficient amount of affordable houses in the market. He also attacked the evil of free market capitalism for the housing development left unchecked and greed for higher profit. As I remember correctly, like education and healthcare, he seems to decide that housing is a right as such not as a good. Interestingly, Dr Ernst Cheong blamed the government for the housing problems we face – cheap money flooding our economy and unsustainable of house prices. According to him, the bust is becoming inevitable. Then, the discussion session featured a married young lawyer who testified in front of audience that he was denied to own a house in spite of hopes that supposed government agencies would provide sound financing and provide for all the needs of the people. This young man and wife finally bought a house in Kuching by making a 40 year commitment for loan repayment with bank. From that discussion I found a lot of supposedly intelligent people confusing cause and effect and declaring that the effect is the cause and government must act upon that cause immediately As I have metioned previously, the debate always has not keyed on real issue – the actual cause of affordable housing problems in Malaysia. The problem is government The problem here is government. The government causes a great deal of problem; it costs a lot of money and costs a lot of hardship to a lot of people. Since Malaysia's first housing plan implemented in 1966, the government has spent literally billions of ringgit – and has done a very poor job in helping the people to afford a house. Decades of experience of government intervention in housing, there is proof as it now leads to a total of 177 abandoned private housing projects as at May 2012 and corruption i.e a Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) manager was charged in court with using his position to secure a RM195,000 contract to repair houses. While an official of Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (REHDA) stated on September last year that "The low cost housing schemes are not market driven but politically driven". Most developers also said today low cost housing mandated by governments is missing their intended objectives. House prices have risen dramatically not because of simple supply and demand but because of the government created demand (home ownership programs or institutions such as PR1MA, My First Home Scheme and SPNB) by making the cost of borrowing money artificially cheap (low interest rates). When it is cheap, individuals tend to borrow too much and spend recklessly. This also implies our people do not have saving and individuals should be renters not owners. These simple facts (market) would attract investment and capital to build affordable housing but defeated by government regulations, home ownership campaigns, cheap money and taxes. Please bear in mind that the Malaysian household income debt ratio is among the highest in the world and of the 55% to households, more than 30% (of loans) goes to finance the property market and car loans. And according to Malaysia Department of Insolvency, 13% of bankruptcy between 2005 and June 2012 were caused by house loans. These show that governments are inherently inflationary institution and responsible for the housing bubble. Due to runaway house prices, the National House Buyers Association (HBA) last year warned that an entire generations of young adults risks being locked out of the property market – the government is to make housing less affordable. Intervention creates new problem
Given the 'wonderful' programs above, these are the expansion of government spending and the same errors are repeated that will prevent correction in housing industry. The side I represent, capitalism should not be condemned since there is no evidence that capitalism exists in Malaysia's housing policy. So, blaming capitalism for anything going on today makes no sense at all. This is not to say that banks, lenders and home builders are blameless because most of them are politically connected and misguided by false price signals. The best thing for government to do now would be "get out of the way" and that the market could take on its own. Medecci Lineil is a young Austrian libertarian who is working at Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). |
| Perjuangan BN adalah demi rakyat Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:27 PM PDT
Dengan konsep perkongsian kuasa, BN telah membuktikan ketulusannya dalam memimpin pelbagai bangsa dan agama. BN juga sedar bahawa bagi mengekalkan kuasa di Putrajaya dan meneruskan kestabilan, keamanan serta kemakmuran negara, realiti landskap politik negara yang majmuk sifatnya mesti dipelihara dan segala janji harus ditepati. Persoalannya, bagaimanakah BN boleh bertahan walaupun berbagai tohmahan dilemparkan bagi memburukkan imej dan reputasinya? Jawapannya, kerana semua rakyat dapat melihat bukti yang nyata, di mana dari dahulu hingga kini, perjuangan BN adalah demi rakyat dan masa depan negara, bukannya demi individu atau kumpulan tertentu. Kerajaan BN dibawah pimpinan Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sememangnya memahami nadi dan denyutan Rakyat. Walaupun pihak pembangkang gemar mewujudkan propaganda namun rakyat sudah mula membuka mata untuk menilai mana janji yang ditepati atau sekadar menabur janji. Seperti yang telah dinyatakan oleh perdana menteri, bukti kerajaan BN telah menepati janji boleh dilihat dengan Program Transformasi Kerajaan yang diperkenalkan bagi membaiki penyampaian sektor awam. Seterusnya, Program Transformasi Ekonomi dan Model Baru Ekonomi sebagai peta halatuju pusingan akhir ke arah wawasan negara maju berpendapatan tinggi. Kemudiannya, Program Transformasi Politik bagi mengimbangi antara keselamatan kebangsaan dan kebebasan individu. Program Transformasi Luar Bandar dilancar, bagi meningkatkan kualiti hidup masyarakat luar bandar dan pedalaman, serta Program Transformasi Sosial yang berpandukan falsafah pemandu 1Malaysia. Seterusnya, diteruskan pula dengan inisiatif-inisiatif yang dapat mengurangkan kos sara hidup rakyat seperti Klinik 1Malaysia, Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), Menu 1Malaysia dan Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PRIMA), Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BR1M), pencen minima dinaikkan, insentif pesara kerajaan diberikan, meringankan beban bakal-bakal haji dengan membenarkan akaun 2 caruman KWSP dikeluarkan bagi menampung kos mengerjakan haji, tambahan 10,000 ahli pasukan sukarelawan polis, dana memajukan kaum wanita, bonus kakitangan awam, durian runtuh warga Felda dan banyak lagi demi meringankan beban rakyat. Semua ini tidak mungkin menjadi realiti jika BN bukan sebuah kerajaan yang baik. Kita yakin, masa depan bersama BN akan kekal cerah dengan komitmen pemimpinnya yang meneruskan cara berkhidmat atas dasar demi rakyat dan demi masa depan. Ibarat pepatah Melayu, "Bulat air kerana pembetung, bulat manusia kerana muafakat, kata seia kata sepakat, setuju sependirian setuju sependapat, kata dibulati kata bertepati, janji termeteri, kejayaan dinikmat". Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin adalah Ketua Pergerakan Puteri Umno. |
| Time for Anwar to show leadership Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:10 PM PDT
Act not react. Sit down with DAP and PAS and decide what is it that Pakatan Rakyat will have to do that will put the fear of God into Umno’s consciousness. Then tell us. We are in this together and we cannot be in this together if we know not what Pakatan will do. What are your plans for Selangor? Can Perak be retaken? Who are your candidates in the various constituencies and why were they chosen? Is Kedah winnable and how do you intend to make that win possible? Have you done enough in Lembah Pantai to ensure it remains with Pakatan? How is the feuding between PKR and DAP in Penang to be contained? Will PKR make their peace with Zaid Ibrahim and how will Zaid’s considerable presence be harness now that he has committed himself to the opposition cause? What is the game plan for the taking of Johor? Is Negeri Sembilan a lost cause and what can be retained in the face of mounting pressure against PKR's representative there? What about the Indians? Are they being listened to? And what of Sabah and Sarawak where the winds of change howls much too loudly for anyone to ignore? No more gutter politics from both side. We want to see willingness from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan to place their leaders in the line of fire and face the public and explain their stand on issues and policies that they have committed themselves to. Let me be blunt. If we continue as we are today, continue to ignore the risks of pitting race and religion against commonsense and decency, we have better make sure that we have enough wither all within us to go another five years of endemic corruption, systematic malaise of government institutions and financial mismanagement of our nation wealth. And that is a possibility whether BN or Pakatan forms government! So help me God! CT Ali is a reformist who believes in Pakatan Rakyat's ideologies. He is a FMT columnist. |
| Posted: 27 Oct 2012 08:06 PM PDT
In 2008, the Malay population was 5.7 million. Umno’s candidates only garnered two million Malay votes. This means than one million of Umno’s own members did not support the party because they realised that the policies touted by Umno were destroying the country. Umno only managed to gather 35% of the Malay votes. In 2008 total voter turnout was 10.9 million. Malays formed 52% of the voters. In the 13th general election, the voter turnout is expected to be 11.58 million. Malay voter turnout is expected to increase to 55% or 6.37 millions. Umno is expected to garner only 2.4 million votes this time round. This time the party, whose president Najib Tun Razak, accursed its people, will have to seek the support of the Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Myanmarees and the Indonesians to win. This fact is a clear act of treason. The right to vote belongs exclusively to Malaysian citizens. Isn’t it curse when immigrants are given citizenships? Why has this happened to Umno which has long since been slogeneering about Malay struggle? The answer is because the Malays have realised that since 1988, Umno’s struggle has been for totalitarian power. Umno’s chief crony
This same man is now eyeing RTM, KTMB and Bank Islam. This wealthy Malay became a billionaire because he worked hard to become a super-crony of Mahathir and Muhyiddin. Almost all his wealth was handed to him on a gold plate. This is the kind of people who support Umno. The ordinary member, he’s just good for the crowd and to scream ‘Hidup Melayu”. We Malays keep quiet because Bukhary is a fellow Malay. This is the attitude that is touted by the very government that is prepared to go to any length to retain its totalitarian hold on the country. But the Malays have wisened up. In the 13th general election, the Malays will show themselves. The writer is a former Umno state assemblyman but has now joined DAP. He is a FMT columnist. |
| Respect religion, stop false rumours Posted: 27 Oct 2012 07:51 PM PDT
However I do recognise like him that certain political individuals have pushed religious arguments negatively and therefore causes disharmony. There is an urgent need for us to foster greater dialogue and harmony”. [posted at 7.10pm on Oct 28, 2012] By Denison Jayasooria While I respect differing views and the right of freedom of speech, however in recent times there have been some views that cross the line of objectivity and rationality especially in views pertaining to race and religion in Malaysian society The recent article by Iskandar Dzulkarnain in Free Malaysia Today entitled "Beware! A Christian conspiracy. Really?" that makes reference to Zulkifli Noordin, Nasharuddin Mat Isa and Ridhuan Tee is an example of malicious deception, inaccuracy and irrational portrayal of Christians in Malaysia. In a multi racial and religious society such stereotyping is a negative force and not in good taste. It is definitely not in line with the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's ideology of moderation and one of moving from tolerance towards acceptance and celebration. This kind of writing does real damage to inter-religious harmony and breeds fear. Whatever their motives and insecurities it is of utmost importance that federal officials must monitor such wild accusations with in-depth investigation to present a counter analysis based on truth and make appreciate charges if any laws are violated Christians comprise about 9.2% of the population, however the percentage is much higher in Sarawak (40%) and Sabah (30%) where a majority of Christian are from the bumiputera community and are predominately Malay language speakers. Christianity has a long history in Malaysia and Christian institutions have major contributions to nation building in the provision of education, health care and community services. Christians are also responsible citizens and have exercised their fundamental rights and responsibilities in politics, civil society and professional bodies. One clear religious call is to pray for the nation, the King and national leaders Irrational way of thinking There is no need to try and respond to the various issues pertaining to the conspiracy and a master plan to turn Malaysia into a Christian state as claimed by Iskandar Dzulkarnain, other than saying that this is build on an irrational way of thinking and reasoning. There is however an urgent need for Malaysians to reject these forms of blatant lies. In contrast public discussions must be built of facts and rational reasoning which can enhance community harmony and nation building. The Federal Constitutions, the UN Human Rights Declaration and the Cairo declaration assure all Malaysians their fundamental right to religious freedom. We must exercise tremendous restrain in seeking to use religion and race for political gain. I am proud to say that my family and I are Malaysians Christians and we have very close friends from all the major religions in Malaysia. Along with other Christians in Malaysia we seek to be responsible citizens respecting people from all different backgrounds and traditions. Let us build a nation not out of fear and insecurity but as one on confidence with all Malaysians. Let the moderate voices of respect and tolerance, drown the false speech of distracters of national harmony. Dr Denison Jayasooria is the Principal Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies, University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), former Suhakam commissioner and also secretary of Proham. The views expressed in this article are his views. |
| Housing for ex-estate workers: The real story Posted: 27 Oct 2012 07:43 PM PDT
I now set out the facts from the beginning of this struggle so that readers can draw their own conclusions. From 1993 my law firm has represented about 76 ex-estate workers from Bukit Rajah estate in their struggle against forced eviction by Sime Darby from the estate housing occupied by them. One of these 76 workers was P Mathialagan who is now quoted in the FMT article making false and malicious allegations. Sime Darby terminated the workers in phases from April 1992. They then offered the ex-workers low cost five-storey walk-up flats for RM25,000. Many workers accepted and moved out of their estate quarters. Some refused saying that they were promised single storey terrace houses NOT flats. Sime Darby then initiated eviction proceedings in Klang Sessions Court against some of them in 1993. I defended the workers and managed to delay the inevitable eviction for many years. Sime Darby then initiated further eviction proceedings against the workers in Shah Alam Sessions Court in 2005. Again my law firm defended them and delayed the eviction from taking place. In 2007, Sime Darby started using more aggressive tactics and started demolishing empty houses to make the area uninhabitable to force the workers to move out. Tenaga Nasional and Syabas started cutting water and electricity. Again the ex-workers came to see me and I successfully initiated an injunction application to stop these hostile actions to evict them. All these litigation was done in the public interest and for minimal fees to defend poor estate workers from being unjustly evicted in breach of a promise of proper housing. Furthermore, Bukit Rajah is not the only group of estate workers I have defended – I have defended many others as well. Soft approach from Sime Darby
The negotiations concluded successfully. The ex-workers agreed to accept the offer of a 20' by 70' single-story terrace house at the price of RM70,000 which when completed under the current schedule at the end of 2013 will be worth at least RM250,000. The housing estate would also include a temple and a public hall. From the price and the value of the house, it is obvious that it was a good deal and why it was accepted by the ex-workers. On March 1, 2009, letters of offer with details of design and specifications were accepted in writing by 76 workers including Mathialakan who is now making false claims that the workers were promised to be given a 15 acre piece of land. There was no promise at any time to the ex-workers to give them a 15 acre piece of land. In the course of the negotiations a 15 acre piece of land belonging to Sime Darby was identified on which the houses were to be built. The letters of offer dated March 1, March 2009 ( also given in Tamil to the 76 ex-workers ) only speak of a 20' by 70' single storey terrace house in a housing estate. False allegations The worker's demand right from the beginning was for single storey terrace houses which they finally secured. The housing estate for the 76 houses and temple and the public hall only require about half of the 15 acres of Sime Darby land to be built. It is for Sime Darby as the land owner to decide how to use the balance. Mathialakan does not have an iota of evidence to back his false allegations. His allegations are not just malicious but also totally foolish. On what basis can he demand that the balance of the 15 acres be given by Sime Darby to the ex-workers? R Sivarasa is also the PKR MP for Subang. |
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